Hometown Glory

Elle Decor magazine loves Houston's style

Elle Decor takes a tour of Houston in its latest issue.
Elle Decor is an arbitrator of style.
Rothko Chapel was one of its Houston loves.
Hickey Robertson
The magazine didn't look that far past the usual suspects though.
Bayou Bend's Diana Garden
Monnalisa bar at Hotel Sorella
Sloan/Hall
Photo by Barbara Kuntz

When it comes to travel, the Elle Decor magazine's approved list is short and chic: Vienna, Chicago, Milan, and now Houston.

In Elle Decor's latest issue, writer Rob Brinkley illuminates the "dichotomous" nature of Houston, from sprawling River Oaks mansions (Bayou Bend is a favorite), world-class art and architecture installations (Rothko Chapel, Cy Twombly Gallery, Renzo Piano's Menil) and endless new shopping destinations (West Ave, CityCentre), to the more offbeat offerings like Art Car, Orange Show and the Beer Can House. (Nevermind that the Orange Show runs all three of these events/places).

It's a flattering portrait of the city as modernist, niche, and fabulous — "Those who live here consider it a city of charm and quaintness, with can't-miss restaurants, one-off shops and quirky sights, all infused with that certain Texas élan," Brinkley writes.

But at the same time, it feels like something is off. It's accurate in the sense that someone looking for those things could surely find them here. But it misses what makes Houston different. It feels like a portrait of Dallas — or like a Dallasite's idea of what makes Houston great.

Why else tout the "socialite and celebrities" swarming to Armando's with nary a mention of the Original Ninfa's on Navigation? Why spend so much time on River Oaks without even a whisper of the Heights or Montrose?

Limiting a portrait of Houston to the modernist, moneyed sectors flatters but rings false. After all, the city famous for forsaking zoning knows that everything is better when it's a mixed bag — give us our RDG, but also our Antidote Coffee, our Thelma's, our Les Givral's Kahve.

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R.I.P., Mayor Turner

How to pay respects as late Houston mayor Sylvester Turner lies in state

Photo courtesy of Mayor's Office, City of Houston

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The City of Houston is remembering the late Sylvester Turner - the former mayor of Houston who won election last November to fill late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee's seat in District 18.

He died Wednesday, March 5 at 70 years old.

Turner was in attendance at President Donald Trump's Joint Address to Congress last week. According to his family, he was taken to the hospital Tuesday night and later released while in Washington, D.C. At 5:45 am Wednesday, he died at home from enduring health complications, the family said.

Turner will lie in state at the Houston City Hall rotunda on Tuesday, March 11. The memorial began at 9 am with brief remarks from Mayor John Whitmire. The rotunda will be open to visitors until 7 pm Tuesday.

Members of the public are invited to sign the book of condolence at the entrance to City Hall. Visitors are asked not to stop in the rotunda to talk, take photographs, or video so that the line continues to move without delay.

After he's honored in Houston, Turner will "lie in honor" at the State Capitol in Austin on Thursday and Friday.

Then, he'll return to his hometown for the last time for his funeral on Saturday at 1 pm at The Church Without Walls on Houston's northwest side, where Turner attended church for 35 years.

Turner's family is asking guests attending the service to wear blue.

A private burial will follow.

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Read the full story, with video, on CultureMap's news partner, ABC13.com.

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