Austin360 blogs > Out & About > Archives > 2007 > November > 30
Friday, November 30, 2007
David Letterman in Austin
Where was David Letterman while the Cowboys were beating the Packers? Chowing down on USDA prime beef in the Captain’s Room at III Forks. He and his crew, in town to help on a Habitat for Humanity build, took in the game and lingered for three hours at the downtown Austin restaurant. “He couldn’t be nicer,” said owner Curtis Osmond. So was there something brewing for his show, on hiatus because of the writers’ strike, or was this trip all about Habitat? “I can’t confirm or deny that,” said the group’s executive director Michael Willard.
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Perfect 10 for Perfect 10
At first, it was a pretty party. Austin Lyric Opera’s second annual Perfect 10 event, which honors outstanding arts patrons, took place in the creamy, terribly tasteful surroundings of Saks Fifth Avenue. Guests in cocktail wear drifted from racks to counters to food stations (terrific chow from Chinatown) to impromptu bars (Perfect 10 wine from Twin Liquors, thanks to David Jabour). (Photo 1: Dr. Thomas and Karen Vaughn)
Then it threatened to become a lively party. White Ghost Shivers, playing a “clean” set, light on the sex and drugs, tickled the guests, some old enough to remember the first time that hot jazz raised eyebrows — and skirts. Conversations sizzled. Andrew Heller spoke forcefully about how the media flubbed coverage of the California fires. Martha Cotera remembered the bean soup with poblano flakes she made for the first Noche de Opera party. (Send me that recipe!)
Unexpectedly, the party turned weighty. Just hearing the credits for the 10 couples or singles recognized for their citywide — sometimes nationwide — work made the crowd swell with collective pride. I’m going to break a rule and list (just) some of their credits here, as refined by Austin Lyric Opera captain Kevin Patterson. (Photo No. 2: Julie Nguyen, Jane Sibley and Dottie Rutishauser)
Fred and Marilyn Addy: Michigan State University, U.S. Air Force, Austin Symphony, Austin Lyric Opera, KLRU, the Long Center.
Sandy Ball Austin Lyric Opera, IBM Corp., Triangle on Stage, University of Texas Longhorns.
Sarah Biedenharn: Wellesley College, Yale University, Austin Symphony, Caritas, SafePlace, Long Center, University of Texas, Sage, Meals on Wheels, West Austin Caregivers, Episcopal Seminary and Good Shepherd Episcopal Church.
Martha and Juan Cotera Cotera and Reed Architects, University of Texas, Austin Design Commission, Robert E. Johnson State Office Building, Austin Hilton downtown, Austin City Hall, Austin Symphony, Blanton Museum of Art, Mexican American Cultural Center, Austin Heritage Society, Texas Women’s Political Caucus, National Women’s Political Caucus; Mexican American Business and Professional Women of Austin, Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas, Latina Political PAC in Texas, Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; IMAGE of Austin Board; Hispanic Women’s Network, Reforma, LULAC, Mexican Consulate Advisory Committee for Immigrants; KLRU Latino USA; Austin Heritage Society and the Shaw-Cotera UT Consortium on Teen Violence. (Photo No. 3 Susan Lubin and Saks general manager Scott Siegel)
Mary Ann and Andrew Heller: IBM, Heller Associates, Seton Health Care Network, Austin Symphony, Austin Lyric Opera, UT Performing Arts Center, Dell Children’s Medical Center Foundation.
Joe and Teresa Lozano Long: Teachers Retirement System, State Securities Board, Office of the Attorney General, First State Bank, Texas Education Agency, HeadStart, National Museum of Women in the Arts, UT Chancellor’s Council; UT Education Foundation Advisory Council, UT Press Advisory Council, University Interscholastic League Foundation, Ballet Austin, Pan-American Round Table, Long Center, Austin Symphony; Seton Fund , UT Chancellor’s Council, UT Development Board, Travis County and Texas Bar Associations, Institute of Latin American Studies at the University of Texas.
Lynn and Tom Meredith: Motorola Inc., Dell Inc., Meritage Capital, MFI Capital, MFI Foundation, Austin Children’s Museum, St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin chapter of the National Charity League, Dell Children’s Hospital, Blanton Museum of Art, Association of Junior Leagues International, Association of Professional Fundraisers, Leadership Austin, Ballet Austin, Girl Scouts, Austin chapter of Women in Business International.
Cliff Redd: Long Center for the Performing Arts, University of North Texas, Southwestern University, University of Texas, Texas Commission on the Arts, City of Dallas, Office of Cultural Affairs, Texas Non-Profit Theatres, Stonewall Professional and Business Association
Peter Schram and Harry Ullmann U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, University of Texas, Longhorn Band, H.T. Cox Accounting, State of Texas Department of Water, Austin Lyric Opera, Ballet Austin, the Austin Symphony, Paramount Theatre, Zachary Scott Theatre Center, New Mexico State University, DeWal Corp., State of Texas Securities Board. (Photo No. 4: Jill Addison and Shawn Morgan)
Karen Kuykendall: Cafe Manhattan, Ballet Austin, Conspirare, Austin Musical Theater, Austin Arts Hall of Fame, Girl Scouts of America, Austin Circle of Theaters, Zachary Scott Theatre Center.
In the evening’s most touching moment, Karen’s daughter, Sarita, accepted the honor for her mother, holding her head steady and high, looking more like Karen than ever.
Robert Godwin photos.
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