Last week, the comprehensive calendar of Houston fundraisers saw a kick-off of epic proportions. Its launch party, dubbed “The River’s Lazy, but Houston is Not!”, brought more than 600 guests to the Marriott Marquis Houston to celebrate this year’s 23^rd edition of The Social Book on January 4.

A partnership between book owners Scott Evans, Jeff Henry, and Sami Shbeeb and event coordinator Paul-David Van Atta of PDV Special Events, the evening included food, drink, and plenty of entertainment for Houston’s social set who donned their “Texas best”–think chicly frayed denim, fabulous cowboy boots, and (duh) Astros gear. 

There was no lack of hometown pride, either, at a private reception before the main event meant to honor 2018's “Houston Treasures” previously announced at a December 3 gala: David Adickes, Frank Billingsley, Marie Bosarge, Gayla Gardner, Carmen and Harry “Buch” Mach, Dr. David Poplack, Rachel Regan, Cydny Garza Roberts, Susan Sarofim, Virginia Steppe, Marcy Taub Wessel and Henry J.N. “Kitch” Taub, and Leticia and Steve Trauber. Warner Roberts, who created Houston Treasures, introduced honorees on-stage.

The Texas theme continued throughout the night as Richard Brown Music and his orchestra serenaded guests with songs about Houston and 11 food stations served distinctly Texan fare from vendors like Tila’s Taco Truck and Chocolate Fountain Express. Libations like the “Texas Ruby Red Grapefruit Gin and Tonic”–and, of course, a margarita station–played to the locale. Houston photographer Jeff Myers crafted a Texas-themed setting for a new pop-up portrait studio, #BE_SCENE, featuring a reclaimed wood floor, leather and animal skin furniture, and the quintessential backdrop: a Texas flag.

The party’s most important guest, though, was The Social Book itself, a veritable compendium for Houstonians and their respective companies and non-profits. The red leather-bound binder of event listings and contacts, which costs $320 for the calendar year, is updated quarterly.