Spring 2025 marks an exciting new chapter for Escape Spa! We'll be opening the doors to a significantly expanded space, designed to elevate your wellness journey. With an additional 1,200 square feet, the spa will feature a dedicated yoga and meditation room, providing a tranquil haven for mindful and therapeutic practices. Our guests can also look forward to an array of recovery options, including innovative therapies and treatments to rejuvenate your mind, body and well-being including Yoga + Mediation, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and a Cryotherapy Sauna. The expansion also includes more treatment rooms, ensuring a personalized experience for every guest. This larger, more versatile space allows us to enhance our services and create an even more immersive and transformative “Escape” for you.
My vision has always been to create a sanctuary where you can disconnect from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with your inner self. This expansion brings that vision to life in a whole new way, providing a haven of reset, and restoration with a wider array of therapies for body and mind. We're committed to providing a space where you can prioritize your wellbeing and embark on a journey of self-discovery.
And speaking of journeys, I'm embracing my own path of seeking a deeper connection with oneness and truly focus on intention setting. Every morning, I take a few moments to pray and set clear intentions for the day ahead. It's a powerful practice that helps me stay focused, grounded and aligned with my goals. Intention setting is more than just wishful thinking; it's about consciously directing your energy and attention towards what truly matters. By setting clear intentions, you create a roadmap for your day, your week, or even your year. It's a way to invite positive change and attract all that you desire. Give it a try — start by setting small, achievable intentions and observe the positive impact it has on your life. Remember, your journey is unique and personal. Embrace it, nurture it, and allow Escape Spa to support you along the way.
Vichy shower at Escape Spa
Couples treatment room at Escape Spa
Relaxation lounge at Escape Spa
Concert of Arias finalists on the Wortham stage, including first place and audience choice winner Geonho Lee of South Korea, third from left. (Photo by Michael Bishop)
The Wortham Center concert — which serves as the finals of the Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers, pitting the world’s best young singers against each other for high honors and big money — was even more spectacular this year. The young opera performers were accompanied by a full orchestra for the first time, and not just a lone piano per the tradition. And a full orchestra requires a big-shot conductor. Enter Maestro James Gaffigan, the general music director of Komische Oper Berlin, music director of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia and music director of the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra in Switzerland.
Other operatic glitterati also participated in the rousing affair. Judges included Michael Heaston, the deputy general manager of the Metropolitan Opera and the former music director of HGO’s Butler Studio school; Khori Dastoor, HGO general director and CEO; and Summers. World-famous, Houston-based diva Ana María Martínez selected the recipient of her Ana María Martínez Encouragement Award.
But of course, the real stars were the performers, each of whom performed two numbers for the judges — and for the audiences gathered in the hall and watching the live stream hosted by Ernie Manouse. The audience, by the way, participated in the dolling out of awards, voting by phone for the coveted Audience Choice Award.
Jim Loftis and Alexa Chally (photo by Michelle Watson)
Beth Madison and Steve Hamilton (photo by Michelle Watson)
Misook Doolittle, Stephen Beaudoin and Charlotte Lee (photo by Michelle Watson)
Albert Chao and Anne Chao (photo by Michelle Watson)
Megha Karkera and Mayur Kanjia, Warren and Rachel Ellsworth, Jaclyn Goodell, and Brad and Meagan Glover (photo by Michelle Watson)
Mark Walker and Thomas DeNapoli (photo by Michelle Watson)
Loren Meeker, Barbara Labatt and Blair Labatt (photo by Michelle Watson)
Harry and Diane Gendel (photo by Michelle Watson)
Janet Carrig and John Carrig (photo by Michelle Watson)
Roberto Kalb, Gloria Portela and Navasard Hakobyan (photo by Michelle Watson)
Angela Lee and Myrtle Jones (photo by Michelle Watson)
When the winners were announced, it was cute young baritone Geonho Lee of South Korea, with his warm buttery voice and impish charm, who walked away with both the first place award and the audience prize. That’s $30,000 in the total purse!
After the competition, event chairs Reinnette and Stan Marek welcomed nearly 500 opera lovers into the Wortham’s grand foyer for a dinner party celebrating the beaming contestants. In all, more than $775,000 was raised. “Proceeds from the Concert of Arias support the Butler Studio’s mission to recruit, develop and champion world-class young artists,” noted an HGO rep. “These funds also help bring opera to communities across Greater Houston, offering accessible programming for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.”
Guests for the evening included Estela Cockrell, Sarah and Ernest Butler, Molly and Jim Crownover, Cynthia and Tony Petrello, Theresa and Peter Chang, Stephen Klineberg, Anne and Albert Chao, Matthew and Kristen Loden, Robert Sakowitz and Mindy and Joshua Davidson.
From Your Site Articles
- Annual ‘Arias’ Competition and Posh Dinner Draw Young Stars — and Big Fundraising Bucks — to HGO ›
- Surprise Gift of $22 Million Steals the Spotlight at HGO’s Annual ‘Concert of Arias’ Event ›
- HGO's Concert of Arias Celebrates Rising Stars, Offers Notes of Hope ›
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Photographer Jhane Hoang with two covers she photographed
Hoang’s first shoot for CityBook was in August 2017 — another overnight session, this one in a Downtown office building. The shoot was titled “The All-Nighters,” and featured a tryst between a male and female model “working late” at the office. She’s since been an integral part of, and an enthusiastic player in, CityBook’s most important annual issues: Leaders & Legends, Cool 100 and the Sexy Issue.
Hoang moved from New York City to Houston in 2017 to be closer to her parents; she helps father manage his dialysis and medical needs. She has become a treasured friend to many, and is an esteemed member of Houston’s arts community. As a freelance photographer, Hoang can no longer work, and though she receives some state medical assistance, it only covers a portion of her expenses. Please see a retrospective of her work below, and if you’d like to donate, the link to her Gofundme is here.
Jhane photographed model Krystie Wilson at an overnight shoot at HMNS’ then new Weiss Energy Hall
Musician Madeline Edwards by Jhane for Houston CityBook
Model Joao Diniz by Jhane for Houston CityBook
Model Isabel Li by Jhane for Houston CityBook
Musician Youth Soul Love by Jhane for Houston CityBook
Artist Tony Paraná by Jhane for Houston CityBook
Models Marion Sealy and Luke Keogh by Jhane for Houston CityBook
Author Mimi Swartz by Jhane for Houston CityBook
Author Bryan Washington by Jhane for Houston CityBook
Chef Alexandra Peña by Jhane for Houston CityBook
Skateboarding sensation Jordan Santana by Jhane for Houston CityBook
Home Run Dugout's Colby Smith by Jhane for Houston CityBook