party watch

Houston society stars honor local philanthropic A-listers at UNICEF gala

Anika Jackson, Malaika Mukoro, Kristen McQuillin, and guest.

Photo by Bob Levey Getty Images

What: The fifth annual UNICEF Gala

Where: ThePost Oak Hotel

The scoop: Beloved local philanthropists Susan and Fayez Sarofim and Linda and JimMcIngvale were honored for their charitable works at the annual UNICEF Gala. More than 320 guests attended the glamorous gala, which raised more than $900,000 and will support UNICEF’s lifesaving work for children around the world. The event, emceed by Deborah Duncan, celebrated UNICEF’s lifesaving work and honored theSarofims with the Margaret Alkek Williams Humanitarian Award. Meanwhile, Linda and Jim McIngvale received the Global Community Hero Award.

Special guests included Mayor Sylvester Turner and Emma Kathleen Hepburn Ferrer, Audrey Hepburn’s granddaughter and UNICEF advocate, both of whom spoke about their personal connection to UNICEF USA. Ferrer provided a touching introduction to a video highlighting her grandmother’s work with UNICEF. The gala tables featured large glass globe centerpieces (glowing in blue) surrounded by white roses as well as crystal candelabras with dangling white orchids. After a three-course meal and live auction, a vibrant performance by the 10-piece variety band Professor D took over the after party hosted by Houston's UNICEF 'NEXTGEN' supporters.

Gala chairs included Brigitte and Bashar Kalai, Sippi and Ajay Khurana, Leticia and Stephen Trauber and Ileana and Michael Treviño.Honorary Chairs included Rosanette and Harry Cullen, Leela and Nat Krishnamurthy, Penny and Paul B. Loyd Jr., Margaret Alkek Williams, and Randa and Charles Williams.

Live-action packages included tickets to Hamilton, a private suite at Rockets and Astros games, tickets to the Houston Symphony, a NYC trip experience with jewelry shopping spree, and even a 2018 Lexus NX 300.

Who:Margaret Alkek Williams, Buzz Aldrin, The Honorable Joanne King Herring, Rosanette Cullen, Maria and Neil Bush, Sara Beth and Pierce Bush, Jeff and Rachel Bagwell, Rudy and Debbie Festari, Paul-David Van Atta, Trish and Rock Morille, Anika Jackson and Chuck Redick, Alicia Smith, Tony Bradfield Kevin Black, Alex and Astley Blair, Bill Baldwin and Fady Armanious, Erik Monrreal, and Shannah Quinn.

Honoree Susan Sarofim, Rose Cullen, Margaret Alkek Williams, and honorees Linda McIngvale and Jim McIngvale.

Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images

Honoree Susan Sarofim, Rose Cullen, Margaret Alkek Williams, and honorees Linda McIngvale and Jim McIngvale.

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thanks for the memories

Landmark Rice Village art gallery hosts first-ever sale event ahead of transformation into multipurpose space

Gremillion and Co. Fine Art/Facebook

Gremillion and Co. Fine Art will host its first — and only ever — sale this month.

For some 40 years, much-heralded Houston art maven Ron Gremillion has been a fixture of the local scene as a buyer, gallerist, and collector. Indeed, his Gremillion and Co. Fine Art complex has become a Rice University landmark.

Seemingly, the Gremillion and Co. Fine Art compound at 2501 Sunset Blvd. would endure in its current iteration for another decade. But like much of Houston these days, an enduring local space is being reimagined.

A group of Houston investors have purchased Gremillion’s property, which was designed by acclaimed architect Jim Lass and are refreshing the gallery and annex — both totaling more than 21,000 square feet. The group has also purchased an adjacent home at 2508 Nottingham St. that dates back to around 1940, which has been gutted to make way for a catering kitchen and new guest apartments upstairs for visiting artists, chefs, and other creatives tied to support inhouse programming and private events.

The result is a new multipurpose space replete with a shaded garden and tree-shaded terrace, which will be renamed Horizon on Sunset. Plans call for debuts by February 2023.

Fans can catch a sneak peek of the new Horizon Sunset during a special Gremillion and Co. Fine Art even and sale — a first in the company’s four-decade history — beginning Saturday, December 3. The specialty sale will last one month, with some 500 of Gremillion’s mostly modern assembled works on sale from $200 t0 $200,000.

Gremillion will personally oversee the sale and consult with potential buyers, along with guest curator Elise Arnoult Miller of Houston-based Arnoult Fine Art Consulting. “Gremillion is a gallery that has supported artists and put them first, and to some degree, that’s how this vast collection was amassed – pieces never stopped coming,” Gremillion noted in a statement. “This last hurrah is an opportunity to pair beautiful works of art with buyers that will be moved by them, compensate their talented creators and make way for the next chapter in a space that has made so many memories.”

Consider this a chance to score some valuable art at bargain prices, and pay tribute to a Houston institution.

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Gremillion and Co. Fine Art (2501 Sunset Blvd.) will host its first and only sale beginning Saturday, December 3. For hours and more information, visit www.gremillion.com.

party watch

Houston society stars honor local philanthropic A-listers at UNICEF gala

Honoree Susan Sarofim, Rose Cullen, Margaret Alkek Williams, and honorees Linda McIngvale and Jim McIngvale.

thanks for the memories

Landmark Rice Village art gallery hosts first-ever sale event ahead of transformation into multipurpose space

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