JoseGrinan's Blog

A uniquely Italian and exclusive series of events is coming to Houston this Fall. We're talking about Italian design, fashion and fabulous food in the Galleria area!  Don Sweat, Pres., Galleria Chamber of Commerce and his marketing and public relations team. 

The Galleria Chamber of Commerce sponsored a reception at Hotel Grand Duca to celebrate Di Moda In Italia - Houston Celebrates Italy! And, it will take place in mid-October here in Houston.  

Cyprus Honorary Consul General William Constantine Crassas and wife Joanne , and Giorgio Borlenghi of the Grad Duca Hotel. 

Margaret Smith, Ali Taghi, Carolyn Farb were among the guests. 

And so were Trish and Kevin Kline of the SnowDrop Foundation.

Other guests included: Giorgio and Ana Maria Tedeschi, Vincenzo Barresi with the Italian Trade Commission, and Cathy Borlenghi of the Grand Duca Hotel  

Forrest and Lauren Freeman Roth are expecting their first child later this year. Lauren co-anchors news at KPRC. And though we just met, Lauren seems like an old friend. She co-anchored with a good friend of mine in Jacksonville, FL. And, has apparently heard a number of Jose stories from my past. All good one I hope. 

Mark your calendars and keep your eyes open for Di Moda In Italia - Houston Celebrates Italy!    The event is being presented by the Galleria Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Consulate General of Italy in Houston, the Italian Trade Commission in New York City and Houston, and the Italian Tourism Board. 

 A reception was held recently at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts to officially introduce Diane Yoo as the new Miss Asia USA 2008.  

More than 100 people showed up for the affair. Among them, a diverse group of supporters from the private sector, and government.  From business owners to elected officials, family and friends, all were there to recognize and receive the newest national pageant winner who calls Houston home.

Diane is a native Houstonian and has a Sociology degree from Baylor University. She has worked for two Houston city councilmembers before deciding to enter the pageant in her final year of eligibility. Before being crowned Miss Asia USA, Diane was working alomngside her brothers and dad in a family concessions firm. She will now serve as an international ambassador for the Asian American community.  for the next year she will be travelling between Los Angeles and Houston .

To see all of the pictures go to:  http://community.myfoxhouston.com/photos/ViewAlbu
m.aspx?aid=36079&un=JoseGrinan

I've been emceeing their banquets for several years. But this year was the first time I was able to participate in the event that is the hallmark of the Dive Pirates Foundation (divepires.org)... the annual Dive Pirates dive trip. It was not only a lot of fun, but also an eye-opening experience that gave me just a peek into the world of the disabled who challenge themselves to do better.

They came from the Dallas area, Albuquerque, NW, Tucson, AZ, and here in the Houston area. We all travelled to Cayman Brac for a week of "blowing bubbles" and weightlessness or neutral bouyancy underwater. And if you don't know about Dive Pirates... this is what the organization does. With a network of dive instructors and team leaders, military veterans, many with catastrophic injuries, are taught to SCUBA dive. The program is now reaching out to the civilian community, too. Occupational therapists from Memorial Hermann TIRR were also on this dive trip.

Heartfelt Kudos and Love go out to my dear friends Barbara Thompson and Dr. Sophie Wimbery. They shared a vision with other diving instructors... and that vision now brings joy, comraderie, and fun back into the lives of some very special veterans.

My daughter and I are better persons and very blessed to have been a part of this year's dive trip. More pictures are uin my photo album... and there are more to come... 

Can you "BLOW BUBBLES" like the Dive Pirates?

Dishing out Dollars for Culinary Excellence

Close to a 150 restaurateurs, food suppliers, and folks who represented restaurant related services and products, gathered in the main ballroom at the Houstonian Tuesday night to induct the incoming president of the Greater Houston Restaurant Association. I served as the emcee for the event.

This year’s new president is Ricardo Molina of Molina’s Restaurants. Congratulations! Molina succeeds Carl Walker of Brennan’s Restaurant, who’s been at the helm of the organization for the past two years.

Normally, these restaurant owners would be dishing out scrumptious plates of food. But on this night they were dishing out dollars to two young men, who have shown promise as future restaurateurs.  Both have demonstrated a passion for the industry and others noticed. Now, the two are being rewarded for their efforts with the Hospitality & Culinary Arts Scholarship. They both received $5,000 dollar scholarships to further perfect their culinary skills and business acumen.

Gabriel Gomez is a student at HCC with a GPA of 3.4. He donates most of his time to Navidad en el Barrio, which helps less fortunate children. He’d like to become the Executive chef at his own restaurant by age 35.

And, Jeff Jenkins is currently a student at the Conrad Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, and plans to become a chef, owner, operator and investor in restaurants.

Reliant has underwritten this annual event for more than half a dozen years. It’s President and CEO, Mark Jacobs was the night’s guest speaker.

(l-r) Mark Jacobs, Reliant, Ricardo Molina, incoming GHRA president, Carl Walker, outgoing GHRA president, and Carmelo Mauro, Texas Restaurant Association president.

Among the guests offering congratulations and words of wisdom to the scholarship recipients was Rosemary Garbett, founder of Los Tios Mexican Rstaurants.

 The GHRA has been in existence since 1949. And among its membership are many, if not most, of Houston’s fine dining restaurants.

Throughout the year, in addition to running their restaurants, members raise money for charitable causes and to cover the costs of the annual scholarships.

Now, what word would you use to describe a very good meal?

Yummy?

Scrumptious?

Delectable?

Tasty?

Lip smackin’? (but only for barbecue and Cajun food)

Delicious?

Sabroso?

Exquisite?

If these don’t work for you, what’s your word to describe a very good meal?

Wow! What a Career Day at Austin Park Elementary School in Sugar Land.

School counselor Mary Prine, with the help of FOX 26 and others, combined visible careers, a mascot, some football players and cheerleaders and came up with a Career Day program that was beyond the imagination of all of the students and teachers.

Hundreds of students, from kindergarten to 5th grade were packed inside the school’s cafeteria, where the program was held. And you could feel the excitement in the air.

Patti Shieh, photographer Jim Dunham, and I, talked about our careers in broadcast journalism.  Several police officers talked about their jobs. And, a Harris County judge also talked about his job on the bench. 

We all gave informative and interesting presentations. But I’m so glad we went first.

When the Rough Riders (indoor area football team) mascot, players and cheerleaders entered the cafeteria, the kids went wild with excitement. And that was something reporters, police officers and judges just couldn’t do. But it was a great way to keep the kids interested and combine education with some fun.

Following the program, other professionals in various fields visited individual classrooms and gave presentations about their careers.

Thank you to all of the presenters. Thank you to the students and staff at Austin Parkway Elementary School. And, Thank You Mary Prine. 

I think Career Days are very important to a child's development. Do you? Or, is it a waste of good classroom time? Let me know...

More photos at:  http://community.myfoxhouston.com/photos/ViewAlbum.as
px?aid=22485&un=JoseGrinan

The FOX station in Atlanta did a story about about a newly created Obama T-Shirt and a protest that came about after the T-shirt was seen publicly.

The creator of the T-shirt thought it resembled Obama. I  disagree and personally take offense to the characterization because a similar incident or comparison was made about me nearly 15 years ago. Did I think it was racist? Yes! But one can rise above these types of insulting and degrading images about Black men that come from people who think its funny or just an excercise in free speech.

Watch the story and decide for yourself.

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/myfox/pages/ContentDeta
il?contentId=6534254

Or, just let me know how you feel about the picture. Is it funny, foolish or free speech?

60th Anniversary Reception

Dozens and dozens of Israeli flags draped downward from the ceiling as the perfect backdrop marking the celebration of the 60th Anniversary the State of Israel.

More than 400 guests attended this celebration that was sponsored by the Israeli Consulate in Houston, with the honorable Consul Gen. Asher Yarden and his wife Tamar serving as the night’s host and hostess.

A number of local Israeli and Jewish businessmen and women were among the invitees, as well as many others from throughout the Houston area. They all noshed on Israeli “finger foods” and sipped (if you dared to) some authentic Israeli wine.

Israeli folk music filled the air during the brief time I spent at the reception, which was held on an upper floor of the Westin Galleria Hotel.

As I made my way through the crowd, I could eavesdrop on groups of people having a conversation and hear some of them talk about politics, others talked about religion, others recounted their first visit to Israel, and some were telling stories about living in Israel and playing a small part in the creation of their homeland.

Security was tight for the reception, which is standard operating procedure for any official consular event. All guests had to pass through a metal detector. And, there was a visible contingent of plainclothes security officers and local police downstairs and upstairs. Thank goodness they were not needed. And it is comforting to know they are nearby.

Israel’s 60th Anniversary was celebrated here in the Houston area and in countless communities around the world.

Shalom! Happy Anniversary! And, Zai-Gazundt!

more photos in my albums  http://community.myfoxhouston.com/photos/ViewAlbum.asp
x?aid=33464&un=JoseGrinan

T-I-E FEATURES LESSONS OF SUCCESS

A SURVIVOR OF THE DOT- COM BUST DURING THE 1990'S WAS THE GUEST SPEAKER AT THE MOST RECENT BANQUET OF THE HOUSTON CHAPTER OF T-I-E, "THE INDUS ENTREPRENEURS." RAJ LAKHANPAL FOUNDED THE WEBSITE HEALTHAtoZ IN THE MID 90'S. HE EVENTUALLY SOLD IT TO UNITED HEALTHCARE FOR WHAT WAS TERMED "GAZILLIONS OF DOLLARS."

Pictured above... Mark Sullivan, Continental Airlines, RaJ Lakhanpal,founder of HealthAtoZ, Sanjay Rao, Southwest Shipyard, and Nevelle Ravji, Tara Energy.

LAKHANPAL SHARED HIS STORY... AND HIS SECRETS FOR SUCCESS WITH THE NEARLY 200 LOCAL BUSINESSMEN AND WOMEN FROM THE INDIAN COMMUNITY IN THE HOUSTON AREA.

T-I-E, ALSO KNOWN AS TALENT IDEAS AND ENTERPRISE HOSTED THE EVENT AT THE PETROLEUM CLUB, WHICH OFFERS ONE OF THE BEST NIGHT-TIME VIEWS OF THE CITY. T-I-E IS A NETWORKING ORGANIZATION THAT FOSTERS ENTREPRENEURSHIP. IT HAS MORE THAN 13-THOUSAND MEMBERS IN 11 COUNTRIES AROUND THE GLOBE.

MORE PICTURES IN MY PHOTO ALBUMS...  http://community.myfoxhouston.com/photos/ViewAlbum.asp
x?aid=33461&un=JoseGrinan

World reknowned heart Surgeon Dr. Denton Cooley, former US Secretary of State James Baker, their wives, philanthropist Lynn Wyatt, and many others showed up at "The Reef" restaurant on a recent Sunday night for the annual Escape Celebrity fundraiser.

 The event benefits  the Escape Family Resource Center in Houston, which assists families in crisis over abuse. It also provides counseling services for families at risk . In past years, The fundraiser has been held at the Benihana's on Westheimer. But this year, renovations and or remodeling allowed us to enjoy the ambiance (and a little food, too) offered by the "Reef." (But I'm anxiously waiting to see what the "new" Benihana will look like, too.)

At Benihana we (the so-called celebrities) served as Celebrity Chefs. On this night we would be Celebrity waiters.

And, excuse the pun... our ranks were "stellar"... and literally "out of this world." There were two Apollo era astronauts, at least one former professional football player, and a host of on-air personalities from a number of radio and television stations in the Houston area.

Now, we didn't have to serve the entire meal. The "REAL" waitstaff did that. But we were responsible for keeping the water and tea glasses full, making sure everone's wine glass was at a certain level, we ran to the bar for any mixed drinks our tables wanted, and we tried our darndest to entice attendees to donate generously and bid "high" on some of the "live" auction items.

The theme for this year's benefit was along the line of ...Cool Caribbean. And we were encouraged to sort of dress for the part. So, I dusted off the Panama Hat and wound up taking a picture with Dr. Cooley and Sec. Baker.   

The fundraiser was a lot of FUN... and I was honored to be in the orbit (even temporarily) of some of the people who have helped mold and make the city of Houston what it is.

I hope our efforts as "waiters" helped fill the coffers at Escape. Thanks for letting me be a part of such an outstanding event.

Do I have a GREAT JOB, or what?

Wow! Another great morning on the AM News.

DVD #1

Actress and talk show hostess Rikki Lake talked with us "Live" via satellite about her new book about childbirth and the options women have... hospitals, birthing rooms, midwives, and having baby at home. Its supposed to be a great documentary for expectant moms... and those dads who want to be there at the moment of birth. Its titled "The Business of Being Born."

CD

Clay Aiken from American Idol celebrity a few years ago also talked with Sibila and me "LIVE" from New York about his skyrocketing career and his new CD that hits stores today. Its titled " On My Way Here." And, its in stores TODAY!

DVD #2

The Best of Loco Comedy Jam Volume 1 was also released on FOX morning news with producer and Latino comedian Mike Robles in the studio to talk about it. Mike is on the DVD with George Lopez and a host of other Latino funny men. I'm told there are also some cute and hialrious moments backstage that could not be aired on regular TV... but they are included in the DVD. It also goes on sale TODAY!

Details are here now.

The check presentation was the morning's initial high point for an annual event that usually raises several hundred thousand dollars.

Randy Tabor, Star of Hope's executive director says, "donations for non-profits are way down. And Star of Hope is feeling it, too. The money raised will go a long way to maintain services and possibly expand programs for men and families that are in crisis."

The other high point was the actual fashion show. Television, radio and print journalists and personalities, some management types, and some real professional models took to the runway to "strut our stuff" in some great fashions... both casual and business wear.

More Pictures at... 

http://community.myfoxhouston.com/photos/ViewAlbum.a
spx?aid=33338&un=JoseGrinan

The Veteran's Project that's been undertaken by U of H communications students has been extended, possibly giving additional students in the department the opportunity to videotape the stories of many more veterans in the Houston area. These stories and others from around the country will then be preserved in the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

Under the guidance of Army veteran Allen Grundy, the university's Veterans Affairs office has worked with Cong. Nick Lampson's office and amassed dozens if not hundreds of stories that some veterans have never shared before.

Last Friday, I was involved in a taping as a Viet Nam Era veteran. The other veterans covered the time from WW2 until the present.

 Some veterans tell stories of being in actual ground combat. Others tell stories of submarine duty and flying a bomber that was shot down over enemy territory, losing dozens of friends in the crash, being taken prisoner, and the escape before being shipped to a POW camp in Germany during WW2. There are also stories of discrimination in the Armed Forces. The stories are funny, sad, and poignant. And all have a patriotic thread to them.  (pictures are in my photo albums)

To these brave men and women, I say Thank You for sharing your stories. But most of all Thank You for your Service. 

Do you know a veteran who hasn't told his story?

He's been at the top of his profession (Professional Wrestling) for more than 30 years. Now, as the retired "Nature Boy," Flair was in Houston to get the word out about the BIG WWE event that's coming to town next year. Its called "WWE Smackdown."

As an old pro wrestling fan... I was surprised that Flair is just like anybody else you'd want to have beer with. And, what a really nice guy he is, too.

He joked around with Sibila and me, and the rest of the morning news team. He even stayed after the on-air interview to take pictures with us during commercials. He also helped us end the 8AM hour by joining us for our closing shot.

Did you see Ric Flair on Wednesday? Are you a pro wrestling fan? Let me know your thoughts. And check out the fun pictures, too.

Okay bloggers... Where can you get "LIVE" comments from 2 area congressmen, a NASA astronaut who took a quilt into space for some children, a "LIVE" appearance from Sports anchor Keith Caulkins, the day's news, and Lanny's features? The answer... during FOX 26 Morning News. And what a great way to start your week.

Hope you were able to join us. If you didn't, you can join us for the rest of the week.