Two restaurant newbies celebrated summer openings, beginning with Bosscat Kitchen & Libation’s bars inside The James and The Ivy apartment buildings in River Oaks. Residents and guests can enjoy signature cocktails from Bosscat’s bar director Matt Sharp, plus an exclusive menu of light bites. More foodie fun awaited at Poitín, Sawyer Yards’ newest arrival. The restaurant’s grand-opening bash benefited the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, and was full of funky touches like undercover comedians from The Secret Group and a drag show by Blackberri and friends. There was no shortage of beverages or bites — the pork belly apps were nicely washed down with colorful cocktails and beer from neighboring Holler Brewery and Green Flash Brewing Co.
NESTLED IN THE heart of France, the town of Vichy holds a rich history in the world of wellness and hydrotherapy. Acquiring fame for their alkaline springs in the 17th century, the Romans were among the first to recognize the therapeutic benefits of the springs. They established a French spa known as “Vichy,” which still exists today and continues to attract spa-goers from around the world to experience the transformative effects of hydrotherapy.
Intrigued by the legacy of Vichy's wellness traditions, serial entrepreneur and spa visionary LeBrina Jackson founded and aptly named her very first spa Pure Vichy, knowing she wanted to incorporate the healing powers of water into her offerings. Drawing inspiration from a visit to France and her passion for water-based wellness, LeBrina aimed to bring the essence of Vichy's healing waters to Texas, creating a sanctuary where clients could experience the revitalizing benefits of hydrotherapy that she had fallen in love with.
Today, LeBrina's dedication to Vichy's legacy lives on at her Escape Spa in Cypress, just outside of Houston. Offering a range of Hydrotherapy services, LeBrina’s treatments seamlessly integrate Vichy practices with contemporary spa techniques to stimulate circulation, aid in relaxation, and promote healing and wellness. Water therapy has proven beneficial for a variety of health conditions including arthritis, fibromyalgia, back pain, cardiovascular diseases, and sports injuries, making the spa’s treatments perfect for anyone seeking an overall boost in their health and wellbeing.
“I read years ago that in Latin SPA stands for ‘solus per aqua’ or ‘health by water.’ Water has always held almost sacred space when it comes to healing,” explains LeBrina. “Then after experiencing the healing power of natural geothermal hot springs around the world as well as visiting Vichy, France, I realized I always felt like I pushed a hard reset button on my personal renewal. It became clear that if I wanted to offer authentic wellness therapies in any spa I would create, it was essential to incorporate water-based treatments into the service menu."
Among the spa’s signature treatments is the Nourishing Glow Wrap, a standout service that combines exfoliation with a luxurious volcanic clay mask. As warm water cascades over the body, detoxification and relaxation intertwine, leaving your skin feeling soft, hydrated, and radiant. Similarly, the Vichy Recovery Massage melts away stress under eight shower heads, followed by a full body massage and a body scrub — a synergistic blend that relieves tension. Additional signature treatments include the Sleek and Slim and Illuminating Vichy Body Peel, also designed to harness the power of water to boost relaxation and rehabilitation.
These offerings not only pay homage to the rich heritage of Vichy's spa culture, but also reflect Escape Spa's commitment to modernizing traditional wellness rituals.
Book a service at Escape Spa to experience the magic of Vichy hydrotherapy and expand your self-care regime.
LeBrina Jackson
IN WHAT HAS now become an annual tradition (with spectacular spring weather!), Recipe for Success Foundation's Fashion in the Fields brunch was an al fresco, floral-savvy soiree held at its Hope Farms facility.
A seasonal fashion show featured lots of local talent, including clothing and accessories by M. Penner, Miron Crosby and Vintage Contessa, with commentary by Lyndsey Zorich of The Avenue and Ahshia Berry with Sarah Jayne Smith of Magpies & Peacocks. Select items were available before and after the fashion show at the Hope Farms Store, which was transformed into a chic boutique for the day.
Guests took in the lovely looks from their seats at tables dressed in paisley linens with centerpieces of white watering cans spilling over with gorgeous hand-picked flowers — zinnias, snapdragons, mums and more — from the Hope Farms fields. Central Market put on a beautiful charcuterie spread, while Bistro Menil, Le Jardinier, Josephine's Gulf Coast, Kriti Kitchen and Culinaire teamed up to provide the rest of the brunch buffet — salmon with grits and greens, and fruit-covered pancakes with smoked ham were among the hits.
A paddles-up raffle sale resulted in an instant $5,000 raised for R4S's Delivering Hope mission, and the adorable daughters of the day's chairs, Jen and James Cunningham, drew for prizes that included shopping sprees, cooking classes and more.
Jen Cunningham with Virginia McMullen and Kristin Blomquist
Aashish Parehk, Rudy Guerra & RJ Jenkins with Gracie Cavnar
The team from Le Jardinier
Lyndsey Zorich
Models wearing Magpies & Peacocks
Greg Martin, Felipe Botero, Gracie, Lucas McKinney, Mary Cuclis, Juan Gonzalez, Karla Espinosa
Miya Shay and Vanessa McGowan
Virginia McMullen with daughters Elizabeth and Vivienne
The Cunningham family
- With a Runway over the Pool and Holiday Lights Aplenty, a Fash Bash Sparkles in The Woodlands ›
- Runway Show, Farm-to-Table Fare Highlights of Floral-Fabulous ‘Fashion in the Fields’ Fete ›
- Farm Fresh! Inside Recipe for Success’ Al Fresco Fundraiser — on the Prettiest Day of the Year ›
- Hope Farms Debuts New Cooking School Honoring Culinary Legend Peg Lee ›
- Take It Outside! Cavnar, Top Chefs Present Chic ‘Delicious Alchemy’ Dinner on Hope Farms Grounds ›
At ‘Raising the Barre’ Fundraiser, Ballet Dancers Partner with Chefs to Serve Up Gourmet Grub
HOUSTON BALLET'S ANNUAL Raising the Barre event — a tasting dinner in which dancers serve as both muses and sous chefs for some of Houston’s most notable chefs — took place this year at Caracol and raised more than $110,000 for the company.
Some 200 ballet fans, wearing bright springtime attire to match the room’s colorful florals in hues of peach and coral, dined on a menu that began with chef Chris Williams and soloist Eric Best’s lamb stew. “The stew featured sweet potato puree, coconut collard green pesto and was garnished with roasted peanuts,” noted a Ballet rep. For the next course, chef Aaron Bludorn and Corps de Ballet dancer Zoe Lucich served herbed ravioli with carrot-ginger puree and fresh gremolata, all inspired by Lucich’s love of vivid color and her Californian roots.
Chef Hugo Ortega partnered with principal dancer Skylar Campbell to offer an entrée of Pacific halibut with ginger broth and puya peppers. “Chef Hugo and Skylar both love the Pacific Coast, more specifically a quaint seaside town in Mexico called Puerto Nuevo, thus inspiring Pacific halibut for the entrée,” said the company rep.
The dessert, as imagined by Fluff Bake Bar’s Rebecca Masson and demi soloist Kellen Hornbuckle, was maple bacon crème brûlée. Wines were paired with each course by chef and oenophile Chris Shepherd, a longtime Ballet supporter.
The event was co-chaired by Heidi and Marcus Smith and Roslyn and Derrick Mitchell. Guests included Kristy Bradshaw, Lindsey Brown, Jesse H. Jones II, Terry Wayne Jones, Patti Murphy, Beth Muecke and Ileana and Michael Treviño.
Kristy Bradshaw and Lindsey Brown
Ada Agbor and Zoe Cadore
Derrick and Roslyn Mitchell and Heidi and Marcus Smith
Michel Coret and Tatiana Sorkin
Heidi and Marcus Smith
Laura and Brannon Robertson
Lenni and Bill Burke
Michael and Ileana Treviño
Mignon and Stephen Gill
Susan Binney, Susan Lehmann, Ann Bean and Amy LeBlanc
Terry Wayne Jones and Jay Jones
Victoria Gutierrez and Nick Pierce
Wayne and Tammy Nguyen