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    party watch

    Tilman Fertitta and Usher let the good times roll with Houston VIPs

    Steven Devadanam
    Mar 8, 2019 | 4:37 pm

     What: The San Luis Salute México Magnifico

     

     Where: The Galveston Island Convention Center at The San Luis Resort

     

     The scoop: The 23rd annual San Luis Salute, hosted by the Tilman Fertitta family, earned riotous applause as revelers from near and far gathered for this year’s Mardi Gras! Galveston celebration. The event sold out within hours (with more than 1,900 tickets sold) and honored Dr. Joel Patterson, chief and program director of the neurosurgery division in the Department of Surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston.

     

    To kick off the invitation-only celebration, VIPs sipped Veuve Clicquot bubbly and margaritas served in mini Patron bottles beneath a crystal tent set against a stunning background of Fertitta’s mega-yacht, the Boardwalk.

     

    At the main event, Richard Flowers of the Events Co. brought the vibrancy of "México Magnifico" to life inside The Galveston Island Convention Center at The San Luis Resort’s stately foyer. Guests arrived dressed to the nines, instantly posing against the fluorescent paper flower walls. During the cocktail hour, a DJ on a truss entertained above the crowd, while an aerial bartender artfully poured champagne and Elan dancers passed cocktails.

     

    The Big Beyond entertained the lively group behind a jaw-dropping colorful visual spectacular of Elan and skeleton dancers, stilt walkers, and enormous Mexican puppets. Blue and white Talavera vases filled with colorful flowers as centerpieces, Clase Azul Reposado tequila, Mexican blue-rimmed shot glasses and cocktail shakers were situated on the guests’ glitzy tables.

     

    Following the impressive reveal was a grand procession of notable guests, including NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and wife Amiko Kelly; U.S. Rep. Randy Weber and wife, Brenda; state Rep. Shawn Thierry; state Sen. John Whitmire, dean of the Texas Senate; state Sen. Larry Taylor and wife, Kerri; state Sen. Carol Alvarado; UTMB President Dr. David Callender and wife, Tonya; University of Houston chancellor and President Renu Khator and husband, Suresh Khator, UH football head coach Dana Holgorsen, and athletic director Chris Pezman and wife, Marisol; CNBC’s Brian Sullivan and wife, Julie; Doe and Henry Florsheim; Nandita and Michael Berry; Dave Jacquin and son, Alec; Jefferies chairman and CEO Richard Handler; Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo and wife, Tanya; Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset and wife, Brenda; event honoree Dr. Joel Patterson and wife, Laura; the Fertitta family; and the entire royal court from the Knights of Momus, highlighted by King Frivolous CIV Vic Fertitta and Momus Queen Blayne Fertitta.

     

    The Duchess Royal Court includes Lexie Ammons, Gracie Bassett, Nicole Blakley, Kristen Blakley, Kathryn Criaco, Katie Rose Cullen, Bailey Dodson, Kaki Duenner, Melissa Estrada, Blayne Fertitta, Chloe Flores, Hannah Herrold, Valerie Herrscher, Joanie Kelso, Sabrina Kesler, Hannah Kirby, Heather Kirby, Maria Koutrouvelis, Marissa Matthews, Macey McCann, Danielle Perugini, Devin Peterson, Cara Quigley, Sara Beth Shelton, Emlynn Smith, Amber Tribble, Morgan Vicknair, and Maddi Walser.

     

    The highlight of the night, world-renowned musical artist Usher, rallied the crowd as he took the stage for a 75-minute show to perform "Burn," "Yeah!," "Confessions Part II," "DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love," and many more, creating an instantly packed dance floor. Michael, Patrick, Blake, and mom Paige Fertitta (in a stunning Dolce & Gabbana gown) were spotted on the black-and-white checkered dance floor near the head tables alongside Momus Queen Blayne signing along to the best-selling, radio-dominating pop and urban artist’s show.

     

    The Mardi-party continued into the weekend following the Momus Grand Night Parade as the Fertitta children teamed up to host the parade afterparty dubbed “Despues de la Fiesta” held at the San Luis Resort. More than 500 invite-only partygoers entered the grand ballroom to a nitrogen bar featuring Souza Hornitos tequila margaritas and spicy pineapple margaritas set beneath a dramatic, balloon-covered ceiling, while DJ Alesso entertained with a private show that lasted well into the morning, capping out the Mardi Gras party of all parties.

     

     Who: The fashionable crowd included King Frivolous CIV Vic Fertitta and wife, Joy; astronaut Mark Kelly; Momus President Hal Rochkind and wife, Jessica; Houston Rockets’ CEO Tad Brown and players P.J. Tucker and Gary Clark; Frank Billingsley and Kevin Gilliard; Dancie and Jim Ware, with sons Carter and Lane; Lori and Allan Matthews; Katie, Harry, Hugh Roy, and Rose Cullen; Deanna and Gary Barton; Joanie McLeod Kirksey; Kelly and Anthony Duenner; Dianne and Fred Burns; Renee and Scott Rice; Joan and Doug McLeod; Maggie and John Kelso; Debra and Tom Perich; Todd Fertitta; Jay Fertitta; Kelli Fertitta Woods and husband, Josh; Tom Koch; Frances Moody and Tony Buzbee; Francie Moody Dahlberg and Kevin Dahlberg; Margie and Scott Kusnerik; Jocelyn and Billy Sullivan; Claudia and William Estrada; Libbie and Bill Ansell; and Chita and Lane Craft.

     

    Duchesses Danielle Perugini, Kathryn Criaco, and Kaki Duenner.

    Mardi Gras San Luis 2019 Usher Duchesses Danielle Perugini, Kathryn Criaco, Kaki Duenner
      
    Photo by Gary Fountain
    Duchesses Danielle Perugini, Kathryn Criaco, and Kaki Duenner.
    galas
    news/society

    Silk and Sequins

    Cultural fashion takes center stage at Runway to Asia in Houston

    Joel Luks
    Jul 10, 2025 | 12:30 pm
    Asia Society Runway to Asia fashion show 2025
    Photo by Annie Mulligan
    Rekha Muddaraj, Shazia Sultan, Danny Nguyen, Zang Toi, Bonna Kol, Phoebe Tudor, and Leigh Smith.

    If fashion is a language, Runway to Asia spoke it fabulously fluently.

    The ballroom of The Post Oak Hotel shimmered with silk, sequins, and sartorial splendor as Asia Society Texas debuted its first-ever Runway to Asia style-studded affair — a glamorous gala-meets-catwalk moment where heritage was hand-stitched into haute couture.

    More than 300 guests filled the swanky venue for the event, greeted by models perched like living mannequins in Danny Nguyen’s Fall/Winter 2025 collection, each ensemble a fabric-forward love letter to cultural identity and avant-garde vision. This was a glamnifesto on what it means to wear your roots with pride and purpose.

    Leading the stylish charge were co-chairs Leigh Smith, Shazia Sultan, and Phoebe Tudor, who curated the afternoon like seasoned couturiers. Attendees noshed on a three-course lunch before the real feast began: a full-throttle catwalk presentation honoring two design dynamos — Danny Nguyen, Houston’s own silhouettist supreme, and international fashion luminary Zang Toi.

    Rekha Muddaraj, former KHOU 11 anchor turned emcee extraordinaire, welcomed the crowd with poise, passing the mic to Asia Society Texas president Bonna Kol, who framed the gathering as more than just fashion, but part of the nonprofit’s mission to celebrate cultural diversity through art.

    The applause crescendoed when Michael Buening, the organization’s director of performing arts and culture, announced the event had raised more than $300,000 to fund more than 20 annual programs.

    Pro tip: philanthropy always looks better in couture.

    Then came the honors. Nguyen was honored with the Texas Trendsetter Award, praised by Shazia Sultan for blending traditional elegance with avant-glam silhouettes. Meanwhile, Tudor crowned Toi with the Global Icon Award, charting his runway rise from Malaysia to Manhattan.

    Toi’s “Opulence of the Orient Express” collection brought the house down with 37 jaw-dropping looks: Ottoman-inspired caftans, midnight velvet suits, pearl-dusted evening gowns, and coat-dress hybrids that defied the laws of layering. Each ensemble whispered luxury and screamed craftsmanship.

    The raffle added a thrill of retail roulette with prizes including a luxe Hill Country escape, personal styling sessions with the honorees, and golden tickets to Zang Toi’s Fall 2026 New York show.

    Soaking in the scene were Sushila Agrawal, Nancy Allen, Fady Armanious, Kristy Bradshaw, Divya Brown, Tripp Carter, Theresa Chang, Anne Chao, Molly Crownover, Kari Dagley, Chloe Dao, Debbie Festari, Kathy and Marty Goossen, Brigitte Kalai, Mandy Kao, Sippi Khurana, Karen Kwok, Teri Lee, Kelley Lubanko, Christy Lynn, Petra Martinez, Sneha Merchant, Duyen Nguyen, Cabrina Owsley, Akemi Saitoh, Miya Shay, Sue and Randy Sim, Shawn Stephens, Y. Ping Sun, Ileana Trevino, Janae Tsai, Stephanie Tsuru, Heidi Turney, and Asha Virani.

    Asia Society Runway to Asia fashion show 2025
      

    Photo by Annie Mulligan

    Rekha Muddaraj, Shazia Sultan, Danny Nguyen, Zang Toi, Bonna Kol, Phoebe Tudor, and Leigh Smith.

    fundraisersasia society texas centerfashion show
    news/society

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