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    Kevin Spacey Wows Houston

    We're in love! Kevin Spacey wows black-tie crowd at spectacular Best Buddies bash

    Shelby Hodge
    Nov 8, 2015 | 11:45 am

    Delivering an F-bomb here and there along with a handful of remarkable impersonations and intriguing personal insights, Best Buddies ambassador Kevin Spacey proved on Saturday night to be as entertaining in person as on the big (or little) screen. The stage was the glam home of John and Becca Cason Thrash where he was celebrity guest at a Best Buddies black-tie dinner.

    The Academy Award winner dished with Becca and Best Buddies founder Anthony Kennedy Shriver on a number of topics, the conversation laced with Spacey's impersonations of President Bill Clinton, Sen. Ted Kennedy, Jack Lemmon and his Francis Underwood character.

    As he spoke about the importance of Best Buddies, he stepped to the edge of the pool, around which the dinner was held, and quipped, "Oh baby, I'm going in and someone's going to fucking pay for it."

    As the crowd erupted in laughter, Becca, the ardent fundraiser, chimed in, "Anyone give $100,000 to see it?"

    "The notion of giving back"

    The evening was not without its meaningful tone. Spacey credited actor Jack Lemmon, whom he met at age 13, with introducing the notion of giving back and the elevator analogy. "If you've been fortunate enough to do well in the business that you wanted to do well in," Spacey said, "then it is your obligation to spend a good portion of your time, sending the elevator back down.

    "In a way, we all can send the elevator back down because it doesn't matter what floor you are on. In life there are always people just below waiting for the opportunity to be invited up and so it's our jobs to fill that elevator with as many people as we can."

    Spacey has been a Best Buddies ambassador for more than 20 years and has traveled extensively with the organization.

    On acting

    "I get this incredible opportunity to interpret what is written," Spacey said. "I've had unbelievable characters that writers have written and I've been able to work with some pretty remarkable directors."

    Noting that he has had a long career on the stage and in film, he added, "The great thing is I feel like I'm just getting started."

    Becca asked what among his many "diabolical" characters was the most challenging.

    "The building and creation of the role that I'm currently doing, of Frances Underwood, (House of Cards) has been an incredible journey . . . It's an incredible part and for me to be able to go to work every day and have Robin Wright at my side is pretty, excuse my language, fucking awesome."

    The party scene

    As is the norm at parties in the Cason Thrash home, the pool room was grandly decorated by Richard Flowers of The Events Co. Three long tables peppered with bouquets of salmon-hued roses and hundreds of candles in clear candelabra and votives lined the table. The evening began with photo opps with the amazingly patient star and cocktails that included Moet & Chandon champagne and Belvedere Vodka.

    Dinner was a multi-course feast provided by B&B Butchers and Restaurant, SaltAir, Grotto and Brasserie 19.

    The Cason Thrash dining room was laden with tempting silent auction items which helped bring the night's tally to $600,000. Thanks in part to high bidders such as Dylan and Jordan Seth who picked up the Zihuatanejo trip in the live auction.

    The glamorous crowd included Samantha Boles, Rhonda McDonald, Sue and Lester Smith, Dancie and Jim Ware, Carl Lewis, Joyce Echols and Steve Wyatt, Elizabeth Petersen, Duyen and Marc Nguyen, Fay and Salim Zakhem, Diane Lokey Farb and Nancy and Marcus Hiles.

    Celebrities and Best Buddies Ambassadors share a good time. From left, Nathan Brunell, Kevin Spacey, Charles Calhoun, Carl Lewis, Michael Iovine.

    Nathan Brunell, Kevin Spacey, Charles Calhoun, Carl Lewis, Michael Iovine
      
    © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
    Celebrities and Best Buddies Ambassadors share a good time. From left, Nathan Brunell, Kevin Spacey, Charles Calhoun, Carl Lewis, Michael Iovine.
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    Cultural Opulence

    Shanghai-inspired Tiger Ball raises $1.73M for Asia Society Texas

    Joel Luks
    Mar 14, 2025 | 9:15 am
    Asia Society Texas Tiger Ball 2025
    Photo by Johnny Than
    Pitsami Norm, Mandy Kao, Rose Chen, Aliza Dutt, Alice Mao Brams, Brigitte Kalai, Shaobo Du, Tammy Su, Susan Boggio, and Stephanie Chang.

    When it comes to throwing a party with panache, Asia Society Texas knows how to deliver. The highly anticipated Tiger Ball 2025 on Friday, March 7 transported Houston A-listers, mostly clad in radiant red, to an opulent Shanghai-inspired milieu, setting a new fundraising record. Those $1.73 million? That surely will come in handy to bolster the organization’s cultural offerings.

    Asia Society Texas Tiger Ball 2025
      

    Photo by Johnny Than

    Pitsami Norm, Mandy Kao, Rose Chen, Aliza Dutt, Alice Mao Brams, Brigitte Kalai, Shaobo Du, Tammy Su, Susan Boggio, and Stephanie Chang.

    With 600 elegant guests stepping into a sea of red and gold splendor at the Asia Society Texas Center and its transformed gala pavilion, the night paid tribute to two of Houston’s most respected global citizens — Y. Ping Sun and David Leebron. Their leadership has strengthened the city’s international connections, making them a fitting pair to honor at an event that celebrates cross-cultural exchange.

    Applause to ball chairs Shawn Stephens and Jim Jordan and Michelle and Rishi Varma, alongside honorary chairs Nancy C. Allen, Anne and Albert Chao, and Margaret Alkek Williams.

    Board chair Marty Goossen praised the honorees for their unwavering commitment to fostering understanding and friendship. Bonna Kol, alongside Stephens and Jordan, presented Sun and Leebron with a stunning Auratic fine bone porcelain tea set with 24K gold accents, a symbolic nod to their dedication to global connection.

    A Shanghai Dreamscape in Houston

    As guests arrived for the main event, a vibrant lineup of Hanfu performers and the rhythmic beats of traditional drummers welcomed them to the pavilion.

    Inside the tented pavilion — a posh extension of the Asia Society Texas Center’s grounds — the magic continued. Designed by Prashe Décor, the space shimmered in rich crimson and gold, with suspended lanterns, lush red bougainvillea, and flowing drapery enveloping guests in a vision straight from an old-world tearoom.

    A silent auction tempted bidders with a Harry Winston Midnight Monochrome timepiece, a five-night Telluride retreat, Paris Fashion Week tickets, and a private tour of The Met’s Japanese art collection. Dinner, presented by City Kitchen, continued the indulgence with five-spice roasted duck, pan-seared sea bass with XO sauce, and scallion-braised fava beans.

    Dancing the Night Away

    With dinner plates cleared and desserts enjoyed, the dance floor called. DJ Alx of Karma DJs kept the energy boisterous as revelers celebrated a night of cultural immersion.

    Notable attendees included Shiang Ling and George Yang, who will be honored at next year’s Tiger Ball on March 6, 2026. Among the 600 guests were Durga and Sushila Agrawal, Leslie and Brad Bucher, Gracie and Bob Cavnar, Theresa and Peter Chang, China and Roberto Contreras, Molly and James Crownover, Jay Cuclis, Donna Fujimoto Cole, Aimee and Craig DiTomasso, Lily and Charles Foster, Kathy Gondo, Kathy and Marty Goossen, Marie and Vijay Goradia, Dr. Mikki Hebl and David Harvey, Mohsin Imtiaz, Renu and Suresh Khator, Kelley and Steve Lubanko, Sabria and Kevin Lewis, Sultana Mangalji, Petra Martinez, Gordon Quan, Sue and Randy Sim, Leigh and Reggie Smith, Anne-Laure and Steve Stephens, Phoebe and Bobby Tudor, Stephanie and Frank Tsuru, and Shiang Ling and George Yang.

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