A rolling inventory

Hot cars and croissants? Only in Paris, where Ralph Lauren shows off hispriceless vintage wheels

L'Art de l' Automobile
Photo by Pierre-Olivier Deschamps
The 1938 Bugatti 57 SC Atlantic Coupe, one of two in existence, greets visitorsto the Musée des Arts Décoratifs.
Photo by Pierre-Olivier Deschamps
Photo by Pierre-Olivier Deschamps
Photo by Pierre-Olivier Deschamps
Photo by Pierre-Olivier Deschamps
Photo by Pierre-Olivier Deschamps
Photo by Pierre-Olivier Deschamps
Photo by Pierre-Olivier Deschamps
Photo by Pierre-Olivier Deschamps
Photo by Pierre-Olivier Deschamps
Andrew Lauren, from left, Ricky Lauren, Ralph Lauren and David Lauren at theopening night gala for "L'Art de l' Automobile"
Photo by Carter Berg
Photo by Pierre-Olivier Deschamps

It might seem an oddity to travel all the way to Paris and then take time to see a car collection owned by American designer Ralph Lauren. But this summer's exhibition The Art of the Automobile, Masterpieces from the Ralph Lauren Collection at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs on the Rue du Rivoli is one of the public's rare opportunities to view a few gems from the designer's vaunted cache of vintage automobiles.

Lauren, who has been collecting exotic cars since 1961, keeps them under lock and key in his private garage in Westchester County, N.Y., the structure far more museum than storage facility. As Wallpaper magazine described it, "Inside, thanks to design input from the Polo Ralph Lauren interiors team, the collection is displayed in a truly reverent fashion, part Zen garden, part Rothko Room, with every car placed on a carefully lit pedestal, yet kept maintained and primed for instant use."

Only in 2005 were a number of the cars presented for public viewing in an exhibition at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Occasionally, Lauren enters his rolling steeds in the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance or the Fairfield County Concours in Westport, Conn., giving those attending an up-close look at the glorious wheels.

But this summer in Paris, through Aug. 28, visitors can view first-hand 17 of Lauren's finest autos, all of European provenance. In the grand museum setting, the rich design of the cars is truly understood as art form, "a beauty forged by the quest for speed and performance," as the museum guide explains. "The automobile is considered here as a major art in its own right: for splendor of its forms, colors, materials and design, but also the magical beauty shaped by the quest for efficiency and precision."

On a recent Sunday afternoon, car enthusiasts were queuing up along the Rue du Rivoli waiting for entry to the museum and the rich and rare encounters with such prized autos as the 1938 Bugatti 57 SC Atlantic or the 1929 "Blower" Bentley and Jaguar D-type.

The dazzling display of museum-perfect autos includes a number of stunners from Bugatti, Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Porsche. The cars were selected by the museum's curator, Rodolphe Rapetti, who interviewed Lauren about his quest for ownership of the world's most intriguing cars.

If you can't make it to Paris this summer, you might want to check out the hour-long Discovery Channel special on Lauren's collection, Speed, Style and Beauty: The Ralph Lauren Collection airing July 6.

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Brief moments

Competitive spirit powers Houston charity's bingo night for kids

Photo by Sheryl Lochridge/Your Best Shot Photography

A packed house raised money for kids.

Bingo? Dismiss any conjured up perceptions of grannies with a chip on their shoulder, kvetching about their thankless families while struggling to read the numbers of their bingo cards from underneath their readers. This was a crowd of competitive dauber savants. God help you if you got it wrong and called Bingo when you should’ve been sipping on your bevvy and minding your biz.

This cheerful and amicable (yet high-stakes) gamer fundraiser was one where one could mention the unmentionables. Welcome to the 2024 edition of Bingo and Briefs, presented by CenterPoint Energy, supporting Undies for Everyone.

The laid-back atmosphere of the SPJST Lodge 88 in the Heights became a lively battleground, with 370 attendees raising $175,000. At the helm of this afternoon gathering was Rabbi Amy Weiss. This CEO and founder is also a 2022 CNN hero who solves an often invisible problem.

Players-cum-supporters showed up in force — no free space in the cafetorium — huddled around tables laden with candy, chips, and guacamole. The event setup, along with crowd favorite Tacos A Go Go, ensured that every player was well-fed and pepped up, primed to vie for one of the many prizes. Sponsors included HEB, TDECU, United Airlines, Reliant, and Lisset Garza.

“We’re thrilled to host Bingo and Briefs in such a relaxed setting, where friends can come together to support a simple yet vital mission,” remarked Megan Ryan, chair of Undies for Everyone. “Providing kids in need with new underwear is a small but meaningful way to help them thrive — and tonight, we’re doing that while having a bit of fun.”

The crowd’s energy was set ablaze as Jim Grace and Barry Mandel took on the roles of callers, guiding the participants through rounds of classic bingo. Winners included Nancy Rothfeder, Leah Shapiro, Tiffani Tatum, and Amit Misra, who joined others in celebrating their victories.

Between rounds, Stephanie Magers took the stage to lead a spirited game of Heads or Tails, with Rosie Hernandez ultimately claiming the prize, further thrilling the crowd.

The organization’s mission to provide children in poverty with basic dignity underwear struck a chord. Ryan shared a personal story of her journey with Undies for Everyone, from her early days as a Junior League member to witnessing the organization grow into a national powerhouse that distributed 1.6 million pairs of underwear to kids across the country this year.

Reflecting on the cause, Rabbi Weiss summed up the party’s unique charm, saying, “Our supporters love the casual atmosphere of Bingo and Briefs — it’s a chance to provide kids with basic dignity while relaxing in jeans. There’s nothing quite like it.”

Hoping for a big payout were Rabbi Oren Hayon, Rabbi Pamela Silk, Carey Kirkpatrick, Sally Anne Schmidt, Nicole Romano, Winnie Simmons, Nic Phillips, Barbara Loeser, Mimi Swartz, John Wilburn, Jill Jewett, Jason Ryan, Lainie Gordon, David Minceberg, Ilene Epstein, Allison Miller, Tyler Naquin, Scott Sawyer, Lee Haverman, and Will Brown.

Photo by Sheryl Lochridge/Your Best Shot Photography

A packed house raised money for kids.

fundraiser undies for everyone