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PRO-ESTABLISHMENT M The Establishment, 4513 Travis St., 214.520.0900 ixologist and restaurateur Michael Martensen knows a superior bar when he sees one. Together with partner Brian Williams, he's elevated the city's cocktail scene to new heights with The Cedar Social and Smyth, the duo's cozy drinking den on Travis Street. Thus, The Establishment — their culinary complex opening any day now — is being met with anxious anticipation. Offering a menu of fresh-grilled favorites, plus two bars (one devoted to classic cocktails and the other the freshest, briniest oysters money can buy), The Establishment serves up the best bivalves — up to 20 varieties — from both coasts, as well as other raw bar favorites. With a 3,600-square-foot chic interior sparkling with subway tiles, Carrara marble, Edison globes and a rebar wine rack, the Establishment is best described as Cedar Social with oysters. Patrons can lounge in one of three 18-foot banquettes or make new friends at the space's central communal table during $1 oyster happy hour, sampling iconic Dallas cocktails from the past three decades. (How long has it been since the words "Sex on the Beach" crossed your lips?) The adjoining grab-and-go coffee shop will serve Cuvée java from Austin with fresh-baked treats, and is the future site for a pizza oven Martensen is bringing in from Italy. Once The Establishment is, well, established, the partners have more great tastes in store — namely, a Deep Ellum watering hole devoted to a single spirit that's set to open in December. Kendall Morgan WE'RE DRESSING UP TO GO OUT … OUT … OUT DURING THIS MONTH OF BACK-TO-BACK ART EXHIBITIONS AND CHARITY GALAS. WE'RE SUITING UP AT TOM FORD, BRUNELLO CUCINELLI, TRAFFIC PLAY, KATE SPADE AND STEVEN ALAN. POST-SHOPPING, WE'LL CELEBRATE A JOB WELL DONE WITH BRINY OYSTERS AND A TOT OF GOOD SCOTCH. GROWING IN SPADES V Traffic Play, The Shops at The Joule, 1601 Main St., 214.261.4595; shoptraffic.com T JONATHAN ZIZZO JONATHAN ZIZZO RATE Stepping through Mercat Bistro's gray door is a bit like wandering into an Impressionist painting. Cozy up to the zinc bar with its brass detailing and gildedmirror backdrop, and soon you'll be rubbing elbows with 19th-century writers, philosophers and sundry romantics. "This restaurant transports you to another time — especially at night," says executive chef Jared Robinette. Convivial groups sit at marble-topped and wooden cafe tables under a twinkling chandelier made of twisted roots. In a discreet window nook, couples dine from dainty mismatched china and sip French 76s, a classic concoction of Prosecco, Hennessy, St. Germain and lemon. The Mercat dwells in the Uptown niche called the Harwood District and offers bistro fare from morning until late evening; across the lawn resides its hipster sister, Saint Ann Restaurant & Bar. Despite the restaurant's Montmartre charm, the word mercat ("market" in Catalan) is more frequently heard on the streets of Barcelona. "Our menu represents a variety of fresh European flavors from Spain, Italy, France," explains Robinette. In the early hours, bring your newspaper to an outdoor table and enjoy breakfast: cafe au lait with a house-made croissant or pain au chocolat. At lunch, linger over a croque madame and a glass of rosé, or order a quiche, salad or sandwich from the grab-and-go menu and head to a park bench. The atmosphere becomes more intimate as afternoon rolls into evening. With a glass of Burgundy in hand, try small plates of fried shishito peppers sprinkled with sea salt or house-made ricotta with toasted bread and a drenched wedge of honeycomb. Main courses range from a French omelet with sautéed spinach and melted Brie to braised short ribs accompanied by celery root puree and crème fraiche. So, pull up a bistro chair and chat, read, flirt and feast. Terri Taylor DANIEL DRIENSKY ery few do pretty and polished as well as Kate Spade New York, so the stylish American label is perfectly situated in the increasingly tony Knox/ Henderson area. This is Dallas' first freestanding boutique, joining the brand's presence at NorthPark Center. The 1,760-square-foot space is stocked with prep and wit — spirited prints, polka-dot shoes, striped satchels and clever quotes on tech accessories. There are quirky enameled donut bracelets and hot-dog earrings, sparkling crystal statement necklaces and cuffs to bling up playful collections of picture-perfect dresses, weekend denim, mod-style coats, sweet sweaters and prim skirts. And, because Spade is a lifestyle, the shelves are also stacked with chic everyday and fine china, stemware, barware and flatware. Caroline Starry LeBlanc HEART RHAPSODY Mercat Bistro, 2501 N. Harwood St., 214.953.0917; mercatbistro.com Kate Spade, 3102 Knox St., 214.520.6704; katespade.com ELEVATED BOHEMIAN he most common reaction to the word "traffic" is anything but positive, yet a new shop bearing that name brings even those with the heaviest lead foot to a screeching halt. Mere steps from The Joule hotel, Traffic Play (owned by Traffic LA) is the first boutique of its kind in the U.S. The pocketsized, 300-square-foot space is filled exclusively with Comme des Garçons Play collections for men, women and kids, along with fragrances and candles. "This shop gives people living in and visiting Dallas access to something no one else has," says the store's founder and owner Michael Moldovan. Thanks to the signature heart logo by Japanese designer Rei Kawakubo and New York-based graphic design artist Filip Pagowski, there's one thing you can guarantee: The collection of tees, accessories and sneakers embodies cool without skipping a beat. Lauren Scheinin NEW YORK STATE OF MIND Steven Alan, 3205 Knox St., 214.306.4849; stevenalan.com The Big Apple has planted a very fashionable seed on Knox in the form of Steven Alan, a New Yorkbased pioneer known for its modern interpretation of classic style and knack for discovering emerging designers first. "We thought it was important to open the shop in a casual neighborhood where customers would feel free to stop in and shop or just browse around," says store manager Jonas Joiner. Taking up residence in a 1930s building complete with concrete floors and exposed brick walls, the 1,877-square-foot space houses the Steven Alan brand, along with collections for men and women from names such as Clare Vivier, Laurence Dolige, Mansur Gavriel and Sea. "All of the home and lifestyle items we carry are made in the U.S., and all are partnerships and friends of Steven," Joiner says. Organic jams made in Brooklyn, Shinola watches crafted in Detroit, Filson luggage and treasures from Colin Adrian Glass, Coyuchi and Frau Tonis can be counted amongst the carefully curated stock. Lauren Scheinin