The big ka-ching!

More than 100,000 visits and $16.5 million in sales make this year's NutcrackerMarket a killer event

The cash registers just kept on ringing for three solid days.
Photo by Shelby Hodge
Loaded with Nutcracker Market finds, these ladies hitched a ride back to theircars.
Photo by Fulton Davenport/PWL Studio
Nutcracker Market Saks Fifth Avenue luncheon chairs.
Photo by Fulton Davenport/PWL Studio
Reliant Center oozed with holiday decor.
Photo by Shelby Hodge
The women behind the successful scene.
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com

Tailgaters in the parking lot of Reliant Center at 7 a.m., die-hard shoppers flying in from around the country, seriously committed consumers arriving in limos and one man buying a table to be shipped to his new home in Germany — how random can the scene at Houston Ballet's ever-prosperous Nutcracker Market get?

Matters not, because each year the crowd and the bottom line just keep growing and growing.

The final numbers are in from last week's uber shopping extravaganza and the tradition continues with 107,753 visitors crossing through the turnstiles at Reliant Center and $16,541,533.91 in merchant sales.

That's a 15.2 percent increase in attendance and an 8.4 percent increase in sales.

Keep in mind that Houston Ballet does not make anywhere near that $16.5 million, but rather a percentage which goes to the Houston Ballet Foundation as well as the ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy and its scholarship funds.

Celebrating the market success are the 1,000 volunteers plus market chair Sharon Erskine; preview party chairs Wendy Burks, Katie Harrison and Elizabeth Stein; Saks Fifth Avenue luncheon chairs Karen Hartnett and Carol Altman and Macy's brunch chairs Dawn Allen, Sunny Haik and Denise Poynter. Add Patsy Chapman, Houston Ballet's director of individual giving and events, to the list of those absolutely giddy over the results.

Possibly celebrating the conclusion of the market are stores in the Galleria and a few restaurants, which reported an unusual dirth of customers last Wednesday and Thursday. Just ask Michael Daly, southwest regional manager for MaxMara, and the folks at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House. Both reported to Houston Ballet public relations resource Judy Nichols an unexpected quiet a few days last week when the Nutracker Market was in session.

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chic charm

Martinis, mingling, and making a difference for Memorial Hermann kids

Children's Memorial Hermann Marigold Club fundraiser

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Amanda Boffone, Melissa Sugulas, Dr. Julie Longoria Chen, Amalia Stanton, Audrey White, and Jennifer Allison.

Houston’s A-listers gathered for Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital's’ “Meet Us at the Club” event at the Marigold Club, the London-inspired restaurant from the team behind March and Rosie Cannonball. The chic new eatery in Montrose offers gourmands a fresh option for refined French cuisine.

And the interior design? Ooh la la.

Held on September 12, the evening celebrated the hospital’s world-class pediatric care while inviting guests to embrace an elegant evening of culinary gems.

The event, hosted by a committee that included Jennifer Allison, Amanda Boffone, Dr. Julie Longoria Chen, Melissa Juneau, Melissa Sugulas, and Audrey White, set the mood with the mellow sounds of a jazz duo. The club’s floral décor, designed by Blooming Gallery, enveloped attendees in a colorful atmosphere that perfectly complemented the chic interiors.

The menu was set to impress, from a live-shucking seafood bar to delicate gougères and savory miniature beef Wellingtons. Adding to the charm was a martini lounge, tucked away in the pink private dining room. A vogue vignette artist live-sketching was a playful touch, offering attendees a keepsake of the evening.

Senior leadership from both the hospital and the Memorial Hermann Foundation took to the stage to remind attendees of the impact their support brings. Marissa Kiefer, senior vice president at Memorial Hermann and CEO of Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, emphasized the hospital’s innovative pediatric care. Anne Neeson, executive vice president and CEO of the Memorial Hermann Foundation, highlighted the hospital’s unique capabilities, including its designation as a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center.

Those with a sweet tooth were treated to an array of desserts, from hazelnut bavarois to caramelized pear chiboust — a sinful ending to a night with heartfelt purpose. Guests left with thoughtful thank-you gifts — a curated set of Montrose Cheese and Wine goodies and a champagne lemon-inspired cocktail kit.

Among the notable 170 attendees were Dr. Matthew Grieves and Colin Moussa, Chita and Lane Craft, Bethany and Ben Buchanan, Allie Fields, Anne Lee Phillips, Gretchen and Ken Sheirr, Dr. KuoJen and Courtney Tsao, Jayne Johnston, Alex Stillwell, and Claire and Tyler Day.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Amanda Boffone, Melissa Sugulas, Dr. Julie Longoria Chen, Amalia Stanton, Audrey White, and Jennifer Allison.

fundraisers

The big ka-ching!

More than 100,000 visits and $16.5 million in sales make this year's NutcrackerMarket a killer event

chic charm

Martinis, mingling, and making a difference for Memorial Hermann kids

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