Brimming with Joy! The Sunny, Colorful ‘Hats in the Park’ Lunch Returns to Hermann Park

Brimming with Joy! The Sunny, Colorful ‘Hats in the Park’ Lunch Returns to Hermann Park

Lori Sarofim, Melissa Juneau & Christine Falgout-Gutknecht

IN YET ANOTHER triumphant return of a beloved annual event sidelined by the pandemic, the Hermann Park Conservancy’s colorful “Hats in the Park” luncheon came off beautifully in a tented space at McGovern Centennial Gardens last week.


Some 370 park supporters — mostly well-dressed women in fetching headgear — turned out to help Conservancy board chair Kristy Bradshaw and event co-chairs Christine Falgout-Gutknecht, Melissa Holman Juneau and Lori Sarofim raise a record of nearly $500,000 for the park’s ongoing redevelopment and enhancement efforts.

“This year marks 30 years since Hermann Park Conservancy was founded,” Bradshaw said in her remarks. “And since then, the improvements they’ve overseen can’t be understated. However, there’s so much more in store for Hermann Park and it’s just on the horizon. It’s hard to believe, but next week we break ground on the next step of the Play Your Park campaign, the Commons — 26 acres in the southwest corner of the park that will be completely revitalized and reimagined.”

Mayor Sylvester Turner, a longtime supporter of the park and the Hats luncheon, was also on hand to greet guests, who included Lynn Wyatt, Cynthia Petrello, Hallie Vanderhider, Susie Criner, Fady Armanious, Jana Arnoldy, Gracie Cavnar, Estella Cockrell, Isabel David, Meredith Flores, Mindy B. Hildebrand, Wendy Hines, Franci Neely, Leigh Smith, Doreen Stoller, Brittney Tribble and Merele Yarborough.

Hallie Vanderhider, Fady Armanious

Ting Bresnahan, Catherine Matthews, Lisa Helfman

Lauren Randle, Phyllis Williams

Lynn Wyatt, Linda McReynolds

Kaitlyn Scheurich, Lori Speier

Heidi Smith, Gracie Cavnar, Kristy Bradshaw

Anne-Laure Stephens, Kim Tutcher, Laura McWilliams, Cora Bess Meyer, Heather Watters

Denise Monteleone, Jana Arnoldy

Tiffany Halik, Teressa Foglia, Ellen Krantz

Stephanie Tsuru, Kim Tutcher, Jennifer Allison

Shawn Stephens, Stephanie K. Tsuru, Kelley Lubanko, Phoebe Tudor

Lesia Young, Demetra Jones

Cynthia Petrello, Mindy B. Hildebrand

Colleen Lewis, Crystal Dawli

Catherine Clay, Emily Clay

Cece Fowler, Susie Criner

Parties
Reyna Group Owner Leads Real Estate Market with Passion and Excellence

MICHELLE REYNA WYMES, a distinguished name in the Houston real estate market, is the owner of the successful boutique brokerage, Reyna Group. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Michelle has deep-rooted connections to the community she serves with dedication and pride.

Keep Reading Show less

John Kuykendall, Showroom Manager, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove

How did you get to where you are today? Growing up I had envisioned myself as a news anchor, living in NY and enthusiastically saying into the camera “Good Morning America!”. To this day, I am still a news/political junkie. My mother owned fur salons so specialty retail, luxury retail was in my blood through the family business. Eventually, mom shuttered the stores and I was recruited to a large specialty retailer. Over the next 30 years, I was in commissioned sales on the sales floor, became a department manager, worked my way up to buyer and store manager. Although I never became a newscaster, I did live in NYC for a few years. But Texas is home and with aging grandparents, I felt the pull to come back to my roots. A headhunter approached me. I never envisioned myself in the high-end appliance market, but there are so many similarities. Clients want a memorable experience; whether shopping for diamonds and fur or remodeling their kitchen.

Keep Reading Show less

How did you get to where you are today? My journey to where I am today is built on a foundation of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Every step along the way, I faced obstacles, but I approached each one with determination and a “never give up” mindset. Instead of being discouraged by challenges, I used them as opportunities to grow and improve. Consistency was key—I committed to showing up and giving my best effort every day. I also learned not to take “no” as a final answer. Instead, I saw it as a chance to push harder, adapt, and find another way forward. It’s this combination of persistence, resilience, and unwavering focus that has brought me to where I am today.

Keep Reading Show less