The 40th-annual Renaissance Ball ofthe Oklahoma City Museum of Art catered to the young (40-ish, that is) and, in lieu of the traditional orchestra for dancing, party chairpersons Bob and Heather Ross chose to fly in the noted DJ Lucy Wrubel to provide the music. Even the “older” partygoers stayed until after midnight, swinging and stomping to the music.

Must have driven Jim and Genea Vallion, who had provided the floral décor, crazy because they had to take down all of the decorations and collect tablecloths, napkins and chairs that night since Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club had a different “do” the next day.

Trochta’s created giant balls – bigger than basketballs – of white carnations on tall crystal vases for the dining tables. Two even bigger balls in red and white flowers were suspended over the bars for the young’uns who didn’t come in until 9:30 p.m. to dance and nibble on hors d’oeuvres at “Late Night.” The patrons had a seated dinner and others mostly leaned on small cocktail tables. Beyond the multi-lighted wall in the center room was a large white tent to cover the dancing area.

Most of the men donned their slick black tuxedos and many ladies chose gorgeous formal gowns. online formal dresses also were seen.

Theme of the evening, “Living Art,” was carried out by four students from the Wanda Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University. Two singers and two instrumentalists wandered among the tables entertaining the diners.

Each year civic leaders who have been especially supportive of the museum are honored at the Renaissance Ball. The 2015 honorees were Jeaneen Naifeh and her late husband, Robert Z. Naifeh. Museum President Michael Whittington did his best to get the guests quieted down for the presentation of Jeaneen, but they were just having too much fun.

The food was delicious and I loved the salad. It included kale, which I’d never eaten before. The wines were from Dick Sias’ California winery. (That is, his former vineyard. He’s sold it to Harold Hamm’s daughter. A lot of the nonprofits who depended on Sias to donate wines to their benefits are really going to miss Dick.)

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