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92 which subliminally channels the energy of the property's previous Prohibition- era speakeasy, which was later a World War II saloon. In other words, a wild hit. Previous dining options in this burg were two: Joe's Place and Orsak's Cafe, both sharing the town square with the Grand Fayette. While Joe's and Orsak's remain popular small-town classics, the Grand's Wine Bar has been a cultural boon to Fayetteville. Singlehandedly, the Valtasaroses — whom Joan recruited from Round Top's Festival Hill, where they were toques — have forged a convivial, well- regarded dining destination that draws comers from Round Top and environs, as well as from Houston. Despite its published hours — Thursday through Sunday, 5 to 9 pm — rarely does the Wine Bar shut down until much later. The wine selection leans toward California, with a few French, Spanish, Italian, and German options. Southern crab cakes, flatbreads, mac and cheese with smoked bacon, and George's now legendary flaky, light-as-air chicken pot pie are draws, along with robust fare such as New Zealand rack of lamb, seafood bouillabaisse, and duck bubbles and squeak — dishes that allow the chefs to show off their prowess. On warm afternoons and evenings, the action spills over to the tables lining the shaded street and surrounding patio. Sunday brunch, 11 am to 2 pm, is often punctuated by jazz riffs, including a recent appearance of pianist Robert Sanders. N aturally, the artwork throughout the public spaces and in the 10 rooms is first-rate — a mix reflective of the Red & White Gallery stable across the square. Works by one of Jerry's mentors, late Houston painter Charles Schorre, enliven the lobby — bold abstract canvases shot through with cobalt blue and orange pigments. Black-and- white images by photographer Laura Wilson punctuate The Moravian Gallery at the hotel. The celebrated photographer, a studio accomplice of Richard Avedon, is represented at the Grand by the series she did while working with Avedon on "In the American West." Other walls bear Mary Quiros' watercolors that evoke a summer day somewhere, while the Herrings' own artwork also makes a PA. Grand Fayette Hotel, rooms with private baths $150 to $265 a night, reservations through Blackbird Lodging, blackbirdfarmtexas. com. The Wine Bar at the Grand Fayette, winebaratthegrand.com. A s unexpected as the Grand Fayette is, its parallel for the art world can be seen in the Red & White Gallery, which occupies a prime spot on the town square, catty-corner from the hotel. The Red & White building dates to Fayetteville's beginnings, circa 1835, when it served as Munger Mercantile. Now in place of dry goods and sundries, visitors might find a Jesús Moroles granite creation; a bucolic canvas of the nearby countryside painted by a recent resident artist, Andy Dearwater; or photographic images by the aforementioned Laura Wilson, whose openings become major events in Fayetteville, with droves of Wilson collectors streaming in. Opening Saturday, March 17, is a talent whom Jerry has known and worked with for close to four decades: Arthur Meyerson. This significant retrospective of 80 lush color images illuminates the Houston photographer's 40-year commercial career. In the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and other museums, the peripatetic lensman with an eye alert to unexpected juxtapositions presents prints made during treks across all seven continents. Titled "The Journey" (as is the resulting volume, $85, available at the gallery), the exhibit extends through April 21. Opening reception and book signing, Saturday, March 17, 5 – 8 pm; additional book signing Saturday April 7, 3 - 5 pm. redandwhitegallery.com. RED & WHITE CUBE (continued from page 90)