Wackiest Party Of Year

Houston's wackiest party of the year: Crazy costumes and wild rides rock the Art Car Ball

Stepping into Allen Center on Friday night for the "legendary" Art Car Ball was akin to Alice stepping through her looking glass into Wonderland. The indoor/outdoor party scene blitzed right through reality into the wacky world of lighted art cars and costumed partygoers reveling in an other-worldly atmosphere.

Close to 2,000 Art Car fans poured into Allen Center for the party blast that featured everything from a tattooed belly dancer to lighted hula-hoop girls in tutus. Arts Brookfield — the creative side of Brookfield Properties which owns Allen Center — and the Orange Show, Art Car Parade originator, lined up a non-stop sea of talent to keep the mermaids, drag queens, Star Wars characters and other bizarre creatures entertained.

Close to three dozen of the cars that would be in Saturday's Art Car Parade were on display in the courtyard that links the three Allen Center skyscrapers and along the drive in front. (Note for 2016: It's the best party bargain of the year with tickets around $30 for a totally madcap night.)

Keeping the crowd moving were Free Rads 2nd Line, DJ Kangaroo Sexy, T Bird & the Breaks, Moji, Freerange Revelers, Y.E. Torres & Kiki Maroon. Food stations from downtown eateries fueled the party energy.

The party crowd included Terri and Andy DiRaddo, Xan White, Diana Longo, Dominique Masera, Justin Manalansan, Adrienne DiRaddo, Catherine Murphy, Warren Couper, Allan Rodewald and Christine Mill.

Check out CultureMap's video of the party here.

David Robertson and Kimi Bainter.

Photo by © Morris Malakoff

David Robertson and Kimi Bainter.

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raising glasses

Wine and dine raises spirits for Houston's Catholic Charities

Catholic Charities wine and dine fundraiser 2024

Photo by Johnny Than

Alicia Reggie Freysinger, His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Catholic Charities President Cynthia Nunes Colbert.

An evening of fine dining and philanthropy unfolded at The Revaire for the 2024 Wine and Dine Dinner, benefitting Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston on November 16. With wine glasses in hand and wallets wide open, the stylish and pious savored a night dedicated to lifting up the most vulnerable in the community.

Co-chairs Mikki Hebl and David E. Harvey, Jr., alongside Kerri and Downey Bridgwater, welcomed the crowd, which included His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, who blessed the meal. The highlight? A four-course feast by master sommelier Brandon Kerne and chef Ryan Bouillet, paired with wines selected to enhance each bite.

An interactive twist with the secret sip challenge surely added a playful element. Attendees worked together to identify the mystery wine — a 2015 Merite Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia’s Wrattonbully region.

But the night wasn’t just about indulgence. The live auction, emceed by Johnny Bravo, and a moving “fund a need” segment inspired oenophiles to dig deep for Catholic Charities’ programs. Last year, the organization served people in need 358,000 times across Harris, Fort Bend, and Galveston counties, providing essentials like food, housing assistance, and legal aid for immigrants.

Generous support came from sponsors like the Hildebrand Foundation, Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, and Cuenod Families.

Wining and dining were Alicia Reggie Freysinger, Cynthia Nunes Colbert, Penny and Paul Layne, Monit Cheung and Patrick Leung, Ashley and Doug Plaeger, Sandi and Jim Lemming, Carol and Paul Beck, Louise and Bob Parsley, Avalyn Langemeier, Suzanne Werner, Amie Springmeyer, Lori Hessel, Ginger Niemann, Peggy Idstein, Karina and Mark Amelang,and Ellen and Jim Ginty.

Photo by Johnny Than

Alicia Reggie Freysinger, His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Catholic Charities President Cynthia Nunes Colbert.

catholic charities of the archdiocese of galveston-houston fundraisers