Shelby About Town

A private wine cellar to rival Tony's, artful double entendres and operaheavyweights shake the scene

George and Laura Pontikes, left, with Dr. Paul E. Klotman at the Baylor Collegeof Medicine President's Circle event.
Photo by Pete Baatz
Michael Caplan and Diane Caplan at the Taft McWhorter party.
Photo by Morris Malakoff
Kristine Mills and Taft McWhorter at the launch of his new series of paintings.
Photo by Morris Malakoff
David Saperstein, left, and Ozi Amanat at the Baylor College of Medicinegathering.
Photo by Pete Baatz

Interests in science and medicine came together over cocktails a the Tanglewood home of Laura and George Pontikes when they honored Baylor College of Medicine president and CEO Dr. Paul Klotman at a kickoff event for Baylor College of Medicine's President's Circle. Members came from New York and Los Angeles, all committed to advancing the medical school.

Part of the evening's diversions included tours of the Pontikes extensive wine cellar, said to rival that of Tony's.

BCM supporters on hand included President's Circle members Ozi Amanat, David Dominy and David Saperstein, along with BCM board chair Marc Shapiro and wife Jeri, BCM board member Tom Powers and wife Pat, Sushila and Durga Agrawal, Joan and Stanford Alexander, Bill King and Neda Ladjevardian, Bain Pearson Pitts and John Pitts.

Artful schmoozing

Fans and friends of visual artist Taft McWhorter gathered at the home of songbird Kristine Mills and hubby Jacques Borisewitz for the launch of his new collection "Double Entendre." Among guests were patrons who have commissioned works in the series that features colorful presentations of song lyrics or lines of poetry that are woven into the painting along with an embedded message.

The "Double Entendre" paintings will be included in a coffee table book of McWhorter's works, to be published in the spring. Diane and Michael Caplan and Dr. Roland Maldonado and his partner Joel Bickley were among partygoers who've commissioned paintings in the series.

Swaying to Mills' tunes (she's headed to the Metropolitan Room in New York in October) were Amy and Dado Matkins, Toan Nguyen, Sydney Jim, Sasha Meyer, John Kuhl, Reggie and Tom Nichols, Beth Wolff, Heidi and Steven Skiff, Lisa Pittman and Elizabeth and Lou Wilson.

Sight 'ems

A heavy-hitter group of Houston Grand Opera supporters — the special events committee — lunching at Tony Mandola's where they chewed over not only a special menu but also upcoming HGO happenings with HGO director of special events Scott Ipsen. The lunching ladies included special events committee chair Donna Bruni, Becca Cason Thrash, Sharin Norman, Isabel David, Anna Dean, Ashley Wehrly and more . . .

Margaret Alkek Williams and Saks Fifth Avenue GM Terry Zmyslo dining at Ristorante Cavour at Hotel Granduca, celebrating her being named Legendary Woman of Distinction, with Bob and Donna Bruni, enjoying honors as one of 10 Women of Distinction . . .

Marita Fairbanks and Kelli Blanton headhuddling at Brasserie 19 over plans for the Texas Medal of Arts Awards events that they are co-chairing in March.

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Mags Move In

Shuttered Houston magazine stand finds new home at Austin coffee shop

Tomo Mags bus outside of brick-and-mortar Austin store

Photo courtesy of the Downtown Austin Alliance

Tomo Mags is driving into a new era.

Austin's roaming newsstand Tomo Mags — which sells books out of a signature blue bus — is moving up in the world. Its new brick-and-mortar bookstore and partner coffee shop, Cielito Lindo, are celebrating their grand opening Thursday, January 22, at 411 Brazos Street, #101. A ribbon-cutting ceremony from 10-11 am with the Downtown Austin Alliance and the Austin Chamber of Commerce will mark the occasion.

Tomo Mags started in 2015 in Houston, on a decommissioned school bus. Founder Vico Puentes hit the ground running — or driving — visiting shopping centers, galleries, universities, cafés, and more. It toted artsy independent magazines about fashion, photography, design, erotica, and even some comparatively normie selections like The Economist and New York Magazine.

The journey so far has included an earlier stationary space that later closed (and another one that reopened), a pause for several years, and a "bittersweet" move to Austin in 2025.

Tomo Mags Austin interior The collection has a lot more room to expand in this new space.Photo courtesy of the Downtown Austin Alliance

The new shop offers more of the same: a wide selection of magazines and art books alongside studio tools like pens and notebooks, merch, and fashionable accessories. It's been in a soft-opening phase since mid-December. Cielito Lindo, which opened in a coffee pot-shaped trailer in Manor in spring 2025, also kicked off its soft opening in the space a few days. Both the Tomo bus and Cielito's trailer will continue operating.

Even though both businesses are relatively new to Austin, Puentes has deep personal connections with the city.

“Before opening TOMO mags, I worked in downtown Austin for the last six years, and I’ve seen such an incredible evolution in what it feels like for the people who work and live here, as well as the visitors passing through,” said Puentes in a press release.

Tomo Mags Austin interior Cafe tables are great for flipping through new finds with Cielito Lindo's signature horchata latte.Photo courtesy of the Downtown Austin Alliance

Driving around town to make sales may sound like a fast-paced existence, but Puentes hopes visitors to Tomo can slow down when they visit, enjoying the physical experience and maybe even creating a personal art archive over time. Part of that includes getting to know the artists filling the shelves.

"With TOMO mags, our goal is to create a place people can come back to regularly to slow down, find inspiration, and leave with something special, or a gift that actually feels thoughtful," he said. "We’re already meeting people from all over the world, and we’re proud to host them and share recommendations that help them experience Austin beyond just downtown, while also spotlighting the creative community and local businesses that make this city so special.”

magazines design openings bookstore