Gorgeous Weather, Celeb Sightings and More: Inside MFAH’s Million-Dollar Weekend

Gorgeous Weather, Celeb Sightings and More: Inside MFAH’s Million-Dollar Weekend

Whitney Crane and Kate Upton (Photo by Wilson Parish)

SPOTTED: KATE UPTON at a chic, breezy luncheon at the lush Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens. A lively crowd dancing under chandeliers al fresco on a picture-perfect spring night. A pop-up LegoLand designed for creative minds of all ages. These were just a few of the diverse scenes that took place throughout the Bayou Bend Weekend benefiting the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.


The marathon weekend started off with a luncheon and fashion show chaired by Janet Gurwitch and Meredith Flores Barker. On one of the most beautiful days of the year, the sun was shining and the humidity was low as models donning 45 looks from Neiman Marcus took to the runway. Guests dined onchilled asparagus soup and lump-crab salad that was capped off with a flight of fruit sorbet.

On Saturday, more than 320 guests took part in the family-friendly Bayou Land celebration. Here, supporters and their kiddos explored different activities in themed areas like Barbie Land, Lego Land and Sports Land. The crowning jewel was the Bubble Palace!

The gorgeous spring weather continued through Sunday, when the Moonlight Sonata-themed Garden Party took place. Guests gathered in the estate’s gardens at twilight for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres before enjoying a seated dinner of pan-seared red snapper by City Kitchen. The weekend was capped off with dancing on the black-and-white checkered dance floor to the music of Anthony Caceres.

Rachel Bagwell; Julia Morales (Photo by Wilson Parish)

Rich and Nancy Kinder (Photo by Wilson Parish)

Ashley Seals, Heather Almond (photo by Wilson Parish)

Meredith Flores Barker; Gary Tinterow; Janet Gurwitch

Consuelo MacPherson; Laura Arnold; Maria Munoz; Vanessa Sanchez; Jennie Segal; Evelyn Pappas (Photo by Jenny Antill Clifton)

Courtney Freels; Kirby Lodholz (Photo by Wilson Parish)

Lisa Eads; Julia Eads Grazer (Photo by Wilson Parish)

Sloan Childers-Cummins; Maddison McConn; Phoebe Massey Cholnoky; Lily Schnitzer (Photo by Jenny Antill Clifton)

Stuart Winston; Josh Gaynor; Moti Ferder (Photo by Jenny Antill Clifton)

Stephanie Marchand; Rosangela Capabianco; Janie Luna; Elia Gabbanelli (Photo by Wilson Parish)

Ashley and Wes Dillard Family (Photo by Wilson Parish)

Colleen Kotts; Cynthia Petrello (Photo by Wilson Parish)

Debbie Dacus; Denise Wynne (Photo by Wilson Parish)

Jacob Stein; Lynden and Alexander Unger (Photo by Jenny Antill Clifton)

Karol and Paul Barnhart; Polly and Murry Bowden (Photo by Jenny Antill Clifton)

Emily and Olivia Kelting (Photo by Wilson Parish)

Lisa Hough and Erik Littlejohn (Photo by Wilson Parish)

Kenner and Wright Francis (Photo by Wilson Parish)

Parties

Janie Zilkha and Lynn Wyatt

WHAT SHOULD THE theme for the Alley ball this year? Elementary, my dear Watson! The ball, held at the Post Oak Hotel and honoring the lovely Cynthia A. Petrello for her years of support to the theater company and other performing arts in the city, had a unique Sherlock Holmes motif. Not coincidentally, the Alley Theatre has Sherlock Holmes and The Case of The Jersey Lily up on this stage right now.

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Parties

Flora

HOUSTON IS ALWAYS down for a frosty margarita and Tex-Mex, so here’s where to score some fun, tasty deals — and perhaps a cocktail connoisseur’s delight on Friday, May 5!

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Food