Photos by Samantha Jane Beatty
Styling by Kate Stukenberg
Grooming by Tonya Riner for Page Parkes Agency
Models Madison Johnston for Wallflower Management and Jake Atterberry for Page Parkes Agency
Photo assistance by John Lewis
Styling assistance by Molly Jodeit
Men’s styling consulting by Cody Sever
and Whitney Wiggins for M Penner
Shot on location at Hotel Alessandra in Downtown
Noor Riddle, Ally Shell, Stacey Lindseth, Kendra Smith, Donae Chramosta
In addition to being one of the first mega events held at the glam newcomer, the fundraising fete, which adopted a theme of An Arabian Night, made headlines for breaking Mercury's fundraising record. It brought in more than $420,000 thanks to an exciting auction (items included a tour of Chinatown led by Chris Shepherd, and a week-long stay at Casa Angelina in Zihuatanejo, Mexico) and a raffle, which featured a pair of DeBoulle diamond earrings.
Divine Décor Design brought in elegant flowers, furniture and more, transforming the Thompson's Vesper Ballroom into a mystique-filled setting that provided the perfect backdrop for a dinner of Moroccan-spiced steak, Mujadara rice, and zaatar asparagus.
After dinner, Artistic Director Antoine Plante led the chamber orchestra in a moving performance of selections from Mozart’s Ronda Alla Turca, Tchaikovsky’s Arabian Dance, Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, and Dizzy Gillespie’s A Night in Tunisa.
Linda & Mike DeMasi
Mike & Jo Anne Donovan, Lesley Crawford, Gary Swagerty
Kristen Shults, Kari Dial, Maria Alejandra Nebreda
David & Kelly Rose, Courtenay Vandiver Pereira & Sabata Pereira
Gaby & Kenny Owen
Brian Riter, Gaby & Kenny Owen, Antoine Plante
Brian & Stephanie Dubiski
Mickey & Debi Barret
Mathew & Mya Melton
Robert Navo & Ginny Hart
Shane & Marissa Gilroy
Gilbert Cruz & Natalie Keshemberg, Dahlia Chaudhury & Khalil Bryant
Summer Boots, Gaby Owen, Monica Jhunjhunwala
Rudy & Debbie Festari, Antoine Plante, Daniel Irion, Kirk Kveton
Ralf van der Ven, Megan Hendrix, Justin Garcia
Stephen & Kim Perich
Travelle & Zach Ellis
Deborah Duncan, Nadia Tajalli, Susan Boggio
The sold-out event at the Hotel ZaZa in the Museum District, a fashion show of sorts produced by Todd Ramos, raised more than $113,000 “to provide pet food, toys and preventative vet care supplies to over 1,300 pets of homebound seniors,” said a rep for the nonprofit. Supporters of the cause and their pets — duded up in Western theme, nodding to the “Bow Wow West” motif — took to the runway.
“Walking the catwalk for Interfaith Ministries were Roger Applewhite and Keyser Soze, Ivonne Camarena and Don Cheto the cat, Beth Clark and Yeti, Freddy Cruz and Sparrow, Louise Goldberg and Rosie, Karen Jankowsi and Bella Donahue, Kian Tavackoli and Moose, and Beth Wolff and Dandy,” said the rep. Media-personality judges, including the Houston Chronicle’s Joy Sewing and TV host Deborah Duncan, awarded Bella, Rosie and Moose took first, second and third place respectively.
Co-Chair for the ever were Shirin and Saied Alavi and the doctors Vasant Garg and Kim Tran. “Emcee Casey Curry welcomed guests and four-legged furry cowpokes to a rootin’ tootin’ fun and inspiring program,” the Ministries rep gushed. CEO Martin Cominsky and board chair Kathy C. Flanagan were also on hand.
Guests enjoyed a delicious cool-weather menu that began with a sort of roasted cauliflower potpie, follow by herbed chicken, turmeric rice and balsamic Brussel sprouts. Tres leches cake and strawberry shortcake for dessert!
VIPs in the crowd included Cynthia Wolff, Cheryl Byington, Connie Kwan-Wong, Gregg Harrison and Barbara Van Postman.
Beth Wolff and Dandy
Rev. Dr. Tamla Wilson, Dr. Kathy Flanagan, Joy Sewing
Ivonne Camareno and Don Cheto
Dr. Vasant Garg, Shirin Alavi, Saied Alavi
Karen and Jay Harberg
Louise Goldberg and Rosie
Nadia Tajalli, Martin B. Cominsky, Rev. Dr. Tamla Wilson, Dr. Kathy Flanagan
Todd Ramos and Deborah Duncan
Beth Clark and Yeti