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    Shelby's Social Diary

    Space party! Aliens, androids and DJ Lady Bunny raise a ruckus at out-of-this-world fundraiser

    Shelby Hodge
    shelby hodge
    Mar 13, 2014 | 2:55 pm

    Silver Street Studio (the one on Edwards Street, go figure the name) rocked to the rafters when a wild and woolly coterie of androids, extraterrestrials and other-worldly beings took over for the Fresh Arts "Space Ball."

    We know that H-Town is full of costume junkies, but few parties bring out the wonderfully weird more effectively than the annual Fresh Arts bash. On this night in the cosmos, the starry leaders included chairs Libby Cagle, Lauren Taft, Caroline Starry LeBlanc, Jared LeBlanc, Kathryn Lott Neumann, Jeff Neuman, J. Michael Soliz and Michael Pilie.

    In a nod to those who make advocating for the arts an avocation, the fundraiser honored Don Mafrige Jr., Rebekah Johnson, Chris Johnson and Nancy Wozny.

    Contributing a certain edginess to the stellar event were the Havikoro break-dancers and astronaut dancers from Vault. DJ Bunny kept the intergalactic dance floor — looking not unlike the Star Wars Creature Cantina — packed. And then there was that UFO moonwalk spacecraft for floating through the night.

    Among the many creative were Jeff Shell as Star Wars' Queen Amidala, Marita Fairbanks as Space Balls' Dot Matrix, Amy Tanner and Chris Spicks as Martians and a group disguised throughout the night as Sesame Street Yip Yips.

    Stretching imagination into the outer limits were JB Fairbanks, Divya and Chris Brown, Katherine and Mark Yzaguirre, Emmelie Kopp and James Bell, Carlotta and Trey Hillert, Amy Carl, Jonathan Bietler, Tammy Green Dowe, Rainey Knudson, Michael Galbreth, James Glassman and Christina Solis.

    Francesco Conti, from left, Mandy Trichell, Veronica Triplett and Sonja Fulbright.

    061 Francesco Conti, from left, Mandy Trichell, Veronica Triplett and Sonja Fulbright at the Fresh Arts Space Ball March 2014
    Photo by Morris Malakoff
    Francesco Conti, from left, Mandy Trichell, Veronica Triplett and Sonja Fulbright.
    unspecified
    news/society

    Party Watch

    Giselle-inspired evening sets the stage for 2026 Houston Ballet Ball

    Joel Luks
    Nov 26, 2025 | 11:00 am
    Houston Ballet Ball 2026 kickoff party
    Photo by Annie Mulligan
    Laura Dandridge, Jean Peck, and Paige Fertitta.

    What: Houston Ballet Ball Kickoff

    Houston Ballet Ball 2026 kickoff party

    Photo by Annie Mulligan

    Laura Dandridge, Jean Peck, and Paige Fertitta.

    Where: The Fertitta family residence

    The Scoop: A who’s who of Houston’s arts scene gathered in the glittering River Oaks home owned by Paige Fertitta for an elegant evening to toast the upcoming 2026 Houston Ballet Ball, set for February 21. A live pianist set the tone as Houston Ballet Trustees, patrons, and supporters sipped Champagne Madame Zero and grazed on charcuterie by Grotto Downtown, luxe passed bites, and a showstopping caviar bar courtesy of La Griglia.

    Sonja Kostich, executive director of Houston Ballet, welcomed guests with heartfelt thanks, spotlighting key players behind the scenes, including ball chairs Christine and David M. Underwood Jr., and the 2026 honorees Richard Flowers and Houston First, represented by Paula Whitten-Doolin.

    The night’s big reveal? This year’s Ballet Ball theme, drawn from Act II of Stanton Welch’s ethereal Giselle — a haunting woodland dream world brought to life in rich greens and blues. As a preview of the main event, Flowers and The Events Company transformed the Fertitta home into an enchanting forest-inspired fête.

    Attendees didn’t leave empty-handed — or empty-handed themselves. Guests contributed prized bottles to the Ballet Ball Wine Cellar, setting the stage for a highly competitive silent auction.

    Who: Ada Agbor, Cynthia and Bucky Allshouse, Susan and Gary Binney, Kristy and Chris Bradshaw, Cheryl Byington, Zoe Cadore, Kristen Cannon, Anne and Albert Chao, Margaret Cox, Tracy and Valerie Dieterich, Bruce and Pamela Earthman, Lesha Elsenbrook, Blayne Fertitta, Angel Rios, Lily Chen Foster and Charles Foster, Ellie Francisco, Jo Furr, Mignon Gill, Victoria Gutierrez, Jayne Johnston, Jennifer and Christopher Laporte, Amy LeBlanc, Petra Martinez, Jean and Henry May, Kris McGee, Lauren and Jordan Mintz, Desrye Morgan, Beth Muecke, Patti and Don Murphy, Duyen and Marc Nguyen, Tammy and Wayne Nguyen, Cabrina Owsley, Karen Payne, Melissa Reihle, Shara and Kent Schaffer, Tricia and Mark Singer, Sunday Shepherd, Alicia Smith, Liliana Soltero and Mike Hawkins, Tatiana Sorkin and Michel Coret, S. Shawn Stephens, Stephanie Tsuru, Marguerite Swartz, Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees, Vicki West and Ralph Burch, and Beth Wolff.

    fundraisershouston ballet
    news/society
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