The Riches of King Tut Shower Down in $1.4 Million Blockbuster Museum Party: A Cleopatra Fantasy Comes to Life in Houston

There simply could not be a better party venue than the Houston Museum of Natural Science, which explains why year after year the annual gala — this year a $1.4 million blockbuster — is held in the museum’s hallowed halls.

With a Jewel of the Nile theme, the gala welcomed guests to a King Tut/Cleopatra fantasy which was led by camels (photo ops for all) anchored at the museum entry and ultimately spread across the intriguing halls that consistently call for exploration. Let It Fly Events sprinkled its decorative magic throughout the museum where guests journeyed through ancient Egypt, whimsically populated with costumed characters.

Kudos to chairs Jenna and Harris Junell and Kay and Brandon Lobb, who led the night to its golden success. And let’s not forget the out-of-this-world auction and the antique and exotic cars that spiked the night’s proceeds.

That auction spread across the Glassell and Fondren Halls, while the 800 guests settled for dinner, served by City Kitchen, in Gems & Minerals, Morian Hall of Paleontology and the primo seating in the Morian Overlook and Mezzanine, which observes Glassell with its 40 specimen of game fish.

Throughout dinner, King Tut and his entourage paraded through rewarding those who purchased magnums of champagne, an added fundraising ploy, with lively presentations.

After dinner, the party action moved back to the Grand Hall where the Inside Out dance band from Dallas kept the museum pulsating well past midnight.

Who: Christine and Shea Morenz, Carole and Ken Bailey, Laurie and Reed Morian, Terry and Tommy Smith, Jeanie Kilroy Wilson and Wally Wilson, Leigh Smith, Patty Harris, Mark Kelly, Rosslyn and Derrick Mitchell, Nicole Eidman, Kristen McMackin, Macari Potter and HMNS president Joel Bartsch and wife Susanne.