Crave-worthy crepe cake maker from New York rises with first permanent Texas location in Galleria

layer cake

Courtesy of Lady M

After years of pop-ups and a temporary location, Lady M has opened a permanent cake boutique at The Galleria. Shoppers will find it near the Apple store at space B3650.

The New York-based cake bakery selected Houston for its first Texas outpost due to the successful pop-ups and strong online sales from Houstonians. From there, the company had to choose whether to stay in The Galleria or open somewhere else.

“We leaned towards Galleria due to the offering that was presented to us,” Lady M CEO Ken Romaniszyn tells CultureMap.”We liked the tenant mix. We feel like we have a prime location near the elevator banks where there’s a lot of foot traffic.”

That prime location will sell Lady M’s signature Mille Crêpe Cake (made with 20 layers of crepes) as both whole cakes and slices. Flavors include classics like the Signature Mille Crêpes and Green Tea Mille Crêpes as well as chocolate, pistachio, tiramisu, and mango. Lady M also offers other sweets such as a strawberry shortcake cake, passionfruit cheesecake, and a berry tart.

Shoppers may pre-order whole cakes (two days advance notice required) or walk-in and purchase based on the available selection. Regardless of what they purchase, they can expect cakes with delicate flavors and light textures.

“One of the biggest compliments we get is ‘I don't like desserts, but I like Lady M.’ We really focus on the ingredients,” Romaniszyn says. “We don’t have to put a lot of sugar into our cakes to mask any bad stuff. We’re using really high end ingredients to bring out the flavor profile. I think that’s why we’re able to reach a broad base of dessert lovers and non-desserts.”

Having a permanent location means that Houstonians will get to experience Lady M’s full lineup, including new flavors like the Guava Mille Crêpes as well as bonbons, which are designed to travel better than a cake that needs to be refrigerated. Since the store has a couple of outdoor tables, it will also sell coffee and tea to people who want something to drink while they have their cake (and eat it, too).

To prepare for the store opening, Lady M established a central production facility in Houston. Not only will it ensure consistency, the bakery has enough capacity to support more boutiques in other parts of the city and state.

“We’re starting to look down the road to the suburbs,” Romaniszyn says. “We’re definitely looking to expand.”

Dallas, another city where Lady M has popped up in the past, is also on his radar. “I’ve made that drive and looked at some places in Dallas, Fort Worth, Carrollton, Frisco, some of those areas. It’s interesting up there, and it’s really growing. We’ll definitely look for something up there,” he says.

Lady M’s hours of operation are Monday-Thursday 11 am - 7 pm, Friday and Saturday 11 am - 9 pm, and Sunday 12-7 pm.

Courtesy of Lady M

Each Lady M cake is made of 20 layers of crepes.

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Latin lords Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, and Pitbull team up for Trilogy tour headed to Houston

the big 3

Three of pop music's biggest powerhouses are headed to Houston for star-studded fall tour. Latin superstars Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, and Pitbull will share the stage together for the first time ever as part of The Trilogy Tour, which will hit arenas across America this fall.

This new 19-city tour produced by Live Nation kicks off in Washington, D.C., on October 14. The tour hits Houston on Saturday, November 18 at Toyota Center as part of three-city Texas stop. Other shows include a stop at American Airlines Center in Dallas, on Friday, November 17 and AT&T Center in San Antonio on Sunday, November 19.

As one would expect, the megastars promise to deliver an electrifying mix of their biggest, career-spanning hits with tastes of reggaeton, salsa pop, dance, and electronic all thrown in for good measure. Each showman will backed by world-class production and state-of-the-art visuals, per an announcement.

Live Nation recommends that fans register now through Sunday, June 4 at 11:59 pm ET for the Verified Fan presale here. Those who are selected to receive an access code will be able to participate in the Verified Fan presale starting on Wednesday, June 7. (More information on Verified Fan can be found here).

A limited number of tickets will be sold during a general on sale starting at 10 am Friday, June 9 at Ticketmaster.com — while supplies last.

Expect a slew of VIP packages and experiences, which include perks like an invitation to the pre-show VIP lounge, exclusive VIP tour poster, specially designed VIP gift item and more. More VIP information can be found at vipnation.com.

From prince to King Enrique

The son of Latin king Julio Iglesias, Enrique Iglesias has evolved from promising pop prince to arguably the biggest Latin recording artist in music history, with a wow-worthy 154 No. 1 single’s across Billboard charts and 27 No. 1 singles on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart. Iglesias currently holds the record for most number ones in the chart’s history.

At once a sultry crooner and poppy persona, he fluidly moves between English and Spanish and genres to the tune of more than 180 million albums sold worldwide, released 11 studio albums, and three greatest hits compilations. To date, Iglesias has headlined 10 sold-out world tours and performed in front of more than 10 million fans.

Known for big collabs with Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie, Pitbull, and more, he boasts multiple Grammy, Billboard, ASCAP, and more major awards. His 14 billion views on YouTube/VEVO and 14 billion in streams make him one the most streamed and viewed artists on the planet.

"I am incredibly excited to be going on tour with my friends Pitbull and Ricky," Iglesias said in a tour announcement. "The Trilogy Tour will be an amazing experience for ALL of our fans. It’s going to be a once in a lifetime tour."

La Vida Ricky

A fresh-faced poser boy for '80s pop group Menudo, Ricky Martin grew up before fans eyes into a hunky, bellowing singer known for leaving it all out onstage. Often dubbed the "King of Latin Pop," Martin has scored more than 180 awards and multiple Grammy Awards, most recently for the EP Pausaa nd the album PLAY, which features collaborations with Bad Bunny, Residente, and Sting.

The Puerto Rico native is also an accomplished actor, flexing his chops and earning an Emmy nomination in FX's The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. He's next set to star in the highly anticipated Apple TV series Palm Royale, alongside Laura Dern, Kristen Wiig, Allison Janney, and Carol Burnett.

Martin has championed HIV and AIDS causes and founded the Ricky Martin Foundation, which actively fights against human trafficking and modern-day slavery. He is a Global Ambassador for UNICEF, has received the Hispanic Federation's "Humanitarian Award" and the Human Rights Campaign's "National Visibility Award." The City of New York declared "Ricky Martin Day" to honor his musical legacy and charitable work.

"Going back on the road with not only Enrique, but now with Pitbull it’s very exciting," Martin notes in a statement. "This tour will be a wild party from beginning to end so get ready, it's going to be epic!"

Mr. Worldwide

Grammy-winning showman Pitbull — aka Mr. Worldwide — has a golden touch when it comes to singalong party anthems and killer shows. As an artist, the Miami performer boasts billions of audio streams and video views plus hundreds of gold and platinum certifications. As an entrepreneur, he co-owns the NASCAR racing team Trackhouse and tours with life strategy guru Tony Robbins on motivational speaking engagements.

Famed for his fiesta vibe, Armando Christian "Pitbull" Perez is dead serious about education as he helped establish the nationwide Sports Leadership Arts and Management (SLAM!), tuition-free public charter schools.

“It’s a true honor to tour with Enrique and Ricky, 2 music icons, who broke global music barriers for our culture and open doors for someone like myself,” said Pitbull. “We’re excited to take The Trilogy tour around the world and give our fans the time of their Trilogy lives, Dale!"

Here are the official dates for The Trilogy Tour:

Sat Oct 14 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena

Tue Oct 17 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena

Fri Oct 20 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre

Sat Oct 21– Boston, MA – TD Garden

Thu Oct 26 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden

Sat Oct 28 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center

Wed Nov 01 – Chicago, IL – United Center

Fri Nov 03 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena

Thu Nov 09 – Orlando, FL – Amway Center

Fri Nov 10 – Miami, FL – Kaseya Center

Fri Nov 17 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center

Sat Nov 18 – Houston – Toyota Center

Sun Nov 19 – San Antonio, TX – AT&T Center

Fri Nov 24 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena

Sat Nov 25 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center

Thu Nov 30 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena

Wed Dec 06 – San Jose, CA – SAP Center

Fri Dec 08 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena

Sun Dec 10 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena

Enrique Iglesias/Facebook

Music royal Enrique Iglesias joins Ricky Martin and Pitbull.

Stylish new restaurant mixes European flair with American fare in Montrose's hottest destination

Montrose's stylish new bistro

The Montrose Collective mixed-use development continues to cement its status as Houston’s newest dining destination. Fresh off openings such as Oheya by Uchi and Picnik comes a new bistro from a veteran team of restaurateurs.

Meet The Chelsea. Now open across from Marmo, the upscale Italian steakhouse, The Chelsea serves a diverse menu of New American fare in a stylish environment that’s inspired by classic European restaurants.

Restaurateurs Shawn Rao and Jonathan Serrano teamed up with Houston operator Roveen Abante, a partner in concepts such as Be More Pacific, Sushi Rebel, and the upcoming Conservatory Galleria food hall, to open The Chelsea. Rao and Serrano are native Houstonians who found success in Dallas with the Syn Group, a hospitality company that operates a number of concepts in the Metroplex, including Don Chingon, The Social House, and America Gardens.

While those concepts are bar forward and casual, The Chelsea aspires to offer a more elevated experience, which suits its owners state in life.

Photo by Abante Photography

The Chelsea opened this week.

“I think you create the best products when you’re at the stage of your life to relate to the product,” Rao tells CultureMap. “If you create something you won’t enjoy, you may miss the mark. The Chelsea is exactly a place I’d go to. It’s like places I eat in Dallas. That’s why we decided to go this route. We really latched on to it.”

To create the proper atmosphere, Rao and his partners took inspiration from their travels across Europe. They created a space that features marble-patterned floors, shades of teal and burgundy, and lots of art on the walls.

“Our initial design was way over the top. We had to dial it back,” Rao says. Later, he adds, “We wanted to get the design right. We know Houston has a discerning eye when it comes to new restaurants. We felt we had to get it as perfect as possible.”

Chef Andre Garza contributes to those goals with his eclectic menu. Meals at The Chelsea start with raw items such as oysters, tuna tartare, shrimp and scallop verde that’s made with a Peruvian-style leche de tigre and a spicy chili crisp. Three salads round out the starters.

From there, diners may choose from a selection of shareable small plates. Highlights include shrimp scampi, miso-marinated chicken lollipops, charred Spanish octopus, and a tempura fried lobster tail. Parker House Pigs — a riff on the classic rolls that are stuffed with spicy Japanese Kurobuta sausage — emerged as an early fan favorite during last weekend’s invite-only soft opening. Those looking for a more traditional entree have a range of choices, including seafood pot pie, roast chicken, and a classic cheeseburger.

Beverage options start with a cocktail list that offers eight martinis. Look for variations such as the espresso martini, Gibson, Vesper, and a Martinez made with Maraschino and Angostura. The wine list includes about 15 by-the-glass options with most bottles priced between $30 and $180, Rao says.

“We want to be that sort of neighborhood, three-to-five mile radius, go-to for meals, go-to for drinks,” he adds. “I know everyone says that, but we want to cater to that element.”

The Chelsea opens for dinner beginning at 4 pm daily. Brunch will follow in the coming weeks.

Joel the Lab mix's big smile is one to fall in love with at Houston SPCA

Adoptable Dog

If you've always envisioned having a dog that can wow a crowd with tricks, then adopting Joel is a great first step.

This two-year-old Lab mix that's currently at the Houston SPCA is super treat motivated, which means he's eager to learn. He already knows how to sit like a champ, so training him to do more complicated commands would be no sweat.

Joel is a playful guy at 57 pounds, who loves to wrestle and run with his pals.

But if you're also seeking a pup who's into quiet time, he's never met a couch he doesn't love to stretch out on.

Joel is what's known as a VIP — Very Important Pup — so his adoption fee is 50 percent off, only $25.

That includes a microchip, neuter surgery, up-to-date vaccinations, a free sample bag of Hill’s Pet Nutrition, and a free post-exam from any VCA Animal Hospital.

Stop by the Houston SPCA, which is open every day from 11 am-6 pm, to spend some time in the play yards with Joel and many other adoptable pets.

Photo courtesy of Houston SPCA

He's eager to please and easy to train.

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