Shelby's Social Diary

With dancing nudes summoning aliens and tequila flowing, Ballroom Marfa benefitrocked

Astronauts delivering flowers were part of the inspired entertaiments.
Luncheons, dinners and sunrise happenings comprised the weekend.
Yes, Marfa is in a far-flung corner of West Texas.

What happens in Marfa doesn't necessarily stay in Marfa and that's just the way supporters of Ballroom Marfa like it. Consider their recent fundraising romp with an international coterie of 165 art patrons, who gathered in this West Texas burg for "A Weekend with Aliens and Astronauts."

By the time the three days of dinners and entertainments concluded, the event had raised $250,000 for the nine-year-old Ballroom Marfa, a center for the exploration of contemporary art and culture. As the name would suggest, the center is housed in a 1927 dance hall.

The Casa Dragones Tequila and the Tito's Vodka "sputnik" cocktails flowed as guests participated in everything from an "astronaut" dinner to a sunrise visit to Prada Marfa.

Throughout Memorial Day weekend, guests were entertained at outer-space themed events hosted by Ballroom Marfa cofounders Fairfax Dorn and Virginia Lebermann of Austin as well as board members screenwriter Nancy Sanders, Austin's Suzanne Deal Booth, founder of The Friends of Heritage Preservation, and Houstonian Sabrina Franzheim, designer and founder of the Marfa International School. (Houstonians will be familiar with Booth for her funding of the James Turrell Skyspace at Rice University.)

The Casa Dragones Tequila and the Tito's Vodka "sputnik" cocktails flowed as guests participated in everything from an "astronaut" dinner to a sunrise visit to Prada Marfa to a benefit concert featuring indie-rock band Cansei de Ser Sexy (CSS).

Centerpiece of the weekend was the other-worldly dinner piloted by Jens Hoffmann, director of the Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts at the California College of the Arts in San Francisco and co-curator of the 2011 Istanbul Biennial. The evening began at dusk with a performance choreographed by LA-based artist Kathryn Andrews in conjunction with composer Scott Benzel in which a handful of nude performers romped through an open field summoning alien beings from distant planets.

Then it was on to dinner, a feast created by San Francisco chef and founder of Dinner Discussion, Leif Hedendal. Each element in the dinner setting — everything from plates and glasses to table linens and table decor —was created by an artist in a nod to Ballroom Marfa's mission to promote emerging and under-recognized talent. Next stop was artist Julie Speed’s studio for the Extraterrestrial After-Party where the unconventional art patrons danced late into the night to the sounds of Chris Avitabile and DJ Juan Capistran.

Guests came from as far away as Hong Kong and Rome for the weekend art romp including artists Matthew Day Jackson, Simone Leigh, Rashid Johnson,Charles Ruger and Leo Villareal; plus Art Basel Magazine editor in chief Sue Hostetler, Don Mullins, Tina Walls, Marianne Boesky and John Wotowicz.

Michelin Stars

Superstar Spanish chefs return to Houston for dinners with a purpose

Hope and Opportunity Dinner Texas Children's Hospital

Courtesy of Texas Children’s Hospital

Jordi Roca, Ignacio Torras, and Joan Roca.

Leave it to Houston to blend avant-garde gastronomy with generosity, stirring up a one-two punch of flavor and philanthropy.

Over two intimate evenings, Isabel and Ignacio “Nacho” Torras opened their private home for the Hope and Opportunity Dinners,an affair that embraced the neurodiverse community with epicurean delight.

The dinners, limited to 100 guests per night, were a collaborative recipe honoring the missions of Texas Children’s Duncan Neurological Research Institute and The Genuine Cup, the nonprofit arm of The Genuine Foundation. With a thematic throughline of “Hope” and “Opportunity,” guests were treated to a nine-course menu..

The culinary talent? Flying in from their famed El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain, Michelin-starred brothers Joan Roca (head chef) and Jordi Roca (pastry chef), along with sommelier Marta Cortizas, teamed up with chef Luis Roger of Houston’s Michelin-starred BCN Taste & Tradition. The menu, a poetic composition of bold Spanish flavors and delicate textures, was elevated further by thoughtful wine pairings.

Far from a solo act, the Roca brothers worked in sync with some of Houston’s culinary luminaries: Felipe Riccio (March), Mayank Istwal (Mussafer), David Skinner (Eculent), Felipe Botero (Le Jardinier), Mary Cuclis (Kriti Kitchen), and Emmanuel Chavez (Tatemó). Service each evening was led by 27 young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, supported by 10 coaches.

One dinner honored Whitney and Jim Crane, whose Astros Foundation has become a pillar of Houston philanthropy, and Dr. Huda Y. Zoghbi, whose groundbreaking neuroscience work continues to shape the future of medicine. The second dinner spotlight fell on Laura Arnold, co-founder of Arnold Ventures LLC, and Dr. Debra F. Sukin, president and CEO of Texas Children’s Hospital, both champions for equity and innovation in their fields.

The evenings ended with cookbook signings by the Roca brothers, a fitting souvenir from two nights where food was both an experience and a vehicle for change. The events raised more than $400,000.

Showing up for science and inclusion were Monica and Yordon Alvarez, Cathy and Joe Cleary, Carlos Correa, Molly and Crownover, Paula and Reginald DesRoches, Pam and Keith Fullenweider, Adrienne and Jared Crane, Cynthia and Tony Petrello, Phoebe Tudor and Tudor, Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught, and Penny and Paul Layne.

Hope and Opportunity Dinner Texas Children's Hospital

Courtesy of Texas Children’s Hospital

Jordi Roca, Ignacio Torras, and Joan Roca.

fundraisers hospitals texas children's hospital

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