Sonja Kostich, Margaret Alkek Williams, and Jim Nelson
The night’s second milestone belonged to Margaret Alkek Williams, Houston Ballet’s beloved benefactor, who celebrated her 90th birthday on the very day. Guests raised flutes of Madame Zéro champagne and shared slices of her favorite indulgence — chocolate cake — served in her honor.
Designed by Bergner and Johnson, the transformed stage offered an enchanting backdrop of mahogany lattice chairs, gold vases of spring blooms and whimsical details. Dinner from City Kitchen matched the setting’s elegance: heirloom tomato tartare with basil sorbet, followed by pan-seared chicken with Madeira jus.
This year’s Opening Night Onstage Dinner raised a record-breaking $500,000.
Angel Rios, Richard Flowers, Duyen and Marc Nguyen
Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees
Shara and Kent Schaffer
David Groover, Sasha Davis, C.C. Conner, Jessica Collado
Deborah Koehler and Julie Kent
Jonathan and Margaret Cox, Anne and Albert Chao
Marguerite Swartz and Jane DiPaolo
Marianne Geagea, Sayako Toku, Joe Geagea
Marsha Bourque, Gary and Marian Beauchamp
Melza and Ted Barr
Richard and Kris McGee
Stephen and Kelley Lubanko, Kristy and Chris Bradshaw
Steve and Mignon Gill
Verisone and Foreign Fare models (photo by Arianna Vetere)
The idea? Trade boarding passes for wellness stamps. Guests “traveled” through immersive experiences, each inspired by a different global destination and ritual, all while sipping cocktails, catching skyline views and watching Houston’s most fashionable take the runway.
Hosted by Gregory Palmer of Wareika Hill and Brooklynn Weatherill of LAZYI Eyewear, the vibe was high-energy and luxe — think good music, great style and a crowd fully leaning into the wellness-meets-fashion mashup. For the grand finale — the fashion show! — the lineup included Foreign Fare, Kailier, Versione, Hobbs London, Cotton Club Collection, LAZYI Eyewear, and even Ducati making its way down the runway.
“At Thompson Spa, we believe wellness is more than a routine, it’s a lifestyle,” Said Megan Fitzgerald, Director of Spa & Wellness at Thompson Houston. “The Passport Affair allowed us to connect our guests with local creatives and brands who share our passion for holistic well-being, while also tapping into the joy and healing that travel brings.”
Consider it a glamorous way to kick off Wellness Month — and a sign that Houston’s wellness scene just got a lot more global.
Foreign Fare Model (photo by Arianna Vetere)
Tiana Sweeter (photo by One Awaits Photography)
Foreign Fare Model (photo by Arianna Vetere)
(Photo by One Awaits Photography)
(Photo by Plan B Television)
Gregory Palmer of Wareika Hill and Brooklynn Weatherill of LAZYI Eyewear (photo by One Awaits Photography)
A cozy corner of the new Allegory Bar
If you haven’t spent much time in CityCentre lately, it’s definitely worth an immersive experience. And The Moran CityCentre, recently named a top-three Houston hotel by Travel + Leisure, is a bright, lovely homebase. Thanks to the Midway company’s multi-million-dollar reno, the property now touts a new front desk, lobby bar and terrace space, a prominent new ground level entrance, along with recently completed refreshed rooms and expanded meeting spaces.
The lobby bar is terrific. It’s called The Allegory Bar, and it overlooks CityCentre’s central plaza — a green space surrounded by killer shopping, cute patio restaurants, and an ice cream shop that stays busy. From Allegory, which mixes a sleek, marble bar with a cozier dining space that resembles a chic, urbane library, you can see all the action. And on breezy summer nights, there’s always a lot of action. (A stroll through the CityCentre plaza on a bustling evening should be on anyone’s up-to-date Houston bucket list, to be honest.)
At Allegory, beautiful Texas-y cocktails like the smoked Lonesome Dove (small-batch bourbon, pecan syrup and bitters) wash down apps like brisket-stuffed jalapenos and entrees such as redfish with wild rice and lemon cream. There’s also a smart new breakfast spot, Café Moran, just off the sexy pool deck, awash in natural light and billowing treetop views. Very pleasant.
The hip bar and accomplished new restaurant is only part of the redo. “All 244 guestrooms have been refreshed with stylish new furnishings, premium bedding, modern lighting, and technology upgrades,” notes a Midway rep. “Thoughtfully curated amenities, including chic bar carts stocked with Texas-based liquors, a selection of snacks and Illy coffee service, custom bath products, plush robes, and handheld steamers, further enhance the guest experience, reflecting the property’s dedication to comfort and luxury.”
Other perks include discounted day passes to the sprawling, upscale Life Time mega-gym across the way. This alone may be worth making a weekend of it, as Life Time is notoriously hard to access without member credentials.
And now seems like a great time to pull the trigger on a quick trip. The Taste the Weekend package has been extended through end of August; it’s available Fridays and Saturdays, offering a $199 classic king room with $100 F&B credit.
The Moran CityCentre overlooks the development's iconic central plaza.
The lobby bar
A new meeting space
The new front approach to the Moran
The terrace off the lobby with unique views of CityCentre
