These Houston BFFs Make 50 Seem Like the New 30: Wild Double Milestone Birthday Bash Has Fabulous Femmes Taking Over the New Hotel ZaZa Pool

What: A joint birthday celebration for Lara Bell and Roseann Rogers

Where: Hotel ZaZa Memorial City

PC Moment: Could they have imagined when they began celebrating their summer birthdays together lo those many years ago that they would one day be blowing out 50 candles each? The joint celebration began more than two decades ago when their BFF status was just just beginning to percolate. It all started, as Bell explained, “At our 29th birthday parties, the dates just weeks apart, we had pretty much the same people at each. So we decided we would combine the summer celebrations and make it more fun and fabulous.”

For this milestone 50th birthday bash, the ladies decided on a “cocktail cool celebration” by the pool at the relatively new Hotel ZaZa Memorial City. And that was something of a spiritual redux of their 41st birthday party, which was held by the pool at the then just-opened Hotel Zaza in the Museum District.

“This year’s birthday celebration was extra special,” Rogers said, “because we rekindled friendships from years gone by. It was like a reunion of friends and former colleagues.” All total, there were more than 150 poolside revelers.

And what’s a great party without ample food and drink? Guests sipped on Deep Eddie Vodka and Patron Tequila specialty cocktails and noshed on crispy artichoke and Boursin beignets with Tabasco syrup, mini Beef Wellingtons with port reduction, and grilled chipotle chicken skewers with Red Bell Pepper Jam. And late night, out came the chicken sandwiches courtesy of Whataburger.

In lieu of gifts, the 50-year-olds, still very much young at heart, encouraged guests to contribute to Kids’ Meals. The duo is chairing the non-profit’s 10th anniversary Harvest Luncheon on November 2.

Wishing them many happy returns: Suzy Bergner, Deborah Duncan, Anthony Dowd, Alicia Smith, Dr. Angela Sturm, Miya Shay, Michelle and Jeff Majewski, Christine Sacco, Chita Craft, Suzanne and Adam Stiles, Laura and Ned Davenport, Bruce Padilla and Shelby Kibodeaux, Kim Padgett, Bree Knodel, Sonia Soto, Page Parks, Mary Beth Mosley and, of course, the birthday girls’ husbands Dr. Aashah Shah and Brent Milam.