Junior League’s Fire and Ice Ball Draws Hot Crowd for Cool Party

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LEAVE IT TO THE JUNIOR LEAGUE to throw a boisterous bash year after year. The women’s group has hosted fundraising affairs to remember for seven decades now, and last weekend’s two-night, black tie annual charity ball was no exception.

This year’s theme, Fire and Ice, was meant to reflect League members’ “fiery passion” for helping the community and the “shimmery brilliance” they leave behind in such efforts. It also made for some dramatic decor in the League’s famous ballroom and an array of dazzling dresses donned by guests who took the mood of the evening to heart.

Tiaras, tulle, fur, and plenty of sparkle filled the chic, wintry space transformed by glittering drapery, snowy white branches, and a performance by the League’s legendary, all-volunteer cast of singers, dancers, a cellist, and pianist. The ballroom was split into “fire” and “ice” sections, each with tables and chairs decked in red and gold or white and silver, respectively.

Before dinner—a meal of red wine-braised short ribs and beef tenderloin with chimichurri sauce followed by pecan balls with cinnamon ice cream and cayenne chocolate sauce from Tea Room chef Michael Smith—was a cocktail hour featuring fire and ice queen characters and a champagne-pouring aerialist. Guests bid on silent and live auction items like an eight-day getaway to a Mountain Village home in Telluride, an in-home private dinner for 10 with Eunice chef Drake Leonards, a three-night vacation to an ocean-view villa in Honduras, and a wall-mounted sculpture, “Frost,” by Houston artist Patrick Renner. Later, in the “ember room,” revelers sipped night caps and danced to live music from The Guzzlers.

All told, the Friday- and Saturday-night affair—ticketed at $500/person with tables starting at $5,000—raised $750,000 for continued funding of the League’s community program and volunteer initiatives. This year, more than 1,400 volunteers will serve over 100,000 hours through partnerships with local assistance and mentorship organizations.

Source: February 14, 2019, Houstonia Magazine, Abby Ledoux