The party took place poolside, where hula dancers and fire performers greeted colorfully clad guests, who received lei necklaces upon arrival. The night's soundtrack was courtesy of Drums of the Pacific — who kept the crowd grooving and also put on performances of traditional Hawaiian, Polynesian and Tahitian dances — and DJ MarcG.
Owners Jivar Foty and George Giannukos, who purchased the property in 2019 and took a full year to transform the run-down inn into a "quirky" destination, spoke to the crowd. Meanwhile, Bento prepared a whole-roasted kalua pig as his Space Cowboy bar served up creative cocktails and boozy snow cones, and the hotel's GM Marrissa Selby gave tours of the hotel and its artful touches. IV Bars also provided vitamin D infusion shots.
Scene in the crowd: Former Rockets player and NBA All-Star Steve Francis; Super Bowl champ Owen Daniels; TV journalists Chita Craft, Ruben Dominguez, Miya Shay and Ron Trevino; chef Ryan Lachaine; and Manready Mercantile's Travis Weaver.
Chita Craft, Hathrine Whaley
Codi & Christian Fuller
Nick Scurfield, Owen Daniels
Ron Travino
Annesa Maggi, Emily Brockman
Avery & Mitchel Schwarts
Poolside Fire Dancing
Shelly Wiesenthal, Michael Garfield
Robbie Beck, Owen Daniels, April Edwards, Adam Ross
Beth Muecke, Amanda Mills, Natalie Varnum
Owners Luis Rangel and GM Luis Rodriquez greeted opening-night guests on Friday, at the new lounge set next door, not coincidentally, to still-new Gatsby's steakhouse. The sibling concepts' names riff on characters from The Great Gatsby.
As CityBook has previously reported, Daisy Buchanan, located in the space formerly home to Bar Victor, has 52 seats — plus 13 seats at a one-of-a-kind antique bar — in intimate environs that have undergone a floor-to-ceiling revamp, lending the lounge the sexy and moody, jazz-age elegance.
With the help of mixologist Rigo Aranguren (Mastro's Steakhouse, Pass & Provisions), the sultry new spot serves classically influenced cocktails like the Tongue in Cheek —Botanist gin, lemon, Cocchi Rosa syrup and Segura Viudas Cava — while allowing patrons to indulge in bar eats like deviled eggs, maple-glazed bacon, Delmonico Steaks and New York Strips from Gatsby's.
The bar's design boasts black and gold décor with marble accents, red leather banquets and twinkling chandeliers. The bar also features a baby grand piano to regularly fill the room with classic jazz and swing music.
Shabana Walia & Soha Janka
Jose Ocque & Sarah Smith
Erin Koren & Iris Shaftel
Tina Governale, Katherine Orellana Ross & Jennifer Howard
Andrew Mazzoni & Danielle Snedeker