Opera Ball Returns with Vivid Moroccan Theme, a $1.25 Million Haul and Even a Camel!

Jeff Gremillion

SOMETIMES CALLED THE mother of all galas, the always spectacular Houston Grand Opera Ball returned to the Wortham Center foyer with a roar, with a haul of $1.25 million and a rousing party. It was the event’s first time in the theater center since Hurricane Harvey and then the Covid pandemic displaced it from its longtime home. And, for many, the splendor of its colorful “Le Voyage à Marrakech” theme was worth the long wait.

Mum's the Word! Inside ‘Barrier-Free’ Summer Camp’s Million-Dollar High School Heyday

Evan W. Black

THE JOYS OF summer camp are the makings of childhood memories, and contribute to a sense of self-worth and confidence — a fact that is doubly true for those who attend Camp For All, a Houston nonprofit that runs a “barrier-free” camp for children and adults with special needs in the Hill Country town of Burton.

Travel: Art Fest Lights Up Florida’s Emerald Coast for the Perfect Weekend

Robin Barr Sussman

ART, ARCHITECTURE AND beach lovers will collide for a dose of sun, sand and play at the Digital Graffiti Festival at Alys Beach May 13-14 – and if you’ve never been to this luxury vacation getaway (just a two-hour flight from Houston) – you’re in for a treat. With its white stucco buildings, cobblestone streets and Moorish-inflected architecture, the serene town feels worlds away from the Florida Panhandle.

Crave and Maven's Carajillo cupcake, center, and Espresso Martini cupcake, topped with an ooey-gooey truffle

ENLISTING THE STAR power of Maven Coffee Co. co-founders — Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr., and local entrepreneurs Juan Carlos Martinez de Aldecoa and Blake Fertitta — Crave just debuted a spirited couple of cupcakes. Both are crafted with very grown-up flavors, including Maven coffee concentrate, vodka and truffle.

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Food

Caviar — chef Kate's favorite condiment — at Tony's

SITTING WITH TONY’S chef Kate McLean, she muses “caviar is my favorite condiment.” It’s a statement proven by the fact that that’s no shortage of caviar on her revamped menu at fine-dining stalwart Tony’s; there’s even a caviar flight with three piles of the savory fish eggs served with all the accoutrements and a shot of chilled vodka. The decadent dishes pair well with another new addition at Tony’s: live music in the middle of the dining room.

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Food