Staying out late
Armando & friends plan new nightspot for hipster grown-ups
Late-night partying is about to get a lot more interesting for those who find the Midtown and Washington Avenue scenes a little too youthful. Armando Palacios, Cinda Ward and Neal Hamil signed the lease Wednesday on a property that, before summer's end, will be ground zero for sophisticated after-dinner schmoozing and boozing.
You know Palacios and Ward as the forces behind iconic Mexican restaurant Armandos. Hamil is recently returned from two decades in New York where he headed Ford and Elite modeling agencies.
They have tapped architect Isaac Preminger to transform the old Dessert Gallery at 3200 Kirby and Lake street into Lake, an up-scale nightspot that Palacios says will entertain vibes of the Gramercy Park Hotel in New York.
"It's going to be so hip, very hip, very understated for people like us that are looking for somewhere to go after dinner," Palacios said this morning.
Joining in the effort is interior designer John Kidd, who has his share of chichi River Oaks homes in his design portfolio.
Lake will serve light bar fare from the boutique bakery that the trio is also creating in a small space next door to the club. By day, Lakeside, as the tiny eatery will be called, will offer salads, sandwiches and fresh baked goods, channeling Manhattan's Balthazar Bakery, according to Palacios. At night, the kitchen will be used for the club.
Beginning in late July, Lake will be open Wednesday through Saturday with availability for private functions Monday through Tuesday. As Armando said, "You can reserve now for your Christmas party."
