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18 Buccellati and Seaman Schepps jewels from Houston's Tenenbaum Jewelers. At the close of three days, $1.4 million was raised to aid in the restoration of Notre- Dame, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. T he building of Notre-Dame began in 1163, and the holy site has been an emblem of faith through the centuries, renowned for its medieval beauty, towering Gothic architecture, and the treasures, especially reliquaries from the ages. When a fire erupted on April 15, 2019, the world held its breath. The cathedral, which is a symbol of Paris as well as a pilgrimage site, had been saved. But the preservation challenges facing Notre-Dame are expensive and daunting. Thrash was tapped by Patrons for Notre- Dame de Paris to lead this cause due to serious French ties. She was knighted by the French government with the Légion d'honneur and is a legend in international society for the ultra-glamorous, wildly imaginative fundraisers she's organized for the Louvre and Venetian Heritage. Four editions of Liaisons au Louvre have raised nearly $20 million while incorporating such unforgettable experiences as a seated dinner at the museum's medieval moat and cocktail hours in the presence of Venus de Milo and Mona Lisa. "It's still unclear how much it will cost to restore and rebuild the extensive damage at Notre-Dame, but estimates are staggering," Thrash says. MEXICO CITY CALLING For the Notre-Dame benefit — three days of art, culture, and glamorous events in Mexico City — there were visits to Casa Azul, home of Frida Kahlo; Museo Anahuacalli and the Museo Soumaya Collection of Carlos Slim; the home of Pedro Friedeberg; and the stables of Luis Barragán and a Richard Long installation; as well as private tours of the Olga & Rufino Tamayo Foundation; Museo Jumex, by owner and collector Eugenio López; and the Daniel Liebson Collection. As the three glorious days drew to a close, we began hearing murmurs of COVID-19. Many who had planned to extend their trip hurried home instead. As we entered the new reality, we realized just how lucky the timing had been, and the fortuitous good fortune that Notre-Dame will indeed have more euros in its coffers for much-needed restoration work. Raising Pesos for France: Duran Duran's John Taylor from London with wife Gela Taylor; Christopher "Kip" Forbes, who flew in from NY; collectors Eva Dichand, in from Vienna, and Tracey Amon from Paris; designer Lance Scott with Elin Nierenberg from NYC; Lucas Somoza from Paris; Kathleen von Alvensleben from Berlin; Joe Blount from Palm Beach and curator Amin Jaffer from Paris, along with Dallasites Christen and Derek Wilson, Lisa Arpey, Ceron and Todd Fiscus, Sarah Calodney Davey and Oliver Davey. Derek & Christen Wilson Tracey Amon, Amin Jaffer Christopher "Kip" Forbes, Becca Cason Thrash Greg Fourticq, John Cone Lucas Somoza Randy Powers, Bill Caudell Ana Lucia de Teresa, Eugenio Lopez Chris Levine, Roger Klein Gela Taylor La Grande Nuit