Spring 2023 Issue

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This year brings showstopping performances, amazing exhibits and momentous milestones for Houston artists and organizations.

In Montrose, an MFA curator and his partner’s bungalow goes bold and whimsical.

44 CONCRETE BLONDE

Working with a mix of the season’s hottest runway looks and his own artful inventions, a multi-talented maker puts an avant-garde spin on spring.

54 PARTY PEOPLE

Book Reports

60 DINING

Go inside ‘Top Chef’ Evelyn Garcia’s new Jūn in the Heights. Plus: What’s up in Houston’s East End, and much more dining news!

66 TRAVEL

Just in time for beach weather, Galveston boasts hotel renos and great new restaurants.

68 GUIDEBOOK

On the Cover Model Daphne Spears in a Sandra Weil top and vintage pants by Vivienne Westwood, customized by René Garza. Photographed by Garza at Muse at Museum District.

Dr. Abigail Rodriguez Plastic Surgeon

JEFF GREMILLION

Managing Editor

Creative Director

Style Editor-at-Large

Contributing Editors

Senior Stylist

Podcast Producer

Writers Photographers & Illustrators

Editor-in-Chief

Evan W. Black

Patrick Magee

Kate Stukenberg

Chris Becker and Robin Barr Sussman

Todd Ramos

Luke Brawner

Leah Cast, Julia Davila, Ray Dennison, Amanda Llanes, Zachary McKenzie, Ed Nawotka and Mai Pham

Kat Ambrose, Dionne Christiansen, Greta Connolly, Fulton Davenport, Jenn Duncan, Kelli Durham, René Garza, Kirsten Gilliam, Carla Gomez, Jhane Hoang, Shannon O’Hara, Daniel Ortiz, Phoebe Rourke, Ashkan Roayaee, Debora Smail, Julie Soefer, Al Torres, Steven Visneau and Becca Wright

Stylists & Groomers

Kali Jefferson and Brandon Lee

LISA HOLTHOUSE

Sales Director Associate Publisher

Account Executive

Operations Director Technology Director

Advisors & Partners

Accountant

Executive Publisher

Peter Remington

Jennifer Kahlden

Nader Safinya

Eric Holden

Christopher J. Nodd

M. Sonny Garza and David Paul Rabalais

Christopher Doyle

945 McKinney Street, Suite 119, Houston, Texas 77002 832.514.3001 Phone | 832.514.3002 Fax

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President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Gremillion Vice President Lisa Holthouse

Chief Operations Officer Eric Holden

Chief Technology Officer Christopher J. Nodd

Advisors M. Sonny Garza and David Paul Rabalais Style Editor-at-Large Kate Stukenberg

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Greetings

IT’S SPRINGTIME! Clocks have sprung forward, trees are blossoming, flowers are blooming and bees are buzzing. It is time for renewal.

LISA HOLTHOUSE Executive Publisher

ONE OF THE giants of Houston restaurateuring, Lee Ellis, died recently in Round Top at just 63.

I long tracked Lee’s rise to notoriety as the genius behind the BRC Gastropub — remember that big red rooster statue out front on Shepherd? — and Liberty Kitchen. With the success of those concepts, which elevated “fun” food to haute cuisine, I gave Lee a nickname: the Godfather of Comfort-Food Chic.

In 2015, as we were making plans to launch this magazine the following year, my photographer friend Julie Soefer and I created a series of mock covers to promote it. Lee was so noteworthy — and, with his long, gray ZZ Top beard, so cool — he was among our subjects, along with the likes of Lynn Wyatt and rocker Kam Franklin. (See that cover at right.)

Lee’s approach to food reminded me of Dolly Parton’s

I have a heightened sense of rebirth and awakening this time of year. I physically begin to declutter — cleaning out closets, cabinets, drawers, other people’s drawers (much to their chagrin!). And this season, this particular year, my mind and soul are going through a wonderful recharge. As I think of this CityBook issue, with an art focus and a springtime print date, I find it serendipitous regarding my own reawakening. A few years ago, as I have before mentioned, I jumped into a personal journey of studying the Bible. I started with a biblein-a-year app, then I graduated to a full-blown three-year bible study. (I’m definitely not the best student; thankfully they don’t take roll!) But I have learned and grown immensely.

approach to style: “It costs a lot of money to look this cheap.” He may have been serving French fries, but by damn he was going to fry them in butter, as he did at one of his later concepts, Star Fish. And if you ordered gumbo at Liberty, it came with rice and a side of potato salad, a nod to his Cajun roots in Lafayette, La. At his various concepts, Frito pie was a delicacy, donuts were paired with fried chicken, and slices of red velvet cake were blended into milkshakes.

In his last years, Lee broke ties will his eateries here. He and wife Melissa Savarino, a jewelry designer, moved to Round Top, where he operated a motel and a barbecue joint.

One of the great accomplishments of my life was when Lee came to my house for dinner and assessed that my homemade gumbo was pretty good. As personal triumphs go, little else can compare.

I have always thought of prophets as people chosen to speak for God. But with my spring rebirth, I’ve come to realize that we can all be prophets. If we can change a person’s life with words or music or art, it’s a prophetic opportunity. I’ll never be a preacher, or one of those wonderful people who wander off to Africa and create ministries. But in my own way, this spring I am wrestling with how to make a profound impact.

How can I take my own gifts and abilities and turn them into a positive impact on others? One of my interests is art, which circles back to the serendipity mentioned above. And I simply can’t wait to use it in a prophetic way.

I’m energized and excited about springtime in Houston and all that comes with it. The art scene is so vast and, as you’ll read inside, there is great opportunity to get out and be inspired.

JEFF GREMILLION Editor-in-Chief

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Beautiful Mind

THE MENIL COLLECTION explores the influence and intrigue of its founding curatorial director in a retrospective show, up through August. Once called “the marvelous, mad maven of modern art in America,” then-California-based curator Walter Hopps, now passed, was the first to show Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Can paintings in a gallery setting. The Curatorial Imagination of Walter Hopps features more than 130 pieces, many of which have been gifted to the museum by his wife, Caroline Huber. The show coincides with the publication of a new book, Artists We’ve Known, highlighting works by 50 artists with whom Huber and Hopps were close. –evan w. black

STYLE, CULTURE, BUSINESS & MORE

DESIGN

BeDesign, the largest destination for European design in Texas, has welcomed its first French brand. Ligne Roset, which previously had a presence in Houston a decade ago, opened within the newly expanded BeDesign showroom at 2016 W. Alabama.

SHOPPING

Denver-based boot brand Freebird has opened its doors to store No. 15 in the Galleria. Located in the Nordstrom wing on the lower level, the boutique has classics alongside trendy pairs, like booties in fun colors with elegant detailing.

MUSIC

Houston guitarist and composer George Heathco released a new album, George Heathco Solo Ensemble, Volume One. It’s a collection of electric and acoustic guitar instrumentals encompassing tightly scored orchestral arrangements, trippy soundscapes, and everything in between.

Dance

Get in the groove

Expertly navigating dual challenges as a new arts organization during the era of social distancing, Houston Contemporary Dance Company, led by Marlana Doyle, has found its footing in its fourth season. As the only Houston-based repertory company that commissions dances by choreographers both local and from around the country, HCDC consistently performs

unique and exciting shows at venues like MATCH and the Hobby Center.

On April 29, the group presents Coincide, featuring world premieres by choreographers Alexander Anderson and Yoshito Sakuraba, and a new film by Hope Stone Dance. And summer programming includes a June 9 show in celebration of Miller Outdoor Theatre’s 100th season. For more arts happenings, see page 32. –ewb

Wine

For a Good ‘Cause’

One of the biggest winners at the Rodeo Uncorked wine competition was Houston’s Jenn Rossi: Each of the four wines produced by her new urban winery The Cause garnered a silver or bronze medal. Even better news? For each bottle sold, at least $1 is donated to charities, including Memorial Park Conservancy. The park’s new land bridges appear on The Cause’s labels!

ewb

Tree Tops!

IMMERSE YOURSELF in a neon “forest” at the Musem of Fine Arts, Houston’s latest installation, Pipilotti Rist’s Pixel Forest Thousands of LED lights, encased in resin spheres, hang from the ceiling of Cullinan Hall; on the walls, Rist’s video projection called Worry Will Vanish plays. –ewb

WELLNESS

Two Houston doctors have launched Revive Biotech, a new line of hempand plant-based products designed to relieve pain, aid recovery and promote wellness. The lineup includes balms, creams, roll-ons, drops and gummies, offering varying strengths of CBD derivatives. The new hempbased products are available online and at a soon-to-open retail location in Huntsville.

Books

a path forward

MUSIC

The Houston Symphony welcomes Grammy Awardwinning trumpeter Chris Botti for three concerts, April 1416. Steven Reineke conducts.

ART

David Shelton Gallery shows new paintings by Jonathan Faber in Alluvial Plane, up through May 13. The colorful, layered pieces communicate the continual process of editing and refining when it comes to making art — and living life.

MUSIC

White Oak Music Hall welcomes electrosynth-pop group M83 for a lawn concert on April 15.

Born into a family of doctors, Ricardo Nuila felt pressure to choose between a career as a physician and one as a writer. He considered giving up his medical school admission until one professor gave him some advice: “You can go to graduate school to learn technique, but where are you going to get your stories? In medicine, you’ll find stories.”

In his new book, The People’s Hospital: Hope and Peril in American Medicine, Nuila, who has practiced medicine at Ben Taub Hospital for more than a decade, shares

stories about several uninsured, desperately ill patients. Nuila provides a comprehensive history of the basic foundations of healthcare in the U.S. and explains how, despite the quagmire of that “system,” institutions like Ben Taub offer hope and a way forward.

“You can get very fatalistic about healthcare,” says Nuila, a married father of two. “But there are places, safety-net hospitals in particular, where people are doing really good work. That’s one of the reasons why I wanted to write this book.” –chris becker, photo by jonas mohr

Buy Yourself Flowers Style

Spotted on the fall/winter runways: opulent, bold jewelry with a sense of old-world glamour. We love this amethyst ring from Valobra Master Jewelers, with clusters of gemstones that shine on and on.

Family Fun

of the Park!

open in Katy: Home Dugout, an indoor baseball experience akin to Launched by native Houstonian, West Point grad Army vet Tyler Bambrick his biz partner Nick Hermandorfer, Home Run Dugout first opened in Austin’s Dell Diamond stadium in 2019.

THE DISPATCH MOVIES

Rooftop Cinema Club, the global concept popular for its ultimate outdoor cinema experience, selected Houston to be the first city in the world with a two-screen rooftop movie theater. The experience atop BLVD Place includes Adirondack chairs and Adirondack loveseats (for two, of course), lawn games, skyline views, and classic cinemagoers’ concessions.

SINCE KELVIN

Sampson’s arrival at UH in 2014, the Cougars have risen meteorically, and this year secured the No. 1 seed in the March Madness tournament. His son, Kellen Sampson, is the UH basketball team’s assistant coach and designated future head coach — a combination that Kellen told CityBook is the team’s “secret sauce.” Hometown fans hope to cheer on the Cougs in the Final Four, March 31-April 3 at NRG Stadium. –ewb,

SHOPPING

Brookfield Properties and the Feel Good Group have debuted two new farmers markets in Downtown, providing a much-needed fresh-from-the-farm option for office workers, Downtown residents and visitors. The Smith Street Farmers Market at Allen Center, 1200 Smith St., will be held on the first and third Wednesdays of the month; The McKinney Street Farmers Market, 1221 McKinney St., will be held on the second and fourth Wednesdays.

MUSIC

Irreverent, genrebending rock band Ween takes the stage for an al fresco concert at White Oak Music Hall on April 26.

photo by gittings photography

THE DISPATCH

Moving Picture Culture

ART

Houston artist Carol Berger shares her latest decorative ceramics, which explore how clay can make different sounds — be it as a musical instrument, or the tinkling of wind chimes.

MUSIC

Dave Matthews Band continues a summer tradition, returning to The Woodlands on May 19.

ART

Brownsville-born artist and UH grad Verónica Gaona showcases her photos at Lawndale in Sigo Tumbado, Sigo Coronando through April 29.

POP CULTURE

Comicpalooza returns to George R. Brown Convention Center May 26-28, with special guests including stars of cult-fave superhero series Arrow Stephen Amell, Colton Haynes, Rick Gonzalez, Juliana Harkavy and Josh Segarra will “reunite” at the multi-format pop culture event and expo.

Aurora Picture Show is on the move! In time for its 25th anny, the mediaarts org will be based in a converted warehouse in the East End this fall. Celebrate the glow-up on May 6, when the group hosts BYOB (Bring Your Own Beamer) at the Menil: Community-sourced projections will cover the museum’s entire façade! –ewb

Trend

CAFTAN CREW

COMFORTABLE AND CHIC, the caftan is this season’s wear-everywhere item. Swap the accessories and go from lounge chair to cocktail lounge. –ewb

1) Cottonwood hat, $258, at Freya. 2) Headband, $195, by Lele Sadoughi at Revolve. 3) Mini caftan, $750, at La Vie Style House. 4) Laya earrings, $510, at Christy Lynn. 5) Shoes, $88, by Ilse Jacobsen at Cotton Club. 6) Faro caftan in seaglass, $295, at Mirth.

BIG BANG UNICO

Stripped & Sculpted

Brutalism goes chic for spring! The aesthetic’s concrete, hard angles and geometric shapes are softened by pastel hues and tons of texture. Play with color, composition and scale for maximum impact.

By Evan W. Black

1. Ceiling light fixture, $2,500, by Curtis Jeré at 1st Dibs. 2. Wood loop objects, from $75, by Diego Olivero at West Elm. 3. Tomlee wall art, $368, at Lulu and Georgia. 4. Tete a Tete chair, from $650, by Roar Rabbit at West Elm. 5. Ceramic side table, $198, at Anthropologie.

SPRING PHILANTHROPY REPORT

FEATURING: WRiTERS iN THE ScHOOLS, URbAN HARvEST, SALvATiON ARmY, cHiLdREN’S ASSESSmENT cENTER, cAmP H-TOWN’S cELEbRiTY cHEFS AGAiNST cANcER, HELPiNG A HERO, PINK bOWS FOUNdATION

UR b AN HAR v EST

What year was your organization launched? Founded in 1994, Urban Harvest cultivates thriving communities through gardening and access to healthy, local food with four core programs: Education, Community Gardens, Food Access and Farmers Markets. Urban Harvest has garnered a well-deserved reputation as a leader in the local food movement. In 2023, Urban Harvest continues to enrich the lives, soils and plates of Houstonians.

What is your mission? Urban Harvest’s mission is to cultivate thriving communities through gardening and access to healthy, local food.

What is your vision? Urban Harvest’s vision is of a healthier city where everyone has access to fresh, nutritious food harvested from sustainable community gardens and farms.

Why did you launch the organization? Over 30 years ago, two Fourth Ward activists, Deacon Malcolm McLemore and Deacon Jean Cameron, started a community garden in their neighborhood along with Dr. Bob Randall, one of the founders of Urban Harvest. Their garden grew and grew. The simple act of growing food brought neighbors together to share recipes and seeds, to solve problems about crime and blight, and to eat and celebrate together.

Since 1994, Urban Harvest has changed the way Houston thinks about food, revealing that sustainable fruits and vegetables can flourish in Houston’s unique climate. What’s more, locally grown, healthy food can revitalize and empower our communities and regions.

How have you impacted the community? In 2021, Urban Harvest brought together a growing community of 23,500 individuals and organizations interested in improving the health of our city through gardening and healthy food. We matched almost $27,000 in locally grown fruits and veggies for 375 SNAP shoppers!

Urban Harvest’s Saturday Farmers Market has offered a space for over 110 local businesses to grow. In turn, they generated $4.32 million (compared to $3.9 million in 2020).

Tell us about your big event. Urban Harvest invites Houstonians to break bread during our 2023 Sunday Supper

excellence and the communities Urban Harvest serves.

Five of Houston’s most esteemed chefs will lend their unique talents during a multi-course, family-style meal created in partnership with local ranchers and farmers. Proceeds from this unforgettable farm-to-table experience will benefit the programs of Urban Harvest.

What are you most proud of? In 2022, Urban Harvest served a total of 50,027 unique individuals across our core programs including:

• 40,000 farmers market patrons and small food businesses, farmers and ranchers through their Farmers Market Program.

• 4,404 students who Urban Harvest provided gardening education and resources to with 90% of these schools located in socially vulnerable areas.

• 207 school teachers

• 1,000 individuals from all ages and backgrounds through our Education Program

• 2,031 community gardeners that together, protect 15.6 acres of urban productive greenspaces through Urban Harvest’s network of 190 affiliated gardens

• 1,656 individuals located in underserved neighborhoods across Houston through the Mobile Farmers Market and nutrition incentive program for SNAP recipients, Double Up Houston.

How many employees and volunteers work with your organization? The Urban Harvest team is made up of 11 full time employees, dozens of hourly staff and a small army of supportive volunteers.

What are your major challenges? As with all nonprofits, our challenges are addressing the ever-changing needs of our growing community. Community gardens need volunteers, farmers and vendors need support for sustaining their small businesses, schools need dedicated garden support and hands-on instruction, and our Mobile Market customers need fresh products at more affordable prices. We need funders, supporters and volunteers who engage in our mission and support all of our life-changing work!

Urban Harvest Mobile Market Manager Gabriel Borja and Community Gardens & Outreach Manager Randall Mosman

THE SALvATION AR m Y OF GREATER HOUSTON

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

Since 1889, The Salvation Army of Greater Houston, a United Way of Greater Houston partner agency, serves Harris, Montgomery and Fort Bend Counties through three areas of focus: Life Navigation, Youth Development and Rehabilitation. Programming locally includes supportive shelters, emergency disaster relief, social services, youth programs, senior programs and adult rehabilitation.

Each year nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army. The Salvation Army is largest non-governmental social services provider in the United States serving every zip code. Of every dollar given locally, about 82 cents goes directly to program services in the Greater Houston Area.

The Salvation Army relies heavily on generous public support, faithful community partners and committed volunteers who support its programs and play a crucial role in its ability to provide quality social services for the entire community. Through the skills and experience they bring, volunteers make significant contributions by positively impacting the lives of those they assist. Salvation Army volunteers change lives, uplift families and support communities throughout our nation every day. Some of the many ways to get involved include helping pack Food Boxes for those suffering from food insecurity, becoming a Bell Ringer at Christmas or adopting an Angel through The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program.

To volunteer, donate or learn more about The Salvation Army of Greater Houston, please visit www.salvationarmyhouston.org.

WRITERS THE S c HOOLS

What year was your organization launched? Writers in the Schools (WITS) was founded in 1983.

What is your mission? WITS’ mission is to connect children and youth with professional writers and spoken word artists to unlock the joy and power of storytelling and creative expression.

Why did you launch the organization? Forty years ago, a group of creative writers wanted to share the joy of stories with children. They grabbed their pencils and paired up with public school teachers. Together, they changed the way children experience reading and writing. WITS makes learning an exciting adventure while improving the academic, social, and creative abilities of children.

How does reading and writing transform children’s lives? We believe that creativity prepares children for the future. Each year, 65,000 students and educators in more than 400 Houston classrooms plant their own stories and discover the magic of WITS. Every child – regardless of socioeconomic status – deserves a holistic education that encourages critical thinking, creativity, and personal responsibility. Expression through reading and writing provides children with an outlet like no other- one that allows them to soar and experience their full potential.

How have you impacted the community?

For four decades, Writers in the Schools (WITS) has transformed the lives of Houston-area youth, connecting

them to the joy and power inherent in storytelling and creative expression. Through the nonprofit’s transformative work, children across the Houston area have gained the skills and confidence to share their stories, experiences, and ideas with the world.

Today, WITS partners with numerous private and public schools, community centers, hospitals, and more, providing students with opportunities for personal growth and increased self-confidence. In addition, it offers a variety of creative writing workshops and camps and is the leader of Houston’s poetry movement, sponsoring the City’s youth and adult poet laureates.

Tell us about your big event. Writers in the Schools (WITS) will celebrate 40 years of engaging children in the joy of reading and writing. Chaired by Liz and Steven Bender, the 40th-anniversary gala, Chapter 40: An Odyssey of Impact, will honor the founder of WITS, Phillipe Lopate, and other heroes of the WITS 40-year journey. The event will also commemorate the long-standing partnerships fostered with Houston-area schools in addition to students and alums from WITS programs.

How many employees and volunteers work with your organization? We have 11 employees and 50+ writers on the roster.

How can the public learn more about WITS? To learn more about WITS and its programs, visit www. witshouston.org.

Helping a Hero Salutes Texas Wounded Heroes Receiving 2023 Adapted Homes

SSG Travis Strong USA (Ret.)

Injured Nov 27, 2006 - Baghdad, Iraq

Rated 100% P&T Injuries:

-Double above the knee amputee Location Choices: Dallas / Fort Worth T X

SSG Travis Strong grew up north of Los Angeles with his single Mom. He had a passion for speed and adventure, played football as a strong safety, raced dirt bikes and even competed in MMA fighting (open class level). In 1997, he joined the U.S. Army and followed in Strong served in planes hit the serve and after the protect troops in their Strong, the Stryker. Without bomb smoke, the remember experience nothing I could do to stop it.” His right leg was gone and his left leg was mangled. His lungs collapsed. He was fading in and out of consciousness. One soldier to getting this dying sergeant to the field hospital at Liberty..and he could. Strong flat-lined times. He woke up at Camp Liberty and the battalion commander and chaplain reassured him, “You’re still with us, you’re alive.”

As he began his long road to recovery, he endured painful complications from bone growth and skin graphs on his leg. Strong went through every emotion: anger, sadness, depression and despair. But it was at the moment when he made a decision NOT to live life confined to a wheelchair, that Army Strong…became Army STRONG! SSG Travis Strong has embraced his story and shared it with the world. His passion for overcoming adversity and his passion for encouraging others to overcome adversity is inspiring. And he now embraces his name as a birthright and a challenge to prove you can live life and BE STRONG!

SSG Strong loves to challenge people with disabilities to not give in to the pain and quit...but to dream about who they want to be. He volunteers and trains at the Adaptive Training Foundation in Carrollton, TX and finds great fulfillment in helping people to compete in various adaptive sports. His first personal quest was to learn to walk on prosthetics as he wanted to get married standing tall on two legs and not in a wheelchair. He skis, he completed 3 marathons on handbikes, he competes in Spartan races, and every day he commits to live the best life he can.

Helping a Hero is looking forward to building SSG Strong an adapted home that will restore his independence. Strong needs to live close to Worth area where they have family and not too far from the training center in Carrolton. He also would love to own and adaptive day.

Donate today and change a hero’s life forever!

HelpingaHero.org has many Texas heroes on our waiting list. Bass Pro Shops has partnered with Helping a Hero to launch the 100 Homes Challenge and donate 25% of the cost of our next 100 homes. With your donation, large or small, you can help us make these specially adapted homes a reality for more of our Texas heroes by helping us fund the other 75%!

CPL Frank Fields, USA (Ret) Cypress, Texas

CPL Matthew Houston, USA (Ret) New Caney, Texas

Cpl Justin Rokohl, USMC (Ret) Corpus Christi, Texas

SSG Jeremy Frost, USA (Ret) Amarillo, Texas

SFC Scott Adams, USA (Ret) New Braunfels, Texas

SSG Travis Strong, USA (Ret) Fort Worth, Texas

CPL Nick Clark, USA (Ret) Pinehurst, Texas

SSG Bradley Gruetzner, USA (Ret) Victoria, Texas

THE c HIL d REN’S ASSESS m ENT c ENTER

What year was your organization launched? The Children’s Assessment Center (The CAC) began providing services to Harris County children and families in 1991, and our Foundation was created in 1995 to provide additional funding for increased access to our well-rounded care.

What is your mission? The mission of The CAC is to provide a professional, compassionate and coordinated approach to the treatment of sexually abused children and their families and to serve as an advocate for all children in our community. Simply put, we exist to protect children, heal families, and prevent child sexual abuse and child sex trafficking in our community.

Why did you launch the organization? The CAC is the only advocacy center in Harris County and the largest in the nation. We provide healing services to over 6,000 child sexual abuse victims and their families each year. The goal of The CAC is to provide all the services children and families need in one place. We provide forensic interviewing, therapy and psychological services, and medical services free of charge to our clients. We also facilitate community outreach and prevention training to raise awareness about child abuse in our community and how to keep children safe. We hope our process will give children and families the tools necessary to empower them on their healing journey. We exist to help our community become a better, safer place for each child of Harris County.

What are you most proud of? At The CAC, awareness and advocacy are the foundation for keeping children safe. The CAC provides prevention trainings to adults and children in Harris County. We are proud to announce that in 2022, our team trained 36,685 community members — a 239 percent increase from 2021 to 2022! You can learn more about our free virtual and in-person trainings on our website cachouston.og.

Tell us about your big event. The CAC is excited to host the Spirit of Spring Gala on April 29, 2023, at the Marriott Marquis, chaired by Consuelo Macpherson, Mariana Pope,and Sara Downey. Our Gala has taken a 20+ year hiatus, and now we welcome supporters to our reimagined cornerstone event. Join us for a fun and mission-focused evening where guests will have the opportunity to hear from a survivor of child sexual abuse that now works as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Detroit, and a therapist who works directly with child survivors and families to overcome the trauma of abuse. As individuals, organizations and a community, we must come together to protect children, and become part of the solution. We invite you to make this commitment to help us empower children on their healing journey as survivors of sexual abuse. Please join us at our Gala and be part of the solution to end child sexual abuse in our community. To learn more, please visit our CAC website or event page at cvent.me/EDM7gV

CAMP H-TOWN’S CELEBRITY CHEFS AGAINST CANCER

Tell us about the Celebrity Chefs Against Cancer event. Taking place on May 3 at Four Seasons Hotel Houston, the 4th Annual Celebrity Chefs Against Cancer event will bring the Houston community together for an unforgettable night of great food and drink, connection, fun and impactful philanthropy. The event benefits Camp H-Town, our annual summer sleep away camp at Four Seasons, conducted in collaboration with MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital.

What can people expect on this special night? Guests will enjoy bites from Houston’s top chefs, who will showcase their restaurants’ signature dishes — expect the likes of Marmo, Toro Toro, Bayou & Bottle, Xochi, Uchiko, Pastore and more. Spectacular wines from Wagner Family Wines and hand-crafted cocktails from Bayou & Bottle will be flowing, as well as live entertainment provided by DJ Daniel Buckman of BELLOSOUND. It’s a fantastic evening that we look forward to every year.

What is different about this year’s event? We’re excited to expand our auction this year, which will help us reach a fundraising record. The silent auction will feature

stays at Four Seasons hotels around the country, locally made luxury goods, and gift certificates to participating restaurants. We’re also adding a few very special live auction items like a stay in an overwater bungalow at Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, which we know will certainly generate a lot of excitement.

What can you share about the beneficiary, Camp H-Town? The mission of Camp H-Town is to bring back the joys of childhood to a unique population of children touched by cancer through an urban camp experience at Four Seasons Hotel Houston. During the summer, the Hotel will convert an entire floor into a “campground” with bunk beds and camping gear, in which the campers will stay four nights under the supervision of medical staff from MD Anderson and local volunteers. Volunteers from the community, hotel and MD Anderson look forward to the opportunity to allow the campers to escape what they are going through and to just be kids for a week. The kids enjoy activities both on property and around Houston, including magic shows from Ben Jackson, a trip to the Space Center, and a dance party at the House of Blues.

presents

Inside the Culture

This year brings showstopping performances, amazing exhibits and momentous milestones for Houston’s most diverse and dynamic artists and organizations. Get ready to mark your calendars!

By Evan W. Black

Future Perfect

Opening May 26 at the CAMH, Ming Smith: Feeling the Future is the photographer’s first solo exhibition at a major institution to survey her work from the early 1970s through the present. Conceived by Art Is Bond gallery owner Janice Bond, who along with Barbara Davis Gallery will present a concurrent dual exhibition of selected works by Smith, Feeling is a fascinating overview of the ephemeral and tactile moments of life, especially Black life in the United States, as seen through the lens of one of the most respected, yet underacknowledged artists of her generation.

Art Stars

Lenora

The soulful R&B songstress’ latest single, “Power,” was recorded live at Houston’s SugarHill Studios.

Micah Edwards

Since appearing in CityBook’s Music Issue last spring, “Texas soul” artist Micah Edwards released his debut album, hit 1 million followers on Spotify and played SXSW. In April, he’ll open for his sister, country star Madeline Edwards (who recently toured with Chris Stapleton), at Heights Theater on April 14.

World of Dance

Stanton Welch is ringing in his 20th year with the Houston Ballet this fall — and it’s shaping up to be a showstopper. The troupe’s 2023-2024 season includes six world premieres and three Houston Ballet premieres, plus favorites from the artistic director’s two-decade tenure, including audience-beloved Cinderella and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. “I am proud of how Houston Ballet has grown to truly become an Eden of creativity,” says Welch.

Open House

The MFAH just opened six new permanent exhibition spaces for Art of the Islamic Worlds. The Hossein Afshar Galleries are filled with hundreds of objects reflecting the range and beauty of art from present-day Morocco, Spain, Tunisia, Egypt, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

Welch’s ‘Tutu,’ debuting in September, is set to Ravel’s ‘Concerto for Piano’ in G major.

Art Stars Go Beyond

Juraj Valčuha

This season, renowned Slovakian conductor Juraj Valcuha became the Houston Symphony’s 16th music director. See him in action May 12-14, when he leads the orchestra in playing Tchaikovsky’s final symphony.

A contemporary of Mark Rothko and student of MFAH founding director James Chillman, Houston painter Leila McConnell displays 30 beautiful works this spring at Foltz Fine Art. View Somewhere

Beyond through April 29.

The Beat Goes On O

n May 12, at the Cullen Theater, Houston-born master drummer Kendrick Scott premieres Unearthed, a multimedia production commissioned by Dacamera. It honors the lives of the Sugar Land 95 — convicts leased and forced into fatal labor just after the Civil War in the fields of Sugar Land, and whose remains were discovered in 2018 in several unmarked graves. Expect musicians featured on Scott’s new album Corridors, alongside the Harlem String Quartet and projections by artist Robert Hodge.

Robert Glasper

This year, Houston-born Robert Glasper won the Grammy for Best R&B Album, prompting Chris Brown’s now iconic tweet, which appears on Glasper’s newest merch: “Who the f*** is Robert Glasper?”

Centennial Show S

ince opening in 1923, the al fresco amphitheater in Hermann Park has hosted the likes of Tommy Tune, Peter Frampton and Big Bird. In Miller Outdoor Theatre’s 100th anniversary season, which began in March and is full of free, family-friendly performances and events, expect shows by the Symphony, Ballet, HGO, Performing Arts Houston and more. Mark your calendar for the TUTS retrospective show and “birthday party,” July 14-15.

Miller Outdoor Theatre and, below, a performance in 1945

Planting a Flag in the Energy Space: One Attorney’s Journey

WWith oil and gas (O&G) companies realizing record profits in 2022, the outlook for the sector in 2023—unlike the broader economy—continues to be cautiously optimistic. For professionals like me, an attorney specializing in the O&G space, this is welcome news.

In good times and bad, energy companies rely on sound legal counsel for representation in courtrooms and boardrooms nationwide. Michelman & Robinson, LLP, tasked me with launching an office in Houston for this very reason.

Starting Off With a Bang (Pun Intended)

In January 2022, I joined M&R and opened the doors to its second office in Texas. M&R is a nationally recognized law firm headquartered in Los Angeles, with additional locations in San Francisco, Irvine, Dallas, Chicago, New York City and now, Houston, the branch I continue to build as Office Managing Partner.

Thus far, the reach of M&R Houston has been phenomenal. My office houses the firm’s specialty practice group focused on the O&G and renewables industries, and my mandate has been to move the needle within the energy sector and serve an ever-growing client base in that space. Toward that end, my team and I have been running on all cylinders, handling a wide array of litigation and transactional work, not only in Texas, but throughout the nation’s O&G-producing hubs.

One of those cases was a royalty-related lawsuit filed in New Martinsville, West Virginia against my client, the nation’s largest natural gas producer. Last summer, that courtroom battle made headlines from coast to coast when the openly hostile presiding judge pulled a Colt .45 pistol that was holstered under his robe and aimed it at me during a hearing in the midst of trial.

This was undoubtedly the most jarring and outrageous episode of my career, but undeterred, I was able to resolve the case, in which the plaintiffs sought hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. Shortly after the judge’s threatening display, I extracted critical admissions from the plaintiffs’ witnesses during crossexamination, leading to a confidential settlement highly favorable for my client.

A Two-Pronged Crusade

Since the showdown in West Virginia, I have been on a mission running parallel tracks. First, given the incident in New Martinsville, I am doing all I can to root out corruption within the legal bar and the judiciary, while advocating that all litigants must be given equal access to justice in West Virginia and beyond. At the same time, I am championing growth at M&R Houston, striving to further penetrate the O&G markets in Texas and elsewhere. These efforts are proving to be quite fruitful.

My office has more than doubled in size since its inception, and we have

only just begun. My ever-expanding team and I are handling high-stakes, “bet the company” lawsuits in state and federal courts nationwide—cases involving environmental contamination, royalties (as mentioned), disputes between producers, and energy and commodity markets. Outside the courtroom, we provide ongoing advice and counsel on the acquisition and divestiture of O&G properties and midstream assets, O&G production and business operations, O&G leases, accounting obligations to interest owners, and royalty payment practices.

A Nod to Female Representation

What I am particularly proud of are my efforts to build a team comprised of men and women alike. Truth be told, representation among female lawyers in the energy sector is a mixed bag. On the plus side, women are fairly well represented in in-house legal departments industry-wide. This is an inspiration to me and the other women I work closely with, and, in my view, the lady lawyers working in-house are hitting it out of the park. Unfortunately, law firms are not keeping pace, and there is still much to be done to get more women associates and partners acting on behalf of O&G clients.

Given the want of female energy attorneys in law firms, it is quite a statement that M&R named me as its Houston Office Managing Partner. I am happy to report that I am building upon that momentum by adding remarkable female talent to our ranks.

Looking Forward

I am energized about what is in store for us at M&R going forward. If my journey thus far is any indication, things are certainly looking up—just as they are for the broader O&G space.

Of course, I am mindful of the downturn being experienced across other industries and that not all energy companies are flourishing. I also understand that when the economy is in turmoil, lawyers and law firms can be a godsend. As such, I hope to be of help to clients no matter their financial circumstances.

All that being said, my message is simply this: the M&R flag has been planted in Houston, and we are here to serve.

LaurenVarnadomanagestheHoustonofficeof Michelman & Robinson, LLP, a national law firm based inLosAngelesthatrepresentsclientsinahostof areas,suchascomplexandclassactionlitigation andemployment,corporate&securities,regulatory, white-collardefense&investigations,cybersecurity, privacy,realestate,andbankruptcymatters.Thefirm does so for individuals and entities across industries, includingtheadvertising&digitalmedia,banking& financialservices,cannabis,hospitality,insurance, music&entertainment,retail&appareland technologyspaces.Asought-after,award-winning litigatorandheadofthefirm’senergypractice, Laurencanbecontactedatlvardado@mrllp.comor (713) 422-2121.

Photo by Laurie Perez Photography

Art Stars

Nicky Sohn

Nicky Sohn has joined Kinetic Ensemble as its first-ever composerin-residence. The Rice PhD candidate is inspired by the rhythm of jazz as well as traditional Korean orchestra music.

On the Same Page

Vlad De Briansky

For most of the past decade, newly Houston-based blues guitarist Vlad de Briansky ran a music school in Kyiv, Ukraine. Catch the talented musician — who has raised tens of thousands of dollars for refugees, and personally helped families cross the border into Poland — on May 25 at MATCH.

Notable Houston artist Robert Hodge has collaborated with Austin-based musician Tim Kerr on No Kings But Us, opening at UH’s Blaffer Museum on May 20. Expect layers upon layers of music history and political messaging, communicated via collages of screenprinting, stencils, album covers and more.

Waiting in the Wings

Given the success of Plumshuga: The Rise of Lauren Anderson, Roe and cullud wattah, what can Stages do for an encore? First, it’s The Legend of Georgia McBride (opening May 5), the story of a Floridian who gives up his career as an Elvis impersonator for the lucrative world of drag. McBride will be performed in repertory with Drag Wonderettes (left, May 19), a high drag jukebox musical featuring big hair, bigger hips, and even bigger well, you get the idea! Thunder Knocking on the Door (June 16) brings things down to earth with a tale of family reckoning featuring the music of bluesman Keb’ Mo’.

‘No Kings But Us’ by Hodge-Kerr

Art Stars Source of Inspiration

Christopher Paul

This UH student combines wearable art, fashion design, performance art, video, music and sculpture. He leads an April 13 movement workshop at the African American Library at the Gregory School.

This spring, Solange curated a special music, poetry and film series at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, called Eldorado Ballroom. It’s named after the recently reopened Third Ward music hall where her love for performance began. Perhaps Solange will soon present something similar in her hometown?

The Project Row Houses executive is celebrating the organization’s 30th anniversary and its “Social Sculpture” model, which reflects “the belief that collaboration between artists, neighbors, activists, and innovators can be leveraged to positively transform communities.”

On the Move

The Orange Show Center for Visionary

Art the nonprofit behind the annual Art Car Parade (which rolls into Downtown April 15!) — recently received the Save America’s Treasures grant, which will go toward the preservation of its original monument, an iconic Houston landmark. Additionally, the organization is in the process of expanding its campus to a total of eight acres, with an aim to be a “world-class center with year-round interdisciplinary programs and exhibitions of leading self-taught and outsider art.”

Eureka Gilkey

The Orange Show’s original monument and, above, The Art Car Parade

by Hodge-Kerr

Art Stars

The Butlers

HGO’s 43-yearold, worldrenowned school for young singers has been renamed the Sarah and Ernest Butler Houston Grand Opera Studio, in honor of the patrons who earlier this year made the largestever single gift to the company — $22 million.

Spring to Life

Under the leadership of chief curator Christopher Blay, The Houston Museum of African American Culture continues its mission to engage visitors of every race, gender and ethnicity through art. The museum’s spring exhibitions open in April and include the Bert Long Jr. Gallery Spring Survey Exhibition, a diverse group exhibition of Houston- and Texas-based artists working in a variety of mediums; and Evita Tezeno: Out of Many, a collection of vibrant, contemporary folk-style collages by Tezeno depicting everyday scenes of Black life, as in this one, called “Secrets are Kept.”

Deborah Mouton

In her debut memoir Black Chameleon, poet, playwright, and performer Deborah “D.E.E.P.” Mouton shares her own story. Publishers Weekly calls it “a spirited portrait of Black American womanhood.”

Classical Conditioning

The Bach Society, toasting 40 years this season, performs Johann Sebastian’s masterpieces at pop-up concerts around Houston. Listen to the Brandenburg Concertos at the MFAH’s European Galleries on April 14!

New Tales of Old Montrose

Mixing tons of whimsy and an aversion to ‘distressing tastefulness,’ an MFA curator and his artful partner go bright and bold in a century-old bungalow.

By Jeff Gremillion, Photos by Josh Gremillion

For many, the prospect of buying an historic home and not only restoring it but also expanding it upward with an additional floor upstairs for the master suite, and southward with new guest quarters on the ground floor, would be daunting. But not for Newstonians Bradley Bailey and Matt Sweeney.

“I wasn’t frightened of an old home,” says Bailey, 40, a native of Kansas City who works as curator of Asian art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Sweeney, a 39-year-old fitness instructor from Winston-Salem, N.C., chimes in: “We wanted something with character and personality and space. I wanted a project.”

So the handsome pair, along with hyperactive Boston Terrier Blinker and deaf senior kittycat Pawla, took on the challenge of renovating a 110-year-old arts-andcrafts bungalow in Montrose’s Avondale district. They turned it into an at times lovingly accurate example of period architecture — and an at times over-the-top showplace for their unapologetically vivid sensibilities.

“A colorful assemblage of things, not one specific style,” is how Sweeney describes the whole affair. Bailey notes their desire to avoid “distressing tastefulness.” The curator, whose None Whatsoever: Zen Paintings from the Gitter-Yelen Collection show is up at MFA through May 14, goes on, stating firmly: “I can’t abide the prevailing HGTV aesthetic. Our tastes are aggressively homosexual … a mix of 1970s and Memphis Milano.” He adds, over Sweeney’s objections, that there’s even a hint of “bad ’90s corporate.”

The palette is a visitor’s first clue that — Bailey’s hometown notwithstanding — you’re not in

At Attention Above: The mantle’s army men. Opposite, clockwise from top: The guest room has floral House of Hackney wallpaper and an S. Tucker Cooke painting depicting a yawning greyhound and French aristocrats, one with a toucan on her head; ‘Butch,’ a backlit wall piece by Rich Harrington that was sourced in upstate New York, hangs at the top of the stairs; kitchen cabinets are painted Sherwin-Williams’ ‘In the Pink’ with cream appliances by Sweden’s AGA, the latter intended to lend an ‘updated ’50s vibe,’ per homeowner Bailey.

Kansas anymore. (Although you may well be a friend of Dorothy.) The exterior has gone a daring, chic black, the front door a warm sunflower yellow.

Once inside, the most striking thing — among many striking things — may be the Insta-friendly kitchen. “We wanted a pink kitchen,” says Sweeney. “That was the first decision we made. In an open floorplan, you’re seeing from every room from every room. You can’t miss it. Why not make it a statement?”

“Phyllis Diller had an acid-green kitchen,” Bailey observes of their inspiration. He adds, only half-joking, “In a certain kind of way, it reads as neutral.” The multi-color, disc-scaped, crystal light fixture overhead is Murano glass, sourced from Milan via Etsy, as was the rose-tinted starburst one in the living room.

Elsewhere, in the original part of the house — where contractor KC Gifford arranged to custom-make period replacement windows in places — the original living room fireplace has new irregular-shaped olive-green tiles, which could fool you into thinking they date to 1913. Atop the mantle, more evidence of the homeowners’ love of the whimsical: large-scale army-men toys sourced from greatbigstuff.com.

Also placed about the open living-and-casual-dining

space are an infinity ball by crimson-haired Japanese artist Yayoi Kusana, 93, and ceramic numbers by Houston’s Wyatt Little, including a white high-top sneaker. And there’s a piece by a Provincetown artist who makes sculptures out of old Soviet light fixtures. The formal dining room boasts black Scalamandre wallpaper with golden zebras jumping about. The painting over the blond wood vintage 1970s credenza is an Old-Masters-meets-pop-art piece by North Carolina’s S. Tucker Cooke depicting a man with a book surrounded by lilies and jewels and splashes of fuchsia; the vintage-looking chrome bar cart in the corner came from Lowe’s, circa 2022.

On contractor Gifford’s suggestion, the dining room ceiling is simply the original shiplap stripped down and stained darkest ebony. The contractor also had the bright idea of adding a bookshelf under the staircase leading to the upstairs addition.

The new second-floor suite is a bit of a retreat from the relentless vibrating energy of the ground level (except for the NSFW Tom of Finland wallpaper in the water closet). Mostly it’s a restrained mix of green-gray and cream hues, vaulted ceilings and large, healthy potted plants. There’s a bulbous Pepino chaise in a bright corner of the bedroom. “It’s like a 1970s psychoanalyst’s office,” Bailey deadpans, per his custom.

“Considering the rest of the house, we felt we needed something more serene up here.” 

Stripe It Rich! Above: Pet Blinker and the homeowners in the zebra-happy dining room. Opposite, clockwise from top left: A bookshelf cleverly carved from a new staircase; a bright guest bath where wall tiles graduate from yellows and oranges to blues and greens; the Avondale bungalow has gone ‘Jasper’ with ‘Greenblack’ trim á la Sherwin-Williams.

Working with a mix of the season’s hottest runway looks and his own artful and sustainable inventions, a multi-talented maker puts an avant-garde spin on spring.

CONCRETE BLONDE

Photography and styling by René Garza

Makeup by Brandon Lee, Hair by Kali Jefferson

Photography assistance by William Gomez and Maeve Karpov Models Daphne Shears and Tristan Kennedy Shot on location at Muse at Museum District

Top, $880, by Sandra Weil at Tootsies; vintage pants, by Vivienne Westwood, customized by Rene Garza. Opposite page, on her: skirt, $1,650, by Alexander McQueen at Tootsies; bracelet, by Chanel. On him: jumpsuit, by Chanel.

Previous spread: Top and skirt, by Michael Kors.

Dress, by Cesar Galindo at Sloan Hall. Opposite page: Bodysuit, by Rene Garza.

On her: Shirt, $415, by Weisheng at Sloan Hall, and pants, by Rene Garza. On him: Pants, by Rene Garza. Socks and shoes models’ own. Opposite page: Coat, by Gucci.

Pants, by Rene Garza. Socks and shoes model’s own. Opposite page: Dress, by Rene Garza.

Party People

HAVING A BALL!

On the heels of last year’s San Luis Salute, which was Texas’ biggest Mardi Gras bash ever, Tilman Fertitta was determined to throw another stupendous celebration. And that he did! After a Champagne-fueled pre-party in a chandelier-bedecked tent on the dock next to their mega-yacht, the Gilded Masquerade gala at the Galveston Island Convention Center at the San Luis Resort featured a rowdy Pitbull concert. Dalé! One of Houston’s most beloved music organizations, Mercury, raised a quarter-million bucks at its recent annual gala, which had a fun “Carnival of the Animals” theme. ... The Discovery Green Conservancy’s Gala on the Green event marked the 15th anniversary of the Downtown park. The evening also toasted Nancy and Rich Kinder for their latest $2 million gift, which will be used to establish an endowment. ... This year’s Concert of Arias event at HGO — featuring the finals of the Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers, followed by an elegant dinner in the Wortham foyer — was truly epic. The opera announced that donors

Marc and Duyen Nguyen at ‘Ballet’

Richard Flowers and Lynn Wyatt at ‘Ballet’

Dana Wempe and Blake Fertitta at ‘Salute’

Ann and Jonathan Ayre at ‘HGO’

Jorge and April Salazar at ‘Heart’

Khambrel Marshall and Sabirah Rayford at ‘Heart’

Emily Key and Martin Simon at ‘Mercury’

Party People

Thomas and Hailey Kleiderer at ‘Salute’ Rich Handler at ‘Salute’

Robert, Jaewon, Kathy and Glen Gondo at ‘Tiger’

Nancy and Rich Kinder at ‘Green’

Milka Waterland, Silvia Salle at ‘BeDesign’

Zinat Ahmed at ‘Cotton’

Camille Charvet, Bill Baldwin, Fady Armanious at ‘Ballet’

Chandler Dalton and Neal Burks at ‘Ballet’

Kim Padgett, Susan Osterberg and Cheryl Byington at ‘Sweethearts’

Party People

Sarah and Ernest Butler had just made the largest ever single gift to the company: $22 million! ... The 2023 Houston Ballet Ball, chaired by Allison and Troy Thacker, homaged the Mississippi marshlands as depicted in Tennessee Williams’ Summer and Smoke, which inspired a world-premiere production by the Ballet. ... The culture and traditions of Japan were celebrated in grand style at the Asia Society Texas’ Tiger Ball. This year’s tented dinner, with décor featuring live cherry blossom trees, raised more than $1.5 million. The American Heart Association’s annual gala included fun plays on the word “beat,” like hip-hop violinist Demola, who played the cocktail hour. The total till topped $1.2 million. ... Cotton Holdings and CEO Pete Bell opened Rodeo season strong with a 10,000-squarefoot chandelier-and-red-roses-bedecked tent dubbed the Cotton ’Q Club, hosting hundreds of guests at Rodeo Cook-off.

The 12th Annual Houston Sweetheart Tea at Saks Fifth Avenue celebrated seven “sweethearts” for their contributions to the community. ... Design lovers turned up at BeDesign in the Upper Kirby/Montrose area to toast the ongoing expansion of the high-end showroom and, especially, the opening of the first Flexform flagship showroom in Texas. The annual Truffle Masters competition, hosted by DR Delicacy, featured dozens of chefs crafting their most delicious dishes using black truffle. First place went to Nobu chef Joe Murphy! 

Cynthia Petrello and Celina Hellmund at ‘HGO’

Dr. Daniel Penny and Yuliya Veretennikova at ‘Heart’

Jessica Collado and Stephanie Tsuru at ‘Ballet’

Martin Stuardo and Kyle Nasrallah at ‘Mercury’

Anne and Albert Chao at ‘HGO’

Jason Salas, Lacey Dalcour Salas at ‘Green’

Jay Jones, Margaret Alkek Williams and Terry Wayne Jones at ‘Tiger’

Cindy Bendy and Kim Moody at ‘Sweethearts’

Tilman Fertitta and Pete Bell at ‘Cotton’

Sanette Austin, Michelle Brady, Stacey White and Chasity Spiller at ‘Cotton’

The Masraff’s team at ‘Truffle’

April Salazar at ‘BeDesign’

Blayne Fertitta and Dancie Ware at ‘Salute’

Shane & Marissa Gilroy at ‘Mercury’

Jim Nelson, Hallie Vanderhider and Allison and Troy Thackerat ‘Ballet’

Adrian Duenas and Marcelo Saenz at ‘BeDesign’

Lance and Alicia Smith at ‘Salute’

Breaking Muse

The West Dallas building previously home to Emmaline will soon have a new occupant — and it comes with some serious chef cred. E.J. Miller, who has run the kitchens of SaltAir, Riel and International Smoke, is the executive chef of Muse, with shareable, Asian-inspired fare. For more on this and other food news, see page 62.

photo by dylan mcewan

Earthy and Eclectic

T“The most important thing I learned from my Top Chef journey was how strong mentally I am, because it was one of the hardest and most stressful things I’ve ever done,” says chef Evelyn Garcia.

Those nerves of steel will come in handy with her recent debut of Jūn (420 E. 20th St., Ste A) in the Heights with co-founder Henry Lu, featuring riffs on Southeast Asian cuisine. Jūn — a nod to the birth month of Lu’s sister and Garcia’s mother — is the first brick-andmortar restaurant for both chefs.

The duo came together after both working gigs in New York kitchens. For native Houstonian Garcia, that meant honing her chops at top spots like Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Spice Market and Thai restaurant Kin Shop. After moving back to Houston, Garcia and Lu started catering company By Kin HTX, and worked in Rice Village’s Politan Row food hall until it shuttered. Since Bravo’s Top Chef: Houston, the two have been growing their business with well attended pop-up events

around town.

Formerly the home of Steel City Pops, the openwarehouse-like restaurant was originally a 1950s-era washeteria. It’s been reimagined into a sleek and intimate space by celebrated hospitality designer Gin Braverman with Gin Design Group. The three distinct dining areas are fashioned with tropical plants, natural distressed floors and eclectic pieces that bring to mind a Tulummeets-Southeast-Asia aesthetic.

Behind the half-moon-shaped bar made of white concrete, there’s illuminated arched shelving. Elsewhere, sculptural wooden stools pull up to a curved dining rail, and pieces from Garcia’s own art collection adorn the space. “The clean, modern architectural lines and furnishings are enhanced with the many personal items Chef Evy has collected and arranged,” says Braverman, noting that Garcia and Lu were both collaborators throughout the process.

The overall vibe is homey and modern with earthy

‘Top Chef’ Evelyn Garcia’s flavorful, fusion-food-fueled debut was worth the wait. By Robin Barr Sussman, Photos by Claudia Casbarian

Garden Party Carrots with ‘everything salsa matcha,’ Salvadorian cheese and quail egg

touches, even down to the handmade ceramics from Oaxaca, Mexico, on which every dish is served.

All 15 or so “new Asian American” menu items are designed to be shared. Come hungry — for dinner only, at the moment — for taste adventures including Gulf shrimp with avocado and taro; raw oysters with fermented mango; and beef tartare with toasted rice. Whole branzino dusted with cinnamon, clove and guajillo; lamb in soulful curry with pistachios; and

LATEST DISH!

HOUSTON’S BEST FOOD NEWS, IN SMALL BITES

Thai chili fried chicken are a few of the recipes passed down from generations.

For a deliciously different dessert, consider the nuegados, a yuca-mochi-like donut finished with star anise, orange zest and pilonsillo syrup. Rather sip a cocktail to complement the fare? Try the beautiful, cool and refreshing sake-based Thai One On or even a “zero-proof” cocktail like the Holé Molé, with almond mole, condensed milk, dulce de leche and Mexican coke. 

Muse opens soon in the former Emmaline space, with exec chef E.J. Miller and GM Patty Burbach, an alum of Mastro’s and MAD. The largely shareable menu will tout Asianinspired steaks, seafood and — as per the trend of 2023 sushi. Expect a sultry reno of the interior space.

“French Cowboy,” Philippe Schmit has returned to the Houston restaurant scene. PS21 is a “laid-back,” modern approach to French fare in the Upper Kirby building previously home to Queen Vic and Olive & Twist. On the menu: duck breast Wellington, and steak tartare Rossini with seared foie gras and truffle vinaigrette.

Channeling the mezze style of dining in Greece, the

Lounge at March has expanded its food menu. Shared snacks include foie gras loukoumades, caviar service with accoutrements like tzatziki and pita; and more. Opa!

Australian-inspired coffee roaster and café Bluestone Lane is now open in Rice Village. Located near CB2 and West Elm, the coffeeshop is known for its award-winning coffee and healthyleaning menu.

Neighborhood bar Heights & Co.’s ticketed event series has popular local chefs taking over the kitchen every other Wednesday this spring. Find tasting menus from the brains behind Mastrantos, Tiny Boxwood’s and others. Tickets available via Resy.

Heights & Co.

To New Heights

Clockwise from top: Fried chicken with shrimp paste, ginger, Thai chili and herbs; an eclectic corner of the dining room; chefs Garcia and Lu.

‘End’ Game

A flurry of new restaurants is just one reason to head to Houston’s East End this spring.

LLast year, a landmark gift from the Kinder Foundation fastracked plans to expand Buffalo Bayou Park east of Downtown. It’s yet another indicator that Houston’s East End neighborhood is one worth visiting. Of late, it seems to be an especially popular choice among restaurateurs.

Watering hole Eight Row Flint, known for its ranch water and stellar tacos, recently opened a second location on Harrisburg near popular wine bar How to Survive on Land and Sea. A custom rick house anchors the expansive main dining room, and eclectic art decorates the walls. The stairway leads to an openair rooftop patio with seating for 80.

LATEST DISH!

With her new “social club” Best Regards, commercial realtor Morgan Hansen will bring the same international ambiance and energy from her extensive travels to the Heights. Best Regards will serve cocktails, wine, bubbly and mocktails, plus bar bites, and will host DJs and a variety of live music performers.

A Highland Village-area go-to recently adopted a more casual format and rebranded as Eloise Nichols All Day Café The menu revise leans family-friendly and affordable, more like its sister concept Adair Kitchen

Tulum, a rooftop tiki bar and restaurant now open in EaDo, boasts a soaring, multi-level interior with suspended lush accents, bamboo lighting fixtures, Aztec tiles, and a striking mural. Come for Caribbean cocktails, scratch-made Mexican dishes, and a rooftop complete with chaise lounge furniture.

By

Evan

W. Black

Meanwhile, the Gatsby Hospitality Group, which made waves last year with Gatsby’s Prime Seafood and, before that, Gatsby’s Prime Steakhouse in Montrose, quietly opened its latest concept on Navigation. With an aim of being an area go-to, the “craft-casual” Gatsby’s Grill homages the El Segundo neighborhood with Latin-tinged offerings and chic comfort food. And on the other side of the bayou, the nine-hole public course East River 9 has bowed, with a driving range, putting green and pickleball courts and a full-service restaurant that boasts a mean burger. 

Ben Berg announced that his Buttermilk Baby soda-fountainstyle restaurant will open this fall in the M-K-T Heights development. Berg will put his spin on diner food, a la fried chicken, burgers and biscuits, served in a fast-casual setting.

Chicken and waffles at Eloise Nichols All Day Café

Clockwise from top left: Juicy burgers at East River 9’s Riverhouse restaurant; tee time at East River 9; a chispa margarita at Eight Row Flint; illuminated art at Eight Row Flint.

Hopping Island

With two exciting hotels and a handful of new restaurants, Galveston is heating up for summer.

FFrom beachfront vacation homes to Creole cottages, Galveston has more than its share of great places to stay. But island regulars — or even those searching for a quick last-minute stay — have probably noticed the absence of hip, modern boutique-style hotels. Enter Hotel Lucine, slated to open in April or May.

Originally built in the 1960s as the Treasure Isle Motel, the 61-room hotel was most recently the ramshackle-y Pearl Inn, but has undergone a total transformation. The sexy, retro-savvy Hotel Lucine, located on the island’s East End near Stewart Beach, homages the building’s mid-century origins while incorporating tons of natural light, greenery and warm tones. Here, guests can enjoy private beachfront relaxation, or alternatively opt to lounge at the interior courtyard pool.

Notably, Hotel Lucine — named for a pearlescent, sculptured shell — boasts Houston hospitality stars Justin Yu and Bobby Heugel as food and beverage partners. The main restaurant, called The Fancy, is billed as American “fine-ish” dining; there’s also the more casual Den Bar and Restaurant and a rooftop bar (for aprés surf, naturally).

By Evan W. Black

Meanwhile, another Galveston icon has been fully remodeled. The historic Tremont House, located on The Strand, debuted its new look over the holidays, and also joined the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. The renovation features hardwood floors and exposed-brick walls in the 135 guest rooms; a group of four suites, dubbed the Mitchell Collection, is located on a private floor, with pressed-tin ceilings and expansive living areas, plus the option to join all four together.

In the refreshed lobby, find Blum & Co. “urban market” with coffee and grab-and-go items, and the bar, 1862 Toujouse, featuring live music.

Nearby, several exciting concepts provide downtown guests with fun food — and necessities. Old Oleander will open in April, in the Strand’s Hendley Building, most recently home to the Old Strand Emporium. It’ll have fresh produce, eggs, meat, alcohol — and a menu of gourmet sandwiches. A few blocks away, Sugar & Rye’s coastal cuisine draws diners who come for the jambalaya risotto and stay for the housemade ice cream. And a little farther west, on Market Street, Ophelia’s is now open, serving comfort food like boudin balls and fried chicken for lunch and dinner. 

Checking in A renovated guest room at the Tremont House and, at right, Justin Yu and Bobbby Heugel of the forthcoming Hotel Lucine

GuideBook

5175 Westheimer Rd., 713.623.6100

A’BOUZY american

This sceney restaurant and patio combines a menu of shareable plates with prime meats and a raw bar. Pick from the substantial wine list that includes more than 250 Champagnes or sparklings. Excellent takeout and delivery specials! 2300 Westheimer Rd.

ADAIR KITCHEN american

bottle of wine at dinnertime and stay awhile. Now open in West U! 5161 San Felipe St., 713.623.6100

AMALFI italian

Charming Amalfi touts coastal Italian dishes like homemade fettuccine in creamy black-truffle sauce by Salerno native chef Giancarlo Ferrara. 6100 Westheimer Rd., 713.532.2201

BACKSTREET CAFÉ

with hefty vegetarian selections. 1103 S. Shepherd Dr., 713.521.2239

BCN spanish

Named after Barcelona’s airport code, BCN offers authentic Spanish cuisine in a white-tablecloth setting. The specialty gin and tonics are a must-have, as is the Spanish Iberico ham. 4210 Roseland St., 832.834.3411

BLUDORN american

51FIFTEEN american

Located inside Saks Fifth Avenue in the Galleria, this two-story restaurant’s lunch and dinner plates are as pretty as the designer wares.

This Tanglewood gem is popular for its cold-pressed juices, big breakfasts and giant salads. Healthful homestyle meals are casual and quick, but regulars are known to settle in with a

american

Housed in a two-story 1930s home, Hugo Ortega’s Backstreet Café became a River Oaks staple 30 years ago. Expect an imaginative take on seasonal fare along

Aaron Bludorn and his wife Victoria Bludorn (née Pappas, of that Pappas family) deliver a Gulftinged New American menu and low-key fine-dining to Montrose. 807 Taft St., 713.999.0146

DINING DISTRICT 1 MEMORIAL, GALLERIA AREA, RIVER OAKS, UPPER KIRBY, MONTROSE

Carrot Risotto at Tony’s

Here’s where to dine, what to order, and who to know now in the most deliciously diverse city in America.

photo by jenn duncan

BRASSERIE 19 french

Wine with lunch and bubbles with brunch is the norm at this sceney River Oaks spot. Situated in the center of a busy shopping strip, Brasserie 19 is reminiscent of a Parisian sidewalk café. 1962 W. Gray St., 713.524.1919, brasserie19.com

BRENNER’S ON THE BAYOU steakhouse

Enjoy dinner with a view at this steakhouse nestled on the lush banks of Buffalo Bayou. Steaks, sides and decadent desserts are all good bets, as are craft cocktails from the restaurant’s hip Blue Bar. One Birdsall St., 713.868.4444

CARACOL mexican/seafood

Hugo Ortega’s seafoodsavvy concept boasts Mexican coastal cuisine in a swanky, mod space on Post Oak. 2200 Post Oak Blvd., 713.622.9996

COMMON BOND bakery

Don’t miss the buttery croissants as big as your face at this Montrose bakery and cafe. Take advantage of the free Wi-Fi and post up with a lavender latte on the dog-friendly patio. Now with a sit-down restaurant in Downtown!

1706 Westheimer Rd., 713.529.3535

DA MARCO italian

High-end Da Marco in Montrose puts a luxurious spin on Tuscan cuisine with dishes like spaghetti-and-seaurchin and sweet-corn ravioli with lobster. The elegant space is one often considered for special occasions. 1520 Westheimer Rd.

NEW! DAILY GATHER

american

This CityCentre patio spot is the latest under the Five 12 Restaurant Concepts

brand, which also has Dish Society. Shareable starters and well rounded entrees make up the hefty lunch and dinner menus; weekend brunch is fun! In CityCentre, dailygather.com

DORIS METROPOLITAN

steakhouse

This glam steakhouse is inspired by Middle Eastern flavors. Hot tip: The breadbasket alone may be worth the trip, with rolls flavored with caramelized onions and presented with crushed-tomato spreads and herb butters. 2815 S. Shepherd Dr.

EL TIEMPO tex-mex

El Tiempo delivers Tex-Mex in a big way with platters like the ancho-glazed grilled quail with cheese enchiladas and spicy shrimp chalupas. 322 Westheimer Rd, 713.807.8101

multiple locations visit restaurant website for details

EUGENE’S gulf coast

The menu and the goldgilding-happy space itself call to mind the best old family-run haunts of New Orleans. Expect really great combos of butter, garlic, acid and fresh Gulf goodness. 1985 Welch St., 713.807.8883

NEW! GRAFFITI RAW

american

Montrose Collective is home to restaurateur Grant Cooper’s latest, the beachychic Graffiti Raw, with plenty of raw offerings as well as wood-grilled items. Yum! 1001 California St., 713.750.9590

HUGO’S mexican

Chef Hugo Ortega’s namesake restaurant is a Houston staple, serving up authentic Mexican cuisine with margaritas to match. Guests love the festive weekend brunch buffet

CITYBOOK DINING DISTRICTS

1 2 3 4

where indulging in seconds is a must. 1600 Westheimer Rd., 713.524.7744

KATA ROBATA japanese

Discreetly situated in a retail center, this top-notch sushi bar serves up fresh, innovative Japanese dishes daily under the direction of executive chef Manabu Horiuchi. 3600 Kirby Dr., 713.526.8858

KILLEN’S southern

Expect mouthwatering comfort-food fare like fried chicken and fried green tomatoes with buttermilk sauce, and an evercomforting chicken-anddumplings dish. 101 Heights Blvd., 713.637.4664

LA GRIGLIA italian

From caprese salad to wild mushroom lasagna, the menu at La Griglia is simple, but elegant. When Houston weather permits, enjoy the patio, complete with fire pits and scenic River Oaks views. 2002 W. Gray St., 713.526.4700

LE COLONIAL french/ vietnamese

French-Vietnamese cuisine is presented in a posh space in River Oaks District. Dishes like the crispy whole duck — which serves up

1 Memorial, Galleria Area, River Oaks, Upper Kirby and Montrose

2 Garden Oaks, the Heights, Washington Corridor

3 Midtown, Downtown, EaDo, Third Ward, Fifth Ward

4 Bellaire, West University, Museum District, Med Center

to four people and must be ordered in advance — are authentic and full-flavored. 4444 Westheimer Rd., 713.629.4444

LIBERTY KITCHEN american

A fab brunch destination with locations in River Oaks and Memorial City, Liberty Kitchen touts over-the-top, seafood-savvy comfort food. 4224 San Felipe St., libertykitchen oysterette.com

multiple locations visit restaurant website for details

MAD spanish

Everything at this BCN sister concept — from the mirrorlined hall to the bathroom and the cartoon-like, cheesestuffed shiny red MAD Tomato — is photo-worthy. Reservations recommended. 4444 Westheimer Rd., 281.888.2770

MALA SICHUAN chinese

This longtime Chinatown favorite is equally popular inside the Loop. Mala’s menu packs a punch with dishes like the dry-pot chicken and three-pepper duck. 1201 Westheimer Rd., 832.767.0911

multiple locations visit restaurant website for details houstoncitybook.com |

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MARCH mediterranean

An exclusive and pricey tasting-menu-only affair, March lives up to the hype. Posh snacks in the lounge include bite-size vehicles for caviar and foie gras; the main event is six or nine courses of highly refined, Mediterranean-inspired dishes by chef-owner Felipe Riccio. 1624 Westheimer Rd., marchrestaurant.com

MARMO italian

An Italian restaurant meets a classic steakhouse at Marmo, where you’ll also find a bustling bar and nightly live music. Get the squid-ink campanelle! 888 Westheimer Rd., 832.626.3400

MASTRO’S steakhouse

At more-is-more Mastro’s, Vegas comes to Houston, with everything but showgirls and roulette wheels. Try something out of the steakhouse box, like the Wagyu hamburger helper. 1650 W. Loop S., 713.993.2500

NEW! MONEYCAT japanese

This exciting “New Japanese” restaurant from chef Sherman Yeung of sushi star Tobiuo in Katy is in Kirby Grove. Be sure to try the Tomato Garden dish, with “soil” made of squid ink. 2925 Richmond Ave., moneycathtx.com

NOBU sushi

At socialite-savvy Nobu, hyperinformed waiters float around, delivering bite-sized delicacies on geometric white plates to tables. Unique takes on sushi include ones with pickled cucumbers, Shiso leaf and Japanese mackerel. In the Galleria, 832.987.2599

OSTIA mediterranean

Ostia is an indoor-outdoor oasis for farm-to-table Italian and Mediterranean eats. The terracotta-andstucco patio feels worlds

away from Houston, and is a nice place to post up and enjoy a cocktail. 2050 Dunlavy St., ostiahou.com

OUISIE’S TABLE southern

This River Oaks institution serving Southern standards — shrimp and cheese grits, New Orleans red snapper, chicken and waffles at brunch! — is charming. With a beautiful patio and private rooms, it’s a popular locale for showers, receptions and more. 3939 San Felipe St., 713.528.2264

PAPPAS BROS.

STEAKHOUSE steakhouse

Given its expansive wine list and in-house dry-aging process, diners can expect nothing short of perfection when dining at family-owned Pappas Bros. Steakhouse.

5839 Westheimer Rd., 713.780.7352

UPDATE! RAGIN’ CAJUN

cajun

Crawfish season is here! There’s no better spot to get the fixins for a backyard boil than the original Ragin’ Cajun on Richmond. New location opening soon in Spring Branch!

4302 Richmond Ave., 713.623.6321

RELISH american

Quick counter service is offered for lunch and brunch at this café run by a husband and wife team, while evenings are reserved for a full-service dining experience. 2810 Westheimer Rd., 713.599.1960

RIEL american

Riel offers an American menu inspired by local color and chef Ryan Lachaine’s Ukrainian heritage; the Montreal smoked meat is splashed with French’s mustard. 1927 Fairview St., 832.831.9109

STATE OF GRACE southern

Grab a seat at the oyster bar during happy hour for $1 oysters at chef Ford Fry’s River Oaks restaurant. The new weekend brunch touts mouthwatering cinnamon rolls and batch cocktails — even to-go! 3258 Westheimer Rd., 832.942.5080

STEAK 48 steakhouse

A steakhouse standout delivers in its rich side dishes — the Hasselback potatoes are excellent — and desserts. Crowds of pretty people pour in early and stay late, so reservations are recommended. In River Oaks District, 713.322.7448

TASTE OF TEXAS

steakhouse

This famous classic steakhouse — thick bacon wraps around your filet — touts cozy, rustic environs that live up to the name. There’s actually a Texas history museum inside! 10505 Katy Fwy., 713.932.6901

TONIGHT & TOMORROW

european

In the storied La Colombe d’Or, expect eclectic but sophisticated European dishes with Southern touches. A new cocktail list touts ones named after works in the hotel’s sculpture garden! 3410 Montrose Blvd., 713.517.1001

TONY’S italian

A cherished part of the Houston dining scene, Tony Vallone’s namesake restaurant is an exquisite treat from start to finish. 3755 Richmond Ave., 713.622.67788

TRIBUTE southern

At this restaurant in the Houstonian hotel, savor unique fare that blends the flavors of Texas, Louisiana and Mexico. Book the private wine room for a

special occasion and pick your own playlist! 111 N. Post Oak Ln., 713.680.2626

UPDATE! UCHI japanese

It’s hard to beat Uchi for fresh, interesting sushi and sashimi — and the Brussels sprouts are can’t-miss. Check out the new nextdoor omakase concept, Oheya! 904 Westheimer Rd., 713.522.4808

DINING DISTRICT 2 GARDEN OAKS, THE HEIGHTS, WASHINGTON CORRIDOR

BB’S CAFE southern

Get your Cajun-food fix at BB’s: From Maw Maw’s gumbo to a platter of fried catfish, find New Orleansstyle cooking with a Texas twist. 2701 White Oak Dr., 713.868.8000

multiple locations visit restaurant website for details

B&B BUTCHERS steakhouse Venture in for the deep-fried A5 Wagyu katsu sando, or similarly stacked deli sandwich in the adjoining butcher shop, at this boutique steakhouse. A rooftop terrace makes B&B a premiere Sunday brunch destination. 1814 Washington Ave.

COLTIVARE italian

With its “no-reservation” policy, the restaurant’s onsite garden — where many of the herbs and produce for the Italian

GuideBook

dishes are grown — doubles as a charming waiting area. 3320 White Oak Dr., 713.637.4095

LORO fusion

In a former church, Loro melds the flavors of Southeast Asian and Texas-barbecue cuisines, courtesy of Austin-based Tyson Cole (of Uchi fame) and pitmaster Aaron Franklin. Expect an elevated-country-dancehall vibe courtesy of architectdesigner Michael Hsu. 1001 W. 11th St., loroeats. com

MAX’S WINE DIVE

southern

Here, keeping it classy means pairing fried chicken with a glass of Champagne. Max’s is hardly a dive, with a serious wine list and hearty Southern plates. 4720 Washington Ave., 713.880.8737; maxswinedive.com

NOPO CAFE american

An all-day café from Ben Berg, NoPo offers a menu of classics like a piled-high club sandwich, pizzas and more. In the front, find unique local provisions, premade meals and freshly baked pastries to-go. New happy-hour specials and cocktail list! 1244 N. Post Oak Rd., nopocafe.com

POSTINO italian

Rosé — and everything else — all day! This patio spot in Heights Mercantile is always packed, especially during the bottle-and-board special, available after 8pm on Mondays and Tuesdays. Now open in Uptown Park! 642 Yale St., 346.223.1111

multiple locations visit restaurant website for details

RAINBOW LODGE

steakhouse

True to its name, Rainbow Lodge provides steakhouse and wild game fare in a rustic lodge setting. Outdoor seating on the newly expanded wine deck is coveted. 2011 Ella Blvd., 713.861.8666

TRATTORIA SOFIA

italian

A new ItalianAmerican spot from Berg Hospitality looks like a trattoria you might stumble upon in rural Italy, with enchanting and spacious indoor and outdoor garden seating. 911 W. 11th St., trattoriasofia.com

DINING DISTRICT 3 MIDTOWN, DOWNTOWN, EADO, THIRD WARD, FIFTH WARD

THE BREAKFAST KLUB

southern

Enjoy a feast of homestyle classics — wings and waffles, catfish and grits — at this no-frills Midtown diner. The line starts forming bright and early, but being part of the “klub” is worth the wait. 3711 Travis St., 713.528.8561

BRENNAN’S OF HOUSTON southern Count on this decadesold Houston staple for an exquisite dining experience full of

GIANCARLO FERRARA Executive Chef & Owner

Italian born, Amalfi Coast native, will transport you to his homeland with his inspired menu of fresh seafood, vivid citrus, and the finest Italian olive oil in addition to fresh pastas, assorted meats, family-made cheeses, and an extensive, thoughtful Italian wine list.

P RIVATE D INING

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CATERING & EVENTS

Bring

Southern-Creole flavors. Seating spans two levels and guests love Sunday brunch in the courtyard. The turtle soup with sherry is famous, as are the pralines. 3300 Smith St., 713.522.9711

INDIANOLA american

On the Gulf-centric menu, find not only superb seafood, but lots of plates with influence from Mexico and ones utilizing local beef and pork. Now serving brunch! 1201 St. Emanuel St., 832.582.7202

NEW! LUCY PEARL’S bakery

Decadent cakes, picture-perfect cake pops and down-home pies await at this craft bakery inside the POST Houston complex. Go for happy hour Mon.-Weds., 4-6pm, for 20 percent off. 401 Franklin St., lucypearls.com

NINFA’S ON NAVIGATION

tex-mex

The origin of Tex-Mex as we know it, Ninfa’s is always packed no matter when you dine. Guests love the sizzling fajitas and loaded quesadillas. For something different, try the grilled octopus. 2704 Navigation Blvd., 713.228.1175

THE PALM steakhouse Houston’s 43-year-old location of The Palm steakhouse has relocated from the Galleria to Downtown’s mixed-use GreenStreet development. 1201 Fannin St., thepalm.com

POTENTE italian

Top-tier chef Danny Trace and Astros-owner-turnedrestaurateur Jim Crane hit a haute homerun at this elegant eatery by the ballpark. Opt for tableside truffle service on handmade spaghetti al tartufo, and save room for intricate desserts. 1515 Texas Ave., 713.237.1515

STREET TO KITCHEN thai

Chef-owner Benchawan

Painter finally has a permanent home for her Street to Kitchen pop-up concept. The East End restaurant spotlights elevated Thai street foods. 6501 Harrisburg Blvd., 713.428.1975

TOUT SUITE bakery/coffee

Stop by this all-day-bakery for a macaron or cupcake, or post up for a while at a community table and enjoy bites like avocado toast and fresh-squeezed juice. There

are also CBD-infused pastries, chocolates and more! 2001 Commerce St., 713.227.8688

NEW! GRATIFY american

Grant Cooper’s Gratify is a see-and-be scene, with a creatively curated and highly shareable menu. The most memorable and delicious dish might be the charred octopus with sweet potato. 5212 Morningside Dr., gratifyhouston.com

NEW! KRITI KITCHEN greek

UPDATE! BADOLINA bakery

From the owners of Doris Metropolitan, this unique bakery offers the classics and standbys, plus unique and artful desserts. Tip: Get there early, as items often sell-out before noon! Next door, the sit-down Hamsa just opened. 5555 Morningside Dr., badolina bakery.com

CARRABBA’S italian

One of two locations which are still family-owned by Houston’s famed Carrabba family, the original Carrabba’s on Kirby serves made-from-scratch Italian fare — from pizzas fresh out of the wood-fired oven to housemade cheeses and pastas. 3115 Kirby Dr., 713.522.3131

COPPA OSTERIA italian

All of the Neapolitan-style pizzas and handmade pastas are popular at this Rice Village winner. The walk-up pizza window is a hit in the largely pedestrian-friendly area. 5210 Morningside Dr., 713.522.3535

Offering counter-service breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with grab-and-go items and heat-and-eat meals, Greek-inspired Kriti Kitchen is now open in West U. Chef-owner Mary Cuclis is a Pondicheri alum who wants to make deciding what’s for dinner as easy as possible for busy families. 4010 Bissonnet St., kritikitchen.com

LE JARDINIER fine dining

The fine-dining French resto inside the MFAH’s new Kinder Building is, itself, a work of art — both in its decor and its food presentation. 5500 Main St.

LOCAL FOODS american

This fast-casual diner has a guilt-free menu of sandwiches, salads, soups and sides, all made fresh using locally sourced ingredients. The Rice Village location has an attached wine bar. 2424 Dunstan Rd., 713.521.7800

multiple locations visit restaurant website for details

TINY BOXWOOD’S american

Expect a line at this popular garden-set getaway, where the chocolate-chip cookies have earned as much of a reputation as the restaurant itself. Snag some, along with housemade ice cream, at the next-door Milk & Cookies. 3636 Rice Blvd., tinyboxwoods.com

multiple locations visit restaurant website for details 

DINING DISTRICT 4 BELLAIRE, WEST UNIVERSITY, MUSEUM DISTRICT, MED CENTER

Listings Coming Soon...

Your Luxe Real Estate Top Producers

Albert Hu

Claudia Huato

Kelly Finnerman

Kaitlin Gray Nidia Salazar Tessa Flight

Tiera Huang

A CARBON NEUTRAL PRODUCT BY COSENTINO

LAID-BACK LUXURY

Clockwise from top left: The grand lobby awash in marble and onyx; an expansive bathroom in a residence; the Farrington Room, which residents can use for parties; and a bright living room in a residence.

The story of an historic neighborhood and a visionary family continues. Says Kendall Miller, “We will take it to new heights.”

strength, crossfit and yoga activities. Residents may reserve the renowned Farrington Room for private celebrations, events, or simply an evening social; its 11 separate seating areas, catering kitchen and bar are at the ready — all within the building crown.

personal fitness studio accommodates a breadth of cardio,

— perfect for taking in panoramic views of Houston. Resort seating provides an ample mix of shade and Texas sun. The

Tanglewood can be found on the top floors. Residents relax and socialize in a 75-foot swimming pool with a hydromassage spa on a sweeping top-floor deck

The height of luxury offered at 1661

Randall Powers. “It gives us the things that we love about a house within the walls of a high-rise.”

upholstery by Rose Tarlow, a bespoke crystal chandelier and a curated mix of rare antiques. The residences themselves exceed the typical high-rise, with interior spaces that rival Tanglewood or River Oaks homes. Think lavish scale, with soaring ceilings of 12 feet or more, primary suites, indoor/outdoor entertaining, multiple fireplaces, wine rooms, butler pantries, opulent bathrooms and dressing closets. Finishes incorporate custom millwork, museum-quality lighting, wide-plank hardwood floors, tailored moldings and cabinetry, La Cornue ranges, European-sourced marble countertops, exquisite Waterworks designer fixtures and carpeting by Stark. “This is a radically different project,” says designer J.

The building’s lobby floor — a showplace of marble, onyx and hardwoods — welcomes residents through a grand entrance attended by full-time door and lobby staff. Spaces are defined by marble pilasters, bas-reliefs, custom

Palladian architectural tradition through every window, arch, column and pedestal,” explains the developer family’s Jim Miller, who likens 1661 to the “deeply classical beauty of 16th century villas.”

Fashioned in the Palladian architectural style beloved by Miller’s mother, 1661 Tanglewood stands 34 stories above the neighborhood and nearby Uptown District, with views of Houston’s suburban forest and skyline. “The building is true to

“There is a reverence for the Tanglewood neighborhood— so close to the emotional heart of Houston. We are dedicated to its continuing stewardship.”

Kendall A. Miller President & CEO, Tanglewood Corporation

Realty are handling sales (1661tanglewood.com, 713.622.1661).

Miller, who grew up riding bikes through Tanglewood’s thicket of tall pines and wide oaks, is leading the development project. His son Marshall is also attached. Realtors Ruthie Porterfield and Mary Elizabeth Hahnfeld of Martha Turner Sotheby’s International

Kendall Miller, grandson of William G. Farrington, who first began developing Tanglewood in 1948. “We are dedicated to its continuing stewardship.”

Tanglewood builds upon the founding FarringtonMiller family tradition of bold vision. These mansions in the sky offer interiors of exceptional character, generous proportions and a considered lifestyle. “There is a reverence for the Tanglewood neighborhood, so close to the emotional heart of Houston,” says

atiently held in reserve for more than 70 years, 1661

near some of the best shopping and dining in America.

PTanglewood — it even wears a crown, created by 40 dramatically lit columns — is taking shape on a prime parcel

It’s the talk of the town. The majestic high-rise of 1661

Timeless. Exclusive. Permanent.