Spring 2024 Issue

From Left: Dr. Christopher Patronella, Dr. Abigail Rodriguez, Dr. Henry Mentz, Dr. Germán Newall, Dr. Rolando Morales, Dr. Kristi Hustak, Dr Monica Wentworth & Dr. Paul Fortes

Greetings

LISA HOLTHOUSE Executive Publisher

WHEN I SAW her at the ball, I swooned.

It takes a lot to get that kind of reaction out of me, I admit. It’s not that I’m jaded. It’s still like a dream, being on the guest list at some of the most glam galas in Texas. How many other people’s jobs include dressing up and going to fabulous parties? But, it’s true, I’ve been to a lot over the years. I know what to expect, and, while often delighted, I’m rarely surprised.

But when Becca Cason Thrash was introduced as an honorary chair at the Stages theater gala recently, and I glanced over and saw her beaming in the audience, it was a wonderful

ROBIN WILLIAMS once said, “Spring is nature’s way of saying ‘Let’s Party!’” That’s exactly how I feel.

I’m ready to party when my morning feet hit the floor, and I throw open my curtains to see what bright leaves have begun to sprout. I pop in my ear buds and party on a walk for three or four miles. I crank open my windows when I’m at my desk. I sit outside in the early evening with my hubby and party with a glass of wine, watching a family of blue herons tending to their chirping babies in the nest. (We literally watched for a solid hour through binoculars the other night!)

And I certainly party at night, whether out to dinner with friends or around my own dining table with family.

Spring is far more than grass regrowth and blooming flowers. If you’re a native Houstonian like I am, you can say with conviction that springtime in Houston is the best time of the year.

The city is so rife with offerings. Already we have had the Azalea Trail, which brought thousands of visitors. Strolling through my friends’ gardens was like wandering through a fairy tale. The birds were singing, almost as if following me through the meandering paths of the most exquisite homes in Texas.

The Rodeo was a huge hit, as always. The international attention we receive makes me so proud. Coming up next is one of my favorite events of the year: the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships. Tootsies puts on the most fabulous style show and luncheon, and everyone heads out to watch world-class tennis.

Likewise, there are countless events and festivals, barbeques and crawfish boils, beach trips, outdoor sports like golf and pickleball — and, of course, the start of the baseball season when we can cheer on our beloved Astros.

It’s true, everything feels like a party in the springtime!

moment. Becca, for years the it Houston party hostess, has relocated to France and doesn’t turn up at fetes and functions here like she used to.

When she jumped up on the stage to talk up a Paris vacation package she’d put together for the auction, the clock turned back half a dozen years, to a time when Becca was the queen of the sexy soiree. Hugging her afterward, I was transported. She invited me to visit her in the City of Light, and I just might.

While spring is generally hailed as a time to celebrate what’s new, in this instance I couldn’t have more enjoyed a lovely blast from the past.

JEFF GREMILLION Editor-in-Chief

State of Lace

HOUSTON PHOTOGRAPHER

Sarah Sudhoff’s latest series invites viewers to ponder domestic roles and invisible labor, via beautiful images imprinted with lace patterns found in windows and doorways in Galatina, Italy. Find it on display at Andrew Durham Gallery as part of FotoFest 2024 through April 21; Sudhoff gives a talk on April 6. –evan w. black

THE DISPATCH BEAUTY

National chain

Sugared + Bronzed has opened two Houston locations, in Uptown Park and the Heights. Offering both sugaring (hair removal) and sunless tanning, the boutiquestyle studios are decked out with Mediterraneancoastal décor, leaving guests ready in more ways than one for their next vacation.

MUSIC

It’s concert season at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. Catch dozens of acts including Hozier May 1-2; Kenny Chesney May 8-9; and, as is an annual tradition, Dave Matthews Band, May 30-31.

ART

Olivia Erlanger ’s first solo show in the United States is at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, where beginning April 19, the New York-based artist’s collection of installation and video work, along with commissioned sculptures, will be on display.

Style

In the Bag

High fashion meets beach-ready with Gucci’s new Lido line, featuring travel-friendly totes, velcro GG slides and sandals, bucket hats, and more cheerful accessories perfect for Houston’s never-ending summer. –ewb

Nicely Furnished Design

LOCAL DESIGNER

Alexandra Killion is bringing her unique aesthetic — which combines historical and contemporary elements — to a line of handcrafted furniture dubbed AK Collective. Just five years after launching her career as an interior designer, Killion decided to “bring a bit of what we do to a larger market.” The 14 pieces include case goods, upholstered seating and accent tables, which can all be personalized. Killion opened a showroom in Spring Branch, where shoppers can browse the AK Collective line as well as Killion’s vintage scores by appointment. –ewb

THE DISPATCH

FAMILY FUN

It’s previously popped up in Madrid, Paris, Seoul and Sydney, and now the blockbuster Jurassic World exhibit has come to Katy Mills. The hour-long walkthrough production, where visitors come face-to-face with life-size, animated dinosaurs, is engaging and appeals to multiple generations of patrons. Contrary to other immersive experiences as of late, it’s less about providing Instagram-friendly content and more about offering educational, in-themoment fun.

ART

The Menil Collection displays its latest acquisitions in its main building April 26-Aug. 25. Abstraction

After Modernism highlights the work of artists who “forged new paths in their approaches to nonrepresentational art,” including Richard Serra and Rick Lowe.

MUSIC

Gavin DeGraw plays an intimate show downstairs at White Oak Music Hall May 11.

Art

Paint by Number

Now open in Memorial, SaleenArt displays handmade, hand-painted ceramics created by a team of 34 femaleled artisans in Turkey. Designed by Selin Esendemir Abdian, the pieces bring pops of color and eye-catching style to both contemporary and traditional homes. –ewb

Design

Circular reasoning

One of 2024’s most prominent home-design trends is the use of geometric patterns in and on furnishings, wallcoverings — and art! Geometric inspiration is found in both nature and innovative architecture, and designers are utilizing easily

identifiable and repetitious shapes in unique arrangements. Add a little color and some art-deco accents, and it’s a can’t-miss move: Represented by Avant-Art Gallery, painter and printmaker Matt Neuman’s “Circle Grid 22” pieces are shown here as the centerpiece of an otherwise neutral dining room. –ewb

Women’s care for every stage of you.

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Advancing health. Personalizing care.

THE DISPATCH

ART

In Of Love, Pins and Needles at Anya Tish, three photographers including Dallas-based Vietnamese artist Han Cao, who’s known for her handembroidered vintage photos — explore the familiarity of the human figure.

Through April 20.

MUSIC

British-Irish rockers

Idles play White Oak Music Hall on May 22. The initial tickets sold out so quickly that the show moved to the lawn.

FAMILY FUN

It’s been in the works for years, and on April 13, Hermann Park Conservancy

finally unveils

The Commons, its new, kid-centric recreational area. Highlights include a 45-foot-tall rocket-ship slide, modern carousel, refurbished pavilion for picnicking and partying, and plenty of water features for summer fun.

EVENTS

This Memorial Day Weekend, Comicpalooza returns to the George R. Brown Convention Center, with anime, comics, cosplay, literature, gaming and more.

Real Estate

Decor Destination

AS POST OAK Plaza completes its transformation at the corner of Post Oak and San Felipe, the shopping center welcomes a handful of new retailers poised to transform it into a home-decor and furniture destination. Arhaus — with 22,000-square-feet of artisan-crafted furniture, like the Almeria coffee table, below — has opened, along with interactive kitchenand-bath showroom Kohler, and Bassett Furniture –ewb

12 | houstoncitybook.com

Dive In!

Beloved Houston-based designer Hunter Bell now offers swimwear, created in collaboration with resortwear brand Marysia, known for flattering and comfortable scalloped edges. Bell’s four-piece collection, available exclusively online, includes a bandeau top, high-waisted swim bottom, sleeveless onepiece, and long-sleeved rashguard, all in a playful patchwork print. Swim-sational! –ewb

Sage Advice

It’s chic. It’s soothing. What’s not to like about this spring-sational shade of green?

By Evan W. Black

1.

Watermark napkin, $22, by Bodrum at Lerant 2. Stretch bracelet, $3,330, at Deutsch Fine Jewelry. 3. Heels, $475, by Emporio Armani. 4. Freeloop carry-on, $270, by Level8. 5. Violette outdoor rocking chair, $509, at High Fashion Home. 6. Twinny locker, $599, by MustardMade. 7. Kendall velvet sofa, $1,499, at High Fashion Home.

HOUSTON METHODIST LEADING CARE where you need us

Convenient, easy-to-access locations for primary, specialty and emergency care

We offer a full spectrum of care, including:

• Primary care physicians for you and your family, providing personal care and service

• Specialists with innovative treatments and customized programs for all conditions

• Collaborative teams of experts using the newest technologies and latest research

Blonde Ambition Designer Friedkin and, at right, her of ‘broken’ bangles

and “Emergence.” Prices range from $150 to $7,000.

Besides being sold online, the brand is hosting traveling pop-ups at boutiques such as H-Town’s Katia, as well as Auberge resorts.

“I want to bring our pieces to the customer, get to know them and build a relationship with them,” she says. Her father, Houston mogul Dan Friedkin, owns Auberge Resorts Collection, which has several new Texas properties in the works, including The Birdsall slated to open in River Oaks in 2026.

Sustainably Chic

Using recycled metals and lab-grown diamonds, a Houston designer is forging her own path in the jewelry industry.

By Robin Barr Sussman, Photo by Steve Lawton

With a goal of bringing transparency and traceability to the fine-jewelry industry, native Houstonian and third-generation conservationist Savannah Friedkin has launched an eponymous line of pieces crafted from certified recycled precious metals and climate-neutral lab-grown diamonds.

After graduating Vanderbilt with a degree in art history, Friedkin, 29, pursued an MBA at London Business School, where she first came up with the idea for the jewelry line. “I created this brand to create a conversation not only about the way we consider and consume fine jewelry, but to also honor ... the cracks and characteristics that make us uniquely whole,” says Friedkin, who fittingly named her first two collections “Broken”

“Our jewelry is made in environmentally and socially responsible facilities across the globe,” she says. Her factories are subject to onsite audits from independent third parties such as the Responsible Jewelry Council, and she also pays visits “to see firsthand” that their ethical standards are being met.

The launch includes around twodozen styles — earrings, bracelets, necklaces and rings, all inspired by the beauty in resilience. For example, the Broken bangles feature asymmetrical cracks, some inlaid with diamonds, representing “how the broken within all of us can be beautiful, and should be celebrated.”

In her free time, the designer and artist enjoys being in nature, and is exploring clay as a medium. “I have been building that skillset on the potter’s wheel and in sculpting.” Newly engaged, she’s also been busy planning a wedding. “I look forward to that chapter of my life.” 

HGO.ORG START PERFORMANCES DAY APRIL 26–MAY 12

‘Sound’ Check

A rising opera star and old soul, Houston’s Adam Kral makes his mainstage debut in ‘Sound of Music.’ By Chris Becker, Photo by Phoebe

Rourke

Houston Grand Opera closes its critically acclaimed 2023-24 season of warhorses, Wagner and commissions with the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, The Sound of Music (April 26-May 12).

For those who know the show for such numbers as “My Favorite Things” and “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” the seriousness and timeliness of its book might be surprising. Set in Austria in 1938, retired naval officer Captain Georg von Trapp, who refuses to support the Nazi party, meets and falls in love with Maria, a guitar-strumming ingénue who is hired to look after the Captain’s seven unruly (but talented) children. Soprano Tori Tedeschi Adams sings the role of Trapp’s oldest daughter Liesl, and Houstonborn tenor Adam Kral makes his HGO mainstage debut as Rolf, a delivery boy and budding member of the Nazi party who is in love with Liesl.

Kral, 21, caught the theater bug at age six when he was drafted for a community-theater production of Peter Pan . His mother, an immigrant raised in what was then Czechoslovakia, often showed Kral and his older sister YouTube clips of Pavarotti, golden-age

musical theater, and films of fairy tales she grew up with. “We would listen late into the night — probably too late! — to all of these old Czech songs and operas,” says Kral. By the time he began performing, his inspiration came from a desire to bring these old films to life in a contemporary way.

Kral heavily researched his role as a lovestruck 17-year-old, ripe for induction by the Nazis. “You have to divorce your political and moral opinions of the character to play the role truthfully,” he says. “I have to approach this as what would it be like to be a young man who wants to prove himself, and is given a script to follow that allows him to take action in the current climate of the world.”

As a dancer, Kral is inspired by such masters as Gene Kelly (“He’s sort of my height!”) and studies dance at Uptown Dance Centre. He has performed roles with several Houston theater companies, and while at Houston Christian High School, received the 2019 Tommy Tune Award for Best Actor. Although New York is typically the next step in the journey of those steeped in music theater, Kral aspires to do more here, perhaps with TUTS or Stages. “It’s a huge city,” says Kral of his hometown, “and we have such a love for the arts.” 

Native Son Houstonian Kral, photographed at Lynn Wyatt Square across from HGO’s home at the Wortham

Heartfelt Soundbites: REAL CLIENTS

“No one compares to Kellie Geitner when it comes to real estate transactions in Houston and the surrounding area. She is the best there is. ”

- SELLER, PINEY POINT VILLAGE

“My husband and I have moved 4 times in the last 12 years. She really listens and goes the extra mile. ”

- SELLER, HUNTER’S CREEK VILLAGE

“Kellie is knowledgeable, hard-working, honest and knows how to get a deal closed . ”

- SELLER & BUYER, PINEY POINT VILLAGE

“Your home is typically your largest investment. Trust it to Kellie and you will never be disappointed ”

- SELLER, BRIARGROVE

“Her professionalism and knowledge of the local market is priceless.”

“I love her spirit and energy!”

- SELLER & BUYER, PINEY POINT VILLAGE

- SELLER, BRIARGROVE for nearly 30 years. & masterful results. partnerships in action.

713.213.2011

Kellie.Geitner@sir.com

KELLIEGEITNER.COM

Our dedicated Art Consultants, Interior Designers, and Picture Framers strive for excellence in every detail as our clients are at the heart of everything we do at Perimeter.

The best performance follows the best talents ... selecting the right look for your child’s schoolwork to the great masterpieces.

Providing our full potential requires constant personal development from all of us. Some of our many accomplishments are:

-Most Trusted Framer & Art Dealer nationally

-President PTA Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Profession

-Connecting Commerce & Community

“We will show that better is possible”

- Aubrey Mendonca

FEEDER Books

Finding Refuge

With a dramatic and moving backstory of her own, Leah Lax compiles those of Houston immigrants in a new book.

Moments of terror, resilience and grace fill the pages of Leah Lax’s new book, Not From Here: The Song of America , a collection of first-person accounts by Houston immigrants describing their journey from unendurable circumstances to the United States.

In 2006, HGO commissioned Lax to create a libretto for The Refuge, an opera based on local immigrant experiences. In the years that followed, Lax was compelled to compile the interviews into a book and investigate her own repressed family history, which included years of childhood abuse and an arranged marriage within a Hasidic community.

Lax was 45 when she divorced her husband and began living openly as a secular person and a gay woman; she and her partner have now been together for 19 years. But for a long time, Lax felt like a stranger in her own country. As she listened to people from different backgrounds and with different faiths, she began to feel “less like a minority” and more like an American.

At the time of the interviews, Lax had “rigorously rejected” the fundamentalist teachings of Hasidism, but but for her subjects, their religion was a deep part of their ethnic identities. “It was very open-eyed,” says Lax. “They weren’t in denial.” 

HOME

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NATIONAL

EKLEKTIK INTERIORS

MEREDITH

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MIKE MAHLSTEDT

MORAD FIKI

ROBERT BLAND

A Conversation with Megan Stultz,

What separates Bluejack from other luxury communities? At Bluejack, it's not just about luxury; it's about embracing a lifestyle and becoming part of a club and community known for an elevated experience that goes beyond golf. From its family-centric atmosphere to its emphasis on safety and space, Bluejack offers a unique sense of belonging. While we deeply appreciate the recognition and exclusivity, it's the diverse range of people embracing the laidback luxury lifestyle that truly sets Bluejack apart. Here, families come together to have fun, and kids, including mine, put their screens down and safely play outside, and don't want to leave.

What is attracting people to Montgomery? As someone deeply rooted in Montgomery, I can vouch for its magnetic charm — a blend of natural beauty and tranquil settings. Montgomery strikes a delicate balance, offering a retreat far enough for solace yet close enough for convenience. Its solid schools and increasing infrastructure further enhance the draw with gradual growth.

In many ways, Bluejack exemplifies the essence of Montgomery. People from all over the country are drawn to it, recognizing it as a sanctuary where genuine connections and hospitality naturally occur. Personally, as a Montgomery native, I've observed firsthand the town's evolution, witnessing its growth while retaining its distinct identity.

Where are the Bluejack buyers coming from? Our buyers come from diverse backgrounds across the country, each drawn to Bluejack for its distinctive offerings. Local residents are attracted to the everyday

vacation lifestyle, finding solace in our commitment to service, culture and the sense of sanctuary provided by ample space, security, and privacy. Bluejack has also become a sought-after destination for many. Families seek a retreat that blends laid-back luxury with a strong sense of belonging. With improved access between Houston, The Woodlands and College Station, along with the development of better schools and commercial areas, we continue to attract more buyers interested in our private residential club lifestyle.

What is compelling a buyer of Bluejack? Selling Bluejack isn't just about showcasing amenities and properties; it's about sharing the stories and experiences that make this community extraordinary. We believe in allowing qualified prospects to experience the club and community firsthand to ensure it’s a perfect fit. It's about highlighting the personal connections, the moments, and the experiences that define life at Bluejack. These are the key components that resonate with our buyers.

How would you characterize the real estate momentum? We've seen a consistent uptick in activity over the past six months, starting with the opening of The Sanctuary last fall. As we look forward to the clubhouse unveiling this summer, interest in real estate has been growing, particularly among those drawn to the idea of private residential club living. The positive buzz and advocacy from our homeowners are at an alltime high. It's an exhilarating time, and while the allure of the spa and clubhouse is undeniable, there's a sense of anticipation for what's still to come.

Bluejack Realty

HOTEL-INSPIRED LIVING

99 luxury condos above Houston’s first Thompson hotel. Residences at The Allen offers resort-style amenities in the comfort of your own home.

MOVE-IN READY

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residencesattheallen.com

1711 Allen Parkway Houston, Texas 77019

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FEEDER Party People

SPRING FLINGS

From Rodeo cookoff tents to some of the most glamorous galas of the year, Houston’s social season was in full swing. Cotton Holdings and its founder, Pete Bell, hosted a VIP bash at the 50th annual World Championship Bar-BQue Contest. Tilman Fertitta, Slim Thug and Mayor Whitmire were among the attendees. ... Rodeo revelers also attended the Trailblazers event, which welcomed a record-setting crowd of 2,000 to the Hilton Americas ballroom for a style show and lunch. The Houston Ballet Ball took place in the Wortham’s chandelierbedecked Grand Foyer. Coming just after dinner, the most delicious treat of the night might have been a surprise waltzinspired dance number featuring dancers

Len Cannon, Condoleezza Rice and Peyton Manning at ‘Bush’

Lauren and Tilman Fertitta at ‘Cotton’

Margaret Alkek Williams and Jim Nelson at ‘Ballet’

Albert and Anne Chao at ‘Tiger Ball’

Reagan Bregman, Jeremy Peña and Alex Bregman at ‘Wild’

Beth Wolff and Cheryl Byington at ‘Heart’

Kristy Bradshaw, Kelley Lubanko and Phoebe Tudor at ‘Hats’

Rouzi and Eva Sagisaka at ‘Wonder’

Becca Cason Thrash and Kenn McLaughlin at ‘Stages’

FEEDER Party People

from the Houston Ballet Academy. ... On what will perhaps be the most beautiful day of the entire year, Hermann Park Conservancy welcomed hat-clad ladies (and gents!) for its annual Hats in the Park al fresco lunch. Asia Society Texas’ Tiger Ball, hosted in a gorgeous pavilion erected in the parking lot, raised an impressive $1.5 million for AST’s efforts to build a more inclusive community in Houston.

... Those wishing to honor the lives and legacies of George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush gathered for a special, all-star “salute” and dinner at the Post Oak Hotel Still recovering from a fire at its HQ in 2022, Fresh Arts expanded on its dance-party fundraiser by adding a dinner to this year’s gala, themed The Wonder Ball. Guests came dressed in lavish Alice-in-Wonderlandthemed costumes. ... Stages celebrated outgoing artistic director Kenn McLaughlin at its annual Gala at the Gordy, a multipart

Daryl Bristow and Janet Gurwitch Bristow at ‘Stages’

Sippi and Ajay Khurana at ‘Tiger’

Paul Wall at ‘Wild’

Erin and Preston Hall at ‘Trailblazers’

Fady Armanious, Hallie Vanderhider and Bill Baldwin at ‘Ballet’

Houston Ballet Company dancers at ‘Ballet’

Tiffany Halik, Tricia Verbois, Lesley Noto, Krista Shamaly at ‘Trailblazers’

FEEDER Party People

evening featuring dinner on the lawn and dancing in the theater. Dynamic duo Reagan and Alex Bregman toasted the relaunch of their popular salsa brand, now known as Wild Sol, with a star-studded soiree. ... The American Heart Association’s 40th Heart Ball also toasted the 100th anniversary of the org. ... Junior League’s Charity Ball Weekend was an enchanting one, adopting a fairy-tale theme throughout its three-night affair. The Rothko Chapel welcomed Cheech Marin, artist Vincent Valdez, and civil-rights advocate Dolores Huerta for an onstage conversation about art and activism during its Inspirit fundraiser. ... Interfaith Ministries’ Wags and Whiskers brunch benefited its “Animeals” program, which delivers food, medicine and supplies for pets of home-bound seniors. 

Najee Harris and Zinat Ahmed at ‘Cotton’

Angel Rios, Lynn Wyatt and Richard Flowers at ‘Ballet’

Moose and Nadia Tajalli at ‘Whiskers’

Cheech Marin, Dolores Huerta and Vincent Valdez at ‘Rothko’

Connor Walsh and Chae Eun Yang at ‘Ballet’

Catherine Matthews and Elizabeth Abraham Colombowala at ‘Hats’

Lindley Arnoldy, Allie Fields at ‘Hats’

Monica Carter, Megan Hotze, Alexis Caruselle at ‘Junior’

Marita Fairbanks, Palmer Schooley, Kasi Kubiak and Connor Estes at ‘Wonder’

Become a Health Champion

Did you know that for more than 35 years we’ve operated the very first hospice home dedicated to caring for end-of-life patients with AIDS in Texas?

And we do this while providing dignity and grace.

Your Donation helps provide FREE HIV Tests for community members.

Can we depend on you to be a Health Champion who helps to fund health + wellness solutions for Houston?

Avenue 360 Health + Wellness has 6 health clinics and a hospice site. A healthy thriving community with individuals who receive the care they need when they need it, is good for Houston.

DONATE NOW

Become a Health Champion. Become Part of the Solution.

www.avenue360.org/donate-now

DOWN TOWN GIRL

THIS SPRING, TAKE THE SEASON’S VIBRANT HUES AND JEWEL TONES TO THE EDGE.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JHANE HOANG, STYLING BY ANGELIQUE GIOLDASIS

ART DIRECTION BY PATRICK MAGEE, MODEL KENNA SKYE

HAIR AND MAKEUP BY HANNAH BRESHEARS

PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT SARAH DE LA ROSA, DIGITAL TECH DAVID COLE

WARDROBE ASSISTANCE ERIN HECTOR

PHOTOGRAPHED ON LOCATION AT THE PARK HTX

Previous spread: Jeweled top, by Gucci; tights, $8, by Amazon; vintage earrings, by Yves Saint Laurent at DesignVault; oval-link bracelets, from $4,750, by Rudolf Friedmann at Deutsch Fine Jewelry.

Gown, $1,290, by Badgley Mischka at Tootsies, with vintage jewelry, by Yves Saint Laurent at DesignVault. Opposite page: Top, by Giorgio Armani, with tights, $8, by Amazon.

Beaded dress, by Oscar de la Renta, with accessories, stylist’s own. Opposite page: Rhinestone bodysuit, $650, by Bronx and Banco at Tootsies, with vintage necklaces, by Yves Saint Laurent at DesignVault.

Silver gown, $3,850, by Gaurav Gupta at Neiman Marcus; diamond earrings, $8,000, elongated cocktail ring, $10,800, snake cocktail ring, $4,250, chain-link diamond band, $2,300, diamond estate bracelet, $150,000, all at Valobra Master Jewelers. Opposite page: Vintage blazer and crystal shorts, by Nue Studio, and jewelry, all at DesignVault.

Vintage scarf, by Paco Rabone at Design Vault; skirt and bracelet, both by Chanel; ring, by Gucci; jacket, stylist’s own.

Opposite page: Gown, by Valentino; boots, $1,690, by Valentino at Tootsies; black-gold diamond-leaf earrings, $21,000, at Valobra Master Jewelers.

SPRING PHILANTHROPY REPORT

FEATURING: CAMP h-TOWN, ThE sAlvATiON ARMy OF GREATER hOUsTON, hOUsTON TENTs & EvENTs, sPiNdlETOP COMMUNiT y IMPACT PARTNERs, ChildREN’s AssEssMENT CENTER ANd kids’ MEAls

FIFTH ANNUAL

CELEBRITY CHEFS

AGAINST CANCER benefitting Camp H-Town

April 24th | 6 PM - 9 PM

Four Seasons Hotel Houston

SPINDLETOP COMMUNITY IMPACT PARTNERS

Spindletop Community Impact Partners, Inc. enhances the lives of at-risk youth through funding and volunteering from the energy industry, while promoting fellowship and networking.

What are you most proud of? Spindletop boasts numerous achievements, but our deepest source of pride lies in our collaborative efforts with 35 esteemed nonprofit organizations across Houston, all dedicated to our core values of Educate, Empower, Protect, and Nurture. Together, we champion the cause of Houston’s children, striving to pave their path towards brighter, healthier, and more fulfilling futures.

Central to our success are the dedicated individuals comprising over 45 corporate sponsors, who not only provide vital financial support but also generously volunteer their time and expertise. These champions form the backbone of our volunteer program, affectionately known as the Spindletop Army, which has grown to include more than 500 passionate individuals since its inception in 2018. Their unwavering commitment ensures that essential projects benefiting our youth are executed with precision and care, leaving a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve.

How have you impacted the community? At Spindletop, we strive to create a profound and lasting impact on the lives of Houston’s children. We’ve evolved our impact model to encompass a comprehensive range of resources tailored to connect at-risk youth with programs designed to educate, empower, protect, and nurture them throughout their life’s journey.

Through our strategic approach, we’ve identified four distinct giving pillars that serve as the cornerstone of our efforts:

1. Educate: We bolster foundational educational resources, ensuring children are equipped with the tools they need to succeed at every stage of their academic journey.

2. Empower: Our aim is to inspire youth, fostering confidence and self-awareness through life skills that strengthen social and emotional development.

3. Protect: Advocating for children’s safety within our community is paramount, and we work tirelessly to create a secure environment where every child can thrive.

4. Nurture: Rising above disability and illness, we enable individuals to lead healthy, capable lives by providing the necessary support and resources.

By aligning our efforts with these pillars, we address every

aspect of a child’s life, including education, mental health, safety, overall well-being, and healthcare, with a special focus on addressing the needs of those with disabilities.

We’re proud to have supported 35 organizations across these vital pillars, including BEAR... Be A Resource, BridgeYear, The Children’s Assessment Center, Crime Stoppers of Houston, Girls Inc. of Greater Houston, Kids’ Meals, Palmer Drug Abuse Program, Periwinkle Foundation, Texas Hearing Institute, Urban Harvest, and many others. For a complete list of our beneficiaries, visit our website at SpindletopHouston.org/what-we-do/.

Tell us about your big event. Taking place on April 18 and 19, the Spindletop Golf Tournament, our flagship event is a springtime tradition dating back to 1966. Renowned as the world’s largest energy industry charitable golf tournament, it unites executives from across the sector in support of Houston’s at-risk children. Held over two days at Memorial Park Golf Course, the tournament not only fosters camaraderie but also raises substantial funds thanks to the tireless efforts of our dedicated Spindletop Golf Ambassadors. Year after year, this event serves as a powerful testament to our community’s commitment to making a difference in the lives of our youth.

After our renowned Golf Tournament, our Emerging Leader Steering Committee takes the spotlight with the Spindletop Soiree. This annual event, featuring a fresh theme each year, offers a vibrant networking opportunity. In 2023, our inaugural Soiree transported guests to ‘Havana Nights,’ immersing them in the charm of Cuba with delectable cuisine, signature blackberry mojitos, and captivating performances. This year, on May 3, 2024, we invite guests to embrace the theme of ‘Derby Nights,’ donning their finest hats and seersucker attire. Join us for an evening of mingling with fellow supporters of Spindletop, all while enjoying the festivities. For more information on our events please email info@spindletophouston.org.

THE CHILDREN’S ASSESSMENT CENTER

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. In 2023, we provided healing and protective services to 6,123 child sexual abuse victims and their families. The goal of The CAC is to provide all the services children and families need in one safe, child-friendly place. We provide forensic interviewing, family advocacy, therapy and psychological services, medical services, and children’s court services at no cost to our clients. Along with our 60 partner agencies, we have adopted a multidisciplinary team model to coordinate services, provide resources, and reduce any potential trauma to children and families. 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’s happening in April? Did you know that 1 out of 10 children will experience child sexual abuse before their 18th birthday? This statistic usually comes as a shock to many people. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. During the month of April, we raise awareness about the issue of child abuse and recognize all the work that our team and partners do to prevent child sexual abuse in our community.

During Child Abuse Prevention Month we are filling our front yard with 239 pinwheels – each representing a child survivor who will receive mental health services at The CAC in April.

How can the community help keep children safe?

Prevention is key to keeping children in our community safe. Just last year, The CAC provided prevention trainings to over 23,500 children at local schools and over 12,400 adults in Harris County. As adults, it is our responsibility to keep children safe. Be a part of the solution to ending child sexual abuse by advocating for prevention education for your organizations, businesses, churches, schools, camps, athletics, and child-serving agencies.

cachouston.org

Royal Treatment

Uptown Park newbie The Duchess, located in the former Belvedere building, is blending the coastal cuisines of the Mediterranean, Asia and South America — as in the Royal Beef Tartare with caviar, smoked eel and a drizzle of truffle oil. For more on this and other food news, see page 57.

Artisans, Part Deux

Twelve years after its delicious debut, Midtown’s Artisans goes west. Bon appetit! By Evan W. Black, Photos by Shane Dante

IIt may take a minute, but while seated at the coveted chef’s table that wraps around the busy and fragrant open kitchen, survey Artisans’ new digs on Westheimer and see if you can’t remember what previously occupied the space.

Look past the fleur-de-lis-embellished room dividers and expansive, beautiful paintings. Forget for a moment the sounds of sizzling escargot and decanting of wine. And imagine that instead of perched in a leatherupholstered bar chair snacking on a warm baguette with whipped butter, you’re in a sticky red-pleather booth eating a juicy hot dog. The iconic Houston brand James Coney Island sold off its Galleria-area building

in 2022, and at the end of last year, after a lengthy reno and expansion courtesy of architecture and design firm Gesnler, Midtown mainstay Artisans made the move to the now super-chic building.

Here, guests can expect Executive Chef Jaques Fox’s same dedication to both traditional and innovative French cuisine as was displayed at the Louisiana Street restaurant for 12 years. Fox cites the allure of the Galleria area to both locals and visitors alike, and the proximity to other noted fine-dining options like Pappas Bros. Steakhouse and Trulucks’, as factors in the move.

Each dining area of the open-concept restaurant

French Twist Getting cozy with a martini in Artisans’ main dining room

has its own distinct feel; the cozy bar is warm and inviting, and the private dining room looking out onto the intimate patio has discrete sliding doors. The previously mentioned Table du Chef is located in the back corner of the restaurant, behind the main dining space that boasts roomy winged chairs and highbacked booths.

A three-course pre-fixe menu, with selections that change daily, is offered for both lunch and dinner, in addition to several a la carte plates. The lunch-only foie-gras-topped burger is a treat, while at dinner, duck confit with orange-chili sauce is a must-try. Weekend brunch brings a croque-monsieur served on a housemade croissant with a creamy dijon-bechamel sauce.

LATEST DISH!

HOUSTON’S BEST FOOD NEWS, IN SMALL BITES

FM Kitchen opened PKL, its new concept next-door specializing in pickleball. Find four stateof-the-art pickleball courts and expansive covered spaces for casual fare from FM Kitchen. Don’t play pickleball? The team has created a laid-back vibe with a dog-friendly patio and lawn games like ping pong and cornhole, as well as a full bar with sport TVs. Menu highlights include the FM Burger and Smash Burger as well as soft pretzels, and mains like the coconut-shrimp bowl. Also expect happy hour and weekend brunch.

L.A.’s fave pizza, from Sprinkles Cupcakes celebchef Candace Nelson and partners, is now open in a former Starbucks in the restaurant-burgeoning River Oaks Shopping Center. Rejoice in choices like Pizzana’s signature cacio e pepe pizza with fresh Italian mozzarella,

Spinaci with basil pesto, Vodka with parsley pesto and smoked coppa, and a Houston-only carnitas pizza. Non-pizza fans can get their fill of antipasti, salads and pasta. And don’t leave without trying the luscious chocolate olive oil cake or an Aperol slushie — the answer to summer heat!

A two-acre drinkingdining-backyard newcomer has opened in Woodlands Heights, from siblings Justin, West and Brandon Piper. Woodland

Social’s expansive patio bar — complete with lawn games, cabanas, swings, hammocks, three regulation-size volleyball courts, and an indoor area with high-definition TVs — provides a new spot for the ’hood to hang out (and cheer on the Astros). Come thirsty for 20 beers and cider on tap, frozen and handcrafted cocktails, and brick-oven pizza to nosh.

Brotherly Love Brandon, Justin and West Piper of new Woodland Social in Woodland Heights

Bar None

A petite opera-cake dessert and, above, Le Saumon Fumé au Caviar with a poached quail egg

For extended enjoyment, sixand seven-course meals are served with optional wine pairings at the chef’s table.

“Dining at Artisans is a passionate art form,” says Fox. “It’s a fusion of exquisite French cooking and technique with our special touch.”

At lunch, a short but sweet dessert selection includes a treat du jour that might be a creamy, layered, shortbread and hazelnut bar — but at dinner, patrons get their choice among 10 tarts, cakes, eclairs and more. The tiramisu is served with candied orange peel, while the chocolate mousse boasts spongy red velvet cake and macerated berries. A dainty scoop of fresh-fruit sorbet complements any and all of the above.

It remains dark and moody inside the new Artisans, which makes it easy to forget that you’re a mere few yards away from the hustle and bustle of Westheimer — and even easier to forget that this was once a gleaming white hot dog stand. 

LATEST DISH! Dining

The latest in a series of hot spots from serial restaurateur Ben Berg, Prime 131 may just be his hottest one yet — literally. The live-fire steakhouse and sushi restaurant has bowed in a revamped industrial space called The Docks at Timbergrove. Designed to recall New York’s Meatpacking District in the ’90s, the restaurant occupies what was once a factory; there are four central wood-fire grills, and two Josper charcoal ovens, plus a sushi bar and four Korean-barbecue-style tables.

Now open near Memorial City, Via 313 brings authentic Detroit-style pizza to Houston. Named for Detroit’s area code, the restaurant offers rectangular pizzas that are delightfully crispy on all four sides, but oh-so-perfectly fluffy in all the right spots. You can build your own, but The Cadillac is a signature must-try: A savory blend of cheeses, including gorgonzola, is topped with thinly sliced prosciutto and fig preserves, and it’s all doused in a balsamic glaze. Pizzas take around 25 minutes, and are worth the wait.

Think Pink Salmon crudo

Speaking of lobster: Chef Chris “Magic Fingers” Kinjo has dipped into something new after nine years of running MF Sushi, his only H-Town spot: MF Lobster & Ceviche is the newest eatery in Autry Park on the western edge of Buffalo Bayou Park. Inspired by Kinjo’s frequent travels to New England, the concept offers simple and familiar dishes using fresh ingredients from both Maine and Japan, including an entire section devoted to lobster. Various takes on the luxe crustacean include brownbutter lobster bao, lobster rolls, and grilled or steamed whole lobster.

The visual feast that is PostScript is now open, with pops of pink and plush booths with “Press for Champagne” doorbells, ensuring swift delivery of bubbles. And the food? Long-time Houston chef Bryan Caswell, formerly of shuttered Reef, calls the menu “modern American.” This translates to dishes like caviar donuts with white chocolate caviar, a glistening shellfish tower and mustard brûlée short ribs. Brunch is sure to be a sexy scene.

Surprise, surprise… another Italian joint! Veteran chef Nicolas Nikic, former GM of DaMarco, opened his first eatery, Magdalena’s Trattoria and Pizzeria, in West U. The kitchen is helmed by Luis Silva, previously of Vic & Anthony’s, who in addition to baking up perfect pies and pastas, is using many recipes from Nikic’s grandmother think baked quail with polenta, and sweet-corn ravioli with lobster.

Get Out!

Cool breezes, sunshine and low humidity are beckoning alfresco dining this spring. Here are our patio picks for the season. By Robin Barr Sussman

WWhat makes a restaurant patio great? Beauty, comfort, uniqueness? Check. Stellar food? Check. The feeling that you got away from it all? Triple check. Whether you’re looking to whet your whistle, grab a bite in a treehouse, dine under the stars, or catch a sunset over the urban landscape, Houston is rich with patios, balconies and rooftops. Get some air and celebrate the glorious season at these newbies and stalwarts.

ANNABELLE BRASSERIE When a fancy French fête is in order, Ben Berg’s feminine Autry Park newcomer is ready with a sleek bi-level, umbrella-dotted veranda and picturesque views of Buffalo Bayou. The nature theme continues indoors with yards of flowers dangling from the ceilings and French doors streaming with sunlight. If indulging your inner Francophile, order the raclette baguette prepared tableside, and a Frenchie martini.

ARMADILLO PALACE If you want it made in the shade with a side of live music, Goode Co.’s lively landmark is your ticket to hot summer nights. The roomy gravel patio is strewn with metal lawn chairs, pastel settees, and picnic tables all in view of the bandstand, and the Airstream dispenses cold Longnecks during events. Couple the genuine Hill Country music-venue vibe with fine Texana fare, and this palace has a true sense of place.

COLTIVARE PIZZA & GARDEN After 10 years, a Heights classic (and its vegetable garden glowing with string lights) continues to flourish. As far as restaurant patios go, Coltivare is the closest thing to dining in someone’s backyard. GM-sommelier Leonora Varvoutis always has interesting Italian-focused wines to pair with the fresh menu. Think zingy strawberry salad, or lamb steak with spring vegetables.

EAU TOUR Anticipate loads of charm at Benjy Levit’s still-new brasserie, from its fun menu and modern interior to the intimate, treehouse-style patio hideaway overlooking Rice Village. Arrive early, and you might just have the whole patio to yourself. After an order of raclette dumplings with shaved mushrooms or duck confit, you’ll realize this is much more civilized than sitting on a crowded, loud sidewalk café in France.

FLORA MEXICAN KITCHEN When you think of dining outdoors, this epic undertaking hovering over Buffalo Bayou’s Lost Lake has all the elements. The glass-wrapped interior dripping with chandeliers sports impressive views. Your destination — the patio — feels like you are floating in a cube inside the woods. But Flora isn’t just a pretty face: Serious fare like pork shank with mole rojo and Gratify ceviche please both hard-core Mexican-food fans and ladies-who-lunch-and-brunch.

HAMSA & BADOLINA BAKERY

Rice Village people-watching, along with buzzy drinks, pastries and modern Israeli fare, keep these adjacent outdoor spaces hopping. Crisp garden furnishings with ornate umbrellas and lush landscaping add to the exotic patio vibe; Hamsa sports roll-up doors to bring the outdoors in. Catch the new brunch, go all out for dinner, or simply share a salatim with creamy labneh, hummus, beet salad and much more.

HUNGRY’S Hungry? Vegans and meat-eaters, you’ve come to the right place. Immensely popular on weekends for its sprawling Rice Village patio and second-floor covered balcony, Hungry’s affordable,

massive menu is also a draw. Tuck into a market chopped salad, crispy eggplant tacos, or a slew of burgers. Brunch on egg Benedicts — and the winning smoked-salmon-avocado toast with chipotle cream cheese, guacamole and Persian cucumber dill salad. Here’s to another 45 years!

LA GRIGLIA Maybe it’s the plush banquettes, the shrubs and lemon trees hugging each table, or the patio bar, but this new courtyard with a retractable roof feels a little like you’re sitting on a patio in Tuscany. Don’t miss the generous salads — namely the Caesar — or the musthave classic Snapper La Griglia with prawns, jumbo crab and Barolo sauce. Chef kiss!

MUSAAFER Here’s a stunning use of a relatively small space that evokes India. The second-floor terrace has a slick little bar with enchanting dangling lamps and its semi-private cabana-draped daybeds with tables make it feel worlds away. You might be tempted to take a catnap, but then you’d miss the exciting fare like Mithu’s Coriander Shrimp, the golden hour Lodhi Garden cocktail, or an eye-popping dessert.

TINY BOXWOODS No question the prettiest perch in town, nursery-landscaper Thompson+ Hanson’s restaurant blooms straight from its lawn. Green thumbs and foodies have been digging the Euro-American menu for 20-plus years, and with three concepts and a recent expansion to Austin, we don’t see this group slowing. Try the spring burrata with prosciutto and melon — and do stop and smell the roses. 

Texas Tour

From ATX to Big D, here are updates on some of our favorite Lone Star stay-overs.

By Evan W. Black and Jeff Gremillion

OONE OF HOUSTON’S favorite getaways has long been Lake Austin Spa Resort, a quiet paradise of un-preachy environmentalism and ATX-appropriate water sport, prized for its perch by deep waters opposite wooded hills. Not a prisoner of its own storied past, however, the everevolving resort has just partnered with Italian wellness brand Comfort Zone. The otherwise richly traditional spa — the fireside Blue Room is the most opulent and relaxing space in which you’ve ever waited for a lavish treatment — has created a first-in-the-U.S. place for trendy treatments done in an open, inclusive environment. At the new FACE SPAce setup, expect efficient, interactive, non-nude (obviously) treatments with blue-light gizmos, facial massage and mineral-rich, sustainable products. The new Body Strategist Experience begins in FACE SPAce’s foot-cleansing station before moving to its bracing cold-plunge patio and ending in a traditional treatment room for a massage and full-body mud mask.

Other innovations at the resort — as notable for its paddleboarding and yoga sessions on the pier as its dining room with pretty views — include an effort to highlight handsome culinary director Stephane Beaucamp. The cooking class with the paella isn’t just a fun experience; it’s delicious! There’s also a booze cruise, a sound bath in the indoor pool, tarot card readings — and tons more.

Elsewhere in Austin: For those who haven’t been to , the newest outpost from the Bunkhouse group (which is readying two Houston properties) is located in the spiffy Music Lane development, just off South Congress, on land once owned by Willie Nelson. This is a sunny spread, with crisp, earthy rooms, from which one may stumble over to some amazing shopping. LoveShackFancy and Rag & Bone are steps away; Stag’s just a couple blocks.

Joining South Congress’ Tex-Mex and pizza haunts are the likes of Music Lane’s Aba, a Medit vibe with both be-seen breezeway seating out front and a deck

wrapped around a huge oak out back. (Careful falling leaves don’t wind up in your hummus topped with pomegranatemolasses short ribs.) A detour to the East Side’s feel-good Uptown Sports Club is recommended. It’s a restored 1890s corner building with Big Easy energy, down to the vegan red beans and rice. Brunch’s Bloody Mary is spicy and sweet, and the caviar starter comes with Zapp’s chips.

IN DALLAS, THE Las Colinas Four Seasons is now a RitzCarlton, a Four Seasons is currently in the design phase, and the stylish Loews Arlington bowed in February. And the JW Marriott opened last year in the city’s downtown Arts District, where the four-diamond Hall Arts Hotel also lives. The vibrant and walkable area just east of Klyde Warren Park includes the Dallas Museum of Art, Meyerson Symphony Center, Winspear Opera House, the stunning Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre and more. The latter hotel is located across from Hall Arts, and boasts a rooftop bar and restaurant with great views of the Pritzer Prize-winning building — and a map of the neighborhood charting a onemile hike and bike route.

BESIDES THE HILL Country, there’s another region that offers beauty and seclusion: East Texas’ rolling, rural

Pineywoods. Near Tyler, Jason and Sharon Romano have established a “laid-back luxury” resort called High Hill Farm, with bungalows and barn-style accommodations.

There are trampolines, bocce ball, a (stupendous) finedining restaurant and a picturesque pool. The quiet is comforting; an occasional hum of golf carts can be heard, along with a chorus of cicadas. “Our motto is ages 3 to 93,” says Jason, who knows all the guests by name, and when you spot him blowing leaves, it feels like you’re running into an old friend.

He and Sharon have high hopes for High Hill, having recently completed the first phase of the resort’s adjacent master-planned development, with dozens of homes available for rent and purchase. They’re all built by Jason, who has a 30-year career building out restaurants and hospitality projects in Dallas. Modeled after Florida’s 30A and Seaside communities, the walkable community has an amphitheater overlooking a spring-fed lake, and a wedding chapel.

The residences are all custom, with commissioned art and unique furnishings. The pines have grown up and over a Mediterranean-style courtyard with a dipping pool and giant outdoor shower, creating a sense you could be anywhere in the world but East Texas! Future plans include a sangria and tapas bar using juice from the fruits grown onsite. 

On the Road Again Clockwise from far left: Hotel Magdalena on land once owned by Willie Nelson, Aba’s mushroom hummus, High Hill Farm, Hall Arts Hotel, Uptown Sports Club and Lake Austin Spa Resort. Far below, left: a Comfort Zone product.

ANNABELLE BRASSERIE french

Infused with the charm of a bustling French café, Berg Hospitality’s newest concept is in Autry Park on Buffalo Bayou. Anticipate modern French cuisine — brunch, lunch and dinner — served in a very pretty space with picturesque views of the park. 811 Buffalo Park Dr.

B&B BUTCHERS steakhouse

Venture in for the deepfried 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.

BB ITALIA italian

Find classic Italian-American food with modern twists in a lively setting, in the heart of Sugar Land’s Town Square. 16250 City Walk

BB LEMON american

The old-fashioned-yet-upscale bar setting, complete with green-checkered tablecloths and tufted leather banquettes, serves starters like blue-crab beignets, chili and New England clam chowder. 1809 Washington Ave.

BENNY CHOWS chinese

Bringing to mind Chinese restaurants in Ben Berg’s native New York, from the menu to the decor, Benny Chows is a delight. With Chinese-born exec chef Shirong Mei at the helm, it serves dishes both familiar dim sum, Peking Duck and uniquely Texan, a la the Smoked Brisket Egg Roll starring Truth BBQ. 1818

Washington Ave.

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, it’s reminiscent of a Parisian sidewalk café. 1962 W. Gray St.

Burgundy Escargots at Brasserie 19

Our Favorite Restaurants Now!

These CityBook partners are among the best eateries in the most deliciously diverse city.

EAU TOUR french

Helmed by executive chef Kent Domas, Benjy Levit’s quaint, still-new bistro in Rice Village is French-inspired and seafood-heavy — c’est magnifique! Pro tip: The happy hour runs 4-6pm Tues.Sat., and is one of the best deals in town. 5117 Kelvin Dr.

JONATHAN’S THE RUB

american

Jonathan’s the Rub has two locations in the Memorial area and is open for brunch, lunch, dinner and special occasions, touting steaks, meatballs, gumbo and hearty American cuisine. The eatery is also known for its catering services, private events and putting on amazing wine dinners at the Memorial Green location.

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 original location in Rice Village is huge, with ample takeaway and grocery items.

Look for a shiny new outpost on Post Oak soon! 2424 Dunstan Rd., 713.521.7800

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.

POTENTE italian

Chef Danny Trace’s handmade pastas come with the option of tableside truffle service, and baguettes and pastries are made in house by pastry chef David Berg. A supremely sexy cocktail lounge serves as a festive gathering area with a happy hour to boot. 1515 Texas Ave.

SORRENTO italian

Under new ownership, the upscale spot on the Westheimer Curve is an elegant space touting a richly classic menu — lobster

tortellini, stuffed lambchops that now includes killer pizzas and dessert staples like cannoli. One of the best bread baskets in town. Brunch is lovely. 415 Westheimer Rd.

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

TAVOLA italian

Polished and glamorous, Tavola on Post Oak aims to be the next see-and-be scene in a neighborhood known for them. Chef Luca Di Benedetto’s wild-boar ragu is a must-try. 1800 Post Oak Blvd.

THE ANNIE fine dining

A fine-dining stalwart for decades, The Annie Café & Bar has ample privateevent spaces and impeccably executed white-tablecloth service. 1800 Post Oak Blvd.

TONIGHT & TOMORROW

european

The restaurant inside storied Montrose hotel La Colombe d’Or boasts eclectic but sophisticated European dishes with Southern touches. Be sure to check out the cocktail lounge, Bar No. 3. 3410 Montrose Blvd.

TRATTORIA SOFIA italian

An Italian-American spot from Berg Hospitality looks like a trattoria you might stumble upon in rural Italy, with enchanting and spacious indoor and garden seating. 911 W. 11th St.

TURNER’S fine dining

At hidden-gem Turner’s, the food is as decadent as the environment, which touts live music nightly. Check out the Emilia’s Havana speakeasy inside! 1800 Post Oak Blvd.

« Sprawling Terraces with 10’ Waterwall

« Club Pool/Heated Spa with Cascading Fountains

« Sprawling +/- 1.2 acres with Sport/Pickleball Court

« Fire Pit, Basin & Catering Kitchen

« Barre Studio, Movie Theatre & Wine Room

« Rotunda-styled Living Spaces with Encompassing Skybridge

Your best look is through their eyes.

Happy

Mother’s Day.

Artist: Violeta Lazo, age 8

SPRING 2024 SPRING FASHION