Out-of-this-World Bash Celebrates 40 Years of the Orange Show

Emily Jaschke
Out-of-this-World Bash Celebrates 40 Years of the Orange Show

Aida Eltorie, Surena Matin, Laura Rathe, Tracy Levit Larner and Glen Larner

KNOWN BEST AS the presenter of the world's largest art car parade, the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art showed off its artful past and fabulous future at a 40th-anniversary bash on Saturday.


More than 500 festively clad guests attended the out-of-this-world event, which adopted a theme of "The Big Bang" and was chaired by Melissa and Paul Dobrowski and Julia and Will Robinson. Immersive art installations throughout the Orange Show's 31,000-square-foot warehouse transformed the venue into a psychedelic spaceship.

Street artist Gonzo247 live-painted a piece that went up for auction alongside items like a trip to the Grammy's or a decadent steak dinner from B&B Butchers. And Valobra Master Jewelers donated a $10,000 pair of diamond earrings, which were up for grabs via a balloon-popping contest dubbed "The Big Bang Moment."

After guests noshed on bites from Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House, Tony's exec chef Austin Waiter prepared a beautiful spread for the main meal, which preceded a speech by Orange Show Executive Director Tommy Ralph Pace. Pace toasted the organization's 40-year history and announced a plan to develop a new facility on the current property with the help of architect firm Rogers Partners.

Morris Day & The Time took to the stage — in elaborate outer-space-themed costumes! — as guests mixed, mingled and danced their way through the rest of the night.

The party raised $800,000 for the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art and its projects like Smither Park and the Beer Can House.

Mark Sullivan, Catherine Anspon and Libbie Masterson

Melissa Dobrowski

Fabricio Esquivel, Florencia Vial and Dean Putterman

Hannah Bull and Alex Lechin

Katherine Barthelme and Melissa Lujan

Chris and Katherine Gillman, and Amy and Slade Stargel

John Gregory, Karen Desenberg and Gary Williams

Rebecca Bass

Gonzo247

Ashley Langley

Morris Day

Julia and Will Robinson

John Kerr Smither and Anne Hyde Smither

Parties
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

ONE CANNOT ACCUSE Houston’s Axiom Quartet of playing it safe. When it comes to exploring the outer limits of string quartet repertoire, engaging audiences who don’t normally attend classical music concerts, and putting in the collective time necessary to nail the gnarly idiosyncrasies of 20th- and 21st-century composers, Axiom continues to walk the walk as they talk the talk.

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment

TO INFINITY AND beyond! Whimsical family fun awaits at Discovery Green where, beginning Oct. 13, a cinematic putt-putt course inspired by all things Pixar pops up on the Sarofim Picnic Lawn.

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment