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
Thrive & Inspire: Creating ’Something Bigger Than Ourselves’ Drives Gooch and Pappas of RYDE

Ashley Gooch and Andrew Pappas, Co-Founders

WHAT INSPIRES YOU as you grow RYDE? The RYDE community and our team inspire us every day. The goal from the start was to create something that is bigger than ourselves — our community is just that. We want to push the limits of what a fitness experience can be. Our new Heights studio is a testament to that commitment, offering a high-energy indoor cycling experience in a stunning space. RYDE Heights opens in April, exactly eight years after our first location opened on West Gray in River Oaks.

Keep Reading Show less

Alex Au-Yeung (photo by Jenn Duncan)

WHEN IT OPENED a few months ago, The Woodlands outpost of acclaimed Katy restaurant Phat Eatery was billed as Alex Au-Yeung's dream restaurant. Unfortunately, Au-Yeung never got to see it come to fruition, as he passed away earlier this year. But the James Beared-nominated chef-owner certainly left his mark — and in honor of what would be his 53rd birthday, operating partners Kevin Lee and Marvin He have organized two pop-up tribute dinners.

Keep Reading Show less
Food

WHAT DOES IT mean to be "rent-burdened"? The phrase describes those who spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing, and it's become an increasingly relevant part of the larger conversation about the American economy in a post-Covid world.

Keep Reading Show less
Home + Real Estate