Houston’s Best Fall Society Parties and Most Anticipated Nights Out: The Ultimate Guide on Where to See and Be Seen

The countdown has begun as it’s only days before the social season swings into gear. But with so many party possibilities, so many worthy causes, how are social swells and wannabes going to wisely navigate the swollen seas of fêtes and soirées?

Worry not. PaperCity to the rescue with a curated guide of where to see and be seen — depending on your personality profile.

The A-Listers

It’s going to be a rip-roaring season for the black-tie set with serious social creds and deep pockets. Much of it has to do with the reopening of Wortham Theater Center, which brings Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet back to their home stage.

The festivities kick off September 26 when Houston Grand Opera hosts “HGO & Placido — Coming Home,”  subtitled “A Triumphant Return to the Wortham Theater Center.” The benefit concert and dinner will feature world famous tenor Placido Domingo and soprano Ana María Martinez with HGO artistic and musical director Patrick Summers leading the HGO orchestra.

Domingo last performed with HGO in 1987. Mega philanthropist Margaret Alkek Williams chairs the gala evening, which is almost entirely sold out.

The top rung of Houston society seriously dresses up and retrieves the jewels from the vault for the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Grand Gala Ball. The October 5 evening is chaired by Franci Neely. Themed “The Courtly Ball,” the trés chic soirée is a nod to the fall exhibition “Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits from Holbein to Warhol.” Now if some one would just gamely dress as Hans Holbein the Younger, it would be quite the night.

On November 30, Houston Ballet’s Margaret Alkek Williams Jubilee of Dance lights up Wortham Center with its annual cornucopia of the best from the ballet company’s repertoire.  A gala dinner, celebrating the ballet’s return to the Wortham, follows on stage.

Rockin’ & Rollin’

Party moguls/uber philanthropists Sue and Lester Smith are stirring up their brand of unbridled fun at Revention Music Center with “The Legacy of Motown Gala,” benefiting Texas Children’s Cancer Center. You know if the Smiths are involved, a good time is guaranteed.

Mark your calendars for September 29 when you’ll wanna dance like nobody’s watching. Joining the Smiths as chairs are Limor and Stuart Smith and Shelly and Brian Hendry.

The crowd goes wild every year at “Una Notte in Italia” and this 20th anniversary of the men’s fashion frolic starring big name sports figures and business moguls will be no exception. Brigitte Kalai and Melissa Mithoff chair the evening that benefits the Houston Area Women’s Center and features fashions from Festari for Men.

The “Hocus Pocus Boo Ball,” benefiting Ronald McDonald House, is expected to bring out the alter-egos of a lively crowd on October 27. You can bet that the Hilton Americas-Houston ballroom will be crawling with costumed wonders including chairs Stephanie and Anthony Milam and perhaps even the honorary chairs, Christine and David Underwood.

And can there be any night more wildly fun and visually entertaining than the Orange Show gala? Tracy and Glen Larner and Misty and Surena Matin chair the  “Ofrendas Y Flores” gala at the Crowne Plaza NRG. Expect this night to rock with the Allstars Legacy Reunion starring members of Earth, Wind & Fire.

Trés chic

The coolest of the cool are expected at Legacy Community Health Services cocktail bash at a private residence in River Oaks. With chairs Shannon Hall, Melissa Mithoff, Kathryn Murphy, Elizabeth Petersen, Marcus Sloan and Sheridan Williams and with Richard Flowers as honoree, this is the only place to be on September 12.

When interior designer Amanda Lindroth jets into Houston September 27 for her book signing fête at Mecox, you can expect to rub elbows with the chicest of design world denizens and a generous contingent of social swells who holiday in Lyford Cay, Palm Beach and Southampton. And why not with Courtney Sarofim, Lindsay Holstead and Lisa Mathis chairing? PaperCity is co-hosting the event and copies of Lindroth’s coffee table tome Island Hopping are expected to fly out the doors. For this event, it’s not what you know, but who you know as it is invitation only.

A whole other world of stylish men and women are expected for the October 19 Catwalk Dinner and Fashion Show benefiting A Shelter for Cancer Families.  The spotlight will be on Etro fashions when Carolyn and Chris Dodson, Kitty and Lex Hochner and Nicole and Evan Katz chair.