Months after Benjamin Brollier proposed to Courtney Corinne Wood in the garden of her family’s home, with a cushion-cut diamond ring his mother Louise helped select, his mom passed away. In planning their lavish New Year’s Eve wedding at River Oaks Country Club, C.C. and Benjy kept Louise top of mind and in their hearts, curating thoughtful details like heirloom jewelry and special wedding programs. But the high school sweethearts also wanted to celebrate life and love, and ring in a fresh New Year with 500 loved ones — a vision expertly executed by Keely Thorne planner Jennifer Kaldis, and the floral and decor team at Todd Events. C.C. and Benjy each had 18 attendants standing by their side at the altar, and out on the dance floor, which remained packed even after the stroke of midnight! After fueling up on late-night breakfast tacos, the newlyweds escaped in a convertible Rolls-Royce — with a backdrop of fireworks, of course.
ALREADY KNOWN FOR fantastic views, Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House is one-upping itself. The restaurant is now offering sunset cruises on Galveston Bay through a partnership with Great Escapes Yacht Charter.
Step aboard a 43-foot power catamaran and enjoy a coastal cruise along Galveston Bay, Clear Lake and Kemah every other Wednesday evening; the $150 per person cost includes two craft cocktails and chef-curated appetizers before the hour-long excursion. There’s an early cruise (cocktails at 5:30pm; departure at 6:15pm) and a late cruise (cocktails at 7:15pm; departure at 8pm). The yacht conveniently docks at the Pier 6 marina, and guests are invited to stay for dinner and hang on the decked-out, two-story covered patio.
Optionally, boaters can extend their night further, booking a stay at the Pier 6 Bungalows, renovated and owned by restaurateur Raz Halili. And the restaurant can coordinate other private yacht charters and dock parties, too.
The power catamaran docked at Pier 6 (photo by Kimberly Park)
Pier 6's patio (photo by Kirsten Gilliam)
Pier 6's patio (photo by Kirsten Gilliam)
Oysters on the half shell (photo by Becca Wright)
Cocktails (photo by Kimberly Park)
WHAT TO DO when a beautiful botanical garden is overgrown with green briars, poison ivy, ragweed, and other undesirable plant species that prevent the growth of new trees? Call in the goats! Specifically, about 120 super cute goats from Rent-a-Ruminant Texas, who return to the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center on Tuesday, June 4, to partake in a week-long banquet of invasive vegetation, effectively clearing three acres south of the meadow between the South Meadow Trail and the Muscadine Trail along the Outer Loop.
All week, visitors to the Arboretum are invited to watch the goats happily chomping away in areas where it is unsafe for humans or heavy machinery to operate. The grazing area is accessible to the public from either entrance and is between a quarter- and half-mile mile walk, depending on which trails you take to get there.
“This eco-friendly alternative to commercial mowing and herbicides is working,” says Debbie Markey, Executive Director of the Arboretum. “And it doesn’t hurt that they are a big draw for the public, especially families with young children.”
Looking at Rent-A-Ruminant co-owner Kyle Carr’s photos of the goats in action, it’s easy to see why these ravenous ruminants are so much fun to observe. Visitors to the Arboretum are welcome to view the goats at work but the staff asks that guests do not touch, engage with, or feed the animals, for the safety of both the animals and people.
Carr and his wife Carolyn operate a ranch in Brownwood, Texas, and have close to 250 goats in their herd, half of whom travel across the state to provide natural mowing services. (We’re told each goat has a name but are unable to confirm that!) This will be the fifth time the goats have visited the Houston Arboretum, which serves over 600,000 visitors annually and is one of the first nature education facilities for children in the state.
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