Spring for These New Tasting Menus!

Robin Barr Sussman

FEELING JADED BY the same ole restaurant menus? Whether you’re curious about all things beef, seeking the perfect wine pairing, or craving to know more about the culinary regions of Mexico, this roster of new tasting menus should quell your craving for an epicurean adventure.

Trend Alert! Move Over Espresso Martinis, Carajillos Are Taking Over H-Town

Patrick Magee

ON A RECENT trip to the bar at Washington Ave.’s B&B Butchers for a nightcap of espresso martinis, the bartender suggested his guests try a carajillo instead. The Spanish cocktail is made of espresso and Licor 43, the latter of which is named for its 43 ingredients. And, while the exact recipe is guarded by the Spanish family that distills it, it is known to contain citrus and vanilla, the two most prominent flavors. Many of Houston’s hottest restaurants are putting their own twists on this cocktail that’s giving espresso martinis a run for their money!

Buffalo Bayou Lights Up with New Art — and Food Trucks! — for One Night Only

Chris Becker

HAVE YOU NOTICED more people are outside lately? As April approaches, the sunshine has been spectacular, giving Houstonians even more reason to leave behind the comfort of the screen and enjoy outdoor events like Night Light, an epic new site-specific event along Buffalo Bayou. The unpretentious, audience-friendly multimedia event will illuminate three surprising locations along the trails of Buffalo Bayou East. The free event takes place April 2 (7:30pm-10:30pm), and trail entrances are located 333 S. Jensen Dr. or 700 N. Live Oak St.

Leadership in Action: John Kuykendall Traded Newcaster Dream for Success in Luxury Retail

John Kuykendall, Showroom Manager, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove

How did you get to where you are today? Growing up I had envisioned myself as a news anchor, living in NY and enthusiastically saying into the camera “Good Morning America!”. To this day, I am still a news/political junkie. My mother owned fur salons so specialty retail, luxury retail was in my blood through the family business. Eventually, mom shuttered the stores and I was recruited to a large specialty retailer. Over the next 30 years, I was in commissioned sales on the sales floor, became a department manager, worked my way up to buyer and store manager. Although I never became a newscaster, I did live in NYC for a few years. But Texas is home and with aging grandparents, I felt the pull to come back to my roots. A headhunter approached me. I never envisioned myself in the high-end appliance market, but there are so many similarities. Clients want a memorable experience; whether shopping for diamonds and fur or remodeling their kitchen.

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Lady Stephanie Kimbrell, Cory McGee, and Butler Studio artists, Ani Kushyan, Alissa Goretsky and Elizabeth Hanje (photo by Michelle Watson)

ALL OF THE top performing arts organizations in Houston have now officially opened their 2024-2015 seasons, now that Houston Grand Opera has bowed with a stirring performance of Verdi’s Il trovatore at The Wortham followed by a lavish al fresco dinner in a tent on the plaza out front.The Houston Ballet and the Houston Symphony held their own grand opening night festivities earlier in the fall.

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Art+Culture

Photo by Lynn Lane

HOUSTON GRAND OPERA’S second fall repertoire production is Gioachino Rossini’s Cinderella. The colorful, commedia dell'arte-inspired production opens Friday, Oct. 25, and stars Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard — a breathtaking brunette beauty, even when doused in soot — in bel canto role of Angelina, known to her mean step-sisters as “Cenerentola.”

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Art + Entertainment