Holocaust Museum Of Houston Celebrates Expansion
By Jake Gaines – Photography by Dave Rossman
THE SETTING: Recently, the Holocaust Museum of Houston hosted an elaborate gala for 800 attendees to celebrate its $34 million expansion by hosting a First Look celebration for major donors, Holocaust survivors, dignitaries and special guests. Patrons enjoyed cuisine from around the world and music on each floor as they toured the new 57,000-square-foot, fully bilingual facility at the champagne-filled gathering.
THE STYLE: The event’s décor was provided by Dede Loughran of Acme Rental who expertly placed some of HMH’s collection of handmade butterflies throughout the silver-lined tables to give a personal touch to the overall look. The floral décor was created by The River Oaks Plant House. Chef Smirnov Catering provided the Kosher culinary array representing old world Asian, Japanese, Israeli, Russian and Italian delicacies. Music was staged on each floor with Moodafaruka playing in the first floor’s Garden of Hope, Divisi Strings on the second floor, next to the three-story high Butterfly Loft, and John Acevedo playing Flamenco jazz guitar on the third floor near the board room with its assorted desserts.
THE PURPOSE: Tali Blumrosen, former museum chair and current board member, coordinated the evening’s event in conjunction with the Holocaust Museum Houston’s Managing Director Tamara Savage. More than doubling in size, the new facility will rank as the nation’s fourth largest Holocaust museum. The new three-story structure will house a welcome center, four permanent galleries and two changing exhibition galleries, classrooms, research library, café, 200-seat indoor theater and a 175-seat outdoor amphitheater.