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SEPTEMBER | PAGE 44 | 2014 Brilliant BETTE THE BAWDY BROAD PROVES THERE'S NO PEOPLE LIKE SHOW PEOPLE WHILE DIALOGUING FOR THE BRILLIANT LECTURE SERIES. B ette Midler enchanted legions of fans when she came to town for her one-night-only Brilliant Lecture Series engagement. Organizing her appearance was the equally brilliant Scott Brogan, who brought the divine Miss M here with the help of underwriters Lynn Wyatt, and Tony Bradfield and Kevin Black of Tenenbaum & Co. Before she took to Wortham Theater Center's main stage, Midler engaged in a green-room meet- and-greet as part of the sold-out night. After innumerable snaps had been taken on the step-and- repeat, she took to the stage for a conversation with radio personality Roula Christie of KRBE's The Roula & Ryan Show, where the lady of the stage offered sage and witty words regarding show business and displayed her tireless devotion to the New York Restoration Project, which she founded in 1995 to ensure all New Yorkers have access to green space. Near the end of their talk, Christie and Midler took a selfie from the stage with houselights raised, just as Ellen DeGeneres had done weeks before at the Academy Awards. Concluding it all was a boisterous standing ovation. Deep-pocketed Midler fanatics convened on a top floor of the Houston Club for an intimate dinner party hosted by Marcus Sloan and Shannon Hall and Monsour Taghdisi and Hank Richardson. Après dinner, Midler confessed that she and dinner partner Madame Wyatt had hatched all sorts of plans for Houston, no doubt as exciting and glamorous as the ladies themselves. Devoted to the divine: Jerry Ann and Victor Costa, Joanne King Herring, Mickey Rosmarin, Christina Stith, Shelby Kibodeaux and Bruce Padilla, Michel Muylle, Susan and Dan Boggio, Heidi Kashani, Guity Kashani, and Michael Merritt. Seth Vaughan PHOTOGRAPHY EMILE BROWNE Kevin Black Marcus Sloan Shannon Hall Christina Stith Scott Brogan Jeff Shell Mark Funk Michel Muylle Scott Brogan Alex Rubio Joanne King Herring Monsour Taghdisi Hank Richardson Bette Midler Tony Bradfield Lynn Wyatt PHOTOGRAPHY DANIEL ORTIZ, MICHELLE WATSON The Houston Symphony I t was a celebration a century in the making. More than 300 oenophiles joined chairmen Lindy and John Rydman and Lisa Rydman at Jones Hall for the Houston Symphony's Centennial Wine Dinner and Collector's Auction. Festivities commenced in the grand foyer with the infamous Collector's Auction, this year chaired by Bob Weiner and featuring 115 spectacular items, including a wine dinner in Gina and Devinder Bhatia's underground wine cellar that holds an astonishing 14,000 bottles. Giddy patrons were ushered onto the main stage for a beautiful dinner by Jackson and Company, accompanied by choice wines provided by Spec's. By evening's end, a record $410,000 had been raised for the symphony's community outreach and educational programs — yet another reason to raise a glass. Toast of the town: Symphony executive director Mark Hanson with wife Christina; Robert Sakowitz; board president Bob Peiser with wife Nancy; board chairman Jess Tutor with wife Betty; Phoebe and Bobby Tudor; Margaret Williams and Jim Daniel; Mary Lynn and Steve Marks; Barbara and Pat McCelvey; Robert Gilroy; Joella and Steve Mach; and Carl Chargois. Erin Oppenheim years Cheers to 100 Chairman John Rydman Tracy Dieterich Jess Tutor Bob Peiser Valerie Dieterich Chairman Lindy Rydman Christina Hanson Scott McCool Kirby McCool Jim Daniel Margaret Williams Chairman Lisa Rydman Devinder Bhatia Gina Bhatia Robert Sakowitz Thurmon Andress Sergei Galperin Phoebe Tudor Rob Vermillion Maggie Vermillion Christie McCartney Bob Weiner Jo Dee Wright Billy McCartney Windi Grimes Joella Mach Steve Mach Amie Geary Bottles for Bucks: The Top • Mouton Rothschild, one bottle (magnum), 1986; sold for $4,100 • Chateau Petrus, one bottle (magnum), 1988; sold for $3,900 • Louis Roederer Cristal, one bottle (jeroboam), 2005; sold for $2,500 • Verite combo: two (750 ml) bottles each of La Joie, La Muse, La Desir, 2008; sold for $2,000 • NV Baron de Rothschild Blanc de Blancs, one bottle; sold for $1,750 5