Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Ron Powers gave an emotional speech about his family’s struggles with mental illness at the Hope and Healing Center & Institute’s Chrysalis Award luncheon. … Career and Recovery Resources’ Barrier Breaker Award lunch, honoring Ed and Gwen Emmett and Philamena and Arthur Baird, raised more than $250K. … A lively Sunday brunch at the Four Seasons doubled as a fundraiser for the Great Age Movement, which promotes learning and socialization among seniors. Jazz performances and ballroom dancing dazzled the crowd of 200. … Designer David Peck and his wife chaired the Judy’s Mission Possible lunch at the Houstonian, raising funds for early-detection and ovarian cancer research at MD Anderson. … The Latin Women’s Initiative’s annual fashion show lunch was as festive as ever, featuring designs by Andrés Otálora — and tequila shots. … At River Oaks Country Club, the Mayor’s Literacy Breakfast honored the Houston Dynamo and Dash teams.
Dr. Edward Lee and Nuveau
DR. EDWARD LEE believes in bringing the most advance treatment options to his patients at Nuveau. At the River Oaks practice, he performs the latest nonsurgical rejuvenation procedures, such as BOTOX and fillers, various laser treatments, and other nonsurgical treatmetns such as CoolSculpting and EmSculpt. He also does facelifts, upper and lower blepharoplasty, brow lift, and rhinoplasty for facial rejuvenation. Plus, he can achieve natural results with breast augmentation and breast lift surgery, as well as body contouring, such as liposuction, abdominoplasty, Brazilian butt lift and mommy makeovers.
His latest treatment to unveil at Nuveau is UltraClear. It is the latest in anti-aging treatment taking the aesthetic industry by storm. UltraClear is the world’s first cold ablative fiber laser utilizing proprietary 3DIntelliPulse technology to optimize ablative and coagulative energy while minimizing collateral thermal impact.
This breakthrough technology enables providers to address a wide variety of aesthetic and dermatologic conditions. It is the all-in-one solution for lunchtime “prejuvenation” with 3DMIRACL, to skin quality improvement and deep collagen remodeling, and to the latest anti-aging advancement, Laser-Coring.
UltraClear Laser-Coring delivers quick laser pulses to remove micro-channels of skin. Featuring novel precise energy control, many patients experience shorter healing time and noticeable improvement after a single treatment. Laser-Coring is easily incorporated with UltraClear Resurfacing Treatments to address multiple signs of aging and enhance your rejuvenation outcomes. Moreover, Dr. Lee believes in multi-modal therapy to deliver the best possible results so that each and every patient can look and feel her best. As such, he routinely combines surgical and nonsurgical treatments, such as a combination of facelift, eyelid surgery and UltraClear laser treatment, which can be performed together to minimize recovery and downtime.
Meet with Dr. Lee and the team at Nuveau today!
With Buenos Aires Theme and Warm Goodbye to a Longtime Leader, Alley Ball Takes the Stage
Derrick Shore, Tom Mays and Owen Conflenti (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
THE ALWAYS MEMORABLE Alley Theatre ball took on special significance this year, becoming not just a sexy Post Oak Hotel soiree — with “A Buenos Aires Affair” as the theme, nodding to the company’s production of Noël Coward’s Private Lives — but also an emotional sendoff to retiring longtime Managing Director Dean Gladden. It raised $1.3 million to boot.
“Guests walked into the Grand Ballroom transformed into the colorful streets of Buenos Aires,” noted a rep for the Alley. “The Events Company pulled out all the stops and had guests gasping at Argentine-inspired centerpieces in differing shapes and sizes on banquet-laden tables. The gorgeous florals were designed by Walker Chancey, along with iconic Argentine landmarks and even tango dancers from Marcone Dance Studio.”
Guests loved a video highlighting Gladden’s contributions, and Gladden’s heartfelt remarks, with wife Jane at his side. Dean is the longest-serving director in the Alley’s storied history. Others who took to the podium included chairs Michele and Dheeraj Verma and Artistic Director Rob Melrose.
The live auction was stirring, including items such as a walk-on role in a performance of the Alley’s annual production of A Christmas Carol and one in the upcoming season’s production of Agatha Christie’s The Mirror Crack’d.
“Other live auctions included a trip to see The Queen of Versailles in New York, a week-long trip to Buenos Aires, and a 4th of July long weekend at the Ritz Carlon, Grand Cayman,” explained the Alley rep. “The big auction winner of the evening was titled “Seared at Home with Justin Yu”, where the winner’s kitchen will be taken over by James Beard Award-winning Chef Justin Yu alongside Resident Acting Company Member Christopher Salazar and Seared Director and Alley Associate Brandon Weinbrenner.”
Guests included Sen. Ted Cruz and Heidi Cruz, Grant and Angie Dorfman, Beth Madison, Derrick Shore, Cynthina and Anthony Petrello, Connie and Roger Plank, Susana Brener de Stern, Juan R. Stern, Ford Hubbard III, Michelle Elaine, Chris Hutchison, Melissa Molano and David Rainey.
Michele and Dheeraj Verma and Ted and Heidi Cruz (phot by Daniel Ortiz)
Kristen Cannon and Edward Sanchez (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
(Beth Madison, Steve Hamilton and Denise Monteleone (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Tina Raham Stewart and Bob Nowa (photo by Alida Bonifaz)
Michele Verma and Amanda Austin (photo by Alida Bonifaz)
Julie Goytia, Mignon Gill and Kathy Mann (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
George Stark, Kathryn Ketelsen and Lois Stark (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Kelly Provenzano and Cynthia Petrello (phot by Daniel Ortiz)
Dean and Jane Gladden (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Houston Ballet dancers Danbi Kim, Estheysis Menendez, Gian Carlo Perez, and Chase O'Connell
IT WAS AN evening of style, flavor and celebration as guests filled Caracol for Houston Ballet’s signature spring event, Raising the Barre. Co-chaired by Duyen & Marc Nguyen and Dr. Tatiana Sorkin & Michel Coret, the dinner brought together 160 supporters and raised $110,000 for the Ballet’s performances, education programs and artistic initiatives.
The menu was created by four of the city's top chefs alongside Houston Ballet dancers. Chef Aaron Bludorn and Soloist Danbi Kim opened the night with sesame-crusted Hamachi, inspired by flavors from Kim’s Korean upbringing. Chef Chris Williams and Demi Soloist Estheysis Menendez followed with a rich lobster stew, layered with jalapeño pesto and plantain fufu — a nod to her mother's love of fresh ingredients.
For the main course, Chef Hugo Ortega and Principal Chase O’Connell delivered a smoky Coulotte steak with pasilla mole, inspired by O’Connell’s pre-show steak tradition. Dessert came courtesy of Fluff Bake Bar’s Rebecca Masson and First Soloist Gian Carlo Perez: guava pastries with cream cheese ice cream and a drizzle of honey, reminiscent of Perez’s favorite childhood treat.
Florals by Bergner and Johnson played up the spring party vibe with coral, peach, and pink blossoms, later donated to nonprofit Bloom Again for use in hospitals and care centers.
Guests included Beth Muecke, Patti Murphy, Kristy Bradshaw, Lindsey Brown, Anne and Albert Chao, Jo Furr, Carey Kirkpatrick, Phoebe Tudor and Whitney Lawson.
Ada Agbor and Zoe Cadore
Anne and Albert Chao
Anya and Jeremy Smith, Julie Kent
Bill and Lenni Burke
Chef Hugo Ortega
Michel Coret and Dr. Tatiana Sorkin, Duyen and Marc Nguyen
Denise and Todd Liebl
Edward and Deborah Koehler, Angela Oh and Pekka Kauranen
Ileana and Michael Treviño
Jo Furr and C.C. Conner
Kristy Bradshaw, Jim Nelson, Kelley Lubanko
Shawn Stephens and Jim Jordan