Mike and Susan Plank at ‘Kick’
Alira Med Spa Owner, World Travel Blogger, Influencer, Philanthropist
Travel Blogger & Influencer
I love traveling and learning from different cultures and people around the world. Through travel, I find myself constantly searching for my purpose. Experiencing spas around the world is very important to learn from others and be informed of the latest trends in the beauty industry. As a medical aesthetician, I care for people and I want to keep searching for the best tricks to help others. Follow me on my adventures at livespalife.com and on instagram @livespalife.
Philanthropist
In 2012, I founded the Alira Foundation and our Make-over Day Event. Alira Foundation provides a complimentary make-over day for those who have been touched by cancer. I felt the need to provide support to those people who are suffering from this disease. There are so many people who don’t get beat by cancer and teach us every day how to fight one smile at a time. For that reason at Alira Foundation, we want to share that smile with the world and help these warriors against cancer.
Julie Kent, Lauren Anderson, Stanton Welch
“This year’s spectacular opening night performance, underwritten by Phoebe and Bobby Tudor with support provided by The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts, featured John Neumeier’s interpretation of the beloved classic tale The Little Mermaid,” explained a rep for the company. The show, colorful and surreal, actually hews closer to Hans Christian Andersen’s original dark fairytale than the Disney cartoon.
After the show and remarks by artistic director Stanton Welch, some 230 well dressed ballet fans waited for the stage to be cleared of its sets and a beautiful dinner party to be set up in their place.
“Inspired by the vibrant blue hues of the ocean, the enchanting décor created by Bergner and Johnson transported attendees to the magical world of The Little Mermaid with low and organic arrangements of varying shades of pink and white filled with hydrangeas, astilbe, roses, tulips and other seasonal florals pristinely placed in white shell and capezi vessels,” cooed the Ballet rep. “Taller arrangements adorned with sea leaves sat atop clear glass palace vases and table accents such as air plants and coral added to the unforgettable evening.”
The dinner, chaired by Mignon & Steve Gill and Fady Armanious & Bill Baldwin and honoring the great groundbreaking ballerina Lauren Anderson, raised more than $325,000, a new record for the annual event. It began with a salad of bibb lettuce and Shrimp Louie. The main course of braised beef short rib with cabernet-thyme reduction and parsnip puree preceded a dessert of panna cotta with melon sorbet. Per the custom at the Ballet’s lavish events, charming young dancers from the company were sprinkled through the party, seated at every table.
Notable attendees included choreographer Neumeier, along with the Ballet’s Jim Nelson and Julie Kent; John Neumeier. Other VIPs included Stephanie and Frank Tsuru, Kristy and Chris Bradshaw, Laura Robertson, Hallie Vanderhider, Bobby Dees, Margaret Alkek Williams, Jo Furr, Jay Jones, Terry Wayne Jones, Martha Finger, and Duyen and Marc Nguyen.
Chris and Kristy Bradshaw
Connor Walsh, Chae Eun Yang
Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees
Phoebe and Bobby Tudor
Margaret Alkek Williams and David Wuthrich
Nick Pierce, Victoria Gutierrez
S. Shawn Stephens, Leigh Smith, Ileana Treviño, Kelley Lubanko, Martha Finger
Stephanie and Frank Tsuru
Tony Bradfield, Marguerite Swartz, Mary Sage, Rahul Ramdas
Yuriko Kajiya, Akemi Saitoh