Hotel Zaza

RIP Marfreless: Requiem For Houston's Favorite Make-Out Bar

Rising property taxes in its expensive River Oaks surroundings have forced Marfreless, the most famous Houston bar without a sign, to close at the end of the month. The bar's owners announced the news on the Marfreless Web site Wednesday evening: Dearest friends, patrons, charities, and fellow esta ... More >>

Sitting Pretty

Houston's 10 Best Patios

Hotel ZaZa's Hidden Dungeon

You have to ask for this cell.

UPDATED: Does Hotel ZaZa Have a Creepy, Hidden Room They Don't Want You to Know About?

Hair Balls is kinda flipping out over online pics purporting to show a secret, mysterious room at Hotel ZaZa, with concrete floors, a bed chained to the wall, a giant skull-and-bones painting, and a portrait of a dude who looks a lot like a guy who used to work at Stanford Financial. The pics were ... More >>

Your Stress-Free Holiday Dining Guide: Where to Eat on Christmas Day 2012

The presents are unwrapped, the place is destroyed and the pine needles from the Christmas tree have formed a fine carpet throughout the house. The last thing you want to do is dirty up a bunch of dishes cooking after all that. So why not let one of the many Houston restaurants open on Christmas Day ... More >>

Your Stress-Free Holiday Dining Guide: Where to Eat on Christmas Day 2012

The presents are unwrapped, the place is destroyed and the pine needles from the Christmas tree have formed a fine carpet throughout the house. The last thing you want to do is dirty up a bunch of dishes cooking after all that. So why not let one of the many Houston restaurants open on Christmas Day ... More >>

Your Stress-Free Holiday Dining Guide: Where to Eat on Christmas Day 2012

The presents are unwrapped, the place is destroyed and the pine needles from the Christmas tree have formed a fine carpet throughout the house. The last thing you want to do is dirty up a bunch of dishes cooking after all that. So why not let one of the many Houston restaurants open on Christmas Day ... More >>

Where to Eat on Christmas Day

Your stress-free dining guide to the holidays.

Dining Out on Turkey Day

Our guide to restaurants open on Thanksgiving Day

What Should Madonna Do In Houston This Week? (Besides Show Us Her Ass)

Pop grand dame Madonna is in Houston for two shows this week at Toyota Center that are close to selling out. They are sold out, right? I figured that was why she was here two nights in a row, unless she just loves Houston that much. Rewind: Madonna's Top 5 MDNA World Tour Transgressions Our Natha ... More >>

The Rest of the Best

Houston's Top 10 Patios

Hand Doc and Strippers

Stacy Shey: Dr. Brown's Alleged Stripper Ex Says He Spent $60K/Month on Gal Pals

Attention hot twenty-year-old strippers: Have you ever wondered what it'd be like to date a famous Houston doctor? Namely, one who pledges to treat you "like family"? Well, according to one gal we spoke with, it's quite the gig. Our peek into the dating life of former hand surgeon/man-about-town-no ... More >>

Health Department Roundup

Convicted child molester, wings and rice connoisseur ​Today we're covering everything from a hotel that caters to the 1 percent, or those who likely aspire to be in that class, to a fast food chain that caters to 100 percent of people who like wings and rice. Probably a good 25 percent of thos ... More >>

Caesar Salad Cotton Candy and More: The 27th Annual Caesar Salad Competition

The infamous Caesar salad cotton candy cone.​"I hope there's no Caesar salad Schweddy Balls," joked Ann Criswell, former Houston Chronicle food editor and longtime judge at My Table's annual Caesar Salad Competition. Most of the judges -- including My Table's editor Teresa Byrne-Dodge, Delici ... More >>

Upcoming Events

​First and foremost, mark your calendar now for June 30, the night of our first annual Houston Web Awards with special guest Fat Tony among other presenters such as the crew of Technology Bytes and the fabulous Houston Roller Derby girls. Nominations are closed, but we will be presenting awar ... More >>

Eating Out on Easter Sunday

​Ahhh Easter, a pastel-colored day filled with stale marshmallow candy, uncomfortable clothing, hard-boiled eggs and magical hares. And when the Easter Bunny comes to town, many of us go out to eat. So many, in fact, that Easter Sunday is currently the second most popular day for dining out (M ... More >>

Final Four Visitors: Ten Alternative Places to Visit in Houston

You can skip the Beer Can House​So, you've made it to town for the Final Four and you are shocked to find out there are no tumbleweeds, we all aren't walking around in 10-gallon hats and the area surrounding downtown and the medical center is not filled with strip malls and urban decay. Welcom ... More >>

Dining Out on Christmas Day? Here's What's Open

achristmasstoryhouse.com"It's a beautiful duck. It's just that...it's SMILING at me." ​Does the thought of preparing another holiday meal under the scrutinizing glare of your mother-in-law make you want to shoot your eye out? The holidays are stressful enough without the pressure of preparing ... More >>

Chef Chat, Part 3: Adam West of Monarch

Beef carpaccio. ​Houston has a new chef in town. Adam West is new to the area, and he's enjoying cooking up some amazing dishes for us natives over at the Hotel ZaZa. He's trying to turn Monarch into a destination restaurant, instead of just being part of the hotel. As such, he just finished a ... More >>

MLS All-Star Game: Commissioner, Dynamo Honcho Talk Houston Soccer

Photo by David Clements/MLSMLS Commissioner Don Garber and Dynamo president Jamey Rootes at ZaZa​Last night, Major League Soccer hosted a party for the who's who in Houston. The evening soiree at Hotel ZaZa had players past and present, corporate honchos, team owners and executives; basically anyo ... More >>

One Local Winner Not Enough At "Superstar Soul Search" Contest

Photos by Kendra BerglundSaturday's "Superstar Soul Search" finalists wait to find out who will advance to the semifinals.​"The talent here was so strong, I couldn't decide on one (contestant) to pick," Andre Harrell said. "So I decided with the other judges to pick three." According to the p ... More >>

MLS All-Star Game Build-Up Begins, And Dynamo Start Super Liga Action With A Win

The man who cheated Ireland out of the World Cup is coming to Houston​The Houston Dynamo officially kicked-off their Super Liga schedule last night with a 2-1 over Mexican rival Pachuca. Joseph Ngwenya was the hero of night with both goals for the Orange. Ngwenya first got on the board in the 19th ... More >>

Soap In Fountains: A Sure Sign School's Out For Summer

Photos by Paul Knight​People driving through the Museum District this morning probably noticed soap suds floating in the fountains at the Main/Montrose/Hermann Drive roundabout. Perhaps they gave a little chuckle and thought, "Classic."But we saw something far more serious. This is real, tangible ... More >>

Kristine Mills

Buh-Bye 2009

Where to celebrate the dawn of a new year: Our guide to the best events in town.

Buh-Bye 2009

Where to celebrate the dawn of a new year: Our guide to the best events in town.

A Chat with Reid McGraff of a bar and grille

Photo by Sarah Rufka​Seeing Reid McGraff at the Alden-Houston's a bar and grille -- an affable and friendly bartender, but with a certain polished bearing -- you'd never guess he'd ever tended a less elegant bar. Asked about his past positions, he mentions Hotel ZaZa, House of Blues, Warren's ... More >>

What Do Your iPhone Apps Say About You?

When you're an iPhone owner, not only are you better than everyone else (obvs), but the lifeblood of your technological slice of gadget heaven is your applications, or "apps," if you're nasty.  An integral part of your holy iPhone identity really shines through the apps you choose to rely on wh ... More >>

Matt Stiles Joins Chronicle Exodus

Matt Stiles, the energetic and respected governmental reporter for the Chronicle, has resigned, according to his Twitter page.He says: "Just gave notice that I'm leaving the paper. I'll be back in Austin in two weeks. I'm sad to go, but new opportunities await."Stiles had covered City Hall and was i ... More >>

Health Department Roundup: "Foo-la" Edition

New contributor E. Ting likes eating, but for professional reasons prefers to remain anonymous. "Foo-la" is the sound a friend of mine makes when he wants to signal that something is fancy or hoity-toity, which for him could easily be anything over $25. The word sounds vaguely Cajun, since it is t ... More >>

Chronicle Brass Meets (At A Luxury Hotel) To Discuss Problems

Photo courtesy Hotel ZazuThe layoffs at the Chronicle, which left plenty of blood on the floor, didn't magically solve the paper's problems. That's not surprising, given the state of print media these days.Staffers who have survived the cuts are struggling to fill the gaps as they are also expected ... More >>

Upcoming Events

Memorial Day is upon us and - aside from a day off - the pickings are pretty slim for activities. Traditionally a weekend for grilling, pool parties or trips to the beach, the holiday isn't particularly celebrated down South or in Texas for a variety of reasons. But that doesn't mean nothing's goi ... More >>

The SPCA: Kinky Friedman

Web exclusive!

2008 HOUSTON PRESS NEW YEAR'S EVE GUIDE

Kiss 2008 goodbye in style

Aftermath: Samantha Ronson at Rich's

She wasn't there. Yeah, I know why you clicked this headline. Lindsay Lohan was not at Rich's last night with her ladyfriend DJ, Samantha Ronson. Sorry, we had to get that out of the way. Last night at Rich's, all manner of celebrity-stalking, Perez-reading, catty-hating denizens were out in brute ... More >>

HOUSTON PRESS NEW YEAR'S EVE GUIDE

Kiss 2008 goodbye in style

Election Night Parties -- Where To Watch

Come On, People -- Keep Houston Rich

Club 26Ten Looks to Spend Its Way to The Top

Galleria Glitz

Mother's Day Brunch Ideas

MONARCH LOUNGE'S SCORPION ZINGER

Floating over to Monarch Lounge

New Money douches and Amazing Race winners at Monarch Lounge

All about Eve

Our guide to the city's best New Year's parties

All about Eve

Our guide to Houston's best New Year's parties

A Glimpse of the Future in Hermann Park?

Monarch Restaurant

Fit for a King (Almost)

Cosmopolitan Confit

Chef Edelberto Gonçalves has cooked up a hot spot