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AUGUST | PAGE 10 | 2015 CATHERINE D. ANSPON AND MATTHEW RAMIREZ REPORT. PHOTOGRAPHY EMILE BROWNE. THE ARCHITECTURAL CANVAS The stunning home and garden of architect Karen Lantz and husband Andrew Farkas — designed by Miz Lantz herself and informed by a reverence for authentic Texas materials surrounded by native plants (featured in PaperCity magazine, January 2015) — was a perfect stage for kicking off the Texas Contemporary Art Fair. (Save the date: Year five of the Fair unfurls at George R. Brown Convention Center October 1 through 4.) SOCIAL SCULPTURE Nearly 150 notables in the art and design fields flocked, including host committee members, exhibiting gallerists and museum and nonprofit types. The man of the night was the Fair's producer, Art Market's Jeffrey Wainhause, who traveled in from NYC with colleague Kelly Freeman to get the art-smart crowd revved up. Matter Creative's Matt Johns and Alecia Harris devised the simple and hometown cocktail repast: The red-hued Armandos truck held court, dishing out al fresco tacos and margaritas to the visual posse. In the throng: artist Selven O'Keef Jarmon, who designed the abstracted curling image on the official Fair tote; gallerists Barbara Davis, Betty Moody (seen chatting in the garden with curator Clint Willour), David Shelton, Sonja Roesch, Art Palace's Arturo Palacios, Patrick Reynolds of Inman Gallery, Alex Cesaria of new-to-town Unix Gallery, and Octavia's Casey Stranahan; collectors Jereann Chaney with Norman Ewart, Judy Nyquist, and Victoria and Marshal Lightman; Christie's Jessica Phifer; designer Margaret Naeve with husband Brad Parker; J.P. Morgan's Daphna Yoffe, in from Dallas; VIP Lounge furniture sponsor Internum's Carla Munoz; and Contemporary Arts Museum Houston director Bill Arning and curator Dean Daderko (the CAMH is always the Opening Night beneficiary, and Arning has been tapped to co-curate a special Fair presentation, "The Other Mexico"). TEXAS CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR KICKS OFF AT CASA LANTZ + FARKAS PC MOMENT The evening's buzz was the revelation that John and Becca Cason Thrash would chair Texas Contemporary's Opening Night this year (Thursday, October 1). The internationally connected couple was out of the country but sent regards from Zurich. Alecia Harris Saba Jawda Lauren Parsons Josh Silver Carol Piper Catherine Anspon Dean Daderko Betty Moody Host Andrew Farkas Armando Palacios Barbara Davis Arturo Palacios Clint Willour Host Karen Lantz Lauren Humphrey Eleanor Williams Karen Farber Kelly Freeman Carla Munoz David Shelton Angelbert Metoyer Jeffrey Wainhause Anne Lee Phillips Daphna Yoffe Selven O'Keef Jarmon Bill Arning Ali Palacios Donnelly Matt Johns Cinda Palacios Candace Thomas Julie Kinzelman EN PLEIN AIR A TOOTSIES AFFAIR ANNE LEE PHILLIPS COVERS THE COURTYARD SCENE. PHOTOGRAPHY FULTON DAVENPORT. T ootsies tapped stunning young socials Allie Fields and Annsley Popov to co-chair the first-ever party on its practically secret patio. As if preordained by owner Mickey Rosmarin, the summer weather was divine, lending L.A. vibes to the fête celebrating special guest Tamara Mellon's two-day trunk show. Mellon co-founded Jimmy Choo in 1996 but left the company 15 years later, penned a memoir about the experience (In My Shoes), then launched her own luxury brand (the first pair of boots were christened Sweet Revenge) in 2013. Stylish supporters turned out in the designer's trademark fringe skirts and stilettos to meet the well-heeled icon and arbiter of style. Mellon charmed with her cheeky British humor and happily posed for pics and signed copies of her book — and at least a few soles — while DJ Senega spun beats in the background. Enjoying the evening breeze: Tootsies' Mickey Rosmarin, Fady Armanious, Penne Weidig, and Shelley Taylor Ludwick; style-setters Diane Lokey Farb, Sharin Norman, Kristy Bradshaw, Rachael Volz, Jenny Myers, Caroline Walter, Camden Eggers, Chandra Bonine, Lisa Oren, Ellie Francisco, and Maggie Nicholson; and fashion bloggers Fifi Phi, Issa Chou, Bethany Michiels Buchanan and Lauren Mills. For more party coverage, visit papercitymag.com. Camden Eggers Jenny Myers Co-chair Annsley Popov Caroline Walter Christina Stith Natalie Kirklin Rachael Volz Bethany Michiels Buchanan Claire Cormier Thielke Camille Charvet Connelly Kristy Bradshaw Penne Weidig Maggie Nicholson Lisa Oren Fady Armanious Chandra Bonine Christie Sullivan Sharin Norman Tamara Mellon Karen Henry Chris Goins Donae Chramosta Co-chair Allie Fields Mickey Rosmarin Diane Lokey Farb