parties

A Cute, Boozy Brunch to Preview a New Cottontail-Themed Motel in Round Top? We’re All Ears!

Daniel Ortiz
A Cute, Boozy Brunch to Preview a New Cottontail-Themed Motel in Round Top? We’re All Ears!

Tara Martin

A LUCKY GROUP of gals (and a few even luckier guys) got a sneak peek at Round Top’s newest “motel” when the owners of The Cotton Pearl Motel hosted a literal busload for an intimate poolside brunch to preview the new haunt.

Guests, who sipped Champagne on a festive bus ride from Houston, “were greeted from The Cotton Pearl Motel shuttle at the flower-adorned entry gate with an outdoor living space and cocktails featuring Casa Del Sol Tequila,” described a rep for the property. “DTLAcustom was stationed on the front lawn with an artist from Los Angeles to hand-paint guest names on denim jackets, compliments of The Cotton Pearl Motel.”

Indeed, the owners of the place — which, with its two-guestroom main house and two small cottages sprinkled around the pool and rolling field of a back lawn, might have been called a bed-and-breakfast had not motel become so trendy — never do anything halfway. Pete Bell, CEO of Cotton Holdings, is known for throwing top-notch affairs.

“No detail was left untouched,” noted the rep, “from floral bridges suspended over rectangular and round wooden tables, to Cotton Pearl Motel branded napkins, plates, personal fans, hat scarves, woven totes with candles and hat clips, and much more.”

Beautiful, detail-oriented accents abound. Even the toile design that adorns the wallpaper in the Victorian-inspired parlor and game room was custom-made to match the property’s cottontail-bunny motif. Whimsical bunny sculptures turn up hare and there — or rather, here and there.

Refreshments for the day were delightful. “The Cotton Pearl Motel partnered with the Ellis Motel, a neighboring establishment in Round Top, to create incredible cocktails for the event, including Spicy Peter Rabbit with Casa Del Sol Tequila, orange liqueur, lime, agave, and jalapeno; Pearl Paloma with Casa Del Sol Tequila, mezcal, grapefruit juice, lime juice, jalapeño simple syrup, sparkling water and tajin rim; as well as a Motel Bloody Mary; and Cottontail G&T with gin, elderflower tonic, ruby red grapefruit, juniper berries and a sprig of rosemary,” it was noted.

“Executive Chef Wade Schindler of Cotton Culinary introduced the beautiful brunch featuring Eggs Sardou atop Jumbo Lump Crab Cake with sundried tomato hollandaise, roasted cherry tomatoes and sautéed spinach, lemon zest asparagus, and country style potatoes. The plated dessert was a Frangipane Almond Tart topped with fresh berries brushed with apricot glaze.”

Guests were also encouraged to peruse celeb hat designer Teressa Foglia's wares in a tented pop-up on the sunny back lawn.

The Cotton Pearl opens for business Jan. 1.

Ashley Seals

Audrey Sarver

Christina Greene McAllen and Whitney Kuhn Lawson

Courtney Zavala and Jill Davis

Decor at The Cotton Pearl preview

Heather Almond

Teressa Foglia

Zinat Ahmed

Parties
promoted

Leadership in Action: ‘Family, Community and Spiritual Connection’ Drives Success for Henry Richardson

Al Torres
Leadership in Action: ‘Family, Community and Spiritual Connection’ Drives Success for Henry Richardson

How did you get to where you are today? The present moment is a combined history of my family, my time as an athlete, my passion for learning, and my desire to see the world be better. I grew up as a successful springboard and platform diver, however, an injury caused me to seek alternative treatments to heal my body. In that process, I discovered the power of yoga, exercise, meditation, mindset, and nutrition. This holistic approach eventually led me to open a Pilates and cycling studio called DEFINE body & mind. I opened studios around the nation, and after selling most of my business between 2017-2019, I was ready to explore how I could make an even greater impact on the wellbeing of our community. In 2023, I started actively working on a brand new multi-family/apartment concept called, Define Living. The idea focused on offering health and wellness services within a beautiful apartment setting to increase the wellbeing of our residents. Having a strong sense of community is the number one factor in living a happy life, so why not build a community where daily fitness, cooking classes, and social connection are the norm? We opened Define Living in March of 2024, and we couldn’t be happier with how things are being received. We are already looking at building more concepts like this in the Houston area and beyond.

Keep Reading Show less
parties

Symphony Springs to Life with Floral-Fabulous Fete

Jacob Power and Priscilla Dickson

Chairs Brady and Zane Carruth, Brittany and Adam Clark

IT ALREADY FEELS like spring in Houston and the spring social season is here with it! 375 guests donned in white-tie flocked to The Post Oak Hotel for the annual Houston Symphony Ball, one of the city’s most anticipated and A-list galas.

Keep Reading Show less
Parties
food

The Truffle Masters Returns — with a New Competition — Benefitting Southern Smoke

THE TRUFFLE MASTERS is returning for its 11th year on March 3rd. Now a Houston tradition of sorts, the competition sees top chefs creating a dish using black truffles all benefitting Southern Smoke.

Keep Reading Show less