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BACK IN THE ART BIZ AGAIN, CUPPA JOE SHAU LIN HON ON THE SIDE The Brandon, 1709 Westheimer Road, 713.522.0369; thebrandoncontemporary.com Fall's most heralded return in the Houston art world takes place around a fabled Montrose Curatorial trio, testosterone brio: Patrick watering hole and coffee bar. Bresnan, Cody Ledvina, Dan Fergus Entrepreneur Dan Fergus has reopened next to Brasil in a restored 1930s bungalow that has evolved from Mixture Contemporary Art to Domy Books and now into an art space again. The Brandon is named after one of the principal's puppets, so it's hard to know what to expect —and that's how the catalysts like it. Fergus divvies up curatorial duties with artist/former Joanna co-founder Cody Ledvina (a reliable bet for anything disarming) and filmmaker Patrick Bresnan. Their debut show was the best gallery group exhibition in years, balancing works by Whitney Biennialists Trenton Doyle Hancock and Robyn O'Neil with their teacher Lee Baxter Davis and midcareer faves Michael Bise and Dennis Harper, plus new-discovery photog Mike Osborne. Up next: NYC-based painter Jackie Gendel (her parents are hometown arts patrons Diane and Harry Gendel) joins Peter Labier and Tim Lokiec in a must-see tri-person presentation (through November 30). Catherine D. Anspon IT'S NOVEMBER AND WE'REPIETHANKFUL FOR SATURDAYS, PIZZA WITH HAM AND EGGS INTELLECTUALE BREWSKI AND, TO TOP IT ALL OFF, JACK OPATRANY AN OSTRICH-FEATHER CAPE. CROSS RHODES L SATURDAY COPPA'S COOL A knowing eye is at play in Julie Rhodes O'Neal's new West University boutique, Julie Rhodes Fashion and Home. Nestled just around the corner from Tiny's No. 5, the nearly 1,700-square-foot atelier reflects the personal aesthetic of the proprietress: Envision a chic 7ème Parisian apartment rendered in restrained white and grays with plush furniture and a gold-leaf crystal chandelier in the main salon of the shop. O'Neal's chic palate comes from her successful résumé: a top graduate from Parsons School of Design, former buyer for Christian Dior and a WGSN forecasting agent. She stocks a well-curated inventory of women's ready-to-wear, including Halston Heritage, Issa of London, Catherine Malandrino and Dutch wünderkind By Malene Birger, whose ostrich feather cape is to die for, along with jewelry from Lulu Frost and Taylor & Tessier. Home accessories, as well as a fabric library of sample swatches from Schumacher let shoppers customize furniture from Kim Salema Atelier and Selamat, both exclusives to Houston. This is definitely one of those Rhodes worth taking. Megan Pruitt Winder PULSE COUSIN Copaa Osteria, 5210 Morningside, Rice Village, 713.522.3535; coppaosteriahouston.com Julie Rhodes Fashion & Home, 6209 Edloe St., 713.667.3894; julierhodesstyle.com TAPPING OUR DEBORA SMAIL Kate Spade Saturday, Rice Village, 2513 University Blvd., 713.807.7396; saturday.com et us call a spade a spade. Kate Spade Saturday, fashioned to evoke a Saturday feeling seven days a week, aces the everyday woman's clothing dreams. The casual Saturday collection — the younger sister of Kate Spade New York — was first revealed Spring 2013 in Tokyo, and opened its third U.S. store in Houston. The 1,110-squarefoot Rice Village boutique offers a snappy color-block arrangement of skirts, dresses, tops, and trousers, along with handbags, shoes and home goods. With new products arriving weekly, Kate Spade makes every Saturday a special day. Anna Schuster 8th Wonder Brewery, 2202 Dallas St. (entrance on Hutchins Street), 713.229.0868; 8thwonderbrewery.com ately, the number Linguine alla vongole Clark Cooper Concepts — aka chef Charles Clark and Grant Copper, who brought us Ibiza, Brasserie 19 and Coppa — has tweaked their Italian-inspired eatery to create Coppa Osteria. This hyper-chic cousin of the Washington Avenue original is a family-friendly concept, meant no doubt to lure West U 30- and 40-somethings with kids to the new Hanover residential and retail building looming over Rice Village. While there is a kids' menu, the powers that be have ratcheted up both the sophistication of the food (thanks to chef Brandi Key) and the sleek environs with teal, parakeet yellow and brass lighting and details care of design mind Julie McGarr. Bare wood tables are poised in a wide dining room with soaring ceilings and windows. Sit and gaze into the gleaming open kitchen or the glassed-in fishbowl called the Dough Room where, day and night, cooks push out house-made pasta and plenty of pizza dough to accommodate the walk-up pizza-by-the slice window just beside the alfresco dining area. Starters include salumi, such as slices of subtle San Daniele prosciutto ($12). From the small-plate selections, we tried meatballs al forno ($14) — three marinara-covered spheres so tender that any Italian nonna would be proud. We found them astonishingly moist and flavorsome, given the absence of pork or veal (nothing but all beef here). Pizza offerings ($14 to $21) include all the expected varieties, as well as pies dotted with cured meats like the Coppa ham and egg — this one made with the eponymous air-dried pork shoulder and quail eggs. Swoon-worthy house-made pastas included a Bolognese smartly topped with a dollop of whipped ricotta and mingled with unexpected conchiglie (shell-style) pasta ($22) and a rich spaghetti carbonara ($21) ladled tableside with parmesan cream sauce. Desserts ($8 to $9) are the sort that end an Italian feast perfectly, such as cannoli and a light, luscious warm lemon pudding. Laurann Claridge L of microbreweries and brewpubs in the greater Houston area has multiplied. Coming now before the people is 8th Wonder Brewery (named for the Astrodome). The principals are the original Eatsie Boys: chef Matt Marcus, president Ryan Soroka and financialist Alex Vassilakidis. Joining them is Aaron Corsi, who Robert Piwonka, Jack Nugent, Alex Vassilakidis and Aaron Corsi lectures at UH's Hilton School in three courses: "Alcoholic Beverage Production," "Beer Appreciation" and "Winery, Brewery and Distillery Operations." When Corsi is not teaching or supervising the brewing of 8th Wonder's three beer types, he is working towards a Ph.D. in molecular and environmental plant science at Texas A&M. (Hence, the name of 8th Wonder's wheat beer, Intellectuale.) The first tasting of 8th Wonder beers was held in April at their brewery, just east of the George R. Brown Convention Center. Since then, the little brewery has signed up nearly 50 local bars and restaurants for regular deliveries of draft beer and routinely sell out their annual production capacity of 2,400 kegs. Come for tastings every Saturday, from 6 to 9 pm. George Alexander MAXIMILIAN BURKHALTER KATE SPADE Julie Rhodes O'Neal JACK OPATRANY Julie Rhodes Fashion & Home NOVEMBER | PAGE 10 | 2013