San Antonio: Bistro Bakery

Was in San Antonio to see my family this past weekend and one of my first stops is always Bistro Bakery.

Owned and operated by the very French Lucille Watel (she always says "Voila!" when serving you something and I get giddy when referred to as "mademoiselle"), it's a little slice of the Paris in Olmos Park.

The flowering bougainvillea is always in full bloom
And the buttery smell of fresh pastries permeates the entire space
I asked Lucille for two cappuccinos and four of her light-air-croissants - two plain, two chocolate
Then I thought about getting something to go for lunch
When I got to the counter to pay, I saw that she is now hosting cooking classes every other week on Tuesday (pastries), Wednesday (bread) and Thursday (cuisine) afternoons from 2 to 4 pm.
If I wasn't expected somewhere, I would've taken full advantage of the healthy stash of French-language magazines always under the cream and sugar counter. Even though I can't understand a word, it's just as fun to look at the pictures.

Dallas: Little Bean + Rikshaw Design = !!!

If you're in Dallas, don't forget this fun party tonight to celebrate Little Bean's 1 year anniversary! There will be a Rikshaw Design pop-up shop hosted by Little Bean and Simple Lovely!

Dallas: Amber Venz and one major sale

I adore Amber Venz in a major way and I'm super psyched about a clothing sale the jewelry designer is having next Wed, Sept 8 from 11 to 7 and Thurs, Sept 9 from 11 until she's sold out (which leads me to think that the sale will end at 11:30 because she's got the best style).

Venz is cleaning out her closet and because she did some time at Sebastian's in Snider Plaza she has all kinds of fabulous must-haves like J Brand, Marni, Christian Louboutin, Costume National, Alexander Wang, the list goes on.
I pulled these pics off her website - you have to read it daily, it's pretty good - so you can see for yourself the way she pulls off looks with aplomb
Really? Could she be any cooler? For the location email Amber at amber@ambervenz.com.

Photos courtesy of VenzEdits.com

Houston: Elaine Bradford

A while back dearest Brooke Hortenstine, co-editor at PaperCity told me about a fashion spread to appear in the September issue of PC that involved crochet-covered taxidermy animals. Brooke is super stylish and has hyper-discerning taste so I thought, well, maybe I just need to see those things to understand what the fuss is about. Well, I just saw them and I totally get it. Herewith, the funny, fabulous art of Houston artist Elaine Bradford.

Love those raccoons

Are you dying over the masked rabbit and squirrel?
It keeps getting better
Wait for it....
Brooke thinking about placing a personal
Click here to read Elaine's blog about her progress on her first permanent public installation at Houston's Vinson Neighborhood Library which involves crocheting a sweater for an elephant sculpture.

Photos courtesy of PaperCityMag.com

Dallas: Pampered Soles

Earlier this week I had the fortunate experience of having a mani/pedi at Pampered Soles on W. Lovers Lane. I am not exaggerating when I tell you - and I can be prone to hyperbole - that is was the best mani/pedi I've ever had in my life. Now, as a writer of things fashion and beauty-related I've had several media manis, gratis scrubs and polishes from places at the top of the W hotel or in the basement of hotels named for the shape of a fading moon. And none of them compare to the utter serenity of what happened to me Monday morning.

The first obvious difference was that instead of chairs with attached tubs and water jets there were cushy leather recliners, each separated by a sheer panel for privacy. I picked from the killer polish selection - think Chanel, Dior, YSL, Butter, and nail salon staples OPI and Essie - and sat down to a cool drink, and herb crackers topped with goat cheese and pepper jam. My feet were then dry sloughed to smoothness before a plastic-lined tub of hot water was brought for my feet. Not only was this the most painless pedicure - there was no jabbing into my toe nail or knee jerk reactions to aggressive scrubbing - but the staff was thoughtful and kind, no one offered me a brow wax, and no one was yammering on their cell phone while they painted my nails. In a word: perfect.

Pampered Soles, 214.358.0006