Vodka Eiffel Tower and Daring Aerialist Takes This Houston Gala to New Heights

Mercury Embraces the Spectacular

By Shelby Hodge // May 15, 2019

Photography Scott Villalobos, CatchLightGroup.com

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Aerialist Kenali Kendrick spins overhead while Mercury musicians perform French pieces. (Photo by Scott Villalobos, CatchLightGroup.com)

Jim Vesterman, Ralf van der Ven & Patricia Martinez, Joe & Josie Amador at the 11th annual Mercury gala. (Photo by Scott Villalobos, CatchLightGroup.com)

Mercury artistic director Antoine Plante at the orchestra's 11th annual gala. (Photo by Scott Villalobos, CatchLightGroup.com)

Stephen & Julie Chen at the 11th annual Mercury gala. (Photo by Scott Villalobos, CatchLightGroup.com)

Brad & Summer Smith at the 11th annual Mercury gala. (Photo by Scott Villalobos, CatchLightGroup.com)

Christine & Jan Spin, Southern Chemical CEO, at the 11th annual Mercury gala. (Photo by Scott Villalobos, CatchLightGroup.com)

Joel & Carol Mohrman, Antoine Plante at the 11th annual Mercury gala. (Photo by Scott Villalobos, CatchLightGroup.com)

Stephanie Fleck, Jennifer Allison at the 11th annual Mercury gala. (Photo by Scott Villalobos, CatchLightGroup.com)

Micaela Cadena, Samantha Murray, Kirstine Lambright, Nicole Mott at the 11th annual Mercury gala. (Photo by Scott Villalobos, CatchLightGroup.com)

Violinist Jonathan Godfrey performs at the 11th annual Mercury gala. (Photo by Scott Villalobos, CatchLightGroup.com)

A vodka-infused Eiffel Tower from Liquid Lights at the Mercury gala at The Revaire. (Photo by Scott Villalobos, CatchLightGroup.com)

What: Mercury’s “La Belle Époque” gala

Where: The Revaire

PC Moment: Could anything be more impressive than an Eiffel Tower made of vodka liquid lights? Well, perhaps aerialist Kenali Kendrick‘s spinning overhead as Mercury, under direction of artistic director Antoine Plante, performed pieces by Debussy, Faure and Satie could top that.

The spectacular performance accompanied dessert. Dinner, of course, by A Fare Extraordinaire.

Chaired by Jennifer and Dr. Scott Allison and Stephanie and Ryan Fleck, the evening, that honored Southern Chemical Corporation, earned more than $245,000 net for the orchestra that performs on period instruments. Contributing to the bottom line was the raffle of a $17,500 Happy Sport Oval Watch, donated by Chopard, Mercury’s premiere gala sponsor.

PC Seen: Southern Chemical CEO Jan Spin and wife Christine, Amanda and Terry Boffone, Melissa and Dan Sugulas, Neekie Kashani, Jordan and Dylan Seff, Meg and Bryan Cushing, Julie and Stephen Chen, Caroline and Kevin Walter, Mercury board president Lloyd Kirchner, and executive director Brian Ritter.