Summer 2021

Summer 2021

Sexy No. 4

Clear Lake Bay Area Houston’s

Bay Area Houston’s laid-back Southern charm combined with its prime location on Galveston Bay are just two ingredients in a delectable feast of culture, cuisine, and good old-fashioned family fun. Plan your trip to this waterside gem...

this is where your summer starts!

Play.

Stay.

Get your adrenaline pumping at Kemah Boardwalk. Ride the thrilling wooden rollercoaster, see Galveston Bay from atop the 65-foot-tall Ferris wheel, and experience a heartpumping speedboat ride on the Boardwalk Beast. The boardwalk also features an aquarium (where you can feed and pet stingrays), live performances, and dining. While you’re here, book a charter boat for a day of fishing, sailing, and soaking up some sunshine.

From lakefront locales to elegant accommodations, you have plenty of options throughout Bay Area Houston. South Shore Harbour Resort in League City has stunning views of Clear Lake and a pool with a swim up bar. For waterfront lodging just minutes away from Space Center Houston, try the Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake. Seabrook has several quaint bed and breakfast options, like the Pelican’s Nest and the Old Parsonage Guest House. Or go traditional with the conveniently located SpringHill Suites. If you’re staying in Kemah, you can’t beat the Boardwalk Inn, located in the center of the Kemah Boardwalk with private balconies boasting spectacular views of the bay.

Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature by exploring the scenic Clear Creek Paddle Trail by kayak or canoe, and spot wading birds—like the great egret—fishing for their next meal. For an authentically Texan experience, check out the Butler Longhorn Museum, home to the largest collection of longhorn history in the world. Visit Founder’s Square in the Historic District for a charming shopping experience, where each boutique is housed in a beautiful historic home.

Check out more on the Bay Area Houston

! k a Bre YOU DESERVE A

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1021 Kipp Avenue Spectacular Kemah waterfront home on the Galveston Bay, situated on 1.7 acres! Sparkling pool with electric pool cover, fire pit, pergola, and multiple outdoor decks offering unmatched sunset views! The highlight of the backyard is the 1/8 milelong fishing pier! Fabulous circular wet bar in the family room. Chefs kitchen. Four bedrooms and 3.5 updated baths.

Climate-controlled bonus room. Walking distance to the Kemah Boardwalk, popular coffee shops, restaurants, & shops. A quick commute to Houston. This is it!

Rachel Conkling Realtor Associate 713.894.9070 rachel.conkling@compass.com

All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. All measurements and square footages are approximate, but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage. Compass is a licensed real estate broker. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Eat.

Houston’s Bay Area has something for every foodie. For tasty Thai food, try Merlion in the heart of Seabrook, then soothe your sweet tooth with decadent dessert waffles at Seabrook Waffle Company. When in Kemah, stop by Tookie’s—a Bay Area staple with mouthwatering burgers—and T-Bone Tom’s, where you can dine like a local under the giant palapa with cold drinks, hot food, and live music. Mediterraneo Market & Café in Nassau Bay offers up Greek classics, and live music and belly dancers on the weekends. In League City, try Craft 96 and Main St. Bistro for imaginative modern twists on your favorite dishes.

Seabrook Waffle Company

T I S I V THE

T A E R G NES A L P CORSAIR T-6

@ LONE STAR FLIGHT MUSEUM LoneStarFlight.org

Learn.

For an authentically Texan experience, check out the Butler Longhorn Museum, home to the largest collection of longhorn history in the world.

A sophisticated waterfront city, Nassau Bay is also across the street from Space Center Houston—the most popular attraction in the Houston Metro region. Take a tram tour to visit Historic Mission Control, get up close to the enormous Saturn V rocket, and walk beneath a flown SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Stop

by Nassau Bay Peninsula Wildlife Park, a 76acre wetland, for an easy stroll with rewarding views of Clear Lake.

EXPERIENCE YOUR PRIVATE

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Dining, Club Events, Resort Style Pool, Youth Sailing Program, and a Harbor directly on Galveston Bay - HYC has something for everyone.

Contact the Membership Director for more details and schedule your private tour.

Houston Yacht Club | 3620 Miramar Drive | Shoreacres, TX 77571 281-471-1255 www.houstonyachtclub.com

C ontents

64 26 8 PUBLISHER’S LETTER 10 EDITOR’S LETTER 12 CITYBOOK AT LARGE

Feeder 16 NEWS Meet H-Town’s Tokyo contenders, indulge in summer’s tastiest treats, and more!

22 DESIGN Whimsical décor in shades of sorbet has us melting.

24 MUSIC Folk-rockin’ Ancient Cat Society and other bands are busy readying post-pandemic records.

26 REAL ESTATE Extra! Ten pages delving into Houston’s scorching hot real estate market!

46 PARTY PEOPLE

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Features 54 A DAY LIKE THIS Swimwear. Lingerie. A pretty little peak at early fall. The annual Sexy Issue has returned with Volume 4.

Book Reports 70 DINING Ben Berg’s latest smash-hit, and all the best dining news!

72 SUMMER AGENDA Staycations, sensational meals, sips, shops, spas and more: Here’s how to spend your summer in Houston as the city reopens with a bang.

82 GUIDEBOOK 88 SECOND GUESS

JEFF GREMILLION Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor

Evan W. Black

Creative Director

Patrick Magee

Style Editor-at-Large Senior Stylist Podcast Producer Senior Writer Writers

Photographers & Illustrators

Stylists & Groomers

Kate Stukenberg Todd Ramos Luke Brawner Daniel Renfrow Chris Becker, Leah Cast, Holly Crawford, Brant Croucher, Ray Dennison, Amanda Llanes, Zachary McKenzie, Ed Nawotka, Mellanie Perez, Mai Pham, Gemini Quintos and Natalia Gonzalez Blanco Serrano Kat Ambrose, Dionne Christiansen, Greta Connolly, Fulton Davenport, Jenn Duncan, Kelli Durham, Kirsten Gilliam, Carla Gomez, Jhane Hoang, Shannon O’Hara, Daniel Ortiz, Phoebe Rourke, Ashkan Roayaee, Debora Smail, Julie Soefer, Al Torres and Steven Visneau Bianca Linette, Edward Sanchez and Tanesha Seafous

LISA HOLTHOUSE Executive Publisher

PERIMETER ART

Sales Director

Peter Remington

Associate Publisher

Jennifer Kahlden

Account Executive

Erica DeBose

Operations Director

Eric Holden

Technology Director

Christopher J. Nodd

Advisors & Partners

M. Sonny Garza and David Paul Rabalais

GALLERY & FRAMING

Accountant

Christopher Doyle

945 McKinney Street, Suite 119, Houston, Texas 77002 832.514.3001 Phone | 832.514.3002 Fax FOR SALES INFORMATION sales@houstoncitybook.com TO CONTACT AN EDITOR evan@houstoncitybook.com

PERIMETER ART 2365 RICE BLVD, SUITE E • HOUSTON, TX 77005 • (713) 521-5928 WWW.PERIMETERART.COM PERIMETERART@OUTLOOK.COM

PAINTINGS • SCULPTURES • GLASS • POTTERY • FRAMING

President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Gremillion Vice President Lisa Holthouse Chief Operations Officer Eric Holden Chief Technology Officer Christopher J. Nodd Advisors M. Sonny Garza and David Paul Rabalais Style Editor-at-Large Kate Stukenberg

4721 Westheimer Road Houston, TX 77027

713.871.1074

www.lesleyannjewels.com

@lesleyannjewels

Publisher’s Letter

I LISA HOLTHOUSE Executive Publisher

is on fire this summer. The restaurant, art and real estate scenes are sizzling hot. So to those who aren’t ready to take the big travel plunge quite yet: You couldn’t have picked a better time to enjoy the local opportunities to frolic and play. Our editors have covered much of it in their fun “Summer Agenda” report in this issue!

I don’t know about you, but I’m happy. I’m just flat out happy and content to be alive and thriving and free.

Everything I do is enjoyable — down to the menial moment of driving my moody, nonverbal teenage son to football practice at 8am.

Houston is open for business! Enjoy every moment of your summer. I’m hoping our magazine — whether online or print — gives you plenty of ideas to become reacquainted with all of our city’s great treasures.

With gratitude…

photo by steven visneau; shot at omni houston

8 | houstoncitybook.com

t’s summer!

And this time, it actually feels like summer! Unlike last year, which seemed like some wacky, distorted, alternate universe version of summer.

The world feels right again.

Across the city and even the country, facemasks are the new weird, whereas last summer, a mask-less face was considered weird.

Planes are flying abroad.

Weddings that were postponed two and three times are now triple the original size and happening in full force — indoors! People are throwing parties, attending parties, raising money at events and dancing close into the wee hours of the night. We are on the other side of this crazy rollercoaster pandemic, and we are better because of it.

In years past, summer in Houston might be a slow season. But because of what we have all endured for the past 15 months, Houston

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Editor’s Letter

W

10 | houstoncitybook.com

Space Cowboy, embracing the slightly wacky energy, with yet more irreverence around the powder rooms.

“Please don’t do coke in the bathroom,” sensibly reads a neon sign just outside.

We like Heights House so well, we decided to shoot our annual Sexy Issue fashion story there — celebrating the city’s re-emergence with a bit of audacity of our own. For our swimwear-plus spread, CityBook Creative Director Patrick Magee and I asked photographer Steve Visneau to channel Bruce Weber — the lensman who did those racy Abercrombie & Fitch ads in the ’90s — in a partly black-and-white, studiously suggestive shoot. Hope you like it as much as we do.

All that said, it seems the wildest and craziest scene right now isn’t bodacious bars or even babes in bikinis. It’s real estate. Managing Editor Evan W. Black reports on all the latest stats, and most soughtafter properties, in a recordshattering seller’s market. We know which neighborhoods are way up, and which ones aren’t, and we name names.

Sexy is back, baby — in a big way. Have drink by the pool. Hell, buy the damn pool.

Make the absolute most of Houston’s joyful return to life.

It’s definitely going to be that kind of summer.

JEFF GREMILLION Editor-in-Chief

photo by steven visneau; jacket by zegna, shirt by eton, pocket square by eleveny, jeans by ag, all at m penner; shot at omni houston

e make much in this issue of the city’s long-awaited and vibrant return to normal as the pandemic ends. With good reason! What used to be the dog days of summer — the only time all year when you could string together a few weeks of downtime with no social demands — are, in 2021, bustling and bountiful. The dreadful heat and humidity we love to hate is proving no match for the pent-up demand in town — for fun!

Dozens of new restaurants and bars — especially bars — have opened, and many of them are wildly colorful and a bit cheeky in concept. The city’s creative class had lots of time to marinate in their madness over the past 18 months or so, and the fruits of it are ripening everywhere.

I can’t wait to drop into Downtown’s new Cherry. If this isn’t on your radar, the ’80s and ’90s bar is mostly red, has a disco unicorn where a disco ball would be, and the men’s room has more of a ribald art-installation situation than everyday urinals.

New Heights House hotel has also opened, another bold idea come to life. Developers have overhauled an old retro motor motel off the freeway and turned it into a vividly hued, poolside boutique hotel with a uniquely funky feel. The bar here is called

OFF THE WALL GALLERY PRESENTS

the retrospective BACK TO HOUSTON

August 20 - September 6, 2021 Main Gallery The Galleria / Suite 2208

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Atelier Off The Wall Suite K102B / Galleria One - Across from Prada . 832.804.6923

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CityBook At Large Updates

from HoustonCityBook.com & beyond

ICYMI

Insta-Worthy Moments

Here are a handful of hits from our social-media feed. Follow @houstoncitybook for more!

COOLEST PEOPLE

A Sicilian Baker Doesn’t Just Make Amazing Italian Snacks. He Is One.

June 1 Katie Beal Brown, founder of Lone River’s Ranch Water hard seltzers, turned a Texas tradition into a booming new business.

CityBook Digital debuted a new column highlighting the most fascinating faces in Houston.

Among the first subjects? Hot Italian pastry chef Diego Chiarello, whose La Sicilia bakery in Montrose proffers items like ciambella cakes in flavors like strawberry shortcake or matcha with freeze-dried raspberries and a white chocolate drizzle. Want a bite?

June 10 Tandem exhibitions at UH’s Blaffer and Texas Southern University celebrate the work of Houston-born artist Jamal Cyrus.

PET PROJECT

MUSIC

Adopt this Adorable Rescue, Brownie

Tobe Nwigwe Lands ‘Ebony’ Cover

CityBook Digital highlights an adoptable pet each week! While this five-year-old mixed-breed pup spent the first part of her life chained up outside, her Friends for Life foster family says she’s super smart — and now socialized and ready for her forever home.

12 | houstoncitybook.com

As reported in CityBook Digital, trailblazing Houston rapper Tobe Nwigwe appeared on the first-ever digital cover of the newly relaunched Ebony magazine in June. The issue celebrated Black Music Month and Father’s Day.

May 21 Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House debuted a delicious bayside brunch, complete with this over-the-top Bloody Mary.

AWARD-WINNING DESIGN FIRM AND SHOWROOM 1300 Shepherd Drive, Houston, TX 77007 832.804.6300 EKLEKTIKINTERIORS.COM

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Summer 2021 STYLE, CULTURE, BUSINESS & MORE

Collection Inspection THE MFAH’S NEWLY completed Fayez S. Sarofim Campus is state-of-the-art, to be sure. And this summer, an exhibit will capture the essense of its namesake’s affinity, as Three Centuries of American Art showcases more than 200 masterpieces from Sarofim’s personal collection — including this one, “The Green Fuse,” by Lee Krasner. For more on the MFAH’s stellar summer lineup, turn to page 72.

FEEDER News

THE DISPATCH

STYLE

Gucci has strutted out its new Basket Sneaker collection of genderless high tops inspired by basketball and designed by creative director Alessandro Michele. Through July 12, the brand’s boutique inside the Galleria will host an “immersive” popup-style experience called Gucci Pins, a play on the pins on interactive digital maps. gucci.com

Duos

POP CULTURE

At this year’s Comicpalooza, taking place July 17-18 at the George R. Brown, a galaxy far, far, away is going to get just a smidge closer to Space City: Four cast members from Disney+’s hit show The Mandalorian — Giancarlo Esposito, Carl Weathers, Katee Sackhoff and Ming-Na Wen — will be joining in on festivities, including meet-and-greets, this year at the popular annual cultural festival. comicpalooza.com

FAMILY FUN

After a 10-monthlong Covidinduced closure, the Children’s Museum has reopened, with new exhibits like the interactive Invention Convention, as well as new “tropi-cool” programming all summer long.

16 | houstoncitybook.com

BALTIMORE BROTHERS

ALEX AND ERIC SMITH opened Ouzo Bay and lively Loch Bar two years ago in Houston’s River Oaks District, a risky move for the brothers from Baltimore — but one that’s paying off in spades. And now they’re ready to expand.

Later this year, the duo, whose Atlas Restaurant Group has 22 concepts in the works along the East Coast and in Texas,

open an as yet unnamed upscale Italian concept in Montrose Collective, a new mixed-use development next door to Uchi.

It’ll focus on homemade pastas, prime steaks and chops. Per usual, entertainment and ambience will be a major focus, and a Steinway piano will center the front lounge.

Think squid-ink pasta with live jazz on a Friday night.

“We are likeminded, and we have a shared vision,” says Eric, the younger brother by six years. “We want to take over the world.” –ray dennison, photo by daniel ortiz

Design

Fully Furnished Crate and Barrel’s hip younger sib CB2 has opened a 10,000-square-foot store on University in the heart of Rice Village, where West Elm also unveiled its newest location, in the former Urban Outfitters space.

Luxury Real Estate Reimagined.

River Oaks ∙ $18.9M+

River Oaks ∙ $5.6M+

Close-In Memorial ∙ $5.4M+

River Oaks ∙ $5.1M+

Avalon Place ∙ $2.3M+

Glendower Court ∙ $2.9M+

mikem@compass.com mikemrealestate.com

Compass is a licensed real estate broker. All material is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description or measurements (including square footage). This is not intended to solicit property already listed. No financial or legal advice provided. Equal Housing Opportunity.

FEEDER News

THE DISPATCH

TECH

East End Maker Hub, the new 300,000-squarefoot and 21-acre manufacturing center and home of popular incubator space TXRX Labs and other local manufacturers, fabricators and crafters, has opened. TXRX is celebrating with a grand-opening art show featuring tech-savvy works by its three artists-inresidence through July 17. txrxlabs.org

MUSIC

Jason Mraz stops at White Oak Music Hall on his For the Good summer tour, July 31 at 7pm. And Trae Tha Truth headlines a July 23 show at White Oak, with the promise of guest appearances by friends. white oakmusichall.com

Style

Hats Off!

I

n a masculine, no-frills space across from The Continental Club, East Texas-reared milliner Ben Kennimer and his seamstress wife Bonnie sell hats — velvety, colorful, almost campy ones — and elaborately embroidered and fringed duds.

Founded in 2017, their wild Western-wear brand Kennimer Co. already has an expansive client list that includes hit recording artists like Nikki Lane, The Mastersons and Summer Dean.

It takes up to 13 weeks for Ben to make one of his custom creations, but Manready Mercantile has an impressive selection of the Kennimers’ ready-to-wear items.

–daniel renfrow, photo by jamie lacombe

Trend

STYLE

Kendra Scott is for the first time creating pieces for men. Her new Scott Bros.

Collection of men’s and gender-neutral designs is inspired by her sons, and features stones, leather and vinyl beads. Proceeds from sales of the Cade Suite of the collection will benefit the Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital Art Therapy program. kendrascott.com

18 | houstoncitybook.com

Here’s the scoop!

IF HOUSTON HAD an official summer food, it would have to be ice cream. And this season brings a bevy of cool new options for those with a sweet tooth! Popular artisan creamery Jeni’s opened its first two Houston shops in the Heights and CityCentre earlier this year. New York’s famous Van Leeuwen bowed in Rice Village with rotating exclusive flavors. In Katy, Sweet & Boozy opened with Instagrammable frozen treats for kids and adults alike, and Phat Eatery is newly scooping its housemade ice cream in flavors like ube and pandan coconut with curry sprinkle. Also coming to Katy this summer: rapper Trae Tha Truth’s Howdy Homemade Ice Cream which will employ adults with special needs.

Trae Tha Truth

BIG BANG ONE CLICK

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FEEDER News

THE DISPATCH

REAL ESTATE

Montrose Collective, the “communityforward” Montrose project by Radom Capital that this fall will bring nearly 197,000 square feet of new retail and office space to Westheimer, has announced its first tenants. Amano, the first brick-andmortar retail store

by Houston-based ceramicist Myrna Hagelsieb, will proffer carefully poured artisanal goods (below). The development will also be home to the first Texas store by revered men’s performance-fabric clothier State & Liberty — and Houston Public Library’s FreedMontrose branch.

Girl Power Soccer star Rachel Daly and new ‘Glamour’ covergirl Simone Biles, the star gymnast, are just two of the fab femmes from H-Town participating in the Tokyo Olympics.

Sports

Tokyo Swift!

T

he phrase “hot girl summer” has a new meaning for Houston sports fans, who will be cheering for a flock of strong and powerful H-Town females competing in this year’s Tokyo games.

Hometown hero Simone Biles’ Olympic journey may come to an epic conclusion this August, while others are just getting started, including Houston Dash forward and team captain Rachel Daly, who will for the first time represent her home county of

TECH

At the start of a new hurricane season, Space City Weather, the local blog with a cult following, has finally rolled out its new app for iOS and Android. The free app is one of the top downloads on Apple’s charts, and touts an hourly forecast alongside humidity levels, blog posts and more. spacecity weather.com

20 | houstoncitybook.com

Great Britain. Flyweight boxer Ginny Fuchs also hails from Houston and will be making her Olympic debut. Native Houstonian Anna van Brummen, who now works as an environmental scientist in Santa Barbara, will represent the United States in fencing.

Olympic veterans from H-Town include Cy Springs and UT grad Cat Osterman, who will pitch in her third Olympics this summer, and Sugar Land swim star Simone Manuel, who turns 25 during the Games.

–ewb, portrait by gittings photography

Art

Lindy Chambers’ ‘Big Kids’

‘Dream’ Works Bellville-based Lindy Chambers hangs colorful new paintings at Deborah Colton Gallery. Living the Dream is up through Aug. 26, with abstract and impressionist works depicting vaugely summer scenes inspired by rural Texas. deborahcoltongallery.com

Legendary

Culinary

Craftsmanship.

Homegrown Texas ranch meats, fresh Gulf seafood, and locally sourced produce are featured throughout the restaurant’s well-rounded menu.

Brunch | Lunch | Happy Hour | Private Events 1605 Post Oak Blvd • Houston, TX 77056 • 832.427.3049 KingRanchTexasKitchen.com

FEEDER Design

1

2

Sorbet Surprise As the pandemic’s clouds lift, people are finding ways to incorporate more color in their lives and homes.

Enter summery shades of pastels, recalling cups of delicious sorbet in bite size portions — a la throw pillows and tumblers — all the way up to supersize wall coverings. Grab a spoon and dig in! – evan w. black

3

1. Dripping ice cream wall covering, $5.50 per square foot, at rebelwalls.com 2. Arch mirror, $1,500, at bower-studios.com 3. Cloud apricot pillow, $60, at CB2 4. Balzac chair and ottoman, by Matthew Hilton for SCP 5. Tumblers, at Target 6. Joslyn bench, $140, by Project 62 at Target

5

6

5

4

Properties Sold in 2021 8387 Askew 18402 Autumn Park 5118 Beechnut 1205 Berthea 2706 Capitol 2611 Cason 2130 Chantilly 5642 Chevy Chase 6439 Cindy 413 W. Clay 2204 Couch 5106 Crawford 10003 Crestwater 805 Dipping 1717 Edwards 5415 Ennis 4011 Floyd 8138 Fondren 1506 Freedonia 1603 Heights Blvd.

1111 Hermann 5545 Judalon 1312 Live Oak 914 Main 3411 Marywood 100 McGowen 1409 Nagle 5006 Nolda 922 Port 6122 Queensloch 1911 Rice Mill 11910 Rocky Knoll 1010 Rosine 1924 South Blvd.

2508 Southmore 74 N. Star Ridge 1011 Studemont 1364 Studer 4301 Universal 2111 Welch 435 Westmoreland 903 Willard 5306 Windswept 5338 Windswept 817 W. 19th 741 W. 20th

Jeremy Fain

Helping Houston Find Their Home 713.677.4337 jfain@greenwoodking.com

GREENWOOD KING

PROPERTIES a place to f ind your home

FEEDER Music

Feline Fine Austin Sepulvado, Sergio Trevino and Haley Lynch of Ancient Cat Society

‘A Song Factory’ Ancient Cat Society is one of several bands racing to complete Covid-delayed records ahead of a coming autumn boom of new Houston music. By Daniel Renfrow

H

ouston folk band Ancient Cat Society may be named after one of the unfriendliest of domesticated animals — sorry, cat people — but the fact belies the sunny dispositions of its members. The affable artists, set to release their third studio album later this year, thrive on collaboration, and, in fact, also work together in two other popular bands.

Cat’s founding members — Sergio Trevino, Haley Lynch and Austin Sepulvado — are also all attached to the indie-rock project Vodi and ’70s-inspired folk act Dollie Barnes. And there’s a web of several additional musical projects that a handful of Cat’s members — which also include keyboardist Tom Lynch, drummer Tank Lisenbe and bass player Marshall Graves — are involved with, too.

Many of the bandmates met as members of long-running Houston band Buxton years ago. “Every band is the same members now,” laughs Trevino, Cat’s chief songwriter. “You could do a fiveband bill, all with members of the same band. Instead of new bands,

24 | houstoncitybook.com

we could just change outfits between sets.”

Quick-change routines notwithstanding, what’s for sure is the release of Cat’s upcoming as-yet-unnamed album, whose path to completion was downright perilous. “We were in the studio when the Rodeo got shut down, and we were in the studio when Major League Baseball got shut down, too,” says Trevino. “By the end, only those who needed to be there could be there, and nobody could touch anybody else.”

The group recorded 11 songs, many sporting a sound slightly divergent from their usual folk-tinged fare, before Covid forced a hiatus. The band will return to the studio this summer and finish the album for a late-2021 release.

And that’s not all! Vodi and Dollie Barnes also have records to wrap up and drop in the coming months. “It’s going to be a big studio year,” notes Trevino, clearly aglow at the prospect of so much collaboration and cross pollination among the bands. “I would love for us to just be a song factory of bands, where we help each other make music.” 

IN A MULTICULTURAL CITY, WORKING WITH A DIVERSE TEAM OF LOAN ORIGINATORS IS CRUCIAL We’re fast.

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We’re local.

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FEEDER Real Estate

Get Out! This stately property with a verdant front and backyard (below) at 11002 Wickwood Dr. in Piney Point is listed by Steve Baumgardner with Compass for $7.9 million.

HOUSES on FIRE Houston’s housing market is as scorching as the summer heat. Real estate experts call the Covid-era madness ‘bananas,’ and the data backs it up — record-high prices, record-low housing supply, and homes selling the same day they hit the market. Read on for all the stats, tips and trends!

By Evan W. Black, with Data from the Houston Association of Realtors

TREND

OUTDOOR OASIS

The pandemic changed a lot of how society operates — and, it turns out, what residents desire most in a home. “It was a surprisingly good year, given that we were in a pandemic,” says Compass Real Estate’s Andrew McCain, who adds people have definitely been in the market for “more square footage,” especially when it comes to outdoor living. A backyard became a must-have over the last year, “and, if possible, a pool,” says McCain, since at Covid’s peak, “it was very hard to get pools installed.” Screened-in porches, summer kitchens, seating areas around firepits and pools of all shapes and sizes are still in demand, even as the virus wanes.

26 | houstoncitybook.com

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FEEDER Real Estate

NUMBER CRUNCH

Out of This World The 7,000-square-foot home on University was completed in 1992.

-26.8

%

The decline in the volume of single-family home leases in May 2021 compared to May 2020 — while the average cost to rent a home jumped 10.6, percent to a record-setting $2,025.

ON THE MARKET

‘DARTH VADER’ HOUSE It’s an icon familiar not only to Houstonians, but to Star Wars fans

around the globe! The “Darth Vader House” at 3201 University Blvd. is nicknamed such for its resemblance to the villain’s helmet, and when it hit the market in May, it caused quite a stir on the interwebs, seeing as the current owner has famously turned down interviews and photo ops. Real estate aficionados and movie buffs alike have enjoyed flipping through the image gallery, which reveals a counterintuitively light, open interior. A sunken portion of the living room makes a unique seating area, surrounded by curiously patterned concrete and stone flooring; other oddly shaped areas are found throughout the home, which has a distinctly ’80s, yet surprinsgly fresh, vibe. It’s currently priced at $4.3 mil, and Sotheby’s requires all who wish to tour the property to present proof of funds.

TIP FOR BUYERS

“Don’t panic! Some markets are moving at a frenzied pace. A bad real estate decision can be a very costly one. You don’t want to get stuck with something that won’t sell if there is a turn in the market.”

– Walter Bering of Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty

28 | houstoncitybook.com

Right at Home The property at 4804 Bellaire has a guest house in the backyard, complete with kitchenette and bathroom.

TREND

GUEST SUITES AS TRAVEL HABITS shifted and quarantining (and childcare) became an increasingly prioritized concern throughout 2020, Houston homebuyers sought out dedicated spaces for houseguests. A private suite with its own kitchen and entrance, most often in a separate structure on the property, is an amenity that continues to be in demand well into 2021. “So much has changed since Covid,” says Compass’ Shelly Porter. “One current trend buyers are looking for is guest suites for grandparents.”

Nationally, the addition of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to existing homes is considered a trendy and innovative solution to the growing affordable-housing crisis, and it offers homeowners a chance to earn supplemental income should they decide to rent out the space.

Currently, per a study by Freddie Mac, 1.4 million single-family homes across the country have ADUs; California, Florida, Texas and Georgia account for half of those. And an analysis by Homelight shows that more than a quarter of realtors surveyed at the end of last year believe that guest suites “will be the most prominent home-design trend to emerge from the pandemic environment.”

3659 MEADOW LAKE LN | RIVER OAKS $4,350,000 | 3659MEADOWLAKE.COM 5 BR | 6.5+ BA | 7,322 SF Contact me today for more information.

New construction home designed by Rice Residential and Chandos Interiors.

WALTER BERING #1 TOP PRODUCER 713.851.9753 | walter.bering@sir.com WALTERBERING.COM

@WALTERBERINGSOTHEBYS

FEEDER Real Estate

HOT ’HOOD

MEMORIAL

Centre Point Memorial-area CityCentre

Desk Duty The late Gerald Hines’ study

ON THE MARKET

GREAT ESTATE THE ESTATE OF Gerald Hines, one of the world’s most successful developers, and namesake of the University of Houston’s architecture school, who passed away in August 2020 at the age of 95, hit the market in March. Hines’ River Oaks villa at 2920 Lazy Ln. is listed for $34.5 million by Douglas Elliman Texas.

The 4.5-acre property, situated on the

NUMBER CRUNCH

48.2 30 | houstoncitybook.com

%

famous street between Buffalo Bayou and Kirby Dr., has five bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, plus a 3,000-square-foot atrium with an enclosed pool and tennis court.

The home, designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects and completed in 1992, was initially inspired by holidays spent in Tuscany.

Traditional elements — inlaid floors, marblebedecked bathrooms — abound.

The increase in sales of single-family homes in May 2021 compared to last May. Nearly 10,000 homes closed in May 2021, marking the greatest year-over-year singlemonth sales-volume increase of all time.

memorial park photo courtesy visit houston

The Memorial Villages run rampant with vacation-worthy properties that anyone would have killed to utilize during those early months of quarantine. So it should come as no surprise that the housing market there is red-hot!

“I’ve had several empty-nester couples upgrade to larger homes and lots to accommodate a growing family that’ll include grandkids,” says Walter Bering with Martha Turner Sotheby’s. “At the other end of the spectrum, millennials seem to be leaving apartments and putting down roots.

Areas like Memorial and farther west have benefited from this migration.”

Specifically, the number of transactions in May 2021 in the Memorial Villages and Memorial West neighborhood was up 36 and 30 percent, respectively, compared to May 2020. The inventory of available homes for sale dropped by 45 and nearly 60 percent over the same timeframe.

Two of the priciest homes sold in all of Houston in May 2021 are less than a mile from each other in the Villages: 337 Folwell Ln. and 11914 Broken Bough Dr. are both smarttech-outfitted new builds that sold the very same day they hit the market, emblematic of just what people are looking for — and how aggressive buyers need to be at times.

Contact me today for more information.

WALTER BERING #1 TOP PRODUCER 713.851.9753 | walter.bering@sir.com WALTERBERING.COM

@WALTERBERINGSOTHEBYS

FEEDER Real Estate

RIVERSIDE Nestled between Hermann Park and MacGregor Park, just south of UH and sprawled along the banks of Brays Bayou, is a community of historical homes — many of them mansions — called Riverside.

The hundred-year-old development was initially a haven for wealthy Jewish families — including the Weingartens, Fingers and MacGregors — who were barred from residing in other parts of town like River Oaks. By the 1970s, it had become a predominantly Black neighborhood, and in the decades since, it’s gentrified significantly due to the rise of the Med Center and universities. The evolution has been steady, though not always welcome.

But it has had an undeniable impact on the housing market, one emphasized by 2020’s events. The average sales price of a home in Riverside nearly doubled, to $557K, in April 2021 compared to April 2020, while the inventory of houses on the market was sliced by 56 percent; year-to-date, prices are up 35 percent compared to the same timeframe last year.

Going, Gone!

This $5.95 mil fourbedroom home at 3839 Inverness Dr. was under contract within five days of going on the market.

HOT ’HOOD

RIVER OAKS “THERE HAVE BEEN more sales in River Oaks in the five-million-dollar-plus price range over this past year than I’ve seen my entire career,” says Walter Bering of Martha Turner Sotheby’s.

Indeed, the sale of mega-million-dollar mansions helped drive the average sales price of a home in River Oaks up to $3.2 mil in April, a 21 percent increase over April 2020. The length of time a home lingered on the market in April was down by a whopping 75 percent, and the overall number of transactions that were finalized in January through April of 2021 doubled compared to the same timeframe last year.

Long story short? Things are moving.

Compass’ Andrew McCain attributes the swift nature of the River Oaks market to the general lack of inventory. He tells the story of an older home with eightfoot-ceilings that sold in two days with six offers, and a laundry list of people calling regularly to see if the deal had fallen through. The whole ordeal was a great surprise. “Because the house had good bones and grand-scale room sizes, there were more buyers wanting to renovate it than builders wanting to knock it down,” he says, indicating that this is a new shift.

“The buyer that’s going to be the end-user of the home is out there in strong force, looking to renovate.”

NUMBER CRUNCH

-40.6

Fifties Fab A 1950-built Riverside Terrace home at 2641 Prospect St., fully renovated in 2020, is listed for just shy of $700K.

32 | houstoncitybook.com

%

The change in number of active listings for the month of May 2021 compared to one year earlier.

Sales once again dramatically outpaced new listings, and the inventory of single-family homes — or how long it would take for every home on the market to sell, if no new listings were added — was squeezed to 1.4 months. Nationally, inventory stands at 2.4 months.

river oaks district photo courtesy visit houston

HOT ’HOOD

IN A NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR YOU

SIMPLY EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE

713.446.2473

MEMORIAL VILLAGES

|

shelly.porter@compass.com

TANGLEWOOD AREA

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shellyporter.com

MEMORIAL VILLAGES

Compass is a licensed real estate broker. All material is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description or measurements (including square footage). This is not intended to solicit property already listed. No financial or legal advice provided. Equal Housing Opportunity.

FEEDER Real Estate

TREND

HIP HOME OFFICE

Lovely & Lazy A lazy river meanders through the backyard of 99 West Grand Regency in The Woodlands, listed for $7.5 mil and placed under contract after just four weeks.

SUBURBS

THE WOODLANDS Taking into account factors such

as family-friendliness, community amenities, crime and safety ratings, school and job options, and cost of living, Niche.com annually ranks the “best places to live” in the United States. For years, The Woodlands has appeared on this list — and in 2021, it grabbed the top spot.

The master-planned community, largely considered the best of its kind in the nation, offers a unique focus on an outdoor lifestyle — hike and bike trails, lakeside living — which is something

that millennials in particular are seeking when purchasing a home.

The numbers prove just how desirable The Woodlands is: The average price of a single-family home sold in January through April of this year is just shy of $600,000, which is up by 25 percent compared to the same timeframe last year. The number of transactions shot up by nearly 60 percent — nearly twice as many homes closed this April as compared to April 2020 — and most homes these days take just a month to sell.

IT’S NO SECRET that utilizing or creating a home-office space was among the very first changes that homeowners made at the start of the pandemic. “With living and working habits shifting more to the home than ever before, a designated office — or two — is essential,” says Julia Wang of NextGen Real Estate.

Today’s ideal floorplan, Wang says, “offers a clear separation between work and play,” the latter being spaces such as media rooms and man caves.

It’s a slight degree removed from the widely touted open-floorplan trend of the last two decades, but Wang says a house needs to be able to comfortably accommodate several people spending more and more time at home.

Interestingly, as Compass’ Andrew McCain points out, other formerly covetable amenities went by the wayside as folks prioritized a home office. “There were a lot of builders putting in wine cellars, and that became less of an interest.”

Book Nook A quaint home office at 6615 Mercer St. in West U, listed

by Lee Kaplan with Compass for $1.85 mil and under contract within four weeks

TIP FOR SELLERS

“It’s important that your home looks well maintained, de-cluttered, and has a fresh, neutral palette. Staging is also important. There are so many things that can be done to put your house at the top of the list.”

– Shelly Porter of Compass Real Estate, noting that a good realtor can help prepare the home and advise on pricing, often resulting in a home selling quickly and for more money 34 | houstoncitybook.com

Find Your Dream Home.

Kim Whaley 713.922.6110 kim.whaley@compass.com

107 Memorial Parkview Drive 4 Bed 4.5 Bath 5551 SF $2,375,000

115 Memorial Parkview Drive 5 Bed 5.5 Bath 5860 SF $1,999,000

209 Memorial Parkview Drive 4 Bed 4.5 Bath 4188 SF $1,995,000

106, 110 Wellington Row Road 3 Bed 3.5 Bath 2600-3100 SF Starting at $1,059,500

403, 407, 411 Wetherby Terrace 3 Bed 3.5 Bath 2839 SF Starting at $1,295,000

402, 404, 406, 408 Egerton Crescent Drive

3 Bed 3.5 Bath 3345 SF Starting at $1,595,000

Compass is a licensed real estate broker. All material is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description or measurements (including square footage). This is not intended to solicit property already listed. No financial or legal advice provided. Equal Housing Opportunity.

FEEDER Real Estate

High Life This $1.7 mil custom build at 1302 Omar St., listed by Bill Baldwin of Boulevard Realty, was under contract within four days; the Heights has tons of great restaurants like Field & Tides,

HOT ’HOOD

THE HEIGHTS

The statistics for the Greater Heights area, per

the Houston Association of Realtors, may be slightly underwhelming compared to how the market is performing as a whole: Sales prices of single-family homes are up around 7 percent year-to-date compared to the same timeframe last year, while the average time a home lingers on the market is down almost 15 percent.

But the district’s overall numbers only tell part of the story.

Certain sections of the Heights are exploding. And, don’t forget, the neighborhood has been popular for quite a while.

This is a boom on top of a boom.

“For years, the Heights has been a very hot market,” says

Andrew McCain of Compass. “Homes are sold with multiple offers, and that’s continued with even more offers this year.

In the Heights, if you list a single-family home, you’re going to get a minimum of three offers on it.” McCain points specifically to areas zoned to Harvard and Travis Elementary schools as desirable for young families moving into the area.

Greenwood King Properties’ Jeremy Fain also calls out a subset of the Heights as a particularly “bananas” marketplace.

“The Heights has been insane, in the $750,000 to $1.2 million range,” he says. “They’re flying off the shelves.”

Throughout the neighborhood, new mixed-use developments — M-K-T, Stomping Grounds — continue to add walkability and great restaurants and shopping, furthering the area’s appeal and adding a little gasoline to the fiery housing market that doesn’t seem to be cooling any time soon.

NUMBER CRUNCH

387,105

$

The average price — a record! — of a single-family home sold in May 2021, up nearly 30 percent compared to one year prior. Meanwhile, the average price of a townhome or condo was $238,839, the second highest figure on record. The number of sales of the latter doubled year-over-year, while inventory was practically sliced in half.

36 | houstoncitybook.com

FEEDER Real Estate

TIP FOR SELLERS

“Sellers want to take advantage of the market, and they want to be in position to pull the trigger when the right new house comes along.”

– Mike Mahlstedt of Compass Real Estate, noting that many sellers are opting for short-term leases once they shift into buying mode, not wanting to feel rushed in the process

TREND

NICE & NEW

A flood. A freeze. A crippling heat wave. Our climate isn’t easygoing on structures, a fact that weighs more heavily on Houston homeowners with each passing year.

New builds are a top choice among buyers. There is a daily convenience of energy efficiency and “smart” tech.

And these things “can make a huge difference to the long-term structural integrity of a home,” says NextGen’s Wang. (And who, by the way, doesn’t appreciate a turn-key, design-savvy property?)

Andrew McCain of Compass says, in his experience, new builds are especially popular among folks moving into Houston from other cities. And as for that pesky post-pandemic inflation?

He suggests we likely have yet to see the impact, but buyers can expect to inherit that increased cost soon.

Eastward Bound EaDo has for years been a top choice among young professionals — but is the market here cooling?

Eastward Bound HOT ’HOOD

THE OUTLIERS? EaDo has been a top choice among young professionals for years — but is its popularity waning?

FOR YEARS, A handful of neighborhoods have enjoyed a steady rise in reputation, reflected in a robust housing market.

Among them: Montrose, EaDo and the GOOF, or Garden Oaks and Oak Forest.

While the current citywide trends suggest skyrocketing prices and a record level of buyer demand are givens, some of these previously “hot” ’hoods may be a little cooler through this boom time.

The average sales price of a single-family home in Montrose is holding steady, down

NUMBER CRUNCH

Brand-New Buy! Kim Whaley with Compass lists this custom build at 107 Memorial Parkview Drive — alongside several other neighboring properties —for $2.4 mil.

38 | houstoncitybook.com

291

%

about 3 percent year-to-date compared to the same months of 2020. Parts of the GOOF are in high demand — particularly in the pocket of more affordable homes west of the bayou — but generally, homes here are taking significantly longer to sell than at this point last year. And in the market area East End Revitalized, which encompasses EaDo, home prices are relatively flat; the average home to sell in May 2021 sat on the market for nearly two months, compared to 45 days in May 2020.

Increase in sales for the month of May, year-over-year, in the luxury sector, which includes all homes priced $750,000 and above. This unprecedented surge in high-dollar homebuying is responsible for pushing pricing to record-setting levels.

Wisdom, Deep Market Knowledge, Tenacity...

Steve Baumgardner As a longtime Top Producer, Steve is relentless in the representation of his buyers and sellers. Steve is consistently involved in many of Houston’s most significant residential real estate transactions.

Steve Baumgardner Broker Associate 713.294.3408 steve.baumgardner@compass.com

All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage. Compass is a licensed real estate broker. Equal Housing Opportunity.

FEEDER Real Estate

STORYBOOK CHIC

Are You Game?

The 2004-built home at 4801 Holly St. is on the market for $1.9 mil.

HOT ’HOOD

BELLAIRE & BRAESWOOD

It seems the stigma of Hurricane Harvey may be wearing off. In the neighboring areas of Bellaire and Braeswood Place, prices are up — way up. “It got a bad rap for a couple of years,” says Compass’ Mike Mahlstedt, “but most of those houses had never flooded before and haven’t since.”

Average sales prices in both previously undervalued neighborhoods are hovering around $1 million; in Braeswood Place, a smaller pocket that abuts West U to the north and the Med Center to the

A RIVER OAKS ESTATE reminiscent of an English countryside manor is asking $26.5 million. The 18,000-square-foot home at 3996 Inverness Dr. is situated on two acres, and the building boasts $1 million in stonework alone (some imported from Cottswald, England).

With interiors by Houston designer Robert Dame, the property is made for entertaining: There’s a grand foyer that leads into a massive wine cellar with triple-barrel-vaulted brick ceilings. And a billiard room makes guests feel like they’ve been transported to a British pub.

(They can even stay the night in a guest cottage that has its own gym and sauna!)

Outside, a climatized poolside pavilion boasts a commercial grill, pizza oven and crawfish boiler.

east, prices are up 34 percent year-todate compared to the same timeframe in 2020. The larger Bellaire ’hood touts a 27 percent increase in average sales price as well. And the number of transactions that were finalized in January through April of this year nearly doubled in both areas compared to the first four months of 2020.

“It’s got great proximity to the Med Center, and lots of beautiful parks and trails,” says Mahlstedt. “It’s a great neighborhood.”

NUMBER CRUNCH

48,208

The number of new-home construction permits issued in Houston in 2020, the most in the country, per the National Association of Home Builders.

40 | houstoncitybook.com

Manor Matters The ‘storybook’ property at 3996 Inverness Dr. hit the market in February.

woodlands photo courtesy platinum luxury auctions

ON THE MARKET

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BOULEVARD We Are a Classroom & Incubator for All Things Houston.

We Are a Group That Comes Together and Models the Value of Community.

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and I Am Proud to be the Broker & Owner.

We don’t just practice Houston real estate with the highest degree of knowledge and integrity; we have a vision for the kind of city Houston can be. A city for all, one with thriving neighborhoods. A city that you are as proud to call home as we are, where your home represents your shared sense of opportunity and quality of life with your neighbors. How can we help you to achieve that?

Broker/Owner

C HE RYL M CC L E ARY B R AD L EY M I L L E R ELSA M OR SE CYNTH I A M U L L I N S F RAN K M U N I Z K EL LY M YE R S D R EW PL AT T KAT H L E E N POWE L L R HON DA POWE R TO NI PU CC I AR E L LO J O S H R OD R I G U E Z WE N DY R OSE N F E L D

R OSE SC H AR N I N G KAY SC HWARTZ R I C K SM AI L E AM AN DA SM I TH H OL LY SM I TH D E B OR AH SU L AK ANGELICA TEACHOUT M AR I AN N E TE R R E L L JAYE TU L L AI E R I C TU R N E R AN N E VASTAKI S CATH E R I N E ZAR AS M AR I TZA ZU Ñ I G A

C o m e S e e U s At 927 Studewood St • 200 Houston, TX 77008

713.862.1600 • yourblvd.com Realtor.

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If your property is listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. We are happy to work with them and cooperate fully.

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4.4 billion

$

The total dollar volume in single-family home sales for the month of May 2021, up 100.5 percent compared to May 2020.

Suburban Style A $2.5 mil Italian-inspired estate at 3035 Ginter Lane is situated on 2.4 acres.

TREND

HIGH-RISE HAUTE THE COVID-ERA REALTY MARKET is skyhigh. Literally. Jacob Sudhoff, CEO of Douglas Elliman’s Texas operation, said his firm did more luxury high-rise and mid-rise business in the first quarter of 2021 than in all of 2020.

“And we are seeing continued growth.”

Sudhoff attributes this boom, which is affecting “the neighborhoods” like River Oaks more than Downtown, to many factors.

Crime is less of a concern, he says, and your penthouse is unlikely to flood. But mainly, a Covid priority shift might be at play. “Some people are upsizing their second homes and downsizing their primary homes in Houston.

They want a lock-and-leave in the city, as they expand on the ranch or in Aspen.”

The next big high-rise real estate trend: converting apartment buildings to condos, to create more inventory in the $500,000$600,000 range, where there’s a serious dearth. The Museum District’s Parklane project is leading the way.

SUBURBS

KATY Go West! It’s a popular sentiment among homebuyers these days, as Katy’s housing market is hotter than ever.

The sprawling suburb is broken down into four market areas, two north and two south of I-10. All four boast an inventory of one month or less; that means if homes continued to sell at the current pace, and no new homes came on the market, everything would be sold in less than 30 days. The time

an individual home sits on the market is, averaged across the four areas, just under 30 days — down by 53 percent year-to-date compared to the same timeframe in 2020. (Homes in Katy North are flying off the market after just two-and-a-half weeks!)

In Katy’s priciest pocket — a market area dubbed Katy Southwest that sits just outside the Grand Parkway and includes the neighborhoods near the popular La Centerra center — homes this year are, on average, selling for $431,000, which is 16 percent more compared to the same months of 2020.

TIP FOR BUYERS

“Be tenacious! Talk to your realtor about where you can flex to make your offer as compelling as possible.”

– Julia Wang of NextGen Real Estate

42 | houstoncitybook.com

Making a Splash Units at The River Oaks highrise on Westheimer are going for nearly $10 million.

woodlands photo courtesy platinum luxury auctions

NUMBER CRUNCH

DREW PLATT

ANNE VASTAKIS

PR OVE N R E S U LTS I N H O U STO N H E I G H TS A N D B EYO N D

G E TS YO U M OVI N G I N T H E H E I G H TS A N D S PR I N G B R A N C H

R E ALTO R & TO P PR O D U C E R ®

DREW PLATT 713.962.8319

drew@drewplatt.com

HOLLY SMITH

R E ALTO R

®

ANNE VASTAKIS 713.410.0277

anne@yourblvd.com

LAUREN ALFF

S I M PL I F YI N G B UYI N G A N D S E L L I N G I N T H E LO O P

A TO P PR O D U C E R F R O M OA K FO R E ST TO R IVE R OA KS

R E A LTO R & TO P PR O D U C E R ®

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HOLLY SMITH 281.799.3242 holly@yourblvd.com

If your property is listed with a real estate broker, please disregard.

It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers.

We are happy to work with them and cooperate fully.

LAUREN ALFF 281.630.9749

lauren@yourblvd.com

713.862.1600 • yourblvd.com

FEEDER Real Estate

ON THE MARKET

LUXE LANDMARK

For a King This million-dollar listing at 6102 Majestic Pines has a screened-in porch overlooking a backyard paradise.

SUBURBS

KINGWOOD

For the last couple of years, developers have been eyeing the northeast side of Houston, particularly in the areas surrounding Lake Houston, for new opportunities — and, bolstered by the Covid effect, the housing market is beginning to reflect that investment. “Location is the new wild card,” says Julia Wang with NextGen Real Estate. “If your commute is non-existent, or limited to just a few days a week, you now have the luxury of living wherever you want.”

Kingwood, which, like Katy, is divided into four sub-areas, is a hot market, per HAR. Prices for single-family homes sold in either the Kingwood East or Kingwood West

pockets in April 2021 skyrocketed by about 30 percent compared to April 2020.

Across all four zones, more than 600 transactions were completed through April this year, a 29 percent increase over the same timeframe last year, and those homes took an average of 25 days to sell — as opposed to 57 like last year.

This summer, an impressive mansion hit the market, showing how far $5.5 mil can go in Kingwood. The house at 8 Deer Ridge Estates Blvd. sits on a four-acre hillside lot, said to be the highest point in the suburb, and boasts more than 17,000 square feet. There’s an indoor half basketball court, seven fireplaces and seven custom chandeliers imported from Prague; outside, there’s a waterfall pool, lighted tennis courts and sprawling grounds set with fruit trees.

A HISTORICAL LANDMARK is on the market for $3.25 million.

The 1940-built home at 3408 Ella Lee, listed

by Walter Bering with Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Real Estate, received its official designation from the City of Houston in 2008. Mature oaks line the property, designed by architects Hiram Salisbury and T. G. McHale and once owned by famed dermatologist Everett Seale. It’s around 4,200 square feet — modest in River Oaks terms, but a true Colonial Revival gem. Original touches remain, but it’s a thoughtfully and thoroughly remodeled home, with large, open rooms and a gourmet kitchen.

History Class The 1940-built Ella Lee home received a City of Houston Landmark Designation in 2008.

TIP FOR SELLERS

“Don’t be greedy. Be realistic about what the market it actually doing.”

– Greenwood King’s Jeremy Fain, outlining that the present market, while crazy, does have its limits; sellers can save time and bother by pricing their properties within reason.

44 | houstoncitybook.com

JIM FORD

3 0 YE A R S O F I N D U ST RY EXPE R I E N C E WO R K I N G FO R YO U B E FO R E , DURING, AND AFTER THE SALE R E ALTO R & TO P PR O D U C E R

CATHERINE ZARAS F R O M STA RT E R H O M E S TO FO R EVE R H O M E S I N S I D E O R O UTS I D E T H E LO O P

®

JIM FORD 713.614.5706 jim@yourblvd.com

TIFFANY FUSILIER BASED IN T H E H E I G H TS , S E L LS A L L O F H O U STO N

R E ALTOR

®

CATHERINE ZARAS 832.723.1021

catherine@catherinezaras.com

CYNTHIA MULLINS

TO P PR O D U C I N G H E I G H TS AG E N T B AC K E D BY 20 + YE A R S O F K N OWL E D G E A N D EXPE R I E N C E R E A LTO R & TO P PR O D U C E R ®

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®

TIFFANY FUSILIER 281.928.9259

tiffany@yourblvd.com

If your property is listed with a real estate broker, please disregard.

It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers.

We are happy to work with them and cooperate fully.

CYNTHIA MULLINS 713.829.3052

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713.862.1600 • yourblvd.com

Party People

SOCIAL SUMMER

Summer slowdown? Not this year. Glam galas, poolside parties and virtual affairs are filling up calendars straight through to the start of what it sure to be a sensational season of fabulous fall fetes. Glimpse some of spring and summer’s most exciting soirees, and check out houstoncitybook.com for more posh parties.

Susan and Neal Hirsch at the Stages gala

Richard Flowers and Lynn Wyatt at Asia Society’s Tiger Ball, which raised $1.3 million

Tina Pyne and Terrry Wayne Jones at Bayou Bend’s Garden Party

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Emily Schmeltz, Jacklyn Freeman and Rachel Farris at the Theorem Sauvignon Blanc release party with fashion show

by Tootsies

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Party People

tiger ball by daniel ortiz and emily jaschke; bayou bend and grand gala by jenny antill; ust by giselle dodge and gwen juarez; stages and cmh by priscilla dickson

The Bunk Johnson Brazz Band performs at the University of St. Thomas’ 71st annual Mardi Gras bash, which was held in May and raised $1.65 mil

Denise Fennell and Teresa Zimmerman at the Stages gala

Kelly Zuniga, John Hantak and Linda Lorelle at the Holocaust Museum’s virtual gala viewing party

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Katherine and John Plumb at the MFAH Grand Gala Ball

Rey and Montrice Wilson at the University of St. Thomas’ Mardi Gras gala

Lane Ware, Emma Willingham and Kay and Stuart Duenner at the Bayou Bend Garden Party

SPOTLIGHT ON

INNOVATORS 2021

FRANCO VALOBRA Valobra Master Jewelers

ranco Valobra is a 4th generation jeweler and owner of Valobra Master Jewelers in River Oaks. The first Valobra Jewelry Atelier opened in Torino, Italy in 1905 by his great grandfather, Vittorio Valobra, and was the official jeweler to the Italian royal family. More than a century later Valobra custom creations have been worn at the Academy Awards, the Emmys, in worldwide fashion magazines and have been commissioned for international celebrities. Crafted from rare and flawless variety of gemstones, every piece of Valobra jewelry is a one-of-kind masterpiece. In addition to the Houston showroom, there are locations in New Orleans and Lugano, Switzerland.

In addition to being one the nation’s top and most revered Italian custom jewelers, Franco Valobra’s sincere commitment to giving back to his community is unparalleled to others. He founded the Houston Ferrari Festival in 2006 which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Texas Children’s Hospital and started the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Foundation.

He has been proud supporter of countless organizations in Houston and Louisiana over the last two decades and continues to fundraise for them still today.

Valobra Master Jewelers 2150 Westheimer Rd. Houston, TX 77098 valobrajewelry.com

Party People The bustling dance floor at the Tiger Ball

Kate Stukenberg and Stefani Mayberry at the Children’s Museum lunch

Beth Wolff and Cynthia Wolff at the Theorem Sauvignon Blanc release party with a fashion show by Tootsies

Kisha and Jason Itkin at the VIP watch party for the Holocaust Museum Houston’s livestream gala

Rich and Nancy Kinder with Phoebe and Bobby Tudor at the MFAH’s Grand Gala Ball, the first event to be held in the museum’s new Kinder Building

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Eileen and Kase Lawal at the Tiger Ball

Party People Sean and Martha Wade at the Grand Gala Ball

Clay Walker performs at Cotton Holdings’ 25th anniversary bash.

Jose Ocque and Sarah Smith at the grand opening of Daisy Buchanan in Montrose

Franco Valobra, Kristen Cannon, and Faith and Lee Majors at Cotton Holdings’ 25th anniversary bash

Nicki Keenan, Pete Bell, Heather Mountain and Tilman Fertitta at Cotton Holdings’ 25th anniversary bash

Beth Muecke, Amanda Mills and Natalie Varnum at the grand opening of Daisy Buchanan in Montrose

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A DAY LIKE THIS Swimwear. Lingerie.

A pretty little peak at early fall. The annual Sexy Issue has returned with Volume 4, and the heat is on.

Photos by Steve Visneau, Styling by Todd Ramos, Art Direction by Patrick Magee, Hair and Makeup

by Edward Sanchez, Shot on Location at Heights House Hotel

Clockwise from above: Cover-up, $8,750, by Tom Ford at Neiman Marcus; swim shorts, $280, by Vilebrequin at Neiman Marcus; leopard dress by Christian Dior, and sunglasses, at Tootsies; blouse and boots by Stella McCartney, and sunglasses, at Tootsies.

Previous spread, from left to right: Boxers, $70, by Tom Ford; lingerie, $130, by Cosbella; briefs, $50, by Tom Ford, all at Neiman Marcus.

Jumpsuit by Oscar de la Renta, and sunglasses, $145, at Tootsies. Opposite page: swimsuit, $15, by Mizok at Amazon.

Swim trunks, $20, by Yuzhou at Amazon.

Clockwise from top left: Dress, by Oscar de la Renta, heels, $775, by Malone Souliers, sunglasses, at Tootsie’s; men’s button-down,

by Canali, $165, shorts, $156, sunglasses, $349,

by Maui Jim, and sneakers, $580, by Alexander McQueen, all at Neiman Marcus; tank, shorts, bag and sunglasses, all by Michael Kors Collection; silk jacket, $1,125, and pants, $600, both by For Restless Sleepers at Tootsies; dress and sunglasses, both by Michael Kors Collection.

Swimsuit, $315, by Dolce & Gabbana at Neiman Marcus.

Opposite page: Sweater, vest, body suit and skirt by Chanel.

Models: Jasmine Grant and Jack Allread for Wallflower Management and Sadie Reidy and Trey Lemons for Page Parkes Style assistant: Greta Connolly Men’s swim trunks, $20, by Yuzhou; bikini, $25, by Suvimuga, both at Amazon.

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Eat. Drink. Travel. Live.

Bread Winner

photo by falph smith

The carb-crazy creators of Doris Metropolitan steakhouse have opened a spinoff bakery in Rice Village, stocked with delicacies both sweet and savory, like this lovely loaf of rustic sourdough.

For more on Badolina Bakery and other food news, turn to page 70.

Dining

LATEST DISH! HOUSTON’S BEST FOOD NEWS, IN SMALL BITES ...

Neighborhood Nosh A prolific restaurateur brings comfortfood cool to an emerging ’hood.

By Patrick Magee, Photo by Kirsten Gilliam

B

Ben Berg may have a knack for spotting the city’s next hot neighborhood. He brought new energy to Washington Avenue in 2015 when he opened B&B Butchers, now a top Houston steakhouse surrounded by notable restaurants and bars. Now he’s set his sights on North Post Oak Boulevard with his newest venture, NoPo Café, Market & Bar. NoPo is an acronym coined by Berg for North Post Oak, the emerging district that sits east of Spring Branch, north of the Galleria and west of Timbergrove.

The come-as-you-are space, quickly becoming popular for casual business lunches, is uniquely French-countryside-meetsthe-American-West with an intimate dining room seating just 35, adorned with chandeliers and vintage wallpaper with horses and cowboys. Open all day, the menus feature classic comfort food, available for counter- or table service from 7am-9pm on weekdays, and 3-9pm on Saturdays. A grab-and-go market is stocked with fun provisions such as locally made pickles and Bloody Mary mix.

The morning menu stars housemade crispy croissants and sweet pastries, as pizzas, pastas and sandwiches arrive later in the day.

Everything is rich and decadent and fun to share. The spinach and cheese dip is served in a bread bowl with more bread on the side for dipping. The lump crab pizza — baked in a custom pizza oven — is topped with a generous pile of seafood and jalapenos.

And what says classic comfort more than cookies and milk? The cookies are joyfully jumbo with large chunks of gooey chocolate, and the milk is ice cold! 

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The owners of Israeli steakhouse Doris Metropolitan, who recently formed a restaurant group called Sof Hospitality, are making the most of their resto’s carb-savvy rep (the bread basket is truly to-die-for). Sof’s Badolina Bakery & Café in Rice Village just opened, with tons of fresh baked breads, pastries, custom cakes and more. (Get there early; the popular items sell out before lunch!) The group’s next-door Hamsa restaurant opens soon.

Chris Shepherd’s Underbelly Hospitality will open Underbelly Burger later this summer in the Houston Farmers Market, right next door to Wild Oats, which is also among his company’s concepts. Its flagship sandwich will be something similar to Hay Merchant’s juicy Cease and Desist burger.

On the move: Tilman Fertitta’s Mastro’s heads north! A version of the sultry Galleria

steakhouse opens in The Woodlands’ former Grotto space, branded as Mastro’s Ocean Club and boasting a raw-bar menu in addition to Prime steaks.

Meanwhile, Wash Ave’s hip FM Kitchen + Bar has opened its long-awaited outpost in Montrose. Find a familiar indoor-outdoor vibe, plus a 26-tap beer wall and a menu of Montrose specials courtesy of new chef de cuisine Valentin Garcia, previously with Tiny Boxwood’s. And popular patio-winebar Postino has officially confirmed it will open a 4,500-square-foot location in Town & Country Village later this summer. Cheers!

Now open in the Heights: Salad-savvy Sweetgreen and

all-day-breakfast-joint Homestead both bowed in the new M-K-T development.

And in the former BCK spot on Studewood, soon find exceptional noodles from Las Vegas-based Shokku Ramen. Down the block, previously dinner-only Fegen’s has rolled out its brunch, lunch and happy-hour menus.

Beloved Northside bar Monkey’s Tail has a new cocktail menu for the first time since opening in 2019. Concoctions

by Lainey Collum — beverage director of the newly formed Barrel of Monkeys hospitality group, which has ambitious expansion plans through 2022 — include several “highly Instagramable frozens.”

The new Cantacuya cocktail at Monkey’s Tail and, above, Badolina’s chocolate-chip cookies

monkey’s tail by kirsten gilliam; badolina by ralph smith

Il Bracco arrives this fall in the building formerly home to California Pizza Kitchen on the corner of Post Oak and San Felipe; architectdesigner Michael Hsu will revamp the interiors. The Dallas location has earned rave reviews for its Spicy Gemelli pasta with vodka sauce and standout customer service.

SPOTLIGHT ON

INNOVATORS 2021

BAYOU CITY DERMATOLOGY ermatology is about more than perfect skin.

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Summer Agenda

The Open City

Summer in Houston is usually slow, but this year, post-pandemic, it’s brimming with amazing new options for wining, dining, shopping, staycationing and more.

By Evan W. Black and Jeff Gremillion ITINERARY 1:

MONTROSE/MUSEUM DISTRICT MAGIC There’s a section of Montrose that brushes up against the Museum District, where historically funky meets artistically austere. It’s here that some of summer’s most exciting possibilities lie.

In fact, MFAH is ground zero for what’s new and spectacular. The museum will offer the Impressionism to Modernism exhibit, a vast collection of French masters such as Monet, Matisse, Cézanne, Degas and Renoir. The most anticipated show, however, is homegrown: Three Centuries of American Art. In the latter, Houston philanthropist Fayez S. Sarofim’s personal pieces will be presented for the first time; the long list of mostly U.S. featured artists includes Edward Hopper, John Singer Sargent, Georgia O’Keeffe, Willem de Kooning and Robert Motherwell.

Elsewhere on the MFA campus — which is named for Sarofim, a major donor to the museum — the art is edible. Le Jardinier, French for “the gardener,” is a masterpiece of crisp architecture, with floor-toceiling windows peering out into the Isamu Noguchi-designed Cullen Sculpture Garden and the verdant museum grounds.

The concept here, in this new gem in the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building, is to provide a highly, ahem, curated experience for guests.

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Edible Art Cured snapper with buttermilk and cucumber curls at Le Jardinier and, above, the new restaurant at MFAH aglow at dusk

With a growing list of Houston’s best in retail, dining, and entertainment, whatever your schedule and whatever your style, M-K-T provides the convenience of being a one-stop destination located in the heart of the Houston Heights.

Visit themkt.com for a list of open and upcoming retailers, restaurants, and events.

600 N.S H E P H E R D D R I V E , H O U S T O N | T H E M K T.C O M | @M K T H E I G H T S

Summer Agenda

Summer Art Spectacular Things usually cool down in the art world this season — but not this year.

Grand Hotel The renovated La Colombe d’Or, flanked by new skyscrapers, and, above Tonight & Tomorrow’s brunchtime ‘croque madame’

THE MENIL COLLECTION It closed for six months at the start of the pandemic, but upon reopening in the fall, the Menil has unveiled a series of captivating exhibits, including several that continue through the summer. Enchanted: Visual Histories of the Central Andes debuts on July 30 as the museum’s first exhibit exploring the visual culture of the Peruvian Andes. In addition to examples of festive dress and archaeological materials, the show will highlight photos by Pierre Verger, who gifted the de Menils, the museum’s founders, a large collection of his original gelatin silver prints from his trips through the Central Andes.

CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM, HOUSTON A multimedia exhibition by Los Angeles-based artist Cauleen Smith focuses on how acts of kindness and the power of revolutionary thinking, in response to the injustices and inequities our society continues to face, can create a better world. We Already Have What We Need — featuring a moving video installation by the same title — debuts July 15 and runs through Oct. 3.

MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER A summer tradition, programming at Miller Outdoor Theater has made a comeback for 2021. In August, the 47th annual Houston Shakespeare Festival highlights a series of classic Shakespeare films — Henry V, A Midsummer Night’s Dream — each one preceded by a live lecture from theatre historian and HSF executive director Rob Shimko.

ITINERARY 1: MONTROSE/MUSEUM DISTRICT MAGIC From the large forest-scene tapestry by Houston favorite Trenton Doyle Hancock, to the ceiling’s mod lanterns, also by Noguchi — and even to the unique crystalline lamps on the tables, and the dainty little drinking glasses — no detail in this space, wrapped in tones of natural wood and sage green and backed by a mirrored bar space, has been overlooked.

The theme of refinement, and reverence for the garden, spills over to Michelin Star chef Alain Verzeroli’s studied French menu.

Note the first course on the current optional tasting menu: a kind of ceviche of red snapper in buttermilk, with meticulous little curls of Persian cucumber, mango cubes, flower petals and, on the side, a quenelle of caviar. There’s an entrée of seared scallops with an artful, vividly orange splatter of carrot emulsion Jasper Johns could appreciate, and a dessert of green yuzu mousse served upon a ring of shortbread the French call sablé.

A few blocks north, on Montrose Boulevard, new 1920s-inspired sister concepts have gone in. Gatsby’s is a steakhouse that leans into its old-school sexy, with Dean Martin on the stereo, black lacquered walls, cherry-red ceilings and a few unique, rich menu items that are as much statement pieces as dishes. Deviled eggs dolloped with bacon jam and garnished with fried shrimp, anyone? Next door, Daisy Buchanan has a late-night 74 | houstoncitybook.com

Plugged In ‘Light Up Your Life (For Sandra Bland)’ by Cauleen Smith, on view at the CAMH this summer

SPOTLIGHT ON

INNOVATORS 2021

DR. CATHERINE PAPASAKELARIOU Houston Premier Dermatology

r. Catherine Papasakelariou opened Houston Premier Dermatology in 2020 with a passion for learning about the most current innovations in skin care. Her philosophy is to apply that same passion to patient education.

Dr. Papasakelariou is fluent in Greek and Spanish, and she’s learned that communication is the key to effective medical care and building patient relationships. Specializing in both medical and cosmetic procedures, she is known for her refined treatment style. Nothing makes her happier than seeing her patients skin concerns being resolved. By creating personalized plans for each patient that addresses present and future concerns, she is able to help her patients emphasize their natural beauty. Dr. Papasakelariou is

known for her conservative approach while using neuromodulators such as Botox and Dysport, as well as injectables including Juvederm, Voluma, Vollure, and Sculptra.

She received her Master’s degree in virology and gene therapy from the prestigious University of Texas Houston MD Anderson Cancer Center.

In addition, she has authored multiple papers and received several notable awards including Texas Super Doctor Rising Star for the past three years in a row. On the weekends, she enjoys biking with her husband and three children, as well as watching Formula 1 racing. Houston Premier Dermatology will be expanding its office and services soon, so stay tuned!

Houston Premier Dermatology 713.561.5633 houstonpremierdermatology.com

Summer Agenda

ITINERARY 1: MONTROSE/MUSEUM DISTRICT MAGIC bar menu, tinkling live piano, and updated Jazz Age-inspired cocktails, like the Bull in a China Shop, with whiskey, peach brandy and Earl Grey, served in an antique tea cup.

And the neighborhood is still buzzing about the renovation and expansion of La Colombe d’Or. Besides the polished redo of the old boutique hotel, and the erecting, in partnership with Hines, of a slick highrise in the back yard, encompassing both residences and urbane new hotel suites ideal for a sophisticated staycation, a fabulous new restaurant and bar has opened here.

At Tonight & Tomorrow, your dinner of steak frites with bordelaise might be served in the lovely, nearly century-old dining room filled with grand art, or in the more private sunroom, or out in the sculpture garden.

Brunch is fast becoming a tradition, thanks to the bright, friendly vibe — and a menu of can’t-lose options like a classic croque madame breakfast sandwich, exceptional chilaquiles, and a burger with caramelized onions. Cocktailing at the hotel’s clubby Bar No. 3 — or on the hotel’s gracious Southernstyle front porch — is just cool.

Summer Chic Baked Alaska at the Post Oak’s Bloom & Bee and, above, the soaking pools and garden at the Trellis Spa

Stay & Play

Whether planning a spa day, staycation or celebratory night out, there are plenty of ways to spend summer close to home.

Museum Quality Degas’ ‘Harlequin’ on display at MFAH and, above, the Bull in a China Shop cocktail at Daisy Buchanan

FOR A SPA WEEKEND The largest spa in the state of Texas has opened on The Houstonian’s verdant campus, a 26,000-squarefoot retreat with a 6,500-square-foot bathing area dubbed the Soaking Pools and Garden. Trellis Spa at the Houstonian also now has its own restaurant that overlooks stately oaks, giving visitors little reason to leave once the pampering begins.

The Houstonian Hotel also recently revamped its guest rooms, and its onsite Club is currently undergoing a nearly $24 mil reno. houstonian.com FOR A BEACHIN’ TIME WITH THE FAM Previously La Torretta, a resort on Lake Conroe has been rebranded as the Jimmy Buffet-themed Margaritaville. It opened last summer, but Houstonians are just catching on to the resort, located one hour

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north on I-45, as a great familyfriendly getaway. Post up in a private waterfront cottage or a hotel suite with a view of the pools and waterpark.

Amenities like five different restaurants, an 18-hole golf course and a great spa ensure a nice time is had by all. margaritavilleresorts.com FOR A STYLISH GETAWAY Listed among 2021’s best hotels in the country — and No. 1 in Texas — per U.S. News & World Report, The Post Oak Hotel is the place to see and be seen this summer. Between private poolside cabanas, the world-class, 20,000-square-foot spa, onsite Bloom & Bee restaurant — perfect for ladies who lunch!— and adjacent Mastro’s steakhouse, the opportunities to experience a celeb-worthy weekend abound. Pop next-door to the Galleria or across 610 to River Oaks District for spring shopping! thepostoakhotel.com

Summer Agenda

Cherry on Top Clockwise from top: Retro and wild Cherry bar, 7 Vegetable Salad at Georgia James Tavern and a home game at Minute Maid.

ITINERARY 2:

UP FOR DOWNTOWN There’s no place in town where the return to pre-Covid norms will be more notable than Downtown, where Theater District presentations soon won’t be limited to Zoom — and the crack of the bat no longer echoes through an empty Minute Maid Park. And that’s not all that’s changing.

The In Crowd fave C. Baldwin hotel has reopened for your staycation pleasure, and another of Downtown’s most luxurious lodging options — the Four Seasons — has completed a chic renovation. At the latter, the reno culminates a years-long upgrade that has included the lobby, the spa and more. Houston designer Lauren Rottet handled the guestroom makeovers, whose blue palate and crisply mod style is said to have been inspired by the big Texas sky.

Foodies in search of something new to try will seek out Chris Shepherd’s Georgia James Tavern, a laidback spinoff of his lauded Georgia James steakhouse, at Market Square

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Tower. Or The Nash, a modern grill in the Star building on Rusk, where chef Omar Pereney’s steaks, chops and tater tots loaded with roasted corn, crema fresca, cheese and chives are said to be “love letter” to American food; the dessert pizza option has apples, bourbon-infused caramel and goat cheese.

The real action Downtown, though, might be after hours, at a slew of new bars and pubs. Main Street’s High and Dry Rum Bar touts more than 200 varieties of the cane-do booze, while Angel Share HTX pub picks up where the space’s former occupant, OKRA, left off, donating a portion of its proceeds to local charities. And then there’s Cherry, the compact little ’80s and ’90s bar with big personality; think red walls, zebra floors, a disco unicorn overhead, and, in the men’s room, campy and crazy urinals you must pee … um, or rather see to believe.

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Summer Agenda

ITINERARY 3:

THE HEIGHTS’ REPURPOSED-DRIVEN LIFE If you haven’t explored the Heights lately, you haven’t explored the Heights, where tons of creative redevelopments — existing structures that have been thoughtfully repurposed in splendid ways — have arrived.

The most colorful of them might be the funky Heights House hotel on the eastern edge of the neighborhood. With vibrant hues, a pool lined with rentable cabanas and an unabashedly cheeky vibe — the neon-type sign outside the loo of its Space Cowboy bar reads “please don’t do coke in the bathroom” — the completely original retro redo of an old freeway motel is sure to be a big draw. Staycation seekers will note that overnights here are a bargain.

Of the same trend, the M-K-T mixed used development on North Shepherd, positioned along the Heights Hike and Bike Trail and boasting four acres of green space, makes use of five buildings creatively adapted by starchitect Michael Hsu. M-K-T has several interesting dining options, like

Bombshell News!

A colorful mural at Heights House and, inset, starry baubles at Chloe Dao at M-K-T

Homestead — where the crab cake Benedict, chocolate pancakes topped with queso fresco whipped cream, and a bonanza of other Southern-savvy and Tex-Mexminded brunch hits are served up on the daily. (You may feel you need to hit one of the multiple forthcoming trendy fitness facilities after you eat.) Shopping here is killer, with a Chloe Dao outpost among a plethora of bright boutiques.

The 80-year-old Houston Farmers Market also touts a much ballyhooed refresh, with the addition of new restaurants set for fall, including Chris Shepherd’s anticipated stab at a burger joint — Underbelly Burger. And Garden Oaks’ celebrated Stomping Grounds development, with cute concepts like Becca Cakes and Fat Cat Creamery, is now open and worth a sneak peak, too, as it continues to emerge, with much more to come in the autumn; yoga on the large green space is free every Tuesday evening this summer, with kiddos welcome to join.

The Venus cocktail at Midtown’s new Starck Room

Night Right!

From Midtown to Wash Ave and beyond, fashionable hot spots alight, ushering in a new roaring ’20s.

STARCK ROOM Midtown’s latest is the Starck Room, an upscale lounge inspired by the work of French designer Philippe Starck; a palette of black, gold and white gives a vibe of sophistication, and whimsical accents like a graffiti mural add dimension. Expect unique spins on classic cocktails, plus plenty of high-end champagnes and wines.

WONDER BAR Wonder Bar 2.0 — a colorful new iteration of a former Midtown staple, this time with an Instasavvy spin — opened earlier this year on the ground floor of sister property 77 Degrees. Snap endless pics against far-out backdrops and sneak a peek behind the Secret Room Door — all with a delightfully strong summery cocktail in hand.

RHYTHM ROOM Scott Gertner’s Rhythm Room opened near Memorial Park just a few weeks before the whole city shut down in 2020, fighting hard to stay in biz.

The self-branded “southern hip Creole restaurant” with nightly live music is going strong.

FAT BOOTS Cocktail cool meets ... trailer-park chic? That’s the vibe that just-opened Fat Boots hopes to bring to the Washington Corridor, encouraging patrons to dance on tabletops and wash down Jell-O shots with literal Cheez Whiz.

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Vegan gluten free banana bread with hazelnut butter at Agnes

GuideBook

Here’s where to dine, what to order, and who to know now in the most deliciously diverse city in America.

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an oversize spiral staircase joining the first-floor coffee-and-wine bar to the second-floor dining room.

The restaurant’s lunch and dinner plates are as pretty as the designer wares. 5175 Westheimer Rd., 713.623.6100

cold-pressed juices, big breakfasts and giant salads. Healthful home-style meals are casual and quick, but regulars are known to settle in with a bottle of wine at dinnertime and stay awhile. 5161 San Felipe St., 713.623.6100

that chef Olivier Ciesielski rotates seasonally. There’s a private dining room filled with 100 bottles of wine, selected by consultant Nate Rose, available for retail purchase. 240 Westheimer Rd., 713.360.6313

A’BOUZY american This sceney restaurant and patio combines a menu of shareable plates with prime meats and a raw bar. Pick from the substantial wine list that includes more than 250 Champagnes or sparklings.

Excellent take-out and delivery specials! 2300 Westheimer Rd., 713.722.6899

AMALFI italian Charming Amalfi touts coastal Italian dishes like homemade fettuccine in creamy black-truffle sauce by Salerno native chef Giancarlo Ferrara. 6100 Westheimer Rd., 713.532.2201

BACKSTREET CAFÉ american Housed in a two-story 1930s home, Hugo Ortega’s Backstreet Café became a River Oaks staple 30 years ago. Expect a menu boasting an imaginative take on seasonal fare along with hefty vegetarian selections. 1103 S. Shepherd Dr., 713.521.2239

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DINING DISTRICT 1 MEMORIAL, GALLERIA AREA, RIVER OAKS, UPPER KIRBY, MONTROSE

51FIFTEEN american Located inside Saks Fifth Avenue in the Galleria, this two-story restaurant is a design dream, with

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ADAIR KITCHEN american This Tanglewood neighborhood gem is popular for its

AVONDALE FOOD & WINE french

L’Olivier on Westheimer is now Avondale Food & Wine. Expect still-amazing shareable plates

BCN TASTE & TRADITION spanish

Named after Barcelona’s airport code, BCN offers authentic

Spanish cuisine in a whitetablecloth setting. The specialty gin and tonics are a musthave, as is the Spanish Iberico ham. 4210 Roseland St., 832.834.3411

spring for the signature El Coco dessert and use a wooden mallet to crack open its chocolate shell. 2200 Post Oak Blvd., 713.622.9996

NEW! BLUDORN american Aaron Bludorn — who’s worked in several Michelin-starred restaurants and appeared on Netflix’s The Final Table — and his wife Victoria Bludorn (née Pappas, of that Pappas family) deliver a Gulf-tinged New American menu and low-key fine-dining to Montrose.

bakery

BRASIL american/coffee Part coffee shop, part wine bar, part bistro and part art gallery, Brasil is a buzzy brunch destination, and the shaded back patio stays packed with drinkers and diners well into the night. 2604 Dunlavy St., 712.528.1993 BRENNER’S ON THE BAYOU steakhouse

Enjoy dinner with a view at this steakhouse nestled on the lush banks of Buffalo Bayou.

Steaks, sides and decadent desserts are all good bets, and the restaurant’s hip Blue Bar offers a less formal — yet still sophisticated — vibe with craft cocktails. One Birdsall St., 713.868.4444 CARACOL mexican/seafood Hugo Ortega’s seafood-savvy concept boasts Mexican coastal cuisine in a swanky, mod space on Post Oak. Order the banana-leaf-wrapped sea bass or coal-roasted peppered tuna, and

UPDATE! COMMON BOND Enjoy gourmet coffee and buttery croissants as big as your face at this Montrose bakery and cafe. Take advantage of the free Wi-Fi and post up with a lavender latte on the dogfriendly patio. There’s a drivethrough location now open in the Heights, and another coming soon to Garden Oaks! 1706 Westheimer Rd., 713.529.3535 multiple locations visit restaurant website for details DA MARCO italian High-end Da Marco puts a luxurious spin on Tuscan cuisine with dishes like spaghetti-andsea-urchin and sweet-corn ravioli with lobster. The elegant space is one often considered for special occasions. 1520 Westheimer Rd. DESSERT GALLERY bakery This Upper Kirby café is clean and bright, with colorful treats that range from bite-size brownies to decadent custom cakes for big parties. Sit and enjoy with a cappuccino. 3600 Kirby Dr., 713.522.9999 UPDATE! DISH SOCIETY american

Fast-casual diner Dish Society is known for its relationships with local purveyors. From fresh juices to the customizable farmer’s plate, diners love the

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revolving menu of clean eats.

Now open in Bellaire! 5740 San Felipe St., 832.538.1060 multiple locations visit restaurant website for details DORIS METROPOLITAN steakhouse

This glam steakhouse in the old Triniti space is inspired by Middle Eastern flavors. Hot tip: The breadbasket alone may be worth the trip, with rolls flavored with caramelized onions and presented with crushed-tomato spreads and herb butters. 2815 S. Shepherd Dr. EL TIEMPO tex-mex El Tiempo — now open in Kingwood and The Woodlands — delivers Tex-Mex in a big way with platters like the anchoglazed grilled quail with cheese enchiladas and spicy shrimp chalupas. Pair with a peach margarita and be sure to save room for tres leches cake and sopapillas. 322 Westheimer Rd, 713.807.8101 multiple locations visit restaurant website for details ELOISE NICHOLS southern Regulars post up at this Highland Village restaurant where hearty plates like the maple-brined grilled pork chop are offered alongside craft cocktails and wine.

Breakfast is served on weekday mornings and happy hour — “Afternoon Bites” include a yummy cheese board — is offered daily. 2400 Mid Lane, Ste. 100, 713.554.0136 FIG & OLIVE mediterranean Taste the elegant — and healthful — flavors of coastal Mediterranean cuisine in the expansive 7,000-square-foot restaurant in the Galleria, which features a terrace, lounge and two lavish private dining rooms. In the Galleria, 832.632.6632 FLEMING'S steakhouse Situated at the corner of West Alabama and Kirby, this River Oaks steakhouse is beloved for its happening happy hour and impeccable service. 2405 W. Alabama St., 713.520.5959 FLOWER CHILD vegetarian Wash down a scratch-made vegan wrap — the Thai Dye has spicy tofu and daikon radish — with flavored lemonade or organic wine or beer at this healthy resto. New location just opened in the Heights! In Uptown Park,

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713.730.4261 visit restaurant website for details multiple locations

GEORGIA JAMES steakhouse Chris Shepherd puts a distinct spin, as only he can, on this steakhouse named after his parents. Cast-iron-seared or wood-fire-grilled steaks from 44 Farms are presented with sides like Steen’s-vinaigrette-dressed Brussels sprouts. 1100 Westheimer Rd., 832.241.5088 GROTTO RISTORANTE italian Find sophisticated takes on Italian classics like Veal San Pietro. A festive Sunday brunch brings French toast with Grand Marnier batter and frozen peach Bellinis. 4715 Westheimer Rd., 713.622.3663 multiple locations visit restaurant website for details HOPDODDY american This wildly obsessed-over burger bar features a menu of piled-high patties with toppings like seared poblanos, apple-smoked bacon and truffle aioli alongside fries and queso. 4444 Westheimer Rd. 713.227.2337; hopdoddy.com mulitple locations visit restaurant website for details HS GREEN american Fast-food meets clean-eats at this order-at-the-counter restaurant near the Galleria. Wash down a customized wrap or salad with a cold-pressed juice. 5092 Richmond Ave., 713.904.3547 HUGO’S mexican Chef Hugo Ortega’s namesake restaurant is a Houston staple, serving up authentic Mexican cuisine with margaritas to match.

Guests love the festive weekend brunch buffet where indulging in seconds — even thirds! — is a must. 1600 Westheimer Rd., 713.524.7744 KATA ROBATA japanese Discreetly situated in a retail center, this top-notch sushi bar serves up fresh, innovative Japanese dishes daily under the direction of executive chef Manabu Horiuchi. Try a heaping bowl of spicy soy ramen — or Chef Hori’s inventive new caviar service. 3600 Kirby Dr., 713.526.8858 KILLEN'S southern Ronnie Killen’s first inner-Loop

endeavor is now open in the former Hickory Hollow space.

At Killen’s, expect much of the same mouthwatering comfortfood fare experienced at his fried-chicken pop-ups throughout the last year, plus fried green tomatoes with buttermilk sauce, and an ever-comforting chickenand-dumplings dish. 101 Heights Blvd., 713.637.4664 LA GRIGLIA italian From caprese salad to wild mushroom lasagna, the menu at La Griglia is simple, but elegant.

When Houston weather permits, enjoy the patio, complete with fire pits and scenic River Oaks views.

2002 W. Gray St., 713.526.4700 LE COLONIAL french/vietnamese French-Vietnamese cuisine is presented in a posh space in River Oaks District. Dishes like the crispy whole duck — which serves up to four people and must be ordered in advance — are authentic and full-flavored. Weekend brunch brings Vietnamese steak and eggs and “exotic” mimosas! 4444 Westheimer Rd., 713.629.4444 MAD spanish Everything at this BCN sister concept — from the mirror-lined hall to the bathroom and the cartoon-like, cheese-stuffed shiny red MAD Tomato — is photoworthy. Reservations weeks in advance highly recommended.

4444 Westheimer Rd., 281.888.2770 MALA SICHUAN chinese This longtime Chinatown favorite is equally popular inside the Loop, where its corner location in a Montrose shopping strip is reminiscent of a trendy New York resto. Mala’s menu packs a punch with dishes like the dry-pot chicken and three-pepper duck.

Now open in Sugar Land! 1201 Westheimer Rd., 832.767.0911 NEW! MARCH mediterranean A highly anticipated, exclusive and pricey tasting-menu-only affair, March lives up to the hype.

Posh snacks in the lounge include bite-size vehicles for caviar and foie gras; the main event is six or nine courses of highly refined, Mediterranean-inspired dishes by chef-owner Felipe Riccio. 1624 Westheimer Rd., march restaurant.com

MASTRO'S steakhouse At more-is-more Mastro’s, Vegas comes to Houston, with everything but showgirls and roulette wheels. Try something out of the steakhouse box, like the Wagyu hamburger helper. 1650 W. Loop S., 713.993.2500 MERUS GRILL american Uptown Park’s newly enhanced dining scene includes industrialglam Merus Grill, from the folks at J. Alexander’s. The menu touts beautifully prepared, classic American dishes — fresh seafood, burgers, piled-high salads. 1180 Uptown Park Blvd., 346.299.5775 NARIN’S BOMBAY BRASSERIE south asian

Indulge in saag paneer and chicken tikka masala (and oh so much more) at this traditional Indian restaurant run by father-and-son team Narin and Sanjay Sehgal.

Visit during weekend brunch and see what’s cooking on the tandoor in the main dining room. 3005 W. Loop S., 713.622.2005 NOBU sushi At socialite-savvy Nobu, hyperinformed waiters float around, delivering bite-sized delicacies on geometric white plates to tables. Unique takes on sushi include ones with pickled cucumbers, Shiso leaf and Japanese mackerel. In the Galleria, 832.987.2599 NORTH ITALIA italian Stop in to this hip Uptown Italian restaurant for happy hour on weekday evenings and all day on Sundays to enjoy the $20 special: a choice of a pizza, bruschetta, or meat-and-cheese board, with a bottle of wine. In BLVD Place, 281.605.4030 UPDATE! ONE FIFTH gulf cuisine In its final phase, Shepherd's groundbreaking One Fifth is currently exploring the full breadth and depth of tomato season! 1658 Westheimer Rd., 713.955.1024 OUISIE'S TABLE southern This River Oaks institution serving Southern standards — shrimp and cheese grits, New Orleans red snapper, chicken and waffles at brunch! — is charming. With a beautiful patio and private rooms, it’s a popular locale for showers, receptions and more, too. 3939 San Felipe St., 713.528.2264

GuideBook

OUZO BAY mediterranean This Greek spot in River Oaks District, known for its eyecatching seafood displays and simply delicious whole-fish presentation, is next door to the whiskey-centric Loch Bar. 4444 Westheimer Rd., 832.430.6610 PAPPAS BROS. STEAKHOUSE steakhouse

Given its expansive wine list and in-house dry-aging process, diners can expect nothing short of perfection when dining at family-owned Pappas Bros. Steakhouse. Visit the newest location in the heart of Downtown. 5839 Westheimer Rd., 713.780.7352 PEPPER TWINS chinese Don’t take the “pepper” in foodie fave Pepper Twins lightly.

The dishes at this Szechuanstyle restaurant, now open in CityCentre, incorporate serious spices like the fresh nine-leaf peppercorn, helping customers to feel the burn. Try the mung bean smoothie! 315 Fairview St., 832.649.7175 multiple locations visit restaurant website for details RAGIN’ CAJUN cajun Crawfish season is here! There’s no better spot to get the fixins for a backyard boil than the original Ragin’ Cajun on Richmond.

Don’t miss Jambalaya Tuesday, when a bowl is served with bread and a drink for just $10. 4302 Richmond Ave., 713.623.6321 RELISH american Quick counter service is offered for lunch and brunch at this café run by a husband and wife team, while evenings are reserved for a full-service dining experience. 2810 Westheimer Rd., 713.599.1960 RISTORANTE CAVOUR italian When a European vacation is not in the immediate future, visit the romantic Ristorante Cavour inside Hotel Granduca.

The elegant menu, executed

by Maurizio Ferrarese, boasts Italian plates and a wine list for days. 1080 Uptown Park Blvd., 713.418.1104 UPDATE! RIEL american Riel offers an American menu inspired by local color and chef Ryan Lachaine’s Ukrainian heritage; the Montreal smoked meat is splashed with French’s

mustard. Check out the sandwiches at lunchtime, when Riel operates as Louie’s. 1927 Fairview St., 832.831.9109 UPDATE! STATE OF GRACE southern

Grab a seat at the oyster bar during happy hour for $1 oysters at chef Ford Fry’s River Oaks restaurant. Dining out with the fam? Try the festive Sunday supper for $29/person.

The new weekend brunch touts mouthwatering cinnamon rolls and batch cocktails — even to-go! 3258 Westheimer Rd., 832.942.5080 STEAK 48 steakhouse 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, 713.322.7448 NEW! TONIGHT & TOMORROW european Storied Montrose hotel La Colombe d’Or has reopened after years of restoration, and its restaurant was worth the wait.

Expect eclectic but sophisticated European dishes with Southern touches. Be sure to check out the cocktail lounge, Bar No. 3. 3410 Montrose Blvd., 713.517.1001 TONY’S italian A cherished part of the Houston dining scene, Tony Vallone’s namesake restaurant is an exquisite treat from start to finish. Opt for the three-, fiveor seven-course tasting menu for a true culinary experience, featuring the foie gras flambé — a feast for the senses! 3755 Richmond Ave., 713.622.67788 UPDATE! TRIBUTE southern At this restaurant in the Houstonian hotel, savor unique fare that blends the flavors of Texas, Louisiana and Mexico.

Book the private wine room for a special occasion and pick your own playlist! 111 N. Post Oak Ln., 713.680.2626 UPDATE! UB PRESERV american Underbelly lives on at Chris Shepherd’s cozy concept on the Westheimer curve. Chef Nick Wong’s dim sum-style Sunday brunch was called out by Food & Wine as the most interesting brunch in America. Check

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out the new late-night menu on Thursdays! 1609 Westheimer Rd., 346.406.5923 UPDATE! UCHI japanese It’s hard to beat Uchi for fresh, interesting sushi and sashimi — and the Brussels sprouts are can’t-miss.

The sake social hour seating, which offers heavily discounted plates and wine from 5 to 6:30pm, is one of the most sought-after in the city. Prepare to wait in line.

Equally delicious: An eight-course dinner to-go, with wine, for less than $100. 904 Westheimer Rd., 713.522.4808 VIBRANT american It's easy to be happy and healthy at this adorable neighborhood café. Enjoy breakfast — dishes like the coconut-chia pudding, which is both creamy and crunchy, are served all day — and lunch in an indoor-outdoor space that feels much more Santa Fe than Houston.

1931 Fairview St., 832.409.6423 WHITE ELM

bakery/mediterranean

MAX'S WINE DIVE southern Here, keeping it classy means pairing fried chicken with a glass of Champagne. Max’s is hardly a dive, with a serious wine list and hearty Southern plates. 4720 Washington Ave., 713.880.8737; maxswinedive.com

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POSTINO italian Rosé — and everything else — all day! This patio spot in Heights Mercantile, with a second location in Montrose, is always packed, especially during the bottle-andboard special, available after 8pm on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Coming soon to CityCentre! 642 Yale St., 346.223.1111 multiple locations visit restaurant website for details RAINBOW LODGE steakhouse True to its name, Rainbow Lodge provides steakhouse and wild game fare in a rustic lodge setting.

Outdoor seating on the newly expanded wine deck is coveted.

2011 Ella Blvd., 713.861.8666 REVIVAL MARKET american Part grocery store, part coffee shop, part sidewalk café, Revival Market is your one-stop shop for a midday treat. Try the hot chicken honey butter biscuit and stock up on meat and charcuterie for the week. 550 Heights Blvd., 713.880.8463

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B.B. LEMON american Ben Berg has combined the best of his two favorite cities, Houston and New York, at his latest concept located across from his flagship B&B Butchers. Expect flavorful plates like blue-crab beignets, craft cocktails and retro-inspired desserts. 1809 Washington Ave., 713.554.1809

FIELD & TIDES american This Heights restaurant in an old 1940s gas station may seem unassuming, but the food is incredible. Try the braised octopus with chorizo and chimichurri, or the colorful soba noodle salad.

705 E. 11th St., 713.861.6143

WILLIE G'S seafood The new Willie G’s, steps from Tilman Fertitta’s new Post Oak Hotel, is glam and modern. Enjoy the rotating selection of fresh fish, and the Mexican-street-corntopped seared scallops. 1640 W. Loop S., 713.840.7190

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B&B BUTCHERS steakhouse 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., 713.862.18144

COLTIVARE italian With its strict “no-reservation” policy, the restaurant’s onsite garden — where many of the herbs and produce for the Italian dishes are grown — doubles as a charming waiting area. 3320 White Oak Dr., 713.637.4095

The Memorial area’s new White Elm Café Bakery is a nearly 3,500-square-foot space with a patio that offers walk-up coffee and pastries in the morning and lunch and dinner daily.

Expect fresh bread, and Greek specialties nodding to chef-owner “Bread Man” Tasos Katsaounis’ upbringing. 14079 Memorial Dr., 281.496.2920

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BB’S CAFE southern Get your Cajun-food fix at BB’s: From Maw Maw’s gumbo to a platter of fried catfish, find New Orleans-style cooking with a Texas twist. 2701 White Oak Dr., 713.868.8000 multiple locations visit restaurant website for details

NEW! NOPO CAFE american Ben Berg's newest all-day cafe has bowed on North Post Oak, with a menu of classics like a piled-high club sandwich, perfectly crispycrusted pizzas and more. In the front, find a large selection of unique local provisions, premade meals and freshly baked pastries, available to grab to-go or enjoy amidst the rustic-French-country environs. 1244 N. Post Oak Rd., nopocafe.com

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DINING DISTRICT 3 MIDTOWN, DOWNTOWN, EADO, THIRD WARD, FIFTH WARD

THE BREAKFAST KLUB southern Enjoy a feast of home-style classics — wings and waffles, catfish and grits — at this no-frills Midtown diner. The line starts forming bright and early, but being part of the “klub” is worth the wait. 3711 Travis St., 713.528.8561 UPDATE! BRENNAN’S OF HOUSTON southern Count on this decades-old Houston staple for an exquisite dining experience full of Southern-Creole flavors. Seating spans two levels and guests love Sunday brunch in the courtyard.

The turtle soup with sherry is famous, as are the pralines.

Inquire about cocktail kits and DIY bananas foster, to go! 3300 Smith St., 713.522.9711 UPDATE! INDIANOLA american This retro-chic diner reopened after Covid with a new focus on Gulf cuisine. On the simple menu, find not only superb seafood, but lots of plates with influence from Mexico and ones utilizing local beef and pork. 1201 St. Emanuel St., 832.582.7202 NEW! THE NASH american With a globally inspired menu of shareable seasonal items, plus plenty of hearty steaks and chops, The Nash occupies the ground floor of the historic Star building.

Guests can expect to be enticed by pies like the Pizza Bianco with truffled honey! 1111 Rusk St., 713.222.6274 NINFA’S ON NAVIGATION

tex-mex

The origin of Tex-Mex as we know it, Ninfa’s is always packed no matter when you dine. Guests love the sizzling fajitas and loaded quesadillas. In the mood for something different? Try the grilled octopus from the woodburning oven. 2704 Navigation Blvd., 713.228.1175 POTENTE italian Top-tier chef Danny Trace and Astros-owner-turned-restaurateur Jim Crane hit a haute homerun at this elegant eatery by the ballpark. Opt for tableside truffle service on handmade spaghetti al tartufo, and save room for intricate desserts. 1515 Texas Ave., 713.237.1515 STREET TO KITCHEN thai Chef-owner Benchawan Painter finally has a permanent home for her Street to Kitchen pop-up concept. The East End restaurant spotlights self-proclaimed “unapologetically, authentically Thai” food, elevating items that are traditional street foods in Painter’s native Thailand to chef-driven dishes made with local and organic ingredients. 6501 Harrisburg Blvd., 713.428.1975 THEODORE REX american Justin Yu’s modern American bistro is housed in the same location as his late, lauded resto Oxheart. He presents farm-fresh a options like the uncomplicated tomato toast or Gulf snapper in broth and a short but sweet wine list. 1302 Nance St., unit A, 832.830.8592, trexhouston.com

GuideBook

brings the comforts of down home Southern cooking to the table at Lucille’s. Go for the crab cake beignets or oxtails and grits, and adding on the piping-hot pan of corn bread is a must. Williams’ nonprofit, Lucille’s 1913, which combats food insecurity, is worth supporting, too! 5512 La Branch St., 713.568.2505, lucilleshouston.com

Brunch at Bludorn

UPDATE! TINY BOXWOOD’S american

Expect a line at this very popular garden-set getaway, where the chocolate-chip cookies have earned as much of a reputation as the restaurant itself. Snag some, along with housemade ice cream, at the next-door Milk & Cookies booth. Milk & Cookies is also now open in River Oaks, with a third coming to Memorial soon!

3636 Rice Blvd., 713.664.0141; tinyboxwoods.com multiple locations visit restaurant website for details TOUT SUITE bakery/coffee Stop by this all-day-bakery for a macaron or cupcake, or post up for a while at one of the community tables and enjoy brunch bites like avocado toast and fresh-squeezed juice. There are also CBD-infused pastries, chocolates and more! 2001 Commerce St., 713.227.8688 WEIGHTS + MEASURES

bakery/american

Glass walls at this industrialchic bakery and restaurant allow guests to witness the pastrymaking magic up close. Partake in the lively Sunday brunch with plates like cake donuts and fried chicken (which comes with a side of spinach, making this a very healthy choice). 2808 Caroline St., 713.654.1970

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DINING DISTRICT 4 BELLAIRE, WEST UNIVERSITY, MUSEUM DISTRICT, MED CENTER

NEW! AGNES mediterranean Café-grocery-store hybrid concept Agnes opened in the space formerly occupied by Tropicales in June, offering indooroutdoor, counter-service-style, Mediterranean-tinged breakfast and lunch, and sit-down dinner. A retail portion includes grab-and-go food, baked goods, gifts and more.

2132 Bissonnet St., agneshtx.com CARRABBA’S italian One of two locations which are still family-owned by Houston’s famed Carrabba family, the original Carrabba’s on Kirby serves made-from-scratch Italian fare — from pizzas fresh out of the wood-fired oven to housemade cheeses and pastas. 3115 Kirby Dr., 713.522.3131 multiple locations visit restaurant website for details COPPA OSTERIA italian All of the Neapolitan-style pizzas and handmade pastas are popular at this Rice Village winner. While the restaurant and wrap-around patio are bustling with activity, it is the walk-up pizza window that is truly a hit in the largely pedestrian-friendly area. 5210 Morningside Dr., 713.522.3535 NEW! GINGER KALE american This fast-casual, health-conscious café is a fab addition to Hermann Park. Watch the train roll by

and be entertained by the ducks and geese on the lake, all while enjoying plates like beet-andgoat-cheese toast, or a crisp salad. Smoothies and popsicles, too! 6104 Hermann Park Dr., 713.429.5238 NEW! LE JARDINIER fine dining The fine-dining French resto inside the MFAH's new Kinder Building is, itself, a work of art — both in its decor and its food presentation.

Helmed by Michelin-starred chef Alain Verzeroli and located adjacent to the more casual Italian spot Cafe Leonelli, Le Jardinier serves food celebrating French culinary technique and inspired by seasonal veggies. 5500 Main St. LOCAL FOODS american This fast-casual diner has a guiltfree menu of sandwiches, salads, soups and sides, all made fresh using locally sourced ingredients.

A cocktail and wine list at the Upper Kirby, Downtown and new Heights and Tanglewood locations make it a hip hangout. Plus: Find essentials like eggs, milk, bread and produce — plus grab-and-go gourmet items — at the new Local Foods Market in Rice Village.

2424 Dunstan Rd., 713.521.7800 multiple locations visit restaurant website for details LUCILLE’S southern Named after his greatgrandmother, Chris Williams

OUTSIDE THE LOOP HIMALAYA south asian Hidden in a retail plaza in Little India, this ultra-casual cafe is BYOB and serves up spicy Indo-Pak classics like chicken tikka masala and lamb biryani.

If you’ve been-there-eaten-that, try the smoked-brisket masala or top-secret fried chicken. 6652 Southwest Fwy., 713.532.2837 PIER 6 seafood Former Brennan's chef Joe Cervantez and Prestige Oysters' Raz Halili have opened Pier 6 in San Leon, with fresh seafood, a great brunch, and views of Galveston Bay. Sit inside or dine al fresco on the covered patio with hanging rattan swings! Expect lots of Cajun and Creole flavors on the menu, with some Asian and East Coast techniques, too. 113 6th St., in San Leon TRIS american Find modern American fare at this prized Woodlands bistro under the direction of Chef Austin Simmons.

Tris’ new menu, which debuts Sept. 7, will include casual lunch fare, high-end dinner options, and craft cocktails. The interactive, tasting-menu-touting Cureight remains. 24 Waterway Ave., Ste. 125, 281.203.5641 

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Second Guess

Beauty in Black & White This isn’t the first time CityBook editors have selected two compelling images for split covers. But this one may be the steamiest. For the fourth annual Sexy Issue, the team posted up poolside at the new Heights House hotel, where a foursome of models were featured in a fun, flirtatious shoot that yielded thousands of frames.

Photographer Steven Visneau captured artful black-and-white closeups of models Jack Allread, whose pic graces the cover of the issues on newsstands, and Jasmine Grant, who appears on the version sent to home subscribers.

Good Home.

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Doing what it takes to ensure my clients are making the best possible real estate decisions for their lifestyle needs. With over 28 years experience, I have the know-how to help you make the right decision about buying and selling your home with ease.

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Compass is a licensed real estate broker. All material is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description or measurements (including square footage). This is not intended to solicit property already listed. No financial or legal advice provided.

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