At Dress for Success and Women of Wardrobe's annual Summer Soiree, generously hosted by Tootises, fashion-forward attendees dressed in pretty pastels, bold patterns and lots of ruffles — many designed by Houston's Hunter Bell, who showed off her fall line alongside jewelry by Claudia Lobao. Chairs Karishma Asrani, Courtney Campo, Allie Danziger and Melissa Sugulas welcomed guests to the event, which toasted the 20th anniversary of Dress for Success, and raised more than $20,000 for the org.
These CityBook partners are among the best eateries in the most deliciously diverse city.
Annabelle Brasserie
Infused with the charm of a bustling Parisian café, Berg Hospitality’s newest concept is in Autry Park on Buffalo Bayou. Anticipate modern French cuisine — brunch, lunch and dinner — served in a very pretty space with picturesque views of the park. 811 Buffalo Park Dr.
B&B Butchers
Venture in for the deep-fried A5 Wagyu katsu sando, or similarly stacked deli sandwich in the adjoining butcher shop, at this boutique steakhouse. A rooftop terrace makes B&B a premiere Sunday brunch destination. 1814 Washington Ave.
B.B. Italia
Find classic Italian-American food with modern twists in a lively setting, in the heart of Sugar Land’s Town Square. 16250 City Walk
BB Lemon
The old-fashioned-yet-upscale bar setting, complete with green-checkered tablecloths and tufted leather banquettes, serves starters like blue-crab beignets, chili and New England clam chowder. 1809 Washington Ave.
Benny Chows
Bringing to mind Chinese restaurants in Ben Berg’s native New York, from the menu to the decor, Benny Chows is a delight. With Chinese-born exec chef Shirong Mei at the helm, it serves dishes both familiar — dim sum, Peking Duck — and uniquely Texan, a la the Smoked Brisket Egg Roll starring Truth BBQ. 1818 Washington Ave.
Brasserie 19
Wine with lunch and bubbles with brunch is the norm at this sceney River Oaks spot. Situated in the center of a busy shopping strip, it’s reminiscent of a Parisian sidewalk café. 1962 W. Gray St.
Emilia's Havana
At this speakeasy lounge reminiscent of a 1950s Cuban club, guests can enjoy cocktails designed by Alba Huerta, chef-driven small plates, as well as nightly live “bossa nova style” music and tunes by local DJs on weekend nights. 1800 Post Oak Blvd.
Jonathan's The Rub
Jonathan’s the Rub has two locations in the Memorial area and is open for brunch, lunch, dinner and special occasions, touting steaks, meatballs, gumbo and hearty American cuisine. The eatery is also known for its catering services, private events and putting on amazing wine dinners at the Memorial Green location. Multiple locations
NoPo Cafe
An all-day café from Ben Berg, NoPo offers a menu of classics like a piled-high club sandwich, pizzas and more. In the front, find unique local provisions, premade meals and freshly baked pastries to-go. New happy-hour specials and cocktail list! 1244 N. Post Oak Rd.
Potente
Chef Danny Trace’s handmade pastas come with the option of tableside truffle service, and baguettes and pastries are made in house by pastry chef David Berg. A supremely sexy cocktail lounge serves as a festive gathering area with a happy hour to boot. 1515 Texas Ave.
Sorrento Ristorante
Under new ownership, the upscale spot on the Westheimer Curve is an elegant space touting a richly classic menu — lobster tortellini, stuffed lambchops — that now includes killer pizzas and dessert staples like cannoli. One of the best bread baskets in town. Brunch is lovely. 415 Westheimer Rd.
Steak 48
A steakhouse standout delivers in its rich side dishes — the Hasselback potatoes are excellent — and desserts. Crowds of pretty people pour in early and stay late, so reservations are recommended. In River Oaks District
Tavola
Polished and glamorous, Tavola on Post Oak aims to be the next see-and-be scene in a neighborhood known for them. Chef Luca Di Benedetto’s wild-boar ragu is a must-try. 1800 Post Oak Blvd.
The Annie Café & Bar
A fine-dining stalwart for decades, The Annie Café & Bar has ample private-event spaces and impeccably executed white-tablecloth service. 1800 Post Oak Blvd.
Tonight & Tomorrow
The restaurant inside storied Montrose hotel La Colombe d’Or boasts eclectic but sophisticated European dishes with Southern touches. Be sure to check out the cocktail lounge, Bar No. 3. 3410 Montrose Blvd.
Trattoria Sofia
An Italian-American spot from Berg Hospitality looks like a trattoria you might stumble upon in rural Italy, with enchanting and spacious indoor and garden seating. 911 W. 11th St.
Turner's
At hidden-gem Turner’s, the food is as decadent as the environment (which is kicked up a notch further with live vocalists accompanying the pianist on weekends). 1800 Post Oak Blvd.
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This Weekend: Check Out These Intricate, Puzzle-Like Collages Packed with Personal and Societal Anecdotes
Sep. 6, 2024
ARTIST KAIMA MARIE’S solo exhibit For the record (which opens today at Art Is Bond) invites the viewer into a multiverse of beloved Houston landmarks, presented in dizzying Cubist perspectives. There are ornate interior spaces filled with paintings, books and records — all stuff we use to document and preserve personal, family and collective histories; and human figures, including members of Marie’s family, whose presence adds yet another quizzical layer to these already densely packed works. This isn’t art you look at for 15-30 seconds before moving on to the next piece; there’s a real pleasure in being pulled into these large-scale photo collages, which Marie describes as “puzzles without a reference image.”
“I have an affinity for memory, and exploring what that looks like,” says Marie, 37, who was born and raised in Houston, and returned to art-making after first doggedly pursuing a career path in journalism. (Interestingly, sound — not writing — is alluded to symbolically in many of Marie’s collages as a method for archiving history.)
In her third year of college, Marie took a life drawing class. Her talent was apparent, and at the urging of her instructor, she changed her major to art, only to switch back to journalism in order to graduate in a timelier fashion. After several years of teaching art, marriage, the birth of two children, and a divorce, Marie found herself at “an emotional low,” and was compelled to pick up the pencil and begin drawing again. “It was more of a distraction,” says Marie, who is wary of describing her return to art-making as therapeutic. But something stuck, and in 2019, after Marie’s mother died of cancer, she began looking for a space to exhibit her work.
“After my mom passed, I longed to deepen my relationship with and connection to my father,” says Marie. “It may be because I didn’t do that as much with my mom.”
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The theme of communication, and how data is exchanged across time, extends from Marie’s Nigerian-born father, who appears in many of her works, including “And the beat goes on,” which was acquired by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston for its permanent collection.
Meanwhile, a tiny portrait of Marie’s mother, a white woman, can be seen in the For the record collage, “Is this how you treat your house guest?” — a lush, gaudy assemblage of fat pillows, oriental and animal print rugs and carpets, and a child’s teddy bear. Two people share this strange, sensuous space: a young man in loose clothing, laid back and looking very chill; and a woman in high-heeled boots and a leather bustier sitting bolt upright on a golden divan, her face obscured like a figure from Max Ernst’s collage novel, La femme 100 têtes. “Is she ashamed or is she proud?” says Marie, who describes the work as an exploration of the expectations of womanhood, and the battle between what is socially acceptable, and what is expected.
For Marie, the demands of being a mom have helped her become “very intentional” with her time, although she is not immune to the relative quiet of an early morning, or the melancholy vibe of a rainy day when it comes to making her time-intensive art. “I’m very temperamental when it comes to working,” says Marie. “When I’m inspired I have to jump on that, and honor that energy that pulls me into that moment.”
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- Lovie Olivia’s New Show Is Abstract, Provocative — and Out of this World ›
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- A Gallery Should Be About More Than Buying and Selling Art, Says Newly Minted Gallerist Janice Bond ›
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It’s Showtime: Houston Bar Celebrates ‘Beetlejuice’ Sequel with Fun Run, Specials and More
Sergio Trevino
Sep. 4, 2024
SPOOKY SEASON IS starting early this year with the release of the Beetlejuice sequel in theaters on Friday. Houston cocktail bar and pizza joint Betelgeuse Betelgeuse is celebrating the film with two weekends of events and specials.
Owner Chris Cusack — whose favorite childhood movie is… you guessed it, Beetlejuice — is decking out the Washington Ave. location accordingly. There are giant, black-and-white backdrops — including a creepy-crawly pic of striped sandworms — for selfies, plus a miniature model set of the town Wind River.
Sip from the special cocktail menu at the Montrose and Washington Ave. locations from Sept. 6-13. The “Beetle Juice” with THC spirit or gin and muddled blackberries is a smash, while the lime-green, frozen “Magician’s Assistant” is a funky spin on a highball.
Be the ghost with the most and take part in a costumed fun run on Sunday, Sept. 15 at 7pm. All run levels are invited to don their best Beetlejuice-inspired looks and enjoy a free 3-mile route that starts at the Washington Ave. location. There’s a costume contest immediately following!
Additional costume contests are taking place at the Washington Ave. location on Friday, Sept. 6 and Friday, Sept. 13, at 11pm. Plus, don’t miss free flash tats Sept. 13 from 9pm-1am! So, go ahead, make your millennium.
Magicians Assistant
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