THE FUN IN FUNDRAISING
It was destined to be. Becca Cason Thrash’s heart was deeply affected when she saw Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris burning in April of 2019. Within the flames of her own heart, as she viewed the tragedy, she reacted immediately and committed to helping fundraise for the re-building of one of the most significant architectural landmarks in the world. She had been approached before the tragedy to help raise much- needed funds for the restoration, and after the fire, that motion was fast-forwarded. Thrash, like the rest of the world, viewed it as a catastrophe that anyone who knows Paris can confirm: it rattled the soul of the City of Love. Never believing in borders, Thrash sprang into immediate action and did what she does best: she hosted an astonishing weekend of events for the fabled structure, outside of France, in Mexico City, to encourage high-level donations for the restoration of the Cathedral.
“To replicate those medieval materials, some of them almost 900-years old, and to re-create the manufacturing of such stones, metals, and patina would be cost-prohibitive after the fire,” confides Becca Cason Thrash. “So, the Notre-Dame team called and asked, ‘Please, we really need your help.’” She continues, “I said, ‘I’ll do it, but under one condition.’ I’m not bringing everybody back to France because I’ve hosted five fundraising events there for the Louvre, and I’ve always wanted to do something in Mexico City. So, if you’ll allow me to create a fundraiser, I’ll do it my own way, in my own style, and with my list. They said yes, and we were off to the races.”
Thrash is certainly no novice to fundraising and is absolutely not a stranger to hosting epic fundraising events on an international level. After all, she continues to raise millions and millions for the Musée de Louvre and Venetian Heritage organizations. Never one to rest on her own successful fundraising laurels, Harlingen native and Houston resident, Thrash, was inspired to create a multitude of new experiences for the latest Notre-Dame gala endeavor. The 12th-century Gothic structure would rise again, thanks in part to Thrash’s gala expertise.
It’s that point of view that earned Thrash the Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 2011 for her philanthropic talents at home and abroad, her tireless fundraising for the Louvre, and her ongoing championing of Franco-American relations. Becca Cason Thrash has a natural affinity for international culture, including Latin culture. She was raised in South Texas and lived in Mexico City while working for Vogue En Español, as she started her career in marketing. These experiences prepared her for a very public life both in Houston and across the globe.
Perhaps Thrash’s most important secret to entertaining at a high-level is the energy of the room she encourages based on the invitation list. Highly curated, like Thrash’s couture wardrobe, her secret sauce is having a mix of guests. She always schedules time to focus on the laborious task of creating a seating chart for the coterie of international jetsetters, philanthropists, business leaders, contemporary art collectors, and social swells. Preparation, preparation, preparation.
Thrash readily admits she’s hosted countless more events in Houston for a plethora of her passionate causes, ranging from Best Buddies, on which she serves as a board member, to the Houston Ballet, Houston Grand Opera, The Menil Collection, Contemporary Art Museum Houston, Holocaust Museum Houston, and many, many more charitable and civic organizations of all kinds. Whether hosting at her home, or in monumental international venues, her events attract hundreds of guests who arrive to support five-star cultural institutions with an intention to also have fun. Her fundraising, by the Thrash’s estimation, is likely north of $100 million so far, and that might be a conservative assessment. “People support people. It’s that simple,” shares Thrash about her hard-won fundraising success. “Plus, to me, it’s so important to have a uniquely, hand-selected, and eclectic mix of guests. I know everyone who is walking in the door that evening. They must be fun, interesting, generous, and bring their own brands of enthusiasm to the party. It doesn’t matter if they are moguls or not. They know why they are there…to have a one-of-a-kind time…and to raise money. People support the charity, of course, but people really support people.”
THE BEST OF EVERYTHING
The planning, like all of Thrash’s previous social triumphs, begins early, with months and months of advance preparation…and doesn’t end until the last guest has successfully departed. Mexico, a favorite locale of Thrash’s, is known for its colorful celebrations, and these, with Thrash’s own colorful personality, are a perfect combination of elements. Only the best will do. “I made seven trips to Mexico City to prepare all the details and met with many people including the six hosts and dear friends who opened their homes and collections for the special weekend,” Thrash confides. As in galas past, fellow Houstonian Richard Flowers, and his event design team of five, were enlisted to bring Thrash’s vision to life. Locally in Mexico, Diego Del Río Zepeda and his team were on hand to collaborate for the events’ success. The best tableware, flatware, linens, and flowers, thousands upon thousands of flowers, would need to be implemented to create the regal setting for this triumphant to-do.
Before the Mexican soirées, the fundraising efforts actually began in Houston, with a preview dinner event hosted by Steak 48, the hot Houston eatery that could accommodate the 160-plus guest list. Thrash proudly donned her favorite Zara sequined dress, instead of couture, and added a million dollars of Van Cleef & Arpels jewels to complete her hosting ensemble. The grand total raised for the kick-off night was $100,000.
ONWARD TO MEXICO CITY
One hundred and fifteen guests, paying $6,000 per ticket, began arriving in Mexico City from Paris, Vienna, Milan, London, NYC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Washington DC, and an equal number of glamorous, enthusiastic Texans from across the state, and especially from Thrash’s hometown turf of Houston.
Now, where to place each of the guests attending the soirée? No problem. Thrash arranges seating charts like an eminent chess expert at a championship match: play to win as if it was the most important thing to accomplish. Having attended and chronicled many Thrash Bashes, I can attest she will place a guest next to a fellow participant that the guest will invariably find interesting and remarkable in their life’s pursuits. This cadre of attendees at the Mexico affair would be no different.
The three-day series of events began with an intimate dinner hosted by the French Ambassador to Mexico, Anne Grillo, at her residence in Mexico. Her Excellency greeted the internationally-based guests upon their arrival. The Embassy of Mexico in France, based out of Paris, is the primary diplomatic mission from the United Mexican States to France. It also represents Mexico to the Principality of Monaco, as well as to the Council of Europe. The palace itself is resplendent with a abundance of both French and Latin culture.
The next day an alfresco afternoon luncheon was held in the exquisite home of megawatt art collectors Tato and Gaby Garza. Guests chatted and mingled, admiring the art everywhere they turned in the residence. Chapultepec castle, the Frida Kahlo home, Casa Azul, the Diego Rivera collection at Anahuacalli, and the home of famed artist Pedro Friedberg were just a few of the stops made by the well-heeled crowd. Additional visits, cocktail receptions, and other dinners were arranged in the homes of Mexican entrepreneur Sergio Berger, along with Rodman Primack, and Rudy Weissenberg. Stopping by the Barragan stables, designed by renowned Mexican architect Luis Barragan, was also a delightful treat for the attendees.
VIVA BECCA
The last evening’s fête was widely anticipated. Hosted by Eugenio Lopez, the sole heir to the Jumex fruit-juice fortune, he is considered to be one of the world’s top 200 art collectors. In his extraordinary, art-filled mansion, cocktails and canapes were served as guests chatted and greeted each other. The attendees were dazzled by the white glove-served, five-course seated dinner, but most especially by the extraordinary design and architecture.
These ancillary events bookended the high point of the weekend, La Grande Nuit, as Thrash titled it. Held in the Casino Español–a 19th century building in the Districo Histórico, complete with a 60-foot Tiffany ceiling and a Grand Salon rivaled only by Versailles itself. The venue was decorated as a million-dollar raising gala should be: over the top. Guests descended a grand staircase upon their arrival, fitting for both the venue and the occasion. Following the lavish, multi-course dinner, Becca Cason Thrash took center stage, donned in a beaded Naeem Khan gown, topped with a fuchsia Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda full-length coat and plenty of her own, favorite jewels, and presided over the live auction like the pro she is.
For those who have never seen Thrash in action, as she passionately raises funds for events dear to her heart, it’s a tour de force to behold. A financial goal always in mind, Thrash knows how to read an audience. Part of that special skill is to understand what guests would be interested in buying at a live auction, from art to fashion, to experiences. Then, she goes about acquiring them with supporting brands she knows well, thus promoting these brands with this elevated exposure. Uber collector Eugenio Lopez prevailed on the final bid for a five-night cruise in Egypt on the private yacht owned and donated by Parisian designer Christian Louboutin. Houstonian Lynn Mathre bid the highest on a Naeem Khan bespoke gown and Buccellati necklace. British artist Chris Levine’s limited edition of a gold-dusted portrait of Queen Elizabeth, along with ten lots of art, trips, and jewelry, took in more than $700,000 in less than, yes, fifteen minutes. Talk about light speed for a live auction that can often exhaust audiences at other galas for an hour or more. To make the weekend even more special, Thrash was surprised with a mini birthday celebration amidst the revelry.
Among the decidedly stylish notables were the French Ambassador, Anne Grillo, the Former Minister of Culture, Sari Bermundez, along with Sergio Berger, Christine Holzer, Alejandra Redo, Rodman Primack, Rudy Weissenberg, Lucas Somoza, Ben Aguilar, Andres Carretero, and Guillermo Ordorica. Other bold-faced names in the crowd included Duran Duran’s John Taylor and his fashion icon wife, Gela Taylor, who jetted in from London, blue-chip art collector Tracey Amon from Paris, Christopher Forbes from New York, collector Eva Dichand from Vienna, Kathleen von Alvenslebenn from Berlin, and philanthropist Joseph Blount from Palm Beach. Amin Jaffer, who is one of the world’s foremost experts on jewels in from Paris, to name a few. The world’s foremost expert on royal jewels was joined by notables hailing from Texas, including collectors Christen and Derek Wilson from Dallas. Sixty of the more than 115 guests supported the Thrashes from Houston, including Phoebe and Bobby Tudor, Reggie and Leigh Smith, Leslie and Russ Robinson, Barbara and Michael Gamson, and many more, along with John Thrash, Becca’s beloved husband, and thirty Mexico City notables.
The action always seems to move to the dance floor to keep the party going. Songstress and ingénue Jane Fontaine, from Los Angeles, entertained guests at the after party that went into the wee hours of the next morning. Seen on the dance floor were Randy Powers and Greggory Burk, Rose and Dave Capobianco, Tony Bradfield, Marc and Duyen Nguyen, Fred Heredia and Cassidy York, Elizabeth and Will Galtney, Valerie Fuller and Andree Aboolian, while the Mexican artist Denise de las Rue was spotted in deep conversation with Ford Hubbard.
By the end of the action-packed weekend, more than $1.3 million had been raised for the restoration efforts of Notre-Dame de Paris, the venerable 850-year-old symbol of French culture. “If you create a once-in-a- lifetime experience for guests that they are happy to support, then its win for them and the charity,” confides Becca Cason Thrash. “So that is what I’ve always tried to do: focus on the experience. Like my events that have had Tom Brady, George Clooney, Cindy Crawford, Prince Albert, Duran Duran, Marc Anthony, and many other similar honorary guests and celebrities, not to mention Willie Nelson playing in her great room to benefit Best Buddies one evening…people will show up. Let’s face it…people want the experience of being a part of something special, and so I try to give that to them.”
Paris, at its best, has a soignée approach to life that is, to this day, some of the most intriguing to be found in the world. At its worst, it’s still a tad imperious, although it might have every right to be since it is a city so steeped in the world’s history.
Once, on a flight to Geneva, a woman seated next to me said that it would be better to not visit Paris at all than to be there for only one day’s layover, as I was planning. No truer advice was ever given. So, realizing that only a day to enjoy the city would have left my heart yearning for more, I decided to stay around longer this time. In the famous song of the mid-twentieth century, Lush Life, it professed that a week in Paris could ease the bite of just about anything. And, I learned, it does. When things are back to normal with post COVID-19 travel and safe distancing rules, Paris can be an ideal initial destination to jump back into international travel.
BON JOUR
When I first arrived in the legendary capitol of France, the city’s elegance immediately infused me to my core. Anything and everything about the city…from the fresh chocolate and almond croissants, to the magnificent architecture, or the all-around high-chic Parisian style can beckon any visitor, whether it be the first–or fiftieth time there. On a recent trip, instead of flying into De Gaulle airport, I had the good fortune to take a super train from the Bordeaux region of France directly into Paris. I observed not only the countryside that envelops the city, but also the eye-catching country home set who were traveling back into the city on a lazy Sunday summer afternoon that, in my mind, would usher in a week of non-stop glamour and excitement in the other city that never sleeps. Lots of singletons, couples with children and those spanning many generations boarded from the country enclaves. To see them not traveling wearing the equivalent of pajamas, like so many domestic and international tourists do, was a refreshing change.
This quintessential sense of style permeates every facet of the French resident’s life. All its culture, the restaurants, the shopping, the art…it’s truly a unique experience that can only happen in Paris. The quality of everything from your breakfast in the morning, to a show you see in the evening, feels fresh and unique.
The street fashion seen on the boulevards in Paris is also truly captivating. Chic, a well known and oft-used French word, was surely created to define the city’s everyday style. Parisian women of all ages understand the importance of accessorizing to compliment even the most casual of weekend afternoon outfits… from good jewelry including brooches, to scarves, gloves, good bags…and even better shoes. For work and social outings, the extremes of slim shifts to flirty ruffles rule the current fashion scene. Bold colors, offset by more somber tones, add the duality that defines many a French woman’s own personality…both mischievous and charming. The classic Chanel No. 5 fragrance is still a beguiling scent that can be detected on a certain woman with a certain je ne sais quois flair…either while having drinks at Hotel Costas or merely standing in line at a neighborhood patisserie. Let’s face it: the French just have a way about them.
TRÈS CHIC
For men, Paris is a mix of all styles and designs, not as eccentric as London or New York, but still with a renewed innovation tinted with classicism. Jean Paul Gaultier’s fashion is an emblematic representation of what is Parisian style: originality, rock-n-roll, yet respect for tradition and, most of all, quality. The best example of the Parisian style can be seen on the rue Saint Honoré, where the classicism and beauty of the Hermès boutique with its select clientele, meet the trendy selection of the Colette boutique. Parisians are also always looking for novelties and exclusivities, such as the new Lomo camera or the latest Longchamp it bag.
French men have understood their own style since the era of the Louis kings. On the streets these days, savvy professional men, younger, as well as older, have adopted the ubiquitous slim suit silhouette, yet make it their own with loosely knotted ties, whimsical cufflinks and monk strap shoes. All made by French designers, of course. It’s a sexiness of style that few cultures can boast. After all, it’s common knowledge that French men are known for their genetic predisposition toward amour…sometimes appropriate, if the target of his amorous attention reciprocates, and at other times, quite unwelcome.
This bent toward love seems a pervasive–and persuasive–part of life here. Paris is an aesthetic city. Why? Because of the potential for romance around every corner. There is also an intimacy in the richness of sounds, sights, scents, and tastes that Paris offers.
Everywhere I turn, I see people kissing and embracing–authentic, deep embraces–on corners, in parks, in public, and private, and on transportation. Paris has often been called the City of Love, and to witness all these very public displays of affection, the moniker is for good reason. The French tourist industry’s campaign, is Let’s Fall in Love Again.’ Walking around the city, it’s easy to get caught up in the emotion of it all and while sighing heavily at something, I was asked by someone nearby if I’d swooned. Perhaps I did. In fact, it happened many times over in each beautiful arrondissement section I encountered.
LE TOUR
“My favorite places to hang around are le Marais (in the historic center) and the Latin Quarter (in the 5th arrondissement, near the Jardin du Luxembourg)”, says insider Alain Constant, a journalist at the city’s Le Monde newspaper. “I recommend that visitors not limit their visit to only the classics like the Eiffel Tower, Louvre or Champs-Elysées. Come into the center, to the east of Paris, and walk in the small streets around the Hotel de Ville, Bastille, or perhaps, take a break in the big Bois de Vincennes.”
When asked to create the perfect Parisian day, Constant has his favorites. “I would start by having tea and a fresh croissant in a typical French café on Place des Vosges, while observing the tourists visiting the art galleries and the Parisian fashionistas shopping around. I would then walk through the historical and trendy 4th arrondissement, Le Marais, stopping by the boutique, Mariage Frères on rue Bourg Tibourg to buy the best teas of the world, and then venture to the Centre Beaubourg, the modern art museum.”
He goes on to share, “After wandering around those collections and exhibitions, I would spend as much time in their library, which has one of the best selections of art and design books. For a casual lunch, I would continue towards the 2nd arrondissement, rue Montorgueil, to eat some delicious Italian pasta at Little Italy, or share a table with complete strangers at Le Pain Quotidien―a wonderful way to meet new faces. Afterwards, I would walk down to Place de la Concorde to witness the frenetic Parisian traffic meeting the ancestral Egyptian Obelisque, step into the Crillon hotel and visit the Champs-Elysées. Le Jardin du Luxembourg would be my next stop to have a rest on the benches, watch the kids playing with the sailing boats on the lake and look at the statues paying tribute to famous artists such as Verlaine, Baudelaire or Delacroix.”
“Going out at night is just as glamorous an endeavor. To start the evening, why not pop in for an aperitif at the Experimental Cocktail Bar where they serve excellent drinks, go to the theater and finish with a late dinner in one of my favorite restaurants, perhaps at Hotel Costes? Then, stroll along the Seine river to look at the most beautiful city of the world: the Eiffel Tower, the Grand Palais, Alexander III bridge, the Louvre, the Orsay Museum, and Notre-Dame. Other notable areas I discovered in Paris, through insider recommendations, include Le Marais, Saint-Sulpice, Avenues Montaigne and Saint-Honore, Sevres-Babylone, Place des Victoires, Les Halles and Saint-Michel–all sublime French experiences. Interesting to note, nobody really shops on the Champs-Elysees, unless they want to find the quintessence at the same boxy chain stores easily found at home.”
LE GUEST
While in the city, in between exploring to your heart’s desire, there are a myriad of hotels from which to choose. All dazzling. The usual five-star grand hotels, such as the Georges V, Plaza Athenee, or the Ritz are always top choices for any serious traveler.. I chose the Hôtel de Crillon, a unique and opulent hotel in the heart of the city―the most sought-after location in Paris. The Crillon is next door to the American Ambassador’s residence on the world-famous Place de la Concorde, at one end of the Champs Elysees boulevard that leads directly up to the Arc de Triumph, and near the Seine River. The Hôtel de Crillon, which recently went through a years-long renovation, is within walking distance to the luxurious boutiques of the Faubourg St.-Honore and the Avenue Montaigne, as well as the Louvre, the Tuileries Gardens and many more of this famous city’s most acclaimed attractions.
Like everything in Paris, the hotel is steeped in history. Commissioned in 1758 by Louis XV; the Crillon family acquired the palace in 1788 where it remained in the family until 1907 when the Societe des Grands Magasins et des Hotels du Louvre transformed it into a palace hotel catering, in part, to the American industry tycoon families and their daughters visiting to find European titles to marry. Other prominent guests through the years read like a Who’s Who: Emperor Hirohito of Japan, Sir Winston Churchill, King George V, Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Kennedy Onassis and even, the Dalai Lama.
“My intention is to revive the magnificence and grandeur of this world-famous hotel: a true gem in the heart of Paris,” says acclaimed designer Thierry Despont, who is also a knight of the French Legion of Honor. My grand suite, one of the 44 grand apartments in the hotel, that also includes over one hundred guest rooms, was fit for a prince, or at least, a prince of good fortune.
Decorated in tasteful shades of golds and plums, Cole Porter or Cary Grant could easily have enjoyed these rooms in another, elegant era. With a king size bed, couch, several posh occasional chairs, as well as large walk-in closet, the features of the suite also include marble bathrooms with telephone, flat screen televisions, a mini-bar and full valet service. On another design note, all suites are furnished and decorated with Aubusson carpets, Baccarat chandeliers and Wedgewood medallions. Should you want to tear yourself away from such luxury, the property’s on-site restaurants and lounges, Les Ambassadeurs, L’Obelisque, and the Winter Garden Tea Room, located just off the lobby, offer wonderful elegant meals and cocktails, or the jet set favorite, the Crillon Bar, decorated in shades of claret, reflects the namesake drink served there that is so popular.
It is well known that the French love colorful Texans and any opportunity to collaborate is a welcome one. How best to end several days in Paris? On your last evening, try Café Marley where, in the moonlight, the stars shine brightly, as the glistening horizon beckoned the last day in paradise on what was certainly a trip of a lifetime to the City of Romance. Until next time, anyway.
WHERE TO GO AND HOW TO DO IT:
Come Se Va? Useful Phrases
Bonjour / Au revoir (Hello / Goodbye)
Parlez-vous anglais? (Do you speak English?)
Desole, je n’ai pas compris (Sorry, I didn’t understand)
Pouvez-vous m’aider? (Can you help me?)
Ou se trouve le metro/le restaurant/la poste/les taxis? (Where is the metro/restaurant/post office/taxi rank?)
Quel est le prix? (How much does it cost?)
Merci / Non merci (Thank you / No thank you)
C’est top! (It’s the best!)
Je kiffe grave (I love it)
Les Hotspots: Let’s Go Out:
Paris Plage (a man-made beach on the Right Bank of the Seine)
Mini Palais (from chef Gilles Choukroun)
Hotel du Nord (“the restaurant is popular with the fashion crowd”)
Chez Julien (“a turn-of-the-century bistro”)
Le Baron (“grungy-chic nightclub”)
The major cafes of St. Germain – Café de Flore, Les Deux Magots and Brasserie Lipp
Le Meurice
Café Angelina
Buddha Bar
L’ Aquire: Shop
Goyard (233 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore)
Hermes (24 Rue Faubourg Saint-Honore)
Dior (30 avenue Montaigne)
Lanvin (15 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore)
L’Eclaireur (separate men’s and women’s stores at 12 Rue Mahler and 3 Ter Rue des Rosiers)
Christian Louboutin (68 Rue du Faubourg Saint- Honoré)
Well-known stores: Galeries Lafayette, Le Printemps, Le Bon Marche, BHV
Hair: René Cortez using The Wet Brush, Ibiza round brushes
Makeup: Erik Torppe using Charlotte Tilbury
Model: Dillon Agency: Nomad Management, LA
Sittings Producer: Lance Avery Morgan
Dress by Charles & Ron, Price Upon Request at CharlesAndRon.com
Earrings by Colette Malouf $158, at ColetteMalouf.com.
Art: Dash by Brad Ellis
Dress by Masaki Matsuka, $820, at MasakiMatsuka.com. Shoes by Jessica Bedard, $525 at JessicaBedard.com.
Art: (Left) Ever Just Is Ever by McKay Otto. (Right) Nocturnal Garden by Tracy Williams.
Dress by Alessandra Rich $3,340, at Saks Fifth Avenue. Earrings by OutHouse Jewerly $248, at OutHouseJewelry.com. Shoes by Jessica Bedard, $535 at JessicaBedard.com
Art: True Blue: Baby I Love You by Allison Gregory
Top by Alessandra Rich $2,370, at Saks Fifth Avenue. Skirt by Charles & Ron at CharlesAndRon.com. Price Upon Request. Earrings by Colette Malouf $141 at ColetteMalouf.com. Rings by Vanna K for Bella Luce at JTV.com. Shoes by Jessica Bedard, $535 at JessicaBedard.com
Art: Black Thicket by Brad Ellis
Dress by Charles & Ron, Price Upon Request. At CharlesAndRon.com. Shoes by Alejandra G $309, at AlejandraG.com
Art: Love Is Messy by Shanny Lott
Dress by Olvi’s Couture $1000, at The Garden Room. Earrings by Colette Malouf $141, at ColetteMalouf.com. Shoes by Jessica Bedard $525 at JessicaBedard.com
Art: (Left): Graffiti Flowers by Tracy Williams (Right): Japanese Garden by Tracy Williams
Dress by Nardos Design, at Julian Gold, Price Upon Request. Earrings by Melody Ehsani, $310, at MelodyEhsani.com
Art: Deconstructing The Myth by Brad Ellis
Dress by Charles & Ron, Price Upon Request. At CharlesAndRon.com. Earrings by OutHouse Jewerly $227, at Outhousejewerly.com
Art: Friendship For Life by David Kurio
Top by Masaki Matsuka $650, at MasakiMatsuka.com. Ring by OutHouse Jewerly, $225 and earrings, $207, at OutHouseJewelry.com. Bracelet by Isabela Felinski $238, at IsabelaFelinski.com
Art: Every Where Or When Ever by McKay Otto
Dress by Nookie $265, at Nookie.au. Feather Jacket by Charles & Ron. Price Upon Request, at CharlesAndRon.com
Art by Mark Oberlin
