Conventional wisdom says that pink isn't just a color, it's an attitude. For the invite-only posse of 600 at the Hotel ZaZa for "Party in Pink" Thursday, the rosy hue cued a deliberate attempt to kick breast cancer to the curb.
Or give the disease "the fuzzy end of a lollipop," as Marilyn Monroe said in Some Like it Hot, whose many musical tunes hit the airwaves around the pool deck for this VIP gathering. The appearance of a handful of Monroe doppelgängers donning the blonde bombshell's iconic white dress plus pink wigs was a delightful touch.
The yearly fashionable gathering that benefits the Susan G. Komen Foundation turned the relaxing urban setting into a haute carnival hot spot — sweltering 100-degree temps included — replete with strolling magicians, fortune tellers, pink balloons, models from Tootsies, sparklers and a kissing booth manned by a trio of fetching gals from KHOU that included Katherine Whaley, Chita Johnson and Lily Jang.
Kiss and tell? As Jang was about to lightly peck Houston DynamoMike Chabala on the cheek to earn her keep, the soccer stud surprised the newscaster by turning his head just in time to lock lips. Chabala scores (though we wish this happened more on the field).
Cooling off the sultry affair was a steady flow of Veuve Clicquot Rose while chef Jeff Axline offered tray after tray of hors d'oeuvres such as watermelon and heirloom tomato gazpacho, mini lobster rolls, and pink shrimp and peach ceviche.
Flushed and blushed in the crowd were Edward Sanchez, Fady Armanious, Yasmine Haddad, Cindi and Dr. Frank Rose, Erica Rose, Philippe Schmit, Jared Lang, Karina and Carlos Barbieri, Michael Heckman, Ali Ansari, Beth and Nick Zdeblick, Lupe Molina, Rick Carrier, Nick Abrego, Melanie Mabry, Jason Koster, Sandy Patout, Annie Shen, Ashley Wyatt, Will Matthews, Melissa Croft, Michelle Sharma, Lindsey Kern, Briseida Luna and Russell Richard.
Michael Chabala and Lily Jang at "Party in Pink" at Hotel ZaZa.
