Sir Elton John, Shirley MacLaine, Lynn Wyatt's Birthday Celebration and more - MFAH Ball was more than just Black and White!

“Houston the international city is thriving,” says Lynn Wyatt in an exclusive brief interview with LCA Houston at the MFAH Ball. “I am very happy the way this city has shaped up and the Museum of Fine Arts is a fine reflection of that,” added Wyatt. The MFAH Ball has always been known for its exquisite gala affair. In 2013 they brought in an elephant with elegant decor resembling the sets of Bollywood. This year guests expected no less and the ball became the talk of the town. The 2015 Grand Gala “Black & White” Ball drew more than 440 guests for a night of dinner and dancing. The Museum’s Cullinan Hall was transformed by the evening’s theme, with art deco-inspired, black and white striped walls, chandeliers, and floors. Tables were set with similarly striped linens and white orchid arrangements by Richard Flowers of The Events Company. Guests enjoyed the sounds of dinner music by David Caceres Orchestra, followed by dancing to New York-based DJ Mad Marj. City Kitchen wowed with a menu that included seared diver sea scallops with stone-ground mustard mousseline, saddle of lamb with sauce Bordelaise, red quinoa pilaf with heirloom baby carrots and broccolini, and wine pairings. For dessert, guests indulged in a chocolate biscuit with butterscotch toffee mousse, bittersweet chocolate sauce, and crème fraiche gelato. As an added treat, a three-tier, black and white striped coconut Birthday Cake was presented to Lynn Wyatt as party-goers serenaded the evening’s host with a rousing rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’.

Lynn Wyatt; Karen Payne; Photo by Jenny Antill

“Art makes us all so imaginative and it makes us harmonious. This could not have been more beautiful and each one of you is different and so beautiful in black and white,” says Wyatt. “You all have touched my heart,” she added. The Museum recorded its highest-netting and highest-grossing Ball in history, exceeding its goal with $2,010,000 raised. The final dollar amount received a last-minute boost thanks to Sir Elton John, who could not be present at the gala but donated a pair of signed sunglasses to be auctioned off at the Ball in Lynn’s honor. Funds directly benefit the operating budget of the MFAH.

This was no ordinary gala evening. Guests were thrilled to schmooze with the legendary Shirley MacLaine in the crowd as they all dined at the Cullinan Hall and Upper Brown Pavilion that was decorated in black and white a creation from Lynn and Oscar Wyatt’s River Oaks dinning room. After the fine dining from City Kitchen and two courses of dessert, these elite party goers lifted up their gowns to dance the night away with DJ Mad Marj.

Wyatt was very touched with the birthday celebrations and certainly awed with the beautiful video message from her dear friend Sir Elton John. The gala ended with Lynn Wyatt’s moto “Live a lot, laugh a lot and love a lot.”

Spotted at the ball were: Lynn Wyatt; Shirley MacLaine; Brit Elders; Marjorie Gubelmann; Sarah Ferguson; Peter Copping; Nicky Haslam; Shahla and Hushang Ansary; Bradford Wyatt; Steven Wyatt and Joyce Echols; Jonathan Becker; Alexandra Kotur; James Reginato; Dene and Elizabeth Oliver; Kris and Jim McMillan; Karol Barnhart; Laurie and Reed Morian; Cherie and Jim Flores; Nancy and Rich Kinder; Franci Neely; Bobbie and John Nau; Hannah and Cal McNair; Susan and Fayez Sarofim; Rolanette and Berdon Lawrence; Cornelia and Meredith Long; Carroll and Hugh Ray; Pat Breen; Anne and Charles Duncan; Linda and Walter McReynolds; Patricia and Dee Osborne; Isla and Tommy Reckling; Margaret Alkek Williams and Jim Daniel; Jeanie Kilroy Wilson and Wallace S. Wilson; Diane Lokey Farb; Martha Katherine Long and Sean Wade; Courtney Sarofim; Aliyya Stude; Kelli Kickerillo and Todd Forester; Beth Madison; Nidhika and Pershant Mehta; Liz and Tom Glanville; Lela and Robin Gibbs; Sandy Godfrey; Ginni and Richard Mithoff; Macey and Harry Reasoner; Alfred C. Glassell, III and Marli Andrade; Peter Coneway; Michelle and Frank Hevrdejs; Tina and Joe Pyne; Carol and Michael Linn; Cynthia and Tony Petrello; Phoebe and Bobby Tudor; Eliza and Stuart Stedman; Windi and David Grimes; Leslie and Brad Bucher; Mickie and Ron Huebsch; Nancy and Butch Abendshein; Ann and John Bookout; Lenoir Josey; Lisa and Downing Mears; Gail and Louis Adler; Kathy and Marty Goossen; Judy and Rodney Margolis; Sue and Lester Smith; Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff; Kelli Cohen Fein and Martin Fein; Rania Daniel; Francoise and Edward Djerejian; Sara Paschall Dodd; Gregory Fourticq; Barbara Gamson; Sima Ladjevardian; Carla Knobloch; and Celina Hellmund.

Photos as credited