Beauty in Blue

Houston Museum of Natural Science invited more than 500 into its expansive facility for a night of dinner and dancing. This year’s gala honored the Cockrell family and its foundation, which has generously gifted HMNS and other cultural institutions with game-changing contributions. The night’s signature drink — tequila and Blue Curacao in a blue-salted-rim glass — was named for the newest addition to the Lester & Sue Smith Gem Vault, a gigantic blue sapphire called Siren of Serendip.

Mike Rathke
Ernie Cockrell and Bill Montgomery
Ernie Cockrell and Bill Montgomery


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Party People
Ancient French Wellness Cures Reimagined at Houston’s Escape Spa: The Power of Vichy

Serial entrepreneur and spa visionary LeBrina Jackson

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LeBrina Jackson

AS WE GET into the holiday season, we’re reminded of what we have, what we want and what might be lacking. As Sheryl Crow says in her song, Soak up the Sun, “It’s not having what you want, it’s wanting what you've got.” We caught up with LeBrina Jackson, owner of Escape Spa in Cypress, Texas, and learned how she tackles the holiday season with hope, love and most importantly, gratitude.

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Paella Valenciana at Mi Luna

THOUGH IT'S BEEN in Houston less than a decade, Sof Hospitality has made major inroads with foodies and critics alike. Its concepts include Doris Metropolitan, Hamsa and Badolina Bakery, all of which deliver the rich flavors of Israeli cuisine in complex, photogenic and delicious dishes. Its newest, Októ, opened earlier this year, one of several energetic restaurants to bow in the Montrose Collective, just in time for the holidays.

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Food