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
Reyna Group Owner Leads Real Estate Market with Passion and Excellence

MICHELLE REYNA WYMES, a distinguished name in the Houston real estate market, is the owner of the successful boutique brokerage, Reyna Group. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Michelle has deep-rooted connections to the community she serves with dedication and pride.

Keep Reading Show less

John Kuykendall, Showroom Manager, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove

How did you get to where you are today? Growing up I had envisioned myself as a news anchor, living in NY and enthusiastically saying into the camera “Good Morning America!”. To this day, I am still a news/political junkie. My mother owned fur salons so specialty retail, luxury retail was in my blood through the family business. Eventually, mom shuttered the stores and I was recruited to a large specialty retailer. Over the next 30 years, I was in commissioned sales on the sales floor, became a department manager, worked my way up to buyer and store manager. Although I never became a newscaster, I did live in NYC for a few years. But Texas is home and with aging grandparents, I felt the pull to come back to my roots. A headhunter approached me. I never envisioned myself in the high-end appliance market, but there are so many similarities. Clients want a memorable experience; whether shopping for diamonds and fur or remodeling their kitchen.

Keep Reading Show less

How did you get to where you are today? My journey to where I am today is built on a foundation of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Every step along the way, I faced obstacles, but I approached each one with determination and a “never give up” mindset. Instead of being discouraged by challenges, I used them as opportunities to grow and improve. Consistency was key—I committed to showing up and giving my best effort every day. I also learned not to take “no” as a final answer. Instead, I saw it as a chance to push harder, adapt, and find another way forward. It’s this combination of persistence, resilience, and unwavering focus that has brought me to where I am today.

Keep Reading Show less