August’s Perfect Party: Never-Too-Late Edition

Welcome to August’s Perfect Party, where of course we’re inviting Beatrice Lillie, the 80-year-old Houstonian who just graduated from HCC, and giving her the seat of honor (whether she dispenses any advice on living one’s best life into one’s eighties, shall remain up to her). Also on the list: Bryan Caswell, chef/owner of Reef in Midtown, which reopened this summer after almost two years of post-Harvey renovations; Desus Nice of duo Desus & Mero, who seem to be everywhere lately with their Bodega Boys podcast, Showtime show, new book, and five-city tour (Aug. 23, UH); Brad Jordan, also known as Scarface, the legendary local rapper who’s running for Houston City Council; Tyler Toney of five-man group Dude Perfect, the Texas A&M grads making sooo much more money than you with their YouTube stunts and touring show (Aug. 9, Toyota Center); and, finally, Charlotte Baldwin Allen, who, yes, died in 1895. Historically, Allen hasn’t gotten the credit she deserves for her role in founding this city, making the rebranding of downtown’s DoubleTree as the C. Baldwin Hotel doubly cool—and reminding us that it’s never too late to give an icon her due.

Published in the Incredible Breakthroughs at the Texas Medical Center issue of Houstonia Mag.