shock and awe

Dark elegance and spooky splendor raise $1.1M for Children’s Museum Houston

When the Children’s Museum Houston threw its annual adult fête on October 26, the Corinthian wasn’t just an event space, it was a full-on haunted playground for the city’s imaginative souls. Nearly 500 attendees — clad in mysterious black lace, horns, feathers, and flowing capes — stepped into a realm where goth and childhood wonder collided with spectacular results.

This year’s “Noir Ball: A Celebration of Haunted Elegance,” chaired by Whitney and Ryan Burns and Allison and Iván Chávez, made no bones about its moody vibe. From the moment partygoers floated in, the eerie ambiance—think chandeliers dripping in ghostly light and roses under glass cages—set the stage.

The masterminds at Bergner and Johnson Design turned the room into a scene from a spellbinding fairytale, where fog floated ominously across a grand fountain, dotted with rose petals and flickering candles. One could practically hear the spirits whisper.

And as any child knows, no Halloween is complete without a little shock and awe. At one point, lightning cracked and thunder rolled through the room. Even the sweet tooth found its haunting hour with Jackson and Co.’s darkly decadent desserts, including cake candles that might just have you second-guessing what’s edible. It was a feast fit for vampires, werewolves, and Houston’s social elite alike.

Adding to the festivities, ‘80s cover band The Spazmatics revived the dance floor with a high-energy, undead-worthy set, pulling every last creature of the night into their spell. With the iconic chandeliers casting an ethereal glow, the floor was alive with revelers reliving their MTV glory days.

Maleficent, Dracula, and Wednesday Addams mingled with the crowd, adding a dash of dark fantasy to the evening’s ambiance while paddle bids flew during the live and silent auctions chaired by Devorah Krieger and Elizabeth McIngvale-Mackey. Highlights included everything from a diamond necklace to a puppy duo courtesy of K-9 Angels Rescue. Guests vied with ghostly fervor for a bangle donated by Zadok Jewelers. After a close battle, Yana Rodilosso emerged triumphant

The evening raised a spine-tingling $1.14 million, the museum’s second-highest tally ever, all to fuel its mission to nurture Houston's young minds.

Among the undead were Alexandra and Alex Cabraie, Antoinette and Julian Duncan, Kathryn and Travis Boeker, Erin Smith, Bethany and Ben Buchanan, Courtney and Bo Hughes, Deanna Altenhoff, Darren Brasher, Stephanie Wilcox, Freddie Minahan, Heather and Mark Teshoian, Iona and Mike Avery, Veronica and John Griffin, Lacey and Matt Goossen, Ashley and Jonathan Sloan, Neil Badlani and Rekha Muddaraj, Cassandra and Ryan Dalton, and Matthew Mackey.

Photo by Alexander’s Fine Portrait Design

Ashley Sloan, Kathryn Boeker, Erin Smith, and Bethany Buchanan.

Heroes in Action

Batman, bidders, and Houston's big hearts raise $1.8 million at Wish Ball

Photo by Jacob Power

Tony and Laurie Nevotti; Sarah and Hunter Nevotti.

Every detail at The Post Oak Hotel on May 2 felt like the answer to a wish.

The ballroom glowed in celestial tones of blue, silver, and gold, with galactic florals blooming from each table. More than 650 guests gathered for The Hero Within, the 2025 Wish Ball benefiting Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana, a night where generosity turned dreams into action.

This year’s honorees, longtime board member Mandy Williams and Corporate Honoree Enterprise Mobility, were celebrated by Beth and Dan Bellow, who served as honorary chairs. But the emotional core of the evening came from Fox 26 anchor Melissa Wilson and her 17-year-old son Caleb. Diagnosed with leukemia 12 years ago, Caleb took the stage to reflect on his wish experience, describing how it gave him strength when he needed it most.

Surprises unfolded throughout the night, beginning with Batman’s arrival in the Batmobile to thrill Wish Kid Adonis, whose wide-eyed reaction may have outshined the Caped Crusader himself. Guests mingled over espresso martinis at the Nov-sponsored ice bar, eyed silent auction items, and took chances on raffles, including a shimmering ring from Kim Chau and Co. Fine Jewelers.

The appeal brought in more than $500,000, with many pledging support for Wish Kid Aria’s dream of planting 1,000 trees—an effort completed symbolically as the final 100 trees were granted during the program. Bidding wars broke out over a live painting by Edgar Medina, a miniature Poodle puppy, fashion wunderkind Max Alexander’s Aspen show tickets, and deBoulle’s dazzling earrings.

The dance floor filled quickly, with Party in the City keeping the crowd moving well into the night. In all, the evening raised $1.8 million, a record for the chapter and a major boost for wishes to come.

Granting wishes takes a village, and this one included Courtney and James Jennaro, Genevieve and Ed Razim, Gregory Miller, Claudia and Brad Freels, Teri and Jim Andrepont, Cathy and Robert Brewton, Susan and Larry Kachler, Pam and Joe Slovacek, Kay and Tommy Austin, Holly and Ryan Lambert, Jerrie and John McGillis, Charity and David Stone, Yuliya and Daniel Penny, ZoAnn and Jeff Dreyer, Michael Vanderhider, Max Alexander, Mark Reed, Stephanie and Ryan Moss, Ashley and Jonathan Sloan, Kristin and Barry Palmer, Frani and David Denenburg, Aabha and James Brown, Stephanie and Thomas Hatfield, April and Scott Townsend, Becca and Scott Schwinger, Renee Montgomery, Marye and John Nickens, and Stephanie and Daniel Milwit.

Photo by Jacob Power

Tony and Laurie Nevotti; Sarah and Hunter Nevotti.

fundraisers make-a-wish-foundation