Business News

Cecil C. Conner, Houston Ballet managing director, announced in May that Andrew Edmonson has been promoted to the position of director of marketing and public relations. In his new position, Edmonson will be responsible for supervising a nine-person staff and will oversee the company’s marketing, ticketing services, public relations, and telemarketing efforts. • Edmonson joined Houston Ballet in 1993 as public relations manager, overseeing all the company’s press and public relations. During his seven years at Houston Ballet, he has significantly raised the company’s national and international profile. He also oversaw the world premieres of Ben Stevenson’s blockbuster production Dracula (1997), The Snow Maiden (1998), and Cleopatra (March 2000). • A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, Edmonson graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Art with distinction in English literature. Prior to joining Houston Ballet, he was public relations manager of the Alley Theatre. Edmonson has severed on the boards of numerous community organizations, including Halloween Magic and the AIDS service organization Body Positive. He was co-chair of the Houston Gay & Lesbian Film Festival in 1999 and 2000.

Bayou City Boys Club, Inc. (BCBC) distributed a record amount of proceeds from Jungle IX, the ninth rendition of its Easter weekend dance party and fundraiser. The designated beneficiaries of this year’s event–The Arrow Project, The WAM Foundation, The Kolbe Foundation, The Assistance Fund, The Buyers Club, Inc. and The Center for AIDS–will receive a total of $40,000. In addition, BCBC made a one-time gift of $1,500 to Names Project Houston in honor and memory of Pete Martinez. Since the cost of Jungle IX was totally underwritten by BCBC’s supporters and sponsors, BCBC was able to donate all proceeds from ticket sales of Jungle IX directly to these beneficiaries. • Over 1,200 people attended this year’s party, held on April 14 in a new and larger venue in Houston’s warehouse district. Recording artist and circuit DJ Warren Gluck of New York City spun a high-energy, lyrical mix that kept everyone dancing until just before dawn. The music, the sound, the lights, and the laser show created a party experience unparalleled in Houston and one that will create tremendous excitement and anticipation in advance of next year’s 10th anniversary event. • Sponsors of the event included Bud Light, Absolute Vodka and Margaritaville Tequila, Splash Productions, Rich’s Houston, copy.com, Houston Title, Don Carlos Catering, and Always in Season. BCBC is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) all-volunteer organization whose mission is to raise money for Houston- area HIV/AIDS service providers, research, and education. For more information, please contact Matthew Krol, BCBC president, at 713/880-8980 or visit the BCBC website at www.bayoucityboysclub.org.

Houston Mission Church has moved from its location at 1505 Nevada (corner of Commonwealth) to 7800 Amelia Road (one block east of Wirt, between Longpoint and Hammerly), in the A.R.E. Center of Houston. Sunday morning worship is at 10 a.m. The church continues to be committed to providing a family of faith for everyone.

The Mercury Room, one of downtown’s hottest nightspots, is adding more room for partygoers to move, mix, and mingle with a new street-side patio and an expansion to the club’s top floor. Mercury Room guests will now have the opportunity to enjoy cool nights this summer at the nightclub’s new sidewalk patio. The outdoor area will have space for up to 100 people. Patrons will be able to access the patio through the club and enjoy service under the stars. Also slated for construction is a 1,000-square-foot extension of the club’s top floor. The expansion will increase space for the upstairs bar area and will feature more windows. Expansion construction and the outdoor patio are scheduled to be completed by July 2001.

On April 30, Michael Sibouyeh and Riva’s Restaurant, and the Royal, Sovereign and Imperial Court of the Single Star of Houston hosted a benefit in honor of Richard Wiederholt for Montrose Clinic/Body Positive Wellness Center, a cause Richard worked tirelessly to support. Attendees were treated to a variety of pasta dishes with all the trimmings generously donated by Riva’s Restaurant. The free-dinner fundraiser raised $1,100. With people like Sibouyeh, Richard’s legacy continues.

Dr. Randy Mitchmore at LifeSmiles Dentistry introduced to his practice a new laser technology for dentistry. Lasers allow dentists to treat gum disease at an earlier stage than before, often sparing patients from more invasive forms of treatments. The laser treatment removes or reshapes other problem areas in the soft tissues of the mouth, even relieving the discomfort of canker sores. From the patient’s point of view, the biggest advantage is increasing comfort and saving time. Dr. Mitchmore is certified in laser use and has recently completed rigorous and intensive post-graduate training at the prestigious Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies. Dr. Micthmore has been established in the top 5 percent of the dentists in North America in cosmetic skills. Dr. Mitchmore’s LifeSmiles office is located at 2717 W. Holcombe Blvd. He can be reached at 713/592-9300.

Karen Derr and Associates Realty announced the addition of three realtor executives to their sales team. Realtor Danny Pleason, a native to the Bellaire area, specializes in inner- and outer-loop houses and townhomes. Within his first month at the agency, Pleason listed four homes including two in Oak Forest. Bruce Hutmacher, who joined the team in early April, specializes in Montrose- and Galleria-area properties. Hutmacher is a longtime Montrose-area resident and graduated from the University of Houston. Joanna Julian also joined Karen Derr’s executive staff assisting with sales and client care in both the Heights and Kingwood offices. Karen Derr and Associates is located at 1034 Heights Blvd. and can be reached at 713/862-1600. In June, Karen Derr and Associates will be expanding once again with an addition of their new Montrose branch office.

Since 1992, Miss Camp America Foundation has contributed nearly $500,000 total in financial grants to the greater Houston community. The foundation’s first fundraising event for 2001, Deb-U-Not Ball 2001, raised over $27,000 for this year’s designated charities: The Assistance Fund, Bering Omega Community Services, Casa de Esperanza, Colt 45’s Trouble Fund, Steven’s House, and Women Helping Women. In keeping with the spirit of high camp, the foundation announced the next event, June Bride 2001: The Bridal Farce, Sunday, June 3, the Lovett Inn, 501 Lovett, 2—6 p.m. This wild and wacky spoof of matrimonial celebration takes place in a reception-style setting, and activities include the presentation of each bridal party, a live auction of the brides’ garters, an auction of the bouquets, a silent auction, and the official cake cutting. For more information about Miss Camp America, call 713/267-STAR.

Bryan Williams of Coldwell Banker Swilley-Hudson has achieved the status of Coldwell Banker’s International Diamond Society and was featured in an article in Houston Chronicle’s "Homes" section: "Williams achieves career goal." In order for Williams to receive this accolade, a real estate agent must produce enough real estate transactions to be in the top 20 percent of real estate agents across the country. Williams’ real estate practice primarily markets residential properties in the Houston Heights, Museum District, Afton Oaks, West University, Garden Oaks, Montrose, Oak Forest, and other close-in areas. He also sells homes in master-planned communities and other areas of Houston. He can be reached at 281/236-5475.

Four 22-foot-tall Canary Island date palms from Southern California majestically frame the entrance to South Beach, The Nightclub, 810 Pacific Avenue, the newest nightclub/lounge in Houston. Built from the ground up, South Beach, The Nightclub encompasses a whole city block and features the latest in sound and light technology. One thousand days in the making, planning, and building, Houston’s most anticipated club opening happens on Friday, June 8. • Why the name "South Beach"? • "There are a lot of similarities between Houston and Miami’s South Beach," says owner Charles Armstrong. "Miami’s South Beach is hot, humid, tropical, multi-racial–it has a large Latin population with a vibrant and youthful nightclub and restaurant-oriented population. Both Miami and Houston are international cities that are gateways to Latin America. Houston, and more specifically Montrose, is the melting pot of cultures and race–where every religion is respected and individuals from all walks of life are welcomed. Montrose is truly the gem in the social crown of Houston. • "Also, our two cities share the distinction of being leaders in style and fashion," stated Armstrong. "We dress for our climate which is semi-tropical. We wear light fabrics and light-colored clothes during the day, and black at night." • With South Beach, Armstrong continues his role as one of Montrose’s pre-eminent businessmen. • JR’s Bar & Grill and the Montrose Mining Company were created and operated by the late club baron Frank H. Caven, who owned and operated several dozen successful clubs and bars in Texas and Florida in the 1970s and ’80s. Originally from Dallas, Armstrong began working with Caven in 1979, and became general manager of Texas operations in 1985, overseeing the construction and opening of Heaven in August 1985. A year later, Armstrong purchased Heaven, JR’s, and the Mining Company from Caven Enterprise, adding the Santa Fe Trading Company in 1989. Armstrong has continued to improve upon each business and has added additional off-street parking over the last decade, plus giving back to the community, holding board positions and fundraisers. • On Saturday night, December 13, 1997, Heaven was ravaged by an electrical fire and burned to the ground. During the next three years, Armstrong planned the re-development of the property, which has now become South Beach, The Nightclub. • With help from Todd Blitzer of the Mirador Group, Armstrong developed the conceptual drawing of the new club based on photography and information Armstrong gleaned during his travels. Hospitality architect and designer J. Kurth Brown was handed the task of bringing the conceptual drawing to life, and he utilized structural engineers and contractors McDugald-Steel. • During the next 18 months of construction, Armstrong worked with Dick Duther, president of Dimensional Design Studio in bringing the custom-engineered Eastern Acoustic Works Avalon series lighting and sound system, so that all of Houston and the world can dance the night and early mornings away to rock, disco, and techno.