L. Frank Baum came to life again — or at least his Kingdom of Oz — and we were there as the Social Book celebrated their 15th season with a beyond over-the-top bash at Discovery Green last night.
A gargantuan party tent bathed in green light, a lavish Flying Monkey Bar complete with sculpted-ice winged simians plus a meeeeeelting witch's castle that dripped Vodka drinks from its turrets, and other cleverly conceived details, like mini cupcakes topped with the likeness of Toto, made for a bash that would make a black-tie fete emerald green with envy. Over it all presided Social Book publisher Scott Evans, and colleagues including founder Warner Roberts cast in the scene-stealing role of the Wicked Witch.
      And Houston was Emerald City, with plenty of socials sporting verdant threads to prove it.
Evans confided the evening was largely donated, beginning with the $75,000 towering tent aka party palace courtesy Azetc's honcho Todd Johnson (there with wife Paige) and soaring to $350,000. But who wants look behind behind the curtain of the wizard? Perry Sendukas looked around and quipped, "Scott invited 1,000 of his closest friends." And they all came. Evans, looking svelte in a green velvet jacket was the man of the hour,  alongside Roberts, with cameos as wizard and witch in a quirky, hilarious video that projected onto the wall. Others making cinematic PAs included Leisa Holland-Nelson as Dorothy and Paul-David Van Atta as the Lion.
        In the swirl, the young and sleek, the blue blooded and royal, including some of Houston's leading philanthropists, from the young and restless Beth Bryant, Rachel Walton, Kristen Cannon (then rushing to Laura Spalding's surprise birthday party at Maria and Neil Bush's casa), and Erica Rose with dad Franklin, to regal Margaret Williams alongside beau Jim Daniel, stopping in on the way to the Houston Symphony Grand Opening, "The Planets." Also among the wicked-wondrous Oz goers: Saks contingent Terry Zmyslo and Sylvia Forsythe, Lynn Houston with Continental, Melissa and Michael Mithoff, Lindsey Love in Stella McCartney leggings sprinkled with glitter, Judy Nichols, Mo's Johnny Vassallo  giving himself a night off from his Post Oak eatery, gallerist Barbara Davis, Denman Moody and wife Marijo (he donating wine to fuel the fête), UNICEF's Sonya Renner and Nathalie Herpin, Michael Meazell getting inspiration perhaps for a new painting, Susan Farb Morris, the fetching Suzette and Darrell Betts, Ellie Francisco, Vanessa Sendukas, Kari Parsons, Jean Radelat, Discovery Green's Guy Hagstette and Susanne Theis, model maker Jeff Shell, and the Treasures of the night including Debbie and Rudy Festari, Anita and Gerald Smith, PaperCity's Holly Moore and Jim Kastleman, Beth Sanders Moore and Jess Moore, and more.
        Wonder what Evans has planned for the Social Book's Sweet Sixteen?