Dinner Dates

Supporters of the Memorial Park Conservancy hit the trails and headed to the Forest Club for the organization’s annual Picnic for the Park event. Organic, free-flowing florals and a menu of comfort-food classics spoke to fun-loving and laid-back nature of the event, which also championed the progress of Memorial Park’s master-planned makeover. Meanwhile, an intimate dinner catered by Swift + Company toasted Rienzi’s 20th year as a part of the MFAH. Rienzi Society members contributed nearly a quarter-million dollars toward the acquisition of two 18th-century antiques.

Ann Bastian, Catherine Badger and Trish Millard at 'Picnic.'


Jim Stein and Julie Oliver at 'Picnic'
Party People

Denise Reyes and Matthew Healey (photo by Katy Anderson)

THE OPERA BALL, one of Houston’s perennially elegant, must-hit galas among the society set’s top tier, tilted marvelously mod and disco-deluxe this year, with sophisticated Spanish hints, thanks no doubt to ball chairs Isabel and Ignacio “Nacho” Torras. They are, of course, the arts patrons behind two of Houston’s most popular and trendy restaurants — MAD and BCN Taste & Tradition.

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Parties

Smoked Salmon Cheesecake with Emeril’s Reserve Caviar

THE POP-UP CULINARY trend — when great chefs from elsewhere take over a local restaurant for a night or two — continues to be a hot in Houston. But as the novelty of the concept fades to been-there-done-that, pop-up purveyors must be increasingly clever to attract savvy foodies.

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Food