America’s Top Party Hosts Revealed

and Texans Dominate the Elite List

By Shelby Hodge // Dec 7, 2016

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Lynn Wyatt, Shirley MacLaine, Sarah Ferguson Duchess of York at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Grand Gala Ball in 2015

Applause, applause for the hosts with the most as tapped by The Salonniere, Austin-based Carla McDonald‘s popular art of entertaining blog. For the second year, McDonald and her team have surveyed hundreds among the cognoscenti including national and local society reporters (including moi), cultural figures, and leaders in the arts, business, and non-profit worlds and asked for their take on America’s top party-givers.

Six months after the search began, The Salonniere revealed the Top 100 today and Texas puts 13 on the list — with 10 evenly divided between Houston and Dallas — and three in Austin. California (with 18) and New York (with 14) are the only states to place more hosts in the Top 100 than Texas.

No surprise here, Houstonians making the list for the second time are Lynn Wyatt, Becca Cason Thrash and Phoebe Tudor. New to the priestesses of party ranks are Lucinda Loya and Isabel David. In Dallas, renowned party-givers Cindy Rachofsky, Gene Jones, and Kimberly Schlegel Whitman made the list for the second time while Elisa and Stephen Summers and Heather and Ray Washburne are first-timers.

Bobbi Topfer, Eugene Sepulveda and Steven Tomlinson give Austin three honorees.

“From the dawn of humankind to the salons of 17th century Paris to the gatherings of today, socializing has always played a vital role in the quality and advancement of human life,” McDonald said in a statement. “The Salonniere 100 is our way of honoring those who are dedicated to advancing the tradition of using parties to connect people, foster ideas, and promote joy.”