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Wow FACTOR

you know you

’ ve hosted a successful party when your guests are still talking about it for weeks to come .

To ensure there’s water cooler talk after your shindig, Melissa Krauser of Melissa Krauser Events says it’s important to know your guests and what gets them excited.

“Are they foodies who find the latest combinations of ingredients and manner of preparation absolutely entertaining, or are they football fanatics who want good food they can eat easily while they focus on the Superbowl?” she says. “If you can figure out why guests look forward to attending the party, and then deliver that element on a grand scale, wows are assured.”

For a recent event she created for TransOcean, Krauser had the opportunity to use elements from the Ocean’s Eleven movie series as inspiration for the look and feel of the company’s FIRST Excellence Awards. Every aspect of the event—from invitations, menus and décor to party activities—was designed to make sure the honorees felt comfortable and had a great time. “Tough guys from around the world were giddy as school girls as they accepted their awards, and their spouses were positively beaming,” Krauser says.

There are so many ways you can surprise guests during the party—a big music act, amazing food, beautiful flowers and more—but a great opportunity to go above and beyond lies at the party’s end. Ann Massey, director of catering at Royal Sonesta Houston (which has been picking up a number of the most sought-after annual black tie events since its recent remodel), says she’s a big fan of making the departure experience as special as the arrival. One trend she’s spotted and encourages is little gifts in the valet cars. It can be as simple as bottled water with a personalized or company logo, but a clever token at the end of the night really gets guests’ attention. “I attended a hotel re-launch party many years ago on the same evening as the finale of ‘Seinfeld,’” she recalls. “The meeting planners and guests were certainly surprised when they picked up their vehicles and a copy of that episode had been taped and duplicated and placed in their car.”

Rachael Volz, chair of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation gala in August and owner of A Fare Extraordinaire, says photos are a favorite favor because it reminds guests of how much fun they had. “Have a photographer print and frame photos on site, and as guests leave, have them wrapped with a pretty tag and ribbon as a gift,” she says.

Tudor adds that a trending trick of some of the big parties lately is to have a “breakfast at midnight” table at the door as guests leave, so they can pick up coffee and a chicken biscuit on their way out the door.

PHOEBE TUDOR SUGGESTS SEPARATING COUPLES AT DINNER PARTIES. “I LIKE TO MIX IT UP. IT MAKES FOR A BETTER TABLE,” SHE SAYS.

THE Guest List

a party simply isn

’ t a party without the guests .

Tudor spends a good deal of time putting together a table. She tries to seat people together who might not know each other but have something in common, and does her best to introduce them and point it out. “I don’t like to keep couples together,” she says. “I like to mix it up. It makes for a better table.” Between the main course and the dessert, the Tudors ask their male guests to pick up their wine glass and napkin and move to the left two “men’s spots”—so that they are now seated between two new lady guests. “This way, everyone gets two new people to talk to for the last course. It can really liven things up.”

At the end of the day, Tudor thinks the most important thing to remember is to take the hostess role seriously. “When we entertain at home and at events, I think it’s impor-

tant for the host and hostess to greet each guest,” she says. “You don’t have to necessarily plant yourself at the door. But if you’re hosting, you should warmly greet them and tell them good-bye when they leave.”

And Eyles reminds hostesses to always stay in character. “Never let them see you sweat,” she quips. “When the air conditioning can’t keep up or when the biscuits end up more like hockey pucks, make sure you can laugh about it. Your guests will remember that you made it a great night and have a fun story to take away.”

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by bruce farr

photography by randall murrow

These local ‘passionistas’ share their obsessions, explain how you can join them and tell how they’re making a difference.

PUBLIC DISPLAYS PASSION OF

Hey, Bayou City, what’s your passion? Are you a hobbyist chef? A wine-loving oenophile? Or perhaps you gravitate toward something more off the beaten path, like fencing (Will Smith and Tom Cruise do it) or collecting model trains (Ben Stiller). Or maybe you collect something else—passionately. It might or might not surprise you to know that Angelina Jolie is obsessed with collecting antique daggers, or that Tom Hanks can never be too far from his 200 old, manual typewriters. Whatever it might be, life as a “passionista” can often be healthy and inspiring.

Take a moment to be inspired by these Bayou City passionistas: Learn how they’re following their passionate pursuits here in H-town, find ways to follow your own passions and see the ways some have channeled their obsessions into a means of helping others.

EQUINE ENTHUSIAST

Horses are in Lynn Walsh’s blood. As a young girl growing up on the wide-open plains of western Canada, she was crazy about them, and now she’s found a number of avenues through which to pursue her passion for owning, riding, showing and jumping finely bred horses. She and her husband have four show horses of their own— all European imports—that they keep on their spacious, 14-acre property. Walsh has been riding, showing and competing in equestrian events for decades.

She says Houston is a great place to learn, ride and race. “Texas has over a million horses used for recreational riding, the leading state in the country,” Walsh explains. “In Houston, there are many different types of disciplines available from hunters and jumpers, dressage, reining, barrel racing, American Saddlebreds, western pleasure, cross country and combined training, polo, competitive driving, Arabians and many others. There is great accessibility to any kind of riding or horse ownership here.”

With all that opportunity, you might want to get involved, too. Loving these “big animals” is in one’s genes, Walsh believes. “I’ve met people who say they’ve always wanted to ride and be involved with horses, and it’s just something that they’re born with,” she says. “I’m not sure where

it comes from, and it’s not easy. You have to have some expertise and training and physical ability, and it takes a while to be very good at it. You have to have that passion for it or you simply won’t stick with it.” If you do want to start riding, Walsh suggests lessons: “We are also very lucky to have some of the top trainers in the world located in the Houston area so there is a wonderful opportunity to learn from them.” Where did Walsh get her start? Walsh’s great uncle in her native western Canada raised horses and she says she was weaned on riding and the love of all things equine from a very early age. She did trail rides in the Canadian Rockies with her family, participated in “pony clubs” and then, when she was 9 or 10, began taking riding lessons. “From then on, that was it,” Walsh says. As an offshoot of her passion, six or seven years ago, Walsh threw her hat in the ring to serve as president of the annual Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, an organization she’s been involved with for 25 years. Now in its 70th year, LYNN WALSH the Pin Oak show will be held March 18–29 at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center. Walsh says she’s proud of the money the annual event raises for select charities. At present, the main beneficiaries are the Texas Children’s Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House Family Rooms situated throughout the hospital. “And another group called Candlelighters, which is a support group for families of chilLove horses? Lynn Walsh does dren who are patients at Texas Children’s,” Walsh adds. and says Houston has plenty of opportunities to own, ride and race.

Lynn Walsh has a passion for horses: owning, riding, racing, jumping and showing.

Living in Seabrook, on Galveston Bay, Bob Fuller has the advantage of pursuing both sea- and shorebased pastimes. So it’s not too surprising that he’s spent nearly a lifetime cultivating a passion for both classic autos and vintage boats.

The automobiles came first: “My dad was a car guy, and the first major car that I remember was a brandnew ’49 Packard station wagon, which was a beautiful automobile,” Fuller recalls. “We always had really special cars, and I just inherited that.”

“All through high school, I had cool cars and have always pursued it,” he explains. “Then, somewhere along the way, I got interested in classic boats, too. My uncle had a Chris Craft Runabout, which is a gorgeous boat.”

Fuller says that although he’s always been partial to the Packards his dad loved, he eventually branched out to collect a number of classic Jaguars, a Maserati, a Lamborghini and two Ferraris. Boatwise, although he says he’s owned a lot of classic sailboats, he now has just one watercraft, a Century Coronado, 21-foot fiberglass runabout with a full inboard motor.

Whether you’re already a car or boat collector, or want to get started to join Fuller’s passion, it takes some “diligence,” Fuller warns, but says Houston is a good choice. “Houston is a good place for a collector of cars because of the abundance of classic cars already in the area,” Fuller explains. “It is enhanced because there are a large number of reputable restoration companies in the Greater Houston area.” He suggests classic car auctions, car clubs and Craigslist as good sources for finding cars or boats to purchase. Fuller continues, “On the classic wooden boat side … there is a lot of water and also a handful of good boat restoration companies. The Clear Lake area is a great place to use a boat with many fun destinations, including access to Galveston Bay. There are other lakes in the area for using the boats.” Perhaps the fact that Houston is such a rich spot for car and boat collectors helped inspire Fuller’s philanthropic car and boat adventure. Now retired, Fuller is a former executive with Coopers & Lybrand who later formed his own executive search firm that he operated for many years. But his passion for cars and boats led him to seek out a way to channel it into a charitable activity, so, 19 years ago, he and co-founder Paul Merryman launched “Keels & Wheels,” an annual charitable event held each May on the beautiful, 40-acre grounds and harbor of the Lakewood Yacht Club.

Fuller’s passionate dedication to the cause has turned Keels & Wheels into a sizeable charitable event. This past May, the event attracted upwards of 14,000 people and raised $100,000 for the Boys & Girls Harbor organization. The gift benefits children and families in crisis living in the Greater Houston Metropolitan Area. The donation will also support the Harbor facility’s mission to provide healthy, comprehensive long-term residential care for children who are experiencing family hardship, neglect, abandonment or abuse.

“When we first got started, I was going down a path,” Fuller says. “I had no idea where it was leading to or how I was going to get there, but, like everything else, what you need to do eventually makes itself evident to you.”

“When we started this 19 years ago, we never realized what it would or could become.”

classic cars and boats. XJC. Keels & Wheels grew out of Fuller’s love for Bob Fuller, pictured with his rare 2-door 1977 Jaguar

FULLER

Houston’s abundant classic cars and boats help fuel Bob Fuller’s collecting passion.

CLASSIC CAR & BOAT CONNOISSEUR

OUTDOOR OMNIVORE

HOWARD

Kelly Howard takes advantage of Houston’s outdoor-play-friendly weather 365 days a year. O utdoor passionista Kelly Howard doubles up her plein air pleasure. Howard founded and operates what is her first passion, Bayou City Outdoors, a nine-year-old Web and calendar-based membership group that, as its website says, “introduces people to amazing opportunities for fun and adventure.” Besides providing her with a living, BCO, as Howard calls it, has opened her eyes to numerous new ways to appreciate al fresco entertainment. Being out-ofdoors and doing something—anything, really—is her heart’s desire, she says.

Let’s get specific: In the past few years, Howard, who’s 54, has taken up an exhausting array of sports and activities not all of which are for the faint of heart. Among them: mountain biking, road bike riding, white water kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, trail

running, camping and others.

For those who don’t think of Houston as an obvious choice for this kind of outdoor obsession, Howard says, “I love Houston outdoors for numerous reasons: We can play 365 days a year; [there is] an amazing amount of greenspace all around the city and diversity of water, trails, birds, animals. What other major city has parks full of alligators, roseate spoonbills and coyotes—right next to the city?” But beyond the weather and location, Howard says it’s really all about the people. “I always find such wonderful people to play with in Houston— friendly, fun and open for adventure!”

Kayaking is probably Howard’s favorite, she says. “I

many local bayous, including the Armand Bayou, above. downtown spot on Buffalo Bayou. She takes kayakers on Kelly Howard poses with a few of her kayaks near a love to white-water kayak,” Howard asserts. Six years ago, when she first planted herself in a kayak, however, “passion” wasn’t so much the operative emotion, she admits. In fact, she says it was traumainducing. “It was the scariest thing I had ever done,” she says. “I’m pretty claustrophobic and my swimming skills are nil, and, all of a sudden, I found myself getting in this very small boat which I was attached to by a skirt, and—I mean—I was just terrified.” Terror turned to exaltation, though, as Howard gained skills and experience. Today, for her, kayaking has no equal among her many activities. “Almost every place I paddle is just so beautiful,” she muses. For one thing, you’re probably paddling around with a close group of friends. And it’s just so fabulous to be able to get out there and connect to the water, the trees, the sky—you don’t think about anything else, you’re just out there paddling.”

While she admits you can’t actually do much whitewater kayaking in Houston, she says that shouldn’t stop you. “Even if you can’t whitewater kayak or rock climb there are places to practice and then you can take it on the road. There are plenty of places to do most everything else from road biking to mountain biking, hiking and backpacking, camping, geocaching, running—roads, trails, whatever you like.”

For those wishing to have their own kayak experience, Howard says it’s not difficult to do. “You can rent one, get on flat water and just paddle around. It’s really pretty simple and intuitive.”

Feeling a little apprehensive about getting started? Howard is a cheerleader for getting people outdoors and active. “I had never been in a canoe or kayak until I was in my 40s so age is not an excuse,” Howard jokes. “Paddling is a full-body exercise that is lowimpact and easy to do—I have seen all sizes and all fitness abilities on the water, anyone can do it.”

Howard also collects the colorful fiberglass watercraft she pilots; she now owns three kayaks, all of which have different functions. “My very short boat—called a ‘playboat’—is 5 foot 6 inches long, and is made for doing tricks on waves,” she explains. “My longest boat is made for river-running, and it’s probably 7 feet long. The middle boat is a little bit of both.”

Like many other passionistas, Howard has found a way to exploit her passion in the service of others. Team River Runner, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit with a local Houston chapter, has a mission “to provide health and healing to veterans, wounded warriors and active duty military through canoeing and kayaking.” Howard sets up and participates in many Team River Runner events and activities. “The Houston chapter has expanded to also work with non-vets and other people with handicaps and physical disabilities,” she explains. “As they’ve discovered, if someone has lost a leg and they get into a kayak, it evens the playing ground.”

PHOTO FANATIC

ANN ZDANSKY

Collecting art is all about finding the pieces, or subjects, you love. See what drives this collector’s passion.

Ann Zdansky’s profession—she’s founder and president of the “The Common Source,” a Houston-based legal document management provider—might seem somewhat removed from her passion as a wildlife photographer and art collector, but, as with many passionistas, isn’t that often the point?

An artist in her own right, Zdansky exercises her appetite for the photographic arts—and wildlife—by photographing and collecting pictures of “exotics,” as she calls the images of orangutans, chimpanzees, tigers and other animals from far-flung places on the globe that she visits on extended safaris.

Houston is a great place to be an artist or art collector, says Ann Zdansky. Below, art lovers enjoy Seven Selected Artists (photo: Nico Whitaker).

Asked “Why wildlife?” Zdansky answers matter-offactly, “I don’t like taking pictures of people. You know, you get a shot of a lion yawning and it’s cool, but when it’s a picture of a human yawning, you go, ‘really?’”

While she’s excited by exotic locales, Zdansky is also stimulated by what she finds here at home. “I’m inspired by the great architecture in Houston—the downtown skyline, Rice University, the horse track and the Houston Arboretum,” she explains.

Zdansky’s also an avid art collector. “Most of my art collections are from fundraisers specifically designed to generate money for children in need, such as MakeA-Wish, the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and charities for autistic children in Houston and other areas,” she says. She also passionately supports Grant’s Eco Art. Grant Manier, an 18-year-old with autism, creates stunning collages from recycled paper. Some of his works adorn The Common Source’s office walls, where they mingle in good company with Zdansky’s wildlife photography and an array of other collected works. Houston offers a vast array of options for the wouldbe art collector. John de la Cruz, the president of the Art Colony Association, producers of the Bayou City Art Festival, says, “It is not a secret that Houston has long been known as a city of diversity. This applies not only to its people, politics, ethnic groups and culture, but to the arts as well. The vast number of art galleries, artists, arts organizations and art-related events in Houston, like the Bayou City Art Festival, give way to an easy path for one to explore art in all its various forms. Seeking out and exploring diverse artworks in Houston is not only easy, but fun and exciting for any collector of fine art.” If you want to start your own collection, start by asking questions. “I’m a firm believer in education. In my opinion, educating oneself in the various art mediums, techniques and especially art history, is an important initial step in beginning a journey towards collecting art,” explains de la Cruz. “Learn all you can by asking questions of art experts, talking to working artists, listening to art historians and engaging with other collectors. All these things are so important.” To take the next step, Zdansky and de la Cruz agree that you should find something that speaks to you. Says de la Cruz, “But most importantly, find pieces you love, those that draw you in like quicksand and make it hard to step away from the piece.”

Unquestionably, movies move us all. From the moment in 1896 when audiences were startled to witness an actual “moving picture” of the otherwise commonplace arrival of a train into a French station, up to the present time, when “computer generated imagery” or CGI has created a sensational new dimension in moviemaking, the medium has never failed to fascinate us. But very few of us plunge into the cinematic arts with the pure passion that Robert Saucedo does. As an avid collector of all things film and as programming director for the Houston Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas, Saucedo can rightly claim that he lives and breathes cinema.

Saucedo says Houston is a great place to be a movielover. “As the fourth largest city in the country, there are plenty of places and ways to watch movies. You may have to drive a bit, but most noteworthy films get a theatrical release somewhere in this city at some point. This allows us Houstonians a great opportunity to discover—not just films, but theaters and new communities around our city. Discovery and a love for film go hand in hand.” “It started in high school,” Saucedo says, of the origins of his passion for movies. “It was 1999, which happened to be a fantastic year for film. Movies like ‘American Beauty’ and ‘Fight Club’ and ‘Being John Malkovich’ were all released around the same time. I was taking theater class and my teacher introduced me to a lot of these films, and they just really ignited in me a love for cinema.”

Since then, Saucedo’s been true to his supercharged appreciation for the cinematic arts. Not only is he directly responsible for everything that gets screened for the three Houston-based Drafthouse theaters, he also collects film paraphernalia—movie posters, comic books, VHSs and DVDs (he has more than 3,000) and, as if to put a fine point on his passion, 35mm film prints, that remnant of movie raw materials that’s now fading into the limelight in the same way that silent films did nearly a century ago.

One inevitable question: What are three films that stir Saucedo’s passion?

First, he says, the 1981 animated film “American Pop.” “It’s all rotoscopes, and has this amazing, realistic beauty to the animation.”

Next up, director David Cronenberg’s 1986 version of “The Fly.” “I truly believe it’s the best horror film ever made—it’s a movie that I watch every year and don’t feel my year is complete until I’ve watched it,” Saucedo says.

Third, from 2002, “The 25th Hour,” a Spike Lee film starring Edward Norton. “The performances are just outstanding,” he says.

Whatever genre or films you’re drawn to, Saucedo has some suggestions for the aspiring film buff or collector. “My biggest piece of advice is to keep your eyes open. You never know what you’re going to discover in this city—or who you’re going to meet,” Saucedo says. “There’s always something cool and unique right in our backyard— I’ve found super rare 35mm prints off of Craigslist—and driven out to Conroe to meet a man who found a bunch of film cans in his father’s storage unit.”

For Saucedo, no genre escapes his passionate eye; he’s equally in love with classics, horror, sci-fi, action, musicals, westerns, foreign films, documentaries and what have you. At the root of his passion for films, he says, is the idea of sharing the ones he loves with other people. “For me, movie-watching has always been a communal experience—it’s always been about viewing them with friends and family or even strangers. It’s seeing other people discover something in a film that you yourself love … their reactions … a laugh or a gasp … there’s just something about it that never ceases to amaze me.”

ROBERT SAUCEDO

Movie-lovers are always finding something cool to watch or collect in H-town.

MOVIE MAVEN

including events Saucedo helps create at the Alamo Drafthouse. experience.” Houston is full of experiences for movie fans, Robert Saucedo says movie watching is a “communal

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