¡Dale! Pitbull Takes the Stage at Massive San Luis Salute

Dave Rossman and Gary Fountain
¡Dale! Pitbull Takes the Stage at Massive San Luis Salute

Maria and Neil Bush

ON THE HEELS of last year's San Luis Salute, which was Texas' biggest Mardi Gras bash ever, Tilman Fertitta was determined to throw another stupendous celebration.


And that he did. Nearly 2,000 tickets were purchased within hours of them going on sale, and revelers from all over the country flew in to party Mardi in Galveston.

Per the Fertitta family's custom, a Champagne-fueled pre-party was held in a chandelier-bedecked tent on the dock next to their mega-yacht, The Boardwalk. Guests sipped Veuve and explored the $150 million, 77-meter yacht before heading to the main event, a gala at the Galveston Island Convention Center at the San Luis Resort.

Channeling the "Gilded Masquerade" theme, Richard Flowers of The Events Company created stunning tablescapes flecked with gold, colorful blooms and chic animal print. Speaking of wild, fire dancers, sword-swallowing showmen and an aerial violinist entertained the black-tie-clad gala-goers to the sounds of The Big Beyond.

After a seated dinner of short rib and gourmet shrimp and grits — the latter dyed purple in true Mardi Gras fashion — guests got on their feet for Pitbull, who last performed at the San Luis Salute in 2016.

Thomas and Hailey Kleiderer

Rich Handler

Blayne Fertitta and Dancie Ware

Patrick Fertitta, Paige Fertitta and Blake Fertitta

Carol Alvarado and Renu Khator

Lance and Alicia Smith

Caroline Brown and Elizabeth Kohlhausen

Kelly Wainscott and Craig Kovacevich

Chris Titterington and Sophie Titterington

Pitbull

The Boardwalk yacht

2023 Knights of Momus Royal Court and Tilman Fertitta

Parties
Thrive & Inspire: ‘Results for Clients’ in Oil and Gas Drives Michelman & Robinson’s Varnado

Lauren Varnado, Houston Office Managing Partner at Michelman & Robinson, LLP and sought-after oil and gas lawyer

WHAT WAS THE highlight of 2022 at your business? That’s easy, launching Michelman & Robinson in Houston was, for me, the absolute high point of 2022 — and that’s in a year that included so many highlights. Without question, being named the firm’s Houston Office Managing Partner is and was a professional milestone that I’m so very proud of. That I’ve already been able to expand the office to 10 of us (and growing) and significantly move the needle in terms of the firm’s reach within the energy space is icing on the cake.

Keep Reading Show less

Bill Viola’s ‘Ascension,’ on display as part of ‘Living with the Gods’ at MFAH

THE ARTIST WHO ushered in the expressionist movement in the early 20th century was not, in fact, Picasso or Matisse. It was Paul Gauguin, whose career spanned the decades just preceding the turn of the century. The French painter is the subject of the Museum of Fine Arts’ latest exhibit, Gauguin in the World, which was organized by Henri Loyrette (formerly of the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay, Paris). The show, just one of the museum’s diverse winter season shows, debuted in Australia in June and will be on display through Feb. 16, 2025, at the MFAH, the only U.S. venue for the survey.

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment

Cirque du Soleil's 'Echo'


Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment