What: "Fire & Ice," the Junior League of Houston’s 71st annual Charity Ball
Where: The Junior League Ballroom
The scoop: The Junior League of Houston hosted its 71st annual Charity Ball, "Fire & Ice," raising $750,000 to fund the Junior League’s Community Program and volunteer initiatives. The women of the Junior League represent a spectrum of backgrounds, personalities, and talents and have an intense passion for building a better community, leaving behind an evident brilliance on the lives that they touch. From this, the gala theme "Fire & Ice" was born.
Over the course of two nights, guests began each evening sipping cocktails while browsing silent auction items in the winter showcase rooms and were mesmerized by fire and ice queen characters and an aerialist pouring champagne.
After cocktail hour, guests made their way to the ballroom to enjoy a delectable dinner prepared by Michael Smith, the Tea Room Chef, including dishes like red wine-braised short ribs, beef tenderloin with chimichurri sauce and pecan balls with cinnamon ice cream and cayenne chocolate sauce. The excitement continued as guests watched the League’s legendary, all-volunteer cast show produced by Bill Bartlett and Alissa LaVergne, which featured singers, dancers, a cellist, and a pianist.
The chic soiree continued into the night as guests stayed to enjoy live music from The Guzzlers along with night caps and dancing in the ember room. The silent and live auctions included fabulous items such as an eight-day wintry getaway to Telluride at a home located in Mountain Village that sleeps up to 10 people with a $500 Southwest Airlines credit; an in-home private dinner in Houston for 10 with acclaimed chef Drake Leonards of the Cajun-Creole brasserie, Eunice; and a three-night getaway in an ocean view, two-bedroom villa overlooking white sandy beaches and beautiful sunsets at Las Verandas Hotel & Villas in Roatan, Honduras.
An auction item, an art piece donated by local Houston artist, Patrick Renner, was made especially for the gala. The dazzler is appropriately dubbed "Frost."
Who: Maria Bassa, Amanda Boffone, Bethany Buchanan, Selby Bush, Courtney Culver Baker, Schuyler Evans, Maya Fasthoff, Stephanie Fleck, Jennifer Howard, Anika Jackson, Nicole Lassiter, Joanna Marks, Ashley McClellan, Beth Muecke, Lia Vallone, Whitney Walsh, Vivian Wise, and Beth Zdeblick.
Maria Bassa, Maya Fasthoff, Jaquel Charlesworth, Nicole Lassiter, and Jen Torres.
