Shelby About Town

Memorial Hermann does Aspen, St. Luke's YPs retreat and Cuteheads celebrates itslaunch

Staman Ogilvie, from left, Mindy Hildebrand, Eliza Duncan and Jeff Hildebrand atthe Memorial Hermann gathering in Aspen.
Leigh Vogel of Riccardo Savi Co.
Polly and Murry Bowden opened their Aspen vacation home to more than 80 guests.
Photo by Leigh Vogel of Riccardo Savi Co.
St. Luke Episcopal Hospital's young professionals group, PULSE, retreats toBrenham.
Attending the Cuteheads launch were Stephanie Miller Kohll, from left, AlexandraSchneider, Esther Freedman, Nicole Soussan and Gayle Abrahams.
Photo by Jennifer Cerda
Interior designer Bill Stubbs serves as honorary chair of "Home Is Where theHeart Is."

Even in the final throes of summer, the lure of Aspen and its deep-pocketed residents flourishes. A Memorial Hermann team was in that posh mountain resort on Friday for a gathering aimed at raising awareness and funds for the Staman Ogilvie Fund for Spinal Cord Injury, Recovery, Research and Rehabilitation.

Polly and Murry Bowden opened their Rocky Mountain aerie for more than 80 guests who heard remarks by Memorial Hermann CEO Dan Wolterman and Dr. Dong Kim, co-director of Memorial Hermann's Mischer Neuroscience Institute, on the hospital system's "Revolutionizing Neuroscience" initiative. The Ogilvie Fund was established to raise $10 million in that effort. Staman gave the final remarks, sharing his experience as a victim of spinal cord injury.

Among guests were Leila and Walt Mischer, Sherry and Jim Smith, Sylvie and Gary Crum, Mindy and Jeff Hildebrand, Nancy and Jack Dinerstein, Jo Lynn and Gregg Falgout, Eliza and Johnny Duncan, Cathy and Giorgio Borlenghi, Marie and Bill Wise, Rod Canion and Scotty Arnoldy.

Young at heart

That would be the members of PULSE, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital's young professional group, who gathered at the R-NOL-D ranch in Brenham for the first core-committee retreat. PULSE co-chairs Lindley and Jason Arnoldy treated the group to a festive afternoon of food and drink, that alone would make membership worth the entry fee.

The YPs enjoyed handmade margaritas from chef consultant and former TQLA toque Tommy Birdwell, a buffet feast of regional, home-cooked fare from Line & Lariat's David Luna and a bocce ball nightcap.

Among those mapping out the year's fundraising goals and networking calendar were St. Luke's development coordinator Elizabeth Weiss, SLEH ePhilanthropy manager Monica Danna, Lauren Baughman, Max Barrett, Katie Flaherty, Chris Joseph, Annie and Tyler McQueen, Lindsay Willeford and Dan Pearce as well as Powell and Hanna Hensen, who provided a sampling of desserts from her new baking business.

Cuteheads throws a party

Cuteheads, the online young children's clothing entity founded by Houstonian Esther Freedman, gathered supporters last week at Dessert Gallery-Kirby for a "sip and shop"evening. The event was as much a sugary treat for the sweet tooth as a visual treat for shopping moms. Cupcakes, brownies, cookies and a two-tiered version of Dessert Gallery CEO Sara Brooks' famous Diner Cake were served.

Among the 100 guests who joined the party were Doug Freedman, Susan Farb Morris and David Morris, Jay Steinfeld, Barbara Winthrop Rose, Sara Brook, Allie Danziger, Aimee Woodall, Katie Laird, Amber and Lennie Ambrose, Michael Krakower and Suzanne Cade-Krawkower, Karen and Buster Freedman, Kacie and Adam Nyholt and Amira Staller.

Boys & Girls Country benefits

Interior designer Bill Stubbs has thrown his design clout behind a special charity auction, "Home Is Where the Heart Is," benefiting Boys & Girls Country of Houston and the preview party unveiling the $1 million worth of furnishings and acccessories takes place Thursday, 6 p.m. at Lewis & Maese Auction Co. See the catalog of items here.

The party includes the exhibit of more than 200 lots of new, name-brand items (Brown Jordan, Century, Christopher Guy, etc.) that will be auctioned Wednesday, Aug. 29. As a treat for preview party guests, a collection of smaller accessories will be available for sale. Tickets for the preview are $20. The auction itself is open to the public.

Red Raiders take over

What better place for a college alumni sports dinner than the Houston Texans Grille? That's where supporters of the Texas Tech Red Raider Alumni Association gathered the other night for a scholarship dinner that featured pep talks and sports insights from five local sports personalities.

Sharing their insider info were former record-setting Red Raider and one-time Houston Texan B. J. Symons; Houston Texans TV host and blogger Drew Dougherty, sports radio 1560 The Game's Sean Pendergast and John Harris and Texas Tech recruiter Chris Level.

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Big Spenders

Retro futurism meets philanthropy as Houston museum gala raises $3.6M

Houston Museum of Natural Science Gala 2026

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Will Lee, Britton Daugbjerg, Ella Fertitta, and Jason Fertitta.

Big spenders to the front, please.

On a night when Houston’s black-tie crowd orbited the worlds of science, style, and a little retro-futurism, the Houston Museum of Natural Science’s Futurama: A Stardust Odyssey Gala 2026 felt less like a traditional fundraiser and more like an expedition through the museum’s halls.

Chaired by Randa and Charlie Williams alongside Susanne and Joel Bartsch, the gala welcomed more than 350 guests who arrived ready to lean into the evening’s mid-century futuristic theme. Instead of a traditional program, tables were scattered throughout the museum, an intentional design that encouraged guests to roam. Blooming Gallery’s décor channeled a bright, Jetsons-inspired palette before shifting into a copper-and-marigold Mad Men mood as the evening progressed.

Let’s talk about the Vault Auction, as it had a gravitational force all its own, delivering a treasure trove of museum-worthy marvels and luxury collectibles.

Among the headliners was a jaw-dropping 90–troy-ounce crystallized gold specimen from the Beta Hunt Gold Mine in Western Australia, with a $850,000 starting bid. A Chanel brooch centered on a GIA-certified yellow sapphire had a starting bid of $180,000, while a dazzling pair of earrings featuring Paraiba tourmaline, Mahenge pink spinel, and diamonds was valued between $800,000 and $1.2 million. The crown jewel of the display? “Rocks in a Box,” a museum-quality curated mineral collection assembled by HMNS curators selling for $1.8 million.

Need a ride? We got you. A 1965 Jaguar XKE Series 1 4.2 Coupe donated by Stephanie and Frank Tsuru was up for grabs.

Gulf Coast Entertainment’s Justin and The SwingBeats Quartet filled cocktail hour with jazz standards and retro pop. Later, diners gathered in Morian Hall of Paleontology and the Morian Overlook for a multi-course meal of elevated Southern fare.

After dinner, the celebration shifted into high gear in the Grand Entry Hall. Joystix Entertainment transformed the space into a retro arcade with glowing pinball machines, Donkey Kong cabinets, and pool tables. Flamingo showgirls by J&D Entertainment strutted through the crowd. Guests danced to live music, sipped milkshakes, nibbled late-night mini grilled cheese sandwiches, and even tried their luck at claw machines filled with gemstones and minerals.

The affair became the most successful gala in the museum’s history, raising $3.6 million to support educational programs, exhibitions, and outreach initiatives.

Orbiting the scene were Mary and Ron Neal, Patty and T. Mark Kelly, Caroline and Jack Williams, Nancy and David Pustka, Cynde and Chris Stravros, Mary Helen and Pete Bowden, Meg and Dick Weekley, Al Walker, Joella and Steve Mach, Monica and Fox Benton, Lisa and Mike O’Leary, and Chandos and Ike Epley, alongside many of Houston’s leading philanthropists and community supporters.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Will Lee, Britton Daugbjerg, Ella Fertitta, and Jason Fertitta.