The Chainsmokers headline Fertitta family’s San Luis Salute
Could anything top the 2019 San Luis Salute with Usher?
That was the big question in Galveston when some 1,900 galagoers descended upon the San Luis Resort, Spa & Conference Center for the Fertitta family’s annual black-tie bash.
Last year’s Mardi Gras festivities were a tough act to follow: Usher performed an hour-long concert of his greatest hits.
Blayne Fertitta, daughter of Landry’s Inc. CEO, Rockets owner and Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston proprietor Tilman Fertitta, was crowned queen. And her grandfather, the Vic Fertitta in Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse, was awarded the title of King Frivolous CIV.
So, yeah — the bar was set high. And yet the 2020 Salute managed to create a little unexpected magic. If last year’s “Mexico Magnifico!” theme produced a redhot night, then this year’s “Royal Ice Garden” proved to be a study in cool evening glamour.
The 24th class of duchesses/ debutantes embraced the Scandinavian-inspired motif with open arms. Each young woman wore a blue gown designed by celebrated dressmaker Miwa Sakashita.
The result? A tidal wave of navy, turquoise and periwinkle formalwear in the lobby of the San Luis Resort, where members of the Knights of Momus Court (Galveston’s oldest Mardi Gras krewe) and Houston VIPs gathered before loading onto shuttles bound for the Fertitta family yacht.
It’s become tradition and a hot ticket for A-listers to pre-party
aboard the Boardwalk, a 164-foot ocean vessel boasting 12 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms and a helicopter pad. And because the Fertittas have a newer, bigger mega-yacht in the works, for the first time in memory bartenders were slinging cocktails from one of the Boardwalk’s decks. Bottoms up.
Down below, bold-faced guests including Houston Police Chief
Art Acevedo, University of Houston President Renu Khator,
KHOU (Channel 11) meteorologist
Chita Craft, Maria and Neil Bush and other VIPs mingled inside the pop-up Crystal Tent erected over Pier 21 in Galveston Harbor. There, aqua-hued Electric Lemonade cocktails — visible from yards away — extended the Salute’s color story.
In an impressive showing,
Richard Flowers of the Events Company saved his bluest and iciest décor for the main event — a multicourse dinner and four-hour dance-a-thon back at the San Luis Conference Center.
Full cocktail bars were cut from long sheets of ice. Liquid nitrogen margaritas and other speciality drinks circled the space encased by a fog of dry ice. Aerial dancers swung from the rafters between tree branches wrapped in twinkling lights. Alternating white orchids, hydrangea and calla lillies dotted each of the 160-plus tables, as did bottles of wine, vodka and drink mixers — one of the event’s signature, self-service amenities
It’s a thoughtful touch, considering that the dancing starts from the minute galagoers enter the ballroom. Atlanta-based band the Big Beyond kicked things off. The high-energy performance paused only long enough for the royal procession of duchesses, King Frivolous CV Richard Gary Peters, Queen Francis Margaret
Kusnerik and the Fertitta family to make their grand entrances.
Later, the Chainsmokers ,an American electronic DJ and production duo consisting of Alex
Pall and Drew Taggart, ruled the stage with multiplatinum hits “Closer,” “Paris” and “Something Like This.” If Usher’s 2019 show served prom 2.0 vibes, then the Chainsmokers’ set felt like the chicest rave you never knew existed.
Even after the headliners departed, the disco kept going. The Big Beyond picked up right where Pall and Taggart left off with more big-band sound until midnight.
Then for late-night revelers, it was back to the San Luis Resort for the unofficial albeit wildly well-attended after-party in the lobby lounge. There, the drinks flowed and dancing continued until the last man (or woman) standing couldn’t.
With approximately 360 days until the San Luis Salute’s banner 25th anniversary, the challenge has already been issued: How will they ever top this?