Weekend Diary

Hotel Saint Cecilia: A cool place to stay in Austin

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Enjoy the outdoors, daytime and nighttime, on the lovely patio.

Photo by Allison V. Smith

The Hotel Saint Cecilia is not exactly in the business of keeping Austin "weird." But it's a great destination for a chic weekend getaway and a distinctive alternative to the Four Seasons for the best luxury lodging in the state capital.

About a year ago, Greg Marchbanks and his Bunkhouse Management Group, with the help of co-owner Liz Lambert (Hotel San Jose, Jo's Coffee), took a one-acre rolling lot just off South Congress, turned an existing Victorian house into rooms and added some very cool bungalows, creating Hotel Saint Cecilia. Named for the patron saint of music and poetry, it has only 14 rooms (five suites, six bungalows and three studios) and no real restaurant — just a small, very hip bar that makes a great omlette for breakfast. The house and bungalows are separated by a pool with the neon sign that shows up in most reviews.

The rooms are upscale with a distinct residential feel, but in a good way: No creaky floors and no dusty armoires. Great furnishings and, of course, great beds. The extras, from the mini-bar (in this case a small, built-in cooler) to the bathroom toiletries, are all different here, and selected with an eye for detail.

Look for other noticeable touches and meaningful extras. Stuff you tell your friends about. Not the now-standard iPod connections and CD players, but a turntable. (Turntables play records, you remember?) And the lobby has rows and rows of great albums from past decades you can choose from. The same music that is playing throughout the property. Very Austin!

The hotel location is a great starting point to explore Austin. During the past five years, the city has seen an explosion of local chefs and independent restaurants (like Houston but, of course, smaller). And there's always the much talked-about club and music scene. Check the original Continental Club, located within walking distance of Hotel Saint Cecilia.

Hotel Saint Cecilia, a secluded estate in Austin's South Congress district, is named in honor of the patron saint of music and poetry.

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Photo by Allison V. Smith

Hotel Saint Cecilia, a secluded estate in Austin's South Congress district, is named in honor of the patron saint of music and poetry.

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Fashion on display

Rare Halston fashion exhibition now on display in West Texas city

Halston: Inventing American Fashion exhibit Ellen Noël Art Museum

Photo courtesy of Ellen Noël Art Museum

An colorful eveningwear grouping takes advantage of Ellen Noël Art Museum's curved walls.

A rare exhibition honoring fashion pioneer Halston has popped up in an unexpected place: West Texas. Houston fashionistas who are fans of the designer can hop a flight (or drive eight hours) to Odessa’s newly revamped Ellen Noël Art Museum to view "Halston: Inventing American Fashion."

Halston’s minimalistic fashions are rarely the subjects of retrospectives, although the designer’s dramatic life story recently had a pop-cultural resurgence through a 2021 Ryan Murphy miniseries. "Halston: Inventing American Fashion" assesses the talent that made him a household name.

Known now for outfitting 1970s icons like Liza Minelli and Bianca Jagger, Halston changed the international reputation of American sportswear as part of the famous 1973 “Battle of Versailles” fashion show, holding his own against Paris’ most lauded couturiers. His uniquely louche style still influences contemporary brands like Marc Jacobs, Zac Posen, and Tom Ford, who was briefly the creative director for a revised Halston label.

The mannequins in the Odessa display are outfitted with 75 ensembles from flowing Ultrasuede daywear to more dramatic draped gowns. The pieces “illustrate how Halston revolutionized fashion by prioritizing comfort, confidence, and modern femininity,” according to a release.

Although Odessa may seem an odd choice for the show, Halston had deep Texas connections. After he moved on from hat making, Amarillo millionaire Estelle Marsh was his sole backer willing to fund his first Madison Avenue boutique.

$Ellen No\u00ebl Art Museum, Odessa, new facade.$ The new facade at Ellen Noël Art MuseumPhoto courtesy of Ellen Noël Art Museum

$Halston: Inventing American Fashion exhibit Ellen No\u00ebl Art Museum$

Photo courtesy of Ellen Noël Art Museum

An colorful eveningwear grouping takes advantage of Ellen Noël Art Museum's curved walls.

And the recently completed renovation of Odessa's Ellen Noël Art Museum has some of the designer’s signature sleek. Designed by architect R.J. Lopez, the renovation includes new galleries and improved circulation, but the centerpiece is a striking transparent façade, replacing the original brick of the 1985 building.

“The renovation project has been over 10 years in the making and in the construction phase for the past two years,” says the museum’s buildings manager, Steve Patton, via a release. “The completion of the project has resulted in an incredible facility that is a shining star in West Texas, offering programs and exhibits that will be a destination point for people all over the world!”

"Halston: Inventing American Fashion" will run through March 22. Admission to the Ellen Noël Art Museum is free.

exhibits odessa fashion west texas museums designer texas