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F ew hotels have as storied a history as the Waldorf Astoria New York — and now Texas is getting one of its own in Fredericksburg. The original, which opened on Park Avenue in 1931, has many distinctions: It was the first hotel to have electricity on every floor, the first to have en suite baths, and the first to offer 24-hour room service. The hotel has served as the backdrop for too many movies to count. What I wouldn't pay right now to kick back a few martinis in Peacock Alley, the NY hotel's soon-to-be- unveiled lounge for seeing and being seen. The sprawling 106-acre Fredericksburg property is expected to open in 2027 in Texas' popular wine-tasting destination. The Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country and Waldorf Astoria Residences Texas Hill Country — just under two hours' drive from Austin and San Antonio — will have 60 dedicated rooms and suites, 37 branded multi-bedroom resort villas (part of an extended rental program), and 50 branded private residences with all-encompassing views of this picture-perfect region, as well as an 11,000-square-foot spa and fitness center. Expect five food and beverage concepts, likely to be helmed by a renowned culinary talent. It's all being designed in collaboration with Studio Caban, FAB Studio, Tipler Group, Studio Outside, and Paul Duesing Partners. If reading this has left you longing for the New York hotel, that historic property (which closed in 2017 for renovations) is slated for a soft opening this spring after a reported $1 billion reimagining, with reservations being taken for September 1 and beyond. Billy Fong 42 Rendering of the new Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country If you're looking for a new skill set — somewhat obscure yet endlessly intriguing that will captivate listeners at your next cocktail party — consider becoming a tea sommelier. Dallas-born Catherine Hicks Cosgrove did just that, taking her love of the aromatic leaves, which Chinese legends date back to 2737 BC, to the next level and becoming a Certified Tea Sommelier. Now a member of the International Tea Masters Association (ITMA), Cosgrove has launched Forgrave, a company of tea wares and original loose-leaf tea blends, named for her great-grandfather, Paul Forgrave. This is not your fussy great aunt's too-precious tea service or predictable milky drink. Cosgrove, who now resides in New York City, has given tradition a new jolt with selections such as Smoking Jacket, green tea with notes of toasted rice and sage ($21 - $91); Boy's Club, a heady blend of black teas and cinnamon with a hint of aged oak ($17 - $82); calming, caffeine-free Mint Mantra ($16-$81); and Avant Garden with its delicate floral accents — perfect for baby and bridal showers ($20 - $90. During this year's Dallas Art Fair, Forgrave occupied a niche in the collector's lounge; we caught up with creative director Sabrina Dee at a dinner following the fair. Forgrave's inspirations, she shared, range from architecture to art, with a fragrance- forward ideology. The packaging nods to neoclassical design and sets the stage not just for sipping, but for a lifestyle ritual. Antique accessories will launch soon, but for now, you can experience the debut collection, The Discovery Set, exclusively at The Conservatory in Dallas and New York City, as well as at worldofforgrave.com. Billy Fong OBSESSIONS. DECORATION. SALIENT FACTS. Forgrave Avant Garden white blend tea Forgrave Mint Mantra medium caddy box