by Lance | Oct 11, 2022 | Blog
By Lance Avery Morgan Photography courtesy of Matthew Niemann for American Express
What’s not to love about a V.I.P. experience? In fact, for 2022, the Amex Experience has returned to Austin City Limits Music Festival for all fans plus a card member only lounge on the second floor. How does it work? Card members can use their American Express-linked wristband or show their card to gain access, with one guest, to an exclusive bar with lounge seating and a viewing deck with direct line-of-sight to the American Express Stage. It’s one of the best seats in the house. You can also participate in epic experiences including a glam station with face gems by Half Magic Beauty, co-founded by Donni Davy (Emmy AwardÒ-winning head makeup designer on HBO’s Euphoria) and chain stitching of bucket hats.
When you arrive, you’re greeted by an expansive tree that extends upward to the Card Member Lounge, can make do-it-yourself phone charms, receive complimentary ice cream from local ice creamery, Bésame, and take epic photos against a mural by local artist Zuzu.
For the super techno-minded, for the first time, American Express has partnered with POAP Inc, the creator of The Proof of Attendance Protocol, to offer Austin City Limits Music Festival attendees limited-edition POAPS, or digital mementos that signify important events. These non-fungible tokens have also been designed by local artist Zuzu. This POAP pilot is a fun and simple way to connect ACL Fest experiences with attendees engaged or interested in Web3. POAP preserves memories in an immutable format that is well known and loved in the Web3 community.
Photo by Ben Porter
Plus, on each festival day, a unique digital artwork by Zuzu can be reserved via email or minted directly to a Web3 wallet by scanning the dynamic QR code located on the first floor of Amex Experience. Each attendee will be able to mint up to 6 POAPs. American Express is excited to learn and grow alongside its Card Members as they explore the Web3 ecosystem.
Amber Koehler, Lance Avery Morgan, Rob Giardinelli & Jenny and Andrew Mason
If guests register their wristband for ACL Fest Cashless Payments with their American Express Card, they will receive exclusive Card Member benefits which include a $5 Cashless spend credit that can be used at ACL Fest, a dedicated Fast Lane for expedited access at the main merchandise tent and exclusive access to a limited-edition festival merch collection.
We also love that American Express Card Members will receive exclusive and early access to make an online purchase from the limited-edition Austin City Limits Music Festival capsule collection of merchandise. The capsule collection was available from amexcollection.aclfestival.com prior to the festival and on the first floor of the American Express Experience. What are you waiting for? Experience the Amex ACL experience.
by societytexas | Feb 28, 2022 | Host, 2022 March April
Amber and Al Koehler Host An Evening Of Holiday Cheer
By Rob Giardinelli Photography by Ben Porter Photography
THE SETTING: The home of Al and Amber Koehler in Austin was the recent setting for an evening of merriment and revelry. The several hundred who attended the holiday party for the ages were treated to an evening of festive holiday spirit…and spirits, great friends, and live entertainment. The fête was the perfect mix of adult fun and childlike joy. In fact, guests look forward to it all year long.
THE STYLE: The holiday-chic crowd sported a mix of cocktail dresses, sportscoats, and holiday-inspired ensembles that created a welcoming environment for all. The duo, always the consummate hosts, provided a wide range of exciting experiences for their guests, ensuring there was something for everyone to enjoy. While some cozied up to the bar for their favorite cocktail or grabbed a nosh at one of the plentiful food stations, others aimed their sights toward the gigantic inflatable snowball where they could have their picture taken to remember the evening.
The Austin event would not be complete without live music, of course, and guests were in for a special night as they listened to a lively performance by Skyrocket. Those who stayed into the wee hours of the morning experienced an unforgettable musical surprise…an impromptu performance by musician Lukas Nelson, the son of Willie Nelson, capping off a memorable night of celebration.
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by societytexas | Feb 28, 2021 | R.S.V.P. AUSTIN, 2021 March April, Parties
14TH Annual Center for Child Protection’s Dancing With The Stars Goes Virtual
By Rob Giardinelli Photography by Jeff Loftin, Haley Plotkin and MJ Routh
THE SETTING: Residences around Austin recently hosted small, socially safe gatherings in support of one of the cities most highly anticipated annual events. The Center for Child Protection took the 14th annual Dancing with the Stars gala online. The virtual event had over a thousand viewers, from Austin and beyond, glued to their screens for a night of dancing and fundraising. It proved that the show must go on, and in this case, the dance must go on, because the needs of our communities remain as urgent and important as ever.
THE STYLE: The small gatherings featured supporters wearing their favorite cocktail attire, while others opted to stay at home for a date night while dressed in their finest black-tie ensembles. As guests took to their screens for the evening’s program, they enjoyed the proceedings, which flowed with ease, thanks to emcees Glenn Ball and Holly Mills Gardner. Donors also received a welcome kit from the Center that featured ingredients for the event’s signature cocktail, The Tequila Tango, to help folks find their groove. Video instructions on how to mix them were provided by Society Texas’ own Lance Avery Morgan and Rob Giardinelli.
Patrons were then treated to eleven spectacular routines where viewers watched each duo Rip it Up on the dance floor, Vogue a pose, have Sweet Dreams of this Crazy Little Thing Called Love, and head out to the Wild Wild West. Each routine featured color commentary from celebrity judges Gary Little, JR Martinez, and Venus Strawn. Between dance takes, there was a live auction item, the highlight of which was Project Graduation, where donors had the opportunity to sponsor an event that allows for teens exiting the foster care system to begin their adult lives. The festivities were capped off by declaring the winners of the 2020 Dancing with the Stars, Julie Jumonville and Travis Herman, followed by an after-party featuring the tunes of DJ Hexum.
THE PURPOSE: The event, co-chaired by Tracey Marshall and Jenny Mason, raised over $685,000 for the Center for Child Protection. The Center is a nationally accredited children’s advocacy center. In 2019, it provided forensic interviews, medical exams, counseling, and interventions to help begin the healing process from trauma for nearly 3,000 abused children.
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by societytexas | Mar 1, 2019 | 2019 March April, Parties, Austin
The Center for Child Protection’s Annual Dancing with the Stars Features 12 Austin Celebrity Dancers
By Rob Giardinelli Photography by Estrella Chacon, Jeff Loftin Photography, Christina Murphy and Haley Plotkin Photography
THE SCENE: Recently, the Center for Child Protection hosted its 12th annual Dancing with the Stars event presented by Lexus of Austin and Lakeway. This annual winter social mainstay, held at the JW Marriott, featured 850 notable and stylish Austinites for an evening of fun those on hand will not soon forget.
THE VIBE: This black-tie extravaganza began in the ballroom foyer of the JW Marriott for cocktails where Austin’s hip and chic mingled with other partygoers as well as the celebrity dancers. The festivities then moved to the ballroom where guests took to their seats and as they dined on a multi-course meal listened to personal video testimonials of how the Center for Child Protection has positively impacted the Austin community. Next was a spirited live auction where guests bid on a host of luxury items.
After the live auction, came the main event, the performances by the 12 celebrity dancers. Cheering on their favorites, the revelers were often brought to their feet by the show-stopping performances. Guests then voted for their favorite dancers before Kendall Beard McMinn was crowned the winner. Then, the action continued well into the night as guests danced the night away to the tunes of DJ Gatsby.
THE CAUSE: The event, chaired by Francie Little and Jenny Mason, raised $1.4 million for the Center for Child Protection. Over the past 25 years the Center for Child Protection has served as a first stop for children in Travis County who have witnessed violent crimes or have experienced physical or sexual abuse.
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