Dish-Houston

CitySolve is a unique city-wide adventure that takes a lot of brain, a bit of brawn, and a ton of fun!

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) 100 Club Challenge is looking for 100 donors to each make a minimum $100 contribution within the next 100 days!

Over the course of a year, your gift of 27 cents a day provides musical theatre education programs for children in hospitals, YMCAs and schools.

Your donation goes even further!

Gifts to this special fund will be pooled as a challenge to encourage other potential donors to give to TUTS' annual summer appeal. You will impact others' lives by your gift to musical theatre.

As an additional incentive, donors to the TUTS 100 Club Challenge receive:

• Premium advanced ticketing for 4 complimentary seats to the TUTS summer show at Miller Outdoor theatre
• First 50 donors of $100 or more will be invited to a backstage tour of Curtains for you and a guest. (All donors over the first 50 will be put into a drawing for a second backstage tour.)
• Recognition on the TUTS website and in the TUTS Donor newsletter.

You have the power to make it happen.

DONATE NOW

As you well know if you've read any type of Houston publication lately it's GALA season! Among the list of amazing events and wonderful causes is the American Festval for the Arts 2011 Gala, Sixteen Years - Leading the Way.  It will take place at the Rice Hotel in the historic Crystal Ballroom on April 27th. Of course this event will feature a seated dinner, one of Houston's best silent auction and entertainment featuring students and alumni of AFA's summer and year-round programs. The entire city and beyond is invited to participate in this year's event.

For information or to discuss underwriting or tickets, please call Amanda Kepke Fisher at (713) 522-9699 or email her.

DISH will be there and we look forward to seeing you there!

The AFA Silent Auction

One of the many highlights of the AFA gala is the Silent Auction, including nearly 50 packages of unique items and experiences to bid on during the evening. The AFA Gala Committee is always looking for new additions to feature in the auction and donations are very welcome! Examples include virtually anything: dinners at local restaurants, airline tickets, car rentals, airline miles, artwork, tickets to artistic and sporting events, shopping sprees, gift certificates, professional services, etc.

If you have questions about the auction, please call or email Amanda Fisher.

The HOT boys of Tennis are lining up to grace H-Town with their fast and furious game! Two more American stars have committed to play the 2011 US Men’s Clay Court Championship April 4-10 at River Oaks Country Club.
 
James Blake, the 2008 finalist, and John Isner, who shattered every conceivable match record during a marathon first round match at last year’s Wimbledon, have been added to a singles field that already includes 2010 finalist Sam Querrey and 2006 champion Mardy Fish.
 
These four singles stars will be joined by three-time doubles champions Bob and Mike Bryan, who claimed their 10^th career major title by winning the Australian Open last month.
 
“It seems appropriate to talk about having an all-American field at the US Men’s Clay Court Championship” said tournament director Van Barry. “These players represent really two generations of American talent on the ATP World Tour. It will be our pleasure to host them along with the rest of our field at River Oaks April 4-10.”
 
Blake has been ranked as high as No. 4 in his career. He owns 10 career titles, and has reached 14 other finals, including at River Oaks in 2006. The 2008 recipient of the River Oaks Ernest Langston Sportsmanship Trophy along with his brother, Thomas, Blake owns a 16-9 career record in the US Men’s Clay Court Championship. In 2004, he teamed with Fish to claim the doubles title.
 
Isner will be making his fourth career appearance in Houston. Last year was a breakout season for the 6-foot-9 player who won an NCAA team title at Georgia. He won his maiden ATP title in Auckland while reaching three other finals. But his 2010 will be best remembered for pulling out an epic 70-68 fifth set win over Nicolas Mahut in the Wimbledon first round. Spread over three days, the match totaled 11 hours, five minutes, and featured 113 Isner aces.
 
Querrey also enjoyed a great 2010, ending the season with a career high ranking of No. 18 after winning a career-best four titles during the season, third-most on the ATP circuit, behind only Rafael Nadal (7) and Roger Federer (5). In April, Querrey reached the final at River Oaks where he lost to Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela.
 
Fish, the 2006 Houston champion, reached four finals in 2010, winning a pair of titles. He ended the year at a career high ranking of No. 16 having posted a career high for match wins with a 40-14 record in 2010. Fish is 9-7 all-time at the US Men’s Clay Court Championship in singles, and is a two-time doubles champion, teaming with Andy Roddick to claim the title in 2002 and with Blake to win in 2004.
 
The Bryans pushed their record haul of career titles to 68 thanks to a win at the Australian Open last month. The title in Melbourne was the 10^th major title of their career. The twins from California who are three-time champions at the US Men’s Clay Court Championship finished as the No. 1 team in the World for the sixth time in eight years in 2010.
 
The full singles acceptance list for the 2011 event will be released in late February.
 
Individual and “Champ Pass” tickets for the 2011 US Men’s Clay Court Championship are on sale now. The popular Champ Pass includes a ticket to the Friday, Saturday and Sunday sessions, which are usually sold out before the tournament begins. A limited number of season ticket packages for the 2011 event are still remaining. Information on tickets can be found at www.mensclaycourt.com or by calling 713-874-6294.

US Men’s Clay Court Championship at River Oaks Country Club
The 102nd competition for the US Men’s Clay Court Championship will be held April 4-10, 2011, at River Oaks Country Club in Houston. Started by the USTA in 1910, it has been held at numerous venues around the country. The tournament has been held in Houston since 2001, and will be held at River Oaks Country Club for the third straight year. Prior to hosting the US Men’s Clay Court Championship, River Oaks Country Club hosted its own event, The River Oaks International. Started in 1931, the River Oaks International roster of former champions includes Jack Kramer, Tony Trabert, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Ken Rosewall, Ivan Lendl, Guillermo Vilas and James Blake. The 2011 US Men’s Clay Court Championship will be the 77^th tournament at River Oaks, with the club hosting a tournament every year since 1946 after a four-year lapse due to the war. More information is available at www.mensclaycourt.com or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/mensclaycourt.

This event is dressed to the nines with well-known Houston style mavens and AHA Ladies Guild leaders Roz Pactor and Lesha Elsenbrook are serving as the event chairs. Lilly Andress is hosting as the Honorary Chair. ABC 13 news reporter, and Ladies Guild member, Jessica Willey emceeing the show.

A pre-show cocktail party in the lobby of River Oaks Theater will take place at 6:30 p.m. with bites from La Griglia and signature drinks from Makers Mark. Models from the Neal Hamil Agency will strut the runway at 7 p.m., wearing the latest trends from 310 Rosemont, Ann Taylor, Chicos, Em & Lee, Enticingly Chic, Gap, Haut Chocolat, Jos. A. Bank, La Mode Swim, La Mode Lingerie, LMD Boutique, Luke’s Locker, Mia Bridal Couture, Rebecca & Drew, Talbots and Twice New. AHA Ladies Guild members will close the show with a special Go Red Finale to celebrate American Heart Month.

After the show (8:00—10:00 p.m.), there will be six exclusive after-parties. At the post-show soirees, attendees will shop ‘til they drop, while sipping on cocktails, indulging in hors d’oeuvres from River Oaks’ best restaurants and consulting with local beauty and style experts.

The following boutiques will host the after-parties, each with the trademark flair and sophistication of the River Oaks Shopping Center:

o   310 Rosemont: featuring Asian bites by Café Ginger and cocktails by Maestro Dubel Tequila, along with special giveaways from V’s Barbershop;

o   Em & Lee: featuring Araya Artisan Chocolates and cocktails by Matsusalem Rum, with special guest and image consultant Sarah Shah. Shah will show guests how to dress for their body types at 8:30 p.m., 9:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m);

o   Haut Chocolat: featuring the Latin cuisine of Américas and makeup artist Edward Sanchez of Urban Retreat Day Spa & Salon. Sanchez will teach ladies how to apply makeup and care for their skin. There will be a chance for ladies to win a makeup session with Sanchez.

o   Mia Bridal Couture: featuring appetizers and specialty cocktails from Marfreless and skin care products from International Derma Spa. Party-goers will have the opportunity to win a wine tasting for six at Marfreless and a copy of The Ridiculously Easy Guide to Entertaining;

o   Rebecca & Drew: featuring Tintos Spanish Restaurant and cocktails from Dripping Springs Vodka;

o   Twice New: featuring La Madeleine and Real Ale Brewery. Local author Linda Thompson will be on hand for a signing of her book, Hookers, Midgets, and Fire Trucks.

Tickets to the River Oaks Shopping Center Fashion Show are available at www.ahariveroaksfashionshow.org. Entrance to the cocktail party, fashion show and post-show bashes is $40 ($50 on the day-of) and include a shopping card (valid February 23 – March 3) with discounts to many of the center’s boutiques, entertainment hot spots and restaurants. Shopping cards may also be purchased separately for $40. All ticket sales will benefit AHA.

The 2011 River Oaks Shopping Center Fashion Show is underwritten by Weingarten and sponsored by Neil Hamil Agency, Chic Sheet by Roz Pactor Urban Retreat Day Spa & Salon and 20K Group, LLC.