Shelby's Social Diary
A show-stopping mansion, beautiful people & gorgeous weather make for a fine Rienzi spring fling
It was a perfect evening for Rienzi's annual spring party and that was a good thing as chairs Mary and Stewart Smith and Katie and Bobby Stanton had organized the fundraiser on the terrace of the John Staub-designed dwelling and around the swimming pool.
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston house museum of European decorative arts served as a compelling backdrop for the 375 well-heeled guests, who poured in to pay homage to spring, to the museum and to the late Carroll and Harris Masterson, who bequeathed the property and its contents to the MFAH.
For the cocktail attire evening, the theme followed an East Coast sensibility with shabby-chic covered couches and coffee tables spread through the garden and with antique buoys bobbing in the pool.
A Fare Extraordinaire provided the New England-themed party food that included fresh Blue Point and Northern Cross oysters shucked tableside. Not stopping there, the party buffet included Oysters Rockefeller, Maine lobster rolls, lobster salad, East Coast crab cakes, Boston baked beans, hush puppies and more.
While the Blue Monks entertained those socializing included Elise Reckling, Isla and Tommy Reckling, Angie and John Reckling, Christiana and Luke McConn, Maggie and Rob Vermillion, Margaret and Bill Larkin and Michele and Glenn Clements.