A Magical Night Fetches $300K for No-Kill Shelter — and You Have to Hear Burrito the Dog’s Moving Story

A Magical Night Fetches $300K for No-Kill Shelter — and You Have to Hear Burrito the Dog’s Moving Story

Kay Hays, Matt and Katy Weintritt, and Dr. Carolyn Levy

MAGIC WAS IN the air at the Four Seasons hotel Downtown, where Friends for Life hosted its annual fundraiser. The 300-plus guests were greeted not only by a pack of adoptable pups, but also by Caesar the Magician, who entertained the crowd before the seated dinner.


Raising $300,000 for the no-kill shelter, the evening featured an elaborate, three-course vegan meal by Four Seasons exec chef Paul Peddle including a surprising vegan take on beef wellington. Animal lovers also sipped cocktails named after adoptable pets from Friends for Life, such as the Pimm’s Cup and the Lulu Lemon.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the ballroom as a video played telling the story of five-year-old dog Burrito, who six months ago was found abandoned in an apartment in Indiana. The team drove to get Burrito and discovered he was too overweight to even walk. Nursed back to health in Houston, the lights came on in the ballroom and Burrito ran in to shower Friends for Life founder Salise Shuttlesworth with slobbery kisses. (And he’s still looking for a home!)

Located in the Heights, Friends For Life’s mission is to provide medical care, behavior training, food, and safe havens for animals in need.

Sherry Waddell and adoptable dog MoMo

Bonnie Babola and Robert Fisher

Crystal Hernandez and adoptable puppy Peanut

Robin Humphrey and Joe Radzwill

Geoff Marolda, Jennifer Boyd, Payal Thakker, Ashley Lupica, Amanda Jacobs, Sheena Kelly

Burrito's Story

Many of you have been following Burrito’s story. We put his journey in a single video for our gala. If you missed the event, please know that Burrito deligh...

Parties

Moriah Alise (photo by Troy Monte) and a detail of 'Watch from Afar' by Demetrius Wilson

FOR THOSE OF us on the outside, the art world can appear to be an unregulated mess, full of greedy players, dubious dealers, and criminal collectors ready to spend millions on a masterpiece only to lock it up and hide it from the world in a climate-controlled cage. While all of that is more or less true, at some point, a budding artist will need to figure out how to navigate the business of making art while maintaining a practice and creating work to share with the world. Meanwhile, first-time collectors with the best of intentions often need straightforward, honest advice when purchasing a work of art.

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment

'Airborne Double' by Black Art Houston artist Derek Fordjour

IN 2021, WHEN Anita Bateman arrived in Houston as the new Associate Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, she welcomed the opportunity to discover her potential as a curator.

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment