Super Bowl Blast!
Want to party with Michael Phelps, James Brolin and Common? Here’s your VIP ticket inside one of Super Bowl 51’s best bashes, the CityBook-sponsored Big Game Big Give blowout!
Feb. 6, 2017
These CityBook partners are among the best eateries in the most deliciously diverse city.
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.
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.
Find classic Italian-American food with modern twists in a lively setting, in the heart of Sugar Land’s Town Square. 16250 City Walk
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.
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.
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.
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 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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
AS THE HOLIDAYS loom closer with celebrations and travel in the works, now is the time we start thinking about how to feel and look our best.
Enter Houston-based physician Steven J. Cyr, who grew up in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and knew he wanted to be a doctor at just four years old. His long medical journey, which led to specializing in spine surgery, began with top honors, graduating Summa Cum Laude and as a valedictorian with a biology degree from Southwest Texas State University.
“I played college football, and due to an injury, had my ACL reconstructed my first year,” explains Cyr, 53. “The fact that I was able to return to that level of competition as a college running back drew me to the field of orthopedic surgery.
“During my residency, I found spine surgery the most intriguing because it was the most complex and required patience and meticulousness,” continues Cyr, who trained at the Mayo Clinic and is now the Chief Medical Officer of Surgical Associates in Spine at SASpine. He has a stellar reputation for correcting complex conditions of the spine and musculoskeletal system — but he also always had an interest in cosmetic surgery.
Now, after years of cosmetic surgery training, he has pioneered a significant integration of these two specialized fields. His CYRx MD Cosmetic Surgery leverages his orthopedic expertise and passion for fitness and body building. Cyr developed a revolutionary surgical technique called OrthoSculpt. Unlike conventional liposuction, which focuses solely on fat removal or shaping fat to portray muscle, OrthoSculpt is a five-step process which delves deeper to reveal a patient's underlying muscles with extraordinary precision.
By relying on a comprehensive understanding of muscle, nerve, and blood vessel anatomy, Cyr selectively and safely removes unwanted fat from areas of the face, neck, and body, to unveil jaw lines, cheekbones, and sculpted physiques with a natural-looking, fit, gym-built appearance.
But his cosmetic surgery expertise doesn’t stop there. “My fellowship training included both facial and body cosmetic surgeries of all kinds. I routinely perform breast augmentation, tummy tucks, breast lifts, facelift and neck lifts, Brazilian butt lifts, and fat transfers to the face, breasts, and body,” says Cyr.
At his offices in Houston, Ft. Lauderdale and San Antonio, he performs nonsurgical and aesthetic procedures (like filler and neurotoxin injections). He also offers ultrasound cavitation, which is the use of ultrasound technology to break down fat cells below the skin and reduce the appearance of cellulite.
In his leisure time, the always-busy doctor enjoys weight training, martial arts and spending time with his wife of 25 years and their four children; the eldest is 22 and in law school at Vanderbilt. When time allows, traveling is another joy. “We love visiting Italy and Spain, where I have family.”
AN ELEGANT DINNER on the Wortham stage for dance patrons followed the opening night performance of the Houston Ballet over the weekend, a glittering first foray into what’s shaping up to be a typically busy fall social season.
“This year’s spectacular opening night performance, underwritten by Phoebe and Bobby Tudor with support provided by The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts, featured John Neumeier’s interpretation of the beloved classic tale The Little Mermaid,” explained a rep for the company. The show, colorful and surreal, actually hews closer to Hans Christian Andersen’s original dark fairytale than the Disney cartoon.
After the show and remarks by artistic director Stanton Welch, some 230 well dressed ballet fans waited for the stage to be cleared of its sets and a beautiful dinner party to be set up in their place.
“Inspired by the vibrant blue hues of the ocean, the enchanting décor created by Bergner and Johnson transported attendees to the magical world of The Little Mermaid with low and organic arrangements of varying shades of pink and white filled with hydrangeas, astilbe, roses, tulips and other seasonal florals pristinely placed in white shell and capezi vessels,” cooed the Ballet rep. “Taller arrangements adorned with sea leaves sat atop clear glass palace vases and table accents such as air plants and coral added to the unforgettable evening.”
The dinner, chaired by Mignon & Steve Gill and Fady Armanious & Bill Baldwin and honoring the great groundbreaking ballerina Lauren Anderson, raised more than $325,000, a new record for the annual event. It began with a salad of bibb lettuce and Shrimp Louie. The main course of braised beef short rib with cabernet-thyme reduction and parsnip puree preceded a dessert of panna cotta with melon sorbet. Per the custom at the Ballet’s lavish events, charming young dancers from the company were sprinkled through the party, seated at every table.
Notable attendees included choreographer Neumeier, along with the Ballet’s Jim Nelson and Julie Kent; John Neumeier. Other VIPs included Stephanie and Frank Tsuru, Kristy and Chris Bradshaw, Laura Robertson, Hallie Vanderhider, Bobby Dees, Margaret Alkek Williams, Jo Furr, Jay Jones, Terry Wayne Jones, Martha Finger, and Duyen and Marc Nguyen.
Chris and Kristy Bradshaw
Connor Walsh, Chae Eun Yang
Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees
Phoebe and Bobby Tudor
Margaret Alkek Williams and David Wuthrich
Nick Pierce, Victoria Gutierrez
S. Shawn Stephens, Leigh Smith, Ileana Treviño, Kelley Lubanko, Martha Finger
Stephanie and Frank Tsuru
Tony Bradfield, Marguerite Swartz, Mary Sage, Rahul Ramdas
Yuriko Kajiya, Akemi Saitoh