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Art Notes CALENDAR Girls T amar Mendelssohn and Lyndsey Zorich have amassed a stylish coterie of pinup girls for a 13-month charitable calendar. The result, titled a Couture Cause, benefits both the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art and Houston's Youth Hope Association. Each month highlights like-minded ladies who are Chau and Trang Nguyen involved, successful and stylish, including the Blaffer's Alecia Harris, Myth & Symbol sister act Chau and Trang Nguyen, and Saint Cloud's Cecilia Marquez. Photographer Rhonda Hunter shot the gaggle of gals at landmark locales, including the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and River Oaks Theatre, in designer labels from Tootsies and David Peck. Naturally, the launch of such a project demands celebration, which the collaborative duo has slated for Wednesday, October 9, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, at Tootsies, with '20s jazz, spirits and light bites, as well as a trunk show from über-chic jewelry designer Ranjana Khan. acouturecause.wordpress.com. Seth Vaughan Robert Motherwell's Untitled (Wednesday October 1967), 1967, at McClain Gallery It's the heart of the fall season. While the brash and bold Texas Contemporary Fair comes to town (turn to page 20 for our preview), other offerings are more nuanced. Don't overlook the small splendors of West Coast talent Rachel Phillips' mail art, made from letters from the past, some dating to the 19th century, at Catherine Couturier Gallery (through October 19) … Speaking of works on paper, collage is all the rage. Meanwhile, concurrent with the Guggenheim survey of Robert Motherwell's pioneering modernist collages, McClain Gallery mounts its own view of the mighty Motherwell's way with the art of collaged papers (October 12 – November 16), alongside a special collage show pop-up organized by NYC gallerist Pavel Zoubok … End of month, Howard Sherman goes 3-D and adds collage to his canvases at McMurtrey Gallery (October 26 – November 30), while Laura Rathe Fine Art serves up Don Morris' exuberant collaged comic strips, as well as Paul Rousso's pop-inflected Rachel Phillips' Cuthbert Topper, 2013 upon 1881 envelope, at mixed media Catherine Couturier Gallery sculpture (October 26 – November 27) … Just in: artist Carlisle Vandervoort is leading the charge as co-producer of a cinematic documentary on the life and times of Texas political rabble-rouser Molly Ivins, with Sundance as executive producer. Fund-raising is underway on the film, which is expected to complete in the spring of 2015 … Celebrate 65 years of the most cutting-edge art at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston's painting show, "Outside the Lines," a museum-wide look at new directions in abstract painting that opens 65 years to the day that the CAMH unveiled its first show — Thursday, October 31, with a wild Halloween-costumed reception with PaperCity as media sponsor (through March 23). Watch our November issue for the controversies and shows that defined the CAMH's seven decades — an exclusive culled by digging deep into the museum's archives … Lensman David Jay's SCAR Project makes a timely arrival at Gremillion & Co. Fine Art to raise awareness about breast cancer (October 17 – 28), sponsored by Pink Ribbons Project; for more, thescarproject.org … The catalytic Kerry Inman, curates a smart overview of Texas talents who employ photography, up now at important dual art spaces FotoFest and Houston Center for Photography in "Moving/Still." Inman highlights a dozen smart lens protagonists who probe paradoxes between the built and natural environment (through December 7) … Have you been to The Brandon yet? Dan Fergus' reborn gallery, next to Brasil, is led by the oddly brilliant Cody Ledvina. We're covering its loosely organic scene and happenings next month. For more art topics and the latest tweets, follow @PaperCityCA. Catherine D. Anspon Blows Into Town T he original hair blowout sensation DryBar has finally set up shop in Houston with an 1,800-square-foot salon in Uptown Park between Paul Carter Jewels and Cigar Vault. The Los Angeles-based company, started by stylist Alli Webb in 2010, already has locations in L.A., New York, San Francisco, Dallas, San Diego and Atlanta. The strategy has always been to be a major presence in the top 10 U.S. cities, "so Houston was always part of the plan," local entrepreneur Janet Gurwitch, founder and former CEO of Laura Mercier cosmetics, shared with us the week of the grand opening. Gurwitch sits on the DryBar board, and when asked if she had a hand in bringing the salon to Houston, said, "As a proud Houstonian, I lobbied heavily to make it happen quickly. I think DryBar is to hair what Starbucks is to coffee." We love the salon space with its custom Italian chairs, tufted fabric walls, marble bar and bright yellow splashes. Watch chick flicks, recharge your iPhone and sip a glass of champs while having your hair blown out a multitude of ways listed on the simple but sweet menu: the Cosmopolitan (lots of loose curls), the Straight Up (simple and straight), the Southern Comfort (big hair with volume), the Mai Tai (messy and beachy), the Manhattan (sleek and smooth) — each style priced $35 flat, no matter your hair length or thickness. Little ladies are also welcome with a Shirley Temple style for $24. And, prepare to be blown away by DryBar's own collection of bright yellow styling tools and hair-styling products, available for purchase in the shop. To book an appointment, call the salon, visit the Web site or download the DryBar app in the iTunes store. 1141-3 Uptown Park Blvd., 713.470.4640; thedrybar.com. Kate Stukenberg Haberdasher Michael Wiesenthal CHRIS BROWN A PEDIGREED M ichael Wiesenthal is no stranger to menswear. For years, he assisted his father in the running of the iconic Harold's in the Heights. At Wiesenthal's new shop, M. Wiesenthal, the scale of the enterprise is smaller, but the inventory is no less comprehensive or stylish. Suits from Accu-Measure are ideal for anyone looking for a bespoke garment; one chooses fabric from an exhaustive library of swatches, measurements are taken according to 16 variables, and the specifications are submitted to Accu-Measure, which produces the garment in a matter of days, then sends it directly to the shop for pickup — genius. Off the rack menswear is stocked, too, with inventory including trousers, sports coats, suits and fine shirts from the likes of Jack Victor, Robert Talbott and Lubiam. Overlooking no gentleman's suiting needs, Wiesenthal carries requisite pieces for boys' bar mitzvahs and first communions. But perhaps what's been the most successful inclusion was brought to Wisenthal's attention by his kids, Alexandra and Jared: the Southern Tide and Smathers and Branson brands so popular in private school and fraternity circles. The aesthetic is classic American style. In addition, the store offers men's furnishings and accessories — including VK Nagrani socks, which Wiesenthal introduced to President George H.W. Bush to much fanfare. 6750 W. Loop South, Suite 170, 832.433.7189; mwiesenthal.com. Seth Vaughan MAMA Mazzantini! On the Block: Important Texas Art COURTESY DAVID SHELTON GALLERY Mothers play a pivotal role in the development of a child — especially those reared with a yearning to cook. Enter chef John Sheely, owner of Mockingbird Bistro. His mother was a Mazzantini, a family that migrated from Tuscany 10 generations ago and landed in Galveston. In homage to his mama, Sheely has opened Osteria Mazzantini in the BBVA Owner building in the Galleria area. As exec chef, John Sheely he's installed Paul Lewis, who's spent a good deal of his career working in lauded hotels such as the Four Seasons. Fittingly, O.M's dining room (150 seats inside and 50 on the patio) reminds us of a great hotel dining room; this one was conjured by Acumen Design. The cucina rustica menu is an alluring blend of antipasti, pizza, contorni, primi pasta interludes and secondi entrees. The fegatini toscano was a masterful blend of chicken and duck-liver mousse puréed and layered in a stem-less wine glass with balsamic jelly and a dollop of fennel jam. Pastas made in-house include the triangular penne noodle, trenne in a blend of aged balsamic, butternut squash and parmesan reggiano. Entrees such as braciola di maiale — a mighty pork porterhouse our waiter urged us to order — proved to be a flavorsome cut served with braised red cabbage and melted gorgonzola. Don't miss the wine list, where Sicilian reds and even Italian-style Rieslings mingle — many can be enjoyed in a three-ounce pour. 2200 Post Oak Blvd., 713.993.9898; osteriamazzantini.com Laurann Claridge DRY BAR DryBar opens in Uptown Park Kelly O'Connor's Bottom of the Pool 4, 2013 OCTOBER | PAGE 6 | 2013 Fall's most significant collecting opportunity isn't an art fair. Enter the second annual Glasstire Auction, benefitting this award-winning Texas-founded Web site, considered one of the best arts blogs in America. PaperCity is media sponsor for the big event Wednesday, November 6, 6:30 pm, at Carol Piper Rugs, chaired by Leslie and Mark Hull and Karen and Harry Susman, with the Art Guys as auctioneers. Three statewide experts curate the artwork selection: Kim Davenport, Rice Gallery; Fairfax Dorn, Ballroom Marfa; and Jeremy Strick, Nasher Sculpture Center. Offerings include 16 works by senior masters as well as up-and-comers. Confirmed at press time: Mel Chin, Kelly O'Connor, Mike Osborne, Emily Peacock, Ludwig Schwarz and Barry Stone. Pick up a catalog at the Preview Tuesday, October 8, 6:30 pm, at Carol Piper Rugs. glasstireauction.com. Catherine D. Anspon