Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1056059
28 'TWAS VEDDY, VEDDY GRAND SHELBY HODGE CURTSIES. PHOTOGRAPHY WILSON PARISH, JACOB POWER. A s Mies van der Rohe, architect of the MFAH, Cullinan Hall and Brown Pavilion, was oft quoted, "Less is more," so the museum's Courtly Ball lived up to the axiom. The soirée entertained a mere 270 guests — certainly fewer than the 600 who once attended — yet proceeds topped $2 million. Chair Franci Neely, in an Oscar de la Renta couture gown, had commanded the courtly theme in homage to the current "Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits from Holbein to Warhol" exhibition. In an MFAH first, Neely, museum director Gary Tinterow, and trustee Phoebe Tudor arrived at the ball in a horse-drawn open carriage. It was a short trot from the ball chair's home on South Boulevard to the museum where guests were welcomed by herald trum- peters. Inside, the museum took on the feel of Buckingham Palace with walls draped floor-to-ceiling in red and royal-blue swaths of fabric, while dozens of crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead and banks of roses added a blush of fragrance. The City Kitchen dinner menu also nodded to the Brits with a Stilton soufflé, pheasant, and British trifle for dessert. ROYAL COURT: Cornelia and Meredith Long, Nancy and Rich Kinder, Susan and Fayez Sarofim, Lynn Wyatt, Shahla and Hushang Ansary, Andrea and Bill White, Mona and Andrew Sarofim, Courtney Sarofim, Anne and Albert Chao, Diane Lokey Farb, Jeanie Kilroy Wilson and Wally Wilson and Cherie Flores with her beautiful daughters, Alanna and Meredith. See more Shelby Hodge at papercitymag.com. THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON, BECOMES A BRITISH PALACE FOR A COURTLY BALL. Lynn Wyatt, Rich Kinder John Eddie & Sheridan Williams Jared Crane & Adrienne Sayward Albert & Anne Chao Franci Neely, Gary Tinterow Molly Moorkamp, Sam Moorkamp Jan Duncan, Becky Cooke Diane Lokey Farb Jane Zilkha, David Wilde Laurie & Reed Morian Cynthia & Tony Petrello Jeanie Kilroy Wilson & Wally Wilson, Rose Cullen Fayez & Susan Sarofim