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A-list Houston crowd enjoys posh amenities at River Oaks tennis tournament

Spring in Houston means a jam-packed calendar, and people positively buzzing with excitement about so many highly anticipated events, beginning with the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, the dazzling gala season, and now the River Oaks Men's Clay Court Championship. This time of year brings out the best of Houston's social scene including delicious food, fabulous fashion, and exclusive, invite-only events.

Since 2001, River Oaks Country Club has been the place to see and be seen at the only remaining Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tour played on clay courts. With a tournament theme of "Tennis in Full Bloom," this year's prize purse is nearly $750,000, and the top seed is Tommy Paul.

Although world-class tennis may be the main attraction for many spectators who flock to one of Houston's most affluent zip codes, for others, the posh social scene and lavish events surrounding the tournament steal the spotlight.

Jocelyn Mathews, Sheila Strickland, and Vatti Richardson. Photo by Gabi De la Rosa

Upscale boutique Tootsies hosts an annual two-day fashion extravaganza with back-to-back fashion shows during the tournament. This year's theme, Serves & Spurs, brought a blend of guests wearing traditional floral frocks combined with cowboy boots and hats. The fashion headliner, American designer Adam Lippes, sent several of his best understated and luxurious looks down the runway.

"The fashion show was fantastic. There was a Western twist in places you wouldn't expect. We got a taste of polka dots and plumes, feathers and fuchsia silk, chapeaus and cowboy boots set in a country theme that was present but not pushy. We saw it all," says fashion show attendee Allison Parsley.

With wine and champagne flowing, fashion show attendees are always treated to a delicious menu. Day one of this year's event brought Texas prime beef tenderloin salad and dewberry crumble for dessert. Galleria-area restaurant The Annie was onsite with its famed caviar pop-up cart, adding to the lavish ambiance.

"It's always a privilege to be part of the U.S. Men's Clay Tennis Tournament in Houston," The Annie owner Benjamin Berg tells CultureMap. "This event is a fantastic experience in the city, and Berg Hospitality Group is proud to offer a taste of our concepts by bringing them to the event with fun pop-ups throughout the week."

The exclusive Lexus Lounge is one of the most sought-after places to socialize. Reserved for a select few, including event sponsors and River Oaks Country Club members, the elite retreat features private indoor and outdoor seating with prime views of the matches. Guests can enjoy complimentary dining, which includes a salad bar, savory station, candy and snack bar, and gelato station. In addition to two open bars, the second-story hot spot includes an espresso martini cart by Maven Coffee + Cocktails.

Even without the coveted red bracelet that garners entrance into the Lexus Lounge, guests can enjoy delicious food and drinks throughout the tournament grounds. Goode Company has a significant presence, and bars serve alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages at every turn.

In addition to watching great tennis and socializing, guests at the River Oaks Men's Clay Court Championship can indulge in high-end shopping. Tenenbaum Jewelry and Tootsies anchor the largest retail locations selling jewelry, luxury handbags, and clothing. Additional pop-up boutiques feature exclusive tournament merchandise and ready-to-wear looks from Adam Lippes.

River Oaks Men's Clay Court Championship runs through Sunday, April 6. Tickets are availablehere.

Photo by Gabi De la Rosa

Holly Hagerman, Audrey White, and Camille Connlley at the River Oaks Men's Clay Court Championship.

river oaks tootsies fashion show tootsies fashion show at river oaks country club adam lippes berg hospitality river oaks men's clay court championship

Healing Through Expression

Poetry and purpose align at The Jung Center’s Houston celebration

Photo by Katy Anderson

Wayne and Judy McConnell with Heidi and Marcus Smith.

The River Oaks Country Club played host to a night that married introspection and inspiration as The Jung Center welcomed guests for “An Evening with Clint Smith” on March 18. The intimate affair celebrated the transformative power of art, language, and healing, a signature cocktail of the beloved Houston institution.

Chaired by Heidi and Marcus Smith and Judy and Wayne McConnell, the soirée spotlighted Mathieu JN Baptiste, the Haiti-born, Houston-based artist whose work offers lyrical meditations on the resilience of oppressed populations. Known for painting, drawing, sculpting, and creating large-scale installations, Baptiste’s polymathic artistry has earned him a global audience and a prominent place in The Jung Center’s orbit, where he’s exhibited three times.

The evening marked the presentation of the Carolyn Grant Fay Humanitarian Award to Baptiste, named for the center’s founder. With this tribute, the organization honored his embodiment of the Jungian spirit: Layered, courageous, and rooted in the unconscious drive toward healing.

The keynote came from Clint Smith, the poet, scholar, and New York Times bestselling author of How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America. With poetic grace and pointed clarity, Smith reflected on how writing enables him to hold space for contradictions — joy and sorrow, pride and pain — echoing Baptiste’s own multi-textured narratives and The Jung Center’s mission to help people examine the internal landscapes that shape their external lives.

Houston holds a chapter in Smith’s story. He spent his senior year at Awty International after evacuating New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, a stop along the path that eventually led to college and a Ph.D. from Harvard.

Since the pandemic, The Jung Center has tripled its mental wellness and creative programming for adults and children, a demand echoed by communities across Houston, all while celebrating the 50th anniversary of its gallery.

Among those savoring the heartfelt moments were Dr. Crystal Walter, Lynn Baird, Ginger Blanton, Yvonne and Rufus Cormier, Emily Croswell, The Jung Center’s executive director Sean Fitzpatrick, Ann and Kenny Friedman, Melanie Gray and Mark Wawro, Necole Irvin of the Mayor’s Office for Cultural Affairs, board chair John Price with Leila-Scott Price, gallerist Heidi Vaughan, Anita and Gerald Smith, former First Lady Andrea White, and style maven Vivian Wise.

Photo by Katy Anderson

Wayne and Judy McConnell with Heidi and Marcus Smith.