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Art Notes THIS JUST IN… Political Takeover: This column is typically peppered with topics and a mad dash of sentences traversing exhibitions and news ranging from lofty and/or historic to underground and off the beaten path. After meeting with Apama Mackey a few weeks ago, however, the idea was hatched to make a single show the subject of this month's column — specifically, her eponymous gallery's politically tinged summertime standout, a topical exhibition that spills throughout the Heights shipping-container space and its annex, the Museum of Drawing. The subject is perfect fodder for artists: the 2016 American presidential race, perhaps the strangest election cycle ever in the annals of our country. There's an edge to "Poll(Itics) 2016: The Documentary," with an uncertain outcome in the balance and the fate of our electorate and global ramifications at stake. National and Texas talents blend wit, satire and activism to consider the qualifications of the candidates, from the deflated campaign of Ted Cruz to the rise of Trumpism, the socialist populism of Bernie Sanders and the powerful brand of Hillary Clinton, both beloved and feared. Watch for objects, propaganda, collectible stickers, graphic design, photography and video that skewer and question the candidates. Among the catalytic participants: Phillip Kremer (once banned from Instagram for his deranged images of celebs and politicians); installationist David Krueger, whose work always has a dark side; the Internet talent who goes by one name, Sabo, and proclaims himself the only Republican street artist; minimal pop animator Armita Pebdani; and, in the museum itself, Matt Kennedy, director of L.A.'s La Luz de Jesus Gallery, who has been tapped to guest-curate The Panik Collective, a loose group of image- makers, musicians and scientists from the West Coast whose practice focuses on public actions. Both exhibitions run through July 31, perfectly timed to coincide with the party conventions (GOP in Cleveland, July 18 – 21, Democrats in Philadelphia, July 25 – 28, with watch parties at the gallery for each). Nice little multiples will be for sale, too, harvested from online sources, and even a chance for a photo op with Presidential Barbie … For something more civilized, storied photo studio Gittings presents timeless portraits of Children's Museum Houston board honchos in the windows of Neiman Marcus (June 16 – 22) … Read our arts blog for a look back at some of the top shows from Anya Tish Gallery's first 20 years, concurrent with the gallery's anniversary exhibition "XX," second installment (June 3 – July 9). Catherine D. Anspon A Café Annie Reboot: To celebrate chef Robert Del Grande's 35-year milestone cooking in Houston, he and the powers at his namesake RDG restaurant are feeling a bit nostalgic. Del Grande, his wife Mimi, and sister- and brother-in-law Candace and Lonnie Schiller have changed the name of RDG restaurant and bar back to Café Annie. Favorite dishes such as the famed rabbit enchiladas, coffee-roasted filet (often copied but invented here), even the black-bean terrine with goat-cheese center grace the menu once again, as customers crave a taste of the good ole days … A fresh list of tenants has been added to the ever-expanding River Oaks District roster: London fragrance house Jo Malone opens its first freestanding Texas boutique this month, stocking the full range of candles, fragrances and lotions. The District's first home design store, Oroa, opens its second location in the U.S. late this summer, stocking the Dutch furniture brand Eichholtz and accessories. Designer Stacey Bendet opens Alice +Olivia, her contemporary collection, in early summer. Eres, the Chanel-owned French swimwear and lingerie brand, brings its signature designs and precisely cut swimsuits to the District, opening this summer. Women's boutique Joie debuts a casual collection of women's clothing, accessories and footwear mid-summer. French children's boutique Bonpoint opens in July, stocked with baby and children's classics. Organic gelato will soon be on your menu with the summer opening of Amorino Gelato, serving signature gelato flavors alongside frappes, hot drinks and sweet selects. And, finally, another River Oaks District restaurant has opened: Austin-based eatery Hopdoddy Burger Bar debuts its burgers, fresh-cut fries and shakes alongside a full bar, in-house bakery and butchery … Just one month after its Houston debut at 2549 Kirby at Westheimer, cycling phenom SoulCycle opens a second location in September at 1407 South Voss in Woodway Shopping Center … Bearded restaurant dynamo Lee Ellis' new group, Cherry Pie Hospitality, is debuting with a bang, opening two more restaurants to accompany Ellis' Lee's Fried Chicken and Donuts and West Alabama bakery Petite Sweets. Ellis has transformed Bradley Ogden's Pour Society, stationed at 947 Gessner, into Southern restaurant State Fare, with chef Jim Mills at the helm. Ellis also partners with Anthony Calleo's Pi Pizza truck to launch Pi's first brick-and-mortar location at 181 Heights Boulevard, serving up the truck's famed concoctions (opening this summer) … United Airlines partners with airline eatery company OTG to open a slew of new restaurants from some of Houston's most beloved chefs. The future C North Concourse will have five new restaurants headlined by Roland Laurenzo of El Tiempo, Coltivare's Ryan Pera, John Nguyen of Cajun Kitchen, chef Monica Pope and Underbelly's Chris Shepherd. Added bonus: United's Mileage Plus members can purchase food with miles, and restaurant waiters deliver orders straight to your confirmed gate. Alas, full completion is in 2021. Jailyn Marcel and Laurann Claridge William Cannings' XX, 2016, at Anya Tish Gallery Sabo's Ted Cruz, 2015, at Apama Mackey Gallery E xiling all hazardous cosmetic practices may be impossible, but Austin-based spa and salon Milk + Honey is combatting the unnatural one chemical at a time. Milk + Honey opened in Austin in 2006 after Alissa Bayer and husband Shon craved the urban spas reminiscent of their stints in San Francisco, New York City and Washington, D.C. The result was four Milk + Honey spa and salon outposts concentrating on natural and organic products and services. Ten years later, the duo unleashes its first Houston location with a two-story, 8,249-square-foot organic sanctuary in West Ave — Milk + Honey's largest spa to date. Banning carcinogenic products, as well as services such as acrylic manicures, paraffin wax and chemical hair straightening (even the paint is VOC free), services and amenities are chic as well as healthy, with 15 posh treatment rooms, eight salon chairs, six manicure and pedicure stations, state-of-the-art steam showers and a full menu of massages, facials, peels, waxing, lash extensions, natural nail therapy and hair styling. Unwind with the signature Spa Partisan — a handmade coffee, almond meal and sugar scrub paired with an hour- long massage. Take the Milk + Honey experience home with the brand's line of plant-based organic products. Milk + Honey, 2800 Kirby Dr. in West Ave, 713.231.0250 Jailyn Marcel Natural Nirvana Milk + Honey owners Alissa and Shon Bayer Milk + Honey Relaxation lounge JENNY ANTILL CLIFTON JENNY ANTILL CLIFTON JENNY ANTILL CLIFTON E very charity and event planner in town is trying to get a look at the new Life HTX, a modern, transformative event space created by luxury builder Monsour Taghdisi and his partner, Define Body & Mind founder Henry Richardson. The sleek venue, located near River Oaks and Montrose, can accommodate a seated affair for 250 guests, with canvas-like 14-foot gallery walls. RGB/LED lighting systems and 100-foot-long projector screens can transform the skin into an African safari landscape or an underwater Great Barrier Reef that comes alive with videos and other images. Life HTX works with preferred vendors A Fare Extraordinaire, The Events Company and Crew Staffing, but others can be brought in by request. Life HTX, 2512 Woodhead St., 281.630.8379, lifehtx.com. Hannah Swiggard Come to LIFE COURTESY THE ARTIST AND APAMA MACKEY GALLERY COURTESY THE ARTIST AND ANYA TISH GALLERY Monsour Taghdisi, Henry Richardson SOUTH BY Summertime LA CANTERA HILL COUNTRY RESORT ARCHER AUSTIN L a Cantera opens its Loma de Vida spa this month. Loma de Vida — the name means "hill of life" in Spanish — aptly overlooks picturesque Hill Country surroundings. Here, holistic, meditative and restorative treatments take place among 15 indoor rooms and myriad outdoor areas, including three private garden cabanas, plus a grotto with saline pool. The spa's fitness studio houses rowing machines, an adult jungle gym and punching bags, while the cafe serves cold-pressed juices and uses herbs from La Cantera's organic garden. Loma de Vida, La Cantera Hill Country Resort, 16641 La Cantera Parkway, San Antonio, 210.558.6500, destinationhotels.com. Linden Wilson A n hour's drive north of La Cantera, Archer Austin opens later this summer inside The Domain, Austin's 300-acre mixed-use hot spot. The boutique hotel will pack 171 rooms with rustic-chic ambiance — wall coverings fashioned from old leather belts and bathrooms porcelain-tiled to resemble weathered wood. Chef David Bull will man the Second Bar + Kitchen restaurant for fine dining, but it's his poolside menu that catches our eye, with savory apps such as salmon-belly ceviche, chicken-fried olives and black truffle pommes frites. And, talk about sweet dreams: Turndown sweets include a rotating array of locally sourced chocolate crunch bark from Crave Austin Chocolate, Bakery Dulcinea's white chocolate tart cherry popcorn and Fat Belly manchego-chili pretzels. Archer Austin, 3121 Palm Way, Austin, 512.836.5700, archerhotel.com/austin. Linden Wilson Pack your weekender for getaways to two Texas cities this summer. Loma de Vida spa at La Cantera Hill Country Resort, San Antonio Archer Austin hotel at The Domain The new Life HTX event space