Tiger Ball's a Roaring Good Time — to the Tune of $1.5 Mil!

Daniel Ortiz
Tiger Ball's a Roaring Good Time — to the Tune of $1.5 Mil!

Stephanie Chou, Mandy Kao, Brigitte Kalai, Pitsami Norm, Mable Tang, Alice Mao Brams, Cindy Cheng, and Sippi Khurana

ALWAYS A STUNNING evening, Asia Society Texas' Tiger Ball celebrated the beauty and diversity of Asian culture. Gold-flecked tablescapes, plants and gowns ensured that the glam, tented affair was absolutely glimmering — just like Tiger Ball chairs Chinhui and Eddie Allen and Heidi and David Gerger, as the event raised an impressive $1.5 million for AST's efforts to build a more inclusive community in Houston.


The evening honored Sabria and Kevin Lewis for their decades-long commitment to that same mission of inclusivity and international understanding. More than 500 guests turned out to toast the couple, and were greeted by dhol drummers before heading inside the Pavilion, which was erected in the parking lot and encompassed some of the area's existing trees.

Unsurprisingly, the food, provided by City Kitchen, was delectable: short ribs braised in soy and sake; deviled quail eggs with tahini and za'atar; and medallions of fried eggplant topped with jumbo lump crab; miso-glazed seabass (hungry yet?!).

When they weren't eating, guests perused silent-auction items — the spread included two Harry Winston timepieces, a first-class trip to Santa Monica, and original works of art by Tsherin Sherpa and Richard Tinkler. Then DJ Alx lured galagoers onto the dance floor, where the party continued.

Y. Ping Sun, David Leebron and Mei Leebron

Albert and Anne Chao

Bonna Kol and Tripp Carter

Sushila Agrawal, Dr. Renu Khator, and Aparna Manjunath

Chinhui and Eddie Allen

Starlee Sykes and Al Vickers

David and Heidi Gerger and Sabria and Kevin Lewis

David Harvey, Nancy C. Allen, and Eddie Allen

Shiang Ling and George Yang

Donna Fujimoto Cole and Robert Berryman

Roberto and China Contreras

Emily Hanley and Feifei Ma

Rishi and Michelle Varma

Geraldina and Scott Wise

Peter and Theresa Chang and Kathy and Glen Gondo

Kathy and Marty Goossen

Mohsin and Farhina Imtiaz

Laxmi Anirudh Sarwal and Temsiri Lao

Moez and Sultana Mangalji

Margaret Alkek Williams and David Wuthrich

Leslie and Brad Bucher

Leigh and Reggie Smith

Lily and Charles Foster

People + Places
Pelican Builders Welcome Residents To First New Upper Kirby Condo Offering In Years;
Boutique Midrise Adds To Pedestrian Appeal Of Sought-After, Inner Loop Neighborhood

WITH ITS INAUGURAL set of residents newly moved in, Pelican Builders’ mid-rise condominium Westmore at 2323 W Main Street in Upper Kirby is already seeing the blossoming of a tight-knit community. Designed by Houston-based Mirador Group the Westmore is the first new condominium product to be introduced to the in-demand, inner loop neighborhood in more than three years. And with remaining two-bedroom homes starting at $895,000, it’s a remarkable value for this increasingly pricey area, where condos can easily climb to several million dollars and more.

Keep Reading Show less
Home + Real Estate

Paella Valenciana at Mi Luna

THOUGH IT'S BEEN in Houston less than a decade, Sof Hospitality has made major inroads with foodies and critics alike. Its concepts include Doris Metropolitan, Hamsa and Badolina Bakery, all of which deliver the rich flavors of Israeli cuisine in complex, photogenic and delicious dishes. Its newest, Októ, opened earlier this year, one of several energetic restaurants to bow in the Montrose Collective, just in time for the holidays.

Keep Reading Show less
Food

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