Photos by Julie Soefer
Produced by Kate Stukenberg
Styling by Rene Garza
Styling assistance by Molly Jodeit
Photo assistance by Claudia Casbarian and Harry Dearing III
Grooming by Tisha Hughes for Neal Hamil
Shot on location at the Inn At Dos Brisas
Dr. Edward Lee and Nuveau
His latest treatment to unveil at Nuveau is UltraClear. It is the latest in anti-aging treatment taking the aesthetic industry by storm. UltraClear is the world’s first cold ablative fiber laser utilizing proprietary 3DIntelliPulse technology to optimize ablative and coagulative energy while minimizing collateral thermal impact.
This breakthrough technology enables providers to address a wide variety of aesthetic and dermatologic conditions. It is the all-in-one solution for lunchtime “prejuvenation” with 3DMIRACL, to skin quality improvement and deep collagen remodeling, and to the latest anti-aging advancement, Laser-Coring.
UltraClear Laser-Coring delivers quick laser pulses to remove micro-channels of skin. Featuring novel precise energy control, many patients experience shorter healing time and noticeable improvement after a single treatment. Laser-Coring is easily incorporated with UltraClear Resurfacing Treatments to address multiple signs of aging and enhance your rejuvenation outcomes. Moreover, Dr. Lee believes in multi-modal therapy to deliver the best possible results so that each and every patient can look and feel her best. As such, he routinely combines surgical and nonsurgical treatments, such as a combination of facelift, eyelid surgery and UltraClear laser treatment, which can be performed together to minimize recovery and downtime.
Meet with Dr. Lee and the team at Nuveau today!
Nancy Gonzalez, Denise Reyes, Christina Jack, Destiny Fernandisse (photo by Emily Jaschke)
Such was exactly the case when Margaret Alkek Williams chaired the Opera Ball at the Wortham Center, raising a record of more than $2 million for Houston Grand Opera — with a romantic, old-school, spring-savvy “Love Is in the Air” theme, brought to life with thousands of fragrant pastel-colored florals at every turn, and a sea of ballgowns in shades of seasonal pink and green. This was the second $2 million+ ball Williams has chaired for HGO, with this year’s haul beating her own personal best from back in 2014.
A surprise highlight of the evening was a stirring performance honoring the gala’s honorees, Dian and Harlan Stai, who have supported the opera company for decades. HGO General Director and CEO Khori Dastoor “welcomed legendary mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade to the stage, where she performed accompanied [on piano] by HGO Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers,” noted a rep for the company. “Her moving interpretation of Stephen Sondheim’s seminal classic, ‘Send in the Clowns,’ left the audience spellbound.”
Dinner was decadent, with a chilled Romanesco soup, a pairing of prime beef and pan-seared seabass, and a chocolate explosion of a dessert, with bits of fudge cake and chocolate ice cream and mousse, all bursting from a tempered sphere — again, lavishly old school. After dinner, dancing broke out on the gleaming dance floor.
In room full of VIPs, some of the top-tier swells included Anna Dean, Anne and Albert Chao, Betty and Jesse Tutor, Brigitte Kalai, Alicia Smith, Charles and Lily Foster, Cynthia and Tony Petrello, Fady Armanious, Bill Baldwin, Franklin and Cindi Rose, Hallie Vanderhider, Jim and Dancie Ware, Jim and Molly Crownover and Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman.
Brigitte Kalai, Betty Tutor and Ann Ayre (photo by Michelle Watson)
A greeter in theme-appropriate garb (photo by Michelle Watson)
Ilyas and Elizabeth Abraham (photo by Emily Jaschke)
Patrick Summers, Margaret Alkek Williams and Khori Dastoor (photo by Michelle Watson)
Frederica von Stade (photo by Michelle Watson)
Jim and Dancie Ware (photo by Michelle Watson)
Michael Broderick and Cindy and Franklin Rose (photo by Emily Jaschke)
Harlan and Dian Stai (photo by Emily Jaschke)
Jonathan and Ann Ayre and Rachel and Warren Ellsworth (photo by Michelle Watson)
Rosemin Premji, Jesse Tutor and Farida Abjani (photo by Michelle Watson)
Nadia Hafeez, Shireen Hadi, Sara Perry (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
“Eighteen unstoppable women in various fields of medicine were selected as the honorees and showcased on a runway, which was referred to as the runway of role models,” said a rep for event organizers. “All major hospitals and many private practices throughout the Houston area were represented, and their specialties ranged from clinical practitioners, to surgeons to administrators.”
Fady Armanious of Tootsies helped dress the docs-turned-models. Johnny Bravo conducted the auction, and Lori Raijman co-founder and president of the organization, was also on hand. “As a result of their efforts, their layers of knowledge and their years of expertise, our community has benefited,” said Raijman of the healthcare professionals. “Their success and dedication affect each of us.”
Hitting the runway were mix of physicians and administrators including Connie Wang, Jayne Johnston, Susan Mathew, Alexandra Stevens, Magdalena Sanz Cortes, Katie Bolt, M. Monica Gramatges, Christina Paruthi, Shaden Khalaf, Tricia McGusty, Emily Jamea, Gwyn Richardson, Shirley Lima, Sonali Patel, Shanda Blackmon, Gina Blocker, Jessica Traver and Dalia Moghazy.
The foundation’s beneficiaries include The Elkins Pancreas Center at Baylor College of Medicine, The Lung Force and The Sunshine Kids Foundation.
Connie Wang (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Magdalena Sanz Cortes and Derek Kliethermes (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Katie Bolt (photo by Dave Rossman)
Josh Weisman, Jack Simes and Mark Bordman (photo by Dave Rossman)
Gina Blocker (photo by Dave Rossman)
Lucy Moore, Kristen Collins and Pam Connealy (photo by Dave Rossman)
Ashlee Rubbo and Taylor Hoffman (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Jessica Traver (photo by Dave Rossman)
Tiffany Sebastian, Kristin Bingham and Amanda Abiassi (photo by Dave Rossman)
Shetal Amin and Kishan Dwarakanath (photo by Daniel Ortiz)