Houston’s Summer Party Scene Beats Strong at One River Oaks Hotspot — It’s Really Not All About Aspen, Instagram Aside

Some of us have had to give up Aspen due to the altitude. No, not the rarified atmosphere nurtured by the .01 percenters. Rather, the 8,000 foot altitude. Then some of us, in lieu of the Rocky Mountain playground, are spending the bulk of the summer swanning through Europe while others are hobnobbing  between Monticeto and Nantucket.

Nevertheless, it might have seemed that this week all of Houston was lolling in mansions on Aspen’s Red Mountain or holding court in suites at the Little Nell. Instagram postings told it all, not to mention the annual M.D. Anderson and Memorial Hermann treks for friend raising.

Contrary to popular belief, there is life in Houston even in late July as a pop into Brasserie 19 in River Oaks Shopping Center easily proved. While my husband and I sought refuge Tuesday night from the Bayou City heat by burying our faces in an order of caviar and potato chips, we found the place packed with a throng of celebrants and notables.

It was, in fact, as busy as it might be in mid-October — with the parking lot brimming with Range Rovers, Mercedeses, Porches and the requisite Ferrari and Rolls-Royce (in this case an SUV); a well-dressed SRO contingent (no jeans and T-shirts thank you); and owner Charles Clark buzzing through ensuring that every guest felt welcome.

There was, for example, the bevy of beauties in the most delightful of summer frocks celebrating Carin Collins‘ birthday. Among the ladies filling the blue velvet banquet were Leslie Margolis, Ali Katz, Rochelle Mintz, Kelly Hess, Melanie Ringold and the Michelles — Michele Grace, Michelle Munn, Michele Lesslie and Michelle Fankfort.

At a lengthy table overlooking the wall of wine, Tena and Tyson Faust, Faust Distributing chairman and CEO, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary along with friends Samantha Boy and Jim Heins, celebrating their fourth anniversary. Among the guests were English author, former actress and It Girl of the 1970s Tessa Dahl, daughter of Oscar-winning actress Patricia Neal; John Evatz; Marge Lundquist; Rob Rutherford and more. (Dahl is in Houston for extensive dental treatment related to an auto-immune problem.)

B-19 regular Lynn Mathre held court at a key window table with associates from Cresset Asset Management, with whom she recently merged her investment firm. Salvation Army Auxiliary stalwarts Jan  Rhodes and Jane DiPaolo dined at a center table while former Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst dined with a lady friend at a bar-side table.

At the coveted corner table for six, a very handsome family who wished not to be photographed celebrated the birthday of a teenage daughter. Fertitta would be the last name, but not those Fertittas.

At a lengthy outdoor table, the crew from nearby Ryde, all in their pedaling clothes, settled down for a joyful repast.