Glam Squads

One of the city’s largest galas, hosted by the Altus Foundation and the mayor’s office, once again raised more than $1 million. Emceed by Tyra Banks and featuring a performance by pop star Taylor Thi, the event was attended by 1,300 guests, who bid on items like trips to the Super Bowl, the Grammys — and to Bali! Meanwhile, another 1,000 people packed the ballroom of the Post Oak Hotel for the inaugural Karya Kares Foundation gala, which benefited youth programs in the United States and India.

Ashwin Shetty at ‘Karya’
Ashwin Shetty at ‘Karya’



Anupam Ray, Sylvester Turner and Swapnil Agarwal at ‘Karya’
Parties

Denise Reyes and Matthew Healey (photo by Katy Anderson)

THE OPERA BALL, one of Houston’s perennially elegant, must-hit galas among the society set’s top tier, tilted marvelously mod and disco-deluxe this year, with sophisticated Spanish hints, thanks no doubt to ball chairs Isabel and Ignacio “Nacho” Torras. They are, of course, the arts patrons behind two of Houston’s most popular and trendy restaurants — MAD and BCN Taste & Tradition.

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Parties

Smoked Salmon Cheesecake with Emeril’s Reserve Caviar

THE POP-UP CULINARY trend — when great chefs from elsewhere take over a local restaurant for a night or two — continues to be a hot in Houston. But as the novelty of the concept fades to been-there-done-that, pop-up purveyors must be increasingly clever to attract savvy foodies.

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Food