Mosaic celebrates renovation with flash mob & Robert Palmer models
Upon arriving at the newly spiffed-up Mosaic high-rise towers, I felt like I had wandered into a classic Robert Palmer video. Models in ultra-short, skin-tight bandage dresses lined the lobby, so I halfway expected to hear "Addicted to Love" on the sound system.
Upstairs in the seventh floor theater room, a crowd of PYTs in short party dresses and their well-groomed dates sipped wine and munched on steamed dumplings from Gigi's Asian Bistro when suddenly a flash mob took over the dance floor with moves to the theme song from The Jeffersons. (It was choreographed for the event by Paula Abbott and presented by J & D Entertainment for the Events Company.)
Just a typical Wednesday night in Houston.
Actually, the by-invitation-only crowd gathered on a not-so-typical weeknight to celebrate the $3 million renovation of the luxury towers, now owned by Chicago-based ST Residential and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Guests checked out four model apartments and such amenities as a swimming pool deck with two fire pits and 24-hour fitness center.
The 29-story twin-towers complex (one all rental; the other owner-occupied) was foreclosed last year, but the new owners are confident that the timing is right for a renaissance.
"In Miami, we did an event like this (for a similar project), and prices are rising," ST Residential chief operating officer Jon Pertchik told the crowd. "I think the same thing can happen here."
Pertchik was joined by ST Residential CEO Wade Hundley and senior vice president Peggy Fucci. Also seen in the crowd: Hotel ZaZa owner Charlie Givens, Museum Park Business Alliance president Mark Brawley, designer Chloe Dao, Uptown Realty Group's Mariana Saldana, Greater Houston Partnership manager of public policy Sandra Strachan, and Texas Children Hospital's Karen Bortz.
Houston Grand Opera director of annual giving David Chambers was showing new HGO director of public relations Claire Vince around town. Vince, who recently moved to Houston from Sydney, marveled at how inexpensive high-rise condo prices are here compared to Australia's largest city.