'Arabian Night' Christens Thompson Hotel, Breaks Fundraising Record for Mercury Orchestra

Priscilla Dickson
'Arabian Night' Christens Thompson Hotel, Breaks Fundraising Record for Mercury Orchestra

Noor Riddle, Ally Shell, Stacey Lindseth, Kendra Smith, Donae Chramosta

EVENT CHAIRS KENNY and Gaby Owen were thrilled to welcome hundreds of Houstonians to Mercury Chamber Orchestra's annual gala, this year held at the brand-new Thompson Hotel off Allen Parkway.


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

Parties

Katherine Chambers, Chris and Jennifer Laporte, Heather Houston

TOP CHEFS TEAMED up to raise $100,000 for Urban Harvest’s community gardens. The night began with open-air cocktail hour in the upstairs lounge and patio of Georgia James. Around 200 supporters sipped a fall cocktail made with Tito’s, and also indulged in the Champagne cart provided by Madame Zero. Bottoms up!

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Parties

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.

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Parties