Piper Kerman explains why ‘Orange Is the New Black’
The number of women in American prisons is up 800 percent since 1980. That’s just one statistic brandished by “Orange Is the New Black” author Piper Kerman at the Council for At-Risk Youth benefit.
Kerman told her own story, which tracks pretty closely to the Netflix series, then she reinforced how much race, class, gender and other factors affect rates of imprisonment. The message was all the more potent coming from a striking, crisply dressed woman who looked and sounded very much like the Smith Col- lege graduate that she is.
I suspect it helped ratchet up attendance at the CARY event at the AT&T Center, which was attended by officials such as Reps. Elliott Na
ishtat and Celia Israel, Austin City Council Members
Mike Martinez and Laura Morrison, former Council Member Brigid Shea and for
mer Rep. Ann Kitchen, both running for new jobs.
I sat with a fascinating couple who design and build disc golf courses.
CARY, by the way, aims to keep young people out of jail. Worth checking out.
Livestrong Kentucky Derby Party
Didn’t know what to expect from a Kentucky Derby party. Seriously. All these years, had never been to one.
Livestrong, the anti-cancer group, staged a doozy at Hotel Ella. Folks in spring outfits and, of course, decorat- ed hats. Mint juleps that were not too sweet. Lot of lively chat while people “wagered” on the race for charity.
I was particularly interested to hear about trends in fundraising for cancer causes. Livestrong captain Doug
Ulman told me that his field is just catching its breath after the Great Recession. And, of course, Livestrong has big plans for the
University of Texas Dell Medical School, though details are still scarce.
One fascinating man I met is building a yoga boat in his back yard.
Austin Fashion Awards
The Austin Fashion Awards ceremony, which winds up Austin Fashion Week, was presented with great style at the Austin Music Hall. The awards genuflect to fashion past, while supporting fashion future.
Honored Trailblazers included designer Linda Asaf, lingerie wizard Megan Summerville, Eliza Page retailer Elizabeth Gibson and University of Texas educator Eve Nicols. Rising Stars were jewelry designer Jessica Bird, handbag designer KellyWynne White, hairstylist Martha Lynn Kale and wardroble stylist Cristina Facundo. Philanthropist of the Year went to Urban Betty Salon owner Chelle Morrison.
Earlier during Fashion Week, founder Matt Swinney announced that the “Project Runway” show at the Austin Music Hall was the largest such reunion of the TV series’ designers.
It was a polished affair, even though the first set of models were hardly old enough for elementary school. Among the collections, Melissa Fleis’ was classy, mod, focused and a little fantastical. Korto Momolu’s was tightly controlled and superbly fitted with playful fabrics.
Hometown hero — and genuine good guy — Daniel Esquivel aroused the most response from the audience with his highly varied structures in saturated colors.
Red, Hot & Soul
If anyone reserves even a fraction of a doubt that Zach Theatre serves the broader Austin community, consider this: During its Red, Hot & Soul benefit — easily the most entertaining, minute for minute, of any Austin benefit — we heard a full African-American choir sing three songs from “Gospel at Colonus,” Asian-American children and young adults perform selections from “The King and I,” followed by an army of Brazilian samba musicians and dancers who looked like they would take the several hundred guests into the wee hours of the morning.
Which is what samba should always do!
Prior to that, Zach honored benefactor James Armstrong for all his contributions, including a gift that will make “The King and I” possible. At Zach, it seems that almost anything is possible.
Wildflower Gala
Blissful evening at a blissful locale: Even without the new, interactive Luci and Ian Family Garden, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center rivals Barton Springs for the natural soul of Austin. Just the ripe smell of earth is enough to make it feel like home.
As if some angel looked down on the gathering, the Wildflower Gala, which raises money for the center, was blessed with glorious weather again. It’s among the most simple and unaffected benefits, even with the powerful friends of the Johnson family in attendance.
Only three elements: Silent auction of nature-inspired art, very short speeches and a long dinner with compelling conversationalists. Among the glossy names present: Lynda Bird Johnson Robb, Jennifer Robb, Ann Butler, Kim Heilbrun and Becky Beaver.
White Party
There is not a prettier pride of young Austin lions and lionesses: The White Party for LifeWorks formerly filled the lush gardens around Green Pastures restau- rant. More recently, they’ve gone urban up on the skyline terrace at the Long Center.
Early in the evening, young adults in white streamed across the bridges from downtown to attend this shindig decorated with skeletal cabanas and a large dance floor that made the celebrants appear to levitate on a cloud.
They stayed for hours and looked fit enough to revel well into the morn- ing. Special thanks to Brett Barnes, who created the party for LifeWorks before moving over to the Long Center fold, for urging me to attend late after three other events, and to Kevin Smothers, who kept me engaged with vivid chat well into that cool evening.