Becca's 100 Best Buddies

Sheriff & socialites: New Washington Avenue steakhouse rocks with two killer preview parties

B&B Butchers and Restaurant owner Benjamin Berg couldn't have asked for a more power-packed preview. His private party for investors and friends upstairs and Becca Cason Thrash's chic bash downstairs filled the historic building on Washington Avenue to overflowing. (The restaurant officially opens on May 26.)

While the new sheriff in town Ron Hickman, private investigator John Moritz and wine connoisseur Denman Moody were among Berg's guests, it was the party kids on the ground floor that set the eatery rocking. The first floor bash was a tribute to Becca and patrons of one of her favorite charities, Best Buddies.

The invitation-only (free) seated dinner with wine flowing was a thank you to those who have supported Becca's charitable activities on behalf of the non-profit founded by Anthony Shriver for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

She revealed that her next Best Buddies fundraiser is Nov. 7, headlining Oscar-winner, House of Cards star Kevin Spacey.

But the big burning question of the night: Can Houston support yet another steak house? "Definitely," said Berg, "definitely a local steak house . . . I felt like the butcher shop with the restaurant was just right with this neighborhood that's up and coming. It just fit. It wasn't cookie cutter. It was a lot of work to put this together."

After two years of working on the project, Berg launched the upscale eatery/butcher shop with a duo of longhorn steers stationed at the entrance to welcome guests.

The big burning question of the night: Can Houston support yet another steak house? "Definitely," said Berg, who explained why.

Becca filled the dining room, designed for 80, with 100 of her best buddies, an incredible cross-section of Houston that would be coveted by many a hostess. From the sports world, she had Houston Texans GM Rick Smith and retired Houston Astro Jeff Bagwell. From fashion Tootsies' Fady Armanious, Sloane Hall's Shannon Hall and LVMH's Rhonda McDonald. From TV land Dominique Sachse and Ernie Manouse.

Add popular plastic surgeon Dr. Steve Hamilton, real estate's Neal Hamil and Sabiha Rehmatulla, United Airlines attorney and bombshell Jessica Rossman, Tenenbaum's Kevin Black and Tony Bradley and on and on. Of course, John Thrash was there to cheer on his wife.

Inspite of the crush, both upstairs and down, it was thumbs up for the new hot spot. Guests dined on sliced filet mignon with au poivre, truffle mac and cheese, broccoli floret and cheesecake, all served family style.

Becca's impressive coterie also included Sara Dodd and Gregory Fourticq, Courtney and Jason Fertitta, Chris Brown, Monsour Taghdisi and Henry Richardson, Claire Cormier-Thielke, Lindley and Jason Arnoldy, Joan Schnitzer, Richard Flowers, Courtney and Bo Hopson, Lora and Dr. John Clemmons, Susan and Mike Plank, Hugh Echols, Tiffany Smith and so many more.

Susan Plank, from left, with Bo and Courtney Hopson.

Photo by Michelle Watson CatchLightGroup.com

Susan Plank, from left, with Bo and Courtney Hopson.

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Picnic Chic

Houston toasts nature and leadership at Memorial Park’s annual gala

Photo by Jenny Antil

Chris Ballard, Nancy and Rich Kinder, and Shellye Arnold.

There are gala nights and then there are nights when the trees themselves seem to raise a glass.

On a picture-perfect evening in April, nearly 350 supporters of Memorial Park Conservancy gathered beneath the native canopy of the Clay Family Eastern Glades for The Park Ball, an annual celebration of one of Houston’s greatest natural treasures.

Helping to orchestrate the evening’s blend of elegance and ecology was a roster of event chairs: Julie and Casey Doherty, Betsy and John Garibaldi, Gayle and Richard Hightower, Tammy and Steven Jenkins, Linda Lorelle and Lou Gregory, Gary Moss, Amy and Adam Newar, Carrie and Al Pepi, Carol and John Porter, and Anita and Gerald Smith.

This year’s theme, picnic-chic, was a love letter to the land, a heartfelt homage to the winding trails, sprawling green spaces, and sun-dappled prairies that define Memorial Park’s 1,100 acres. It was also a moment to reflect and to cheer as guests honored Shellye Arnold for more than a decade of leadership and welcomed Chris Ballard as the Conservancy’s newly named president and CEO.

It was springtime, elevated, and distinctly Houston.

Under Shellye Arnold’s guidance, Memorial Park transformed from a beloved local green space into a nationally recognized model of urban parkland — balancing ecological restoration with accessibility and beauty. Her departure was bittersweet, but the love in the air was undeniable. A proclamation from Houston City Councilmember Abbie Kamin officially declared April 10 as Shellye Arnold Day, applauding her tireless work in cultivating a park that serves both people and planet.

The evening flourished with the smooth sounds of the David Caceres Jazz Quintet, whose melodies floated through the canopy as guests strolled the illuminated paths or lingered beneath chandeliers that seemed to twinkle in time.

The night was also a fundraiser, of course — and a successful one. The Park Ball brought in a cool $750,000, every dollar of which will support the everyday magic of Memorial Park: Maintaining the native prairie grasses, protecting wildlife habitats, and ensuring this urban oasis remains a place of escape and exploration for generations of Houstonians.

In the crowd were Chris and Aubrey Ballard, Nancy and Rich Kinder, Veronica Chapa Gorczynski and John Gorczynski, Giles and Andrea Kibbe, Roxann and Tim Neumann, Rogene Gee Calvert, Emily Clay and Bill Schneidau, Kalinda Campbell, Kevin Foyle, Lissa and Farzanah Gangjee, Lisa Helfman, Elizabeth and Tom Howley, George Johnston and Jaime Loera, Chris Newport, Annise Parker, and Dhiren and Anila Shethia.

Photo by Jenny Antil

Chris Ballard, Nancy and Rich Kinder, and Shellye Arnold.

memorial park fundraisers