Paper City Article

Restaurant Buzz

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:16:06 GMT

Restaurateur Tony Vallone is reviving his steakhouse concept Vallone%26rsquo;s, but this time the famous man behind Tony%26rsquo;s is taking a more behind-the-scenes role as an investor. Two young prot%26eacute;g%26eacute;s from his flagship Tony%26rsquo;s restaurant and the more casual Ciao Bello, partners Scott Sulma and chef Grant Gordon, will oversee the technique-driven steakhouse in Memorial on Gessner, just next door to the Westin Hotel. Architect Shafik Rifaat, who customarily works on the designing the company%26rsquo;s concepts, will again reprise the eatery with help from interior designers Lucinda Loya and Roberto Cervantes. Look for the lunch and dinner spot to debut in October %26hellip; The historic Hotel Galvez %26amp; Spa in Galveston has unveiled its new spiffed-up lobby, bar and restaurant, all care of Lori Mitchell, hotel owner George Mitchell%26rsquo;s designing granddaughter who re-conceptualized the trio of spaces. Check out the expanded Galvez Bar %26amp; Grill with a bar space double its former capacity (on two levels, no less), booths, seats and a community table with live music on the weekends and regional Texas fare served at lunch and dinner. Meanwhile, their 1876 Bar, another island relic once housed in the Tremont Houston and the Old Galveston Club that is known affectionately as Galveston%26rsquo;s last speakeasy, has made the Galvez its home since the early 1990s. All these renovations coincide with the hotel%26rsquo;s guest-room revamps, which were completed in 2011 to celebrate the landmark%26rsquo;s 100th anniversary %26hellip; Kudos to Houston caterer Elizabeth Stone, founder of The Stone Kitchen, who recently published a lavish entertaining cookbook titled An Invitation to Entertain (Bright Sky Press, $34.95). For more than two decades, Stone has wined and dined many of us, and here she shows readers how to pull off afternoon tea at home, create a farm family dinner and gather everyone for every major food-centered holiday with aplomb. Find it at amazon.com %26hellip; Craving fried chicken? This month and next, Damian%26rsquo;s Cucina Italiana ushers in Fried Chicken Fridays at lunch ($16) to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Roll in for comfort fare that includes this family recipe, meatballs and green beans %26hellip; Triniti, the restaurant recently nominated for a James Beard Award for its interiors, hosts a summer guest chef series, with local visiting chefs taking the helm to prepare an eight-course dinner. Details at trinitirestaurant.com %26hellip; Finally, even as the fresh grill and wine bar Seasons 52 opens on Westheimer near Mid Lane, word is they%26rsquo;ll be opening their City Centre locale this fall. Watch for more details in our July issue.

Shop the Samples

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:26:50 GMT

Unique bridal%26nbsp;boutique BHLDN in Highland Village wil host its first-ever sample sale Sunday, June 2, 8 to 11 am, featuring%26nbsp;gowns for $100 to $200, as well as a limited selection of event dresses and shoes for just $25. For more information, visit bhldn.com.

Retail Gems at the Joule

Wed, 08 May 2013 11:34:57 GMT

Stage one, which should be complete by the end of this month, is the clutch of shops by L.A. destinations Traffic LA and TenOverSix. The hotel%26rsquo;s subterranean space is getting a glow from ESPA, the premium R%26amp;R destination with a natural ethos that lofted The Peninsula to the top-rated spa in New York, with plans to open late this month. And even the lobby is getting a reading room/bookshop fully stocked with Taschen titles. Stay tuned this summer for the new CBD Provisions restaurant and drinking establishment  Mirth %26amp; Refuge, concepts from Tristan Simon%26rsquo;s Consilient restaurant group.%26nbsp;

TenOverSix

Expect quintessential hipster style at the trifecta of TenOverSix, the adjoining gift shop TenOverSix Presents and Weekend Coffee serving craft java by Seattle micro-roaster Victrola. Co-founders, designers and style-meisters Brady Cunningham and Kristen Lee live and breathe Hollywood at work and at home, where they are hitched, respectively, to Jason Schwartzman, the gloomy-faced wit in numerous Wes Anderson films, and Joe Cole, a music video and film director who is also president and co-owner of TenOverSix. %26ldquo;We plan to bring a very specific edit of our favorite designers, ranging from pieces for the home to music to fashion,%26rdquo; Lee explains. %26ldquo;It%26rsquo;s a take on what%26rsquo;s next from trends in the markets we love and shop: Stockholm, Copenhagen, Brooklyn, L.A., Sydney, Berlin, London, Paris.%26rdquo; The all-white space resembles a gallery %26mdash; the better to show off the goods. Among the exclusives on tap are Parisian Maison Kitsun%26eacute; casual chic sportswear for men and women, edgy sculpted metal jewelry by Anndra Neen of NYC, statement mixed-media jewelry by Iosselliani of Rome, chiseled acetate shades from Rachel Comey for Prism eyewear, handbags by 3.1 Phillip Lim and vintage-fabric jumpsuits and rompers under TenOverSix%26rsquo;s own label. Other cool lines include Lizzie Fortunato, Apiece Apart, Want Les Essentiels de la Vie, Alasdair, Jasmin Shokrian and Jenni Kayne. At TenOverSix Presents, look for art and vintage books, magazines, home decor, vinyl records, art and natural beauty products by Ilia, RGB and Tata Harper, plus treats and foodie ware at Weekend. Opening this month. 1530 Main St., 214.261.4540; shop.tenover6.com.

Traffic LA

Traffic LA (the men%26rsquo;s store is open now) is making a triple play at the Joule with individual designer stores for men and women, plus a wee 350-square-foot shop for Comme des Gar%26ccedil;ons Play, the heart-logo casual streetwear and accessories collaboration with NY artist Filip Pagowski. %26ldquo;The vibe is a brand-new thing in the city: a combination of luxury, rock %26rsquo;n%26rsquo; roll and fashion that%26rsquo;s very L.A.,%26rdquo; says owner Michael Moldovan. Traffic%26rsquo;s women%26rsquo;s is laden with cool threads by Costume National, Pierre Balmain, Cesar Arellanes, Alexander Wang, 3.1 Phillip Lim and Twenty Cluny; Italian leather from Drome and Giorgio Brato; and casual fare from Iro, Unconditional, Rick Owens Lilies and Drkshdw. The men%26rsquo;s store, whose L.A. clients include Mickey Rourke and Russell Brand, stocks Comme des Gar%26ccedil;ons, Dolce %26amp; Gabbana, Dsquared, Moschino, Paul Smith, Rick Owens Uomo, Viktor %26amp; Rolf and Vivienne Westwood. It also packs in plenty of urban sportswear and cool tees by the likes of Tuesday Night Band Practice. Traffic Men%26rsquo;s is open, others opening this month. 1608 Main St., 214.261.4585; shoptrafficla.com.

The Taschen Library

The lobby%26rsquo;s cozy reading room and book nook will be packed with volumes by Taschen, the German publisher famed for limited editions and colorful tomes highlighting fields related to art and design. The idea is to create a %26ldquo;cultural/fashion/arts hub,%26rdquo; says Headington spokeswoman Laura Noble. %26ldquo;It%26rsquo;s our library, and we are choosing to stock it exclusively with Taschen titles. But if the Dallas Contemporary or DMA brings in an artist and they have a book, we%26rsquo;ll bring it in and do a signing.%26rdquo; A striking mosaic frieze rescued from the Mercantile Bank building rims the library, which is furnished with a communal Piet Hein Eek table, seating by Ilse Crawford for De La Espada and comfy armchairs by Donna Wilson for SCP. Taschen published the highest-priced book sold in the 20th century %26mdash; the first copy of Helmut Newton%26rsquo;s SUMO autographed by dozens of celebs went for $320,000. Opening this month. 214.261.4560; taschen.com.

ESPA

Glittering with amethyst geodes, crystals and rough-cut stones and manned by equally rocking therapists, ESPA %26ldquo;is something Texas has never seen,%26rdquo; promises Vivianne Garcia, U.S. vice president of the British-based firm. Aestheticians bestow bespoke treatments (which are booked by the hour) by evaluating the whole client %26mdash; the way he or she walks, talks, looks, sleeps and eats. %26ldquo;No two people will have the exact same treatment,%26rdquo; she says. %26ldquo;We are about therapies that have a profound effect on your health and well-being.%26rdquo; In fact, clients are encouraged to arrive an hour early to detox and get their blood moving by chilling the body with shaved ice and then blasting it in the sauna. Another draw: ESPA%26rsquo;s only U.S. %26ldquo;vitality pool,%26rdquo; a co-ed body-temperature pool fitted with ergonomic chairs and scores of small jets to massage the entire body %26mdash;%26nbsp; disposable swimsuits are thoughtfully provided. It%26rsquo;s all the work of visionary founder and CEO Susan Harmsworth, who manufactures the spa%26rsquo;s natural products in her lab in historic Farnham, England, including the bestselling Pink Hair and Scalp Mud, which is also soothing to dry skin. Opening late this month. 214.261.4555; thejouledallas.com.

Olfactory Obscurities

Fri, 03 May 2013 10:18:44 GMT

Whether it%26rsquo;s the uncommon aromas they marry, limited availability or the ingredients used in formulating, niche perfumes are reason enough to rethink one%26rsquo;s approach to personal fragrance. Seth Vaughan proposes a discriminating array of scents.

Odin%26rsquo;s 08 Seylon%26nbsp;

Referencing: The otherworldly exoticism of the Sri Lankan landscape where vetiver roots thrive. %26ldquo;Seylon%26rdquo; is a Dutch translation of the island nation%26rsquo;s name.%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp; %26nbsp;

Notes: An invigorating, spicy and sumptuous union of elements including yuzu, bitter orange, nutmeg, elemi and nezoin resins, and, of course, vetiver.%26nbsp;

Who%26rsquo;s wearing it: Mystical men and women (all of Odin%26rsquo;s fragrances are unisex) drawn to earthy aromas. $165, at Kuhl-Linscomb.%26nbsp;

%26nbsp;

Guerlain%26rsquo;s Muguet%26nbsp;

Referencing: The good fortune attributed to the lily of valley during the reign of French monarch Charles IX. Legend has it Charles would present courtesans with the flower each year on May 1, a tradition that has spread throughout France.%26nbsp;

Notes: Lily of the valley, naturally, as well as lilac, rose, jasmine and fresh green notes.%26nbsp;

Who%26rsquo;s wearing it: Feminine Francophiles who are feeling lucky. $575, at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue.%26nbsp;

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Arquiste%26rsquo;s Boutonni%26egrave;re no. 7%26nbsp;

Referencing: A bygone %26eacute;poque in which gentleman donned gardenias in their lapels, hoping to lure potential conquests. The brand%26rsquo;s founder is a specialist in historic preservation, so all Arquiste scents seek to evoke the past and transport the wearer back in time.%26nbsp;

Notes: Lavender, bergamot, genet absolut (a derivative of the spartium flower), vetivert, Gardenia jasminoides and gardenia citriodora.%26nbsp;

Who%26rsquo;s wearing it: Poetic and chivalrous dandies. $175, at Kuhl-Linscomb.%26nbsp;

%26nbsp;

Houbigant%26rsquo;s Orangers en Fleurs %26nbsp;

Referencing: The mythical bounty of the orange tree, which flowers while producing fruit. So symbolic is the tree%26rsquo;s embodiment of a delicate abundance that throughout history, women have adorned themselves on their wedding day with live orange blossoms (as in the case of Queen Victoria) or emblematic representations of the tree%26rsquo;s produce (as lavished on the gowns of ancient Chinese brides).%26nbsp;

Notes: Orange blossom, Egyptian jasmine, eau de brouts, tuberose, cedar wood and musk. %26nbsp;

Who%26rsquo;s wearing it: Anyone looking to add to her feminine mystique. From $180, at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue.%26nbsp;

%26nbsp;

Juliette Has a Gun%26rsquo;s Mad Madame

Referencing: The daring and scandalous nature of a provocateur.

Notes: A sweetand understated mingling of green chypre, rose oxide and blackcurrant bud with peony accord, patchouli with white musk, tolu balm and vanilla absolute.%26nbsp;

Who%26rsquo;s wearing it: A fascinating creature with her share of stories to tell. $135, at%26nbsp; Kuhl-Linscomb.

%26nbsp;

CB I Hate Perfume%26rsquo;s 106 Invisible Monster

Referencing: CB I Hate Perfume%26rsquo;s founder Christopher Brosius%26rsquo; desire to recreate memories through scents. With 106 Invisible Monster, he alludes to childhood games of make-believe on the banks of the Susquehanna river, in the vein of his favorite TV character, Johnny Quest.

Notes: Jungle riverbanks and perfumed Chinese orchids achieved through the combination of accords including sumac, vetivert and oakmoss.

Who%26rsquo;s wearing it: Adventurous souls looking to relive halcyon days of yore. From $95, at Settlement Goods.

%26nbsp;

Byredo%26rsquo;s Inflorescence

Referencing: An Arcadian stroll through wild bowers of rambling roses, mingled with the honeyed notes of pink freesia in its prime.

Notes: Blooming roses, fragrant freesia, hardy magnolia, elusive lily of the valley and tender jasmine buds

Who%26rsquo;s wearing it: Wild and carefree muses. $220, at byredo.com.

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Lurk%26rsquo;s AS01

Referencing: The beauty that results when fragrance is created in a natural manner. Using enfleurage (a process that captures plant extracts in odorless fat, either in solid or liquid form), Lurk creates concentrates free of water, alcohol, chemical stabilizers and preservatives. Composed of organic oils, including jojoba,
ASO1 is at once sweet and spicy.%26nbsp;%26nbsp;

Notes: Cedarwood, tuberose and sweet rose, heightened by touches of spice.

Who%26rsquo;s wearing it: Eco-beauties who aren%26rsquo;t opposed to smelling good. $55, at Settlement Goods.

%26nbsp;

Astier de Villatte%26rsquo;s Eau de Cologne

Referencing: The arresting power of a true eau de cologne %26mdash; an earthy combination of aromatics in the manner of the original, created at the dawn of the 19th century.

Notes: Verbena, lavender, rosemary, basil and light fleeting florals.

Who%26rsquo;s wearing it: Eternally chic types uninterested in passing fancies. $100, through Grange Hall, urbanflowergrangehall.com.

What Daisy Wore

Thu, 02 May 2013 12:12:27 GMT

The Great Gatsby unfurls in cinemas across America as one of the most eagerly anticipated premieres of our time. All eyes will be on Daisy and Jay Gatsby, dressed by two-time Oscar-winning costume designer Catherine Martin. Megan Pruitt Winder chats with Martin, who divulges details of pinstripes and pearls in a rare silver-screen collaboration with Tiffany %26amp; Co., Prada and Brooks Brothers.

What were your sources for this fabled jazz-age classic? When you%26rsquo;re working with a director and you%26rsquo;re trying to interpret his vision for a film, the very first inspiration is always how the director envisions telling the story, and your job is to help support that telling %26hellip; I looked to original sources that relate to the work that we are trying to bring to life, including photography, paintings, other works by the author, photographic collections and anecdotal descriptions that were written in the period or setting in which the story takes place.

On raiding the Tiffany %26amp; Co. archives. Tiffany %26amp; Co. was an obvious partner for The Great Gatsby because of its authentic relationship to New York in the %26lsquo;20s, the fact that the social milieu the novel deals with is the type of customer the brand appeals to, the fact that it is a quintessentially American luxury brand and also because Fitzgerald was himself a customer of Tiffany %26hellip; This is the first time that I have been involved in the process of designing jewelry %26hellip; It%26rsquo;s on a completely different level because you are engineering something so beautiful and so seemingly delicate that actually has to function practically and have inherent strength and longevity %26hellip; The item that really inspired me from the Tiffany archives was the drawing of the headpiece that inspired Daisy%26rsquo;s party headpiece [named the Savoy]. I felt it defined Daisy%26rsquo;s character and describes the 1920s so quintessentially that I could not ignore it. The extraordinary combination of pearls and pav%26eacute; diamonds culminates in an exquisite and delicate yet dramatic headband that has become one of the most iconic pieces of jewelry in the film.

Your collaboration with Brooks Brothers called for more than 500 day and evening ensembles, some 1,700 pieces. Why Brooks Brothers and Jay Gatsby, aka Leonardo DiCaprio? It was this most basic and fundamental connection that has made our collaboration so authentic %26hellip; Brooks Brothers is mentioned several times in Fitzgerald%26rsquo;s writings as representation of the ultimate gentleman%26rsquo;s purveyor of fine clothing to the American man of distinction.

Let%26rsquo;s talk about a golden Prada party gown laden with crystals that reportedly steals the ballroom scene when Daisy [Carey Mulligan] dons it. Our collaboration with Prada recalls the European flair that was emerging amongst East Coast crowds in the 1920s %26hellip; The fashion of the time saw the development of a dichotomy between those who aspired to the privileged, the Ivy League look of wealthy Long Island and those who were aspiring to European glamour, sophistication and decadence. Our collaborations with Prada reflect the collision of these two aesthetics.

What is it about the 1920s and the flapper era that still resonates today? The Jazz Age is a combination of a look into the future and a variety of styles %26hellip; much more fashion-led than any other period %26hellip; The beginning of the Art Deco movement was a revivalist period where people were taking historical styles and rethinking them in terms of the modern world %26hellip; It is such a fascinating period in a way it never was before, primarily as a result of the wealth that was available to consumers.

How was the jewelry used as a metaphor throughout the film? I turned to diamond and pearl inspiration from the headpiece illustration. It seemed a great way to describe Daisy%26rsquo;s position in society and to underline her situation as Tom%26rsquo;s bird in a gilded cage, adorned by precious jewels. I also found an illustration from the 1920s that showed a bracelet design with a compact attached to it that sat on top of the hand and was fitted with rings. I have a fascination with India and combined the traditional shapes with this idea to create the pav%26eacute; diamond daisy medallion that is the centerpiece of the hand pieces [the pearl and diamond bracelet worn by Daisy in the film]. All these elements and influences were brought together to create these pieces, that, along with the [Savoy] headband, became the quintessential part of Daisy%26rsquo;s party costume.

I was particularly inspired to use pearls in the jewelry for Daisy for many reasons, including the string of pearls that Tom gives Daisy. In thinking about how we could use jewelry to help express Daisy%26rsquo;s character in her close-ups, Baz suggested I look at a character whose %26ldquo;voice is full of money,%26rdquo; per Gatsby%26rsquo;s description. We feel that Daisy sits within a very pastel, fragile, ephemeral color scheme, which expresses her sparkling fragility, her vitality and her attractiveness. The classic combination of diamonds and pearls came to the fore as a result, with the pearlescent cream and sparkling palette of her jewelry helping to describe her character.

Gatsby%26rsquo;s signet ring with the daisy symbol is our nod to his obsessive love for Daisy. The daisy is a very integral symbol in the film because it has been reproduced in his house, on his person %26hellip; Everywhere you look in his mansion, he has applied a daisy decoration. The daisy, traditionally a symbol of purity, is meant to signal to the audience his pure obsessive and overwhelmingly powerful love for Daisy.

Acolyte of the Exquisite

Thu, 02 May 2013 12:04:04 GMT

Author of a wildly successful blog, life-in-travel.com, which chronicles her life of fashion, travel, food and family, this global transplant spent her youth in Vietnam but now resides in Dallas with her husband and two daughters. She%26rsquo;s on an eternal quest for beauty in all things, and we%26rsquo;re enthralled by her fun-loving approach to the finer things. It would seem the rest of the world agrees, with publications from Vanity Fair and Elle to New York Magazine having all documented her imaginative ensembles. Seth Vaughan does a double take and explores the inner workings of an aesthete au courant.

On becoming a Dallasite. Once I finished university in Vietnam, I had the chance to move straight to Dallas to reunite with my family who, in part, had begun moving here in 1980.

First fashion memory. When I was around 12 years old, I asked my mom for some fabric so I could make an outfit. Although I had no knowledge about pattern cutting or sewing, it turned out well, sparking a lifelong passion.

Whose style did you admire growing up? Whose do you currently admire? I grew up in a big family, so I was taught valuable lessons from my mom and sisters. I currently admire Russian blogger Miroslava Duma%26rsquo;s ability to compose outfits, though.

On the innateness or learnedness of style. I hope I have good instincts when it comes to style, making it innate. Although I think that%26rsquo;s a starting point, you%26rsquo;ve got to be able to learn more and have your vision evolve as time goes on.

My clothes and accessories express %26hellip; I hope they express a boldness, an elegance and an edginess.

Thoughts on dressing like a mother. It really doesn%26rsquo;t matter being a mom or not. My mom often reminded me as a young adult that %26ldquo;to %26hellip; show your inner beauty %26hellip; doesn%26rsquo;t mean showing a lot of skin.%26rdquo; This sentiment continues to guide me.

On blogging %26hellip; I%26rsquo;ve always loved traveling, but it wasn%26rsquo;t until I was inspired to write a blog about it that I began jotting down my thoughts.

Most important thing I%26rsquo;ve ever learned along the way is %26hellip; How meaningful traveling can be. It builds an appreciation, positivity and thankfulness for what we have in life.

Favorite designers. Rick Owens, Maison Martin Margiela, Comme des Gar%26ccedil;ons, Balenciaga and C%26eacute;line.

When buying clothes %26hellip; I believe you can build a beautiful wardrobe by buying select well-made investment pieces rather than a slew of those that are poorly made. However, today one can often find wonderful, well-made items at all price points, so don%26rsquo;t simply equate price with quality. What%26rsquo;s essential is buying only what we really love, instead of settling for things we just like.

My most prized pieces of clothing, accessories and jewelry are %26hellip; A handbag that my father gave my mother 62 years ago when they met is at the top of my list. After that is my Rick Owens crocodile jacket, along with the leather-and-lace collar I designed.

My last acquisition was %26hellip; A necklace and pumps from the Christian Dior Spring/Summer 2013 show.

Dreaming about %26hellip; An Herm%26egrave;s Kelly rendered in an exotic skin.

On where fashion is headed. After years of funky shoes, feminine heels with pointy toes are making a return. Also, I see more solid colors rather than crazy prints headed our way.

Favorite places in the world. To shop: New York and Paris. To relax: The Amalfi Coast, Turks %26amp; Caicos and St. John. For history and sights: Venice and Rome.

Inspirational films and books. Films: Rear Window, Roman Holiday. Books: Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother.

I%26rsquo;m inspired by: Magazines, runway shows and the people I surround myself with.

I can%26rsquo;t stop thinking about %26hellip; The teahouse Maison Mariage Fr%26egrave;res in Paris.

Favorite hotels. Le Meurice in Paris and The Plaza in New York.

Shops that continue to delight and amaze me %26hellip; IF and Comme des Gar%26ccedil;ons in New York; Rick Owens and Chanel on rue Cambon in Paris; and Forty Five Ten and Grange Hall in Dallas.

Beauty regimen. Always going to bed with a clean face.

Favorite flower. Peonies and Hydrangeas.

Last trip? Next trip? Nevis was my last trip. St. John or somewhere in Europe is probably where I%26rsquo;m headed next.

An ideal day. Snuggling with my kids in the morning, making cr%26ecirc;pes for brunch, playing badminton in the backyard, shopping at my favorite stores and then cooking a big family dinner in the evening.

Must-haves for the summer. Black, it%26rsquo;s the new neutral (again). I currently love wearing it with white and a touch of gold.

This summer, I%26rsquo;ll be %26hellip; Taking a long trip with my family, as is the case every summer.

Word on Elizabeth Street

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 04:47:16 GMT

Elizabethstreet.com, an inspiring Web site for stylish young mothers, has expanded to Houston and Dallas. The site, which began in New York City in 2012 and has subsequently launched in posh cities the world over from Los Angeles to London, Paris to Tokyo, profiles tastemaker mothers for their personal tips on the best in culture, fashion and lifestyle happenings that are family-friendly, too. %26ldquo;I believe Texas women take their style and lifestyle seriously but they are also women who care about their families and about charity. These are the key elements to becoming an Elizabeth Street Mom,%26rdquo; says founder Emanuele Della Valle, son of Diego Della Valle, owner of the famous Tod%26rsquo;s label. Some of the Dallas mothers featured on the%26nbsp; site include stylist Christine Visneau, author and TV host Kimberly Schlegel Whitman and Little Bean children%26rsquo;s shop owner Bianca Colgin; their top choices will be displayed on the site in an array of forms, from their profiles to street style diaries and the perfect weekend itinerary. Elizabethstreet.com.

Restaurant Buzz

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 04:04:16 GMT

For years, we%26rsquo;ve lamented the fact that Houston has few high-end bakeries %26mdash; the sort you can drop into morning, noon and night for something sweet and stay for so much more. While single-sweet-oriented spots abound (cupcakes, macarons, ice cream), now Houston-reared pastry chef Roy Shvartzapel has come home to fill the void and round out the pastry offerings. Working his way up the food chain around the globe for the past decade or so, this CIA-trained chef toiled in the kitchens of David Bouley, Pierre Herme and Thomas Keller before deciding to bring the European tradition of great baking (and gelato making) to his soon-to-be-built spot, dubbed Common Bond, at the corner of Dunlavy and Westheimer. Expect to hear a lot more about this up-and-coming chef when the doors of his concept swing open later this year %26hellip; The team of Clark Cooper Concepts (chef Charles Clark and Grant Cooper), who%26rsquo;ve been in business for a dozen years with Ibiza (Coppa and Brasserie 19 followed in short order), have two more concepts on the drawing board. Situated in separate spaces in the currently under-construction development Hanover Rice Village, Coppa Osteria debuts this summer, while Punk%26rsquo;s Simple Southern Food (Clark%26rsquo;s childhood nickname) will come together this fall. Interior designer Julie McGarr is creating the interiors for each concept. Chef Brandi Keys, who has been at their Italian concept Coppa for nearly two years, will jump between both Coppa incarnations, making wood-fired pizzas, homemade pastas, Florentine-style steak and more, interpreting dishes from regions throughout Italy with price points ranging from $9 to $4 %26hellip; John Sheely, chef/owner of Mockingbird Bistro, opens Mazzantini on Post Oak in the new BBVA Compass Bank building in August. Mazzantini was his mama%26rsquo;s maiden name, and that side of the family can trace its roots to Tuscany. In homage, Sheely%26rsquo;s menu will feature homemade pastas, rustic pizzas, seafood and traditional Northern Italian dishes %26hellip; Looks like The Palm, that old-school steakhouse on Westheimer, has temporarily closed for a revamp. After 35 years in Houston (and 85 years in existence), the Palm will emerge completely refreshed, rebranded with a whooping 8,000-square-feet expansion into the space next store. Expect the big reveal at the end of the summer.

Groovers and Shakers

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:43:42 GMT

Take one part Ohio Players, a speakeasy atmosphere, some Hum Hibiscus liqueur and shag carpeting, then stir. The resulting concoction is Bar Smyth, the latest effort from Cedars Social’s Brian Williams and Michael Martensen. “We wanted to create a space that is intimate, comfortable and takes the feel of the neighborhood into consideration,” Williams says. “So we worked with Breckinridge Taylor Designs and, basically, made the bartender the focal point of the room.” All drinks are served spirit-forward, which means mixologists Martensen and Omar Yeefoon craft original recipes based on your booze of choice. (The more exotic cocktails are created on a daily basis and change regularly, depending on the ingredients you’re thirsting for.) Imbibe to the pulsing sound of vintage soul, funk and groove-oriented house tunes. “We’re playing what we like right now off the decks,” Williams explains. “But we’re about to go to vinyl because we have a whole library of records here in the building.” Smyth currently has seating for less than 50 people; that, coupled with the modern walnut bar, U-shaped booths and wood paneling, assures its cozy vibe. And stay tuned: The bar is next door to an in-the-works project for Williams and Martensen: The Establishment, a raw bar and restaurant. 4513 Travis, 214.520.0900; barsmyth.com.

Dripping With Models

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:15:56 GMT

Model Jerry Hall, former wife of Mick Jagger, and Major League Baseball%26rsquo;s former starting pitcher for the Houston Astros, JR Richard, are honored at the I Am Waters Foundation Luncheon Thursday, April 18, 11:30 am, at Minute Maid Union Station Lobby. Heavy-hitters Gregg Davis, Paul Hobby, Roger Clemens, Richard Fant and Steve Trauber chair; supermodels Cheryl Tiegs, Kelly Emberg, Kim Alexis, Joan Severence, Julie Henderson and Miss USA and actress Crystal Stewart are guests of honor. That%26rsquo;s some lineup. Tickets from $750, through 832.900.0429; iamwaters.com.

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A Whole Lot to Love

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:53:38 GMT

Our fair city lords over its metropolitan rivals when it comes to the venerable patio. Restaurateur John McBride reinforces our supremacy with the opening of The Lot, a neighborhood beer garden in East Dallas. This laidback destination takes outdoor utopias up a notch with an arsenal of crowd pleasers: a separate kid-friendly play area with repurposed farm equipment and an herb garden; a menu by none other than chef Sharon Hage that stars %26ldquo;The Chicken,%26rdquo; a whole or half rotisserie fowl marinated in roasted garlic, hot peppers and fresh herbs (also available to go); an interior by Hatsumi Kuzuu (of Sissy%26rsquo;s Southern Kitchen, Tei-An and FT 33 fame) with an 180-seat dining room; an outdoor stage; and a soon-to-come bridge onto the Santa Fe trail. Wet your whistle with one of 16 drafts rotated seasonally or a Lakewood Lemonade, then join in a game of washers in the adults%26rsquo; playground. 7530 East Grand Ave., 214.321.1990; thelotdallas.com.

Bocce %26 Beer

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:51:32 GMT

Restaurateur Shepard Ross %26mdash; whose ancestors crossed over from the old country, around the Lower East Side of Manhattan, all the way over the East River, into Brooklyn, in the 19th century %26mdash; has created an homage to the world of his forefathers in the form of Brooklyn Athletic Club, a bustling, cheerful restaurant/bar/ice house/country clubette. Located in the building that formerly housed Zimm%26rsquo;s Little Deck on lower Richmond, you%26rsquo;ll find a little Astroturf croquet pitch, bocce-ball lanes, beanbag horseshoe courts and even a badminton court. In the evenings, a fire burns, ready for toasting s%26rsquo;mores. Indoors, the dining room seats 42 and serves a menu that allows patrons to go from nosh to posh at their discretion: herb-roasted Bryan Farms chicken, pei mussels and fries and a clubhouse burger with green tomato jalape%26ntilde;o jam on a slow-dough bun. Ross is busily reworking a food truck to serve the sporty expanse south of the restaurant. Already, a contingent from the Houston Texans was spotted on a coolish night, toasting s%26rsquo;mores over the gas flames %26mdash; an activity Ross encourages. As a man who worked in soap operas and television long enough to earn a SAG card before taking up the restaurant business, he observes, %26ldquo;This is still show business.%26rdquo; Open lunch and dinner.

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The Bird's the Word

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 10:29:04 GMT

Restaurateurs Shannon Wynne, Keith Schlabs and Larry Richardson have feathered a tasty (and well-placed) nest across from Klyde Warren Park christened Lark on the Park. Former Los Angeles-based chefs Dennis Kelley and Melody Bishop are putting their mark on local ingredients to create slimming but satisfying shared plates and dinner entrees, including house-smoked duck breast and moo krob (otherwise known as Thai pork). Lunch service is planned for the foreseeable future %26mdash; expect sandwich and salad specialties. Interior flights of fancy include bright pops of color and sleek finishes, but the real charm lies in its chalkboard wall panels, rotating local artists%26rsquo; freehand illustrations every three months. And, as Wynne says, %26ldquo;Being located directly across from what is arguably the most successful arts destination in North Texas, or hell, maybe the whole South, can%26rsquo;t hurt.%26rdquo; 2015 Woodall Rogers Freeway, 214.855.5275; larkonthepark.com.

Boogie Fever

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:22:16 GMT

Whether your %26ldquo;I%26rsquo;m not leaving the house%26rdquo; excuse is the flu, an unfortunate haircut, a Homeland marathon or sheer laziness, Scooter Boogie%26rsquo;s got your back. This new food delivery service caters to nine local zip codes %26mdash; think Uptown, Downtown, Deep Ellum, Lower Greenville, Lakewood and around Bishop Arts. For a flat $10 rate, owners Leo Morales and Jonas Zimmer dispatch one of six drivers to fetch your call-in order from any Dallas restaurant. Select an eatery from Scooter%26rsquo;s network %26mdash; %26agrave; la Ketchup Burger Bar or The Mecca %26mdash; and the fee is halved. The Jetsons-worthy scooters emit minimal fumes, and their insulated compartments keep food the proper temp en route. Each scooter even has a name. %26ldquo;As of now, we have Whiskers, Shaky, Lucky and Number 3,%26rdquo; Morales says. As for the catchy moniker, that was the name of the owners%26rsquo; %26ldquo;scooter gang%26rdquo; a few years back. Oh, and if it%26rsquo;s adult libations you need, Scooter Boogie will make a timely run to Lucky Liquor on your behalf. Deliveries begin at 11 am daily. 214.742.7700; scooterboogie.com.

Restaurant Buzz

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:37:20 GMT

Get your juices flowing with cousins Annie Portman and Liz Portman Black, who recently launched Vim %26amp; Vigor, a juicing program that sources locally farmed ingredients. Order your customized kit or cleanse at vimvigorjuice.com and have it delivered Tuesdays or Thursdays. Or amble to Number One, now serving Vim %26amp; Vigor every day ...%26hellip; Head to East Dallas to catch up with Goodfriend Beer Garden %26amp; Burger House. New menu items include the Bat Out of Hell (sriracha-glazed meatloaf and smashed potatoes on challah bread) %26hellip; The Bacon Lover%26rsquo;s Truck (BLT) will get metroplex residents moving morning, noon and late night with the Morning Glory (bacon, egg, waffle, maple, powdered sugar) and TCB (brown sugar bacon, peanut butter, grilled banana, marshmallow). Stalk its whereabouts via Facebook (The BLT Dallas) and Twitter (@BLT_Dallas) %26hellip; Cruise over to Fort Worth and park just north of LaGrave Field to catch a flick at Coyote Theatres Drive-In. Opening this summer, the eco-friendly hot spot will offer beer, wine and gourmet food trucks galore %26hellip; Continuing the conservation trend, NorthPark Center will be home to Texas%26rsquo; only brick-and-mortar Green House Market, which will offer farm-to-table dishes from the folks who brought you the Green House Truck, starting in June %26hellip; The Gem is packing up and moving its premium juices and salads from Inwood Road to Preston Center, come May %26hellip; Bolsa Mercado has been named the official caterer at Trinity River Audubon Center (TRAC) %26hellip;%26nbsp; The Village Marquee%26rsquo;s new executive chef is Andre Natera.

Exquisite Extracts

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:09:46 GMT

I%26rsquo;ve long loved Paris-based perfumer Caron, which traces its roots to 1904.%26nbsp; Since I first stumbled upon their avenue Montaigne storefront, I%26rsquo;ve been fascinated by the way they%26rsquo;ve elevated an already airy occupation %26mdash; the creation of fine fragrance %26mdash; into the stratosphere. So imagine my delight when Sloan/Hall set up a charming Caron fragrance bar with Baccarat crystal urns dispensing the delicious Accord Code 119, a sultry and fruity concoction; D%26eacute;lire de Roses, a solifore that%26rsquo;s an ode to the rose; and Tabac Blond, launched in 1919 as a celebration of women%26rsquo;s liberation during the age of the flapper. Bottled and packaged creations available include 1922%26rsquo;s Nuit de Noel, 1933%26rsquo;s Fleur de Rocaille, and the men%26rsquo;s scent L%26rsquo;Anarchiste created in 2000 and sold in a Serge Mansau-designed bottle. With additional scents influenced by everything from the escapist spirit of the lost generation to the film noir Sunset Boulevard, the luxe champagne baths of a Hollywood tycoon and Orson Welles%26rsquo; character in The Third Man we can%26rsquo;t want to get our hands on these haute commodities. Sloan/Hall masterfully recreates the magic of Caron%26rsquo;s Paris boutique with its artful salon fragrances, and a lovely vapour trail of old money. $85 to $250, at Sloan/Hall.

Beyond Measure

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 11:57:29 GMT

While noshing at the Pearl Oyster Bar in NYC, Marc Cassel (of Green Room and Star Canyon fame) and his wife Suzan Fries were served a dining experience that inspired their most recent endeavor, 20 Feet Seafood Joint. The couple%26rsquo;s East Dallas eatery recently opened next door to Goodfriend Beer Garden %26amp; Burger House, serving up basics with a bit of a twist, such as the Pork Belly Po-Banh Mi and New England lobster roll. The casual setting designed by Chaney 44 and Rusty Buffalo includes a wall%26rsquo;s worth of vintage photos of fishermen and their seriously impressive catches. We%26rsquo;re hooked on the Blue Point oysters, chef Marc%26rsquo;s personal favorite, as they are %26ldquo;exactly the kind of comfort food I enjoy.%26rdquo; But if you can%26rsquo;t imagine an order of fish and chips without an accompanying Guinness, remember to make a trip to Centennial en route, because this %26ldquo;shack%26rdquo; is currently BYOB. What it lacks in booze, however, it makes up for with a fresh-as-it-gets selection from American fisheries, shipped in three to four times per week by purveyor Steve Connolly. Place your order at the counter, and don%26rsquo;t forget to ask for those Green Room mussels you%26rsquo;ve been missing. 1160 Peavy Road, 972.707.7442.

A Taste of Two Continents

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:03:19 GMT

Gusto Gourmet is tucked into the tiny South Shepherd space that housed PH Design Shop before its move to Rice Village. The pair behind this reimagined Venezuelan import, Sandra and Yosi Sarshalom, have family in the area, but their roots spread from South America to Europe%26rsquo;s sun-soaked Mediterranean %26mdash; and they%26rsquo;re bringing tastes from each tableside to craft fare they dub %26ldquo;fresh fusion%26rdquo; for a sophisticated Houston clientele. Seeking delectable hors d%26rsquo;oeuvres for an impromptu cocktail hour? In this Lilliputian space, you%26rsquo;ll find slender coolers packed with freshly made bourekas ($11 a dozen) filled with savory combinations, from mushrooms or tuna to guava and cheese; mini falafels ($7 for 15); brie en croute ($14) and ceviche prepared by the pound. There are also salads, dips and antipasti, as well as individual desserts such as chocolate mousse and tres leches prepared in mason jelly jars. Thinking big? Plan ahead and hire Gusto%26rsquo;s Gourmet to cater your party or wedding. Or, simply taste-test the concept for a quick lunch on the fly. 3306 S. Shepherd, 713.344.0892; gustogourmettogo.com.

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Billy Fong Sez

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 10:49:39 GMT

Trust me when I say that quite a bit of research goes into my fashion columns.%26nbsp;As much as I want to be a gypsy psychic (could finally score my own TLC reality show) or wittily off-the-cuff, I usually spend hours on YouTube checking out the runway shows. I then pull out the latest magazines and do a Rorschach-like test with my brilliant stylist, Josh Cesal, the hairdresser extraordinaire in Atlanta that I fly to see once a month for a cut. We flip through fashion rags quickly, and he gives me his immediate response. We can tear through an entire September issue in 15 minutes.

The winner of Most En Pointe this season is Louis Vuitton. The brilliant graphic checkerboard brown/white and black/white offerings were pitch perfect. Remind me: Has Marc Jacobs dried out again and on the wagon? If so, let%26rsquo;s all pray that he doesn%26rsquo;t fall off again anytime soon, since this collection was breathtaking. His namesake line is also quite spectacular but definitely for a certain age group %26mdash; 20-somethings, rejoice!

For the current social swirl of fund-raiser lunches and black-tie events, I suggest the following:

%26bull; Toned-down hair. I generally am a fan of big tresses, but this season, go with something severe. Think Penelope Tree the next time you are at Fekkai.

%26bull; For lunches, I definitely want to see lots from Louis Vuitton and statement trenches from Gucci and Thom Browne.

%26bull; A garden on your lapel. Coordinate three or four Chanel flower pins on your jacket, paired with slim cigarette pants and Blahnik kitten heels, and you are the epitome of girl-on-the-go.

%26bull; A simple C%26eacute;line Luggage bag or an old-school Chanel quilted bag should be your go-to option in March and April.

As always, I generally have a soundtrack when writing %26mdash; along with my cocktail. (Right now, I am favoring the new Dreamy Time Water paired with Tanqueray %26mdash; makes me sleepy-happy like Prince NyQuil used to back in the day.) When getting dressed for upcoming functions, you should listen to Peter Gabriel%26rsquo;s %26ldquo;Big Time.%26rdquo; Remember these words as inspiration: %26ldquo;So much larger than life%26rdquo; and %26ldquo;My heaven will be a big heaven.%26rdquo; Scream them as you put on the finishing touches and text Uber for a car.

Hey, Joe!

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 10:16:41 GMT

If you%26rsquo;re the type who ventures onto Instagram, sees bafflingly beautiful images of latte art and yearns for something better than your typical coffee-house experience, look no further than Mudsmith. Throw in a space distinguished by taxidermy, aging world maps, raw concrete floors and high-end beer taps, and you%26rsquo;ve got one of the most charming establishments in town. Owner Brooke Humphries and her team of undercut-rocking baristas will happily provide you with an artisanal beer, a glass of wine from the highly selective cellar or a fresh and crisply packaged handmade sandwich %26mdash; none of that shrink-wrapped, plasticky and altogether suspect nonsense here. What%26rsquo;s more, for the discerning (read: fussy) aficionados (nerds) among us, Mudsmith brews San Francisco%26rsquo;s Four Barrels, which, if you%26rsquo;ve yet to experience it, makes for a drink with intricate tastes, alluring warmth and none of the shrill bitterness you%26rsquo;ve grown subconsciously used to, regardless of your chosen format. Not to mention, it%26rsquo;s all priced for about $3 less than your syrupy triple shot, rendering those big-name coffee purveyors little more than burnt-tasting husks. 2114 Lower Greenville Ave., 214.370.9535; mudsmithdallas.com.

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Happy Birthday, Mr. Presidente

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 05:53:30 GMT

Acclaimed Montrose restaurant Cuchara celebrates its Latin roots with a generous side of music by the talented DJ Sun. Cuchara %26mdash; profiled by PaperCity here %26mdash; will host a celebration of the life of one of Mexico%26rsquo;s national heroes, Benito Juarez, on Thursday, March 21, from 7 to 10 pm. Happy Birthday, Mr. Presidente is the affable restaurant%26rsquo;s f%26ecirc;te to the inspirational leader who helped transform Mexico through reform and dedication to the common man. During his five terms as president, Juarez%26rsquo; leadership created the foundation for a modern, democratic Mexico. To mark the occasion, Cuchara has teamed with talented musical artist DJ Sun, who will play Latin sounds and cuts from his latest album, One Hundred. The album shows DJ Sun%26rsquo;s range as it traverses a range of influences in the artists%26rsquo; 20-plus years of making music. Join Cuchara and celebrate the evening with DJ Sun%26rsquo;s signature dark rum cocktails alongside the restaurant%26rsquo;s delicious comida corrida-inspired bites. http://www.cuchararestaurant.com/

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Dinner Delivered

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 12:26:50 GMT

For many of us, weekend cooking can be a joy, but throwing together a meal on weekdays is nothing but a chore. The solution? Turn to Camille Peeples and Carla Ohls, two home cooks who figured many of us living inside the loop (as well as in parts of Memorial and Tanglewood) might love to be relieved of the weekday mealtime task now and then. The result: Fare Accompli, an online meal-delivery service with three different dinner options for two. The week I signed up, William and I dined on biscuit-topped chicken potpie and a little mesclun salad one night. The next day, we enjoyed healthy-sized portions of a hearty Tuscan bean soup, garnished with parmesan, while the third meal brought a guilt-free quinoa and cranberry salad, greens with cilantro dressing and one of the moistest roasted turkey breasts we%26rsquo;ve tasted in a long time. The fresh fare, made just one day prior, is better than most take-out haunts, but what truly charmed us was the homey nostalgia of it all, as if the recipes were plucked from a vintage Junior League cookbook. Simply sign up online, review the e-mailed weekly menu and submit your order by midnight Sunday. Anything you%26rsquo;ve ordered for the week is delivered to your door Wednesday or Thursday %26mdash; easy to reheat and plate, with specific no-muss instructions. Prices range from about $18 to $28 for portions that can easily feed up to three, with a flat delivery fee of $3.50. Want to throw together an easy dinner party? Fare Accompli offers frozen casseroles with a retro flair, such as King Ranch casserole ($48) and plantation eggs ($45) for eight. fareaccompli.com; orders@fareaccompli.com.

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Perfect Pairings

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 12:06:01 GMT

What happens when PaperCity collaborates with some of the city%26rsquo;s most taste-making decorators, a stylish new stationery designer and a seasoned culinary star? It%26rsquo;s a perfect recipe for success. Executive editor and self-professed foodie Kate Stukenberg tells tales from the kitchen.

First Course.
Gracie Cavnar%26rsquo;s Recipe House is an intimate 360-square-foot kitchen and dining room in Montrose, located above the offices for Recipe for Success %26mdash; the charity Cavnar and her husband, Bob, founded in 2005 to combat childhood obesity and encourage long-term health through signature programs. For children, Recipe House offers summer and spring-break cooking camps; for adults, it offers a variety of culinary classes. The most coveted ticket is the once-a-month Chef Surprise night, where local celebrity chefs craft immaculate dinners up close and personal, all to benefit the epicurean cause.

Next Course.
Celebrated chefs ranging from Katsuya%26rsquo;s David Coffman and Hori Manabu to Haven%26rsquo;s Randy Evans have presided over Recipe House as chef du jour. On the menu for spring are Kiran Verma of namesake Kiran%26rsquo;s (March 4), Am%26eacute;rica%26rsquo;s David Cord%26uacute;a (April 1) and Cold Cove Bar%26rsquo;s Jean Philippe Gaston (May 6). For more dish on Recipe for Success or to book a Recipe House cooking class, camp or private event, e-mail lauren@recipe4success.org or visit recipe4success.org.

In the Kitchen with Chef Pope
The stylish crowd cooking in the kitchen and indulging in chef Pope%26rsquo;s creations included Recipe for Success co-founder Gracie Cavnar, David and Estela Cockrell, Henry Richardson and Monsour Taghdisi, Ali and Haydeh Davoudi, Steve and Ashley Putman, Lucia and John Clark, Found%26rsquo;s Ruth Moore Davis, PaperCity%26rsquo;s Monica Bickers and moi.

Design %26amp; Tablescape
PaperCity entrusted the room design to the experts, Found%26rsquo;s Aaron Rambo and Ruth Moore Davis. They transformed Recipe House with burlap wall panels and table linens, custom lighting made with vintage porcelain fittings on metal plates, clusters of internationally sourced white display pieces, acrylic chairs and David Hicks%26ndash;inspired patterned plates (the latter two, on loan from event planner Elizabeth Swift) to create the ambience of a modern farmhouse dinner %26mdash; a clean aesthetic allowing chef Pope%26rsquo;s food to be the star. For more information on Found, visit foundforthehome.com.

Aaron Rambo on entertaining:
%26bull; Pull together items of similar color that you already own and cluster on the table for a statement centerpiece.
%26bull; Lighting is key. Add candles en masse, change existing bulbs or add a dimmer to your chandelier.
%26bull; Choose one flower, in one color and buy a lot of them. They require no arranging if you cluster several small single-stem vases.

Stationery Suite
Graphic designer Meg Barclay saw a listing for a letterpress, bought it on a whim, hauled the 800-pound machine back to her garage and taught herself how to use it. After receiving an MFA from Savannah College of Art %26amp; Design and a stint at paperlesspost.com in New York, plus a small detour to Charlotte,
NC, she and her husband moved back to Houston to be closer to family. Here, her hobbies, which include custom calligraphy, have become her full-time pursuit. Her designs for our evening included save-the-dates and invitations, name and menu cards, and stationery take-away for the guests, each imprinted singularly and in wallpaper prints with her hand-drawn fork, knife, spoon and plate, a nod to the evening%26rsquo;s farm-to-table theme, enriched in PaperCity%26rsquo;s signature vivid orange. Her Etsy shop, with a variety of letterpress cards, stationery and other goodies, just launched at etsy.com/shop/megbarclay. For custom stationery, e-mail meg@megbarclay.com.

Top Toque
Guests wrapped around the extended chef%26rsquo;s table in the kitchen to catch a glimpse of celebrated chef Pope preparing the meal %26mdash; divine dishes straight from the menu of her revamped restaurant, Sparrow Bar %26amp; Cookshop (previously, T%26rsquo;afia). Pope delighted guests with interesting and humorous tidbits about each course, ranging from where the honey came from (her own backyard; she has the bee stings on her derriere to prove it) to the Moroccan chermoula sauce she loves and uses in several dishes at the restaurant, but perhaps most often in her addicting Date with a Pig appetizer, which she insists she could never purge from her menu even if she tried. Pope has been on board with Recipe for Success since its humble beginnings, when she and Cavnar would visit area schools together to teach young children the importance of healthy eating through what is now known as the RFS program Chefs in Schools. For details on Pope%26rsquo;s restaurant, visit sparrowhouston.com.

From Farm to Table at Animal Farm

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 11:46:41 GMT

One afternoon in 1971 %26mdash; the year I published my first restaurant review %26mdash; I was taken by my girlfriend%26rsquo;s future brother-in-law to a house in Berkeley, California. In the kitchen, the wall above the stove was lined with silvery pots and pans, a fairly complete batterie de cuisine from the illustrious Parisian cookware shop E. Dehillerin. I recall being only mildly impressed, as the cookware was aluminum rather then the tin-lined copper I associated with really serious cooking.

%26ldquo;The woman who lives here just returned from France. She is going to start a restaurant,%26rdquo; I remember being told.%26nbsp; The woman, whom I did not meet that day, turned out to be Alice Waters, and the restaurant she opened later that year, Chez Panisse, went on to profoundly change the way Americans cook. If I knew then what would come out of those vessels, I should have knelt before them and kissed the scuffed linoleum floor.

Waters had gone to France in the late 1960s to continue her work towards an undergraduate degree in French Cultural Studies. While there, she became enamored of the small, mostly rural restaurants that produced meals based on the local, seasonally available ingredients. There was nothing like that in the United States at the time, so she and her partner began to search out local producers of fruit, vegetables, meats and seafood. This approach, rooted in French practicality, was developed by Waters over several years into an entire philosophy, stressing the pleasures not just of the table but of responsible stewardship of the land and waters, of public health and of creating systems of agriculture that could be sustained for many generations into the future.

In 1998, once again in California, a now-popular culinary event was invented when two brothers, Jim and Bill Deneven, staged a dinner in Jim%26rsquo;s restaurant, the Gabriella Caf%26eacute;, in the seaside town of Santa Cruz, featuring not just locally grown produce, but also the presence of the farmers who had grown it. Bill was one of the farmers who rose during the dinner to talk about his produce. Fifteen years later, the brothers%26rsquo; company, Outstanding In The Field, has a full-time staff and organizes dinners at farms and wineries around the United States. Usually held outdoors, the dinners pair a local producer with a local chef of repute, allowing diners to see, touch and smell the ingredients where they are grown and to see how creative chefs utilize them, often in novel ways. Outstanding In The Field organized the first such al fresco dinner at Animal Farm in Cat Spring, Texas, a couple of years ago. Now the idea has caught on,and Animal Farm and local chefs have independently organized meals in the manner pioneered by the Denevens.

This past Thanksgiving weekend, some 50 dedicated gastronauts traveled the 65 miles or so that lie between Houston and the tiny unincorporated town of Cat Spring (population 766) in southern Austin County for the latest outdoor dinner at Animal Farm, a specialty grower of vegetables.%26nbsp;

Animal Farm began as a weekend getaway retreat for the Van Woerden family: parents Cas and Gita and their three children, Dana, Adon and Salome. Cas and Gita had come to Houston in the last years of the oil boom from South Africa, where they had set up after meeting in Holland (Gita is Israeli and Cas is Dutch). They purchased a 70-acre expanse of sandy woodlands for a bargain price in 1991. The family immediately began to make improvements, drilling a well and building a barn for their menagerie, which grew to include riding horses, goats, ostriches, emus, dogs and a white-faced capuchin monkey. (The big birds were a popular investment scheme in the early %26rsquo;90s, although the Van Woerdens, like most breeders, soon found the project unprofitable and repurposed the birds as pets.) Gita planted a small kitchen garden the first year and found she enjoyed the activity. Although originally trained as an artist, she began to study organic gardening seriously. By 1994, she was selling surplus vegetables to Jimmy Mitchell, the chef at Houston%26rsquo;s venerable Rainbow Lodge. Monica Pope called that same year. As the locavore movement took off across the United States, Animal Farm began, in 1997, to employ a holistic approach to growing produce called permaculture. Currently, about 17 acres of the farm produce food on a series of non-contiguous plots that follow a strict and complex regimen of crop rotation that allows the farm to sell its vegetables during every month of the year except August.

The farm%26rsquo;s regular customers, past and present, also include such celebrated Houston restaurants as Brennan%26rsquo;s, 17, Mark%26rsquo;s, Sorrel, Urban Bistro, Local Eats, Benjy%26rsquo;s and Roots Bistro. For us civilians, Gita regularly womans a booth at the Urban Harvest Eastside Market on Saturday mornings.

The November 24 meal began at 2 pm and lasted until 10 pm, by which time the air temperatures had dropped into the 50s, encouraging diners to stand close to the cook fires. The event was produced and hosted by Crystal Lee and Forma Revivo owner Dutch Small. The 10-course tasting menu, entirely made from the Farm%26rsquo;s own produce by a crew from Uchi (currently perhaps the most talked-about restaurant in Houston), featured a team that included the director of culinary operations Philip Speer, chef de cuisine Kaz Edwards, sous chef Page Pressley, sous Chef Jeramie Robison (both Pressley and Robison have moved to Austin since the event) and production chef Brian Bush. Wine pairings, which were included for the $175 ticket price, were chosen by Uchi%26rsquo;s award-winning sommelier, David Keck.

Additional tasting events at Animal Farm are being planned for later in the year by several restaurateurs. Gita Van Woerden told us she hopes to make it a monthly event, except for the sweltering months of July and August. The next meal, scheduled for Saturday, March 2, will feature the culinary stylings of Sorrel Urban Bistro%26rsquo;s executive chef Soren Pedersen. On April 9, Chandler Rothbard of Roots Bistro will helm the Farm%26rsquo;s kitchen. Van Woerden says talks are underway with Uchi for two or three more events in 2013, as well as talks with Dylan Murray (Benjy%26rsquo;s and Local Eats), Justin Yu (Oxheart), Jason Kerr (Hollister on Washington), German Mosquera (La Colombe d%26rsquo;Or) and Randy Rucker (the former Laidback Manor).

Contributor Will Walsh savors a culinary epiphany en plein air at the Uchi-powered Animal Farm repast

The late autumn afternoon began with champagne and an hors d%26rsquo;oeuvre of heirloom carrots roasted in the farm%26rsquo;s wood-burning oven and served with sea salt %26mdash; simple and fresh from the ground. Following this reception and a farm tour, we settled down to business at a single long table snaking through the grasses and trees and falling leaves. The first course was Uchi%26rsquo;s unique take on Ohitashi, a Japanese dish that was interpreted as a roll of chard, katsuo flakes, arugula, cress, yuzu dashi, pink peppercorn gastrique and pickled chard stems. The dishes poured out of the small makeshift kitchen. Grilled long beans and yellow flat beans had their smoky char tamed with cr%26egrave;me fraiche, goma shio and sharpened with a Madras curry oil. Then salty, sweet and sour flavors balanced spicy root vegetables with a duck confit, Cincinnati radishes, bacon-braised Easter egg radishes, lime-cured watermelon radishes and candied radish greens. Next, the flavor of green garlic dominated a cold broth with oak-grilled mackerel, lemon, caramelized uni and edible fall leaves. Another course consisted simply of grilled Jerusalem artichokes. As the sun set and the temperature began to quickly drop, eggplants cooked with red curry, paneer cheese and nuoc mam warmed our bodies.

The highlight of the meal was a raw-fish preparation with heirloom tomatoes, crispy garlic relish, golden beets and pickled baby beets. It first appeared that the star of this creation would be the cured Hawaiian kampachi, or Almaco Jack fish, but as we started to eat, the questions began to take shape in my mind: %26ldquo;Why do I care more about the tomato? Why is the fish not the star?%26rdquo; Clearly, the cured fish was used as a salty component to accentuate the tomatoes picked from the farm%26rsquo;s greenhouse. The relish and vinegar from the pickle added acidity and an earthy radish flavor.

After nine courses made from the vegetables and herbs that we had seen growing in plots around the farm, the culinary artists had one last surprise: a pliable ganache with cocoa nibs, mandarin gel and avocado pur%26eacute;e with a lemon basil sorbet. As the dessert was being plated, diners took in the foggy haze that was rolling out eerily into the woods, from a container of liquid nitrogen. The minus 321%26ordm;F liquid was being used to freeze the sorbet.

After the dinner, the chefs took questions, many of which had the same root: %26ldquo;How did it feel to visit this farm and taste the food fresh from the ground? Did this experience change how you look at food?%26rdquo; The questions continued, and the conversation was flowing, but through all the explanations and laughter, I reflected on the many gastronomic epiphanies I had experienced this day.

Inside the Head of Fred Holston

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 10:39:14 GMT

Fred Holston is 100 times cooler than you %26mdash; and really, really nice about it. Amy Adams chats with the soft-spoken 20-something behind New Faces and Development at the Kim Dawson Agency and, in the process, develops a jumbo-sized crush.

Not drums, not guitar %26hellip; the sitar? Really? I became infatuated with the infusion of Middle Eastern music into late 1960s rock %26lsquo;n%26rsquo; roll my freshman year of high school. I decided, %26ldquo;Why not buy one and try to figure it out?%26rdquo; I%26rsquo;ve been plugging away on it ever since.

Fragrance: Chanel Sycomore mixed with vetiver oil.

First concert: I went to music festivals and concerts with my family pretty regularly when I was a kid, but The Cure was the first concert I begged to attend.

Personal style: Psychedelic, androgynous, freaky, dandy, weirdo.%26nbsp;

Dolly Python is your preferred shopping haunt. Last three things you purchased there? A fox fur, a large hand-shaped medallion made of silver and coral from India and an antique Masonic banner.

Signature drink: Whiskey, neat.

Dallas restaurants you%26rsquo;d recommend: Lucia, Victor Tango%26rsquo;s and The Meridian Room.

Best advice you could give an aspiring model: Take every opportunity that presents itself and ask as many questions as possible. Be grateful and humble, but enjoy yourself and savor every moment. (Oh, and be on time.)

You%26rsquo;ve played in various bands since you were 15 years old. Favorite song to cover? %26ldquo;Nowhere to Run%26rdquo; by Martha %26amp; the Vandellas.

Most overused expression: I say the word %26ldquo;amazing%26rdquo; far too frequently, but, to be fair, I am amazed by things on a daily basis.

Dream getaway: I could vacation on the Oregon Coast exclusively for the rest of my life and be completely content. Something about being by the ocean surrounded by beautiful, lush forests really puts everything in perspective.

Style icons: Brian Jones, David Bowie, Marc Bolan, Sky Saxon, Al Tidwell and Amy Hays.

Tell us about your art: It%26rsquo;s a mixture of nostalgic, religious and pop-culture imagery. By and large, my work is not super conceptual, just an opportunity for me to combine things that excite me visually. I create multiply exposed collages in the dark room, then use those photographs to create silkscreened prints.

Five desert-island albums: Beggars Banquet by The Rolling Stones, Loveless by My Bloody Valentine, Further Adventures of Charles Westover by Del Shannon, Gilded Palace of Sin by The Flying Burrito Bros. and Something Else by The Kinks.

Most admired Dallasite: My father, Bill Holston; his passion, understanding and selflessness constantly inspire everyone around him. He is the executive director of Human Rights Initiative, which provides free legal services for immigrants who face political persecution in their native countries.

What isn%26rsquo;t in your closet? Faux fur, square-toed boots or jeans that allow me to have circulation in my legs.

Favorite local place to get in touch with Mother Nature: The Spring Creek Nature Preserve in Richardson. It%26rsquo;s the only known place in the world where eight different species of oaks are found growing in the same ecosystem, some of which are estimated to be between 300 and 500 years old. Also, Jacob Routh, an original settler of Dallas, is buried in a gated historic cemetery there.

Your last $100 would be spent on: A Cire Trudon Ernesto candle from Grange Hall.

If only you%26rsquo;d invented: Dry shampoo.

Most loved Spring 2013 designer collection for women %26hellip; and for men: Haider Ackermann is my all-time favorite every season. His elegant, layered silhouettes are so poetic and romantic. For men, my favorite is Ann Demeulemeester. Almost all of her collections are inspired by the whimsical yet minimal style of close friend Patti Smith, whom I have been enamored with since middle school.

Treasured clothing: A beautiful blue silk velvet blazer I purchased from Clotheshorse Anonymous for nothing a few years back. I%26rsquo;ve worn it so much that it%26rsquo;s full of holes, but I refuse to ever retire it.

The circa-%26rsquo;70s band you wish you could have partied with: The Rolling Stones when they were recording Exile on Main St. in the south of France.

Best karaoke song: It depends on my mood. %26ldquo;White Rabbit%26rdquo; by Jefferson Airplane if I%26rsquo;m feeling freaky or %26ldquo;Say My Name%26rdquo; by Destiny%26rsquo;s Child if I%26rsquo;m feeling super freaky.

Favored artists: Claude Cahun, Gilbert %26amp; George, L%26aacute;szl%26oacute; Maholy-Nagy, Richard Long and Man Ray.

Restaurant Buzz

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 04:55:53 GMT

Sate your craving for tapas and tequila at Boca Chica in the Shops at Park Lane, the newest hot spot from the creators of Mockingbird Taproom, Park Tavern and Primebar %26hellip; Smoke: New Firewood Cooking, the new cookbook by chef Tim Byres (Chicken Scratch, Smoke), is slated for an April launch. Look for it at Smoke and local booksellers %26hellip; White Rock Lake%26rsquo;s newest eatery (from the guys responsible for the Flying Saucer and The Londoner) is Lake House Bar %26amp; Grill, serving up burgers, craft beer and cocktails such as the Southern Sipper (bourbon infused with pecans, vanilla beans and a honeycomb) %26hellip; Come May, singer/songwriter Pat Green, Kyle Noonan, Josh Sepkowitz and Brian Manion will open a backyard music venue/restaurant called The Rustic on the corner of Lemmon and Central %26hellip; New-on-the-scene Pop Diner %26mdash; a %26rsquo;50s style caf%26eacute; with an %26rsquo;80s flare %26mdash; is Uptown%26rsquo;s only destination for authentic Detroit hot dogs 24/7 %26hellip; Nearby, Max%26rsquo;s Wine Dive executive chef Patrick Russell has created a late-night menu featuring the likes of chicken fried Brussels sprouts and bigeye tuna %26hellip; This month, restaurateur Jack Perkins (Maple %26amp; Motor) opens the Design District barbecue joint Slow Bone, with veggie-friendly sides and packaged booze for carryout ... Cross the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge to Trinity Groves for Chino, offering a mix of Latin and Asian flavors such as waffle fries with cotija and sriracha ketchup.

Be Our BFF

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 04:53:46 GMT

Unlike some other so-called friends, we promise to never buy the same pair of shoes, reveal your real age or flirt with your significant other. Like us on Facebook (facebook.com/papercitydallas) to get more of what you love from PaperCity!

Restaurant Buzz

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 02:29:44 GMT

Looking for some fun Asian street food on the other side of the curb? Check out Houston%26rsquo;s newest bao-centric eatery, Fat Bao, in the center at the corner of Kirby and Richmond. Chang raised bao to new culinary heights, and now new restaurant owner Linh Nyguyen%26rsquo;s concept stuffs all manner of Asian ingredients between a split, steamed Chinese bun. Choose from classic Peking duck bao ($5) to pork belly bao ($3.50) and crab daddy bao ($5) with soft-shell crab, spicy mayo and Asian slaw %26hellip; Still on an Asian kick, let%26rsquo;s go Japanese with MF Sushi, a Galleria-area spot quietly opened by sushi master Chris Kinjo, who has relocated from Atlanta. Kinjo offers menu items as well as chef%26rsquo;s choice multi-course dinner tastings (omakase, $75 per person) at the sushi bar%26nbsp; %26hellip; Haute Wheels, The Food Truck Festival is rolling in again March 23 and 24. The two-day, 35-food-truck feast benefits Houston Community College Foundation. For info, go to hautewheelshouston.com %26hellip; What%26rsquo;s made with just tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, salt, Italian herbs and spices? Chef Arturo Boada%26rsquo;s homemade marinara sauce! Available only at his Memorial area eatery Arturo Boada Cuisine, this blend has no preservatives or ingredients you can%26rsquo;t pronounce %26hellip; El Tiempo Cantina returns to its roots: Owner Roland Laurenzo is opening another location %26mdash; the largest El Tiempo yet %26mdash; on Navigation, near the original tortilla factories (Rio Grande Tortilla Factory) opened by his parents, Domenic Tommy and Ninfa Laurenzo, aka the famed founders of Ninfa%26rsquo;s Taco Al Carbon %26hellip; Chef/owner David Grossman, who established the critically acclaimed Branch Water Tavern three years ago, has sold it to restaurateur Matt Brice (Bistro des Amis). Grossman will see the transition to steakhouse-inspired fare, with many of his recipes remaining, but he%26rsquo;ll exit later this spring. Watch for Brice to relaunch the Shepherd haunt as The Federal Grill %26hellip; Over at West Ave, Del Frisco%26rsquo;s Grille is readying for its mid-month debut. As you may recall, DFG is the American-comfort-fare cousin of the Del Frisco brand%26rsquo;s steakhouse concept %26hellip; Those craving Sunday brunch now have two new options: Triniti and Etoile.

In Through the Outpost

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 10:07:50 GMT

Oak Cliff%26rsquo;s latest draw has the instant-classic, warm-yet-chic thing down pat. And it certainly got the draft list, bespoke beverages and bites right. (Exhibit A: The fried pickles are hearty spears, not wimpy slices). We%26rsquo;d even say John Paul Valverde, Miguel Vicens and Luis Gonzalez, who own the new Outpost American Tavern, nailed the atmosphere, transforming the former Campo space into the type of relaxed pub most often found on the Eastern seaboard. Dishes feature locally sourced ingredients and the kitchen makes its pasta in house, but take your cue from Valverde and try the Mexico City-style elotes or PBR fish tacos (that%26rsquo;s Pabst Blue Ribbon for those not fluent in hipster). There are gluten-free options, including the aforementioned elotes plus a grilled cheese, French dip, housemade beef stroganoff and more. But for all its culinary charms, the bar is where it%26rsquo;s at, especially when it comes to what%26rsquo;s on tap. %26ldquo;We wanted a fun combination that includes Texas craft beers like the Saint Arnold Santo, Franconia Wheat and the Real Ale Firemans #4, and at the same time add things like the French Kroneburg 1664 and some hoppy options such as Stone Ruination and Happy Camper IPAs from Santa Fe,%26rdquo; explains Valverde. Those wishing to forego the suds can wet their whistles with a Strawberry Pequin Margarita or Salted Plum Vodka Collins. 1115 N. Beckley Ave., 214.946.1308; outpostdallas.com.

%26nbsp;

It's Show Time

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 10:44:25 GMT

Ask any nearly wed and she%26rsquo;ll tell you the most frequently posed question after %26ldquo;Have you set a date?%26rdquo; is %26ldquo;Have you found a dress?%26rdquo; %26mdash; which only emphasizes the latter%26rsquo;s importance. You%26rsquo;ll%26nbsp; meet your perfect match at one of these top-notch trunk shows.

Bella Bridesmaid
2410 Allen St., 214.999.9311; bellabridesmaid.com
February 9 %26ndash; 16: Alvina Valenta
March 1 %26ndash; 2: LulaKate
March 22 %26ndash; 23: Amsale
May 10 %26ndash; 11: Monique Lhuillier

Bliss Bridal
4624 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, 817.332.4696; blissfw.com
February 8 %26ndash; 9: Sara Gabriel

Bridal Boutique
139 W. Main St., Lewisville, 972.219.8500; bridalboutiquelewisville.com
March 8 %26ndash; 10: David Tutera
April 5 %26ndash; 7: Allure Bridals
April 26 %26ndash;%26nbsp;28: Watters Brides

The Bridal Salon at Neiman Marcus Downtown
1618 Main St., 214.573.2663; neimanmarcus.com
February 1 %26ndash; 2: Amsale
February 8 %26ndash; 9: Ines Di Santo
February 15 %26ndash; 16: Monique Lhuillier
March 1 %26ndash; 2: Kenneth Pool
March 8 %26ndash; 9: Christos
March 15 %26ndash; 16: Romona Keveza Legends and Couture
March 22 %26ndash; 23: Austin Scarlett
April 19 %26ndash; 20: Anne Barge
May 17 %26ndash; 18: Oscar de la Renta
May 24 %26ndash; 25: Lea-Ann Belter

The Bridal Salon at Stanley Korshak
500 Crescent Court, 214.871.3611; stanleykorshak.com/bridal-salon
February 1 %26ndash; 2: Badgley Mischka with Jennifer Weinberg
February 15 %26ndash; 16: Liancarlo Bridal
with Alan Belitsky
February 22 %26ndash; 23: Ines Di Santo
March 1 %26ndash; 2: Jenny Packham
March 15 %26ndash; 16: Anne Bowen
April 12 %26ndash; 13: Lovely Veils with Fiona

Carolina Herrera
31 Highland Park Village, 214.219.6060; carolinaherrera.com
April 25 %26ndash; 27: Spring 2013

LuLu%26rsquo;s Bridal Boutique
2728 Routh St., 214.871.9610; stardustcelebrations.com
February 8 %26ndash; 10: Casablanca
February 22 %26ndash; 24: Maggie Sottero
March 8 %26ndash; 10: Mori Lee

The Wedding Suite at Nordstrom
NorthPark Center, 214.231.3900; nordstrom.com; by appointment only
February 22 %26ndash; 23: Nicole Miller
March 8 %26ndash; 9:%26nbsp;Anne Barge

Patsy%26rsquo;s, A Bridal Boutique
4244 Oak Lawn Ave., 214.528.1227; patsysbridal.com
February 14 %26ndash; 16: La Sposa
February 21 %26ndash; 23: Judd Waddell
March 7 %26ndash; 9: Essence of Australia and Martina Liana

StarDust Celebrations
6464 W. Plano Parkway, 972.781.1619; stardustcelebrations.com
February 1 %26ndash; 3: Watters and Wtoo
February 8 %26ndash; 10: Birnbaum %26amp; Bullock
February 15 %26ndash; 17: Jim Hjelm
February 21: Victor Harper fashion show
February 22 %26ndash; 24: Victor Harper
March 1 %26ndash; 3: Matthew Christopher; Paris veil and accessory
March 8 %26ndash; 10: James Clifford
March 15 %26ndash; 17: Lazaro
March 22 %26ndash; 24: Hayley Paige
April 5 %26ndash; 7: Tara Keely
April 19 %26ndash; 21: Claire Pettibone
May 10 %26ndash; 11: Bliss by Monique Lhuillier

Terry Costa
12817 Preston Road, 972.385.6100; terrycosta.com
April 5 %26ndash; 7: Maggie Sottero

Warren Barr%26oacute;n Bridal
53 Highland Park Village, 214.526. 8400; warrenbarron.com
February 21 %26ndash; 23: Lela Rose
March 8 %26ndash; 9: Elizabeth Fillmore
April 4 %26ndash; 7: Monique Lhuillier
April 11 %26ndash; 14: Vera Wang
May 23 %26ndash; 25: Austin Scarlett

Tastes Great; No Less Thrilling

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 10:27:02 GMT

Wedding-themed reality shows suggest that most brides prioritize their own spray tans and bachelorette parties over their guests%26rsquo; needs. Owner Tully Phillips of Tu-Lu%26rsquo;s Gluten-Free Bakery, however, begs to differ: %26ldquo;Once brides realized we could serve their guests a gluten-free cake that tastes good, our wedding business took off.%26rdquo; Working with pastry chef Nancy Castillo, Phillips offers all the bells and whistles associated with traditional wedding cakes %26mdash; towering tiers, artful embellishments and unique shapes %26mdash; while proving scrumptious doesn%26rsquo;t come courtesy of wheat flour. (Vegan and dairy-free options are also available.) %26ldquo;Our clients bring in photos of cakes they like, and we always find a way to recreate them,%26rdquo; Phillips says. %26ldquo;We%26rsquo;re currently designing a cake inspired by four different images.%26rdquo; Conventional flavors include vanilla, chocolate, Italian cream, hazelnut, strawberry and coconut; less expected but equally crowd-pleasing are passion fruit, peach, blackberry and pistachio. Phillips quells skeptics%26rsquo; concerns with scheduled tastings %26mdash; or by simply handing them one of her tastes-too-good-to-be-true cupcakes. %26ldquo;People ask me if we can make a cake that tastes as good as our cupcakes %26mdash; and I get to tell them it%26rsquo;s the exact same batter!%26rdquo; Delivery within a three-hour radius; 6055 Sherry Lane, 214.730.0049; 3699 McKinney Ave, 214.780.0188; tu-lusbakery.com.

The Wheels Are Off

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 11:14:43 GMT

The bootstrapping trio dubbed the Eatsie Boys got its start a couple of years ago in a tiny trailer before tooling around town in a food truck selling sandwiches such as Frank the Pretzel, a take on the hot dog made with chicken poblano sausage and saut%26eacute;ed onions on a pretzel bun ($7). Now chef Matt Marcus, Ryan Soroka and Alex Vassilakidis have put down roots in the former Kraftsman Bakery space. While their truck has been put in park for a bit, the Eatsie Boys Caf%26eacute; is open morning to late night, six days a week. The young upstarts serve fun, funky food and ice cream, from chicken liver mousse ($10) and salads including raw and tempura-fried kale ($9) to entrees sandwiches including a veggie Namaste with roasted cauliflower, feta and pickled pepper on brioche ($10). 4100 Montrose Ave., 713.524.3737; eatsieboys.com.

This Just In

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 10:30:38 GMT

Like Samson, the bravely bearded Lee Ellis gathers strength from his newly bewhiskered countenance as he opens still more restaurant concepts (he of Liberty Kitchen, BRC, Petite Sweets). On Ella and 34th in the Timbergrove/Garden Oaks neighborhood, he%26rsquo;s purchased a location for a concept currently monikered Surfing Cowboy, which will serve the five food groups: burgers, street tacos, fried chicken, pizza and vodka. Watch for a summer opening. Ellis also plans a summer debut for Lee%26rsquo;s Fried Chicken %26amp; Donuts behind his muy successful Liberty Kitchen on Studewood. But first, Liberty Kitchen %26amp; Oysterette opens late April on San Felipe near Mid Lane; expect a look similar to the Heights location, with a stepped-up, River Oaks-y menu. Don%26rsquo;t shave that beard, Lee!

Digging Dishes

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 09:25:20 GMT

They say love is blind, but we%26rsquo;d wager most husbands would prefer not to eat their medium-rare rib eye off a dinner plate festooned with flowers. Fortunately, American-based Simon Pearce recently introduced its Woodbury Collection, a marriage between old-world craftsmanship and contemporary aesthetics. Available in both a moss- or birch-colored glaze intended to be mixed and matched, this dinnerware circumnavigates any battle of the sexes: He%26rsquo;ll appreciate the studied simplicity of its one-piece-at-a-time creation while she%26rsquo;ll love the subtle curves and organic lines. Collection from $30, at Neiman Marcus.

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Uchi Delivers Fab Feast in Cat Spring

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 10:16:50 GMT

Coming next month, PaperCity brings you exclusive coverage of a recent foodie event in Cat Spring, Texas, produced and hosted by Crystal Lee and Dutch Small, the first in a series of riveting and sustainable farm dinners served al fresco in the organic fields of Animal Farm. The 10-course feast by an all-star crew of culinary masters from Uchi, chefs Philip Speer, Kaz Edwards, Page Pressley, Jeramie Robison and Brian Bush, launched the series with wine pairings by award-winning sommelier David Keck. Benefitting Animal Farm Center, a certified-organic farm and undiscovered architecture and design treasure, the experience connects guests with the source of their produce, and supplier to such gastronomic havens as Mark’s, Sorrel Urban Bistro, Roots Bistro and Whole Foods Market. Driven by the principles and aesthetic sensibilities of artist and farmer Gita Vanwoerden, along with her husband Cas, this staple of sustainable agriculture is a front runner in the locally sourced foods movement. The next Animal Farm Center dinner will be announced soon. Stay tuned!

Billy Fong Sez

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 10:15:11 GMT

One should find the time for a road trip with a girl friend every year. It%26rsquo;s the perfect excuse to tie a Chanel scarf around your head and don some Tom Ford sunglasses, %26agrave; la Thelma %26amp; Louise. (The prospect of hooking up with a young Brad Pitt makes it even more appealing.) No need to assemble a large group since the conversation is more intimate when only two are involved. Also, anything more than four resembles a tacky bachelorette party. I suggested a holiday drive from Dallas to Tallahassee, complete with a pit stop in New Orleans in order to get a foundation buzz before seeing family, to my dearest gal pal, Anna Trull, Wisconsin%26rsquo;s ballroom dance champion. (I love a quirky skill set!) She agreed to fly down from Madison to get in some Texas shopping first. Perfect timing, since we were able to attend the holiday parties of both Todd Fiscus and Ceron and Mark and Melinda Knowles, giving her first-hand experience with Dallas%26rsquo; swellegant set.

First off, you must title your trip, and we decided on %26ldquo;Palace On Wheels.%26rdquo; For those who haven%26rsquo;t been to India, it%26rsquo;s the only way to tour the country. It%26rsquo;s a virtual Four Seasons-esque train that travels from one maharaja%26rsquo;s palace to the next.%26nbsp; A grand dame of Los Angeles society, Dee Sherwood, shared that little secret with me eons ago. Since Miss Trull is recently single, the concept of an available maharaja was appealing %26mdash; sort of like that guy Elizabeth Hurley hooked up with after things went south post-Hugh Grant.

Aliases are also a must. On our voyage to Tallahassee, we came up with Sloane and Cameron (from Ferris Bueller%26rsquo;s Day Off), and on the way back, we were Georgiana Spencer and Freddie Nesbitt.%26nbsp; Apparently, Georgiana was the it-girl of the 18th century, and Freddie Nesbitt was a character from Gosford Park. Another brilliant reason for aliases %26mdash; beyond the potential lurid possibilities %26mdash; is the infinite number of outfit options. Anna as Georgiana was so incredibly Belstaff, a label I have been obsessed with for the past six months and have found impossible to locate %26mdash; makes it even better, no? She borrowed a slim-fitting Beretta hunting coat of mine, a camouflage scarf that I fastened at her neck with a vintage hatpin, an A-line Carolina Herrera camel skirt and Marc Jacobs kitten heels.

Instead of Siri, I am fortunate to have Piper Wyatt (a Louisiana-born and -bred girl) and Brooke Hortenstine in my life. After some rapid-fire texts with both, Anna and I found our way to the lounge: Bellocq. I always appreciate the local fashion, and we encountered some tasty Southern boys wearing hats. One of them offered to buy my Herm%26egrave;s belt off of me, since there now seems to be a wait list for the classic style. Thank the Lord I bought gold and silver versions back when the economy collapsed in 2008!

When chatting with the verbose New Orleans crew we encountered, we were asked for a few words that described ourselves. My response: %26ldquo;Sprawling, ambitious and amazingly accomplished.%26rdquo;%26nbsp; Best way to exit a conversation and make for the perfect road-trip ending.

Tulle Time

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 10:27:25 GMT

There’s a ribbon-thin line between “bliss” and “miss” when it comes to veils. Too much and the bride appears shrouded in froth; too little and she forgoes a dramatic grand entrance. Bridal powerhouse Watters sidesteps this dilemma beautifully via a new — and exclusive — collaboration with veteran designer Toni Federici, whose work framed the faces of Carrie Underwood, Alicia Silverstone, and Danica Patrick on their own wedding days. Inspired by the art deco feeling of the Spring 2013 Watters bridal collection, this assemblage of 18 handcrafted veils features such couture-worthy touches as French lace edges, horsehair hems, double-edged satin trims and emerald-cut Swarovski crystals. At Stardust Celebrations.

No Pain, No Train

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 10:38:03 GMT

%26ldquo;Keepin%26rsquo; it tight for Mr. Right!%26rdquo; %26ldquo;No quitting %26rsquo;til the final fitting!%26rdquo; These are the motivational chants brides-to-be hear from Bridalicious Boot Camp owner Doug Rice during his kick *ss (literally) classes. Rice found his niche training the newly engaged in Beverly Hills in 2004 and has since relocated to Dallas, transforming thousands of brides and their bodies in the process. Boss Man, as his clients know him, has coined what he calls the Bridal Trifecta TNT (tighten %26rsquo;n tone), which targets the key strapless dress areas: arms, back and shoulders. Each 55-minute session involves a combination of circuit exercises including resistance training (aka cardio with weights), metabolic conditioning and high-intensity intervals, the latter burning up to nine times more calories than a traditional treadmill workout; the average success story involves a 25- to 30-pound weight loss in two or three months. Locations vary; 800.651.1224; bridaliciousbootcamp.com.

Cornered

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 10:25:11 GMT

Chef Bruce Molzan (Ruggles, Ruggles Green) is back with another environmentally considerate and mostly organic concept. The Corner Table by Chef Bruce Molzan is actually the first of three entities opening in the former stead of The Brownstone on Virginia Street. Its companions %26mdash; scheduled to debut as we go to press %26mdash; are 1919 Wine %26amp; Mixology (the bar%26rsquo;s name reflects the year the building, a former oak mill, was erected) and The Oak Bar and Nightclub. The Corner Table%26rsquo;s galley-like dining room is clad with reclaimed hardwood floors, with more vintage wood salvaged to create shelves on the wall of stacked wine bottles. Owners Darla Lexington and her mom, Michelle Coopwood, are working with Molzan to revamp the rambling spaces, where you%26rsquo;ll find perfect pizzas that pair such intriguing ingredients as duck confit with candied shallots, pear, b%26eacute;chamel and aged gruy%26egrave;re ($16). He even takes up the Paleo cause, with dishes such as turkey Bolognese ($14) and chicken enchiladas ($17) adhering to the tenets of today%26rsquo;s latest eating craze, the Paleolithic diet. For lunch and dinner, Molzan trots out a litany of appealing dishes priced from $8 (soups) to $33 (grass-feed beef filet or rack of lamb entrees). And did we mention the stellar kids%26rsquo; menu? The neighborhood denizens along Ferndale and Bammel Lane are fast claiming The Corner Table as their own eatery and watering hole. 2736 Virginia St., 713.568.9196, cornertablebhm.com.

Cosmetics Overhaul

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 10:23:14 GMT

I%26rsquo;ve always been a bit averse to department store makeovers because, one, I can never replicate the look at home, and, two, I%26rsquo;m not keen on the hard sell that can accompany them. (%26ldquo;No thanks, I really don%26rsquo;t need that peacock-blue eye shadow and an entirely new skincare regimen %26hellip;%26rdquo;) Fortunately, Make Up For Ever has transformed this experience via its Make Up Bag Remix concept. Starting February 23, the Mobile Make Up School is rolling into NorthPark Center for three days of individual tutorials. Bring your makeup bag %26mdash; or the contents of your bathroom drawer %26mdash; and one of 16 pros will teach you how to properly apply what you already own during a 30-minute session; whenever possible, he or she will even revamp products that are the wrong shade or texture. (Granted, if that tangerine lipstick is beyond salvage, expect a more appropriate product recommendation.) You%26rsquo;ll walk away with a new makeup bag, a custom face chart, a professionally taken %26ldquo;after%26rdquo; photo %26mdash; and the know-how to be your very own Way Bandy. Appointments facebook.com/makeupforeverusa.

%26nbsp;

Field of Dreams

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 04:55:39 GMT

HELLO. i am a girl named james, married to a boy named aubrey. This is how James Kicinski-McCoy%26rsquo;s blog, bleubirdblog.com, begins. James and Aubrey McCoy%26rsquo;s wedding was as perfectly pitched as her blog is charming and honest. Crafted more than produced, tender more than fashionable, James%26rsquo; wedding to Aubrey took place in a field of dreams, one might say.

First Sight. %26ldquo;I used to have an online vintage shop, and Aubrey would harass me via e-mail to start carrying men%26rsquo;s clothing, then it turns out we lived near each other (in Florida). Long story short, we met for the first time in a CVS parking lot %26mdash; so romantic. We%26rsquo;ve been together for five years.%26rdquo; %26mdash; James

The Proposal. %26ldquo;Aubrey planned a weekend away with friends at a private ranch. He asked me to be his wife under a blanket of stars. I said yes.%26rdquo; %26mdash;%26nbsp;James

We Dipped. %26ldquo;The Flashdance DJ played it all %26mdash; soul, oldies, hip-hop, rock %26lsquo;n%26rsquo; roll, under a ceiling of nearly 2,000 black feathers hand dipped in gold paint. Guests cooled off with a dip in the pool at 4 am, suits, dresses and all.%26rdquo; %26mdash; James

Love Under Texas Skies

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 04:42:59 GMT

Wanting to pop the question at a location steeped in happy memories, Trevor Tollett proposed to Ni%26ntilde;a Barbier-Mueller at her family%26rsquo;s E-S Ranch. Eleven months later, Todd Fiscus of Todd Events created an unforgettable evening %26mdash; inspired by the nuptials of the bride%26rsquo;s own parents, Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller %26mdash; at the same family ranch. Ni%26ntilde;a and Trevor exchanged vows in front of more than 1,000 family and friends in the sanctuary of Highland Park Presbyterian Church, then made the 25-minute trek outside Dallas to the reception. %26ldquo;It%26rsquo;s almost like it%26rsquo;s %26lsquo;good luck soil%26rsquo; to start the next chapter of my life at the ranch,%26rdquo; Ni%26ntilde;a says. Guests were welcomed by dozens of glowing live oaks arching over the 175-foot drive, streams of magnolia leaves lining the tent ceiling, bagpipes, mariachis and a 17-piece band appropriately named
Big Blast and the Party Masters.

%26nbsp;

The Details That Count

14 French wine-cask globes%26nbsp;

48 mariachi

15 bridesmaids

16 baby%26rsquo;s-breath orbs with willow spines

41 members of the wedding party

2,500 acres

6 feet of wedding cake

%26ldquo;I wanted simplicity, as the ranch itself is so beautiful on its own %26mdash; I didn%26rsquo;t want to take away from its natural beauty. We made a conscious choice to match the trees and white fences, which is why the color scheme included greens, whites and some browns intermixed.%26rdquo; %26mdash; Ni%26ntilde;a Barbier-Mueller Tollett

Social Datebook

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 04:20:53 GMT

Show some heart at the Go Red for Women Luncheon at the Hilton Anatole February 1, as co-chairs Kate Rose Marquez and Virginia Rose — along with keynote speaker First Lady Laura Bush — put their fund-raising finesse toward the American Heart Association. Tables start at $5,000; goredforwomen.org … On February 2, the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center welcomes The Dallas Symphony Orchestra League Debutante Ball. Tickets from $150; kayweeks@ebby.com …%26nbsp; Also on February 2: the 15th Annual Bishop’s Gala featuring comedian Steve Martin at the Hilton Anatole. Tickets start at $300 and support Catholic Charities of Dallas; RSVP 214.520.6590 … Family Gateway honors Theodore H. Strauss at the 25th Anniversary Celebration at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek February 7; lboysen@familygateway.org … Bob Fosse might have been the Broadway king, but An Evening of Cabaret benefitting Baylor University Theatre Endowed Scholarship Fund is truly all that jazz. Tickets from $150 for the February 9 show at The Crescent Club; sue_koehler@baylor.edu … There’s nothing like a Phenomenon at Dallas Contemporary on February 9, with beats, lowriders and works by artist Dzine. $50 tariff, discounted for members; phenomenon.dallascontemporary.org … Chairs Angela Choquette, Maggie Kipp and Paige Slates play cupid at Saint Valentine’s Day Luncheon and Fashion Show at Stanley Korshak February 12. Tickets from $175; 972.996.5912 … Chairman Jocelyn White invites you to a Valentine Tea at the Dallas Arboretum February 13. Tickets start at $50 and benefit Women’s Council of the Arboretum; suering1@sbcglobal.net … Help chairman Grayson Wafford make history at the first Hearts for Hope Gala at eM The Venue February 15. Tickets start at $75; proceeds benefit micro-finance initiatives in the Dominican Republic and Haiti; kayla.villnow@esperanza.org … Support artistic and educational programs at the 2013 Spotlight Gala (themed “Blues in the Night”) February 16 at WaterTower Theatre; 972.450.6232 … Join us at the Hilton Anatole February 22 for the TACA Silver Cup Awards Luncheon honoring Peggy Sewell and Roger Nanney. Tickets $150; tables from $1,500; erin.miller@taca-arts.org … The Junior League of Dallas Ball, “Joie de Vivre,” commences at 7 pm, February 23 at the Hilton Anatole. Tickets start at $200; 214.357.8822 … Who would dare to refuse the Oscar Experience February 24? Each $45 ticket benefits USA Film Festival; 214.821.6300 … The National Council of Jewish Women invites you to the Centennial Luncheon — co-chaired by Marsha Fischman, Janice Sweet, Adrienne Rosen, Patty Traub and Maddy Unterberg — at Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre February 26. $125 per seat; centennial@ncjwdallas.org … The seriously stylish Attitudes and Attire Luncheon and Fashion Show happens March 1, honoring Kim Dawson and Dr. Sandra B. Chapman. Seats $125 and tables start at $1,250; reservations 214.630.1667 … The UNICEF Experience returns to The Goss Gallery on March 1, helmed by national chair Vern Yip of HGTV, chair Rich Moses and project chair Joyce Goss; tickets start at $250 and can be purchased at unicefusa.org/experiencedallas or 713.963.9390, ext. 24 … Bring your appetite and a soft spot for animals to Sambuca Uptown for Paws Cause March 3, benefitting the SPCA of Texas. Tickets $150; marycassevans@gmail.com.

More Than Hot Air

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 05:13:30 GMT

A new shop has blown into town and is already tousling the tresses of Dallas%26rsquo; dames. Founded by beauty buffs Gina Ginsburg and Shelley O%26rsquo;Neal, The Hair Bar is not your ordinary blow-and-go destination. This one-stop shop offers blowouts, updos, hair extensions, keratin treatments and makeup application at equally attractive prices. %26ldquo;We wanted to develop a business based on inner beauty and outer image but, most importantly, we wanted to make an impact on women%26rsquo;s lives,%26rdquo; Ginsburg says. Browse a visual library on an iPad to choose the style that suits %26mdash; everything from smooth and straight to voluminous curls. Another brush with greatness: The Hair Bar has partnered with Kidville so offspring aged 18 months to six years can play while you get pampered. Can%26rsquo;t sneak away? The stylists make house calls. 6025 Royal Lane, Suite 109, 214.369.4247; dropinblowout.com.

Restaurant Buzz

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 05:08:34 GMT

The Eatsie Boys (chef Matt Marcus, Ryan Soroka and Alex Vassilakidis) and college pal Aaron Corsi plan to open their construction-delayed 8th Wonder Brewery any day now in EaDo. Look for aspiring master brewer Corsi and the clan to brew up styles old and new, including obscure beer recipes, with some coming soon to a restaurant near you %26hellip; Also any moment now, two new ventures from Darla Lexington and her mom Michelle Coopwood%26rsquo;s Corner Entertainment are set to debut in the former Brownstone space on Virginia: 1919 Wine %26amp; Mixology (where they promise you can order a vodka or gin and tonic without any back talk) and, upstairs, a piano bar called The Oak Bar. The two concepts join the just-opened Corner Table by Bruce Molzan in the Virginia Street space %26hellip; Hotel Derek is getting a makeover, care of the design firm Flick-Mars. Look for the dust to settle next month when they unveil a riot of %26ldquo;bold colors, textured fabrics and natural materials that reflect the hotel%26rsquo;s %26lsquo;indigenous surroundings,%26rsquo;%26rdquo; according to the release %26hellip; Remember when producer Rich Gore first brought the Food Network%26rsquo;s stars on a roadshow to Houston about a decade ago? Now that diners and cooks have become increasingly discerning about what they eat and where they dine, he%26rsquo;s created Food University at Caesar%26rsquo;s Palace, a three-day sojourn of cooking and eating alongside some of the biggest chefs and food pros in America. The first Las Vegas session runs March 27 through 29 and is sure to sell out. Find more info at fooduniversitylasvegas.com.

You're So Vain

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 12:35:13 GMT

Edward Sanchez might be one of the most prolific artists in the city %26mdash; a stroke of his brush creates a masterpiece in makeup. A favorite of the socialite and local celebrity set, Sanchez has left his post at Urban Retreat to open a namesake salon, Edward Sanchez Vanity Lounge, in West Ave. The 1,200-square-foot space, next door to Katsuya, has four makeup stations, a lounge area and a VIP room for the celeb client or services that require more privacy. Besides offering makeup application, lash extensions, eyebrow threading and more, Vanity Lounge has partnered with neighbor Azur West hair salon to create a one-stop beauty spot. An exceptional part of Vanity Lounge is the stock of hard-to-find, small-batch international beauty products %26mdash; many exclusive to VL %26mdash; such as ModelCo (Australia), B%26eacute;same (Argentina), Ellis Faas (Amsterdam), Face Atelier (Canada), ElishaCoy (Korea), Ainhoa (Spain), Franch%26eacute; (USA) and History of Whoo (Korea). West Ave, 2800 Kirby, 713.942.9177; esvanitylounge.com.

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A Shopping We Will Go

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 12:18:13 GMT

Slooooooowly we are prying information from the OliverMcMillan Company, the firm that is developing and leasing the new River Oaks District, a 650,0000-square-foot prodigious shopping and entertainment development opening late 2014 on Westheimer bordered by Westcreek Lane to the west and Bettis Drive to the north.

What we do know: The fa%26ccedil;ades will be white marble and Texas limestone in grays and creams, with oak trees providing shade %26mdash; 60 mature oak trees will be planted for immediate atmosphere. %26ldquo;When we are done,%26rdquo; says managing director of the Houston project Greg Wattson, %26ldquo;it will look like we have been here 20 years.%26rdquo;

By the numbers: 650,000 square feet of retail, office, restaurant, luxury apartments, of which 270,000 square feet will be luxury retail and restaurants, 99,000 square feet of office space, 279 luxury residential apartments. New York restaurant Le Bilboquet has purportedly signed, as has Le Colonial restaurant. Five to six more restaurants are being considered, all with outdoor seating.%26nbsp; iPic Theaters, which is known for its luxury cinema seating (fully reclinable seats, pillows, food and drink service) and cocktail lounge, has also signed.

Now for what you%26rsquo;ve been waiting for %26hellip; the retail stores. The Oliver McMillan people will not release a thing. Rumored to be opening at River Oaks District: a three-story Herm%26egrave;s flagship, Roberto Cavalli, Dior, Akris, Tom Ford, John Lobb.%26nbsp;

What else we love: Valet parking in key areas, but you can call for your car from any location at the center. Sixty percent of the retail stores are new to Houston, and all the restaurants are new to the city.

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Billy Fong Sez

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 10:54:35 GMT

I%26rsquo;ve been somewhat uninspired of late, and thank God that I was on a plane headed to Art Basel Miami Beach when I received my marching orders to contemplate the number 13 in this month%26rsquo;s column. For those of you in the know, Art Basel Miami Beach in South Florida is the high point of the art world%26rsquo;s year and the Olympics of fashion, rolled into one. I convinced my witty friend Michael Cahill, an exec at the Cartoon Network%26rsquo;s Adult Swim, to accompany me for the frivolity. His take on the women in abundance was a %26ldquo;wild game preserve of baby giraffes.%26rdquo;

I always come back from the fair incredibly exhausted but with a million ideas about what is happening now and next in fashion. In my opinion, The Webster is now the mother ship in terms of a retail destination. Housed in a glorious Art Deco hotel from the 1920s, it was created by Laure Heriard Dubreuil and Milan Vukmirovic and is curated to perfection from runway collections. It%26rsquo;s anchored by a fabulous lobby restaurant that specializes in caviar, then two floors of heavenly YSL dresses and Tom Ford tuxedos and finishes up with a rooftop bar (that week hosting both the Dior and Valentino parties) with a breathtaking view of both the Miami skyline and the Atlantic.%26nbsp;

Having been inspired and energized, herewith is my baker%26rsquo;s dozen of everything you need this month:

1. A trip to Miami. It is high season and the only time to rock the city. Stay at The Raleigh and chat up my favorite maitre%26rsquo;d, Andrew, at the patio restaurant.

2. Sweatshirts %26mdash; so chic with cigarette pants and vintage Chanel shades. Score one at Balenciaga or find a cheaper version like I did at Goodwill; my tailor shortened the sleeves.

3. Roberto Cavalli blue chinoiserie-print pantsuit.

4. Moncler forest-green sunglasses from their recent collaboration with Mykita.

5. Prada mink bag.

6. Marc Jacobs black-and-white sequin-embellished long dress. Hands down, the standout from this season%26rsquo;s offerings.

7. A Richard Prince painting from his nurse series. (I fell in love again at Art Basel Miami Beach.)

8. St-Germain cocktail.

9. Dinner at one of Mr. Chow%26rsquo;s restaurants %26mdash; doesn%26rsquo;t matter if it%26rsquo;s London, NYC, Beverly Hills or Miami.

10. The remastered version of the Smashing Pumpkins%26rsquo; Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness CD. %26ldquo;1979%26rdquo; is the song I want playing as my casket is lowered into the ground.%26nbsp;

11. DVD of the Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel documentary. Perfect background for a girl%26rsquo;s night of drinking and recapping holiday parties.

12. Fresh gardenias. For the cold days outside, find warmth by adding scent to your sitting room. Have a friend with a private jet fly them in if you can%26rsquo;t locate at your neighborhood florist.

I was at a loss for my last selection. I have always wanted a tattoo, but I%26rsquo;ve never found a parlor that provided inordinate amounts of morphine, since I have a low pain threshold (a paper cut throws me into a raging, crying mess). Also, it%26rsquo;s a little tacky to have one showing on your demure shoulders when wearing a strapless Proenza Schouler, so get one on your colon. BTW, I have a pierced colon, and it makes for an intriguing conversation at a Highland Park cocktail party.

Surrealist + Post-Pop + Feminist

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 10:51:40 GMT

All three of those adjectives describe Rosa Loy%26rsquo;s art-making: pitch-perfect canvases and works on paper that hypnotize the viewer with an unorthodox, albeit compelling amalgamation of surrealism colliding with pop. Her works are smartly informed by a cast of memorable femmes who enact unsettling parts in complex narratives %26mdash; enchantresses, explorers, guards, girlfriends, matriarchs, schemers, dreamers, workers and sphinxes. Come Thursday, January 24, Leipzig-based Loy takes a bow at McClain Gallery, marking her first visit to Houston from her native Germany and the solo debut in Texas for this internationally exhibited conjurer of images. From $3,000, %26rdquo;Rosa Loy,%26rdquo; January 24 %26ndash; March 2, at McClain Gallery; mcclaingallery.com.

Turbo Charged

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 11:00:31 GMT

The Joule was named for a tiny unit of energy, but the boutique hotel may soon need a more powerful moniker %26mdash; perhaps The Gigajoule? The venue%26rsquo;s $78 million expansion, debuting this spring, adds 32 rooms and suites plus two ballrooms. But what has our antennae tingling are the luxury emporiums setting up shop: super-chic West Coast fashion imports TenOverSix and Traffic Los Angeles; a reading room and boutique stacked with Taschen books; and a subterranean ESPA, the first Texas outpost of the European premium spa operator. There%26rsquo;s more to come this summer, when we%26rsquo;ll be salivating over Tristan Simon%26rsquo;s CBD Provisions brasserie, which plans to cook up locally sourced artisanal comfort food, and Mirth %26amp; Refuge, a swish bar masterminded by NYC mixologists Christy Pope and Chad Solomon. It%26rsquo;s all the brainchild of Tim Headington, the low-key oil baron and film producer (Hugo, Rango, The Rum Diary, The Aviator, et al) who has emerged as the patron billionaire of downtown. Headington developed the Joule and has big plans to transform other nearby real estate holdings. %26ldquo;Downtown Dallas has a rich history that spans numerous dimensions, both cultural and economic,%26rdquo; he notes. %26ldquo;The present environment provides the perfect opportunity for our city to author and update its own narrative.%26rdquo; TenOverSix co-owner Kristen Lee Cole says Dallas was a pleasant surprise. %26ldquo;Women wear very high heels and a lot of jewelry and are really sophisticated %26mdash; we had no idea,%26rdquo; she marvels. %26ldquo;It%26rsquo;s not like the TV show.%26rdquo; thejouledallas.com.

Nothing but Net

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 11:03:29 GMT

You won%26rsquo;t find any kitschy references to a %26ldquo;catch of the day%26rdquo; at Driftwood in Bishop Arts. Nor will you find anything on the menu that involves a barnyard animal. Conceptualized and founded by Jonn Baudoin (Mi Piaci, Nicola%26rsquo;s, Craft), chef Omar Flores (Abacus) and entrepreneur Sal Jafar II, this is the ultimate place for fans of ultra-fresh seafood, most of which is wild-caught and served with organic, pesticide-free sides. %26ldquo;Unlike a lot of seafood restaurants, we don%26rsquo;t do beef,%26rdquo; Louisiana native Baudoin says without apology. Of note: chargrilled octopus with marble potato confit, Manzanilla olives, watercress pickled onions and smoked tomato vinaigrette. Walls painted in palest turquoise and objets d%26rsquo;art that give a nod to the restaurant%26rsquo;s moniker contribute to the soothing interior. Although it%26rsquo;s been open since April, Dallas%26rsquo; often fickle restaurant-goers have remained steadfast ever since. So, here%26rsquo;s a tip: Don%26rsquo;t show up without a reservation and hope for the best. 642 W. Davis St, 214.942.2530; driftwood-dallas.com.

Restaurant Buzz

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 02:56:08 GMT

Cross the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge to Trinity Groves for authentic Midwestern dry-rubbed beef ribs, brisket and music at Babb Bros BBQ %26amp; Blues, owned by brothers Mike, Davy and Bob Babb %26hellip; Vegans, vegetarians and gluten-freers, rejoice! Gina%26rsquo;s Organic Kitchen has converted a former SWAT ambulance into a health rescue wagon (i.e., food truck) and offers delivery of organic, free-range super foods and meals such as kale cranberry pumpkin seed salad %26mdash; look for a storefront later this year %26hellip; Nosh Bistro chef Jon Stevens now serves three- and five-course menu tastings. Bring on the goat cheese gnocchi and seared diver scallops %26hellip; Lakewood is getting ready to welcome Austin%26rsquo;s Houndstooth Coffee, a swanky shop featuring fine wine, craft beer and exceptionally good joe %26hellip; Choose from 40 different Texas brews (favorites include DEBC Double Brown Stout and Firewheel Midnight Ninja) at the lake%26rsquo;s newest pub, White Rock Abbey %26hellip; Choose from 40 different Texas brews (favorites include DEBC Double Brown Stout and Firewheel Midnight Ninja) at the lake%26rsquo;s newest pub, White Rock Abbey %26hellip; Henderson hot spot Velvet Taco has added even more to their flavor-packed menu %26mdash; try the Bangkok coconut chili shrimp %26hellip; Brought to McKinney Avenue by the owners of El Fenix, Taqueria La Ventana is Uptown%26rsquo;s spiciest locale for street tacos with an outdoor-only eating and seating policy %26hellip; Adjacent to La Ventana lies the second location of Meso Maya %26mdash; we recommend the Pastel De Moras.

Restaurant Buzz

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 02:41:38 GMT

James Beard award–winning California chef Bradley Ogden is opening not one but three new concepts inside the loop this year. Like another CA chef who moved his French concept from California to Houston (Étoile owner Philippe Veripand), Ogden sees lots of opportunity in our city. Keep tuned for his two fast casual concepts (both focused on chicken, according to the Houston Business Journal) and his pub to open this year%26nbsp; … Bruce Molzan, who reinvented his Ruggles Grill concept as Ruggles Green a few years back and multiplied it several times throughout the city, is taking on the former space of the Brownstone Restaurant. There, Molzan will open a trio of concepts including a bar, nightclub and an eatery dubbed Corner Table by Chef Bruce Molzan this month … Al Scavelli, Angelo Scavelli and Olsi Lito have opened Crisp Wine, Beer and Eatery in the Heights area. This isn’t their first bar/restaurant; they also operate Pub Fiction, Shot Bar and Celtic Gardens. Their newest features a great self-serve Enomatic wine machine and a cask system so you can pour all sorts of varieties of beer and wine … Taking the all-American burger to new heights, Elevation Burger has opened its first locale on Kirby Drive in the former Mai Thai space. The fast-casual concept’s claim to burger fame is its 100 percent USDA-certified organic beef, ground on premises. These free-range, grass-fed herds are hailed as the cleanest cows in the pasture; we’re told they’re never given antibiotics and live in an area free of pesticides and chemicals. When you visit the 2,500-square-foot burger haven, be sure to try the French fries cooked in olive oil … Hawthorn — named for the tree variety — is a New American restaurant with Mediterranean influences, open for dinner only at 3200 Kirby Drive. (It’s situated where Dessert Gallery stood for many years.) Chef Riccardo Palazzo-Giorgio and GM Cory Graff serve up fresh pastas and gelatos made in house. At last visit, we swooned over Palazzo-Giorgio’s pan-roasted Pekin duck breast with date purée, a sauce soubise and grilled romaine …Hungry’s in Rice Village has announced plans to nearly double in size. The three-decades-old restaurant, which serves healthful fare from all over the globe, will add 9,000 square feet to its footprint in both the front and back of the house, as well as a 3,000-square-foot outdoor space, plus a brick oven for pizza, mezze bar, a second-floor lounge called Upstairs serving bar bites and late-night fare, and a cantilevered balcony, all designed by Jim Herd Architects … Chef Jimmy Mitchell has signed on as the chef at Adair Kitchen to liven up the dinner menu. Mitchell has also created a concept worth talking about: Restaurant Recyclers, aimed at helping restaurants in Austin, San Antonio and Houston go green and eliminate much of the waste an eatery can generate … Branch Water Tavern has added a raw bar at dinner each evening, serving up oysters from Connecticut to the Gulf Coast … Triniti has expanded its bar area to create a lounge with bar bites ranging from fried chicken and waffles to devils on horseback … Like Pisco? Latin Bites is now creating its own house-made Pisco liqueur — 20 varieties, in fact — including ginger, mint and roasted pepper … The Eatsie Boys Café (by acclaimed food-truck trio) opened recently in the Montrose in the former Kraftsman Cafe spot … Speaking of food trucks: A brand-new fancy food truck is rolling your way soon from Berryhill Tamales. Look for the taqueria on wheels curbside near your ‘hood … Celebrating 30 years in business this month, Damian’s inaugurates its anniversary menus. Starting Friday, January 18, they’ll offer three courses for $30, while February brings Friday spaghetti and meatball lunches for $8.30 (the circa-1983 price!) … Monarch Bistro at Hotel ZaZa celebrates 10 years in Houston with $10 lunch items all month long.

Getting Pretty Soon

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:01:18 GMT

Come mid-December, Blushington Makeup %26amp; Beauty Lounge will be a dream come true for those still stumped by the perfectly applied %26ldquo;I%26rsquo;m not wearing any makeup%26rdquo; face. Founder Stephi Maron is transplanting her concept of affordable application from Los Angeles to The Shops at Highland Park via a pretty-in-pink space conveniently located next to blow-out mainstay Drybar. Any full-face application %26mdash; involving product from Kevyn Aucoin, Stila, Becca and Julie Hewett %26mdash; is $40. Choose from packages such as Pure %26amp; Simple, Life of the Party, Simply Glowing, Lucky Stars, Cutting Edge and Smoke %26amp; Mirrors for looks ranging from natural and sun-kissed to full-on Hollywood glamour; those short on time can opt for the $30 eyes-only treatment. Blushington also offers technique classes, parties, wedding packages and memberships for the frequent visitor. Take your place at one of the 10 stations in the 1,200-square-foot space designed by Josh Heitler of Lacina-Heitler Architects, and prepare for total transformation. 4218 Oak Lawn Ave., 214.521.9200; blushington.com.

Dream Scene

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 09:58:09 GMT

It%26rsquo;s been just over a year since Dream Downtown opened in New York with a lavish celebrity-studded bash, and the chic hotel is as impressive as ever. Located at the edge of both Chelsea and the Meatpacking District, Dream Downtown%26rsquo;s %26rsquo;60s-era shell received a $280 million makeover by New York%26ndash;based firm Handel Architects, who have had their capable hands on a variety of Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons and Rosewood properties worldwide. Directed in design by visionary and founder Vikram Chatwal, the iconic 12-story building retains mid-century modern ideals, from the minimalist decor of the lobby (think polished teak-plank walls, tufted metallic leather sofas and 200 retro glass globe chandeliers) to the 316 loft-like hotel rooms, a highlight being the Presidential Suite inspired by Andy Warhol%26rsquo;s Factory. And if that isn%26rsquo;t dreamy enough, the second-floor pool bar and lounge has a seductive, transparent acrylic-bottom pool that%26rsquo;s visible from the lobby. Upstairs is hot rooftop nightclub, PH-D, with an outdoor terrace and a spectacular view of the Empire State Building, and steak-centric restaurant Marble Lane stakes out the lobby. Rooms start at $275. 355 W. 16th St., New York, 212.229.2559; dreamdowntown.com.

Okay, Boys, Clean Up Your Act

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 10:28:49 GMT

Tia Pettijohn and Dana Kale saw a need for gentler grooming essentials as their sons graduated from children%26rsquo;s products to whatever was in their fathers%26rsquo; showers. The Dallas duo was determined to create sporty, plant-based formulations without resorting to commonly used parabens and chemicals. A secondary %26mdash; but equally important %26mdash; objective was packaging their products in a way that minimized environmental impact, with a design appealing to men. The result is Kale Naturals, a line of shampoo, cleansers, shave cream and scrubs with ingredients that are naturally derived, vegan friendly and made in the USA; all housed in post-consumer recycled materials. At Neiman Marcus, Pockets Menswear, St. Bernard Sports.

Curiouser %26 Curiouser at Curate

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 09:47:30 GMT

We have very short attention spans at PaperCity, so catch Curate while it%26rsquo;s open %26mdash; till the last bells toll in 2012. Curate, the PaperCity book and curiosity shop, stocks most predominately hundreds of the hottest tomes from the worlds of design, architecture, art, fashion, gardening and pop culture, including many signed books (by Miles Redd, Amanda Nisbet, Thom Filicia, Kelly Klein and more); vintage books from David Hicks, Cornelia Guest (our muse) and Billy Baldwin; and design books from the library of the late Paige Rense, Architectural Digest%26rsquo;s tenacious editrix in chief. There are also bits of taxidermy, Hybrid plates, platters and bowls where chinoiserie design is fused with American hunting scenes; artist Henri Gadbois%26rsquo; faux foods; and more. Meet Thom Filicia Tuesday, December 4, 7 to 9 pm, when he signs his new book American Beauty. 1141-03 Uptown Park Boulevard (next to Paul Carter Jewels); curatebooks@papercitymag.com.

The Need for Speed

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 11:06:54 GMT

Remember the rush for the Missoni collection that brought a certain website to its cyber-knees? Both Neiman Marcus and Target have taken great pains to avoid a similar fate with their holiday gift collaboration, but we still recommend a shopping reconnaissance mission closer to the December 1 launch date rather than, say, Christmas Eve.

Scooping up your picks amongst these 50-odd treasures may ultimately require strategy, stamina or a pre-existing relationship with an NM sales associate. But if there was ever a reason to brave the madding crowds, it%26rsquo;s this: a floral-print bike from Alice+Olivia, Tracy Reese%26rsquo;s sequined blouse, a Derek Lam skateboard, Brian Atwood%26rsquo;s studded gloves, Rodarte%26rsquo;s wrapping paper, an Oscar de la Renta tote, and a Thom Browne blazer at prices ranging from $8 to $500. At Neiman Marcus and Target.

What's Cookin'

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:47:11 GMT

If chemistry class had been as fun as the Cocktail Kit at W Dallas%26rsquo; new Cook Hall, our careers may have taken a different path. But even nonscientific types can order this wire basket full of tools %26mdash; plus an armload of house-made shrubs, bitters and tinctures %26mdash; then add a few drops of this, an ounce of that, plus the liquor of choice, and concoct a signature libation. On request, a jeans-and-Converse-clad server brings a bouquet of fresh herbs for muddling or garnishing; there%26rsquo;s also a little black book of (mostly legible) recipes handwritten by previous Kit mixologists. Of course, the bar pros are happy to do the work, too; a glass wall reveals the stock of craft beers available for specialty cocktails such as the Ginger Shandy (Pilsner Urquell, gin, lime) and Grapefruit Cooler (wheat beer, tequila and grapefruit juice with a paprika/sea salt rim). Cook Hall gives the American gastropub a New West edge, with clusters of Edison bulbs illuminating rugged trestle tables (big enough for your meal and your iPads), Reata-worthy tufted leather banquettes and black hair-hide wall panels that keep the acoustics conversation-friendly. Chef Rick Graff, a Craft veteran, guides a locally sourced menu that mixes the surprising (radish toast, kale Caesar salad, duck tacos with house-made tortillas) and the soothingly familiar (chicken soup, pimento mac and cheese, glazed baby-back ribs), plus tempting breakfast and brunch offerings. 2440 Victory Park Lane, 214.397.4111; cookhalldallas.com.

Tidal Rave

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 11:05:36 GMT

With his well-documented penchant for the dramatic, it%26rsquo;s easy to forget that five-star chef John Tesar received classical French training at La Varenne Ecole de Cuisine in Paris then logged hours in the kitchen with Anthony Bourdain, merited a James Beard nomination, nabbed the top kitchen job at The Mansion and walked away $10,000 richer on Extreme Chef throughout the course of his 20-year career. And with the opening of his much-ballyhooed Spoon Bar %26amp; Kitchen in Preston Center, gourmands will no doubt be reminded that this game-changer isn%26rsquo;t apt to open a seafood restaurant and merely serve shrimp. Inside the serene Breckenridge Taylor-designed space, foodies can choose from several different posts in which to savor Tesar%26rsquo;s inventive offerings: The raw bar is a good perch for sipping a cocktail and sampling Kumamoto oysters, Golden Osetra caviar and lobster crudo; adventurers might opt for the chef%26rsquo;s tasting menu, which changes nightly, or belly up to the kitchen counter and dive into razor clam tartare, barely cooked arctic char, monkfish osso bucco, or smoked eel %26ldquo;head cheese%26rdquo;; and canoodlers can slide into an intimate booth and skip straight to dessert %26mdash; a caramel pudding pav%26eacute; of peanut butter streusel with bananas br%26ucirc;l%26eacute;e finished with micro basil and sea salt. Sure, he may have a bad-boy reputation, but if the above is what he%26rsquo;s dishing out, we%26rsquo;ll take it. 8220-B Westchester Dr., 855.947.7666; spoonbarandkitchen.com.

Easy Rider

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 11:04:12 GMT

Have a cup of joe, a brew or just hang out in the beer garden while your bike is being serviced. This is why Bici (Italian for bicycle) is so cool. With a vast selection of bikes ranging from European-style commuters to fast-paced road bikes, and an inventory that includes brands Cinelli, Linus, Surly, Brooks and Phil Wood, Bici is full-service for repairs and advice on all types of two-wheelers, from derailleur to protunes. Owner Michael Dihn has a passion for Houston%26rsquo;s ever-evolving cycle culture, which is perhaps what we find most interesting of all. So what are you waiting for? Pedal on over and pimp your ride. 2309 Dunlavy St., 713.522.8330; bici713.com.

A Meeting of Four Minds

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 03:29:11 GMT

A Stone Fox: Brenda Houston

Furniture and Objets

Fall%26rsquo;s most compelling fashion trend: Stella McCartney%26rsquo;s slimming Octavia dresses %26mdash; I may never wear anything else again!

This century%26rsquo;s worst invention: Resin.

Riffing on my first concert: Sonny and Cher at the Dallas Convention Center. I wandered into the back area where Sonny and I had a nice chat. I was too young to know who he was. I returned to my seat, saw him take the stage, and told my mom what a nice guy he was!

Last song I downloaded: %26ldquo;Black Bird%26rdquo; by Paul McCartney.

First celebrity crush: Dustin Hoffman. I met him years later but was too timid to tell him he was my first crush.

I%26rsquo;d spend my last $100 on: Kibble for me and steak for the dogs.

I can%26rsquo;t throw away: My grandmother%26rsquo;s bamboo silverware. Tiki is always in fashion!

My favorite blogs: Rock Paper Scissors, Dilly Dallas, Freshome and Material Girls.

I am so annoyed by: Neighbors who call the police when they hear dogs bark one single time. (You know who you are.)

I have a design crush on: Tony Duquette. Like me, he started his career as a visual director, and he%26rsquo;s in my top five dinner guests if I could pick anybody dead or alive.

My productivity%26rsquo;s enemy: Answering a personal phone call %26mdash; sometimes voicemail should be used.

I%26rsquo;m working on: Four new table designs, wall sconces and accessories for my Holly Hunt Collection, tables for Amy Lau, new lighting for the Four Seasons India and new accessories for my own collection.

When I play, I go to: Italy.

When I was little, my favorite outfit was: A pink satin mini-dress with a burgundy vest and white brocade go-go boots. I think I saw it on a fashion runway this year!

You%26rsquo;ll never catch me wearing: Denim overalls.

It seemed like a good idea at the time: Jumping off a 50-foot cliff in Palau, where I broke my back. Now I don%26rsquo;t even jump off a curb. That accident taught me humility.

I am dominated by: My heart. I have learned to trust my inner instincts %26mdash; if I don%26rsquo;t immediately feel right about a new design, then I know I need to move on and not look back.

%26nbsp;

A Step Ahead: Angela Scott

Shoes

What I%26rsquo;m wearing this fall: Studded booties and shearling short boots are my go-to choices.

The worst invention this century: That%26rsquo;s a tough one %26hellip; Reality television shows?

On my first concert: Don%26rsquo;t laugh, but it was Milli Vanilli %26mdash; and, yes, they were lip-syncing. I didn%26rsquo;t know that at the time. I just loved their dance moves.

The last song I downloaded: %26ldquo;Cut a Hole%26rdquo; by Radiohead.

My first celebrity crush: River Phoenix.

Reliving my last fender bender: Don%26rsquo;t tell my husband, but embarrassingly enough, a pole in La Duni%26rsquo;s parking lot jumped out in front of me. He still doesn%26rsquo;t know because I had the work done while he was out of town. I hope he doesn%26rsquo;t read this!

I%26rsquo;d spend my last $100 on: Tasty cuisine and wine. If I only have $100 left, you can guarantee I%26rsquo;m going out with a fabulous meal.

I can%26rsquo;t throw away: Shoes, no matter how long I%26rsquo;ve had them. Each pair has such a story to tell, and most will never be made again. It would be an absolute tragedy to have to part with them.

My favorite blogs: Highsnobette, Backyard Bill, Tobacco %26amp; Leather and Jessica%26rsquo;s Mirror.

I have a design crush on: Alexander McQueen %26mdash; and still do, with Sarah Burton at the helm.

My productivity%26rsquo;s enemy: My dogs. I am a huge animal lover, and my dogs do have the ability to distract me. Other than that, I%26rsquo;m a Virgo from top to bottom, so productivity is something I thrive on.

I%26rsquo;m working on: Handbags and a men%26rsquo;s collection.

When I play, I go: Home to Santa Barbara.

When I was little, my favorite outfit was: A pale yellow Pac-Man T-shirt, skinny corduroy pants and penny loafers. My poor mother wished I would have worn the dresses she bought, but with three older brothers, I wanted nothing more than to look like them. Besides, dresses made it hard to skate on the mini-ramps they built.

It seemed like a good idea at the time: Every time I dye my hair, that thought comes to mind. I have been blonde, black, brunette, pink and red.

You%26rsquo;ll never catch me wearing: Crocs.

%26nbsp;

A Golden Girl: Ariel Saldivar

Olivia K. Jewelry

Fall%26rsquo;s most compelling fashion trend: Leather and jumpsuits.

My vote for the century%26rsquo;s worst invention: The Shake Weight.

My first concert: U2.

Last song I downloaded: %26ldquo;Sleeping Ute%26rdquo; by Grizzly Bear.

First celebrity crush: Eddie Vedder.

My last fender bender: When I backed into a closed garage door because I thought I had pushed the button on the garage-door opener.

I%26rsquo;d spend my last $100 on: Taking my friends out for cocktails and buying my pup her favorite treats.

I can%26rsquo;t throw away: My old Wallpaper magazines.

Blogs I%26rsquo;m following: Garance Dor%26eacute;, The Golden Smith, Advanced Style and The Salt on NPR.

My biggest annoyance: People who are late.

I have a design crush on: Kelly Wearstler and Wiener Werkst%26auml;tte. %26nbsp;

My productivity%26rsquo;s enemy: Pinterest!

I%26rsquo;m working on: Designing a collection of handbags and various musical projects with my fianc%26eacute; Eric Harvey and my gal pals of Dolphin Cry.

When I play, I go to: New York City.

It seemed like a good idea at the time: Touring with The Polyphonic Spree.%26nbsp;

On the senses that dominate my life: In some areas, feeling and the ability to empathize are my dominant senses. When it comes to my work, I%26rsquo;d say I%26rsquo;m a visual person. I%26rsquo;m inspired by art and design and by the beauty of simple things, whether it be a shadow on a wall or subtle differences in shades of white.
%26nbsp;

A Soft Touch: Elizabeth Anyaa

Textiles and Fashion%26nbsp;

Fall%26rsquo;s most compelling fashion trend: The return to opulence, luxury and over-the-top decadence. I just can%26rsquo;t get enough. I particularly love Dolce %26amp; Gabbana.

My vote for this century%26rsquo;s worst invention: The fanny pack.

My first concert: Hilllsong Australia.

The last song I downloaded: %26ldquo;Call Me Maybe%26rdquo; by Carly Rae Jepsen.

My first celebrity crush: Richard Gere.

I%26rsquo;d spend my last $100 on: The needy children in my homeland of Sierra Leone.

I can%26rsquo;t throw away: A blouse my father bought for me. I never got to know him because he died when I was about two years old.

My favorite blogs: The Sartorialist, Garance Dor%26eacute;. Remodelista, The Dallas Diva, Bytes of Style, DFW Style Daily, Sea of Shoes, PinkMemo, D Stylesheet.

I am so annoyed when: I can%26rsquo;t figure out what%26rsquo;s wrong with my computer. Its duty is to make my life easy, right?

I have design crushes on: John Rocha, Rick Owens, Alexander McQueen, Marc Jacobs, Vivienne Westwood, Christian Louboutin, Carsten and Lenke Rundholz.

My productivity%26rsquo;s enemy: A constant flow of ideas and not enough time.

I%26rsquo;m working on: My spring and summer collections (I just completed them), and am now working on home designs. %26nbsp;

It seemed like a good idea at the time: My mother told me never to eat raw fish. So when I was living in Finland, I always avoided salmon cured with salt and dill %26mdash; until I saw another African eating a sandwich made with it. I gave it a try and have had to make up for lost time ever since!

When I was little, my favorite outfit was: Something I wore on national TV %26mdash; I was one of a dozen kids in a Christmas choir. My made-for-me dress was damask with a red, green and purple print outlined in black, a fitted bodice and a gathered long skirt.

You%26rsquo;ll never catch me wearing: Anything synthetic.

Bites %26 Boites

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 03:26:15 GMT

Fa-la-la-la-leaks braised in beef cheeks. It%26rsquo;s that time of year when every chef and restaurateur planning a conceptual new eatery races to open before the holidays. Sliding in under the wire are several newcomers where we dashed to dine.

Costa Brava Bistro. Restaurant management veterans Kitty Bailey and Angeles Due%26ntilde;as are an impressive duo whose combined tenures at Caf%26eacute; Annie, Ouisie%26rsquo;s and The Cord%26uacute;a Group%26rsquo;s concepts have prepared them well for their ownership role at Costa Brava Bistro in Bellaire. Their cozy nook is ensconced with warm, dark woods and old-world feeling, with still lifes propped casually about %26mdash; a look that complements their affection for the fare of France and Spain (the latter, Duenas%26rsquo; homeland). While Bailey has been a fixture in the front of the house her whole career, here you%26rsquo;ll find this eager cook in the kitchen, recreating dishes such as a sophisticated gazpacho Andulaz ($5), steamed mussels and frites ($15), Duenas%26rsquo; grandfather%26rsquo;s paella ($25) and beef filet with Roquefort cream and Lyonnaise potatoes ($28) %26mdash; dishes she once only created at home for the sought-after dinner parties the two host together. Dessert chez Costa Brava brings out Bailey%26rsquo;s Francophile taste for hazelnut cr%26ecirc;pes and apple tart on buttery p%26acirc;te feuillet%26eacute;e. Meanwhile, gracious host Duenas scours the country for compelling wine choices to go with Costa Brava%26rsquo;s crave-worthy lunch and dinner menus. 5115 Bellaire Blvd., 713.839.1005; costabravabistro.com.

Artisans. For years, chef and former University of Houston professor Jacques Fox taught classic techniques rooted in French cuisine to young minds seeking a career in the hospitality business. Today he%26rsquo;s putting his own lesson plans into practice. At Artisans in midtown, Fox plays host to diners who, like his students before, are invited to sit theater-style on the front row or elevated at a four-top to peer into his bustling open demonstration showcase kitchen. Never leaving those days of higher learning far behind, Fox and co-owner David Denis (%26Eacute;cole LeN%26ocirc;tre, Le Mistral restaurant) recreate classics such as steak tartare ($18) and black-pepper-crusted beef tenderloin ($36) with their own tasty spins. We love the scholarly approach they%26rsquo;ve taken, foraging (and paying a tad more) for great ingredients, from Hudson Valley foie gras for their pan-seared dish accented with a savory baklava and saffron-poached pear ($22) to a vivid orange salmon from Tasmania %26mdash; its tender flesh cooked perfectly, the sweet skin crisp with a fine sheath of sugar caramelized beneath a torch before plating ($33). Another standout is the exquisite medium-rare-cooked seared lamb loin with corn galette and creamy fingerling mashed potatoes ($39). Desserts are a study in restraint by Nguyet Nguyen, while the wine list is a thoughtful variety dominated by French (bien s%26uuml;r), Italian and California bottles. 3201 Louisiana St., 713.529.9111; artisansrestaurant.com.

The Pass and Provisions. At press time, this project has been more than two years in the planning and was nearly complete. The Pass and Provisions, created by chef/owners Terrence Gallivan and Seth Siegal-Gardner, actually embodies two concepts under the former Gravitas roof (a location that was home to Antoine%26rsquo;s many moons ago). The Pass is the fine-dining division; when we visited, it had yet to serve its first guest. The casual bistro, patio and bar known as Provisions, however, was all any foodie in town could chatter about for weeks before and after its debut. The Provisions menu, printed on a white-paper table covering, features an ironic quote by outspoken British chef Marco Pierre White: %26ldquo;At the end of the day it%26rsquo;s just food, isn%26rsquo;t it? Just food.%26rdquo; The off-the-cuff remark truly belies the dining experience here, however. This concept is nothing if not meticulously studied. Ice varieties are apropos to specific cocktails, the silver place settings are charmingly mismatched, the beer list focuses on boutique (and Belgian) producers, and your bill arrives wrapped up in a sardine-fashioned can. Nothing here has been left to chance. The earnest, well-schooled waitstaff will likely encourage you to try one of the five bread courses %26mdash; for instance, a kimchi pan au lait accompanied by a warm egg yolk and cheese (in this case, a cremant from Vermont) priced at $9 each. We opted to take our own bread in the form of a pizza for the first course. Happily we devoured the ricotta/arugula/%26ldquo;ham %26lsquo;o%26rsquo; day%26rdquo; variety ($15) %26mdash; in this case, the ham was an American prosciutto that hails from New York City%26rsquo;s Hell%26rsquo;s Kitchen. Meals at Provisions are best shared, with tastes from sections dubbed vegetables, meat, pasta, fish and dessert. We also tried a harissa-spiced bucatini pasta with shrimp, guanciale (unsmoked pig%26rsquo;s-cheek bacon) and broccoli ($22) and raw hamachi flavored with yuzukosho (a chili laced Japanese seasoning) chorizo and radish ($19). The meal ended with a beautiful-looking tarte tatin for two ($19), its pristine apples rendered soft under a veil of caramelized sugar and butter, flipped expertly out and into a Staub gray cast iron pan with two sides of sherry-laced ice cream and the best brewed cup of coffee (Kiambaa Cooperative from Kenya) my husband declared he%26rsquo;s had in years. 807 Taft St., 713.628.9020; passandprovisions.com.

%26Eacute;toile Cuisine et Bar. It%26rsquo;s time to thank the heavens above when the state of our local economy %26mdash; less affected than our compatriots north, south, east and west of us %26mdash; has the power to lure a chef the caliber of Philippe Verpiand from glorious La Jolla to Houston. Unheard of, right? You might think so, but like many of us expats who now call the fourth largest city our home, the French-born toque sees Houston as a new culinary frontier. Verpiand was raised in the Vaucluse region of France; his r%26eacute;sum%26eacute;%26nbsp; peppered with stints at Michelin-starred restaurants, as well as his own much-lauded successful eatery Cavaillon. His intimate %26Eacute;toile Cuisine et Bar in Uptown Park feels nothing like Andre%26rsquo;s, the former occupant of the space. With warm limestone walls, whitewashed reclaimed wood paneling and tiny chandeliers dangling above farmhouse tables, this 90-seat eatery transports you to all places Fran%26ccedil;ais for both lunch and dinner. Sensational tastings ranged from a mushroom ravioli app napped with port and white truffle oil to his very autumnal braised beef short ribs with butternut squash mousseline and roasted vegetables %26mdash; a signature entr%26eacute;e held over from his California days. While most chefs who excel on the hot line will admit they can%26rsquo;t bake their way out of a Bundt pan, Verpiand is the unusual exception: His from-scratch classic thin apple tart (with house-made puff pastry, topped with vanilla ice cream and fleur de sel%26ndash;tinged caramel sauce) is better than any in town. Ditto, his panna cotta, the Italian custard Verpiand has Frenchified by infusing the custard with caramel and topping it with a tart apricot coulis. 1101-11 Uptown Park Blvd., 832.668.5808; etoilecuisine.com.

Nosh Bistro. Looking for a something rather exotic? Perhaps a bite of Indian, a dash of Korean spice, Singaporean and Thai? Meander into Nosh Bistro, a pretty platinum- and violet-hued dining den that also offers loads of cozy patio seating. Created by newbie restaurateur Neera Patidar and partner Kwan Lee, Nosh is situated under a canopy of old oaks off Kirby, adjacent to Allegiance Bank. This is a passion project for avid cook Patidar, who has collaborated on the small plates and sharing dishes with chef Carlos Gonzalez (who most recently worked with the Omni Hotel). Try starters such as chickpeas bathed in a warm, sweetly complex Indian curry, served alongside spears of grilled bread or perhaps pakoras, the fritter batter dotted with chopped spinach, potato and onion before it is fried and drizzled with a tamarind sauce. Or order a ground lamb pizza with fresh mozzarella and Nosh%26rsquo;s own serrano-laced pizza sauce. While the owner and chef favor turning the heat up in the dishes they themselves consume, you can modulate each as you wish %26mdash; toning down, for example, the angry shrimp dish so it%26rsquo;s just a tad disturbed. Be sure to let them know prior to plating how high your spice tolerance goes. And be sure to complement your meal with wine or a champagne-based cocktail by bar manager Jason Le Bove. 3963 Kirby Dr., 713.522.6674; noshbistro.com.

Lucille%26rsquo;s. It%26rsquo;s hard not to root for earnest chef Chris Williams. He was schooled at his grandmother%26rsquo;s knee before his formal culinary education at Le Cordon Bleu%26rsquo;s Austin outpost exposed him to the tenets of classic cuisine %26mdash; but everything fell into place for Williams when he learned of his great-grandma%26rsquo;s cooking legacy. The story goes that Lucille Bishop Smith made barbecue and chili biscuits her claim to cooking fame and, in so doing, determined when and where Williams would hang his shingle: a modest museum-area turn-of-the-century house that he named, of course, Lucille%26rsquo;s. While you will indeed find Bishop Smith%26rsquo;s chili biscuits on the menu ($7), we%26rsquo;ll be back again for Williams%26rsquo; own shrimp and grits: creamy stone-mill grits mingled with a complex sherry-spiked tomato broth with andouille sausage ($20). And before watermelon is no more (or perhaps next summer), be sure to order his refreshing watermelon salad mixed with baby arugula, red onions, feta and crushed pistachios %26mdash; a crisp, wonderful salad I could eat every week ($12). Next time, I%26rsquo;ll try the yard bird (game hen) with saut%26eacute;ed greens, peppers and hoppin%26rsquo; john ($18) or the whole fish topped with basil succotash and greens --- and watch this Southern soul take on some more dishes close to his heart. 5512 La Branch St., 713.568.2505; lucilleshouston.com.

Two Energetic New Spots We Fell in Love With

Southside Espresso. The craft of fusion beans is here. Southside Espresso is the place where baristas come to get their caffeine fix, where each drink is beautifully crafted and topped with a thick layer of foam. Overseen by head barista Sean Marshall, all the little details of the art of coffee-making matter; the syrups are made in-house, and the asides such as pastries, plus Zhi tea from Austin, heighten the experience. Once you take that first sip, you%26rsquo;ll be hooked. Open 7 am till midnight. 904-C Westheimer; no phone (how chic); southsidespresso.com. Michelle Avina

Roots Juice Bar. Finally! A fast, casual juice bar and cafe that delivers fresh, nutrient-packed elixirs to enliven and empower you, which serves as both a quick grab-and-go and a new gathering place in the Montrose area. Try the free yoga class on Thursdays at 7:30 am, followed by a $5 happy-hour juice tasting. The interior promotes sustainability %26mdash; think repurposed and reclaimed wood tables, as well as vintage chairs. Health enthusiast and fellow vegan Rebecca O%26rsquo;Brien manages day-to-day operations and has strong ties with the local-farmer%26rsquo;s-market circuit %26mdash; relationships she first forged as a member of the market management team for Urban Harvest. The juice bar serves a wide variety of juices including Alchemy, Green Age Dreams (my personal favorite), Beet It and Kale Take, but the seasonal menu changes regularly. Roots also offers smoothies, light vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free fare as well as raw, gluten-free, vegan items. And for those who can%26rsquo;t make it during the week, drop in for Saturday or Sunday brunch. 507 Westheimer Road, 713.524.1000; rootsjuicehouston.com. Michelle Avi%26ntilde;a

%26nbsp;

Coming %26hellip; Any Moment (or So We%26rsquo;re Told)

Evo: David Guerrero%26rsquo;s soon-to-open Peruvian restaurant in the Montrose (a stone%26rsquo;s throw from Da Marco) has been plagued by construction delays. But there%26rsquo;s good news: You can cool your Jimmy Choos while you wait at Guerrero%26rsquo;s sister eatery, Alma (1275 Eldridge Parkway), where they offer fare that blends his Peruvian homeland%26rsquo;s cuisines with tastes hailing from China, Africa, Italy, Japan and Spain. At press time, we were told to look for a January 2013 opening for Evo.

Eatsie Boys Caf%26eacute;: The self-proclaimed Eatsie Boys are moving on up from their roaming food truck (or sometimes stationary one parked at Agora Coffee House) to their own brick-and-mortar site in the former Montrose digs of Kraftsman Baking, 4100 Montrose Boulevard.%26nbsp; We%26rsquo;re waiting with bated breath for their delectable-sounding sandwiches such as Frank the Pretzel, a pretzel bun stuffed with homemade chicken poblano sausage, saut%26eacute;ed onions and mustard ($6), or the No Sleep Til Philly, a high-style cheesesteak made with rib eye then downplayed with homemade Cheez Whiz ($8). And don%26rsquo;t get me started on the inspired ice cream, including the curiously named In 3%26rsquo;s Vietnamese Coffee and Peach Cobbler in Effect. C%26rsquo;mon boys. Open, open, open!

Mr. Peeples Seafood + Steaks: Reps are telling us we%26rsquo;ll have to wait until later this month for this high-designed midtown restaurant/bar/underground lounge to be revealed. The space is huge (40,000 square feet, give or take), inside the former Boy Scouts building (dubbed Scouts Square) in a mixed-use development at 1911 Bagby Street. We%26rsquo;re dying to see how W Hotel design alum Carlos Castropareds will fashion the multilevel interiors %26mdash;%26nbsp;and to taste the offerings by chef Pedro Silva (an alum of Ruggles Grill at Saks).

Volare: Cara Cox%26rsquo;s New York%26ndash;style pizza joint, housed in a tiny space in the same center as the famed Hot Bagel Shop (2017 S. Shepherd Drive), will start shoveling pizzas out of its brick oven later this month. (Crostini, soups, salads and paninis will also grace the menu.) Local sommelier Antonio Gianola, who has quite the following, will select the vino and craft beers, while Ara Malekian will stand over the stove. Start the queue early to grab a seat inside or out, or just dash in and take your meal to go.

Still Simmering: Openings That Still Have Us Chattering

Brasserie 19 %26bull; L.A. Bar %26bull; La Fisheria %26bull; Latin Bites Cebiche %26amp; Pisco Bar %26bull; Liberty Kitchen Local Foods %26bull; Oxheart %26bull;
Roost %26bull; Sparrow Bar + Cookshop %26bull; Triniti %26bull; Uchi

Favorite Haunts: Compelling Places that Draw Us Back Month after Month

Alto%26rsquo;s Pizzeria %26bull; Arcodoro Ristorante %26bull; Armando%26rsquo;s %26bull; Benjy%26rsquo;s %26bull; Branch Water Tavern Brennan%26rsquo;s Caf%26eacute; %26bull; Rabelais %26bull; Canopy %26bull; Da Marco Del Frisco%26rsquo;s Steak House %26bull; Dolce Vita %26bull; Ibiza Kata Robata %26bull; Mark%26rsquo;s %26bull; Ninfa%26rsquo;s on Navigation %26bull; Pondecheri %26bull; RDG/Bar Annie %26bull; Tiny Boxwood%26rsquo;s (either location) %26bull; Tony Mandola%26rsquo;s %26bull; Tony%26rsquo;s %26bull; Up

%26nbsp;

Simmering People, Places and Food Things

Chef Ryan Hildebrande, who opened Triniti earlier this year, is working on his next concept, due to debut Fall 2013. MC2 architects are planning to tear down the former Ruggles Grill in the Montrose on Westheimer and build Brande, set in a contemporary building with a rustic farmhouse vibe where Hildebrande will bake breads, pastries, craft charcuterie and dry-age his own meats. The American fare%26ndash;focused eatery will have a decidedly masculine edge, with chef de cuisine Dax McAnear manning the range %26hellip; Grace%26rsquo;s, a Johnny Carrabba concept based on his grandmother Grace%26rsquo;s Italian-style home cooking, debuts in 2013 on Kirby Drive, a block from his Carrabba%26rsquo;s %26hellip; Word is that Lee Ellis, Carl Eaves and Lance Fegan (Liberty Kitchen, BRC, Petite Sweets) are taking over the location of Vida, the ill-named %26ldquo;sexy Tex-Mex%26rdquo; joint on San Felipe. Everything from concept to food to decor will be overhauled to create another Liberty Kitchen and Oysterette. Ellis describes it as an %26ldquo;East Coast seafood house meets River Oaks,%26rdquo; as the trio plans to step up their game to suit the neighborhood. Stay tuned for more details.%26nbsp;

Hot in the Kitchen

%26bull; Whomped-up bread service (a variety of artisan baked breads) served as an appetizer with flavored butters, spreads and cheeses.

%26bull; Creative waiters%26rsquo; uniforms, such as the custom leather aprons at Sparrow Bar + Cookshop.

%26bull; Heirloom anything, from vegetables to vintage silver and stemware.

%26bull; Local everything (not to mention sustainable and organic), from fruits and vegetables to meats. Today it%26rsquo;s not just about procuring regional foodstuffs; it%26rsquo;s about giving menu credit to the farmers who raised the animals and tended the crops.

%26bull; Artisan cocktails are the standard. (Especially bartenders who procure an array of bitters (or, better yet, make their own, along with infused syrups and spirits). It%26rsquo;s all about tweaking those old-school classics.

%26bull; Gluten-free. We had no idea so many diners suffered with lower GI issues.

%26bull; House-made charcuterie.

%26bull; Food trucks. The trend rolls on and sometimes even leads to a lease. (See the Eatsie Boys.)

%26bull; Grazing through sharing plates.

%26bull; Peruvian cuisine and its ingredients (Evo, Alma, Latin Bites, etc.).

%26bull; Steak tartare.

%26bull; American comfort fare given an ethnic, global spin.

%26bull; Celebrity chefs. Our only advice: Let someone else call you a %26ldquo;celebrity.%26rdquo; To refer to yourself as one is terribly immodest, don%26rsquo;t you think? Everyone%26rsquo;s a food critic and has a Twitter following. And apparently we%26rsquo;re simply dying to see photos of their last meal. Really?

Modern Purveyors of Intelligent Design

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 03:17:13 GMT

Meet a New Generation of Mod Shopkeepers — a half-dozen cutting-edge creatives in the fields of design, antiques, small-batch fashion, contemporary art and java + cocktails, all with an exacting design credo and intelligent positions on global community. Steven Hempel peers inside their inspiring domiciles, and chats up the influencers whose homes serve up a perfect reflection of their working life.

Art direction Michelle Aviña. Interior photography for Matt Reeves by Chris Nguyen. Hair Ashley Scroggins for Cutloose. Makeup Teri Sullivan.

Jenny Schlief Morgan and Gene Morgan

Co-owners, Settlement Goods %26amp; Design

Jenny Schlief Morgan and Gene Morgan opened Settlement in 2011 as a showcase for heirloom American brands and designers. The shop stocks a thoughtfully curated selection of goods ranging from men’s and women’s fashion, jewelry and accessories to home furnishings and accents. In addition to running Settlement, Schlief Morgan is a practicing artist with an upcoming exhibition at Lawndale Art Center. Husband Gene is a poet and founder of the online literature blog%26nbsp; HTMLGiant.

JSM: We’re focused on growing our design business, using Settlement as a model to help steer clients in the right direction, from an end user’s point of view. We’re also working on a number of collaborations with our designers; we’re launching a limited-edition tee by local artist Selven O’Keef Jarmon, as well as a necklace by jeweler Susan Domelsmith of the Dirty Librarian collection. And we’re looking forward to launching a pop-up shop in Aspen in summer 2013.

Stats: Jenny, 32; Gene, 31.

Personal design. JSM: We mix antiques with mid-century and contemporary designers. We tend to lean towards works that have a story or a sentimental value.%26nbsp; A lot of the antiques have personal family history, and the newer brands and objects come from people we know and respect.

Architect/age/neighborhood. JSM: 1920. Neighborhood: Cherryhurst in Montrose. A one-story bungalow that we’ve recently renovated. I don’t know much about the history of the house, since we moved in kind of a hurry. I was pregnant with my first child and so we moved out of our 1/1 condo in the old DePelchin orphanage that used to be Emo’s. That%26nbsp;place%26nbsp;was lovely, just not for babies or a growing family.

On translating Settlement to your bungalow. JSM: We live with some of the same work you can find in the shop. Alicia Redman, the home buyer and interior designer for Settlement, created some of our furnishings, designed finishes and helped refurbish some of our antiques. [Redman is a partner at Settlement, with a masters in interior design from Pratt.]

On the subject of home life: GM: We break the work into shifts, so someone is always at the shop while the other is at home with the kids. And we try to simplify things where we can. Life is about taking time and noticing the little things. We purposely have only one car, which means we often walk together or ride our bikes to work, which makes a big difference. JSM: And we play together. We’re active with the kids. We get out in our neighborhood; we go to the park. Life is hectic, but you’ve got to take time to appreciate the things that matter.

Redux advice. JSM: Never leave town when you are remodeling! Everyone has really different ideas of good design, and sometimes your contractor is not the best designer … Other than that, trust your friends because they know you best, and hire a contractor that listens and is easy to get hold of. God, I love our contractor, Ron Carr — detailed oriented, attentive, and he listens.

Inspiration. JSM: Gene and I are big fans of Marfa. It’s such a quiet and beautiful place with big open spaces and sky. We’ve spent a lot of time in Aspen, too, and one of the gems there is the Aspen Institute, largely designed by Herbert Bayer. He is truly one of the most inspiring people — he incorporated art and design into all aspects of life and was never afraid to try something new.

On organs and Cory Arcangel. JSM: We have an organ in the living room, given to us by a friend when they left town. The thing weighs a ton, and at first just kind of sat there. When our kids got to be a little older, it was a major focus of the household. Friends come over and play on it, and we have dance parties with the kids. I also love this Cory Arcangel poster that Gene bought that’s a scene from a Nintendo driving game that has been recolored. And our kids have a craft area where they draw and paint. We choose pieces each month to put on display, and I swear, it is some of the best art I’ve ever seen.

Wish list/next acquisition. JSM: Eric Zimmerman. (We have a lot of his work currently but it’s%26nbsp;always good.) I’ve always wanted a Chuck Ramirez print, and I’ve always been a fan of Jason Villegas — his videos and sculptures especially. Lane Hagood has been working on some pretty interesting 2-D pieces lately. If I could just have Lynne McCabe constantly coming up with projects in my home, I would die. It would be so amazing.

On theme parties and wearing a toga.%26nbsp; JSM: We are big fans of spending time with our friends one at time. We do a lot of entertaining at home because of our kids (three and four years old who turn in early), and I’m not good with big groups. We’ve also been known to%26nbsp;throw some pretty fun themed parties. We had a toga/boner party (the marriage of two of the worst party themes%26nbsp;ever, the bachelorette and frat party) for a going-away party for a friend. My 30th birthday party was Japanese-Pop themed, and we hosted a romance novel-themed party for a close friend’s birthday.
%26nbsp;

Jenny, with all the work going into Settlement, as a practicing artist, are you continuing to make and show work? JSM: Yes, I have a video installation that will be part of a group exhibition titled “Staring at the Wall: The Art of Boredom,” curated by Katia Zavistovski. The exhibition opened November 30 at Lawndale Art Center [through January 12] and examines what goes on when supposedly nothing is going on. There will be a video and perhaps a performance as well.%26nbsp;

Robin Berwick

Co-owner, Double Trouble %26nbsp;Caffeine and Cocktails

Robin Berwick, co-proprietor of Midtown bar and coffee shop Double Trouble, always dreamed of opening a place of her own. Having worked for years with Robin Whalan at the well-established Montrose bar Poison Girl, the two, who frequently tended bar together, became known as Double Trouble. During their dual shifts, they dreamed of creating a place of their own. After a lengthy search and renovation process, Double Trouble opened its doors in November 2011.

Stats: Robin, 33.

Your home: Architect/age/neighborhood. About 100 years old. I live on the ground floor of the two-story duplex in Montrose. The original owner of the home was Gordon Tex Beneke, a saxophonist from Houston, who played in the Glenn Miller Orchestra; architect Jack Heemer later purchased and updated the home.

Decorating style. Bright and beachy, with a little kitsch.

Designer/architect. Just me and partner Peter Zama. [Zama is hard at work perfecting a new line of ice creams, which he often pairs with cocktails that Berwick creates.]

Remodeling stories to share? Painting was fun. The color in our living room, Sea Treasure by Valspar (from Lowe’s) has been used in my last three apartments. I took out the built-in ironing board since we don’t iron, and Peter installed a spice rack.

Design inspiration. The island [Galveston], Andy Warhol and Golden Girls.

Top treasures or curated collections. Vintage bottles of booze, sketchbooks and notepads full of drawings and recipes.

Go-to galleries and sources to collect art. I’m not a big gallery shopper. I went to painting school and befriended many artists who have given me their creations. I have works by David McGee, Cheyenne Ramos and Jermaine Rogers. Also finds from the DiverseWorks Luck of the Draw Auction, alongside acquisitions from the Printers’ Ball at Spring Street.

Wish list and next acquisition. I don’t make a list. Things just kind of find their way here. A Tomi Ungerer print from the 1960s is my top request.

Saturday night supper. Pot luck. Light the grill in the back … I make dips, Peter makes dessert [ice cream], and everyone else is in charge of everything else. Very casual. For music, we play records from the collection so that you can change the mood with each record.

Double Trouble vibe. We wanted to create something that was a little different from other bars. Something cool but unpretentious. A place where people can hang out and enjoy themselves, have a conversation or a drink at the bar and really connect with the people they are with. We hired our staff with that in mind. In fact, many had no bartending experience prior to working for us.

On DT’s decor. It’s really a reflection of who we are. Robin [Whalan] studied interior design and has a fantastic eye. I was born in Galveston and feel a connection to the island and the sea. With DT, you can see and feel that influence. There’s a bit of an island vibe going on, but it’s not too literal. We’ve built a place that’s welcoming, relaxing, but we’ve stayed honest to who we are.

Taking the bar home: Blue hues, bamboo, Texas art plus tchotchkes. Yes, it’s really a great place to relax, listen to music and unwind. Most everything here comes out of my love of “thrifting.” I’ve bought almost everything at thrift shops (favorite haunts: The Guild Shop, DAV Thrift and Value Village). Much of the art comes from Peter’s collection which includes a number of prints by Pittsburgh-based artist Mike Budai.

What’s in the cocktail shaker next? I offer bartending to parties of 25 or less through my side business Service Belle (servicebelle.com). Also, at Double Trouble, we often host guest bartenders on Monday nights with 25 percent of sales going to various local charities. On December 3, Justin Burrow, formerly of Anvil, will tend bar with Brad Moore, owner of Pearl and Grand Prize; with proceeds benefitting The Periwinkle Foundation. On December 10, DT hosts Rebecca Masson, owner of Fluff Bake Bar while Richard Knight of Feast will serve cocktails on December 17 benefitting Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.

Matt Reeves%26nbsp;

Second-Generation Owner, Reeves Antiques

Opened by Paul Reeves in 1969, Reeves Antiques began as a space for clothing and home goods, but by the mid-’80s, it was a treasure trove of antiques and a go-to source for collectors and designers. Now headed by his son Matt Reeves, who led a transition from antiques to mid-century furnishings, the store features works from Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller, Eero Saarinen and others. The acquisition of Cool Stuff, located in the heart of the Westheimer corridor, has only furthered growth of the long-time Houston institution.

Stats: Matt, 26.

Your home: architect/age/neighborhood. I live, literally, above the store (at Taft and Fairview) which was built in the 20s. Inside, it’s an Arts and Crafts-styled loft space.

Personal decorating style. Modern with organic elements.

Designer/architect. Chris Nguyen, interior designer and store patron.

Remodeling tales. I did it by myself — lots of blood, sweat and tears. It was a two-year process.

Design inspirations. Charles and Ray Eames’ home [Pacific Palisades, California].

Top treasure or curated collections. Ben Culwell painting, from around 1956.

Wish list/next acquisition. Papa Bear chair designed by Hans Wegner.

An evening at home. A party on the roof at night, with close friends and cocktails.

Barrister to antiquarian. Actually, I never thought I would take over the business. I literally grew up here, but
I never felt a connection to antiques. I initially wanted to practice law. But I felt that studying law was a longer road than I wanted to take, so I transferred to University of Houston and enrolled in the Bauer School of Business, and received a degree in entrepreneurship and marketing.

How you turned Reeves Antiques on its head. Transitioning from antiques, which we had dealt in for 30 years, was a huge decision and something we didn’t take lightly. It was scary, honestly. We literally took 10,000 square feet of antiques, put huge markdowns on them and sold everything in less than one month. With the proceeds, we began to build up stock in mid-century modern pieces, and we’ve grown from there. The work we carry now is similar to what we once stocked, in that we remain focused on American-made pieces. We source furniture that is of the highest quality, with solid construction and a history behind it.

American made and locally sourced. We don’t shop Europe; we don’t buy out of state. We have an amazing group of people that sell to us in Houston, which means we always have new work that we turn quickly.%26nbsp;

On why you’re loving Taft and Fairview. When I grew up here, you felt uneasy if you went out after dark. But there has been such a huge change, especially in the last three years. It’s quite lively at night and easy to walk around. Cuchara (the restaurant profiled in the October issue of PaperCity) is across the street. Boheme and Pinot’s Palette have really changed the culture of the neighborhood. It’s a great place to be and I’m happy I live here.

Cate Stewart %26amp; Will Henry

Buyer at Leap and registrar at Inman Gallery, respectively
%26nbsp;
Dynamic couple Cate Stewart and Will Henry represent the perfect pairing of art and fashion. Stewart is currently buyer at Leap boutique, while Will is an artist represented by Hiram Butler Gallery and preparator at Inman Gallery. Henry was one of three finalists for the prestigious 2012 Texas Prize,a program highlighting professional artists workingin our state.

Stats: Cate, 33; Will, 43.%26nbsp;

Your home: architect/age/neighborhood. CS: 1920s bungalow in the Heights.%26nbsp;

Decorating style. CS: Eclectic, modern with a little southwestern and vintage Americana thrown in.

Designer/architect. CS: None … although, fortunately for me, my mother is an interior decorator. She has an amazing eye, and while our taste might be different, she understands what Will and I like, and I seek her input often. My younger sister just married an interior designer from Dallas, Breck Woolsey. Between my mother and brother-in-law, I can always get an opinion … or two!

Top treasures or curated collections. CS: My great aunt Dodie was an artist who attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in the 1940s. I have a small portrait of her, painted by a classmate.

Galleries and sources to collect art. CS: There are so many great galleries in Houston. Of course, I put Hiram Butler Gallery and Inman at the top of my list. Devin Borden’s new gallery in Isabella Court is showing some exciting new artists, including Geoff Hippenstiel.

Wish list/next acquisitions. CS: This is a hard question, because there are so many artists whose%26nbsp;work I would love to own. On the list would have to be Yuko Murata, a Japanese painter whose work is at Inman.%26nbsp;She makes serene, luscious%26nbsp;and yet%26nbsp;almost minimalist%26nbsp;paintings of natural things — a rock, a deer, a bird. For fashion — Boy by Band of Outsiders Shibori Dye Quilted Shawl Collar Jacket is my big splurge for Spring 2013. I would also buy every pair of shoes from LD Tuttle’s spring collection if I could.

Classic dinner party. CS: Having friends over for very casual dinners. I tend to make rich, non-diet-friendly%26nbsp;dishes when I entertain: lamb bolognese, homemade pizza or roasted pork shoulder. I’ve made braised short ribs a few times,%26nbsp;but I haven’t mastered the sauce yet. I love to serve%26nbsp;red wine or Prosecco and cheeses before dinner —%26nbsp;the selection at Houston Dairymaids is amazing. Music%26nbsp;depends — Frankie Rose, Beach House.

Trend-spotting. CS: My favorites, which are exclusives to Leap in Houston, include Isabel Marant, Rachel Comey, Zero + Maria Cornejo, Girl by Band of Outsiders, and LD Tuttle. We’re also adding Boy by Band of Outsiders.

Downtime. CS: I love to garden, to cook and to read. I have a small vegetable garden that I’d like to expand, and an herb garden. I’m also a magazine junkie (Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Elle Decor, Bullett, Russh). And I like spending time with family and at the family farm in New Ulm, near Round Top.

The art map: New York, L.A. or Houston. WH: Houston is very strong and a force to be reckoned with. We are not New York or L.A., but we have great diversity, a good quality of life for artists and great opportunities to show work. While the collector base may be smaller here, there is a greater opportunity for artists to make friendships that would be less likely in larger markets.

First brush. WH: I grew up in a rural area outside of Austin, and there weren’t a lot of other kids around. As a child, I was always drawing.

Process and challenges. WH: The current series of paintings tend to inform one other. As the works develop, they play off each another in a sort of evolution. The paintings, landscapes, become a stage for my work, with different elements and layers serving as action. As an artist, I am self-conscious about the work I create. I want to know how each painting is looking, what needs to be done and how the work can continue to grow without repeating itself.

On why 2012 was a banner year. WH: I was one of three finalists for the Texas Prize in 2012, which included an exhibition at AMOA [Austin Museum of Art]-Arthouse in Austin that coincided with the nomination. I also recently participated in a group show at James Harris Gallery in Seattle, which received critical acclaim from New American Paintings [online] and I had a solo show at The Old Jail Art Center in Albany, Texas.

Away from the easel. WH: When I’m not making art, I like to spend time at home … to cook and take trips with Cate to her family’s farm. I’ve really grown to love being part of the family we have. Cate has a large extended family that serves as a base for our family life, and they are genuinely caring, helpful and loving. It’s something special that I truly appreciate.

Design + Suds, History + Community

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 02:59:45 GMT

Steven Hempel and Will Walsh delve into Midtown%26rsquo;s surprising %26mdash; and inspiring %26mdash; redux of a derelict century-old former grocer, recently serving as a pigeon roost, transformed into Houston%26rsquo;s most authentic bar.

%26nbsp;

Steven Hempel on History Made Anew %26nbsp;

Mongoose versus Cobra sits in the former Auditorium Grocery Company Building, which was built between 1915 and 1917 at 1011 McGowen, in what is now jauntily termed Midtown but was, a century ago, a leafy neighborhood and community. The one-story-tall, unassuming brick building maintains much of its historic feel, thanks to the sensitive renovation work of a team led by Ian Rosenberg and Mike Sammons, founders of the lauded 13 Celsius wine bar, which sits less than half a mile away. The Auditorium building has had a number of tenants, the last being a U.S. Post Office branch that closed in the early 1980s.%26nbsp;Vacant for decades since, the building has been on Rosenberg%26rsquo;s radar for some time.

A graduate of the University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture, Rosenberg has searched for ways to build businesses that help create a sense of community in his Midtown neighborhood.%26nbsp;Recollecting his time in Santes, France, where he studied, he sought to create a small city-style cafe.%26nbsp;Bringing this project to reality, however, was no small feat.%26nbsp;The building, abandoned for almost 30 years, had no power, no water and no sewage.%26nbsp;Yet Rosenberg saw compelling factors in preserving and rehabilitating the modest structure that, though in disrepair, maintained an historic charm.%26nbsp;%26ldquo;It has redeeming factors %26mdash; beautiful brick walls, original wood columns, beautiful high ceilings %26mdash; that give it so much character,%26rdquo; he says.

The bold preservation plan was led by Rosenberg (who also made 13 Celsius happen), along with Baldemar Gonzalez and Alan Krathaus of Core Design Studio. The stalwart group made great efforts to preserve the Auditorium%26rsquo;s most authentic elements, including its defining feature: the original wood columns, which run floor to ceiling and demarcate the space almost like a mid-corridor.%26nbsp;The period plumbing was also salvaged and restored, as were the windows, which are framed by vintage lights restored by Tom Delaney in London. The design and architectural team removed sheetrock walls to uncover stunning 100-year-old brick that became the design foundation of the space. Ductwork is hidden above the circa-1915 wooden studs, and the original facade was cut away to frame a steel, glass and concrete entry that also delineates a patio area.

While historic charm is evident, Rosenberg added a number of handsome and purposeful elements: A step welcoming patrons to the bar incorporates the words from %26ldquo;Gunga Din%26rdquo; by Kipling. Geometric wood tables designed
by the team lend warmth to the space. A handmade, ballpark-style menu board sits against the main wall across from the bar and lists the various Brew selections.%26nbsp;To the back of the main hall, a flat-screen television is tucked away, rising out of a wood casing for viewing big sporting events. Another elegant detail: Simple, polished-steel tap handles subtly remind us that no beer gets precedence over another. An innovative lighting display and backsplash allows patrons to view the true color of the ale as it leaves the tap, while a large glass window above the bar shows off the network of KeyKegs housing the various brews.

That Rosenberg and his team, who received the Good Brick Award (from the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance now Historic Houston) for their initiative with 13 Celsius, have been nominated again for Mongoose versus Cobra, should come as no surprise.%26nbsp;As Rosenberg notes, it has been truly a group effort to bring the once abandoned space back to life. Together, they have pulled off the challenging task of preserving the past while enhancing the present, a feat that connoisseurs of fine beer and cocktails will no doubt appreciate for many years to come. Salute.

Will Walsh Weighs in on Bites and Brews

In this new era of nervy mixologists rolling their eyes at every request for a simple gin and tonic, bar-goers have grown increasingly frustrated with the chaser of pretension that accompanies one%26rsquo;s imbibing. Mike Sammons and Ian Rosenberg have succeeded wildly in designing their approachable and thoughtful craft cocktail and beer hall, Mongoose versus Cobra.

Mongoose versus Cobra follows in the spirit of 13 Celsius by providing thirsty patrons with a selection of beers from around the world, exposing us to new global flavors and brews of the most superior quality. Mongoose
is equipped with 42 beer taps, including one reserved for the notorious Milanese digestif, Fernet. If Fernet on tap doesn%26rsquo;t get you in a boozy mood, the Mongoose guys went ahead and carbonated it for you.%26nbsp;You know, because they care. Need more proof? Well let%26rsquo;s just say that having Four Roses Bourbon, Azul Tequila and Smith and Cross Jamaica Rum on your $6 Well Menu is not the mark of an establishment that short-pours and over-squirts. If you%26rsquo;ve grown weary of your Four Roses neat, don%26rsquo;t despair. Ask bartending wildman Shafer Hall to take you out of Bourbon County with the Buffalo Squeeze. A bourbon-based libation of Campari, lemon and egg white to make, as Sammons puts it, their %26ldquo;quintessential Houston Cocktail.%26rdquo;

Beers and spirits are not the only thing that these guys are doing right. A %26ldquo;Grocery%26rdquo; menu provides all the sustenance needed to survive your global beer and cocktail trek. With a nod to a modern saloon, there are house-made pickles, beef jerky cured with black pepper, and, oh yes, pickled eggs. The cured meats are not made in-house, but are made and seasoned specifically for the bar. For a beer-hall vibe, try the enormous Slow Dough pretzel with house-made mustard. By far the most popular item on the menu, it pairs perfectly with any glass that comes across the pass.

Most importantly, Mongoose versus Cobra has done a great job achieving its maker%26rsquo;s%26nbsp;vision of a %26ldquo;bar%26rdquo; %26mdash; not to transport the customer to somewhere else, but to create an environment%26nbsp;that promotes neighborhood living, community interaction, and ignoring %26ldquo;good enough%26rdquo; only to focus on the best.%26nbsp;%26ldquo;The Count would be pleased%26rdquo;%26hellip; Don%26rsquo;t look at me. Ask barman Shafer Hall to tell you that one over your first Roy Orbison.

Restaurant Buzz

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 11:51:28 GMT

Restaurateur Russell Hayward brews java by day and pours wine at night at the Design District%26rsquo;s newest hot spot, Ascension Coffee at 1621 Oak Lawn ... Nothing says lovin%26rsquo; like something from Village Baking Co.%26rsquo;s ovens. The new storefront on University Boulevard is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday %26hellip; Leave your holiday meals to the chefs at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, now taking reservations for Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas Day brunch and New Year%26rsquo;s Eve %26hellip; Encourage your children%26rsquo;s creativity %26mdash; and your own %26mdash; via gingerbread classes offered for adults and kids at the Rosewood Crescent Hotel. Reserve your spot at 214.871.3260 %26hellip; Wolfgang Puck%26rsquo;s Five Sixty now serves Saturday brunch 11 am to 3 pm. Sip a Texan Mary (beef jerky, black pepper-celery salt) while enjoying the view ... There%26rsquo;s a new top dawg in Lakewood. His tags read Jerry%26rsquo;s Wood-Fired Dogs, and he%26rsquo;s bringing his infamous Cleveland Dog (sauerkraut, Cleveland Stadium mustard, celery salt and white onions) to your table %26hellip; Check out Nick %26amp; Sam%26rsquo;s Grill%26rsquo;s new Park Cities location at 8111 Preston Road %26hellip; Bowl %26amp; Barrel breaks ground in The Shops at Park Lane as the first bowling boutique catering to foodies. Chef Sharon Hage has created upscale tavern-style bites such as fresh oysters with malt vinegar mignonette and house-made crackers %26hellip; Stay in the game at Mockingbird Station%26rsquo;s only full-service and sports bar, Mockingbird Taproom %26hellip; Ruthie%26rsquo;s Rolling Creperie has hit the streets with sweet treats such as Connie%26rsquo;s Simply Cinnamon and Caramel Candy Apple ... Private Social celebrates one year with a revamped menu created by chef Tiffany Derry and barman Rocco Milano. We can%26rsquo;t wait to try the sweet and spicy pickled cucumbers %26hellip; The newly opened Bread Winners Caf%26eacute; %26amp; Bakery and Seasons 52 are ready to revive holiday shoppers at NorthPark Center %26hellip; Morton%26rsquo;s The Steakhouse has completed its modern makeover with a fresh interior and updated menu %26hellip; Del Frisco%26rsquo;s Grille executive chef Aaron Henschen introduces new offerings that include locally sourced ingredients, meats and cheeses from Snider Plaza%26rsquo;s Kuby%26rsquo;s Sausage House.

In the Neighborhood

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 10:37:14 GMT

Mom must be proud of her progeny. Twenty-somethings Nick Adair and Katie Adair Barnhart, all grown up now, are recreating the food of their childhood at this Tanglewood spot %26mdash; the sort of hearty comforting fare (pimento cheese sandwiches, pecan-crusted chicken, green enchiladas and turkey meatloaf) they remember mom making. Of course, dad (Skeeter%26rsquo;s Hamburgers founder and Los Tios owner Gary Adair) had a bit of influence on his little ones, too. The latest venture is all in the family. Casual and easy, the menus at Adair Kitchen are written on large chalkboards hung overhead. At breakfast and lunch, diners order at the counter, while dinner switches to table service, with entr%26eacute;es ranging from $10 to $20. The bright, airy two-story dining room provides peeks into the sea-green kitchen via glass panels. Sit under the breeze of the 12-foot ceiling fan or in a booth beneath the silhouette of an enormous pig crafted from black sheet metal. (Momma Adair apparently quite fancies pigs.)%26nbsp; Early-risers, take note: The salty and sweet granola parfait ($5), huevos rancheros ($7.50) and house bacon-batter waffles ($6) on the breakfast menu will rouse even the most bleary-eyed among us. 5161 San Felipe, 713.623.6100; adairkitchen.com

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Screen Gems

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 11:40:30 GMT

Year four of the Houston Cinema Arts Festival hits the big screens this month, headlining more than 50 film offerings, personal appearances and panels, with provocative and inspiring cinematic fare screening at venues from downtown to the Museum District, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston%26rsquo;s Brown Auditorium, Asia Society Texas Center and Sundance Cinemas. This year%26rsquo;s festival %26mdash;%26nbsp;which explores the role of female directors %26mdash; is bookended by two white-hot nights, both at the MFAH. Wednesday, November 7, at 7 pm, director Liz Garbus presents Love, Marilyn starring Adrien Brody, Uma Thurman, Glenn Close, Evan Rachel Wood and more Tinseltown types. The grand finale on Sunday, November 11, at 7 pm, is a PaperCity-sponsored, red-carpet-worthy evening: Director/writer Lisa Immordino Vreeland screens her documentary about one of the most scintillating forces in 20th-century fashion, publishing and style: Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel (a title shared with the director%26rsquo;s recent book). Post-screening, Immordino Vreeland and Lynn Wyatt engage in a lively Q-and-A. Also imparting star wattage and cinematic luster, Robert Redford jets in to receive the Levantine Cinema Arts Award on Friday, November 9 (Sundance Cinemas, ticket prices TBD). Don%26rsquo;t miss the tantalizing series of Texas shorts, playing at Sundance Cinemas Friday, November 9, at noon, as well as some saucy multimedia installations monikered Cinema on the Verge, which spill out to Aurora Picture Show, Project Row Houses and 4411 Montrose (the latter, HQ for the Festival, premiering a dazzling creation by London-based artist collective%26nbsp; The Light Surgeons). Opening night $25 ($22 students and seniors); closing night $12 ($10 students and seniors); other screenings, $12 evenings, $10 matinees; Cinema on the Verge $5; all-access pass $1,000; weekend passes $250; day passes $100; complete lineup and tickets cinemartsociety.org.

Billy Fong Sez …

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 10:43:44 GMT

Immediately, I started thinking about my plan for the upcoming holidays: Everyone on my list is getting Red Lobster gift cards.%26nbsp;I just love the fact that they %26ldquo;sea food differently.%26rdquo; From there, I pondered dream parties or invitations to chic weekend homes and the glamorous figures who might host me.%26nbsp;What fun it would have been to be invited to Warhol%26rsquo;s Montauk compound or, better yet, to score a seat at one of Diane Vreeland%26rsquo;s famous dinner parties. Yet, if I had my druthers, these would top my list:%26nbsp;

%26bull; A fabulous soir%26eacute;e at Chateau Marmont%26rsquo;s Bungalow 8, hosted by two California scions of style: Betsy Bloomingdale and Sofia Coppola. I saw a brilliant documentary a few years back that my PaperCity friends must put on their list: The Secret World of Haute Couture. Betsy is interviewed in her Holmby Hills compound that still has green shag carpeting and small closets, not the manses of late. For Betsy, I would bring handmade dominoes I find in Miami%26rsquo;s Little Havana. Such old-school craftsmanship is definitely appropriate for a woman who knows the value of parlor games. Miss Coppola would receive a recent piece from the brilliant artist Angela Strassheim. I encountered her work last year at an opening at the amazing Harper Fine Art in NYC.

%26bull; A weekend trip to a villa on Lake Como given by Deeda Blair. The vision of her wearing vintage Chanel in a Chris-Craft while picking up guests who have just landed is to die for. Would I ever be so pedestrian as to show up with scented candles for Miss Blair? I think not. If only Herm%26egrave;s made water wings, I would have the perfect gift. Alas, I would probably have a box of crustaceans and a key lime pie from Joe%26rsquo;s Stone Crab sent in advance. My own belongings would be packed in a Shelter Serra fake Herm%26egrave;s Birkin bag; Richard Serra%26rsquo;s nephew is the conceptual artist du jour, and his re-creations of high-end luxury items are pitch perfect and question our current obsessions.

Another random suggestion I would bring to the table:

Opt for a falconry glove %26mdash; amazing and unexpected. If you find yourself invited to one of my dinner parties, I would love this, since I am hoping my favorite rescue organization (Metroplex Mutts, where I found my new best friend, Theo) will have some falcons up for adoption shortly.

Hopefully, our paths will cross this upcoming holiday season, and we won%26rsquo;t be walking in with the same gift. Hands off my original idea, the Red Lobster gift card. I plan on giving them out in increments of $25 since you don%26rsquo;t want the gift-ee to think you are implying that they have a ravenous appetite. Win-win. Easy on the wallet, and hostess flattering. Billy Fong, billy@papercitymag.com

Restaurant Buzz

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 04:31:43 GMT

Chef John Coleman (most recently of the Ritz-Carlton) has scored some of the city%26rsquo;s most primo real estate for Savor and Relish. The latter will debut as a food truck at the opening of Klyde Warren Park, then ultimately morph into a quick-bite kiosk. Slated to open in mid-2013, Savor will bring a gastropub concept to the Dallas Arts District, and we%26rsquo;re already salivating over offerings including baked ricotta and buttermilk calamari %26hellip; Embrace a new Fullosophie, a gourmet dining service by friends Jess Shain and Tarin Holcomb that provides semiweekly deliveries of farm-to-fork meals tailored to fit your health needs %26hellip; Here%26rsquo;s another reason to stroll over to Boulevardier: This Oak Cliff favorite now serves brunch every Sunday 11 am to 3 pm. Chef Nathan Tate%26rsquo;s eggs meurette, mimosas and pumpkin flip cocktails fill the bill %26hellip; Following its success at The Shops at Legacy, the fresh grill and wine bar Seasons 52 is now serving NorthPark Center %26hellip; Slated to open its doors this month, Cook Hall takes the place of the dearly departed Craft at W-Victory with comfort-food provisions in a cozy outpost %26hellip; Using only naturally raised, organic ingredients sourced from local growers and ranchers, The Gin Mill on Henderson Avenue launches its fall pub-inspired menu with pork shank osso bucco and salt-and-pepper salmon %26hellip; Executive chef Nick Amoriello makes his move from The Meddlesome Moth to The Front Room: A Park Cities Diner %26hellip; For do-it-yourselfers with culinary leanings: Order a copy of Terri Taylor%26rsquo;s Edible Dallas and Fort Worth: The Cookbook on Amazon and try your hand at some favorite local dishes from the likes of chefs Graham Dodds and Jon Bonnell %26hellip; Raul and Olga Reyes, chefs and owners of Mesa Veracruz in the Bishop Arts District, prime your palate for cooler temps with updated fall favorites served on the brand-new outdoor patio %26hellip; Preston Center has jumped on Hopdoddy Burger Bar. You haven%26rsquo;t lived till you%26rsquo;ve tried The Primetime (Akaushi beef, brie and truffle aioli) washed down with a BEBC, Lakewood %26amp; Peticolas or a Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka cocktail %26hellip; North Dallas earns bragging rights with the arrival of The Coffee Bean %26amp; Tea Leaf. Look for the drive-through between Arapaho and Beltline Roads on the Tollway %26hellip; Chefs Toby De La Rosa and Michael Martensen of The Cedars Social have cooked up a fall menu that includes day boat scallops and Akaushi steak frites complemented by soul-warming cocktails %26hellip; Not only does Wolfgang Puck%26rsquo;s Five Sixty offer some of the most gorgeous views of downtown, but now it serves Asian-inspired brunch from 11 am to 4 pm Sundays %26hellip; Adding to the buzz surrounding The Joule Hotel, CBD Provisions %26mdash; a brasserie-style eatery specializing in artisanal comfort food %26mdash; will open in Spring 2013.

Restaurant Buzz

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 03:56:38 GMT

Legacy Restaurants owners Niel Morgan and his son Chase have hired Anvil Partnership (which runs Anvil, Hay Merchant and Underbelly) to operate their two Houston concepts, Antoine’s Famous Po’Boys and the Original Ninfa’s on Navigation. Both concepts have been around for decades and will celebrate, respectively, their 50th and 40th anniversaries next year … A happy 42nd birthday to Los Tios, the Tex-Mex restaurant concept established by Rosemary Gambett and now owned by Gary Adair. Los Tios was reportedly the first eatery in the city to serve frozen margaritas … Gloria’s, a Salvadorian/Mexican food concept, has opened in midtown. This is the first Houston outpost for the Dallas export, which serves up dishes such as grilled pork fajitas, ceviche tostadas and black bean dip … The Brazilian steakhouse Texas de Brazil has opened a 9,000-square-foot space at CityCentre. Roaming waiters with spears packed with grilled and roasted beef, chicken, lamb, pork, sausage and more portion out as much as you can possibly consume … Under construction at BLVD Place are another outpost of the tart frozen yogurt sensation Pinkberry and True Food Kitchen, an eatery conceptualized by the famous Dr. Andrew Weil and restaurateur Sam Fox (Fox’s Restaurant Concepts). TFK concentrates on delicious healthy fare that follows the tenets of Weil’s anti-inflammatory diet. Look for a%26nbsp; 2013 opening.

On Another Level

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 02:11:53 GMT

Amidst weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth, beloved Nana shut its doors at the Hilton Anatole in June, leaving behind a big question mark as to what would inherit its breathtaking view of the city. The answer comes by way of Ser, a gorgeous hunk of a steak house offering top-grade chops and market-fresh seafood. The mesquite floors, solid-walnut tabletops and cognac leather chairs suggest brawn, but we suspect the fairer sex may come calling once word of Ser%26rsquo;s expertly selected wine list gets out. Book the chef%26rsquo;s table to talk taste with executive chef Anthony Van Camp, and chances are he%26rsquo;ll recommend the Colorado rack of lamb, mac and cheese, anything wagyu and his favorite fried egg from the bar menu. Hilton Anatole, Floor 27, 2201 N. Stemmons Freeway, 214.761.7479.

Back at the Ranch

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 02:07:34 GMT

Chef/owner Stephan Pyles brings an extra helping of nostalgia to Stampede 66, an homage to his parents%26rsquo; Phillips 66 Truck Stop Caf%26eacute; in Big Spring, Texas. But don%26rsquo;t expect warmed-over culinary memories from the Godfather of Southwestern Cuisine: This is 7,000 square feet of innovation with a seriously sophisticated bent, as demonstrated by a menu that includes %26ldquo;Faux%26rdquo; Gras-Crispy Sweetbread Tacos and his Mother Eulene%26rsquo;s Buttermilk Pie served with Nitro-Shattered Texas Grapefruit. Pyles rounded up some of Dallas%26rsquo; finest to join him: executive chef John Thompson (previously of Samar) and general manager Shawn Horne from his Star Canyon days. The ranch house-inspired interior, courtesy of Duncan, Miller and Ullman Design, includes a screened-in porch with fire pit, along with the unexpected appearance of a steel rattlesnake, etched-glass horny toads, and a pork-rind pig; those looking for cozier confines can slip into the private dining room built to accommodate 36. 1717 McKinney Ave., Suite #100, 214.550.6966; stampede66.com.

Sugar Rush

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 03:25:21 GMT

We All Scream

Don%26rsquo;t let the name fool you. This is no opening act: Carnival Barker%26rsquo;s Ice Cream takes center stage. After watching a documentary on ice cream last year, local musician Aaron Barker started making his own. The fun side project quickly escalated into an obsession, resulting in enrollment at Penn State Creamery%26rsquo;s ice cream college (yes, there is such a thing) this past January. %26ldquo;I really refined my formulas there,%26rdquo; says Barker. The results speak for themselves: Fat Elvis (a trio of peanut butter, bananas and a candied, honey swirl), Nutella Vodka, Banana Pudding and Cookies %26lsquo;N%26rsquo; Cream, a customer favorite containing whole vanilla beans and lots and lots of cookies. He%26rsquo;s currently developing fall-appropriate flavors such as pumpkin pie, as well as a candy-cane concoction for the holidays. Sold by the pint at Bolsa Mercado and Jimmy%26rsquo;s Food Store and by the cup at Bryan Street Tavern, City Tavern, Granada Theater and Texas Theatre. Go to facebook.com/carnivalbarkers for information and updates.

What a Rush

Updating old-school favorites may not have been what Meghan Adams had in mind when she launched The Hospitality Sweet with her mom and sister in 2009, but it has definitely become her fort%26eacute;. Originally conceived as a %26ldquo;lake house%26rdquo; catering company, Adams sidelined the casseroles and pinwheels as clients began clamoring for her desserts. Under her creative eye, a jelly roll becomes a pumpkin roulade with crystallized ginger mascarpone filling, whoopie pies get the red velvet (with marshmallow filling) treatment, and push-pops and mason jars each score a sophisticated makeover with layers of spice cake and cream cheese frosting %26mdash; perfect for party favors or hostess gifts. Expectant and new moms keep Adams on speed dial for Gender Reveal baby showers and Cake Smash parties, the latter consisting of a birthday photo-op for your little tyke to smash his or her own mini-cake,
while the rest of the guests enjoy a picture-perfect version. In June 2012, London came calling, and the trio
opened The London Caf%26eacute; inside Timothy Oulton%26rsquo;s eponymous furniture emporium on Henderson, where they serve up Texas scones, amongst other obsessions, to those needing a fix. Exclusively at The London Caf%26eacute; at Timothy Oulton; order bespoke at thehospitalitysweet.com.

Demand His Supply

An overnight sensation when he launched Wackym%26rsquo;s Kitchen in 2008, Paul Wackym is the quintessential Renaissance man %26mdash; designer, luxury retail gourmand, epicurean and cookie maker. Widely known for the Margarita cookie (a sweet/savory tale of buttery crunch, fresh lime zest and sea salt), he%26rsquo;s constantly adding original, artisanal recipes to his arsenal. A believer in the power of a grassroots business model, Wackym is an advocate for keeping it real and local; he still works the Coppell Farmers Market every Saturday. %26ldquo;It%26rsquo;s like having a weekly test lab that helps me keep a strong, loyal customer base by understanding what resonates with people,%26rdquo; he says. Currently in development is a vanilla snickerdoodle cookie, as well as a chocolate version with a cinnamon-slash-cayenne finish. At Celebration Market, Central Market, Good 2 Go Taco, Green Spot Market and Jimmy%26rsquo;s Food Store; wackymskitchen.com.

Constant Craving

We%26rsquo;re no Girl Scouts, but that didn%26rsquo;t stop us from falling hard for Oh*Brownie. Several years ago, entrepreneur Iris McCallister owned a concierge service and recognized a potential niche after fruitlessly searching for her corporate gifting clients. %26ldquo;Everyone loves brownies %26mdash; they make people happy,%26rdquo; she states. The admitted perfectionist began to refine her childhood favorite, and four years later, a new company was born. Available in two proportions, bite-sized or big girl, these sleek packaged treats are sold individually or in gift-ready sets: Choose from The Birthday Box, The Congratulations Box, The No-Nuts Box and The Ella Box (a curated selection courtesy of her adorable 3-year-old daughter). A stickler for quality ingredients, McCallister uses only the best, i.e., Belgian chocolatiers Callebaut and Belcolade. Look for new seasonal recipes to rotate alongside mainstays Dark %26amp; Mysterious, The O.G, Smart Blondie and the best-selling sea salt caramel, aptly labeled Good Karmel. %26ldquo;No bacon brownies, ever,%26rdquo; she promises. At Bolsa Mercado, Jimmy%26rsquo;s Food Store, Scardello and TJ%26rsquo;s Seafood; order box sets through ohbrownie.com.%26nbsp;

New Highs

Believe the hype. A perennial %26ldquo;best of%26rdquo; list topper, chocolatier and resident Bishop Arts District babe Katherine Clapner quickly hooked the city on her confections. A brand-new production kitchen in the Design District will eventually offer cooking classes and demos, but for now the space allows Clapner to expand her offerings and satiate fans with even more Dude, Sweet Chocolate. We%26rsquo;re currently jonesing for the hints of tobacco and cognac in the Dude Artisan Collections and the melt-in-your-mouth fudge called Albatross, an unexpected pairing of dehydrated blue cheese and sea salt. Other must-haves: Cocoa Vin (an aged cocoa balsamic vinegar great on fresh salads and fruit), Tub of Love Italian Hazelnut spreads and EVOOC (extra virgin cocoa-infused olive oil), which adds dynamic flavor anywhere you%26rsquo;d normally use olive oil. With product names ranging from Fungus Amongus to Chubby Nuts, One Night Stand, Stag Party and Break-Up Potion, we had to ask her how she comes up with the clever monikers. She laughs, %26ldquo;Clearly, I have a very active imagination.%26rdquo; 408 W.. 8th St., 214.943.5943; dudesweetchocolate.com.

A Driving Force

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 01:58:16 GMT

Uber launches its town-car taxis in Dallas. Why? It%26rsquo;s a thriving DUI nexus. Matt Alexander, completely sober, test drives.%26nbsp;

Last June, exhausted from a day of meetings in downtown San Francisco, I began the arduous process of hailing a taxi (a rare commodity in Northern California). My efforts were getting me nowhere fast, so I walked onto a side street and attempted an experiment: I requested an Uber car. Within minutes, a Lincoln Town Car arrived. The driver was dressed in a pleasant suit, his automobile clean, fresh and stocked with chilled bottled water. He greeted me formally, opened my door and whisked me across town. I could scarcely believe I had managed to live without this service up until this point.

Uber%26rsquo;s co-founders, Garrett Camp and Travis Kalanick, launched the company in San Francisco in 2009, seeking to combat the very situation I found myself in this past summer. The duo decried the state of travel within the city and wanted to reinsert some semblance of dignity into the typical taxi experience %26mdash; and their idea is thriving in spite of some opposition from well-entrenched transport authorities. Having recently begun providing service in New York City, London and Paris, Uber is keen to insert itself into some of the most populous cities in the world.

Leaving San Francisco, I mourned my loss, unaware that the plucky startup was already on its way to the Lone Star State. Launched this September, Uber already has more than 40 cars at its disposal in the central Dallas area. Available for little more than a typical taxi, but with far greater convenience and style, Uber is unquestionably set to make quite a splash. Speaking at a recent event in downtown Dallas, Uber general manager Ryan Graves remarked that our fair city has already become the fastest growing launch in the company%26rsquo;s history. Given the high volume of DUIs, the sprawling nature of the metroplex and the affluence of its citizens, we%26rsquo;re a target rich environment.

The Uber app is freely available for download on iOS and Android, and could not be easier to set up. Simply input your credit card information and request a car. Once your information has been submitted, you can then watch your driver approach on your phone%26rsquo;s built-in map. You needn%26rsquo;t worry about cash, antiquated card machines, or pens scraped across tracing paper %26mdash; merely get into the car and get out, your card is automatically charged for the journey and tip. Uber also offers flat-rate visits to DFW Airport for $75 and the Rangers and Cowboys stadiums for $100. For simple trips from Highland Park to downtown, the cost is just over $20, depending on traffic.

Billy Fong Sez

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 01:52:30 GMT

Like croquet, it%26rsquo;s an excuse to gather a group and drink.%26nbsp;Problematically, I have little time for a lengthy tome and don%26rsquo;t need to discuss Fifty Shades of Grey with yet another Highland Park gal pal. Therefore, I opted to convene a coven of fashionistas to discuss the eagerly anticipated September fashion magazine issues.%26nbsp;The best setting for this scene, of course, would be me and the crew smocked up while drinking champagne in the waiting area of Fekkai.

%26nbsp;With the planets in perfect alignment, I confirmed Regan Landreth/Miss L (the current Fort Worth %26ldquo;it%26rdquo; girl), Piper Wyatt/Miss W (so lucky to score a Louisiana girl %26mdash; nothing makes me giggle more than Southern wit), the incredibly%26nbsp;charming Cecily Gooch/Miss G and the divine Ann Hobson/Miss H. Since we all hate homework, I simply asked everyone to pick-up the offerings from Vogue, Elle and Harper%26rsquo;s Bazaar.%26nbsp;In the interest of time, I did not include my go-to, Vanity Fair.%26nbsp;Their Best Dressed List is usually spot on, and there is always a new Coppola sibling or Greek shipping heir making their presence known through cutting-edge ensembles.%26nbsp;We won%26rsquo;t go into details (unless you want to send me an e-mail on the topic), but my fave girl from the 2012 list was H.H. Sheikha Moza bint Nasser of Qatar. I love me a ginger, so Eddie Redmayne tops the men%26rsquo;s list, without a doubt.

We assembled at the Hotel Palomar%26rsquo;s Central 214 patio bar and sampled delicious treats from chef Graham Dodds.%26nbsp;The conversation was loose and free-flowing, thanks to the equally free-flowing cocktails.%26nbsp;Keep in mind, this was not meant to be a critique of the fall collections, but rather our commentary on magazines and advertisements.%26nbsp;However, we did have some insane thoughts in common.%26nbsp;The weirdest was our current two favorite lines: The Row and Victoria Beckham.%26nbsp;We all realized that if we had been told 10 years ago that those twins from Full House and a Spice Girl would create the most brilliant, edgy-yet-wearable fashion we would have thought they%26rsquo;d been hitting the crack pipe.%26nbsp;The one item everyone seemed to be coveting for the upcoming social season was the gorgeous red leather laser-cut Valentino dress.%26nbsp;Sheer perfection.

A few snippets to share:

Me: Piper, I am dying over your shoes!%26nbsp;

Miss W: Proenza, of course.%26nbsp;

Miss H: Regan, you have gams for days, impressive.

Miss L: It%26rsquo;s an excuse to pull out my Tory Burch camo mini and give some edge to an apr%26egrave;s Labor Day white tuxedo jacket.

All in unison: Cecily, your hair is divine.%26nbsp;Who is doing your blow-outs?%26nbsp;

Miss G: Can%26rsquo;t share all of my secrets.

Miss W: How genius is Tom Ford to feature his own fabulous face in the new Tom Ford Beauty campaign?

Me: He could so be my hall pass.

Our favorite cover goes to Harper%26rsquo;s Bazaar.%26nbsp;The pink hat on Gwen Stefani was sublime and got us excited for the season ahead. Vogue was terribly unwieldy and obviously never found its way to Miss Wintour%26rsquo;s editing room: 916 pages, yet only 16 were memorable.

In closing, start planning for your own book club for next fall and definitely invite Cecily Gooch.%26nbsp;She was in it to win it, showing up for the conversation with Post-It notes galore.%26nbsp;Always great to have one over-achiever in the mix who actually read the book. billy@papercitymag.com

%26nbsp;

It’s a Graveyard Smash: Escapade’s Dia De Los Muertos

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 01:50:00 GMT

We%26lsquo;re not costume people, but for Escapade%26rsquo;s Dia de los Muertos, we%26rsquo;re determined to one-up Ceron and Todd Fiscus%26rsquo; infamous Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice at last year%26rsquo;s event. While we%26rsquo;re thinking, here are the details: Dia de Los Muertos Escapade, Saturday, October 27, 7:30 pm to midnight, at%26nbsp; 7@150 space in the International Design Center, hosted by the aforementioned Fiscus and Ceron, along with Tracy and Josh Madans, Matthew Simon and Keith Schumann %26mdash; no slouches in the costumery department either, see photo evidence. Todd Events company is designing the spooky night, and the six devious chair-minds have devised a boozy bar with vodka-cured gummy worms, a creepy candy bar, Day of the
Dead altar with a DJ monster mash (Lucy Wrubel and Jeff Mitchell), options to eat in the graveyard or inside a pumpkin, an awesome live auction, a silent-auction pumpkin patch and scary good trick-or-treat bags from stores such as Forty Five Ten, Madison and Avant Garden. Okay, I%26rsquo;ve got it %26hellip; I know what I%26rsquo;m going as! Tickets from $250; RSVP 214.443.7717, escapade@familyplace.org.

Inside the Head of Julie Cohn

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 01:32:57 GMT

Maybe she created your baby%26rsquo;s book during her Two Women Boxing days. Perhaps your toes have sunk into one of her Surya rugs. It%26rsquo;s even likely you%26rsquo;ve admired her public art project %26mdash; photographic windscreens reflecting an ever-evolving history %26mdash; at the Deep Ellum Dart Station. But however well you know Julie Cohn, one fact remains: She%26rsquo;s always capable of more.

Of late, more means a handcrafted jewelry collection that straddles the space betwixt primitive and modern. She%26rsquo;s attracted to bronze due to its luster and connection to traditional sculpture, but also works with sterling silver and semiprecious stones. Patterns of reflected light, a branch, shells and architecture swirl about in her head until they ultimately become tangible %26mdash; and wearable. (The outcome sometimes surprises even her.) In keeping with her go-your-own-way sensibility, she%26rsquo;s eschewing the typical retail route for a business built on trunk shows, private events and e-commerce. The lack of a bricks-and-mortar portal doesn%26rsquo;t deter clients intent on collecting her stackable rings, beautifully patinated bangles, sinuous earrings and one-of-a-kind necklaces. juliecohndesign.com.

You%26rsquo;ve been a frontrunner in the artisan movement before the artisan movement had a name. Is it a conscious choice or simply part of your DNA? It%26rsquo;s in my DNA. I%26rsquo;ve made things my whole life, and it%26rsquo;s all I%26rsquo;ve ever wanted to do. I%26rsquo;m proud of being an American artisan and am committed to making my jewelry in America. But earning a good living working with your hands is excruciatingly hard and woefully undervalued. The low cost of hand labor from other countries has made it next to impossible to compete in certain arenas. The global marketplace %26mdash; along with a gazillion knockoffs %26mdash; put Two Women Boxing out of business.

You mention 20th-century sculptors Noguchi, Calder and Brancusi as inspiration. Do any particular fashion designers get your creative juices flowing? I love Issey Miyaki for his graphic and sculptural quality. I%26rsquo;m very inspired by the artistry in the couture work of Gaultier, Armani, Valentino and others. The precision of engineering and handwork gives me the chills.

Describe your design process. I always fantasize about keeping a regular sketchbook, but I%26rsquo;m just not that person. I learn a craft by doing. I did a bit of sketching with Two Women Boxing, but prototyping and experimenting with materials are more my style. Jewelry making has been all about experimenting with waxes, techniques and fabrication %26mdash; a nonlinear process of trial and error, which has become my methodology. I pare away at an idea until it%26rsquo;s distilled down to its essence.

Surely even you get stuck on occasion. When I%26rsquo;m suffering from creative block, I%26rsquo;ll take a trip to Half Price Books. I look at everything from ethnic crafts, modern architecture, painting, jewelry, interiors and cookbooks. It%26rsquo;s like visual grazing at the buffet table. What those overload sessions do is push the most important idea to the top. I%26rsquo;m sure this is counterintuitive to people who need to clear their mental deck of visual clutter. I%26rsquo;m just the opposite.
I go on a feeding frenzy.

Any %26ldquo;What was I thinking?%26rdquo; moments? Two projects come to mind instantly, and they both have to do with weight. My partner in Two Women Boxing, Linda Finnell, and I made a portfolio box for Hines Development that weighed 35 pounds empty. We couldn%26rsquo;t get it up the stairs of their office. And a few years ago, I made a hair-on-hide bedspread for a client that seemed very glam, but it%26rsquo;s like sleeping under an X-ray blanket. She can barely lift it off the bed. Really embarrassing but good looking.

You and your husband, landscape designer David Rolston, clearly value creativity and self-expression. How do you impart that sensibility to your daughter? My daughter Mila is witness to both of her parents getting up every day to do what they love. I office out of the house, and she and I share my studio. She has an irreverent way of connecting the dots and is innately creative mentally and physically. I fear she will be the next Margaret Cho and do a monologue about her honky parents.

What was the first thing you can remember creating as a child? My sister and I did tons of embroidery, papier-m%26acirc;ch%26eacute;, flower making %26mdash; you name it. Probably my first memory is embroidering an Aunt Martha%26rsquo;s iron-on pattern on a pillowcase. The image was likely something ridiculous such as a cat ironing with the day of the week printed under it, all sewn in cross-stitch.

How did your recent collaboration with The Trammell %26amp; Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art come about? Retail consultant Mary Bloom has mentored me my entire career, championed me at every creative crossroads and hugely impacted my aesthetic %26mdash; she%26rsquo;s also masterful at seeing the intersection between art and commerce. She has put together a series of events that coincide with different shows, which gave me the opportunity to present my new collection in tandem with the Silk Road exhibition.

You have an entire afternoon to yourself %26mdash; no deadlines, no commitments, no pressure. How would you spend it? Trolling secondhand modern furniture stores or resale shops. I love treasure hunting. One of my greatest days was spent at the flea market in Arezzo, Italy: drinking great coffee, hanging out with friends and looking at Piero della Francesca frescoes in the church of San Francesco. It was an all-out feast for every sense.

You%26rsquo;ve been part of the Dallas art scene for more than 35 years. What is one of the more memorable moments? I%26rsquo;m part of an art collaborative called Toxic Shock with Frances Bagley, Debora Hunter, Susan Magilow and the late Linda Finnell. We began in the early %26rsquo;80s and did some really interesting pieces that were social commentary on gender, art world hierarchy and other political issues. This year, we were asked to be part of the Oral History of Contemporary Art Collecting in Dallas, 1963 %26ndash; Present Project to be housed in the DMA library. That inclusion was an incredible validation of our body of work. The dinner parties with those women %26mdash; the evolution of our conversation over 35 years %26mdash; is an art piece in and of itself.

Sink into a New Dive

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 12:56:17 GMT

If you%26rsquo;re hankering for that perfect mixture of grunge and grace, owners Laura and Jerry Lasco and Jonathan Horowitz have the destination for you. Now open in a former West Village bookstore, Max%26rsquo;s Wine Dive was originally inspired by a New York eatery called Yogi%26rsquo;s, which was just too far away for the Lascos to enjoy on a regular basis. Max%26rsquo;s seasonal menu ranges from freshly prepared fried chicken to chef Patrick Russell%26rsquo;s pumpkin risotto and Wagyu tacos, and even the most persnickety wine connoisseur will enjoy Max et Jacques chardonnay, named after the couple%26rsquo;s sons, Max and Jack. Max%26rsquo;s Wine Dive originated in Houston and is a hit there; we imagine the patio seating, late-night atmosphere and stick-to-your-ribs fare will be a magnet to those who like to keep it casual without stepping on peanut shells. 3600 McKinney Ave., 214.559.3484; maxswinedive.com.

The Life of Pie

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 12:55:02 GMT

While chatting at The Amsterdam one evening, friends Mary Sparks and Megan Wilkes decided Dallas needed a place where people could hang out and eat pie. So they created one. But first they had to build the business by selling their baked goodies to a few restaurants and local grocery stores. A year later, Emporium Pies in Bishop Arts was born. Located in an early-20th-century bungalow, the shop %26mdash; and its made-from-scratch offerings %26mdash; definitely pass muster with even the most discerning grandma. Only Nana would probably never have made The Drunken Nut (a bourbon, pecan and caramelized brown sugar confection with a shortbread crust and nary a hint of corn syrup) or Lord of the Pies (a deep-dish apple pie with cinnamon streusel). Enjoy yours %26agrave; la mode while sipping iced tea or French-press coffee. 314 N. Bishop, 469.206.6126; emporiumpies.com.

East Hampton Meets The Plaza

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 12:53:35 GMT

When Dallasite Hunter Pond quit law school for the restaurant world, the result was East Hampton Sandwich Company. Design firm Plan B Group conjured up the traditional beach-home aesthetic; house-prepped meats and sauces along with fresh bread from Empire Baking Co. round it out. The menu boasts more than 10 sandwich options, all which can be turned into a salad for the carb-conscious, ranging from a lobster roll brimming with tender crustacean meat, microgreens and a drizzle of butter to a Cuban decked out in brown-sugar ham, roast pork, Swiss, mojo sauce and a spicy pickle. For the finishing touch, a small bar serves wine and beers on draft. 6912 Snider Plaza, 214.363.2888; ehsandwich.com.

Front and Center

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 12:52:01 GMT

Whether luring guests or local-food lovers, Hotel Lumen knew the way to everyone%26rsquo;s heart was by opening The Front Room: A Park Cities Diner. Tim McEneny of design team NL Group echoed the property%26rsquo;s mid-century style with limestone walls, stainless-steel pillars and a marble-engulfed bar. Executive chef Scott Townend (formerly of Craft and Ristorante Nicola) conjures up modern classics three times per day, from ricotta pancakes and Florentine frittatas to shaved prosciutto and gruyere paninis and pulled pork tacos. Sip an SMU Mustang Sally (lime vodka, lime sorbet and Licor 43) while lounging on the covered courtyard patio with its university view. 6101 Hillcrest Ave., 214.219.8282; thefrontroomdallas.com.

Cultivating Success

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 06:08:16 GMT

Gracie Cavnar has done more to teach our children how to eat healthy through her Recipe For Success Foundation and Seed-to-Plate Nutrition Education than the government’s food pyramid ever has. Now, her first of three books, Eat It! Food Adventures with Marco Polo, makes learning about, growing and cooking healthy food an attractive alternative to chicken tenders. Cavnar is a life-long cook and gardener who has spent 14 years growing her healthy and thriving Recipe For Success, which will get an added bump now: She has donated the rights to and proceeds from the book to her foundation. $19.99 at recipe4success.org and in bookstores.

Egg-ceedingly Egg-ceptional

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 05:56:37 GMT

Charming West Egg, a bolt-hole of a shop, is tucked away on Lake Street, which runs between Armandos restaurant and the new Billy Reid bungalow, just off Westheimer near Kirby. Yes, you need those directions to find it. Stocked are an assortment of great at-home evening skirts and fluttery go-with silk tops from Times Two; Legitimutt%26rsquo;s candy-colored leather leashes, tartan jackets, dog bowls and other pup gear; Nancey Chapman%26rsquo;s dynamite long dresses, tunics and tops handmade in India, where she currently resides; Moo Boo%26rsquo;s confection dresses for tots; and new-for-fall design, art, architecture, fashion and pop-culture books from Curate, PaperCity%26rsquo;s bookshop. Armando and Cinda Palacios%26rsquo; New World Museum is the inspiration for the shop, with charming paintings from Franco Mondini and oysters, mushrooms and pomegranates by artist Henri Gadbois among the offerings. West Egg %26mdash; named after the tiny spit of land where Jay Gatsby resides %26mdash; has new goods arriving daily. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 am to 4 pm, 2626 Westheimer, Suite 100 (facing Lake Street), 713.520.1738. (Just ask for West Egg; information curatebooks@papercitymag.com.)

%26nbsp;

With a Little Help from our Friends

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 05:50:57 GMT

The SPA chairmen won%26rsquo;t need help with this year%26rsquo;s luncheon. Blockbuster bestseller Kathryn Stockett takes the stage to discuss her book The Help at the Society for the Performing Arts Annual Luncheon Wednesday, October 10, on the Jones Hall Stage. Lucinda Loya chairs, with honorary chair Karen Pulaski. Mariquita Masterson will receive the Ann Sakowitz Performing Arts Advocate Award. Jackson and Company serves the courses, and PaperCity%26rsquo;s Curate bookshop will sell deluxe editions of The Help ($30) for signing and inscribing. Tickets from $250 (limited availability). Tables from $2,500, through 713.632.8103; william@spahouston.org.

We took a few minutes with Ms. Stockett to see if there%26rsquo;s a sequel coming down the pike, and what she%26rsquo;s reading herself.

PaperCity: We understand 60 not-so-smart literary agents rejected The Help. Did you ever find out why? I got a few notes scribbled on the edges of the rejection letters %26hellip; %26ldquo;Not a saleable story in New York %26hellip; Too risky.%26rdquo; I started sending out the book to publishers early in its development, and it changed a lot. So maybe the first 50 were right.

Have you heard from any of the rejecting agents since it became a blockbuster? Not really %26hellip;.

You are all things Southern: Favorite Southern city? Natchez, Mississippi.

You spend so much time in hotels on book tours. What are your top picks? The Elysian Hotel in Chicago, The Greeenwich in NYC. Soniat House in New Orleans is my absolute favorite %26mdash; it%26rsquo;s full of old things and antiques, so you don%26rsquo;t feel like you%26rsquo;re in some shiny new Target.

You%26rsquo;re reading? Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. It%26rsquo;s fantastic, with a very literary edge to it. I love her, I could stalk her.

For generations, The Help will surely sit on Southern bookshelves with To Kill a Mockingbird and Gone With the Wind.
What other books should be on that shelf? The Secret History by Donna Tartt.

Sequel or a completely new book? It%26rsquo;s book two, God help me, about women in the South in Mississippi in the %26rsquo;20s during a depression. It%26rsquo;s kind of relevant to today %26mdash; we%26rsquo;re not starving to death like so many people did in the %26rsquo;30s, but it%26rsquo;s the same issues. This group of women, who were not raised to be independent, nor do they have any marketable skills, wake up one morning, and the men are gone, run off, died %26mdash; and they start a rather risky business. There%26rsquo;s no title for the book yet. That comes at the end.

Restaurant Buzz

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 05:57:52 GMT

Shake a tail feather to Lisa Garza%26rsquo;s Sissy%26rsquo;s Southern Kitchen %26amp; Bar at 2929 Henderson Avenue, now open for lunch as well as dinner. Now we can have chef Jeffrey Hobbs%26rsquo; elegantly presented fried chicken, deviled eggs with caviar and squash puppies in broad daylight %26hellip; Ser, the new steak house on the 27th floor of the Hilton Anatole, serves prime beef, fresh seafood, a world-class wine list and some of the best views in the city %26hellip; When chef Matt McCallister unveils FT33 at 1617 Hi Line Drive in the Design District this month, we%26rsquo;ll be ordering pork jowl and parsnip, black truffle and mango; wild boar sloppy joes, cheddar fondue and pickles, topped off with a grand dessert from pastry chef Joshua Valentine (perhaps peanut butter with grapes, curry and raisins). Some nights, we might just drink and let GM and sommelier Ryan Tedder curate for us. We do have a soft spot for a good Corpse Reviver with Hendrick%26rsquo;s gin, Cointreau, Lillet Blanc, lemon and absinthe %26hellip; Opening November 1 in The Shops at Park Lane, Bowl %26amp; Barrel is Dallas%26rsquo; first boutique bowling alley with an American tavern pouring craft beers and intriguing cocktails, plus a 3,000-square-foot restaurant. SMU-grad owners Josh Sepkowitz and Kyle Noonan have 15 ace lanes.

Restaurant Buzz

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 05:31:09 GMT

The Pass %26amp; Provisions is opening as we go to press, in the former Gravitas spot on Taft. Chef/owners Terrence Gallivan and Seth Siegel-Gardner%26rsquo;s great-looking eatery with an industrial edge is two concepts in one. The Pass serves forth a fine-dining experience with a tasting menu (only), while Provisions is the casual side of this buzzed-about eatery, a community-centered space built around a glowing wood-fired oven. There%26rsquo;s dining inside and out, with craft cocktails, too. More next month %26hellip; Ryan Pera and Morgan Weber, co-owners of Revival Market, are opening a rustic Italian eatery around the corner in the Heights. Colivare continues the guys%26rsquo; commitment to seasonal regional ingredients and will have a 3,000-square-foot garden to provide vegetable provisions to both the market and their new eatery set to debut in Spring 2013 %26hellip; Chef Ryan Hildebrande, who opened Triniti earlier this year to great acclaim, is working on his next concept that%26rsquo;s due to debut fall 2013. MC2 architects is working to tear down the former Ruggles Grill in the Montrose and build Brande, set in a contemporary building with a rustic farmhouse vibe where Hildebrande will bake breads and pastries, craft charcuterie and dry-age his own meats. The American fare%26ndash;focused eatery will have a decidedly masculine edge, with chef de cuisine Dax McAnear manning the range %26hellip; Chef David Guerrero, who ran the kitchen of the recently shuttered Samba Grille, is hanging another shingle. Besides his recently opened Alma (a Peruvian restaurant on Eldridge Parkway), he%26rsquo;s debuting EVO in the Montrose next month %26mdash; an incubator where he can let his creativity soar, developing small plates as well as four-, six- and nine-course tasting menus reflecting his Latin heritage %26hellip; Chef Chris Williams has unveiled his new Southern-style restaurant, Lucille%26rsquo;s, in a 1923 mission-style house in the Museum District. Grounded in European cooking techniques, Williams named the eatery after his great-grandmother, who was something of a food maverick in Fort Worth. Besides serving lunch and dinner, Lucille%26rsquo;s also caters %26hellip; Calling all chocolate connoisseurs: Locally churned Trentino Gelato has released a new line of single-source cocoa-bean flavors %26mdash; seven in all, plucked from growing regions the world over. Is your palate discerning enough to distinguish Brazilian 80 percent bittersweet chocolate (with notes of berry fruit and toasted nuts) from an Ecuadorian or Venezuelan bean, the latter with a hint of toffee on the finish? Buy them at Spec%26rsquo;s downtown, with Central Market and Whole Foods Market soon to follow %26hellip;
The InterContinental Houston in the Galleria area has quietly morphed into The Royal Sonesta Hotel Houston. This AAA-approved, four-diamond hotel with nearly 500 rooms is the only Sonesta property in Texas. (We%26rsquo;ve also spotted signs in the Sage area that InterContinental%26rsquo;s more casual chain, Hotel Indigo, is transitioning into a Sonesta brand as well.) Sonesta is known for embracing the spirit of the city where their properties are situated, so look for some renovations to the RSHH in the coming months %26hellip; Katie Barnhart Adair and Nick Adair have opened Adair Kitchen on San Felipe at Sage. The siblings %26mdash; their father is Gary Adair, who started Skeeter%26rsquo;s Hamburgers %26mdash; are serving up American cuisine via counter service at their new breakfast, lunch and dinner joint that%26rsquo;s reminiscent of the food they grew up eating. Their parents%26rsquo; love for precious piglets %26mdash; they also owned the Flying Pig restaurant %26mdash; has rubbed off on the duo, as they%26rsquo;ve erected a 10-foot sheet-metal pig among the booths in the two-story space %26hellip; It%26rsquo;s confirmed that Del Frisco%26rsquo;s Grille is opening early 2013 in the former space of Ava Kitchen %26amp; Whiskey Bar space on the first floor of West Ave. The Grille concept is a smaller more casual cousin of Del Frisco%26rsquo;s Double Eagle Steakhouse. Stay tuned for more details %26hellip; To clarify a misnomer, Killen%26rsquo;s Steakhouse in Pearland isn%26rsquo;t moving to the Heights as some believe. Chef/owner Ronnie Killen is actually still searching for the ideal space for his steak-house concept. But meanwhile, this Le Cordon Bleu%26ndash;trained chef is going back to this barbecue roots and transforming the current Killen%26rsquo;s Steakhouse into Killen%26rsquo;s Kountry BBQ %26hellip; The aroma of artisan NY-style pizzas baking will soon be wafting down Shepherd. Owner Cara Cox is opening Volare in November, a casual pizza joint open seven days a week for lunch and dinner %26hellip; Etoile Cuisine et Bar will soon take up residence in the former space of Andre%26rsquo;s in Uptown Park. San Diego%26ndash;area star chef Philippe Verpiand (whose resume boasts Cavaillon Restaurant and Tapenade) and his wife Monica Bui will serve up authentic fare fran%26ccedil;ais in the 90-seat space when it debuts later this month. Hail, Caesar! The 28th annual Caesar Salad Competition, a benefit that raises money for the Food and Beverage Managers Association%26rsquo;s educational endowment, takes place Friday, October 5, at the Four Seasons Hotel. For tickets and all the Caesar salad you can consume, go to caesarsaladcompetitionhouston.com.

Spooning?

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 04:41:41 GMT

Ana Beaven and Charlie McDaniel%26rsquo;s new bistro, Cuchara, serves up Mexico City%26ndash;inspired dishes that remind us of home-cooked meals: comforting, honest, yet perfectly prepared. Colorful, witty murals by artist Cecilia Beaven, Ana%26rsquo;s sister; a serious industrial interior by Jim Herd%26rsquo;s Collaborative Projects (Underbelly and Haven) and equally serious cocktails and infusions devised by former Anvil and Underbelly bartender Chris Frankel (who consults at Cuchara) make this restaurant a contender for a top slot in new fall dining options. Outstanding offerings range from simple tacquitos to the more complex pork mole verde and nopal with queso fresco, with special attention paid to side dishes such as black beans, white corn puree and amaranth grains. The menu also includes items for vegans (try the grilled cactus fillet stuffed with panela cheese), with a delicious rose petal salad highlighting several of the dishes. And be sure to stop at the bar for Chichicapa Mezcal and other hard-to-find tequilas. 214 Fairview St., corner of Taft, 713.942.0000; cuchararestaurant.com.

IMAGE: Cecilia Beaven in Cuchara. Photo by Simon Gentry.

Eat Like a Sparrow

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 04:38:50 GMT

We believe that every decade or so, a restaurant has to shake it up and do a little reinventing. Apparently Monica Pope, chef/owner of the former T%26rsquo;Afia restaurant, feels the same. Late this summer, she shuttered her nearly 10-year-old Midtown eatery, only to re-emerge a fortnight latter with Sparrow Bar + Cookshop in its place. Along with Becki and Jur van der Oord of Installation Antiques and the branding firm Primer Gray, Pope set about tweaking the space with pops of red, from glossy swinging kitchen doors to a couple of cozy settees by the window. The trio also judiciously employed industrial touches (i.e., an airplane wing as a light in the men%26rsquo;s room), worn and warm elements such as seasoned tart pans for the waitstaff to carry and cool leather aprons by the Sealy-based Stash Co. to wear, as well as a patio lovely enough to idle away hours on a pretty day. Pope, who became a force locally in developing farmers%26rsquo; markets and spearheading our city%26rsquo;s zeal for farm-to-table fare, continues serving forth frequently changing bites at her cookshop (a term that predates the concept of our modern restaurant). Order crave-worthy apps such as shiitake mushroom dumplings ($14) and a bright orange dip of kabocha and butternut squashes with homemade flatbread to build your own burgers and fries ($15) at lunch, or try a satisfying dinner entree of lamb belly satay ($15) or Kobe inside skirt steak napped with an avocado sauce and almond-hazelnut sambal ($16). Though Pope opens her doors for lunch, dinner and breakfast on Saturday, she begs you to drop in anytime %26mdash; perhaps for bar bites in the afternoon, dessert and drinks after a show or whenever the mood strikes, 10 am to midnight. 3701 Travis St., 713.524.6922; sparrowhouston.com.

IMAGE:%26nbsp; Monica Pope at Sparrow. Photo by Debora Smail.

Media Darlings

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 11:36:51 GMT

The modern smartphone has led us out into a world of unrestricted communication and possibility. And yet, despite this tidal shift, the social networking giants of the past decade are showing their age. Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter now demonstrate an emphatic display of bloat, whilst quick-witted competition gains traction.

For those looking to stay ahead of the curve, perhaps the most compelling competitor is a little-known company called Path. Valued in the vicinity of $250 million within a year of its launch, Path is a mobile-only app characterized by a beautiful, responsive design; delightful interactions; and far-reaching features for the well-connected person on the go. Richard Branson, founder of the multi-billion-dollar Virgin Group, went so far as to describe Path%26rsquo;s founder, Dave Morin, as a %26ldquo;genius%26rdquo; %26mdash; quickly embossing his words with a $40 million investment into the fledgling startup. Widely touted as the next social-media darling, Path should make an appearance on any self-respecting smartphone in very short order.

Meanwhile, just as Path has begun to undermine the flagging dominance of Facebook, Fancy is attempting to do the same for the oddly recent arrival, Pinterest. Latching onto the socialized shopping experience that so many have come to repurpose Pinterest for, Fancy takes the matter several steps further by allowing users to purchase any saved items right there in the phenomenal Fancy app. With an exploding audience, rumors of both Apple and Facebook acquisitions and a well-considered design, Fancy is the antithesis to the confusing, mobile-failing Pinterest of the past 12 months. For the modern shopper, Fancy is undoubtedly poised to become one of the most important social networks of the future.

Finally, lacking any semblance of a long-term business plan, Twitter has descended into erratic and off-putting behavior. Implementing ill-considered designs in its apps, slamming the door on its third-party supporters and spewing advertising upon its users, the real-time service has begun to drastically shed its relevance. Sensing an opportunity, App.net has just revealed itself to the world. Although still in its nascent stages, App.net%26rsquo;s outset goal is to establish itself as a stable, long-term means for the intellectual discussion of design, fashion, business and technology. Building a paid wall around the service, App.net is a veritable utopia when compared to Twitter %26mdash; obnoxious Wonka accounts utterly disallowed, journalists and entrepreneurs approachable, and celebrity parody users thankfully missing. For the person invested in real-time news and discussion, App.net is fast becoming the place to see and be seen.

Renowned for the Count

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 11:34:31 GMT

When you combine the magnetism of Forty Five Ten with the intimacy of Five and Ten, there%26rsquo;s a common denominator: wunderkind Brian Bolke. And, come mid-October, expect a retail triumvirate with the opening of Number One, a boutique curated with an organic point of view. Bolke explains, %26ldquo;Number One is really about the best, but best as defined in a new way %26hellip; best sourced, best tasting, best feeling, best smelling, best for the earth. It embodies every aspect related to taking care of oneself %26mdash; what we put in our bodies, on our bodies, and surround ourselves with.%26rdquo; The space (designed by Droese Raney Architecture) will feature soaring ceilings, exposed-brick walls and windows taken from Highland Park Village%26rsquo;s original soda-fountain location. The store lineup includes fashion from Urban Zen by Donna Karan, Kristensen de Nord, Herff Christiansen, The Lady and The Sailor, and the introduction of a Number One collection. Jewelry from Jeanine Payer and Marion Cage and home-related offerings from Diptyque, C%26ocirc;t%26eacute; Bastide and Heath Ceramics round out the mix. But perhaps the most enticing addition involves Bolke%26rsquo;s collaboration with Dana Card, founder of Le Jus. Organic pressed juices, coffee, teas and artisanally crafted food can be ordered in or taken to go. At press time, shop hours were still pending, but expect doors to open early enough to satisfy anyone with a Number One track mind. 1 Highland Park Village. 214.520.0101. numberonelejus.com.

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IMAGES:

Urban Zen by Donna Karan

Jeanine Payer

Mister Clean

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 11:24:47 GMT

Up and at %26lsquo;em by 5 am each morning, Brent Rodgers does his part to keep Dallas beautiful by delivering fresh juices to the body conscious amongst us. Launched in June, Roots Juices has quickly developed a cult following due, in large part, to his cold-pressed juicing system and impressive complimentary delivery service with a $30 minimum order. %26ldquo;It%26rsquo;s important for someone to wake up and have a cleanse at their doorstep,%26rdquo; says the stockbroker turned entrepreneur. %26ldquo;Otherwise they are likely to fall off the wagon.%26rdquo; All juices are cold-pressed, which keeps the vitamins, minerals and enzymes intact, resulting in a product that has 50 times more nutrients than a fresh juice made at home or those prepackaged at natural grocers. Rodgers recommends a five-day cleanse in order to get the most benefit. This consists of an eight-juice lineup, smartly coded in a drink-in-this-order system developed with a nutritionist for maximum results. With names such as Glow and Restore, each 14-ounce concoction contains up to three pounds of blended, organic fruits and vegetables. Side note: To balance your (not always healthy) lifestyle, he also offers cocktail mixers and a Hangover Recovery Kit. Talk about forward thinking. Cleanses from $50 per day; order online through rootspressedjuices.com or pick up at Beyond Pilates, Equinox or Exhale.

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Small Shops; Big Style

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 11:22:39 GMT

The Shops at Target debut a second collection of goods created by independent shop owners, launching September 9 in-store and online. This time around, the retail collaborations feature two lauded New York City boutiques, Edward Chai and Paul Birardi%26rsquo;s %26uuml;ber-hot men%26rsquo;s clothing emporium Odin and Sarah Easley and Beth Buccini%26rsquo;s women%26rsquo;s urban fashion mecca Kirna Zab%26ecirc;te, as well as bicoastal home-goods havens the Curiosity Shoppe out of San Francisco and Boston%26rsquo;s Patch NYC. Odin fans can expect a sharp, sophisticated-casual collection of menswear and accessories %26mdash; including scarves and a handsome weekender bag. Kirna Zab%26ecirc;te showcases an extensive 100-piece collection of handbags, hats, jewelry, a leather moto jacket and graphic printed skirts. Patch NYC%26rsquo;s nature-inspired home decor includes bedding, barware and home furnishings, and while Fran%26rsquo;s Curiosity Shoppe goes playful with kitchen kitsch, stationery and gifts. All collections from $10 to $300. Now then, no excuses not to have a fashionable fall. At Target stores and online September 9.

IMAGE: Kirna Zab%26ecirc;te

Billy Fong Sez

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 11:13:51 GMT

To quote the brilliant %26lsquo;80s rappers PM Dawn, %26ldquo;Reality used to be a friend of mine.%26rdquo; As my acquaintances can attest, my life is filled with fantasy moments %26mdash; hours are spent daydreaming on the treadmill, since it seems gyms only subscribe to ESPN. My marching orders this month were to recast classic films with my dream cast of socials. My tastes tend to run to unique, highly stylized movies such as %26lsquo;80s John Hughes brat-pack fare, early James Bond and %26uuml;ber-chic Fellini flicks. I die every time I see the opening shot of La Dolce Vita, which begins with Italian babes sunning on a rooftop and then jumping up to wave at the statue of Christ being flown over the city via helicopter. %26nbsp;

After much thought, I realized that some of my choices were landmines waiting to explode. Everyone would want to be Claire Standish, Molly Ringwald%26rsquo;s character in The Breakfast Club. Her outfit should be next to Fonzie%26rsquo;s in the Smithsonian. However, Molly isn%26rsquo;t looking so glamorous these days. So I decided to imagine local socials in roles created by Ian Fleming %26mdash; perhaps the greatest compliment I can give.

The number one, of course, is Pussy Galore. Played by Honor Blackman in Goldfinger, I can only suggest Cindy Rachofsky. Really, need I say more? If Mrs. Rachofsky had not found herself as an art-world powerhouse, she could have just as easily had her own flying, cat-burglarizing circus. Who knows, perhaps Howard Rachofsky is the perfect Auric Goldfinger?

I cast Capera Ryan as Solitaire in Live and Let Die. The role put Jane Seymour on the map. So easy to picture Capera with a great up-do of barrel curls, sitting in a high-backed wicker chair in New Orleans, reading tarot cards. All styled brilliantly with one of her chic jeweled cocktail rings to complement her tunic.

Suzanne Droese is most definitely Octopussy. Who didn%26rsquo;t love Maude Adams as the daughter of a scientist who was a leading authority of octopi? If you can%26rsquo;t have a flying circus %26agrave; la Pussy Galore, then have a team of female assassins whose cover is that of a circus troupe. All amongst the backdrop of incredible Indian architecture. So Suzanne.

My confidante at Barneys, Havilah Bender, would be A View To A Kill%26rsquo;s May Day. With her cutting-edge glamour often made complete by a faux-hawk in a brilliant shade, she could wear a leather suit and bust an acrobatic judo move, all with Grace Jones%26rsquo; aplomb.

When considering two of the greatest Bond roles of all time %26mdash; the quintessential villains Bambi and Thumper in Diamonds Are Forever %26mdash; I would like you, dear readers, to help me cast. The two assassins were in charge of keeping Willard Whyte hostage in a flawless example of Palm Springs mid-century modern architecture. So, if you think you know their local alter egos, please pop me an e-mail. Our threesome would be the perfect addition to any fall party %26mdash; especially if we pull up in a vintage car with suicide doors and Shirley Bassey%26rsquo;s Goldfinger blaring. Billy Fong, billy@papercitymag.com

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IMAGES:

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Capera Ryan is Solitaire

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Havilah Bender channels May Day

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Suzanne Droese is like this with Octopussy

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Cindy Rachofsky rocks Pussy Galore

Thumper and Bambi in Diamonds are Forever

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One for All

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 11:04:17 GMT

The MTV Staying Alive Foundation brings new meaning to compassion through the continuance of its flagship Re:Define event. While the benefit and art auction on Saturday, September 22, raises funds to support youth-led initiatives committed to stopping the spread of HIV, the free public exhibition runs September 13 through 21 at The Goss-Michael Foundation. Curated by The Future Tense, the show includes original works by Michael Craig-Martin, G%26eacute;rard Rancinan, Ryan McGinness, Ralf Kaspers, Jim Houser, Mat Collishaw, Ryan Gander, Charming Baker, Tomokazu Matsuyama, Chuck Elliott, James Hugonin and Jen Stark, as well as curator tours, previews and artist talks, plus a major public installation by emerging British artist Lee Baker. mtvredefine.com.

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G%26eacute;rard Rancinan's Le Banquet des Idoles, 2012

Making Something of It

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 04:31:45 GMT

Some ideas are born of necessity. Others arrive via sudden inspiration. Many are fueled by a primal desire to bring something into being that didn%26rsquo;t exist before. Meet four men who subscribe to the latter sentiment. Question them about the creative aspects of their work, and they%26rsquo;ll mention artistry, integrity, authenticity %26hellip;%26nbsp; and the importance of being commercially viable. This is self-expression without self-indulgence. Fortunately, that doesn%26rsquo;t keep these guys from acting on an impulse, even if it means getting their hands dirty. Here, they come clean about everything from irrational fears to what%26rsquo;s in their fridge. Just don%26rsquo;t expect any skincare tips.

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Steve Brooks [Owner, The Wooden House]%26nbsp;

Following Steve Brooks in conversation is a bit like circumventing the globe on a rocket. By the time you%26rsquo;ve gained equilibrium, he has already referenced surf culture, Popular Science magazine, Jaipur and Hemingway. He%26rsquo;ll pause to order another beer, then segue into a story about the time he got jumped by a gang of street toughs in Spain %26hellip; then, explain what makes a centuries-old Japanese pagoda withstand a natural disaster. Brooks may be impossible to pin down, but he leaves an impression. His Henderson Avenue store stocks pieces imported from all over the world, but it%26rsquo;s his affordably priced custom designs that resonate with fans of reclaimed American hardwoods. His overall aesthetic favors functionality over frills, but there%26rsquo;s no shortage of interesting details. %26ldquo;I like things with character and history,%26rdquo; he says. %26ldquo;That%26rsquo;s why my custom pieces work so well with my vintage imports. Everything has heart.%26rdquo;

Worst piece of advice I%26rsquo;ve ever taken: %26ldquo;Try the soup %26mdash; the tomato soup in the front of the train is great!%26rdquo; I heeded this advice while on a buying trip in Northern India and subsequently found myself confined to my hotel room for days.

Best piece of advice I could give: Be able to take rejection, learn from it and move forward.%26nbsp;

Heaven on earth: Traveling with friends, experiencing new cultures and trying new foods.%26nbsp;

Constant crave: I am addicted to swimming.

Not in my abode: Cats. I%26rsquo;m a dog person all the way.

Always in my fridge: Avocados, salsa and chicken salad. While I wish I could, I really can%26rsquo;t cook.

Most underrated skill: Listening. I could do a little more of that.%26nbsp;

Most overrated virtue: Always doing what you%26rsquo;re told.

Adrenaline rush: Free diving for lobster and Hawaiian spearfishing. Nothing is better.

Buzz kill: Arrogance, entitlement and stupidity %26mdash; which, coincidentally, go hand in hand.

First car:%26nbsp;A blue Ford Explorer shared, somewhat begrudgingly, with my twin brother.

Last traffic ticket: Last summer driving along Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu, my old stomping grounds. It was worth it.

First thing I bought with my own money: A Land Rover.%26nbsp;

First job: Hobie Sports, a surf shop in Newport Beach, my hometown.%26nbsp;

Hell on earth: Going too long without seeing my vizsla, Cayden.

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Tom De Nolf%26nbsp; [Owner, Denolf Films]

For five years post-college, Tom De Nolf explored the rural Southeast, slept in his car and canvassed small towns for local eccentrics. The work may have been demanding, but the result was nine documentaries on folk art for PBS, friendships with some of the country%26rsquo;s best outsider artists and an enviable art collection of his own. After a stint as an assistant on Talking Heads frontman David Byrnes%26rsquo; True Stories, De Nolf made the transition into commercial directing %26mdash; the obvious choice for a man who describes himself as having a 30-second attention span. One of his best-known projects is a series of advertisements for the European shoe brand Humanic. Each blended style, humor, sexuality and, in one memorable instance, the kind of bondage most recently associated with Fifty Shades of Grey. In short, De Nolf gravitates toward projects that win awards in Europe but raise eyebrows at the Federal Communications Commission. Most recently, his knowledge of art, movie making and the business of both landed him work on an independent film in Los Angeles starring Ed Harris, Annette Bening and Robin Williams, produced by his friend Bonnie Curtis of Jurassic Park and Saving Private Ryan fame. All in all, the project boasts more than 20 Academy Award nominations amongst cast and crew, and is considered a top contender at next year%26rsquo;s Cannes Film Festival.

Best piece of advice I could give: Illegitimi non carborundum.
Irrational fear: There%26rsquo;s not another surprise around the next corner.
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Worst piece of advice I%26rsquo;ve ever taken: Trust me.

%26nbsp;Irrational fear: There%26rsquo;s not another surprise around the next corner.

First car: 1953 Chevy Bel Air.

Last traffic ticket: Five years ago. I was speeding.

First thing I bought with my own money: A multicolored rhinestone sunburst-shaped brooch for my mom from Kresge%26rsquo;s.

Last thing I misplaced: Amex card.

First job: Detroit Free Press morning newspaper route.%26nbsp;

Last vacation: Cape Cod.

Constant crave: Thai food.

Not in my abode: Clutter.

Always in my fridge: Lots of empty space.

Most underrated skill: My simple lifestyle.%26nbsp;

Adrenaline rush: Getting unexpectedly great performances.

Buzz kill: Someone being late and not calling.

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Jeremy Ordaz%26nbsp; [Owner, Oak Cliff Bicycle Company]

Like most kids, Jeremy Ordaz%26rsquo;s first bike provided that initial taste of freedom. And, along with the majority of teens, he gave it up for coolness%26rsquo; sake once high school entered the picture. But after moving to downtown Dallas 10 years ago, he realized that the scarcity of parking made bikes look good all over again. So he bought one. Then another. And yet another. When pressed today, he admits to owning somewhere in the vicinity of 40 bikes, and one gets the impression he%26rsquo;s still not sated. This intense interest, coupled with an aptitude for all things mechanical, resulted in a Bishop Arts%26ndash;based store offering brands no one else carries, such as Salsa Cycles and Bobbin Bicycles. But what truly sets Oak Cliff Bicycle Company apart is Ordaz%26rsquo;s willingness to modify, customize and repair vintage bikes %26mdash; a direct response to his affinity for classic design coupled with the disdain he feels for the gimmicks associated with certain mass-produced bikes. Case in point: He recently completed an industrial-looking design that marries machine-age aesthetics with enhancements so subtle that anyone other than a fellow aficionado might be oblivious. While this bike may best represent Ordaz%26rsquo;s personal taste, he%26rsquo;s also responsible for customizing an employee%26rsquo;s set of wheels in a pink-and-purple color combo so vibrant it could sear a person%26rsquo;s eyeballs. And he%26rsquo;s currently working on a sleek custom build that includes wine corks as handle bar stoppers. %26ldquo;You can blame the Italians and the French for that idea,%26rdquo; explains Ordaz. %26ldquo;I always want perfection. That%26rsquo;s the sort of thing that can drive you crazy.%26rdquo;

Best piece of advice I could give: Never cook bacon in the nude.

Heaven on earth: Appreciating all the beauty out there %26mdash; landscapes, feelings, good deeds, creating%26nbsp;

First car: %26lsquo;84 Chrysler LeBaron convertible.

Last traffic ticket: Let me look through this month%26rsquo;s bank statements.

First thing I bought with my own money: Big purchase at age 17: a %26lsquo;72 Honda CB450.

Last thing I misplaced: Keys ... do you have them?

First job: Checkers Drive-In.

Last vacation: NYC %26mdash; friends, bikes and concerts!

Hell on earth: Letting the weight consume you.

Irrational fear: That I won%26rsquo;t get enough done.

Constant crave: Spare time!

Not in my abode: Television.

Always in my fridge: Empty space.

Most underrated skill: I cook meat dishes really well, but I%26rsquo;m vegetarian. Go figure.

Most overrated virtue: Ouch, where would one begin?

Adrenaline rush: Yes, please!

Buzz kill: Judgmental or argumentative conversation.

%26nbsp;

Greg Hutchison [Owner, Party Maker Catering]

A steady diet of cooking-themed reality television might lead one to believe all chefs are a highly volatile lot. That myth is debunked after five minutes into conversation with Greg Hutchison. This low-key type got started after realizing his ability to enter anyone%26rsquo;s kitchen and make something great with whatever ingredients were available might actually translate into a career. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in New York, he put in time at a resort in Guam, The Manor Inn in Maine and a Costa Rican cruise ship before finding his place at The Food Company, where he remained for eight years. In 2006, he started his own catering company out of the kitchen of Lee Harvey%26rsquo;s, where he served as executive chef. %26ldquo;I loved the idea that Lee Harvey%26rsquo;s attracted the fashion and art worlds, all coming to South Dallas to share a burger,%26rdquo; he says. Since then, he%26rsquo;s moved his base of operations to Deep Ellum but continues to find inspiration in everything from classic French cuisine to self-described boy food, aka %26ldquo;the stuff I ate growing up,%26rdquo; to discoveries made while on vacation. %26ldquo;I like letting food taste the way it should be,%26rdquo; he says. %26ldquo;Too much handling detracts from great ingredients. It%26rsquo;s all about finding that perfect balance of chemistry, science and creativity.%26rdquo;

First car: 1969 Volvo station wagon.

Last traffic ticket: Disregarding a red light. It was yellow.

First thing I bought with my own money: Candy cigarettes.

Last thing I misplaced: Sunglasses.

First job: Texas Plumbing Co. I was 13.

Last vacation: Venice Beach.

Hell on earth: Prison.

Heaven on earth: The beach, dogs, people I love, cocktails, great food, peace.

Irrational fear: Vintage dolls.

Best piece of advice I could give: Never cook bacon in the nude.

Worst piece of advice I've ever taken: Bet it all on number seven.

Constant crave: Adventure, new music, food, art.

Not in my abode: Reality television.

Always in my fridge: Beer, milk, coffee.

Most underrated skill: Folding laundry.

Most overrated virtue: Chastity.

Adrenaline rush: Traveling to faraway lands.

Buzz kill: Complainers.

Got Brunch?

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 03:41:46 GMT

Chef Tracy Miller of Deep Ellum%26rsquo;s Local has expanded her repertoire with Rosemont, a breakfast-and-lunch spot two doors down. The subtle signage makes it easy to miss, but once inside, it%26rsquo;s hard to forget. The tranquil space %26mdash; marked by comfy booths, a blond wood countertop and white walls %26mdash; sets the scene for approachable American cuisine, such as an avocado, serrano and tomato salad resembling guacamole; citrus-glazed salmon with a subtle taste of apricot; and a black bean and wild rice burger served on a poppyseed bun with red pepper spread. Come Sunday brunch, we%26rsquo;ll be ordering croque-monsieur triangles or the oatmeal waffle %26mdash; but we bet the powdered-sugar donuts and a cup of Big Bend Coffee Roasters would suffice, too. 2912 Elm St., 214.741.6066; rosemontdallas.com.

%26nbsp;

Mix Mastery

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 03:39:56 GMT

Restaurateur Monica Greene stays true to her style, taking a less-than-traditional approach to Mexican food at her new Monica%26rsquo;s Nueva Cocina and ME Lounge. She%26rsquo;s fusing disparate cultures with wild abandon, as witnessed by the appearance of meatballs in sopes de albondigas and Axiom sushi alongside the tacos and ceviche. (Fans of the Mexican lasagna at Monica%26rsquo;s Aca y Alla can breathe easy %26mdash; it%26rsquo;s on the menu, too.) Now open in the Ilume development on Cedar Springs, the two eateries offer a double take: One provides a fine-dining experience, while the not-so-mini ME Lounge has a casual vibe with sprawling seating and a stage for live entertainment. 4123 Cedar Springs Road, 214.219.1639; monicas.com.

French Bred

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 03:38:16 GMT

Dames Fran%26ccedil;aises make style look easy, whether tying an Herm%26egrave;s scarf just so or eating a daily croissant without gaining weight. Fortunately, that same joie de vivre can be found at La Bichette (aka %26ldquo;the little doe%26rdquo;), where owners Marsha Coleman and Tammy Coleman have created a dear little salon in which to be pampered and prettified, with a menu of hairstyling and makeup services offered seven days a week. The mother-daughter duo waited more than two years for their dream location, then wasted no time creating an intimate, highly feminine environment. %26ldquo;We want this to be the best 45 minutes of your day,%26rdquo; they say. Appointment not required. 6405 Hillcrest Ave., 214.520.3500; labichette.com.

Putting on the Dog

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 03:36:45 GMT

Oak%26rsquo;s Richard and Tiffanee Ellman and Campo%26rsquo;s John Paul Valverde have brought a taste of NYC%26rsquo;s Lower East Side to McKinney Avenue via Bowery. But don%26rsquo;t expect typical street-vendor fare: This charmingly laid-back joint proves the hot dog has learned some new tricks. The all-beef franks are made in-house, yet the menu has a decidedly international pedigree. Croque Madame (Paris ham, b%26eacute;chamel, Swiss cheese and fried egg), Overstuff Dutchman (served on a baguette with waffle fries, bacon, chives and a smoked gouda mornay sauce), Moroccan Dog (Merguez sausage, harissa and apricot slaws) and Mexican Dog (bacon-wrapped wiener and pinto beans) make for fetching bites, particularly when accompanied by a champagne cocktail, specialty brewski or a malt crafted from house-made ice cream. Open until 1 am on weekends to satisfy late-night cravings. 3407 McKinney Ave., 214.965.9110; bowerydallas.com.

Oui Will Rock You

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 03:35:24 GMT

First, put any images of baguettes and berets to rest. Brooks Anderson, Bradley Anderson and Randall Copeland, the masterminds behind local eateries Veritas and Ava, have the Bishop Arts District buzzing with their nouveau French bistro, Boulevardier, a refreshingly rustic space that%26rsquo;s long on charm and short on pretension %26mdash; think traditional dishes with a modern Gallic spin, plus an extensive wine menu. Those looking to raise some shell will warm to the raw bar with its fresh oysters shucked on site. Or take a tip from chef Nathan Tate and try the Root Beer Braised Berkshire Pork Cheek or Bouillabaisse Boulevardier (fused with a lobster saffron broth), paired with the crowd-pleasing Belle Femme, a heady concoction of vodka, St-Germain, locally made Zip Code Honey, blackberry, lemon and champagne. 408 N. Bishop Ave., 214.942.1828.

Billy Fong Sez

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 03:18:09 GMT

After much thought, I realized that some of my choices were land mines waiting to explode. Everyone would want to be Claire Standish, Molly Ringwald%26rsquo;s character in The Breakfast Club. Her outfit should be next to Fonzie%26rsquo;s in The Smithsonian. However, Molly isn%26rsquo;t looking so glamorous these days. So I decided to imagine local socials in roles created by Ian Fleming %26mdash; perhaps the greatest compliment I can give. %26nbsp;

The number one, of course, is Pussy Galore. Played by Honor Blackman in Goldfinger, I can only suggest Becca Cason Thrash. Really, need I say more? If Mrs. Thrash had not found herself as an philanthropic powerhouse, she could have just as easily had her own flying, cat-burglarizing circus. Who knows, perhaps John Thrash is the perfect Auric Goldfinger?

I cast Phoebe Tudor as Solitaire in Live and Let Die. The role put Jane Seymour on the map. So easy to picture Phoebe with a great up-do of barrel curls, sitting in a high-backed wicker chair in New Orleans, reading tarot cards. All styled brilliantly with one of her chic jeweled cocktail rings to complement her tunic.

Karen Pulaski is most definitely Octopussy. Who didn%26rsquo;t love Maude Adams as the daughter of a scientist who was a leading authority of octopi? If you can%26rsquo;t have a flying circus %26agrave; la Pussy Galore, then have a team of female assassins whose cover is that of a circus troupe. All amongst the backdrop of incredible Indian architecture. So Karen.

My choice for A View To A Kill%26rsquo;s May Day is Tatiana Massey. With her cutting-edge glamour, Brilliantined hair and towering stilettos, she could wear a leather suit and bust an acrobatic judo move, all with Grace Jones%26rsquo; aplomb.

As far as two of the greatest Bond roles of all time %26mdash; the quintessential villains Bambi and Thumper in Diamonds Are Forever %26mdash; I would like you, dear readers, to help me cast. The two assassins were in charge of keeping Willard Whyte hostage in a flawless example of Palm Springs mid-century modern architecture. So, if you think you know their local alter egos, please pop me an e-mail. Our threesome would be the perfect addition to any fall party %26mdash; especially if we pull up in a vintage car with suicide doors and Shirley Bassey%26rsquo;s Goldfinger blaring. Billy Fong, billy@papercitymag.com

%26nbsp;

IMAGES:

Phoebe Tudor as Solitaire

Solitaire

Becca Cason Thrash rocks Pussy Galore

Pussy Galore

Karen Pulaski is Octopussy

Octopussy

Tatiana Massey channels May Day

May Day

Thumper and Bambi in Diamonds are Forever

%26nbsp;

A Need for Speed

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 05:02:22 GMT

Platinum Motorcars gears up for luxury life in the fast lane with the reintroduction of its Drive 5 Exotic Car Tour. While on the 150-mile course, adrenaline junkies will have the chance to experience five different head-turners — including Ferrari, Maserati, Aston Martin, Bentley and Lamborghini — for less than the price of one daily rental. Each five-hour excursion (available on select Sundays) will be led by driving specialist Steve Fordham and include a scheduled lunch break for drivers to refuel. Information and reservations platinummotorcars.net.

Restaurant Buzz

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 05:01:14 GMT

Get going at Start, where husband-and-wife duo Erin and Mike McKool offer dine-in or drive-through healthy fast food at 4814 Greenville Avenue. Sans fryers or corn syrup, they%26rsquo;re serving up organic fare such as silver-dollar pancake sandwiches and baked chicken empanada %26hellip; We%26rsquo;re shaking our maracas in excitement over OCHO Kitchen + Cocktails, opening mid-month just south of Preston Center. Benjamin Crosland, Brian Black and chef Eric DiStefano are creating two floors of Tex-Mex heaven with family-friendly dining downstairs and a tequila bar up %26hellip; FT 33 by Matt McCallister opens in the Design District at the end of the month, featuring a seasonal menu of modern American cuisine %26hellip; Say bonjour to a new French restaurant opening next month: Alberto Lombardi%26rsquo;s new concept, Caf%26eacute; Des Artistes, will debut in One Arts Plaza where Screen Door once dwelled %26hellip;%26nbsp; Burger lovers are flippin%26rsquo; out in anticipation of Hopdoddy%26rsquo;s arrival in Preston Center next month. We can%26rsquo;t wait to sink our teeth into the El Diablo, the Janis Joplin and the Buffalo Bill %26hellip; Mike Moreno and chef Laurent Poupart, with the help of Plan B Group Design, are transforming Uptown%26rsquo;s departed Bella into Jojo, a Pan-Mediterranean escape for pizza, pasta, seafood and fresh pastries opening later this fall %26hellip; Mary and Costa Arabatzis of Ziziki%26rsquo;s bring us more Greek happiness with Meze Set (occupying the space vacated by The Commissary) in One Arts Plaza this month %26hellip; October will have us saying, %26ldquo;Ser is finally here!%26rdquo; The steakhouse will occupy the 27th floor of the Hilton Anatole and include a chef%26rsquo;s table for watching chef Anthony Van Camp in action %26hellip; Take a break from eating out and spend Saturday and Sunday, September 22 and 23, at the Metropolitan Cooking %26amp; Entertaining Show at the Dallas Convention Center. Attend workshops or watch The Food Network%26rsquo;s Paula Deen and Bobby Flay%26nbsp; whip up god-knows-what %26hellip; Try one (or a few) of Five Sixty%26rsquo;s new handcrafted cocktails. Managing partner Lee Hefter has created the whiskey-based Rolling Fog Over Mount Fuji and the tequila-tinged Pepino%26rsquo;s Revenge %26hellip; We%26rsquo;re all screaming for Carnival Barker Ice Cream, now sold at Texas Theatre in Oak Cliff %26hellip; Support Give Cancer the Boot with Sprinkles Cupcakes%26rsquo; Brown Boot Vanilla cupcake, September 24 through 28, when 100 percent of the flavor%26rsquo;s profits go to American Cancer Society.

Restaurant Buzz

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 01:16:14 GMT

It%26rsquo;s been a decade since Hugo Ortega and his wife Tracy Vaught (who also own Backstreet Caf%26eacute;) opened the beloved authentic Mexican spot Hugo%26rsquo;s on lower Westheimer Road. To mark that milestone, Ortega has published a new cookbook, Hugo Ortega%26rsquo;s Street Foods (Bright Sky Press, $34.95). Each page takes you traveling vicariously with Ortega to his homeland, through the people who keep the rich cooking tradition in Mexico alive %26mdash; the country%26rsquo;s home cooks. Best yet, Penny de Los Santos%26rsquo; photos make you crave every dish Ortega recreates in the pages %26hellip; Speaking of Mexican fare (in this case, Tex-Mex), chef/owner John Sanchez has opened the new Iguanas in the Memorial Drive area east of Town %26amp; Country Center, where Indika%26rsquo;s and La Vista%26rsquo;s first locations stood many moons ago. Priding themselves on making everything from ceviche to chicken mole to a black bean burger from scratch, this family restaurant is open for lunch and dinner %26hellip; Houston-based 1252 Tapas Bar has unveiled its third location, this one in Uptown Park. Houston-born chef Eric McClanahan mans the range at the Spanish-bites concept %26hellip; Last month, Monica Pope reinvented her T%26rsquo;Afia concept as Sparrow Bar %26amp; Cookshop. Becki and Jur van der Oord, owners of Installations Antiques in the Heights, have revamped the interiors with an industrial feel and a dark palette with a splash of red. Look for an expanded bar, as well as menus focused on small bites and tastings. In other Pope news, the soon-to-be-50 chef is celebrating her birthday with the release of her first cookbook, soon to be on Houston bookshelves %26hellip; Austin-based J. Black%26rsquo;s Feel Good Kitchen %26amp; Lounge also debuted in the Heights late this summer. Chef Josie Paredes offers a menu of pub fare fit for sharing and handcrafted cocktails in the Washington corridor bar and restaurant %26hellip; The Schiller Del Grande Group, operators of two concepts at West Ave, Ava Kitchen and Alto Pizzeria, recently merged the two into the second-floor space of Alto Pizzeria. Look for the best-loved dishes from Ava to take a place on the menu upstairs at Alto while the owners look to expand their successful pizza concept. Access to the new blended concept is through the original blue stair tower; you%26rsquo;ll find a smart-phone activated curbside pickup area at its base for to-go orders.

What Our Editors Love Now!

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 02:54:25 GMT

Must have these, stat: the brilliant Frederico de Vera’s first books, De Vera Objects and De Vera Jewelry — compilations of the best he has bought, sold and collected. $165 each in a limited edition or $595 for the slipcased set, to order through carissa@deveraobjects.com. Greg Fourticq Jr.

The sumptuous embellishments and Moroccan vibe found in Joseph Altuzarra’s fall collection generate some serious heat. $2,670 at Forty Five Ten. Amy Adams

Eastern and Western aesthetics collide via Seletti’s Hybrid collection of bone china consisting of two different patterns. Look closely, and you’ll see the relationship between each piece. $35 to $150, available in October at Nasher Sculpture Center. Amy Adams

The Dallas Museum of Art’s blockbuster, “Posters of Paris: Toulouse-Lautrec and His Contemporaries” (October 14, 2012 – January 20, 2013), is a saucy little kick from the chorus girls of the Moulin Rouge. Catherine D. Anspon (Image: Alphonse Mucha’s Job, 1898, at the Dallas Museum of Art)

Earbuds covered in black stingray are a sound choice and easy on the eyes. $200, at Nest. Amy Adams

Cole %26amp; Son Gondola wallpaper takes me back to the Grand Canal. $68 a roll, to the trade at Lee Jofa.
Holly Moore

I’ll spring through terminals with this exotic travel companion: Barneys New York Co-Op Gazelle tote. $610,
at barneys.com. Brooke Hortenstine

I want anything from Raf Simons’ final collection for Jil Sander (available at Forty Five Ten, Neiman Marcus). And, traitor that I am, I’m excited to see what he does at his new gig at Christian Dior. Kate Stukenberg

The iconic Cartier Tank Anglaise timepiece is surgically attached to my wrist. Now I’m craving the just-launched larger Tank Anglaise in 18K rose gold and steel, $9,950. Carol Isaak Barden

L.A.-based Victor Velyan’s art and architecture-influenced baubles are what I’ll wear to TWO x TWO and the DMA’s Art Ball. I love this 24K-gold and silver bracelet set with chrome diopsides, pink and yellow sapphires,
and diamonds. $20,900, at Skibell Fine Jewelry. Catherine D. Anspon

This textured nubuck field boot was spotted repeatedly on Burberry Prorsum’s fall runway. I give its subtle platform and higher-than-usual laced closure a round of applause. $995, at the Burberry boutique. Amy Adams

I’m obsessed with antiqued mirrors and spotty mercury glass, so imagine my attraction to Absolution’s amber-scented candle, which is poured into a hand-blown mercury-glass jar. Each Shannon Koszyk Olive Candle is made in Texas and comes with a fetching bronze medal. $116, at taigan.com. Laurann Claridge

Stubbs %26amp; Wootton “Screw U” slippers are the perfect antidote to boring cocktail party prattle. Look down at your feet. Look up at the bore. Smile and walk away. All this joy for $450, at stubbsandwootton.com. Greg Fourticq Jr.

The sole employee of George Wine Company, George Levkoff has no time to ferment. In 2010, Levkoff produced and hand-numbered three batches of 2,345 bottles of exquisite Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. $115, at Pogo’s Wine and Liquor. Brooke Hortenstine

We love our iPads, but nothing can replace the satisfying heft of a printed September fashion magazine. This polished aluminum magazine rack by Umbra+ helps deal with our issues. $150, at Nasher Sculpture Center. Amy Adams

Trained as an architect, artist Alison Berger apprenticed with glass-blower Dale Chihuly before launching her own lighting line. I’m stunned by her beautiful Crystal Sphere pendant. To the trade at George Cameron Nash. Carol Isaak Barden

My favorite big statement-making book, Bals: Legendary Costume Balls of the Twentieth Century, is the story of a vanished way of life. Plushly slipcased for $175, through curatebooks@papercitymag.com. Holly Moore

Eight feet of 100 percent reclaimed teak from Rajistan makes this our dream table — we’re thinking themed dinner parties and lavish brunches. $2,750, at The Wooden House. Rachael Abrams

Meet Blake, the new women’s tuxedo shoe from Elaine Turner. $225, at the Elaine Turner boutique. Kate Stukenberg

Who wouldn’t fall for this beautiful purple-hued beet margarita at Bolsa in Oak Cliff. Catherine D. Anspon

Symbolically speaking, the ram represents energy, power and desire. This handmade ring from Lotus Arts de Vivre, sparked with precious gems, says all that and more. $21,500, at Grange Hall. Amy Adams

I’m looking for heavy ornamentation for fall, such as this Lanvin embellished number, price upon request, at Neiman Marcus. Holly Moore

Rachel Zoe’s new jewelry collection is bananas, especially this bracelet. $385, at Neiman Marcus. Kate Stukenberg

Considered to be the first “it” bag from the fashion house of Alexander McQueen since the skull-clasp clutches, the Heroine satchel comes in black or oxblood leather, but it’s this python version that has us saying, “Yesssssssssss, please.” $6,395, at Neiman Marcus. Amy Adams%26nbsp;

Luggala Days: The Story of a Guinness House by Robert O’Byrne (Cima Books, October 2012, $45). Luggala Lodge is an 18th-century Gothic Revival Irish bolt-hole owned by the Guinness family. The likes of Mick Jagger and David Mlinaric have thought it swell, as have socialites and junkies, earls and poets. Escapist and wonderfully eccentric. Diane Dorrans Saeks

These are my new go-to frames. I can’t get over the stars! Givenchy frames $475, at Barneys New York. Ceron (Image: Photo by Kennon Evett)

My newest trifles are from, respectively, the boîte Jean Paul Gaultier shopped when he was in Dallas and a boutique that raises funds for a good cause: a ‘50s American Lucite-and-woven-metal picnic basket handbag ($48) from Dolly Python, and a sleek wicker, hand-beaded ’60s-era purse ($39) from the Genesis Benefit Thrift Store. Catherine D. Anspon (Image: Photo by Kennon Evett)

Victoria Beckham has me baring leg again. Right out of the gate, she nailed the sexy shift, a timeless silhouette that feels terribly au courant. Her collection is at Forty Five Ten. Laurann Claridge

Claw your way to the top of the fashion heap with Pamela Love’s talon cuff. From $1,160, at V.O.D. Brooke Hortenstine

Been a long day? Tell it to your%26nbsp; Dammit Doll. $16, at Nicholson Hardie. Kate Stukenberg (Image: Photo by Kennon Evett)

Versace sent this chic metallic leather bag down the runway for fall, and I must have it. $2,495, at the Versace boutique. Ceron

Vis-à-vis: the Statement Bar Set by Paul Smith for Stelton with stellar sentiments such as “Take Pleasure Seriously” and “Stop Making Sense.” From $185 for coasters to $399 for the tray, at Nest. Rachael Abrams

Coral %26amp; Tusk animal wreath napkins are $120 for four. At The Gypsy Wagon. Kate Stukenberg

I’m a rhapsody in blue in this sprightly hued Stella McCartney jacket with a face-framing collar. $1,845, at the Stella McCartney boutique. Michelle Aviña

I’m obsessed with Chloé’s street-smart leather ankle booties detailed with gold studs and multiple buckles. $1,290, at Barneys New York. Michelle Aviña

For highbrows in a hurry, I drop into Frédéric Fekkai in Highland Park Village for an arch as pretty as one designed by Calatrava. Esthetician and makeup artist Dolores Villanueva now offers speedy eyebrow waxings, lash tintings and peels, all from her front-of-the-house Chantecaille station — no appointment necessary. Brooke Hortenstine

Scalamandre’s umbrella with its iconic 1940s zebra pattern has left me singing. Who needs good weather, anyway? $95, at the Scalamandre showroom. Seth Vaughan (Image: Photo by Kennon Evett)%26nbsp;

My must-stop Design District destination, PDNB Gallery, has added German talent Thomas Herbrich to its photographic lineup. I’m mad for the moon-mission-inspired vintage vibe of Herbrich’s re-creations of the great space race, $400. Catherine D. Anspon

Once home to the Lambs Club (a prestigious New York theater society where members Charlie Chaplin, Oscar Hammerstein and Fred Astaire once romped), this Stanford White-designed building is now home to The Chatwal hotel, designed by Thierry Despont with Art Deco appointments and suede walls, Asprey bath amenities and a restaurant directed by chef Geoffrey Zakarian. This establishment should light up any sophisticates radar. Seth Vaughan

I’ve always been mad for hammered gold, so I’m hooked on Ippolita’s 18K-gold Snowman earrings from the Crinkle Collection. $1,395, at Forty Five Ten. Laurann Claridge

I’m getting my daily dose of liquid greens via the Vitamix Pro 500 Series — the Bentley of blenders. $600, at Sur la Table. Amy Adams

I’m coming out guns blazing with Frederic Malle’s Café Society Perfume Gun to blast my rooms with scent.
$145, at Barneys New York, Forty Five Ten. Holly Moore

Loving my treasure from H%26amp;M: a droll pineapple-shaped handbag thatdoubles as sculpture. It’s a steal at only
$13. Catherine D. Anspon (Image: Photo by Kennon Evett)

For $1,000 each, Tom Spicer is offering 28 garden plots for adoption at his Spiceman’s FM 1410 urban garden on Fitzhugh. Put your money where your mouth is: Your gift is a year-long credit of $1,170 in organic produce, with Spicer maintaining the plots. Ring him at 214.404.9104; spiceman@tx.rr.com. Brooke Hortenstine

I’m braving Equinox’s newly launched MetCon3,%26nbsp; a high-intensity class based on the practice of increasing my metabolism — with a name and a workout worthy of a sci-fi flick. Brooke Hortenstine

Jewelry designer Nancey Chapman now lives in India and produces these phenomenal silk tie-dyed, bias-cut dresses. $700, at net-a-couture.com. Kate Stukenberg (Image: Photo by Kennon Evett)

Dysfunction at its best: The Royal Tenenbaums with Gene Hackman and Anjelica Huston. Michelle Aviña

I can’t stop — won’t stop — wearing plaid jackets. Trina Turks’ new collection for men, Mr. Turk, is perfection. Ferrel jacket $398, at the Trina Turk boutique. Ceron

Late Pritzker Prize-winner Luis Barragán’s home turned museum, Casa Luis Barragán, in Mexico City, is dazzling. Tour the design studio, living areas and gardens. Don’t miss the Picasso, reportedly given to Barragán by the artist himself. Michelle Aviña

I’m walking on sand all fall in Rodarte’s first shoe collection launching this month. That is sand layered in the heel. Do you not die? To order at Barneys New York. Kate Stukenberg

I adore Waxing Poetic’s Vesper candle. $42, at Avant Garden. Ceron

English Decoration by Ben Pentreath (September 2012, $40). Pentreath’s house in an old parsonage in Dorset is classic English style, a bit eccentric, a little bit artless. Diane Dorrans Saeks

I’m addicted to Heritage Auctions’ weekly no reserve internet luxury accessories auctions — heavy on the handbags. I’m currently tracking this vintage Chanel metallic-gold lambskin, leather and tortoise offering. Tap out ha.com. Catherine D. Anspon

When I learned that Hermès was debuting wallpaper this fall, I was faint; when I saw the Feuillage pattern designed by Raoul Dufy, which takes me back to NYC’s Indochine, I fell out of my chair. As the editrix in Qui êtes-vous, Polly Maggoo? might proclaim, “Divine!” Seth Vaughan

I’m going moto-chic in Balenciaga’s multi-seasonal beige leather jacket paired with a black Vespa. $2,650, at Forty Five Ten. Rachael Abrams

Claude %26amp; François-Xavier Lalanne by Paul Kasmin (Skira, $60) is truly one of the most beautiful and informative books in ages. Great photos. Very transporting. Greg Fourticq Jr.

There’s a pleasing paradox in the juxtaposition of the Meadows Museum’s handsome neoclassical façade with Spanish sculptor Jaume Plensa’s otherworldly, almost prehistoric, head named Sho. Catherine D. Anspon (Image: Jaume Plensa’s Sho, 2007, at the Meadows Museum; photo%26nbsp; © 2009 SMU)

Kelly Wearstler: Rhapsody (Rizzoli, October 2012, $55). I love Wearstler and her mod baroque style. We are promised behind-the-scenes views at work, at auctions, shopping, designing. Can’t wait. Diane Dorrans Saeks

Denmark designer Ivan Grundahl takes the edge off minimalism with a cascade of petals on taffeta. $980, at
Cicada Collection. Amy Adams

Lucca’s cozy faux-fur throws and pillows are made in Texas. Pillows from $280, throw $585, at Peacock Alley Design. Rachael Abrams

I’ve lunched in the Antwerp castle garden with the Vervoordts, so At Home with May and Axel Vervoordt%26nbsp; (Flammarion, September 2012, $45) is on my list. Diane Dorrans Saeks

La Réserve Ramatuelle in Saint Tropez is at the top of my list of places to stay next. I’m booking at lareserve ramatuelle.com. Ceron

Diana Vreeland insisted on burning cypress Rigaud candles in her office during working hours — but I love the Bois Précieux scent. From $38, at Stanley Korshak. Seth Vaughan

Orlebar Brown’s postcard-scene Monte Carlo print men’s swim trunks. $295, at Barneys New York. Holly Moore

Established in 1963 on Harbour Island and now owned by Dallasites Tricia and Gil Besing, the newly refurbished and fabled Dunmore hotel was once a posh private club. Need we say more? Book it at dunmorebeach.com. Brooke Hortenstine

In a sleepy little town on the coast of Maine, David Kaufman keeps alive the art and craft of heirloom-quality cotton, linen and woolen blankets at his turn-of-the-century Brahms Mount factory. I can’t resist the slate-ticking cotton version nor the charcoal herringbone lamb’s-wool. $236 to $600, at Kuhl-Linscomb. Laurann Claridge

Billy Fong Sez

I loved my marching orders for this issue. It was akin to old-school Mission Impossible. Not the recent tripe with Tom Cruise, but rather the vintage era with Peter Graves and Barbara Bain — the original Mad Men. Ms. Adams instructed us to choose style and charm — which are both core values of PaperCity — for the upcoming season. First off, one needs a drink to write such an important column, and mine was Lillet, a French aperitif that Bond uses in his classic Vesper martini. Then I need to throw on some music for inspiration, and my tracks included The Psychedelic Furs’ “Ghost in You” (one of the most brilliant album covers of all time — so want a T-shirt replica to wear under a YSL vintage tuxedo jacket) and DB Boulevard’s “Point of View.” Here is what I find Very PaperCity right now:

In a pinch, pull this quote out of your back pocket: "There is something rather unsavory about wearing black pearls to brunch.”

Images:

CZ Guest – our current icon to emulate.

Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen in gun-metal gray, army style. If you have one, call me up, because it is my perfect accessory for the fall.

Episodes of Kate %26amp; Allie. After a day of shopping and drinking with your best gal pal, ask the obvious question: Who is more Kate and who is more Allie?

Fantasy date: Flying Lufthansa last-minute to Germany to hear the Berlin Philharmonic perform Mahler’s Fifth.

Fantasy party: Outdoor evening screening of La Dolce Vita or Smilla’s Sense of Snow for 12 (not a baker’s dozen, but instead the perfect number of guests).

Christina O, Onassis’ famous yacht, for a quick getaway

What Our Editors Love Now!

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 11:35:06 GMT

Must-have these, stat: the brilliant Frederico de Vera%26rsquo;s first books, De Vera Objects and De Vera Jewelry %26mdash; compilations of the best objets and jewelry he has bought, sold and collected. $165 each in a limited edition or $595 for the slipcased set, to order through carissa@deveraobjects.com. Greg Fourticq Jr.

These 18K-gold estate David Webb shell cuff links take me to the beaches of Newport. $6,500, at Wayne Smith Jewels. Seth Vaughan%26nbsp;

St. Martins-educated, NYC-based industrial designer Phillip Low%26rsquo;s futuristic acrylic sculpture transmits light, encapsulates space and pushes into the fourth dimension %26mdash; a prismatic experience. $1,200, at Peel Gallery. Catherine D. Anspon (Image: Photo by Kennon Evett)%26nbsp;

Cole %26amp; Son Gondola wallpaper takes me back to the Grand Canal. $68 a roll, to the trade through Lee Jofa.
Holly Moore

What%26rsquo;s not to like about Tilda Swinton? I tap into her style with a spritz of Like This, her chic collaboration with French fragrance house Etat Libre d%26rsquo;Orange. $100, at Sloan/Hall. Michelle Avi%26ntilde;a (Image: Photo by Kennon Evett)

I want anything from Raf Simons%26rsquo; final collection for Jil Sander (available at Neiman Marcus). And, traitor that I am, I%26rsquo;m excited to see what he does at his new gig at Christian Dior. Kate Stukenberg

The iconic Cartier Tank Anglaise timepiece is surgically attached to my wrist. Now I%26rsquo;m craving the just-launched larger Tank Anglaise in 18K rose gold and steel, $9,950. Carol Isaak Barden

I%26rsquo;m doing synchronized laps to Delta Spirit with the Interval 4G Waterproof Headphone System for the 4th Generation iPod shuffle attached to my swim goggles. $100, at h20audio.com. Jenny Antill

Stubbs %26amp; Wootton %26ldquo;Screw U%26rdquo; slippers are the perfect antidote to boring cocktail party prattle. Look down at your feet. Look up at the bore. Smile and walk away. All this joy for $450, at stubbsandwootton.com. Greg Fourticq Jr.%26nbsp; %26nbsp;

Audubon%26rsquo;s Aviary: The Original Watercolors for The Birds of America by Roberta J.M. Olson (Skira/Rizzoli, September 2012, $85; limited edition $299). If they%26rsquo;re good enough for Jackie K. Onassis (who had Audubon prints in her living room on Fifth Avenue), I will love it. Achingly beautiful %26mdash; and best of all, not at all trendy. Diane Dorrans Saeks

The sole employee of George Wine Company, George Levkoff has no time to ferment. In 2010, Levkoff produced and hand-numbered three batches totaling 2,345 bottles of exquisite Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. $109, to order at Richard%26rsquo;s Liquors %26amp; Fine Wine. Brooke Hortenstine

This textured nubuck field boot was spotted repeatedly on Burberry Prorsum%26rsquo;s fall runway. I give its subtle platform and higher-than-usual laced closure a round of applause. $995, at the Burberry boutique. Amy Adams

I want to slink about in solid black or white wearing only this chunky 18 karat gold bracelet for adornment, $7,450 at Tenenbaum %26amp; Co. Holly Moore

I%26rsquo;m obsessed with this vintage Greek-key brass dining table with glass top. $4,250, at Found. Kate Stukenberg

Trained as an architect, artist Alison Berger apprenticed with glassblower Dale Chihuly before launching her own lighting line. I%26rsquo;m stunned by her beautiful Crystal Sphere pendant. To the trade at George Cameron Nash showroom. Carol Isaak Barden

The magical cast-bronze houses by artist Page Kempner are just 4 3/4 inches high; the simplicity and frailty draw you in. This one is titled Not Shown Centered Here. $3,500, at Moody Gallery. Greg Fourticq Jr.

I%26rsquo;m playing head games with the creative minds of Tony Moxham and Mauricio Painagua, who created Lil%26rsquo; Eddie, rendered with the huichol beading technique for their %26ldquo;POPular%26rdquo; collection. Lil%26rsquo; Eddie is $805 (including display box) at Peel Gallery. Michelle Avi%26ntilde;a

I%26rsquo;m looking for heavy ornamentation for fall, such as this Lanvin embellished number, price upon request, at Tootsies. Holly Moore

Victorian carved Whitby jet earrings, circa 1870, feel just goth enough. $2,250, at Past Era Antique Jewelry.
Kate Stukenberg

Larry Turk%26rsquo;s emporium of erudition, 1/4 Price Books, is a marvel. Venture within, and you%26rsquo;ll be hard-pressed to not stumble %26mdash; and I do mean stumble %26mdash; upon literary jewel after jewel. Seth Vaughan (Image: Photo by Kennon Evett)%26nbsp;

Luggala Days: The Story of a Guinness House by Robert O%26rsquo;Byrne (Cima Books, October 2012, $45). Luggala Lodge is an 18th-century Gothic Revival Irish bolt-hole owned by the Guinness family. The likes of Mick Jagger and David Mlinaric have thought it swell and chic, as have socialites and junkies, earls and poets. Escapist and wonderfully eccentric. Diane Dorrans Saeks

Rachel Zoe%26rsquo;s new jewelry collection is bananas, especially this bracelet. $385, at Neiman Marcus. Kate%26nbsp; Stukenberg

Considered to be the first %26ldquo;it%26rdquo; bag from the fashion house of Alexander McQueen since the skull-clasp clutches, the Heroine satchel is in black or oxblood leather, but it%26rsquo;s this python version that has us saying, %26ldquo;Yesssssssssss, please.%26rdquo; $6,395, at Neiman Marcus. Amy Adams

Versace sent this chic metallic leather bag down the runway for fall, and I must have it. $2,495, at the Versace boutique. Ceron

Victoria Beckham has me baring leg again. Right out of the gate, she nailed the sexy shift, a timeless silhouette that feels terribly au courant. Her collection is at Neiman Marcus and Tootsies. Laurann Claridge

I%26rsquo;m addicted to Heritage Auctions%26rsquo; weekly no reserve internet luxury accessories auctions %26mdash; heavy on the handbags. I%26rsquo;m currently tracking this vintage Chanel metallic-gold lambskin, leather and tortoise offering. Tap out ha.com. Catherine D. Anspon

Meet Blake, the new women%26rsquo;s tuxedo shoe from Elaine Turner. $225, at the Elaine Turner boutique. Kate Stukenberg

Don%26rsquo;t miss %26ldquo;Public Dress%26rdquo; at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston %26mdash; an interesting examination of how manners of dress and uniform can define how a person or group is perceived. Take special note of women at the Houston Livestock Show. Need we say more. Greg Fourticq Jr. (Image: Geoff Winningham%26rsquo;s Lam%26eacute; Pants, from the series %26ldquo;Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo,%26rdquo; 1972)

The Tattoo ottoman looks like a cactus, but it%26rsquo;s designer Maurizio Galante%26rsquo;s prickly pouf. Don%26rsquo;t you love it! $720, at Kuhl-Linscomb. Jenny Antill

Been a long day? Tell it to your Dammit Doll. $16, at %26Agrave; Bient%26ocirc;t, Contemporary Arts Museum. Kate Stukenberg (Image: Kennon Evett)

Suno%26rsquo;s perfectly cut floral blazer with baggy trousers is so boy-meets-girl. Jacket $696, trousers $595, at Leap. Jenny Antill

I%26rsquo;m obsessed with Chlo%26eacute;%26rsquo;s street-smart leather ankle booties detailed with gold studs and multiple buckles. $1,290, at net-a-porter.com. Michelle Avi%26ntilde;a

I%26rsquo;m focusing on my own well-being at the luxe Cal-a-Vie spa in Vista, California, at Women%26rsquo;s Health Week, October 14 through 20. The schedule includes a menu of fitness and blissful body treatments, and you reside in adorable vine-covered cottages. $8,095, through cal-a-vie.com. Carol Isaak Barden

Scalamandre%26rsquo;s umbrella with its iconic 1940s zebra pattern has left me singing. Who needs good weather, anyway? $95, at the Scalamandre showroom. Seth Vaughan (Image: Photo by Kennon Evett)

Coral %26amp; Tusk animal wreath napkins are $120 for four. At PH Design Shop, Settlement Goods. Kate%26nbsp; Stukenberg

Photographer Tony Mendoza%26rsquo;s %26ldquo;Flowers%26rdquo; series was literally taken from the ground up %26mdash; an intriguing departure from typical flower photography. $1,500 to $2,500, at De Santos Gallery. Jenny Antill

Once home of the Lambs Club (a prestigious New York theater society where members Charlie Chaplin, Oscar Hammerstein and Fred Astaire romped), this Stanford White-designed building is now home to
The Chatwal hotel, designed by Thierry Despont with Art Deco appointments and suede walls, Asprey bath amenities and a restaurant directed by chef Geoffrey Zakarian. This establishment should light up any sophisticate%26rsquo;s radar. Seth Vaughan

Loving my treasure from H%26amp;M: a droll pineapple-shaped handbag that doubles as sculpture, and a steal at $13. Catherine D. Anspon (Image: Photo by Kennon Evett)

I%26rsquo;m coming out guns blazing with Frederic Malle%26rsquo;s Caf%26eacute; Society Perfume Gun to blast my rooms with scent. $145, at Saks Fifth Avenue. Holly Moore

I%26rsquo;ve always been mad for hammered gold, so I%26rsquo;m hooked on Ippolita%26rsquo;s 18K-gold Snowman earrings from the
Crinkle Collection. $1,395, at Saks Fifth Avenue, Zadok Jewelers. Laurann Claridge

I%26rsquo;m obsessed with antiqued mirrors and spotty mercury glass, so imagine my attraction to Absolution%26rsquo;s amber-scented candle, which is poured into a hand-blown mercury-glass jar. Each Shannon Koszyk Olive Candle is made in Texas and comes with a fetching bronze medal. $116, at taigan.com. Laurann Claridge

When I learned that Herm%26egrave;s was debuting wallpaper this fall, I was faint; when I saw the Feuillage pattern designed by Raoul Dufy, which takes me back to NYC%26rsquo;s Indochine, I fell out of my chair. As the editrix in Qui %26ecirc;tes-vous, Polly Maggoo? might proclaim, %26ldquo;Divine!%26rdquo; Seth Vaughan

I hate to queue for anything, but for this I will. The Ferrari 458 Spider convertible has a top speed of 199 MPH, a 570 horsepower engine and a seven-speed automatic gearbox. The greatest sports car in the world has an 18-month wait for delivery and a price tag of $263,762. Carol Isaak Barden

Dysfunction at its best: The Royal Tenenbaums with Gene Hackman and Anjelica Huston, 2001. Michelle Avi%26ntilde;a

I can%26rsquo;t stop %26mdash; won%26rsquo;t stop %26mdash; wearing plaid jackets. Trina Turks%26rsquo; new collection for men, Mr. Turk, is perfection. Ferrel jacket $398, at trinaturk.com. Ceron

Houston designer Nancey Chapman now lives in India and produces these phenomenal silk tie-dyed, bias-cut dresses. $700, at net-a-couture.com. Kate Stukenberg (Image: Photo by Kennon Evett)

Late Pritzker Prize-winner Luis Barrag%26aacute;n%26rsquo;s home turned museum, Casa Luis Barrag%26aacute;n, in Mexico City, is dazzling. Tour the design studio, living areas and gardens. Don%26rsquo;t miss the Picasso, reportedly given to Barrag%26aacute;n by the artist himself. Michelle Avi%26ntilde;a

The Duke of Windsor wore his wedding ring alongside a Trinity ring on his left pinky. I%26rsquo;ll achieve a similar effect by wearing two of Tenenbaum %26amp; Co.%26rsquo;s vintage offerings of the classic Cartier creation and look terribly regal. From $795. Seth Vaughan (Image: Photo by Kennon Evett)

I%26rsquo;m walking on sand all fall in Rodarte%26rsquo;s first-ever shoe collection launching this month. Do you not die over the sand-layered heels? To order at barneysnewyork.com. Kate Stukenberg

Claude %26amp; Fran%26ccedil;ois-Xavier Lalanne by Paul Kasmin (Skira, $60) is truly one of the most beautiful and informative books in ages. Great photos. Very transporting. Greg Fourticq Jr.

This 8-by-12-foot rug is art underfoot. Made from Himalayan wool and woven using ancient nomadic techniques, it was designed by Joseph Carini, a New York artist who studied painting at Pratt Institute. $12,000, at Carol Piper Rugs. Carol Isaak Barden

A naturalist since birth, I%26rsquo;m a-twitter to see John James Audubon%26rsquo;s The Birds of America, which was once in the collection of the Dukes of Portland, at the exhibition %26ldquo;American Made: 250 Years of American Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston%26rdquo; through September 16. Seth Vaughan

Perry House has been on the scene for more than 30 years, rocketing to renown with MFAH%26rsquo;s mid-%26rsquo;80s %26ldquo;Fresh Paint%26rdquo; show. Catch %26ldquo;Perry House: Elegance/Violence%26rdquo; at the Art Car Museum (through September 2), or buy your own House through dealer Dan Allison. Catherine D. Anspon (Image: Perry House%26rsquo;s 8-4-99, 1999, at
Art Car Museum)

I%26rsquo;m curating a show at Deborah Colton Gallery, inspired by my dad, an organic chemist who%26rsquo;s a pioneer in the plastics field. For the occasion, provocateur Paul Horn is concocting Paul Mart, a take on a Walmart-styled store stocked with affordable art goodies. It%26rsquo;s September 8 through October 27. Catherine D. Anspon (Image: Paul Horn%26rsquo;s Oldenburgian Tribute to the %26lsquo;80s, $99.99, at Deborah Colton Gallery; photo by Kennon Evett)

In a sleepy little town on the coast of Maine, David Kaufman keeps alive the art and craft of heirloom-quality cotton, linen and woolen blankets at his turn-of-the-century Brahms Mount factory. I can%26rsquo;t resist the slate-ticking cotton version nor the charcoal herringbone lamb%26rsquo;s-wool. $236 to $600, at Kuhl-Linscomb. Laurann Claridge

I%26rsquo;m a rhapsody in blue in this sprightly hued Stella McCartney jacket with a face-framing collar. $1,845, at Neiman Marcus. Michelle Avi%26ntilde;a

La R%26eacute;serve Ramatuelle in Saint Tropez is at the top of my list of places to stay next. I%26rsquo;m booking at lareserve-ramatuelle.com. Ceron

Orlebar Brown%26rsquo;s postcard-scene Monte Carlo%26ndash;print men%26rsquo;s swim trunks. $295, at Barneys New York. Holly Moore

Diana Vreeland insisted on burning cypress Rigaud candles in her office during working hours %26mdash; but I love the Bois Pr%26eacute;cieux scent. From $38, at Kuhl-Linscomb. Seth Vaughan (Image: Photo by Kennon Evett)%26nbsp;

Liberty Kitchen %26amp; Oyster Bar in the Heights serves up the best Creole crab gumbo with andouille, fried okra, baguette, shrimp and fried oysters. Be sure to add blue crabmeat %26mdash; the cherry on top. $12.50. Jenny Antill

This droll tufted armchair, designed by Italian architect Paola Navone for Gervasoni, makes a bold statement for any serious lounger like me. $5,652, at Internum. Jenny Antill

%26nbsp;

Billy Fong Sez

I loved my marching orders for the Very PaperCity issue. It was akin to old-school Mission Impossible. Not the recent tripe with Tom Cruise, but rather the vintage era with Peter Graves and Barbara Bain %26mdash; the original Mad Men. Miss Moore instructed us to choose style and charm %26mdash;which are both core values of PaperCity %26mdash; for the upcoming season. First off, one needs a drink to write such an important column, and mine was Lillet, a French aperitif that Bond uses in his classic Vesper martini. Then I need to throw on some music for inspiration, and my tracks included The Psychedelic Furs%26rsquo; %26ldquo;Ghost in You%26rdquo; (one of the most brilliant album covers of all time %26mdash; so want a T-shirt replica to wear under a YSL vintage tuxedo jacket) and DB Boulevard%26rsquo;s %26ldquo;Point of View.%26rdquo; Here is what I find Very PaperCity right now:

In a pinch, pull this quote out of your back pocket: %26ldquo;There is something rather unsavory about wearing
black pearls to brunch.%26rdquo;

Images:

CZ Guest %26ndash; our current icon to emulate.

Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen in gun-metal gray, army style. If you have one, call me up, because it is my perfect accessory for the fall.

Episodes of Kate %26amp; Allie. After a day of shopping and drinking with your best gal pal, ask the obvious question: Who is more Kate and who is more Allie?

Fantasy date: Flying Lufthansa last-minute to Germany to hear the Berlin Philharmonic perform Mahler%26rsquo;s Fifth.

Fantasy party: Outdoor evening screening of La Dolce Vita or Smilla%26rsquo;s Sense of Snow for 12 (not a baker%26rsquo;s dozen, but instead the perfect number of guests).

Christina O, Onassis%26rsquo; famous yacht, for a quick getaway

%26nbsp;

Ah, Paris

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 05:04:27 GMT

Stroll past the quaint patio with its Parisian-style park chairs and tables dressed with pots of faux dogwood, the sound of Nina Simone drifting in the air, and you%26rsquo;ll find a picture window, beyond which cr%26ecirc;pes are being poured and crafted. How can you resist doubling back to the front door? Welcome to Sweet Paris, the cr%26ecirc;perie and cafe recently opened in Rice Village by Ivan Chavez and Allison Young. This couple has spun their passion for the delicate French specialty into an experience both savory and sweet for les citoyens of Houston. The pretty blue-and-white spot is open continuously, breakfast through dinner, with such cr%26eacute;pe-wrapped temptations as chicken Alfredo with mushrooms ($8); turkey, grapes and brie ($7.75); Argentine dulce de leche ($6.50 to $7.25); and s%26rsquo;mores with torched marshmallows ($7.50). Also on the menu are turkey or prosciutto paninis ($8) and, of course, hot coffee creations. But there%26rsquo;s more: Chavez and Young donate 25 cents from every cr%26ecirc;pe sold to the World Food Program USA %26mdash; just the amount needed to purchase one nutritious meal for a schoolchild in need. Now, that%26rsquo;s sweet. 2420 Rice Blvd. in Rice Village, 713.360.6266; sweetparis.com.

Social Whirl

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 04:37:02 GMT

We%26rsquo;re 30 days out from the epicenter of the season. Watch these pages for our must-save Fall Social Calendar, coming next month %26mdash; the definitive datebook of where to be, who to see and which nonprofits to support. It%26rsquo;s the Holy Grail of the charity circuit. Meanwhile, get an early start in August with five events that have the PC seal of approval. Party Like a Rock Star is always a blast; %26lsquo;70s- or %26lsquo;80s-era costuming recommended on Saturday, August 11, at House of Dereon Media Center (2204 Crawford), benefitting Planned Parenthood (ppgulfcoast.org/rockstar) %26hellip; Next up, Astros Wives Black Ties and Baseball Caps Thursday, August 16, is the only occasion we know where tuxes and gowns parade along the field of Minute Maid Park, all to benefit Houston Area Women%26rsquo;s Center (Judy Nichols, 713.781.0053) %26hellip; Saturday, August 25, it-gals gather for The Woman%26rsquo;s Hospital of Texas 9th Annual Labor Day Luncheon and Style Show. Chaired by Linda Russell and Rishma Mohamed, this fabulous day at the InterContinental Houston raises funds for March of Dimes, with PaperCity as media sponsor (labordayluncheon.com) %26hellip; On the evening of Saturday, August 25, PaperCity again steps forward as media sponsor for the World Trade Soir%26eacute;e at Hotel ZaZa. The %26ldquo;Luck Be Houston%26rdquo;-themed eve channels the golden era of the Rat Pack, while toasting our global business leaders and is presented by the Greater Houston Partnership (houston.org/soiree) %26hellip; On Sunday, August 26, partake of performing arts pleasures at the Theater District Open House (downtownhouston.org/district/theater).

%26nbsp;

IMAGE: 2011 Labor Day Luncheon chairmen Dee Dee Guggenheim, Linda Russell

Cameo Appearance

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 04:15:54 GMT

Looking for a beauty pick-me-up? Venture to Cameo, the new two-part aesthetic center fronted by a pretty ice-blue and gray beauty boutique in West Ave (with a soon-to-be-revealed 16,000-plus-square-foot surgery center just beside it). Cameo, developed by plastic surgeon Forrest Roth and his wife, news anchor Lauren Freeman, carries serious skincare by SkinCeuticals, cosmetics by Glo Minerals and London Butter and has a makeup artist on staff, Anthony Garcia, an alum of Laura Mercier. Cameo also offers nonsurgical fixes in the form of injectables such as Botox and Dysport and fillers including Restylane, Perlane, Radiesse and Juvederm. Part two of Roth%26rsquo;s ambitious endeavor is called ASC at West Ave, a state-of-the-art surgical facility. The adjoining surgery center is due to open in December 2012. Roth, a graduate of Baylor College of Medicine, trained in both reconstructive and aesthetic surgery and has treated cancer, burns, trauma and cosmetic issues in all ages. In the next year, as he readies the surgery center with its four operating rooms, it%26rsquo;s already attracting specialists in the fields of orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, oculoplastic surgery, otolaryngology, vascular surgery, gynecology and, of course, plastic surgery. Patients who require an extended post-procedure stay will be offered plush accommodations upstairs at West Ave, where they can enjoy meal service delivered from the posh restaurants downstairs while they recuperate, and their physician can monitor their recovery any hour
of the day. 2800 Kirby Dr. in West Ave, 713.559.9300; westaveplasticsurgery.com.

%26nbsp;

Image: Photo by Anthony Garcia Anthony @ cameowestave.com

Social Datebook

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 01:12:59 GMT

Get your wallets out: Thursday, August 2, begins Fashion Industry Gallery%26rsquo;s (FIG) Finale with a VIP shopping night filled with cocktails, tunes and bites to kick off the three-day designer deal fest. We%26rsquo;ve got dibs on a $50 VIP Pass %26hellip;%26nbsp; Shake a tail feather to the Chick Lit Reunion with Emily Giffin. The author will sign copies of her new book, Where We Belong, at a private residence Tuesday, August 7 (limited seats; RSVP at 214.624.7557) %26hellip; Summer Colors Art Show and Auction benefitting the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children expects attendees to dress in colorful attire, so brighten things up Thursday, August 16, at 6:30 pm (tsrhc.org) %26hellip; The LIFT Champions of Literacy Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Thursday, September 6, at 11:30 am, features Cal Jillson from SMU speaking about education in Texas (lift-texas.org).

Under the Chef's Reign

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 01:09:51 GMT

Regulars at his now-shuttered Green Room still get nostalgic over Feed Me/Wine Me nights, so Brandt Wood, owner of The Mason Bar, is reviving the concept Wednesday evenings, starting August 1. Wood%26rsquo;s inspiration for Feed Me %26mdash; where diners concede culinary control to chef Cable Smith %26mdash; emanated from his own dining experiences growing up in New Orleans. We expect this three-course prix fixe menu ($38, plus $18 for wine pairings corresponding to each course) to draw a crowd eager to experience Smith%26rsquo;s unique take on Southern-meets-global cuisine. 2701 Guillot St., 214.220.0227; themasonbar.com.

The Bride's Little Blue Book

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 11:10:56 GMT

BRIDAL SHOPS

Belle Mari%26eacute;e Bridal, 2509 River Oaks Blvd., 713.523.0068; bellemarieehouston.com%26nbsp;

BHLDN, Highland Village, 4056 Westheimer Road, 713.599.1917; bhldn.com%26nbsp;

Brickhouse Bridal, 200 Valleywood, The Woodlands, 281.681.3430; brickhouse
bridal.com%26nbsp;

Casa de Novia Bridal Couture, 3331 D%26rsquo;Amico St., 713.523.9090; casadenoviabridal.com%26nbsp;

Ivory Bridal Atelier, West Ave, 2800 Kirby Dr., 713.550.1622; ivorybridalhouston.com%26nbsp;

Joan Pillow Bridal Salon, Highland Village, 4001 Westheimer, 713.622.1122; joanpillowbridal.com%26nbsp;

Mia Bridal Couture, 1958 W. Gray St., 713.622.2022; miabridalcouture.com%26nbsp;

Now and Forever Bridal Boutique, 3701 Kirby Dr., 713.218.0369; nowandforever bridalbtq.com%26nbsp;

The Wedding Suite at Nordstrom, Galleria, 832.201.2700; nordstrom.com. By appointment.%26nbsp;

Winnie Couture, 5152 Buffalo Speedway, 713.782.9316; winnie couture.com. By appointment.%26nbsp;

%26nbsp;

CUSTOM BRIDAL %26amp; ATTENDANT CLOTHING, MADE-TO-MEASURE TUXEDOS %26amp; SHIRTS

Arend Couture, 2017 Elmen St., 713.523.0943. By appointment.%26nbsp;

Atrium Ready to Wear, 3331 D%26rsquo;Amico St., 713.520.0206; atriumrtw.com%26nbsp;

Beautiful U Bridal, 3637 W. Alabama, 713.963.8213. By appointment. %26nbsp;

Bella Bridesmaid, 2611 Greenbriar Dr., 713.528.2778; bellabridesmaid.com%26nbsp;

Billy Reid, 2702 Westheimer, 713.552.0333; billyreid.com%26nbsp;

David Peck Collection, 512.415.3666; davidpeckcollection.com%26nbsp;

Elizabeth Anthony/Esther Wolf, 1180-08 Uptown Park Blvd., 713.622.1331; estherwolf.com

Established Custom Clothing, 832.287.1207; establishedcustomclothing.com

Festari for Men, 1800 Post Oak Blvd., 713.626.1234; festariformen.com

Hamilton Custom Shirtmakers, 5700 Richmond Ave., 713.264.8800; hamiltonshirts.com.

Jenny Kim Bridal Couture, 2524 Amherst St., 713.528.0500; jkbridal.com

Linda Cunningham, 3310 Edloe St., 713.621.3232; lindacunningham.com

Nick Lopez Tailoring, 2680 Sage Road, 713.621.5411; nicklopeztailoring.com. Custom tuxedos.

Q Custom Clothier, West Ave, 2800 Kirby Dr., 713.523.8333; qcustomclothier.com

Wayne Jones Custom Suit and Shirt Makers, 713.622.2452. By appointment.

Winnie Couture, 5152 Buffalo Speedway, 713.782.9316; winniecouture.com. By appointment.

%26nbsp;

TUXEDOS

A. Taghi Fine Apparel, 5116 Westheimer, 713.963.0884; ataghi.com

Ermenegildo Zegna, Galleria, 832.308.3494; zegna.com

Festari for Men, 1800 Post Oak Blvd., 713.626.1234; festariformen.com

Giorgio Armani, Galleria, 713.961.2659; giorgioarmani.com. Custom tuxedos available.

Gucci, Galleria, 713.961.0778; gucci.com

Louis Vuitton, Galleria, 713.960.0707; louisvuitton.com

M. Penner, 1180-06 Uptown Park Blvd., 713.527.8200; mpenner.com

Neiman Marcus, Galleria, 713.621.7100; neimanmarcus.com

Norton Ditto, 2425 W. Alabama St., 713.688.9800; nortonditto.com

Ralph Lauren, Galleria, 713.850.9330; ralphlauren.com. Tuxedos to order.

Saks Fifth Avenue, Galleria, 713.627.0500; saksfifthavenue.com

Versace, Galleria, 713.623.8220; versace.com

Yves Saint Laurent, Galleria, 713.840.7006; ysl.com

%26nbsp;

RINGS

Katy Briscoe, Inc., 1455 W. Loop South; 713.662.9886; katybriscoe.com. By appointment.

Bailey, Banks %26amp; Biddle, 700 Town %26amp; Country Blvd., 713.647.8045; baileybanksandbiddle.com

Bulgari, Galleria, 713.622.7574; bulgari.com

Cartier, Galleria, 713.871.0177; cartier.com

Chard%26eacute;, 5600 Kirby Dr., 713.668. 6350; chardejewelers.com

David Yurman, Galleria, 713.622.5799; davidyurman.com

De Beers, Galleria, 713.960.9030; debeers.com

Deutsch %26amp; Deutsch, 3747 Westheimer, 713.627.7787; deutschdeutschjewelers.com

DeVille Fine Jewelry, 5700 Woodway, 281.501.3810; devillefinejewelry.com

Donoho%26rsquo;s Jewellers, 9590 Six Pines Dr., The Woodlands, 281.367.9050; donohos.com

Gems by Chao, Galleria, 713.626.0431; gemsbychao.com

I W Marks, 3841 Bellaire Blvd., 713.668.5000; iwmarks.com

Judith Ann Jewels, 4721 Westheimer, 713.871.1074; judithannjewels.com

Lewis Diamonds %26amp; Timepieces, 16972 Highway 3, Webster; 281.332.8433; lewisusa.com

Nazar%26rsquo;s Fine Jewelry, 5887 Westheimer, 713.952.5444; nazarsfinejewelry.com

Neiman Marcus, Galleria, 713.621.7100; neimanmarcus.com

Paul Carter Jewels, 1141-02 Uptown Park Blvd., 713.627.7495; CityCentre, 713.465.5353; paulcarterjewels.com

Reiner%26rsquo;s Fine Jewelry, 2210 Westheimer, 713.520.1212; reinersjewelry.com

Saks Fifth Avenue, Galleria, 713.627.0500; saksfifthavenue.com

Tiffany %26amp; Co., Galleria, 713.626.0220; tiffany.com

Zadok Jewelers, 1749 Post Oak Blvd., 713.960.8950; zadokjewelers.com

%26nbsp;

ESTATE JEWELRY

A.A. Benjamin Ltd., 1775 St. James Place, 713.965.0555; aabenjaminjewelry.com

Past Era Antique Jewelry, 3433 W. Alabama, 713.621.3433; pastera.com

Queen of Heirs Jewelry, 4901 Locust St., Bellaire, 713.666.6683; queenofheirs.com

Tenenbaum %26amp; Co., 1801 Post Oak Blvd., 713.629.7444; tenenbaumandco.com

Valobra Jewelry %26amp; Antiques, 4078 Westheimer, 713.961.4500; valobra.net

Wayne Smith Jewelry, 1121-11 Uptown Park Blvd., 713.524.0100; smithandcompanyjewels.com

%26nbsp;

CAKES

Acadian Bakers, 604 W. Alabama St., 713.520.1484; acadianbakers.com

Bavarian Cakery, 8815 Solon Road, 281.469.3116; bavariancakery.com

Cakes by Gina, 14165 Bissonnet St., 281.495.9400; cakesbyginahouston.com

Crave Cupcakes, 1151-06 Uptown Park Blvd. and 5600 Kirby Dr., 713.622.7283; cravecupcakes.com

Dacapo%26rsquo;s Pastry Cafe, 1141 E. 11th St., 713.869.9141; dacapospastry cafe.com

Dessert Gallery Bakery %26amp; Cafe, 3600 Kirby Dr., 713.522.9999; 1616 Post Oak Blvd., 713.622.0007;
dessertgallery.com

Dolce Delights by Candace Chang, 3201 Louisiana St., 713.807.7575; mydolcedelights.com

Michael%26rsquo;s Cookie Jar, 5330 Weslayan St., 713.771.8603; michaelscookiejar.com

More Than Cakes, 1100 W. Dallas St., 713.652.5135; morethancakes.com

Ooh La La The Dessert Boutique, 700 W. Sam Houston Parkway North, 713.465.6338; oohlalasweets.com

Petite Sweet, 2700 W. Alabama, 713.520.7007; petitesweetshouston.com

Sprinkles Cupcakes, 4014 Westheimer, 713.871.9929; sprinkles.com

Susie%26rsquo;s Cakes %26amp; Confections, 12280 Westheimer, 281.493.3222; susiescakes.com

Three Brothers Bakery, 4036 S. Braeswood Blvd., 713.666.2253; 3brothersbakery.com

Who Made the Cake!, 1811 S. Shepherd Dr., 713.528.4719; whomadethecake.com

World Cakes %26amp; Catering, 1073-B Silber Road, 713.780. 4351; worldcateringhouston.com

%26nbsp;

CATERERS

A Fare Extraordinaire, 2035 Marshall St., 713.527.8288; afehouston.com

Abuso Catering, 6729 Stella Link Road, 713.660.6617; abusocatering.com

Acute Catering %26amp; Events, 6729 Stella Link Road, 713.528.1133; acutecatering.com

Armandos Taco Truck, 2630 Westheimer, 713.520.1738; armandosrestaurant.com

Catering by Culinaire, 3900 Milam St., 713.524.2337; cateringbyculinaire.com

City Kitchen, 8101 Airport Blvd., 713.847.8004; citykitchencatering.com

Cord%26uacute;a Catering, 713.961.0911; cordua.com

Crew Staffing, 4617 Montrose, 713.526.2739; crewstaffing.com

Fresh Foods Catering, 4530 Beechnut St., 713.484.9000; freshfoodscatering.com

Jackson and Company, 707 Hawthorne St., 713.523.5780; jacksonandcompany.com

La Villette Catering %26amp; Special Events, 1716 Bissonnet St., 713.521.7550; lavillettecatering.com

M%26eacute;lange Catering %26amp; Special Events, 6803 Wynnwood Lane, 713.869.0066; melangeevents.com

Rosemary%26rsquo;s Catering, 9401 Knight Road, 713.796.2680; rosemaryscatering.com

The Stone Kitchen Catering %26amp; Special Events, 2112 Waugh Dr., 713.521.3500; stonekitchencatering.com

Swift + Company, 2137 W. Alabama, 713.526.7600; swiftevents.com

%26nbsp;

EVENT PRODUCTION

Bergner %26amp; Johnson Design, 519 Pecore St., 713.662.3769; bergnerandjohnson.com

Bright Star Productions, 2420 Center St., 713.529.2757; brightstarproductions.com

Darryl %26amp; Co., 483 W. 38th St., 713.863.0400; darrylco.com

Design %26amp; Inspiration, 713.880.3613; designand inspiration.net

DGLS Events ... at Your Service, 5001 Woodway, 713.851.5577; dglsevents.com

The Events Company, Richard Flowers, 1237 N. Post Oak Road, 713.426.5800; theeventsco.com

Events in Bloom, 633A West 19th St., 713.880.1475; eventsinbloom.com

Oulala! What an Event, 713.855.8755; oulalaevents.com%26nbsp;

Michael Cord%26uacute;a Events, 2411 Fountainview, 713.961.0911; cordua.com

A Style Collective, astylecollective.com

Swift + Company, 2137 W. Alabama St., 713.526.7600; swiftevents.com

%26nbsp;

FLORAL DESIGNERS

Aubrey Sellers Flowers and Gifts, 1545 Peden St., 713.880.1919; classicromance.com

The Byrd Collective, Ashley Bailey, 512.981.8526; thebyrdcollective.com

Breen%26rsquo;s Florist, 1050 N. Post Oak Road, 713.668.2376; breensflorist.com

Bergner %26amp; Johnson, 519 Pecore St., 713.662.3769, bergnerandjohnson.com

Central Market, 3815 Westheimer, 713.386.1700; centralmarket.com

David Brown, 1180-10 Uptown Park Blvd., 713.664.0466; davidbrownflowers.com

The Empty Vase of Houston, 2511 River Oaks Blvd., 713.529. 9969; emptyvasehouston.com

Events in Bloom, 638A W. 20th St., 713.880.1475; eventsinbloom.com

In Bloom, Inc., 814 Fairview St., 713.523.3553; inbloominc.com

Johnathan Andrew Sage Designs, 3902 McKinney St., 713.227.7300; jasinctx.com

Lexis Florist, 6102 Skyline Dr., 713.774.8080; lexisflorist.com

Plants %26rsquo;n Petals, 3810 Westheimer, 713.840.9191; plantsnpetals.net

Stems Custom Floral, 4711 Gibson St., 713.574.1250; stemscustomfloral.com

%26nbsp;

INVITATIONS

Ann Werme Group Stationers %26amp; Marketing, 2400 Augusta Dr., 713.339.4511; annwermegroup.com

Avalon Stationery and Gifts, 2604 Westheimer, 713.528.0052

Bering%26rsquo;s, 6102 Westheimer, 713.785.6400; 3900 Bissonnet St., 713.665.0500; berings.com

Cartier, Galleria, 713.871.0177; cartier.com

Embossed Graphics of Texas, 6435 Gulfton Dr., 713.777.1336

Events, 1966 W. Gray St., 713.520.5700; eventsgifts.com

Houston Invitation Service, 2503 River Oaks Blvd., 713.522.2757; invitationservice.com

Invitation Solutions, 713.864. 5573; invitationsolutions.com

Jawda and Jawda, 6111 Kirby Dr., 713.419.8018; jawdaandjawda.com

Jenny Wakefield, 713.529.6161. By appointment.

Katie %26amp; Company, 4500 Washington Ave., 713.802.1345; katie-co.com

Paper Source, 4016 Westheimer, 713.888.0418; paper-source.com

PH Design Shop, 2414 Rice Blvd., 713.522.8861; phdesignshop.com

The Pretty Penny, 14534 Memorial Dr., 281.493.2430; theprettypenny.com

Tiffany %26amp; Co., Galleria, 713.626.0220; tiffany.com

Simple Difference, Daniela Weil, 713.278.1994; simpledifference.com. By appointment.

Tanglewood Gifts and Stationery, 5750 Woodway Dr., 713.266.1006; tanglewoodgifts.com

%26nbsp;

DETAILS: CALLIGRAPHY, ETC.

Anne Cheney, 713.782.3708; 123acheney@comcast.net. Calligraphy.%26nbsp;

Avalon Stationery and Gifts, 2604 Westheimer, 713.528.0052. RSVP services.%26nbsp;

Calligraphy and Engraving by Mark, 281.840.7939; calligraphybymark@yahoo.com

Calligraphy by Patricia, 3701 West Alabama St., 713.621.9595; patleith@sbcglobal.net

Karla Hamilton, 713.868.5087; karlahamilton@me.com. Calligraphy.

Houston Invitation Service, 2503 River Oaks Blvd., 713.522.2757; invitationservice.com

PenDance Calligraphy %26amp; Engraving, Maureen Vickery, 281.558.7856; pendance.us

Tanglewood Gifts and Stationery, 5750 Woodway Dr., 713.266.1006; tanglewoodgifts.com

%26nbsp;

MUSIC BOOKERS

Allen Hill Entertainment, 713.426.2741; allenhillentertainment.com

Avalon Music, 713.529.2672; theavalonmusic.com

Gulf Coast Entertainment, 2017 W. Gray St., 713.523.7004; gulfcoastentertainment.com

Marshall Maxwell Entertainment Agency, 713.522.3514; marshallmaxwell.com

Simply Entertainment, 713.807.0202; simplyentertainment.biz

RECEPTION LOCATIONS

Alden Houston, 1117 Prairie St., Catherine Bradley at 832.200.8807; aldenhotels.com

Bell Tower on 34th, 901 W. 34th St., 713.868.2355; thebelltoweron34th.com

Briscoe Manor, 5801 FM 723, Richmond, 281.238.4700; briscoemanor.com

Courtyard on St. James Place, 1885 St. James Place, 713.621.0555; courtyardonstjames.com

Four Seasons Hotel Houston, 1300 Lamar St., Elisa Sosa at 713.652.6263; fourseasons.com/houston

Hilton Americas%26ndash;Houston, 1600 Lamar St., Ingrid Menendez at 713.739.8000; hilton.com

Hilton Houston Post Oak, 2001 Post Oak Blvd., Virginia Schlitt at 713.968.1325; hilton.com

Hotel Derek, 2525 W. Loop South, Shona Mitchell at 713.297.4301; hotelderek.com

Hotel Galvez %26amp; Spa, 2024 Seawall Blvd., Galveston, Angie at 409.765.7721; wyndham.com

Hotel Granduca, 1080 Uptown Park Blvd., Laura Buehler at 713.418.1036; granducahouston.com

Hotel Icon, 220 Main St., Mary Taube or Michael McVey at 832.667.4464; hotelicon.com

Hotel ZaZa Houston, 5701 Main St., Lisa Hudson at 713.526.1991; hotelzazahouston.com%26nbsp;

The Houstonian Hotel, Club %26amp; Spa, 111 N. Post Oak Lane, Jim Gray or Evangelia McCarthy at 713.680.2626; houstonian.com

InterContinental Houston, 2222 W. Loop South, Chantal Lavin at 713.850.2800; ichouston.com

The Lancaster, 701 Texas Ave., Kathy Sanchez at 713.228.9500; thelancaster.com

The Magnolia Hotel, 1100 Texas Ave., Natalie Monk at 713.221.0011, ext. 72664; magnoliahotelhouston.com

Omni Houston Hotel, 4 Riverway, Silvia San Martin at 713.871.8181; omnihotels.com

St. Regis Hotel, Houston, 1919 Briar Oaks Lane, Matthew Vesley at 713.840.7600; stregis.com/houston

Hotel Sorella, CityCentre, 800 W. Sam Houston Parkway North, Nancy Alonzo at 713.973.1600; hotelsorella-citycentre.com

The Westin Galleria, 5060 W. Alabama St., Adam Rineer at 713.960.8100; westin.com/galleria

The Westin Oaks, 5011 Westheimer, Adam Rineer at 713.960.8100; westin.com/oaks

Or, try these sites:

The Capital at St. Germain, 705 B Main St., 713.492.2454; thecapitalhouston.com

The Corinthian, 202 Fannin St., Boyd Bryan at 713.222.2002; thecornithianhouston.com

The Crystal Ballroom at the Rice Lofts, 909 Texas Ave., Jamie Purpera at 713.227.7423; sambucacatering.com

Cullen%26rsquo;s Upscale American Grill, 11500 Space Center Blvd., Elizabeth Harris at 281.991.2037; cullenshouston.com

DiverseWorks, 1117 E. Freeway, Jon Read at 713.223.8346; diverseworks.org

Fifty-Two Twenty-Six, 5226 Elm St., Bellaire, 713.529.4900; 5226elm.com

The Gardens of Bammel Lane, 2807 Bammel Lane, Alison at 713.418.7243 bammel.com

Gremillion %26amp; Co. Fine Art Gallery, 2501 Sunset Blvd., Brian Freeze at 713.522.2701; gremillion.com

The Grove, 1611 Lamar St., Tatiana Escobar at 713.337.7321; thegrovehouston.com

Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, 800 Bagby St., Denise Wright at 713.315.2512; thehobbycenter.org

The Hofheinz House, 3900 Milam, Tracy Bowers, 713.524.2337; cateringbyculinaire.com/hofheinzhouse.html

Houston Museum of Natural Science, One Hermann Circle Dr., Leslie Goode or Nancy Lauletta-Bowen at 713.639.4749; hmns.org

Julia Ideson Library, 500 McKinney Ave., Julie Williams, 713.660.0772

The Junior League of Houston, 1811 Briar Oaks Lane, Donna Marcum at 713.622.4191, ext. 1; juniorleaguehouston.org

La Colombe d%26rsquo;Or, 3410 Montrose Blvd., Ed Bodee at 713.469.4750; lacolombedor.com

Las Velas, 5714 Fairdale Lane, 713.977.5773

Lillie %26amp; Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet St., 713.639.7300; mfah.org

McClain Gallery, 2242 Richmond Ave., Sharon Lott, 713.520.9988; mcclaingallery.com

Poissant Gallery, 5102 Center St., Meg Poissant, 713.880.5553; poissantgallery.com

River Oaks Garden Club, 2503 Westheimer, Anne Burroughs at 713.523.2483; riveroaksgardenclub.org

%26nbsp;

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Alexander%26rsquo;s Fine Portrait Design, 312 Birdsall St., Linda Rogers, 713.682.6000; alexandersportraits.com

Alvin Gee Photography, 911 Town %26amp; Country Blvd., 713.647.0911; alvingee.com

Barron %26amp; Barron, 713 Second St., League City, 409.939.1498; barronandbarron.com

Bates Photographic Studio, 713.449.6491; dbphotographics.com

Brooke Schwab Photography, 1113 Vine St., 713.560.8266; brookeschwabphotography.com

Chris Bailey Photography, 713.518.1452; cbaileyphotography.com%26nbsp;

Chris Wineinger Photography, 832.372.3456; chriswphoto.com

D. Jones Photography, 2005 Mason St., 713.521.1550; djonesphoto.com

Evin Thayer Studios, 405 Avondale St., 713.524.0199; evinthayer.com

Gittings, 1121-10 Uptown Park Blvd., 713.965.9301; gittings.com. Portraits only.

Goodlight Photography, 713.818.7829; goodlight photography.com

Home Video Productions by Gary Bolton, Missouri City, 281.437.4088; homevideoproductions.com

Jenny Antill Photography, 832.877.4476; jennyantill.com

John Lewis Weddings, 281.384.8633; johnlewisweddings.net

John Ly Photography, 4808 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire, 281.701.7939; johnlyphotography.com

Karen Sachar Photography, 2110 South Blvd., 713.523.1150; ksachar.com

Ladyflash, Ashley Chiles, 512.585.3939; ladyflash.com. Video.

Legacy Multimedia, 281.381.9550; legacymultimedia.com

Michael Carr Photography, 5701 Woodway, 713.461.2862; michaelcarrphotography.com

Michael Martinez Photography, 713.355.5345; martinezphoto.com. By appointment.

Nhan Nguyen Photography, 1710 Waugh Dr., 713.523.3887; nhanphotography.com

Phyllis Hand Photography, 713.861.9327; phyllishand.com

PWL Studio by Fulton Davenport, 805 Welch St., 713.521.7022; pwlstudio.com

Simon Roderick Gentry Photography, 832.661.7363; simongentry.com

Steve Lee Weddings, 1330 Yale St., 832.380.4004; steveleeweddings.com

Steve Schmid Photography, 3939 Essex Lane, 713.960.9839; steveschmidphotography.com

Clint Shuttlesworth, 832.315.9643; clinttakesphotos.com

Terry Blackburn Photography, 1260 Blalock Road, 713.464.0094; blackburnstudios.com

%26nbsp;

WEDDING COORDINATORS

Bobbi Asarch, 713.728.3336; bobbiasarch.com

Belle of the Ball, 4010 Blue Bonnet Blvd., 713.528.9966; belleevents.com

Design Wedding Consultants, 4545 Bissonnet, 713.661.3374, desi-gn.com

Elias Events, 6214 Beverly Hill #24, 713.334.1800; eliasevents.com

For Your Memories, 1901 Post Oak Blvd., 713.532.8100; foryourmemories.com

Keely Thorne Events, 2449 South Blvd., 713.807.8188; keelythorne.com

Mary Beth Events, 713.542.0080; marybethevents.com

Rita Holland, 713.965.0936; r.holland@sbcglobal.net

Schwartz %26amp; Woodward, 713.780.1282; schwartzwoodward.com

Two Be Wed, 2611 Greenbriar, 713.572.3030; twobewed.net

Ann Whittington, 713.461.8424; annevents.com

IMAGES:

Lanvin at Casa de Novia

Carolina Herrera at Belle Mari%26eacute;e Bridal Salon, Joan Pillow Bridal Salon

Rivini at Ivory Bridal Atelier

Versace

Douglas Hannant at Mia Bridal Couture

Ralph Lauren

Events in Bloom. Photo by Andy Nyholt.

Bella Bridesmaid

David Yurman

Zadok Jewelers

Van Cleef %26amp; Arpels

I.W. Marks

Deutsch %26amp; Deutsch

Lewis Jewelers

Tenenbaum %26amp; Company

Queen of Heirs Jewelry

DeVille Fine Jewelry

Cartier

Past Era Antique Jewelry

Wayne Smith Jewelry

Tiffany %26amp; Co.

Oscar de la Renta at Joan Pillow Bridal Salon

Ann Werme Group Stationers %26amp; Marketing

The Bride's Little Blue Book

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 11:09:04 GMT

GOWNS %26amp; BRIDESMAIDS%26nbsp;

Bea Harper at The Fitting Room, 4111 Lomo Alto Dr., 214.520.3600 %26nbsp;

Bella Bridesmaid, 3015 State St., 214.999.9311; bellabridesmaid.com%26nbsp;

Binzario Couture Gowns, 3601 Ross Ave., 800.275.3062; binzario.com%26nbsp;

Bliss Bridal, 4624 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, 817.332.4696; blissfw.com%26nbsp;

Bridal Boutique, 139 W. Main St., Lewisville, 972.219.8500; bridalboutiquelewisville.com %26nbsp;

Bridal Collections by Stella, 5813 Preston Road, Plano, 972.781.0020; bridalcollectionsbystella.com %26nbsp;

The Bridal Salon at Neiman Marcus Downtown, 1618 Main St., 214.573.2663; neimanmarcus.com %26nbsp;

The Bridal Salon at Stanley Korshak, 500 Crescent Court, 214.871.3611; stanleykorshak.com%26nbsp;

Carolina Herrera, 31 Highland Park Village, 214.219.6060; carolinaherrera.com%26nbsp;

Cooper by Courtney, 806.535.0521; cooperbycourtneybridal.com%26nbsp;

Gowns of Grace (formerly A Bridal Blossom), 4410 W. Lovers Lane, 214.902.0800; gownsofgracebridal.com%26nbsp;

LuLu%26rsquo;s Bridal Boutique, 2728 Routh St., 214.871.9610; stardustcelebrations.com %26nbsp;

Michael Faircloth, 469.227.9333; michaelfairclothdesigns.com %26nbsp;

Mockingbird Bridal Boutique, 5602 E. Mockingbird Lane, 214.823.6873; mockingbirdbridal.com %26nbsp;

Nicolas Villalba Couture, 2366 Irving Blvd., 214.655.6820; nicolasvillalba.com

Oscar de la Renta, NorthPark Center, 214.346.0400; oscardelarenta.com

Patti Flowers Design Studios, 3624 Fairmount, 214.369.7027

Patsy%26rsquo;s, A Bridal Boutique, 4244 Oak Lawn Ave., 214.528.1227; patsysbridal.com

Richard Brooks Fabrics, 6131 Luther Lane, 214.739.2772; richardbrooksfabrics.com

Rosa Clar%26aacute;, 3205 Knox St., 214.432.9034; rosaclara.es

StarDust Celebrations, 6464 W. Plano Pkwy., Plano, 972.781.1619; stardustcelebrations.com

Terry Costa, 12817 Preston Road, 972.385.6100; terrycosta.com

Valentino, NorthPark Center, 214.750.5707; valentino.com. By special order.

Warren Barr%26oacute;n Bridal, 53 Highland Park Village, 214.526.8400; warrenbarron.com %26nbsp;

Watters, 4801 Spring Valley, 972.991.6994; watters.com

The Wedding Suite at Nordstrom, NorthPark Center, 214.231.3900; nordstrom.com. By appointment.

%26nbsp;

TUXEDOS%26nbsp;

Barneys New York, NorthPark Center, 469.221.4700; barneys.com

Boss Hugo Boss, NorthPark Center, 214.210.1100; hugoboss.com

Culwell %26amp; Son, 6319 Hillcrest Ave., 214.522.7000; culwell.com

Daniel Taylor Clothier, 3699 McKinney Ave., 214.521.0433; danieltaylorclothier.com

Forty Five Ten, 4510 McKinney Ave., 214.559.4510; fortyfiveten.com

Gucci, Galleria Dallas, 972.387.3357; NorthPark Center, 214.706.0510; gucci.com

Hadleigh%26rsquo;s, 74 Highland Park Village, 214.770.4743; hadleighsbespoke.com

Ken%26rsquo;s Man%26rsquo;s Shop, 6025 Royal Lane, 214.369.5367; kensmansshop.com

Mister Tuxedo, 6625 Snider Plaza, 214.363.1871; mistertuxedoinc.com

Neiman Marcus, Downtown, 214.741.6911; NorthPark Center, 214.363.8311; The Shops at Willow Bend, Plano, 972.629.1700; neimanmarcus.com

Pockets Menswear, 46 Highland Park Village, 214.368.1167; pocketsmenswear.com

Q Custom Clothier, 85 Highland Park Village, 214.780.0555; 3699 McKinney Ave., 214.780.9888; qcustomclothier.com

Ralph Lauren, 58 Highland Park Village, 214.522.5270; polo.com

Saks Fifth Avenue, Galleria Dallas, 972.458.7000; saks.com

Stanley Korshak, 500 Crescent Court, 214.871.3600; stanleykorshak.com

Valentino, NorthPark Center, 214.750.5707; valentino.com

Versace, NorthPark Center, 972.591.5730; versace.com %26nbsp;

%26nbsp;

RINGS

Bachendorf%26rsquo;s, Galleria Dallas, 972.392.9900; The Plaza at Preston Center, 214.692.8400; The Shops at Legacy, Plano, 972.596.2090; bachendorfs.com

Bulgari, NorthPark Center, 214.414.9666; bulgari.com

Calame Jewelers, 11 Highland Park Village; 214.528.2866

Carter Malouf Private Jeweler, 214.750.5395; cartermalouf.com

Cartier, NorthPark Center, 972.726.7670; cartier.com

David Yurman, NorthPark Center, 469.232.4500; davidyurman.com

De Beers, NorthPark Center, 214.361.0666; debeers.com

deBoulle, 6821 Preston Road, 214.522.2400; deboulle.com

Diamond Doctor, 8127 Preston Road, 972.342.6663; diamonddoctor.com

Eiseman Jewels, NorthPark Center, 214.369.6100; eisemanjewels.com

Graff Diamonds, 214.315.4047; rcolombo@graffusa.com

Harry Winston, 19 Highland Park Village, 214.647.5830; harrywinston.com

J. Pacetti Precious Jewels, 214.521.0815; jpacetti.com

Jayshree Dalal, 2050 N. Stemmons Freeway, 214.651.8800

Jerry Szor Contemporary Jewelry, 6131 Luther Lane, 214.691.5400; jerryszor.co

Judith Ripka, 45 Highland Park Village, 214.219.0200; judithripka.com

Kendra Scott, 3699 McKinney, 214.528.4800; kendrascott.com

Leverington Co., 4341 Lovers Lane, 214.526.1934; leverington.com

Markham Fine Jewelers, 8355 Gaylord Pkwy., Frisco, 214.705.9913; markhamfinejewelers.com

Matthew Trent, 8300 Preston Road, 214.871.9170; matthewtrent.com

Neiman Marcus, Downtown, 214.741.6911; NorthPark Center, 214.363.8311; The Shops at Willow Bend, Plano, 972.629.1700; neimanmarcus.com

Olschwanger Designs, 5001 spring Valley Road, 972.458.8352; olschwangerdesigns.com

Pampillonia Jewelers, 640 N. Coit Road, Richardson, 972.792.8100; pampilloniajewelers.com

Saks Fifth Avenue, Galleria Dallas, 972.458.7000; saks.com

Shaw Diamonds %26amp; Designs, davidshawdiamonds.com

Skibell Fine Jewelry, 8411 Preston Road, 214.691.5123; skibellfinejewelry.com

Stanley Korshak, 500 Crescent Court, 214.871.3600; stanleykorshak.com

Sue Gragg Precious Jewels, 214.630.1422; suegraggpreciousjewels.com

Susan Saffron Fine Jewelry, 5550 W. Lovers Lane, 214.373.6602; saffronjewelry.com

Tiffany %26amp; Co., Galleria Dallas, 972.458.2800; NorthPark Center, 214.378.9800; tiffany.com

William Noble Rare Jewels, 100 Highland Park Village, 214.526.3890; williamnoble.com

Ylang 23, Galleria Dallas, 972.980.0819; ylang23.com %26nbsp;

%26nbsp;

CAKES%26nbsp;

Bronwen Weber Frosted Art Bakery %26amp; Studio, 1546 Edison St., 214.760.8707; frostedart.com

Dallas Affaires Cake Company, 2307 Abrams Road, 214.826.9409; dallasaffairescakeco.com

Delicious Cakes, 14819 Inwood Road, Addison, 972.233.2133; 2364 E. Northwest Hwy., Southlake, 817.310.0474; deliciouscakes.com

Fancy Cakes by Lauren, 11111 D N. Central Expy., 214.828.9030; fancycakesbylauren.com

Jackie Spratt Cakes, 1901 N. Haskell Ave., 214.780.0404; jackiesprattcakes.com

La Duni Latin Kitchen %26amp; Baking Studio, 4264 Oak Lawn Ave., 214.520.6888; laduni.com

Panini Bakery %26amp; Cakes, 6063 Sherry Lane, 214.363.1225; paninicakes.com

Rush Patisserie Cake Salon and Pastry Boutique, 1201 El Dorado Ave., 214.749.4040; rushpatisserie.com

Society Bakery, 3426B Greenville Ave., 214.827.1411; societybakery.com

Tart Bakery,%26nbsp;5219 W. Lovers Lane, 469.335.8919; tartbakerydallas.com

%26nbsp;

CATERERS

Andrew Ormsby Catering, 214.841.1917; ormsbycatering.com

Beyond the Box, 214.828.2228; foodbeyondthebox.com

Cassandra Fine Catering, 214.613.0131; cassandrafinecatering.com

The Catering Company, 214.942.2287; notafraidofflavor.com Central Market, 214.361.5577; centralmarket.com

The Classic Gourmet, 817.557.2700; theclassicgourmet.com

Culinary Art Catering, 972.744.0660; culinaryartcatering.com

Daryl%26rsquo;s By Design, 214.655.1444; dwazoo.com/venuescatering

Doug Boster Gourmet Catering, 214.752.2022; bostercatering.com

EClaire Catering, 214.653.1133; eclairecatering.com

Eddie Deen Catering, 214.741.4211; eddiedeen.com

The Festive Kitchen, 972.437.1523; festivekitchen.com

Food Company, 214.521.7193; foodcompanytx.com

Food Glorious Food, 214.368.3855; specialeventcatering.com

George Catering, 214.752.6851; georgecatering.com

Kent Rathbun Catering, 214.619.3555; kentrathbun.com

Lisa Garza Taste Studio, 214.282.0165; lisagarzataste.com

Lombardi Family Concepts, 214.748.5566; lombardifamilyconcepts.com

Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, 214.559.2100; mansiononturtlecreek.com

The Spice of Life Catering, 972.417.1755; thespiceoflifecatering.com

Superfly Pies Catering by Nathan Burke, 214.289.6842; superflypies.com

Suze Restaurant %26amp; Catering, 214.350.6135

Two Sisters Catering, 214.823.3075; twosisterscatering.com

Wendy Krispin Caterer, 214.748.5559; wendykrispincaterer.com

Wolfgang Puck Catering, Nasher Sculpture Center 214.242.5141; Union Station 214.741.7825; wolfgangpuckcatering.com

Wynnwood Catering %26amp; Special Events, 214.276.7910; wynnwood.com %26nbsp;

%26nbsp;

EVENT DESIGNERS/WEDDING COORDINATORS

AK Event Design, 214.502.0890; akeventdesign.com

Amazing Events, 972.931.1955; amazingeventsdallas.com

The Bridal Salon at Stanley Korshak, 214.871.3611; stanleykorshak.com/bridal-salon/

Caroline Events, 214.463.9122; carolineevents.com

Sharon Coston, 214.352.0609

Crystal Frasier Weddings, 972.342.7960; crystalfrasier.com

Cymbidium, 972.462.9093; cymbidiumflowers.com

DFW Events, 214.505.9142; dfwevents.com

Favors with Chris Brown, 214.369.3836; favorsspecialevents.com

Freesia, 214.658.9757; freesiadallas.com

Harold Hand, 214.515.9000; haroldhand.com

Holly Tripp Event Design, 214.403.0031; hollytrippeventdesign.com

Jordan Payne Events, 214.577. 5880; jordanpayneevents.com

Liland%26rsquo;s Special Events, 214.748.1191; lilandssep.com

Beyond, 972.458.7569; beyondld.com

Magic Moments Parties and Events, 214.688.9900; magicmomentsevents.com

Marc Events, 214.749.1999; marcevents.com

Mathes %26amp; Co. Events, 214.350.6360; mathesandco.com

OnePinkLemon, 214.228.3362; onepinklemon.com

Premier Special Events, 972.306.0459; premierspecialevents.com

Rusty Glenn Designs, Inc., 214.219.2016

StarDust Celebrations, 972.781.1619; stardustcelebrations.com

Todd Events, 214.749.0400; toddevents.com

Tom Addis Productions, 214.528.9337 %26nbsp;

%26nbsp;

FLORAL DESIGNERS %26nbsp;

Anthos by Haile Wossen, 2610 1/2 State St., 469.360.3648

Apples to Zinnias and Zen Floral Design, 4024 Villanova, 214.361.2200; applestozinnias.com

Avant Garden, 4 Highland Park Village, 214.559.3432; avantgarden.com

Bella Flora of Dallas, Inc., 118 Oak Lawn Ave., 972.445.1200; bellafloraofdallas.com

Botanical Art, 1240 Profit Dr., 214.243.8584; botanicalartdesign.com

Bows and Arrows, 4908 Bryan St., 214.828.2697; bowsandarrowsdeluxe.com

Bridal Blooms %26amp; Creations, 14315 Inwood Road, 214.803.4823; bridalblooms.com

Cebolla Fine Flowers, 4415 Lovers Lane %26amp; 5610 Maple Ave., 214.369.7673; cebollafineflowers.com

Central Market, 5750 E. Lovers Lane, 214.234.7000; centralmarket.com

Cymbidium, 412 W. Bethel Road, Coppell, 972.462.9093; cymbidiumflowers.com

Di Fiori, 2431 Shorecrest Dr., 214.207.9157; difiori.com%26nbsp;

Donnie Brown Weddings and Events, 13601 Preston Road, 214.522.2271; fivestarfloral.com

Dr. Delphinium Designs %26amp; Events, 5806 W. Lovers Lane, 214.522.9911; drdelphinium.com

Enflowerment, 214.884.9701; enflowerment.com

F%26ecirc;te des Fleurs, 127 Leslie St., 214.651.1113; fetedesfleurs.com

Fleurs de France, 14675 Midway Road, Addison, 972.661.2199; kabloomofdallas.com

Freesia, 1621 Dragon St., 214.658.9757; freesiadallas.com

The Garden Gate, 2615 Routh St., 214.220.1272

Mia Fiori, 7300 Lone Star Dr., Plano, 972.599.9697; mia-fiori.com

Mockingbird Florist, 5606 E. Mockingbird Lane, 214.821.1433; mockingbirdflorist.com

Petals, A Florist, 5805 Preston Road, Plano, 972.781.0878; flowersbypetals.com

Shane Walker Design, 2952 Commerce St., 214.335.7255; shanewalkerdesign.com

Stems of Dallas, 7721 Inwood Road, 214.564.8542; stemsofdallas.com

The Urban Blossom, 1500 Dragon St., 972.763.0808; theurbanblossom.com

Urban Flower/Grange Hall, 4445 Travis St., 214.443.0600; urbanflowergrangehall.com

Village Garden %26amp; Gallery, 1350 Manufacturing St., 214.741.1470; villagegardengallery.com

The Wildflower, 2720 W. Mockingbird, 214.357.5364; thewildflower.com

%26nbsp;

INVITATIONS, CALLIGRAPHY %26amp; DETAILS

Bell%26rsquo;Invito, 214.741.1717; bellinvito.com

Barb Biddle Design, 214.369.2399; barbarabiddledesign.com

Sue Bohlin, 972.977.8301; suebohlin.com

The Bridal Salon at Stanley Korshak, 214.871.3611; stanleykorshak.com/bridal-salon/

Calligraphic Arts Design Studio, 214.522.4731; calligraphicarts.com

Calligraphy by Valerie Bell, 214.526.1371

Campbell Stationers, 214.692.8380

Cartier, NorthPark Center, 972.726.7670; cartier.com

Color Box Design and Letterpress, 972.743.8455

Cymbidium, 972.462.9093; cymbidiumflowers.com%26nbsp;

Fete Set, Inc., 214.750.8880

Laurie Harper, 214.528.2638

Tara Jones Calligraphy, 214.724.0545; tarajones.com

The Left Handed Calligrapher, 214.202.7594; thelefthandedcalligrapher.com

Love Letters Calligraphy, 214.708.6039; loveletterscalligraphy.net

The M Collection Custom Designs, 214.350.6360; themathescollection.com

Madison, 214.528.8118; kkmadison.com

Missing Q Press, 214.673.8857; missingqpress.com

Needle in a Haystack, 214.528.2850; needleinahaystack.biz

Neiman Marcus Downtown, 214.741.6911; neimanmarcus.com

Nest, 214.373.4444; nestdallas.com

Nuvo, 214.522.6886; nuvodallas.com s

Boo Owens at Custom Calligraphy, 214.526.3015

Paper Affair, 214.654.9545; paperaffair.com

Paper %26amp; Chocolate, 214.357.2737; paperandchocolate.com

Papyrus, NorthPark Center, 214.265.7187; Galleria Dallas 972.386.8744; papyrusonline.com

Paradise Design Co., 972.234.3722; paradisedesignco.com

The Prather Pen, 214.691.2010

Southern Fried Paper, 214.919.0731; southernfriedpaper.com

St. Michael%26rsquo;s Woman%26rsquo;s Exchange, 214.521.3862; saintmichael.org

Suzanne Roberts, 214.369.8336; suzannerobertsgifts.com

Tiffany %26amp; Co., Galleria Dallas, 972.458.2800; NorthPark Center, 214.378.9800; tiffany.com

Write Selection, 214.750.0531

%26nbsp;

MUSIC BOOKERS/ENTERTAINMENT%26nbsp;

Absolute Entertainment, 214.871.9900; absolutedfw.com

Andy Austin Entertainment, 972.835.0169; andyaustin.com

Beyond, 972.458.7569; beyondld.com

Bold Entertainment, 972.943.9427; boldentertainment.biz

Bravo Entertainment, 972.960.2525; bravo4u.com

Carol Marks Music, 972.231.4091; carolmarksmusic.com

Center Stage Band, 972.317.2336; centerstageband.com

Dallas Gigs, 214.954.7520; mydallasgigs.com

DJ Deluxe, 214.823.1424; djdeluxe.com

DJ Lucy Wrubel, lucywrubel.com

Ed Bernet Entertainment, 214.691.0001; edbernet.com

Elixir Entertainment, 214.520.3004; elixir-entertainment.com

Phonophreaks Music, 214.478.8009; phonophreaksmusic.com

Hunter Sullivan, 214.680.7299; huntersullivan.com

Whitenoise Inc., 972.571.1674

Wynne Entertainment, 214.520.1111; wynneentertainment.com %26nbsp;

%26nbsp;

RECEPTION LOCATIONS %26nbsp;

The Adolphus, 1321 Commerce St., 214.742.8200; hoteladolphus.com

Aldredge House, 5500 Swiss Ave., 214.368.0087; aldredgehouse.net

Arlington Hall at Lee Park, 3333 Turtle Creek Blvd., 214.520.0977; arlingtonhallatleepark.com

The Belo Mansion %26amp; Pavilion, 2101 Ross Ave., 214.220.0239; belomansion.com

The Crescent Club, 400 Crescent Court, 214.953.4387; crescentcourt.com/club.cfm

Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Road, 214.515.6513; dallasarboretum.org

Dallas Contemporary, 161 Glass St., 214.821.2522; dallascontemporary.org

Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N. Harwood St., 214.922.1382; dallasmuseumofart.org

Dallas World Aquarium, 1801 N. Griffin St., 214.720.2224; dwazoo.com

eM The Venue, 1500 Dragon St., 214.749.1999; emthevenue.net

The Fairmont Dallas, 1717 N. Akard St., 214.720.2020; fairmont.com/dallas

Fashion Industry Gallery (F.I.G.), 1807 Ross Ave., 214.748.4344; fashionindustrygallery.com

Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas, 4150 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving, 972.717.2425; fourseasons.com/dallas

The Hall of State at Fair Park, 3939 Grand Ave., 214.461.7190; hallofstate.com

Hickory Street Annex, 501 Second Ave., 214.828.1414; hickorystreetannex.com

Hilton Anatole, 2201 Stemmons Freeway, 214.748.1200; hilton.com

Hilton Dallas Park Cities, 5954 Luther Lane, 214.368.0400; hilton.com

Hotel Palomar Dallas, 5300 E. Mockingbird Lane, 214.520.7969; hotelpalomar-dallas.com

Hotel St. Germain, 2516 Maple Ave., 214.871.2516; hotelstgermain.com

Hotel ZaZa, 2332 Leonard St., 214.468.8399; hotelzazadallas.com

Hyatt Regency, 300 Reunion Blvd., 214.651.1234; dallasregency.hyatt.com

The Joule, A Luxury Collection Hotel, 1530 Main St., 214.748.1300; luxurycollection.com/joule

Marc Events, 1130 Dragon St., 214.749.1999; marcevents.com

Marie Gabrielle Restaurant %26amp; Gardens, 2728 N. Harwood St., 214.871.2097; marie-gabrielle.com

Meadows Museum, 5900 Bishop Blvd., 214.768.4771; meadowsmuseumdallas.org

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 3200 Darnell St., 817.738.9215; themodern.org

Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St., 214.670.3600; dallassymphony.com

Nasher Sculpture Center, 2001 Flora St., 214.242.5100; nashersculpturecenter.org

Off The Grid, 1723 Kelly Lane, 214.457.6789; partyoffthegrid.com

Omni Dallas Hotel, 555 S. Lamar, 214.744.6664; omnihotels.com129 Leslie, 129 Leslie St., 214.748.5559; 129leslie.com

Park City Club, 5956 Sherry Lane, 17th Floor, 214.373.0756; parkcityclub.net

Perot Museum of Nature %26amp; Science, 214.428.7287; sales@natureandscience.org. Available for bookings in 2013.

The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas, 2121 McKinney Ave., 214.922.0200; ritzcarlton.com

The Room on Main, 2030 Main St., 214.742.1526; theroomonmain.com

Rosewood Crescent Hotel, 400 Crescent Court, 214.871.3200; crescentcourt.com

Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, 2821 Turtle Creek Blvd., 214.559.2100; mansiononturtlecreek.com

Rough Creek Lodge %26amp; Resort, 5165 County Road 2013, Glen Rose, 877.907.0757; roughcreek.com

Sheraton Dallas Hotel, 400 N. Olive St., 214.922.8000; sheratondallashotel.com

The Stoneleigh Hotel %26amp; Spa, 2927 Maple Ave., 214.871.7111; stoneleighhotel.com

Studios 1019, 2278 Monitor St., 214.748.1019; studios1019.com

Three Three Three First Avenue, 333 First Ave., 214.826.0467; threethreethreefirstavenue.com

Tower Club, 1601 Elm St., 214.220.0403; towerclub.com

The Trammell %26amp; Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art, 2010 Flora St., 214.979.6437; crowcollection.org

Trinity River Audubon Center, 6500 Great Trinity Forest Way, 214.398.8722; trinityriveraudubon.org

Union Station, 400 S. Houston St., 214.741.7825; unionstationdallas.com

The Venue at 400 North Ervay, 400 N. Ervay, 214.502.0890; thevenueat400northervay.com

W Dallas %26mdash; Victory, 2440 Victory Park Lane, 214.397.4100; whotels.com/dallas

Warwick Melrose Hotel Dallas, 3015 Oak Lawn Ave., 214.521.5151; warwickmelrosedallas.com

The Westin Galleria Dallas, 13340 Dallas Pkwy., 972.934.9494; westin.com/galleriadallas

%26nbsp;

RENTALS%26nbsp;

BBJ Linen, 214.651.9020; bbjlinen.com

Celebration Event Rental, 817.310.1033; celebrationeventrental.com

Ducky-Bob%26rsquo;s Event Specialists, 972.381.8000; duckybobs.com

Posh Couture Rentals, 972.818.3200; poshcouturerentals.com

Suite 206 Luxury Lounge Rentals, 214.749.0400, ext. 104; suite206.com %26nbsp;

%26nbsp;

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Andrea Polito Photography, 214.748.1888; politoweddings.com

Anne Silverman Photography, 214.533.5868; annesilvermanphotography.com

Charis Portrait Studio, 214.353.9922; charisdallas.com

Debra O%26rsquo;Brien Portraiture, 214.373.1703; debraobrien.com

F8Studio, 972.669.2274; f8studioblog.com

George Fiala Photography, 214.674.8218; fialafoto.com

Gittings, 214.350.5581; gittings.com. Portraits only.

Greg Blomberg Photography, 214.549.0001; blombergweddings.com

Haynsworth Photography, 214.559.3700; haynsworthphotography.com

James French Photography, 214.720.0990; jamesfrenchphotography.com

Jason Wynn Photography, 214.673.4422; jasonwynnphotography.com

Jay Conlon Photography, 512.771.9797; jayconlon.com

Jennifer Lipshy Photography, 214.499.1568; lipshy.com

Jessica D%26rsquo;Onofrio Photography, 972.207.2232; jessicadonofrioweddings.com

John Derryberry Photography, 214.357.5457; johnderryberry.com

John Tilley Photography, johntilleyphotography.com

Karlisch Photography, 214.224.9995; karlischphotography.com

KJ Images, 972.672.1663; kjimages.com

Larry Sengbush, 214.363.3264; sengbush.com

Michael Clements, 214.417.6858; michaelclements.com

Paper Tape Films, 877.600.1965; papertapefilms.com

Photographique, 214.999.1120; photographique.com

Richard M. Lighty, 214.720.0256; lightyphoto.com

Scott Hagar Photography, 214.520.8182; scotthagar.com

7th Avenue Photography, 214.699.1707; 7thavenuephoto.com

Thisbe Grace Photography, 214.749.4036; thisbegrace.com

%26nbsp;

WEDDING DATABASES%26nbsp;
%26nbsp;
Strictly Weddings, strictlyweddings.com

%26nbsp;

MAKEUP ARTISTS%26nbsp;
%26nbsp;
Absolute Radiance, 214.695.5556; absoluteradiance.com

Beauty on Call, 312.335.5350; beautyoncall.com%26nbsp;%26nbsp;

Russ Brouse Makeup/Hair Artist, 972.808.6764; russbrouse.com

Lenore Caulton-Downey, 972.306.4700

Sara Domi, Kim Dawson Agency, 214.638.2414; kimdawsonagency.com/models/makeup

Jeanna Doyle, 214.202.3303; jeannadoyle.com

Elan Makeup Studio, 214.370.3333; elanmakeup.com

Ja%26rsquo;Maal Buster Cosmetics, 310.497.5557; jamaalbuster.com

My Fabulous Faces, 214.789.8379; myfabulousfaces.com

Paul Neinast, 214.999.0400; neinastsalon.com

L.B. Rosser, 214.638.2414

Kim Rozell Makeup Design, 214.507.7821; kimrozellmakeupdesign.com

Penny Sadler, 214.797.9600; pennysadler.com

Susie Gray Uphues, 214.455.6512; susiegray.net

Nikki Wynn, 214.675.5559; themakeupjunkie.com

%26nbsp;

REGISTRY

Champagne%26rsquo;s Luxe, 5201 W. Lovers Lane, 214.352.7777; champagnesluxe.com

Copper Lamp, 6025 Royal Lane, 214.369.5166; copperlamp.com

D. Porthault, through Madison, Highland Park Village, 214.528.8118; dporthault.fr

Duo, 7721 Inwood Road, 214.884.2979; duoallthingsculinary.com%26nbsp;

Forty Five Ten, 4510 McKinney Ave., 214.559.4510; fortyfiveten.com

Grange Hall, 4445 Travis St., 214.443.0600; urbanflowergrangehall.com

Herm%26egrave;s, Highland Park Village, 214.528.0197; hermes.com

The Ivy House, 6925 Snider Plaza, 214.369.2411; theivyhouse.com

Linen Boutique, 5600 W. Lovers Lane, 214.352.5400; linen-boutique.com

Madison, Highland Park Village, 214.528.8118; kkmadison.com

Napa Home, 4012 Oak Lawn Ave., 214.520.4880; napahometx.com

Neiman Marcus, Downtown, 214.741.6911; NorthPark Center, 214.363.8311; The Shops at Willow Bend, Plano, 972.629.1700; neimanmarcus.com

Nest, 4524 McKinney Ave., 214.373.4444; nestdallas.com

Peacock Alley Design Studio, 1403 Slocum St., 214.520.6736; peacockalley.com

Pratesi at Stanley Korshak, 500 Crescent Court, 214.871.3677; pratesi.com

Ralph Lauren, 58 Highland Park Village, 214.522.5270; polo.com

Saks Fifth Avenue, Galleria Dallas, 972.458.7000; saks.com

Stanley Korshak, 500 Crescent Court, 214.871.3611; stanleykorshak.com

Stephanie Anne, 2 Highland Park Village, 214.368.3025; stephanieanne.com

Sur La Table, 4527 Travis St., 214.219.4404; surlatable.com

Suzanne Roberts Gifts, 6718 Snider Plaza, 214.369.8336; suzannerobertsgifts.com

Tiffany %26amp; Co., Galleria Dallas, 972.458.2800; NorthPark Center, 214.378.9800; tiffany.com

Williams-Sonoma, Galleria Dallas, 972.233.9702; 51 Highland Park Village, 214.219.1753; NorthPark Center, 214.378.6216; williams-sonoma.com

Yves Delorme, 4270 Oak Lawn  Ave., 214.526.2955; yvesdelorme.com %26nbsp;

%26nbsp;

IMAGES:

Watters

Versace

Lanvin

Ralph Lauren

Rivini at Stanley Korshak

Nasher Sculpture Center

The Venue at 400 North Ervay

David Yurman

Sue Gragg Precious Jewels

deBoulle

Eiseman Jewels

Harry Winston

Ylang 23

Bachendorf%26rsquo;s

Cartier

Kendra Scott

Van Cleef %26amp; Arpels

Tiffany %26amp; Co.

Inside the Nest of Nicole Musselman

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 01:32:05 GMT

When fashion designer Nicole Musselman tells you she likes the yin and yang of things, she isn%26rsquo;t just spouting New Age babble. A love of juxtaposition touches every facet of her life, particularly when it comes to her home. Works by L.A. artist James Gilbert get equal billing with her 7-year-old son Henry%26rsquo;s Mir%26oacute;-inspired school projects. Highly textured rugs punctuate the concrete floor. Vivid splashes of color contrast the sleek white furniture. Contemporary classics comfortably coexist with flea-market finds. And witty touches such as the is-it-a-goat-or-a-dinosaur? sculpture by Patrick Page Sutter cut the austerity.%26nbsp;

For more than eight years, this quintessential So-Cal blonde has owned Koch (pronounced %26ldquo;cook%26rdquo;), a line carried at both Cabana and Calypso in Dallas. Burgeoning business has meant relocation to an airy studio space in Bishop Arts, a scene Musselman favors due to its preponderance of great restaurants.

Mom, son and rescue dog Murphy have been in the circa-1969 modern house for less than a
year. And while it%26rsquo;s still a work in progress, the space already exudes the kind of lived-in appeal that makes guests feel like pulling up a chair alongside Musselman%26rsquo;s patio chaise longue. She logs plenty of hours there listening to music, flipping through magazines for inspiration, jotting down ideas in her ever-present Moleskine notebooks and keeping a watchful eye on Henry as he swims in the pool. Following, she gives us a piece of her mind.

Breakfast: A smoothie and a wheatgrass shot.

Current Koch design you%26rsquo;ve been wearing most: Our gray silk Inez tank dress with flip-flops and lots of Casey necklaces by Maddy McKinley for Koch. Also our Dickinson boy shorts and hand-printed T-shirts.

Fragrance: Skin Trip.

Next vacation: La Jolla to see family.

Can%26rsquo;t. Throw. Away: Old notebooks, letters and my son%26rsquo;s schoolwork.

First concert: Billy Joel.

Last book: Steve Jobs biography.

Don%26rsquo;t-have-it skill: I wish I could sing! It doesn%26rsquo;t stop me, but for the sake of others%26rsquo; ears, I wish
I was good.

Hard habit to break: Diet Coke.

Next purchase for the casa: Saarinen dining-room table or a piece of art by Robert Lazzarini.

Fave blogs: Honestly WTF, Texas Style and Substance.

Comfort food: Red Hots and Hot Tamales.

Interior designer crush: Kelly Wearstler.

Career aspiration at age 6: Singer.

Watch-Repeat-Watch-Repeat movie: Old School or Seems Like Old Times.

If my house had its own iTunes account, this is what it would download: %26ldquo;Miracle Worker%26rdquo; by SuperHeavy; %26ldquo;It Ain%26rsquo;t Over Til It%26rsquo;s Over%26rdquo; by Lenny Kravitz; %26ldquo;MoneyGrabber%26rdquo; by Fitz %26amp; the Tantrums; %26ldquo;Tore Down %26agrave; la Rimbaud%26rdquo; by Van Morrison; %26ldquo;Run the World (Girls)%26rdquo; by Beyonc%26eacute;; %26ldquo;Long Black Veil%26rdquo; by Dave Matthews Band; %26ldquo;Nickel Bags%26rdquo; by Digable Planets; %26ldquo;MacArthur Park%26rdquo; by Donna Summer; %26ldquo;Undiscovered%26rdquo; by James Morrison; and %26ldquo;Lay Back Down%26rdquo; by Eric Lindell.

%26nbsp;

IMAGES:

Nicole Musselman

Henry and rescue dog Murphy

Alex Winnubst with Musselman at the Koch studio

Henry Boykin

Inside Koch

Henry Matisse n%26eacute;e Boykin

Fishery trinkets designed by Maddy McKinley

Bubbles %26 Bons Mots

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 12:46:35 GMT

Alberto Lombardi%26rsquo;s newest accomplishment is 31, a Eurocentric champagne and cocktail lounge atop Bistro 31 in Highland Park Village. Lombardi collaborated with Duncan Miller Ullman to transform the second story into a stylish drinks bo%26icirc;te, with a patio that features a retractable awning, tufted wingback sofas and Carrera marble bar. Beneath the mid-century-inspired chandeliers, more than 20 varieties of bubbly and sparkling wines are on offer, along with any good Europhile%26rsquo;s pablum: exquisite caviar and foie gras. Champagne concoctions and specialty libations abound %26mdash; we love the martini with fresh watermelon juice, melon liquor, citrus vodka and lemon juice. Chef Eric Brandt crafted the menu, with divine snapper and mango ceviche, lobster sliders, cilantro and duck meatballs, and a rock shrimp and watermelon cocktail. Ciao%26hellip;. We%26rsquo;re firing up the Vespa now. 87 Highland Park Village, 214.420.3903; lounge31dallas.com.

IMAGE: 31 cocktail lounge. Photo by Jenny Antill.

Faux Glow

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 12:31:43 GMT

Okay, I admit it: I%26rsquo;m a faux-tanning addict. And I%26rsquo;m not the only one out there who braves the sunless tanning booth for a Mystic Tan even in the dead of winter. But truth be told, I almost always cover my face because I don%26rsquo;t like the effect the DHA-soaked bronzers have on my pores. Then along comes Soleil Terrybly by Terry ($90) this spring, a hydra-bronzing tinted serum that activates the melanin in your skin and works to extend that faux glow without any DHA added. A natural alternative, it%26rsquo;s light enough to layer with your morning beauty regime, giving you a temporary tinted glow that builds within the day to create a tan without all those nasty dark spots that come with the chemically derived DHA bronzers. At Barneys New York.

Meet for Meat:

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 12:30:31 GMT

Calling all beef lovers: Good 2 Go Taco owners Colleen O%26rsquo;Hare and Jeana Johnson and Barcadia owners Brooke Humphries and Brianna Larson have collaborated on a new concept at McKinney and Monticello. Acme F%26amp;B offers the first %26ldquo;whole animal allocation program%26rdquo; of its kind in Texas, which means the protein on Acme%26rsquo;s menu changes throughout the evening (from steak to sweetbreads, for example), and cuts from the same animal are shared with O%26rsquo;Hare and Johnson%26rsquo;s other restaurants, Good 2 Go Taco and Goodfriend Beer Garden and Burgers. Along with ethical-meat practices, Acme is devoted to serving seasonal, local and sustainable food. Try grilled asparagus with roasted beet mimosa salad, braised rabbit with three onion risotto jus or chicken and dumplings with rainbow chard gnocchi and summer chilled green gazpacho, served in a suitably rustic decor. Acme F%26amp;B also offers up two bars with more than 26 wines by the glass, 24 beers on tap and 12 specialty cocktails %26mdash; try Summer Crush with Tito%26rsquo;s, blackberries and basil, or the Blueberry Lemon Cooler with Limoncello, blueberries, mint and soda. 4900 McKinney Ave., 214.443.0003; acmefandb.com.

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IMAGES: Acme F%26amp;B. Photographer Joy Zhang.

Pearly Whites

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 05:08:43 GMT

What better time to whiten and freshen up your smile than in preparation for your summer vacation? The powers that be at BRSH Dental recently debuted their chic spa-like offices, designed by architect Issac Preminger, with furnishings from his stylish wife Cynthia Davis%26rsquo; country French-inspired boutique, Indulge. This is the farthest thing from a sterile-looking dentist office you%26rsquo;ll ever encounter. Instead, the interiors at this West Ave address are fashioned in tones of gray and white with glorious Calacutta marble and crystal chandeliers throughout. Step in for a 30-minute power-whitening session or arrange for porcelain veneers or a consult with Dr. Melicia Tjoa about a nonsurgical facelift with full mouth crowns %26mdash; just some of the myriad ways to enhance your smile here. 2800 Kirby Dr., 713.660.0966; brsh.com.

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IMAGE: BRSH Dental%26rsquo;s anything-but-normal%26nbsp; exam room and waiting room

Be a Bendel Girl

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 04:58:43 GMT

New York City%26rsquo;s famed Fifth Avenue boutique Henri Bendel has opened at Galleria 2, next door to French Connection. The 2,000-square-foot shop, designed like a chic uptown girl%26rsquo;s boudoir with charming chandeliers and chocolate and white bold-striped wallpaper, carries accessories from handbags and jewelry to beauty products and gifts, with a bevy of items emblazoned with the store%26rsquo;s iconic stripes. We scooped up colorful enamel bangle bracelets (from $78) and oversized cocktail rings (from $68) %26mdash; perfect to pair with warm-weather dresses %26mdash; plus luggage tags for summer sojourns (from $28) and scented candles (from $30) from the extensive home-fragrance collection, all making for a wonderful girl kingdom. Galleria, 713.439.7462; henribendel.com.

Let's Get Ready to Tumble!

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 06:16:06 GMT

The hip young things who are interning with us for the summer have been working away in the trenches of social media. Take a peek at what's catching their fancy by visitng our Twitter and Tumblr! And if you like what you see feel free to drop us a line and follow too!

Restaurant Buzz

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 03:06:29 GMT

We envision whiling away a sultry evening on the outdoor patio at Park Tavern. Opening at The Shops at Park Lane come July 9, this spacious watering hole begs the question: Which of the 40 beers on tap will pair best with the lamb French dip or crispy chicken tacos? %26hellip; Say hola to Monica%26rsquo;s Nueva Cocina. Chef Hector Hernandez recreates some of owner Monica Greene%26rsquo;s fave dishes from her former eatery, Monica%26rsquo;s Aca y Alla. But we can%26rsquo;t wait to tuck into new menu items such as taquitos dorados de pato (duck carnitas, pasilla sauce, avocado tomatillo sauce and watercress salad) and poc chuc (think grilled citrus marinade pork chop, chiltomate sauce saffron rice and Yucatan black beans). Prime your palate for July 12 at the ilume Cedar Springs %26hellip; The new University Park Hotel Lumen introduces The Front Room: A Park Cities Diner (with indoor and patio dining) at the end of the summer. Chef Doug Brown will put his spin on retro-modern American dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner %26hellip; Better hold your horses until September: Stephan Pyles%26rsquo; new restaurant Stampede 66 will offer bites inspired by the history and heritage of Texas %26hellip; The masterminds behind TJ%26rsquo;s Seafood Market have landed a new location at the Shops at Highland Park. Starting October 1, diners can peruse the case for the fish of their choice, or opt for the special ceviche of the day %26hellip; Health-conscious foodies, rejoice! Seasons 52 opens this fall at NorthPark Center with a seasonal low-cal menu. We%26rsquo;ll be noshing on the warm garlic chicken flatbread or Maui tuna crunch salad while deciding which of the 52 wines by the glass to try first %26hellip; Be on the lookout for savory comfort food from Max%26rsquo;s Wine Dive (with locations in Austin, Houston and San Antonio), opening this fall at McKinney and Lemmon. We%26rsquo;re already dreaming of fried chicken and the truffle %26ldquo;Max%26rdquo; and cheese.

Restaurant Buzz

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 02:43:40 GMT

After more than three years of searching for the right location and team, Tony%26rsquo;s alum chef Olivier Ciesielski has opened L%26rsquo;Olivier Restaurant %26amp; Bar in the Montrose with co-owner Mary Clarkson. The French-born chef%26rsquo;s bustling eatery features subtle odes to his namesake olive tree, with branches woven into the design of globe lights and wine racks. His fare is reasonably priced (we love the homemade chicken liver pate, $11), with entrees tapping out (save for specials) at $22. We recommend%26nbsp; sitting outside by the container herb garden %26hellip; The tart frozen yogurt chain that has people lining up has come to Houston. Last month, Pinkberry opened in the Woodlands Mall; later this month, a new location debuts inside the loop at Highland Village Shopping Center. If you recall, we reported that developers Meredith Moody Emory and husband Matthew Emory opened their first Pinkberry locale last fall in Clear Lake %26hellip; Chef German Mosquera and owner/partner Ash Shah have opened Roots Bistro in the former space of So Vino on lower Montrose. An alum of Ruggles Green, Mosquera%26rsquo;s fare is farm-to-table focused. He, Shah and general manager Greg Spire forage for organic produce and heritage-breed meats for their full-service 100-seat eatery, which prides itself on being approachably priced %26hellip;%26nbsp;Morton%26rsquo;s Steakhouse, the old-school steak place across from the Galleria, has just undergone a total renovation, from the menu to the dining room, bar, wine and board room.

Calendar Call

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 02:34:12 GMT

We%26rsquo;ve begun harvesting our list of must-attend fund-raisers for PaperCity%26rsquo;s Fall Social Calendar, covering the brisk months of September through December. Please submit all the essential details for your charitable tickets %26mdash; event name; day, date and starting time; chairmen, honorary chairs and honorees; beneficiary; party notes (caterer, theme, attire, special appearances, entertainment); ticket and table starting prices; and contact info, including phone, e-mail address and Web site to Erin Oppenheim, erin@papercitymag.com, no later than Tuesday, July 10.

Calendar Call

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 02:34:02 GMT

We%26rsquo;ve begun harvesting our list of must-attend fund-raisers for PaperCity%26rsquo;s Fall Social Calendar, covering the brisk months of September through December. Please submit all the essential details for your charitable tickets %26mdash; event name; day, date and starting time; chairmen, honorary chairs and honorees; beneficiary; party notes (caterer, theme, attire, special appearances, entertainment); ticket and table starting prices; and contact info, including phone, e-mail address and Web site to Rachael Abrams, rachael@papercitymag.com, no later than Tuesday, July 10.

Nuptials, New Mexico and Narnia

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:44:07 GMT

A New Mexican heritage and deep Texas roots twined seamlessly for the snowy Santa Fe wedding of model Toni Muñoz to Hunt Sports Group’s Daniel Hunt. The couple summoned Katherine Mathes of Mathes %26amp; Co Events, Rusty Glenn of Rusty Glenn Designs and Nelson Robinson of Stage Works to bring to life their vision of a rustic winter scene filled with cultural traditions. “The colors were black, white and a merlot-colored red-black — in a snowy-like Narnia design,” says Muñoz. Mariachis, luminaries, bizcochos and other meaningful details enraptured 350 out-of-town guests in a three-day celebration.

I Do Details
Wedding planner: Katherine Mathes, Mathes and Co Events, Dallas. Decor: Nelson Robinson, Stage Works, Fort Worth. Floral: Rusty Glenn, Rusty Glenn Designs, Dallas. Invitations: The M Collection, Dallas. Lighting and sound: Beyond, Dallas. Heating and power:%26nbsp; Blue-Stream Services, Denton. Rentals and tenting: Classic Party Rentals, Albuquerque. Hotel: El Dorado Hotel %26amp; Spa, Santa Fe.%26nbsp; Ceremony: New Mexico Museum of Art. Wedding cake: Chocolate Maven, Santa Fe. Entertainment: Absolute Entertainment, Santa Fe. Photographers: Simon Lopez, Fort Worth; Wade Livingston, Dallas; Casey Bowman, Dallas. Transportation: Carey Southwest, Albuquerque. Horse-drawn carriages: Bear Creek Adventures, Pecos, New Mexico.

“We had a tree logo designed as our wedding symbol because our family histories are really important to us. The designer intertwined a mesquite tree, since I’m from New Mexico, with a live oak for Dan’s deep roots in Texas.”%26nbsp; — Toni Muñoz Hunt

“My dress was custom made by Khanh Nguyen of Nha Khanh. I did a fashion show for her last year and absolutely fell in love with her artistry.” — Toni Muñoz

The bridal party wore custom dresses by Nha Khanh. Each dress was unique to each girl, and they helped in the design process of their gowns. The groomsmen’s tuxes were from Pockets Menswear.

Ballet Folklorico dancers performed as guests found their seats, followed by flamenco guitarist Jesús Bas, violinist Bobby Yang and The Dan Band (seen in movies Old School and The Hangover).

When guests arrived in Santa Fe, a welcome box was waiting with custom-labeled wine from Mrs. Norma Hunt’s vineyard, homemade spicy pecans from the Muñoz family’s farm and the traditional New Mexico wedding cookie, the bizcocho.

Horse-and-carriage rides around Santa Fe Plaza were provided for guests, along with hot chocolate with chocolate shavings, marshmallows and cinnamon from the El Dorado Hotel.

Trading Up

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:36:27 GMT

We%26rsquo;ve been counting the days since we first heard that happy, hippie-chic grocer Trader Joe%26rsquo;s was moving into Texas and opening a few stores in our metroplex %26mdash; including one in Fort Worth. Now we have only days to wait until the doors open on June 15 and %26ldquo;Captain%26rdquo; Doug Campbell and his %26ldquo;Crew Members,%26rdquo; dressed in Hawaiian-print shirts, beckon us inside. There are sure to be lines when this Fort Worth locale debuts (followed in short order by the 2001 Greenville Avenue store in Dallas). If you%26rsquo;ve never experienced Trader Joe%26rsquo;s, expect a campy good time with serious worldly eats that range from artisan Burrata cheese and organic heirloom tomatoes to wine and beer (who can forget the famed Two Buck Chuck variety) and frozen-food goodies that run the gamut from Kung Pao chicken to ready-to-rise chocolate croissants. Famous for its range of distinct products with prices that make you do a double-take, TJ sources from the manufacturers, not middlemen distributors, working with national brands to squeeze out the preservatives and artificial ingredients in favorite foods and rebrand them as organic/healthy/tasty Trader Joe%26rsquo;s versions. Best yet, you don%26rsquo;t have to shop with a keychain loyalty card or be a member to get in and peruse the 1,000-plus TJ brands, with a dozen new items added every week. Travel to Trader Joe%26rsquo;s, and you can roam the world on a plate (or in a glass). 2701 S. Hulen St., Fort Worth; traderjoes.com.

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Hello, Hi/Lo

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:34:49 GMT

Speakeasies were the talk of the town in the %26rsquo;20s %26mdash; and now we have our very own modern take on Prohibition hot spots. Hi/Lo, tucked just below The Mason Bar on Guillot Street, has a sans-name fa%26ccedil;ade and an interior designed by owner Brandt Wood. Cabaret tables, cozy banquettes and vintage British skull-and-damask wallpaper differentiate this New Orleans%26ndash;style underground space from Wood%26rsquo;s bar upstairs. Hi/Lo (so named because it %26ldquo;sounds like %26lsquo;hello%26rsquo; and thus serves as a subtle welcome,%26rdquo; Wood says) opens at 9 pm a couple of nights each week for private parties and bookings. We%26rsquo;re dreaming of acoustic jazz, stingers and rusty nails. Password: Bathtub gin. 2701 Guillot St., 214.220.0227.

IMAGE: Photo by Bob Manzano.

Bazaar Food

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:32:48 GMT

Market squares and bazaars inspired restaurateurs/chefs Jon Stevens and Avner Samuel to develop Snack Global Kitchen and Bar. The space, designed by Samuel and built by Nosh Bistro visionary Bruce Russo, houses three bar areas: one for wine, beer and cocktails crafted by the Snack team and Republic National Distributing Co.%26rsquo;s corporate mixologist, Sly Cosmopoulos; a raw bar with charcuterie aspects; and a third bar with a wood-burning oven for flatbreads and other savory dishes. Exec chef Stevens%26rsquo; small-plate street food includes smoked oysters escabeche ($7); charcuterie flatbread with pan-fried egg, arugula and herbs ($14); and coconut griddle cakes ($11). Libations complement the global fare, such as Basil%26rsquo;s Fawlt (strawberry, lime, basil, egg white and Bombay Sapphire East). 2323 N. Henderson Ave., 214.827.1188; snackdallas.com.

Pints %26 Bites

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:31:21 GMT

IF cast-iron fried or wood-fired rotisserie chicken is your bailiwick, Chicken Scratch in the Bishop Arts District is the place for you. This outdoor eatery from chef Tim Byres, Chris Zielke and Christopher Jeffers offers a menu of %26ldquo;slow fast food%26rdquo; focusing on the bird, fresh salads and locally made pi%26ntilde;a colada, kiwi and watermelon popsicles. Throw on some gingham and high-step it to the family-friendly setting designed by Gary Buckner of Stash Design, where live music in the courtyard most weekends keeps the three acres rolling. The Foundry, the next-door watering hole also owned by Byres, Zielke and Jeffers, and designed by JonesBaker (Meddlesome Moth), has%26nbsp; 15 stellar beers on tap, plus dozens more in bottles (including some microbrewery labels) and strong pours. 2303 Pittman St., 214.749.1112; cs-tf.com.

IMAGE: Photo by Lindsey Whisenhunt of WhisenhuntDesign.com.

For Ever Attractive

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:29:47 GMT

Paris-based beauty line Make Up For Ever has opened a boutique at NorthPark Center, in an industrial-style space reminiscent of the original French boutique created by founder Dany Sanz. The cosmetics Mecca offers more than 1,500 products, as well as a Make Up School where professional artists will teach you how to apply everything %26mdash; and even preserve the lesson for future reference via an in-house video recording studio. Have trouble matching your skin tone? The custom foundation-blending service here will help you find the perfect match. Make Up For Ever even gets techy with iPads and smart boards for designing customized face charts. Sounds like it%26rsquo;s time for a new beauty routine. 8687 N. Central Expressway, 214.361.2466; makeupforever.com.

Lumen's Got a New Look

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:26:52 GMT

The luxe Kimpton Hotels %26amp; Restaurants brand has unveiled the first part of Hotel Lumen%26rsquo;s multi-phased expansion: a three-story addition masterminded by Dallas-based BOKA Powell that includes 34 new guest rooms and the mid-century-inspired Living Room Lobby Lounge. The latter welcomes guests with a cozy conversation pit drenched with natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows. New accommodations include one junior suite and two premium suites with access to the University Park property%26rsquo;s rooftop terrace. Phase one of the expansion also includes a courtyard pool and sundeck with poolside guest rooms and cabana-esque lounges. Stay tuned for the finishing touches to the Lumen%26rsquo;s renovation by the end of the summer. We can%26rsquo;t wait to book a table at The Front Room: A Park Cities Diner, which%26nbsp; takes the place of the old lobby and showcases the cuisine of chef Doug Brown. 6101 Hillcrest Ave., 214.219.2400; hotellumen.com.

PaperCity's Laurann Claridge Weds Her Very Own Prince William

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:53:17 GMT

I found my own princely sort, n%26eacute;e William Andrew Zeitz of New England, in the most unlikely of places %26mdash; at a lingerie trade show in New York. We were there on business with Claridge + King when my sister, Lizbeth King, couldn%26rsquo;t help but notice %26ldquo;that handsome guy who%26rsquo;s walked by our booth about 10 times.%26rdquo; I, too, had spotted the stylish, shy man, there to lend a hand to friends launching a line.

As fate would have it, we met, became fast friends and soon were having our first date. (I was very impressed that he%26rsquo;d drive six hours from Yarmouth, Maine, just to take me to dinner on my next trip to NYC two weeks later!) Needless to say, that was the start of a fast fall that felt destined to be. By the third date, we knew it was love and began what would be nearly a year-long courtship, winging back and forth from Portland, Maine, to Houston every two weeks or meeting somewhere exciting in between until William popped the question late last May at his favorite Houston spot: The Menil Collection%26rsquo;s former Byzantine Chapel.

When talk turned to wedding plans, we aimed for an early spring affair in Houston %26mdash; on Saturday, March 24, 2012, to be exact %26mdash; and desired something intimate with our family, closest of friends and exquisite food, flowers and a setting beyond compare. Given our affection for the Menil, we chose to tie the knot at the Rothko Chapel, with William%26rsquo;s uncle %26mdash; Father Craig Gavin, an Episcopal minister %26mdash; marrying us. And with a mutual obsession for every shade of gray, we incorporated the sophisticated hue wherever apropos, from our attendants%26rsquo; dove-colored dresses and charcoal suiting to the steely-gray ink atop our engraved invitations and envelopes.

We nixed any thought of a band, DJ and dancing at the reception, all of which might compete with lively dinner conversation. Instead, we treated our nearly 60 guests (two-thirds of whom traveled to the event from out-of-town) to a splendid early-evening alfresco cocktail party, followed by a scrumptious seated four-course dinner in the private room of RDG + Bar Annie. Each eight-top table was dressed in
Swift + Company%26rsquo;s white Italian hemstitched linens. The room positively burst with towering cherry blossom branches and small white spring flowers arranged in mint julep cups beneath, all artfully articulated by the incomparable David Brown.

Read on for more details about how it all evolved and the talented souls who made this beautiful day come together seamlessly.

THE FLOWERS
I%26rsquo;ve long been obsessed by the work of floral designer David Brown and the team at his chic, eponymous Uptown Park boutique. The moment he glimpsed my wedding dress and suggested I carry nothing but elegant miniature white calla lilies, I knew that this man got it! With an unerring eye, he helped me gauge the season, scouring flower markets across the globe to find what would bloom precisely the fourth weekend in March. William wore a boutonni%26egrave;re to match my bouquet, while the girls carried demure posies of intoxicatingly fragrant ice-pink hyacinth mixed with ruffle-edge tulips. David also coordinated a scaled-down lapel version in shades of white for the best men, ring bearer and my father. He painstakingly realized my vision of walking into an indoor garden setting with white cherry blossoms arranged in slim, clear glass cylinders above white linen clothed tables. Seven to ten days before the event, he coaxed the branches to bloom by taking them outside each afternoon to drink in the sunlight, then cooling them back down in the walk-in refrigerator for a long night%26rsquo;s rest. Drawing the focus upwards to the flowering branches looming overhead made the view to dinner companions across the table unencumbered, but David wisely suggested we arrange a trio of small white bouquets of tulips, ranunculus and hyacinths %26mdash; three of my favorite flowers %26mdash; in mint julep cups to captivate diners at eye level as well. Best yet, as a sweet surprise, we encouraged our guests to take those small bouquets home to enjoy. Gorgeous!

THE FARE
Robert and Mimi Del Grande, the co-owners of RDG + Bar Annie, and I go way back. I%26rsquo;ve always been in awe of how Robert%26rsquo;s science-oriented mind works to craft sophisticated, yet utterly thoughtful dishes that are lauded in circles near and far. Recalling Robert%26rsquo;s detailed approach to composing a menu, as well as the warm feeling that comes over us every time we dine chez RDG + Bar Annie, our first call was to Denisse, their events manager, to reserve the private room%26shy;. Aiming to treat our guests not only to a swoon-worthy meal but to a relaxed, fun celebration, Robert suggested we host a cocktail hour on the patio, passing lobster rolls and Casco Bay Fizz drinks (both a wink to Maine, the latter a vodka, cranberry and basil concoction named for a bay there) and barbecue Texas crab and margaritas in homage to Houston. As the dinner hour descended, our guests started with a %26ldquo;wow%26rdquo; first course: seared ahi tuna sashimi dotted with fresh mango and pink grapefruit atop a Napa cabbage slaw tossed in a bright ginger vinaigrette. What a way to start! Fond of butter lettuce, I asked Robert to create a salad around that delicate, flavorful leaf. The result was studded with avocado, teardrop tomatoes, jicama, radish and crumbled queso fresco with a creamy buttermilk-herb dressing. The main course was inspired by William%26rsquo;s favorite dish: lamb. As I love mint and jalape%26ntilde;o jellies, Robert melded both flavors in a light sauce atop wood-grilled lamb chops, cooked to utter perfection and accompanied with a potato cake flecked with asparagus. Wines %26mdash; red, white and sparkling %26mdash; hailed from France and Italy, and complemented the four-course feast (cake would complete it) flawlessly. The fabulous meal had our guests chattering for weeks.

THE INVITES
We entrusted paper couturier PH Design Shop to fashion everything from our save-the-date cards to the engraved wedding invitations. Co-owner Amanda Valentine, my frequent collaborator, was inspired from the start. For the save-the-date cards, I was channeling a light, Rothko-like art moment (apropos for the venue) when she coaxed me to paint a watercolor, taking note of the abstract colorist%26rsquo;s brighter canvases. She scanned it and, with the restraint of the artist himself, laid out our brief copy atop it to create a postcard, printed on sheets of cold-press watercolor paper. The fonts on our invite were similarly rendered in shades of charcoal-gray ink (I prefer it to the coldness of black). Referencing oversized correspondence cards, Amanda suggested we engrave our wedding-paper suite with a mixture of Neutra and shaded steel-plate gothic lettering, then double-back each invitation to create a stiff, thick card literally double its former weight. Choosing a complementary charcoal hue, she had each of the four sides bevel-cut; the wide beveled border was then carefully hand-painted. For the finishing touch, we tissue-lined each white envelope with a pewter-gray shade. The stamps were a Maine-inspired Edward Hopper seascape, care of the U.S. Postal Service. Finally, I asked PH%26rsquo;s Chris Charles to design the menus placed at every plate with the same font style and colors as the invitation. The result: exquisite papers we%26rsquo;ll covet for a lifetime.

THE WEDDING CAKE
I%26rsquo;d like to think I know a thing or two about cake; after all, in my former life, I went to culinary school in Paris and devoted a good deal of time to crafting pastry. But I was positively gobsmacked the moment I tasted the array of cakes baked by the talented Susie Edwards, owner of Susie%26rsquo;s Cakes %26amp; Confections. Moist, yet rich with a dense, luscious crumb, coated with a creamy buttercream that was perfectly sweetened %26hellip; William and I collectively swooned at the very first bite. The hardest decision was choosing the flavors for our three-tiered cake. The subtle nuances of vanilla, almond and cocoa were intoxicating, but in the end we chose the classic combo of almond and chocolate cakes with fillings of vanilla-bean buttercream and bittersweet chocolate ganache beneath a matte smooth covering of rolled fondant. Decorating with exquisitely detailed sugar-paste dogwood blossoms, each painstakingly made by hand, Susie carried out our spring theme flawlessly, with edible branches cascading down each beautiful graduated tier. Nearly every single guest asked for seconds (even thirds %26mdash; good thing we planned for that), and we%26rsquo;re still hearing raves about %26ldquo;that amazing cake.%26rdquo;

WHAT WE WORE
Laurann: I chose a deceptively simple Romona Keveza strapless silk-satin gown in a pearl hue with a cathedral-length veil and blusher by Vera Wang, both from Joan Pillow Bridal Salon. There was not a single pearl, piece of lace, tulle, crystal or extraneous stitch anywhere on this slim sheath or its small train. Keveza, like an architect, constructs her pieces so they drape elegantly about your frame, so I didn%26rsquo;t wear many jewels %26mdash; save for Elsa Peretti%26rsquo;s pearl drop earrings and my engagement and wedding rings.
William: A friend of Thom Browne (and loyal customer since Browne started the line from his Park Avenue apartment), William wore a custom charcoal wool Thom Browne suit with a Black Fleece double-breasted waistcoat (also by TB for Brooks Brothers), Charvet white shirt, Ralph Lauren charcoal tie and Cartier cuff links.
Wedding Party: Forgoing the ritual of obligating my best girlfriends to purchase dresses they%26rsquo;ll never wear again %26hellip; we obligated our family instead! We asked William%26rsquo;s boys, Peter (18) and Gavin Zeitz (21) to stand up as his best men in charcoal J.Crew suits. My sister (and matron of honor) Lizbeth%26rsquo;s two daughters, Avery (13) and Taylor (11), served as flower girls and her son, William (8), as the ring bearer; all three wore dove-gray, rendered in dresses and a suit by Crewcuts.

THE RINGS
The engagement ring we chose %26mdash; a custom diamond eternity band set with emerald-cut stones %26mdash; was stunning, yet admittedly a wonderfully untraditional choice. Searching long and hard for a complement to it, we selected Cartier%26rsquo;s iconic Trinity Ring, which is created with the latter adorned with a pav%26eacute; of diamonds. William%26rsquo;s choice: Tiffany%26rsquo;s elegant Lucida platinum 6-mm-wide band. Each ring was hand-engraved, too, with a message from our intended.

DETAILS, DETAILS%26hellip;
Photos: Bates Photographic Studio. I appreciate that David Bates captured so many wonderful moments before and during the celebration %26mdash; never unnaturally staging them, but snapping shots quickly and discreetly. Ceremony: The Rothko Chapel at The Menil Collection. Favors: Iced sugar cookies shaped as three-tiered white wedding cakes, handmade by Michael%26rsquo;s Cookie Jar. Bridal makeup: Corinne Williams, owner of Fa%26ccedil;ade. Airbrush tan: St. Tropez by Darcie Teasley at Trellis, The Spa at The Houstonian Hotel, Club %26amp; Spa. Hair: Color and cut by Dan Donnelly, Kharisma Hair Salon; Styling Trey Gillen, Tre Spa. Headquarters for out-of-towners and the Sunday breakfast: Hotel Derek and Valentino Vin Bar. Transportation: Karr Limousine. (We also hired a small bus to shuttle our guests between Hotel Derek, the Rothko Chapel and RDG + Bar Annie. Best idea ever.) Chapel Music: Classical string duo from Divisi Strings. Linen Rental: Swift + Company. We splurged on snow-white Italian linen tablecloths and hemstitched dinner and cocktail linen napkins from Elizabeth Swift Copeland%26rsquo;s trove of 100 percent pure linen cloths. They looked smashing beneath David Brown%26rsquo;s glorious spring flowers. Calligraphy: Invites and place cards by Calligraphy by Patricia. (In charcoal gray, natch.) Honeymoon: A photo safari in Botswana, Africa, arranged by %26amp;Beyond.

IMAGES:

Laurann readied for the big day at home. Photo by David Bates.

The bride%26rsquo;s calla lily bouquet by David Brown. Photo by Jenny Antill.

The groom, William Zeitz, dressed at the Hotel Derek. Photo by David Bates.

Father of the bride, Michael G. Licopantis with sister/matron of honor, Lizbeth King, en route to the Rothko Chapel. Photo by David Bates.

The wedding cake, created by Susie Edwards of Susie%26rsquo;s Cakes %26amp; Confections. Photo by Jenny Antill. Photo by David Bates.

The bride%26rsquo;s pristine wedding ensemble. Photo by David Bates.

Cartier%26rsquo;s Trinity ring with pav%26eacute; diamonds. Photo by David Bates.

Amanda Valentine created the modern charcoal-and-white engraved double-back invitations. Photo by Jenny Antill.

Nephew William King served as the ring bearer. Photo by Jenny Antill.

Seating cards arranged outside RDG%26rsquo;s private dining room. Photo by David Bates.

The happy couple exiting the Rothko Chapel. Photo by David Bates.

The bride%26rsquo;s nieces and flower girls, Taylor and Avery King, in Crewcuts. Photo by David Bates.

RDG%26rsquo;s dinner menu design by PH Design Shop. Photo by David Bates.

Gleaming mint julep cups filled with white spring flowers stand beneath flowering cherry blossoms, all by David Brown. Photo by David Bates.

A peek inside the tables dressed for dinner at RDG. Photo by David Bates.

Father Craig Gavin, William%26rsquo;s uncle, inspects the marriage certificate. Photo by Jenny Antill.

Laurann and William head to the reception at RDG/Bar Annie. Photo by David Bates.

Romantic Rendezvous

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:44:32 GMT

The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort

Punta Mita, Mexico
stregis.com/puntamita
Located on the Punta Mita peninsula about a 45-minute drive from Puerto Vallarta, the St. Regis is a sprawling resort of beautifully appointed casitas, peaceful pools and top-notch restaurants. Each room has 24-hour butler service to secure dinner reservations, set a tee time, reserve your favorite poolside lounge or treatment at Rem%26egrave;de Spa and schedule your surf lessons at nearby hippy enclave Sayulita. Breakfast at Las Mariatas each morning is a must (order the Nogal juice, a mix of cactus, orange, celery, spinach and pineapple juices) and dine at Carolina, the only AAA Five Diamond restaurant on the peninsula.

IMAGES:

Elaine Turner Ikat Wedge $225, at Elaine Turner, Tootsies

Jo Ann Williams vintage sequin bracelets $45 each, at Sloan/Hall

Henri Bendel La Plage tote $148, at Henri Bendel (opening this month)

Missoni crochet-knit swimsuit $715, at net-a-porter.com

Bobbi silk maxi dress $395, at Calypso St. Barth

%26nbsp;

Secret Bay

Dominica, West Indies
secretbay.dm
Perched atop a spectacular cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea, this luxe boutique resort opened just over a year ago. It%26rsquo;s comprised of two villas and two bungalows %26mdash; secluded and private enough for the ultimate romantic post-nuptial retreat. Stay in the Zabuco one-bedroom Honeymoon Villa with private pool, deck and covered terrace, and fully appointed kitchen. Have your fridge stocked prior to arrival, and schedule the cooking service at the property to deliver two meals per day to your minimalist suite.

Alexis Bittar gold liquid ring $275, at Chard%26eacute;, Elizabeth Anthony/Esther Wolf

Salvatore Ferragamo silk dress $3,740, at Salvatore Ferragamo.

Miu Miu Seahorse crystal sandals, at Miu Miu, Joseph, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue

Katy Briscoe bracelet with fossilized coral and jasper starfish $46,000, at Saks Fifth Avenue

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137 Pillar House

Chiang Mai, Thailand
137pillarshouse.com
Located along the banks of the Mae Ping River, this 30-suite boutique hotel is built around a colonial teak homestead that dates back to the early 1800s. Follow the ancient elephant path to The Parlor for afternoon high tea, visit nearby Buddhist temples and enjoy a blissful Thai massage at the in-house spa.

Rosamosario Rosso Disera lace-appliqued silk chemise $1,820, at net-a-porter.com

Bottega Veneta blood-embroidered dress $6,700, at%26nbsp; Bottega Veneta

Oscar de la Renta ring $195, at Neiman Marcus

Herm%26egrave;s Deva Lift earrings $395, at Herm%26egrave;s

Valentino lace espadrilles $475, at Valentino

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Castello di Casole

Toscana, Italia
castellodicasole.com
This restored Tuscan 10th-century castle turned 41-suite boutique hotel was once owned by both movie stars and Italian nobility, and is about a 45-minute drive from Florence. Hike the property%26rsquo;s 4,200-acre estate, visit its vineyard or schedule a wine-tasting tour of the surrounding area. Couples%26rsquo; private cooking classes are offered, or you can just relax at Essere, the property%26rsquo;s 5,400-square-foot spa and wellness center. Opening July 1.

See by Chloe polka-dot sweater dress $345, at Neiman Marcus

Eugenia Kim striped fedora $235, at Neiman Marcus

Amazonite-and-diamond earrings $3,443, at Deville Fine Jewelry

Bernardo cork sandals $119, at Tootsies

Diane von Furstenberg cork clutch $345, at Neiman Marcus

Gold cuff with multicolored gems, $148 and $168, at %26Agrave; Bient%26ocirc;t

Wundervoll bra and panty $250, a tLa Mode Lingerie

Luvi's Lucky Seven

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:31:32 GMT

Boutique owner Luvi Wheelock has a lot to be excited about these days. Her bridal boutique, Casa de Novia, celebrates seven years in business, making it (believe it or not) the oldest bridal store in town. Her designer shop, Atrium, is a go-to shopping spot for the social set, and now she%26rsquo;s opened the one-and-only Vera Wang Bridal store-within-a-store in Texas. Kate Allen Stukenberg sits down with the chic and lovely Luvi to chat Vera, bridal do%26rsquo;s and don%26rsquo;ts, and, shhhh, Khloe K.

KAS: How did this new store-in-store with Vera Wang come about?
LW: The Vera Wang brand is edgy. It needs its own space. Vera Wang really believes in that. You see the colors on the wall, the charcoal %26mdash; everything in that room is to Vera Wang%26rsquo;s standards. If you walk into a Vera Wang store in New York or Chicago, it will look very similar to this one. It makes you feel like you%26rsquo;re in a Vera Wang world. It has separate dressing rooms and mirrors for the complete experience.

KAS: Vera Wang has evolved over the years.
LV: Absolutely it has! Here%26rsquo;s the thing about her: She%26rsquo;s not afraid of anything. She%26rsquo;s the only bridal designer who gets Anna Wintour in her front row, and that%26rsquo;s pretty cool.

KAS: Your advice to brides looking for a %26ldquo;that%26rsquo;s me%26rdquo; dress?
LW: They should come in with an idea of what they want to wear on their wedding day, but they need to let someone guide them. Often, a bride-to-be will point at a gown and say, %26ldquo;This is the one,%26rdquo; but when they try it on, it doesn%26rsquo;t look great. You obviously want to choose something that flatters your figure, so be open to guidance. I think the most important thing about this store is that you get immaculate service. We%26rsquo;re very serious about that.

KAS: What style dress do most brides say they want, and what do most end up leaving with?
LW: Trumpet %26mdash; and trumpet. It%26rsquo;s a popular style and looks good on a lot of ladies. A%26ndash;line and ball gowns are a little more difficult because you have to be pretty tall to carry them off. For a beach wedding, it%26rsquo;s important to wear something breezy that breathes. Satin is not meant for the beach, girls!

KAS: The perfect wedding shoe?
LW: For me, right now, it%26rsquo;d have to be a platform because it%26rsquo;s more comfortable, and it helps if you%26rsquo;re short.

KAS: Any suggestions for brides as to what kind of jewelry to wear?
LW: Less is more, so make it a great pair of earrings and call it a day. A lot of girls do the earrings, the necklace, a bracelet %26mdash; and, please, don%26rsquo;t wear a watch on your wedding day! Let someone else be worried about the time.

KAS: What%26rsquo;s your most popular dress these days?
LW: That%26rsquo;s a hard question. Each designer I carry has their own look, so there is a best seller among each. We have sold quite a few of Khloe Kardashian%26rsquo;s dress %26hellip; but don%26rsquo;t tell anyone that!

IMAGE: Luvi Wheelock. Photo by Jenny Antill.

Blushing Brides

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:29:32 GMT

Rose in bloom: Vera Wang mermaid gown with hand-draped and inverted flange skirt. $7,500, at%26nbsp; Casa De Novia Bridal Couture, Joan Pillow Bridal Salon.

The bride in red: Romona Keveza silk-taffeta gown with couture-rouched silhouette and ball gown made of origami flowers. $19,995, at Joan Pillow Bridal Salon.

Nice nest: Oscar de la Renta sequined sweetheart bird%26rsquo;s nest column gown $7,790, with blue tulle tiered overskirt $1,890, both at Casa de Novia Bridal Couture, Joan Pillow Bridal Salon.

BHLD The Byrd Collective

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:26:10 GMT

Austin-based floral designer Ashley Bailey with The Byrd Collective sets up studio at BHLDN in Highland Village Friday, June 29, 10 am to 7 pm, to create her famously lush and romantic arrangements for purchase that day. Bailey conceived her unique floral-design studio The Byrd Collective while working as director of events at the Savannah College of Art %26amp; Design, after stylish stints in NYC with David Monn and in Houston at Bergner %26amp; Johnson and PaperCity. Besides crafting irresistible arrangements from garden roses, herbs, dahlias, clematis, and more, she will host an interactive tutorial, complete with sips and sweets, to help brides translate their inspirations and budgets into a plan. Seating is limited for this gratis tutorial, so make reservations now by e-mailing cwalker@bhldn.com. And if you can%26rsquo;t make it to BHLDN this month, Bailey will be back on Sunday, July 29. 4056 Westheimer Road, 713.599.1917; bhldn.com.

Houston Bridal Trunk Shows

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:23:53 GMT

Belle Mariee Bridal
2509 River Oaks Blvd., 713.523.0068; bellemarieehouston.com
July 6 – 7: Modern Trousseau
July 13 – 14: Sara Gabriel
November 16 – 17: Anne Barge
November 30 – December 1: Badgley Mischka
December 6 – 8: Carolina Herrera

Casa de Novia Bridal Couture
3331 D’Amico, 713.523.9090; casadenoviabridal.com
June 28 – 29: Sample sale
July 12 – 14: Toni Federici
July 26 – 28: Monique Lhuillier
August 9 – 11: Celebration of Vera Wang
September 14 – 15: Oscar de la Renta
October 25 – 27: Palazzo; PA designer Jane Hamidi
November 15 – 17: Monique Lhuillier
December 13 – 15: Reem Acra

Ivory Bridal Atelier
2800 Kirby Dr., 713.550.1622; ivorybridalhouston.com
June 10, 11 am – 3 pm: Semi-annual sample sale
June 14 – 16: Liancarlo
July 26 – 28: Ines Di Santo
August 23 – 25: Reem Acra
September 6 – 8: Lazaro
September 20 – 22: Anne Barge

Joan Pillow Bridal Salon
4001 Westheimer Road, 713.622.1122; joanpillowbridal.com
June 14 – 16: Vera Wang
July 12 – 14: Oscar de la Renta
August 9 – 11: Romona Keveza Couture
September 13 – 15: Monique Lhuillier
September 27 – 29: Anna Maier-Ulla Maija; PA owner/designer Charles Bunstine III
October 18 – 20: Oscar de la Renta
November 1 – 3: Vera Wang
December 13 – 15: Romona Keveza

Mia Bridal Couture
1958 W. Gray St., 713.622.2022; miabridalcouture.com
June 28 – 30: Rivini
August 2 – 4: Watters
August 9 – 11: Kenneth Pool
August 12: “Something Old, Something Blues” bridal event at House of Blues
August 23 – 25: Rivini
September 13 – 15: Amsale

Now and Forever Bridal
3701 Kirby Dr., 713.218.0369; nowandforeverbridalbtq.com
June 8 – 9: Victoria Nicole
July 6 – 7: N%26amp;F
July 27 – 28: Blush by JLM
August 10 – 11: Tara Keely by Lazaro
August 31 – September 1: Hayley Page
September 28 – 29: Victoria Nicole
October 5 – 8: Blowout sample sale

IMAGES:

Comme des Garçons lace coat dress $6,345, at Forty Five Ten, Dallas. Emily Armenta rings and earrings at Judith Ann Jewels, Neiman Marcus, Tootsies. Lanvin cross $3,160, at Neiman Marcus. Photography Maxine Helfman. Styled by fashion editor Kate Allen Stukenberg. Model Morgan Thompson, The Campbell Agency, Dallas. Hair and makeup Al Tidwell, Kim Dawson Agency, Dallas. Set by Gratuitous Sets. Photo assistant Natalie Wallace.

On your wedding day, now you can have your cake and wear it, too. Judith Leiber wedding-cake minaudière $6,995, at Neiman Marcus

Signs of Intelligent Life: James Surls

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:19:48 GMT

Internationally exhibited sculptor %26hellip; birthed Lawndale Art Center %26hellip; wields power tools %26hellip; enamored of heroic materials wood and steel %26hellip; pens poetry and makes drawings %26hellip; has an ongoing love affair with his wife of 35 years %26hellip; divides his time between a rocky mountain top in Colorado and Texas.

Looking for authentic men? American heritage style? Look no further than sculptor James Surls, a major progenitor of the Houston contemporary art scene. A writer of poetry. And he can choke an axe. Catherine D. Anspon has a sit-down with a man who knows the difference between a Basquiat and a blowtorch.

You%26rsquo;re surrounded by estrogen %26mdash; wife Charmaine and seven daughters. Is this why you sculpt with wood and steel?%26nbsp;

I will say that working in wood and steel came much more from the ancient and early history of man. Having all that estrogen changed the paradigm to a great degree and certainly changed the content of the work, by giving it purpose.
%26nbsp;
Relics of your East Texas childhood that are still with you?

Biscuits and gravy, sunny side up, fried green tomatoes, pinto beans and cornbread, black-eyed peas and corn on the cob, chicken-fried steak and catfish %26mdash; all so good that I wish I had a plate full right now. But the most important relic from my childhood is my daddy%26rsquo;s toolbox and all the things in it.
%26nbsp;
Three things that make the man?

The three most important things I have going for me: self-confidence, work ethic and Charmaine.
%26nbsp;
Power tools?

A big Black %26amp; Decker drill that I bought in 1968. It runs as good today as it did the day I bought it. I think the best chainsaw %26mdash; and the one that I use %26mdash; is a Husqvarna.
%26nbsp;
Hammer of choice?

I have, from my dad%26rsquo;s old toolbox, a Stanley, but mostly I use a hatchet, and I don%26rsquo;t even know the brand name.

Vehicle?

My F-350 Ford diesel. I have to clean it out before Charmaine will ride with me on a trip. It%26rsquo;s a work truck that rides like a Lincoln.
%26nbsp;
Dream machine?

No man toys for me. I have my truck and my John Deere. There%26rsquo;s nothing else to want.
%26nbsp;
Foie gras or barbecue?

If I had to make the choice, I would say barbecue, but I will say I do like both.
%26nbsp;
Houston stops?

David Brown flower shop over at Uptown Park Boulevard. I just tell him what I want, and it%26rsquo;s done. Perfect. As for a restaurant, it would have to be Ava Kitchen %26amp; Whiskey Bar and Avalon Diner for breakfast.

Signature footwear?

I only order shoes from a mail-order store called Hitchcock %26mdash; shoes in large sizes and real wide. I get eight-inch high-tops that lace up; they%26rsquo;re
steel-toed work boots. I also wear what used to be called wing tips.

Okay, spill it: Why did you cut your hair? Did you suffer like Samson in the wake of the decision?

From back in the mid-%26lsquo;60s, I have worn my hair as long as it would grow. But in 2005, I started a serious year of drawings. I did one particular drawing called Skin Casting, which was about shedding your skin and growing a new one. This is when I cut my hair off, shaved my beard and threw it all in the wastebasket.
%26nbsp;
Hair-styling product?

Now I don%26rsquo;t use anything. But you should know that back in the %26rsquo;50s when I was a teenage type, I used Royal Crown Petroleum Jelly. By doing this, I could make a pompadour that all the girls loved, and all their mamas had to put plastic covers
over the backs of the couches to keep them from getting greasy.
%26nbsp;
Are you a Wrangler man?

Yes, but loose. I can%26rsquo;t wear tight jeans.
%26nbsp;
Magazines you can%26rsquo;t live without?

Scientific American, although I only read it in airports and on airplanes.
%26nbsp;
On your nightstand?

For years and years, the only book on my nightstand was The Crack in the Cosmic Egg by Joseph Chilton Pearce. Now I%26rsquo;m rereading Thomas McEvilley%26rsquo;s Yves the Provocateur, which gives a marvelous insight into Dominique de Menil%26rsquo;s thinking in the early days of Houston%26rsquo;s rise in the world of art.
%26nbsp;
What is breakfast when you have an arduous day ahead of you in the studio?

Either steel-cut oats%26nbsp;with fruit%26nbsp;or two eggs up with hash browns, salsa and sourdough toast. On Sunday mornings, we have pancakes if our grandkids are here.

Preferred cocktail or adult libation?

Martini made with Crystal Head Vodka, shaken and up with two olives. Seriously good.
%26nbsp;
You never leave home without %26hellip;?

My man bag, which looks like one of those things you feed horses out of. It%26rsquo;s a heavy canvas Souffle bag full of Ticonderoga pencils, sharpened and ready to use and two drawing pads and a notepad. Then there is another bunch of stuff like you would not believe %26hellip; Books and fine-point Sharpie ink pens, hand lotion and extra reading glasses and a copy of Garden %26amp; Gun magazine, and on and on.
%26nbsp;
Rustic American locale you%26rsquo;re longing to visit?

East Texas. I know it by heart and love every inch. Oak and pine, black jack and sweet gum, bluebonnets and paintbrushes, slow-moving rivers, slues and back water, the big thicket and the piney woods.

IMAGES:

James Surls. Photo by Jim Paussa.

James Surls%26rsquo; Passion, 2012. Photo courtesy Robert Millman Photography.

Studio Surls, Carbondale, CO. Photo by Robert Millman Photography.

%26nbsp;

PC's Pick of the New Bites %26 Boîtes

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:17:44 GMT

LA Bar

If you didn%26rsquo;t know that Luke Mandola Sr. is one of 875 Sicilian Italians descended from a great-grandfather who immigrated to Galveston (and who grew up to be one of many Mandolas running food businesses in Texas), you might think he%26rsquo;s a Cajun through and through. After all, the former proprietor of Mandola%26rsquo;s Liquor Store %26mdash; which opened in 1972, a year before his legendary Richmond Avenue crawfish haunt, Ragin Cajun, next door %26mdash; has made Louisiana shrimp po-boys, red beans and rice, and those little spicy mudbugs his stock and trade for decades. When the liquor-store lease ran out, he and sons Luke Mandola Jr. and Dominic Mandola reinvented the space as LA Bar, a New Orleans contemporary creole joint inspired by a little place of the same name that he and his wife, Joan Benoit Mandola, frequent in her home town of Lake Arthur, Louisiana. The space, which opens up to Ragin Cajun, is not the least bit fussy, with big screens keeping you abreast of the day%26rsquo;s sports. Indulge in Taste the Tradition of Louisiana, which offers three samplings of what they do best: seafood gumbo, red beans and rice, crawfish %26eacute;touff%26eacute;e or shrimp creole ($9). Try the boiled crawfish steeped in RC%26rsquo;s signature spices, salads and pastas, or take it up a notch with fresh fish selections such as pan-seared mahi-mahi with jumbo lump crab ($22). If LA Bar%26rsquo;s rich grilled oysters ($18) and barbecue shrimp ($16) don%26rsquo;t have you running back for more, nothing will. 4302 Richmond Ave., 713.355.2227; ragin-cajun.com.

Roost

For those craving just a nibble of this and that, drop in early to chef/owner Kevin Naderi%26rsquo;s new little no-reservations dinner spot, Roost. Graze your way through the intriguing New American menu %26mdash; which pulls as much dairy, meats, fish and produce from local vendors and farmers as possible %26mdash; in casual surroundings with a great bistro feel. Share plates include options such as tomato salad with burrata cheese and baby arugula doused with a basil vinaigrette ($10), chicken-liver mousse layered with parsley oil in a canning jar with crostini, mustard and jam ($10) and the most intriguing dish on the menu: roasted cauliflower with flakes of bonito that, when hit with the steam of the florets and miso dressing, rehydrate and sway as if they%26rsquo;re being hit with a blast of AC %26mdash; quite amusing, not to mention delicious ($9). 1972 Fairview St., 713.523.7667. IMAGES: Photos by Jenny Antill.

%26nbsp;

%26nbsp;

La Fisheria

Even if you don%26rsquo;t recognize chef/owner Aquiles Chavez from his two Utilisima network TV shows, perhaps his signature curled moustache and soul patch will give him away. The recent %26eacute;migr%26eacute; %26mdash; a cookbook author, spokesman for the avocado industry south of the border and Twitter mainstay with 145,000 followers %26mdash; has documented every step of his transition from superstar chef in Tabasco, Mexico, to upstart Houston restaurant owner. His La Fisheria, with manager/partner Mirna Cox, is a happy-looking space just off Shepherd near the I-10 exchange: a blue-and-orange-painted house where waiters in Panama straw hats bring forth the sort of robust yet light Mexican fare you crave during Texas%26rsquo; warmer months. Think mini tostadas layered with raw yellowfin tuna and avocado ($5.50) or octopus ($6), red-snapper ceviche to be piled atop Saltines ($12,50) and shrimp tacos of the tempura sort, dressed with a tamarind-and-chipotle sauce ($2.50). As the dinner hour descends, china replaces the enamelware dishes, even though the playfully stamped plywood tables remain cloth-less to retain the easygoing vibe. Entrees such as beet risotto with lobster tail ($30), grilled rib-eye with truffled mashed potatoes ($33) and red snapper pibil style with an achiote-paste rub ($25) showcase Chavez%26rsquo;s range. Do some of the food terms stump you? (Xnipec? Xtabentun?) Not to worry. There%26rsquo;s an abridged dictionary on the menu to get you up to speed. 4705 Inker St., 713.802.1712; lafisheriahouston.com.

%26nbsp;

Latin Bites Cebiche %26amp; Pisco Bar

What started as an offshoot to their family catering business downtown %26mdash; 10 tiny tables that drew a loyal fan following %26mdash; has given way to a bright, bustling eatery in Tanglewood with the capacity to seat more than 120 inside and out. Sister and brother, general manager Rita Castre and chef Roberto Castre, along with Rita%26rsquo;s husband and beverage director Carlos Ramos, grew up in Peru. They wanted to export not only the country%26rsquo;s zesty cooking roots but one of its trendiest cocktails, the Pisco Sour. Culling together traditional tastes of his homeland (which in modern times has incorporated the country%26rsquo;s fascination with Japanese and Asian ingredients), Roberto%26rsquo;s presentations are beautiful, painterly renditions of plates small and large. Some of our favorites include the colorful causitas, a trio of Peruvian whipped potatoes cloaked with three sauces and tastes, from shrimp escabeche to piquillo peppers ($14), as well as stunning scallops, each seared in its shell and prepared au gratin with herb butter, cheeses and a splash of Pisco ($20). Don%26rsquo;t miss the fresh, fabulous ceviches, such as pulpo al olivo, aka sashimi-style sliced octopus drizzled with a purple olive mayo and sweet-potato pur%26eacute;e with large kernels of Peruvian corn ($16), and saut%26eacute; and wok dishes such as Peruvian-style fried-rice dishes ($15 to $18) and saut%26eacute;ed beef tenderloin marinated in a deeply flavored sauce of soy, oyster sauce, red wine and garlic ($21). 5709 Woodway, 713.229.8369; latinbitescafe.com.

Oxheart

This tiny eatery moved into the downtown warehouse-district spot that Latin Bites vacated when it moved to Tanglewood. The owners, husband-and-wife chef Justin Yu and baker Karen Man, share a wonderful zeal to forage for ingredients made and grown with integrity, and they%26rsquo;ve followed that passion around the world, staging with innovative chefs who have no doubt influenced their outlook here. Oxheart serves dinner only, Thursday through Monday, and seating is limited (30 seats), so reservations are a must. Arrive ready to feast on three progressively larger menu options that change weekly. The early spring menu ($49) is a four-course temptation, as was their garden menu, designed around seasonal fruits and vegetables with nary a piece of meat, fish or fowl in sight ($49). More ambitious appetites can indulge in the tasting menu ($75), a seven-course array that might start with beets and a savory granola, then move on to a Gulf oyster warmed in its shell with red bunching onions, leek and brown-butter noisette. Pair it all with wine and beer selected by Oxheart%26rsquo;s master sommelier, Justin Vann. We like to think of the Oxheart clan collectively as our own budding Keller acolytes. 1302 Nance St., 832.830.8592; oxhearthouston.com. IMAGES: Photos by Paul Sedillo.

Trading Up

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:07:27 GMT

We%26rsquo;ve been counting the days since we first heard that happy, hippie-chic grocer Trader Joe%26rsquo;s was moving into Texas and opening a few stores in our metroplex %26mdash; including one in The Woodlands. Now we have only days to wait until the doors swing open on June 15 and %26ldquo;Captain%26rdquo; Josh Leto and his %26ldquo;Crew Members,%26rdquo; dressed in bright Hawaiian-print shirts, beckon us inside. There are sure to be lines when The Woodlands locale debuts (followed in short order by two stores in Houston: 2922 S. Shepherd Drive in the former Bookstop space and 1440 S. Voss Road). If you%26rsquo;ve never experienced Trader Joe%26rsquo;s, expect a campy good time with serious worldly eats ranging from artisan Burrata cheese and organic heirloom tomatoes in the height of summer to wine and beer (who can forget the famed Two Buck Chuck variety) and frozen-food goodies that run the gamut from Kung Pao chicken to ready-to-rise chocolate croissants that will inspire you to rise and shine Sunday morning. Travel to Trader Joe%26rsquo;s, and you can roam the world on a plate (or in a glass). 10868 Kuykendahl Road; traderjoes.com.

%26nbsp;

We're Obsessed with The Surrey Hotel

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:02:55 GMT

Just knowing The Surrey hotel in New York is the exclusive hotel partner for the Whitney Biennial 2012 made me want to stay there. When I learned Houston-based starchitect-designer Lauren Rottet designed the extensive redo, it sealed the deal. I went, I stayed, I fell in love. Let me count the ways. 1. A massive photograph of Kate Moss by Chuck Close dominates the lobby. 2. Daniel Boulud does room service. 3. Le Bilboquet is down the street. The salons and suites (not rooms) are all large, cloaked in cool grays and whites, some with fireplaces, soaking tubs or terraces. And all have Duxiana beds and Waterworks fixtures. Built in 1926, The Surrey was home to Claudette Colbert, JFK, Bette Davis and now Kate Moss %26mdash; or at least the mammoth photograph of her. Rates from $595. 20 E. 76th St. at Madison, 212.288.3700; thesurreyhotel.com.

Billy Fong Sez …

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 08:56:08 GMT

My dearest Brooke has posed to me that I should offer my thoughts for men%26rsquo;s style for June. As much I could stand on my soapbox and proclaim that a Carolina Herrera canary-yellow gown is the must have for girls in-the-know this season, discussing men%26rsquo;s fashion is slightly trickier.%26nbsp; Boys can%26rsquo;t simply wear a statement piece; they need to have a full look and, in my opinion, a soundtrack to follow them around. A super-swell set of wheels and a long-leggy brunette named Jocasta also wouldn%26rsquo;t hurt in completing a look appropriate for any invitation %26mdash; clam digging or yacht hopping in St. Tropez.

Thankfully the preppy aesthetic has had a moment in the sun again the past few seasons, and those who shop at Brooks Brothers, like myself, are incredibly blissful. The trick is not taking it too literally and giving it a twist.

No matter what, it%26rsquo;s about owning your personal style and not letting the clothes wear you. I have had to set up a few interventions for girlfriends who have fallen prey to the %26ldquo;page 18%26rdquo; problem. In essence, they have purchased and worn every item from a page in the J.Crew catalog. You don%26rsquo;t want to seem pulled right from the photo shoot in Martha%26rsquo;s Vineyard. There is only person in Dallas who can pull off the entire preppy look and seem like she rolled out of bed that way, and it is Mason Custard. She can wear a cashmere twinset with requisite Seven Sisters schoolgirl pearls and make it all look effortlessly charming. But I digress. Back to Boys.

So, for the season ahead load up on the following:

%26bull; Lacoste shirts in every shade, but more than a few white versions, since they are perfect under a blazer or thrown over your Vilebrequin swim trunks after doing laps at someone%26rsquo;s well-appointed weekend retreat in the Malibu Colony. I also favor yellow in case someone suggests a game of croquet, so that I match for a few games of bubbly and balls.

%26bull; Michael Bastian cut-off khakis.

%26bull; Rod Laver Adidas, two pairs: one white and green and the other white and navy blue.

Hopefully I will bump into you at a shingle-style beach house on Georgica Pond while The Fresh Prince%26rsquo;s %26ldquo;Summertime%26rdquo; is playing in the background.

Are You a Locovore?

Thu, 31 May 2012 05:30:22 GMT

If you pride yourself on eating and cooking not only organic fare, but also locally sourced produce, meats, breads and foodstuffs, have we got a concept for you. Farmhouse Delivery, an Austin enterprise founded in 2009 by Stephanie Scherzer and Elizabeth Winslow, is taking on Houston. The concept: Unite local farmers with appreciative eaters who can sign up online for weekly or biweekly drops of all sorts of nourishing veggies, fruit and greens ($37 to $39 per bushel drop). The prerequisite for all food suppliers, be they small gentleman farmers with a handful of acreage or large bustling farmsteads outside the city limits, is that they must be certified organic or abide by sustainable growing methods. (Read: Say no to chemical fertilizers and dastardly pesticides.) Supporting these local farmers allows them to flourish, providing our food community with an ever-changing array of fresh products. Whether you crave heirloom melons or unique squashes, our newfound farm friends also listen to your requests and plant accordingly %26mdash; imagine that! There are also local farmstead cheeses; artisan breads; herbs; pastured, grass-fed beef, lamb, poultry; and more. Finally, to inspire you to cook your bounty, Scherzer and Winslow even supply you with recipes and culinary classes. Information 832.529.4747; houston.farmhousedelivery.com.

IMAGE: Elizabeth Winslow

Why Don’t You … Stop by Tootsies for a Vreeland Book

Thu, 31 May 2012 05:20:52 GMT

Lisa Immordino Vreeland %26mdash; filmmaker, author and grand-daughter-in-law of the legendary Diana Vreeland %26mdash; will be in Houston Tuesday, June 5, at Tootsies, from 6 to 8 pm, to sign her fascinating and visual book about the high mistress of fashion, Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel ($55, Abrams). A documentary of the same name is traveling the film circuit and opens in September in theaters. Stop by Tootsies for a cocktail, get a book signed and revel in Vreeland%26rsquo;s proclamations. %26ldquo;The first thing to do is to arrange to be born in Paris,%26rdquo; she once said. %26ldquo;After that, everything follows quite naturally.%26rdquo; At Tootsies, Tuesday, June 5; RSVP curatebooks@papercitymag.com.

Restaurant Buzz

Tue, 29 May 2012 01:32:58 GMT

June kicks off with a whirl of summery foodie news. Highland Park Village habitu%26eacute;s are reveling in the Eurocentric setting of the new 31, perched atop Bistro 31. This cool-Mediterranean scene, designed by Alberto Lombardi, alongside the design firm of Duncan Miller Ullman, has a patio and terrace for convivial conversation, tapas,%26nbsp;ceviche and cocktails %26mdash; while a champagne lounge lures with a menu of caviar and foie gras %26hellip; Dreaming of a relaxed-chic vibe with seasonal tastings? Bolsa%26rsquo;s newest chef to roam the range is Jeff Harris, who worked with Tom Colichio for six years and has been cooking up a storm since his arrival in Dallas. He%26rsquo;s stirred up a special menu for summer %26mdash; we recommend the smoked steelhead trout or Evan%26rsquo;s Farm burger, accompanied by a Lady%26rsquo;s Man cocktail or pitcher of Yellow-and-Red Sangr%26iacute;a. New brunch and lunch hours coming soon. Ring up a reservation for 614 West Davis Street, or click to bolsadallas.com %26hellip; Finish the weekend at the Design District%26rsquo;s new eatery, Oak, now serving Sunday brunch from 10 am to 2 pm. Order up the baguette French toast with brul%26eacute;ed banana and Grand Marnier or the sorbet nestled in a bowl of champagne. For details, tap oakdallas.com.

2012 Small Steps Ultimate Wine Classic

Tue, 22 May 2012 03:27:20 GMT

My Tête-à-Tête with Sacha Walckhoff

Mon, 07 May 2012 12:46:16 GMT

When Brooke mentioned an opportunity for me to profile someone for PaperCity, I was thrilled. Or, maybe I was just chilled because we were at the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge celebration, and the wind was blowing at a million knots. Anyway, I love to write, and when I asked whom I should interview, she said, %26ldquo;Anyone fabulous %26mdash; you pick.%26rdquo; As my mind pondered whom to profile %26mdash; well, that, and what I should pack for Malibu %26mdash; suddenly it dawned on me: Sacha Walckhoff, the creative director of Christian Lacroix. I had just returned from Los Angeles and had looked at his spring Christian Lacroix fabric and wall-covering collection for Designers Guild for my Dallas showroom, ID Collection. Walckhoff, having worked as Mr. Lacroix%26rsquo;s second in command for more than 17 years, was a natural choice to lead the house when Lacroix severed all ties. Walckhoff is in charge of Lacroix%26rsquo;s menswear, eyewear, wedding dresses, stationery, bags and leather goods, as well as some incredible patterns for Designers Guild. Here is a little insight into the mind and world of the Paris-based Sacha Walckhoff, aka my new man crush.

When Sacha isn%26rsquo;t being Sacha, what does he like to do? I am always myself! But on weekends, I love to spend time with my partner visiting modern art galleries or flea markets, having lunch on a sunny Parisian day on the terrace at the Marly or the Georges, and buying books at the Calignani library and fruitcakes at Pierre Herm%26eacute;.

If the life you have lived so far could be summed up by a cocktail, what would it be? I do not drink anymore, so now, it would be the Multi-v from Vitaminwater. I like the lime taste %26mdash; it%26rsquo;s refreshing and feels like you are doing something good for your body and mind.

The moment you first flipped for interior decoration %26hellip; what was it that caught your attention? Ceramics from the %26rsquo;50s %26mdash; anything from Vallauris (especially Picasso and Capron). And I have a lot of Georges Jouve, Cloutier and Hella Jongerius. My companion and I often don%26rsquo;t see eye to eye on interior design. Sometimes it takes an explanation as to why I want to
do something.

Do you have free rein at home? Not always %26mdash; we talk about it. It makes both of us evolve, which is good! He is outside Paris right now on the set of a movie (he is a hair designer), and he just called me, telling me he could not stop thinking of the vase we bought yesterday %26mdash; so we are on the same page today!

If you were a textile, what would you be? An Herm%26egrave;s cashmere blanket.

Favorite guilty pleasure? Mont Blanc pastries.

Coffee or tea? Genma%26iuml; green tea.

Pet or no pet? My partner cat, Pitouf.

The last time you danced alone while getting dressed, what was playing? It was yesterday, and %26ldquo;%26lsquo;S Wonderful%26rdquo; by Jo%26atilde;o Gilberto was on ... so romantic!%26nbsp;

Song when you need motivation? In the morning, anything from Kool and the Gang; late at night, %26ldquo;Iron%26rdquo; by Woodkid.

What are you loving right now at this very moment? I just bought an amazing piece at the Manufacture de S%26egrave;vres %26mdash; a vase hand-painted by Marlene Mocquet, a young and talented French artist.

I admire the work of Axel Vervoordt and John Saladino %26mdash; are you inspired by any designers? Yes, I do love the work of Rodrigo Almeida, Sam Baron, Marcel Wanders, Maarten Baas, Charlotte Perriand, Georges Jouve, Daniel Firman and many others.

Favorite thing about the weekend? Staying in bed with my lover!

Favorite mag? Fantastic Man, Vogue Hommes Japan, and C%26ocirc;t%26eacute; Paris is great, too.

Favorite piece of luggage? My Herm%26egrave;s Plume bag %26mdash; a special order from the %26rsquo;70s I found at a flea market many years ago.

I know when I%26rsquo;m traveling I need a lightweight jacket or cardigan %26mdash; what do you have to have when traveling? A big Lacroix scarf made of silk and wool, and my perfume by Aesop.

I must admit, I am loving your men%26rsquo;s fall collection. I also see you%26rsquo;re still rocking the ankle for fall. Can a man in his mid-40s still flash some flesh? Yes ... maybe not ... but we are working on Summer 2013 right now, and we might show more than just the ankle!

%26nbsp;

IMAGES:

Jim Williamson. Photo by Mike Morgan.

Sacha Walckhoff. Photo by Antone Tempe.

%26nbsp;Christian Lacroix for Designers Guild

%26nbsp;Mont Blanc pastry

%26nbsp;Christian Lacroix Fall 2012

A Day in the Life of Al Tidwell

Mon, 07 May 2012 11:41:36 GMT

10 am: Stayed up late watching Melancholia, so I slept in. I love waking up in our hand-carved mahogany bed from Indonesia. I was dreaming I was in Hawaii, with the doors open to the lanai. Can%26rsquo;t get enough of the Hawaiian weather here in Dallas lately.

10:25 am: Checking e-mails on my red BlackBerry Curve, which also conveniently serves as my phone, computer and music system. (I refuse to touchscreen.) Streaming Claudine Longet on Pandora.

11 am: Brush my teeth with my Preserve sustainable toothbrush. Slather on sun salve %26mdash; pure herbal comfort infused with love. Light a stick of Juniper Ridge wild-harvested Sweetgrass incense. Get dressed for a long day in black Levi%26rsquo;s 510 jeans that I bleached on purpose; B. Son San Francisco T-shirt that I picked up from Centre; vintage shiny black Members Only knockoff jacket from Sears; a black silk Dries Van Noten scarf. I slip on my acid-washed Toms shoes, and a buffalo-nickel concho belt completes my look.

11:23 am: Korean-taco withdrawal kicking in, so my partner, Jamaal Cockerham, and I Volvo-it crosstown to Goghee To Go. We order three tacos, three ways: Tejano, Mexicano and Korean. We dine alfresco.

12:14 am: Stop by V.O.D. to see if Jackie got in more scarves like the brown and blue vintage YSL tribal one I found there last season to add to my 30+ collection, or a new LowLuv ring by Erin Wasson.

1 pm: I arrive at the faux-French country castle off Midway. Erin Faison is shooting a new men%26rsquo;s skincare line for BeautiControl. I give our model some L%26rsquo;Occitane en Provence hand cream for his hands, which gives anyone an instant manicure, and then I butter him up in jasmine-scented Almond Glow. Someone has to do it!

3 pm: We are shooting for JCP on the rooftop of The Stoneleigh Hotel and Spa. Sophia Loren would live here. Orange peasant blouse, check! Loose, yet controlled chignon, check! White capris, check! It%26rsquo;s a pretend dinner party on the terrace overlooking downtown. Wait, what are we selling? Oh %26hellip; the patio furniture!

4:15 pm: I hitch a ride to Dear Clark salon to talk Kevin Murphy hair products with Kaycee Clark for the DIFFA extravaganza. Kaycee is working with me on the quick-hair-change strategies for the show. While I%26rsquo;m there, I pick up a bottle of Kevin Murphy Fresh.Hair dry-cleaning spray %26mdash; it%26rsquo;s great for adding volume.

5 pm: For a full dose of vitamin D, I hit my backyard for some sun yoga, wearing my green sandals from The Piper Sandal Company, then I kick back with a Rangpur martini with Sunflower Farmers Market%26rsquo;s black-pepper kettle chips. Paradise.

6:30 pm: I meet up with photographer Ann He for a photo test. They are recreating iconic photographer Paolo Roversi%26rsquo;s iconic light painting from the %26rsquo;80s and Wallflower%26rsquo;s %26ldquo;face of the moment,%26rdquo; Abby, is our model. I use Nars Illuminator in Copacabana and Burt%26rsquo;s Bees pomegranate lip balm for the look.%26nbsp;

8:30 pm: Tonight is the DIFFA %26ldquo;Le Smoking Haute%26rdquo; Show. I%26rsquo;ve conjured up some big Texas Tom Ford hair, geometric ponytails, and tortured %26rsquo;20s bobs. On the same models. In the same show. Only for Jan!

10:16 pm: I%26rsquo;m back home for an organic salad from Urban Acres market, then a soak in a bath of Palm Island black lava sea salt.

10:40 pm: Curl up in bed to watch some Rhoda. How does she tie that scarf?

11:15 pm: Can%26rsquo;t sleep yet! I reorganize my kit for tomorrow%26rsquo;s jcp.com women%26rsquo;s fashion photo shoot. We%26rsquo;re going to keep the look natural.

Midnight: The BlackBerry automatically shuts down, and so do I. Aloha!

IMAGE: Al Tiwell. Photo by Maxine Helfman.

A Delicious Dwelling

Mon, 07 May 2012 11:13:13 GMT

From the visionaries of Primebar, the recently opened Townhouse Kitchen + Bar is the latest culinary attraction at Galleria Dallas. This industrial loft-style restaurant with stacked-wood walls and woven leather booths was envisioned by Plan B Group%26rsquo;s Tatianna Sneed, Thomas Weber, Chryssi Eddy and Royce Ring %26mdash; the designers who brought us the sleek-yet-inviting Oak, Urban Taco and Bolsa. Townhouse Kitchen + Bar chef Paul Niekrasz dishes out contemporary American fare with Latin, Asian and Mediterranean influences via items such as the ancho beef with charred tomatillo salsa, yellowfin tuna stack, Cubano sandwich and grilled Atlantic salmon. Parents will be pleased to know Niekrasz offers a healthy %26ldquo;non-fried food%26rdquo; kids%26rsquo; menu %26mdash; which includes a bento box (grilled chicken or spiced turkey and their choice of pasta or veggies), a build-your-own wrap and the simply grilled chicken. Half of the eatery is dedicated to bar enthusiasts, with more than 19 beers on top. We also hear the cucumber cooler cocktail (made with Effen cucumber vodka, fresh citrus and soda) is happy hour%26rsquo;s most-requested quencher. 13270 Dallas Parkway 972.300.0986; townhousedallas.com.

IMAGE: Townhouse Kitchen + Bar

Your Bod’s Favorite Bar

Mon, 07 May 2012 11:08:39 GMT

Owners Kristin Moses and Laurie Gatlin set the bar high for a feel-good workout studio at Bodybar where classes combine cardio, resistance and Pilates into 50-minute workouts. The earthy-meets-elegant interior %26mdash; wood floors, iron chandeliers and white-leather barstools (a sleek match for the white reformer machines) %26mdash; is designed by California aesthete and published designer Carly Blalock. On Bodybar%26rsquo;s menu of body-altering workouts? Choose from seven classes that work back-to-back muscle groups through dynamic movements, isometrics and cardio bursts with the monikers of Reformer, Cardio Chair, Power Tower, Bodybar(re), Transformation Challenge, Barre/Cardio Chair and Barre/Reformer. Also inside the open-floor-plan studio is an apparel shop, where five percent of proceeds go to the WomenHeart organization, and a juice bar stocked with raw elixirs, milks and nut mixes. Future plans for Moses and Gatlin? Look for their second Bodybar outpost, coming to Plano soon. 4514 Travis St., Ste. 125, 214.520.2227; bodybarstudios.com.

IMAGE: Bodybar. Photo by John Cain.

Bellissimo Barsotti

Mon, 07 May 2012 11:05:24 GMT

Between juggling the pasta fatta in casa as exec chef/owner at Nonna and opening his latest culinary project, Carbone%26rsquo;s, Italian-food wunderkind Julian Barsotti has not let his slotted spoons rest. %26ldquo;I forgot how hard it is to open a restaurant,%26rdquo; confessed Barsotti, regarding his new eatery in The Shops at Highland Park. His challenge isn%26rsquo;t without delicious reward, though, as the draw at Carbone%26rsquo;s is two-fold: It%26rsquo;s one part casual, Italian-American restaurant and one part specialty-food store. %26ldquo;Everything is either handmade in-house or intently sourced and made in America,%26rdquo; he says. For hungry Highland Park types, this means a tightly focused lunch and dinner menu of paninis, salads and pastas, served daily via counter service. On Sunday nights, Carbone%26rsquo;s gets a fine-dining spin as Barsotti joins chefs Jonathan Neitzel and Scott Lewis in the kitchen, serving up a tasting menu of liberally interpreted Italian fare. For at-home chefs, seek groceries inspired by the Boot here as well %26mdash; think extra-virgin olive oil by California-based Corto Olive Co., homemade breads, Villa Vinci Sant%26rsquo; Agostino olives, Iowa-sourced prosciutto, plus dozens of other cured meats from Carbone%26rsquo;s charcuterie program. Our favorite moment inside the Italiano-contemporary kitchen? Freshly cut pasta always hangs from a drying rack in the back. Now, that%26rsquo;s amore. 4208 Oak Lawn in The Shops at Highland Park, 214.522.4208; carbonesdallas.com.

IMAGE: Carbone%26rsquo;s Fine Food and Wine

Gluten-Free Gluttony

Mon, 07 May 2012 11:02:37 GMT

Tully Lewis, a graduate of SMU and the Texas Culinary Academy, saw the need to bring her charm and her NYC-bred bakery, Tu-Lu%26rsquo;s Gluten-Free Bakery, down south for customers ranging from foodies with gluten allergies to the trend-driven and health-conscious. The cozy 900-square-foot space, designed by Lewis herself, is adorned with whimsical owls painted on pastel-pink walls and a case full of sweets including raspberry-almond-crumble muffins, plus cookies, coffee cakes and even vanilla, chocolate and red-velvet cupcakes. For dine-in lunches, choose from daily items such as the three-cheese, basil-pesto and tomato panini or the quiche with spinach, scallions and cheddar cheese. For the taking, malomars (chocolate-coated marshmallow and graham-cracker round)
and loaves of house-made honey oat and whole-grain sunflower breads are flying out her healthy doors. 6055 Sherry Lane, 214.730.0049; tu-lusbakery.com.

IMAGE: Tu-Lu%26rsquo;s Gluten Free Bakery. Photo by Sara Kerens.

Restaurant Buzz

Mon, 07 May 2012 10:58:14 GMT

All palates can savor French fare now that the Inwood Village bistro Bijoux has split into two concepts and is open for lunch. The husband-and-wife team of Scott and Gina Gottlich has divided the eatery into a casual bistro-style restaurant as well as a formal chef%26rsquo;s dining room that offers a standard or vegetarian tasting menu %26mdash; imagine parsnip and sunchoke soup, squab breast and herb gnocchi. See more transformation at bijouxrestaurant.com %26hellip; A skip down the sidewalk from Bijoux in Inwood Village takes you to The Juice Bar, which serves concoctions of organic ingredients such as ginger, beets, kale, apples, oranges and sweet potatoes. Proprietor Tom Hennings (whose wife is Lisa Hennings, owner of The Bar Method next door) has set up his Norwalk Hydraulic Press to offer a choice of six smoothies, six fresh-pressed juices and three types of locally brewed kombucha %26hellip; Calling all audiences: Bring your koozies and coolers (soft-sided only) to Strauss Square, the outdoor space at the AT%26amp;T Performing Arts Center. Corks will pop and cans crack open Wednesday, May 2, at the Gypsy Kings concert, when the policy change allowing guests to BYOB takes effect %26hellip; This fall, a new contemporary steak house replaces the iconic Nana restaurant at the Hilton Anatole. Ser (pronounced %26ldquo;sear%26rdquo;) plans to distinguish itself from other steak houses in town with its sweeping views of the
Dallas skyline and a masculine-modern interior. Nana closes its doors June 9, with Ser opening October 1.

IMAGE: Bijoux%26rsquo;s new look

An Edible Invitation

Mon, 07 May 2012 10:55:21 GMT

If chef Matt McCallister (Stephan Pyles alum and the culinary whiz behind Campo Modern Country Bistro) has anything to do with it, the word %26ldquo;locavore%26rdquo; will soon be part of everyone%26rsquo;s vocabulary. McCallister%26rsquo;s newly launched grassroots organization, Chefs for Farmers,%26nbsp;has the gourmet world ambitiously supporting local farmers and the Texas chefs and businesses that utilize their homegrown wares. The next gathering by Chefs for Farmers is dubbed %26ldquo;Mixin%26rsquo; It Up On The Boulevard%26rdquo; and is set for Sunday, May 6, from 1 to 5 pm, at Lee Park. The nosh-centric day party will feature tasting stations from 40-plus local chefs (Abraham Salum, Tre Wilcox, Janice Provost, Bruno Davaillon, John Tesar and more), vino samplings from 20 Texas wineries and displays by the state%26rsquo;s top artisans and food-industry experts. The central ingredient? The tasty bash benefits Meals on Wheels and Water for Chizavane, with Stephan Pyles, Kent Rathbun and Dean Fearing serving as honorary chefs. Tickets and information, chefsforfarmers.com.

IMAGE: Chefs for Farmers founder Matt McCallister

Sea to See: Your Go-To Guide to Galveston

Tue, 01 May 2012 12:15:21 GMT

Where to Eat

Bistro LeCroy, 2021 Strand, 409.762.4200 . This Strand-area Cajun hot spot is in full swing after an extensive remodel.

The Black Pearl, 23rd %26amp; Market St., 409.762.7299 . This downtown oyster bar, newly opened by restaurateur Rudy Betancourt, has an extensive menu ranging from seafood to rib-eyes and pork chops.

Bubba Gump Seafood Co., 2501 Seawall Blvd. on the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier; bubbagump.com. Opening in May, this family-friendly restaurant from the Landry%26rsquo;s hospitality group gets its name from the movie Forrest Gump. Its other claim to fame: 19 delicious shrimp preparations.

Cafe Michael Burger, 11150 Termini San Luis Pass Road , 409.740.3639.  Best burgers at the beach. Wash them down with a cold German brew.

DiBella%26rsquo;s Italian Restaurant, 1902 31st St., 409.763.9036 . Locals keep this casual Italian kitchen crowded on Friday nights.

Eatcetera, 408 25th St. , 409.762.0803; eatcetera.net.  Head downtown for gourmet sandwiches, paninis and salads.

Fish Tales, 2502 Seawall Blvd. , 409.762.8545; fishtalesgalveston.com.  After you catch some rays on the beach, grab a bite at this beachfront seafood stop. It%26rsquo;s the best spot to watch the Fourth of July fireworks %26mdash; if you can get there early enough to reserve a table.

Gaido%26rsquo;s, 3838 Seawall Blvd.,  409.762.9625; gaidosofgalveston.com.  An Island institution serving up surf-side seafood since 1911.

Gumbo Bar, 2105 Postoffice St.,  409.744.8626 ; littledaddysgumbobar.com; True to its name, the Gumbo Bar offers delicious Cajun cuisine, complemented by an impressive beer and wine list.

Gump on the Run, 25th St. and Seawall Blvd. on the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pie; bubbagump.com. A faster version of Bubba Gump Seafood Co. with a similar menu but faster meals for folks on the go. Opening in May.

The Lunchbox Cafe, 213 23rd St.,  409.770.0044 ; thelunchboxcafegalveston.com.  Has your lunchbox ever looked this good? Fresh ingredients hand-picked from the farmers%26rsquo; market come together to create an international menu of sandwiches and salads.

Mosquito Cafe, 628 14th St.,  409.763.1010 ; mosquitocafe.com.  Tucked away in the historic East End, this cafe is a must for trendy salads, sandwiches and pasta. Save room for dessert: The lemonade cake is to die for.

901 Postoffice, 901 Postoffice St. , 409.762.1111 . This new culinary-fusion restaurant is located in a historic home with a covered salon and back patio.

Oasis Juice Bar %26amp; Market, 409 25th St., 409.762.8446; oasisjuicemarket.com. This aptly named addition offers organic fresh juices, smoothies and teas for breakfast and lunch, plus fresh produce.

Olympia Grill at Pier 21, Pier 21 and Harborside Dr., 409.765.0021; olympiapier21.com.  This stylish dining spot serves Gulf Coast seafood and an excellent harbor view. (For Greek dishes, visit sister property Olympia Grill on the Seawall, 4908 Seawall Boulevard.)

PattyCakes Bakery, 704 14th St. , 409.762.2537; pattycakesgalveston.com.  A sweet creation by the brains behind the popular Mosquito Cafe, PattyCakes serves breakfast and lunch, along with French bread and a whole array of fantastic pastries.

Rudy %26amp; Paco, 2028 Postoffice St.,  409.762.3696 ; rudyandpaco.com; Leave the flip-flops and shorts at the beach house when dining at this Latin-inspired seafood and steak house.

Shearn%26rsquo;s Restaurant, 7 Hope Blvd.,  409.741.8484; moodygardenshotel.com . Grab dinner or just a drink at this top-floor restaurant for spectacular views of the pyramids of Moody Gardens and the sunset.

Shrimp n Stuff, 34th Blvd. at Ave. O,  409.763.2805; shrimpnstuff.com . A local favorite for more than 30 years, this Galveston institution has been recommended by Zagat%26rsquo;s Restaurant Survey.

ShyKatZ Deli %26amp; Bakery, 1528 Ave L,  409.770.0500 ; shykatzdeli.com.  ShyKatZ uses old family recipes to create a scrumptious breakfast and lunch menu.

The Sunflower Bakery and Caf%26eacute;, 512 14th St. , 409.763.5500; thesunflowerbakeryandcafe.com. This sweet bakery, housed in a historic building on the East End, serves savory soups and sandwiches for lunch and Sunflower%26rsquo;s famous Belgian waffles for brunch. Check the Web site for delicious Saturday dinner specials.

Willie G%26rsquo;s, 2100 Harbor Side,  409.762.3030 ; williegs.com/galveston.  This steak-and-seafood spot on the harbor side of the island has a whole new look. The remodeled contemporary interior offers great views of the ships rolling in.

For Sipping Cocktails

Bar None at Diamond Beach, 10327 Seawall Blvd.,  409.539.5125 ; galvestonbarnone.com.  Sleek and modern, Bar None is in the elegant Diamond Beach mid-rise on West Beach.

The Beach Hut, 731 Seawall Blvd., 409.770.0089. The only bar on the seawall with beach access right off the patio boasts beautiful views of the Gulf and one of the largest palapas on the island. Listen to bands on the weekends, try out the swings and make-shift bowling alley underneath or indulge in beach-basic fare such as fish tacos, Tiki shrimp, burgers and sandwiches.

Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe , 413 20th St.,  409.762.9199; oldquarteracousticcafe.com.  Cut loose with a Lone Star to live music at the Old Quarter, which is reminiscent of Austin in the %26rsquo;60s and %26rsquo;70s.

The Poop Deck, 2928 Seawall Blvd.,  409.763.9151.  This legendary biker pub has a full bar, televised sports and a deck overlooking the Gulf.

Rooftop Terrace at The Tremont House, 2300 Ship%26rsquo;s Mechanic Row,  409.763.0300 ; wyndhamtremonthouse.com.  This hot spot on the roof of the historic Strand-area hotel debuts a new look this summer, with a lounge-like atmosphere. Enjoy a cool cocktail and a view of downtown at the only rooftop bar in town.

Sonny%26rsquo;s Place, 1206 19th St.,  409.763.9602.  Head to this dive to enjoy a cold mug of root beer and the best chili dogs in town.    You%26rsquo;ll find plenty of cocktails and a cover band every weekend at this hip downtown bar.

Where to Book a Night

Harbor House, Pier 21, 409.763.3321; harborhousepier21.com. This converted waterfront warehouse %26mdash; Galveston%26rsquo;s only harbor-view hotel %26mdash; offers spacious nautical-style guest rooms and perfect portside ship watching.

Hotel Galvez %26amp; Spa, A Wyndham Grand Hotel, 2024 Seawall Blvd. , 409.765.7721 ; wyndam.com . Dubbed %26ldquo;The Queen of the Gulf%26rdquo; when it debuted in 1911, this historic property just completed the final phase of a stunning renovation in celebration of its 100th year. Check out the Hall of History in the lower level of the hotel. And stick around on Sunday for a spectacular brunch at Bernardo%26rsquo;s.

The San Luis Resort, 5222 Seawall Blvd. , 409.744.1500; sanluisresort.com . This 30-acre luxury resort has multiple fine-dining options, bars, spa, tennis courts and the best pool experience on the island, H2O.

The Tremont House, 2300 Ship%26rsquo;s Mechanic Row, 409.763.0300; wyndhamtremonthouse.com.  This historic downtown European-style hotel, just steps from the Strand, recently reopened after an extensive renovation post-Hurricane Ike.

For Longer Than a Night

Beachtown, 630 Beachtown Dr.,  409.762.2222 ; beachtowngalveston.com . This charming residential beach village (we%26rsquo;re reminded of Seaside) at the east end of Galveston Island leases several of its properties. Contact the sales office for more details.

Diamond Beach , 10327 Seawall Blvd.,  409.497.4115; diamondbeachgalveston.com . This elegant West Beach mid-rise residential property has a spa and Bar None, Galveston%26rsquo;s first beach bar. However, if you%26rsquo;re longing for the magnificent outdoor lazy-river pools and the only indoor pool of its kind (designed with inspiration from Turkish baths), you%26rsquo;ll need to own a condo %26mdash; or at least rent one.

Palisade Palms, 801 E. Beach Dr. , 409.974.4635; palisadepalms.com . This luxury high-rise twin-tower property on East Beach has condos for lease on a weekly basis, starting at $1,850 a week. Choose from six floor plans and gain access to the resort-style amenities, including beautiful pools, tennis court, bicycles and a private boardwalk to the beach.

Sand N%26rsquo; Sea Properties, 4127 Pirates Beach , 409.797.5500; sandnsea.com.  Sand N%26rsquo; Sea leases beach houses for a week, weekend or month, with properties ranging from luxury three-story houses on the beach to more modest abodes along the canals.

Shopping

Avis Frank Gallery, 215 23rd St., 409.763.5555; avisfrank.com. Contemporary art gallery directed and managed by Carrie and David Hardaker. Stars of their stable include artists Kelli Vance, Lisa Qualls, Benito Huerta, Steve Murphy and Patrick Renner.

Buchanan Gallery, 220 25th St.,  409.763.8683; buchanangallery.com . This art gallery is an island favorite, representing emerging and mid-career artists from the Gulf Coast region.

The Cardinal, 16708 San Luis Pass Road, 713.816.0268; thecardinalboutique.com. This charming Jamaica Beach boutique carries handcrafted goods from Mexico and other Latin American countries, as well as works by Houston artists.

Col. Bubbies , 2202 Strand St. , 409.762.7397; colbubbie.com . Even non-military buffs will get a kick perusing these extensive racks of wartime memorabilia, all for sale.

Collectors Gallery , 2222 Postoffice St. , 409.750.0092.  Shopping for the person who has everything? Check out Collectors Gallery, with 52 booths carrying everything from antiques to art to furnishings.

Couteux Couture , 2021 Strand , 409.763.3000.  Own a piece of Galveston history and look fabulous doing so! This former upscale women%26rsquo;s store reopened after Ike to incorporate one-of-a-kind vintage clothing and accessories in its repertoire.

Downtown Blooms, 2309 Ship%26rsquo;s Mechanic Row, 409.974.4294; downtownblooms.net. This quaint downtown storefront offers flowers, gifts and floral design for all occasions.

The Emporium at Eibands, 2201 Postoffice St., 409.750.9536. This upscale showroom houses dozens of dealers and artists. Shop here for clothing, jewelry, books, art, European and American antiques (including architectural salvage), plus custom upholstery, bedding and draperies.

The Frog at Home, 2701 Broadway,  409.762.3764 ; frogathome.com . The popular Houston home store also has a showroom in Galveston, where you can shop for unique home furnishings, window treatments, rugs and art to fill your weekend retreat.

Galveston Arts %26amp; Frames, 1126 19th St. , 409.762.3628 . Wonderful old posters and vintage prints of Galveston.

Head to Footsies, 2211 Strand,  409.762.2727.  This boutique, tucked inside a late 1800s building, stocks everything from everyday casual to evening attire and shoes.

Hendley Market, 2010 Strand , 409.762.2610 ; hendleymarket.com . A mainstay on the Strand for more than 30 years. Pick up trinkets and gifts inspired by the Victorian surroundings, as well as antique medical instruments, vintage books, and nativities and santons from around the globe.

La King%26rsquo;s Confectionery, 2323 Strand ., 409.762.6100 ; lakingsconfectionery.com; Stop in for a milkshake at the 1920s soda fountain. On your way out, handpick a selection of divinity, pecan pralines, fudge or La King%26rsquo;s famous saltwater taffy, all made in-house on vintage equipment.

Murdoch%26rsquo;s Bathhouse , 2215 Seawall Blvd.,  409.762.7478 . Galveston%26rsquo;s most historic shop for souvenir shirts and seashells was back up and running only a year after Ike reduced it to a stack of wood pilings.

PeckArts Gallery , 2208 Postoffice St. , 409.621.1500; peckarts.com.  Located at the entrance to Urban Lofts, this charming gallery is home to nationally exhibited Jennifer Peck%26rsquo;s droll painted and collaged panels that offer an ode to the pleasures of island life.

Ren%26eacute; Wiley Studio Gallery , 2128 Postoffice St. , 409.750.9077; renewileygallery.com;  Stop by this art gallery for one of artist Dale Hooks%26rsquo; bowls carved from %26ldquo;Ike Wood,%26rdquo; which is what the locals dub the 10,000-plus  trees cut down after the hurricane. %26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;

The Style Co. , 701 14th St.,  409.750.8442 . Chic and edgy, this new addition to the East End carries contemporary fashion for the modern local.

Tangerine Boutique, 2218 Postoffice St.,  409.763.7113.  Tangerine Boutique caters to locals and weekenders with a variety of name brands and a cool California vibe. Jeans, dresses and accessories make this a one-stop beach shop.

Tina%26rsquo;s, 2326 Strand , 409.762.6816; tinasonthestrand.com . Don%26rsquo;t let the name change fool you: This eclectic shop, formerly called Maggie%26rsquo;s, still carries covetable bath products, clothing and gifts.

Vic%26rsquo;s Estate and Fine Jewelry , 2413 Market St. , 409.762.5792 ; vicsjewelry.com . Shop for vintage jewelry and antique silver at Vic%26rsquo;s, a Galveston tradition for more than 80 years.

The Witchery , 2116 Postoffice St.,  409.515.0669; witcheryonline.com.  This magical boutique sells books, gifts and potions pertaining to the metaphysical.

Spas

Chocolate Spa at Diamond Beach, 10327 Seawall Blvd., 409.740.2462; luluschocolatespa.com.  The 4,000-square-foot luxury Chocolate Spa at Diamond Beach is a full-service day spa with indoor hot therapy pool, aromatherapy, mani-pedis, facials and more.

The Spa at Hotel Galvez, 2024 Seawall Blvd.,  409.515.2100; thespaatthehotelgalvez.com . This luxe spa alone %26mdash; with its top-notch treatments, vichy shower and relaxation room %26mdash; is worth a drive to the Island.

Spa San Luis , 5222 Seawall Blvd.,  409.744.1500 ; sanluisresort.com.  Massage, buff and polish your worries away at the full-service spa at the posh San Luis Resort. Check out the property%26rsquo;s newly released Coco Mango line of luxurious body products %26mdash; yours will be created upon placing your order. And if you stay at the San Luis, you can indulge in the swim-up bar and private cabanas, where pool butlers will offer you sea mineral spritzes and frozen fruit skewers.

Sights to See

Ashton Villa, 2328 Broadway, 409.765.7834; galvestonhistory.org. Ashton Villa was one of the first mansions built on Broadway and the first brick house built in Texas. Originally owned by Bettie Brown, who accumulated a large art collection, the property was saved from demolition by the Galveston Historical Society in 1970 and today houses the Galveston Island Visitor Information Center.

1892 Bishop%26rsquo;s Palace, 1402 Broadway,  409.762.2475; galvestonhistory.org . The ch%26acirc;teau-esque home of railroad magnate Walter Gresham, completed in 1892, is open for private and public tours. Don%26rsquo;t miss the one-of-a-kind finds in  the gift shop.

The Elissa , Texas Seaport Museum,  Harborside Dr., Pier 21,  409.763.1877 ; galvestonhistory.org. Restored to her former glory, this three-masted barque speaks to Galveston%26rsquo;s port-ly past. Tour the decks, then visit the adjoining museum to learn about the sailing ship%26rsquo;s past and her amazing rescue from a scrapyard.

Galveston Arts Center , 2501 Market , 409.763.2403; contemporaryartgalveston.org.  In temporary digs at the former Maceo%26rsquo;s Spice %26amp; Import, GAC is raising funds for its return to the landmark 1878 First National Bank Building. Attend its Sunset Buffet Sunday, May 15, at a private home, to support the Center%26rsquo;s programming. Tickets or donations, alex@galvestonartscenter.org.

Galveston Railroad Museum, 2602 Santa Fe Place,  409.765.5700; galvestonrrmuseum.com . The largest railroad museum in the Southwest, battered by Ike in 2008, reopened to the public last year. Explore railcars and the original Santa Fe Union Station waiting room. The fully interactive museum also boasts the largest collection of railroad dining ware  in the States.

The Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice St.,  409.763.7173; thegrand.com . Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, this beautifully restored theater sets the stage for a lively arts season. This month, the schedule includes A Conversation with Shirley MacLaine (May 1), Steve Tyrell in concert (May 6 %26ndash; 7) and the return of the percussive phenomenon Stomp (May 13 %26ndash; 15).

Hall of History at the Hotel Galvez, 2024 Seawall Blvd. , 409.765.7721.  Peruse the intricate history of  both Galveston Island and the Hotel Galvez. Exhibitions are free to the public.

Lone Star Flight Museum , 2002 Terminal Dr.,  409.740.7722; lsfm.org.  Now boarding %26mdash; no, literally: Not only does this museum provide public viewing of a wonderful collection of all things aeronautical, but it boasts vintage bomber planes you can both pilot and fly in.

Moody Mansion, 2618 Broadway , 409.762.7668 ; moodymansion.org . The 1895 homestead of the Moody family. A 20-room tour of the towering structure reveals the home life of a powerful Texas family (namesake of nearby Moody Gardens).

Rosenberg Library , 2310 Sealy St.,  409.763.8854; rosenberg-library.org . This spectacular library, which houses the Galveston Archives, is in the final phase of its largest renovation in the library%26rsquo;s history. The 107-year-old library is set  to have new walls, floors,  windows, lighting fixtures and  air conditioning.

Family Fun

Dash Beardsley%26rsquo;s Ghost Tours of Galveston Island, ghosttoursofgalvestonisland.com. Explore the city%26rsquo;s paranormal hot spots Friday and Saturday evenings with Beardsley, %26ldquo;the Ghostman of Galveston.%26rdquo; Year-round walking tours take you through the historic Strand district and Old City Cemetery, while the Jack the Ripper Mystery Island Tour transports you through past scandals and mysteries via tram. Private tours are also available.

Galveston Duck Tours, 2500 Seawall Blvd. , 409.621.4771 ; galvestonducks.com.  Treat the kiddos to a tour of  Galveston on The Duck. Destinations include Offatt%26rsquo;s Bayou, the Seawall and drive-bys of the Island%26rsquo;s 1900s mansions, Strand shopping district and the %26ldquo;Silk Stockings%26rdquo; historical homes district.

Haunted Mayfield Manor, 2313 Harborside Dr., 409.762.6677; hauntedmayfieldmanor.com. Prepare to be spooked at this year-round haunted-house attraction for ages 11 and above. Twenty-minute tours take you through the manor (and the madness) of the fictional Mayfield family, staged in the historic 1885 Butterowe Building, which served as a morgue after the 1900 storm.

Moody Gardens , One Hope Blvd.,  800.582.4673; moodygardens.com . This Island attraction is mega-fun. Following a $25 million renovation, the Rainforest Pyramid reopens  this month, revealing a brand- new interactive exhibit.  Where else can you visit a rainforest, an aquarium and  see an IMAX film, all in one day?

Pirates! Legends of the Gulf Coast, 2313 Harborside Dr., 409.762.6677; piratesgulfcoast.com. Yo ho ho! Learn all about local pirate history and lore at this new museum that adjoins%26nbsp; Haunted Mayfield Manor. Family fun ensues on the recreated deck of a pirate ship, a captain%26rsquo;s cabin and more, with actors portraying the infamous Jean Lafitte and his colorful contemporaries.

Rainforest Cafe, 5310 Seawall Blvd.,  409.744.6000; rainforestcafe.com.  What child doesn%26rsquo;t cheer for Rainforest Cafe? The Galveston outpost is next door to the  San Luis Resort.

Schlitterbahn, 2026 Lockheed St.,  409.770.9283; schlitterbahn.com/gal . Daring speeds, slides, endless rivers, uphill water coasters and waves for surfing and splashing.

Latest Attractions

Fort Crockett Seawall Park, 4550 Seawall Blvd. This exciting new beachfront park, funded by Kroger and SunChips, is now open to the public. The sail-shaped canopy offers welcome shade for beachgoers, plus there are plenty of places to sit and enjoy the view. Not ready to leave when the sun sets? Solar lighting lets you extend your beachcombing well into the evening.

Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier, 25th Street and Seawall Blvd.; pleasure-pier.com. Tilman Fertitta of Landry%26rsquo;s, Inc., is reviving this 1940s phenomenon at the site of the Ike-doomed Flagship Hotel. Just in time for summer, you%26rsquo;ll be able to indulge in 16 amusement-park rides, midway games, carnival food and more. Follow the link to the Facebook page for updates. A May opening is anticipated.

Disney Cruises to Sail out of Galveston . Cruise Terminal: 2702 Harborside Dr. 800.951.3532; disneycruise.disney.go.com;%26nbsp; Beginning September 2012,  the ship Disney Magic will set  sail for the Caribbean from Galveston%26rsquo;s own harbor. Book  your trip today at dclnews.com. The first cruise depart on September 22, heading through the Western Caribbean with stops at Grand Cayman, Costa Maya and Cozumel

Special Event Venues

Galveston Island Convention Center at The San Luis Resort, 5600 Seawall Blvd., 866.505.4456, ext. 145 . The perfect setting for your next corporate function, where state-of-the-art executive facilities meet beachfront views and resort amenities.

Garten Verein, 2704 Avenue O, 409.762.3933; galvestonhistory.org. Originally opened as a dancing pavilion for the Galveston Garten Verein (%26ldquo;garden club%26rdquo;) in 1880, this was one of the only structures to survive the great hurricane of 1900. Known for its octagonal shape, this landmark can be rented for weddings, receptions, dinners and parties.

For a Beach Pad of Your Own

Beachtown, 630 Beachtown Dr. , 409.762.2222; beachtowngalveston.com.  This charming residential community on Galveston%26rsquo;s east end is redolent of Seaside, Florida, and architecturally follows that classic coastal vernacular. There are several villages with fabulous homes, while town homes and lofts are above Beachtown%26rsquo;s general store, market, creamery, restaurants and coffee shops.

Diamond Beach, 10327 Seawall Blvd. , 409.744.3020; diamondbeachgalveston.com.  This elegant mid-rise residential property has 22 floor plans and 120 beach-view homes on West Beach, behind the Galveston Seawall. Amenities: private beach, outdoor river-like pool, Turkish bath%26ndash;inspired indoor pool, day spa, private movie theater, teen and children%26rsquo;s rooms, fitness center and concierge.

Palisade Palms, 801 East Beach Dr.,  409.497.4115, palisadepalms.com . This luxury high-rise twin-tower property on East Beach has 288 homes and is the first residential high-rise to be built on the beach here in more than 20 years. Amenities: infinity pool, tennis court, game and media lounge, roof terrace and a private boardwalk to the beach.

In the Net

Tue, 01 May 2012 12:00:28 GMT

One of the most unique endeavors we%26rsquo;ve encountered conjoins fishing, conceptual art, Southeast Texas anthropology and coastal cuisine in an intriguing cultural gumbo known as Shrimp Boat Projects. Via this unorthodox but innovative undertaking, Galveston Bay%26rsquo;s rich shrimping tradition is explored first-hand by artists, activists and founders Eric Leshinsky and Zach Moser, who improbably launched their undertaking %26mdash;%26nbsp;billed as an investigation of the labor of a landscape %26mdash; in collaboration with the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts at the University of Houston. Starting with an idea in the summer of 2010, the intrepid duo has progressed from countless man-hours restoring a faded fishing vessel (the rechristened Discovery) through the end of their first shrimping season in 2011. Now year two approaches, and the catalysts %26mdash;%26nbsp;Moser, who also co-founded the highly touted, CAMH-exhibited Workshop Houston on the Project Row Houses campus, and Leshinsky, whose firm GRAPH speaks to his interest in environmental research and design and his masters in architecture %26mdash; are trawling once again the waters of Galveston Bay, seeking artists, writers and environmentalists to volunteer to work the nets and document one of the legendary industries that defines the Texas Gulf coast. The crew is also seeking customers to buy their catch when it comes to town. For the full saga (which is way more than a mere fish tale) of the Discovery, visit shrimpboatprojects.org. To participate in this summer%26rsquo;s season (June 15 %26ndash; September 15), e-mail eric@shrimpboatprojects.org by May 15. For details about placing a seafood order, e-mail info@shrimpboatprojects.org.

IMAGES:

Zach Moser

Fishing Vessel Discovery

Galveston Arts Center — The Update

Tue, 01 May 2012 11:58:15 GMT

Among the state%26rsquo;s influential art spaces %26mdash;%26nbsp;as both the prognosticator of emerging talent and arbiter of important mid-career to senior grand masters %26mdash;%26nbsp;Galveston Arts Center reigns as an unrivaled power broker, thanks to the unerring eye of curator (and patron) extraordinaire Clint Willour and director Alexandra Irvine. With courage and conviction, this pair has overcome Ike%26rsquo;s destruction by relocating temporarily to a charming historic Stand District space along Market Street and 25th, where they%26rsquo;re plotting the restoration of their permanent home, the 1878 First National Bank Building at 22nd and Strand. That glorious Second Empire brick, wood and cast-iron structure, a pillar in the City of Galveston%26rsquo;s National Historic Landmark District, was the first bank in Texas operating under the 1863 National Bank Act and the second chartered bank in the state. As one of the most prominent commercial institutions in 19th-century Texas, its officers were culled from the leading families of the bustling, prosperous port: Henry Rosenberg, George Ball, George Sealy, Morris Lasker and Mrs. R. Waverly Smith, who defied gender expectations to become the first female bank president in Galveston. The home of the Galveston Arts Center since 1968, the building is getting a $1.4 million, five-year redux that will preserve it for the next century. Phase I%26rsquo;s fund-raising goal of $200,000 (half of which has been reached) has a timetable of six months and will put its staff back in the building while ensuring a minimal level of programming; a show of the late abstractionist Joe Glasco is planned for GAC%26rsquo;s return engagement. (To contribute to further Texas contemporary art and preserve Galveston%26rsquo;s architectural history, contact Alexandra Irvine, alex@galvestonartscenter.org.) As the originator, organizer and producer (for more than 20 years) of ArtWalk, which takes place at GAC and sprouts to neighboring Strand District spaces (next set for Saturday, June 2), the Center mounts must-see exhibitions every six weeks. On our radar for early this summer are Houston-based creators Karin Broker and H.J. Bott. Broker solos in %26ldquo;Wired, Nailed, Drawn and Printed,%26rdquo; which highlights her virtuosity in many media, wide-ranging subject matter, intimate to epic scale and broad, challenging vision (through May 27). Next, the mighty H.J. Bott weighs in, returning to the stomping ground of his early Strand studio to mark the 40-year milestone of his obsessive, all-encompassing and pervasive geometric DoV principle %26mdash; Displacement of Volume, that is (June 2 %26ndash; July 8). 2501 Market St. at 25th, Galveston, 409.763.2403; contemporaryartgalveston.org.

IMAGE: Karin Broker%26rsquo;s Fat Girl with Nest, 2010, at Galveston Arts Center . Photo courtesy the artist and McClain Gallery, Houston.

Survivor Stories

Tue, 01 May 2012 11:56:35 GMT

Step back in time with the 38th Annual Galveston Historic Homes Tour, presented by the Galveston Historical Foundation on the weekends of May 5 and 6, 12 and 13. Ten resplendent %26mdash; and resilient %26mdash; properties are open for public viewing, 10 am to 6 pm, with the purchase of a single ticket. These true survivors weave a fascinating tale of renovation, relocation and close calls with fire, storms and demolition. The ages of the homes range from the 1870 Louis and Margaret Wenzel Cottage to the 1916 abodes of Oscar and Laurence Hoecker and Louis and Anita Runge. Also included is the Charles F. Rhodes Co., Island City Cigar Factory, built in 1898. Tickets are $20; packages combining tour admission with the Sunset on the Sand Kickoff or the Linen and Lace Mother%26rsquo;s Day Champagne Brunch and Fashion Show are also available. Your Historic Homes Tour ticket even grants you discounted $5 access to other local attractions: the 1892 Bishop%26rsquo;s Palace, Texas Seaport Museum and the 1877 tall ship Elissa, the 1838 Michael B. Menard House and the Historic Harbor Tour and Dolphin Watch. Talk about a history buff%26rsquo;s dream come true. Tickets 888.305.7627; galvestonhistory.org.

IMAGE: Josephine Drouet House, 1898. Photo %26copy; Galveston Historical Society.

First Among Piers

Tue, 01 May 2012 11:53:55 GMT

In the late 19th century, America became obsessed with pleasure piers %26mdash; destinations brimming with amusement-park thrills, games of chance, tasty concessions and live entertainment. New York had Coney Island; California had the Santa Monica Pier. By the end of the 1940s, Galveston had the largest of them all: the appropriately named Pleasure Pier. Hurricanes had other plans, however, and after Carla crashed through in the %26rsquo;60s, the property became the Flagship Hotel, which was devastated by Ike in 2008. Enter Landry%26rsquo;s. The renowned restaurant and hospitality group, headed by owner and CEO Tilman Fertitta, welcomed the opportunity to turn back time and redevelop the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier for a new generation. The $60 million project is filling the 1,130-foot pier, located on 25th Street and Seawall Boulevard, with 16 rides including the Texas Star Flyer, recognized as the highest ride in the state; midway games of chance and skill; souvenir and sweet shops; a live-entertainment stage; carny-food faves such as smoked turkey legs, hot dogs and cotton candy; and the first Texas location of the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., a California-born concept (with obvious cinema ties) that promises 19 shrimp dishes on its diverse menu. The fun starts when the pier opens this month. Can%26rsquo;t wait? Visit pleasure-pier.com now and follow the link to its Facebook page for the latest details.

IMAGE: Galveston%26rsquo;s Electric Park, 1906, a predecessor of the Pleasure Pier. Galveston County Historical Museum.

Blu

Tue, 01 May 2012 11:09:01 GMT

Keys to the Door: Owners Amy and Jiten Karnani, executive chef Junnajet %26ldquo;Jett%26rdquo; Hurapan.

Whats on the Menu: There are certain dishes we can justify traveling many miles for %26mdash; a crispy Peking duck with steamed soft buns and all the accoutrements is one of them. Fortunately, we only have to venture as far as Sugar Land Town Square to find the most exquisite Peking duck this side of Macau. When we heard that chef Junnajet %26ldquo;Jett%26rdquo; Hurapan and his wife, pastry chef Jira, had relocated to a new restaurant called Blu, we bolted out Highway 59 to sample our way through his inspired fusion menu. But don%26rsquo;t confuse this fare with fusion cuisine. The Thai, Indian, Chinese, even Greek Euro-Asian dishes here stay true to their respective roots %26mdash; no messy confusion of them all on one plate. Jett%26rsquo;s r%26eacute;sum%26eacute; boasts time spent on the East Coast at Ruby Foo%26rsquo;s and Buddakan, as well as, most recently, Gigi%26rsquo;s Asian Bistro in Houston. For Blu, he%26rsquo;s created tasty street-food-inspired tapas to start, such as lamb samosas ($6), Singapore satay ($6) and tequila shrimp and scallop ceviche ($8). Starters range from a hot-and-sour lemongrass-spiked Tom-Yum soup ($5) to steamed mussels with a pineapple red curry sauce ($11) and Blu Asian salad with crisp calamari mingled with fris%26eacute;e and Napa cabbage in a creamy miso dressing ($11). Entrees that dazzle include the aforementioned Peking duck ($24) and fall-off-the-bone massaman beef short ribs, layered with a coconut tamarind sauce that cuts the heat with sugarcane ($19). End the evening with a creamy, classically prepared mousse via the chocolate-cappuccino martini ($7) or Jira%26rsquo;s famed banana-rum raisin bread pudding ($7) You%26rsquo;ll likely be back %26mdash; we will. 2248 Texas Ave. (Sugar Land Town Square), 281.903.7324; blusugarland.com.

IMAGES:

Blu

Chef Junnajet %26ldquo;Jett%26rdquo; Hurapan

Tatiana-Land

Tue, 01 May 2012 11:00:47 GMT

She emits effortless style, is a nonconformist and a quick learner, has a perceptive eye and is a bit of a chameleon, as one would expect from a former runway and print model. We first really got to know her %26mdash; and bonded %26mdash; when she designed and improvised the photographic artists%26rsquo; collages for our collaborative book project, Texas Artists Today. One minute rock %26lsquo;n%26rsquo; roll, the next moment demure, this willowy mom, collector and hostess frequently alights with husband Craig Massey and three-year-old daughter Daria at country-club engagements. She%26rsquo;s also been the most glamorous one in the room amid a sea of beautiful people at Art Basel Miami Beach. Yes, that%26rsquo;s Tatiana Massey, whose world captivatingly weaves fashion and art, with a side of culinary magnificence. We caught up with this Russian-born muse at her historic Cape Cod-inspired home for a breezy day filled with style (and sage talent forecasts), gorgeous clothes, avant-garde (mostly Texas) art, a delicious lunch with a champagne-washed cheese-and-prosciutto course and, above all, an enticing peek at her next creation: Laboratoria, a Web site and blog devoted to contemporary global fashion, launching in August at laboratoria-shop.com. Now, the kingdom of Tatiana.

Laboratoria: The Reveal%26nbsp;

As defined by its creator, %26ldquo;It%26rsquo;s a mix of high and low, prices ranging from $300 to $2,000 ... by the most interesting and creative designers ... Nothing trendy. Mostly investment pieces of style and quality.%26rdquo; And laboratoria-shop.com will have the members-only ClubH. %26ldquo;A Laboratoria stylist will deliver to your house items that caught your eye on the Web site and help to style them with your own clothes,%26rdquo; Tatiana promises. Her Web site manifesto proclaims, %26ldquo;We hope to create a name synonymous with stylistic confidence.%26rdquo;

What Will Be Served on laboratoria-shop.com, Come August:

Holly Fulton (UK)

Au Jour Le Jour (Italy)

A.F. Vandevorst + shoes (Belgium)

By Malene Birger (Denmark)

Thakoon Addition (U.S.)

Chalayan Grey (UK)

Jean Paul Knott%26nbsp; (Belgium)

Roseanna (France)

Clu (U.S.)

Lover (Australia)

Bruce II (U.S.)

Karen Walker eyewear (New Zealand)

Ventidue bags (Italy/California)

Nili Lotan cashmere (U.S.)

Demylee cashmere (U.S.)

5preview (Sweden)

Chicca Lualdi Beequeen (Italy)

Luisa Brini scarves (Italy)

Sea (U.S.)

Thierry Lasry eyewear (France)

%26nbsp;

The Dossier: Tatiana%26rsquo;sTaste

%26nbsp;
%26nbsp;
Inspirations: %26ldquo;You never know where you are going to find them! Art, nature, traveling, street style, books, music ... My Laboratoria blog is all about that: everything that inspires. I%26rsquo;m lucky to have very creative friends that inspire me.%26rdquo;%26nbsp;

On Fashion and Parenting: %26ldquo;My daughter [Daria]: She is only three. She is the only one who never needs my style advice. I let her have her way when it comes to clothes. We definitely have a mutual respect when it comes to style. Sometimes she calls me Lady Gaga (in her mind, she is a superstar!) or just says, %26lsquo;Mommy, you are a cool Mommy!%26rsquo;%26rdquo;

Darling Daria: Daughter Daria, all of three and a half, models a pair of Karen Walker sunglasses from the new Laboratoria collection.

Restaurant: %26ldquo;I live at Pondicheri. A group of us used to go to Indika for lunch after yoga. Now, we%26rsquo;ve moved over to Pondicheri. I think I%26rsquo;ve tried everything on the menu.%26rdquo;

Can%26rsquo;t Live Without: %26ldquo;My cameo brooch, YSL vintage dress, Rochas shoes, my American Apparel sweater dress, American Apparel bag, golden goose bag, Pondicheri chai, my yoga mat, peonies, kale, big earrings (Susan Plum), Visionaire books, Vitamix mixer, Moneta cookware.%26rdquo;

Playlist: %26ldquo;Music: omnivorous. Depending on my mood. No country, though. Sorry, Texas. On iPod playlist, anything from Joseph Arthur, Angela McCluskey, Saul Williams, Florence and the Machine to Parov Stellar, Cut Copy, to Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky. And Madeleine Peyroux is my cooking music. It must have some qualities associated with good digestion. No wonder so many restaurants love playing it!%26rdquo;

Scent: %26ldquo;Fracas by Robert Piguet. It was Isabella Blow%26rsquo;s favorite, so I ordered it. The moment I finished reading her biography and closed the page, the doorbell rang and it arrived. I don%26rsquo;t usually like florals, but this has become a favorite. I looked it up, and it%26rsquo;s a blend of white flowers from the south of France, with notes of tuberose, jasmine, orange blossom, carnation and pink geranium.%26rdquo;

Defining Style Moment: %26ldquo;Four years ago, my girlfriend and I missed our flight back to Houston and were stranded in New York without our luggage. We wore the same outfit for three days, and still got photographed by Bill Cunningham for his New York Times Sunday Style column.%26rdquo;

%26ldquo;Clothes are good when they are an extension of one%26rsquo;s personality. Fashion to me is art. Wearing fashion is a mini performance.%26rdquo; %26mdash; Tatiana Massey

IMAGES:

Afternoon Idyll: Channeling a %26rsquo;30s film siren, Tatiana lounges amid Fornasetti pillows from Barneys New York, in a Comme des Gar%26ccedil;ons blouse with dramatic sleeves topping sleek trousers by Antonio Berardi. C%26eacute;line black suede and kid lipstick platforms from Tootsies. Lanvin brass eagle-wing ring with Swarovski crystals from net-a-porter.com. Above the sofa, Angelbert Metoyer%26rsquo;s Whaling Through God%26rsquo;s Universe, 2002 %26ndash; 2003. Metoyer, a family friend, was included in the book Texas Artists Today and was the catalyst for the couple%26rsquo;s interest in collecting art, as well as their involvement in the creation of the volume.%26nbsp;

A Little Bit Rock %26lsquo;n Roll: Rockin%26rsquo; Joan Jett are Roseanna pants and jacket. White tee from Tatiana%26rsquo;s personal collection. Giambattista Valli two-tone statement shoes from Tootsies. Kenneth Jay Lane triangle earrings from net-a-porter.com. Ventidue leather and metal-studded bag, also destined for Laboratoria.

Tea Party: Like a summer day in the South of France, Tatiana and daughter, Daria, play tea party in the garden. Suno%26rsquo;s Dandelion Wish lilac-hued silk scoop-neck dress from Leap with her own vibrant yellow Jimmy Choo shoes. Nini Jewels dragon-carved 467-carat jade necklace, set in 18K white gold and surrounded by diamonds, with 32-inch 18K white-gold chain $70,000, at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue. New Zealand designer Karen Walker sunglasses, will be stocked through Laboratoria. %26nbsp;

Kitchen Confidential: Dishing up homemade chicken salad with fresh fruit in a Vionnet silk-and-crepe frock with a pop of metallic beading (from her own closet), Miz Massey reprises Cafe Tatiana, which transforms her kitchen into an impromptu bistro for the crafting of weekly dinner parties. Her cuisine is held in such esteem by family and friends that no one, even when pressed, can name a favored restaurant in town for a dinner party. Giuseppe Zanotti golden platforms, from her own collection. The iron table with stone top %26mdash; which serves as a work station and serving and dining spot %26mdash; dates to the late 19th century and was originally used
in an Indian train station. %26ldquo;I found it in a Dallas antique shop and designed the kitchen around it when we remodeled four years ago,%26rdquo; Tatiana says.

Daria%26rsquo;s pink dollhouse resembles an art installation.

A Holly Fulton dress manifests a surrealist bent. At Laboratoria in August.

A.F. Vandevorst, through Laboratoria

5preview, through Laboratoria

Ventidue bags (Italian materials/made in California) are one of the avant-garde collections to be stocked at Laboratoria.

Bill Davenport%26rsquo;s Pop-infused Massey Family soup-can sculptures, 2011

Left: A Valentine%26rsquo;s gift, Forrest Prince%26rsquo;s Occupy Love, 2011, from PG Contemporary.

All American: Outside the Masseys%26rsquo; Colonial-style classic saltbox house, Tatiana perches on the doorstep in an Yves Blue Maria Cornejo dress from Leap. Her gold Giuseppe Zanotti platforms stand guard. %26ldquo;The house is small, from the late %26rsquo;30s,%26rdquo; she says. %26ldquo;We have friends or family staying all the time, so ideally we need more room. But it has so much personality that it%26rsquo;s hard to give it up.%26rdquo;

Target’s Chic Shops

Tue, 01 May 2012 10:19:02 GMT

Target hits the bull%26rsquo;s-eye this month with the launch of The Shops at Target concept, a new type of partnership that puts the affordable design pen not in the hands of another designer (as with Target%26rsquo;s successful designer collaborations with Missoni, Proenza Schouler and Calypso St. Barth), but in the hands of five very stylish, yet very different, U.S. small specialty stores. San Francisco sweet shop The Candy Store, Aspen%26rsquo;s cool beauty boutique Cos Bar, Miami%26rsquo;s chic shopping destination The Webster, well-curated Connecticut home store Privet House and the Polka Dog Bakery based in Boston are the first boutiques selected to design and curate their own collections of goods, inspired by their unique style and what they stock in their own shops. Prices range from $1 for a colorful Cos Bar nail file to $160 for an online-only Privet House pouf, for a total of nearly 400 exclusive products. What%26rsquo;s on our hot list? Palm-print dresses, scarves and swimsuits by The Webster; old-fashioned candy from the Candy Store; and white-washed woven baskets from Privet House. Let%26rsquo;s shop! target.com.

%26nbsp;

Billy Fong Sez ...

Tue, 01 May 2012 09:58:19 GMT

I monogram everything in sight. Perhaps this comes from too many nights staying in my preferred Highland Park bed and breakfast, my dear friend Ann Hobson%26rsquo;s guesthouse. As the quintes-sential WASP, she has emblazoned %26ldquo;AVH%26rdquo; on every single item in sight. I like something more interesting %26mdash; a conversation starter, if you will %26mdash; than the traditional three-letter monograms. For my classic L.L. Bean boat and tote bags and such, here are a few of my embroidery suggestions:
NERD %26mdash; I have favored putting this on my totes as well as my Brooks Brothers shirts.%26nbsp; When I meet someone new, it often makes them look twice %26hellip; exactly the purpose.
MISS X %26mdash; For artsy types who don%26rsquo;t want the world to know their top-collecting names. She travels extensively, and wittily pays tribute to the famed woman on John Singer Sargent%26rsquo;s canvas.
GIN %26mdash; I love a delicious double entendre. With these three little letters announcing your entrance, I would know you were a girl built for fun. Perhaps you would whip out a crocodile-skin-wrapped flask for a nip of Tanqueray, or a pack of Herm%26egrave;s playing cards for a vintage parlor game.
SLIM %26ndash; An homage to a style icon, Slim Keith.%26nbsp; If only there were more Slims and Babe Paleys in the world. We know it%26rsquo;s a bit crass to say %26ldquo;skinny%26rdquo; %26mdash; so I much prefer that a girl refer to herself
as slender, frail or, in the case of a monogram, %26ldquo;SLIM.%26rdquo;
THIRD or 3rd %26mdash; A perfect moniker if your son happens to be the third-generational namesake. Another use could be for your wife status (we all know Dallas is the epicenter of third wives).
If you have achieved this level, this monogram serves as a subtle reminder to the other girls at Brook Hollow to keep their husbands in eyesight at all times.

IMAGE: Billy, Babe and Slim

Restaurant Buzz

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 05:57:07 GMT

Latin Bites Caf%26eacute;, the 10-table upstart downtown that gained quite a following, has moved to larger digs. Now named Latin Bites Cebiche %26amp; Pisco Bar, the charming Woodway location reflects the restaurant%26rsquo;s Peruvian slant in both food and drink. Chef Roberto Castre, his sister manager Rita Castre and brother-in-law beverage director Carlos Ramos %26mdash; all Peruvian natives and former caterers %26mdash; have taken over the Rockwood Room space and now seat 120 diners indoors and 60 outside %26hellip; Meet the huge Mexican reality star in our midst, Aquiles Chavez, and his partner, manager Mirna Cox. The superstar chef with two reality shows on the Utilisima network shown throughout Latin America (and on Comcast here) has opened La Fisheria off Shepherd Drive near I-10. A native of Tabasco, Mexico, Chavez may be a cookbook author and spokesman for the avocado industry in Mexico with 145,000 Twitter followers, but he%26rsquo;s actually a humble man turning out remarkable Mexican fish-centered fare at this bright and fun spot %26hellip; Check out LA Bar, the newest outgrowth of Rajin Cajun on Richmond. Named for Lake Arthur, Louisiana (the hometown of Joan Benoit Mandola, owner Luke Mandola Sr.%26rsquo;s wife), LA Bar is dressed up for an old-school New Orleans%26ndash;style experience, with contemporary Creole cuisine and a 30-foot oyster bar %26hellip; Word is that Brio Tuscan Grille will soon occupy the former Pesce space on Kirby Drive. The multi-unit concept debuted last year in CityCentre %26hellip; Sprinkles Cupcakes in Highland Village plans to install its genius 24-hour cupcake ATM on the back end of the store next month. Soon you%26rsquo;ll be able to quell those cupcake cravings 24/7 %26hellip; We%26rsquo;re keeping an eye on Hawthorn, the American/Mediterranean-style eatery opening any moment now in Dessert Gallery%26rsquo;s former space off Kirby Drive on Lake Street (most recently home to Dorsia). The chef is Riccardo Palazzo-Giorgio %26hellip; May 9 through 22, Central Market hosts its annual Passport series, this time taking a direct flight to France. Enjoy patisseries, fromage, wines and foods of all sorts.%26nbsp;

PC's Pick of the New Boîtes and Bites

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 11:17:37 GMT

We%26rsquo;ve puzzled out the abundant new bistros, cantinas, grilles and even a rathskeller or two %26mdash; to fashion a culinary map of the delicious and well-designed entr%26eacute;es to our local scene.

WATERING HOLES

The Dram: Per co-owner DJ Donohoe, this place is %26ldquo;neither night-clubby, nor pub-like.%26rdquo; Instead, he and his co-owner/brother Chris Donohoe, along with co-owner Tommy DeAlano, have opened a place where crafty cocktails shine and bar manager Walter %26ldquo;Dub%26rdquo; Davis waxes poetic on the hefty whiskey menu. Outside, The Dram taps food trucks %26mdash; Ruthie%26rsquo;s Rolling Caf%26eacute;, Nammi Truck %26mdash; to park and serve late-night noshes. 2918 N. Henderson Ave., 214.826.3726; thedramdallas.com.

The Mason Bar: This State and Allen-area stop has mastered the Uptown dichotomy: pretty young people swilling at the bar and, nearby, polished older types dining around a white-clothed table. From owner and man about town Brandt Wood, this spot is all about having dinner, as chef David Temple mans the kitchen, and staying well into the evening for cocktails. 2701 Guillot St., 214.220.0227; themasonbar.com.

Sundown at Granada: For a beer garden with musical roots, make tracks to Greenville Avenue. Granada Theater owner Mike Schoder and chef Patrick Stark have moved into the former Mike%26rsquo;s Treehouse and The M Street Bar spaces and opened a two-story bar and restaurant. For pre-concert dinner, order the rosemary-glazed Kobe beef meatballs or the Shiner Bock brisket sliders. 3520 Greenville Ave., 214.823.8305; sundownatgranada.com.

Oak Lawn Coffee: Formerly Urban Dog Coffee, this latte shop %26mdash; now owned by Peter Louis and Ryan Fisher %26mdash; serves up coffee from beans roasted by Oak Cliff Coffee Roasters%26rsquo; Shannon Neffendorf, as well as chewy homemade breakfast bars made from Dallas-based Impact Granola. In addition to how they donate a portion of their proceeds back to the community, we love Oak Lawn Coffee%26rsquo;s morning brew in bulk %26mdash; in caffeine-fueled sizes from 2.5 to 10 gallons. 2720 Oak Lawn Ave., 214.219.5511; oaklawncoffee.com.

The Chesterfield: A New York City vibe brews at this Downtown destination from Bailey%26rsquo;s Prime Plus owner Ed Bailey, with libations spun by barman Eddie %26ldquo;Lucky%26rdquo; Campbell. Herewith, the best time to stop in: a midweek afternoon for a bite from formerly New York%26ndash;based DBGB Kitchen %26amp; Bar chef Michael Ehlert and a sip on the sidewalk patio. 1404 Main St.,n214.741.2811; thechesterfielddallas.com.

CATERER-RUN

Sissy%26rsquo;s Southern Kitchen %26amp; Bar: %26ldquo;You should walk out and feel like you%26rsquo;ve just left a family reunion,%26rdquo; says owner Lisa Garza. Housed in the former Hector%26rsquo;s on Henderson digs, Sissy%26rsquo;s features an airy whitewashed sunroom for pseudo-patio dining and a Dixie-inspired menu, executed by chef Jeffrey Hobbs. Pair the buttermilk-soaked fried chicken with Grandma%26rsquo;s layered salad %26mdash; swathed in Hellman%26rsquo;s-based dressing, of course. 2929 Henderson Ave., 214.827.9900; sissyssouthernkitchen.com.

Royal Sixty: Wendy Krispin is painting not only the town with her divine catering, but also the former Margaux%26rsquo;s spot at the International Design Center on Turtle Creek. For a quick bite while scouting fabric samples, stop in Krispin%26rsquo;s cobalt-blue bo%26icirc;te and order the rethought queso %26mdash; an oozy sauce of brie and wild mushrooms %26mdash; and Royal Sliders, stacked tall with bison, turkey and Portobello mushroom. 150 Turtle Creek Blvd., 214.741.2604; royalsixty.com. IMAGE: The brie and wild mushroom queso at Royal Sixty.

MASTERS OF REINVENTION

Mr Mesero: Mico Rodriguez has taken up residence in Knox-Henderson with his American-meets-Mexican eatery. Helmed by two chefs %26mdash; known by their first names, Gallego and Fino %26mdash; Mr Mesero serves up small bites, namely barbacoa tacos and Oaxaquenas enchiladas. As for the margaritas? You%26rsquo;ll slip seamlessly into your second or third of the La Dona (Herradura Silver, Cointreau and citrus) and the skinny marg dubbed Size Two (Herradura Silver, citrus, Splenda). 4444 McKinney Ave., 214.780.1991; mrmesero.com.

Bridge Bistro Food + Drink: The new Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge inspired design district foodie Kay Agnew to relocate and rename her beloved Margaux%26rsquo;s restaurant as Bridge Bistro Food + Drink, and open an attached venue space called the Twilight Room. We%26rsquo;re fans of the fully loaded bar with smart cocktails such as the Pont Neuf (ros%26eacute; or champagne splashed with Grand Marnier and Lillet Blonde) and the Islas (Pisco, fresh citrus, sugar cane and bitters, shaken with an egg white). 921 N. Riverfront Blvd., 214.740.1985; bridgebistrodallas.com.

Landmark Restaurant: Executive chef Mike Pacheco has shaken things up at the Warwick Melrose Hotel, reshaping its restaurant%26rsquo;s menu to match the dining room%26rsquo;s new decor. Reserve the chef%26rsquo;s table %26mdash; a focal point of the main dining room, with seating for up to 10 people. While supping, observe the space%26rsquo;s new art. Design firm Duncan Miller Ullman Design commissioned photographs of local landmarks to mirror the hotel%26rsquo;s storied interior. 3015 Oak Lawn Ave., 214.224.3152; landmarkrestodallas.com.

CHEF-DRIVEN OFFSPRING

Off-Site Kitchen: The rumors are true. Neighborhood Services wunderkind Nick Badovinus has opened a fourth restaurant, and it%26rsquo;s a foodie haven among the warehouses on Irving Boulevard. The fast-casual concept boasts dozens of burgers, sandwiches and salads %26mdash; all spun with a gourmet edge. 2226 Irving Blvd., 214.741.2226. IMAGE: The %26ldquo;Murph Style%26rdquo; burger at Off-Site Kitchen.

Zio Cecio Cucina Italiana: Chef Francesco Farris (formerly of Arcodoro %26amp; Pomodoro) has gone solo with a new project on Lovers Lane. Brush up on your Italian before glancing at the menu that boasts thoughtful dishes such as the di mele noci e funghi porcini (translation: risotto with apples, walnuts and porcini mushrooms) and the il pesce alla crosta di sale marino (sea-salt-crusted whole fish, served for two). 4615 W. Lovers Lane, 214.351.1100; ziocecio.com.

Bolsa Mercado: This Oak Cliff grocery %26mdash; owned by Christopher Zielke, Jessica and Chris Jeffers, Royce Ring, and Alex Urrunaga %26mdash; is stocked to give homespun suppers an epicurean edge. It%26rsquo;s 4,000 square feet of homemade kolaches, hand-pressed juices, local cheeses, small-production beer and wine, plus fresh fruits and legumes. If you lack a culinary skill set, pick up a take-home Dinner for Two from a menu that chef Jeff Harris changes daily. 634 West Davis St., 214.942.0451; bolsa dallas.com; facebook.com/bolsamercado.

Manuel%26rsquo;s Creative Cuisine: The Dallas entree of this Los Cabos%26ndash;based restaurant is simple: The eatery was such a hit south of the border that one patron %26mdash; a Dallas native who lives at The Centrum building %26mdash; encouraged its owners, chef Manuel Arredondo and his wife Virny, to open stateside. It was fate that a space was available on The Centrum%26rsquo;s first floor. Dishes such as lobster lasagna and oxtail ravioli are perfect for adventurous palates. 3102 Oak Lawn Ave., 214.520.5938; manuelsrestaurant.com.mx. IMAGE: The Dessert Trilogy at Manuel%26rsquo;s Creative Cuisine.

Campo Modern Country Bistro: Inventive food with a nod to Buenos Aires keeps owners John Paul Valverde and Miguel Vic%26eacute;ns and chefs Matt McCallister and Josh Black busy at this Oak Cliff eatery %26mdash; imaginative entrees include lamb-neck sugo and crispy pork belly with mustard risotto and tamarind glaze. Watch for Campo%26rsquo;s highly tailored specialty dinners such as a prix-fixe menu, all based on a whole-roasted pig. 1115 N. Beckley Ave., 214.946.1308; campodallas.com.

FOR THE GRANOLAS

Company Caf%26eacute;: Trailside is suddenly one of the chicest ways to dine. A second debut from owner Stephen White (after the Greenville Avenue restaurant opening) includes a communal-seating patio adjacent to the Katy Trail, and a menu heavy on local ingredients, from custom venison sausage via Kuby%26rsquo;s Sausage House to tomatoes from Lemley%26rsquo;s Produce %26amp; Plants. 3136 Routh St., 214.468.8721; companycafe.net.

V Spot Vegan Caf%26eacute;: Herbivores adore Victoria Villarreal and Delia Pisarro%26rsquo;s V Spot for its plant-based cuisine and her unexpected vegan dishes, especially the firecracker roll with tempura vegetables, cucumber, avocado and sweet-spicy sauce and the arugula fettuccine with cherry tomatoes, pistachio pesto and fresh basil. The smoothies are scrumptious, too. We adore the Betty Bam Ba Lam %26mdash; a blend of cacao, chocolate, banana, vanilla and cacao butter. 1908 N. Henderson Ave., 214.821.5555; vspotcafe.com.

WELL-DESIGNED DINING

Oak: Surrounded by some of the design district%26rsquo;s shiniest showrooms, this locale from Richard and Tiffanee Ellman draws a polished, decorating-savvy crowd. The result is a dining room to match %26mdash; one that%26rsquo;s modernly furnished with abstract light fixtures and custom art. Menu items are plated with discerning aesthetes in mind; we prefer the foie gras torchon and Rhode Island monkfish from executive chef Jason Maddy. 1628 Oak Lawn Ave., 214.712.9700; oakdallas.com.

Stackhouse: The east-Dallas block that hosts this burger spot may be an unexpected dining stop, but that hasn%26rsquo;t prevented crowds from flocking to the historic house turned restaurant. Brought to us via Randy Kienast and Ben Spies, the daily mix reels with business and doctor types, and ordering is simple. Select a single, double or vegetable patty, then pick from among nine toppings %26mdash; Texas chili, grilled jalapenos, fried egg, et al. 2917 Gaston Ave., 214.828.1330; stackhouseburgers.com.

Union Bear: When brothers/restaurateurs Matt Spillers, Shane Spillers and Zach Spillers made the jump from Oak Cliff, they chose the former Social House spot in West Village for their first Uptown eatery. The subterranean dining room is exposed via the nearly floorless first level and includes expansive dining space, plus more than 40 beers on tap. Go for chef John Kleifgen%26rsquo;s black-truffle-salami and mushroom pizza,or the habanero and Asian-pear salad. 3699 McKinney Ave. in West Village, 214.245.5330; unionbear.com. IMAGE: Shane Spillers, Matt Spillers and Zach Spillers of Union Bear.

The Collected Thoughts (and Homes) of Two Voyagers

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:29:44 GMT

Living out their Art Ball theme, %26ldquo;Wanderlust,%26rdquo; Hawes and Vose equip themselves with globetrotting mates and packable Herm%26egrave;s to travel the world in search of new quests and curiosities for their homes.%26nbsp;

JULIE HAWES

%26ldquo;I had a design business with my dear friend Rodney Woods, and prior to that, I worked for Ann and David Sutherland %26mdash; I was influenced by all their styles. Growing up in New Orleans has always been my greatest inspiration %26mdash; the genius of the city is embracing and blending old and the new so beautifully. I love mingling pieces from different
eras such as 18th-century Italian, 19th-century French, mid-century modern and contemporary designs.%26rdquo;%26nbsp; %26ndash; Julie Hawes

Julie's Journal:

Where you dwell: My husband Ed and I have been gypsies and have yet to settle down in a permanent residence. Our boats have served as our homes and entertaining ground %26mdash; they are all Browards.

Summer Travels: This summer my husband and I will be boating for a few weeks in the Bahamas %26mdash; I love Staniel Cay. It%26rsquo;s for boaters that dive, snorkel and fish %26mdash; and is the quintessential hidden island in the Exumas. Next we head to Aspen to the Roaring Fork Club for golfing and hiking. Then we%26rsquo;re off to safari in Tanzania, relax in the Seychelles and finally to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. I%26rsquo;m excited at the prospect of flying Emirates from Dubai to Dallas %26mdash; it%26rsquo;s supposed to be an experience unto itself!

Can%26rsquo;t leave home without: Snorkel/dive gear, my Koch beach bags, SkinCeuticals sheer defense SPF 50 sunscreen, a sun shirt or wetsuit for the water and a big hat when I%26rsquo;m not submerged! I love Herm%26egrave;s cotton hats %26mdash; I have them in every color. I also love my Herm%26egrave;s Sac a Main Picotin bags %26mdash; they%26rsquo;re tiny and great for packing.%26nbsp;

IMAGES:

Julie Hawes at home. Warren Platner for Knoll table. Fritz Henningsen lounge chairs from Collage 20th Century Classics. Swedish Samsas settee by Carl Malmsten, circa 1950s, from Collage. Herm%26egrave;s throw.

In the dining room, John Gregory Studio-designed table. T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb dining-room chairs from Collage. Trevor Paglen photograph, 2008. Ingo Maurer%26rsquo;s Zettel%26rsquo;z A5 chandelier from Scott + Cooner, with drawings by the Hawes%26rsquo; grandchildren.

In the entry, Damien Hirst%26rsquo;s Untitled. 19th-century French commode. Jan Showers brass lamp.

Baccarat Harcourt glassware. Moser Maharani etched glassware. 1850s Parisian dinner plates from Grange Hall. Mother-of-pearl and sterling lunch set, circa 1890, from Copper Lamp.

John Dickinson table from David Sutherland Showroom. Carroll Dunham%26rsquo;s Untitled (6/09), 2009. Erwin Wurm%26rsquo;s Telekinetischer Masturbator, 2009.

Louis Vuitton luggage. Custom white quartz lamps. Black quartz bowl with porcelain birds and porcupine quills from Grange Hall. Custom shagreen console.

James Gilbert%26rsquo;s Tweeted, Googled, Inappropriately Touched, 2009, edition of seven. A Kenneth Noland classic target painting.

%26nbsp;

MERRY VOSE

%26ldquo;Our home%26rsquo;s design is inspired by a vacation lifestyle. For our family, that usually means the beach. Whether it%26rsquo;s Montauk, Mustique or Harbour Island, we love the quiet, peaceful way we live when we are near the water. Why should you wait for it only when you are on vacation? We choose to live with colors from the ocean everyday.%26rdquo;%26nbsp; %26mdash; Merry Vose

Merry's Journal:

Home collaborations: Julie Hayes, based in Fort Worth, is our decorator and Lisa Brown helps with our art collection. Julie has helped us move towards the design direction Chad and I want to evolve into %26mdash; African pieces, %26rsquo;70s brass, and more architectural furnishings.

On the Hunt For: I am always searching for antique blue opaline glass, seashells and interesting antique textiles.

Summer Travels: We will be going to Montauk for an extended period of time and will also travel to Jackson Hole. We%26rsquo;re hoping to slip another adventure in sometime before the summer ends. We love to take trips with our boys %26mdash; I would say travel is our greatest extravagance.%26nbsp;

In your bags? An OndadeMar or Tori Praver bikini, K.Jacques sandals, easy cotton dresses, pareos and a big Epice striped bag. I have the best access to a vacation-ready wardrobe at Cabana %26mdash; it%26rsquo;s really why I started my business and continues to be the reason we stay narrowly focused on the labels and pieces we buy.

Hotels you%26rsquo;ll stay in: On Harbour Island, The Dunmore. Although it%26rsquo;s a hotel, it feels like you are staying in the most well-appointed and cozy home.%26nbsp;

Where you%26rsquo;ll dine: In Montauk, you can be sure to find us at Joni%26rsquo;s, a little natural-food beach cafe. Our favorite dinner spot in Montauk is the Harvest on Fort Pond %26mdash; they use fresh produce from their own garden and serve locally caught fish. The produce on the East End of Long Island is divine!

IMAGES:

Murano glass lamp from John Gregory Studio. French screen from Christie%26rsquo;s New York.

Merry Vose in the foyer. Chandelier from John Gregory Studio. East %26amp; Orient Company mirror. Jan Showers Murano glass lamp. Louis Philippe%26ndash;style commode.

Victoria Hagan armchair. John Gregory Studio floor lamp. Peter Beard photograph. Elizabeth Eakins rug. Wicker Works glass cocktail table.

In the library, Cameron Collection sofa from George Cameron Nash. Chista coffee tables from George Cameron Nash. Floor lamps from James McInroe. Christine Wexler photograph. Cameron Collection chairs covered in Jasper Fabric.

In the dining room, French screen from Christie%26rsquo;s New York. Moroccan rug from J.H. Minassian %26amp; Co. Blue leather-and-silk chairs from The Mews. Decorative iron chandelier from East %26amp; Orient Company. Murano glass lamps from John Gregory Studio. Buffet from The Pittet Company. Mobach tulipier from Cebolla Fine Flowers.

Slipper chairs covered in Cowtan and Tout. Lamp from Baker, Knapp %26amp; Tubbs. Custom sofa in Great Plains epingle fabric. White carved wooden table from Ceylon et Cie. African white beaded ceremonial hats from ID Collection. Seagrass rug from Interior Resources.

Vose%26rsquo;s collection of blue opaline glassware.

Inside the Head of Nils Stolzlechner

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 05:46:54 GMT

When he%26rsquo;s not overseeing 725 staffers, 1,001 guest rooms and up to 5,000 hotel visitors at any moment, general manager of the luminous and humming Omni Dallas Hotel, Nils Stolzlechner, trades his Hugo Boss pinstripes for a suit of another variety %26mdash; one that is designed by Mystic and is immersible in the chilly waters of San Francisco Bay. As a professional kiteboarder, Stolzlechner and his custom boards travel the world in search of the perfect fusion of wind and water, as well as a top spot on the leaderboard. We stow away in his duffel to see how this GM by weekday and fierce competitor by weekend navigates his globe.

Where did you grow up: I was born in Salzburg, Austria, and grew up in Kitzb%26uuml;hel, Austria. Kitzb%26uuml;hel is a small town that hosts the most challenging downhill ski race and is one of the top five ski resorts in Europe.
%26nbsp;
People would be most surprised that: I actually have a fear of heights.

Your competitive sports bio: I started competing in downhill skiing when I was six years old. I won the Austrian downhill championships when I was 14 but decided to take up ski jumping %26mdash; flying through the air at 60 mph certainly has its thrills. At 18, I injured a knee and was kicked off the Austrian team. Luckily, I had a United States passport and was able to join the U.S. Ski Team in 1980. Two years later, I made the World Championship Ski Team, placing fifth in the world at the championships in Innsbruck, Austria. At 23, I decided to retire and focus on my professional career. For fun, I took up windsurfing and entered a speed trail competition in California. While most competitors were professionals, I showed up with outdated equipment and ended up placing third in a field of 150 competitors. Seventeen years later, I learned to kitesurf in San Francisco %26mdash; note that I had to be rescued more than 10 times by the U.S. Coast Guard. In July 2007, I entered a World Cup competition in Sylt, Germany. At registration, they asked me if I was entering my son. I ended up placing seventh out of 85 competitors. At that time, I was the only athlete in the world to finish in the top 10 in certified World Cup competitions in three different sports.

%26nbsp;
One word to describe yourself: Determined.
%26nbsp;
Guilty pleasure: A great French wine, like Ch%26acirc;teau Lafite Rothschild, and some really stinky cheeses.

%26nbsp;
Most spontaneous thing you%26rsquo;ve ever done: Being towed by a jet ski on a surfboard at Jaws %26mdash; the big wave spot in Maui %26mdash; while surfing a 40-foot monster wave.
%26nbsp;
One thing you%26rsquo;ll never try again: Being towed by a jet ski on a surfboard at Jaws %26mdash; the big wave spot in Maui %26mdash; while surfing a 40-foot monster wave.
%26nbsp;
Favorite hiding spot in the world: Haiku, Maui.

%26nbsp;
Tell us about your kiteboard company: When I was in San Francisco, I started building boards %26mdash; it was fun to design my own ideas and cheaper than buying them. I was transferred to the Omni Hotel in Corpus Christi for the general manager position and secured my own shaping room. I spent many hours designing and perfecting the boards and eventually founded my company NJS Designs %26mdash; njsdesigns.org. On my kiteboards, Damien LeRoy won the U.S. National Championship in 2008, Sean Farley won the Kiteboard Course Racing World Championship in 2009, and Kristen Boese won the World Cup in 2010. This year%26rsquo;s board was tested on Lake Ray Hubbard and will be sold worldwide. While most of the industry test and build their boards in Hawaii, hiding in Dallas and developing the boards here is ideal, along with the perfect conditions in spring and early summer.

%26nbsp;
Favored place for kiteboarding: San Francisco Bay under the Golden Gate Bridge.
%26nbsp;

Uniform for your summer hobbies: Flip-flops, T-shirt and Reef board shorts.

%26nbsp;
Skiwear you sport: Always Spyder. Snow skis you snap on: I get my skis from people who are currently racing %26mdash; usually Atomics.

Luggage that accompanies you: Dakine duffel bags %26mdash; also the ones with rollers.

Airline you prefer: United Airlines flies to all of my surf spots, including Europe.

Next travel locale: Rio de Janeiro to compete in the Kiteboarding World Championship Titles.

Music you listen to before competing: Anything from Supertramp.

Workout routine: One hour of daily cardio and 15 minutes of free weights at Gold%26rsquo;s Gym. Whenever it%26rsquo;s windy, kiteboarding on Lake Ray Hubbard %26mdash; from Dalrock up to Rush Creek Yacht Club and back down; at least four times.

Wish list of what you would like to do next: Open more hotels %26mdash; it%26rsquo;s an unbelievable rush and gives you an opportunity to create great guest experiences.

First hotel memory: My grandparents%26rsquo; hotel, Gasthaus Stolzlechner, in Kitzb%26uuml;hel, Austria. We still have it, and my dad lives there, but it%26rsquo;s now an apartment building.

Three things you do in your job that would surprise people:

1. You will find me in the restaurants on busy days busing tables.

2. I personally interview every associate that wants to work at the Omni Dallas Hotel.

3. If the kitchen gets busy, I will help out as a chef %26mdash; I used to be one in Switzerland.

Most important feature of a hotel: The staff. Without them, a great hotel can%26rsquo;t be successful.

Hotels should banish: Guests that are noisy and wake up other guests at three in the morning.

What do you routinely order from the three Omni Hotel restaurants:

Texas Spice %26mdash; BBQ pork ribs.

Bob%26rsquo;s Steak %26amp; Chop House %26mdash; Prime %26ldquo;c%26ocirc;te de boeuf%26rdquo; bone-in rib-eye.

The Owner%26rsquo;s Box %26mdash; Cheeseburger with parmesan sea-salted fries.

Your work uniform: Hugo Boss suits.

Very PC

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 05:29:23 GMT

The supremely waspy Gasparilla Inn %26amp; Club on Gasparilla Island in Boca Grande, Florida, has had a dress code since its inception in 1913, is owned by the William S. Farish Jr. family, has pink-and-green guest rooms and cottages, and is closed each year from July 8 through October 12. What%26rsquo;s not to love? 877.403.0599; the-gasparilla-inn.com.

The Dorothy Draper School of Decorating with designer Carleton Varney, at the venerable Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia (established 1778). Varney is the president of Dorothy Draper %26mdash; the firm that designed the baroque interiors of The Greenbrier in 1946. Week-long decorating packages start April 29 and June 10. And the Greenbrier has a Cold War%26ndash;era bunker carved in the side of a mountain. No spies can get in here to learn your decorating secrets. 855.453.4858; greenbrier.com.

Pink Sands Resort on Harbour Island, Bahamas. Mick and Jerry used to stay here, and the interiors were designed by the owner of London%26rsquo;s swinging shop Biba. Enough for us. 800.407.4776; pinksandsresort.com.

Hotel du Pet

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 05:28:30 GMT

A week of indulgence has been reserved at the Imanta Resort. Now, what to do with your feline or canine while you are away being coddled? Extend similar extravagances at Paradise 4 Paws %26mdash; the new boarding resort for cats and dogs located near the off-site parking businesses at DFW Airport. This 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year, 25,000-square-foot resort offers overnight accommodations, splash pools for the pups and climbing trees for the kitties, webcam access, and grooming and spa services, all starting at $49 per night for dogs and $27 per night for cats. Our pet perk? While you%26rsquo;re dropping off Fifi at Paradise 4 Paws, leave the Benz, and a staffer will shuttle you and your luggage to the terminal, as well as arrange for pick up upon your return. 3010 N. Airfield Dr., 972.456.0010; paradise4pawsdallas.com.

IMAGE: Paradise 4 Paws

The Nomadic Life

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 05:26:13 GMT

Brant McFarlain, Decorator

So, where are you off to? Italy: Rome and Florence.%26nbsp;

Reason for going? I%26rsquo;m taking my partner, Justin, for his first time to either city. It%26rsquo;s my favorite country and absolute favorite culture.
%26nbsp;
Where do you stay? Rome, Hotel de Russie. Florence, Hotel Savoy.
%26nbsp;
Packing to read? I%26rsquo;m still working on a book called Lincoln by David Herbert Donald. Of course, there will be many design magazines and men%26rsquo;s fashion magazines in my carry-on.
%26nbsp;
Kindle, iPad or paper? iPad definitely to read the paper. I still like magazines to flip through.
%26nbsp;
Excursions to? Drive through Tuscany and discover a medieval village for lunch to take in the culture of Rome and Florence. Enjoy all the ancient architecture in Rome, using a private tour guide on the first day to start the trip with a nice overview of the city.%26nbsp;%26nbsp;

Must packs? Great shoes. I don%26rsquo;t believe travel calls for casual, rubber soles. Leather-sole dress shoes are my staple.
%26nbsp;
Luggage? Vuitton duffel bag for carry-on. Bric%26rsquo;s luggage to check %26hellip; and always a Prada messenger bag for magazines, books, iPad and earphones.

%26nbsp;
Where you%26rsquo;ll be dining? It will be local fare and small intimate restaurants.
%26nbsp;
What you%26rsquo;ll come away with? Inspiration and ideas for design, great memories with Justin, and hopefully some great clothes.

%26nbsp;

Joanne %26amp; Charles Teichman, Owners, Ylang|23

So, where are you off to? After dragging Charles (and the kids) around the last few years to Cuba, Istanbul, Morocco, Tanzania, the Amalfi Coast and, this past holiday, to Australia (my bucket list!), he%26rsquo;s put his foot down: He wants to be glued to a beach chair this summer. Hence, we are going to Laguna Beach and L.A.

Where do you stay? Montage in Laguna and The Beverly Hills Hotel.

%26nbsp;
Packing to read? Kindle, iPad or paper? July PaperCity, cover to cover, and a stack of fashion and juicy tabloid magazines. Reading anything and everything on my Kindle, iPad, iPhone and laptop.
%26nbsp;
And what will you do there? Work hard, play hard. Need to recharge our batteries %26mdash; and visit our three favorite L.A. designers: Cathy Waterman, Irene Neuwirth and Jennifer Meyer. We%26rsquo;ll do spa services in Laguna, shopping in L.A. %26mdash; including a visit to Gregory Parkinson%26rsquo;s studio and our favorite antiques stores on La Brea. Dinner with friends.
%26nbsp;
Must packs? A couple of my kids%26rsquo; Starbucks mugs they designed, Dr. Macrene and Kate Somerville face creams, Natura Biss%26eacute; sun cream, Gregory Parkinson tie-dye dresses, James Perse tees and tops, DL1961 jeans, Lanvin blue snakeskin bag and neon moccasins, Jack Rogers sandals %26hellip; And a fab collection of jewelry, including my charm necklace (Cathy Waterman, Irene Neuwirth), Jen Meyer diamond stick earrings and stack-%26rsquo;em-up bracelets (Todd Reed, Sydney Evan, Anita Gronstedt, Sorrelli crystal, Pippo Perez, Catherine Michiels).

You%26rsquo;ll find me dining at? L.A. %26mdash; Toscana (Brentwood), The Beverly Hills Hotel Coffee Shop and Polo Lounge. Wherever there is a pool, there is food for lunch!
%26nbsp;
What you%26rsquo;ll bring home? Hopefully a sun-kissed glow and a well-tanned and rested Charles.

%26nbsp;

Capa Mooty, Mom, traveler

Where are you off to? Aspen to escape the Dallas heat.

Staying? Either at The St. Regis, The Little Nell or the Hyatt, Grand Aspen %26mdash; all right in the center of Aspen.

Packing to read? Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell or anything written by or about the Navy Seals %26mdash; I%26rsquo;m obsessed with these modern-day warriors! The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho (author of The Alchemist, one of my favorite books). And a laugh-out-loud book: Bossypants by Tina Fey.

Kindle, iPad or paper? Paper, paper! I love holding a book and being able to dog-ear pages. It%26rsquo;s just not the same on a Kindle.

What else might you do? Anything outdoorsy. We bike down the Rio Grande Trail and up to Pine Creek Cookhouse, compete for the best time climbing the %26uuml;ber-steep UTE Trail up Ajax Mountain, attend the Fourth of July parade and ride up the gondola for rock-climbing and the bungee trampoline. The Aspen Ideas Festival has great speakers for a two-week period from media, politics and science arenas.

Can%26rsquo;t leave home without? Day-to-night jackets, lots of scarves, flip-flops, boots and hiking gear. Pack your goldendoodle or labradoodle %26mdash; all their cousins live in Aspen for the summer.

Fave restaurants? Campo de Fiori for Italian, Matsuhisa Aspen for sushi, Cache Cache, Brunelleschi%26rsquo;s for make-your-own pizza, Pacifica for seafood (and the best patio, too), The Wild Fig and Ajax Tavern for truffle fries.

Souvenirs? I buy two Libertine jackets every year in Aspen. They are beautiful, original pieces that remind me all year of my fun summer.

%26nbsp;

Brian Bolke, Owner, Forty Five Ten %26amp; Five and Ten

So, where are you off to? Paris.

Raison pour voyage? Men%26rsquo;s spring shows and women%26rsquo;s fall haute couture.

Where will you stay? L%26rsquo;H%26ocirc;tel on rue des Beaux Arts.

Packing to read? Watching American Horror Story and catching up on Vanity Fair.

Kindle, iPad or paper? iPad.

Other entertainments? Go to the Louis Vuitton Marc Jacobs exhibition at the Mus%26eacute;e des Arts D%26eacute;coratifs.

Can%26rsquo;t leave home without? Diptyque Philosykos travel spray, Common Projects white sneaker and Balmain T-shirts.

Luggage? Tumi (brown, of course).

You%26rsquo;ll make dinner reservations at? Ralph%26rsquo;s at the Ralph Lauren store and L%26rsquo;Avenue for people watching.

Memento? If the euro is better, something from Herm%26egrave;s.

%26nbsp;

Stephen Giles, Strategy consultant%26nbsp;

Clarice Tinsley, Anchor, Fox 4 News

Stephen, where are you off to? Malibu and later South Africa.

Reason for going? Janelle and Larry Friedman invited us to their home in Malibu. Later, Clarice and I will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary
in South Africa.

Packing to read? Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand and all of my cycling magazines.

Kindle, iPad or paper? iPad.

Must pack? Stephen: Clarice.

Luggage? Vuitton.

Favorite restaurants? Those with four-stars, and where the locals go.

What you%26rsquo;ll bring home? Great memories, photographs and art.

Restaurant Buzz

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 04:35:40 GMT

Budding bakers Mary Gauntt and Megan Wilkes sprinkled sugar over the Bishop Arts District during Mardi Gras weekend with their pop-up pie shop Emporium Pies. The duo has just announced a move into permanent digs, converting a purple-painted house at 314 North Bishop Avenue into an eat-in bakery. Their specialty? Beautiful pies served whole or by the slice, in flavors such as the to-die-for bourbon-pecan. Until the bakery%26rsquo;s opening, orders can be placed at emporiumpies.com %26hellip; More news in the Cliff: Restaurateur John Baudoin (he managed both Dallas Fish Market and Restaurante Nicola) opens his newest eatery, Driftwood, next door to Bolsa Mercado this month. Exec chef and Abacus alumnus Omar Flores helms the kitchen, crafting a scrumptious east-meets-west-coast menu anchored in organic seafood. Go fish at 642 West Davis Street; details driftwood-dallas.com %26hellip; When in Manhattan, a reservation at the legendary Le Cirque restaurant is a must. So imagine the elation among gourmands when it announced a series of moveable, one-night-only dinners at 10 ClubCorp clubs around the country. Come Friday, April 20, The Tower Club gets its visit from Le Cirque, with chef Olivier Reginensi wowing the diners. Even Tower Club%26rsquo;s dining room will be re-spun for the evening, as its decor will be made to match the elegant NY locale. Reserve a table at clupcorp.com/lecirque %26hellip; A two-in-one concept is beckoning foodies to West Dallas: Chicken Scratch and The Foundry at 2303 Pittman Street. The former is the restaurant interpretation of childhood family picnics %26mdash; homemade fried chicken, Mexican-inspired popsicles and cast-iron-fried fare served in compostable, eco-friendly packaging. The later is the latest in the beer-garden movement and housed at the same location, with local brews on tap (Deep Ellum Rye Pilsener) and more than 30 unusual beers served by the bottle or can. The full scoop is at cs-tf.com %26hellip; Tajin Comedor Mexicano is the latest culinary project from longtime restaurateur Monica Greene. Housed at the Ilume mixed-used development on Cedar Springs Road, the Mexican concept is said to conjure memories of Greene%26rsquo;s now-shuttered Ciudad. Buzz 972.742.3902.

IMAGE: Mary Gauntt and Megan Wilkes of Emporium Pies. Photo by Kelsey Foster.

Juice Me, Please

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 04:29:57 GMT

If you%26rsquo;re searching for your trend-obsessed friends between the weekday hours of 8 am and 2:30 pm, try The Gem. Setting up shop inside Duo %26ndash; All Things Culinary, owners Mary Kathryn Bass and Leslie Needleman dole out organic juices, shots, smoothies and Holy Kombucha teas to some of the most notable names in Dallas, who all stop by after carpool or morning workouts. The wildly popular Green Glow juice made of apple, kale, cucumber, lemon and ginger, or smoothie favorite Tahitian Pearl, consisting of almond butter, banana, hemp milk, dates, maca, bee pollen and cacao. While chief gemologists Bass and Needleman take orders and chat with girlfriends/customers (some claim barstools for hours to see who drops in), Sarah Gottsacker, aka the juiceologist, mans the juicer. Hottest thing on their dry-erase-board menu besides the liquids and the 11 am daily lunch special? The Gem Cleanse. Choose from the one- or three-day option, with bottles handed over in six-pack beer carriers, which Gottsacker picks up each Sunday from Capitol Pub. The three-day cleanse %26mdash; 18 bottles of cold-pressed juices such as Green Glow, Ruby Slipper, Clarity Lemonade and Opalescence (cashew milk) %26mdash; results in internal clarity and better skin, and retails for $195. My in-the-know girlfriends tell me there is a cleanse waiting list, so dial 214.808.1907, pronto. 7721 Inwood Road; facebook.com/insidethegem.

IMAGE: Leslie Needleman, Mary Kathryn Bass. Photo by Stephen Karlisch.

Postcard from New York

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 04:24:58 GMT

He might be missing the Dallas art scene, but this New York Times photographer certainly appreciates the energy of Manhattan and being able to grab a good bagel or slice of pizza on a moment%26rsquo;s notice. After working for The Dallas Morning News and more recently the LA Times, Damon Winter moved his camera, style and furnishings to the Upper West side. During the past five years as a photographer for The New York Times, Winter has worked on notable assignments such as documenting the lives of US Army soldiers in, %26ldquo;A Year at War,%26rdquo; (an Emmy Award-winning multimedia spread), and an exquisite in-depth shoot on Stella McCartney, which made the front-page of The New York Times Magazine in late February. When we saw this piece on one of our favorite designers, with aerial views of McCartney at work, including an inside look into her personal life, Winter%26rsquo;s %26ldquo;great dilemma of New York%26rdquo; made sense %26mdash; so much to do in the city, yet so little time to do it. Anything he misses about his Dallas days? Like his shutter, Winter is quick to respond: %26ldquo;Good barbecue, Mexican food and cheap rent!%26rdquo;

IMAGE: Damon Winter. Photo by Nan Coulter.

Inside the Heads of Alan Ritchie %26 Marko Dasigenis

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 01:53:50 GMT

Philip Johnson has arguably done more than any other architect to shape Houston%26rsquo;s skyline. He was commissioned by the likes of art patron Dominique de Menil, whose home on San Felipe was his first residential design in 1948, to commercial real estate magnate Gerald Hines, who hired Johnson to design seven buildings in Houston. Carrying on Johnson%26rsquo;s mantle is his longtime partner, British-born Alan Ritchie of Philip Johnson Alan Ritchie Architects, who has branched out of their New York office to open a studio in Houston with colleague Marko Dasigenis. Meet the men who bear the weight of Johnson%26rsquo;s iconic past as they interpret his style and apply his monumental vision to structures soon to be built in Houston and beyond.

Laurann Claridge: Let%26rsquo;s talk about the professional history between you and the late, great Philip Johnson.

Alan Ritchie: I was introduced to Mr. Johnson shortly after I arrived from England, and he invited me to join the firm of Philip Johnson, John Burgee Architects as a junior architect. Later I was promoted to project manager, associate and partner. In 1987, when Mr. Johnson and Mr. Burgee parted ways, I also left to create my own company, Alan Ritchie David Fiore Architects. I remained in contact with Mr. Johnson, and in 1993, he proposed we become partners and merge the two firms, and we did. He retired in 2004 and passed the firm to me, leaving the 60-year legacy in my hands.

Marko Dasigenis: I met Philip in New York in 1988, and we hit it off instantly. When I told him I was from Kavala, Greece, he went off on a tangent, talking about all the beautiful things he saw when he visited my birthplace in the 1930s.

LC: Houston is blessed with 11 Philip Johnson%26ndash;designed buildings %26mdash; more than any other city but New York, which has 18. What is it about Houston that attracted Johnson in 1957 and attracts PJ%26gt;AR now?

AR: I think first his relationship with the de Menil family and later with Gerry Hines. It was the friend-ships, as much as business relationships, that called Mr. Johnson back. Over time, his reputation grew, and he attracted other prominent people in Houston, and his body of work here grew. I was fortunate to have worked on these projects, and I%26rsquo;m eager to continue these rich relationships. %26nbsp;

MD: Houston is like a blank canvas for an architect. You are free to design whatever you want. There are no vernacular rules that you have to adhere to, and it is the only major city in the U.S. with no zoning. This means total freedom of expression without the limiting rules and regulations cities typically force on designers. But you still want to respect the character of the neighborhoods that have been developed, and design accordingly.

LC: Tell me about PJ%26gt;AR%26rsquo;s best practice standards.

MD: It is not only our desire, but our duty to create buildings that are inviting and user-friendly, as well as environmentally responsible. Every architect is talking today about LEED architecture. PJ%26gt;AR was actually doing LEED even before the term existed. That%26rsquo;s why you see all these Hines buildings getting LEED certifications today.

LC: One of the tenets vital to your work is the interior architecture of a project. What is its significance to the project as a whole?

AR: It%26rsquo;s always been the firm%26rsquo;s philosophy that there shouldn%26rsquo;t be a separation between the interior and exterior of a building. The designs created for its exterior appearance should also be expressed internally. We have always approached the client to engage us as the architects and the interior designers of the building so that the designs are completely integrated. Some of our most successful projects have been when we have designed not only the building, but also all the interior public spaces, such as The Sony Tower (formerly the AT%26amp;T Building) and the Lipstick Building in New York City, the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth and the %26ldquo;Number 5%26rdquo; Tower at 5 East 44th Street.

%26nbsp;

LC: I understand Frank Gehry%26rsquo;s work, specifically the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, literally moved Philip Johnson to tears. Who are the architects past or present you most admire?

AR: Philip Johnson and Frank Gehry became good friends over the years, and both admired each other%26rsquo;s architecture. Our firms worked closely together on a number of projects, which unfortunately were never built. I was particularly moved when I traveled to the Guggenheim in Bilbao with Mr. Johnson, Charlie Rose and Steve Wynn, as a guest of Frank. As we walked to the main lobby, Mr. Johnson looked up and, with tears in his eyes, said %26ldquo;Wow, I have never been so moved since my mother took me to Chartres cathedral when I was 14 years old.%26rdquo;

MD: Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier and Calatrava. Corbu developed his vocabulary inspired by the Cycladic islands, for which I have a great love. Calatrava understands structure and develops his works based on a human scale.

LC: What%26rsquo;s the dream project you%26rsquo;d love to land?

AR: I%26rsquo;d like to [continue building] the Cathedral of Hope in Dallas. That was one of the last buildings that Philip and I designed together.

LC:%26nbsp; What makes a great client/architect collaboration?

AR: A great client is one that listens, someone who is open to ideas and makes decisive decisions. It is important to us that the client participates in the
design process but also allows us the freedom to create, and respects our knowledge and experience. %26nbsp;

MD: An alignment of communication and vision. The best projects I%26rsquo;ve seen were a result of a strong client/architect collaboration. Look at Philip and Hines. The client is the sail that provides the wind force, and the architect is the steering wheel that navigates. It takes both to get to your destination.

LC: You%26rsquo;ve said that good design doesn%26rsquo;t have to cost more, but it%26rsquo;s the best investment you%26rsquo;ll make.

MD: Good design does not have to be expensive. It is the synthesis of different components organized in their right place. Those do not have to make a statement of %26ldquo;look how expensive I am.%26rdquo; It%26rsquo;s all about the fundamentals.

LC: If you could have authored any one quotation in history, what would it be?

AR: %26ldquo;God is in the details.%26rdquo; %26mdash; Mies van der Rohe%26nbsp;

MD: %26ldquo;I hope nothing. I fear nothing. I am free.%26rdquo; %26mdash; Nikos Kazantzakis

LC: Art/artists you favor?

AR: I love all forms and periods of art but particularly love Monet, Ert%26eacute;, Calder and Henry Moore.%26nbsp;

MD: Giacometti; Matisse and classic Greek sculpture.

LC: Do you collect anything in particular?

AR: Stamps and antiques %26mdash; mostly 20th-century Art Nouveau, Art Deco and modern pieces.

IMAGES:

Philip Johnson, Gerald Hines, circa 1970. Photo courtesy Hines.

Marko Dasigenis

Alan Ritchie

Philip Johnson, Charlie Rose and Frank Gehry at Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, 1997

Amon Carter Museum, Dallas

Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture at University of Houston

Le Corbusier%26rsquo;s Chapel of Notre-Dame-du-Haut, Ronchamp

Chapel of St. Basil at University of St. Thomas, Houston

Rendering of Cathedral of Hope, Dallas

Williams Tower Water Wall, Houston

Knoll Bird chair

Henry Moore%26rsquo;s Reclining Figure, 1951

Dominique de Menil and Philip Johnson, Houston, 1949. Photo courtesy Houston Post / Menil.

Williams Tower, Houston

%26nbsp;

Very PC: Fiat 500 Cabrio by Gucci

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 01:12:05 GMT

We%26rsquo;ll be tooling around town this summer in the new limited-edition Fiat 500 Cabrio by Gucci with the legendary red-and-green stripe across the canvas top (or along the side on the Fiat 500 by Gucci) and on the seats, seatbelts and floor mats, and adorable GGs on the hubcaps and shift knob. The automatic convertible top is a dream and can be partially opened at several points. Available in pearlized black or white, starting at $23,500 (can you believe it?). At area Fiat dealerships, including the new Helfman Fiat studio in Houston, 7720 Katy Freeway next to IKEA; 713.533.6100; helfmanfiat.com.

IMAGE: Fiat 500 Cabrio by Gucci

A Nip and Pin Tuck

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 05:42:12 GMT

The powers that be at Geo. H. Lewis %26amp; Sons, Houston%26rsquo;s final resting place for the famed and social set since 1936, have refashioned the public areas to mirror a stunning residence. The venerable funereal firm has commissioned Houston interior designer Cathy Chapman to renovate its interiors with a little help from GHL VP Bradford Wyatt%26rsquo;s stylish mom, Lynn Wyatt, who also consulted with her son and GHL president/CEO Billy Wells on the apropos choices. While we hope you won%26rsquo;t need to visit the revamped surrounds any time soon, those who do will find comfort in the English antiques, Imari and Wedgwood porcelain, wide-plank wood flooring and Clarence House and Brunschwig %26amp; Fils curtains and trims.
We%26rsquo;re impressed by the thoughtful touches, from an antique silver service from which one is offered coffee and tea to Pratesi and D. Porthault linens custom-embroidered expressly for Geo. H. Lewis.

IMAGE:%26nbsp; Geo H. Lewis%26rsquo; redesign

The New Influencers

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 05:39:18 GMT

Politically Correct: Randall Morton %26mdash; The Progressive Forum

When Randall Morton founded The Progressive Forum seven years ago, his first programming foreshadowed the wow factor of what was to come: Robert Kennedy Jr., introduced by then-Mayor Bill White at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts in June 2005. A rapt, near-capacity crowd at Sarofim Hall listened to an impassioned Kennedy address %26ldquo;Our Environmental Challenges,%26rdquo; followed by a post-lecture book signing where hundreds queued up for the guest of honor to inscribe copies of his Crimes Against Nature. Another big night followed in June 2006, when Al Gore spearheaded the American debut of his bellwether best seller An Inconvenient Truth with a talk and book signing organized by The Progressive Forum, once again at the Hobby Center. Improbably, Morton%26rsquo;s road to found The Progressive Forum actually led through the oil patch. The Georgetown grad/one-time political speechwriter directed an eponymous marketing/PR company for decades that focused on the oil industry%26rsquo;s heavy-equipment companies. His experience establishing
The Oilfield Breakfast Forum segued into launching The Progressive Forum after seeing RFK Jr. on Larry King Live and his disappointment over the 2004 national elections. As Morton underscores, %26ldquo;I%26rsquo;m confident we%26rsquo;re making an impact.%26rdquo;

Flash forward dozens of speakers later, and you%26rsquo;ll find Progressive Forum audiences reaching 2,000 per engagement to hear voices of our age from Gloria Steinem to Ken Burns. The Forum has clearly lived up to its motto (%26ldquo;Great minds, great answers%26rdquo;), as well as its lofty goal of %26ldquo;advancing ... the individual, our species and life on the planet.%26rdquo; Indeed, The Progressive Forum has made the greatest contribution to environmental issues %26mdash; witness one of the most intriguing evenings ever, when Robert Redford and then Shell Oil president John Hofmeister shared the Wortham stage with ranchers and environmentalists to dish about coal mining in Texas as the film Fighting Goliath: Texas Coal Wars screened. Stay tuned for 2012 headliners including rock-star architect of sustainability William McDonough (Tuesday, April 24, at the Wortham).

IMAGE: Randall Morton

Father of Education: Fr. TJ Martinez %26mdash; Cristo Rey

A decaying, abandoned school building in Houston%26rsquo;s gritty Southeast side and a young cowboy-boot-wearing priest might seem an unlikely stage and protagonist to reform Houston%26rsquo;s secondary-school system. Yet this script is successfully performed every day at Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School.

At its helm is the dynamic Fr. TJ Martinez, founding president of Houston%26rsquo;s Cristo Rey, which is part of a national network of innovative Catholic high schools offering promise %26mdash; and rigorous college prep %26mdash; to the kids of urban America. In Houston, the Cristo Rey campus near Hobby Airport revived a Catholic high school that had closed due to shifting demographics and declining enrollment. Enter the recently ordained Fr. Martinez, a Boston transplant raised in South Texas who was tapped after receiving his Harvard degree not only to lead, but to forge the Houston branch.

The campus opened in August 2009, with its first class set to graduate in May 2013. It currently serves 270 students culled from the Woodlands to Needville, and is set to enroll grades 9 through 12 in the fall of 2012. The new school %26ldquo;relies on the private sector, not the government, to educate Houston%26rsquo;s youth who are living in poverty,%26rdquo; Martinez says. At the heart of Cristo Rey%26rsquo;s model are high-powered corporations %26mdash; energy to finance, ConocoPhillips to Deutsche Bank %26mdash; which pay the students%26rsquo; tuition as part of an intriguing work-study program: Each Cristo Rey kid is employed one day a week by his or her sponsoring firm throughout the school year. The community has embraced the new college prep%26rsquo;s vision, with a lead gift of one million dollars from the Kinder Foundation and an inaugural gala in January 2011 that raised an astounding $1.6 million. Giving a tour of Cristo Rey%26rsquo;s gleaming hallways, then dropping in on a chemistry class where students enthusiastically cluster around lab experiments, Martinez emphasizes the power and primacy of his school%26rsquo;s mission: %26ldquo;Cristo Rey Jesuit marries Houston%26rsquo;s corporate culture with a college-prep culture serving children living in the most financially challenged neighborhoods, to form a partnership that will not only save the lives of these children, but [ensure] Houston%26rsquo;s future as well.%26rdquo;

IMAGE: Fr. TJ Martinez

Hydration and Hope: Elena Davis %26mdash; I Am Waters Foundation

%26ldquo;It%26rsquo;s often the simplest things that bring profound change,%26rdquo; proclaims I Am Waters Foundation%26rsquo;s book Dream, penned and overseen by its creator, Elena Davis, who also founded its mission four years ago. A former 1980s-era glamour girl who%26rsquo;s graced the cover and pages of fashionable magazines the world over, from Cosmopolitan to Harper%26rsquo;s Bazaar%26sbquo; Davis was enjoying a privileged life in Houston as a mom and wife when an encounter with a homeless woman moved her. It was a scorching summer day, and the imploring lady at a roadside intersection made an impact. %26ldquo;As I rolled down my car window to hand her the water she requested, I realized that while I had never met her before, I felt I knew her well,%26rdquo; Davis writes. %26ldquo;It was at that moment that a fire was lit within me; that fire has become the I Am Waters Foundation.%26rdquo; Since the summer of 2009, more than 500,000 water bottles %26mdash;%26nbsp;emblazoned with words that offer simple, positive messages of change: Love, Joy, Peace, Faith and Hope %26mdash; have been delivered directly to the people who need them with the assistance of Davis and her heartfelt nonprofit. I Am Water reaches out to Houston, Fort Worth and Austin agencies serving the homeless, from Star of Hope to SEARCH and the Salvation Army. The goal for summer 2012 is to serve 600,000 people in need of hope and hydration.

The foundation%26rsquo;s Dream volume and Web site give a face to homelessness in America while sharing Davis%26rsquo; personal story of growing up as %26ldquo;one of four children born into a broken home and poverty.%26rdquo; Modeling provided a way out; Davis%26rsquo; life comes full-circle this month as I Am Waters organizes its first fund-raising luncheon %26mdash;%26nbsp;set for Wednesday, April 25, at River Oaks Country Club %26mdash; which draws upon its founder%26rsquo;s career with its %26ldquo;Super Models of the %26rsquo;80s%26rdquo; theme. %26ldquo;I asked those I knew from the modeling world, and, incredibly, everyone I called said %26lsquo;yes,%26rsquo;%26rdquo; she recalls. Among the headliners coming to town for the cause are cover girls Kim Alexis, Dianne deWitt, Kelly Emberg and Cheryl Tiegs, who will participate to push along Davis%26rsquo; vision: %26ldquo;We can%26rsquo;t allow one American to remain without life%26rsquo;s most basic needs %26mdash; water and the will to dream.%26rdquo;

IMAGE: Elena Davis fulfilling the mission

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Music Men:%26nbsp; Omar Afra and Jagi Katial %26mdash; Fitzgerald%26rsquo;s, Free Press Houston

At first glance, hipsters Omar Afra and Jagi Katial seem more like a pair who would frequent a bar than own one. However, appearances are deceiving: Not only are these diehard music fans %26mdash; both under the age of 35 %26mdash; the proprietors of the newly revamped Fitzgerald%26rsquo;s in the Heights, but they also delve, individually and in tandem, into myriad other (ad)ventures. Their projects range from publishing the Free Press Houston (a reincarnation of the old Public News, where yours truly got her start, revived by Afra and grown into a monthly with a readership of 100,000) to serving as concert promoters of the wildly successful Summer Fest every June. Katial works as a booking agent via his Pegstar productions; he%26rsquo;s also a former NASA programmer, while Afra, a UH political science grad, is an occasional musician. In the summer of 2010, this pair bought Fitzgerald%26rsquo;s,
the almost crumbing shrine to live music on White Oak, from owner/founder Sara Fitzgerald. The stalwart Fitzgerald opened the dual-venue concert hall in 1977 and, for 30-plus years, brought in the red-hot and up-and-comers to perform at the historic space, circa 1918, that once catered to the Polish community as the Heights social club Dom Polski. The upstairs stage showcased headliners who crossed time and genres, from James Brown, Tina Turner and Steve Ray Vaughan to ZZ Top, R.E.M., The Ramones, Etta James and Marcia Ball. The downstairs space %26mdash; originally the hall%26rsquo;s kitchen with adjoining stables %26mdash; featured free concerts by rising talents.

Thanks to Afra and Katial, Fitz%26rsquo;s now lures hundreds of ardent new Gen-X and -Y fans to its hallowed halls each week. Oft compared to CBGB%26rsquo;s for its preeminence as an incubator space and cited by Afra as %26ldquo;the best live venue in Texas%26rdquo; (he met his future wife while playing a gig there), Fitz%26rsquo;s is readying for the next 30 years. As the crisply painted signage proclaims: %26ldquo;Fitzgerald%26rsquo;s. If music be the food of love, play on.%26rdquo;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;

IMAGE: Omar Afra and Jagi Katial

The Nomadic Life

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 05:23:34 GMT

Wade Wilson, Wade Wilson Art

You%26rsquo;re heading to? My house in Santa Fe.

Reason for going? I%26rsquo;m opening Wade Wilson Art Santa Fe in July.
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Where do you stay? My best friend/wife lives there with me, and we have a compound on 16 acres %26mdash; the vistas are transforming.
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Packing to read? I am rereading Lillian Hellman%26rsquo;s memoirs, Pentimento and An Unfinished Woman, and rereading Hemingway%26rsquo;s A Moveable Feast %26mdash; all of which I love.

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Kindle, iPad or paper? I like books in my hand.
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Other entertainments? I%26rsquo;ll be playing guitar and singing in my spare time while I watch the sun drop behind the Jemez Mountains each evening.
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Can%26rsquo;t leave at home? Leather jacket, a few Robert Graham shirts, boots and wranglers %26mdash; all in my signature black, of course.

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Checking what luggage? Hartmann.
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You%26rsquo;ll find me dining at %26hellip; Always SantaCaf%26eacute;, occasionally Coyote Cafe, The Compound or Geronimo%26rsquo;s. And Gabriel%26rsquo;s, just beyond the Opera house, by Camel Rock for the very best guacamole in New Mexico.

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What you%26rsquo;ll come away with? A full belly and a happy heart. Seeing my gallery business fly high in two beautiful cities of art is a dream come true.

Betty Newton, owner, %26Agrave; Bient%26ocirc;t, %26amp; husband Stephen

So, where are you off to? Manhattan.
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Any particular reason for going? It%26rsquo;s our home away from home.
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Where do you stay? At our apartment in midtown.
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Packing to read? Whatever Jeanne from River Oaks Bookstore recommends and about a dozen magazines.
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Kindle, iPad or paper? All.
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What else will you do? We both work while there. On the weekends, we like to take day trips outside of the city. Dia:Beacon is a favorite. We just jump in our car, and we%26rsquo;re there in 45 minutes. We also like to rent bikes at Storm King. Sometimes, weather permitting, we walk downtown and stroll over the Brooklyn Bridge to have brunch with friends in DUMBO. We never tire of roaming through Central Park, which is a couple of blocks from our apartment.
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You%26rsquo;re packing %26hellip;? I%26rsquo;m a huge Fendi fan. Their handbags are so functional, with lots of deep-zippered pockets. I always have one of the totes and one of the top-handles. Of course, I add %26Agrave; Bient%26ocirc;t travel jewelry and cashmere.

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You%26rsquo;ll be making dinner reservations at? My new favorite is La Promenade des Anglais at 461 West 23rd Street. We love Perilla in [Greenwich] Village. Our Sunday night spot is Quatorze, which we have been going to for 21 years.
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What you%26rsquo;ll bring home? Anything and everything from Elizabeth Bauer Design on Greenwich Avenue. Almond Givrettes from Francois Payard.

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Elaine Turner, owner, Elaine Turner accessories and boutiques

You%26rsquo;re off to? Kauai.

And, why? We%26rsquo;re celebrating my parents%26rsquo; 50th wedding anniversary.

Staying? The St. Regis [Princeville] in Kauai overlooking Hanalei Bay.

Packing to read? A month or two of WWDs to catch up on. Also, I%26rsquo;m saving the book Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand %26hellip; this trip will be the perfect time to read it! I%26rsquo;ll also bring a couple of months of Elle Decor %26mdash;love it for seasonal inspiration

Kindle, iPad or paper? I%26rsquo;m still paper.

What else will you do there? Relax, recharge and refuel %26hellip; Kauai is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Its dramatic terrain and erratic weather make it a sensory experience beyond compare. We%26rsquo;ll visit Waimea Canyon %26mdash; It supposedly has the most breathtaking waterfall on earth.

Must-packs? Elaine Turner%26rsquo;s new Maggie beach tote will take me from a day poolside to a day traveling. I%26rsquo;ll carry it in our beautiful new peacock-blue shade. I%26rsquo;ll also pack my new Amy sandal in metallic linen that goes from the beach to dinner, my favorite new SPF-30 sunscreen by Est%26eacute;e Lauder, and my favorite
Trina Turk swimsuit with a Matthew Williamson caftan cover-up.

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Melissa Ellis, designer, Miss-tee-v-us kids
Lee Ellis, Belvedere, BRC, Liberty Kitchen, Petite Sweets

You%26rsquo;re off to? Melissa: Paris %26hellip; it%26rsquo;s exciting, fun and comfortably familiar.

Raison de voyage? It%26rsquo;s our favorite city. We try to visit once a year.

Stay? This time, Relais Christine, a boutique hotel in Saint-Germain-des-Pr%26eacute;s.

You%26rsquo;ll be reading? Lee: Always nonfiction. Melissa: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet%26rsquo;s Nest.

Kindle, iPad, paper? Lee: Paper. Melissa: iPad.

What else will you do there? Walk, shop, explore, eat, eat, eat ... and research food and fashion for future projects.

Luggage? Victorinox.

Favorite restaurants? La R%26eacute;galade (we ate therethree times last trip), Brasserie Lipp and Pizza Positano.

Mementos? Boots %26hellip; ballet flats %26hellip; and lots of inspiration.

Chandos Dodson, designer

You%26rsquo;re heading to? Jackson Hole.

Reason for going? My husband and I spent our honeymoon there last year. We loved it so much we%26rsquo;re going back.

Hanging your hat at %26hellip;? The Amangani.

Reads? Bossypants by Tina Fey.

Kindle, iPad, paper? iPad.

What else will you do? Eat! There are so many fabulous restaurants.

Favorite restaurant? Wild Sage.

Luggage of choice? Tumi. I am all about function when it comesto luggage.

In your carry-on? My Oliver Goldsmith Koko sunglasses, Tkees flip-flops, Theodora %26amp; Callum scarves.

Souvenir? Art.