Have a Ball

THE PARTY The 56th annual Heart Ball welcomed 600 guests to the Arizona Biltmore for one of the Valley’s most highly anticipated and elite social events. Guests danced under thousands of twinkling white lights and dined beneath crystal candelabras that towered over the silk-covered tables. THE GUESTS Event chair Kimberly Afkhami put on a beautiful event, and chef Gordon Maybury created the sophisticated menu. Other notables included Oscar De las salas; Mayor Greg Stanton and his wife, Nicole; and Sylvia and Joe Shoen. THE HIGHLIGHTS The fabulous meal started off with a seafood array featuring fresh oysters, sweet shrimp and other delights, and finished off with a banana creme pie-inspired creme brulee. Afterward, guests indulged in a special after-dinner drink, Nikolaschka, courtesy of Ina and Murray Manaster, who serve the liqueur at their parties. Soul Survivors played a high-energy mélange of classic Motown and contemporary music that kept guests up and dancing all night long. –Photos by Haute Photography; Duke Photography