Months after Benjamin Brollier proposed to Courtney Corinne Wood in the garden of her family’s home, with a cushion-cut diamond ring his mother Louise helped select, his mom passed away. In planning their lavish New Year’s Eve wedding at River Oaks Country Club, C.C. and Benjy kept Louise top of mind and in their hearts, curating thoughtful details like heirloom jewelry and special wedding programs. But the high school sweethearts also wanted to celebrate life and love, and ring in a fresh New Year with 500 loved ones — a vision expertly executed by Keely Thorne planner Jennifer Kaldis, and the floral and decor team at Todd Events. C.C. and Benjy each had 18 attendants standing by their side at the altar, and out on the dance floor, which remained packed even after the stroke of midnight! After fueling up on late-night breakfast tacos, the newlyweds escaped in a convertible Rolls-Royce — with a backdrop of fireworks, of course.
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.
What’s special about your team? The RYDE team is the core spirit of who we are and what we do. Our instructors, studio team and management are constantly raising the bar, and are passionate about building authentic relationships with clients inside and outside the studio. We have the best team in the city — and it is a privilege to work with such a talented and hardworking group of people.
RYDE has taught more than 20,000 spin classes since opening in 2015. To what do you attribute the success of your brand? Every aspect of RYDE is crafted with purpose, and our core principles remain steadfast as we grow. First is quality and consistency: Our team strives to earn and retain our clients’ trust and loyalty every day.
Second, we put people first: We invest in our team through comprehensive training programs and dedicated management support to ensure that our most valuable assets are always put first.
Third, we embrace uniqueness: We invest in our product and talent to ensure it is the best in the industry, while constantly innovating. Our athletic edge appeals to men and women equally, and we’ve paid close attention to this balance from the start.
Fourth, we cherish the details: Every physical and digital detail has been carefully considered and refined by our team, and is an integral part of the RYDE identity.
And the final core principle is giving back: The RYDE team and community are deeply committed to making a difference, and are proud to have donated over $160,000 for local and national philanthropic causes.
Blake and Dana Fertitta with Belle and Zoe
CITIZENS FOR ANIMAL Protection (CAP) is having a very merry holiday season, having raised a record-breaking $1 million at its annual gala in November.
With a theme of "Best in Snow," a seasonal play on the funny flick Best in Show, the glam gala took place at The Post Oak Hotel, where animal lovers (and their furry friends!) reveled in sparkling holiday decor. Event co-chairs Angela Hernandez and Carson Brown were thrilled with the turnout, which topped 700.
Guests were welcomed with espresso martinis from the ice bar, sponsored by Sire Spirits and Branson Cognac and Le Chemin du Roi, and spent plenty of time perusing the Bourbon and Bubbles pull (more than 100 bottles!) and the silent auction. Once inside the blue-and-white-hued ballroom, the crowd cheered on the evening's honorees, who strutted their stuff alongside their pets. Andy Cerota and his pup Maxwell were crowned as the 2024 Celebrity Pets of the Year, with Dana and Blake Fertitta and their dogs Belle and Zoe were first runners-up.
Galagoers were also moved by the story of CAP’s Celebrity Canine Hero Award recipient, Bram Kohlhausen and his service dog Chip. And emcee Frank Billingsley was joined by Brittany Franklin during the "Paws Up" portion of the evening as well as the live auction.
Andy Cordes and Dawsel White
Steve and Daphne Savva with Jenga
Brenda and Bob Wempe, Paige Fertitta
Sandi Mercado, Jackie Clark
Carson Brown, Bram Kohlhausen and his service dog Chip, and Angela Hernandez
Robert Tijerina, Patrick Lancton
Champagne parade for live-auction winner
Patricia and Sig Cornelius
Chris and Kendall Hanno
Nick and Allison Boulle with Belle
Daniel Irion and Kirk Kveton
Marcellus Upshaw, Sandra Cooper Smith
David and Kirby Lodholz with Chucky
Liz and Peter Carragher
Dean Putterman and Ed Finger
Lisa Helfman and Lee Haverman
Ember Strand, Frankie Demeris
Gloria and Frank Meszaros
Always Farm Fresh and Fabulous, Recipe for Success’ ‘Delicious Alchemy’ Delights Foodie Guests
Mason Clark-Sadeghi and Army Sadeghi (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
AL FRESCO DINNERS with food prepared by buzzy chefs may be trendy these days, but Gracie Cavnar’s Recipe for Success was way ahead of the curve, with her annual Delicious Alchemy banquet coming ’round for the 19th time this fall.
The event, held this year at the nonprofit’s Hope Farms near Downtown, featured for the first time an all-female roster of 10 chefs each producing a different course for the fabulous outdoor festivities. Many dishes featured produce from the farm, which aims to provide healthy food in a “food desert” and provide educational opportunities for kids.
Even the décor came from the land. “Shimmering white blooms plucked from fields of the co-located Flower Child micro flower farm seemed to levitate from a stunning black tabletop design,” noted a rep for Recipe, “making a spectacular display against the pastoral vibe of the barn.”
The menu included Tony’s Chef Kate McLean duck cones with scallion pudding, Savor+Sweat Chef Erin O’Leary Stewart’s black trumpet mushroom crisps with herbed cashew cheese, Culinaire Chef Barbara McKnight’s chilled cucumber-scallion borscht with dill bubble bread, and Cochinito & Co Chef Victoria Elizondo’a passion fruit ceviche with Habanada peppers.
Later courses included Chef Suu Khin’s turnip coconut cream soup with turmeric, Jane Wild Studio Chef Jane Wild’s handmade gnocchi with pepper sauce and mascarpone, Street to Kitchen Chef Benchawan Painter’s crispy chicken with coconut
kombucha squash and pumpkin curry sauce, and Camellia Monday Hospitality Chef Jessica Timmons’ braised Iberico pork cheek with sauce piquant, collard pecan Grits, and vinegared okra. For dessert: Recipe for Success Foundation Culinary Director Alyssa Dole’s olive oil cake with whipped beet mascarpone and carrot cake pompote — and The Bake Happening Chef Andrea De Gortari’s chocolate beet cookies and spiced sweet potato cookies, which were served to go.
Each course touted expert wine or spirits pairings for a thoroughly elevated dining experience. VIPs spotted among the 50 guests at the intimate, breezy affair included Bob Cavnar, Ford Hubbard, Renea Abbott, Sherree and Norman Frede, Aashish and Erin Parekh, Jessica Rossman, and Karen and Murry Penner.
Recipe for Success Foundation is “dedicated to combating childhood obesity by transforming how children and families understand and engage with food,” per its mission statement. “Through its pioneering programs, the foundation has empowered over 50,000 youth to make lifelong healthy eating decisions.”
Ford Hubbard, Renea Abbott and Thomas Hunt (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Gracie Cavnar (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Karen and Murry Penner (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Chef Alyssa Dole (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Milton Townsend, Bob Cavnar and Mark Sullivan (photo by Michelle Watson)
Javier Lopez and Jennifer Herrera (photo by Daniel Lopez)
Bow-tied servers and guests as Delicious Alchemy (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Gayla Gardner (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Aashish and Erin Parehk and Rudy Guerra (photo by Michelle Watson)
Norman & Sheree Frede (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Kate McLean (photo by Michelle Watson)