Dish-Houston

By DISH Contributer: Abby Lestin

The International World AIDS Day began on December 1, 1988 by UNAIDS and continues each year on the first day of December as an important day of reflection.  This year the 21st annual World Aids Day Luncheon was held at the Four Season Hote, co-chaired by Lara Bell and Roseann Rogers and MC'ed by Jan Carson!  Many of Houston’s VIP’s came together to help support this wonderful charity and event; such as celebrity make-up artist and philanthropist Edward Sanchez, Mayoral Candidate Annise Parker, CultureMap Senior Editor Shelby Hodge and many more! Shelby Hodge presented the Shelby Hodge Vision Award to Don Gill, the Executive Director of People with Aids Holiday Charities.  Candylicious provided creative Red Ribbon centerpieces made of different types of candy.    Neiman Marcus donated a beautiful La Raina diamond and wood pendant as a silent auction item. This was absolutely an event for the record books! Well Done!!!

Most of his fans went to New York to support him on the runway during fashion week however designer and Houstonian Cesar Galindo was home this past week for a very private show.

Fred Smith hosted about 15 people at his beautiful home for the one on one experience. The Smith home is for sale by the way! The wine flowed while Cesar personally explained his Spring 2010 line for the exclusive group. In perfect addition to Galindo's line were Houston jewelry designer Baroness Elizabeth's one of a kind pieces.

Crowd Notables: Host Fred Smith, Rachel Brown, Joanne King Herring, Holly Waltrip, Susan Plank, Britney Tribble, Ursaline Hamilton, Courtney Hopson, Edward Sanchez, Todd Ramos, Debbie Festari, and DISH Publisher Lori Freese.

CLICK HERE for pictures.

Note: A Galindo birdy told DISH that Houston is working on it's own fashion week early next year! Keep an eye out!

Then head to Armando's. I know it does seem to make sense at first but this Thursday will be AMAZING! Make-up artist to the stars and Houston socialite Edward Sanchez is hosting A Night at Moulin Rouge for AIDS Foundation Houston!

It's a Halloween Bash that will go down in the record books! Make sure you get your tickets now and get your french on!

Monday night saw some of Houston's culinary stars come out for a celebration if giving back thanks to CNN 650's resident foodie, Cleverley Stone. Hosted by Pappas Bros. Steak House, Houston Restaurant Week founder and chair, Cleverley Stone, announced that a record $240,000 was raised for the Houston Food Bank during the 2009 event. Eighty-four restaurants participated in the city-wide culinary event, held Aug. 10–23; 64 restaurants extended their special menus through Aug. 31 following the success of the first two weeks of the event. Participating restaurants offered three-course gourmet dinners for $35 per person and pledged five dollars from each special meal sold to the Houston Food Bank.

“My most heartfelt thank you goes out to participating restaurants, Houston Restaurant Week sponsors, the event committee, the Houston Food Bank and the 48,000 Houstonians who joined in the effort to fight hunger in our city. Without the support of our generous community, we would not have been able to raise a record-breaking $240,000 to make the 2009 event the most successful to date,” said Cleverley Stone, founder and chair of Houston Restaurant Week.

“This event provided a great opportunity for everyone in the community to support the Houston Food Bank and at the same time have a fine dining experience. We sincerely appreciate the time, effort and expertise of Cleverley Stone, and we can’t thank her enough for her leadership and generosity in organizing the event. We’re so pleased with the results and are already looking forward to another successful Houston Restaurant Week next year,” said Brian Greene, president and CEO of the Houston Food Bank.

Established in 2003, this year’s Houston Restaurant Week raised more than three times last year’s total of nearly $80,000. Approximately 48,000 Houstonians dined at 84 participating restaurants throughout the greater Houston area; last year’s event attracted 53 participating restaurants. To date, the event has raised more than $356,000 to support hunger relief in Houston.

Seen in the crowd: Cleverley Stone, Kim Padgett, Kimberley Park, Edward Sanchez, Dr. Roland Maldanado, Ashley Allen with The Health Museum, David Cordua with Cordua Restaurants, Arthur Mooradian with Del Friscos

JOAN RIVERS LIVE IN HOUSTON! TONIGHT!!! It's not too late! You can buy tickets on line still or at the box office tonight! The show starts t 8 pm at the Hobby Center and Houston's who's who will be on hand for this amazing event! DISH will be there with bells on early! Our friend and make-up artist to the start Edward Sanchez knows how much DISH LOVES Joan so he asked us if we wanted to be his assistant while he does her majesty's make-up for her show tonight! ARE YOU KIDDING! We are honored to schlep your Sh!t for Joan! and you...of course Edward, because we love you! =) Joan is one of DISH'S major influences! OH Can We Talk??

DISH-Houston.com special All Seats - just $25
Order tickets online at: www.brilliantlectures.org

JOAN RIVERS a force of nature—and one of the hardest working celebrities in the world– is a comedienne, best-selling author, Tony-nominated actress, playwright, screenwriter, motion picture director, columnist, lecturer, syndicated radio host, Emmy Award-winning television talk-show host, jewelry designer, red-carpet fashion laureate and businesswoman, and MOTHER!

Using her unique gifts of humor, compassion and tenacity Joan Rivers continues to triumph over personal tragedy and attain extraordinary professional success.

Join us for a special Las Vegas Style performance in Houston for one night only!


* For Adult Audience
* Benefiting the Youth Education and Outreach Programs of the Brilliant Lecture Series, a 501(c)3