Honoring Leebron and Sun, Always-Regal Tiger Ball Roars, Scores Record-Breaking $1.73 Million Haul
Phoebe and Bobby Tudor
ONE OF THE most elegant and anticipated galas of the year — Asia Society Texas’ Tiger Ball — drew some of the society set’s heaviest hitters. And it scored a new personal best in terms of dollars, raking in a whopping $1.73 million.
The big win seems to have had a lot to the with the honorees for the evening, philanthropy all-star Y. Ping Sun and husband, David Leebron, the former president of Rice. Leebron was also recently honored by CityBook as one of the media company’s 2024 “Leaders & Legends.”
As an Asia Society rep noted: “Led by Ball Chairs Shawn Stephens and Jim Jordan and Michelle and Rishi Varma, alongside Honorary Chairs Nancy C. Allen, Anne and Albert Chao and Margaret Alkek Williams, the record-breaking event welcomed 600 guests into a breathtaking showcase of red and gold.
A VIP hour for the honorees and society leadership led off the night, before the gala began in full. “Guests arriving for the main event were welcomed to the red carpet by Hanfu performers dressed in vibrant traditional Chinese attire and the rhythmic sounds of drummers stationed outside the Gala Pavilion,” noted the rep. “Inside, the Pavilion glittered in shades of rich crimson and gold with Chinese lanterns suspended above the dance floor. Taking up a large portion of the AST parking lot, the Pavilion encompassed the area’s live trees adorned with red Bougainvillea blossoms that complemented a copious amount of strikingly draped red fabric floating over dinner tables laden with bouquets of roses, tulips, amaranthus and hydrangeas.”
The food never disappoints at the Tiger Ball. This year, with inspiration from Shanghai, passed apps included tea smoked salmon on wasabi potato cakes, duck crepes with hoisin and scallions, and spicy Hunan minced quail with walnuts and orange zest on endive. For dinner, guests enjoyed a starter of five spice-roasted duck with yams, Sichuan pepper and wood ear mushroom; the entree was pan-seared sea bass with forbidden rice, scallion-braised fava beans and carrots with ginger and honey. For desset: A lavish buffet of sumptuous sweets meant as a fuel for the dancing the night away to the beats of DJ Alx.
Boldface names in the crowd included Gracie and Bob Cavnar, Theresa and Peter Chang, Anne and Albert Chao, China and Roberto Contreras IV, Molly and James Crownover, Lily and Charles Foster, Renu and Suresh Khator, Leigh and Reggie Smith, Phoebe and Bobby Tudor, and Ileana and Michael Treviño.
Asia Society Texas’ mission is to advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world, the organization says.
Margaret Alkek Williams and Shawn Stephens
Dancing the night away at the Tiger Ball
Harlee McCourt, Tuu and Jim Teague, and Nathalie Roff
Durga and Sushila Agrawal
Robert Gondo and Jaewon Kang Gondo
Anant Shankar
Charles and Lily Foster
David Leebron and Y. Ping Sun
Heather Almond, Elia Gabbanelli, Kaleta Blaffer Johnson and Tara Martin (photo courtesy Cotton Holdings)
THE SWANKIEST SETUP at the Rodeo Houston “Cookoff” didn’t disappoint, for the fourth year in a row!
Adorned with some 20,000 red roses — it’s always over the top in there — Cotton Holdings’ Cotton ‘Q Club opened its doors to a hand-selected guest list of VIPs over the course of four nights of the 51st Annual World’s Championship Bar-B- Que Contest. As the title sponsor of the whole event, better known as Cookoff, Cotton scored a premium 10,000-square-off cedar-framed tent — and hosted what was widely known as the most exclusive setup at the Rodeo.
Big-deal country musicians took the stage each night, including the likes of Tucker Wetmore, Midland and MacKenzie Porter. Some of the guests in attendance were also big music stars — think Bun B and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. Cotton brass were also on hand, including Co-CEO Pete Bell, Exec VP Zinat Ahmed and Quanta Services CEO Duke Austin.
Food and bev was killer, as always. “The Cotton Culinary team, who won First Place People’s Choice … at this year’s Rodeo Uncorked! Roundup & Best Bites Competition, along with Executive Chef Wade Schindler, prepared outstanding menus with different themes for each night,” said a Cotton rep, “including Angus Ribeye with Chimichurri and Bacon Bearnaise Sauce, Cotton Brie Balls with Peach Bourbon Chutney, Pecan Smoked Pulled Brisket Tacos, Pepper Chicken Bites with Whistlepig Whiskey Glaze, and Hickory Smoked BBQ Brisket, to name a few.”
Special guests included Mayor John Whitmire, Dawn Buckingham; Jim and Whitney Crane, Tilman and Lauren Fertitta; Slim Thug, C.J. Stroud, Andre Johnson, Jalen Green, Jack McGlynn, Pat Mann Phillips, Micah McDonald, Debbie and Rudy Festari, Teressa Foglia, Ty Hays, Hallie Vanderhider, Bobby Dees; Tony Bradfield, Lance and Alicia Smith, Derrick Shore, Brandon Bourque, Norman and Donna Lewis, and Fady Armanious.
Cotton Holdings is a leading disaster recovery and infrastructure support services, its rep said.
Whitney Crane, Zinat Ahmed and Sanette Austin (photo by Ashley Patranella)
Bun B serving Trill Burgers in the Gold Pony VIP Lounge (photo by Anzola Productions)
Pete Bell, Tilman Fertitta and Lauren Ware Fertitta (photo by Ashley Patanella)
Midland performs (photo by Anzola Productions).
Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson and Texans Quarterback C.J. Stroud (photo courtesy Cotton Holdings)
Rose confetti cannons after the Champagne toast on opening night (photo by Painted Peacock Photography)
Braxton Berrios and Alix Earle (photo from @alix_earle on Instagram)
WHILE HOUSTON IS still mourning the loss of Alex and Reagan Bregman’s move to Boston, a new power couple is about to touch down in H-Town. Influencer Alix Earle’s boyfriend Braxton Berrios was drafted to the Texans this week.
Earle made the announcement to her 7.3 million followers on TikTok with a video featuring Beyonce’s Texas Hold ’Em and the caption, “Braxton got the call today that he will be playing for the Houston Texans this next year!! So incredibly proud & can’t wait to see what this next year brings.”
@alixearle Texas time 👏🏻
In a second video — one of her GRWM videos that brought her to social media fame — she said, “I’ve been just having the itch for Texas,” And added that Houston should be prepared to “see a lot of me.”
The 29-year-old influencer — who also has 4 million followers on Instagram — was living in Miami as Berrios played for the Dolphins. She started amassing followers in 2022 with her candid discussions of acne and body dysmorphia. In 2023, she was named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. The same year, she launched the popular Hot Mess podcast which dethroned Joe Rogan’s top position on the Spotify charts when it debuted, a position he held for two years prior.
Berrios, a wide receiver, signed a one-year deal worth $2 million with the Texans. He previously played four seasons with the New York Jets and two seasons with the Maimi Dolphins.
@alixearle A little life update - go bb