Anything but Old Hat! Glam Al Fresco Luncheon Draws Chic Millinery, Raises Big Bucks for Park

ONE OF SPRINGTIME'S most lovely events — the annual Hats in the Park luncheon, served up in a beautifully tented space at Hermann Park’s McGovern Centennial Gardens — was more spectacular than ever. Thanks, weather, for the crisp, blue-sky day!

The 16th annual event, which raised nearly half a million bucks for the park’s conservancy, drew a who’s-who of lovely ladies — some 480 in all — each trying good-naturedly to outdo the other with haute headgear! Julie Longoria Chen, Isabel David and Rishma Mohamed served as chairs; Paula Harris, a Houston Astros Foundation honcho and longtime park patron, was the honoree.

“The amount of excitement was abundant amongst all the mingling and catching up during the Champagne reception,” gushed a rep for Hermann Park Conservancy, “before the guests were ushered to their seats on the formal lawn for an alfresco lunch crafted by City Kitchen.” Poached shrimp and sliced beef were on the menu, with cheesecake for dessert.

Conservancy board chair Kristy Bradshaw updated guests on developments at the park, including the imminent opening of the long-under-construction McWilliams Dog Park and the Commons. “To say that I’m excited to bring my family to the Commons is a massive understatement,” said Bradshaw. “This excitement is matched by just how grateful I am for each and every person who has worked on this and supported this incredible project as it’s nearly ready to be enjoyed by our community.”

“We have this amazing milestone just around the corner, but we would be remiss to forget the daily work that has maintained the rest of our beloved Park, keeping it the oasis that it is for our six million annual visitors.”

Spotted in the miles of millinery were Fady Armanious, Susie Criner, Allie Fields, Brigitte Kalai, Melissa Juneau, Doreen Stoller, Phoebe Tudor, Hallie Vanderhider.

Allison Stasney, Ting Bresnahan

Lindley Arnoldy, Allie Fields

Ayesha Rashid, Brigitte Kalai, Alice Mao Brams

Brooke Bentley Gunst, Holly Radom, Carolyn Sabat

Phyllis Williams, Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell, Lauren Randle

Catherine Matthews, Elizabeth Abraham Colombowala

Kristen Berger

Gracie Cavnar, Laura McWilliams

Demetra Jones

Hats in the Park Chairs Isabel David, Rishma Mohamed, Julie Longoria Chen

Holly Alvis

Neekie Kashani, Katherine Whaley

Ping Sun, Mei Leebron

Susie Criner

Paula DesRoches, Morgan Garvey, Doreen Stoller