[11] Advantage Bmw Midtown At This Week Gallery

Houstonians are resilient folk, and would never allow a little spring drizzle to get in the way of a good time. In fact, a crowd of en vogue young professionals trickled in steadily to Capital One Bank's Culture Collision Thursday night to mix and mingle with the creative community.

Before too long, Advantage BMW Midtown's vaulted metal ceilings and exposed structural beams morphed from a serious urban-chic office to an effervescent social gathering spot.

Culture Collision is really cultural speed dating. Guests promenaded from booth to booth hoping to find a match between their personal interests and the programs of Houston's best creatives. Enchanté!

There was plenty of love at first sight, with the ambiance enhanced by colorful florals by Natalie Davis, nibbles by Phoenicia and libations by Republic Tequila and Saint Arnold Brewing Company.

Organized by Houston Young People for the Arts, Culture Collision assembled the creme de la creme of the city's cultural providers, including (big breath, ready?) Houston Young People for the Arts (HYPA), Emerging Leaders, Capital One Bank Bayou City Art Festival, DiverseWorks 3D, Dominic Walsh Dance Theater, Ensemble Theatre Act One, Fresh Arts Coalition, Health Museum Professionals’ Circle, Houston Ballet Barre, Houston Grand Opera O.N., Houston Symphony YPB, NiteSPA, Spacetaker, The Studio at the CAMH and Theatre Under The Stars’ UP@TUTS.

Ambitious, yes, but that's something Houston Downtown Alliance's Heather Pray and Melissa Fitzgerald are used to — attracting a mixed assemblage of 200-plus party goers, from the grungy chic to the fashionista du jour.

With thump-thumping saucy tunes by DJ Hardware, the happening scene came to a halt when the daredevil artists of Amy Ell's aerial dance company, Vault, did their thing from three trapezes, awing partiers and showcasing the artists' impressive strength and obvious beauty.

Spotted at the cultured fete were Lonnie Schiller, Paul Pettie, James Phelan, David Lake, Amanda Kieval, Mark Austin, Natalie Davis, Kim Nguyen, Michael Butler, Nick Abrego, Lisa Alastuey, Rebecca Lee, Bella Barak, Freddy Goerges, Martha White, Sophia Arabani, Adam Bergen, Mandy Graessle, Will Matthews and Ashley Wyatt.