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    River Oaks Party Palace

    River Oaks' Party Palace: Opulent mansion with a crazy history — and a baron past — hits the market

    Barbara Kuntz
    Barbara Kuntz
    Aug 9, 2014 | 11:58 am

    Editor's Note: Houston, the surrounding areas and beyond are loaded with must-have houses for sale in all shapes, sizes and price ranges. In this continuing series, CultureMap snoops through some of the best and gives you the lowdown on what's hot on the market.

    Late-night pasta and caviar dinners, grand soirées attended by the rich and famous and extravagant fundraisers — all held in the the lavish setting of a glass-enclosed, air-conditioned, swimming pool lit by numerous chandeliers — were all in a day's (and night's) play for the former host and owner of an opulent River Oaks mansion.

    The palace-like manse, previously the home to the late Baron Ricky di Portanova and Baroness Alessandra di Portanova, is being sold privately for an undisclosed amount. The current owners are not publishing the address. Rather, that information may be secured through the listing agent, Moni Bohnisch, by serious buyers only.

    A bit of background

    Few couples in Houston social history have entertained like the di Portanovas, who hosted lavish parties that longtime Houstonians still remember for an over-the-top atmosphere where everyone always had a good time.

    Di Portanova left Rome and came to Houston in the early 1960s to claim his inheritance as the grandson of Hugh Roy Cullen, the Texas oil magnate known as the King of the Wildcatters. His mother, Lillie, was Cullen’s daughter, and his father was Baron Paolo di Portanova of Italy. In one of the biggest estate legal cases in U.S. history, the amount he received each month was increased from $5,000 to $1.2 million a month.

    Friends recall one party in particular in which Sir Roger Moore, then starring as James Bond, arrived by helicopter while models in cat suits rappelled down the side of the house, klieg lights lighting up the scene.

    In 1973 Di Portanova married his second wife, Sandra Hovas of Houston, who transformed herself into the Baroness Alessandra di Portanova. Shortly after, they moved into the then-stately home on this most prestigious street in River Oaks.

    When a deal to buy the fabled 21 Club in New York as birthday gift for his wife fell through, di Portanova concentrated on revamping the River Oaks mansion, enclosing the entire backyard in a sleek, yet massive structure, creating an indoor garden and pool area where the couple entertained lavishly for many years. Friends recall one party in particular in which Sir Roger Moore, then starring as James Bond, arrived by helicopter while models in cat suits rappelled down the side of the house, klieg lights lighting up the scene.

    The baron's obituary, published in the New York Times, noted that he once listed the best things in life as ''sun, sex and spaghetti." The obituary went on to note that jet-setting di Portanova referred to his Lear jet as his taxi and had so much luggage that it had to be sent on commercial airlines with the servants.

    The di Portanovas also had homes in Rome and Acapulco, where their spectacular villa named Arabesque became a vacation destination for many of the world's leading entertainment and political figures. The first party at the villa was for Henry Kissinger and his wife, Nancy. The house was also used as a backdrop for the James Bond movie, License to Kill.

    New owners purchased the home in 2006 and conducted a major facelift of the property.

    The River Oaks mansion

    The Neo-Classical estate is situated on more than an acre of manicured grounds. The reception hall with spiraling marble staircase opens to multiple entertaining areas surrounding the 12,000-square-foot indoor party space with salt-water swimming pool.

    Lavish details such as marble floors, Venetian plaster walls and elaborate moldings with gold accents are found throughout the mansion. Other features include a mahogany-paneled library, gourmet kitchen, gym with spa and home theater.

    The master suite includes a private balcony overlooking the interior party space and is one of the seven bedrooms in the house. The three-car garage is attached.

    When enclosing the back of the house, the di Portanovas added a luxe two-bedroom guest suite where a parade of Hollywood stars bunked during Houston visits.

    Square footage: 21,500

    Listing agent:Moni Bohnisch

    The gourmet kitchen.

    20 On the Market 2115 River Oaks Blvd. August 2014
      
    Photo courtesy of © TK Images
    The gourmet kitchen.
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    Post Oak property redeveloped

    Renovated Galleria development will add 'greatest neighborhood restaurant'

    Eric Sandler
    Jun 4, 2025 | 1:08 pm
    Central Park Post Oak redevelopment rendering
    Courtesy of Midway
    The complex will add two new buildings.

    A Galleria-area office complex has announced a comprehensive series of renovations and upgrades designed to make it one of the area’s premier mixed-use destinations. Renovations are currently underway at the Post Oak Central development, which will now be known as Central Park Post Oak.

    Located at 2000 Post Oak Boulevard between Westheimer and San Felipe, Central Park Post Oak is a 17-acre parcel that consists of three high-rise office buildings with a combined 1.2 million square feet of office separated by an expansive lawn. Houston-based real estate development firm Midway, working with real estate investment firms 3Edgewood and Parkway, plans to replace that lawn with two new retail buildings and a greenspace. The changes are partially inspired by the Post Oak Boulevard redevelopment project that added more than 1,000 trees, wider sidewalks, and dedicated bus lanes to the bustling thoroughfare.

    "Our vision is to create a dynamic, walkable urban destination that honors the Boulevard’s rich history while meeting the evolving needs of Houston's Uptown District. We are crafting a lifestyle for those who work, shop, and dine here," Midway executive vice president Clayton Freels said in a statement.

    One anchor of the new retail component will be the first Houston location of The Henry, a restaurant that will occupy a newly-constructed, 7,000-square-foot, jewel box space. Part of Fox Restaurant Concepts (North Italia, Flower Child), The Henry is described as “the greatest neighborhood restaurant.” It’s open for weekday breakfast, weekend brunch, lunch, and dinner with an eclectic menu that includes sandwiches, salads, sushi, steak, seafood, and more.

    Other changes to the property include the addition of on-street parking, upgrades to the complex’s parking garages, and more new retailers and restaurants that will be announced in the coming months. The project began construction in April with plans to finish by fall 2026.

    In addition, Midway announced that TDECU will occupy 125,000 square feet in Central Park One and BBVA has leased a floor (20,000 square feet) in Central Park Two.

    Central Park Post Oak redevelopment rendering
      

    Courtesy of Midway

    The complex will add two new buildings.

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