Special Society Members Given a Diamond Treat in Houston: This is One Exclusive Crowd You Want to Be a Part Of — a Rienzi Society Moment
BY Shelby Hodge // 02.08.18Harry Winston jewels on parade at Rienzi
What: Rienzi Society Annual Dinner
Where: The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston house museum of European Decorative Arts
PC Moment: The intimate evening amid magnificent European antiques featured an added note of luxe thanks to grand corporate underwriter Harry Winston, which provided models in fabulous diamond ensembles, sauntering through the party scene throughout the night.
Contributions from the 75 society members in attendance, as well as others, allowed for the purchase of a distinctive gilt-wood pair of torchères, English, circa 1730–40. Addressing the black-tie gathering of old guard Houston were MFAH director Gary Tinterow, Rienzi director Christine Gervais and Harry Winston salon director Petra Martinez.
Guests were seated for dinner in the lavish Rienzi ballroom, where Swift + Company orchestrated the elegant table settings and the sophisticated three-course dinner. They feasted on a field green salad with sliced tart green apples, toasted walnuts, red onions, and balsamic vinaigrette. A main course of braised beef short ribs, roasted asparagus, and petite Swiss cheese soufflé followed. For dessert, guests enjoyed a French almond and apple tart and chocolate truffles.
Who: Isla and Tommy Reckling, Rosslyn and Marshall Crawford, Christiana and Luke McConn, Colleen and John Kotts, Jerry Ann Woodfin-Costa and Victor Costa, Elise and James Reckling, Carroll Goodman, Lynn Wyatt, Margaret Alkek Williams, Pat Breen, Rose Cullen, Cyvia Wolff, and Carolyn Rosenstock.