The TWFest Gala took place in the beaux-arts style home of Tony Award winner John Cameron Mitchell. The home, known as The Temple, is a painstakingly restored side hall Italianate in the Bywater neighborhood with a storied past.

The evening began at 6 pm with an exclusive VIP experience including a garden chef's table, celebrity bartender cocktail pairings, music by Delta Revues, and Tarot readings by Seeress Mugga Rose. Our food sponsors were Mister Gregory's Shrimp Boil Cabaret and Market Wego, and our cocktail sponsor was SAZERAC / Goldring Family Foundation.

At 7 pm, doors opened for General Admission ticket holders to enjoy the open bar, hors d'oeuvres, and music by Layla Musselwhite in the garden and ornate ballroom. The evening continued with a silent auction, our inaugural awards presentation for excellence in literary arts, performing arts, and arts advocacy, and a decadent night of reveling in the stunning home and garden with a special appearance by Harry Mayronne. Our host for the evening was the inimitable Vinsantos DeFonte.

Read about our inaugural awards for excellence in the arts below, along with a link to our honorees' biographies. Many thanks to Mignon Faget for donating the award pins, and thanks to Peggy Scott Laborde, C. Morgan Babst, and Lawrence Henry Gobble, who presented the awards.

See a few photos from the evening at the bottom of the page. More photos to come!