OCTOBER 2015

OCTOBER 2015

L O C A L HOUSTON

THE MEN’S ISSUE

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BBVA COMPASS STADIUM CITYCENTRE DAVID ADICKES SCULPTURES DISCOVERY GREEN DOWNTOWN GALLERIA GEORGE BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT GLENWOOD CEMETERY HERMANN PARK HIGHLAND VILLAGE HOBBY AIRPORT HOUSTON ARBORETUM & NATURE CENTER HOUSTON MOTOR PARK HOUSTON ZOO KATY MILLS KEMAH LEE AND JOE JAMAIL SKATEPARK MEMORIAL CITY MEMORIAL PARK MILLER OUTDOOR THEATRE MINUTE MAID PARK MUSEUM DISTRICT

LOCAL CITY MAP

Photography by German Arellano

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CHILDREN’S MUSEUM, CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM, HOLOCAUST MUSEUM, MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS HOUSTON, MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE, THE HEALTH MUSEUM

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NRG PARK: STADIUM, CENTER, ARENA & ASTRODOME RICE VILLAGE SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK SPACE CENTER HOUSTON SUGAR LAND THEATER DISTRICT ALLEY THEATRE, BAYOU PLACE, HOBBY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, JONES HALL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, WORTHAM CENTER

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THE MENIL COLLECTION THE WOODLANDS TOYOTA CENTER UPTOWN PARK UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON

08. GLENWOOD CEMETERY ESTABLISHED IN 1871, GLENWOOD CEMETERY IS A BEAUTIFUL OASIS ALONG WASHINGTON AVENUE. RAVINES LEADING TO BUFFALO BAYOU WITH A LUSH LANDSCAPE CREATE A SERENE END FOR MANY A NOTABLE HOUSTONIAN. ONE OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY VISITED SITES IS THE HOWARD HUGHES FAMILY PLOT. THE ECCENTRIC BUSINESS TYCOON WAS BORN IN EITHER HUMBLE OR HOUSTON AND LEFT AN INDELIBLE MARK FROM REAL ESTATE TO FILM, AVIATION TO SPACE AND PHILANTHROPY TO INVENTION. www.glenwoodcemetery.org

Illustration by Sebastian Gomez de la Torre

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Photography by Gabriella Nissen

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BEHIND THE COVER

What started out as a Fat Finds idea for this issue turned into homage to Playboy, famed photographer Helmut Newton, Halloween and the 70s. Freelance model KRISTEN LEE RAINES was the perfect gal to play dress-up with. Inspired by the Men’s Issue theme, MARZI scoured her sources for menswear and lace bunny ears were hand-made to realize the Playboy idea.

Shot on location at Select Studios, photographer ARTHUR GARCIA channeled Newton, and hair and makeup artist SHERRI EVETT transformed Kristen into quintessential bombshells like Sophia Loren and Raquel Welch.

hat could be more appropriate for the Men’s Issue than a bunny on the cover?

Hugh Hefner’s Playboy has been synonymous with “men” for over 62 years with its classic bunny. And coincidentally (or not) Halloween is this month and that aforementioned bunny just happens to be one of the most popular costumes of all time. Check out how stylist Marzi made the trend wearable.

This issue is definitely the Men’s Issue. From Chris Shepherd’s BBQ extravaganza to raise funds for multiple sclerosis on page 18 to this month’s DineWrite, a local steakhouse institution about to open a second location in downtown Houston. We’ve got inspiration for your own bar cart and a local Icon to swoon over. There’re our favorite boutiques for men and a local leather worker handmaking heirloom--quality pieces.

Of course, we wouldn’t be complete without introducing you to a few local men who we think are pretty rad right now. There’s Cory Shriver, a recent Bachelorette contestant; an attorney by day and actor on the side, Jason Gibson; Juan Carlos Herrera, a young financial powerhouse putting a spin on the market; and restaurateur on the rise Chris Cusack. Plus three movers and shakers in the Heights area share some southern comforts on page 10.

It’s reigning men this month.

Love, Carla

Carla Valencia de Martinéz Editor-in-Chief

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Behind the Cover Photography by Jordan Fischels Tassel earrings, de petra, Mason Margiela top at Sloan Hall Isabel Marant belt at Sloan Hall , Alexander McQueen cuffs at Neiman Marcus

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OCTOBER 2015 FEATURES 04 city map 06 letter from the editor | behind the cover 08 features + who’s who 10 on our radar 16 calendar 18 FOOD southern smoke 20 dine write | pappas bros.

22 open 24 perfect pairs 26 club | lounge review: moving sidewalk 28 good eats 30 your own personal minibar 32 ARTS our own local warhol 34 must-see exhibits 36 museum district 38 gish at the movies 40 fresh arts 42 recording | a road of their own: my dolls 44 COMMUNITY blue tie project 46 local icon | jim lovell 48 where to shop 50 scene 54 STYLE + LEISURE wise words on giving back 56 things we love 60 fat finds 63 reigning men 72 tools and gadgets 74 localgram

WHO’S WHO

PUBLISHER + FOUNDER alejandro martinéz | ext 2 | alex@localhoustonmagazine.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF carla valencia de martinéz | ext 3 | carla@localhoustonmagazine.com CONTRIBUTING EDITOR victoria bartlett ASSOCIATE EDITOR | SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR ida sameri | ext 8 | ida@localhoustonmagazine.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR gabriella nissen | gabriella@localhoustonmagazine.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER german arellano | ext 4 | german@localhoustonmagazine.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS adam bergen, mike cook, aaron flores, michael garfield, sarah gish, ariel jones, jeff lane, marzifat, tyler newberry, mai pham, vico puentes, lance scott walker CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS kim coffman, kennon evett, jordan fischels, arthur garcia, michael martinez, gabriella nissen, daniel ortiz, anthony rathbun, dave rossman, phoebe rourke-ghabriel, sofía van der dys, michelle watson, NASA CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS german arellano, sebastian gomez de la torre ADVERTISING + ACCOUNTS dalila jara | dalila@localhoustonmagazine.com | ext 5 | mobile 281.966.5105 grace salinas | grace@localhoustonmagazine.com | ext 7 | mobile 832.359.3122 carlos valencia | carlos@localhoustonmagazine.com | mobile 713.855.1584 william king | william@localhoustonmagazine.com | mobile 832.788.3738 ACCOUNTS luca tommasi | accounting@localhoustonmagazine.com WEB DESIGNER mdg | creative agency | www.mpiredesigngroup.com

rocco, the office "gato"

LOCAL Houston Magazine is published monthly by NODO Magazine, L.L.C., 1824 Spring Street, Studio 002, Houston, TX 77007. Copyright © 2015 by Insync Design, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. LOCAL Houston Magazine does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial, nor do the publishers assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear.

VOLUME 17 ISSUE 202

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LOCAL HOUSTON MAGAZINE 1824 SPRING ST. STUDIO 002 | HOUSTON, TX 77007 713.223.5333 | FAX 713.223.4884 | LETTERS@LOCALHOUSTONMAGAZINE.COM WWW.LOCALHOUSTONMAGAZINE.COM FACEBOOK: LOCALHOUSTON INSTAGRAM: LOCAL_HOUSTON TWITTER.COM/LOCAL_HOUSTON

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ON OUR RADAR THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY Billy Reid Morgan Weber and Bill Baldwin

By Aaron Flores | Photography by Abraham Rowe

When you spend your time eating, breathing and sleeping all things local, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. After all, that’s just one half of the equation think globally, act locally. Recently two avowedly Houston-centric businessmen retreated to an exclusive celebration of all things local to mingle with like-minded folk from all over the South. BILL BALDWIN, broker/owner of Boulevard Realty, and MORGAN WEBER, of Revival Market and Coltivare acclaim, took to Florence, Alabama, last month to Shindig No. 7, an annual festival of the “Modern South” that is the brainchild of BILLY REID, the CFDA award-winning designer whose Houston boutique is located on Westheimer near Upper Kirby. Shindig is quickly gaining a reputation as the place to hobnob with urbanites who are leading the

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localist movements in their respective cities. Weber represented the growing locavore food scene in Houston as one of the featured chefs at the Wilson Park Festival, while Baldwin used his time there as a chance to reflect on the meaning of staying local in an increasingly globalized, corporatized world. As the owner of a real estate firm that has resolved to stay independent. “The old saying remains true, real estate is local,” Baldwin says, “but I think most people in my industry and many others have adopted the mindset that localism is at best just a lofty ideal, if not a totally outdated notion.” The common essence of Shindig is clear – localist luxury means the things we love are artfully conceived, soulfully sourced, painstakingly crafted and unabashedly low-key.

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ON OUR RADAR Save the date for DEFINE’s Pink Ride benefiting breast cancer research on October 10. Bikes from all of Houston’s DEFINE studios are brought to the Montrose location. Spin to the beats of a live DJ while 10 instructors lead the ride with special theatrics like sparklers, a light show, confetti guns and more. All attendees get an official event tank and an afterparty. Proceeds benefit the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center.

All DEFINE franchises hold the same ride on the same day. www.DEFINEbody.com

The Marque, a members-only business social club in CityCentre, has recruited renowned Houston chefs Eric Aldis and Mark Cox to reinvent its menu and strategize and implement custom private event and banquet dining experiences. The duo plans to extend an unparalleled level of personalization. “Our goal is make it memorable,” Chef Cox said. “Provide that ‘wow’ factor that keeps them coming back.” www.marquehouston.com

Evelyn’s Park Conservancy have selected award-winning chef Jamie Zelko and Dalia Zelko of Zelko Concepts to run their future cafe space set to open in the summer of 2016. The new cafe will have a farm-to-table approach and will occupy the rebuilt “Little Yellow House,” a cornerstone of the old Teas Nursery property where Evelyn’s Park is being built.

The Houston Press launches a pretty genius new signature event with TACOLANDIA this month. On Saturday, October 24, from 4–7pm, enjoy an outdoor taco-sampling event and festival featuring the city’s best tacos, ranging from urban contemporary to authentic street-style. Complete with live music, cash bars with beer and cocktails, as well as awards for best tacos in various categories. At The Water Works – Buffalo Bayou Park, 105 Sabine St., Houston, TX 77007 Tickets available at www.ticketfly.com.

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ON OUR RADAR

The Visual Arts Alliance (VAA), an educational organization for serious practitioners of the visual arts and interested members of the general public, presents monthly programs. On Wednesday, October 7, the VAA program will begin with an Art Walk Tour of Rice University’s public art collection and conclude with attendance at Skyspace, James Turrell’s Twilight Epiphany installation on the campus. There is no charge to attend and registration is not necessary.

For more information, visit www.visualartsalliance.org.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is set to open its MFACafe, a new eating facility in the Audrey Jones Beck Building this fall. The restaurant will feature homemade fare of Italian-born co-creators Paolo Fronza and Matteo Alessandri and will be brought to life in the space formerly occupied by Cafe Express. www.mfah.org

The Zoo welcomed a male St. Vincent Amazon parrot name Mustique Springer. Although Springer will need to be a bit older before making his public debut in a few years, his family history with the zoo is rich, dating back to 1972. The bird derives his full name from Mustique Island, which is off the coast of his native St. Vincent, and from the late Fitzroy Springer who dedicated his life to the conservation of this species. The Zoo was the first institution to successfully hatch the species. Springer is the fourth chick hatched at the Zoo and the first male since 1972. The St. Vincent Amazon parrot is classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with an estimated 734 remaining in the wild based on a 2004 census, however their population is slowly increasing. Guests can see the four other St. Vincent Amazon parrots already in public view at the Houston Zoo in Birds of the World. www.houstonzoo.org 14

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CALENDAR | NATIONAL BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH T U E S D AY

M O N D AY

ALLEY THEATRE alleytheatre.org BBVA COMPASS STADIUM houstondynamo.com CYNTHIA WOODS MITCHELL PAVILION woodlandscenter.org DISCOVERY GREEN discoverygreen.com DOWNTOWN AQUARIUM aquariumrestaurants.com HOBBY thehobbycenter.org HOUSE OF BLUES hob.com JONES HALL houstonfirsttheaters.com

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DO SOMETHING NICE DAY

W E D N E S D AY

MAIN STREET THEATER mainstreettheater.com MILLER OUTDOOR THEATRE milleroutdoortheatre.com REVENTION MUSIC CENTER reventionmusiccenter.com NRG reliantpark.com DOWNTOWN AQUARIUM aquariumrestaurants.com TOYOTA CENTER toyotacentertix.com WORTHAM CENTER houstonfirsttheaters.com

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BALD AND FREE DAY

Revention Music Center Of Monsters and Men 8pm Discovery Green Houston Mindfulness Meditation 12pm–1pm

Hobby Matilda 7:30pm Revention Music Center Walk The Moon – Talking is Hard Tour 8pm House of Blues Billy Idol 7pm Discovery Green Houston Toddler Time 6:30–8pm

Hobby Hobby Matilda 7:30pm Discovery Green Houston Kayak Polo League 6:30–9:30pm Wortham Center A Little Day Music 12pm

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COLUMBUS DAY

EMERGENCY NURSES DAY

T H U R S D AY

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WORLD VEGETARIAN DAY

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Houston Ballet – Mixed Repertory 8pm Hobby Bonnie & Clyde 7:30pm Miller Outdoor Theatre 36th Annual Festival Chicano 7pm

F R I D AY

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WORLD SMILE DAY

Alley Theatre One Man, Two Guvnors 8pm NRG A$AP Rocky and Tyler, The Creator 7:30pm Revention Music Center Twenty One Pilots – Blurryface Tour 7:30pm Discovery Green Houston H-Town Cinema Celebration 6:45–10:30pm

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Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Counting Crows and Citizen Cope 7pm Hobby Matilda 7:30pm | Bonnie & Clyde 7:30pm NRG Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts 7:25– 10:30pm Discovery Green Houston Sounds Like Houston! Thursday Concerts Presented by Green Mountain Energy 6:30–8:59pm

Hobby Matilda 8pm | Bonnie & Clyde 8pm Miller Outdoor Theatre Dia de la Hispanidad – La Autentica Santenera de Gildardo Zarate Mendez 7:30pm Revention Music Center Centric Presents K. Michelle and Azealia Banks 9pm Discovery Green Houston Chipotle Green Film/Music Event 8–11pm

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BOSSES DAY

Revention Music Center Marina and the Diamonds – The Neon Nature Tour 8pm

Revention Music Center Garbage 7:30pm Discovery Green Houston Toddler Tuesdays 10:30am–12:30pm Wortham Center Red Bull Flying Bach 7:30pm Hobby Matilda 8pm

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Hobby Pippin 7:30pm Revention Music Center Alvin and The Chipmunks 6:30pm

Hobby Pippin 7:30pm House of Blues Young Thug 8pm

Hobby Pippin 7:30pm

Miller Outdoor Theatre Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves: The Arabian Nights, Part 1 11am NRG International Gem & Jewelry Show 12–6pm Alley Theatre The Other Place 8pm Wortham Center Tosca 7pm

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Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Oddball Comedy and Curiosity Festival: Aziz Ansari and Amy Schumer 5:15pm Hobby Matilda 8pm | Men Are from Mars Women Are from Venus 8pm Revention Music Center All Time Low and Sleeping with Sirens: Back to the Future Hearts Tour 6pm

Hobby Potted Potter 7pm

30 NATIONAL FRANKENSTEIN DAY

Hobby Potted Potter 7pm | Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt 8pm

FOR THESE EVENTS AND MORE, CHECK OUT OUR CALENDAR ONLINE AT LOCALHOUSTONMAGAZINE.COM

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Revention Music Center Mastodon & Clutch – The Missing Link Tour 6pm House of Blues Ruby Revue Burlesque Show 7pm Discovery Green Houston Scream on the Green 6–10pm Contemporary Arts Museum Houston International Literature Festival 4:30–8pm

S AT U R D AY

S U N D AY

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3 Hobby Bonnie & Clyde 3 & 8:30pm NRG Arijit Singh in concert Discovery Green Houston Houston Vision Walk 9am–1pm Alley Theatre One Man, Two Guvnors 8pm Wortham Center Fall Mixed Rep featuring Ghost Dances 7:30pm Toyota Center UFC 192 Cormier vs. Gustafsson 5:15pm

Discovery Green Houston Kidney Action Day 10am–3pm Alley Theatre One Man, Two Guvnors 2:30 & 7:30pm Wortham Center Fall Mixed Rep featuring Ghost Dances 2pm | Bayou City Jazz Series: Larry Carlton and Althea Rene 5pm Hobby Bonnie & Clyde 3pm Miller Outdoor Theatre 1,000 Lights for Peace 6pm

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Hobby Matilda 2 & 8pm | Bonnie & Clyde 3 & 8:30pm BBVA Compass Stadium Houston Dynamo vs.

Santos Laguna 7pm Jones Hall Compañia Flamenca José Porcel 8pm Discovery Green Houston Team NPF Walk to Cure Psoriasis in Houston 8am–12pm | Learn a Language! 11:30am–12:30pm Wortham Center Haydn’s Surprise Symphony 8pm

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SWEETEST DAY

IT’S MY PARTY DAY

Hobby Matilda 2 & 7:30pm | Bonnie & Clyde 3pm Miller Outdoor Theatre The Original Jersey Boy – Frank Sinatra, Big Band to Vegas 8pm Main Street Theater Goodnight Moon 1 & 4pm

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Seattle Sounders Revention Music Center Alvin and The Chipmunks 6:30pm Toyota Center Marc Anthony and Carlos Vives 8pm Main Street Theater Goodnight Moon 1 & 4pm

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Buzzfest feat. Papa Roach, Bring Me the Horizon and Panic at the Disco 1pm Revention Music Center So You Think You Can Dance 8pm NRG American Diabetes Association Expo 9am– 4pm

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25 MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY

MOTHER-IN-LAW DAY

NRG International Gem & Jewelry Show 11am– 5pm Wortham Center Tosca 2pm

Discovery Green Houston Farmers MarKIDS Days 12–2pm NRG International Gem & Jewelry Show 10am– 6pm Cureology Pedal in Pink Charity Spin Event 12pm at Ride InDoor Cycling

31 HALLOWEEN Discovery Green Houston 3rd Annual Houston Fine Art Festival Rice University International Literature Festival 3–5pm

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FOOD

SOUTHERN SMOKE It’s our innate human nature to help one another… and to eat. Southern Smoke, CHRIS SHEPHERD’S brainchild, does just this. The story goes that when Shepherd heard that his good friend and former sommelier ANTONIO GIANOLA was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, his first reaction was to “throw a huge party and raise a ton of money.” And if you know Shepherd or have seen him in our pages, it’s not hard to imagine the big, burly chef saying and doing just that. On OCTOBER 11, Shepherd is hosting Southern Smoke, an event that will turn Underbelly, Hay Merchant and Blacksmith into a massive block party with the goal of raising at least $100,000 for MS.

1. Chris Shepherd Rest: Underbelly, Hay Merchant and Blacksmith

The event will feature AARON FRANKLIN from Austin, the first pitmaster to win a James Beard Award, to serve his award-winning brisket from Franklin Barbecue; RODNEY SCOTT’S legendary whole hog South Carolina barbecue; and SEAN BROCK, the two-time James Beard award winner credited with reviving and preserving heritage foods in the South. This will also be the first event featuring the HOUBBQ Collective formed by local chefs – SETH SIEGEL-GARDNER, TERRENCE GALLIVAN, RYAN PERA, JUSTIN YU and CHRIS SHEPHERD.

5. Aaron Franklin Rest: Franklin Barbecue

2. Ryan Pera Rest: Coltivare 3. Justin Yu Rest: Oxheart 4. Rodney Scott Rest: Scott’s Bar-B-Que

6. Terrence Gallivan & Seth SiegelGardner Rest: The Pass and Provisions 7. Sean Brock Rest: Husk & Minero 8. Antonio Gianola

Tickets are available at www.southernsmoke.org.

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MS BLOCK PARTY 1

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DINE WRITE A DRY-AGED CLASSIC

Beef Carpaccio

ABOUT A DOZEN YEARS AGO, AFTER SELLING TICKETS TO MICHAEL JORDAN’S LAST PRO GAME IN HOUSTON (FOR A RIDICULOUS SUM ON EBAY), SOME BUDDIES AND I CHOSE TO CELEBRATE AT PAPPAS BROS. STEAKHOUSE ON WESTHEIMER. ONE OF THE BEST MEALS EVER. THE SERVICE WAS OUTSTANDING AND SINCE WE WERE ORDERING A FAIR AMOUNT OF WINE, THIS BRILLIANT YOUNG SOMMELIER SPENT TIME ADVISING AND EDUCATING US. I’ve been back of course, but recently I was lucky enough to get a tour with dinner. The general manager, JASON EAGAN, showed me around and talked about the dry-aging process they do in-house – the reason they serve such beautiful and delicious steaks.

I started with deviled eggs. Nothing like fresh Maine lobster and honey pepper bacon to optimize a traditional favorite. Not to be outdone was the Carpaccio: beautiful pink prime beef accompanied by arugula, thinly sliced potato and crispy flatbread, served on a giant Himalayan salt block.

Consistency is everything. The restaurant turns 20 soon and the same butcher has cut the steaks, day in and day out, the whole time. The staff is like family. Eagan himself has held several roles; in fact, I’m almost certain he was the young sommelier who guided us through the wine list years ago.

The steakhouse salad, with its apples and oranges and Roquefort cheese, was enhanced significantly by the Riesling recommended by Josh, my server. Trimbach, from Alsace, I believe.

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FOOD | ARTS | COMMUNITY | STYLE+LEISURE

Lobster Deviled Eggs

SAMPLE MENU APPETIZERS Lobster Deviled Eggs – Shucked and steamed Maine lobster and honey pepper bacon $19.95

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Prime Beef Carpaccio – with arugula, thinly sliced potato and crispy flatbread, served on a giant Himalayan salt block $19.95

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SALAD • Steakhouse Salad – field greens, sliced apples and oranges, Roquefort cheese and candied almonds $13.95 STEAKS • 16 oz. Prime Ribeye $48.95 • 14 oz. Prime New York Strip $49.95 • 14 oz. Bone-in Filet Mignon – $59.95 SEAFOOD • Pan-seared Sea Bass with Maine lobster $48.95 • Broiled Atlantic Salmon Fillet – With jumbo lump crabmeat, shrimp, capers and tomatoes in a white wine sauce $38.95

Corporate Executive Chef Michael Velardi

VEGETABLES Fresh Jumbo Asparagus $13.95 • Skillet Potatoes $10.95 • Steak Fries $9.95

Filet with Asparagus

I went traditional for the entrée: the 16-ounce prime ribeye, medium rare. Perfection.

As Jason was telling me, the DRY-AGING PROCESS is about dehydration, allowing the natural enzymes to break down the meat. What you end up with is an intense flavor that can’t be matched with any other approach.

With steak, I usually prefer a California cab, but I took my man Josh’s recommendation and enjoyed a 2013 Cabernet Franc from Barboursville in Virginia. Thank you, Josh.

The wine list is massive. For a number of years now, they’ve earned Wine Spectator’s Grand Award. The sommeliers are certified experts in the field. And the service sets the bar for any restaurant in town.

Jumbo asparagus and crab mac ’n’ cheese were decadent additions. For dessert, gooey pecan pie with praline ice cream and some 2006 “Hack” Jacquez Texas Madeira.

I need to get back for the FRED FLINTSTONE-ESQUE EXPERIENCE: a huge steak for two, with an interactive piece where they cut it tableside. Sounds manly.

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COMING SOON: Downtown Location | 1200 McKinney St.

PAPPAS BROS. steakhouse

By Jeff Lane Photography by Pappas Bros.

5839 Westheimer Rd. | Houston, TX 77057 | 713.780.7352 | www.pappasbros.com Mon–Thur 5pm–10pm, Fri–Sat 5pm–11pm | Cocktail lounge opens at 4pm daily. october 15 |

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OPEN SOUTHERN GOODS Cuisine: Southern Executive Chef/Owner: Lyle Bento 632 W. 19th St. | Tel: 346.980.8152 | www.southerngoodshouston.com Mon–Thu, 5pm–12am; Fri, 5pm–2am; Sat, 11am–2am; Sun, 11am–10pm Southern Goods is a lot like your favorite pair of well-worn jeans. Stepping through the glass doors for the first time, the one-room restaurant and bar feels comfortable. Its personality – from the playlist, to the decor (stripped brick walls, wooden picnic tables and metal chairs) – is easygoing, laid-back. It just fits. You can picture yourself grabbing a beer at the bar, noshing on snacks like the crispy pig cracklins or grubbing on a pimento cheese sandwich.

And while the ambiance is definitely a big plus, it’s the food that will keep you coming back.

Start, like we did, with the crazy good, finger lickin’ “Pig Wings,” just one of the many dishes that had us hooked on Lyle Bento’s menu. Bento’s last post was as sous chef at Underbelly, and he’s recruited other former Underbelly mates, Patrick Feges and JD Woodward, to round out his kitchen team. What that means is you can get everything from a killer cheese fondue to the delicate and oh-so-right melted brie wrapped in crispy phyllo dough, topped with green tomato and peach salad.

Feges’ “Burnt Ends” is a hunk of beef belly that arrives black and charred, with a smokysweet caramelized crust that takes the classic barbecue beef rib to another level. For dessert, get the Bourbon Balls. Doughy and boozy, these maple-tinged rounds epitomize what

Southern Goods is all about: “We’re not doing anything groundbreaking here,” says Bento. “We just want to be a neighborhood restaurant where you can go for awesome food every day.”

By Mai Pham|www.luxurytravel.about.com/od/Contributors/fl/Mai-Pham-Femme-Foodie-Biography.htm

POUR SOCIETY Cuisine: Gastropub Chefsr: Greg Lowry and Matt Lovelace 947 North Gessner, Suite B190 | 832.831.0950 | www.poursocietyhouston.com Mon–Thurs, 11am–2pm and 5–9:30pm | Fri–Sat 11am–2:30pm and 5–10:30pm | Sun 11am–5pm (brunch until 3pm) Pour Society, the new American gastropub concept by celebrity chef Bradley Ogden’s group located in the Gateway Memorial Complex in Memorial City, is big and beautiful. Flat screen TVs hang on every single wall. There is ample seating for groups and singles (including a gorgeous bar). The design is Texan chic all the way, with lots of natural wood and gray metal, round metal chandeliers and a mural of a Texas cowboy.

In other words, it’s the perfect down-home, after-work watering hole, starting with the 30+ selection of craft beers and craft cocktails on tap, and the affordable wine list where a glass of red sets you back a mere $5.50. What makes this place a must-hit, go-to spot, though, is the crazy-good food by chefs Greg Lowry and Matt Lovelace. They came up with simple menu – starters, salads, sandwiches, entrées – everything sounding so great that you kind of go a bit crazy.

Because that’s exactly what I did. Barbecue wings? Okay. Picnic platter with cornbread and liver mousse, and house-made sausage? I’m down. Mac and cheese so thick and gooey and rich you absolutely need to wash it down with a beer?

Hell, yes. And then there’s the Pour K Burger, a blow-your-mind hunk of perfect

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craftsmanship made with a Black Hill Farms ground beef cheek patty, topped with house-made bacon, pimento cheese and all the regular fixin’s on a chili-cheddar bun. Insane. Seriously, it’s all good, right down to the TV dinner that changes nightly. Think Salisbury steak or meatloaf served up on a metal plate, with a side of potatoes, veggies and a brownie – now, that sounds like a plan, doesn’t it?

FOOD | ARTS | COMMUNITY | STYLE+LEISURE

MF SUSHI Cuisine: Sushi Executive Chef: Chris Kinjo 1401 Binz St. #100 | Tel: 713.637.4587 | www.mfsushiusa.com Mon–Thurs 5:30–10:30pm | Fri–Sat 5:30–11:30pm | Closed Sunday

Where do you go in Houston when you want a blow-your-mind sushi experience? MF Sushi. Specifically, the new MF Sushi on Binz in the Museum District, the latest incarnation of sushi chef Chris Kinjo’s temple to spectacular sushi. From the moment you open the wooden doors and step into the foyer, you feel like you’ve entered a special, exotic world.

Designed by MC2 Architects (the same design/build team for James Beard Award-nominated Triniti), the new is not only gorgeous, but it’s unlike any other sushi restaurant in Houston. The main sushi bar is one big flat board, with the sushi case built into the tabletop. There is nothing separating the 12 seated bar diners from the sushi chefs, so when you get a bar seat, you not only get fantastic food, but also a culinary show.

You get to watch Kinjo and his team form perfect rice, slice perfect slices of the freshest fish, torch things and then present it in front of you, to be eaten immediately. The bar seats are reserved for guests who want to try Kinjo’s omakase, or chef’s tasting menu ($75 and up), but there are plenty of other seats in the house where you can order what you want a la carte.

Personally, the only place I want to be is at the sushi bar. It’s not inexpensive by any means, but it’s here that you get the special attention of the chef, who will prepare piece after piece of precisely created works of sushi art – usually made from fish flown in that day – just for you.

Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely.

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PERFECT PAIRS PEOPLE, MEET SIPHON. Surely by now you have heard Houston finally has a shop in town that invested the time and money to be able to brew a cup of joe using one of the finest methods around the world. This “SIPHON” method uses halogen burners to brew a wildly aromatic and floral treat. Our shop, the aptly named SIPHON COFFEE on West Alabama, offers far more than these beauties in Kennon’s picture, with a food and beverage program you simply have to try.

Sourcing roasted coffee from some of the nation’s (and local’s) finest including Stumptown, Heart, Amaya and Boomtown, Siphon’s coffee program is firing on all cylinders. The food…well it’s also nothing short of amazing, utilizing local as often as possible to make traditional foods as high quality as they should be.

Since we have your attention, it’s only fair we mention a few other Siphon specialties. Awesome Texas beers on draft and a curated wine list? Yes. Sweets from Fluff Bake Bar? Yes! Beans from all those roasters to go? Yes!!

Perfectly designed indoor and outdoor seating areas? Yes!!! But the best part? The service. Many customers are known by name (and order) and the menu has expanded over time based on customer preferences. We can’t say it enough...excellent space, excellent staff.

So our pairing for you this month (and this is not to suggest you shouldn’t actually try pairing anything and everything on the menu) is the daily siphon using Boomtown’s ‘Adado Sulula’ roast (Ethiopian beans) and the made-fresh-daily QUICHE, VEGGIE STYLE. The real distinction by using the siphon brewing method is the tea-like cup you get after the brew is ready.

Instead of the highly acidic, bold and often, burnt flavors, the siphon brewing method brings out the natural beauty of the coffee bean. The Adado Sulula is light and actually sweet, we tasted hints of blueberry and cocoa.

If this kind of stuff (flavor profiles) interests you, ask your Siphon barista; they would love to talk with you about your siphon brew of the day, which does change often. Pasture-raised Vital Farms eggs, mixed with a bounty of fresh vegetables, makes it worth being the early bird (the quiche sells out very often). Each variation of the quiche is filled with seasonal local ingredients, making them all hard not to like. Basically, this pair matches up two high-quality items produced by using the best methods and ingredients around. Breakfast is served.

By Mike Cook Photography by Kennon Evett

SIPHON BREW COFFEE + QUICHE Siphon Coffee | 701 West Alabama, Houston, TX 77006 | 281.974.4426 | www.siphoncoffeehouston.com | info@siphoncoffeehouston.com Mon–Fri: 7am–10pm, Sat–Sun: 8am–10pm

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CLUB/LOUNGE

MOVING SIDEWALK

We’ll admit we were huge fans of Goro & Gun as it always had interesting food and, man, that beverage program. So when it abruptly went on “intermission” we were not all too thrilled...soon news spread of it reopening and in the words of the immortal Lloyd Christmas: “So you’re telling me there’s a chance?” Well, at least a chance to have those drinks again. That’s right, Moving Sidewalk on the superblock of Main Street is the reincarnation. Or maybe better said, as the growth plan for the bar program that resided within Goro & Gun, and we are all better off for it!

During the intermission the interior was redesigned to fit the motif of the cocktail bar, so if you have not been back since Goro left, you are in for a nice surprise. The long bar remains and fronts a to-the-ceiling wall of spirits galore.

We saw all kinds of bottles we have never seen before, with the new antique chandelier lighting overhead guiding our tour. Tables are sparse, minus the glorious banquettes to your left as you enter, but this layout serves the bar well creating a great open and interactive atmosphere. The kitchen actually still remains but it’s now a mad scientist lab back there helping facilitate the wild cocktail program.

But really, everyone needs a Moving Sidewalk. (Think about it, how awesome would that be...but we digress.) Truth be told what we all really need is a drink like the ones at Moving Sidewalk because these cocktails are life-changing. Described in detail on the menu (down to the glass and ice, some of which is cut by hand), these are some inventive cocktails which change with the seasons and should offer something for everyone. We understand the names, which are quite creative as well, have meaning so be sure to ask if you are interested. There is also beer, wine and plenty of spirits in case you need something “normal” to drink. Another truth, the staff at Moving Sidewalk likes to have a good time, and they are going to make sure you do as well, proving you can have top-notch, highly inventive cocktails in a fun atmosphere. Be sure your tour of the moving sidewalk that is Main Street downtown stops here...

By Mike Cook | Photography by Anthony Rathbun

306 Main St., Houston, TX 77002 Mon–Sat 5pm–2am www.movingsidewalkbar.com Facebook: zmoving- sidewalk | twitter: moving-sidewalk 26

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GOOD EATS job–I have eaten their lamb vindaloo again and again. Although I must say that it’s been a bit less consistent lately, with the lamb being a bit tough on some occasions. Frequently I come for take-out, and I must say that dealing with Remin at the take-out counter is a real pleasure.

–Mered P., Yelp

FLO PARIS $$ Bakeries, French, Coffee & Tea | 5757 Westheimer Rd. | 713.706.4442 www.facebook.com/floparisbakery That place is such a gem! It feels like you’re in Paris when you walk in. They haven’t been opened for very long, so it wasn’t very crowded.

I won’t be surprised if the lunch crowd starts going there within a few months. The fresh baked baguettes really make the sandwiches phenomenal. I had the salmon tandoori sandwich several times; it has always been delicious. Their crepes, croissants and pastries are deli–Evelyn S., Yelp cious as well. I have been pleased with everything that I tried there so far and can’t wait to go back!

AVESTA PERSIAN GRILL $$ Persian/Iranian, Middle Eastern | 2691 Wilcrest Dr. 713.781.5555 | www.avestahouston.com This is going to be me and my bf’s new favorite Persian restaurant. We discovered them via Yelp, and enjoyed our dinner here to the very most. They offered fantastic service and the owner is a sweet gentleman. They have a better variety and combinations of choices than the other Persian place we’ve been to. My bf is Persian and he approved that their dish was delicious. Their grilled pineapple is a must to try.

–Bibi H., Yelp

BASHA KEBAB $$ Mediterranean | 2807 Old Spanish Trail 713.747.1000 This Turkish/Middle Eastern restaurant is just around the corner from my apartment, and I’m really glad! Really tasty food! ...I had the tilapia platter, which came with hummus, pita bread, rice and tabbouleh! All for about $10! And the very nice guy that brought me my food threw in some baklava! Everything was good! They have meat, seafood and vegetarian options. It was empty when I was there, but I suspect that they do more business during lunch hours, since they have really tasty-sounding lunch specials! I’ll definitely go back to try more!

–Alexis B., Yelp

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BLACK & WHITE $$ Mediterranean, Seafood | 1001 Studewood | 346.980.8484 www.blackandwhitehou.com First time dining here was an amazing success! We dined in the White side and tried the Nostro Polpo, Soft Shell Crab, Tuna Tostadas, Shrimp Tostadas, Tuna Cubes and Shrimp Tacos. Every single plate was to die for! In a group of 4 people, 6 of the tapas plates was enough for us and we got to try a little of everything. We can’t wait to return to try more of their dishes. The White side was mainly small dishes/tapas with only a few big entrée options. We can’t wait to return to try the Black side for an equally awesome yet different experience.

–Ariana D., Yelp

CHETTINAD INDIAN CUISINE $$ Indian, Buffet | 2122 Holly Hall St. | 346.704.2646 www.chettinadindiancuisine.com I’ve been coming to this place for quite some time, as the location is conveniently near the Med Center, and I was friendly with the previous owners and the owner before them. In its current incarnation, the decor has gotten an upgrade and looks a bit more upscale. They do a solid

EL TACONAZO TACO TRUCK $ Food Stands, Mexican | 4003 Fulton This is a source for some of absolutely the best tacos in Houston! This is true street fare the way it was meant to be. The menu is unpretentious and simple: tacos and plates. We had between us a total of eight tacos using three of the four types of meats offered: fajita, lengua and trompo. All fillings are generously scooped onto two warm, soft corn tortillas. We also added the cilantro/onion mix that was offered, along with a squeeze of fresh lemon that came with the cilantro. All of them were tender and flavorful. This place isn’t trying to be anything other than what it is. It is a cash-only food truck with no seating and a constant line of patrons looking for which is a quick and easy source for great Mexican-style street tacos.

–Nicole S., Yelp

FRESHII $ Juice Bars & Smoothies, Salad, Soup | 309 Gray St. 713.527.8525 | www.freshii.com Freshii definitely blends in with the Midtown crowd and brings the healthy alternative that has been missing in the area. I have been there a few times since its opening, and the juices are my favorite! The Carrot Zinger is yummy! I have tried the 1-day detox and soon will be doing the 5-day cleanse. Their cleanses are reasonably priced and come with a salad. I have had a couple of the bowls… The staff is friendly and the service is good. They make everything fresh, so the wait could take longer depending on the line.

–Tanequae P., Yelp

FOOD | ARTS | COMMUNITY | STYLE+LEISURE

HOGHENHEIFERZ BBQ $$ Barbecue | 410 Flag Lake Dr. | 979.529.2193 www.hoghenheiferz.com If you are lucky you will get to meet the owner David who is a handson owner that will be glad to tell you about their homemade signature bbq sauce. I must warn you that they have a mild sauce that might make you mistake the minced white chunks as seeds, but that is garlic, as well as the “knock you off of your butt spicy” bbq sauce that will have your palate begging for more. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, it’s good, it’s addictive, but it might sneak up on you and kick the butt of your tongue if you are not used to spicy notes and not expecting it.

–Eddie S., Yelp

HUYNH RESTAURANT $$ Vietnamese | 912 St. Emanuel St. | 713.224.8964 www.huynhrestauranthouston.com I highly recommend their duck salad and cold chilled or crispy warm spring rolls for appetizers! I love their crispy Cornish hen (ask them to cut into pieces, so it’s easier to eat); their house rice is really good especially with a fried egg on top; their beef tenderloin cubes with the lime pepper dipping sauce along with sautéed onions, peppers and jalapeños; their short rib entrée; their #73 – #80 (special fried noodle wedges topped with your choice of vegetables or assorted seafood in the most flavorful light brown sauce); and end with their heavenly caramel flan topped with coffee-flavored crushed ice!

–Sylvie F., Yelp

RITA’S OF HOUSTON HEIGHTS $ Desserts, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt | 2802 White Oak Dr. 832.987.4827 | www.ritasofhoustonheights.com The Heights location is finally open! I’m so happy that there’s now a Rita’s inside the inner loop! Plus it’s a few blocks from Stude Park where I like to go running, so I might have to treat myself here after a workout. The ice is awesome! I got a sample of the Swedish Fish flavor, and it was great! It was sweet but not overly sweet. I ended up getting a gelati with vanilla custard and cherry ice. The cherry ice is the best! It’s so delicious! It’s sweet and perfect! The vanilla custard is great, too, and complements the cherry ice well. It’s amazing!

–Barbie S., Yelp

SALTILLO MEXICAN KITCHEN $$ Mexican | 5427 Bissonnet | 832.623.6467 www.saltillomexicankitchen.com I was so excited to see a New Mexican restaurant open near my home and business. Saltillo is a unique restaurant in that it offers authentic Northern Mexican cuisine. This is not a quick order, eat and leave type of restaurant! Plan to enjoy dining here as they prepare all the food offerings made to order. You will not get the standard Tex-Mex tortilla chips and salsa when you are seated. Instead our waiter brought us small bowls of four different salsas – a creamy poblano, a red onion habanero (which we loved and asked for more), a hotter habanero salsa and a Serrano pepper salsa too… I thoroughly enjoyed the chicken enchiladas verdes (three nice-size, slightly crispy corn tortillas with chicken filling with a delicious special green sauce topped with Mexican cream and chihuahua cheese) and it came with Mexican rice that had fresh corn in it and their charro beans… What is really nice here is you have the opportunity to try unique appetizers, salads, soups, high-quality beef, lamb, fish and of course their own fabulous desserts! I highly recommend your giving this new neighborhood restaurant a try. I can’t wait to go back and try some of their other menu selections!

–Sylvie F., Yelp

THE AFGHAN VILLAGE $$ Middle Eastern, Afghan, Halal | 6413 Hillcroft St. 713.808.9005 | www.theafghanvillage.com Yelp brought me to Afghan Village on my mom’s birthday and I almost regretted the decision when I pulled up and saw it was not very appealing from outside but I am glad I didn’t! This place took me by surprise.

The food was awesome and even my very picky sisters ate. We had everything from the kabobs to the lamb karhai and it was all well-seasoned and cooked perfectly. I wanted to play it safe; it was my first time having Afghani food but with the excellent service and the great food, this was not my last time. Three appetizers, four dishes and two drinks came to about $60 with tip. We walked out very satisfied, and I highly recommend this place.

–Summer A., Yelp

THE HABANERO AND THE GRINGO $$ Bars, Mexican | 9902 Gulf Fwy. | 832.547.1240 www.habagringo.com My fellow Yelpers have come through again. I stumbled upon this place awhile back when I was browsing Yelp. I’m so glad I did because it has become my new favorite place for margaritas. The extensive selection of margarita flavors is actually kind of overwhelming. If there is something that you want and it is not listed on the menu, just ask! The bartender/Mr. Gringo told us he made an Arnold Palmer margarita that turned out really good. Fresh ingredients, different selection of salt rims (rock salt, Tajin, jalapeno, etc.) – you just can’t go wrong. There are two sizes to choose from and the drinks are half price for happy hour (woohoo!).

–Tiffany J., Yelp

VIETNAM POBLANO $ Vietnamese, Sandwiches, Vegetarian | 1411 Gessner Dr. 832.975.0808 | www.vietnampoblano.com My favorite sandwiches to order are the bulgogi banh mi and the combination banh mi. What makes their banh mi so delicious is their homemade garlic French mayo. You can taste the fresh and fragrant garlic in it and you can’t get French mayo this good anywhere else. I always ask for extra because it makes my sandwiches taste even better! They also offer to add an egg or avocado on top of your sandwich, which most banh mi places do not offer. (And everyone knows that everything tastes better with a fried egg on top of it.) The customer service here is outstanding! The owners definitely put forth a lot of effort to make their customers feel welcome and have a wonderful experience here.

–Jen N., Yelp

$ KEY BASED ON YELP

$ = Price Range Under $10 $$ = Price Range $11–30 $$$ = Price Range $31–60 $$$$ = Price Range Above $61

FOR OUR COMPLETE RESTAURANT LISTING, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

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Vermouth is an integral part of any home bar – essential for making classic drinks like Manhattans and Negronis. My favorite brand is the Cocchi Vermouth Di Torino, but one that you can easily find at most stores is the Dolin Vermouth de Chambray.”

–KIMBERLY PAUL, Beverage Manager at Etoile Cuisine et Bar Copper tray by Sertodo $80.

YOUR OWN PERSONAL

MINIBAR

START WITH A BEAUTIFUL, INTERESTING BAR CART. OURS IS A VINTAGE LUCITE MIDCENTURY MODERN NUMBER FROM MID CENTURY MODERN (PURCHASED ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO). ADD A FEW DECORATIVE TOUCHES FOR TEXTURE AND THEN PICK A FEW NECESSARY SPIRITS AND ACCOUTREMENTS. WE ASKED A FEW LOCAL BAR-TYPES FOR TIPS.

By Carla Valencia de Martinez Photography by Sofía van der Dys Styled by Carla Valencia de Martinez and Gabriella Nissen

Plum cocktail shaker by Tom Dixon $135 Copper fluted jigger by Sertodo $21 All credited items available at Kuhl-Linscomb.

Bar Cart at Mid Century Modern, 2215 WashingtoAve.

OTHER SPIRITS: 1. Prairie Vodka wwwprairievodka.com 2. Don Julio 1942. www.donjulio.com 3. Owl’s Brew. www.theowlsbrew.com 4. Mezcal Enmascarado. www.milagrito.com 5. Crystal Head Vodka. www.crystalheadvodka.com

“I don’t think any bar is complete without a couple of YETI Lowball cocktail glasses for light drinkers and YETI Rambler glassware for heavy drinkers. They keep ice fresh for days assuring high-quality bourbon does not get watered down and wasted.” –Dan Garrison of Garrison Brothers’ Cowboy Bourbon Kuhl-Linscomb will get their stock of the YETI highballs in January 2016, but in the meantime, we love Mario Luca Giusti’s Milly clear tumber. $25 each.

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“Good ice is necessary for building the perfect bar. Look for great ice molds to make perfect square cubes. Just like using fresh juice, you should think of ice as an ingredient.”

–ALBA HUERTA, owner Julep “There is one such thing that is the basis of any drink or cocktail (aside from the booze, of course) and that is the ice. Not having the right ice can outright ruin a good glass of scotch or well-crafted cocktail with great ingredients. Ice is the soul of any cocktail or beverage; it is the building block to anything poured over it or concocted with.”

–MO RAHMAN, head bartender at Kata Robata Sushi + Grill 4

“My home bar stocks more gins and rums, not to mention quite a few Mezcals.”

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–SEAN BECK, sommelier and beverage director, Hugo’s, Caracol and Backstreet

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2013 Manuel Olivier, Chablis Premier Cru. “2013 Manuel Olivier, Chablis Premier Cru is not your mother’s overly aimed, buttery cougar juice Chardonnay. It’s easy enough to drink on its own but pairs extremely well with food.”

–JORGE VALENCIA, retail sales manager, Rouge Wine Bar (www.rougewinebarhouston.com)

“I’m a fan of fresh squeezed lime juice.”

–PIRAN ESFAHANI, co-owner/operator Tarakaan Restaurant and Lounge. Lime juice in Canterbury Village small glass pitcher $80.

“Books like the Joy of Mixology are great for the home bar.” –CORY CIFF, F&B Operations manager at the

Four Seasons Hotel Houston and Quattro Restaurant. Pictured are two great options – Celebrity Cocktails and Craft Cocktails, by Assouline, $50.

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ART

OUR OWN LOCAL WARHOL DANDEE WARHOL, that is. The Philippines native has wasted no time setting up his own little creative community in Houston complete with a Star Wars festival. His contemporary work is a mash-up of modern art with pop art influences. His grandmother moved him and his brother to the US at the age of 8 – “but I didn’t start painting until I got into college, attending business school at UofH. I wanted to find an outlet to get away from stress due to a full-time job and school, so one day I was studying at Barnes and Noble and I picked up a Van Gogh book. This inspired me to start painting. So in 2006 midway through business school, I bought paint supplies and started painting. I’ve never stopped since.” The self-taught, colorblind artist specializes in meticulous geometric patterns with nostalgic, iconic cartoon characters from the 80s and 90s. His work is positive and smile-inducing with its bright color schemes and the larger than life depictions of pop culture that inspire him. “A lot of my ideas come from my dreams. The image of my first painting came from a dream and it was stuck in my head; painting helped release it. Other notable artists have shaped my work such as KAWS, Lichtenstein, Warhol, and with the rising presence of social media, I can now follow other amazing artists and see what cool stuff they’re making. Current trends and pop culture have big impacts to my inspiration as well.”

By day, Dandee is an atelierista – a studio teacher at Little Wonders Learning Center in Sugar Land – where he teaches art to kids from age two to high school. “I came in to visit the school and I had a great chat with Marjon, the art director of the school, and her sister Maryam, who is the school director. They offered me the job as an art teacher and I’ve been with them since. I’m really happy to be an educator for such an amazing school and especially with the new state-of-the-art school that’s being built from the ground up.” All we can say is we’re thankful Dandee is passing down his gift and passion for art to tomorrow’s artists. www.dandeewarhol.com www.littlewondersschool.com

By Carla Valencia de Martinez Photography by Anthony Rathbun

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THIS MONTH’S

MUST-SEE EXHIBITS

1. Lydia Hance and Frame Dance Productions Presents: TUNNEL VISION | Downtown Tunnel System Tucked underneath Houston’s downtown is a tunnel system that’s insulated and familiar, a rabbit hole for people to hide and hurry. Throughout October and November, Lydia Hance and Frame Dance Productions are diving into these depths to make people look up and see their surroundings in a new light.

TUNNEL VISION, a series of pop-up dance performances in Houston’s downtown tunnel system, will shake frames of reference and perception to spark creativity and renew passion for those lost in the dark.

facebook.com/framedanceproductions

2. BIANNUAL ART CRAWL | Spring Street Studios The Biannual Art Crawl features new work from over 200 artists on OCTOBER 3. Enjoy drinks, free valet and pedicab service between buildings. Spring Street is home to a diverse group of artists ranging from emerging creatives to seasoned, award-winning names.

Guests will encounter many mediums including painting, sculpture, ceramics, glass, mosaic, photography, mixed media and jewelry. The event is free and all are invited to attend and go home as collectors. www.springstreetstudios.info

3. Kelly Moran “ONLY HUMAN” | D. M. Allison Gallery Open through OCTOBER 17, Kelly Moran shows her fourth in a series of solo exhibitions at d. m. allison gallery – and continues to make comment through comparison following her exhibitions “Beg Borrow and Steal” in 2010, “American Dreamer” in 2012 and “New Works” in 2014, with her latest offering “Only Human.” The artist offers an enjoyable mixed bag of happy urban myth, late American culture POP, with a dash of Dada whimsey to be sure, but at the same time, the work is so well-executed that one wants to stop and seriously think it all over. Perusing her exploration of mixed media collage in combinations of intaglio, digital printing and carved wood surfaces, Moran makes the complex planning- and process-oriented work look inspired and of the moment. Her images are gleaned from the Internet junk heap, vintage magazines and advertising. www.dma-art.com 2

4. DIGITAL EMBRACING | Serrano Gallery Kelyne Reis will be unveiling her series “Digital Embracing” at Serrano Gallery, previously known as the Canal Street Gallery. “Digital Embracing” deals with constant metamorphoses and transformation by studying the relationship between computer art and the use of the hand, microcosm and macrocosm, fragments and unity (the whole), figuration and abstraction. Guests will enjoy 29 paintings filled with vibrant colors, the introduction talk by PhD, professor and head of Art History at the Glassell School of Art/MFAH, Anna Tahinci, and a book Reis published that showcases the entire series. www.serranogallery.com & www.kelynereis.com

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MUSEUM DISTRICT

HIGHLIGHTS

1. Lawndale Art Center celebrates the art, music and folklife of Mexico through an exhibition of artist-made retablos, student installations, workshops and performances. The Día de los Muertos series helps educate audiences and encourages dialogue about the rich Mexican-American heritage in our region, as well as promotes cultural awareness of this celebration of family, life and community.

Lawndale Art Center

4912 Main Street Houston, TX 77002 www.lawndaleartcenter.org

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

2.

Roman Vishniac Rediscovered shows five decades of work by the innovative photographer Roman Vishniac. With nearly 250 objects, including photographs, negatives, books, journals and ephemera, this is the perfect reappraisal of Vishniac’s creative output.

1001 Bissonnet Houston, TX 77005 www.mfah.org

3.

Featuring nine informative, interactive displays to help children and adults develop lifelong, healthy habits, the Bone Zone allows everyone to learn the positive effect of nutrition and exercise on skeletal health. With tons of games, hands-on activities, videos and information, this 1500-foot, carnival-themed interactive exhibit allows one to know what it means to be human with structural knowledge of your body’s intricate framework.

The Health Museum

1515 Hermann Dr. Houston, TX 77004 www.thehealthmuseum.org

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1. HOUSTON CENTER FOR PHOTOGRAPHY 2. THE ROTHKO CHAPEL 3. THE MENIL COLLECTION 4. DIVERSEWORKS 5. BUFFALO SOLDIERS NATIONAL MUSEUM 6. HOUSTON CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY CRAFT 7. LAWNDALE LAWNDALEART ARTCENTER CENTER 8.8. CZECH CZECHCENTER CENTERMUSEUM MUSEUM 9.9. HOUSTON HOUSTONMUSEUM MUSEUMOFOFAFRICAN AFRICANAMERICAN AMERICANCULTURE CULTURE 10.

10. ASIA ASIA SOCIETY SOCIETY TEXAS TEXAS CENTER CENTER 11.11. HOLOCAUST HOLOCAUST MUSEUM MUSEUM HOUSTON HOUSTON 12.

12. THE THE JUNG JUNG CENTER CENTER OF OF HOUSTON HOUSTON 13.

13. CONTEMPORARY CONTEMPORARY ARTS ARTS MUSEUM MUSEUM HOUSTON HOUSTON 14.

14. THE THE MUSEUM MUSEUM OF OF FINE FINE ARTS, ARTS, HOUSTON HOUSTON 15. CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF HOUSTON 15. CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF HOUSTON 16. THE HEALTH MUSEUM 16. THE HEALTH MUSEUM 17. HOUSTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE 17. HOUSTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE 18. RICE UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY 18. RICE UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY 19. HOUSTON ZOO 19. HOUSTON ZOO

Sam Houston Monument

Hermann Park

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GISH AT THE MOVIES

OH, THE HORROR OF IT ALL! It’s October, it’s Halloween and it’s time to get scared. Houston’s theatres are serving up blood, gore and even some sweet little Hobbits with a side of Smaug, the evil dragon. Horror-meister extraordinaire Wes Craven died recently, so this year’s first annual HORRORTHON will be dedicated to him. The organizer of this new fright fest is Damir Catic, whose company Dark Lighting Films is presenting it. He promises two feature films, one Texas premiere and four short films plus local filmmakers and special guest Marcus Nispel, director of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Friday the 13th remakes. HORRORTHON will be at the Edwards Marq*E on Wednesday, October 28, starting at 6pm.

Admission is free but those who donate blood will get VIP seats (details on the screenings and the blood donation are on the Facebook page).

September 25 marked the 40th anniversary of the Rocky Horror Picture Show – amazing to me since I grew up going to screenings many times and then projecting it while managing the River Oaks Theatre, where it’s been showing for over twenty years. An annual tradition is to show RHPS on Halloween weekend and this year is no exception. The current live cast, the Royal Mystic Order of Chaos (pictured), is hamming it up with the film on the second Saturday of every

month – but for October, Rocky Horror will be onscreen and the Chaos crew will be on the ground on Friday, October 30, and Saturday, October 31, at midnight.

Fathom Events has been presenting an ongoing series of films and satellite live shows across the country; and Houston theatres, both mainstream and art, have been able to secure many of their films. Last month they scared audiences with the zombie thriller Hive (pictured) but this month, the closest they’ll get to zombies is with Peter Jackson, New Zealand director of zombie comedy Dead Alive. His recently made Hobbit trilogy will be onscreen – The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (extended version) will play October 5; The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (pictured) will play October 7; and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies will play October 13. For more info and tickets, visit www.fathomevents.com.

Fathom has teamed up with Turner Classic Movies at the end of this month to present a double feature of Dracula films – the original 1931 classic and a Spanish language version. Dracula will be haunting theatres in Houston on Wednesday, October 28, at 2pm and 7pm.

The Desolation of Smaug

WANT TO SEE MORE ART FILMS? Royal Mystic Order of Chaos

CHECK OUT THESE VENUES

14 Pews (www.14pews.org) Alamo Drafthouse (www.drafthouse.com) Asia Society (www.asiasociety.org/texas) Aurora Picture Show (www.aurorapictureshow.org) Blaffer Art Museum (www.blafferartmuseum.org) Café Brasil (www.cafe-brasil.net) Contemporary Arts Museum (www.camh.org) Discovery Green (www.discoverygreen.com) DiverseWorks (www.diverseworks.org) Holocaust Museum (www.hmh.org) Jewish Community Center (www.erjcchouston.org) Landmark River Oaks Theatre (www.landmarktheatres.com) Menil Collection (www.menil.org) Miller Outdoor Theatre (www.milleroutdoortheatre.com) Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (www.mfah.org/films) Orange Show (www.orangeshow.org) Rice Cinema (www.ricecinema.rice.edu) Sundance Cinemas (www.sundancecinemas.com)

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FOOD | ARTS | COMMUNITY | STYLE+LEISURE

Looking for 速 Crate and Barrel & Restoration 速 Hardware , Style Furniture?

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FRESH ARTS SCENE

Photography by Cris Stephens

OCTOBER HAS THE TENDENCY TO GIVE US THE SPOOKS. GET BOLD WITH THIS MONTH’S FRESH ART SCENE. RHAPSODY NOUVEAU | Apollo Chamber Players Sunday, October 4, 6pm Apollo opens its 2015/16 season with the first concert at the new Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston (MATCH). Join Apollo for a concert connecting the Jewish and African-American plights of persecution and the creation of music reflective of these experiences. Program features music by Milhaud, George Gershwin, William Grant Still, and the world premiere of a newly commissioned work, based on Provençal Jewish folk and American jazz music, by Israeli-born composer Gilad Cohen. Special guest: mezzo soprano Sofia Selowsky, HGO studio artist. Tickets start at $30. The MATCH is located at 3400 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002. For more information, visit www.apollochamberplayers.org.

INPRINT PRESENTS STEPHAN PASTIS | Inprint Sunday, October 18, 3pm Inprint invites you to enjoy an afternoon with bestselling author and syndicated cartoonist Stephan Pastis. Mr. Pastis will share his fourth book in the popular Timmy Failure series, Timmy Failure: Sanitized for Your Protection, for ages 8–12. After his presentation, he will take questions from the audience, followed by a book sale and signing, giving fans a chance to visit with him. Books will be available for sale at the event through Blue Willow Bookshop. The reading will take place at Johnston Middle School at 10410 Manhattan Drive, 77096. The event is free. For more information, visit www.inprinthouston.org.

READFEST HOUSTON | Next Iteration Theater Company Friday, October 23, 6:30pm | Saturday, October 24, 4pm READFEST HOUSTON showcases six diverse Houston theater companies in two days at the MATCH. On October 23 and 24, Next Iteration Theater Company (NITC) is launching a new collaborative theater festival, sponsored by the MATCH and CultureMap. The READFEST will open on Friday, October 23, at 6:30pm, with a reception followed by shows by The Landing Theatre and Hune Company. On Saturday, October 24, shows continue from 4pm onward with readings by The Ensemble Theatre, Wordsmyth Theater, Black Lab Theatre and NITC. Audiences will be able to join NITC, as well as the other participating theater companies for socialization in the MATCH breezeway between shows, and at various Midtown bars for after-parties. MATCH is located at 3400 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002. The event is free. For more information. visit www.nextiterationtheater.com.

Photography by Dianne K. Webb

EXHIBITIONS AT BOX 13 | Box 13 ArtSpace Through November 7 BOX 13 ArtSpace is pleased to present four exhibitions opening September 26, 7– 9pm.

In the Downstairs Front BOX, Barchael, a combined creative identity of Michael Bernhardt and Barry Whittaker, challenges the audience to examine their own encounters with language in, Sign Language: Texting. Sarah Welch grapples with distinguishing between reality, escapism, fantasy and multiple truths in Only Humid, in the Downstairs Back BOX. In faded lace, Michael Stephen examines the Video Home System (VHS) technology by deconstructing and decoding its material and metaphoric layers of representation in the Upstairs BOX. In the Window BOX, Dennis Nance seeks out the moment when a costume transforms not only the person wearing it, but the environment it inhabits and audience it interacts with, in Cast of Characters. The exhibitions continue through November 7, 2015.

BOX 13 ArtSpace, 6700 Harrisburg, Houston, TX 77011. Free.

For more information, visit www.box13artspace.com.

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RECORDING

A ROAD OF THEIR OWN: MYDOLLS

By Lance Scott Walker | Photography by Anthony Rathbun

This past month, the Houston band Mydolls released a new record, played a set at the feminist gathering Fabulosa in Yosemite, California, and then rocked Oakland with punk legends The Avengers. These were just a few more stops on a long road that stretches back to 1978, when guitarist/vocalist Trish Herrera and bassist Dianna Ray got together with guitarist/vocalist Linda Younger (then Bond) and drummer George Reyes and rose through a scene centered around the Houston record label C.I.A. and the shop Real Records, both of which spawned from legendary Houston punk kingpins Really Red. Mydolls were referred to by some as the “little sisters” of the punk scene, but they cut their own path. They played shows with Really Red, The Degenerates, Butthole Surfers and San Antonio’s Marching Plague. They released 7” EPs in 1981 and 1982 and a 6-song 12” EP in 1983. They toured and appeared in the 1984 film Paris, Texas and continued to play shows into the late ’80s, and never actually broke up. But another record was not to appear for decades. In 2007, Grand Theft Audio released a career-spanning collection of Mydolls material renewing interest in the group, and the next year local promoter Anna Garza asked them to play the Noise and Smoke festival.

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The next year, Younger and Ray got involved with another of Garza’s projects – Girls Rock Camp Houston, where young girls come together to form bands and write songs. “For Mydolls there is a really special continuity to Girls Rock Camp and our personal band history,” said Ray. “Our former sound engineer Phil Davis’s granddaughter, Alex, has attended camp for the last several years.

Watching her grow in confidence and as a musician has been a wonderful experience and an awesome legacy.”

The new album, It’s Too Hot for Revolution, is an 8-song revisit of some ’80s Mydolls songs there were no proper studio versions of, and a new one, “Don’t Fucking Die,” that deals with Younger’s bout with breast cancer and alternately serves as a tribute to Ray’s wife and longtime Mydoll guitarist Kathy Johnston.

“The music captures many emotions,” Younger said. “Anger, apathy, sadness, acceptance, gratitude, compassion, paying it forward and frustration.” New versions of “Politician” and the title track highlight the enduring quality of their writing. “Times are different,” Herrera said. “But the hate and war still exists, and the racism in our country is pervasive. All of the same issues still apply to songs we wrote in 1983.”

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COMMUNITY

BLUE TILE PROJECT

Nine months ago JOEY SANCHEZ created the www.BlueTileProject.com to catalogue all remaining blue tile street signs in the city. The beautiful blue tiled letters lined Houston-area streets as early as the 1930s and have slowly been removed. Many of them have found their resting ground at the parking lot of Spring Street Studios. Sanchez hopes to bring awareness to the street tiles and preserving the uniquely local signs. If you see one, snap a picture and use the hashtag #WordOnTheStreet #StreetArt and #Houston. Visit the website to see all the tagged tiles.

Photography by Gabriella Nissen

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BLUE TILE PROJECT

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LOCAL ICON

JIM LOVELL NASA ASTRONAUT

FORMER NASA ASTRONAUT JIM LOVELL IS PROBABLY MOST WELL-KNOWN FOR HIS ROLE AS COMMANDER OF THE APOLLO 13 MISSION. BUT THE OHIO-BORN NAVY OFFICER WAS ALSO PART OF THE CREW OF APOLLO 8 WHICH WAS THE FIRST MANNED ORBIT OF THE MOON. HE RETIRED FROM NASA IN 1973 AND BECAME PRESIDENT OF FISK TELEPHONE SYSTEMS. HE IS A RECIPIENT OF THE CONGRESSIONAL SPACE MEDAL OF HONOR AND THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM. WE ASKED THIS LOCAL ICON A FEW QUESTIONS.

You began your career as a Navy officer, graduating from the Naval Academy and becoming an experimental test pilot. Was being an astronaut always your goal?

I was very interested in rocket technology. This was before the space program. When I was a Navy test pilot, NASA was formed and they wanted test pilots for astronauts. I joined NASA and got to be involved in rockets.

You were a member of undoubtedly two of the most memorable Apollo flights, Apollo 8 and Apollo 13. Can you recount for our readers what Christmas spent orbiting the moon was like during Apollo 8?

It was a Christmas unlike any other. The far side of the moon was at our spacecraft window and in the distance we could see the colorful earth. When the engine ignited to propel us back to earth, we knew there was a Santa Claus.

And Apollo 13. Certainly one of the most frightening moments for NASA and our country. I believe you called it a “successful failure.” Did you and your crew realize all the jeopardy you were in? Not at

first. When we discovered the loss of oxygen in Odyssey and had to use the Lunar Module to get home, we realized we were in serious trouble.

Back in the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo mission days, the mystique of NASA and the astronauts was great public relations for the space program. It doesn’t seem to be that thrilling anymore. How can young people be invigorated to study space sciences?

Have an active US space program. Establish a back to the moon program and eventually to Mars.

NASA put our city on the map.

Neil Armstrong’s first word from the moon was “Houston.”

Surely that is the only quotation more connected to Houston than “Houston, we have a problem.” Did you really say that?

[Astronaut Jack] Swigert said it first. Then I repeated it when Houston did not understand what Swigert said.

Apollo 13

Apollo 13

Gemini 12

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Are you superstitious about the number 13?

No. But if you look at the numbering of spacecraft after Apollo 13, you will not find another 13!

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7. STAG Provisions for Men 2614 Westheimer Rd., Houston, TX 77098 832.667.8211 www.stagprovisions.com STAG Provisions for Men pairs high end with low, mixes vintage classics with new collections and packs the best selection of the essentials every modern gentleman needs.

WHERE TO SHOP

MEN’S STORES

1. M PENNER

4. KUHL-LINSCOMB

1180 Uptown Park Blvd., Houston, TX 77056 713.527.8200 www.mpenner.com M PENNER carries tailored clothing, made-to-measure suits and shirts, sportswear, footwear and accessories. The extensive designers’ collection includes Ermenegildo Zegna, Etro, Isaia and many more.

2424 W. Alabama St., Houston, TX 77098 713.526.6000 www.kuhl-linscomb.com KUHL-LINSCOMB’s five-building store has launched their Men’s Shop with product offerings including men’s accessories, books, skincare, apparel, barware, decor and much more but now it’s conveniently located next to each other.

2. RYE 51

5. SLOAN HALL

2800 Kirby Dr., B124, Houston, TX 77098 713.523.8222 www.rye51.com With a friendly staff and a nicely stocked bar, RYE 51 carries well-established brands like John Varvatos. Jared Tietjens, Sales Manager, looks forward to the RYE 51 Fall Collection offering of dress shirts, blazers and jackets, and points out that each style has a very limited run which makes them more unique to own.

2620 Westheimer Rd., Houston, TX 77098 713.942.0202 www.sloanhall.com SLOAN HALL could be considered a hidden gem for men’s clothing and accessories. Although known as a super-cool women’s shopping destination, they stock select pieces from PLAY Comme des Garçons and Logan Neitzel .Owner Shannon Hall is excited about a selection of Sonia Rykiel sweaters and vegan leather backpacks.

3. SID MASHBURN

6. MANREADY MERCANTILE

2515 River Oaks Blvd., Houston, TX 77019 713.936.9502 www.sidmashburn.com Ann and Sid Mashburn opened their first shop in 2007 in Atlanta and now Houston. The product offering is very simple: a combination of SID MASHBURN designed-and-produced tailored and casual clothing mixed in with their favorite classic, iconic and hard-to-find pieces.

321 W. 19th St., Houston, TX 77008 800.554.9352 www.manready.com Collaboration and innovation have been the keys to success for this internationally renowned men’s shop.

Founder Travis Weaver rolls out a collaboration with iconic fashion figure Alessandro Squarzi in the reworking of 1930s-1950s era work clothing manufactured for today’s modern man – full of rich textures, layers and history – this fall.

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9. TIPPING POINT 3622 Main St., Suite B, Houston, TX 77002 www.thetippingpointstore.com THE TIPPING POINT store paved the way in Houston a few years back for street apparel and footwear with a well-curated and elevated selection of brands. Coming out of a short hiatus the store is now set to open in Midtown Houston in mid-November.

10. RESERVE SUPPLY COMPANY 2205 Washington Ave., Houston, TX 77007 713.750.9582 www.reservesupplycompany.com Shopping at RESERVE SUPPLY COMPANY takes you beyond a selection of apparel and accessories; there is skating gear, motorcycle helmets, camping blankets and more. There is nothing pretentious or over-complicated about the offerings.

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2534 Amherst St., Houston, TX 77005 713.874.0004 www.theclassroomshop.com THE CLASS ROOM has maintained a consistent curriculum and vision since they opened their doors with brands like OUR LEGACY and A.P.C. The ENGINEERED GARMENTS Fall 15 Collection – especially their outerwear – is something to look forward to, shares THE CLASS ROOM Principal Cabby Caballero.

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by Vico Puentes Illustration by German Arellano

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EVENT: HOUSTON FINE ART FAIR WHERE: NRG Houston Fine Art Fair opened its 5th edition on September 9, returning as the city’s longest running fine art fair and kicking off the fall art and social season with its annual First Look and VIP Opening Night Preview. Nearly 2,500 attendees representing the pillars of Houston society and art patronage filled the massive venue at the NRG Center to get a preview of the 40 exhibitors presenting works of art that spanned from antiquity to today.

Photography by Kim Coffman

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EVENT: VOGUE GALLERIA WHERE: ICE AT THE GALLERIA More than 600 fashion-forward Houstonians attended the special invitation-only VIP event held at The Galleria, in conjunction with VOGUE and presented

by Cadillac. Guests enjoyed cocktails, a shopping event at Versace, beats spun by model and DJ Hannah Bronfman and all the beautiful Page Parkes models in this fall’s hottest must-have looks.

Photography by Daniel Ortiz, Dave Rossman, Michelle Watson

SCENE EVENT: PASSPORT TO FASHION WHERE: THE JUNIOR LEAGUE The Junior League of Houston’s annual Opening Style Show was dressed to impress! This year, the theme, Passport to Fashion, guided guests through global trends with help from Tootsies. The Junior League of Houston provided fashionable wanderlust showcasing haute designers and raised close to $40,000 to help continue to support the Junior League’s mission and work in the community.

Photography Michael Martinez

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STYLE + LEISURE

WISE WORDS ON GIVING BACK Fashion and charity merge at THE HEART OF FASHION, a 3-night, runway celebration of curated designer collections with a charitable component, taking place November 18–20. Conjured up by the always fashionable VIVIAN WISE, a series of serendipitous events culminated with her new business venture. “I found something really great and positive when I wasn’t even expecting it because I was looking for something else entirely. I wanted to do something big and meaningful.,” she shares.

Vivian grew up in a philanthropic family and from a young age she’s loved fashion but her parents instilled giving back. With The Heart of Fashion, Vivian is able to pursue her love of fashion while executing a successful business model. Which is a difficult task when attempting to pull off a revenue-producing runway event. She’s setting the foundation for future growth through strategic partners like the five-year title sponsor Million Air. The reimagined hangar will be transformed by Todd Events into a veritable fashion cloud as the official venue. The Heart of Fashion is an opportunity for Vivian to give back to the Houston community. The inaugural year’s proceeds will benefit Legacy Community Health Services, Meals on Wheels and Butterflys and Bandages through the Texas Legacy Foundation, the 501(c)3 formed specifically as the charity component.

Carmen Dell’Orefice will be honored with the Texas Legacy Foundation award with collections to be shown by Angel Sanchez, Norisol Ferrari, Cushnie et Ochs, Abi Ferrin, Peter Cohen, swimwear label La Isla and emerging designer Paola Contreras.

www.heartoffashion.com

Photography by Phoebe Rourke-Ghabriel

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THE HEART OF FASHION

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THINGS WE LOVE

I wish I had the consistency to visit my esthetician monthly, but it’s just not my reality.

I started using the Skin Perfecter last month which is a 4-in-1, at-home beauty tool. Using professional strength ultrasonic waves, the handheld device deep cleanses, exfoliates, extracts and infuses serums. It doesn’t do it all at once, and it takes a little getting used to the sensation, and you must read the instructions. But I can honestly say I’ve noticed a difference in my skin. www.skinperfecter.com

Being a victim since high school to my BFF’s singing has finally taken a toll on me. These cork coasters were made for Kim. Mistaken Lyrics like: Shake it like a polar bear ninja (Hey Ya, Outkast) or Hold me closer Tony Danza (Tiny Dancer, Elton John) have me in tears as I type. Available at Kuhl-Linscomb. www.kuhl-linscomb.com

BY CARLA VALENCIA DE MARTINEZ ap togr Pho hy b y Ga n is s e lla N brie

Urbio’s wall-mounted magnetic organization system has me dreaming of indoor plant walls. The pots are made of eco-plastic and allow for so much creativity and greenery that my mind is dizzy with the options. www.myurbio.com

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THINGS WE LOVE

Here are four things that I LOVE!

TYLER NEWBERRY Nice Custom Goods www.nicecustomgoods.com Instagram.com/nicecustomgoods tyler@nicecustomgoods.com

Kooth Brand – Chambray Mechanic Shirt – $70 www.koothbrand.com

Nice Custom Goods was born from a desire to own a well-made leather belt. Discovering that most belts were poorly made, Tyler Newberry set out to make a real belt that would last a lifetime. He made one, which he still wears to this day. His friends wanted one, too. Belts were just the start, though. Having inherited his grandfather’s tools, he had an epiphany: “I want to buy, or make, the kinds of things that my grandkids will want to inherit.”

Nice Custom Goods – Raw Tote – $280 www.nicecustomgoods.com

Nice Custom Goods – 1" Dress Belt – $100 www.nicecustomgoods.com

Pearland Coffee Roasters – Single Origin, Papua New Guinea, $14/lb. www.pearlandcoffee.myshopify.com

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FAT

FINDS OCTOBER IS OUR MEN’S ISSUE, but it’s also Halloween!!! What better way to combine these two things than with an ode to Playboy with the cover of this issue and a few looks incorporating some men’s inspired pieces. And, ladies, just because you’re wearing men’s pieces doesn’t mean you can’t look sexy. Here are a couple of ways to pull off this trend.

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FOOD | ARTS | COMMUNITY | STYLE+LEISURE

Jacket/shorts/shoes – all at www.neimanmarcus.com Isabel Marant belt at www.sloanhall.com Tassel necklaces, de petra www.depetra.com Vintage top, stylist’s own Slacks at www.neimanmarcus.com Necklace and bracelets – all at www.shopsaintcloud.com

by Marzifat | Photography by Arthur Garcia

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FOOD | ARTS | COMMUNITY | STYLE+LEISURE

REIGNING MEN With all the men on this planet, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly, why these men?

And why right now? All we can say is that they’re from all different walks of life. One’s a single father to camerastealing daughter, another is just about to get married but has spent his career in the financial realm, another is a young restaurateur who has already achieved many a lofty dream and the last is a successful lawyer with acting aspirations. In a nutshell, they are all seizing the day and making their dreams a reality. And that’s a pretty impressive man in our books.

Shot on location at Annex Houston www.annexhouston.com Special thank you to Danny Nguyen

Text: Adam Bergen Photography Kennon Evett Hair + Makeup: Sherrie Evett Photo Assistant: Anthony Rathbun

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CORY SHIVAR

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FOOD | ARTS | COMMUNITY | STYLE+LEISURE

Thirty-five-year-old Cory Shivar, a recent contestant on THE BACHELORETTE’S 11th season on ABC, credits his eight-year-old daughter with helping him land a role on the well-known American TV show. “She was really, really good on camera,” Cory says with a smile. A current resident of Pearland, Cory originally grew up on a farm in North Carolina, where his parents and brother still reside. Moving to the Houston area in 2007 to be closer to his daughter, he’s spent the majority of his career in real estate and construction.

Currently he serves as a business development manager for BGT Interiors, but in his free time, his daughter Alexis takes over. “We’re going to the Taylor Swift concert here,” he says with a good laugh. Besides exercising or casually hanging out with friends over dinner, you can find him at museums, concerts and festivals with his daughter.

And if you’re wondering how he ended up on the show in the first place, his path was the result of a former coworker’s wife thinking he was a good fit and submitting his application. After a few months of hearing nothing, the producers called him at work, leaving a message for him. Convinced it was-

n’t real, Cory thought it to be a prank at first. Before he knew it though, he was on a plane to Los Angeles, spending almost three weeks filming. Cory made it to the fourth week of the show before elimination. And what’s Cory’s take on the whole experience? “For me, it was a ‘why not’ moment once I got it. I look at it like an experience. If I find love out of it, great, and if not, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Currently, Cory is in the works for a charity event in the Houston area called Party Your Heart Out, done in association with the American Heart Association. A fundraiser aimed at awareness for heart disease and strokes, the event will feature four to six bachelors from multiple seasons, and is slated for sometime in October.

Cory is dressed Festari for Men. Shoes: University Walnut Burnished Leather by Allen Edmonds – $368.

Suit: Super 150 fabric tone-on-tone, shadow stripe gray, 3-piece Tiglio suit – $695.

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JUAN CARLOS HERRERA Born and raised in Houston, Juan Carlos is the youngest of three siblings to parents of Mexican descent. After graduating from The University of Texas at Austin, he spent a year in Madrid working for a consulting firm before coming back to the States and becoming a private banker at Citi, where he helped manage over $1 billion in assets over the three years he was there. In 2008, he joined forces with lifelong friend Alejandro Diego to form QL Capital Management. Four years later, they merged with Roberto Contreras’ St.Christopher Holdings, where he helped restructure their assets, leading to the creation of QUANTOR CAPITAL. Today, he helps oversee the assets of three families: Roberto Contreras, Rick Perez and Charlie Chanaratsopon (of Charming Charlie’s).

Outside of work, Juan Carlos enjoys tennis, road cycling and all things film.

He owns a bunch of Canon cameras and even has his own Vimeo page, where he uploads some of his work. In January, Juan Carlos is marrying his longtime girlfriend and fiancée, Hanna Perez, a well-known rock star from México, who is one part of the duo known as Ha*ash.

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If there’s one thing Juan Carlos is passionate about, it’s helping millennials push past the barrier of entry into investing. In January of this year, he came up with an idea: “What if we can create a service for millennials that could give them access to the same asset allocation portfolios that wealthy families are invested in, but by using technology at a click of a button? How can someone with less money begin investing without having to deal with the complicated ins and outs of it all? In other words, how can it be done cheaper, and how can it be done more simply?”

“We want a way for the new generation to see their money easily, but let the people do the work behind the scenes,” says Juan Carlos. Q.core, the encapsulation of his idea, is a tool that lets millennials keep tabs on their money.

Juan Carlos hopes to push forward in helping a younger generation, and his passion helps guide the way.

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CHRIS CUSAK

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FOOD | ARTS | COMMUNITY | STYLE+LEISURE

As co-owner of TREADSACK GROUP (a combination of his name and cofounder/best friend Joey Treadway), Chris Cusack counts some of the Heights’ best restaurants as his creations. He, along with Joey, helped create Down House, D&T Drive Inn, Johnny’s Gold Brick Tavern, Choam Gulf Fish Distribution Company, and Sugar & Rice Magazine (a homeage to Gulf Coast culinary culture). And with three new restaurants opening in the next few weeks, Chris is one busy, and simultaneously excited, restaurateur.

With the whole process of opening the latest eateries taking almost three years, it’s no surprise to see him thrilled as they near completion.

Foreign Correspondents, a homage to Thai food from the north and northeastern region of the country, will source food locally and try to avoid riding any trends. “We plan to share what we love,” Chris states confidently.

Hunky Dory, located at 18th and Shepherd, is a British-American tavern, with a chef-driven steakhouse focus. Right next door, Bernadine’s features a

Gulf Coast-driven menu. “You see a lot of Gulf Coast food that isn’t represented in restaurants. It’s not just Cajun food, it’s not just BBQ. Let’s make a restaurant that’s a good representation of Gulf Coast food here in Houston,” Chris says emphatically.

When he’s not busy managing and working on his new concepts, Chris enjoys music, whiskey, tattoos, food, people, beer and traveling with his girlfriend. He recently attended the Aspen Food & Wine Festival, and traveled to Thailand earlier this year. He also enjoys DJ’ing, recently spinning tunes at White Linen Night in the Heights.

While Chris says it’s hard to really get away from “work” due to the nature of his business, it comes with the territory: “I wouldn’t really do this job if I didn’t love it.” And with an empire being built in the Heights, that comes as no surprise.

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JASON GIBSON

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Jason Gibson may not be your typical cookie-cutter lawyer. A trial attorney specializing in personal injury and wrongful death cases, he’s spent the last 17 years building a highly successful practice in the Houston area. But when he’s not in court pleading his case passionately, Jason finds himself pursuing another passion of his: acting. “As long as I’ve been practicing law, I’ve been acting,” Jason states with enthusiasm. When his law practice took off, acting took a temporary backseat as he rose through the ranks in his legal career. But roughly two years ago, a charity event here in town resparked his desire to pursue acting more seriously. Becoming fast friends with Wilmer Valderrama, he credits the former That 70’s Show actor with giving solid advice to him since he picked his acting back up.

his second gig quickly, a part in the feature film Misconduct. Currently in post-production with Lionsgate Films, it’s set for a release date of February 26, 2016.

With his first feature film, BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA, out on October 6, Jason points to his ability to network and meet the right people with helping land a coveted spot. And with the initial big-picture role under his belt, he landed

With four more roles slated on the horizon, Jason Gibson keeps a busy schedule. But he’d have it no other way.

With a full-time law career and acting on his plate, it’s no surprise that Jason’s free time is fairly limited. “What spare time?” he says with a chuckle. It turns out, there is some: producing, traveling, and writing are just some of his passions he pursues outside of litigation and acting. And his first selfwritten script is already under his belt. “I wanted to write a script really badly. So I always tell people, ‘don’t just talk about something, do it.’ And so I did.”

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TOOLS+GADGETS SWISS ARMY KNIFE EXPEDITION KIT As a former Boy Scout I know the value of being prepared. I rarely travel without my trusty knife that also serves as a can opener, nail file and scissors. Newer versions of this classic tool from Victorinox make it a must-have utensil.

The Expedition version has the typical red form factor as iconic gadget. Along with the standard knife and screwdriver, you will find over 40 useful instruments to get you out of any jam. These include a wire clipper, corkscrew, metal saw, chisel and an all-important digital clock. This LED display also houses an altimeter, barometer, thermometer and an alarm. The full kit includes a leather pouch, ruler and magnifying glass. $200 www.swiss-knife.com

SPECKÂŽ MIGHTYPACK PLUS Men have lots of gear. Expensive gear. From cell phones to video cameras (see below), we need to protect these high-end toys so choose your luggage wisely.

The MightyPack Plus from Speck is my backpack of choice as it not only has pockets for everything, it has some of the most padding in the industry. The top compartment has a protective feature called the Tech Locker, a hard-shell guard with molded EVA foam. The base is triple-padded to cushion your laptop from impact.

Several smart compartments flex to fit small or large accessories with breathable pockets for mobile batteries and external hard drives.

A pass-through for cables allows easy charging between compartments. $100 www.speckproducts.com

GOPRO HERO 4 SESSION Sales of video cameras have greatly declined over the past decade due to the built-in cameras on our cell phones. But small, rugged cameras have been taking off thanks to the unique perspective they shoot in most all conditions. And that pretty much describes GoPro. The most recent version of this category-killing product is the Hero 4 Session. Instead of the typical rectangle shape like its predecessors, this device is a 1.5-inch cube, small enough to mount anywhere.

It’s waterproof without a case and comes with two mounts which allows the camera to be placed most anywhere. $400 www.shop.gopro.com

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FOOD | ARTS | COMMUNITY | STYLE+LEISURE

october 15 |

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LOCALGRAM #DOLOCAL2015 #THEMENSISSUE Check out this month’s round of top pics from fellow Houstonians via Instagram.

Make sure to share your Houston adventures with us using #DoLocal2015 for a chance to win an awesome giveaway!!

@aneilkochar #kochella #groom

@vicdic #visualvendetta

@theeightletter_ The Bando building with some of @weownthenight_hou G’s.

@quitexfrankly Messing around with some edits. I dig this one.

@_leosa Smile, it’s Friday.

@thechump_ “Dude...what’s that smell?”

“Smells like guava...like Jumex!”

@mikekream @losthundreds

@aryansameri We swear the girls are on the other side of the boat.

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@idesofmarch_ And then most of the ceiling caught fire.