Guests Captured a Breezy, Balmy Palm Beach Vibe at the Annual Rienzi Spring Party

Guests Captured a Breezy, Balmy Palm Beach Vibe at the Annual Rienzi Spring Party

Two years have passed since Rienzi, the former home of Carroll & Harris Masterson, III, celebrated its 25th anniversary of opening its doors and gardens to the public for the first time as a stop on the Azalea Trail. This landmark estate is the American Southwest’s most important public collection of European decorative arts and is situated on more than four acres of gardens and woodlands near the Buffalo Bayou in the historic River Oaks neighborhood. It was donated to MFAH and opened as an MFAH house museum in 1999. 

A noticeable change has occurred over the past two years, one many who attend the springtime events will appreciate. The garden at Rienzi has been refinished as a “Hummingbird Garden.” Inspired by Martin Johnson Heade’s painting “Brazilian Hummingbirds II,” the gardens now include a variety of tropical plants native to rainforests, such as bromeliads, orchids, passion-flower blooms, and heliconia. In addition to the new flora and fauna, hummingbird nest materials will be throughout the garden. New tropical-colored lights and a misting system were installed to create a unique sensory experience.

Over 350 excited guests joined Chairs Tricia Britt, Kelli Bunch, Maddison McConn, and McKenzie Reitz and made their way to this remarkable home for the annual Rienzi Spring Party, where they dined poolside in a Palm Beach atmosphere, surrounded by tropical florals, green palm linens, and bamboo furniture from Swift + Company. DJ Flash Gordon Parks kept the party lively with breezy classic records.

All attendees were thrilled with the more than $157,000 raised to fund Rienzi’s operating budget. They even left with “Cowboy Cookies,” made by event chairman Kelli Bunch, as a parting treat!

Underwriters for the evening were Tricia and Ed Britt, Ashton and Andy Oberhauser, PFS Group, Galen and Stephen Reckling, T.R. and Isla Reckling, McKenzie and Chop Reitz, Maddison and Mark McConn, Carroll and John Wessels, Raye G. White, Jerry Ann Woodfin-Costa and Victor Costa, Susan and Bill Finnegan, Kelly and Mark Gabrisch, Katia Boutique, Christiana and Luke McConn Family, Elise and James Reckling.

In the Social Scene (not previously mentioned):  Kay Bruce, Karen Bunch, Beau Burbach, Cerón, Nino and Shannon Corbett, Channing Corbett, Susan and Bill Finnegan, Luke and Kelli Gorski, Courtney and Will Harvey, Georgia McHenry, Annie Amante and Cliffe Reckling, Katie and Kylie Rottet, Donna Sample, Joey Streller, Brady and Cleo Stringer, Madelene Alexandra Tennant