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SHAU LIN HON COURTESY THE ARTIST AND MOODY GALLERY It's a Texas Fall: Our fave shows involve the hometown team. Jump into the season with openings for McKay Otto at Nave Museum and Michael Bise at Moody Gallery, September 6 and 7, respectively. Both border on the extraordinary. Bise's drawings are more than graphite on paper; they're informed by personal history and, the true-life tale of this heart-transplant recipient (through October 12). Down Victoria way, Otto's solo at the Nave, "Ever About Ever," presents a view of abstraction that recalls time and space travel while conjuring elements from the I Ching (through October 20) … Also edged with cosmological questions, Susan Plum takes over Houston Baptist University Gallery with Naturaleza Oculta — Hidden Nature, an installation pairing drawing, sculpture, assemblage and glass in a hermetic, hypnotic recreation of the universe informed by the Mayan calendar and the stars; director Jim Edwards curates (opening September 12, 4 to 7 pm; special community opening Saturday, September 14, 1 to 4 pm, with artist talk and bites; through October 26) … Then there's Katrina Moorhead, whose solo at Inman Gallery possesses a deft touch informed by a dose of surrealism — "The bird than never landscape" (September 6 – Michael Bise's Waiting Room, 2013, at Moody Gallery October 26). Biennial or Bust: Make tracks to Lawndale Art Center for the latest iteration of the Texas Biennial. Toasting its fifth year and its status as the longest-running statewide biennial in America, exhibitions range from Dallas to San Antonio, Austin to Marfa and, in Houston, at LAC. L.A.based critic Michael Duncan joins Texas and NY-based curator Virginia Rutledge in organizing the Lawndale show: works by statewide talents Christie Blizard, Marcelyn McNeil, Tom Orr Susan Plum's Naturaleza Oculta – Hidden Nature, 2013, and Brad Tucker. at Houston Baptist University Gallery Pay attention to Houston painter McNeil's languorous language of abstraction (through September 28). Painter's Progress/Video Rama: At Barbara Davis Gallery, Gavin Perry's succulent resin works hover between panting and sculpture, with the swagger of Miami cool (September 6 – October 18) … Video mistress Swiss miss Katja Loher solos at Anya Tish Gallery (September 6 – October 19). Traffic Stopping: Motorists are rubber-necking once again along Montrose near Art League Houston, admiring a temporary site-specific piece by Patrick Renner (through May 2014). The energetic Funnel Tunnel required dozens of volunteers for the final painting stages … Catch Dan Havel's first show in seven years, complete with some of the artist's signature architectural installations, at his new gallerist, Avis Frank, which continues to do wondrous things in the former 1927 Humble Gas station/later King Biscuit in the Heights (September 6 – October 1) … It's art in the service of activism. Watch for billboards around town by Jessica Crute, part of the season-opening group show at Deborah Colton Gallery (September 7 October 19; be there when Crute stages the inaugural – Art + Advocacy fund-raiser, Saturday, September 28, to raise money for two nonprofits, which serve the homeless) … Checked our blogs lately? FRAMED (every Tuesday) and Artful Weekend (Fridays); for more art musing, follow us on Twitter, @PaperCityCA. Catherine D. Anspon The Sounds of (Classical) Music Just call him the sultan of strings. Friday, September 20, Tenenbaum & Co. and the Brilliant Lecture Series present an evening with Emmy-winning composer and violinist extraordinaire Edvin Marton. His instrument of choice may be just as extolled: a Stradivarius violin handcrafted in 1697 and worth more than $3 million. Marton gained global notoriety after his performance at the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin. He took to the ice with gold medalist Evgeni Plushenko and played the music live. The piece won the 2006 Emmy for Best Composition and cemented his fame. This evening concert at Wortham Theater Center marks his first performance in Houston. Anyone that can do twizzles and play Tchaikovsky at the same time is tops in our book. Tickets $35 to $130, at 713.974.1335; brilliantlectures.org. Edvin Marton Erin Oppenheim Billy Fong Sez ... Sonic Youth, circa 1980 Valentino Belstaff I first started this column ranting about this year's Blaster Vanity Fair Best speaker Dressed List. Snooze European fest. Come on, it Hermès menswear Swift felt like something show calfskin InStyle would have cuff for Gucci men put together. Brooke Hunter boots Shields? Really? Her stock plummeted when she started doing infomercials • Hunter rain boots in orange. for Latisse and La-Z-Boy. I get it: A girl needs to • Valentino tweed cape. work, but why not head to Tokyo to do tequila • Belstaff leather jacket and boots. commercials? As for Justin Timberlake, he's • Dior Homme blue sneakers. barely out of his Mickey Mouse Club days. So The two prevailing themes were variations many repeats from the past few years: Tom and on the 1990s: sleek minimalism or grunge Gisele, Kate Middleton, Victoria Beckham ... Yes, rock. All in all, I prefer the more streamlined all very good, but let's see some new folks. There look over the flannel aesthetic reminiscent of has to be another sibling of Lapo and Ginevra Seattle, although I do love layering when I am Elkann that we haven't heard about yet. Or feeling particularly svelte in size 28 jeans. For some obscure Saudi princess fresh out of Brown grunge, don't channel Nirvana and Cobain, University or an off-the-radar South African who but rather Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon wears Tom Ford with a bush hat. from Sonic Youth. Both aesthetics offered pant So, instead of getting on my soapbox about lengths appropriate for floodwaters. To make Graydon Carter being asleep at the wheel, I the look complete, wear yours sockless with have opted to wax rhapsodic about the exciting brogues or paired with ankle boots and chunky season ahead in menswear. Whether it be an military socks. And don't forget a pop of color octogenarian oil-and-gas type or an on-the-town (shades of blue to balance out the gray) and/ Bravo gay boy, any man will agree that it's not or metal accessories — cuffs, large belt buckles, usually about what you are wearing if you have brass knuckles and, perhaps, multiple brooches yummy arm candy. For fall, however, we should on your jacket, à la a fashionable cub scout aspire to look as good as the lady or lad by our with many merit badges. Also, facial hair is side. The fall runway offerings were brilliant and appropriate for either. left me inspired to rock many different looks for Another accessory I am dying for is a techy the months ahead. Some pieces you will likely item. I happened upon one when Chris Hite see me in this season include: invited me to attend a men's trend show at • Double-breasted jackets. As fashion forward the Dallas Apparel Mart. We visited the Nixon as I think I am, I was still torn when this trend showroom, and I fell in love with the Blaster re-emerged last fall since it reminds me of speaker in army green. Wireless connectivity with the uniform adopted by Tony Soprano's guys. utilitarian design made of rubber that's practically However, the super-cinched-in tailored versions indestructible — perfection. truly are brilliant. Worn with a T-shirt, they work As Uber continues to ferry me about, I for warmer Indian summer days; paired with a want songs from The Stone Roses and Blur to denim shirt and scarf, they transition beautifully be the soundtrack announcing my entrance. But into November. if House of Pain's "Top O' The Mornin' To Ya" • Boyfriend jeans. It started with girls starts playing while you are dining on Poulet borrowing their guys' jeans, and now it's time Cajun at Le Bilboquet, chances are I'm being to take them back again. shown to the corner table with my swans. Be • Short-sleeved polo shirts layered over prepared, I may approach your party with my long-sleeved oxfords. recent find, Mad Libs, the sexy edition, to request Some specific items that I'm hoping to score your contribution of a verb or noun to a lurid before waiting lists are issued: storyline. My strategy for fall fun. Billy Fong, • Alexander McQueen black leather polo. billy@papercitymag.com • Monsieur Honoré black umbrella with silver skull. B enjy Levit, owner of Local Foods and Benjy's restaurants, has inked a deal to lease the former Taco Milagro space at Westheimer and Kirby. He plans to open his second fast casual concept, Local Foods, there in January. Look for the same menu we've come to adore at the original Rice Village location, plus a few more dinner options … Star chef Robert Del Grande is changing up his stellar restaurant RDG + Bar Annie. He's hired barkeep Chris Frankel to create an internationally inspired cocktail menu focused on brandy and eau-de-vie, while Del Grande and his cuisine team will overhaul the bar bites. Meanwhile, partner/designer Candace Schiller will trick up the space. More next month about the big reveal … The Fusion Taco truck has spawned its first bricks-and-mortar location, downtown in Market Square Park. Owner Julia Sharaby has enlisted her fiancé David Grossman (former owner of Branch Water Tavern) as the fast-casual Asian-inspired concept's chef. Although you won't see the truck rolling around every day, it's still available to rent … Gabe Lo and baker Sandia Horng have debuted Bite Macarons on Buffalo Speedway in the Kroger shopping center, proffering the meringue confection in an array of flavors, as well as a smattering of cakes and pastry … Susie Jimenez, a chef contestant on The Next Food Network Star competition (she didn't win), is moving from Aspen to Houston to open Trenza (which translates to "braid") restaurant in West Ave. The California native of Mexican descent opens her eatery this fall in the former Aldo spot and will serve a meld of Latin and India. Laurann Claridge Restaurant Buzz Art Notes Bearded Stefano Pilati SEPTEMBER | PAGE 6 | 2013 Galveston's New Grand Dame As summer winds down and tan lines fade, imagine being one of the fabulous few to take year-round trips to the coast — just because. Of course, Malibu is unmatched, and Bal Harbour beckons, but who has the time? Now, Galveston glows greater (and closer) with a posh gated enclave in the works, of 10 beachfront lots of a prodigious two to four acres each, à la Palm Beach. Located on the Island's East End, Estates of Grand Beach is in the process of development by locally based Falcon Group and Grand Beach Development each lot will have 190 feet minimum of private beachfront per home, full-time security and a helipad for quick jaunts. Highly respected Kirksey Architecture is at the helm to design the common areas, while buyers can bring in their own architect. Further, each lot allows for multiple residential structures to form family compounds with room to spare for pools, tennis courts and putting greens — so, do like the American elite and get cracking on that Hyannis Port or Walker's Point. Lot prices begin at $1,500,000 and are exclusively marketed by Texas Coastal Realty, now accepting reservations. 801 East Beach Dr., Galveston, 409.497.4115; tcr.us.com. Caroline Starry LeBlanc