Ruthy Porterfield, J. Randall Powers and Mary Elizabeth Hahnfield
With Houston CityBook as co-host, 1661’s Kendall Miller, grandson of the original developer of Tanglewood in 1948, joined with project designer J. Randall Powers to greet the likes of fellow star designer William Stubbs and Houston real estate stalwarts Walter Bering and Beth Wolff. Four Seasons GM Tom Segesta also made the scene.
A La Carte catering sent around a lovely menu of treats — including the likes of spinach and artichoke tartlets with spicy tomato jam, truffled mac & cheese spoons with buttered breadcrumbs, and a luscious lemon tart for dessert. Guests washed it down with A La Carte’s “Tanglewood Spring” cocktail, with gin, fresh basil and pineapple juice.
Also, bubbly was provided by Madame Zéro Champagne. The champs handsome Houston-based proprietor, Matthew Massey, was also on hand.
The new building will stand 34 stories above the posh enclave of Tanglewood and the nearby Uptown District. Boasting truly regal architecture, it will wear a crown fashioned of 40 dramatically lit columns surrounding an opulent top-floor pool deck. The jovial Miller, who addressed the crowd at the party, has said that Tanglewood is “close to the emotional heart of Houston” and that he and his family are “dedicated to continuing its stewardship.”
Harry and Kathy Masterson
Tom Segesta
Kurt Grether, Beth Wolff and Bill Stubbs
Hannah Swiggard and William Finnorn
Kendall Miller and Walter Bering
Jack Wood, Kathy Bennett, Jane Wood and Rex Bennett
Model of 1661 Tanglewood
Steven Biegel and Ashley Patton
Matthew Massey, Robin Segesta, Karen Remington and Nick Sanford
Lydia Meeks and Daniel Crocker
Gerard O'Brien and Carrie Swim
Sabrina and Paul Colin
Christine Smith and DJ Spurgeon
Jay Andrew, Christina Sacco and Parker Witt
Delicious snacks by A La Carte Catering
Kathy Anderson, Grant Rachal and Vanessa Barrow
Carmen Martinez and Erica Campos
Scott Mason and Deborah McCormick
Madame Zéro Champagne
Guy Jackson, Edwin Murphy and Wes Breeding
Hunter Segesta, Kristen Torrez, Robin Segesta, Tom Segesta
The expo-style event, at which lucky guests are invited to circulate around the hotel ballroom tippling and tasting at live-action stations manned by some of the most prominent and celebrated cooks in Houston, raised cash to support Camp H-Town. The long list of notable restaurants involved included Guard & Grace, Loro, Marmo, Muse, Roma, Traveler’s Table, Uchi, Uchiko, Hugo Ortega’s Xochi and Brennan’s of Houston, which served up crawfish enchiladas and their traditional turtle soup.
“As always, we’re excited to welcome the community and Houston’s top chefs for Celebrity Chefs Against Cancer,” said Tom Segesta, general manager of the luxury hotel, and long a passionate advocate for Camp H-Town’s to create summertime joy for kids touched by cancer. “This event has become one of the year’s most important, impactful, and fun philanthropic events, and we look to set a new fundraising record for these incredible and courageous kids.”
Segesta’s pretty wife Robin is also a Camp H-Town champion, and she gave moving remarks about the camp, just before a live auction with many enviable items. Trips to other Four Seasons properties and other divine destinations were highly sought-after. Bora Bora, anyone? Florence?
During the summer, the Four Seasons Hotel Houston converts an entire floor into a “campground” with bunk beds and camping gear, in which the campers will stay four nights under the supervision of medical staff from MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital and volunteers. Excursions for campers may include visits to Minute Maid to meet the Astros, and power-yachting in Galveston Bay.
Steve Blake, Claudia Sierra, Edward Sanchez
Randolph Holford
Holly Dean, Peter Remington, Annie Boland
Taft McWhorter
Daniel Buckman
Ruben Dominguez and Stanton Bundy