Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1121557
26 MARIACHI MAGIC SHELBY HODGE SAYS, "OLÉ!" PHOTOGRAPHY JENNY ANTILL CLIFTON, WILSON PARISH. T he Mexican love song "Cielito Lindo" set the exuberant tone for a Houston Grand Opera Ball that delightedly scoffed at tradition. The white-tie soirée was moved from its customary home at the Wortham Theater Center Grand Foyer to The Revaire, a contemporary space, where the typically reserved ambience of the ball pulsated to the sounds of Grammy-winning Mariachis Los Camperos as chairs Marcia and Alfredo Vilas saluted their Mexico City roots and Houston's Latin vibe. With dancing mojigangas (traditional Mexican puppets) and decorative accents of monarch butterflies and white sombreros, this fresh concept paid off, raising $1.2 million. WHO: Margaret Alkek Williams, Anne and Albert Chao, Dian and Harlan Stai, Whitney and Jim Crane, MD Anderson doctors Ishwaria and Vivek Subbiah, Cynthia and Tony Petrello, Kendall and Christopher Hanno, Myrtle Jones, Alejandra and Hector Torres, Hallie Vanderhider, Brigitte and Bashar Kalai, Tony Bradfield, Gracie and Bob Cavnar, Janet Gurwitch and Ron Franklin, John and Becca Cason Thrash, Zane and Brady Carruth, and Valerie and Tracy Dieterich. See more Shelby Hodge at papercitymag.com. HOUSTON GRAND OPERA HOLDS A SPLENDID FIESTA. Janet Gurwitch, Becca Cason Thrash, Whitney Crane Matt Ringel & Rebecca Rabinow Beth Madison, Stephen Lubanko Hector & Alejandra Torres Jason & Rachael Volz Cynthia Petrello, Melinda Stubbs Celina Hellmund Margaret Alkek Williams Patrick Summers Anne & Albert Chao Kendall & Christopher Hanno Diane Lokey Farb, Ceron Efrain Corzo, Andrew Bowen Chairs Marcia & Alfredo Vilas