| Hi,
Love Bugs out there. Here’s part two of the Queen’s
guide to Valentine’s Day. You’ve got 13 days left,
so if you haven’t made dinner reservations, you need
to. Since Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love,
let me start by saying I found a restaurant that I have fallen
MADLY in love with. Gary, Crystal and Theresa, all of 6º Lounge
Fame and Attorney Alberto Amatong accompanied me to NOE Restaurant
for a live broadcast of the Stevens and Cleverley Radio show.
I am a huge fan of Cleverley and she was so hospitable to my
friends and me. We were treated to a guided tour of NOE by
the Dining Diva herself, and when she introduced us to Chef
Robert Gadsby (the man, the legend,) the red carpet was rolled
out as "Chef" (that’s what we call him now
that we’ve become friends) gave us a tour of his incredible
kitchen. Gary treated our group to a 7-course dinner as well
as a wine tasting with each course and Chef treated us to the
most unforgettable meal I’ve ever eaten. Chef prepared
architectural masterpieces with the food. I’d describe
his dishes as a fusion of French and Japanese aesthetics. His
creations are eclectic and International and out of this world
on the delicious scale. Each course was more like an event
than just a course. One selection was a whimsical mimosa salad
with spicy chicken served with a mango-mint frappe. EVERY course
was delectable. We sat at what’s known as the VIP table
and I felt like a celebrity. Speaking of celebrities, Chef
also owns NOE in Los Angeles and has cooked for the likes of
Madonna and Michael Jackson. Words cannot due this restaurant
justice. You’ve got to treat yourself to the experience.
This is my #1 pick for where to dine on Valentine’s Day.
NOE is located inside the Omni Riverway Hotel, located at 4
Riverway. I give it a rating of a perfect ten on the ambience
and service also. You can catch the Stevens and Cleverley radio
show two times a week, Thursdays and Saturdays on BIZ radio
1320 KXYZ. For reservations to dine with Cleverley Stone and
Mark Stevens, or details about where they’ll be broadcasting
their show from next, email stevensandcleverley@yahoo.com.
Big
news! On Thursday, February 3rd, the Sam Houston Hotel is hosting
a cocktail contest from 6-10PM. The
contest will start promptly at 7PM. If you have a recipe you
have created and want to become famous, this contest is for you.
Judges include KRBE’s Maria Todd, Jason Middleton from
the Chronicle and the Queen. There will be prize packages for
1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners and the 1st prize winner’s
drink will become a feature on the drink menu at the Sam Bar.
To enter or for more information and the rules of the contest
call 832-200-8800 or email jsalcedo@samhoustonhotel.com.
After-hours
anyone? Beyond Entertainment & Spoiled Boyz
present yet another in their series of wildly successful monthly
theme-oriented after-parties late night Saturday, February 12th
at Empire Bar, located at 108 Main Street. This Valentine’s
Delight of a party is dubbed the Godiva after-party, and it will
feature NYC DJ Joe D' Espinoza on the turntables. Red & Gold
attire is suggested. Doors open at 3:30am. A Portion of the door
proceeds will benefit The Tsunami Relief Fund.
The Queen’s INS and OUTS list for Valentine’s Day
2005 will be throughout this issue, so be sure you read the entire
thing. First of all, NOE Restaurant is definitely IN, IN IN!
OUT: Limousines IN: Horse-drawn Carriage Ride (costs about $20-$25
downtown, also see www.carriagesetc.com.) OUT: Red Roses IN:
More exotic and imaginative arrangements. I recommend you call
Carolyn Gaw at Distinctive Floral Design at 713-952-3080. It’s
easy to find out what your lady’s favorite flower is, or
you can pick out an arrangement using her favorite color. By
the way, Gerber Daisies are MY favorite. To see a few of Carolyn’s
creations, click on the arrangement page at www.floraleleganceonline.com Prices are under each photo. OUT: Heart-shaped boxes of chocolate
IN: Customized Cookie Bouquets. The three Cookie Bouquet locations
and their phone numbers in Houston are 713-524-7900 at 2524 Rice
Blvd., 281-493-9400 at 12919 Whittington Drive, 281-493-9400
at 14098 Memorial Drive.
Be at the
Ruby Room this Thursday and every Thursday thereafter for Party
Gras.
We’ll party like it is Mardi Gras every
Thursday with DJ Tommy. Well drinks are $1 from 9-11 this Thursday
and the host who brings the most guests between 9-11PM will
receive $100 in cold, hard CASH! Call me @713-222-1033 to book
your party. Start inviting friends and picking out your beads
for the bead contest. Get your booty to the Ruby Room on February
3rd. Remember you must have a booked party and RSVPs in order
to win the moola.
Cool, but
over-priced gifts at www.dessertbeauty.com. It’s
Jessica Simpson’s line of cosmetics and girly-girl stuff.
I like the "Are you whipped? Threesome Set" Described
on the website as ‘rich and creamy, super-whipped and full
of things your skin loves, this delicious body smoother tastes
as good as it smells. Slather it on yourself or a friend to be
completely smoochable and delectable.’ The set is a collection
of three 4 ounce whipped body creams featuring the flavors Creamy,
Juicy and Dreamy. (Are those flavors or adjectives?!) The set
sells for $45 and is available at Sephora in the Galleria. Speaking
of the Simpson Sisters what the hell was that Orange Bowl excuse
for a performance by Ashlee Simpson at half-time? I don’t
recommend her "Autobiography" CD as a V-day gift…unless
you buy it for your ex. Ashlee is definitely on the OUT list.
The gift
of alcohol is always thoughtful, unless, of course, your date
is a member
of A.A. There is a smashing vodka on
the market called XO. I met the French creator of XO, who visited
Houston, recently. XO is also the symbol for hugs and kisses,
which makes a bottle of this spirit an ideal gift for Valentine’s
Day. "Too many pollute their vodka," says creator
Jean-Marc Daucourt. Hold the vermouth or the orange juice,
because diluting this spirit will only take away from its flavor.
Serve it on the rocks, chilled, neat or with a dash of spring
water. Daucourt and his team chose four French types of wheat
and spring water from the region of Gensac, a village in the
Dordogne. Little bubbles of pure oxygen are pumped through
the vats before the final step of filtering. Interesting trivia,
isn’t it? XO is very exclusive, and only 2,000 cases
are produced annually. That spiffy French craftsmanship will
run you about $45 for 750 ml. It's available at most Spec's,
M&R Liquors and at Houston Liquor and Bar Supply. Oh, and
it tastes yummy. XO is proudly served at Six Degrees Lounge,
Slainte Irish Pub, Joia Lounge, NOE Restaurant, M Bar and the
Ruby Room. I look for it wherever I go.
Gentlemen,
here are ideas for gifts for gals: ANYTHING from the website
www.anthropologie.com.
There is also an Anthropologie
store here in town in the Highland Village Shopping Center,
713-840-9428. It’s All About You Boutique is another
wonderland of stuff gals love. Stop by 2016 W. Alabama to see
all the goodies. EroticCabaret.com also has lingerie and other
surprises too. There are two Erotic Cabaret locations in Houston.
You can surprise
your lady by taking a Cooking Class for Valentine’s
Day. Maggiano’s Little Italy’s Chef Johnny Poché will
host a "men only" cooking class. The class will be
held in a private banquet room from 6:00PM until 7:30PM on Wednesday,
February 9th at Maggiano’s at 2019 Post Oak. Guys will
learn how to prepare a romantic dinner, and will be taught culinary
skills. The class is FREE, but is limited to 25 participants.
Call 713-961-2700 to reserve your spot. The lesson will teach
a three-course menu. The first course will be Hickory Grilled
Jumbo Shrimp and Petite Herb Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette. The
entrée will be Mahi-Mahi stuffed with Jumbo Lump Crabmeat
and Roasted Pepper Caulis and Basil Vinaigrette. Next is a Wild
Berry Zabaglione with Black Raspberry Sorbet. Completing the
dinner is a dessert of Dark Chocolate Fondue with Strawberries.
They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,
but I trust this menu will get to any lady’s heart too
if her man made it especially for her. Right, ladies?
OUT: Website "Hot or Not?" www.hotornot.com IN: "So
would you do me?" www.swydm.com. OUT: champagne for two
IN: a bubble bath for two. OUT: dating fraternity boys IN: dating
their dads. OUT: Victoria’s Secret IN: Erotic Cabaret (2
locations 1222 Westheimer and 6509 Westheimer) OUT: Queer Eye
for the Straight Guy IN: Queer Eye for the Straight Girl (premiering
on the Bravo Channel.) OUT: Neiman Marcus IN: Nordstroms. OUT: "Sex
In The City" IN: "Desperate Housewives." OUT:
Q-Tips IN: Cotton Balls. OUT: purses by Dooney and Burke or Kate
Spade IN: Prada, Coach, Louis Vuitton and Juicy Couture. OUT:
Sex on the Beach shots IN: Martinis. OUT: Absolut Vodka IN: XO,
Tito’s and Boru Vodkas.
Sam Houston
Hotel at 1117 Prairie is offering the Sleep/Eat Weekender Package.
Get away from it all and spend pre-Valentine’s
Day weekend at the Sam Houston. All the weekend requires you
to do is sleep & eat. The package includes overnight valet
parking. Wake up with your sweetheart and enjoy breakfast for
two in the critically acclaimed restaurant, 17. Price: $189.00,
Suite Upgrade: $100, plus applicable room tax.
What to do
on February 13th? Grab a date and head to Sunday Brunch from
1:00 – 3:00 at Bocados Restaurant at 1312 W.
Alabama. They serve $7 bottomless mimosas, $6 margaritas, and
$5 bellinis.
The DJ spins the latest tunes and the patio will be open to
enjoy the beautiful weather. From Bocados, make your way to
Berry Hill Tamales on Montrose Avenue at Hawthorne. The place
is packed with beautiful people. On a recent Sunday, I was
treated like royalty by bar staffers Renault Ross, Shanelle
Dickerson and Laura Baatz. Service with a smile, that’s
the way (uh-huh, uh-huh) I like it.
Here’s a list of the recognition Berry Hill has earned;
Best Fish Tacos, EVER – Zagat, Best Lunch Spot – Out
Smart Magazine, Best Tres Leches – Houston Chronicle, and
they were deemed Best Tamales in 2004 by the Houston Press. While
at Berry Hill, I ran into Michelle and Julian, staffers at 6º Lounge,
Escobar’s beautiful manager Jennifer Bryan, make-up artist
Karl Crenshaw, Promoter Charles Solomon and plenty of other people
who work in the Industry. At about 9:30, the place clears out
and folks head over to the Social or to the new kid on the block,
Escobar, in midtown, at 2905 Travis. Escobar is excellent and
the crowd is as diverse as the music. You’ll hear the perfect
blend of hip-hop, latin, and house. Break-dancer Reggie Delgado
cleared the floor and put on quite a show with his moves. My
bartender, Jason, was supreme. The décor is upscale, but
the Sunday crowd is casual. Everything goes and soon everyone
WILL be going to Escobar. I’ll definitely go back and I
expect to see all my readers there too! Be at Escobar on February
13th for the "Valentines Stinks Party." There will
be drink and shot specials as well as Cupid costumes, kissing
booths, and good times. Doors open at 6:00PM.
February
11-14th is Valentine’s Weekend at F2 at 302 Main
and they will have specials including $3 Lover's Drink Specials.
(What the hell is a lover’s drink?) The Grasshopper is
hosting a killer event on Friday, February 11th when "Shag
Tag" comes to Houston. Don’t want to be alone on Valentine’s
Day weekend? The Grasshopper has the answer, "Shag Tag," featuring
bongos and the Grasshopper house dancers showing you the hottest
moves on the floor. The Grasshopper is at 506 Main Street. On
Monday, February 14th, Urban Aphrodite will be doing erotic poetry
readings beginning at 8PM at M Bar at 402 Main. The event is
sponsored by Erotic Cabaret Boutique. If you want to stay downtown
on Valentine’s weekend, I can put my "the Queen has
slept here" stamp of approval on the Magnolia. The location
is ideal, perched at 1100 Texas, near Fannin, it’s just
a stone’s throw from Main Street. Visit www.magnoliahotels.com or call my friend, Paula at 713-221-0011 for reservation information.
Paula is the bomb!
OUT: Stuffed
teddy bears IN: Real animals. My friend, Robin, just got a
black
toy schnauzer puppy, little Miss Riley Pennington.
Riley is irresistible and has puppy breath, which is a scent
that causes instant joy and happiness. Riley came from a breeder
in Baytown and she has more pups available at www.toyschnauzer.com.
OUT: Ugg Boots IN: Moccasins. OUT: Star Wars Galaxy IN: Halo
2 and Grand Theft Auto San Andreas OUT: Outback Pub (R.I.P.)
IN: Vito’s Deckhouse at 5810 Beverly Hill at Bering 713-334-VITO
www.vitosdeckhouse.com OUT: Jefe Bar IN: Sliders Bar at 1424
Westheimer www.slidersbar.com OUT: (very, very OUT) O2 Lounge
IN: (very, VERY, VERRRRRY IN) 6º Lounge.
Here’s a reminder about the two HOTTEST events downtown
the weekend before Valentine’s Day. 6º Lounge is hosting
the official Queen of Clubs Valentine promotion on February 10th,
11th and 12th. It’s called "Queen of Hearts Weekend." Each
night, guests will be treated to $1 glasses of champagne from
9-11PM and all the ladies are eligible for drawings for prizes
to be given away each hour beginning at 9:30. Prize sponsors
include Erotic Cabaret, It’s All About You Boutique, the
Houston Symphony, Photography by Romero, Personal Trainer Chuck
Stephens and the Houston Aeros, among many more. On Saturday,
there will be a grand prize drawing for "something sparkly." If
you are on my email list or on the 6º Lounge list you should
receive an email invitation. Drop me an email if you need more
invites. The Ruby Room at 509 Main is throwing a huge love-fest
called ‘Hugs and Kisses weekend’ featuring DJ Joey
V and a special martini menu created by the sexy, sexy, SEXY
staff of the Ruby Room on February 11th and 12th. Recommended
dress is red and (duh!) sexy.
"The Main Event" sends Tsunami Relief. "The Main
Event" is
Houston’s biggest and baddest downtown entertainment destination
for phenomenal live entertainment, food and fun. The Downtown
Entertainment District, Houston’s hottest place to play,
features a pedestrian-friendly street party from Main Street
from Congress to Capitol. Main Street closes to automobile traffic
from 4PM to 2AM every Friday and Saturday. For more information
call 713-658-8938 or visit www.deda.org. Thursday, February 10th
through Monday, February 14th, several clubs and restaurants
will donate a portion of their proceeds to the Bush-Clinton Fund
for Tsunami Relief. Come out and do your part to raise funds
for this worthy cause.
On a final
note, one last IN & OUT to remember on this day
is what matters most are the feelings you have for each other,
not so much what you give each other or where you spend V-day.
It’s about being TOGETHER and making the evening memorable
and making each other feel special. On that note, remember what’s
OUT: big blowout, expensive celebration and what’s IN:
small surprises and lasting memories. |
