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Contrary to popular belief, spring is Houston’s busiest social season. Everyone assumes that the fall party circuit is the most jam-packed; but alas, that distinction falls squarely on the months of April and May.
So let’s play a game of catch-up, and re-visit the charitable shindigs you may have missed.
The Houston Area Women’s Center hosted its inaugural “Believe” luncheon at the Royal Sonesta Hotel last month. A fitting theme considering that keynote speaker Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, who presided over the trial of former USA Gymnastics physician Larry Nassar, spent the majority of her fireside chat with emcee Chau Nguyen encouraging attendees to believe sexual assault victims. Aquilina allowed 156 of Nassar’s sexual assault accusers to address him in court before handing down a 40 to 175-year prison sentence.
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HAWC raised $420,000 towards its mission to end domestic and sexual violence by providing advocacy, counseling, education, shelter and support services. The luncheon co-chaired by Jessica Bertuccio and Myrtle Jones honored Houston Police chief Art Acevedo, Sandra Ramirez Salazar and Halliburton.
Then in late April, Amy LeBlanc Cloud and Jeremy Cloud chaired Houston Ballet’s annual “Raising the Barre” dinner at Artisans in Midtown. The one-night-only Sunday supper club has become a favorite of ballet next-gen supporters and foodies alike. Dancers teamed up with buzzy local chefs to create inspired dishes for 170 patrons.
Soloist Bridget Kuhns and Uchi chef Chris Davies kicked things off with delicate salmon belly, Asian pear, smoked trout roe and cherry tomato. Demi-soloist Natalie Varnum and One Fifth chef Matt Staph followed with jalapeno cornbread, Alabama white sauce, green apple and crispy chicken skin. Next, principal Ian Casady and Artisans’ own chef Jacques Fox served a mouth-watering beef wellington over shrimp de Jonghe, french mashed potatoes, baby carrot, braised shiittake mushrooms, bok choy and red wine demi-glace. Soloist Aaron Daniel Sharratt and Fluff Bake Bar pastry chef Rebecca Masson ended the meal on a sweet note with “The Sundae of Aaron’s Dreams;” a delectable concoction of cookie dough ice cream, brownies, cocoa pebble crunch and hot fudge.
The muse-turned-sous chef soiree raised $100,000 and became the ballet’s most successful “Raising the Barre” to date.
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In mid-May, chairmen Marc Melcher and Luz Garcini transformed part of Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s campus into a mini San Miguel escape for the 2019 Glassell School of Art Benefit and Auction. A sweet burro named Jackson welcomed some 300 guests and made the perfect paper flower wall, photo-op companion. Inside, benefit-goers perused 51 works of biddable silent auction art as the Los Gallitos mariachi band performed in the background.
Under an outdoor, “Cloud Column”-adjacent tent, the Events Company topped dining tables with blue and white Mexican pottery. Keeping in theme, City Kitchen’s buffet stations included beef short rib, chicken in tomatillo sauce, tamales with spinach and queso Oaxaca, arroz Mexicana, and jalapeno corn muffins.
Patrons danced the night away to Mango Punch! and raised $395,000.