At Twinkling Al Fresco Dinner in River Oaks, Pretty People Gather to Support Pioneering Pediatrics

Priscilla Dickson
At Twinkling Al Fresco Dinner in River Oaks, Pretty People Gather to Support Pioneering Pediatrics

The host committee included Edie Lee, Allie Fields, Stephanie Fleck, Anne Lee Phillips, Hostess Melissa Juneau, Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell, Casey Hedges, Monica Bickers and Alex Stillwell

THE BACKYARD OF Melissa Juneau’s gorgeous, pink-hued River Oaks home was the floral-filled setting of an exclusive, no-detail-overlooked dinner by celeb Aaron Bludorn, all to benefit Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital’s Fetal Center.


“The dinner took place in an air-conditioned clear tent erected over Melissa Juneau’s backyard and pool, which was adorned with spectacular twinkling chandeliers and glittering strings of lights,” noted a rep for the dinner’s hosts. “The beautiful dinner tables nestled between olive trees featured unique, ombre floral arrangements, ranging from white and light pink to dark purple and cabernet flowers, and table settings with spring green and blush china, gold matte silverware, and a place card matching the event’s beautiful hand-delivered invitation.”

Bludorn, who personally addressed the well-scrubbed crowd as dinner was served, offered a standout menu that included fried stuffed squash blossoms, short rib and fig ravioli, beef tenderloin and lobster “surf and turf,” and, for dessert, lemon sable Breton and devil’s food cake. This followed an ample, no-waiting cocktail hour, at which drinks such as Vespers — James Bond’s preferred martini — poured through ice sculptures to ensure a nice chill. A big-band-style group from Las, Justin & the Swing Beats, played Sinatra and pop tunes throughout the meal.

Jay and Allie Fields

Katie and Scott Arnoldy

Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell and Amalia Stanton

Deneige Dooley and Melissa Juneau

Dinner was served under twinkling chandeliers, on a checkerboard floor over the pool.

Aaron Bludorn and Cherif Mbodji

Vegas' Justin and the Swing Beats performed during dinner.

Stacy Johnson and Laura Davenport

Bill Baldwin, Fady Armanious

Brad and Jill Deutser

Spectacular arrangements highlighting cabernet roses filled every table.

Courtnay Tartt Elias and Lauren Gow

The host committee was a who’s-who of pretty ladies determined to make a difference for high-risk moms and their babies — Monica Bickers, Allie Fields, Stephanie Fleck, Casey Hedges, Edie Lee, Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell, Anne Lee Phillips and Alex Stillwell. Their guests — do-gooding docs — shared inspiring stories of babies saved from terrible afflictions with groundbreaking surgical procedures performed on babies in the womb.

Children’s Memorial Hermann delivers more than 4,400 babies and performs more than 5,700 pediatric surgeries each year.

Wellness+Giving Back
Leadership in Action: ‘Family, Community and Spiritual Connection’ Drives Success for Henry Richardson

How did you get to where you are today? The present moment is a combined history of my family, my time as an athlete, my passion for learning, and my desire to see the world be better. I grew up as a successful springboard and platform diver, however, an injury caused me to seek alternative treatments to heal my body. In that process, I discovered the power of yoga, exercise, meditation, mindset, and nutrition. This holistic approach eventually led me to open a Pilates and cycling studio called DEFINE body & mind. I opened studios around the nation, and after selling most of my business between 2017-2019, I was ready to explore how I could make an even greater impact on the wellbeing of our community. In 2023, I started actively working on a brand new multi-family/apartment concept called, Define Living. The idea focused on offering health and wellness services within a beautiful apartment setting to increase the wellbeing of our residents. Having a strong sense of community is the number one factor in living a happy life, so why not build a community where daily fitness, cooking classes, and social connection are the norm? We opened Define Living in March of 2024, and we couldn’t be happier with how things are being received. We are already looking at building more concepts like this in the Houston area and beyond.

Keep Reading Show less

Photographer Jhane Hoang with two covers she photographed

ONE OF Houston CityBook’s most beloved photographers was recently diagnosed with stage four cervical cancer. Jhane Hoang has been behind the camera for some of the magazine’s most ambitious shoots — including an overnight shoot at the then-new Weiss Energy Hall at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and a cold rainy shoot at the Houston Zoo where the crew used a concessions stand as a staging area for hair and makeup.

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment

Betty Hrncir, Sidney Faust, Julie Baker Finck

ACTUAL WINTER WEATHER was in the forecast the night of the Winter Ball, benefiting the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation and honoring the Women of Distinction, a festive and fitting detail that sparked a flurry of conversation at the Omni Hotel.

Keep Reading Show less
Parties