Shocking Chef News: Chris Shepherd Leaves His Restaurant Company

Shocking Chef News: Chris Shepherd Leaves His Restaurant Company Patrick Magee

A SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT was made this afternoon from the Houston food world: Chris Shepherd is leaving Underbelly Hospitality, the restaurant group he built. The news comes just after the opening of the new Georgia James in Regent Square that was billed as “Chris Shepherd’s take on a steakhouse.”

Major Gift in Memory of Beloved Activist 'Transforms' Nonprofit, Will Help Treat and Prevent Burnout

Chris Becker

ON JULY 13, 2020, Houston caregivers and creatives were shocked to learn activist, Feldenkrais instructor and beloved “bonne vivant” MaryBeth Smith had died suddenly of complications after spontaneous blood clotting events unrelated to Covid-19.

Leadership in Action: John Kuykendall Traded Newcaster Dream for Success in Luxury Retail

John Kuykendall, Showroom Manager, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove

How did you get to where you are today? Growing up I had envisioned myself as a news anchor, living in NY and enthusiastically saying into the camera “Good Morning America!”. To this day, I am still a news/political junkie. My mother owned fur salons so specialty retail, luxury retail was in my blood through the family business. Eventually, mom shuttered the stores and I was recruited to a large specialty retailer. Over the next 30 years, I was in commissioned sales on the sales floor, became a department manager, worked my way up to buyer and store manager. Although I never became a newscaster, I did live in NYC for a few years. But Texas is home and with aging grandparents, I felt the pull to come back to my roots. A headhunter approached me. I never envisioned myself in the high-end appliance market, but there are so many similarities. Clients want a memorable experience; whether shopping for diamonds and fur or remodeling their kitchen.

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The patio at Heights & Co.

IT'S ALMOST TIME for summer vacations, but Heights & Co. is offering escapes on its newly redecorated patio in the form of wine and movie nights — no passport needed! Visit France, Italy, Greece, Spain, and more through wine pairings and tasting menus, all complemented by movies set in each location.

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Food

Ally Shell and Martijn van Koolwijk

BLAME IT ON the Moon! Mercury Chamber Orchestra’s 2025 gala at the Thompson hotel — themed “Moonlight Serenade and chaired by Ally Shell and Martijn Van Koolwijk — was a night of glamour and big band vibes, raising more than $350,000 for the company.

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Art+Culture