Katy Holt

Rumor Has It – April 2010

April 2010
Natalia Nassar enjoyed an unforgettable 10th-birthday extravaganza thanks to personal party planners (a.k.a. her parents) George and Emily Nassar.

Rodeo madness hit town with a bang, and it all started with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s Uncorked Best Bites event, which is heaven-on-earth for foodies and wine lovers. Hundreds of wines from around the globe were poured by more volunteers than you can imagine. Local restaurants provided delish small bites to compliment the vinos. Tom and Brenda Koch

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Rumor Has It – March 2010

March 2010
Bellaire High School students rallied around Lin Boynton (center) to watch the State of the Union Address which her sister Li attended as an official guest. Michelle Landis, left, and Matthew Michaelides, right, are both members of the Bellaire Young Democrats club.

Road to the White House. Bellaire High School student Li Boynton has been on an odyssey that took her all the way to the White House. Last spring, Li completed research about light-emitting bacteria and won second place in the City of Houston science fair. Her creativity, unique research subject and dedication had paid off – after 10 years of …

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Rumor Has It – February 2010

February 2010
Members of the Stavinoha family enjoyed their trek to the Wahiba Sands Desert in Oman last December. Pictured taking a break from their camel rides are (from left) John Jr., John III, Maren, Edie and James Stavinoha.

Twenty-degree temps marked the start of twenty ten, and many Longhorn fans headed to the BCS National Championship game at the Rose Bowl. Tailgating was the name of the game at Brookside Golf Course in Pasadena on Jan. 7 to watch the No. 2 University of Texas at Austin football team take on No. 1-ranked University of Alabama. Fans attending …

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Rumor Has It – January 2010

January 2010
Enjoying the wine, tapas and supportive crowd are (from left) Kristi Coffey, Cassie Neumann and Kristy Wall, co-chairs for the Patrons for Bellaire Parks Wine & Tapas event held at the Neumanns’ home.

It’s a wrap, according to writer/director Travis Ammons, whose indie film, Suicide Notes, recently finished shooting in Houston. Some well-known names involved in the production include Lou Martini Jr. from The Sopranos, country-western legend Sammy Kershaw (who plays Ammons’ father in a cameo role), Sue Rock of Varsity Blues, line producer Katrina Ellsworth and former radio …

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Rumor Has It – December 2009

December 2009
Rosie Zamora, co-founder of Houston Wilderness and the Shoot for the Moon gala honoree, celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Nature Discovery Center alongside board member Jim Porter (left) and Brad Raffle, who delivered a tribute to Zamora.

Once the cool weather arrived, it was time to enjoy several fabulous holiday happenings. Ladies from all over town joined forces to support the Houston Junior Woman’s Club charitable fun in November at the Omni Houston Hotel. The fundraiser featured a holiday market, fashion show and luncheon and benefited several organizations, including Bayou Bend Collection & Gardens, Ronald McDonald House …

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Travel Buzz – San Francisco Treat

June 2009
Tourists can take a short ferry ride to Alcatraz Island. Its prison tour is one of San Francisco's most popular attractions.

Riding up and down San Francisco’s hilly streets on a streetcar, ferrying out to view Alcatraz Island’s prison or staring at the jaw-dropping Golden Gate Bridge are three things that all travelers need to check off their list.

But for those with more time in the San Francisco area, there are an unlimited number of scenic spots, including the historic …

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Have Dog, Will Travel

June 2009
Prada, a 75-pound Old English Sheepdog, is a frequent traveling companion for Terry Chavez and her husband, Anthony.

When the dog days of summer hit Houston, it may be time to let your pet’s paws hit the road with you.

The complexities of traveling with a pet are many. But for some families, the companionship is worth it – plus the bonus of not having to board or beg for petsitting.

Terry and Anthony Chavez’s 75-pound Old English …

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Travel Buzz – South of the Border

May 2009
Ann Elvin stops to smell the roses in Patagonia, Argentina. The teapot behind her depicts the flag of Wales with a dragon acknowledging the early Welsh settlement in Patagonia.

The vast and varied continent of South America has lured several Buzz readers recently.

Frank Elvin’s work trips gave his wife, Ann, the chance to explore Columbia at a reasonable cost. While in the capital city of Bogotá, the couple stayed at La Fontana, which has its own church, and enjoyed a trip to the Gold Museum, which houses an …

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Travel Buzz – Pacific Northwest

April 2009
Visitors to Seattle will want to take time to enjoy the year-round Pike Place Market.

Most Americans have a sense of the Pacific Northwest’s grandeur that is clouded, literally, by the rainy forecasts known to dominate the region.

Seattle
Anyone who visits Seattle can tell you that, even with the rain, it is a great city that mixes urban attitude and outdoorsy charm.

According to Catherine Gartner, “The quintessential Seattle experience is at Pike Place …

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Beyond College Brochures

April 2009
College pic

Before the SAT scores are in, the letters of recommendation are arranged, and the college essays are finished, it’s time to hit the road.

Matching a college’s opportunities to your student’s needs is challenging, and even the best brochure or Web site can’t reveal the fullness of life on a college campus. “Most kids are just looking at the dorms …

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Look, Mom, They Like It!

March 2009
Homemade sweet potato chips are easy to make and quick to disappear when Will, 6, and Reid Turlington, 4, need a healthy snack.

Ask most kids what they want for dinner and the answer is sure to be one of three things: pizza, macaroni and cheese, or chicken tenders. There is hope, however, for parents who want to expose their children to healthier fare.

Most parents want to know the secrets to getting their children to eat good food because healthy eating has …

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Travel Buzz – Travel Rewards

March 2009
The Kronberg family see the Great Wall during their visit to China.

Embarking on a trip is cause for excitement, and sometimes the destination is more meaningful when there is a chance to give back to the local community.

Just a few days before Sonia and Ron Kronberg were set to leave China to fulfill a lifelong dream for their daughter, Erin, a massive earthquake destroyed much of the Sichuan province and …

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Travel Buzz – Riches of Central America

February 2009
The Sagel family spotted a rich variety of wildlife while on a river tour in Panama.

The natural beauty of Central America offers a refreshing change of pace for Houstonians, and with so many remarkable sites it has year-round appeal.

Frequent trips to Panama to visit relatives have been a source of adventure, relaxation, and more for Esteban Sagel, his wife, Elsa, and daughters, Paola and Gabby. Most people have heard about the Panama Canal and …

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A Tradition to Remember

February 2009
Texas was well represented with 11 debutantes at the International Debutante Ball. Front row, left to right: Jessica Jean Whichard, Kathryn Elizabeth Drennon, Mary Kelly Faulkner Drennon, Alexandra Lynn Chunn. Back row: Louise Forman Boesel, Courtney Paige Somerville, Gwendolyn Mildred Culver Seale, Kimberley Allison Mead, Kimberly Ahn Hays, Meredith Anne Margrave. (Not pictured: Taelor Alexandria Ranzau.)

One of the more spectacular debutante balls, the International Debutante Ball in New York City, was held December 29. Texas was well represented with 11 debutantes and several bachelor escorts.

Many people think of debutante balls as a big party for the elite. But for the participants, it’s so much more. “This 54th anniversary ball was about the importance of …

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Just Did It!

January 2009
Fueling her body with the right balance of nutritious foods was important for Suzanne Rippeto, who exercises regularly and plays tennis. (Photo: ##http://www.hartphoto.com##www.hartphoto.com##)

What kind of year was 2008? As a result of Hurricane Ike and the economic downturn, it was a difficult and challenging year for many people. In many ways, however, it was a year defined by restoration and renewal. It was also a year marked by change, for those who decided to take on a new challenge.

Nutrition
Suzanne Rippeto’s …

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