Society / Featured Parties

Houston’s Own Taj Mahal Hosts a Wild Tiger Ball: $1.2 Million Night Brings a Lavish Scene

BY Matthew Ramirez & Catherine D. Anspon // 03.08.18
photography Jenny Antill Clifton and Daniel Ortiz. Additional photography Chris P. Bachman.

What: Tiger Ball

Where: Asia Society Texas Center

PC Moment: Themed “Celebrating the Diversity of Asia,” the 2018 Tiger Ball gala co-chairs Kathy and Glen Gondo, Helene and Stephen Le, and Sultana and Moez Mangalji crafted an impeccable night full of lavish food, music, and dance as a toast to the entire Asian continent, benefitting the Asia Society Texas Center.

Honoring Sylvia and Gordon Quan, longtime Asia Society benefactors, the ball also recognized Theresa and Peter Chang as honorary chairs.

Along Southmore, leading up to Yoshio Taniguchi’s award-winning gleaming temple of a building, a clutch of lustrous wishing trees greeted 600-plus in black tie or national dress. A sprawling, extravagant tent dubbed the Chevron Gala Pavilion was erected outside with a Taj Mahal theme, which served as arrival zone. Think Moorish gates, traditional lanterns, Oriental rugs, and exotic lounging areas.

After clinking cocktails, a performance from Dance of Asian America, a prestigious company preserving authentic Chinese dance, led to a procession into the Grand Hall for a seated Eastern fusion dinner catered by City Kitchen. The culinary high point was the pan-seared sea bass entree accented with spicy cashew nut and coriander sauce.

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There was a pause before guests settled in to dining as they marveled at the dramatic exhibition, “Clusters of Memory,” by Chinese artist Zheng Chongbin, installed in the museum’s main atrium. Nearby, a crowd formed along the step-and-repeat, composed of a beautiful wall of flowers where attendees queued up to pose for selfies.

Afterwards, guests adjourned to the gala’s pavilion for a spread of global desserts, and a hula performance from Ka Pā Hula Nā Pua O Kamali’i, a Polynesian dance ensemble. Then the crowd unwound with music from DJ Chad of award-winning Desi group Karma DJs. A highlight was definitely seeing the very formal trustees letting loose with exuberance, as saris, ballgowns, tuxes and tunics all twirled.

Included in the big board auction were a cultural tour of New York city with Asia Society Global Network complete with luxury accommodations, the chance to throw out the first pitch at a Houston Astros game, a Tiffany & Co. pendant, and a sushi and sashimi party for 30 hosted by the Consulate General of Japan. All told, this was another seven-figure evening for Houston philanthropy, topping $1.2 million, well-surpassing this global gala’s fundraising goal.

Who: Asia Society president Bonna Kol who presided over the international evening; His Highness Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Marwar-Jodhpur and daughter Princess Shivranjani Rajye, whose superb collection just opened at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston in the blockbuster “Peacock in the Desert: The Royal Arts of Jodhpur, India,” along with MFAH director Gary Tinterow; Mayor Sylvester Turner; Asia Society patroness extraordinaire Nancy Allen with daughter-in-law and son Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen (ASTC board chair); Rice University president David Leebron with wife Y. Ping Sun; Houston Arts Alliance CEO John Abodeely and husband Ed Kachinske, in from D.C.; Isla and Tommy Reckling; Andrea and Bill White; Lily and Charles Foster with sons Zachary and Anthony (she, a former Chinese film star serving as board advisor; he, a board member); University of Houston chancellor and president Renu Khator with husband UH professor Suresh Khator; Chevron’s Joni Baird; Zadok Jewelers’ Amy and Segev Zadok; Alex and Astley Blair; Jo and Jim FurrHyung Gil Kim, Consul General of the Republic of Korea; Cindy and Frank Liu;  Neelofer and Aamir Kazmi; Kathy and Marty GoossenSushila and Durga Agrawal; and Phoebe and Bobby Tudor, just announced as 2019 Tiger Ball honorees.

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