He loves his school. He can’t get enough of his iPod. He digs rock music, and his favorite song is Johnny Cash’s “A Boy Named Sue.”

But in one way, he’s different.

Drew has a very rare genetic condition called neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation. The condition is so rare, that only about 6,000 people world-wide have the disease. Children and adults with the disease have a build-up of iron in the brain that causes neural degeneration, involuntary muscle movements, failing eyesight and difficulty with speech.

The disease is fatal.

“My hands, my eyes and my speech,” have changed in the six years since diagnosis at age 11, Drew said, his mother, Amy, interpreting because his speech has been affected by his condition.

At a recent conference for families suffering with NBIA, Drew met other children with the condition and was struck by the need to find a cure, if not for himself, then for the younger children living with the condition.

Drew, his family and friends mobilized to turn Drew’s love of music into a fundraiser for a cure.

Band Together for a Cure will be held at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 10 at Austin Ridge Bible Church, 9300 Bee Cave Road. Audioroad, Penny and Sparrow and Friendly Savages will perform. Bountiful Café and Bakery is providing dinner, and there will be a silent auction. Tickets are $25. Proceeds will go to the NBIA Disorders Association, an international nonprofit that is working to find a cure.

“As a board on NBIA we’ve said that if we can raise $60 million we can cure this,” said Mark Karakourtis, Drew’s father. “For a lot of families, if we can just hang on, there is light at the end of the tunnel. At the end of the day, it’s just a dollar figure and time that stands between this and a cure.”

Despite the challenges he has faced, Drew has not lost hope, Amy Karakourtis said.

“The great thing about Drew is that as he’s lost abilities, his heart has not lost courage,” she said. “He’s a real example of perseverance. It’s taught us to enjoy each day and make the most of your time. It doesn’t take a whole lot to make something special if you have the perspective of ‘Today I can do this, and I’m going to do it.’ He’s been a good teacher.”

For now, Drew has decided that organizing a concert fundraiser is what he can do.

Tickets are $25, which includes dinner.For more information or to purchase tickets, send an email to amyinaustin@austin.rr.com.

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Photo by Nimai Malle

Retribution rhythm guitarist Phil Smith plays during the Eanes Education Foundation at Antone’s Jamfest.

The fourth-annual JamFest, the music-laden fundraiser for the Eanes Education Foundation, hit Antone’s Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. with a packed schedule of young talent, including two dozen students from the Eanes school district.

JamFest is the brainchild of Westbank orthodontist Randy Kunik, a former EEF board member who is underwriting the event this year. Kunik said he knew the idea would be a winner for the local community and local schools.

“[It’s] a student band showcase that encourages student musicians and provides a high profile performance venue that is also a benefit for our outstanding Eanes schools,” he said.

Ten bands formed the line-up: Electric Silk, The Austeens, The Others, Playing with Fire, Unsocialized, The Little Galaxy, The Old Theatre Guild, Lithium Sun, Retribution and Jester’s Court. Eanes students participating include: Phil Smith, Thomas Denning, Tim Smith, Juan De Haro, Dave North, Devin North, Cody Ross, Ben Baron, Grace Krakow, Olivia Field, Madeline Silvestro, Enrique Sanchez, Brett Wilson, Sophia Werkenthin, Zoe Ashton, Hanna Jinks, Rohit Srinivasan, Benjamin Hines, Tre Pham, Paulo Lugo, Michael Mullen, Cade Bandera, Emily Weller and Roy Fenner.

West Ridge Middle School eighth-grader Dave North plays lead guitar for the band Retribution, which has been together for a year. He started playing guitar at six and writing songs when he was 10. He said his band was excited to earn one of those high-profile spots in the showcase through audition.

“Our band has been looking forward to [this] for a long time,” he said. “We love to jam and get the audience to jam with us, especially if it’s for a good cause and especially if it’s at Antone’s.”

Dave’s brother, Devin, is a Westlake High School sophomore and the bassist leader of the band Jester’s Court. He and the band’s drummer, Ben Baron, have been playing together for two years. Guitarist Cody Ross and vocalist Grace Krakow joined the band last year. Devin said he became interested in music through the school district’s orchestra program.

“With more funding from events such as this, the district’s vast music programs can continue to grow and flourish,” he said.

Olivia Field, WRMS seventh-grader and guitarist for Austeens echoes that sentiment.

“EEF is important to us because [it allows us] to hire more teachers,” she said.

Last year, EEF provided $1.19 million to the Eanes school district. The organization hopes to provide a similar amount to fund excellence in local schools this year, said EEF executive director Wally Moore.

“Gifts to the Eanes Education Foundation help our outstanding Eanes schools perform well beyond what the state defines as an adequate public school education, and it is our Eanes schools that provide much of the glue that makes the Eanes area such a great place to live and work,” Kunik said. “That funding is even more important now, as the state is increasingly unable or unwilling to fund our public schools at levels that prepare our students to be successful at the next level.”

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Photo by Esther Robards Forbes

Westlake Choir students will put on their makeup, strap on their dancing shoes and hit the stage of the Performing Arts Center Friday as they bring the two-time Tony award winning “Damn Yankees” to life.
“At first, I didn’t know what the musical was,” said Ryan Conant, a senior who plays Joe Boyd in the production. I had never heard of ‘Damn Yankees.’ I read a bit more about it and realized that it would be a really fun musical.”
“Damn Yankees,” first brought to Broadway in 1955 and revived in 1994, may be a bit obscure for most teens and is not on the usual list of high school musicals, said director Jenn Goodner.
“I’ve actually always really wanted to do this show because it has some really exciting numbers and lots of good dancing, but it’s a show that doesn’t get done all that much because high schools don’t usually have such a large pool of boys to choose from,” Goodner said. “And there are a lot of male parts because it’s a show about baseball. Because we have the luxury of having so many talented boys, we decided that we would go ahead and do this show.”
“Damn Yankees” is a modern twist on the tale of Faust, with the  main character, Joe Boyd, making a deal with the Devil to become a young ball player for the Washington Senators so they can finally beat those Yankees.
Set in the 1950s, the costume department has gone all-out with the classic clothes and the cast has been working non-stop since before Christmas. With only four and half weeks to rehearse, the time table can seem a little brutal, but cast members say they’ll be ready to go.
“It’s a lot of awesome singing and a lot of awesome dancing and it’s going to be just fantastic,” said Trey Slack, a senior who is playing Joe Hardy.
Many of the leads this year are seniors who have been dreaming of their moment in the spotlight since they were younger, watching casts of the past at Westlake High.
“I’ve just always loved doing choir and singing,” Conant said. “Ever since I was a freshman, I’ve watched the leads and wanted to be one of them.”
A few have been bitten by the performance bug and plan to continue their work in theater after graduation.
“I love to sing, and I love to dance, and musical theater is what I want to do in the future,” said Megan Kelly who is playing the iconic Lola in the production. “I plan to major in musical theater.”
But for tomorrow night, the cast will set aside their anxiety and their dreams of the future to put on the best show they can.

“The kids continually surprise you on how amazing they are and how much work they put into their characters,” Goodner said of her cast. “It means so much how hard they work and how much they care.”
Performances of “Damn Yankees” will be held Feb. 2-4 at 7:30 p.m. in Westlake High School Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $15.
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From left, Marathon Kids and advocates for eating healthy foods Itzel Rios, Harper Hay and Aketzali Rios

By Holly Jackson
Special to the Picayune

Marathon Kids fifth annual “Heroes for Health” fundraiser hailed the Honorable Susan Combs for her ground-breaking efforts in children’s health and fitness. More than 300 celebratory supporters attended the recent sold-out soiree at the Four Seasons Hotel.

A who’s who of her fellow elected officials were Congressman Lamar Smith, state Rep. Mark Strama, former legislators Bruce Gibson and Buster Brown, former Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams and Austin school board of trustees Tamela Barksdale and Vincent Torres. Former house member Dianne Delisi and former Health Commissioner Dr. Eduardo Sanchez introduced Combs. Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith was the master of ceremonies.
Guests enjoyed flowers from Westbank-owned Mandarin Flower Company, cocktail reception and locally sourced food of flat iron steak and Texas goat cheesecake. The highest-priced live auction items featured a Roubaix Elite bicycle with an autographed Lance Armstrong helmet and trips to the marathon in Big Sur, Calif., and skiing in Telluride, Colo.
During 19 years of public service, Combs has been an outspoken advocate. Before her current tenure as comptroller, she was the first woman elected Texas Agriculture Commissioner. The fourth-generation Texan climbed from assistant district attorney in Dallas to state representative in Austin, which included the Westbank.
Combs has worked tirelessly to require nutritional food choices and reduced serving sizes in public schools, which ignited a national conversation and grassroots movement around childhood health. She added she is “a believer that P.E. in school matters.”
“It was a wonderful testimony to her leadership that we had an overflow crowd and raised record-setting proceeds,” said Joy Authur, Marathon Kids national development director.
Paul Carrozza, RunTex founder and member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, introduced Combs to Kay Morris, founder of Marathon Kids. Morris wants children to develop a passion for action and healthy habits, which generates a lifelong lifestyle of muscular, nutritional and psychological well-being. Youth run or walk the equivalent of a 26.2 mile marathon during a six-month period and are challenged to eat fruits and vegetables five times a day for 26.2 days a month.
Originating in Austin, Marathon Kids has free running, walking, nutrition and gardening programs in nine cities nationwide, serving 250,000 children in grades kindergarten-fifth during the 2011-12 school year. Since 1996, one million children have benefited.  Approximately 83,000 Austin area youth registered this year and thousands are from the Eanes school district.
For further information, visit www.marathonkids.org.

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Photo by Holly Jackson

From left, sponsors the Westbank family of Lindsay, Karen, King Brio XLVl  Dr. Thomas, Shelby, Marquardt and Megan Vaughn

By Holly Jackson
Special to the Picayune

The magical charm of the Old South was re-created in the theme of “Moonlight & Magnolias” at the Women’s Symphony League of Austin’s recent 57th annual Jewel Ball.

The presentation party celebrated the children and grandchildren of League members for their tireless spirit of volunteerism while raising money for the Austin Symphony Orchestra.

More than 1,000 black-tie glitterati filled the sold out Palmer Events Center. The venue was transformed into a beautiful garden with stone benches, ivy-covered lattices and a gazebo topped with a chandelier.

The ceremonial salute showcased fourteen members of the Austin Royal Court, along with 85 junior royalty of Escorts and Trainbearers, 10th-grade Bells and Beaux, and eighth-grade Maidens and Squires. Moreover, seven visiting duchesses and escorts were featured to highlight other symphonies in Texas.

The Westbanker royalty was Sara Hyten, daughter of Scott and Kelly Hyten; Andrea Ingram, daughter of the late Dickie Ingram and Maya Ingram; Anna Widner and Jackson Widner, daughter and son of Knight Dr. Steve and Kim Widner; and Levi Gibson, son of Knight Bruce Gibson and Stephanie Gibson.

Wroe Jackson was a flawless master of ceremonies. Crowned Westbanker Dr. Thomas Vaughn assumed his King Brio XLVl title with bejeweled scepter in hand. After formal bows and curtseys were performed, the ladies of the Royal Court and their fathers enjoyed the first dance of the evening.

Catering by Rosemary served a seated dinner of petit filet paired with shrimp. A cocktail reception, live music by Suede and the riverboat casino were merrymaking entertainment.

The silent auction included impressive items such as upscale vacations to the Four Seasons in Carlsbad, California; Grammy Awards in Los Angeles and Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, Ga.

Net proceeds generated approximately $205,000.

“The Jewel Committee Chair Diane Falkenberg, Jewel Ball Chair Kelly Goulding and the entire WSL organization did an outstanding job,” said Carrie Brown, Westbanker and board president. “Our vision is to connect, collaborate and contribute, so we accomplished all three in one fundraiser!”

In its 59th year of service, this league of 650 women is the single largest financial patron of the Austin Symphony. Each year, 90,000 Central Texas children and 225,000 adults benefit from the symphony’s musical projects.

For further information, visit www.austinsymphony.org/about/organizations/womens-symphony-league-of-austin.

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Photo by Nimai Malle

Underwriters for the 2011 JamFest, from left, James Mays and Randy Kunik, put the fun in fundraising for the Eanes Education Foundation at Antone’s last year.

The fourth-annual JamFest, the music-laden fundraiser for the Eanes Education Foundation, hits Antone’s Saturday from noon-4 p.m. with a packed schedule of young talent, including two dozen students from the Eanes school district.

JamFest is the brainchild of Westbank orthodontist Randy Kunik, a former EEF board member who is underwriting the event this year. Kunik said he knew the idea would be a winner for the local community and local schools.

“[It’s] a student band showcase that encourages student musicians and provides a high profile performance venue that is also a benefit for our outstanding Eanes schools,” he said.

Ten bands will form the line-up: Electric Silk, The Austeens, The Others, Playing with Fire, Unsocialized, The Little Galaxy, The Old Theatre Guild, Lithium Sun, Retribution and Jester’s Court. Eanes students participating include: Phil Smith, Thomas Denning, Tim Smith, Juan De Haro, Dave North, Devin North, Cody Ross, Ben Baron, Grace Krakow, Olivia Field, Madeline Silvestro, Enrique Sanchez, Brett Wilson, Sophia Werkenthin, Zoe Ashton, Hanna Jinks, Rohit Srinivasan, Benjamin Hines, Tre Pham, Paulo Lugo, Michael Mullen, Cade Bandera, Emily Weller and Roy Fenner.

West Ridge Middle School eighth-grader Dave North plays lead guitar for the band Retribution, which has been together for a year. He started playing guitar at six and writing songs when he was 10. He said his band was excited to earn one of those high-profile spots in the showcase through audition.

“Our band has been looking forward to [this] for a long time,” he said. “We love to jam and get the audience to jam with us, especially if it’s for a good cause and especially if it’s at Antone’s.”

Dave’s brother, Devin, is a Westlake High School sophomore and the bassist leader of the band Jester’s Court. He and the band’s drummer, Ben Baron, have been playing together for two years. Guitarist Cody Ross and vocalist Grace Krakow joined the band last year. Devin said he became interested in music through the school district’s orchestra program.

“With more funding from events such as this, the district’s vast music programs can continue to grow and flourish,” he said.

Olivia Field, WRMS seventh-grader and guitarist for Austeens echoes that sentiment.

“EEF is important to us because [it allows us] to hire more teachers,” she said.

Last year, EEF provided $1.19 million to the Eanes school district. The organization hopes to provide a similar amount to fund excellence in local schools this year, said executive director Wally Moore.

“Gifts to the Eanes Education Foundation help our outstanding Eanes schools perform well beyond what the state defines as an adequate public school education, and it is our Eanes schools that provide much of the glue that makes the Eanes area such a great place to live and work,” Kunik said. “That funding is even more important now, as the State is increasingly unable or unwilling to fund our public schools at levels that prepare our students to be successful at the next level.”

Antone’s is located at 213 West Fifth St. Donations to EEF will be accepted at the door during JamFest performances.

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Photo by Dane Anderson

From left, Westlake High School theater teacher Gary Jaffe, alumni actress Kathleen Fletcher and Hill Country Middle School drama teacher Pam Fletcher-Friday prepare last week for a preview performance of “The Alien Baby Play” at a Westlake residence.

Bringing a baby into the world as a single mom is a tough job to undertake. Imagine how much tougher it would be if the father was not of this world. What’s a girl to do?

If you are Bethany, the sole character in the interactive “The Alien Baby Play” by award-winning New York playwright Walker Herbert, you sell tickets to the birth on Craigslist. The one-woman play will be featured at the Salvage Vanguard Theater as part of FronteraFest Long Fringe on Saturday and Sunday and again on Feb. 5. It stars New York actress and Westlake High School graduate Kathleen Fletcher, daughter of Hill Country Middle School drama teacher Pam Fletcher-Friday. It is directed by Gary Jaffe, artistic director of the Austin TUTTO Theatre Company, a WHS theater teacher and a former student of Fletcher-Friday’s. The local drama teaching icon created the costumes for the play, including a pregnancy belly with a few surprises.

“Acting has always been a part of my life – a huge part,” Fletcher said. “Mom was in a show when she was pregnant with me, so I guess you could say that was my start and I have come full circle.”

The endeavor is a bit like homecoming week for Fletcher-Friday.

“I feel like both Kathleen and Gary are my kids,” she said. “I’ve had them together since the sixth-grade, and I’ve worked with them on and off throughout the years. It’s a blessing to be working with them as talented adults. They make me up my game.”

The new play has no script and the audience is an integral part of the evening’s experience. It is a different show every night.

When Fletcher and Herbert got together to try and come up with ideas for a new play, Fletcher was absorbed in thoughts of the Rapture and the apocalyptic predictions for 2012. She took the scriptless, one-woman show idea to Jaffe, who snapped it up for the TUTTO Theatre.

“The opportunity to produce a new play by a New York playwright acted by a legendary Austin/New York actress was a no-brainer,” Jaffe said.

The company worked hard to make the setting of the play feel like home to audience members. Early performances took place in Fletcher-Friday’s West Lake Hill’s home without stage lighting or props.

“We want things to happen in very humdrum, normal circumstances that are out of this world,” Jaffe said. “We wanted to make the alien familiar and the familiar alien. It’s been a challenge to make sure we convince the audience of the realness of this world and, at the same time, convince them of the strangeness.”

Fletcher gives an uncannily natural performance, helping those seated around her bridge the gulf of disbelief. She is charming, open and believable as she walks around stage balancing her huge belly and eating vegetables. It’s unconventional theater.

“Career-wise, it’s dangerous what she is doing,” Fletcher-Friday said. “As a mom, I’m like – ‘Yikes. My girl is out on a limb.’ As an actress, I’m thrilled about it. As a drama teacher, I can tell you it is really inspiring.”

Jaffe earned a cum laude with distinction bachelor’s degree in theater studies from Yale University. He was the 2010 recipient of the Richard B. Sewall Cup for outstanding scholarly achievement and creative promise. Friday is an award-winning freelance costume designer whose creations are currently featured in Austin, Washington, D.C., and Off-Broadway productions. Fletcher has won numerous awards for acting, including a B. Iden Payne Award for Best Actress in a Drama in 2008.

The Vanguard Theater is located at 2803 Manor Road. Tickets to performances of “The Alien Baby Play” are $10 and available through FronteraFest.org.

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Westbank Community Library District

Don’t forget that you have access to thousands of free eBooks and eAudiobook through our OverDrive eLibrary, Project Gutenberg, Librivox, and Open Library. If you need help figuring out just how to get those books onto your eReader or tablet, come to one of our eReaders Revealed help sessions Jan. 30 at Laura’s and Feb. 1 at Westbank, both at 6:30 p.m. Feel free to bring your devices and laptops.

Valentine’s sunset event

The Friends of the Library will be hosting a lovely evening for our adult members filled with wine and appetizers, entertainment and a silent auction, a beautiful sunset view and pleasant company in the month of February near Valentine’s Day. Keep your eyes peeled for additional date and time information. The event will be at Laura’s Library for $10 per person, and you will be able to purchase a reservation online or in person at either library branch soon.

New community garden

coming in spring

Westbank is starting an organic community garden, and we’re aiming for spring 2012 for our first batch of gardeners. The growing area will be part educational garden in collaboration with Westlake High School and part edible garden with food grown by Westbank growers. If you’re interested in renting a plot or donating tools, know-how or something monetary to help fund the project, please email Alex at alex@westbanklibrary.com for more information. Lots of details are still being hammered out, but we’re excited to get the ball rolling.

Much ado about water

Because of growing concern about the future of Westlake’s water supply, the library will be hosting an educational series that aims to help you figure out just how best to use and conserve our most precious resource. Join us on the fourth Tuesday of each month through April at Laura’s Library, 6:30 p.m. The first topic is “To Lawn or Not to Lawn” Tuesday.

Library programs

Check our website for up-to-date information on programs such as book selections and special programs. There you can also find our new winter and spring 2012 calendars to print and post on the fridge. See you soon.

Adults book groups

Booktalk Book Group: last Tuesday of the month, 1 p.m. at Westbank Mysteries and More Book Club: third Wednesday of the month, 1 p.m. at Westbank; third Tuesday Book Club: third Tuesday of the month, 6:30 p.m. at Laura’s.

Craft groups

• The Bag Ladies (sew up some super cute bags.): second and third Fridays of the month, 11 a.m. at Laura’s.

• Knit Wits: Fridays, noon at Westbank.

• Night Knitters: Mondays, 6 p.m. at Laura’s.

• Quilters: second and fourth Thursdays of the month, 1 p.m. at Westbank.

Groups that defy

our definitions

• Meditation: Tuesdays, noon at Westbank.

• Game Night: second Tuesday of the month, 6:30 p.m. at Laura’s French Film Club (watch the film selection at home, then come discuss at the library): third Wednesday of the month, 7 p.m. (a new time) at Westbank.

• First Friday Genealogy Group: first Friday of the month, 10 a.m. at Laura’s.

Kids, tweens, and teens evenings

• First Wednesday: Krafty Kids (all ages) 6:30 p.m. at Westbank.

• Second Tuesday: Krafty Kids (all ages) 6:30 p.m. at Laura’s.

• Third Wednesday: Pajama Storytime (all ages) 6:30 p.m. at Westbank.

• Fourth Tuesday: Pajama Storytime (all ages) 6:30 p.m. at Laura’s.

• Mondays

Dragon Eggs Storytime (ages 0-1) 10:30 a.m. at Westbank.

Little Dragons Storytime (ages 3-5) 12:30 p.m. at Laura’s.

Checkmate Kids Chess Club (all ages) 5 p.m. at Laura’s.

• Tuesdays

Little Dragons Storytime (ages 3-5) 10:30 a.m. at Westbank.

Family Storytime (all ages) 3:30 p.m. at Westbank.

• Wednesdays

Tot Time Storytime (ages 1-3) 10:30 a.m. at both branches.

Family Storytime (all ages) 4 p.m. at Laura’s Thursdays.

Dragon Eggs Storytime (ages 0-1) 10:30 a.m. at Laura’s.

• Fridays:

Friday Film Series (all ages) third Fridays of the month, 4 p.m. at Laura’s.

The Lone Star Cattlemen Foundation recently presented its annual Sportsman Soiree at the Texas Disposal Systems’ exotic game ranch, and more than 775 Western-wearing wranglers swaggered in for a sold-out fundraiser.

Themed “A Night at the Ranch,” the exciting evening kicked off with a bang at the skeet shoot. The Chad Epps band played during the cocktail reception, and Sunny Sweeney starred as the country music headliner.

The competitive crowd tried their luck on 70 raffle packages, such as tickets to a Texans football game, Cavender’s boots, Baffin Bay fishing trip and diamond earrings from the Westbank’s Duncan & Boyd.

Numerous tables of hearty appetizers featured wild game fare such as dove tamales, queso and wraps; axis- stuffed tenderloin, tacos and tostadas; grilled and fried quail; pork sliders and taquitos; and barbeque chicken. Westbankers Claude Smith and Dr. Frosty Moore, along with three other hunters, shot the multitudes of dove and quail over many months just for the event.

Auctioneer Michael Ondrasek led the live auction of 32 popular packages. The largest items included his-and-her shotguns from McBride’s Guns; home stay for 10 skiers in Crested Butte, Colorado; ranch lodging and turkey hunt in Uvalde, Texas; and a five-star dove hunt at the world-famous David Denies Pica Auro Lodge in Cordoba, Argentina.

Proceeds grossed an impressive $225,000.

“Our generous donors and dedicated volunteers made tonight possible,” said Westbanker Cindy Greenwood, event chair and LSC Foundation secretary. “We benefit hundreds of families who encourage their children’s educational future towards college.”

The Lone Star Cattlemen Foundation is an auction-buying organization that supports FFA and 4-H youth in surrounding counties who raise and show livestock. Since 2001, the nonprofit has donated approximately $500,000.

The foundation has been awarded a top buyers group at the Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo, so save the date for the STFR Youth Auction on March 25 at Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum.

For further information, visit lonestarcattlemen.com.

For more events, visit HollysHotHappenings.com

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RIGHT: Westbanker, sponsor and advisory council member Steve Hanes, left, with Steve Barcik Amstel

By Holly Jackson

Contributing Writer

Austin’s oldest, largest, one-evening, wine and food-tasting fundraiser called La Dolce Vita, meaning “The Sweet Life,” was held recently on the 12-acre, lakeside grounds of Laguna Gloria.

The Austin Museum of Art celebrated the benefit’s 22nd anniversary by transporting attendees back to a Night in Old Siena, Italy. Themed after the centuries-old horse race called Il Palio, old movies and multi-colored ribbons set the scene. More than 1,800 partygoers admired Fiat cars, listened to DJ music and posed at the Annie Ray photo booth. Raffle prizes featured an iPad, Twin Liquors’ wine basket and a digital camera.

A VIP reception was held at the historic, Italianate-style villa for notables including honorary co-chairs David Jabour and Margaret Jabour of Twin Liquors and honorary chef Kevin Williamson of Ranch 616. Creative Creations catered the cuisine, and Westbank-owned Mandarin Flowers provided floral arrangements.

Savory bites were served by 53 restaurants and caterers: A Taste of Italy, Alamo Drafthouse, Andiamo, Blue Star, Carillion, Cazamance, Chez Zee, Contigo, Cuatro’s, Driskill Grill, East Side Showroom, Eddie V’s, Flemings, Imperia, J. Blacks, Judges Hill, Kerbey Lane, La Sombra, Malaga, Melting Pot, Mirabelle, Moonshine, NoRTH, Paggi House/Swift Attic, Palmer’s, Parkside/Backspace, Roaring Fork, Sao Paulo’s, Siena, Southwest Bistro, Sterling Affairs, Taj Palace/Taj Mahal, TenOak, Texas Coffee, Urban, Vivo, Whole Foods, Word of Mouth, Zed’s and Westbank’s Taco Deli, Eleven Plates and Maudie’s. Steiner Ranch Steakhouse was awarded crowd favorite.

Desserts were prepared by Objects of Confection, Austin Cake Ball, Suga Plump Pastries, Sugar Tooth Bakery and SugarPOP Sweet Shop.

Imbibers sampled international and Texas wines from Becker, Brennan, Inwood, Llano Estacado, McPherson, Pedernales, Pleasant Hill, Vineyard at Florence and Torre De Pietra. Votes made with marbles determined Fall Creek again won best white, and Perdernales garnered best red.

Two scotch lounges offered nightcaps by Cuvee Coffee and Tipsy Texan. A liquor lounge included vodka from Cinco, Deep Eddy, Savvy and Tito’s; tequila from Republic and Mexcal; and Westbank-owned Paula’s Texas Spirits.

“This sellout exceeded expectations,” event chair Steve Redman said. “We enjoyed glorious weather, and the food was exquisite.”

On Nov. 1, an art museum merger resulted in the renaming of AMOA-Arthouse that showcases two locations at Laguna Gloria and The Jones Center on Congress.

Proceeds generated $150,000 for AMOA’s education programs. For further information, visit www.amoa.org.

For more events, visit HollysHotHappenings.com

For more events, visit HollysHotHappenings.com