A Starry Night: A-List Crowd Toasts Debut of Van Gogh Experience

Quy Tran
A Starry Night: A-List Crowd Toasts Debut of Van Gogh Experience

Natalie Varnum and Jacqueline Long

A CELEB-STUDDED crowd turned out to toast the grand opening of the highly anticipated Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit, which debuted in a custom-built warehouse in West Houston on Wednesday night.


The 200 guests first gathered in a courtyard erected outside the venue, which will soon be dubbed Lighthouse Artspace. Everyone wanted their pic taken in front of the sunflower-bedecked yellow pickup, turmeric-tinged signature cocktail in hand.

Impact Museums' Diana Rayzman and Vito Iaia, who helped produce the exhibit, and Council Member Amy Peck were among those who gave remarks before a ceremonial ribbon-cutting. Then, at last, art-loving Houstonians — including Brian Ching, Chester Pitts, Kam Franklin, Donkeeboy, Jess and Betty Tutor, and Scott and Jana Arnoldy — poured into the bright blue warehouse, ready to take in the full experience.

Once inside the main room, folks claimed their spot within socially distanced circles, and were dazzled by the 35-minute show. For more on the exhibit, click here.

Kam Franklin, Donkeeboy, and Sylvia Roman

Lauren and Kyle Courville

Miya Shay and Laurette Veres

LaToya and Chester Pitts and family

Jessica Rifanburg and Alessandra Madrid

Amy Johnston and Carrie Evans

Megumi Hoshi and Whitney Mercilus

Scott and Jana Arnoldy and Betty and Jess Tutor

The evening's colorful signature cocktail

Schuyler and Sarah Pappas

Giselle and Patrick Piller

Parties
Leadership in Action: Entrepreneur Saba Syed of Moroccan Bath Determined to Build ‘Lasting Legacy’

Saba Syed, Founder of Oasis Moroccan Bath

How did you get to where you are today? My journey began with a need to be financially independent and an even a deeper drive to create a lasting legacy. The centuries-old Hammam tradition has always fascinated me—not just for its relaxation benefits, but for its holistic approach to cleansing the body, mind, and soul. So, combining my passion with a vision to bring an authentic yet luxurious Hammam spa experience to Houston, I took the leap less than two years ago to open my own spa.

Keep Reading Show less

Christine Johnson and Jody Merritt

A LOVELY AND truly heart-felt tradition continued, when Saks Fifth Avenue and its 5115 restaurant hosted the 14th annual Houston Sweethearts tea.

Keep Reading Show less
Party People

ON JAN. 3, 2025, I observed a big personal anniversary. As of that day, it’d been 20 years since I first moved to Houston — from the Big Apple media circus, by way of my home state of Louisiana — and began working as an editor in the lifestyle-magazine biz here. It’s been two full decades, which is hard to believe! I like to joke that I’m far too young and good-looking to have done anything for two decades. But here we are.

Keep Reading Show less