Houston’s Newest Party Venue Dazzles in its Moonlight Opener: This Gala Proves That Mercury is Definitely Not in Retrograde

There could not have been a more apt theme for Mercury‘s 10th annual gala than its chosen “Magic by Moonlight.” For not only did the period instrument orchestra perform (always magical) for the 270 dinner guests, but also the event venue,  Rachael and Jason Volz‘s just-opened Revaire, lent itself to magical decor as imagined by the A Fare Extraordinaire team.

It was a propitious evening for the orchestra and fans as proceeds topped the previous year’s amount for the fifth consecutive year. As executive director Brian Ritter noted of the $400,000-plus earned, it “is particularly gratifying during a season when the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey created a challenging year of recovery.”

Contributing to that success were gala chairs Christine and Jan Spin as well as dedicated Mercury patron Lynn Wyatt.

With dinner in the hands of A Fare Extraordinaire’s Rachel Volz and the concert under the baton of Mercury maestro Antoine Plante, the Revaire’s grand opening was, by all accounts, a glowing success. This was a happy night also for Mercury supporter Phillips 66, which was recognized as honoree.

On the A Fare Extraordinaire menu: Shakespearean Salad of roasted beets with supergrain freekeh, shaved turnips, carrots and radish topped with pea sprouts, feta and herb vinaigrette, followed by an entree of beef tenderloin, fiddlehead ferns and roasted corn, black garlic mashed potatoes colored with squid ink, and chorizo vinaigrette. The Midsummer Night’s Dream Dessert, devoured by all, was a vanilla panna cotta dome with Luxardo cherry puree and granola, topped with edible pansies and pixie tangerines.

Highlight of the evening for guests Bonnie and Philip Cabaud was winning the raffle. They went home with a pair of Chopard Mille Miglia His & Hers Watches.

Who: Phillips 66 CFO Kevin Mitchell and wife Pat, retired Phillips 66 CEO Tim Taylor and wife Sharon, Michael Stribling, Amy and Lloyd Kirchner, Jennifer and Dr. Scott Allison, Leigh and Michael McFarlane, Ginny and Navo Hart, Cathy and Randy Crath, Bettina and Peter Staartjes Lily and Hans Kirchner, Claire and Joe Greenberg, and Ally Shell and Martijn van Koolwick.