Hotel Granduca's tea service and delightful finger foods
Hotel Granduca treating guests to afternoon tea
The "Texas Tea" option at the Four Seasons: Lobster salad slider, roast beefwith pickled onion slivers, quail egg toast with truffle and herbed goat cheesestuffed finger sandwiches

Photo by Emile C. Browne
Ladies enjoying the afternoon tea at the Four Seasons

Photo by Emile C. Browne
The tea room at St. Regis
Kiran's mixed berry tarts

Photo by Debora Smail/RealityPhotography.net
Afternoon tea at Kiran's

Photo by Debora Smail/RealityPhotography.net
An intimate setting for afternoon tea at St. Regis
The extensive tea selection at the Four Seasons

Photo by Emile C. Browne

A special brew

Why travel to London? The best spots for afternoon tea in Houston are "veddyBritish"

Has the Duchess of Cambrige singlehandedly brought hats back in style?
Hot pink hat by Phillip Treacy, $950, at Neiman Marcus

Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
The author had a fascinator specially for her wedding.

Courtesy Photo
Black feathery fascinator-style hat, by Kokin, at Neiman Marcus.

Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Hats for spring come in all sizes and shades....

Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com

Beauty Beat

Fascinated with fascinators: Has Princess Kate brought hats back in style?

Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
The groom arrived by elephant for the actual wedding ceremony.

Photo courtesy of © J. Cogliandro Photography
No expense was spared for the elaborate decor of the three-day wedding.

Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Recreating the intricate carvings of the Rambagh Palace in Jaipur tookImagination 3D six months.

Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Henna paintings on palms and feet are part of the wedding tradition.

Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
The setting at the Hilton Americas-Houston was a vision of light, color andIndian-inspired design.

Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Beautiful trinkets were given to wedding guests by "maharajas."

Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
The Hilton Americas-Houston ballroom is readied for the ceremony.

Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com

Lavish is an understatement

A palace, an elephant and the Mayor rocket this three-day Hindu wedding into thestratosphere

Blue-Eyed Butcher premieres Saturday at 7 p.m. on Lifetime TV.

My Lifetime TV
A scene from Blue-Eyed Butcher with Lisa Edelstein as prosecutor Kelly Siegler.

Photo by Jack Zeman/My Lifetime TV
Sara Paxton as Susan Wright in Blue-Eyed Butcher

Photo by Jack Zeman/My Lifetime TV

True Crime

How bad is it? Susan Wright gets the Lifetime movie treatment in Blue-EyedButcher

Red Lion
Ouisie's Table
Alamo Drafthouse
Regent Street prepares for the Royal Wedding.

Wills + Kate = 4EVA

Cheerio! Where to go to watch the royal wedding

Gabrielle Giffords and Mark Kelly
Prince William and Kate Middleton

Photo by Mario Testino
Which of these couples has the more touching date on April 29?

Endeavor to Love

Love quadrangle: Giffords & Kelly vs. royal wedding

Packham is know for embellished gowns with slim silhouettes
Designer Jenny Packham at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Sept. 2010

Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz

Handicapping the Designers

Add another darkhorse to the royal wedding gown sweepstakes: Jenny Packham

Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com

Shelby About Town

Royal weddings in the spotlight as a French prince addresses a room of ladies inwhite

Food can be funny, but maybe not laugh out loud funny like the classic video ofLucy and Ethel in the chocolate factory skit on I Love Lucy.
Then there's Steve Sneeds, a guy in California whose blog TheSneeze.com has afeature called Steve, Don’t Eat It! where he reviews stuff like pickled porkrinds and decades old boxes of cereal.

The Sneeze/Steve, Don't Eat It!
It’s hard to beat the classic Peep Show where pink bunnies in G-strings poledance for an audience of yellow chicks with tiny cigarettes and one dollarbills.

Neatorama
From the website My Food Looks Funny, the moderator's comments: Thank goodnessit's not fried!"

My Food Looks Funny

Food for Thought

My food looks funny: From oven-baked tarantulas to chef Twitter fights to poledancing Peeps

Gabrielle Giffords and Mark Kelly
Prince William and Kate Middleton

Photo by Mario Testino
Which of these couples has the more touching date on April 29?

Endeavor to Love

Love quadrangle: Could Gabrielle Giffords & Mark Kelly's launch momentovershadow the royal wedding?

The prince, the ambassador and the cowboy go western at Somerville Acres.

Photo by Shelby Hodge
This cowboy could out-rope Will Rogers.

Photo by Shelby Hodge
The barbecue crew came with a hefty load of supplies.

Photo by Shelby Hodge
Photo by Shelby Hodge
Prime rib was cooking all afternoon over hot coals.

Photo by Shelby Hodge
The cows were safe with this Bellaire city councilman behind the rope.

Photo by Shelby Hodge
Photo by Shelby Hodge
Mike Wells demonstrating cutting horse talents.

Photo by Shelby Hodge
His first-time riding western since years back.

Photo by Shelby Hodge
Blueberry cobbler cooked over coals in a dutch oven.

Photo by Shelby Hodge

Shelby's Social Diary

The French prince on horseback had a smokin' good time, royal weddings not onhis mind

Rihanna in Stella McCartney gown and Sevilla in Jet bag.
Ashley Greene in Donna Karan gown and Judith Leiber Guilloche antique silver bag
Gwyneth Paltrow in Stella McCartney gown and Judith Leiber Corner Rectangle inPalladium clutch
Penelope Cruz in Oscar de la Renta gown
Mary Kate Olsen in a vintage gown by Christian Lacroix and Judith Leiber Tessenin Siam fan clutch
Serena Williams in Oscar de la Renta gown and Judith Leiber clutch
Elizabeth Banks in a Tommy Hilfiger gown and Judith Leiber Figure Eight inKarung bag
David Lauren in Ralph Lauren tuxedo; Lauren Bush in Ralph Lauren gown withJudith Leiber FEED 1000 clutch
Ashley Olsen in Christian Dior Couture and Flip Top in Capri bag

Salute to McQueen

Big gowns & Osama/royal wedding chatter make Costume Institute Gala an odd nightto remember

Princess Grace's wedding gown

Nice day for a royal wedding

Kate Middleton's wedding gown draws comparisons to Princess Grace

A still from T-Mobile's Royal Wedding Dance video
The funny clip took me back to my time spent studying at the University of St.Andrews, where, for one semester, Prince William and Kate Middleton were myschoolmates.

Photo by Ellie Knaus
I arranged my class schedule in order to have four-day weekends.

Happy Dayz

T-Mobile royal wedding parody evokes memories of my Saint Andrews schoolmatesKate Middleton & Prince William

A protester stands in front of a burning barricade during a demonstration inCairo January 28, 2011

Photo by Goran Tomasevic
Zukhro, an employee of the city zoo, walks with Vadik, an 18-month-old malelion, on the territory of the zoo in the capital Dushanbe, January 20, 2011.Employees take the lion from its cage to have a promenade along the territorytwo times a week while holding a piece of meat to attract Vadik's attention soit walks nearby.

Photo by Nozim Kalandarov
Researchers dressed in panda costumes put a panda cub into a basket beforetransferring it to a new living environment at the Hetaoping Research andConservation Center for the Giant Panda in Wolong National Nature Reserve,Sichuan province February 20, 2011

Photo by Heng Yi
A 22-year-old woman in a wedding gown is grabbed by Guo Zhongfan, a localcommunity officer, as she attempts to kill herself by jumping out of aseven-storey residential building in Changchun, Jilin province May 17, 2011.According to local media, the woman tried to commit suicide after her boyfriendof four years broke up with her, just as they were making plans to get married.The woman did not sustain any injuries during the incident.

Photo by Li Ping
A miner climbs on excavated rocks after a giant drill machine broke through atthe final section Sedrun-Faido, at the construction site of the NEAT GotthardBase Tunnel March 23, 2011. Crossing the Alps, the world's longest train tunnelshould become operational at the end of 2016.

Photo by Arnd Wiegmann
Nikki Hamblin of New Zealand lays on the track after falling during the women's1,500 meters heats at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu August 28, 2011

Photo by David Gray
Tsunami Swirls

Photograph from Kyodo/AP
Kesennuma, Japan. March 15, 2011

Photo by James Nachtwey
Their Royal Highnesses Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchessof Cambridge kiss on the balcony at Buckingham Palace on April 29, 2011 inLondon, England

Photo by Peter Macdiarmid
Shuttle launch. May 16, 2011

Photo by Stefanie Gordon
London Riots

Photo by Amy Weston
University of California, Davis, California. November 18, 2011

Photo by Wayne Tilcock

top photos of 2011

Best of the best photos of the year from Time, National Geographic, BuzzFeed &more

Ralph Lauren designed Lauren's Bush wedding gown and his son David Lauren'swestern-style tuxedo

Photo by Norman Jean Roy/Courtesy of Vogue
Lauren Bush Lauren

Photo by Priscilla Dickson
Lauren Bush Lauren, left, and Sharon Bush, showcase the Judith Leiber FEED 1000clutch, $495 at Neiman Marcus and Judith Leiber

Photo by Priscilla Dickson
Lauren Bush and David Lauren at the Costume Institute Gala last spring where sheintroduced the Judith Leiber FEED 1000 clutch.

FEED Project feeds the hungry

Lauren Bush's eclectic world includes Judith Leiber bags & Rocky Carroll boots

Yao Ming and wife Ye Li, pictured here at a Tux and Tennies gala, were spottedlunching at Ouisie's.

Photo by Patrick Peñas for LastNightPics.com
Prince Jean de France, Duc de Vendome and Princess Philomena on their weddingday in France.

Photo by David Niviere
French mezzo-soprano Marie Lenormand will perform at the Royal Weddingsluncheon.
Princess Philomena and Prince Jean with their son Gaston

Shelby About Town

Talk of royal weddings, Yao Ming and Billy Gibbons stir the spring break socialstew

Alabama coach Nick Saban made sure to remember to act like he enjoyed theGatorade bath this time.
The crystal football is the worst trophy in major sports. Considering it's themost meaningless, that's almost fitting.
Tryann Mathieu — the Honey Badger — went missing in the BCS title game.
Trent Richardson finally broke the LSU-Alabama touchdown drought in the fourthquarter of the rematch.
Les Miles
Nick Saban

Beyond the Boxscore

Alabama fraud: "Championship" as real as a fantasy football title; Nick Sabanshould return the worst trophy in sports

India, Shah Jahan Receives the Persian Ambassador, Muhammad 'Ali Beg, folio fromthe Windsor Padshahnama, c. 1633, ink, colors and gold on paper, the RoyalCollection, Windsor
Egypt or Syria, Mosque Lamp, c. 1354–61, enameled and gilded glass, MuseumCalouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon

Photo by Catarina Gomes Ferreira
Ardabil Carpet, Tabriz, Iran, dated 1539-40 (A.H. 946), silk plain weavefoundation with wool knotted pile, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, gift of J.Paul Getty
Ahmed Mater, Saudi, born 1979, Illumination Diptych (Ottoman Waqf), 2010, goldleaf, tea, pomegranate, Dupont Chinese ink and Offset x-ray film print on paper,Los Angeles County Museum of Art, gift of Edge of Arabia and the artist
Turkey, Robe of Honor, end of the 17th–first half of the 18th century, silk,silver thread wound around white and yellow silk cores, taqueté weaving(seraser), Museum für Islamische Kunst, Berlin
China, Giraffe with Attendant, 1403–34, ink and colors on silk, mounted as ahanging scroll, Philadelphia Museum of Art, gift of John R. Dorrance
Syria or Egypt, Pair of Bracelets, 11th century, gold, fabricated from sheet,decorated with wire, granulation and repoussé, Museum of Islamic Art, Doha

The Road to Doha

Gifts that keep on giving: Middle Eastern treasures beckon at MFAH's Gifts ofthe Sultan exhibiit

Kate Middleton and Prince William
Zooey Dreschanel
A scene from the 1991 movie, "The Bachelor"
Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts in "Notting Hill"

The REAL Princess Diaries

Zooey Deschanel looms as the perfect Kate Middleton in new royal wedding flick

Darren McGrady, The Royal Chef

Darren McGrady, The Royal Chef/Facebook
A scene from last year's Grand Tasting during Wine & Food Week in the Woodlands

Photo by Steven David
Wine and Food Week/Facebook
Alyssa Rapp, wine wizard master of ceremonies

ClaudiaChan.com

At Wine & Food Week

From royal chef to proud Texan: Princess Diana's former chef gets into the foodscene of new home

It's a smashing summer for Lynn Wyatt.

Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Lynn was among the 900 guests attending Prince Albert's wedding in Monaco.
Lynn stayed with John Furnish and Sir Elton John for the White Tie & Tiara Ball.

Photo via Feed Agg
Lynn had the inside track on Karl Lagerfeld's 2011-12 Haute Couture show forChanel.

Photo by Olivier Saillant/Chanel News
He organized the birthday lunch at Ouisie's for La Wyatt. Here they are shown ata previous event.

Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Tory Burch will host Lynn at her South Hampton home.

Photo via Newscom

Partying like a rock star

How Lynn Wyatt spent her summer vacation with Elton John, Prince Albert & KarlLagerfeld

Sleepwalk with Me

Sleepwalk with Me/Facebook
Lauren Ambrose and Mike Birbiglia in Sleepwalk with Me

Sleepwalk with Me/Facebook
A scene from Spike Lee's Red Hook Summer

Photo by David Lee
Frank and Robot movie poster
Marcel Carne’s marathon-length masterwork, Children of Paradise, is set in andaround the theater world of Paris circa 1828.

Mondo Cinema

Small budget movies with big heart feature comic sleepwalkers, caregiving robots& much-courted courtesans

It's official: Kate Middleton and Prince William are engaged!
A royal dress to-die-for is for sure.
A ride in the royal carriage..
to an enormous and fabulous wedding.

Royal Wedding

Harry's suddenly the most eligible British bachelor: The aftershocks of PrinceWilliam's engagement

Sure, Kate Middleton and Prince William are cute and stuff. But why do we careso much about their wedding?
That's a nice building, that Westminister Abbey. Looks like a mighty finelocation for overly-priced royal nuptials.

No different than TomKat

Gag me: Prince William & Kate's royal wedding is already the most overblown,inane story ever

Tomiko Jones, L'arbre du St. Ambreuil
Will Michels, Muir III
Colin Blakely, Lighted Tree

Put a Tree on It

A party for the trees: Drought-ravaged treasures given their due in photographybash

A hot air balloon ride through the canyons of Turkey was thrilling, beautifuland indescribable.

Photo courtesy of Deborah Elias
Showing Texas pride at Ephesus

Photo courtesy of Deborah Elias
Enjoying a boat ride on the Marmara Sea: From left, Giti and Parivesh Zarinkelk,Deborah Elias, Sara Smith, Scott Brogan and Alyssa Goldsmith

Photo courtesy of Deborah Elias
Evil eye necklaces for sale

Photo courtesy of Deborah Elias
Exploring the Underground City in Goreme National Park

Photo courtesy of Deborah Elias
Deborah Elias learns to make homemade Turkish breakfast breads in the CCR Hotelin Cappadocia.

Photo courtesy of Deborah Elias
The captain from Balloon Turca deftly drifted the balloon through thespectacular canyons, and upon landing staff provided us with a much welcomedglass of champagne.

Photo courtesy of Deborah Elias
Carlos Obando in an Istanbul rug shop

Photo courtesy of Deborah Elias
A gorgeous morning in Turkey

Photo courtesy of Deborah Elias
Carlos Obando, from left, the Hon. Ahmet Aydin, deputy chairman of the MajorityPolitical Party, and Ximena Murillo

Photo courtesy of Deborah Elias
Ximena Murillo, left, learning how to make a Turkish rug

Photo courtesy of Deborah Elias
Deborah Elias in an underground cistern in Istanbul

Photo courtesy of Deborah Elias
Deborah Elias, Alyssa Goldsmith and Sara Smith at Haga Sophia Mosque

Photo courtesy of Deborah Elias
Dinner at the home of a Turkish businessman and his family.

Photo courtesy of Deborah Elias

All About Events

Lifting off in style: Houstonians celebrate a visit to Turkey in advance of fallConsular Ball

Sleepyheads Mayor Annise Parker and Kathy Hubbard.
Mayor Annise Parker's latest tweet.

Photo via Twitter
Annise Parker at this year's Mayor's Tea, held at the mayor's home

Slap on the limp wrist

Party pooper: Mayor Annise Parker "rudely" squashes Hipstrict house party

The hat that stole headlines could be yours.
So that's where the cat went!

Facebook
You will be very, very broke in the near future.

Facebook
Feel free to blame Philip Treacy, the designer of the monstrosity.

Photo by Robbie Reynolds

Do it for the children

Royal fascinator: Princess Beatrice auctions off the ugliest hat ever & there'sa potential buyer

Grace Van Cutsem, William's goddaughter, simply couldn't save royal face anylonger.

Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
Little Gracie found herself in the backseat with Rebecca Black, and had the samereaction.
Grace has had enough of Donald Trump, too.

Royally Annoyed

Step aside Kate & Wills: Grumpy mini-bridesmaid Grace Van Cutsem steals theroyal wedding

Mark Kelly holds wife Gabrielle Giffords' hand at TIRR Memorial Hermann.
Gabrielle Giffords and Mark Kelly
Space Shuttle Endeavour

Together At Last

Touchdown: Mark Kelly & Gabrielle Giffords to reunite in Houston and become asame-city couple

Photo by Todd Parker/STP Images Inc.
Photo by Todd Parker/STP Images Inc.
Photo by Todd Parker/STP Images Inc.
Photo by Todd Parker/STP Images Inc.
Photo by Todd Parker/STP Images Inc.
Photo by Todd Parker/STP Images Inc.
Photo by Todd Parker/STP Images Inc.
Photo by Todd Parker/STP Images Inc.
Photo by Todd Parker/STP Images Inc.

Shelby's Social Diary

Lots of bubbly, grand chapeaus & polo produce a Triple Crown for the HealthMuseum

The white iPhone 4 is finally out today. Should you care?
The next iPhone model — colloquially known as the iPhone 5 — is expected to bereleased in the next few months.

Next!

With releases of iPhone 5 & iPhone 6 looming larger, the white iPhone 4 fades toblack

The house is beautifully covered in fig ivy which neatly frames the mullionedwindows and French doors.
The dramatic entry hall has been used as a setting for ads in Veranda, SouthernLiving and Antiques Magazine.
The master suite is extra spacious and features contemporary bath and closets.
The interior pool terrace is reminiscent of a glamorous French hotel.
The living room is filled with light thanks to the floor-to-celing French doors.
This spacious guest bedroom enjoys a serene ambiance.

On the Market

A Parisian-style pied-a-terre right here in River Oaks offers oodles of Europeancharm and appeal

Prince Jean de France was guest speaker at the benefit luncheon Joanne KingHerring organized for her Marshall Plan for Afghanistan.

Photo by Priscilla Dickson
River Oaks Country Club chef Charles Carroll is back from Afghanistan withgreetings for Joanne King Herring.
It might not be Elizabeth Taylor but expect plenty of Cleopatras at the Museumof Fine Arts, Houston ball in October.
Reece Davenport makes her way along the beach in St. Barts where shooting beginson EROS II.

Photo by Fulton Davenport: PWL Studio
Judy McGee, from left, Sydney Faust, Scott Basinger and Elsie Smith join forcesfor Texas Children's Hospital.

Photo by Kim Christensen

Shelby About Town

Cleopatra and Joanne King Herring are just two of the strong women rockin' thesocial scene

For Gabrielle Giffords and Mark Kelly, it's a "Beautiful Day."

nanazoca.blogspot.com
Space shuttle Endeavour lifts off.
Gabrielle Giffords and Mark Kelly

Don't Let it Get Away

The meaning behind Gabrielle Giffords' wake-up song shuttle repeat

Once the sun set, the lighting became dramatic.

Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
The open-sided tent was the perfect party venue for the perfect spring night.

Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com

Shelby's Social Diary

Evening in the Park guests couldn't have asked for a lovelier night in HermannPark