Houston’s $3.8 Million Future Night Turns Into a Stardust Fantasy With Magical Cocktails — HMNS Brings It Back
Classic Arcade Favorites and Retro Sounds
BY Shelby Hodge //
Cocktail hour at the Houston Museum of Natural Science 'Futurama!' gala left a futuristic impression. (Photo by HMNS photographer Mike Rathke)
By the time the final martini had made its way down the ice sculpture sluice and the lights had dimmed on the rocking after-party, the Houston Museum of Natural Science “Futurama! A Stardust Fantasy” gala had smashed all records with proceeds reaching a whopping $3.8 million. Organizers credited the windfall in part the first The Vault Auction filled with gemstones and minerals.
With a decorative hint at Back to the Future and the screening of The Jetsons cartoons during the after-party, the tableau ricocheted the 350 supporters across the millenniums. The crowd dined on City Kitchen food amid the life-sized dinosaurs in the Morian Hall of Paleontology. They tried their skills in a retro playground outfitted with classic arcade favorites like Donkey Kong, glowing pinball machines and retro pool tables. And they danced to the retro pop sounds of Justin & the SwingBeats in the Las Vegas inspired Flamingo Lounge.
Rather than a time traveling DeLorean, a 1965 Jaguar XKE Series I 4.2 Coupe in the silent auction tempted as a sexy throwback, the dream car contributed by Stephanie and Frank Tsuru.
As has been tradition with this interactive gala, Los Angeles-based Magic and Cocktails elevated the bar experience with a fusion of craft mixology and playful sleight-of-hand entertainment. Their signature libations fueled the after-party, adding a touch of spectacle to the late-night celebration. The four-foot high rocket ship ice sculpture, through which the martinis flowed, served as a striking focal point as everyone entered the after party.
Hats off to chairs Randa and Charlie Williams, the son and daughter-in-law of philanthropist Margaret Alkek Williams, and museum director Joel Bartsch and his wife Susanne.
PC Seen: Mary and Ron Neal, Patty and T. Mark Kelly, Caroline and Jack Williams, Nancy and David Pustka, Cynde and Chris Stravros, Mary Helen and Pete Bowden, Nancy and David Pustka, Meg and Dick Weekley, Al Walker, Joella and Steve Mach, Monica and Fox Benton, Lisa and Mike O’Leary, and Chandos and Ike Epley.
_md.jpg)
