Austin360 blogs > Out & About > Archives > 2008 > September > 22
Monday, September 22, 2008
Octo Tea Dance at the Long Center Plaza
Regular participants anticipate the Octo Tea Dance with relish. We understand why. More than 1,000 celebrants spread over the magical Long Center plaza for the charity event on Sunday, raising something in the order of $65,000, according to one organizer.
Ryan Sorrsek, Neal Sanchez
The event dovetails into the Octopus Club activities, which raise cash for AIDS Services of Austin year-round. Folks like Lew Aldridge, Mark Erwin and Oliver Everette spend a good deal of time making that magic happen.
Laura McQuary, Jose Minguell
Last year, it was held at the Oasis. In the prominently public plaza, the tone was a little more formal — fewer shirts whipped off during the hours of dancing. Still, no lack of playfulness from the crowd, who gravitated to the “disco floor” light show, permanently installed on the edge of the plaza.
Hector Gonzalez, Michael Escobedo
Some of the action spilled inside to various lobbies, including a jazz retreat in the Kodosky Donor Lounge. For the grown-ups.
Benson Kelsey, Tim Grondin, Ric de Barros
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Fall Fusion at Dell Jewish Community Campus
Two themes for the Fall Fusion Party at the Dell Jewish Community Campus: Endeavor and “Saturday Night Live.” The realty and development company, including principals Jeff Newberg, Andy Pastor and Kirk Rudy, were saluted. The sketch comedy show provided the characters and activities for the JCC gym.
Adam Ramirez, Lauren McKendall
The place was packed with food, drink and fun. The organizers predict the event will raise a good $200,000 which is well above average for a seasonal gala, even one with more than 500 guests dressed in mostly business casual.
Marcia Levy, Robyn Sperling, Tracy Solomon
A few things about attending an event at the JCC: The grounds are capacious, the parking generous and the place makes sense socially. The rooms feed into one another in a rational way. It’s also a pretty straight shot from downtown. We’re compiling a list of social venues for Glossy, and the JCC hadn’t yet come up, but after Fall Fusion, it went way up on my list. Sen. Kirk Watson, Suzanne Newberg
The organizers graciously urged me to stay for the presentations later in the evening, but I’d already made the round trip to Houston for one party, and had yet another social obligation in the wings. Next time, next time. Kirk Rudy, David Brenner, Karen Brenner
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Charity, Faith & Education, Out
A sickly sweet pall hung over Houston. Decaying vegetation rose like Constable haystacks. Water lingered in low spots. It was my first visit to Houston since Hurricane Ike. The immediate emergencies had passed. Three siblings and their families were still without electricity on Sunday, but grocery stores had power. So pantries were stocked. And the weather remained mild. Odd for Houston, drivers behaved well. They slowed to stops at intersections and allowed others to pass. Similarly, neighbors helped neighbors. Need power out the back of a store? No problem. A tree crushed your garage and truck? We’ll help. We gathered for my mother’s 80th birthday. Only three grandchildren could make it, yet all six children and most spouses settled into stories and family gossip. At her insistence, it was a small, improvised affair. I heard family stories I hadn’t before — a benefit of aging. For instance, Elizabeth Keating Barnes was dazzled by math. Yet, in her junior year at the University of Texas, she hit an intellectual wall. She encountered a similar conceptual barrier later in chemistry, so she visited the career center, which recommended teaching young kids, which is exactly what she did for a while. I suppose in the late 1940s, there were no programs promoting women engineers or researchers. The teacher route was the only acceptable option.
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Out, Travel
No wonder austin360.com publishes a column called “Luxe Life.” Austin is now spa city. The latest pampering center is a second location for Viva at Bridges on the Park. Shannon Mouser, Laurie Aroch, Maya Aroch Owners Shannon Mauser, Laurie Aroch and Maya Aroch gave us an enlightening tour of the rooms for facials, massages, manicures, pedicures and product testing. The centerpiece is a circular lounge, where I wanted to linger for hours. Juanita Escamilla, Barbara Hochman Yet the party was outside on the patio, just downhill from the new metal awnings for Paggi House, which re-opens in October. It’s a more than pleasant place for a gathering on a cool night. Like the party for neighboring skin-care boutique W3LL, this one was littered with the prettiest of people. A little heavier on the ink and subculture. Mark Hurtado, River Menks But everyone seemed spa-centered and spa-healthy. Tina Frinney, Yvette Garza
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Out, Style
A VIP Lounge for the Pecan Street Festival is almost a contradiction in terms. After all, the rowdy fest is among Austin’s most egalitarian events. The twice-annual street fair brings together people of more varied backgrounds than almost any other local party, looking a little New Orleans, a little Lubbock and a little San Antonio. Marcy Hoen, Bijoy Goswami, Allen Beuershausen Yet we were intrigued by the invitation. So we ascended the stairs at Maggie Mae’s and immediately ran into Mexic-Arte Museum director Silvia Orozco and friend, listening to a frenetic band called Los Bad Apples. We also chatted about the concept of the “nice gossip columnist.” Donna Branham and her $75 cockatoo Later we talked about the latest affairs with inveterate socializers Marcy Hoen, Allen Beuershausen and Bijoy Goswami. You always want to see Goswami at an event. It means people are connecting. Sipriano Vega, Damien Martinez They pointed me to Ike evacuee Donna Branham, who had purchased a distressed metal cockatoo from Nuevo Laredo. It was the type of art ubiquitous at the fair. Branham was very happy — and grateful for the breeze on Maggie Mae’s roof. We also talked to a couple from Iowa and two guys from Kansas — all soaking up Austin culture at its least elitist. Jennifer Alexander, Chad Allen Later, we retreated to the cool confines of the Gibson Guitar room. With a terrifically friendly crowd, we watched the UT-Rice game on the giant screens. At first, the defense gave us tremors. But all was well in hand by half-time, so we walked over to South Lamar Boulevard for the next event.
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Music, Out
Post-Ike Birthday Party in Houston
Viva Day Spa Grand Opening at Bridges on the Park
Pecan Street Festival VIP Party at Maggie Mae’s
