Lynn Wyatt, Kam Franklin, Brian Ching Help Houston's New Virtual Reality Experience Blast Off

Daniel Ortiz
Lynn Wyatt, Kam Franklin, Brian Ching Help Houston's New Virtual Reality Experience Blast Off

Mara Haaksman, James Inglis, Kam Franklin, Ryan Ramirez

SILVER STREET STUDIOS has arguably never been so silver, as hundreds of guests (many clad in “space-chic” attire) turned out to celebrate the launch of The Infinite, an outer-space-themed multi-sensory installation that landed in H-Town in late December.


A blue carpet led partygoers from the entrance to the bar, naturally, before they could virtually climb aboard the International Space Station. (True Anomaly Brewery poured craft beers, while Gentle Ben Vodka shook up the evening’s signature cocktail, dubbed the Space Rodeo.) Throughout the 60-minute experience, participants can explore the ISS and interact with art, sound, lights and even scents, all while immersing themselves in 360-degree virtual-reality footage shot aboard and outside of the ISS.

Among those in attendance were astronauts, NASA officials, artists and musicians, city leaders and familiar philanthropic faces: Lynn Wyatt, Kam Franklin, Brian Ching, Jon Deal, David Gow and Ursaline Hamilton were all spotted on The Infinite journey.

The 12,500-square-foot exhibition, open through Feb. 20, is an extension of the Emmy-winning interactive series Space Explorers: The ISS Experience, a multiplatform production filmed by and documenting the lives of astronauts aboard the International Space Station. Christina Koch and Anne McClain, resident flight engineers who appear in the series, generously shared their stories and chatted with guests throughout the evening.

Serafina Lalany, Alex De la Fuente

Brian Ching, Lindsay Yates

Michael Duckworth

Ceron

Matthew Moncivais, Robert Koch

CoCo Dominguez, Miya Shay

Mark Sullivan, Ursaline Hamilton

Davis Sheffield, Gabi Schlegel

Lynn Wyatt

Derrick Shore, Brandon Bourque

Felix Lajeunesse, Stephane Rituit, Phoebe Greenberg

George and Michelle Leal Farrah

Christina Koch, Anne McClain

Parties
Leadership in Action: ‘Setting Clear Goals’ Among Secrets of Success for Attorney Jess Bailey

How did you get to where you are today? A few key principles integrated into my life: setting clear goals, maintaining a growth mindset, building strong habits, and surrounding myself with the right people. Goals provided direction, while a growth mindset helped me turn challenges into opportunities for learning. Consistent habits, like disciplined work and effective communication, kept me moving forward. Being surrounded by motivated, supportive individuals has elevated my standards and kept me accountable. They’ve provided advice, encouragement, and sometimes that extra push I needed to stay on track. With these elements, I’ve been able to create a framework that helps me succeed and ensures I continue to grow and evolve.

Keep Reading Show less
People + Places

Michelle and Jonathan Zadok (photo by Jacob Power)

WITH A COWBOY theme and terrific country band — think big hats and big hearts, said organizers — the Crime Stoppers gala was a huge hit and moving evening.

Keep Reading Show less

Breanna Blankenship, Nicholas Stuart, Zsavon Butler, Outspoken Bean

SUPPORTERS OF THE Houston Arts Alliance pulled inspiration from global art, fashion and culture for a spectacular gala at the Hobby Center. “The World’s Stage” gala, chaired by Zsavon Butler and Nicholas Stuart, raised $325,000 to benefit the Houston Arts Alliance’s public-art and artist resiliency initiatives.

Keep Reading Show less
Parties