24 Beautiful Duchesses, a Jaunty King and a Sellout Crowd Make For a Rollicking Galveston Night: When the Knights Come Out to Party

What: Knights of Momus Coronation Ball

Where: The Grand 1894 Opera House and the Galveston Island Convention Center at the San Luis Resort

PC Moment: Always a rollicking good time, the Momus Krewe fun began with cocktails at The Tremont House, moved on to the Opera House for crowning of the queen and presentation of the 24 duchesses, impressive in the colorful gowns and in their mastering of the challenging Texas bow. The sellout entourage of 800 then headed to the Coronation Ball at the Galveston Island Convention Center at the San Luis.

Leading the playful entourage were King Frivolous CIII James Elliott McLean, owner of an accounting practice in Bellaire, Texas, and Momus Queen Arielle Lisette Brown, a senior at Rice University.

The King’s retinue, always a zany bunch in their white-tie-and-tails, included William C. Ansell, Matthew Blumenstock, Frank Dominguez III, Lawrence Estes, Johnny Listowski, Dr. Josef McLean, James McLean, Jr., and Jefferey Sanders. 

The ball was chaired by Michelle and Bryan Ritchey, who held court of their own amid the Balinese Room setting, a throwback to the Galveston glory days of the ’40s and ’50s. The El Orbits kicked off the festivities that continued with dinner and entertainment by Chinatown Band and DJ Andres Santiago. After dinner, it was back to the lounge for a sing-along with the El Orbits’ piano man and guitarist.

Who: Emcee KTRK news anchor Tom Koch and wife Brenda, Paige Fertitta, Robyn and Mike Newburn, Lisette and Tony Brown, Jessica and Hal Rochkind, Cara and John Koza, VJ Tramonte, Kim and Robert Kirschner, Dancie and Jim Ware, Janet and Mike Wegner, Nicole and Doug LeBouef, Kim and Steve Conner, Erin and Kevin Teichman and Stephanie and Brent Vasut.