Partying at Hobby Airport’s Posh Private Jet Hangars

The posh hangar at Hobby Airport’s Million Air FBO is typically filled with multi-million dollar private jets. But on this night, only a Learjet ($14 million) and a Challenger 604 ($30 million) remained, the other winged tenants moved to clear space for the sixth annual “Advocates Through Art Party.”

Despite a stormy night and impossible traffic, most of the 450 who were expected made it to the Children’s Assessment Center fundraiser and most agreed it was well worth the highway stress. The pristine hangar dressed in potted palms served the party well with some 65 artworks beautifully installed and four artists creating their masterpieces on the spot while guests with cocktails in hand perused the offerings.

Ali Davoudi, who co-owns Million Air with Roger Woolsey and whose wife, Haydeh, was one of the four chairs, remarked on the unexpected junction of private jets, fashion and philanthropy.

“This city has amazing people,” he said surveying the stylish throng. “They open their hearts and their wallets. Everything goes hand in hand.”

In fact, the evening, chaired also by Julie Kuo, Andrea Medina and Luvi Wheelock, raised more than $325,000 for CAC, both through the silent auction of the artworks and via a brief live auction that included a cocktail party, demonstration by chef Monica Pope. Speaking of cocktail bites, the team from Clark Cooper Concepts kept a delish array of hors d’oeuvres circulating throughout the night.

Artists contributing works to the curated auction included New Orleans wild child Ashley Longshore, the widely acclaimed Angelbert Metoyer and a signed printed page from Salvador Dali‘s Bible Series. Published values ranged from $45,000 to $600 with Justin Garcia‘s Children’s Art Therapy Project, Nicola Parente‘s Vista Lago and Steve Alexander‘s Reverb #2 among the works tempting those with deep and generous pockets.

Highlight for many in the mix was the opportunity to tour the two jets that remained in the hangar and dream of being a true jet setter. One among them who has long laid claim to that moniker was colorful mayoral candidate Tony Buzbee, who a few years back was known to have owned three private jets including the impressive Challenger 600.

PC Seen: Art advisor Lara Rodgers, art curator Yvonamor Palix, art director Brian Freeze, CAC executive director Elaine Stolte, Vince Ryan, Phylllis Williams, Donna and Norman Lewis, Michelle and Bill Briggs, Rachel Bristow, Elizabeth and Zack Fertitta, Ericka Bagwell, Laurie and Christopher LeClaire, Ron Gremillion, Courtney and Logan Ledbetter, Saba Jawda, Sarah Jawda, Carlos Wheelock and Claudine Hartland.