Go behind the scenes of the December issue featuring the best holiday fashion, fun party looks and sexy resort pieces.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
We feel that our locations are ideally positioned so that residents can take advantage of familiar retail and restaurants, healthcare providers, private clubs, cultural activities, places of worship and the many walking trails, parks and green spaces that make our city so vibrant. Footsteps from the newly renovated River Oaks Theatre, elevated dining at Autry Park and minutes from downtown and the Theatre District and the 160-acre Buffalo Bayou Park at The Village of River Oaks. Nestled in gracious, shaded tree-lined residential neighborhoods close to Uptown and Memorial Park and popular shopping and dining at The Village of Tanglewood. To sweeping views across the treetops towards Rice University to the Museum District and the Medical Center at The Village of Southampton.
WELLNESS & CARE
All of our communities provide access to outdoor activities and connectivity to the area. So vital for wellness. We also offer a wide variety of group exercise and fitness activities daily from Tai Chi, Aerobics and Water Aquatics. Activities are plentiful – and you can take in as many or few as you wish. Including speaker events, book club, card games, Mahjong and lively happy hours. The Village communities have partnered with a premier home health company to provide physical therapy, occupational therapy, and palliative care, onsite in the building. Members whether Independent Living, Assisted Living or Memory Care are welcome to use their services for as little or as much as they may require. The Village of River Oaks is also unique in providing Optimized Care, our focused, extra needs Assisted Living which enables our members to recover onsite or receive care that might otherwise require a hospital-like setting. Our Memory Care program, SOAR® by Aspenwood, was developed in consultation with industry experts and neuroscientists at Rice University to ensure our residents live purposefully while still retaining activities of comfort and stimulation in a safe and secure environment. The SOAR® program is offered at River Oaks and Southampton.
DINE IN OUR RESTAURANTS AND ENJOY CHEF-INSPIRED MEALS. FROM FRESH SALADS, FISH, PASTA, COMFORT FOOD TO SEASONAL SPECIALS AND HEALTHY OPTIONS – YOU WILL FIND AN ABUNDANCE OF CHOICES DAILY.
NATURAL GAS GENERATORS – Uninterrupted Power
A unique feature of The Village communities is our Enchanted Rock Natural Gas Generators that provide full, uninterrupted electrical service to the building during a power outage. All building electrical systems including lights, air conditioning, elevators, communications, and the kitchen are served by the generators.
THE VILLAGE LIFE
When you visit our communities, you will see first-hand what makes them so appealing. From locations that allow you to live in the most desirable neighborhoods in the area to services and well-planned social activities – there is much to contribute to your way of living.
Explore The Village of River Oaks here or call 713-952-7600.
Gold high-low tulle mini dress, $698, by Chloe Dao, with diamond-and-pearl necklace, diamond earrings, diamond-flower bracelet, and diamond rings, all vintage Buccellati, and Macri cuff bracelets, from $32,000, by Buccellati, all at Tenenbaum Jewelers.
Dress, coat and scarf, all by Georgio Armani, with sterling silver necklaces, from $1,040, accent bangles, from $350, chain bracelets, from $395, bead-and-brass bracelet, $650, two-tone hoop earrings, $695, and rings, from $295, all by Gurhan at Cotton Club.
Blouse, skirt and jewelery, all by Chanel.
Suit by Georgio Armani, with chain-link necklace, $4,250, paperclip-chain necklace, $2,070, paperclip-chain lariat, $1,700, blue topaz pendant, $1,190, kyanite tennis bracelet, $2,835, diamond chain bracelet, $2,050, Urbaetis twisted bangle, $3,779, pavé diamond dome band, $2,656, Doves blue topez cocktail ring, $2,656, blue topaz signet ring, $1,925, and kyanite halfway band, $1,150, all by Bella Madre Jewelry.
Mini dress, $1,598, and overlay skirt, $1,400, by Chloe Dao, with a ruby-and-diamond necklace, $114,000, diamond belt bracelet, $78,000, cocktail ring, $16,500, and ruby-and-diamond hoop earrings, $17,700, all at Valobra Master Jewelers.
Rose petal strapless gown, $3,498, by Chloe Dao, with a diamond floral choker, $15,000, cocktail ring, $11,500, sunburst diamond ring, $19,750, pink-diamond bangle, $93,000, and diamond earrings, $19,500, all at Valobra Master Jewelers.
Shell and fur-collared coat by Michael Kors, with pearl necklace with champagne and white diamonds, $18,750, and ombre Tahitian pearl necklace, $6,250, both by Deutsch Design, and South Sea tincup pearl necklace, $6,250, and dangle earrings, $2,590, both by Emily Armenta, all at Deutsch Fine Jewelry.
Indigo floral brocade fishtail gown, $3,195, by Cesar Galindo with diamond bangle, diamond and sapphire stretch bracelets and eternity band, white-gold pavé diamond ring, white-gold hoop earrings, 34-inch diamond tennis necklace and platinum bezel-set bracelet and necklace, all at Zadok Jewelers.
Photos by Ashkan Roayaee
Styling by Todd Ramos
Hair and makeup by Edward Sanchez
Art direction by Patrick Magee
Model Lauren Blalock for Neal Hamil Agency
Paella Valenciana at Mi Luna
With moody environs, a DJ-spun soundtrack and an olive-oil martini that will keep you at the sceney bar for a while, Októ skews more Mediterranean rather than Israeli. The name means “eight” in Greek, a nod not only to the culture and cuisine of the new restaurant, but also its address: 888 Westheimer. The flavors show up in mouthwatering shareables like octopus skewers, and squid-ink linguine with crab and a buttery sambal sauce. And if you’ve eaten at any Sof concept, you know the bread service is not to be skipped. (Two words: pistachio butter.)
Elsewhere in Montrose Collective, similarly nightlife-savvy Mi Luna — which was a staple in Rice Village for decades — has been resurrected by its original owners. Fan-favorites like paella, empanadas and Gambas al Ajillo (lemon-garlic shrimp with peppers) remain; chef-kissed newcomers include whole roasted branzino, and Rabo de Toro a la Sevillana, which is braised oxtail with chickpeas. Expect flamenco performances on Friday and Saturday nights, and a sultry acoustic-guitar-accompanied brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 10am-3pm, too.
And here’s another holiday tip: Italian-style steakhouse Marmo, one of Montrose Collective’s original restaurants, has a fun happy hour every day except Saturday from 3-6pm. Think glasses of wine and bubbly for $6 a pop, a $9 charcuterie board, and deals on an impressive spread of savory bites — meatballs with whipped ricotta; little bowls of veal bolognese. Lingering in the bar-slash-lounge area for nightly live music is recommended.
In fact, a progressive evening of tapas-style treats and live performances throughout Montrose Collective sounds like a festive (and delicious!) way to celebrate the season.
Okto G&T (photo by Becca Wright)
Octopus at Okto (photo by Becca Wright)
Happy hour at Marmo