Braxton Berrios and Alix Earle (photo from @alix_earle on Instagram)
WHILE HOUSTON IS still mourning the loss of Alex and Reagan Bregman’s move to Boston, a new power couple is about to touch down in H-Town. Influencer Alix Earle’s boyfriend Braxton Berrios was drafted to the Texans this week.
Earle made the announcement to her 7.3 million followers on TikTok with a video featuring Beyonce’s Texas Hold ’Em and the caption, “Braxton got the call today that he will be playing for the Houston Texans this next year!! So incredibly proud & can’t wait to see what this next year brings.”
@alixearle Texas time 👏🏻
In a second video — one of her GRWM videos that brought her to social media fame — she said, “I’ve been just having the itch for Texas,” And added that Houston should be prepared to “see a lot of me.”
The 29-year-old influencer — who also has 4 million followers on Instagram — was living in Miami as Berrios played for the Dolphins. She started amassing followers in 2022 with her candid discussions of acne and body dysmorphia. In 2023, she was named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. The same year, she launched the popular Hot Mess podcast which dethroned Joe Rogan’s top position on the Spotify charts when it debuted, a position he held for two years prior.
Berrios, a wide receiver, signed a one-year deal worth $2 million with the Texans. He previously played four seasons with the New York Jets and two seasons with the Maimi Dolphins.
@alixearle A little life update - go bb
Marla Hurley, Ben Berg, and Laura Goodson
NEVER TURNING DOWN an excuse to dress up and get down, Houston VIPs descended upon Ben Berg's The Ranch Saloon & Steakhouse to celebrate the opening of the Rodeo's only sit-down restaurant, now back for a fourth year running.
More than 300 invitees donned their western best and headed on out to the fairgrounds for the occasion. The Ranch's new frozen margaritas were a hit, and patrons raised a glass (or two!) while also munching on passed bites — mini versions of Berg's hit dishes, including "carpet baggers," crab cakes and beef Wellington. The 2025 iteration of The Ranch will feature activations from some of Berg's concepts, like Buttermilk Baby, and other Houston bars and restaurants.
The Ranch's decor includes 90-plus pieces by Texas artist Laura Goodson, which are all available for purchase; Goodson herself was on hand during the opening event, chatting with guests about her process. And Round Top's vintage and consignment expert, Marla Hurey of Modern Marla, wheeled in some of her latest finds to set up a bespoke photobooth backdrop, which was quite popular among partygoers!
Ellie Francisco and Michael Francisco
Tiana Lee and James Lancaster
Azameeh Zageer, Arthur Mooradian and Maya Shay
Terry Agris and Tisha Mesa
Brandon Duliakas, Katherine Ross and Armie Sadeghi
Shayna Hawkins, Stephanie Hawkins and Lindsey Nichley
Cameron Edwards, Robin Spilker, Lauren Hundley and Melanie Amua-Sekyi
Randy Paul, Ernie Manouse, and Katie Stone
Fady Armanious
Randi Smith, Christi Rawls, and Megan Ruddy
Rachel Tipton and Thuy Nguyen
Courtney Zavala and Alley Leto
Meghan Bailey and Chelsea Coyne
Demi McCormack, Johnny McCormack and Mike Plank
Maryellen Walsh, Maggie Miller, and Dani Kattan
Jacob Shipp and David Denenburg
Lindsay Yates, Debbie Festari, Courtney Hopson, Melissa Mithoff, and Stephanie Wilcox
Jenny Weber and Allison Bagley
Laura Resendez and Lloyd Segall
Kevin Henry, Danielle Dubois, and Jim Janke
Go Inside Houston Ballet's 'Golden' Evening that Raised $1.65M!
Lauren Anderson and Fady Armanious
EVER A GLAMOROUS event, the Houston Ballet's annual black-tie ball was a glimmering affair at the Wortham, where 500 guests joined event chairs Kristy and Chris Bradshaw and Melissa Juneau.
This year’s event was inspired by Stanton Welch’s adaptation of Raymonda, a story about Raymonda and the sinister plot by the queen’s advisor to tear her love apart. Gold drapes and vibrant florals inspired by the "Peacock Ballroom" in Raymonda set the tone for the cocktail hour, and galagoers perused silent-auction items like a trip to New York Fashion Week, a chance to be a Houston Rockets ball boy (or girl!), and more.
In the Grand Foyer, Richard Flowers and The Events Company created a lavish and luxe scene with layers of lace and velvet, a black-and-white dance floor and striking chandeliers. Everyone savored the dinner courtesy of City Kitchen, and applauded the night's honorees, Deborah and Edward Koehler, who established a scholarship fund in honor of the inimitable principal dancer Lauren Anderson.
Suddenly, though, 21 ballet dancers stormed the dance floor for a surprise performance set to Harry Styles' "Golden," choreographed by Demi Soloist Jack Wolff and featuring former Principal dancer Lauren Anderson. After gold streamers rained from the sky, guests joined the packed dance floor and boogied to the tunes of party band Stratosphere. The night raised more than $1.65M for the Houston Ballet.
Co-Chair Melissa Juneau, Honorees Edward and Deborah Koehler, Co-Chairs Kristy and Chris Bradshaw
Akemi and Yasuhiko Saitoh
Victoria Gutierrez and Nick Pierce
Ann and Murphy Graham
Troy and Allison Thacker
Dancers Harper Watters and Karina Gonzalez with Ballet supporters
Terry Wayne Jones and Jay Jones
Daniel Irion, Marguerite Swartz, and Kirk Kveton
Gary and Susan Binney
Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees
Suprise Performance to Harry Styles' "Golden"
Henry and Andrea Medina
Steven and Mignon Gill
Henry and Jean May, Stanton Welch
Jim Jordan and S. Shawn Stephens
Sharon Roark, Michelle Iversen Jeffery, Leslie Alston
Roslyn Mitchell and Stephanie Tsuru
Phoebe Tudor and Fady Armanious
Jo Furr, Myrtle Jones, Sasha Davis
Margaret and Jonathan Cox
Kristy Bradshaw, Alicia Smith, Melissa Juneau
Co-Chair Melissa Juneau, Honorees Edward and Deborah Koehler, Co-Chairs Kristy and Chris Bradshaw
Akemi and Yasuhiko Saitoh
Victoria Gutierrez and Nick Pierce
Ann and Murphy Graham
Troy and Allison Thacker
Dancers Harper Watters and Karina Gonzalez with Ballet supporters
Terry Wayne Jones and Jay Jones
Daniel Irion, Marguerite Swartz, and Kirk Kveton
Gary and Susan Binney
Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees
Suprise Performance to Harry Styles' "Golden"
Henry and Andrea Medina
Steven and Mignon Gill
Henry and Jean May, Stanton Welch
Jim Jordan and S. Shawn Stephens
Sharon Roark, Michelle Iversen Jeffery, Leslie Alston
Roslyn Mitchell and Stephanie Tsuru
Phoebe Tudor and Fady Armanious
Jo Furr, Myrtle Jones, Sasha Davis
Margaret and Jonathan Cox
Kristy Bradshaw, Alicia Smith, Melissa Juneau
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