What: TheMeet Us In The Gardens Party
Where: Hermann Park’s McGovern Centennial Gardens
The scoop: Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital is clearly performing miracles on a daily basis. But could the game-changing institution take credit for clearing the Houston stormy skies — just in time for a chic garden party?
Such was the burning question as some of Houston’s brightest medical minds gathered on a scenic, glorious (and suddenly dry) evening for the Meet Us In The Gardens Party, an exclusive summer soirée cohosted by Christine Falgout, Melissa Juneau, Rachel Regan, and Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital.
While enjoying event festivities, guests mixed and mingled with some of the pediatric subspecialty physicians affiliated with Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital. The event presentation provided the opportunity for guests to learn more about the cutting-edge Children’s Neuroscience Center, detailing the team’s advanced research, key services, and real patient stories.
During cocktail hour in the pavilion area, guests enjoyed garden games, refreshing cocktails, an ornate meat and cheese board, and passed appetizers, including truffle grilled cheese, tuna tartar parmesan cones, and eggplant ragout. Oysters were served with the help of traveling oyster shuckers. The al fresco dinner took place in the enclosed garden area, which was fully covered by a clear tent where strings of lights hung overhead.
Reminiscent of a farm-to-table garden dinner in the Provence region of France, the wooden dinner tables were adorned with colorful floral bouquets and table settings with mix-matched blue and white china, antique silverware, and a French baguette featuring the evening’s dinner menu printed on each individual bread bag. Along with the baguette served with truffle honey butter, the menu included a shaved kale and brussels sprout salad, grilled prime tenderloin, herb and lemon marinated chicken, and pommes frites. For dessert, guests shared the classic French treat, Croquembouche, dipped in chocolate and caramel.
During the event, there were social media-worthy opportunities, including an Insta-worthy champagne wall, a photo-op boxwood wall that featured the Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital logo adorned in flowers stationed with a photographer, a giant chess board, and a custom-made rosé and sparkling wine cart adorned with flowers where guests could taste a variety of wines.
At the close of the event, guests discovered party favors in their cars that aligned with the event theme. All guests received a Thank You note from Susie Distefano, CEO of Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, along with a fact card detailing the key programs offered at the Children’s Neuroscience Center.
The evening included remarks from Distefano; a video about a pediatric neurotrauma patient, Garrett; and an explanation of the health crisis from his life-saving surgeon, Dr. David Sandberg, director of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital.
Event organizers included some locally sourced favorites in each burlap gift bag, including strawberry sweet cream honey and lavender soap as well as macarons featuring the Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital logo from Houston’s own Macaron by Patisse.
Who: Christine Falgout and Bill Gutknecht; Melissa Juneau; Rachel and Tom Regan; Susie Distefano;Tony Bradfield; Kristina Somerville; Valerie and Tracy Dieterich; Deborah Cannon, Chairman of the Board, Memorial Hermann; Jo Lynn and Gregg Falgout; Lisa Simon; Scott & Jennifer Allison;Kim and Dan Moody; Anne Neeson, CEO, Memorial Hermann Foundation; Kristy and Chris Bradshaw; Maya and Matt Pomroy; Jayne and Garrett Johnston;Roland Garcia, Chairman of the Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital Committee; and Christie and Billy McCartney; James Jennings; Tracey and Andy Hull; April and Wells McGee.
Kristina Somerville and Tony Bradfield.
