Jeff Gremillion 10/15/26 Jeff Gremillion 10/15/26

River Oaks District Hosts a Recruitment Evening for Texas Children’s

Jenni Kayne’s River Oaks District shop turned into a recruitment night for Ambassadors for Texas Children’s recently.

Courtney Freels, Julia TenHoeve, Katelyn Gosslee and Jaron Santelli (photo by Jenny Antill)

By Jeff Gremillion

Jenni Kayne’s River Oaks District shop turned into a recruitment night for Ambassadors for Texas Children’s recently.

Chair Courtney Freels welcomed current and prospective Ambassadors for an evening of conversation and shopping. Jaron Santelli, associate chief of sports medicine, gave the remarks, walking the room through the work and leaving guests with a clearer sense of the mission. Jenni Kayne donated 20 percent of event sales back to the program.

The night was built to introduce Texas Children’s and the Ambassadors donor community to people who might want in, and to reconnect those already there.

Guests included Courtney Freels, Julia TenHoeve, Katelyn Gosslee, Jaron Santelli, Nancy Bihlmaier, Candace Thomas, Nina Rand and Courtney Harmon.

Nicole May, Dr. Jaron Santelli, Julia TenHoeve and Courtney Freels (photo by Jenny Antill)

Nancy Bihlmaier, Candace Thomas, Nina Rand and Courtney Harmon (photo by Jenny Antill)

Jeff Gremillion 10/8/26 Jeff Gremillion 10/8/26

Dogstar Afternoon: Keanu Reeves Helps PetSet Clear $1.5 Million

Keanu Reeves brought Dogstar to Thompson Houston on Sunday, and PetSet left with more than $1.5 million.

Laura Goodson, Priscilla Bardonaro and Marla Hurley (photo by Priscilla Dickson)

By Jeff Gremillion

Keanu Reeves brought Dogstar to Thompson Houston on Sunday, and PetSet left with more than $1.5 million.

Le Brunch, the group’s annual fundraiser to end companion animal homelessness, drew celebrities, city leaders and longtime animal advocates under the theme “Farther, Together.” Reeves played with bandmates Bret Domrose and Rob Mailhouse to close the afternoon. Mayor John Whitmire was in the room, along with actors David Chokachi, Amy Bailey, Danielle Vasinova, Isaiah LaBorde and Marie Wetherall.

PetSet honored Cathy Bissell, founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation, for a prevention-first approach to shelter overcrowding. Through Empty the Shelters, the foundation has helped save more than 400,000 animals. Fix the Future has funded more than 500,000 spay and neuter surgeries.

“Cathy has changed countless lives through her commitment to animals, but what we admire just as much is the way she brings people together around solutions,” says Tena Lundquist Faust, co-president of PetSet.

Gabrell and Hopper took the 2026 Community Hero Award, a nod to one person stopping for one dog. Co-president Tama Lundquist called the afternoon bigger than any single guest. “The energy in the room was a beautiful reflection of what can happen when people come together around a cause they believe in,” she says.

Over 20 years, PetSet has funded work at more than 120 animal welfare groups, widened access to spay and neuter care, vaccines and emergency treatment, and moved thousands of animals out of crowded shelters. A silent auction and a live auction, including a VIP Texas gameday, ran before Dogstar took the stage.

Keanu Reeves performs with Dogstar (photo by Priscilla Dickson).

Tena Faust, Mayor John Whitmire and Tama Lundquist (photo by Priscilla Dickson)

Elizabeth Dorey, Brenda Love and Lindsey Love (photo by Priscilla Dickson)

Trent Hrincir and Courtney Hopson (photo by Priscilla Dickson)

Sue Smith and Jennifer Huber (photo by Priscilla Dickson)

Cora Sue Mach and Sidney Faust (photo by Priscilla Dickson)

Gabrell and Tama Lundquist (photo by Priscilla Dickson)

Alison Boulle (photo by Priscilla Dickson)

Frankie and Priscilla Bardonaro (photo by Priscilla Dickson)

Edna Meyer Nelson (photo by Priscilla Dickson)

Jeff Gremillion 10/6/26 Jeff Gremillion 10/6/26

First Light: Addi’s Faith Foundation Opens with a $750,000 Gala

Hotel ZaZa got a gold ribbon, and a first-time gala that cleared more than $750,000 for kids with cancer — as guests insisted it was one of the most authentic and moving events they’d ever attended.

Amy Lim, Hollie Roberts and Brittney Gast (photo by Wilson Parish)

By Jeff Gremillion

Addi’s Faith Foundation drew more than 300 supporters for the inaugural Gold Ribbon Gala. The money funds childhood cancer research and direct help for families caring for a child in treatment. Amber and Tony Bender started the foundation in 2008 after their daughter, Addison Faith, died of an aggressive brain tumor. Since then it has reached more than 1,400 families and put more than $3 million into research.

Chairman Heather Keller ran the night. The first Addi’s Legacy of Light Award went to Tracee and Tim Studdert, supporters since the foundation’s start. They got a standing ovation on the way up and talked about carrying Addi’s story forward.

The reception opened with Bubble Berry cocktails, a silent auction, a raffle for diamond stud earrings and a wine pull. Childhood cancer survivor Alden Gilbert gave the invocation. A video of Addi’s story set the rest of the program.

The paddle raise alone brought in more than $125,000. The live auction, called by Johnny Bravo, raised the stakes, with several packages sold more than once, including a trip to Whitefish, Montana, that went twice. Bravo then switched from auctioneer to DJ.

Seen in the crowd: Brooklyn Studdert, Carter Studdert, Kennedy Studdert, Pat Studdert, Priscilla Studdert, Laurel and Jeb Bashaw, Mindy and Otto Bielss, Ashton and Allie Ames, Brent Keller, Robin and Frank Breazeale, Amy and Troy Ahrens, Amanda Malone, Kent Furlong, Caroline Parks, Elaine Beason, Melissa Beason, John and Leticia Ravenberg, John Hoyme, Jim and Theresa Allison, Tiffany and Joe Primo, Audra and Chance Blakely, Amy and Clint Bennett, Tina and Mark Whitehead, Brian and Vanessa Richard, Katie and Derek Freeman, and Bethany and Ben Buchanan.

Joel and Kate Powell (photo by Wilson Parish)

Amber and Tony Bender (photo by Wilson Parish)

Ben and Bethany Buchanan (photo by Wilson Parish)

Hollie Roberts, Amy Lim, Christy Wright and Laura Quin (photo by Wilson Parish)

Vanessa and Bryan Richard (photo by Wilson Parish)

Marshall Madded and Kennedy Studdert (photo by Wilson Parish)

Kristen Ryan and Heather Walker (photo by Wilson Parish)

Jeb and Laurel Bashaw and Tracee and Tim Studdert (photo by Wilson Parish)

David and Jeri Sonnier and Mindy and Otto Bielss (photo by Wilson Parish)

Heather and Brent Keller (photo by Wilson Parish)

Jeff Gremillion 10/5/26 Jeff Gremillion 10/5/26

Ladies Who Brunch Raises a Record $2.8 Million for Kids with Cancer

Sky High for Kids’ 11th annual gathering drew more than 700 guests during Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. Co-chairs Alex Joven Kinsey and Peyton Wallace ran a sold-out afternoon of brunch, cocktails, a Ralph Lauren-inspired setting and a runway show.

McKenzie Saleck, Alex Kruger and Annie Hurley (photo by Alex Montoya)

By Jeff Gremillion

Ladies Who Brunch filled The Revaire and left with a record: $2.8 million for kids with cancer.

Sky High for Kids’ 11th annual gathering drew more than 700 guests on Sept. 27, during Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. Co-chairs Alex Joven Kinsey and Peyton Wallace ran a sold-out afternoon of brunch, cocktails, a Ralph Lauren-inspired setting and a runway show from Alchemia and Modern Marla. Houston custom suit designer Sterling Dio was guest of honor. Living Designs Furniture, Sapphire Smiles and Texas Mattress Makers presented.

The room was already shopping the silent auction by 11am. Kinsey and Wallace welcomed the crowd. Jessica Morrison, president of the board, led the prayer. Emcee Logan Lester Tafelski took the program from there.

Twenty-one Cancer Warriors sat at the center of it, including 19-year-old Dylan Probe, this year’s featured warrior. Diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma in her right heel at 9, she went through 14 rounds of chemotherapy, transfusions, repeated hospital stays and the amputation of her right leg, finishing treatment in 2017. Nine years cancer-free, she is a sophomore at Texas A&M University, studying kinesiology with plans for nursing, and has grown up inside Sky High as an advocate for other kids.

The runway paired 16 Cancer Warriors with hosts and family, with Cancer Warrior Payton A. as emcee. Quinn L., whose brother RJ died in April, walked. Later, during the live auction, Quinn and her family were surprised with Waffles, a mini goldendoodle, a gift arranged by the Vestal and Mickler families.

Founder and CEO Brittany Hebert Franklin ran the live auction. Two competing $100,000 bids to fund a fertility preservation cycle for Probe through Reproductive Medicine Associates became two gifts, from Allie LaForce and Michelle Ciaravino, covering Dylan and a future young woman warrior. The Christmas Carnival drew two $75,000 pledges, $150,000 in all. A Sapphire Smiles and Ciaravino Total Beauty package went for $35,000. A painting by 9-year-old Marlee M., a gold ribbon on pink, sold for $100,000.

Proceeds support Sky High’s work with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Texas Children’s Hospital. Sky High has given more than $43 million and is closing in on two $20 million commitments to those hospitals. At Texas Children’s, that money helped open the nation’s first pediatric immunotherapy center and a dedicated Sky High patient floor. The group also sends Cancer Warrior Packs, family outings and Sunday Suppers to families in treatment.

Among those attending: Drs. Antoun and Mary Mina Antoun, Frances Moody Buzbee, Blaine and Katie Fertitta, Allie LaForce, Michele Leal, Iris and Danny Shaftel, Pierce Bush and Estella Cockrell.

Brittany Helleberg and Teresa Davis (photo by Alex Montoya)

Brittany Wetterer, Krystal Finch and Chiara Casiraghi Brody (photo by Alex Montoya)

Christen Vestal and Cancer Warrior Marley M (photo by Alex Montoya)

MacKenzi Dooley and Logan Lester Tafelski (photo by Alex Montoya)

Mina Antoun, Mary Antoun and Diana Saadalla (photo by Alex Montoya)

Valencia Bates, Ebony London, Quincy London and Brittany Franklin (photo by Alex Montoya)

Brittany Franklin and Cancer Warrior Dylan Probe (photo by Alex Montoya)

Jeff Gremillion 10/1/26 Jeff Gremillion 10/1/26

From Monet Pastels to LEGO Lilies, the Grand Gala Ball Packs the MFAH

Fall for Color lived up to its name at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, where more than 275 guests moved from Monet pastels into an Ai Weiwei riot of brick and bloom.

Hayden and David McGuiness (photo by Wilson Parish)

By Jeff Gremillion

Fall for Color lived up to its name at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, where more than 275 guests moved from Monet pastels into an Ai Weiwei riot of brick and bloom.

The 2026 Grand Gala Ball, chaired by Polly and Murry Bowden, filled the Caroline Wiess Law Building on Friday, Sept. 25, and raised more than $2 million for the museum’s operating budget through table and ticket sales. The theme took its cue from Ai Weiwei’s “Water Lilies #4,” on view in the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building: a 650,000-brick riff on Monet’s water lily triptych, built in 22 colors and mounted on aluminum.

Guests arrived through a pale-blue tent hung with blue and purple hydrangeas, then moved into a cocktail reception of soft florals and light-green draping. The Dallas String Quartet played electric strings while the room was still in Monet’s palette. Between the staircases to dinner, an eight-foot floral wall of succulents, hydrangeas, roses, proteas, anthuriums and ranunculus marked the turn into Ai Weiwei’s colors.

The Events Company set the dining room in jewel-toned linens and warm reds, oranges and pinks, under a glass chandelier shaped like a water lily. The Big Beyond played through the night. Bastion Events cooked the gala menu for the first time: chilled corn velouté with crab, paprika oil and crouton; slow-cooked sea bass with beurre blanc, broccolini and artichokes; and a chocolate-orange petit gâteau with milk chocolate mousse, orange segments, crème anglaise and a chocolate sablé.

Premier underwriters were Polly and Murry Bowden, the Hildebrand Fund, Nancy and Rich Kinder, and the Schnitzer family. Grand underwriters included Cherie and Jim Flores, Lynne and Joe Hudson, the Jan and J. Venn Leeds Grand Gala Ball Operating Endowment, Fayez Sarofim & Co., and Susan D. Sarofim.

Guests included Nancy and Rich Kinder, Franci Neely, Joan Schnitzer, Margaret Alkek Williams, Janet Gurwitch and Ron Franklin, Leigh and Reggie Smith, Lily and Johnathan Schnitzer, and Dan and Kristen Zimmerman.

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Rusty and Sue Burnett (photo by Wilson Parish)

Tarek Elbjeirmi, Karen Payne and Céron (photo by Wilson Parish)

Margaret Alkek Williams and Gary Tinterow (photo by Wilson Parish)

Paul and Kate Stouffer and Lacey and Matthew Goossen (photo by Jenny Antill Clifton)

Polly and Murry Bowden (photo by Wilson Parish)

Hamid and Lily Kooros (photo by Jenny Antill Clifton)

Janet Gurwitch and Ron Frankling (photo by Wilson Parish)

Charlie W. Coleman III, Liz Crawford and J.W. Crawford III, and Rodney Ellis (photo by Jenny Antill Clifton)

The scene at the Grand Gala Ball (photo by Jenny Antill Clifton)

Liz Crawford, and Barron and Lisa Wallace (photo by Jenny Antill Clifton)

Michael and Ileana Trevino (photo by Wilson Parish)

Jeff Gremillion 10/1/26 Jeff Gremillion 10/1/26

Southern Smoke Festival Returns Saturday, Plates Out for Hospitality Workers

Discovery Green again turns into a massive chef’s tasting this Saturday, with nearly 100 cooks and bartenders working the lawn for Southern Smoke.

Chef Rodney Scott (photo by Hugh Galdones)

By Jeff Gremillion

Discovery Green again turns into a massive chef’s tasting this Saturday, with nearly 100 cooks and bartenders working the lawn for Southern Smoke.

The James Beard Award-winning foundation’s festival, presented by Sysco, returns Oct. 3 for an afternoon of bites, drinks and live music that funds emergency relief and no-cost mental health care for food and beverage workers nationwide. Tickets are on sale at southernsmoke.org.

General admission is $225 and gets in at 4 p.m. with food, drinks, the YETI Culinary Stage and cookbook signings. Lexus VIP is $550, with a 3 p.m. entry and an air-conditioned lounge at The Grove. Talent Supporter packages start at $5,000 and underwrite one chef’s food, gear and travel, with earlier access and a seat at the Oct. 1 welcome party.

The roster mixes first-timers and festival regulars. New to the lawn: Lindsay Autry of Honeybelle in Palm Beach, Tyson Cole of Uchi, Tiffany Derry, Brandon Jew of Mister Jiu’s, Serigne Mbaye of Dakar NOLA, and Daisy Ryan of Bell’s in Los Alamos, California. Alumni back for another round include Aaron Franklin, Chris Bianco, Nina Compton, Ashley Christensen, Mason Hereford, Ana Castro, and Houston’s own Chris Shepherd circle — Aaron Bludorn, Leonard Botello IV of Truth BBQ, Bryan Caswell, Manabu “Hori” Horiuchi, Rebecca Masson, Ryan Pera, Erin Smith and Patrick Feges, and Nick Wong among them.

Drinks come from Houston rooms such as Julep, Johnny’s Gold Brick, EZ’s Liquor Lounge and Reserve 101, plus out-of-town bars including Cure and Bacchanal in New Orleans and Dear Irving in New York.

Food & Wine’s 2026 Best New Chefs — still to be named — cook together for the first time in a Skadden-presented area. The YETI stage brings demos from Bianco, Isabel Coss, Kevin Fink and Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Genie Kwon and Tim Flores, and Evan LeRoy, with chef and YouTuber Brad Leone as emcee. Lexus VIP revives Respect the Rosé with Ryan Prewitt, Nicole Mills, Stephen Stryjewski, and Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman, plus bites from Derry, Sarah Grueneberg and Horiuchi. Kindred Stories handles cookbook sales and signings. Four Seasons Hotel Houston is the official hotel partner, with festival rates from $345 while rooms last.

Chef Chris Shepherd and executive director Lindsey Brown founded Southern Smoke in 2015. The group has granted more than $16.5 million and, since 2020, opened nearly 12,000 counseling sessions through its Behind You program. In 2026 it received a James Beard Foundation Impact Award.

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The scene downtown at Southern Smoke (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Jeff Gremillion 9/29/26 Jeff Gremillion 9/29/26

Big Top, Bigger Check: Mission of Yahweh Gala Raises $800,000

The Greatest Mission on Earth came to The Post Oak Hotel with stilts, a snake charmer and a record check.

Betty Hrncir, Warner Roberts and Sidney Faust (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

By Jeff Gremillion

The Greatest Mission on Earth came to The Post Oak Hotel with stilts, a snake charmer and a record check.

More than 420 supporters turned out Friday, Sept. 25, for the circus-themed gala benefiting The Mission of Yahweh, raising more than $800,000 for the organization’s work with women and children experiencing homelessness. Gala chairs Robin and Danny Klaes and honorary chairs Leila Perrin, Beth Wolff and Cynthia Wolff closed the night with the strongest result the event has posted.

Presenting sponsors Nichole and Benny Agosto underwrote the evening. Honorees Monica Hartland, Samantha and David Kennedy, and Warner Roberts were introduced with videos from FireFox Video. Roberts, a longtime volunteer, told the room that women and children often arrive with little more than the clothes they are wearing, and that the Mission’s programs are built to give them a path back to independence.

Emcees Frank Billingsley and Ernie Manouse kept the pace moving. Let It Fly turned the ballroom into a big-top setting, with H-E-B florals and sparkling red-and-white drum centerpieces. Stilt walkers, a magician and a snake charmer worked the reception. Mary Gracely opened with the invocation.

Gloria Guinyard, once a resident and now on staff, described arriving at the Mission in crisis and later finding a way to help other women on the same road. Auctioneer Johnny Bravo then took over the live appeal. Paddles went up for a Broadway package, a luxury home in Puerto Vallarta, a one-of-a-kind Houston Rodeo package and a trip on the Houston Texans’ team jet to a game. A raffle added another burst of applause before the night wrapped on what organizers called a high-flying finish.

Seen in the crowd: Alicia Smith, Brigitte Kalai, Gary Petersen, Hannah and Cal McNair, Tripp Carter, Sidney Faust, Cora Sue Mach, Jacquie Baly and James Craig.

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Vicki Rizzo, Sandra Porter and Chris Kase (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Mark Haas and Monica Hartland (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Keith Guillory, Leisa Fruge, Valnetina Kelly and Earl Kelly (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Jill Hartland and Julie Pitts (photo by Jacob Power)

Amber and Cole Zeagler (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Frank Billingsley and Ernie Manouse (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Davis Hance and Kittsie Klaes (photo by Jacob Power)

Cal and Hannah McNair, and Joanna Hartland and Frank Edgerly (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Brigitte Kalai and Farida Abjani (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Bill Baldwin and Fady Armanious (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Jay and Lara Bany (photo by Jacob Power)

Anna Reger and Maria Moncada Alaoui (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Audrey and Carl Sanders (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Deborah Laws and Cheryl Byington (photo by Jacob Power)

Robin Klaes with snake charmer (photo by Jacob Power)

Liniah Slater, Helen A Gay andDeionna Gipson (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Jerre Williams and Beth Wolff (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Henri and Susan Soussann (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Warner Roberts, David and Samantha Kennedy, and Monica Hartland (photo by Jacob Power)

Danny and Robin Klaes (photo by Jacob Power)

Jeff Gremillion 9/29/26 Jeff Gremillion 9/29/26

Star-Spangled Smash: Music, McConaughey and Apple Pie at Record-Breaking Symphony Opening Night

Houston’s social and civic set marked America’s 250th the way this city likes to do it: with a marching band, a red carpet and a sold-out night at Jones Hall.

Ann Ayre, Elia Gabbanelli and Alice Mao Brams in red, white and blue (photo by Jacob Power)

By Jeff Gremillion

Houston’s social and civic set marked America’s 250th the way this city likes to do it: with a marching band, a red carpet and a sold-out night at Jones Hall.

More than 450 guests turned out for the Houston Symphony’s Opening Night Concert and Gala, the black-tie kickoff to the 2026-27 season. Chaired by Joella and Steven P. Mach, the evening doubled as a patriotic pageant and a record fundraiser, bringing in more than $850,000 for the orchestra’s education, community engagement and artistic programs. ConocoPhillips underwrote the concert and served as lead corporate gala underwriter for the 40th consecutive year.

The night started at Lynn Wyatt Square, where champagne and Pantalones Organic Tequila — the label from Matthew and Camila McConaughey — met a Texas-sized entrance. The University of Houston Spirit of Houston Cougar Marching Band worked the pavilion, then led a processional across Louisiana Street and into Jones Hall.

Inside, Principal POPS Conductor Steven Reineke built a program around the American story. Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard shared the stage, and McConaughey, the Academy Award-winning Texas native, narrated Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait,” speaking Lincoln’s own words from letters and speeches. The rest of the bill stretched from George Gershwin to six living American composers, with composer Karen LeFrak in the house.

Swift dressed the rooms in understated reds meant to recall the poppy, the old emblem of remembrance. Preisler Productions handled the staging.

After the concert, the party moved to Corinthian Houston, where members of the Alexander Hodge Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution greeted guests on the grand staircase and Rice University’s Fiammetta Quartet played. City Kitchen sent out Helen Corbitt’s chilled pea soup with jumbo lump crab, crème fraîche and mint, then a dual entrée of prime aged beef tenderloin medallions in red wine demi-glace with creamed spinach-stuffed tomatoes and pan-seared semi-boneless quail in country captain sauce, plus warm red bliss potato salad with smoked bacon and scallions. Lindy and John Rydman and Lisa Rydman Lindsey of Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods poured the wine. Dessert was apple pie with vanilla ice cream and caramel.

The last word belonged to the Moores School Concert Chorale, which surprised the room with “Shenandoah” and “America the Beautiful,” led by Houston Symphony Chorus Director Anthony J. Maglione, and brought the crowd to its feet.

VIP guests included Khoa and Quynh Dao, Barbara and Pat McCelvey, Margaret Alkek Williams, John and Lindy Rydman, Sippi and Ajay Khurana, Betty and Jesse Tutor, Elia and Michael Gabbanelli, Ann and Jonathan Ayre, Beth Madison, Katie and Bob Orr, Tracy and Valerie Dieterich, Brigitte Kalai, Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees, Cheryl Byington, Jacquie Baly and James Craig, Rini and Edward Ziegler, Yoonshin Song and Alex Sakerello, and Chris and Kristy Bradshaw.

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Matthew McConaughey and Steven Reineke on stage at Jones Hall (photo by Melissaa Taylor).

Joella Mach, Cougar mascot Shasta and Steven P. Mach

Margaret Alkek Williams (photo by Jacob Power)

Devinder and Gina Bhatia (photo by Marco Wang)

Anna Dean, Robert Sakowitz and Cheryl Byington (photo by Marco Wang)

Sippi and Ajay Khurana (photo by Jacob Power)

Kusum and C. Kody Patel (photo by Jacob Power)

David and Devorah Krieger (photo by Jacob Power)

Ashley and Andrew Kang (photo by Marco Wang)

Daniel Irion and Kirk Kveton (photo by Jacob Power)

Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees (phot by Jacob Power)

Jacquie Baly and James Craig (photo by Marco Wang)

Jesse and Betty Tutor (photo by Jacob Power)

Patriotic decor and high style at the Corinthian (photo by Marco Wang)

Chris and Kristy Bradshaw (photo by Marco Wang)

Edward and Rini Ziegler (photo by Marco Wang)

Matt Brams and Dr. Alice Mao Brams (by Jacob Power)

Brigitte Kalai, Farida Abjani and Alicia Smith (photo by Jacob Power)

Heidi Rockecharlie and Cheryl Byington (by Jacob Power)

Pat and Barbara McCelvey (photo by Jacob Power)

Brittany and Adam Clark (photo by Jacob Power)

Leslie Siller and Jerre Williams (photo by Jacob Power)

Jeff Gremillion 9/24/26 Jeff Gremillion 9/24/26

With Sunny Style, Supporters Celebrate ‘VIP Houston’ Launch at Granduca

A lively crowd of friends, colleagues and local tastemakers gathered to celebrate the official launch of Jeff Gremillion’s VIP Houston, a new digital platform dedicated to Houston culture and society.

Jeff Gremillion and Alicia Smith (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Staff Report

A lively crowd of friends, colleagues and local tastemakers gathered to celebrate the official launch of Jeff Gremillion’s VIP Houston at JeffGremillion.com, a new digital platform dedicated to Houston culture and society.

The festive affair took place in Alba, the sun-filled restaurant space at the Hotel Granduca — typically the setting for high tea — providing an elegant backdrop for the early evening gathering. Guests mingled while enjoying an array of passed hors d’oeuvres, including delicate miniature quiches, and sipping classic margaritas crafted with Original Grit tequila, a sponsor for the event.

Offering welcome remarks, Gremillion shared his vision for the new site and reflected on more than three decades in publishing, including his time founding and leading titles like Houston magazine and Houston CityBook.

“Standing in a room full of people who have supported my work for so long is the best reminder of why I love telling Houston's stories,” Gremillion said. “This new platform is all about celebrating the energy, the style and the incredible personalities that make this city so special. And doing it with a direct, personal touch.”

With the launch party marking the site’s official debut, readers can explore Jeff Gremillion’s VIP Houston. A regular email newsletter debuted this week, as well.

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Patrick Curphey, Van Morris, Peter Bustamante and Matthew Drews (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Mary Ann Mason and Beth Muecke (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Tammy Dowe, Kelley Devine and Carrie Brandsberg-Dao (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Chase Smith, Patrick Magee and A.J. Mistretta (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Alan and Elizabeth Stein (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Derrick Huang and Jeff Gremillion (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Chris Nodd and Nicholas Glenn (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Tarek El-Bjeirmi and Karen Payne (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Bartender Chuck mixes up classic margaritas with Original Grit tequila.

Daniel Irion, Elizabeth Stein and Kirk Kveton (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Escarle Silva and Randy Mitchmore (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Beth Wolff, Jeff Gremillion and Cheryl Byington (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Simple, elegant floral set helped set the party’s sunny, stylish tone (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Jeff Gremillion and Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Parissa Mohajer and Mahzad Mohajer (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Jeff Gremillion and Edward Sanchez (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Jeff Gremillion 9/22/26 Jeff Gremillion 9/22/26

Salon Style: Houston Gets a Private Look at UNA Lab

UNA Lab left New York long enough to set up shop in Anne Carl’s living room.

Elizabeth Carl, Kirby Edmonds and Anne Carl (photo by Michael Monreal)

By Jeff Gremillion

UNA Lab left New York long enough to set up shop in Anne Carl’s living room.

Founder and designer Erica Crisses brought her made-in-New York collection to Houston on Sept. 16 for a private trunk show at Carl’s beautiful home, where Carl’s friends and her daughter, Elizabeth Carl, spent the afternoon trying on pieces and talking through the clothes with the designer herself.

The salon-style setup skipped the usual retail rush. Bubbly-sipping guests could handle the fabrics, test a silhouette and ask Crisses how she meant each piece to move through a wardrobe.The label is built on clean lines, careful proportions and fabrics meant to last more than one season, from quiet everyday knits and lightweight layers to dresses, tailored separates and matching sets that can be worn together or split apart.

Crisses’ mother knitted, sewed and tailored her own clothes, and the designer still works from the same rule: buy less, choose well, wear often. After years in luxury retail and buying, she launched UNA Lab — Latin for “one” and “only” — to make the polished, interchangeable pieces she says she could not find elsewhere.

The collection is available at una-lab.com.

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Susan Plank and Anne Carl (photo by Michael Monreal)

Erica Crisses (photo by Michael Monreal)

Anna Mair and Emma Carruth (photo by Michael Monreal)

Jeff Gremillion 9/21/26 Jeff Gremillion 9/21/26

Biting Back: Drunk Dracula Returns to Houston for a Third Boozy Season

Drunk Dracula is back in Houston, and the count is still drinking on the job.

The chaos begins when the one of the actors takes five shots.

By Jeff Gremillion

Drunk Dracula is back in Houston, and the count is still drinking on the job.

The Drunk Shakespeare Society opens its third local season of the boozy retelling Tuesday, Sept. 22, at The Emerald Theatre, with performances through Nov. 8.

The setup is the same kind of controlled chaos that built the brand: one actor takes five shots before leading the rest of the company through Bram Stoker’s vampire tale, pop-culture detours included. The sober cast tries to stay on script. The night usually has other plans.

“There’s no better way to kick off the Halloween season than with history’s most famous vampire,” says co-creator and producer David Hudson. “We are excited to pay homage to the original drinker and continue bringing our brand of mayhem back to spooky season here in Houston.”

The show is staged in a hidden-library setting, with craft cocktails and snacks available throughout. Guests who want a guaranteed hand in the plot can book The Royal Throne for $504, which comes with a throne, crowns, a bottle of Moët & Chandon, caviar and handmade chocolates, two signature cocktails and decision-making power during the play.

Hudson says the company knows the bit by now and is ready for both first-timers and returning fans. “Whether you’re looking for a unique date night or an immersive experience with friends, we invite you to join us for a memorable night like no other.”

Lori Wolter Hudson wrote the piece. Zac Kelty directs. The Drunk Shakespeare Society, a New York Times Critics’ Pick for its original Bard-under-the-influence format, also produces “Drunk Romeo & Juliet,” “Drunk Christmas Carol” and “Drunk Pirates.

The show is 21 and older and includes strong language, sexual humor, audience interaction and the possibility of nudity. The company says performers follow set drinking guidelines, are monitored during and after performances, and are given safe rides home. Tickets start at $53 at drunkdracula.com.

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Jeff Gremillion 9/20/26 Jeff Gremillion 9/20/26

Texas Cocktail Week Has Returned, With Four Seasons at the Center of the Party

Texas Cocktail Week is back in Houston this week, and Four Seasons Hotel Houston is once again HQ. The host hotel of the second annual celebration, presented by Michter’s, the property is filling Sept. 20-24 with guest shifts, pop-ups and late-night last calls at Bayou & Bottle and Bandista.

Four Seasons Houston is awash in world-class cocktails all week.

By Jeff Gremillion

Programming is open to the public, and beverage manager Johnathan Jones and both bar teams will stay open until midnight each night, giving visiting bartenders and local regulars a place to land after the official events wrap.

“We’re so happy to welcome back Texas Cocktail Week,” says General Manager Tom Segesta. “This incredible celebration of connection and cocktails is what great bars are all about.”

The week opens tonight, Sunday, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Bayou & Bottle with a drop-in party that pulls in some of the state’s best-known bars: Austin’s The Roosevelt Room and Bar Fino & Bar Hacienda, Dallas’ Bar Collette, and San Antonio’s Sternewirth and Mixtli. Florence’s Locale Firenze, ranked No. 22 on the World’s 50 Best Bars list, joins the lineup, with live country DJ sets from Lindsay Rae of Two Headed Dog and light bites built around Houston’s mix of flavors. Bandista, ranked the No. 1 bar in Texas and among North America’s 50 Best Bars, will pop up during the party with one of its signature drinks.

Monday turns more formal. Punch Room Tampa brings its tableside punch service to Bayou & Bottle from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., with beverage director Nihat Cam walking guests through how punch became the modern cocktail. Reservations are in one-hour seatings. Across the hotel, Vancouver’s Botanist Bar takes over Bandista from 7 to 10 p.m., with beverage director Grant Sceney and head bartender Justin Powell pouring five signatures, including the Botanist Martini and the Raincouver. Botanist has landed on the North America’s 50 Best Bars list four years running.

Tuesday belongs to two very different guests. Bartending veteran Toby Maloney holds a drop-in happy hour at Bayou & Bottle from 5 to 8 p.m., pouring classics and signing copies of his book with Emma Janzen, “The Classic Cocktail Sessions.” Later, Nassau’s Bon Vivants — another North America’s 50 Best Bars name — moves behind Bandista’s bookcase from 7 to 10 p.m., with Niko Imbert and Devante Knowles pouring four island-leaning signatures.

Wednesday and Thursday stay at Bandista. Milan’s Moebius, No. 7 on the World’s 50 Best Bars list and a Michelin-starred room, arrives Wednesday from 7 to 10 p.m. with owner Lorenzo Querci and head bartender Alessandro Merlini, including the bar’s popular Pesto Martini. Thursday, Valentino Longo of ViceVersa and ViceVersa, A Fort Lauderdale Residency closes the week with five drinks built around aperitivo and reworked hotel-bar classics.

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Jeff Gremillion 9/17/26 Jeff Gremillion 9/17/26

Mack Allen’s Opens With Cadillac-and-Caviar Swagger

Mack Allen’s arrived the way a supper club should: with a vintage Cadillac at the curb, a Sinatra soundalike at the door and more than 500 of Houston’s social and business set dressed for the occasion.

Samantha Huang and Justin Henderson (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

By Jeff Gremillion

Restaurateur Mack McDonald opened the sprawling first-floor space at 5POP last week, planting old-Hollywood glamour at the seam of River Oaks and Uptown. Before guests even stepped inside, DriverSource Fine Motorcars had a 1941 Cadillac Series 62 staged at the entrance, and tribute artist Rickey Davis was already working through the Ol’ Blue Eyes catalog.

The theatrics continued indoors. Cheeky Vintage dressed the staff in throwback looks, while lampshade ladies and feather-fan dancers moved through the rooms and gave the night a wink of supper-club camp. Champagne and martinis circulated as the crowd worked its way through Mack Allen’s New American spread — sushi, seafood, Domus caviar, steak, pork belly and short rib — then drifted from dining room to dining room and out onto the patio.

The Champagne Room stayed in Veuve Clicquot. The Board Room went darker and clubbier, with old fashioneds built on Eagle Rare 10-year bourbon from McDonald’s own Buffalo Trace barrel. Dessert arrived as the evening’s last bit of excess: cans of “caviar” tiramisu, served with pearl spoons.The point was hard to miss. Mack Allen’s wants Houston back in a jacket, a proper drink in hand, with somewhere worth dressing up for.

Guests included George Lancaster, Sarah and Reza Ebrahimi, Cookie and Lee Centracco, Courtney Hopson, Joyce Echols, Samira Salman, Preet Paul Singh, Sanford Steinberg, Rob Rutherford, Josh Espinedo, James Sivco, Lauren and Kyle Courville, Debbie Elias, Washington Ho, Marcy de Luna, Jennifer Howard, Annie Amante, Amy Blumrosen, Shelley Ludwick, Coco Dominguez, Russ Morgan, Jack Massing, and mom-and-daughter duos Brittany and Sherri Zucker, Beth and Cynthia Wolff, and Meredith, Madyson and Rita Chavez.

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Amy Becker, Holly Gage and Chloe Di Leo (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Fringe and fun and Mack Allen’s (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Taylor DeMartino and George Lancaster (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Rocky Stevens and Amy Becker (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Cynthia and Beth Wolff (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Feather dancers at Mack Allen’s (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Jeff Gremillion 9/17/26 Jeff Gremillion 9/17/26

Look Back: In Mourning Her Dad’s Passing, a Daughter Finds Joyful Signs of God’s Grace

A couple of months ago, a friend recommended an interesting book that she had just finished titled Signs. It’s a collection of stories that speak to the universe’s capacity for magical moments and how to recognize the life-changing messages from the Other Side.

The author sought peace and understanding in the days following her father’s passing.

By Lisa Holthouse

Originally published in December 2021

The book reveals stories of uncanny revelations or inexplicable experiences that have brought inspiration and comfort to those who have lost a loved one. And the author suggests that if you open yourself up to signs, you will start to find meaning where there was confusion, or see light where there was only darkness.

Fast forward to Thanksgiving.

After a glorious day spent with my family — eating, drinking, singing, teasing and doing what we do when we are all together, loving each other like crazy and having the most fun we possibly can — my 76-year-old father laid down to sleep and never woke up.

To say that we have been devastated is a monumental understatement. He passed away completely unexpectedly — although I do realize now he went in the most joyous way that anyone could dream of going. He went to sleep after having his “last supper,” prepared by his loving wife of 55 years, my mother, and he woke up in heaven.

It’s a dream-come-true passing for the deceased. But it’s always a bitter heartbreak for those left behind. And everyone grieves in different ways, yelling out to their creator, their God, wondering what happened. In my particular case, all I wanted to know from Jesus, my Lord, was if he had my dad with him. I wanted to know, dammit. I walked around that whole week, from the Thursday of Thanksgiving late in the night through the following Thursday of his funeral, begging for a sign from God that my dad was safe in heaven with Him.

It’s funny when you walk around looking for a sign. You wonder at every little moment, is this it? Is this my sign? For example, during that very long week my family had dinner together each night, usually at my home. The lights were dim, candles were lit, probably more so than usual, even though I typically prefer it that way.

One of the evenings we dined at my sister’s, and the lights were bright, too bright for my taste. Operating room lights, as I teased her while begging to turn the lights down. As we went to make our plates at the kitchen counter, the lights went off. Completely off, for absolutely no reason. The weather was lovely. The rest of the homes in the neighborhood had their lights on. But ours went off, which of course forced my sister to light candles and proceed with a dinner just the way I was asking in the first place.

Was this my sign? Was Dad looking down on us trying to give me my ambience? I suppose people can create all sorts of rationale for unusual moments that come just at the right time. And I suppose faith is what makes one lean toward a divine intervention. But as we close in on the coming days of Christmas, I want to share with you an incredible sign that came to me on Friday, the morning after my father’s funeral.

In general as Christmastime rolls around, we get so lost in the hype — the decorations a month out, the excessive amount of gifts that we stockpile, the parties and the fanfare. But after losing a loved one — after losing my loved one — it’s remarkable how none of that matters, and the only real solace that can be found is in faith. As such, rolling into Christ’s birthday, I can’t think of anything that helps me find peace other than the birth and subsequent death of Christ on the cross.

The day following the funeral, I was walking through my backyard, melancholic and meditative, in an offbeat area where I was contemplating adding a lighted Christmas tree. The grass had recently been mowed and I was off to the left of a path where most would never walk. I looked down in the grass and there was a crucifix. It was large, maybe six or eight inches long, made of olive wood. Having been to Israel earlier this year, I know firsthand how most of their carved items are made of olive wood, so I thought it curious. I picked it up, and on the back was carved Jerusalem.

I stopped in my tracks, and tears filled my eyes. This was my sign, without a doubt. There was no way to rationalize any other way for this to be in my path the day following my father’s funeral. It didn’t belong to us. I have never seen it before. And it was too large to just fall out of a landscaper’s pocket. (Believe me, I tried every rationale in the moment.)

I have come to learn from our priest that “heaven has been considered the eternal Jerusalem since Christ’s days.” And he believes that I have been intimately blessed by God with this marvelous sign that my dad is in the eternal Jerusalem with Him.

So as I roll into the holidays with a heavy sadness in my heart, fewer gifts under the tree, and a worry that Christmas Eve will be nothing but tears, I am reminded of the only thing that matters to us Christians that celebrate the birth of Christ. He came to save us through His life and His death on the cross. And I have my very own heaven-sent crucifix to prove it.

God bless you all as He has blessed me. Merry Christmas.

Jeff Gremillion 9/17/26 Jeff Gremillion 9/17/26

Veteran Editor Jeff Gremillion Launches New Digital Platform for Houston Storytelling

After more than 30 years as a prominent voice in journalism and media leadership, veteran editor and publisher Jeff Gremillion is embarking on his next venture: a digital destination focused on Houston society, local culture and compelling personal profiles.

Jeff Gremillion has returned to society and cultural journalism. (Gremillion portrait by Al Torres)

After more than 30 years as a prominent voice in journalism and media leadership, veteran editor and publisher Jeff Gremillion is embarking on his next venture: JeffGremillion.com, a digital destination focused on Houston society, local culture and compelling personal profiles.

The platform debut marks a unique next chapter of Gremillion’s career. Over three decades, he led major regional publications — founding and editing both Houston magazine (Modern Luxury) and, most recently, Houston CityBook — in addition to having previously held editorial positions at major titles like Time Out New York, Entertainment Weekly and Columbia Journalism Review.

“After decades of managing full production schedules and print runs, I realized what I missed most was the pure joy of writing a great piece,” says Gremillion. “This site gives me an open, direct venue to highlight the remarkable personalities and social scene that make Houston so dynamic.”

Designed as an agile space for high-impact feature writing and event reporting, JeffGremillion.com will also be supported by a robust presence across social media channels. Additionally, readers can expect regular email newsletters packed with fresh updates and insights, rolling out soon.

“Houston has always been a city driven by big ideas, bigger personalities and relentless energy,” Gremillion adds. “I wanted to create a space where readers can get engaging, thoughtful pieces about what’s happening right now, written with a familiar voice.”

The new platform is live now.

Gremillion says he created *Jeff Gremillion’s VIP Houston* as “a space where readers can get engaging, thoughtful pieces about what’s happening right now, written with a familiar voice.” (Photo by Al Torres)

Jeff Gremillion 9/14/26 Jeff Gremillion 9/14/26

Look Back: Get a Rare Glimpse of Oscar Wyatt, War Hero and Oil Titan, at Home with Lynn

In a sunny corner of the River Oaks home he shares with his internationally famous socialite wife, Oscar Wyatt laughs easily and makes guests feel welcome. A photographer here to take his portrait this morning remarks how jovial and funny he is, as when he intercepts a question intended for wife Lynn with the timing of a seasoned stand-up.

Lynn and Oscar Wyatt at home in River Oaks, summer 2021 (photo by Jhane Hoang)

By Jeff Gremillion

Originally published in October 2021

"Why did you marry Oscar?" an interviewer asks.

After three full beats, with the query hanging in the air in advance of Lynn's reply, he belts out in comical mock exasperation, "Oh hell!" — and the room erupts in laughter.

That's just about all he'll have to say today. After a stroke a few years ago, Oscar, now 97, is more mellow and less boisterous and talkative than he would have been in his heyday as one of Texas' most notable — and at times controversial — oilmen. Back when "gruff" and "abrasive" were among the most typical words used to describe him.

He's "a throwback to the independent oilmen of another era, the ones who dug out a fortune virtually with their hands and fought hard to expand it," said Gov. John Connally of his friend Oscar in the late politician's memoir, noting the rise of Oscar's Coastal Corporation and his rough-and-tumble international deal making. "He isn't the kind of fellow who has to look at a horseshoe all day before he pitches it.

"Often blunt and sometimes profane, he is a man capable of surprising warmth and sentiment and charity," said Connally. The former governor joined Oscar on a trip to Iraq in 1990 during which the oil tycoon is credited with convincing Saddam Hussein to release a group of American hostages.

It turns out that Oscar is many things. Not just a magnate who had raised himself from poverty. Not just a former Aggie lineman and used car salesman, among other things, who took out an $800 loan against his truck to start a company that would later be worth billions.

(The loan story prompted Henry Ford II to weigh in, in a 1986 letter. "For over 80 years, Ford Motor Company has produced quality products for the motoring public, and I have heard many accounts of the uses to which our products have been put," Ford wrote. "Some have been unusual, some even bizarre. But none equals what I have heard about your 1949 Ford." Ford went on to note his dismay at the rather modest amount of the loan secured by "such a fine automobile." He added, "Obviously, the loan was over-collateralized.")

Besides the storied business success, Oscar is also an accomplished aviator who was an active pilot for some 70 years. It wasn't until his stroke in 2008 that he left the cockpit.

His history in the air — which included unmitigated heroism in the second world war — is being honored at the Lone Star Flight Museum's "Broad Stripes and Bright Stars" gala on Dec. 4. Although it's hard to believe, given that Lynn is roundly considered the queen of Houston society and has thus been honored dozens, maybe hundreds of times at various fetes and fundraisers over many decades, the museum ball will mark the first time Oscar has ever been individually honored at such an event.

Lynn surely feels the time has come. "But he just never thinks about himself like that," she says. "He never talks about himself, never brags about himself."

This is part of how she answers that question about why she married him in the first place him back in 1963. "I'd never met a man like that," she says. She was impressed by his take-charge nature, his worldliness, his imposing stature and the fact that he was 11 years older. "You could name any country, and he'd already been there. He knew how to solve every problem, had an answer for everything. I felt so safe with him.

"He never complains," she adds. "Even when he got that stroke, he took it just like nothing happened. I'm so proud of him."

Of the decision to honor Oscar, Lone Star Flight Museum President Doug Owens, himself a retired lieutenant general, says that Oscar's "distinguished service as a decorated bomber pilot in World War II is something to be recognized and honored by us all."

Indeed, Beaumont-born Oscar's war heroics in the skies of the Pacific Theater, coming after teen years spent crop dusting farms in Navasota, are movie-worthy. Connally described them in his book. "He was flying a cargo of munitions out of Okinawa in 1945 when his plane caught fire and had to crash-land," wrote the governor. "His flight suit was burning. He couldn't see. Both his legs were crushed, his jaw was broken, and he had seven fractures in his head. He crawled back and forth to the plane until he had dragged out his five crew members, all of them alive." Oscar was 21 at the time.

A lot of this came as news to his four sons. "He never talked about that, except to say he was responsible for his crew," says Trey Wyatt. "It's in his character. He does not take credit for his accomplishments. He likes to keep a low profile."

Trey continues: "He pointedly refused to talk about his war experiences with his children. The government of the Philippines gave him an honor for his heroism, and later the Peoples' Republic of China did the same thing. That's the only way we started to learn about it."

Truly, for decades, Oscar was utterly uninterested in public affirmation and perfectly happy to let Lynn, confidant to royalty and celebs like Elton John and Mick Jagger, win the accolades and glow glamorously. After all, Forbes once reported that he'd "cultivated a hard-as-nails reputation" and Texas Monthly called him the real-life J.R. Ewing.

"What people thought meant absolutely nothing to him," says Trey. "He used to say, 'I'm not in business to win a popularity contest.'

"I'm glad it's happening," Trey says of the museum honor. "Because he does deserve it. Our family insisted on it. My mother insisted on it. He's been an unsung hero. He's had an impact on a lot of people's lives, but he hasn't sought the spotlight."

Oscar's love affair with flight included owning many planes and serving as the family's personal pilot for as long as Trey can remember. "Twin Beech, DC3, Lockheed Howard, a 1961 Queen Air Beechcraft from the early days of the Kennedy administration," Trey recalls. He also references a Boeing 707, a BAC One-Eleven, "a Gulfstream II and IIB."

If Oscar was tough and open to great risk in business, he was anything but at the yoke of a plane. He was meticulous about checklists, and, as Trey puts it, he had a deep respect for weather. "He used to say, 'I can show you a bold pilot, and I can show you an old pilot. But you'll not find a bold, old pilot.

"I inherited that passion. That's the reason I'm still flying," Trey adds. "He taught me to fly straight and level."

These days, Oscar uses a wheelchair to get around and, of course, spends a lot less time in the air. "He's not really able to talk," says Trey, "and that frustrates him."

Lynn describes a conversation with Oscar this way: "Sometimes he'll curse. He knows what he wants to say [but can't find the words]. And he'll say, 'mmm, mmm, mmm … Goddammit!' And I'll say, 'Oh, I got that. That was clear as a bell.' I'll say, 'wait, wait, wait.' And then it'll come out."

Sometimes things take time. Like getting Oscar his due at a big gala. "And," Lynn insists, "nobody deserves it more."

Lynn and Oscar Wyatt at home in River Oaks, summer 2021 (photo by Jhane Hoang)

Oscar and Lynn at a society wedding at the Met in New York in 1988

Oscar Wyatt as a young military pilot in World War II

Jeff Gremillion 9/14/26 Jeff Gremillion 9/14/26

A Dreamy L.A. Escape Entails Opulence, Intrigue — and Even Some Walking

Dogs with ponytails. Someone dressed like Jimmy Buffet on psychedelics blaring music from a speaker hanging from his neck. Another gent taking a conference call on a ’90s-era headset at the skate park. These are all scenes from a leisurely hour in Venice Beach, where eclecticism and luxury intersect in true Los Angeles fashion.

Life’s a beach in Santa Monica

By Evan W. Black

Originally published in March 2024

Between the good vibes and the whole weather-not-being-a-thing thing, it’s not hard to understand why people from all walks of life gravitate to the City of Angels. But above all, L.A. remains a place where the rich and famous, along with those who like to cosplay being rich and famous, thrive.

Take the Fairmont Century Plaza, for instance. The iconic hotel recently underwent a post-Covid renovation to the tune of $2.5 billion (yes, with a “b”), preserving its mid-century nostalgia while nodding to Los Angeles’ laidback luxury of the 2020s. In addition to 400 guest rooms (including 49 suites), the 16-floor property, situated on more than six Beverly-Hills-adjacent acres, has dozens of privately owned residences, a beautiful art collection — as well as Fairmont Gold, the brand’s 70-room hotel-within-a-hotel for uber-VIP guests.

The hotel’s brasserie, Lumiere, has what might be the best baguette ever, delightfully salty and served with extra-creamy butter. Stop in for bread and a cocktail, or stay and enjoy a plate of squid-ink pasta with spicy crabmeat and an unexpected hit of cilantro.

The Fairmont’s bottom-floor spa is a must, boasting its share of L.A. intrigue: chlorophyll water, experiential rain showers, bio-hacking treatments, a hammam room.

But for the true celeb experience, make a day trip to the Hotel Bel-Air, where a tucked-away spa sits among acres of lush gardens and instantly whisks visitors away to the privacy-laden land of Hollywood Glam.

Those who want to make more of a splash will find themselves in Brentwood, dining at hip, new restaurants like the Barcelona-inspired Teleferic. Or perhaps back in Venice, shopping along Abbott Kinney — Made in Earth jewelry; sustainable cashmere by Naadam; health-centric items a la green juice and essential oils — before hitting the vintage shops and the beach.

Meanwhile, Downtown L.A. may be a little more subdued, but isn’t without its charm. The Hotel Per La, occupying a former bank building that was previously the NoMad Hotel until 2022, is in the heart of one of the most walkable districts in the city. Nearby, the dual-property Moxy and AC Hotel just opened Level 8, an immersive-nightlife destination with eight different restaurants and lounges on the eighth floor.

That’s convenient, seeing as there’s something Houstonians might be reluctant to admit about L.A.: The traffic is, indeed, measurably worse.

Jeff Gremillion 9/14/26 Jeff Gremillion 9/14/26

Private, Unplugged and Ultra-Luxe, This Resort in the Maldives Is a Must

Surf lessons are taught by handsome Australian instructors.

By Patrick Magee

Originally published in August 2024

The personal service starts as soon as guests clear customs at the Maldives’ Malé Velana international airport. Visitors are whisked away in a speedboat to the Gili Lankanfushi resort, reminiscent of the opening scene of a new White Lotus season. While sipping a ginger juice, guests’ shoes are taken off and feet are cleaned. Then they’re handed back their belongings, in a bag labeled “No news, no shoes” — Gili’s mantra.

At first, “no news, no shoes” might seem kitschy to an American worried about traffic, exhausted from the election news cycle or recovering from a hurricane. But stress seems to melt away and the mantra becomes reality, as soon as the glittering resort comes into view. It’s actually paradise, a deep sea archipelago about 500 miles off the southern tip of India — a haven that’s picturesque and made for exploring, and completely disconnected from the outside world.

Gili is a five-star resort — named TripAdvisor’s number-one hotel in the world multiple times — comprised of 45 overwater villas surrounding a private island only available to hotel guests, complete with white sand beaches, schools of fish swimming in perfect blue water, and impeccable service.

While there’s plenty to satisfy the adventure seekers, Gili is made for relaxing in absolute luxury. For $10,000ish a night, it’s home to the world’s largest overwater villa, only accessible by boat, and hosts a private pool, gym and movie theatre. The other villas are open-air with stairs that lead directly into the crystal clear water of the Indian Ocean, with a private water garden that encloses the shower where manta rays and grouper fish swim freely. Measurements are taken before you arrive so personalized fins and goggles are waiting in the villa for a snorkeling adventure — without leaving the bedroom!

From the villa, it’s just a quick bike ride on an overwater wooden path to the island — peep the friendly blacktip reef sharks swimming underneath on the way. There’s no hotel tower or town, so it’s possible to wander among the bright green palm trees and beaches (which are raked every morning to be easy on your bare feet) without running into another person. Unless one would like to, which is where a personal butler — called Mr. or Mrs. Friday, a reference to Robinson Crusoe — can help. The staff at Gili, and especially your Friday, is omnipresent (while not being intrusive in the slightest). They’ll coordinate any of the many activities on Gili: Try snorkeling with the resident marine biologist to discover “coral farms,” through which the resort is growing and replanting coral; relax in the glass-bottomed spa; or take a swing during a private tennis lesson. Of course, there’s also plenty of food to be enjoyed.

Chef Hari oversees a small army of chefs and cooks from around the world that staff the island’s three restaurants, where every meal begins with a bracing shot of fresh juice. Don’t skip the breakfast spread served in the villa; it’s a full-service experience with fresh fruit, eggs and various curried, porridge-y Maldivian specialties served on your private dock as the fish splash and play in the ocean.

Chef Hari didn’t know what a “chef” was when his parents enrolled him in culinary school — and the first time he had to prepare beef, his Hindu mother banned him from the house. He has since spearheaded the island’s vegan and vegetarian programs, including highly customized multicourse meals and cooking classes, which are becoming the talk of the Euro-travel set.

Dinner is a nightly show. It adopts a different rotating theme, like Asian-street-market night, during which rows of live cooking stations are erected on the beach at sunset. Alternatively, Mediterranean night includes a full fire pit, and Brazilian night includes live-fire cooking carts rolled from table to table.

After serene days of no news and no shoes, lacing up sneakers for the trip back home is a hard-hitting reality. Gili, always with the special touches, has an airport concierge that helps guests through check-in and security, so there’s no need to part with the personalized luxury or friendly staff until the very last second.

The Gili Lankanfushi resort is made up of 45 luxury overwater villas connected to a private island with three restaurants, tennis court, pool, outdoor movie theatre and more.

Chef Hari’s hot chocolate lava cake topped with vanilla bean ice cream

Jeff Gremillion 9/10/26 Jeff Gremillion 9/10/26

From Uptown Fine Dining to an Omakase Return, Houston’s Next Wave Takes Shape

Houston’s fall dining calendar is filling up fast, with a splashy Uptown newcomer, a Michelin-recognized omakase comeback and a Downtown rooftop all in the mix — plus two suburban arrivals close behind.

Nigiri at Neo

By Jeff Gremillion

Mack Allen’s, one of the year’s more anticipated openings, is due this month at 5POP, the 28-story office tower at 4400 Post Oak Parkway. The 16,000-square-foot restaurant takes over the entire first floor with New American cooking: prime beef, American wagyu, seafood, sushi and caviar, plus a wine cellar of about 1,000 bottles and a serious spirits program. The layout splits the difference between scale and intimacy, with three private dining rooms, a statement bar and a botanical garden-inspired patio. Founder Mack McDonald is positioning it as a destination for business dinners, celebrations and dressed-up nights out.

Neo, the Michelin-recognized omakase from Comma Hospitality, is slated to reopen in late fall at 1711 Indiana St. The restaurant began as a 2020 pop-up above the clothing store Glass Cypress and closed in late 2025 for renovations. When it returns, it will come back with a refreshed room and an evolved version of its intimate omakase format.

The Perch is also aimed at late fall, landing as the rooftop restaurant and bar at JW Marriott Houston Downtown, 812 Main St. Executive Chef Rafael Gonzalez will lead a seasonal menu inspired by local flavors and Houston’s mix of culinary influences, with a beverage program of globally inspired wines, local craft beers, cocktails and nonalcoholic options. Guests can take in the skyline from the dining room, the bar or the rooftop pool. The restaurant is part of the hotel’s larger expansion, including the transformation of the historic Battelstein’s Building plus new guest rooms, meeting space and amenities.

Kirby Ice House is preparing to open its new Clear Lake location this month at 530 Bay Area Blvd., near Johnson Space Center and Space Center Houston. The 21-and-up indoor-outdoor neighborhood bar is bringing the usual Kirby formula — roomy seating, sports on the screens, rotating beers, craft cocktails, games, dog-friendly patios, food trucks, complimentary group reservations and plenty of parking — to the Bay Area. Local NASA-inspired details include a custom neon of the brand’s cowgirl mascot riding a rocket. The idea is an easy hang for happy hour, game day and neighborhood celebrations.

Meanwhile, nationally known Tony’s Italian Delicatessen — the spot that hit No. 1 on Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S. — is bringing its stuffed “Carnegie” subs to City Place in Spring, at 1700 City Place Drive, in early fall. After busy Montgomery and Tomball locations, Tony’s is serving the same end-to-end sandwiches on crusty Italian rolls, finished with its signature sub oil and named for Italian American icons. Expect the Stallone, Sophia and Pacino, plus soups, salads, gluten-free options and a dessert lineup of tiramisu, limoncello cake, cannoli and homemade snickerdoodles.

A rendering of the Champagne Room at Mack Allen’s

Jeff Gremillion 9/9/26 Jeff Gremillion 9/9/26

James Beard Winner Douglas Rodriguez Takes Over the Kitchen at Exilio

Exilio Latin Flair has handed the kitchen to one of the chefs who helped invent Nuevo Latino cuisine.

Chef Douglas Rodriguez

By Jeff Gremillion

Exilio Latin Flair has handed the kitchen to one of the chefs who helped invent Nuevo Latino cuisine.

James Beard Award winner Douglas Rodriguez is the new executive chef at the Harlow District restaurant, and his first move was a full reboot of the lunch and dinner menus, which debuted Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Rodriguez is widely credited with shaping Nuevo Latino cooking in the United States, taking the flavors and traditions of Latin America and presenting them through a contemporary lens. “Chef Douglas Rodriguez has an extraordinary ability to honor the traditions of Latin American cooking while presenting them in a fresh and exciting way,” said Pedro Teyuca, co-owner and operator of Bari Hospitality Group. “His creativity, experience and deep understanding of these cultures make him the ideal chef to guide Exilio into its next chapter.”

Rodriguez’s résumé includes Alma de Cuba in Philadelphia and De Rodriguez Cuba at the Hilton Bentley in Miami Beach, which became Miami’s first Latin restaurant to earn the AAA Four Diamond designation. More recently, he developed Nikos in Durham, N.C., which earned a recommendation in the 2025 Michelin Guide. He won the James Beard Foundation’s Rising Star Chef of the Year Award in 1996, later received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Flavors of Passion Awards and competed on the inaugural season of Bravo’s Top Chef Masters.

At Exilio, he is drawing from the Caribbean, Central and South America, Mexico and Spain, with dishes that lean into indigenous ingredients and regional technique. The new menu includes tuna watermelon ceviche, salmon amarillo, mixto seafood leche de tigre, braised short rib flautas, Colombian-style chicken empanadas and a Cuban sandwich on a stick. Entrées run from chicken mole and snapper Veracruz to Argentine churrasco-cut filet mignon and malanga ricotta gnocchi.

Exilio, part of Bari Hospitality Group with Bari Ristorante and Georgia James, is at 2817 W. Dallas St., Building C. Reservations are at exiliolatinflair.com.