photos by JULIE SOEFER
styling by KATE STUKENBERG
model MICHAELA McCLURE FOR WALLFLOWER MANAGEMENT
hair and makeup by TONYA RINER
styling assistance by GRETA CONNOLLY
Shot on location in Montrose
Chef-owner Austin Waiter of The Marigold Club, now serving fried chicken and Champagne on Sunday nights.
And the drinks? They’re going big. Champagne bottles are half-off, and if you’ve ever dreamed of sipping Krug by the glass with your fried chicken, this is your moment. Feeling fancy? Add caviar service and settle in for the kind of Sunday that’s anything but sleepy.
Set inside The Marigold Club’s moody, glam dining room — think velvet, Murano chandeliers, and hand-painted murals — this new weekly tradition is giving end-of-weekend blues a very bubbly makeover.
Reservations are highly recommended. Southern comfort never looked (or tasted) so good.
Fried chicken for two, buttery mashed potatoes and half-priced Champagne are on the new Sunday menu at The Marigold Club.
Heather Almond and Zinat Ahmed
The real star of the evening? 6,500 pounds of crawfish, served up with all the fixings — plus Gulf Coast favorites like lobster fritters, seafood fondue, boudin balls and bread pudding with a boozy twist.
Guests got competitive during the live auction, which featured everything from Caribbean escapes to helicopter hog hunts. A chocolate lab puppy named Blue Bell stole the show — and a new home — with Cotton EVP Zinat Ahmed. He’ll be trained as an emotional support pup for visitors to Taylor’s Place, a retreat for families facing terminal illness that’s set to open this fall.
Closing out the night? A crowd-pleasing performance by country star Mark Chesnutt, who brought the house (or barn) down.
In the crowd was Pete Bell, Fady Armanious, Ellie Francisco, Whitney Kuhn Lawson, Kristen Cannon and Heather Almond.
Bailey Bell Layne and Pete Bell
Opening Performance by Bayou Roux
Houstonians traveled to CrawFest at the Cotton Ranch in Katy
Stacey Lindseth, Fady Armanious, Ally Ehrman
Balloon Details
Crawfish
Maddy and Patrick Moffitt and Christina and David McAllen
Event chairs Maddy and Patrick Moffitt and Christina and David McAllen were thrilled with the turnout of more than 350, who sipped mint juleps and sampled delicious fare while admiring the decor courtesy of The Events Company. In addition to Derby-adjacent games and bets, guests enjoyed silent and live auctions and a bourbon pull.
The afternoon honored Carol Lee and Allen Lyons with the Champion of Hope Award; Carol shared her grief journey from nearly 20 years ago when her husband passed. “Bo’s Place exists to offer support and community to those who have experienced the death of a loved one," said Bo's Place Executive Director Jennifer Boubel. "We are a non-profit, free-of-charge bereavement center that offers multiple grief support services for children, families, and adults, and provides education and resources for those who assist people in grief.”
The Hats, Hearts & Horseshoes benefit raised a whopping $362,000, the most ever for the event.
Bill Baldwin and Fady Armanious
Cliff and Jordan Vaughn
Steve Boubel, Jennifer Boubel
Cyndy Garza and Thomas Roberts
Ellen and Jonathan Kopp
Stacey and Al Lindseth
Kathryn Swain, Heather Clark, Emily McAndrews
Lesha and Tom Elsenbrook
Kaleta Blaffer Johnson, Tammie Johnson, Kristen Cannon
Glenda Demas, Rick Smith