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Maharajahs + Maharanis, Indian Splendors andGalaPachyderm a of All MFAH's Grandest CATHERINE D. ANSPON TRIES ON A TURBAN. PHOTOGRAPHY JENNY ANTILL, WILSON PARISH AND RICHARD CARSON. Taj Mahal or Bust Mehrnaz Gill Nidhika Mehta Jaleh Sallee Mark Sullivan Divya Brown Chris Brown Carson Seeligson Lynn Wyatt T here are galas, and there are galas. Then there is the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's Grand Gala Ball, the absolute epicenter of any season. Past themes have channeled the African savannah, the mysteries of the Egyptian tombs and the clean classicism of a Frank Stella Protractor painting. But, Diane dare we say, this year's ball gets accolades for being Lokey Farb the most exotic, opulent and organic of all, melding Eastern elegance with the over-the-top touches worthy of an Indian wedding. Chairmen Windi and David Grimes (she, resplendent in Naeem Khan from Tootsies, custom-designed for her for this occasion) were the maharani and maharajah who reigned over the sensational night, which invoked clever details such as the PA on the MFAH south lawn of the multi-ton greeter Page the pachyderm, happily posing for party pics with the sari- and turban-attired beau monde. For those who left their turban at home, the MFAH providing turban-wrapping stations that were popular with both sexes. Another moment we loved: the scattering of rose petals upon arriving revelers as they entered the museum. The young ladies who sprinkled the blossoms were Hallie Grimes and Louisa Sarofim, respective daughters of the chairs and Courtney and Chris Sarofim. The Events Company's decor galore transformed Cullinan Hall from modernist stately to worthy of the potentates of Jaipur: long dining tables adorned with vividly hued swaths of saris, twinkly candelabra and bouquets of marigolds, matched by one huge inverted pyramid overhead fashioned from pink silk, interwoven with yellow marigolds, provided riotous shots of color that left the assembled pooh-bahs exclaiming in awe. City Kitchen devised a marvelous feast of Indian savories headlined by a traditional thali starring Tandoori lamb chops. The David Caceres Orchestra set the musical mood, punctuated by Bollywood dance troupe Ishaara. And late night, a pillow pit in the foyer saw the crowd lounging, while a live monkey perched on shoulders. With 530 grandees and an incredible $1.96 million raised, the tally was worth clinking a bottle or two of Kingfisher, a brew that flowed throughout this fabulous Indian romp. Renu Khator Suresh Khator Gary Tinterow Chairman Windi Grimes Greg Fourticq jr. Sara Dodd Jereann Chaney Barbara Gamson Ishaara brings down the house. Sima Ladjevardian Martha Long Cherie Flores Rania Daniel Phoebe Tudor Meredith Long Cornelia Long Chairman David Grimes Abby Grace the simian A night in Old Bombay Anne Chao Aliyya Stude Albert Chao Delhi Darlings A Clare Glassell Courtney Sarofim Janet Hobby Butch Abendshein Paul Hobby Nancy Abendshein Page the pachyderm Rich Kinder Nancy Kinder Party Query: Your fave Indian person, place or thing. "Windi and David Grimes." — Cornelia Long "Gandhi." — Craig Lidji "Kirin's Highland Village." — Sam Gorman Kathy Goossen Marty Goossen "Kochi, India, where my Mother is from." — Divya Brown "The markets right outside the Taj Mahal." — Gary Tinterow "Bombay Gin." — Jim Furr DECEMBER | PAGE 10 | 2013 mong the regal, global and glam: MFAH man at the top Gary Tinterow and Christopher Gardner; Sotheby's Jamie Niven, who would return to town weeks later to conduct the Latin American Experience Gala auction, dishing with Houston colleague Aliyya Stude; Zeina and Nijad Fares; Phoebe and Bobby Tudor; Melissa and Michael Mithoff; Shahla and Hushang Ansary; Cornelia and Meredith Long and daughter Martha Long with Sean Wade; Cherie and Jim Flores; Indian galleries benefactors Nidhika and Pershant Mehta; Carroll and Hugh Ray; Beth Robertson with Steve Pearce; Margaret Williams squired by Jim Daniel; Anne and Albert Chao; Rose Cullen; Sara Dodd with Greg Fourticq Jr.; Tootsies' Mickey Rosmarin; John and Becca Cason Thrash, just off a plane from Zurich; Diane Lokey Farb with Mark Sullivan; Anne and Charles Duncan; Pat Breen; Lillie Robertson; Kathy and Marty Goossen, going all out in appropriate costuming; UH's lady at the top Renu Khator and husband Suresh; Manmeet and Prithvipal Likhari; Rolanette and Berdon Lawrence; Beth Madison with Ralph Burch: Divya and Chris Brown, in their Indian wedding finery from 2011 (the reception was at the MFAH) with his folks Anne and Peter Brown; new board chair Rich Kinder and wife Nancy; Bobbie and John Nau; Fayez Sarofim with Dena Albea; Janice and Bob McNair; past gala chairmen Carol and Michael Linn; Christie's Jessica Phifer; and newlyweds Jeanie Kilroy Wilson and Wally Wilson.