Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman, Frann Lichtenstein, Monica Hartland, Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell
“Guests were greeted with champagne while walking down a lit, tree-lined path, where they got their first glimpse of the garden chic ambiance unfolding before them,” cooed the rep for the hospital. “Upon entering the tent, attendees were met with an eight-piece string orchestra and an abundance of florals by Blooming Gallery in warm autumn tones alongside green pears, aromatic rosemary and mint. Bubbly wines and cocktails were served from the ornate four-sided bar, which featured towering, vine-wrapped arches and a flowing water fountain bestrewn with flowers.”
And that wasn’t the end of the grandeur. Tables, some of them S-shaped, some of them set under flower-bedecked arches, were laden with a dense assortment of florals and herbs presented as fragrant arrangements. Menus placed under clear glass chargers were printed with each guest’s name. And, as the evening was cool, a gift of a cream-colored cashmere wrap was laid across the back of every chair.
Dinner was appropriately impressive. Course One featured artisanal cheeses, soufflé, fresh fruit, an array of spreads, and baguettes. A surf-and-turf entrée was comprised of beef Tenderloin, seared Alaskan halibut and grilled artichoke hearts. As an extra treat, servers wafted through the tent, aglow with real candles, offering hot French fried with truffle aioli. For dessert: chocolate soufflé cake which fresh whipped cream served in tableside dallops. French wines were served, naturally.
After dinner and remarks by the likes of Memorial Hermann exec Amalia Stanton and Children’s Memorial Hermann CEO Marissa Kiefer, guests enjoyed the sophisticated old-school styling of the David Caceres Orchestra. The glittering spectacle of harpist Tulani — a beautiful harpist in a sequined mini-dressed who sang and danced and delighted the crowd — was a musical highlight; her “Purple Rain” brought the house down.
As they left, guests were given more loot, including flowers and herbs wrapped in brown paper a la the streets of Paris — and a chocolate-dipped croissant.
Kristina Somerville, Jennifer Allison, Valerie Dieterich, Rachel Regan and Felicia Stone served as chairs for the event. The fab fete was intended to raise the profile of the world-class care and affiliated physicians available at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, and to highlight the institutions more than 40 pediatric and women’s specialties and services in high-risk pregnancy and neonatal critical care. Besides top docs from the hospital, VIP guests included Melissa Juneau, Chita and Lane Craft, Jill and Brad Deutser and Elizabeth and Alan Stein.
Ruchi Mukherjee, Felicia Stone
Valerie Dieterich, Kristina Somerville, Felicia Stone, Jennifer Allison
Garrett Johnston, Jayne Johnston
Kelsey Fritz, Lauren Gow
Derrick Mitchell, Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell
Lane Craft, Chita Craft
Amalia Stanton, Lauren Gow
Marissa Kiefer, Jayne Johnston, Melissa Juneau, Fady Armanious
Anne Lee Phillips, Nancy Bihlmaier
Jennie Caven Adams, Ashley Elkins, Buck Elkins
Dan Furbee, Elaine Furbee
Brian Stanton, Scott Allison, Tracy Dieterich
Melissa Juneau, Fady Armanious
Maria Maconda Alaoui, Kristina Somerville, Monica Hartland
Dr. Mary Aitken, Dr. Richard Kurten
Anne Neeson, Craig Janies
Kristen Collins, Bethany Buchanan
Aylsworth's interactive installation at Inman Gallery
The title of the show comes from the lyrics to the opening song of Stephen Sondheim’s 1984 musical, Sunday in the Park with George, a groundbreaking piece of music theater inspired by the French pointillist painter Georges Seurat’s equally groundbreaking painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. While Aylsworth’s personality and contrarian sense of humor are about as far removed from Sondheim’s tortured Seurat as one can get (Spoiler alert: There are no swans in his painting “Something Nice With Swans.”), in many of his paintings, there is evidence of a struggle, or what Inman Gallery’s press release describes as “a candid history of its own making.” As Miles Davis said, “There are no mistakes,” and if in the process of painting Aylsworth is unhappy with a stroke, he’ll just paint over it, though maybe later, go back and repeat what he had put down in the first place. But these detours, when discernable, are never distracting to the eye. Like Sondheim, Aylsworth is a master of orchestration, of acknowledging the integrity of disparate parts and the art of “putting it together.”
'Something Nice with Swans'
'Gazing Down on the Jungfrau'
On Saturday, Dec. 9, Inman Gallery will host a Holiday Open House, with light bites, refreshments, and a special hanging of recent work from several artists, including new inventory from Charis Ammon, Angela Fraleigh, Robyn O'Neil, Tommy Fitzpatrick, and Jamal Cyrus.