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LET'S OPEN THE DOOR A bridge to art, community and diversity is concluding its inaugural Houston exhibition. Early last spring, artist-adorned freestanding doors began popping up throughout the city — 58 total, in 19 intriguing sites, Houston Public Library and Hong Kong Market to Jamail Skate Park and Memorial and Hermann Parks. (My own commute, along Heights Boulevard, boasts doors by Tierney Malone and Daniel Anguilu.) Now these collectible portals can be yours. Better than the adorable but gimmicky cows that charged into town in 2001, the Open the Door Tierney Malone's Soul, 2013 project is incubated here, organized for the Texan-French Alliance for the Arts (TFAA) by executive director and crosscultural curator Karine Parker-Lemoyne (who dreamed up the UNESCO Paris show "Go West" for Texan and French artists in 2011), alongside participating French painter/curator Romain Froquet, who originated the project across the pond a decade earlier. The tapped artists encompass some of our best and brightest (alongside French Tierney Malone's The Journey of counterparts), including Southern Seed, 2013 Houston creatives such as the aforementioned Malone of the jazz-and-texts riffs and street talent Anguilu, painter Kelly Alison (TFAA patroness Lynn Wyatt acquired her Annie Oakley door), Rahul Mitra, Gonzo 247 and Jesse Lott. The latter's ode to the late Bert Long Jr. is not to be missed in the Third Ward's Emancipation Park. To view the lots, openthedoorhouston.com/gallery; bid through the contact page. Catherine D. Anspon RDG + Bar Annie Anew … Bittar's Doing Fine ... Jewelry C FDA Accessories Designer of the Year Alexis Bittar is trying his hand at something new: fine jewelry. The efficacious designer — who currently oversees three collections of costume jewelry, Lucite, Miss Havisham and Elements — seamlessly evolves his aesthetic, which he views as a natural evolution of what began many years back, peddling vintage gems out of a stall in NYC's St. Marks Place. Bittar melds divergent qualities such as a 1950s lady and a 1990s grunge chick, to create the attitude of the Alexis Bittar Fine collection He relishes the opportunity to have opposing ideas — his meditation on marquis-cut stones and tennis bracelets harkens to an established style, while the blue and white topaz and smoky quartz express a contemporary relevancy, and edgy claw-like prongs set the tone for the contrasting tenors. Bittar further distills his visions with two distinct collections within the Fine line, the first compromised of 18K gold, the second incorporating high-polished sterling and oxidized sterling silver. This bauble bloke always has our vote. Alexis Bittar Fine, $295 to $16,000, at Neiman Marcus. Megan Pruitt Winder I The Return of the Blowfish Big, big news for the Galleria: Chic retailers Tourbillon and the first Texas location of Rolex join the retail haven summer of this year, with Trina Turk opening fall 2014, and Tod's opening Summer 2015. Gucci, Tory Burch, Zara, Sephora and Club Monaco all celebrate major expansions in the Galleria in the coming year. Chanel is also doing a hefty renovation. In more Galleria innovation, the buzz continues as Saks Fifth Avenue debuts a brand new, state-of-the-art flagship store alongside its existing store, come fall 2015. The new two-story Saks will have approximately 198,000 square feet of luxury shopping, and, until then, will continue to operate in its existing Galleria space. Upon the opening of the new store, Simon Property Group will convert Saks' previous location into a vibrant new two-level mall wing with 35 luxury and unique retailers, as well as highprofile restaurants … Joan Pillow Bridal Salon has called dibs on the newly minted Naeem Khan bridal — the boutique is the exclusive purveyor of the collection in town. Joan Pillow is also carrying the timeless and glamorous wedding gowns of Mira Zwillinger. Brides-to-be, mark your calendars for these trunk shows: Carolina Herrera, January 16 – 18, and Anna Maier, January 23 – 25 (owner and designer Charles Bunstine II will join the festivities) … Lifelong friends Lindley Arnoldy and Maryam Afshari will open Baanou near Highland Village this spring. The lifestyle boutique will offer a highly edited mix of worldclass fashion … Josephine's day spa, exclusive retailer of the latest Aveda products, has a new location at 5302 Morningside Drive in Rice Village … Expect lots of moving and shaking at Steve Gibson's design hot spot Hollywood Square center (corner West Alabama and Timmons), where Leap and Be-Jewel (both cool women's fashion) and Lynn Goode Vintage furniture (all opening in February); Sharon Skelton's Skelton-St. John Antiques & Interiors, Alan Fama's gallery, Nolan-Rankin Galleries and Pamela Bryan's Octavia Art Gallery all open in March; and David Brown Flowers opens end of this month, joining Karen Pulaski's Tribute Goods fine linens showroom and offices for Chandos Dodson Interiors, which are both open now … The Woodlands' Market Street adds California-cool designer Trina Turk — think home decor, men's and women's fashions and accessories — to its roster. The luxe boutique neighbors Michael Kors … More exciting news for The Woodlands: Nordstrom moves into the 138,000-square-foot space left vacant by Sears. The store is set to open in September … Women's clothing and lifestyle boutique Soft Surroundings has opened a second Houston-area location, in Town & Country Village next to Nine West … Elizabeth Anthony/Esther Wolf now stocks the evening and cocktail gowns of British fashion designer Jenny Packham. The store also welcomes Gionni Straccia and his custom evening gowns January 17 – 18 … Robert's Fine I's been more than five years since RDG + Bar Annie RDG + Bar Annie changed their moniker fromCafé Annie and moved down the block on Post Oak. Never one to rest on his laurels (of which there are more than any of us can count), chef Robert Del Grande is changing things up at his dual concept. He's brought in barman Chris Frankel to mix up brandy and eau de vie centered cocktails, all while Del Grande plays mad scientist in the kitchen, whipping up small bites to pair with those bracing new elixirs. At the entrance to RDG, you'll pass the new icy raw bar overflowing with offerings from the sea, with oysters and mussels from chillier waters such as Prince Edward's Island as well as our own Gulf Coast shrimp and crab. Bar Annie's menu of bar bites pair beautifully with the tweaked cocktail list. If you fancy rum, try the Cobra's Fang ($9). For gin fans, we guarantee the gin tinged with house-made tonic ($8) is quite remarkable. We swooned over the steak tartar napped with a gin sabayon in lieu of fresh egg yolk ($22). The playful smoked brisket sloppy Joe — sandwiched with warm queso, no less ($16) — is nothing like your mama made. And how can we forget the RDG maki roll, made with Ahi tuna ($16) — try it carnivore-style with a combo of slices from the cap of the rib-eye and dried figs topped with a dab of chipotle sauce. Laurann Claridge Chris Frankel and Robert Del Grande t's that time of year when fat cats with a yen for pricey fish hunt for December's freshest, most elusive catch: fugu. Aficionados of fugu — known as blowfish or pufferfish — take their taste for this possibly toxic, potentially lethal fish quite seriously. While spring brings on the spawning season of this Japanese culinary delicacy, fugu's exorbitant prices escalate through autumn and peak during the winter season, when these elusive fish have fattened up to brace themselves for the cold temperatures beneath the water's edge. While the Emperor of Japan has been forbidden for centuries to dine on fugu, you're invited to savor the fabled fish at Kata Robata this month. Renowned sushi chef Manabu "Hori" Horiuchi is reputed to be one of a dozen or so experts in the U.S. who is a certified fugu chef. This is no mail-order degree; fugu chefs must, by Japanese law, complete a two- to three-year apprenticeship followed by practical and written exams, where only 35 percent of applicants pass the rigorous testing — a process that all but insures toxins like tetrodotoxin won't show up in your sashimi. See what all the fuss is about at Kata Robata this month. About $35 for five pieces, at Kata Robata, 3600 Kirby Dr., 713.526.8858; katarobata.com. Laurann Claridge Jewelry now carries Mayson, KIR Collection, H. Weiss, Ideal2, Firemark and Heather Moore … Mariquita Masterson hosts knitwear designer CiCi Bianca, January 21 – 22 … Atrium Ready-To-Wear adds edgy American sportswear designer Adam Lippes and State of _ to the racks … After 23 years, Sensia Studio & Japanese Day Spa gets its own facelift. Houston's award-winning architect, designer and builder Gary Chandler has created an innovative look for the Post Oak Boulevard location, just in time for the New Year. Megan Pruitt Winder luxury JANUARY | PAGE 8 | 2014 properties. utmost discretion. MecoMproperties.coM 713.558.3318