Shelby's Social Diary

Having the blues was a good thing at the SPA black-tie gala

Photo by Mercedes Smith
Photo by Mercedes Smith
Photo by Eric Hester
Photo by Eric Hester
Photo by Mercedes Smith
Photo by Eric Hester
Photo by Eric Hester
Photo by Mercedes Smith
Photo by Eric Hester
Photo by Eric Hester
Photo by Eric Hester

Wortham Theater Center really was the House of Blues and the House of Blue Saturday night when Society for the Performing Arts held its "Rockin' the Blues" spring gala.

From the swaths of blue-lighted fabric that soared above the dining area and dance floor to the on-stage presence of blues great Bobby "Blue" Bland and his band, the 400 guests grooved in a retro mood. Add Stevie Dupre and the Delta Flyers and Milton Hopkins to the soulful jazz sounds that preceded the headliner. And add silver tureens filled with magnolia leaves and fragrant gardenias, shaded candlesticks and six dazzling crystal chandeliers to the decorative scheme devised by Rebekah Johnson.

Applause, applause for chairs Georgia and Mike Foulard, who oversaw the black-tie gala that enriched SPA coffers by $400,000. A whopping $100,000 came that very night in the live auction thanks to the talents of auctioneer Jeff Smith and the expertise of auction chairs Brenda and Marc Watts. Also taking bows were gala honorary chairs and long-time SPA supporters Ginni and Richard Mithoff. It was a night that put a broad smile on the face of SPA executive director June Christensen.

The party was just getting started when a second wave of revelers, 150 strong, poured into the Grand Foyer for the after-party (a lower ticket, a younger crowd) for the Blues BASH chaired for the second year by Beth Bryant and Cortney Cole, who were joined this year by John Gerard and Michael Coppens.

Blues Brothers style sunglasses, flashing rings and flashing guitar-shaped lapel pins set the newcomers apart from those who had already secured their seats and dined on yummy Southern-inspired fare from Jackson & Co.

In the mix of gala-goers were Melissa and Michael Mithoff, Tricia and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, Courtney and Bo Hopson, George Foulard, Liz and Tom Glanville, Margaret Williams and Jim Daniel, Nancy and Chuck Davidson and Lisanne and Jim Rogers. And did we mention Mary Tere and Ricardo Perusquia, Sara Dodd Spickelmier and Keith Spickelmier, and Karen and Scott Rozell.

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shock and awe

Dark elegance and spooky splendor raise $1.1M for Children’s Museum Houston

When the Children’s Museum Houston threw its annual adult fête on October 26, the Corinthian wasn’t just an event space, it was a full-on haunted playground for the city’s imaginative souls. Nearly 500 attendees — clad in mysterious black lace, horns, feathers, and flowing capes — stepped into a realm where goth and childhood wonder collided with spectacular results.

This year’s “Noir Ball: A Celebration of Haunted Elegance,” chaired by Whitney and Ryan Burns and Allison and Iván Chávez, made no bones about its moody vibe. From the moment partygoers floated in, the eerie ambiance—think chandeliers dripping in ghostly light and roses under glass cages—set the stage.

The masterminds at Bergner and Johnson Design turned the room into a scene from a spellbinding fairytale, where fog floated ominously across a grand fountain, dotted with rose petals and flickering candles. One could practically hear the spirits whisper.

And as any child knows, no Halloween is complete without a little shock and awe. At one point, lightning cracked and thunder rolled through the room. Even the sweet tooth found its haunting hour with Jackson and Co.’s darkly decadent desserts, including cake candles that might just have you second-guessing what’s edible. It was a feast fit for vampires, werewolves, and Houston’s social elite alike.

Adding to the festivities, ‘80s cover band The Spazmatics revived the dance floor with a high-energy, undead-worthy set, pulling every last creature of the night into their spell. With the iconic chandeliers casting an ethereal glow, the floor was alive with revelers reliving their MTV glory days.

Maleficent, Dracula, and Wednesday Addams mingled with the crowd, adding a dash of dark fantasy to the evening’s ambiance while paddle bids flew during the live and silent auctions chaired by Devorah Krieger and Elizabeth McIngvale-Mackey. Highlights included everything from a diamond necklace to a puppy duo courtesy of K-9 Angels Rescue. Guests vied with ghostly fervor for a bangle donated by Zadok Jewelers. After a close battle, Yana Rodilosso emerged triumphant

The evening raised a spine-tingling $1.14 million, the museum’s second-highest tally ever, all to fuel its mission to nurture Houston's young minds.

Among the undead were Alexandra and Alex Cabraie, Antoinette and Julian Duncan, Kathryn and Travis Boeker, Erin Smith, Bethany and Ben Buchanan, Courtney and Bo Hughes, Deanna Altenhoff, Darren Brasher, Stephanie Wilcox, Freddie Minahan, Heather and Mark Teshoian, Iona and Mike Avery, Veronica and John Griffin, Lacey and Matt Goossen, Ashley and Jonathan Sloan, Neil Badlani and Rekha Muddaraj, Cassandra and Ryan Dalton, and Matthew Mackey.

Photo by Alexander’s Fine Portrait Design

Ashley Sloan, Kathryn Boeker, Erin Smith, and Bethany Buchanan.