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    Wrap It Up

    Houston's Rice Village has the gifts from everyone's wish list this holiday

    CultureMap Create
    Dec 6, 2023 | 12:30 pm

    Make this holiday season a little more merry and bright when you shop for everyone on your list at Rice Village. The walkable shopping destination has everything from sparkly jewelry to yummy desserts to indulgent beauty treatments — take a look at some gift inspo below.

    Sweet treats
    Give the gift sure to please everyone: Van Leeuwen Ice Cream. Or if a frozen gift isn’t your thing, pick up a gift card for ice cream and get a scoop (or two or three) for yourself while you're there. Made from simple and choice ingredients, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream has 20-plus classic and vegan ice cream flavors to choose from.

    Treat yourself and others with Sprinkles Cupcakes this holiday season, with flavors like Christmas cookie, gingerbread, chocolate peppermint, and much more.

    Show your host or colleague how much you care with a holiday treat from Badolina Bakery & Cafe. Their picturesque cakes — which are available in sizes of six, eight, or nine inches — are offered in a variety of shapes and flavors including raspberry rose, chocolate mousse, and cheesecake. While some are available daily on a first-come, first-served basis, it's recommended you place an order at least 24 hours in advance.

    Break bread with friends by gifting one of Badolina's signature loaves. For something all wrapped up, a cylinder of triple-chocolate chip cookies or a box of florentines is the perfect present.

    Festive fashion
    The recently opened Saint Lo Boutique is where fashionistas-in-the-know go. It offers upscale, contemporary women's clothing from labels that are carefully curated from all over the world. For holiday party outfit inspo, head here.

    For men, Mizzen+Main has redefined the workplace wardrobe with clothes that feel like athletic wear and look like custom-tailored fits. Best known for its wrinkle-resistant and machine-washable dress shirts, the brand also makes incredibly comfortable flannels, no-tucks, polos, shorts, pants, vests, pullovers, jackets, blazers, and so much more.

    Your search for the perfect present stops here. With crowd-favorite styles in signature soft fabrics, Tasc Performance has something for everyone on your list — all you need is the wrapping paper.

    Make your holiday haul walk taller this year with a gift from Tecovas. Their handmade Western boots, bags, and apparel have a quality, fit, and feel you’ll notice from the first time you hold them and try them on.

    Vuori draws inspiration from the active California lifestyle: an integration of fitness, yoga, surf, and life. Looking for the perfect holiday gift? Lean into comfort with Vuori’s best-selling DreamKnit fabric — find it for him in the Ponto Collection or for her in the Halo Collection.

    However you celebrate, Warby Parker has merriment-inspiring frames, gift cards, and accessories to make your season a success. All winter long, every pair of glasses or sunglasses comes in eye-popping, ready-to-unwrap packaging designed by artist Amrita Moreno. Purchase any two or more prescription pairs, and receive 15 percent off — like magic. (Restrictions apply.)

    Nanos, the Spanish fashion house dedicated to children since 1963, offers baby boy, baby girl, little boy, and little girl clothing made in Spain, where every thread is treated with love. This holiday, give the littles in your life the gift of high-quality clothing.

    Merry makeup and skincare
    The Haus Holiday Haul from Face Haus includes a Haus Facial ($110 value), The Rescue Worker Super Nutrient Face Oil ($39 value), The Schmoozer Hydrating Lip Care ($10 value), and a video tutorial from on of their superstar Esthies, who will help you choose a facial and share tips and tricks on how to use the products at home. Get all this for only $145.

    Find fragrance gifts for $75 and under at Sephora's, and scoop up sets for everyone on your list (including you!).

    Give the gift of a holiday glow-up with a SkinSpirit gift certificate that's valid on any treatment from SkinSpirit's extensive menu of medical-grade facials and aesthetic medical services. With 20-plus locations throughout California, New York, Texas, Washington, and Utah, SkinSpirit is the No. 1 provider of Botox and dermal fillers in the U.S.

    Bluemercury is making gifting this holiday season easier than ever. Visit the link to explore their gift guide and plan your trip to your neighborhood location in Rice Village. Visit the Beauty Experts in-store for advice on all the latest limited edition gift sets. Plus, they'll even wrap your gifts for you, too.

    Swing by Drybar pre-party for a head-turning blowout, or stock up on high-quality haircare products to keep your locks glossy all year long.

    For both the "New Year, new you" resolution-makers and those looking to keep up with their fitness routine, Solidcore offers a high-intensity, low-impact, full-body workout on a pilates-inspired reformer. These slow and controlled movements are scientifically designed to break down muscles so they build back stronger.

    Glittering baubles
    Studs offers a fresh take on ear piercing with curated earscapes and reasonably priced earrings (that make great gifts for both adults and teens, hint hint). Expert piercers provide a clean and stress-free experience that includes placement that works best with your unique ear anatomy.

    Featuring beloved precious and semi-precious stones, like their signature turquoise sourced from Arizona and set in 14K gold, local jewelry brand Christina Greene is a go-to for gifting.

    Some seasonal favorites include the Simplicity or Southwestern collections for her, cufflinks sets for him, gold beaded bracelets for the trendsetter in your life, or the Letter Necklace collection for those celebrating major milestones in their lives (like "mama," "Mrs.," and "love").

    West Elm holiday table
      

    Photo courtesy of Rice Village

    Give stylish home products that do good from West Elm.

    Home for the holidays
    Shop for the master chef, self-care guru, WFH wiz, budding sommelier, and beyond at CB2. For the entertainer(s) in your life, think modern cheese knives and serving trays, soft throws, candles, beverage dispensers, ice buckets, and gold or marble cake stands.

    For the game lover in your life, board games like chess and Scrabble never go out of fashion. Try versions made with marble or wood breathe new life into the classics.

    Stop by and get some supremely soft statement gifts with an undeniable wow factor at Parachute Home. Truly thoughtful essentials to elevate the every day, these crowd-pleasers are perfect for cozy season. Choose from soft sheets, cozy quilts, joyful jammies, and more essentials to promote great sleep.

    For midcentury modern-inspired furniture and decor with a conscience, head to West Elm. Nearly 60 percent of their products support at least one of their sustainability initiatives, making it even easier to feel good about how home comes together.

    Stop in at Rice Village to stock up on these and other great last-minute gems for your friends and loved ones

    ---

    Visit these retailers and more at Rice Village, located at Kirby and University.

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    This Week's Hot Headlines

    11 Houston companies named best places to work and more top stories

    CultureMap Staff
    Jun 7, 2025 | 10:59 am
    Downtown Houston Texas
    Getty Images
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    Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Houston news of the week, beginning with Houston's best places to work. Plus, restaurant openings, the best new bars in America, and the fastest-growing affordable cities. Check out our five most popular stories below, and then visit this guide to plan the rest of your weekend.

    1. 11 Houston companies named best places to work by U.S. News. Nearly a dozen public and private Houston-based companies have been hailed among the best places to work in 2025 by U.S. News and World Report.

    2. Family friendly Garden Oaks restaurant coming soon to Magnolia. Family-friendly Garden Oaks restaurant D'Alba Craft Kitchen and Cocktails is cooking up a new location in this booming area.

    3. Houston haunt earns only Texas spot on Bon Appètit best new bars list. A Houston bar is basking in the national spotlight. Bon Appètit has named Lee’s in Rice Village to its list of The 9 Best New Bars of 2025.

    Lee's bar interiorLee's is one of America's best new bars, says Bon Appètit. Photo by Julie Soefer

    4. New Korean cafe serves up viral breakfast sandwiches in Spring Branch. Korea-based Tom N Toms Coffee has chosen Houston as the home for its first corporate-owned store in the U.S. The cafe is now open in Spring Branch at 4145 Gessner Rd.

    5. 2 Houston suburbs rank among fastest-growing affordable cities in U.S. A new national study has declared Texas is home to the most affordable, fast-growing cities in the country, and two Houston-area cities make the list.

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