Children’s Museum Celebrates Reopening, Raises $155,000 at Lavish Luncheon

Children’s Museum Celebrates Reopening, Raises $155,000 at Lavish Luncheon

Milessa Lowrie, Jackie Effenson, Leigh McFarlane, Susan Barrett

MORE THAN 200 supporters of the Children's Museum Houston gathered inside Lott Hall at the McGovern Centennial Gardens for the annual Friends and Families luncheon.


Chairs Maris Castro and Milessa Lowrie welcomed guests, clad in beautiful and seasonal floral attire, to the event, which was initially to take place outdoors in the blooming gardens but was moved inside due to weather. The afternoon's featured speaker was best-selling author Julie Lythcott-Haims, who joined virtually to share personal accounts of "overparenting." Attendees also enjoyed a tasty lunch courtesy of Jackson & Co. and partook in a raffle that included items like suites at Astros and Dynamo games, and a "dine around town" package of restaurant gift cards.

The luncheon raised $155,000 that will go toward early childhood and parenting programs at the Children's Museum, which just reopened this week after a year-long Covid-related closure.

Kate Stukenberg, Stefani Mayberry

Abbie Giraud, Allison O'Neill, Alison Powell, Kelly Scofield

Dr. Amina Malik, Maris Castro, Dr. Emily Mintz

Julia Morales, Jason Castro, Maris Castro

Kate and Baron Doke

Katie Arnoldy, Kristy Bradshaw

Maris Castro, Elaine Balagia Croucher

Masha Lyons and Jodi Rubenstein

Megan Vondra, Jessica Leeke, Jordan Seff

Parties
Thrive & Inspire: Alchemy’s Arquella Hargrove ‘Inspired by People Making an Impact in the World’

Arquella Hargrove, Chief Culture Officer and Owner of the Alchemy Consulting Group

WHAT IS THE secret to running a successful business? The secret to a successful business is a rockstar team. With a rockstar team, clients experience the transformation within their culture. This also is connected to other success factors — a commitment to relentless change, communicating courageously, and collaborating to win. The ultimate goal is to be the change for our clients and to create a culture where team members thrive and grow exponentially.

Keep Reading Show less

Paella Valenciana at Mi Luna

THOUGH IT'S BEEN in Houston less than a decade, Sof Hospitality has made major inroads with foodies and critics alike. Its concepts include Doris Metropolitan, Hamsa and Badolina Bakery, all of which deliver the rich flavors of Israeli cuisine in complex, photogenic and delicious dishes. Its newest, Októ, opened earlier this year, one of several energetic restaurants to bow in the Montrose Collective, just in time for the holidays.

Keep Reading Show less
Food

Bill Viola’s ‘Ascension,’ on display as part of ‘Living with the Gods’ at MFAH

THE ARTIST WHO ushered in the expressionist movement in the early 20th century was not, in fact, Picasso or Matisse. It was Paul Gauguin, whose career spanned the decades just preceding the turn of the century. The French painter is the subject of the Museum of Fine Arts’ latest exhibit, Gauguin in the World, which was organized by Henri Loyrette (formerly of the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay, Paris). The show, just one of the museum’s diverse winter season shows, debuted in Australia in June and will be on display through Feb. 16, 2025, at the MFAH, the only U.S. venue for the survey.

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment