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22 CHEERS TO THE MAESTRO SYMPHONY RAISES GLASSES TO BELOVED CATERER JACKSON HICKS. Shelby Hodge goes bacchanalian. Photography Jenny Antill Clifton, Wilson Parish. A fter 35 years of providing only the best for Houston's party cognoscenti, Jackson Hicks offi cially announced his retirement at the Houston Symphony Wine Dinner & Collector's Auction. It was hard to discern who was more surprised: the black-tie diners on stage at Jones Hall when they heard the news, or the Prince of Parties himself, when he was named the evening's honoree. Symphony board president Steve Mach tossed verbal kisses to Hicks, inspiring a standing ovation. Wine dinner chairs Tara and David Wuthrich ushered in a new look for the annual fête. Gone was the typical Versailles-style decor as guests sat down for dinner in a delightfully rustic country French tableau, serving Yao Ming's highly rated top-shelf California cabernet and offering coveted Riedel wine glasses as party favors. RAISING GLASSES: Wine auction chairs Bob Weiner and Robert Sakowitz; honorary chair Margaret Alkek Williams; and wine consultants Lindy and John Rydman and daughter, Lisa Rydman. ON STAGE: Symphony CEO Mark Hanson and wife Christina, Cora Sue and Harry Mach, Nancy and Bob Peiser, Viviana and David Denechaud, Mary Lynn and Steve Marks, Milton Townsend, Denise and Philip Bahr, Robin Angly and Miles Smith, Beth Madison, Valerie and Tracy Dieterich, and Kathy and Marty Goossen. See more Shelby Hodge at papercitymag.com. Denise & Phillip Bahr Chairs David & Tara Wuthrich Jana & Scotty Arnoldy Wine chairs Lisa Rydman, John & Lindy Rydman Margaret Alkek Williams, Jim Daniel David & Viviana Denechaud Kevin Black, Christina Stith, Tony Bradfi eld Devinder & Gina Bhatia, Joella & Steve Mach Evan Scheele Kimberly Falgout Mark & Christina Hanson