TRIBEZA Celebrates Its 2026 Curators at 1 Hotel Austin’s Chic Rooftop Restaurant

To honor this year’s class of TRIBEZA Curators and celebrate the release of the People Issue, TRIBEZA hosted a cocktail party on Nov. 5 at the Watr Rooftop Restaurant at 1 Hotel Austin. Set against the hotel’s swanky, sophisticated rooftop patio and its dazzling views of the Austin evening skyline, the event brought together friends of the magazine for an elevated cocktail night meant to highlight the key personalities shaping Austin. 

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Reyna and Maritza Vazquez. (Photo by John Pesina)

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James and Erin Stewart. (Photo by John Pesina)

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Katie Kime. (Photo by John Pesina)

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El and Noel Khattary and Gilbert and Triphine Tuhabonye. (Photo by John Pesina)

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Andra Liemandt. (Photo by John Pesina)

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Kevin and Danielle Ivester. (Photo by John Pesina)

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Davis Covin and Trevor Scott. (Photo by John Pesina)

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Cameron Breed and Meghan Hughes. (Photo by John Pesina)

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Rachel Roy and Amber Esperance. (Photo by John Pesina)

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Marielle Quaid and Lisa Parrish. (Photo by John Pesina)

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Loreal Sarkisian. (Photo by John Pesina)

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Michelle Underwood and Jocelyn Myers. (Photo by John Pesina)

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Gina Brancato and Lauren Reneau. (Photo by John Pesina)

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Bridget Ramey. (Photo by John Pesina)

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Valeria Romualdo and Elise Fernandez. (Photo by John Pesina)

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Melissa and Victoria Pontiff. (Photo by John Pesina)

2026 TRIBEZA Curators

This year’s curators list included designer Katie Kime, runner and philanthropist Gilbert Tuhabonye, musician Ray Benson, chef and restaurateur duo Reyna and Martiza Vasquez, fitness expert Erin Stewart, television host Trevor Scott, nonprofit founder Andra Liemandt and gallery owner Kevin Ivester. Each curator was carefully chosen from hundreds of submissions, and their interviews with TRIBEZA can be found here. Before the event officially began, a Curators Hour was held, allowing members of the cohort to meet one another before the venue filled up with over a hundred guests.

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Krissy LittleStar Hearn, Marsha Milam, Ray Benson and Kevin Ivester. (Photo by John Pesina)

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Samantha Ebuzeme, Loreal Sarkisian and Nnedy Obiwuru. (Photo by John Pesina)

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Justin Brogna, Genevieve McGreevy, Kevin Burns, Lorena Vieyra, Allison Jennings and Paula Burns. (Photo by John Pesina)

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Karen Trombetta, Ashley Sauls and Cassandra Shankman. (Photo by John Pesina)

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Cameron Breed, Meghan Hughes, Christy Strange and Kris Ferraro. (Photo by John Pesina)

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Genevieve McGreevy, Justin Brogna, Allison Jennings and Paula Burns. (Photo by John Pesina)

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Mike Brogioli and Jessica Love. (Photo by John Pesina)

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Brenton Sullivan and Jenny Henderson. (Photo by John Pesina)

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Nick Moreau and Grace Dupuy. (Photo by John Pesina)

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Heidi Okla and Kaleigh Weiss. (Photo by John Pesina)

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sharon maidenberg and Laura Craddick. (Photo by John Pesina)

Guests arrived dressed to the nines, clad in sultry colors and elegant silhouettes, embracing the elevated cocktail theme with sophisticated ease. While mingling with the Curators and one another, guests sipped on the evening’s signature beverage, a Classico Margarita, and enjoyed passed appetizers of pork belly robata, spicy tuna carpaccio, chicken karaage and yuzu cheesecake. 

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TRIBEZA Curators cocktail party at the Watr Rooftop Restaurant at 1 Hotel Austin. (Photo by John Pesina)

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Will Stefanski and Emily Basma pose at the Smilebooth. (Photo by John Pesina)

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TRIBEZA’s latest print issue featuring Ty Myers on the cover. (Photo by John Pesina)

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Spicy tuna carpaccio from Watr. (Photo by John Pesina)

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Pork belly robata from Watr. (Photo by John Pesina)

Placed around the venue were copies of TRIBEZA’s People Issue, which, in addition to introducing the Curators, offered a simultaneously elevated and heartfelt collection of stories, including a cover feature on rising country singer Ty Myers and a fashion shoot with Zach Theater’s cast of “A Christmas Carol.” 

Beyond the glamour of the night, the evening was defined by moments of connection, reflection and appreciation of the people who make Austin, Austin. 

Want to join TRIBEZA’s next event? Ticket are now on sale for the 12th annual TRIBEZA Interiors Tour.

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TRIBEZA highlights a sophisticated curation of Austin happenings, people and places in a variety of disciplines—architecture, art, design, fashion, food, music and more. With six printed magazines each year, plus two issues of TRIBEZA Home magazine and a variety of daily articles posted on the TRIBEZA website, you can always find content that celebrates the spirit of Austin.

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