Four Seasons Hotel Houston bags first-of-kind, free luxury purse and accessories service for guests

no need to pack those bags

Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel Houston

Houston's hottest downtown destination, Four Seasons Hotel Houston, just made every fashion connoisseurs' stay at its luxurious hotel a lot more exhilarating. Named the No. 1 in Houston and No. 19 in the world by Condé Nast Traveler, the hotel just announced an exciting partnership with Vivrelle.

For those who've yet to discover it, Vivrelle is a first-of-its-kind membership club offering access to designer handbags and accessories. Guests of Four Seasons Hotel Houston now have access to Vivrelle's on-property collection of luxury accessories from high-end brands like Prada, Gucci, Dior, and more.

Fittingly and on-brand, Four Seasons Hotel Houston is the first hotel in the South to offer guests this complimentary service. Essentially, this partnership means that hotel guests can add the pièce de résistance to each and every outfit during their stay. Want to swap out a bag between dinner and lunch? Have an important power meeting and want to make a statement? No problem. Guests are able to swap out styles from the hotel's highly curated rotating collection throughout the duration of their stay.

With investors like Emily in Paris' Lily Collins and Vampire Diaries' Nina Dobrev, Vivrelle is making waves in sustainable fashion and making designer handbags more accessible to everyone. With membership plans starting at just $39, guests may sign up on site allowing them to borrow from the larger Vivrelle collection after their stay.

Vivrelle carries trending styles that may not be available in stores, as well as vintage pieces. Although best known for its handbags, the membership-only service also offers accessories like fine and designer jewelry and watches with highly coveted brands like Chanel, YSL, Van Cleef & Arpels and more.

“Offering our guests access to Vivrelle’s collection of luxury accessories is an exciting and innovative way for us to enhance our guest experience,” says Tom Segesta, general manager of Four Seasons Hotel Houston. “This partnership further defines Four Seasons Hotel Houston as the place where urban elegance and southern charm collide.”

Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel Houston

Guests of Four Seasons Hotel Houston now have complimentary access to Vivrelle’s on-property collection of luxury accessories from brands including Prada, Gucci, Dior, and more.

Photo courtesy of Fertitta Entertainment

6 Houston hotels check in as best in Texas in coveted annual ranking

the inn crowd

Finding hotel accommodations for that next vacation or staycation in Texas just got a lot easier. A new list released by US News and & World Report has ranked six Houston hotels among the best in the state. The publication collects its information through hotel ratings, customer reviews, and industry award analysis.

Houston’s only double five-star hotel and spa The Post Oak Hotel was awarded the No. 1 spot, known for its “tropical sanctuary” pool, nine restaurants and bars, and ultra-modern room amenities and decor. In another US News & World Report article, The Post Oak was ranked the No. 31 best hotel in the nation.

“This prestigious list evaluates the top hotels from around the globe, and it is an honor to be included,” said Steven Chou, general manager at The Post Oak Hotel, in a statement. “We are so proud of our passionate colleagues who continue to deliver exceptional experiences to our guests year after year. To be ranked 1st in Texas and 31st in the nation further solidifies this hotel as a true, world-class destination.”

The Four Seasons Hotel Houston took No. 5 with its stunning, indulgent spa and award-winning dining destination (Toro Toro) headed by restaurateur Richard Sandoval. The conveniently located JW Marriott Downtown was placed just outside the top 10 at No. 11 and is within walking distance of many popular restaurants and attractions, such as Sambuca, the Houston Public Library, the House of Blues, and much more.

Taking No. 14 and No. 15, respectively, are mainstays The Houstonian Hotel Club & Spa and The St. Regis, each on either side of 610 and both within a mile of Memorial Park.

A little farther down the list at No. 22 is the sixth top hotel in Houston – the Hotel Granduca. This Italian-inspired hotel welcomes guests (and pets!) with excellent customer service and gourmet Italian cuisine or afternoon tea. Other top hotels in Texas from the US News and & World Report hail from Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and Fort Worth.

The full list of the top 25 best hotels in Texas include:

The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston
Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek – Dallas
Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection – Austin
Hotel Emma – San Antonio
Four Seasons Hotel – Houston
The Ritz-Carlton – Dallas
Thompson San Antonio Riverwalk
The Driskill – Austin
Fairmont Austin
Four Seasons Hotel – Austin
JW Marriott Houston Downtown
Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa – San Antonio
JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa
The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa
The St. Regis Houston
Austin Proper Hotel & Residences
Miraval Austin
Lake Austin Spa Resort
La Cantera Resort & Spa – San Antonio
Hotel Granduca Austin
Mokara Hotel & Spa – San Antonio
Hotel Granduca Houston
Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa – Austin
The Ashton Hotel – Fort Worth
Thompson Dallas

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Dave Chappelle heads to Houston as part of 4 Texas arena stops

Chappelle's Show(s)

Comedian/actor Dave Chappelle will soon bring his "Dave Chappelle Live" stand-up comedy show to arenas in four cities in Texas, including Toyota Center in Houston on July 1.

Other dates include American Airlines Center in Dallas, on June 29, AT&T Center in San Antonio on July 12, and Moody Center in Austin on July 14.

Chappelle is a complicated figure who's been celebrated for his trailblazing comedy and vilified for his controversial stances. Chappelle's Show, which ran from 2003 to 2006 on Comedy Central, was widely praised, and Chappelle remained extremely popular despite the abrupt end of the show and him choosing to recede from the spotlight in the following decade.

His re-emergence in the late 2010s brought success in the form of three straight Grammy wins for Best Comedy Album, but also continued jokes aimed at transgender people. He has been the subject of multiple protests over that material, and has even had a show canceled by a venue in Minneapolis after receiving criticism for hosting him.

As if to underscore the contentious nature of his comedy, no cellphones, cameras, or recording devices will be allowed at any of the four shows. All phones and smart watches will be secured in special pouches that can be unlocked at the end of the show. Anyone caught with a cellphone in the venue will be immediately ejected.

Tickets for the four shows will go on sale at 5 pm on June 5 at ticketmaster.com.

Rice Village District opens doors to 3 stylish stops for fashionable ladies and gents

it takes a village

Rice Village District is now home to three new tenants that will move into the former Gap store space with their unique offerings. Luminary Lifestyle, Gorjana, and Mizzen+Main are set to bring fresh shopping experiences to the already vibrant retail scene. All three concepts will open their doors in early 2024.

One of the notable newcomers is Luminary Lifestyle, a women's fashion boutique hailing from Rosemary Beach. Renowned for their collections that effortlessly embody elegance and understated luxury, Luminary Lifestyle offers a curated selection of fashion and design pieces with classic appeal.

Joining Luminary Lifestyle is Gorjana, a jewelry brand rooted in the coastal aesthetics of Laguna Beach. Renowned for their laid-back yet timeless solid gold and gold-plated pieces, Gorjana specializes in necklaces, earrings, and bracelets that exude effortless style and capture the California sun-soaked lifestyle.

Completing this exciting trio is Mizzen+Main, the visionary creators behind "The Best Damn Dress Shirts" and a range of performance menswear. With their commitment to merging style and functionality, Mizzen+Main has garnered a loyal following for their high-quality garments that effortlessly transition from the boardroom to weekend adventures.

Rice Village's General Manager, Aj Jennings, says he is excited to welcome these fast-growing and philanthropic brands into the community. "It is an honor to be the home of three exceptional brands," stated Jennings. "As the Village's offerings continue to expand, we are particularly thrilled about the unique and personalized shopping experiences that these new tenants will bring to our valued customers."

The addition of Luminary Lifestyle, Gorjana, and Mizzen+Main follows a series of recent successful openings, including Bluestone Lane, Solidcore, The Rice Box, and Navy Blue.

Photo by Luminary Lifestyle/Instagram

Luminary Lifestyle will open in early 2024.

Aggie favorite chicken fingers spot claims 3rd Houston-area outpost — and first inside the Loop

finally inside the loop

An Aggieland favorite is coming to the River Oaks area. Layne’s Chicken Fingers has claimed the former KFC location at 2359 S Shepherd Dr.

Expected to open in late 2023, it will offer both dine-in and drive-thru service. The new restaurant will be the College Station-based establishment’s third Houston-area outpost, joining a Katy location that opened in 2021 and a Garden Oaks location that opened in February.

Layne's Chicken Fingers Carlos Martinez Masroor Fatany Geoff Herbert Carlos Martinez, franchisee Masroor Fatany, and Geoff Herbert.Courtesy of Layne's Chicken Fingers

The restaurant will serve Layne's tightly focused menu of chicken tenders, chicken tender sandwiches, Texas toast, crinkle-cut fries, potato salad, and milkshakes. All of its self-described "Soon to be Famous" chicken fingers are cut by hand, marinated, and breaded on-site. They can be paired with one of four dipping sauces: Layne’s Secret Sauce, described as "the perfect blend of tangy, spicy, zesty, and peppery flavors;" buttermilk ranch; barbecue; and honey mustard.

“After a wildly successful opening in the Heights, it only made sense to expand to the eclectic Montrose neighborhood,” Layne’s partner Matt O’Reilly said in a statement. “This is our first location inside the loop and we are so excited to see our restaurant expand to even more chicken lovers.”

Layne’s comes to Houston via Texas A&M alum Masroor Fatany, who also owns seven locations of The Halal Guys across the Houston area.

“This location will mark a major step for the Layne’s legacy,” Fatany added. “The demand, which was already high, has only grown ever since we opened our Heights location, so bringing Layne’s to Montrose is going to allow us to bring our delicious chicken to customers throughout Houston.”

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