The expectations and the excitement I was feeling as we headed across the causeway to Galveston Island for my first ever Mardi Gras Gala/San Luis Salute was off the charts. All week long, while packing and moving into our new high rise digs, all of the chatter from people that I spoke to was just how much fun the party was that the Fertitta family has put on for 23 years and how it was one of the best ever! Well, it didn’t take me long to get into the packed cocktail hour and amazing party that followed to get the picture! It was a party like no other!!
The 23rd annual San Luis Salute, hosted by the Tilman Fertitta Family is proven to be the Mardi Gras party of parties. It once again sold out with more than 1,900 tickets sold within hours. The energy level in the room is evident from the moment you walk into the ballroom. The music of Atlanta’s Big Beyond was rocking the room that was a spectacular feast for the eyes filled with Elan and skeleton dancers on multiple stages, stilt walkers and enormous Mexican puppets roaming the room. This year’s theme of ‘Mexico Magnifico’ was beautifully displayed through Richard Flowers of the Events Co. and brought such vibrancy into the room. Blue and white Talavera vases filled with colorful flowers as centerpieces, Clase Azul Reposado tequila, Mexican blue-rimmed shot glasses and cocktail shakers were situated on the guests’ tables…..the attention to detail on every aspect of the evening could not be overstated.
The number of Houston exports to the island for the weekend were numerous. In fact, the crowd was so enormous that many I didn’t realize were there until after the festivities were over. Some are shown below in the highlighted slide show but one of my favorite people, in attendance and to whom I deemed the honor of ‘best headdress of the night’, Rose Cullen….made the Galveston trip with her family in tow to see her beautiful granddaughter, Katherine Rose Cullen, as a duchess of the Momus Court.
The San Luis Salute. Host and proud Dad Tillman Fertitta with Queen Blayne and her MOMUS court (photo credit Gary Fountain)
One of the highlights of the night was the special performance by world-renowned artist, Usher, who brought the crowd to their feet even before he made his entrance to the stage. His 75 minute concert complete with very high tech visuals, dancers and an over-the-top DJ left everyone dancing on the dance floor, in between tables, on chairs. It was reported that Michael, Patrick, Blake and mom Paige Fertitta in her stunning floral-trimmed Dolce & Gabbana gown were spotted on the dance floor alongside the evening’s star, Momus Queen Blayne, singing along to many of the urban artist’s best-selling tunes! After Usher finished, in case we all were gathering our bags and quenching our thirst….there was an awesome group of skeleton-clad drummers from the bay area that displayed an awesome percussion number for us all and then became the bridge that showed us to the exits!
