Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1225773
Jewelry designer Anabela Chan @papercityhouston 8 DIVE INTO OUR DIGITAL WORLD PAPERCITYMAG.COM ELEVATING THE HALL I f the initial hype over Houston's entry into the food hall scene has given way to something of a malaise, one downtown spot is determined to change that. Finn Hall's new restructured team wants to elevate the food hall. That's the vision of Lionstone Investments, Midway Companies, and new culinary director David Buehrer. New restaurants Lit Chicken, Papalo Taqueria, and the chef- beloved Pho Binh immediately make Finn Hall more of a destination. "One step at a time, but the end goal would be to have a James Beard- worthy food hall," Buehrer says. "Not just a James Beard-nominated chef." Read more at papercitymag.com/fi nn-hall. LUXURY STAGING THE BEARD CALL EMPTY ECHOES It's a luxury spec home like no other. A new 11,000-square-foot home in Memorial, completely furnished top to bottom, from artwork to sofas and dining table. Luxury homebuilder Al Ross turned to interior designer Ben Johnson to help him turn the traditional house staging concept upside down. Now, it's about creating a distinctive move-in-ready home. Call it a turnkey concierge service. "Every piece was purchased with this home in mind and designed to work with the distinctive materials and fi nishes found in and around the property," Johnson tells PaperCity. Read more at papercitymag.com/ ross-staging. Chef Christine Ha was going about her regular morning routine, ticking things off her to-do list, when she got The Call. "I was doing menial tasks and someone told me about the James Beard announcement, and I said, 'Is this for real? Is this some kind of a joke?'" she tells PaperCity. Nobody at the James Beard Foundation is kidding about The Blind Goat being a Best New Restaurant in America semifi nalist. The success of Ha's Bravery Chef Hall restaurant has opened the door for her next Houston spot, the aptly named Xin Chao, which means hello in Vietnamese. Read more at papercitymag.com/christine-ha. NRG Stadium, Toyota Center, Minute Maid Park, and arenas and ballparks across the country have sat empty since mid-March. The coronavirus pandemic forced the unprecedented cancellation of the NCAA Tournament (which has been played every year since 1939), the postponement of the Masters, the NBA and MLB seasons, and much more. For once, the games did not go on. It's a surreal new reality for many — and a particularly heartbreaking one for the college seniors who will not get a chance to compete for the championships they worked toward all year. Read more at papercitymag.com/empty-arenas. NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP D on't be the last to get the new PC Daily. Our redesigned, expanded editorial newsletters put the entire city right in your inbox. Get Houston's top fashion, restaurant, real estate, society, and art news — and more — fi ve times a week. Sign up at PaperCityMag.com/ newsletter. Round Top @anneleephillips Tatsu-Ya @georgie_ofthejungle #PCSEEN WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE UP TO, DIGITALLY. Minute Maid Park Christine Ha 8833 Memorial Drive Finn Hall LIKE: facebook.com/papercitymag FOLLOW: @papercitymag TWEET: @papercitymag GET SOCIAL: