The October issue hits this week! Go behind the scenes with Wild Moccasins in fall's hottest rocker-chic looks.
Danny Ray and the Atlantic Street Band performs May 31 (photo from dannyrayatlanticstreetband.com)
"At Chapman & Kirby, we are dedicated to curating exceptional experiences for our guests beyond great food and drinks. The Spring Music Series is a testament to our commitment to hospitality from every angle, and we’re excited to show off incredible talent" said Mazen Baltagi, co-owner of Chapman & Kirby.
In partnership with Gulf Coast Entertainment, the Spring Music Series lineup will feature a diverse array of musical talents. Each Friday night will offer a unique, interactive experience for guests, via music, food & beverage and local vendor pop-ups. Doors will open at 6pm, with performances starting promptly at 7pm. Purchase tickets here. The schedule includes:
Sol 7 at Thompson Houston Hotel
Molihua
Molihua
Houston’s newest culinary destination in the Blossom Hotel debuts tomorrow, April 23, but you can snag ressies now. Michelin-starred chef Hideki Hiwatashi and Ho Chee Boon and will offer traditional Japanese cuisine, elaborate dim sum, and artful desserts with a modern twist in the stunning second floor space. “Inspired by the beauty of the Jasmine flower and its delicate fragrance and beauty, Molihua encapsulates the essence of elegance and sophistication,” says chef Ho, who you may recall was with Houston’s Yauatchua in the Galleria. Japanese mains, raw fish tartares and crudos, and sharable plates like crispy truffle puffs — along with and sashimi, maki and nigiri, of course — headline the menu. Molihua is the third restaurant set to open under the Boon Group, following successful ventures in San Francisco, namely Empress by Boon and Blue Whale Restaurant & Lounge.
Vibrant
Vibrant Cafe at Memorial Park (photo courtesy of Leonid Furmansky)
Vibrant’s original location in Montrose was a little quiet during peak-pandemic, but it’s back in action, along with a new sister spot in Memorial Park. The Houston-based café known for its commitment to health and sustainability will provide all-day dining within the new Running Complex. Although the menu will evolve over time to fit the flow and vibe of the park, expect a similar menu as the original, along with an organic coffee program and natural wines. All dishes are free from gluten, dairy, refined sugars, peanuts, GMOs and gums. There’s a chocolate-chia-banana bowl, for example, and a watercress salad with shredded chicken and pickled apples. Also find a hearty sweet-potato-noodle stir fry, tacos, and sandwiches.
Designed by local Schaum Architects with a patio and interior elements curated by Vibrant’s founder, the café’s light-filled space reflects the natural aesthetic of its surroundings. “The café's opening and the broader expansion of dining and recreational options in the Park, reflect our ongoing commitment to meet the diverse needs of all Houstonians,” says Shellye Arnold, president and CEO of Memorial Park Conservancy.
Vibrant's Rainbow Salad (photo by Kirsten Gilliam)
Sol 7 at Thompson Houston Hotel
This lively restaurant-bar on the seventh floor of the hotel overlooks a garden surrounded by the infinity pool. It embraces the outdoors with floor-to-ceiling windows, which are open during mild days. Irresistible breakfast, lunch, dinner and bar menus have something for everyone with lots of surprises. Its raw bar sports half-shell oysters, smoked salmon with crispy potato and horseradish crème fraiche, and ahi tuna tartare with macadamia nuts. Main plates include linguine with zucchini, burrata and walnut-basil pesto, grilled Ora king salmon and steaks, as well as burgers, salads and fun small plates. Located on prime real estate overlooking Buffalo Bayou Park and the Downtown skyline, the hotel also recently welcomed Maven Coffee Company, and will debut Chardon and Buck 40 restaurants soon. National concepts Toca Madera and Meduza Mediterrania are also in the works.
Holey Moley Golf Club
Holey Moley
Just in time for great spring weather, this new mini-golf club-bar-eatery from Australia-based company Funlab has bowed near Greenway Plaza. Pick up a club and take a swing at one of three nine-hole golf courses, which all have punny names and whimsical designs like the “Parber Shop.” Take a break at the 100-seat bar and restaurant named The Caddy Shack. Its menu offers a Texas spin on American comfort food such as nachos, sandwiches wings, pizzas and salads. Highlights include a chopped brisket sandwich, taco salad, and grilled elote corn ribs with cotija cheese, garlic aioli, Tajin and lime.
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Hotel Magdalena on land once owned by Willie Nelson (photo by Casey Dunn)
Per the latter, the resort has just unveiled a partnership with Italian wellness brand Comfort Zone. The otherwise richly traditional spa — the fireside Blue Room will be the most opulent and relaxing waiting room in which you’ve ever sipped tea before a lavish treatment such as the $1,050 Valmont facial — has created a new, first-in-the-U.S. place for trendy new treatments done in what’s called an “open, inclusive” environment.
At the new “FACE SPAce” setup, expect interactional, efficient, semi-public, non-nude (obvi) treatments utilizing blue-light gizmos, stainless steel roller thingies, intensive facial massage and mineral-rich, proudly sustainable products galore. The new Body Strategist Experience straddles the old and the new, beginning in the FACE SPAce area’s foot cleansing station before moving to its (very) bracing cold-plunge patio and ending in a traditional treatment room for a massage and full-body mud mask.
Other innovations at the resort — as famous for its water sports such as paddleboarding, and yoga sessions by lake, as its lovely dining room with pretty views — include an effort to highlight the considerable talents of handsome culinary director Stephane Beaucamp. The cooking class with the paella isn’t just a fun experience; it yields some damn good paella!
Honestly, that’s just scratching the surface of what can be undertaken here. There’s a booze cruise, a sound bath in the indoor pool, even tarot card readings. But, for one recent guest, the simplest activity may have been the loveliest. Truly, can you beat finishing up a great session on the gym’s elliptical, watching a lone turtle play in gentle, sun-dappled lake waters?
Elsewhere in Austin, considerably more urbane thrills await. For those who haven’t yet checked out Hotel Magdalena, the newest outpost from the storied Bunkhouse group (which is readying its first two Houston properties, in Montrose and the Heights) is ideally located in the spiffy Music Lane development, just off bustling South Congress. This is a sunny setup, with spare, earthy rooms, and a bright, mod sensibility; one can chill with the off-duty hipsters and entertainment execs by the pool or tiered, verdant grounds, or stumble over to some amazing people-watching and shopping. LoveShackFancy and Rag & Bone are steps away; venerable but still very cool men’s shop Stag is just a couple blocks.
The emergence of Music Lane has also brought about a bit of dining renaissance on the strip. Joining the beloved old Tex-Mex and pizza haunts are the likes of Aba, a vibey Medit-savvy place with both be-seen breezeway seating out front and a huge deck wrapped around a towering oak out back. The pretty people are all here — both posted up to the bar, and taking your order as staff! Careful falling leaves don’t wind up in your hummus topped with charred bits of tamarind-braised, pomegranate-molasses-kissed short ribs. The heirloom chicken dish is terrific, with crispy-skin chicken thigh and bits of butternut squash meddling in a bit of warmly seasoned jus.
Although it’s arguably unnecessary to venture too far from homebase, a detour over to the East Side’s Uptown Sports Club is recommended. What a fun, feel-good spot! Aaron Franklin of Franklin’s Barbecue fame has beautifully restored a circa-1890s corner building and filled it with Big Easy energy — from the Mardi Gras beads in the houseplants to the menu’s vegan-friendly red beans and rice. The brunch-time Bloody Mary is a little spicy and a little sweet, and, for the fancy people, the caviar starter comes with Zapp’s potato chips. Billy Joel and Steve Winwood are on the stereo, and there’s fresh whipped cream on the bananas-Foster-fabulous bread pudding.
Lake Austin Spa Resort
Aba’s mushroom hummus
Uptown Sports Club
Lake Austin
Frozen Greek Yogurt at Abu
Hotel Magdalena
Hotel Magdalena
