Prime Living November/December 2009 Issue

november/december 2009

Texas

The Luxury of Choice

luxe life the

’Tis the season to celebrate in style and splendor

Sail Away

Live the high life on a dream cruisearound theworld

Gifts With Glam

Prime Living’s 2009 Luxury Gift Guide

Giving Thanks Dressyour Thanksgiving table in dazzling elegance

november/december 2009

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glitters

all that

The season comes alive with dazzling holiday collections

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the giving season

For gifts with glam, check out PL’s 2009 Luxury Gift Guide

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sail away

Climb aboard and cruise the world in the lap of luxury

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32 november/december • 2009

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alsoinside

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Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Karyn Dean

kdean@prime-living.com

Publisher Terry Dean

11 • cocktails & conversations • Where to Go, What to Do 10 Worst Gifts Ever • Town & Country • Going for Baroque • Out With a Bang • City Q&A • Magic Maker • Boot Camp • Bold is Back • My Life

tdean@prime-living.com

Managing Editor Michelle Jacoby

mjacoby@prime-living.com

41 • connoisseur • PL’s Guide to Discerning Taste Straits • Good Eats • Cleverley’s Corner Table • Uncork the Bubbly • The Splendid Table

Assistant Editor Sue Hauenstein

51 • the gentleman's room • For the man who commands the very best Matchbox Toys • Have a Nice (Holi)day • Viva Italia! • Double-Barreled Luxury • Gadgets Galore 64 • live well • Feel Good, Look Good A Whole New You • Spa, Peace and Goodwill 66 • dining guide • dine out & dig in at houston’s top restaurants

sueh@prime-living.com

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list

www.switchstudio.com

Senior Account Executive Linda Osborne

losborne@prime-living.com

74 • prime list • Events, Galas and Fundraisers Houston PetSet Soiree • BMW Greener Days • RedVault.com Launch Party • Mary Jo Peckham Award Luncheon • Datebook

the

Art Direction & Design SW!TCH s t u d i o Jim Nissen, Erin Loukili, Chaidi Lobato, Kris Olmon

Account Executive Mike Taylor mtaylor@prime-living.com

Marketing/Event Coordinator Jennifer Dean

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jend@prime-living.com

Circulation/ Distribution Brian Stavert

bstavert@prime-living.com

Contact 311 Julie Rivers Drive Sugar Land, Texas 77498 281.277.2333 Editorial Inquiries editor@prime-living.com

J;N7I

e The Luxury of Choic

on the cover

luxe life the

to ‘Tis the season celebrate in style and splendor

Sail Away

ona dream Livethe high life theworld cruisearound

With Glam Gifts 2009 Luxury Gift Guide

Prime Living’s

ks Thaniving Giving yourThanksg

Dress elegance table in dazzling

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Gown by Tadashi Collection from Saks Fifth Avenue. Jewelry by Sheri Levin and Joel M. Starkman Fine Jewelers. Photographed by Mark Peterman; styled by Lisa Forster; interior design by Christopher K. Coffin Interiors; model from the Agency Arizona.

Advertising Information advertise@prime-living.com www.prime-living.com Prime Living Magazine is a publication of SRG Services, Inc., published bi-monthly.

Copies are mailed and hand delivered to households and businesses throughout the greater Houston area. This publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the express prior written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility to any party for the content of any advertisement in this publication. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position of the publication.

publisher’s note

The holidays aren’t complete without my decorated sugar cookies. Time spent preparing my “labor of love” is always rewarded by my family’s cry of, “these are the best!” during our holiday get-togethers.

For me, the gift of giving is my favorite holiday tradition. Spending hours searching for the perfect gift and anticipating the joy of the recipient makes every moment worth it! jennifer dean Marketing/Event Coordinator

The holidays wouldn’t be the same without all of the delicious homemade treats, including my favorite: homemade chocolate meringue pie.

Chocolate covered cherries (any brand will do), however, come in a close second!

Linda Osborne Senior Account Executive

karyn dean Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

Terry Dean CEO, SRG Services Inc.

My entire family gathers at my Grandma’s house in Alabama. On Christmas Eve, the adults stay up late putting together the kids’ toys and the next morning, we all hurry downstairs so we can see their faces when they discover what Santa has left for them.

Samantha Edmondson Receptionist, SRG Services Inc.

We eat, we drink, we party—but most importantly, we give thanks for the health and love we enjoy.

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don’t know about you, but this is my favorite time of the year. The holiday season always makes me thankful for my family and friends, and of the lasting memories and traditions we share.

Speaking of traditions, one of my favorites is the Dean family “Christmas Tree Hunt.” It began our first year of marriage, when I quickly found out that I married a deer hunter who spent every Thanksgiving at the deer lease. Upon his return the Sunday after Thanksgiving, we would go out and select a fresh tree for Christmas and promptly return home to decorate it. This tradition has been repeated every year for nearly 30 years.

In this issue of Prime Living, we celebrate all the things that make this time of year so joyous, including traditions of our own.

From our family to yours, wishing you the happiest of holidays and all the wonderful things that come with it.

Sue Hauenstein Assistant Editor

Our family holiday tradition has become traveling to exciting places to spend Christmas. This came about as the result of not having much extended family to get together with over the holidays.

Tom Kircher Graphic Designer, SRG Services Inc.

coming up

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I love the scent of spices and herbs roasted into a turkey and cookies baking in the oven. A cup of hot steaming cider warms me up while I sit outside next to a toasty winter log fire.

Brian Stavert Accounting & Circulation

My favorite Christmas tradition is hanging Christmas lights, decorating the inside and outside of the house and, of course, the Christmas tree. I love to spend quality time with family and friends.

Mike Taylor Account Executive

During the holidays, I love to play old vinyl records of holiday music while basking in the glow of my Fantastic Instant Fireplace VHS on my DLP digital projector. jim nissen Creative Director

I love Christmas Eve with my family. Each year, we get all dressed up for dinner at a “special occasion” restaurant and afterwards, we head home for dessert and presents.

The best part is sleeping in Christmas morning! michelle jacoby Managing Editor

Chocolate. Warm inside.

Cold outside. The smell of yummy goods waiting to be eaten. Family. Love.

Chocolate. Giving presents.

Getting presents. Chocolate.

Did we mention chocolate?

Erin Loukili, Chaidi Lobato Art Direction and Design

The Power Issue: From the boardroom to the operating room and the stage to the kitchen, meet Houston’s most influential residents who are making a difference in the world today.

contributORS the talented people who drive prime living

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Christopher Coffin | Interior Designer Linda Bauer | Writer Let’s face it. Magazines wouldn’t look half as good if it weren’t for the creative people who make the tiniest of details look amazing. Case in point: interior designer Christopher Coffin.

Based in Scottsdale, Ariz., Christopher designed the lovely dining room in “The Splendid Table” and the dramatic staircase on our cover. His work has appeared in a number of books and magazines, including Better Homes and Gardens and Phoenix Home and Garden.

A food and travel writer for more than 20 years, Linda Bauer is all about cruising. That’s why “Sail Away” was the perfect fit for this seasoned traveler whose been on countless cruises in her life, including one trip where the ship’s captain hosted a party for repeat passengers. “As he passed out the gifts, he said, ‘For 10 years, one receives a diamond ring. For 15 years, we give you a magnifying glass to see the diamond.”

Sally J. Clasen | Writer For Phoenix-based freelance writer Sally Clasen, story assignments take her to interesting places “in my mind and sometimes to actual destinations.” Prime Living’s holiday issue was no exception. “Writing about giftgiving ideas transported me to my youth, when I would anxiously wait to see what Santa had brought. While I never imagined a pink leather Monopoly set, one year I did receive snowy white go-go boots and a Lite-Brite.”

Leroy Gibbins | Photographer

Marene Gustin | Writer According to writer Marene Gustin, nothing says the holidays like decorations. “And the wonderful trio I met while writing ‘All That Glitters’ keep the spirit of the season alive all year long,” she says. Based in Houston, Marene writes about Texas culture, food, fashion, the arts and even Lone Star politics and crime. She has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, and worked in Houston politics for six years.

Todd Parker | Photographer

With more than 20 years shooting everything from industrial projects to scenic landscapes, Leroy Gibbins has done it all. But it’s event photography that he says he’s had some of his most memorable experiences. For Prime Living, Leroy photographed the RedVault.com Launch Party, where he met “Congressional hopefuls [and] leaders of art and style of Houston.”

His clients include the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the Society for the Performing Arts. prime-living.com

A lifelong Houstonian and Bellaire graduate, Todd Parker has been a photographer since he snapped his first Polaroid in 1969. He and his wife Cindy own and operate STP Images Photography Studio in the Museum District, where they specialize in portrait photography.

Todd joins Prime Living with his photography of the Mary Jo Peckham Award Luncheon & Fashion Show, hosted by the Assistance League of Houston.

The World’s Luxury Marketplace.

cocktails & conversation.

cocktails & the prime living guide to what's happening now

inside:

Old Town Spring

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• • • • • • • • •

Prime Ten | Worst Gifts Ever Day Tripper | Town & Country The Buzz | What’s New Hot List | Out With a Bang Houston Deconstructed | City Q&A Style | Boot Camp Arts | Magic Maker Design | Bold is Back My Life | Paul & Joyce Juillard november/december • 2009

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cocktails & conversation.

prime ten

A singing ashtray. A battery-operated cigarette receptacle that plays You Light Up My Life is simply a gift that adds insult to injury.

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Chia Pet. The jig is up.

The cute factor on this novelty item expired sometime in the ’80s. Crappy gift certainty: It will end up at a yard sale as soon as the snow thaws.

Worst Gifts Ever

Story | sally j. clasen Illustration | Paul Svancara

The gift-giving season is a joyous time of surprise and wonder…until someone ruins your holiday with a present that doesn’t make you fee like rejoicing. Buried beneath the glittery tissue paper is a tacky throwaway item that makes this list of the 10 worst gifts ever:

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Pre-packaged underwear.

Unimaginative and weird, especially when it comes from someone outside the immediate family circle.

Porcelain tchotchke. When is the last time you’ve seen a knick-knack collection in someone’s home? Stop the “precious” collectibles cycle—the curio cabinets are full.

Freebies. The glaring “SAMPLE” sticker stuck to your repurposed FREE gift does nothing to promote peace, prosperity or goodwill.

Yanni CD. Since he hasn’t dated Linda Evans for a decade and has no modern-day cultural reference, it’s safe to assume the iPod generation doesn’t want to burn music from your CD membership club selection.

Toiletries.

“Personal” hygiene means it’s none of your business. The recipient of deodorant and talcum powder may have body odor, but the fact that you’re pointing it out is even more offensive.

The even exchange. Maybe the re-gifter figured since you bought the item to begin with, you wanted it back?

Bedazzled sweatshirt.

There’s only one person on the planet who would be giddy over a seasonal sweatshirt adorned with a jeweled Santa or menorah—and grandma isn’t with us anymore.

A partially used gift card. What looks like a full-course meal to Applebee’s is really a $6 gesture of insincerity that will only cover one deepfried happy hour appetizer (drinks not included).

day tripper

Town & Country Story | Jean Ciampi Photography | Mark W. Lipczynski

O

ld Town Spring can trace its roots back to the days before the Republic of Texas. Established in the early 1800s, the peaceful artisan Indian residents of the Orcoquisac tribe traded their wares with the French and later the Spaniards that passed through. After the Civil War, during the Railroad Boom, the area thrived as businesses poured in and by 1900, Old Town Spring was a major railway center and a small hub of industry.

Today, the charm of Spring’s heritage is preserved in the turnof-the-century houses lining the historic streets that are now home to fanciful boutiques, unique eateries and one-of-a-kind shops that draw visitors from around the world.

Discriminating shoppers can find gorgeous arrangements and exquisite home décor at shops like Metals, Petals & More and will

make the drive just to see what’s new at Thads.

“We’re often called the ‘lamp shop’ because of all the incredible and truly beautiful lamps we have,” says owner Thad Abbott of the 50 or more eclectic handcrafted lamps he offers in the shop that has born his name for nearly a quarter of a century.

“What draws people here is that high-end, upscale sense of quality and style. I can’t just have something stuck on a shelf. Each piece is displayed on an antique table or chest.”

The other 150 boutiques and shops that make up the quaint shopping village follow suit in offering the unusual to the traditional with a more refined sense of pizzazz, flair and fancifulness.

Why Not Toys captures the magic and wonder of a toy store like FAO Schwartz, but on a smaller scale with its selection

of whimsical and unique toys.

At Anthony’s, Tony Crochet and Debbie Bombulie create imaginative, hand-painted and custom-created pressed tin wall and window décor that can’t be found anywhere else. Designer resale and rare couture pieces from the 1950s to the present are the specialty at Vamp Vintage Wear. With each stop along the way, another window display piques the interest and one more door opens to the next treasure waiting to be discovered.

Devoid of the humdrum trinkets and predictable knickknacks, Old Town Spring is a step back in time, capturing the ambiance and the elegance of shopping from generations past. old town spring spring cypress road & interstate 45 281-353-9310 oldtownspring.com

cocktails & conversation.

Looking for something to do this holiday season? Check out this annual event: A day spent at Old Town Spring is more of an adventure than a shopping trip. Never more so than during the “Home for the Holidays” open house weekend celebrations scheduled for Nov.14-15 and 21-22.

Thousands of shimmering white lights, ropes of garland and festive red bows decorate the town as merchants pass out nibbles and snacks to shoppers while featuring holiday gift ideas that certainly won’t be found someplace as common as a crowded mall.

The official Christmas tree lighting will be held at dusk on Nov. 14, complete with musicians playing carols and choirs singing. Entertainment and activities are also scheduled throughout both weekends. Stan the Train Man runs the Christmas Train through town, while an old-fashioned horse and buggy takes a more leisurely pace. At the Santa House, the jolly old elf himself greets young friends and poses for pictures.

november/december • 2009

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cocktails & conversation.

buzz

Baroque going for

ooking to add a little spice to your holiday season? If so, don’t miss the Rose Ensemble in “Celebremos el Nino – A Mexican Baroque Christmas.” The internationally acclaimed choral group will perform a unique collection of Mexican music, spanning two centuries of Christmas dances, ballads and villancicos (poems) from the cathedrals of Puebla and Mexico City.

Artistic director Jordan Sramek founded the Rose Ensemble in 1996 and since then, it has won a number of accolades including the 2005 Chorus America Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence. With a repertoire that covers more than 1,000 years in over 25 languages, the Minneapolis-based group is well versed in Hawaiian, Swedish, Middle Eastern and American vocal traditions.

As part of Houston Early Music’s Hispanic Heritage Series, the ensemble will perform on Dec. 13 at the Christ Cathedral Church, 1117 Texas Ave., at 5 p.m. Tickets range from $10 to $35. For information, call 713-432-1744 or visit houstonearlymusic.org.

Ooh La La!

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f a little French décor tickles your fancy, you’ll be in heaven at the 2009 Texas French Home Tour. Walk the rooms of a unique 5,900-square-foot home at Place des Vosges, a new community in Uptown Park developed by The Butler Brothers, a Houston-based design-build firm.

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The $2.2 million home is simply dripping with Parisianinspired décor, from the luxurious furnishings by Mecox Gardens to the original artwork from Gremillion & Co. Fine Art Inc. With interior design by Bridget Wade Interiors, the home combines Old World style with today’s modern conveniences.

Tours are available on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Jan. 15, 2010.

Tickets are $10 and all proceeds benefit the Neuhaus Education Center. For information, visit texasfrenchhome.com

Bowled

Over P

roving that bowling doesn’t have to be all about cheap pitchers of beer and fashion-challenged shoes, Lucky Strike Lanes & Lounge gives a whole new meaning to knocking down some pins on a Saturday night.

The newest addition to downtown’s Houston Pavilions features 14 lanes set in a hip and upscale environment. But what really sets this venue apart is a premium Luxe suite complete with four private lanes, separate bar and a high-def projection screen.

There’s even a dress code!

Opened in October, Lucky Strike is located at 1201 San Jacinto. Visit bowlluckystrike.com for information.

clockwise from top: Michael Haug Photography | Lucky Strike Entertainment | Place des Vosges

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cocktails & conversation.

hot list

Bang Out With a

Carnival Conquest Story | Karl Hauenstein

It has always been our contention that any reason to party is a good reason. But with the party of all parties fast approaching, here, for your consideration, are our picks for a New Year’s Eve celebration to remember.

clockwise from top left: Carnival Cruises | Keith & Margo’s Murder Mystery Theatre | David Postma

Carnival Cruises

Ring in the new year Caribbean style! Book four days on Carnival’s Ecstacy departing Galveston on Dec. 31 or really feed the party beast with a seven-day cruise on the Conquest, departing Dec. 27. Known as the party cruise line, Carnival promises special New Year’s Eve festivities where the champagne will be flowing. port of galveston 1-888-carnival carnival.com

Spirit of Texas Paddlewheeler

Houstonian Hotel

Houstonian Hotel

For a traditional New Year’s Eve celebration, RSVP for the annual party at the Houstonian Hotel Club & Spa. Held in the splendor of the Grande Ballroom, this event features live music, dancing, casino games and a decadent midnight breakfast. Afterwards, retire to your guest room and wake up to a new year in the lap of luxury.

111 n. post oak lane 713-680-2626 houstonian.com

Keith & Margo’s Murder Mystery Theatre

You like the idea of an elegant party at If the idea of celebrating New Year’s Eve on an in-town hotel, but you really want the water appeals to you, but you’d rather something different. Look no further than not do it with a couple thousand intimate the Renaissance Houston Hotel, where the strangers, gather 125 of your closest friends and charter the Spirit of Texas Paddlewheeler party will feature Keith & Margo’s Murder from Houston Party Boats. Spend the evening Mystery Theatre. Dine on fine food, enjoy a champagne toast and enjoy a mystery comedy cruising Clear Lake, while enjoying fine theatrical presentation. dining in their elegant dining room.

3101 nasa pkwy., seabrook 832-864-4003 houstonpartyboats.com

Keith & Margo’s Murder Mystery Theatre

6 greenway plaza 972-263-5178 murdermysterytexas.com

Sugar Cube Drop

To close out their 50th anniversary year, the City of Sugar Land is promising a special blowout at Sugar Land Town Square featuring live entertainment, a light show and fireworks, and a Sugar Cube Drop at midnight. Make reservations for an early dinner at Perry’s Steakhouse and book a room for two at the Marriott. Now that’s a party! highways 59 and 6 281-276-6000 sugarlandtownsquare.com

november/december • 2009

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cocktails & conversation.

city Q&A

Houston Deconstructed Get the answers to your burning questions about the Bayou City

Story | Barbara Fulenwider

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Q

How did AstroTurf become the playing surface at the Astrodome?

The original baseball field was sown with a natural Bermuda grass specifically bred for indoor use. The trouble was, however, that the dome’s ceiling was made of numerous semitransparent plastic panes made of Lucite and the outfielders quickly discovered that the glare from the panes made it impossible for them Dickens on the Strand to track fly balls. Two sections of panes were painted white to And over on Galveston improvements in order to earn the correct the glare problem, but the Island, the Galveston Historical right to own it. Because Mexico grass died for lack of sunlight.

Foundation will host the 36th allowed no absentee landlords, the For most of the 1965 season, land could be sold only to other annual Dickens on the Strand the Astros played on greenTexas residents and only willed to painted dirt and dead grass. The during the first weekend of December, while The Woodlands heirs if they promised to move to solution was to install man-made Texas and become citizens.

Lighting of the Doves will take artificial grass on the field or place on Nov. 21 from 3 to 9 p.m.

AstroTurf. Because the supply of at Town Green Park and along What was the AstroTurf was low, there wasn’t The Woodlands Waterway. first hospital enough for the entire outfield so in the Texas it remained painted dirt until July Medical Center and When did 19, 1966—more than halfway Houston become when did it open? through the season. a part of Stephen The hospital was named the M.D. Anderson Hospital F. Austin’s original of Cancer Research of the Colony of 300?

In 1824, the Mexican government University of Texas and, in 1942, became the first member gave Austin special permission institution of Texas Medical to issue titles to people already Center. Today, it is known as living along Buffalo Bayou, the The University of Texas M. San Jacinto River and Cedar D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Bayou. Twenty-five land titles Hermann Hospital was the were issued to families living second member institution to within the present boundaries of join the Texas Medical Center.

Harris County under the terms Hermann opened in 1925 and of Austin’s first contract for 300 joined the world class medical families. Each family had to live on the land for six years and make center in 1944.

Uptown Holiday

Q

Q

Lighting

Have a burning question about life in Houston? E-mail your curious inquiries to askhouston@prime-living.com. prime-living.com

courtesy Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau

Q

What holiday lighting celebrations can we look forward to this year?

A fireworks extravaganza worthy of New Year’s Eve comes to Houston early when Uptown Houston celebrates the opening of the holiday shopping season in the Galleria area. Now in its 24th year, this family-friendly annual event is held on Post Oak Boulevard between Westheimer and San Felipe. The celebration rings in the holidays on Nov. 26 with Santa and his reindeer lighting the rooftops of more than 50 area buildings and more than half a million twinkling lights on 80 trees that line one of Houston’s most beautiful boulevards.

The Mayor’s Official Tree Lighting Ceremony in front of City Hall at 901 Bagby is scheduled for Dec. 4 from 5 to 8 p.m. About 4,000 to 5,000 people are expected to attend the lighting of the 50-foot tree and enjoy multicultural holiday entertainment with food, refreshments, Gingerbread Village and photos with Santa.

In Katy, the first-ever Katy Holiday Fun Festival will kick off Dec. 12-14. Benefiting Katy Christian Ministries and the Breath of Life Children’s Clinic, the event features a live Nativity scene, pictures with Santa, a 10foot snow slide with real snow, carnival rides, games, vendor booths, live choirs and more.

Buffalo Bayou

style

cocktails & conversation.

boot camp y

Story | Roseann Rogers

clockwise from left: Gucci | Moschino | Christian Louboutin

ou know what they say, “Shoes make the woman.” Well, this year’s boots will give people plenty to talk about.

Luxurious designs and deluxe details make this season’s styles sizzle. From booties to riding boots, the versatile footwear can go from wide-legged slacks in the office to your little black dress for a night out on the town.

Basic Boots Some things never go out of style and a classic pair of tall boots falls into that category.

Invest in a basic black boot and you’ll wear them for years.

These options are anything but basic and they’re sure to become lasting staples of your wardrobe: Gucci’s mid-heel black leather boots ($1,050) with an interlocking “G” ornament are clean, sleek and truly fabulous, while Christian Louboutin’s smoky grey tall “Bourge” boot ($1,385) are super sexy and fit like a glove.

Riding Boots The epitome of classic, allAmerican fashion, Ralph Lauren’s “Selina” two-tone riding boots ($1,100) are a timeless purchase you won’t regret. Look like a million bucks with Chanel’s calfskin riding boot (price by request). The interlocking “C’s” overstitched on the supple leather are worth every penny. Tory Burch’s “Warren” ($525) high boot in black or toffee brown is simple yet stylish with a mid-size heel, perfect for walking from meeting to meeting or a weekend jaunt to the country.

Booties When it comes to this fashionforward style, it’s all in the details. From flowers and lace to ruffles and bows, booties are ultra-feminine for fall but with a modern twist. Strut your stuff in everything from vintage-inspired booties with structured ruffles from Christian Dior’s “Drape” bootie ($1,090) in black suede to Roger Vivier’s ankle booties ($1,140) to Moschino’s red suede bootie ($660) complete with pleats and topped with a sweet bow—a little bit sugar with a dash of spice.

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cocktails & conversation.

arts

bestbets

magicmaker Story | John DeMers

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Photography | Mark W. Lipczynski

ach holiday season, when the hordes of red and green attired balletomanesto-be pour into the Wortham Center, Stanton Welch of the Houston Ballet can feel solace, pride and more than a little hope that the next generation of dance lovers is forming before his eyes.

“The Nutcracker, in some ways, attracts a whole different audience,” says the Australian-born artistic director, who came to Houston’s top ballet job in 2003 after it belonged to Ben Stevenson for 27 years. “For some of these people, Nutcracker is the only ballet they come to all season. But so many of them are young people, some actually seeing their first ballet, and we know that in 20 years these will be our season-ticket holders.”

And, in at least some cases, they’ll be Welch’s future company members, too. In addition to its long and festive association in this country with the holidays, The Nutcracker is perhaps ballet’s single greatest act of outreach and evangelization. The huge cast requires many young dancers of differing skill levels—there are always mice that scamper, candies that prance, soldiers that march—so in Houston and all across America, it is many a dancer’s first taste of the stage. For some, it becomes an adrenalin-driven

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passion, one they pursue with vigor from that point forward.

In Stanton’s case, the passion came packaged with an unusual dose of pressure from on high.

Both of his parents were renowned ballet dancers in Australia, and he found himself drawn into the dance world from the time he could walk. He watched rehearsals—endless rehearsals—heard dancers talking about what was important, and traveled the world with his parents, as much as a youngster could anyway, seeing and hearing and breathing the oxygen of ballet.

This life experience finds its way into all the tough decisions Stanton makes, from forming the Houston Ballet’s roster to seeking the perfect mix of full-evening story ballets and mixed-rep “greatest hits” to be a winning season.

After The Nutcracker (Nov. 27 to Dec. 27), the 2009-2010 schedule continues with Stanton’s exotic reimagining of one of ballet’s most exotic favorites, La Bayadere (Feb. 26 to March 7); American at Heart, an evening of Bernstein, Balanchine and Bruce (March 11-21); Pecos, a wild Texas-dominated evening that includes Stanton’s retelling of the Pecos Bill legend (May 27 to June 6); and the romantic comedy La Fille Mal Gardee (June 10-20).

Naughty or Nice For the longest time, the Alley Theatre has charmed local families with the enduring Dickens classic A Christmas Carol, which the author humbly called “a ghost story,” but which has evolved into a holiday necessity.

The lovely and effective version now on display—with a large cast and elaborate sets on the Hubbard Stage—was adapted and created by Michael Wilson, artistic director of Hartford Stage. On the smaller Neuhaus Stage, however, there’s a whole lot of alternative going on with Alley company member Todd Waite as Crumpet the Elf in David Sedaris’ The Santaland Diaries. This cynical, funny show was adapted from one of Sedaris’ many such essays by Joe Mantello.

Massenet’s Manon Opera in the Heights remains the little company that could.

After opening a new season at Lambert Hall by pairing Pagliacci with something other than Cavalleria Rusticana (Puccini’s seldom performed Il Tabarro), OH launches into Jules Massenet’s French masterpiece based on the popular tale of Manon Lescaust.

Yuletide at Bayou Bend It would be hard to find a lovelier place to listen to great music while enjoying pastries, fruit, cider and coffee than inside the Terrace Tent at the longtime garden-rich home of Miss Ima Hogg. In addition to the swirling sounds of the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra— increasingly known by the less stuffy and more hip as ROCO—Bayou Bend has a special holiday exhibit on view.

Neapolitan New Year If you’re looking for a New Year’s Eve party that’s a dazzling chamber music concert and even a low-key fundraiser in disguise, grab your ticket now for this annual event staged at the Hobby Center by the music ensemble Ars Lyrica. In addition to champagne and hors d’oeuvres, there will be great playing by all, plus the 1725 masterpiece Marc Antonio e Cleopatra.

Spectacular design with sincere sentiments.

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cocktails & conversation.

arts

Nov. 5 Kenny Rogers Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana St. 5:30 p.m. $35 to $120. 713-2247575, houstonsymphony.org

Nov. 6 Hail! Bright Cecilia Hobby Center, 800 Bagby St. 7:30 p.m. $31 to $41. 713-3152525, thehobbycenter.org

Nov. 6-8 Mary Wilson of The Supremes Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana St. 8 p.m. $29 to $122. 713-2247575, houstonsymphony.org

Nov. 11-15

I

n two unexpected exhibitions running through the holiday season, Holocaust Museum Houston serves up one of the best ecumenical observances we’ve seen in a long, long time.

If there ever is a condition described as “peace on earth, goodwill toward men,” it might start with something like this.

The first exhibit, “A Blessing to One Another,” focuses on the legacy left by Pope John Paul II in his relationship with the Jewish people. In his 1993 appeal marking the 50th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto, he alluded powerfully to the shared kinship of Christians and Jews, and called for both

faiths to “first be a blessing to one another.”

Gathered around this firstever Pontiff since the first century to enter a synagogue, officially visit and recognize the State of Israel and formally express regret for the Catholic Church’s past treatment of Jewish people, this powerful exhibit draws together nearly 70 artifacts on loan from 10 museums and private collections.

If seeing Christians reach out to Jews is, for many, unexpected enough in today’s political climate, it seems even more so to see Muslims doing it. Yet that’s what we see in “Besa: Muslims Who Saved Jews During the Holocaust.” In

a five-year project, Coloradobased photographer Norman Gershman set out to gather the names of righteous non-Jews who saved Jews during the Holocaust, and the names he found kept pointing him to Albania.

It was there, among largely ignored pockets of resistance to the Nazis, that nearly no Jewish lives were lost. As the photographer puts it of the images on display: “There was no government conspiracy, no underground railroad, no organized resistance of any kind—only individual Albanians, acting alone, to save the lives of people whose lives were in immediate danger.”

Spotlight: Taft McWhorter Fine Art

A staunch supporter of the Houston art scene, artist and entrepreneur Taft McWhorter recently opened a new gallery at Winter Street Studios in Houston. Designed to give emerging and midcareer artists a venue to showcase their work, the gallery will provide art enthusiasts a wide range of styles by local artists in various mediums. On Dec. 12, a grand opening exhibit will be held, featuring such artists as Ian Anderson, Cookie Ashton, Justin Garcia, Kevin Peterson and Allan Rodewald. More than 30 works of art will be auctioned off with a portion of the proceeds benefiting a local nonprofit organization.

2101 Winter St. • 713-868-4616 • taftmcwhorterfineart.com

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Cinema Arts Festival Houston Locations located throughout the greater Houston area. Call for times and prices. 713-524-0661, cinemartsociety.org

Nov. 12 to Dec. 13 The Last Night of Ballyhoo Main Street Theater-Rice Village, 2540 Times Blvd. Call for times. $20 to 36. 713-524-6706, mainstreettheater.com

Nov. 13 Trey McIntyre Project Wortham Center, 500 Texas Ave. 8 p.m. $22 to $57. 713-2274SPA, spahouston.org

Nov. 19, 21 and 22 Mahler’s Das Lied Von Der Erde Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana St. Call for times. $29 to $116. 713-2247575, houstonsymphony.org

Nov. 28, Dec. 5 and 12 The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Main Street Theater-Chelsea Market, 4617 Montrose Blvd.

Call for times. $12. 713-5246706, mainstreettheater.com

Dec. 8-20 The Sound of Music Sarofim Hall, 800 Bagby St. Call for times. $32. 713-5588887, tuts.com

courtesy Holocaust Museum Houston

review Holocaust Museum Houston

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cocktails & conversation.

design

Bold is back T

he recent Pantone report, a guide for interior designers that forecasts color trends for the coming season, suggests red and green for decorating this winter.

Sound trite? This isn’t holidayspecific décor as you know it.

Instead, experts say the idea is to choose a strong palette of either all greens or all reds that can last from fall to the first signs of spring. Think in tones; moss, olive and lime greens all blend for a solid look, while deep reds

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like wine and burgundy—some of which are seen on the runways as inspiration for bold fashions— make a statement that’s perfect for cooler temps.

The report “is a guide,” explains local designer Pat Parker of Parker Interiors in Houston.

“It helps a lot, but this is your home and you’re going to decorate like you want and how you feel.”

Still, the experienced decorator says when she saw the trend forecast, she was pleased.

“I loved it. I think it’s a fresh, practical idea that helps save money while adding a bit of flair in the room.”

The blended single-tone look is “easier on the eye,” Parkers says. It’s a neutral look that can complement existing window treatments, wall coverings and artwork. “We can use a lot of what we have already [to achieve the look at home]. We’ve already collected red and green through the years.”

The key is choosing wellselected accessories. Parker says

courtesy Pottery Barn

Story | Allison Bagley

cocktails & conversation.

design

tinseltown

her clients want what’s “very easy on the purse” right now and that a fresh, seasonally-appropriate look blends existing key pieces with new ones that can be used year after year.

A deep red afghan and textured throw pillows, for example, complement the white and soft gray furniture that’s popular in homes right now.

“I like to start with neutral sofas and make that work for me all year long,” she says of her own home.

In addition to accent rugs, mantle accessories and fresh flowers throughout the home, another way to incorporate the red or green palette is with tablecloths or table runners.

Parker suggests solid and printed cotton and matte lisse tablecloths, which she says can be layered in an angled fashion.

Table runners in the same fabric add another dimension.

Finally, add in clear accessories throughout your rooms—such as vases or hurricane lamps that encase large candles—and bring in red tones with berries at the base or fill containers of different heights with wooden balls. Fresh greenery and scattered leaves also help to bring in the scents of the season.

For those who celebrate with a Christmas tree, stick with green trees, either natural or artificial.

All-red or all-green tones can only be achieved on a green tree, and she suggests white lights for the cleanest look.

the tree with a base of maroon colors at the bottom.

“It’s absolutely stunning, like a ball gown,” she says.

For seated dining and buffets, consider mixing and matching dishes you already have for a less formal table setting.

“It’s better if it doesn’t match,” she says. “We’re getting away from the very formal culture. The more eclectic your table, the more For a design-driven tree, comforting it is to sit at. choose ornaments, ribbons and “Look around your house and other decorations that blend several tones of red or green. “It’s maybe get a decorator to help,” she suggests. “Get another set of easier on the eye,” Parker notes. eyes. Let her look through your If you want to bring in gold or silver, place those accents closer to drawers where you keep your the trunk of the tree for the most china and crystal, then set a table for you. You’d be surprised what elegant look. Or, try a dramatic palette of silver décor throughout you already have.”

At the Christmasworld trend show in Frankfurt earlier this year, bora.herke, a team of German stylists, broke down holiday decorating into four key looks. These trends can be adapted to celebrate any faith, providing an aweinspiring backdrop to holiday festivities.

Airy Best suited for “the 21st century romantic,” the design gurus describe the fragile, sensual look as contemporary and soft. It’s achieved with translucent objects such as gold balls and glass light fixtures and figurines.

Sweet Fresh, young and spontaneous for those who want their home to be a “playful reality based on dreams.” Try deep pinks, florals and whimsical throw pillows and accent pieces.

Obsession A chic ambiance that blends “feminine elegance” with “luxurious opulence.” Strong black accents are seen, along with glistening vases and modern, artful accessories.

Comfort Organic, traditional and homely, this style for those seeking functional and “ultramodern” designs that make use of handcrafted goods.

Textured throws and pillows and prints like jacquard execute the look, along with a lit fireplace and artisan wood balls.

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cocktails & conversation.

my life

Paul & Joyce

Juillard Community Volunteers

W

ho doesn’t dream of retiring to a lakeside home and spending their golden years sitting idly by the water? Not Paul and Joyce Juillard—both have more energy than most couples half their age. Not only is their Lake Conroe home filled with poodles, fish, a Cockatiel and often three kids and six grandkids, but their days are just as packed. The couple is not only active in the First United Methodist Church, but they are also drivers for the Meals on Wheels program through the Friendship Center in Conroe, volunteer at the Willis Convalescent Center and the local elementary school where they read with ESL second graders.

Joyce: “We’ve always volunteered. When we lived in Chicago in my 20s, we read this article about state schools for the mentally challenged and how they were warehousing the patients. We just got all fired up and started helping.”

Paul: “We worked on a wheelchair drive and volunteered to visit with the children.

We just always felt if we were asked for something, we should do it.”

Joyce: “Paul worked at Shell for 38 years.

In August of 1989, he retired and we moved to Lake Conroe. That same day, we saw an ad in the Conroe Courier for Meals on Wheels and we’ve been doing it ever since. Once a week, we deliver a week’s worth of frozen meals and drinks to about nine homebound seniors. It takes three hours; the route is 50 miles. On Wednesdays, we read to the second graders and Thursday mornings are spent at the Willis Convalescent Center. I run the domino game in the parlor and Paul visits in the rooms. We like to hit every age.”

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Interview | Marene Gustin Photography | Morris Malakoff

Paul: “We’ve been married 58 years. Grew up across the street from each other. I used to write poems and notes and send ‘em across the street to her tied to my dog’s collar. We do everything together.”

Joyce: “Well, not everything. Certainly not shopping. We go to Wal-Mart and I can never find him in there.

Paul: “But we do all our volunteering together. We plan everything around our volunteer work, even our vacations. We like the person-to-person work, not just sitting on boards and committees.”

Joyce: “You have to be committed to volunteer. You have to stick to it. These people depend on you. We once had a man who would be sitting at the table with a knife and fork waiting for us to bring his meals.

Some of these people so look forward to our visits; they would be really disappointed if we didn’t show up.”

Paul: “We like talking about the work we do so maybe someone else will be moved to volunteer. After all, we can probably only keep doing this another 20 years or so.”

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glitters All That

The season comes alive with an array of dazzling holiday collections Story | Marene Gustin Photography | Mark W. Lipczynski

With the holidays fast approaching, the season just wouldn’t be the same without a few stockings, menorahs or even a Yule log.

But we’ve found three Houstonians who take the holiday season to a new level with their unique holiday decorations. From nutcrackers to dreidels to charming holiday villages, these avid collectors give true meaning to the spirit of the season.

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Visions of Nutcrackers “I tried collecting things like bunnies,” says Tanglewood resident Anne Hamilton. “But how many bunnies do you need?”

Apparently, not nearly as many as nutcrackers. These hand-carved, wooden holiday decorations have been fascinating the native Houstonian for 25 years, after her husband Brett had one given to him by his sister.

“I just thought it was the cutest thing,” she says. “So after we were married, I bought him a chimney sweep nutcracker because we had a fireplace in our bungalow.”

Since then, she’s bought one every year, collecting 32 in all, most of them from Germany and all of them representing something special in her family’s life.

There’s a lawyer and a banker for Brett, an attorney specializing in commercial lending. The chef in the white toque reminds her of her catering days and the Nutcracker Prince was chosen by her son the very first time they took him to see the Houston Ballet production of the holiday classic.

“I have a Phantom of the Opera with a big red rose in his mouth. It’s my son’s favorite musical,” she adds.

And there’s the one of Santa with a toy bag holding a little girl’s hand. That one is for her daughter. And, of course, others have added to her collection. Relatives gave her a towering three-foot tall nutcracker that she uses as the centerpiece to the rest of her collection when she brings them out of storage every year for Christmas. Others are as small as six inches, but Hamilton says they’re all special.

“They’re kind of like people,” she says. “Each one is different.”

Hamilton says she doesn’t have any idea what the collection is worth—she doesn’t think of it as an investment, but as “memory makers.” And she has no intention of slowing down.

“I’ll keep collecting them,” Hamilton says. “When my children marry, I’ll divide the collection between them so they can start their own.”

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Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel!

When Susan and Max Reichenthal married, they wanted to start their new life together by starting a collection to mark the special moments in their lives.

“We went to Europe for our honeymoon in October 1983,” Susan Reichenthal recalls. “We saw these fabulous antique inkwells that would be wonderful to collect, but they were out of our price range. Come the holidays, I started to decorate our home for Hanukah and I thought dreidels. We could afford those.”

Twenty-six years later, Susan estimates having more than 100 of the spinning tops. There are plastic ones she puts out for the children to play the dreidel game with—betting with gelt, little wrapped chocolate coins—all the way up to a titanium one she bought for her husband who’s in the metal business.

“We try to pick one up when ever we travel,” says Reichenthal. “We have a Delft Blue one we got in Holland.”

A special item in her collection is the dreidel they picked up on a trip to Alaska that’s carved from a petrified walrus tooth. They also own a very rare pre-World War II top that has five sides instead of the usual four and writing in both German and Yiddish that she found in an antique store in Manhattan.

Friends and family have added to the collection, which has expanded to include pillows, placemats and even salt and pepper shakers shaped as dreidels.

“I think we’re a little more discerning about what we collect now,” Reichenthal says. “But we will keep collecting.”

Eventually, she hopes her three children will want the collection, but in the meantime she proudly displays the growing assortment of dreidels year-round and she’s recently taken a liking to pomegranates.

Jewish tradition holds that the fruit is a symbol for righteousness because it is said to have 613 seeds that correspond to the 613 commandments in the Torah.

“I planted some trees outside,” Reichenthal says, “and I have some ceramic pieces and such, but my husband is trying to discourage it!”

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Winter Wonderland

One of his ex-wives got the little ceramic Christmas village in the divorce. So when Robert Saunders married his next wife and the holidays rolled around, they jumped in the car and headed to Cornelius Nursery, which sells the Department 56 collectibles.

“We bought every little Dickens house they had,” recalls Saunders. “It just brings so much warmth into the house—all these little lights in the little windows and people out front.”

The next year they bought another village and thus began a love affair of tiny Christmas houses and buildings, people and pets.

Department 56 began making the villages in 1976 and by the mid 1980s, the limited edition pieces were becoming quite collectible. The Saunders didn’t just collect, they also bought and sold the villages at conventions for five years. Saunders was even president of the local Department 56 Collectors Club for a while.

“I sold a little house I’d bought for $35 once for $7,000,” he says. “We could sell about $60,000 worth at those conventions.”

But the company started to flood the market and the bottom dropped out. The marriage didn’t last either, but Saunders’ love of his holiday towns did. He says he wrote the ex a check for $74,000 so he could keep all of the collection.

And he’s kept collecting the villages, although he’s sold off most of the rare ones except for his Santa’s workshop.

“It’s got a green roof. It’s the only one in the world,” he explains. “They made that one and then decided the roof should be red. All the green ones were destroyed except for this one because someone smuggled it out and I got it.”

But it isn’t the value of the collection that’s important for Saunders. It’s the sheer magic of it. And the size. Hundreds and hundreds of tiny villages fill his dining room and formal room. Lights glow from windows, cotton snowdrifts abound and five tiny railroads connect the towns, complete with choo-choo sound effects.

“It’s a wonderland,” Saunders says simply.

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the

giving season Story | Sally J. Clasen

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W

hen your holiday gift list is filled with those who live in the lap of luxury, no standard purchase will do.

Such exclusivity demands a discriminating selection—a gift that says, “You’re worth every penny.” For those who appreciate the finer things in life, Prime Living’s 2009 Luxury Gift Guide is filled with ideas for those people in your life who deserve only the very best.

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thrill seeker.

Adrenaline-junkie, risk-taker, dare devil. Call them what you wish, the thrill seekers in your life require a gift that leads—and pushes—them to the teetering edge.

With the Oakley Thump Sunglasses, the world’s first digital music shades, you can actively pursue the environment without the electronic entanglements of an iPod. The Thump reduces the outside glare and allows you to shred and rock any physical challenge with an MPS player built into the frames. 1GB memory runs just under $300. oakley.com

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When a normal downhill drop doesn’t satisfy a thirst for a cold-weather rush, book a Selkirk Tangiers Heliskiing adventure in British Columbia’s Columbia Mountains, the highest vertical descent in North America. A seven-day private “A-Star” package for four with accommodations at the Coast Hillcrest Resort Hotel starts at $46,360.

Give your adventure-seekerwith-a-heart the gift of travel via a trip bid at Generous Adventures. The online travel company holds auctions for unusual adventures, such as a 22-day Mt. Everest-area trek that support nonprofits worldwide. Beneficiaries have included the International Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the American Diabetes Association.

selkirk-tangiers.com

generousadventures.com

Instructors at the Master Maserati Driving Course in northern Italy encourage speed. Under the watchful eye of former professional racers, students maneuver simulated safety situations. The two-day program includes two nights at the four-star Hotel Palace Maria Luigia, two lunches, cocktails on arrival and Maserati gifts. $5,430. maserati.com

The Cadillac of outdoor rides, Ellsworth Truth’s mountain bike enjoys cult status. Instant center tracking and four-bar suspension maximizes pedaling efficiency and minimizes physical fatigue, whether you’re into 100 milers, 24-hour racing, XC racing, freestyle terrain, or marathon and adventure racing.

Available in various models and colors. Fully-equipped models around $6,300. ellsworthbikes.com

design lover.

The form vs. function debate never ends, but a design guru will admire any gift decision built on a foundation of industrial, technological and artistic innovation.

Just in time for holiday giving, watchmaker Tag Heuer introduces the Meridiist luxury mobile communication device housed in black titanium carbide coated 316L stainless steel and offering unbeatable connectivity. The razor-sharp design references the super sports car down to its framed signature on the battery cover. $7,500. meridiist.tagheuer.com

Phillip Burke’s iconic contemporary canvases channel rock stars, sports legends, politicians and even famous landmarks.

Vivid colors, spare brushstrokes and fine lines define his expressive oil paintings that range from 40 inches to 12 feet. Original and limited editions are available.

Statue of Liberty, $33,500 original; $2,495 reproduction. http://shop.lbmadison.com

Eclipz home entertainment system by Artopz delivers sound in a virtual design. Three state-of-the-the art pods feature 7.1 Dolby and DTS audio, Blu-ray/DVD/CD player, Skype integration, low-noise construction, fiber-optic LED light panels, Web camera, iPod/iPhone 3G-compatible docking station, and full-high definition playback capabilities. Customized options include mood lighting and different shell finishes. $18,000. artopz.com

Thomas Oliphant’s rocking chair is a configuration of balance and functional sculpture. Designed for physical engagements, the indoor/outdoor chair allows two to rock as one. Ribbed seats flex under the sit bones, feet rest comfortably off the ground on pegs.

Fame is made of bead-blasted titanium, carbon fiber/polycarbonate shells; seat, arms and rockers of teak. $8,500. thomasoliphant.com

november/december • 2009

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world traveler.

The intrepid globetrotter’s sense of adventure takes him around the world in search of new discoveries. Make sure the gift for your frequent flier goes the distance.

Treat jet-setters to a moveable feast at the most exclusive dinner location in London: aboard the British Pullman, an Orient Express train. Departing from London Victoria Station, “The Dinner” begins with chilled champagne, followed by a seven-course gourmet tasting menu prepared by the executive chef and wine selected by the sommelier. Dinner/coupe for two, $1,761 per person. orient-express.com

It’s an experience like no other. Imagine cruising aboard a luxury pontoon against the backdrop of a spectacular African sunset while viewing bird and game in their natural habitat. Singita Game Reserves offers this exciting excursion at Singita Pamushana, a luxury lodge in the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve in southeastern Zimbabwe. Reserve the magnificent five-bedroom villa—complete with daily gourmet meals, select spirits and safari tours—perched high against sandstone cliffs with stunning views of the Malilangwe dam. $5,000 to $9,000 per night. singita.com With the hand-blown crystal Duo Globe by Columbus, your adventurer can explore the continents in exquisite detail.

The 21-inch glass cartographic and optical map of the world is hand-papered with a walnut base. It is a masterpiece of traditional globe manufacturing and technology.

47 inches high. $3,495. columbusglobes.com

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The Victorinox Swiss Army 125th Anniversary Leather Travel Bag hits the road with functional precision. Made with full-grain, Italian belting leather, features include snap gussets that allow the bag to open flat, a front garment storage area with compression straps and a rear compartment with a removable suiter that keeps clothes wrinkle-free. $4,000.

A Quintessentially membership is a passport to the luxurious life.

The private-member, global concierge service has offices in almost every major destination and thousands of suppliers worldwide.

Whatever your need—travel, music, art, food, drink, hotels, clubs, spas, restaurants, tickets or a specific service—you’ll receive assistance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. $5,000 to $60,000.

swissarmy.com

quintessentially.com

prime-living.com

fashion hound.

Fashionistas know impeccable style doesn’t just happen—or come cheap. It takes some serious dime to drape your fashion-hounds in a manner that, well, suits them.

The Judith Leiber Parrot Clutch will be the talk of the town—or at least the subject of party-envy chatter. The heirloom piece is hand beaded with vibrant multicolored Austrian crystals, sculpted wing and tail feathers, onyx eyes and push-down top closure. Lined in gold and includes a 10-inch chain; boxed with protective signature bag. $5,695. judithleiber.com

APO jeans require deep pockets. The luxury maker customizes jeans for men and women with $40-per-yard denim, and buttons and rivets made from precious metals. Styles currently available: silver buttons/rivets $1,000; 14k white or yellow gold button/ rivets $1,500; platinum button and rivets $3,250; and diamond button and rivets start at $4,000. apojeans.net

With the press of a hidden stem, a Christian Tse Prismatic Timepiece does dualfashion duty. The jeweled bracelet tells time with an illuminated LED-type screen that shines through diamonds or gemstones and each timepiece is attached to a stingray, python or alligator strap. The Happy Hearts is a charming little number, made with 2.95 cts. tw. of white diamonds and 6.70 cts. tw. of sapphires. $12,500. christiantse.com

The WK Dress Shoe from Esquivel strikes a classic oxford silhouette with a modern twist: it’s made in America. Handcrafted in Southern California by George Esquivel, these ready-to-wear shoes for the fashion-forward man feature a posh alligator upper, sleek leather sole, simple lace up closure and slight platform sole. $6,500. esquivelshoes.com

Love his timepieces? Then check out the rest of Christian Tse’s jewelry collection, which includes a to-die-for assortment of rings, earrings, pendants, necklaces and bracelets. We went absolutely ga-ga over these stunning 18k white and yellow gold sunburst earrings made with 3.13 cts. tw. of yellow diamonds and 5.15 cts. tw. of surrounding white diamonds. $79,900. christiantse.com

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the philanthropist.

Living well and doing good is a philanthropist’s battle cry. The bottom-line: A gift for your social activist must be an investment that keeps on giving.

It’s something we take for granted, but for millions of people across the globe, water is one of the hardest things to come by.

Fortunately, entrepreneur Gary White and actor Matt Damon have come together to form Water.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing high-quality water and sanitation to people in developing countries. A $25 donation will provide one person water for life. Imagine what yours can do.

Because beautiful jewelry is meant to make you feel good as well as look good, Monique Péan offers the Charity: Water collection, a stunning line of jewelry that 50 percent of the proceeds go towards providing water and sanitation to disadvantaged people. This Mwanza Aquamarine River Ring is made of 18k recycled white gold and 3.5 carats of conflict- and devastation-free white diamonds. $13,630.

water.org

moniquepean.com

How about dinner with Cher?

Help your celebrity junkies press famous flesh with a bid on a highprofile experience at Charity Buzz, a live online auction site where proceeds benefit star causes and non-profit events. One recent bidder snagged a VIP weekend with British business tycoon Sir Richard Branson and a round of golf with Mark Calcavecchia. charitybuzz.com

An African safari is on the wish list of many adventure seekers. But when that dream vacation turns into a philanthropic mission, the significance is far greater. In January 2010, Abercrombie & Kent is offering travelers the rare opportunity to explore the wonders of Africa while improving the lives of its people through its East Africa Conservation Safari.

Starting at $9,995 per person. abercrombiekent.com

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The saying “charity begins at home” is the lifeblood of the Greater Houston Community Foundation, a local organization that gives philanthropists the opportunity to invest in causes they care about through taxadvantaged gifts, grants and endowment funds. From post-Ike relief to providing healthcare to Houston’s medically underserved, your dollars go directly to strengthening the Houston community. ghcf.org

in your dreams.

Perhaps it is a rather far-fetched idea, a figment of someone’s creative and expensive imagination. But you can make this fantasy gift happen, for real.

When in the Third Rome, toast your friends with an exquisite bubbly served at the Ritz-Carlton in Moscow.

The Heidsieck Monopole Champagne 1907 sells for approximately $275,000 per bottle. Throw in a 2,370-square-foot top suite with views of the Kremlin and Red Square, and a panic room with energy and telecommunications facilities for $16,000 per night and you’ve got one vacation to remember. ritzcarltonmoscow.ru

Who doesn’t want a beachfront property in Latin America? Located in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, Genesis Puntarenas is a 14-floor condominium featuring an all-glass façade, marble floors, quartz countertops and Scavolini kitchens. Developed by Caspi International, five-star amenities include a fitness center, infinity pool, spa services, on-site restaurant and lounge, wine cellar, cigar parlor, business center and helipad. Units start at $473,000 to $3.3 million.

The 2010 Mercedes SLS AMG Gullwing won’t be available until next spring, but it doesn’t hurt to place a pre-order in time for the seasonal thaw. Then the gift recipient-driver can take wing with the vertically lifting doors, a 7-speed dualclutch transmission and a 6.2-liter V8 engine that roars to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. $200,000 to $250,000. merecedes.com

caspi.com

Send your astronaut “to the moon” with a reserved seat on Virgin Galactic’s private space flight, VMS Eve. The jet launches a passenger shuttle 360,000 feet into the earth’s atmosphere from the Mohave Desert in California. Cost for the two-and-a-half hour ride into zero gravity: $200,000. virgingalactic.com

You’ll probably need to toss in an expanded cable package with you wrap up the Runco PlasmaWall XP-103DHD, the world’s largest plasma display.

Despite the enormous expanse of the high-definition screen, the depth is a skinny—okay, flat—five inches. The TV is so unique it comes with its own installers and needs a dedicated electrical outlet. $99,995. runco.com

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connoisseur

the prime living guide to discerning taste

inside: Raspberry Martini, Strip House

42 44 46 47 48

• • • • •

Main Dish | Straits Talk Small Bites | Taste This Corner Table | Cleverley Dishes Uncorked | Bubbly Primer Entertain | The Splendid Table

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connoisseur main dish

Chef Tommy Charoen

Straits

tALK

Story | Holly Beretto Photography | Mark W. Lipczynski

When you walk into Straits—housed on the ground floor of the swanky new Hotel Sorella, with its hipster-meets-businesselegant ambiance—you might feel you’re in another world. Greens and golds and wood notes tumble endlessly over each other, creating a funky Asian fusion feel. ¶ It’ll be worth the trip, though, for Straits is that perfect amalgamation of atmosphere and appetite, the kind of place where far eastern food marries western hospitality.

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Straits is the brainchild of chef Chris Yeo, who can transport you across the Pacific with just a few bites. A graduate of Singapore’s Hotel and Catering School, Yeo came to San Francisco by way of London (where he became a hairdresser, graduating from the Vidal Sassoon Academy). While styling hair in the Bay Area, he realized he missed his native cuisine. So he did what any selfrespecting entrepreneur with a pedigree in culinary arts would do: he opened the first Straits in 1987. A little over 20 years later, Straits has grown to five locations in San Francisco, Atlanta and the newest here in Houston’s CityCentre.

Houston’s Straits will be under the direction of Chef Tommy Charoen, whose Singaporean food draws its influences from across the Pacific Rim: Chinese, Thai, Indian and Malaysian dishes all made their way to the island nation, where they were adopted for their rich flavors and used as bases for entirely new creations. That’s the crux of Straits’ cuisine—think of it as comfort fusion. And since everything is served in traditional Singaporean family style, you’ll be able to share that comfort with your dining companions.

Begin with the Roti Prata, Straits’ signature griddle Indian flatbread accompanied by a curry dipping sauce. Even though you’ll have enough to share, but you may not want to. Light and slightly crisp, it’s naan—only better. Paired with the zing from the curry, homemade with 22 ingredients, this is a heavenly start to your meal.

Continue on with the Ahi Tuna Tower, done with ginger,

kaffir lime leaf and wasabi aioli and topped with wonton chips.

There’s a sassy blend when the richness of the ahi meets the tang of the wasabi aioli. More adventurous diners may want to dredge their tuna in the strip of black pepper on the serving plate, which results in an explosion of spicy flavor.

Another must-try is the Apple Prawn Salad. Julienned Fuji apples and jicama are piled high and topped with plump Gulf prawns, cilantro and a lemongrass mint dressing. It all makes for a refreshing, cooling dish, crisp and clean—a perfect intermezzo.

Don’t miss the Ikan Pangang, salmon that’s wrapped in banana leaves, roasted and flash grilled, served with a crunchy mango salsa. The salmon is topped with lemon grass chili sambal, making for a dish that’s rich, flavorful and hot.

Fusion cuisine has become such a buzzword, it almost ceases to have meaning anymore. But at Straits, you can rediscover fusion food and see firsthand how well it can be done. Straits manages to take the best of several cuisine styles and showcase them, even as they blend into an entirely new creation. Plus, there’s great fun in the portions that are big enough to share, so make sure you sample several items. You’ll find new things to love and be pleasantly surprised how some of your old favorites get new life under the talented hands of the team at Straits. straits citycentre, 800 w. sam houston parkway n.

713-396-9922 straitsrestaurants.com

connoisseur main dish

Tuna Tower

Hainan Chicken

Roti Prata

Apple Prawn Salad

Apple Prawn Salad

mint dressing

1 cup Granny Smith apple, julienne 1 cup Fuji apple, julienne 3 prawns (16-20 size), poached, peeled and deveined 1/2 cup carrots, julienne 1/2 cup jicama, julienne 1 1/2 oz. mint dressing 2 cilantro, sprigs

3 bunches mint, pureed 1 cup white vinegar 1 1/2 cups sugar 1/2 cup lemon Juice 1/4 cup Dijon mustard 1 tbsp. garlic, minced 3 tbsp. salt 4 cups olive oil

In a mixing bowl, combine the apples, prawns, carrots and jicama. Pour the dressing around the edges of the bowl, letting it drizzle down the sides. Using both hands, carefully toss the salad trying not to break any of the apples or jicama. Pile the salad in the center of the plate. Stand the shrimp around the edges of the plate with the tails pointed outward (make sure that the shrimp are cut deeply enough toward the head so they do not fall over on the plate). Garnish with the cilantro sprigs.

Place all of the ingredients, except the oil, into a blender. Turn the blender on and puree all of the ingredients. Once the mixture is completely pureed, slowly drizzle the oil into the blender.

Continue to add the oil until it is all gone.

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connoisseur

small bites

Belly Up

The Refresher, Catalan

good eats Story | Holly Beretto Photography | Mark W. Lipczynski

For a new take on the well-rounded meal, table-hop these Houston eateries for some of the best tastes in town.

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Health food fanatics, beware. The Roasted Berkshire Pork belly with Steen’s pure cane syrup at Catalan is not diet food. But you won’t care once you tuck into this signature dish from Chris Shepherd, chef and partner in the Washington Ave. landmark eatery.

And, indeed, Shepherd does great things with pork belly.

Here’s a dish that’s clearly decadent, perfectly silky and smoky, but with an irreverent sweetness that just says, “It’s fattening. So?” You have to love an appetizer that makes no apologies.

Let it roll around in your mouth and give in to its sweet seduction. This is an experience. The smoke tones remind me of New England in fall, when people start burning logs and leaves. The sweet succulence of the cane sugar is nearly tropical. And the Berkshire pork—often referred to as the Kobe beef of the pork world—provides a richness so big, it nearly wraps around you. You would never dream three simple flavors could create something so exquisite.

Even better, it’s pretty to look at. Served on long dish with toothpicks sticking out of them, the quartet of pork belly looks like grown-up lollipops. Great taste that has a little whimsy to it? Gotta love that. catalan 5555 washington ave.

713-426-4260 catalanfoodandwine.com

c connoisseur

On the Lamb

small bites

For sheer romantic ambiance, you can’t beat Mark’s American Cuisine. Housed in a renovated 1920s church, it’s a quiet oasis from the hustle and bustle of the busy lower Westheimer scene outside. Here, you won’t need to yell to hear your tablemates. Here, you will be well taken care of.

Here, you must have lamb.

The Black Walnut Crusted Rack and Loin of Colorado Lamb is tender and woody; its accompanying au jus with red wine offers a slightly sweet surprise to the layers of flavors that unfold. The rack is crusted with black walnuts, while the loin is done with herbs. Both are excellent pairings with the lamb; the walnut adds to the lamb’s meatiness, while the herbs offer an earthy overtone. This is a meal that’s wonderful all year, but seems tailor made for the cooler temperatures we’re seeing in Houston right now.

Paired with a stack of tri-color potatoes and roasted squash and seasonal vegetables, this entrée becomes a shining testament to how well Mark’s does American cuisine. All of the components to this dish are decidedly American, and the preparation elevates them to food-asart, without ever seeming pretentious. It’s natural and effortless—and positively not-to-miss.

Have it with the 2006 Edelton “Friends” Syrah, and you’ll see how the wine’s big, leathery, red fruit depths are the perfect mate for the rich and tender lamb. mark’s american cuisine 1658 westheimer • 713-523-3800 • marks1658.com

Chocolate Delight

Here’s a word of warning for those brave enough to order the 24-layer chocolate cake from The Strip House’s dessert menu: They mean it when they say it’s a dessert for the whole table. In fact, you may even find yourself offering servings of it to total strangers at other tables, it’s so huge.

Of course, everything’s bigger in Texas, so why not have a massive slab of cake on the dessert menu?

Once you get over the eye-popping largess of this rich delight, you can move onto simply enjoying it. Don’t be fooled. It will seem like the heaviest thing in the world, from its appearance. Surprisingly, it’s not. Layers of chocolate cake intercut with layers of chocolate ganache icing—all done in house, daily—this is a chocolate lover’s dream. The ganache is light and sweet, without being cloying; the cake is dark and velvety, melting in your mouth.

Hint: If The Strip House’s chocolate espresso or vanilla bean ice creams are on the menu when you order this cake (ice cream selections change daily) order some of that, too. It pairs fantastically with the endless layers of the cake.

You might think it’s hard to get excited about a kicked-up layer cake. You’d be wrong.

Once you sample this one (and you can sample it for days, if you like; we wound up taking a big portion home with us), you’ll understand how something so simple can be so fun and flavorful. the strip house 1200 mckinney 713-659-6900 striphouse.com

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connoisseur Cleverley

Cleverley’s corner table

Story | Cleverley stone

be seen this season...

These new restaurants should be on your “must visit” list for the holidays: record donation

PS Valentino Vin Bar in the Hotel Derek

Celebrity restaurateur Piero Selvaggio opened two new dining spaces at the corner of Westheimer and Loop 610—a crudo and vin bar for a casual meal and an upscale, fine dining restaurant. my pick: Risotto with Crab

Ciao Bello

Tony Vallone and his son Jeff opened CB at the corner of Sage and San Felipe. The casual atmosphere and affordable prices for fine Italian food makes this new eatery a neighborhood favorite. my pick: Linguine and Clams

Straits

I was somewhat confused about the name of this restaurant until owner Chris Yeo explained to me that he named it after the Straits of Singapore, a channel of water that separates his homeland from Indonesia.

Located next to the Hotel Sorella in CityCentre, the slick and hard inside surfaces of wood and concrete are offset by the lush green lawn and soft cabana-style seating on the outside. my pick: Chicken Curry

At a party hosted by Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, I was ecstatic to announce that Houston Restaurant Week raised $240,000 for the Houston Food Bank during our August event.

Participating in the check presentation were (pictured left to right): Ron Messner, Houston Food Bank Board member; Heather Icenogle, Houston Food Bank; Brian Greene, Houston Food Bank; myself, Houston Restaurant Week founder; Jim Mills, Houston Food Bank board member; and Amy Ragan, Houston Food Bank.

We could not have done it without the 84 participating restaurants, our sponsors— including Prime Living—the HRW committee and the approximately 48,000 Houstonians who dined out during the event. In comparison, in 2003, the first year of the event, we raised about $6,000. A huge thank-you to everyone for making HRW 2009 a big success!

Why did Pappas Bros. Steakhouse host the party? They were the No. 1 restaurant, serving more than 4,000 diners and donating over $20,000 to the Food Bank. Congrats to them!

holiday dining: who’s open?

Eddie V’s Prime Seafood

Based in Arizona, this restaurant chain opened its first Houston location recently in CityCentre on the westside of town. Very sleek and spacious with lots of second floor patio dining space, they offer live music every night, a welcome addition to the night scene in this part of town. my pick: Kung Pao-Style Calamari

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Lucky Strike Lanes

This should be right up your alley if you like music, good food, people watching and getting a little exercise. Think Hard Rock Café meets House of Blues with bowling and a kick-butt comfort food menu thrown in for good measure. Located downtown in the Houston Pavilions, it’s a fun place to take the family for a holiday outing. my pick: Tuna Burger

Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are big dining-out days for Houstonians, and restaurants are happy to accommodate. But the questions remain: Who’s open, what are they serving and how much does it cost?

For a list of the best dinners and brunches, check out HolidayDiningGuide.com.

I guarantee you’ll be licking your chops after reading the menus! cleverley stone She dishes about Houston’s food, wine and dining scene on CNN 650 Radio News, Fox 26 TV, “Cleverley’s Restaurant Minutes” on K-HITS 107.5, and in her newsletter and blog at Cleverley.com.

Uncork the Bubbly

connoisseur uncorked

Story | John DeMers

from left: Karl Lagerfeld © Champagne Moet & Chandon 2005

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ccording to legend, a French monk named Dom Perignon discovered how to put the bubbles in bubbly with corks that keep the bubbles inside the bottle—a process that happened quite by accident. Many times, I’ve been tempted to exclaim what he was reputed to say that very first sip: “I am tasting stars!”

The champagnes from that specific region in France, and the sparkling wines produced anywhere else, are the single truest sign that celebration is upon us. In the spirit of this holiday season, when a huge percentage of each year’s champagne is purchased and enjoyed, I couldn’t help ringing up three of my favorite restaurant wine guys about their bubbles of choice.

Robert Hall, partner in Chef Michael Dei Maggi’s brand-new Rockwood Room and himself a member of a California wine family, says his must-toast is the Perrier-Jouet Fleur de Champagne.

“The 2000 is a marriage of the very best that the vineyards of Champagne can produce,” Hall says. “This is a classic that will show well for years to come.”

Over at Chef Robert del Grande’s new RDG + Bar Annie, wine guru Jose Perez can’t get enough of the festively colored Schramsberg Brut Rose California Sparkling Wine.

“It has great flavors of strawberries and raspberries, floral in the nose and very complex in balance,” he says.

“It has great acidity and a nice long finish with a touch of ginger at the end.”

Cory Graff, the wine side of Chef Randy Evans’ new Haven, says he reaches more and more for Delamotte Brut, sister label to the ultra-premium champagne house of Salon.

“It is very clean and crisp and has nice hints of apple, peach, and a nice mineral nose,” he explains.

This is my personal choice also. It is a true Champagne made from 100 percent Grand Cru Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Muenier.

As for sparkling wines, my current choice is Domaine Carneros Brut Rose. Don’t be fooled by the pink color—it is not a sweet wine at all. The color comes from skin contact with the Pinot Noir grapes, as well as a splash of actual Pinot Noir juice. It has

a nice strawberry nose, as well as a subtle hint of rose petals and a bit of peach. A nice chilled glass of Domaine Carneros Rose, is perfect with a nice meal (salmon or duck), sitting on the patio, or just relaxing with your friends.

Champagnes and other sparkling wines are a symbol of success now and a bright, bubbly toast to success in the future. They are joy you can pour from a bottle, they are love you can drink from a glass.

I feel that any time you have a group of good friends getting together is the best time to “pop” a bottle, no need to wait for a special date on the calendar. Cheers!

John DeMers Covering food and wine for more than 25 years, John DeMers hosts “Delicious Mischief” on NewsRadio 740 KTRH. He recently released Follow the Smoke: 14,783 Miles of Great Texas Barbecue.

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connoisseur

entertain

Splendid Table the

The best holiday fests seem to sparkle in the mind: happy memories tinged with candlelight, laughter and champagne. You’re invited to make this year’s Thanksgiving one of those parties to remember. Here’s our guide to hosting a dinner layered with joy: glittered pumpkins and gilded serving bowls, dressedup turkeys and party favors, too. Enjoy!

Story | Jaimee Rose Styling | Jaimee Rose and Karli Rose Photography | Mark W. Lipczynski

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You’re Invited Formal invitations for Thanksgiving? But, of course. It’s one of the most important meals of the year and deserves a little fanfare in the mailbox. We love the custom invitation suites

by Houston designers Tad & Faboo, who created this lovely for us.

connoisseur

Set the Table entertain Load the table with firelight and pumpkins for an instant convivial feeling. You’ll want as many candles as possible. Place them low to the table in votive holders and in candlesticks that tower high above.

Surprise your guests by giving your gourds a little sparkle, too.

We coated pumpkins, butternut squash and acorn squash in gold and silver paint glitter. Simply brush with glue and sprinkle the glitter on top. Layer your creations on cake pedestals to vary levels of your display.

A tip: decorate your pumpkins early in the season, and enjoy them all November long. They’ll last perfectly.

Dish it Out Your table can wear couture, too. The elegant silver and gold stripes on Michael Wainwright’s Palio dinnerware, complemented by the subtle elegance of the Colonnade Silver Flatware, are worthy of your most special occasion.

Even homemade rolls get the special treatment when served in Michael Aram’s botanical bowl, a luscious nod to autumn.

A pumpkin at each guest’s setting doubles as a tiny token your friends can take home to remember the day, and don’t forget place cards. When everyone knows where to sit, the meal will get started more quickly and you won’t be having anxiety about keeping the mashed potatoes hot.

Print the place cards yourself or ask your stationer to do the honors.

Toast the Day The simplest cocktails are often the most chic. On Thanksgiving, the sound of a popping cork will invite smiles. Serve champagne in delicate flutes with a sprinkle of jewel-like fresh pomegranate seeds that will make the bubbly seem even more brilliant.

Do Me a Favor Send each guest home with Godiva’s pecan pie truffles and you’ll get thanks, indeed. Bonus: the luxurious boxes are ready for giving.

The Goods All the Trimmings The bird is the star of Thanksgiving. A simple and chic way to dress your turkey for its big moment: Pick up lemon leaves from the florist or cut citrus leaves from your garden. Tuck the leaves around the bird like a wreath, and add a few lemons, tiny lady apples and pomegranates for color.

interior design: Christopher Coffin, Christopher K. Coffin Design, 480-945-4080, christophercoffindesign.com dinnerware: Palio by Michael Wainwright; dinnerplate, $100; salad plate, $85; available at Neiman Marcus. neimanmarcus.com flatware: Colonnade Silver Flatware; five-piece setting, $98; available at Williams-Sonoma Home, wshome.com bowl: Botanical Bowl by Michael Aram; $199; available at Nordstrom, nordstrom.com

champagne flutes: Juliska Fiorella; $55 each; available at Indulge Décor, 2903 Saint St., Houston. 713-888-0181, indulgedecor.com favors: Pecan Pie Truffles by Godiva; five-piece box, $13.

Godiva Chocolatier, godiva.com invitations: Tad & Faboo, 713944-0912, tadandfaboo.com accoutrements: Martha Stewart Crafts, marthastewartcrafts.com Product availability and pricing subject to change.

november/december • 2009

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10/9/09

Members of the International Society of Appraisers and American Society of Interior Designers (Industry Foundations)

3:46 PM

Yuletide is the annual celebration of the holidays at Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, a 14-acre estate known as Houston’s home for America’s treasures. The house is transformed with festive lighting in the gardens, and eight of the mansion’s rooms are decorated with historic re-creations of holiday celebrations from the 18th to 20th centuries.

-

December Candlelight Tours

Thursdays and Fridays December 3 & 4, 10 & 11, 17 & 18 (5:00–7:00 p.m.)

Holiday lights, decorations, entertainment, and refreshments.

These special evening tours of the Yuletide exhibition are self-guided on Thursdays; docents are present on Fridays.

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(Tickets, available online, are good for one admission on any of the dates listed.)

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December Sundays

CM

December 6 & 13 (1:00–5:00 p.m.)

First-floor, self-guided tours of the house, ornament-making for children, refreshments, and more.

MY

CY

CMY

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Yuletide 2009 Holiday Time at Bayou Bend November 21–January 3

near downtown Houston

“Holiday Festival” Family Day

Sunday, December 20 (1:00–5:00 p.m.)

Children’s activities, entertainment, first-floor house tours, and refreshments.

(Admission on Family Day is free for everyone.)

Visit www.mfah.org/bayoubend or call 713.639.7758 for ticket prices and other details. Bayou Bend is open Tuesday–Sunday; closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

gentleman’s room

For the man who commands the very best

inside: Purdey Guns & Rifle Makers

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• • • • •

Nostalgia | Matchbox Toys Guy Talk | Have a Nice (Holi)day Driver’s Seat | Viva Italia!

Great Outdoors | Luxury Shotguns High Tech | Gadgets Galore november/december • 2009

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gentleman’s room nostalgia

Matchbox

toys Story | Karl hauenstein

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rapidly grew in popularity during the next decade. The Matchbox atchbox Toys, those popular miniature cars and trucks brand became a generic name for die-cast model toy cars as the that have captured the imaginations of children of all ages company dominated the toy car market through most of the 1960s. since they first came out in 1948, were originally born in Unfortunately, this market dominance was short-lived. Mattel Toy’s an effort to rebuild London’s industrial infrastructure after introduction of the Hot Wheels series in 1969 was the beginning of World War II. the end for Lesney’s Matchbox.

Leslie Smith and Rodney Smith, unrelated school friends who Despite their toys’ high quality and their popularity with collectors, served together in the Royal Navy in 1940, joined forces after Matchbox could not compete among children with Mattel’s fast toy the war to start an engineered products manufacturing business. cars that were built to be played with and to run on a track. Financial Their company, Lesney Products, was formed in 1947 and began difficulties resulting from Matchbox’s attempts to compete with manufacturing die-cast machine parts that were vital to rebuild Mattel’s products eventually forced the company into bankruptcy.

British industries.

A customary practice in Britain at the time was that factories would They were sold to Tyco Toys in 1992 and finally to Mattel in 1997.

Today, the Matchbox brand remains a valuable part of Mattel’s virtually stop ordering parts at the end of every year as they prepared product line and the name is still synonymous with high quality and for the stock inventory required for tax purposes in January. To value. The pre-1969 Lesney manufactured models are still highly make use of their idled manufacturing capacity each November and sought collectors’ items that have increased in value year after year.

December, Lesney began manufacturing toy cars.

Today, the 1953 coronation In 1948, they introduced their coach—the original blockbuster first toy, a model steam roller. hit—can easily fetch $500 to By 1952, Lesney had become a $600 on online auctions or at a major supplier of Christmas toys collectors show. in Britain. Their first blockbuster Not all of Matchbox’s successful products were die-cast So before you give your beloved hit toy was a model of Queen car and trucks. In 1988, they brought out a very successful old toy car collection to the Elizabeth II’s coronation coach Pee Wee Herman toy and in 1989, they introduced grandkids, check it out carefully. introduced in 1953.

Not only are you bequeathing Due to the high quality of their a talking Freddy Kruger toy from the Nightmare on Elm memories, you may be handing craftsmanship, Matchbox toys Street movies, which also sold very well. over a goldmine! were an immediate success and

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courtesy Mattel

didyouknow?

gentleman’s room guy talk

have (Holi)

day!

Story | Bruce Farr Illustration | Paul Svancara

W

e all like to imagine the holiday season as a joyous time. Come the fall each year, we begin to re-nourish our notion of the weeks ahead as being filled with mirth, merriment and boundless goodwill. There’ll be turkeys to roast, trees to trim, gifts to wrap and open—the whole nine yards of festivities. In my experience though, I could probably count on the fingers of one hand how many holidays have actually turned out the way I imagined them.

No matter, it seems that regardless how the season plays out from year to year, hope always springs anew that this year will be a return to the sort of celebration and good cheer we remember from our youth. It’s a concept that, in reality, might exist nowhere else but on the front of a Hallmark card.

Maybe it’s our own supercharged emotions and expectations themselves that

tend to burst our festive bubble.

After all, who among us hasn’t experienced a holiday that somehow didn’t quite live up to the ideal?

Growing up in my own household, there was that memorable Thanksgiving a few decades ago when my sister, who was then away at college, informed my parents that she’d be arriving home for the holidays with her new boyfriend, Harvey, in tow. As she matter-of-factly informed us, Harvey—a PhD candidate in philosophy—would be perfectly happy to gorge himself on our traditional family turkey. But, because he was a bit squeamish about animal carcasses, she asked, would it be possible for Dad to carve the bird away from the table?

Needless to say, the family muttering that went on for weeks prior to their arrival rumbled through our old New England homestead like distant thunder in the hills.

And then there was the Christmas Eve my parents decided to host a gala party at the house and urged us kids to invite several of our friends over to mingle with the family. I think my folks envisioned it as a group of us standing around the fireplace singing carols, sipping cider and noshing on Swedish meatballs. Things quickly headed south, however, when my high-school pal, Roger, after a few too many eggnogs, began reciting from his memory trove of bawdy limericks. Following several verses detailing the misadventures of that wellknown lass from Cape Cod, my father suggested it might be time for Roger to head home for a long winter’s nap.

Roger dejectedly donned his coat and scarf to leave when my father noticed that he was staggering to the front door cradling a fifth of 15-year-old scotch that he’d snatched from the liquor cabinet. I have to

admit I would never have thought Dad could move as quickly as he did, springing to the door like a football running back and inserting himself between Roger and the snowy, snowy night.

What ensued from that point can only be described as a good old-fashioned tug-o’-war, with dad straining and pulling the bottle toward himself on one side and Roger yanking it back on the other. My mother stood by watching the struggle in disbelief, her mouth agape. After a few to’s and fro’s, both the combatants managed to tumble through the door and off the steps, planting themselves neatly in a snow bank.

“Next year, we’re going to midnight mass!” I overheard my mother vow, as she dusted off my sputtering dad with a whisk broom.

So, all that said, the question is am I looking forward to a wonderful holiday season? You bet, and I hope you are, too.

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gentleman’s room car review

viva

Italia!

quick facts

Story | Don Armstrong

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prime-living.com

design firm Pininfarina.

Although its ultra low-slung stance is stunningly beautiful, it isn’t just for looks. Every body nuance has its purpose, which helps achieve its 202mph capability. Headlights become part of the aerodynamic bodywork and each body opening and winglet is created to aid in road-hugging down force, heat extraction and cooling. No Ferrari that has come before it has a sexier, wind-cheating silhouette.

At first glance, the Italia’s two-seat cockpit may look intimidating, but after a short dating period, you’ll become one with its pilot-friendly controls. Gone are steeringcolumn mounted control stalks such as turn signals, lights and wipers. Instead, all driving input is managed through an F1style steering wheel. Ancillary inputs for climate and audio adjustments are located in two

satellite pods on either side of the steering wheel.

The mid-rear mounted power plant is an all-new 4.5-liter, naturally aspirated V-8 that delivers 570 horsepower with a red line of 9,000 RPM, the most revs of any showroom delivered car. Coupled to a new 7-speed, dual-clutch gearbox, the combination can boast a 0 to 62 mph time of 3.4-seconds.

Nothing stirs the soul quite like a sleek, red, Italian sports car, whether it is on the toy store shelf, under the Christmas tree or sitting in a five-slot stable.

Ferrari 458 Italia Classification: Sports car Seating Capacity: Two Engine: 4.5-liter V-8 Horsepower: 570 at 9,000 rpm Torque: 398 lb-ft at 6,000 rpm Transmission: 7-speed auto/manual Speed: 0 to 62 mph in 3.4 seconds; 202 mph top speed Brakes: 4-wheel disc

don armstrong Don’s passion for all things automotive is no secret.

His popular What’s Don Driving? TV series garnered rave reviews and made him the new car go-to guy. He is also a member of the Texas Auto Writers Association.

Curb weight: 3,274 lbs. mfg. location: Maranello, Italy

courtesy ferrari

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uxury car aficionados usually have more than one set of wheels in their stable, including but not limited to, the daily driver (or two), a weekend convertible and a luxo truck for the ranch. But for those fortunate enough to have an open slot, it has to be occupied by a real super-car, something special that feels right at home on the freeway or the speedway.

The car of choice for the Texan who has everything has to be a Ferrari. And nothing can be more exclusive than the all-new 458 Italia, which made its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor show in September.

Development of the 458 was taken from a cadre of sources that include Ferrari’s rich Formula 1 racing heritage, including the current F1 aerodynamic engineer, World Champion driver Michael Schumacher and famous Italian

gentleman’s room outdoors

Story | Doug Pike

double-barreled

number of shotguns valued well into five figures each. Most of the better shops also offer field-grade weapons with lesser-grade wood and not so much engraving, but even they can fetch many thousands of dollars.

For $60,000 to $100,000, though, you can buy one truly impressive shotgun. Still not numbers in 12-, 20-, 28- and ome people fancy great impressed? Still got the itch .410-gauge. Their receivers wines, while others featured richly engraved hunting to open a finer bottle or drive are obsessed with rare something a little flashier? automobiles or exquisite scenes inlaid with gold. The You have that option with paintings. There are also those for beautiful wood of their stocks was London-based Purdey. Standard whom nothing is more beautiful, finely checkered and oiled to a bearer for all the industry and satin-smooth finish. more seductive, than the classic founded by James Purdey in I squinted in the hall’s lines and feel of a fine, two1814, a full 21 years ahead of fluorescent lighting to read the barreled shotgun.

Holland & Holland’s first shop, suggested retail price of the four There are hundreds of gun Purdey has built shotguns for guns presented as a single unit. makers in the world, but only kings and queens and the outright The tag read $280,000. A man a handful of shops make estatewearing a navy Perazzi blazer with wealthiest people on the planet. quality tools, either side-by-side I once had the pleasure of logo buttons approached. or over/under, for breaking clay sharing straight scotch with the “Have you sold any of these targets or forwarding game birds president of Purdey. He explained sets this week?” I inquired. to the supper table. politely and nonchalantly that “Several, actually,” he replied.

Nearly a dozen years ago, it takes an average of nearly two “Are you interested?” at the Shooting, Hunting and years from date of purchase to I was, but mostly in who on Outdoors Trade show (SHOT) earth would pay $70,000 each for delivery of a custom Purdey in Las Vegas, manufacturers of sporting arms and accessories from four shotguns and buy them all at shotgun. You can buy an “off every continent met with an equal once. Turns out, the world is full the rack” shotgun, of course, but that cheats you of two-year of people who can and will pay representation of retailers. My giddily explaining to friends the same for a shotgun as many eye was drawn to a four-gun set offered by Perazzi, who, as shotgun of us at one time or another paid and colleagues what you’ve bought and how you justify the makers go, long ago earned a place for a home.

Perazzi, along with more than investment. among the industry’s elite.

During that anticipatory time, three dozen other manufacturers, The over/under guns made the owner is fitted personally and annually turns out a limited up a set with matching serial

Purdey Guns & Rifle Makers

luxury s

offered his or her choice from dozens of prime wood blocks to be shaped and chiseled into butt and fore stocks. The buyer also selects from a stable of expert engravers, one of whom then will create a breathtaking receiver to be admired for generations.

The tab for this blatant display of private wealth? Anywhere from $125,000 for a minimally fancy but functional Purdey to five times as much, or more, for something downright gaudy. And they deliver.

Those who can afford one Purdey surely can spring for a second, of course, if not to surprise an appreciative spouse then at least to balance the feng shui inside the gun safe. Or perhaps a full set, such as the one I’d seen in Las Vegas.

“If I bought four, could I get a discount?” the scotch asked.

The president of Purdey stared downward and swirled the amber elixir in his glass, smiled, looked up and said he thought the Astros had a pretty good team that season.

doug pike Doug has traveled the world to satisfy his passion for the outdoors.

During his career, he has won 100-plus state and national awards for writing, broadcast and photography.

november/december • 2009

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gadgets

galore Story | Michael Garfield

I

am kin to the late, great retailer Stanley Marcus. One of his signature marketing ideas was to feature outrageous, expensive items in his annual Neiman-Marcus Christmas catalog. Carrying on our family tradition, here are a few tech toys you may want to put on your holiday list.

Gibson Self-Tuning Electric Guitar – It’s every guitar player’s nightmare: You step onstage, strike your rock-god pose, triumphantly strum the first chord of a song…and discover that your guitar is out of tune.

Fortunately, a new line of instruments from Gibson Guitar now promises to banish this scenario to the dark ages with high-tech self-tuning technology built into the company’s flagship electric-guitar models. As the strings are played, the Powertune processor compares their actual frequencies with the desired notes and sends instructions—tighten the string this much, loosen the string by that much—to tuning pegs equipped with tiny motors mounted on the back of the guitar’s head.

With high-end models starting in the thousands-of-dollars, you

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would think these guitars would come with built-in roadies and fans.

Motorola AURA Mobile Phone – For under $2,000, the AURA phone from Motorola should not beg the question, “Can you hear me now?”

Everything about this device is loud, clear and gorgeous. It has more than 700 individual components, a 62-carat sapphire crystal lens and the world’s first 16 million-color, circular display with 300 dpi resolution.

Despite its price tag and highend features, technology itself did not keep up with its need for a higher resolution camera (only 2 megapixels) and only 2GB of memory. But it does have Bluetooth and the battery is rated at 400 hours of standby time.

Kodak OLED Wireless Photo Frame – If a picture is worth a thousand words then how many words can describe a $1,000 photo frame? The description for Kodak’s OLED digital frame should be endless.

OLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode. The frame gets its brilliant picture when organic materials glow in response to electrical currents.

In this case, brilliant equals 16 million colors that can be displayed.

It has the ability to transfer images and music wirelessly from your computer and even get online news, sports and weather right on the display.

The 7.6-inch widescreen ships with an AC power cord, cleaning cloth and Kodak EasyShare software.

Wilson Audio Alexandria X-2 Speakers – The technology behind audio speakers has increased greatly over the past few decades— so much so that even the tiniest speakers can deliver incredible sounds. But Wilson Audio took a step back in time with its flagship system, the Alexandria X-2, by delivering unbelievable quality into 700-pound units.

Sonically, the Alexandria X-2s offer a musical experience the likes of which most have never heard this side of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. This expensive speaker system includes a 13” woofer, a 15” woofer, two midrange 7” speakers, a tweeter and a rearfiring super tweeter.

Listening to movies through the X-2s seemingly puts you on the studio set and music—even from a plugged-in iPod—will have you imagining sitting on stage with the artist. And at $158,000 for the pair, you may want to invite a Grammy-winning musician over to test them out.

Michael Garfield Known as “The High-Tech Texan®” to audiences nationwide, Michael hosts technology and issueoriented talk radio shows six days a week on The 9-5-0. See what he’s up to at HighTechTexan.com.

courtesy Gibson Guitars | courtesy Motorola | courtesy Wilson Audio | courtesy Kodak

gentleman’s room high tech

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Dr. John LoMonaco OUR SERVICES: t Liposuction with the New SmartLipo MPX (One of Houston’s First Board Certified Plastic Surgeons to adopt this technology)

t Advanced Body Sculpting t Tummy Tuck t Breast Lift t Breast Augmentation t Brazilian Buttock Lift t Botox & Restylane

By The Doctor

Dr. LoMonaco is a featured plastic surgeon on The Discovery Health Channel’s Big Medicine.

Dr. John LoMonaco is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He is a graduate of the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston and trained at the Texas Medical Center. He spent two years as assistant professor of plastic surgery at Memorial Hermann Hospital and as director of the plastic surgery service at LBJ Hospital. He is currently in private practice, and his main interests are in breast and body contouring surgery.

Call to schedule your consultation

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escape

sailaway Cruise around the world in the lap of luxury Story | Linda Bauer

If you love exploring exciting destinations, feasting on exotic cuisines and mingling with some of the world’s most interesting people at an unsurpassed level of luxury, a world cruise is the only way to go.

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november/december • 2009

59

escape

seabourne

W seabourne

Regent Seven Seas

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hen it comes to luxury world cruise lines, Regent Seven Seas, Crystal, Silversea, Yachts of Seabourn and Cunard lead the pack. Each with its own distinctive style, most of these lines whisk passengers to the airport or ship in grand style by limo, while others allow for unlimited luggage shipped directly from your home to the vessel.

Aboard ship, world cruisers become a unique community.

During their time together, passengers are treated to special gratis tours, exceptional dinners and first-class entertainment.

The return rate is very high, so regular cruisers have been known to create friendships with others who gather every year to travel. In fact, some world cruise ships place gold plaques on the suite door indicating the passengers’ names and number of years of cruising.

Top of the line amenities are a given. On many world cruises, butlers cater to your every whim.

In addition to the obvious duties such as handling luggage and laundry service, butlers will offer white-glove service, fulfill any dinner request, make tour or spa arrangements, and even shine your shoes each night.

Ship staff is accustomed to operating in a world of superb provisions, including indulgent

bath amenities such as fluffy bathrobes and slippers with Egyptian cotton bath towels and deluxe bath products. Highthread count sheets, pillow concierge service and the finest brands of liquor in your suite are commonplace. Regent, Silversea and Seabourn offer complimentary bar service with premium labels available just for the asking.

There are magnificent suites with hot tubs on the balcony, a separate dining room and kitchen, and multiple large flat screen televisions. Some penthouse suites are two stories and most include private dining rooms. Some suites even include private workout rooms.

Gourmet cooking classes are common fare and offer a way to make “foodie” friends and refine your own techniques.

Internationally acclaimed chefs board at various destinations giving lessons and creating very extravagant wine dinners for a select handful of guests.

Cordon Bleu classes are a way to learn the art of vegetable carving, dessert making or crafting a specialty dish. Regent brought Madame Curry aboard for a week to teach—what else?—curry classes. She provided a full native Indian menu in Latitudes, the famed specialty restaurant, with

crystal

crystal

staff in native dress and an incredible stage show during the meal.

Private parties can be quite an experience with the likes of Hollywood directors, famous stars and presidents of major corporations. Remarkably, some guests rarely leave the ship, having visited the ports many, many times. They simply love the world cruise lifestyle.

Many famous chefs maintain restaurants aboard ship, offering the very best in epicurean cuisine. Some liners feature guest chefs in their fine specialty dining rooms with a party atmosphere. Crystal uses Wolfgang Puck recipes and their Italian specialty restaurant offers a taste of Valentino’s. Even after several months with all of the dining choices, guests are seldom

in a repetitive mode. And, of course, you don’t have to stick to the menu.

Cunard, with the only class system at sea, separates her passengers. Her fantastic Queen’s Grill offers the ultimate dining experience. Grand celebrations in the fantastic ballrooms on Cunard are a major draw. You will never lack an opportunity to party in elegant style (or

november/december • 2009

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escape

cunard

silversea

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otherwise) on a world cruise.

Itinerary destinations for 100-plus days at sea vary, but generally include well over 40 stops, taking in many of the major ports of the free world.

Overnight stays in popular ports are a significant advantage on most of these cruises. For instance, a second night in Myanmar allows one day to visit the main attractions via the tours, and then time to shop and acquire a keen insight into this area of Southern Asia.

A land excursion to Bhutan for two days allows a high-end trip to the Taj Mahal or even a journey to view the Terra Cotta Warriors on an exclusive carefree excursion. Guests rejoin the ship later, often at another port.

Activities range from guided sightseeing tours to vigorous extreme adventures. Guests might go canyoning in a Caribbean river, snorkeling in the crystal clear waters of Bora Bora or enjoy a specialty dinner at sunset at an ancient Egyptian antiquity. All things are possible on an exclusive world cruise.

World cruise ships offer sophisticated ambience with unique European-style hospitality. Specialty shopping often includes fine jewelry and merchandise brought onboard exclusively for guests. In Tahiti, local merchants board the ship with a magnificent selection of the finest pearls and gems offered specifically for passengers.

Daytime activities include the usual cruise fare, but in much more luxurious surroundings than the norm. Dance classes are extremely popular on all the ships and gentlemen dance hosts are frequently available for the single ladies. Celebrity lecturers speak on special topics.

A water sports platform is a great indulgence on some of the smaller ships such as Yachts of Seabourn with kayaks, banana boats and sailboats right off the back of the ship. The newest DVDs and videos, spas and

saunas, fine art, tai chi and yoga fulfill every desire.

Picture yourself on an elegant ship, relaxing on your balcony in your fluffy robe and slippers while you sip fine coffee and delight in an incredible room service selection. You are sailing into your favorite port for a day of sun and sand, shopping, or perhaps taking a private plane over the Andes. There is nothing in the travel world to compare with the feeling you will experience, but you have try it to understand it.

Ultimate comfort in minute detail is the hallmark of a world voyage. Nothing compares to the experience you will encounter.

Bon voyage!

2010 World Cruise Schedules Cunard Queen Victoria 107 days Jan. 4 44 ports in 22 countries

Cunard Queen Mary 2

108 days Jan. 4 36 ports in 24 countries

Yachts of Seabourn

Jan. 5 108 days 42 ports in 27 countries

Crystal Serenity

Jan. 11 108 days 41 ports in 31 countries

Regent Seven Seas Voyager

Jan. 13 119 days 56 ports in 30 countries

Silversea Silver Spirit

Jan. 21 91 days 45 ports in 21 countries Cruise itineraries subject to change.

Chien de la

Maison

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Grooming

Boarding

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live well

beauty

A Whole New You Story | Sue Hauenstein

i

n the 1960s, songwriter/singer Bob Dylan, an icon for baby boomers, popularized the adage, “Never trust anyone over 30.” You have to admit, we bought it.

Not only do we now trust people over 30, we are people over 30 and we’ve had to rethink the ideology of our youth.

Whether you are seeking to reduce those traces of age lines around the eyes and on the forehead, or you want to lift and augment “the girls,” cosmetic surgery is no longer a taboo subject.

Society no longer considers those in their 50s old. We don’t feel old and we certainly don’t want to look old. We simply wish to age gracefully.

While certainly not the rule when we were growing up, women these days openly discuss their latest treatments in the boardroom

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and on the tennis courts. The sale of men’s hair color products has skyrocketed and procedures in body sculpting and hair removal are embraced. More and more people are experiencing the benefits of cosmetic enhancement. Procedures have become more common and accessible to the general public.

Americans spent almost $11.8 billion on cosmetic procedures last year. With noninvasive Botox and filler treatments available at the mall, multiple procedures are available to any and all who wish to look for them.

With new technology, invasive surgery requiring hospitalization is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Laser surgery has replaced older methods and completely noninvasive, nonsurgical alternatives are constantly being advanced.

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) reports that there were more than 10 million surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures performed in the United States in 2008. Surgical procedures accounted for 17 percent of the total with nonsurgical procedures making up 83 percent of the total.

Boomers ages 51 to 64 are responsible for around 26 percent of those procedures.

Botox® injection, laser hair removal, hyaluronic acid, chemical peel and laser skin resurfacing were the top five nonsurgical cosmetic procedures in 2008. (The top five surgical procedures for women were breast augmentation, liposuction, eyelid surgery, abdominoplasty and breast reduction.)

Women account for almost 92 percent of the total number of procedures performed last year.

Men had more than 800,000 cosmetic procedures, 8 percent of the total number.

The top five surgical procedures for men were liposuction, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, breast reduction to treat enlarged male breasts and hair transplantation.

If you are considering any cosmetic procedure, be sure to take your time carefully selecting the physician. Ask your friends for referrals. Educate yourself on the procedure.

Before surgery, interview the doctor and ensure that he or she is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS).

Whether you are seeking to reduce those traces of age lines around the eyes and on the forehead, or you want to lift and augment “the girls,” cosmetic surgery is no longer a taboo subject.

Beauty from the Inside Out Not only have great strides been made in procedures to improve the way we look, there has also been monumental progress in reconstructive surgery procedures to enhance the way we feel.

Almost any woman who has given birth to multiple children can attest to the fact that childbirth, plus the ravages of age, can have devastating and embarrassing effects on the bladder. Other risk factors that add to bladder discomfort are obesity, menopause and smoking.

There are many medications available to help control bladder problems, but if we’re “leaking” in our 50s, the thought of taking yet another prescription for the next 30 years just adds to our frustration.

Bryan Blonder, M.D.—a boardcertified physician affiliated with Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital and specializing in obstetrics and comprehensive gynecology, diabetes in pregnancy and infertility— says that new procedures do not require abdominal incisions and allow patients to heal more quickly.

According to Dr. Blonder, pelvic floor reconstruction can be done vaginally with a very small incision to restore original anatomy. Using small pieces of mesh, minimally invasive springs and sutures that are absorbed by the body, the outpatient procedure, usually performed in a surgical center, allows for the patient to be back at work in two to three weeks.

Hormone creams that estrogenize the tissue help hasten the healing process.

Dr. Blonder believes that, with the progress being made in this arena, within the next three years pelvic reconstruction will be an in-office surgery done under local anesthetic.

live well

well-being

Spa, Peace and Goodwill

a

Story | Sally J. Clasen

Spicy Pumpkin Pie Body Wrap Mokara Spa at the Omni Houston Hotel

Luxuriate in an all-over Mandarin body scrub, followed by a spicy pumpkin gel that’s good enough to eat but is even more delicious to the body. The antioxidant rich pumpkin extracts and enzymes exfoliate dry and dehydrated skin for a glowing appearance. Once cocooned in the warm wrap, you’re treated to a deeply relaxing scalp massage. To top off the slice of holiday bliss: a silky smooth aromatic body butter. Available through Nov. 27.

re you having a little trouble getting into the holiday spirit?

No joy to the world? Perhaps you need to schedule some festive pampering to rejuvenate your mood. Several spas in the Houston area feature holiday-inspired treatments for men and women that are infused with seasonal scents and aromas to bring peace and goodwill to the mind, body and soul. Here’s a rubdown:

Couples Peppermint Twist Massage Heights Massage & Day Spa

The sophisticated touch of two therapists is key to a couple’s massage that starts with hand-dipped, chocolate covered peppermint sticks and a cup of cocoa while soaking together in a hot tub. Next up: face down dualmassage sessions that work the tight muscles of the back. Tired feet are then revived with soothing properties of peppermint and tea tree essential oils infused in a stimulating foot scrub. Lastly. a peppermint balm and hot towel treatment deliver a cooling heated sensation. Available Nov. 27 to Dec. 31.

Scents of the Season

Signature Hand or Foot Ritual with Frankincense Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Embrace the season with a hand or foot soak in a mineral salt-infused bath with Indian Frankincense essential oils. Then enjoy an herbal exfoliation, rehydrating mask, and a healing hand or foot massage that regenerates healthy cells as well as tones and lifts the skin. The pampering ritual includes full nail maintenance and the application of the polish of your choice. Available year-round.

It’s possible to capture the essence of your holiday spa treatment at home, according to Suzanne Gibson, spa director at the Mokara Spa at the Omni Houston Hotel. Gibson suggests using these pure essential oil combinations (not artificial) to create an aromatic environment that triggers seasonal joy: • Scotch pine and juniper berry – A clean scent that brightens and freshens any space; burn as an alternative to a live tree.

• Cinnamon leaf and mandarin – A mix that invokes the simmering aroma of mulled hot cider.

• Peppermint and spearmint – A sweet tribute to wintertime’s most cherished flavors.

Diffuse essentials oils in an aromatherapy burner or drop into a bowl of steaming water to scent the air. You also can add to, or dilute, with an unscented body lotion. Caution: Do not apply any pure essential oils directly to skin or take them internally.

Step Out

Don’t miss a beat with these heart-healthy events: Nov. 7 — Start! Houston Heart Walk Sam Houston Park Downtown. 9 a.m.

713-610-5000. houstonheartwalk.org Nov. 7 — Northwest Harris County Heart Walk Lonestar College Cy-Fair Campus, 9191 Barker Cypress Road. 9 a.m.

713-610-5000. nwharrisheartwalk.org Nov. 7 — Montgomery County Heart Walk Northshore Park, 2505 Lake Robbins Drive.

7 a.m. 713-610-5000. americanheart.org Nov. 14 — Greater Lake Houston Heart Walk Lonestar College-Kingwood, 20000 Kingwood Drive. 7:30 a.m. 713-610-5000. americanheart.org Nov. 21 — Step Out Walk to Fight Diabetes Minute Maid Park, 501 Crawford St. 7:30 a.m.

713-977-7706, Ext. 6090, diabetes.org/stepout

november/december • 2009

65

diningguide Whether you’re craving a thick, juicy steak or a spicy little Latin number, Prime Living’s dining guide gives you everything you need to know (and then some) on Houston's wonderful array of dining options. Use our handy legend to find out each restaurant's amenities and features.

legend Date Night Friendly

Jacket Required

Allergy Free Foods

Reservation Required

Entertainment

HandLEs Private Parties

Valet Provided

separate bar area

AMERICAN

Backstreet Cafe

Charming 1930s house-turned-bistro is Houston’s foremost al fresco restaurant.

Features award-winning American bistro fare, full bar, winning wine list and live jazz at brunch. • 1103 s. shepherd. 713-521-2239, backstreetcafe.net.

Boy Scout

Only Non-alcoholic Beverages will be Available

An Evening of Art Appreciation Benefiting the Boy Scouts of America Hosted by Skyline District t Friday, November 13, 2009 t 6:00-9:30 PM t Cockrell Scout Center

2225 North Loop West, Houston, Texas 77008

For more information call Tony Morales at 713.756.3382

Artwork by Landauer Art | www.landauerart.com

Benjy’s Benjy’s modern American experience is the combination of a focused, chefdriven menu and warm Texas hospitality.

Since 1995, Benjy’s has strived to build a restaurant that is uniquely Houston.

Specialty dish: Sesame crusted ahi tuna • 2424 dunstan, 713-522-7602; 5922 washington ave., 713-868-1131; benjys.com

Dessert Gallery Bakery & Cafe Houston’s sweet spot for decadent desserts, sandwiches, wraps and salads. Perfect for a quick sugar fix or leisurely lunch or dinner. Specialty dishes: Calypso Chicken Salad, Old-Fashioned Diner Cake. • 3600 kirby dr., 713-522-9999; 1616 post oak blvd., 713-622-0007; 2260 lone star dr., sugar land, 713-797-8000; dessertgallery.com

Foundation Room at House of Blues Houston A truly unique setting for dining and entertaining, this downtown hotspot offers a luxurious lounge featuring handembroidered Gujarat wall coverings. Enjoy fine dining, world-class hospitality and a private outdoor balcony for an unrivalled experience. Specialty dish: Chicken Fried Lobster with Chimichurri. • 1204 caroline st., 888-402-5837, houseofblues.com/venues/ clubvenues/houston/ foundationroom

Gravitas Restaurant Featuring a sophisticated-yet-laidback interior by architect Ferenc Dreef and an eclectic American menu from executive chef Jason Gould, Gravitas—as the name implies—takes food seriously while keeping the atmosphere warm and comfortable. Specialty dish: Applewood smoked pork chop with apple slaw. • 807 taft st. 713-522-0995, gravitasrestaurant.com

Laurier Cafe & Wine A New American neighborhood bistro whose focus is fresh, seasonal, highquality foods and dishes that let the ingredients shine. Award-winning wine list has moderately-priced niche wines from around the world. Specialty dishes: Crab

Cake, Steak Frites, Soft Chocolate Cake. • 3139 richmond ave. 713-807-1632, lauriercafe.com

Masraff’s on Post Oak Lane A casually elegant restaurant with unique Euro/American cuisine and ambiance.

Specializing in seafood, lamb, beef and fowl, Masraff’s is the recipient of numerous prestigious culinary awards. Specialty dishes: Chilean Sea Bass, Osso Bucco, Rack of Lamb. • 1025 s. post oak lane. 713-355-1975, masraffs.com

MAX’s Wine Dive Gourmet comfort food and wines from around the world rule at MAX’s Wine Dive. Enjoy award-winning food and wine lists in a relaxed and chic atmosphere filled with the sounds of a hip jukebox under wine-bottle chandeliers. Specialty dish: Fried Chicken and Champagne. • 4720 washington ave. 713-880-8737, maxswinedive.com

Mockingbird Bistro Wine Bar The French and Italian rivieras meet Texas at Mockingbird Bistro, where Texas Provence cuisine is praised by media and diners alike. Casual and inviting, this bistro offers two private dining areas, a full bar and award-winning wine list. Specialty dish: Steak Frites. • 1985 welch. 713-533-0200, mockingbirdbistro.com

Ouisie’s Table Elouise Adams Jones, aka Ouisie, invented this restaurant of Southern food and eclectic tendencies decades ago and has been the darling of diners ever since.

Elegant, imaginative, warm, always entertaining and daring only begin to describe this Houston icon. • 3939 san felipe. 713-528-2264, ouisiestable.com

Polo’s Signature Boasting a French-American fusion menu, the swanky Polo’s Signature is the namesake of restaurateur Polo Becerra.

Live music, exquisite lighting and an inviting interior design complement Executive Chef Adam Puskorius’ imaginative fare brilliantly. •

3800 southwest freeway.

713-626-8100, polossignature.com

Post Oak Grill Uptown Elegantly presented American fare with a Mexican accent, this veteran of the Houston dining community is owned by restaurateur Polo Becerra who once worked as a line cook in its kitchen. Business people fill it by day, romantics by night. • 1415 s. post oak lane. 713-993-9966, postoakgrill.com

Prime A casually elegant and relaxing waterfront showplace for the farm fresh, New American cuisine of award-winning Executive Head Chef Joseph Trevino. Prime indulges the senses with a menu and decor that are equally sophisticated. Specialty dish: Lamb chop and Cassoulet with Roast Baby Roots. • 600 la torretta blvd., 936-448-4400, latorrettadellagoresortandspa.com

Rainbow Lodge Well known refined Lodge setting “In The Heights” featuring Gulf Seafood, Wild Game & Local Harvests. Lunch, dinner

and Sunday brunch with a view. Stellar wines and super patio for parties and receptions. • 2011 ella blvd. 713-861-8666. www. rainbow-lodge.com

RDG + Bar Annie RDG + Bar Annie is the new signature restaurant from Chef Robert Del Grande and the Schiller-Del Grande Restaurant Group, and the spiritual successor to the world famous Cafe Annie. The all-new BLVD Lounge is located on the venue’s first floor • 1800 post oak blvd. 713-8401111, rdgbarannie.com

The Remington Restaurant Decidedly modern American with a definite dash of Texas. Busy executives can take advantage of a special lunch menu that adheres to tight schedules without sacrificing culinary excellence. Specialty dish: Southwest Caesar Salad. • 1919 briar oaks lane. 713-403-2759, theremingtonrestaurant.com

Serenitea Tea Room

liday sea give back this ho

A sweet way to

son!

Celebrating Sweet Excess Since 1995

Dessert Gallery Bakery & Cafe and the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Children’s Art Project have teamed up to create some special gifts that make it easy and delicious to support a great cause!

The gifts feature an assortment of sweets that are beautifully packaged on ceramic works of art designed by the children of M. D. Anderson. Create special gifts for friends, family and business associates this holiday season with your favorite choices from both Dessert Gallery and M. D. Anderson.

Giving back never tasted so sweet!

100% of sales of CAP items benefit the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Children’s Art Project.

www.childrensart.org www.dessertgallery.com

A superb venue for Tea parties, showers and private events.

Offering lunch, dessert and English-style afternoon tea service with custom blended loose-leaf teas. • 13889 southwest freeway, sugar land. 281-491-4588. www.sereniteatearoom.com

VOICE Hotel ICON is proud to present the award-winning VOICE restaurant, where Executive Chef Michael Kramer pairs inspired modern American cuisine with one of the city’s most dazzling venues. Recognized as the No. 1 best new restaurant by Texas Monthly. Specialty dish: Mushroom Soup “Cappuccino.” • 220 main st., 832-667-4470, hotelicon.com

ASIAN

Gigi’s Asian Bistro & Dumpling Bar By combining exquisite modern Asian cuisine and topnotch service with a chic, exotic ambiance, owner Gigi Huang and Executive Chef Junnajet Hurapan have created a true see-and-be-seen dining destination in the heart of the Galleria. Specialty dishes: Shu Mai Dumplings, Braised Short Rib • 5085 westheimer, 713-629-8889, gigisasianbistro.com

FRENCH Au Petit Paris Considered one of Houston’s more unique spots, Au Petit Paris will remind you of Paris with its authentic French creations from Chef Eric Legros and Pastry Chef Dominique Bocquier. Specialty dish: Sautéed sea scallop, smoky bacon, and curry cauliflower puree with green asparagus. • 2048 colquitt st. 713-524-7070, aupetitparisrestaurant.com

Chez Nous, Cuisine Francaise A small, quaint restaurant situated in a former Pentecostal church, Chez Nous specializes in the sturdy classical French style of cooking. “The chef is the owner, as it should. The chef is in the kitchen, where she belongs.” Specialty dish: Dessert soufflés. • 209 s. ave g, humble. 281-446-6717, cheznousfrenchrestaurant.com

Chez Roux at La Torretta Del Lago Resort & Spa The crown jewel of La Torretta Del Lago Resort & Spa’s cuisine experience, Chef Albert Roux, a revered name in the international restaurant world, created this fine dining gem. Specialty Dish: Chef Roux’s Soufflé

legend Date Night Friendly

Valet Provided

Allergy Free Foods

Jacket Required

Entertainment

Reservation Required

HandLEs Private Parties separate bar area

diningguide au fromage a la crème de mais blanc • 600 la torretta boulevard, montgomery. 936-448-4400, latorrettadellagoresortandspa.com

Specialty dish: Malloreddus a la Bottarga. • 5000 westheimer. 713-621-6858, arcodoro.com

Arturo’s Uptown Italiano Textile Restaurant Located in a turn-of-the-century textile mill from which the restaurant derives its name, Chef Scott Tycer’s fans will recognize his sophisticated take on modern American cuisine complete with seasonal, organic ingredients • 611 w 22nd st. #1-a. 832-209-7177, textilerestaurant.com

INDIAN

Savor a romantic slice of Tuscany while indulging in exquisite Italian dishes prepared by renowned Chef Arturo Boada. Enjoy your meal on the flowering patio or inside among warm hues of golds and reds. Complimented by excellent service and a great wine list. Specialty Dish: Crabmeat Raviola. • 1180-1 uptown park blvd. 713-410-8694, arturosuptown.com

Damian’s Cucina Italiana

Kiran’s

Enjoy modern Indian cuisine in a fine-dining experience.

Accolades include Zagat Rated Excellent and Wine Spectator Awards of Excellence. Specialty Dish: Kiran’s Chilean Sea Bass with Mango Chutney. • 4100 westheimer. 713-960-8472, kiranshouston.com

Known as Houston’s top Italian restaurateurs for more than 25 years, Damian’s owners Joseph Butera and Frankie B. Mandola provide diners with an extensive menu set in an elegant, old-world atmosphere. Specialty dish: Fedilini ai Buongustaio. • 3011 smith. 713-522-0439, damians.com

Grotto

ITALIAN Arcodoro

This beautiful Galleria area restaurant reflects owner Efisio Farris’ Sardinian heritage, and the glamour and sophistication of the Costa Smeralda. The menu shines with a simple, rustic cuisine rich in flavor and texture.

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Enjoy authentic Italian cuisine in a warm, entertaining atmosphere that will transport you to the cozy setting of a trattoria in the Old Country. At Grotto, everything is homemade on-premise. Specialty dish: Shrimp Paillard. • 4715 westheimer. 713-622-3663, grottorestaurants.com

LaGriglia LaGriglia offers guests a delicious display of authentic Italian dining. Colorful Italian murals and busy mosaics provide a playful ambience while creative pastas, chicken, beef and fish tempt guests with an array of fabulous choices. Specialty dish: Shrimp and Crab Cheesecake. • 2002 w. grey. 713-526-4700, lagrigliarestaurant. com

Mezzanotte Italian Ristorante This modern Italian ristorante welcomes diners with dramatic and stylish decor, convivial bar area and a sophisticated atmosphere. The menu features Italian fare with modern accents including pasta, seafood, steaks, rack of lamb and more.

Specialty dish: House made lobster ravioli, rack of lamb. • 13215 grants road, cypress.

832-717-7870, www.veryfinedining.com

Mingalone Italian Bar &Grill Reminiscent of the family’s trattoria in southern Italy, with an open kitchen and an elegant interior, Mingalone serves dishes such as Gnocchi al Zafferano (potato dumplings tossed with arugula, saffron and Parmesan cream sauce). Specialty dish: Vitello al Teatro. • 540 texas ave. 713-223-0088, mingalone.com

ANTI-AGE Regimen Plus

SOOTHE Regimen

for Fine Lines, Wrinkles and Loss of Firmness

for Sensitive, Irritated Skin and Facial Redness

10/15/09 4:54:52 PM

Prego This contemporary Rice Village trattoria has been a neighborhood favorite for more than 20 years. Menu features house made breads and pastas, and the freshest meats, seafood and produce. Attentive staff, award-winning wine list. Specialty dishes: Center-cut pork chops with prunes, Chianti essence, rapini and sweet potato gnocchi. • 2520 amherst. 713-529-2420, prego-houston.com

Trevisio Located in the heart of the Texas Medical Center, this stunning restaurant features two 64-foot exterior waterfalls, while a sixth floor perch affords diners incredible views.

Considered one of Houston’s most attractive restaurant interiors. Specialty dish: Porcinicrusted beef tenderloin with wild mushrooms, pearl onions, roasted garlic and broccolini. • 6550 bertner, 713-649-0400, trevisiorestaurant.com

JAPANESE Kata Robata

Kata Robata is a new, chef-driven Japanese grill and tapas concept built on the pillars of high quality, creative food and exceptional service. The menu from rising star Chef Horiuchi is a combination of traditional and modern Japanese cuisine.

Specialty dish: Foie Gras Sushi. • 3600 kirby dr. 713-526-8858, katarobata.com

YOI Sushi Bar at La Torretta Del Lago Resort & Spa Located on the second level of La Torretta Del Lago Resort & Spa’s exquisite lobby, Yoi offers the finest in contemporary Japanese sushi. Freshly carved sashimi, carefully sculpted nigiri and meticulously wrapped rolls are offered daily. • 600 la torretta blvd., montgomery. 936-448-4400, latorrettadellagoresortandspa.com

LATIN

Americas Restaurant

ceviche, churrasco steak and mouthwatering tres leches. Specialty dish: Churrasco steak. • 21 waterway ave., the woodlands.

281-367-1492, cordua.com

MEXICAN Hugo’s

Hugo’s celebrates the vibrant, diverse cuisines of Mexico with delicious dishes made fresh in-house: hand-formed tortillas, cheeses, chorizo and houseground chocolate. Enjoy the city’s best margaritas, hand-shaken with only fresh juices. Specialty dish: Ceviches and chiles rellenos. • 1600 westheimer. 713-524-7744, hugosrestaurant.net

Ninfa’s on Navigation There’s only one original Ninfa’s, and this is it. Ninfa’s on Navigation has set the standard for Tex-Mex dining in Houston, featuring a menu of timeless favorites along with many new signature creations from Executive Chef Alex Padilla. Specialty dish: Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Tacos “Diablo.” • 2704 navigation blvd. 713-228-1175, ninfas.com

SEAFOOD Grotto

Enjoy authentic Italian cuisine in a warm, entertaining atmosphere that will transport you to the cozy setting of a trattoria in the Old Country. At Grotto, everything is homemade on-premise. Specialty dish: Shrimp Paillard • 4715 westheimer. 713622-3663, grottorestaurants.com

Massa’s Seafood Grill Serving fine seafood since 1944, familyowned Massa’s Seafood Grill is located across from The Four Seasons Hotel and is a favorite for corporate lunches, conventions, sporting and entertainment events. Specialty dish: Redfish Ponchartrain. • 1331 lamar, 713-655-9100; 1160 smith, 713-650-0837; massas.com

Americas offers an adventurous menu specializing in the foods of all the Americas: North, Central and South.

Experience signature dishes including

legend Date Night Friendly

Entertainment

Jacket Required

Allergy Free Foods

Valet Provided

Reservation Required

HandLEs Private Parties separate bar area

diningguide Pesce From the tasteful design and elegantly appointed dining room to the unparalleled cuisine, Pesce is a feast for the eyes as well as the palate. Renowned Chef Mark Holley has carefully crafted a seafood menu featuring a melting pot of flavors. Specialty dish: Seafood Martini. • 3029 kirby dr. 713-522-4858, pescehouston.com

Willie G’s Seafood & Steakhouse Known for serving fresh seafood specialties and recognized nationally as one of the top upscale seafood restaurants, Willie G’s is in a class by itself. Specialty dishes: Truffle Crusted Chilean Sea Bass, Oyster Bar Trash. • 1605 post oak blvd. 713-840-7190, williegs.com

STEAKHOUSE Brenner’s On The Bayou

Situated in a picturesque retreat on Houston’s Buffalo Bayou, this rustic-yetelegant restaurant is surrounded by lush landscaping, a waterfall and gazebo.

Brenner’s classic dishes include prime steaks and succulent seafood. Specialty dish: Steaks and German potatoes. • 1 birdsall. 713-868-4444, brennersonthebayou.com

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar The ultimate steakhouse destination for people seeking a stylish, lively and contemporary dining experience.

Renowned for its superb prime beef, warm and inviting ambiance, and gracious and knowledgeable yet unobtrusive service. • 2405 w. alabama. 713-520-5959; 788 w. sam houston pkwy. north, 713-827-1120; 1201 lake woodlands dr., the woodlands, 281-362-0103; flemingssteakhouse.com

Shula’s Steak House Shula’s serves the Shula Cut, premium Black Angus Beef, the best beef money can buy. Great steaks and seafood with attentive service. Steak selections are presented on hand-painted Wilson footballs • 1200 louisiana st. 713-375-4777, donshula.com

Strip House Known for prime signature cuts of beef charred to perfection, Strip House also serves

up decadent side dishes including Black Truffle Cream Spinach and Goose Fat Potatoes.

Part of the experience is the sumptuous, all red decor featuring vintage photographs.

Specialty dish: New York strip steak. • 1200 mckinney st.

713-659-0000, striphouse.com

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Named after the champion bare knuckle boxer John L. Sullivan, who was nicknamed “the best of the best,â€? Sullivan’s has been a local Houston mainstay for the last 10 years. The 1940’s styled steakhouse features the finest steaks and seafood. • 4608 westheimer. 713-961-0333, sullivanssteakhouse.com

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Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse features an elegant yet intimate atmosphere created with an undeniable attention to detail.

Their award-winning menu features only the finest prime beef, fresh seafood and more, as well as an extensive wine collection. Specialty dish: USDA prime Midwest grain-fed steaks • 1510 texas ave. 713-228-1111, vicandanthonys.com

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Willie G’s Known for serving fresh seafood specialties and recognized nationally as one of the top upscale seafood restaurants, Willie G’s is in a class by itself. Specialty dishes: Truffle Crusted Chilean Sea Bass, Oyster Bar Trash • 1605 post oak blvd. 713-840-7190, williegs.com

Tapas Capriccio Tapas

Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake

Traditional Holiday Dinner

Capriccio brings Spanish flavors and fine dining to northwest Houston. Enjoy a menu of more than 30 tapas (literally “small platesâ€?) to sample yourself or share among friends while enjoying fine wine and great conversation. Specialty dishes: Paella, extensive list of tapas. • 10865 jones road. 281-807-9442, capricciotapas.com

Tintos Spanish Restaurant & Wine Bar Tintos serves great traditional Spanish tapas, as well as modern style tapas.

The menu also features tapas that have Cuban and South American influences.

Signature dish: Paella. • 2015-j w. gray. 713-522-1330, tintosrestaurant.com

Red Velvet Cake

Beef Wellington

Holiday Cooking | Dinners To Go | Corporate/Social Catering Order your Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinner online

Gift Certificates Available 9920 Highway 90 A, Suite B260 | Sugar Land | 281-313-2433 Monday – Friday 10 – 7 | www.chef4u.net

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RedVault.com Launch Party • 9.17.09

list

Laura Rathe Fine Art Gallery

In a perfect world of interior design, there would be one place where homeowners could go for the most luxurious and beautiful home furnishings and décor. That day may have well come with the launch of RedVault.com, an online resource offering high-end home accessories from Houston area vendors. To celebrate this great find, design lovers gathered at the Laura Rathe Fine Art Gallery in Houston to enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while learning about the services and products from participating dealers and design firms.

Sponsors of the event included the Cannon Affair, Maker’s Mark and Prime Living.

Photography | Leroy Gibbons

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1 Jullian and Denver Plachy 2 Kristen Cannon, Ginger Wheless, Cynthia Liska 3 Bromley Oliver, Yolonda Roy, Chuck Stephens 4 Vickie and Al Kins 5 Kathy Dimmitt, Carol Altergott 6 Esmeralda Lazos, Tex Christopher, John Donato, Mark Langley 7 Domitlle McCulloch, Laura Umansky, Dee Ann Templeton prime-living.com

4

BMW Greener Days • 9.12.09

Momentum BMW Southwest

Environmentally-conscious car buffs came out in force to preview the automaker’s line of eco-friendly cars at the BMW Greener Days Event, held Sept. 12 at Momentum BMW Southwest. As guests enjoyed healthy bites, delicious smoothies and great entertainment, they learned about BMW’s Efficient Dynamics, a line of fuel-efficient and low-emission vehicles including the 118d, a diesel model that was named the 2008 World Green Car of the Year. Local and national companies such as The Arrangement, GreenHaus Builders, Lighting Unlimited, Natural Living, Solar Control Films and Standard Renewable Energy sponsored the event and shared new ideas for green living.

the

list

Photography | Morris Malakoff

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5 get on the list at primelist@prime-living.com 1 Ralph Daniel, Charlene Choate 2 Lisa Hommel 3 Michael Strong 4 Adrienne Lugo, Carla Medlenka 5 John Wingate, Sevil Wingate, Molly Khadem, Nile Oztum, Aaron Oztum

november/december • 2009

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Mary Jo Peckham Award Luncheon â&#x20AC;˘ 10.8.09

list

River Oaks Country Club

Each year, the Assistance League of Houston honors Houstonians who dedicate their time and efforts to bettering the community.

This year was no different as the organization recognized Susie and Sanford Criner at the annual Mary Jo Peckham Award Luncheon & Fashion Show. More than $80,000 was raised at this signature event, which featured fashions by Elizabeth Anthony/Esther Wolf modeled by Assistance League members. Proceeds from the event will benefit philanthropic programs of the Assistance League of Houston, including Operation School Bell, Celebration of Giving, Scholarship Program and Support for the Arts. Â Photography | Todd Parker

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get on the list at primelist@prime-living.com

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1 Lynn Hoffland, Jeanine Wendt 2 Ainsley Robinson, Gavin Waits 3 Cheryl Boblitt, Janet Battarbee, Michelle Schiro 4 Marilyn Denham, Jan Carson, Betty Puryear

prime-living.com

the

Houston PetSet Soiree • 9.11.09

Hotel ZaZa

list

If there was one social event this season that could’ve gone to the dogs, it was the Houston PetSet Soiree held Sept. 11 at the swanky Hotel ZaZa. In its seventh year, party animals from all over Houston came out to dine, dance and sip the night away while raising muchneeded funds for Houston area animal welfare organizations. Event chairs Tena Lundquist Faust, Tama Lundquist and Courtney Hopson honored Friends of Highland Village Pet Adoption Center, Haidar Barbouti, Michael Kemper, Donald J. Pliner, Franco Valobra, Tootsies, and John and Sandra Watson.

Photography | Morris Malakoff

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get on the list at primelist@prime-living.com

1 Charles Reimer, Robin Reimer 2 Phil Bazelides, Diane Bazelides, Joe Ellis, Sharon Ellis 3 Courtney Hopson, Tama Lundquist, Tina Lundquist-Faust 4 Mary Hart, Mandy Zuniga, Gretchen Ferguson 5 Allison Poarch, Helena Davis 6 Tara Simon, Tim Moloney 7 Micheal Grover, Michael Kemper november/december • 2009

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Through Jan. 3 Spinning a Yarn: Houston History Through Clothing Houston’s colorful history will come alive through stories told by clothing and accessories from the 1830s to the 1920s. Benefiting the Heritage Society. 1100 Bagby. Call for times and prices. 713-655-1912, heritagesociety.org

Nov. 4 Another Great Night in November Participate in a highstakes team trivia contest featuring questions based on art and design. Womenonly event benefiting the Contemporary Arts Museum.

Eliza and Stuart Stedman residence. $500. 7 p.m. 713284-8250, camh.org

Nov. 9 Diane Morgan Cooking Class Diane Morgan, award-winning cookbook author, freelance food writer, culinary instructor and restaurant consultant, will host a cooking class on the best ways to brine and roast a turkey.

Reservations required. Central Market, 3815 Westheimer. 6:30 p.m. 713-386-1700

Nov. 11 National Philanthropy Day Luncheon Annual awards luncheon honoring Houston volunteers.

Benefitting scholarships and educational programming to

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prime-living.com

Nov. 19

nonprofits throughout the city.

Hilton Americas, 1600 Lamar St. 11:30 p.m. $70. 713-266-2800, afphouston.org

Nov. 12-15 2009 Nutcracker Market More than 315 vendors from across the country will participate in this 29th annual holiday shopping extravaganza offering unique gifts for the entire family.

Benefiting the Houston Ballet Foundation.

Reliant Center, One Reliant Park. 10 a.m. $11 to $35. 713-535-3231, nutcrackermarket.com

Nov. 14 Schlicting Caregiver Conference “Empowered for the Journey” features Dr. Ann Morrison from the John Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association. Villa De Matel-DeBois Conference Center, 6510 Lawndale. 8:30 a.m. $45. 713-314-1383, alz.org

Nov. 18 Waggoners Foundation Speaker Series Fall luncheon will feature Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin. Benefitting programs focused on fighting alcoholism and addition. Hilton Americas-Houston, 1600 Lamar.

11:15 a.m. $150. 281-200-9304, council-houston.org

50 patients and their families.

Santa Claus will visit and have a photograph taken with each child. Texas Children’s Hospital, 6621 Fannin St. Donations appreciated. 11 a.m. 713-5267983, assistanceleaguehou.org

Houston AWARE Family Portrait Luncheon Actress and comedian Cloris Leachman will speak at this event benefiting Houston AWARE and the Alzheimer’s Association Houston and Southeast Texas Dec. 4 Chapter. River Oaks Country Club, 1600 River Oaks Blvd. 11:30 Gaylah Garlah BABC Gala Enjoy an evening of dinner, a.m. $150. 713-314-1331, alz.org dancing and entertainment from Caledon, Scotland’s Tenors.

Nov. 20 Benefiting the British American Annual Trees of Hope Foundation of Texas Scholarship Holiday Gala Program. InterContinental Unique holiday trees and Hotel, 2222 W. Loop-South. door wreaths designed by 6:30 p.m. $200. 713-784-7710, firms and individuals will be babchouston.org auctioned off at this annual event. Benefiting Star of Hope.

Hilton Americas-Houston, 1600 Lamar. Tables begin at $5,000.

Call for time. 713-942-8733, treesofhopehouston.org

Nov. 21 2009 Celebrity Paws Gala In its 23rd year, this annual event will help Houston’s homeless animals find a “Home for the Holidays” and honor those who are dedicated to serving animals in need. Benefiting the Citizens for Animal Protection. Hilton Americas-Houston, 1600 Lamar.

6:30 p.m. Starting at $200. 713781-6554, cap4pets.org

Dec. 1 World AIDS Day Luncheon In recognition of World AIDS Day, this event will encourage public awareness and support for programs that assist those living with HIV/AIDS. Benefiting AIDS Foundation Houston. Four Seasons Houston, 1300 Lamar.

11:30 a.m. $250 and $500. 713623-6796, Ext. 278, aidshelp.org

Dec. 4 Celebration of Giving The Assistance League of Houston will host a Christmas lunch and party for more than

Dec. 5-6 2009 Houston Heights Holiday Home Tour Tour five fabulous homes at this annual home tour featuring fun for the kids including a visit with Santa. Benefiting improvement projects of the Houston Heights Association. Historic Houston Heights. 6 to 9 p.m. $17. 713861-4002, houstonheights.org

Dec. 11-12 2009 CASA Christmas Home Tour In its 18th year, the tour features six Fort Bend County homes lavishly decorated for the holidays.

Special home tour dining will be available at Sweetwater Country Club. Benefiting Child Advocates of Fort Bend. 10 a.m. $15. 281344-5108, cafb.org

Dec. 11-12 47th Annual Candlelight Tour Houston’s past comes alive as visitors tour the interiors of the city’s most historic structures, each decorated to portray an era in Houston’s history. Benefitting programs of the Heritage Society.

Sam Houston Park, 1100 Bagby.

6:30 p.m. $10. 713-655-1912, heritagesociety.org

Prices listed are for individual tickets. Sponsorships may be available. Event dates, times and prices subject to change. To have your event considered for inclusion in the Datebook, send complete event information to datebook@prime-living.com.

Is staying healthy on your mind?

Taking care of your family’s health is what we do best.

At Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital, we envision better health on a community scale. That’s why we’re offering fun, engaging events to bring you the latest information on a wide range of health topics for your whole family. Our signature “Girls’ Night Out” series focuses on age-specific health issues that matter most to women. Memorial Hermann’s affiliated specialists discuss new approaches to prostate cancer, heart health, sports medicine and more through our popular employer series, “The Doctor Is In.” We invite you to participate in our innovative health forums, right here in your neighborhood.

Memorial Hermann Sugar Land is a full-service acute-care facility that brings the latest medical technology and expertise to our community.

Our new Back Pain Program provides an online inquiry tool that delivers immediate response to your back pain questions. We’re the only hospital in the region that offers a 24/7 nurse advice line for back pain. And our Children’s Emergency Center, through our affiliation with Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, provides fast access to the only Level I pediatric trauma center in the Gulf Coast area.

Visit us at memorialhermann.org for a calendar of upcoming events.

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model behavior Even the glamourous life of a model has its lighter moments.

Jennifer Johnson of the Agency Arizona lets her hair down (literally) and lets off some steam with a gorgeous snarl during this issueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cover shoot.

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Photographed on Oct. 6, 2009. prime-living.com

Certified Pre-Owned BMW

www.momentumbmw.net 713-CALL-BMW

The Ultimate Driving Machine®

Déjà new.

After rigorous inspections, only the most pristine vehicles are chosen to be Certified Pre-Owned by BMW. That’s why we offer a Protection Plan* for up to 6 years or 100,000 miles. In fact, it looks so good and performs so well it’s hard to believe it’s pre-owned. bmwusa.com/cpo Certified by BMW Trained Technicians

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*Protection Plan provides coverage for two years or 50,000 miles (whichever comes first) from the date of the expiration of the 4-year/50,000-mile BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty. †Roadside Assistance provides coverage for two years (unlimited miles) from the date of the expiration of the 4-year/unlimited-miles New Vehicle Roadside Assistance Plan. See participating BMW center for details and vehicle availability. For more information, call 1-800-334-4BMW or visit bmwusa.com. ©2008 BMW of North America, LLC. The BMW name and logo are registered trademarks.

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HOUSTON TO BATON ROUGE TO CHICAGO TO HOUSTON. OTHERWISE KNOWN AS WEDNESDAY. With private aviation there’s so much more you can do in a business day. The Marquis Jet Card provides executives with meaningful advantages over commercial aviation, including the ability to reach multiple or remote locations, control schedules, increase efficiency and maximize productivity. The Marquis Jet Card provides businesses and individuals with access to the unparalleled safety, service and reliability of NetJets, a Berkshire Hathaway company, 25 hours at a time.

Requiring no long-term commitment, the Card is simple to purchase and easy to use. Today more than ever, the Marquis Jet Card makes sense.

THE MARQUIS JET CARDSM – NETJETS® 25 HOURS AT A TIME. CALL 1.877.538.4446 OR VISIT WWW.MARQUISJET.COM All program flights operated by NetJets® companies under their respective FAR Part 135 Air Carrier Certificates.

Marquis Jet Card Owners acquire a sublease in a pre-paid NetJets fractional ownership interest.