Hermann Park Tops Off 15 Years of Hats in the Park Lunch on a Supremely Springy Day

Jenny Antill
Hermann Park Tops Off 15 Years of Hats in the Park Lunch on a Supremely Springy Day

Holly Radom, Audrey White, Allie Fields and Julie Longoria Chen

IT SEEMS LIKE Houston has been toggling between winter and summer for a few weeks now, but during a stretch of true springtime weather last week, Hermann Park Conservancy hosted the Hats in the Park luncheon at McGovern Centennial Gardens.


This year marked the 15th anniversary of the occasion, which has had a measurable impact on Hermann Park and its six-million visitors each year. Event co-chairs Kristy Bradshaw, Kelley Lubanko and Leigh Smith greeted guests during the Champagne reception preceding the seated lunch on the verdant lawn. Bradshaw shared updates regarding the park's forthcoming McWilliams Dog Park and Commons projects — the latter of which will include a "40-foot rocket ship slide and whimsical carousel" — and Mayor Sylvester Turner also gave remarks, praising the Conservancy for its preservation and betterment of the community resource.

The afternoon honored Ann Short and Susie Criner, who chaired the very first Hats in the Park lunch in 2008. In total, the event raised upwards of $520,000 — a record! Hats off to that.

Valerie Dieterich and Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell

Alex Blair, Brigitte Kalai and Aliza Fan Dutt

Stephanie Tsuru, Elizabeth Wagett, Katie Tsuru and Donae Chramosta

Alice Mao Brams and Yoon Smith

Sanford and Susie Criner

Bethany Buchanan, Hallie Vanderhider, Fady Armanious and Chita Craft

Rachel Solar, Brooke Bently-Gunst, Lindsey Brown and Maria Vilchez-Lowrey

Chelsea Pacey, Lori Speier, Anne Calder

Nicole Katz, Carolyn Tanner and Tracy Hale

Demetra Jones, Kenneth Allen and Doreen Stoller

Nicola Fuentes Toubia and DeVaun Barbir

Duyen Nguyen, Debbie Festari and Carrie Brandsberg-Dahl

Lynn Wyatt

Heather Waters, Kim Tutcher, Brenda Love and Jana Arnoldy

Lesia Crumpton-Young and Anne-Laure Stephens

Kelley Lubanko, Leigh Smith and Kristy Bradshaw

Anne Calder, Rae Solberg, Jayne Johnston and Heather Safi

Isabel David and Rishma Mohamed

Kate Bellin

Katie Forney and Linsay Radcliffe

Style
Leadership in Action: Entrepreneur Saba Syed of Moroccan Bath Determined to Build ‘Lasting Legacy’

Saba Syed, Founder of Oasis Moroccan Bath

How did you get to where you are today? My journey began with a need to be financially independent and an even a deeper drive to create a lasting legacy. The centuries-old Hammam tradition has always fascinated me—not just for its relaxation benefits, but for its holistic approach to cleansing the body, mind, and soul. So, combining my passion with a vision to bring an authentic yet luxurious Hammam spa experience to Houston, I took the leap less than two years ago to open my own spa.

Keep Reading Show less

Diana Madero, Thea Pheasey, Alejandra Peterman, Hillary Jebbitt

EIGHT CHEFS, THIRTY years — and one big dinner! Urban Harvest rang in its fourth decade of community gardens, farmers markets and food access at their annual farm-to-table dinner cooked up by some of the most notable chefs in town.

Keep Reading Show less
Parties

The inspired menu at Amalfi emphasizes fresh seafood and, on right, Giancarlo Ferrara

THIS WEDNESDAY, AMALFI Ristorante will transport guests to the sun-soaked shores of Southern Italy’s Campania region, home to the glamorous island of Capri, with a six-course dinner. The menu, curated by Executive Chef Giancarlo Ferrara, will be paired with wines from Agricola Bellaria Winery, one of Campania’s most celebrated estates.

Keep Reading Show less
Food