It is always a lovely affair when supporters of Rienzi gather to celebrate the antique- and decorative arts-filled mansion in River Oaks. Just as the Rienzi Society annual dinner in winter is a black-tie dream so the spring party is a special soirée. Case in point last Thursday.
The accent was definitely on soirée when close to 350 well-heeled guests, many representing Houston's oldest and most philanthropic families, gathered for the "Paradis Francais" themed evening, the French accent inspired by dinner sponsors Dior and W Magazine.
Guests perused the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston house museum for European and decorative arts and sipped cocktails on the terrace and around the pool before moving to the expansive lawn overlooking a lush forest.
Jana and John McHenry, Melanie and Mace Meeks and Chaille Strake chaired the event that earned $145,000 for Rienzi's operating budget.
They were a brave and optimistic bunch opting to have the dinner from A Fare Extraordinaire on the green grass, totally al fresco, no tent to ward off any unexpected bad weather. Mother Nature smiled and all went well.
Soaking up the genteel affair were Isla and Tommy Reckling, Christiana and Luke McConn, Ann Trammell, Eleni and Thad Fuller, Carroll Goodman and John Fain, Annette and George Strake, Jo-anne and Mike Cousins, Lynn Wyatt, Kathy and Marty Goossen, and MFAH director Gary Tinterow and Christopher Gardner.
Carroll Goodman, John Fain.
