As The Palm moves forward with its multi-million dollar renovation of its Westheimer location (going back to the studs and expanding), management is conducting a Caricature Contest to find several artists to cover the walls with those signature caricatures of local notables.
The caricature tradition began in 1926 when the original Palm Restaurant opened in New York City. The owners were short of funds for decorating, so they invited cartoonists from the nearby offices of King Features Syndicate headquarters to paint on the walls and in return receive a meal.
With the renovation, previous caricatures have been demolished and new ones are needed before the anticipated July re-opening. Artists are invited to submit two drawings — one of Mayor Annise Parker and one of Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt. From those entries, artists will be selected to paint caricatures on the featured wall in the newly-refurbished space.
Drawings should be mailed to or dropped off at Studio Communications, 2135 Westheimer Rd.
In addition to the new caricature wall, the "new" Palm will double in size as the restaurant is expanding into the space previously occupied by a cigar store and will feature a new lounge as well as revised dishes.
Interesting news for Houstonians, the new look is a prototype for The Palm Restaurants around the country, with the look set to roll out at other locations later in the year. In other words, we're the first to experience the new Palm.
When The Palm on Westheimer re-opens in mid-July, it will be the first in the country with the chain's new signature look.
