Talk about a gathering of power players - that would be the crowd that turned out at the Ensemble Theatre for the Houston Museum of African American Culture inaugural gala.

It was a "Who's who "of African-American leadership and a tony collection of VIPs from the broader community. For starters, actress and dancer Victoria Rowell and her husband, Atlanta-based artist Radcliffe Bailey, stepped in as honorary chairs of the black-tie dinner.

Gala chairs Lora and Dr. John Clemmons, Eileen and Kase Lawal, Melanie Lawson with John Guess Jr. and mayoral candidate Peter Brown and wife Anne welcomed the crowd that was first invited to view a documentary on the life of Houston artist Bert Long. Then the celebration of the new museum began in earnest.

Only a week earlier, supporters had attended the ribbon cutting and block party at 4807 Caroline, the site of the museum that is affectionately referred to as HMAAC. Look for doors to open a year from now.

The evening celebrated former Mayor Lee Brown, who was involved in initial planning for the museum. This provided an undercurrent of political intrigue as mayoral hopeful Peter Brown (no relation) presided as a gala co-chair while mayoral candidate Gene Locke earnestly worked the room. If elected, Locke would be the city's second African-American mayor.

The hard hat/under construction theme of the evening inspired a diverse fashion mix that found a casually-attired Yvonne Cormier wearing a hard hat and carrying a red toy tool box that matched her crimson Manolos. Community leaders such as Saundria Chase Gray and Jerome Gray, Audrey and the Rev. Bill Lawson, Rufus Cormier and Judge Belinda Hill stuck with traditional cocktail threads.

The more playfully-attired crowd -- think hard hats, construction vests and even jeans in some cases -- included developer Ed Wulfe and wife Lorraine, attorney Charles Foster and wife Lily, artist Dixie Friend Gay and Gilbane Building Co. VP Marshal Lightman and wife Victoria.