A new watering hole brings songs and spirits to Montrose, Rice Village welcomes a bakery and cult-favorite ice cream shop, and more.
Bādolina Bakery & Cafe will serve Doris Metropolitan’s signature baked goods. PHOTO BY KIRSTEN GILLIAM
Calling all carb lovers: Bādolina Bakery & Cafe will soon be serving up breads and pastries in Rice Village. The concept, which is scheduled to open in late April or early May, comes from the team behind acclaimed Montrose steakhouse Doris Metropolitan. Helmed by executive pastry chef Michal Michaeli, Bādolina will offer a modern take on classic Middle Eastern and Israeli baked goods—think babkas, sweet and savory pastries, sourdoughs and croissants—alongside a custom-made coffee blend. Be sure to keep an eye out for the team’s other forthcoming project, Israeli resto Hamsa, which is set to open next door by year’s end. 5555 Morningside Drive, badolinabakery.com
PHOTO: COURTESY OF VAN LEEUWEN ICE CREAM
Touting more than 30 dairy and nondairy flavors, NYC based Van Leeuwen Ice Cream has chosen Houston for its flagship Texas location. With a tentative opening date of late April, Van Leeuwen will bring its notoriously rich ice creams to Rice Village—must-tries include praline butter cake, honeycomb, marionberry cheesecake and Earl Grey tea. Vegan options run the gamut from bourbon vanilla apple crisp to churros and fudge. Founded by Ben Van Leeuwen in 2008, the now-beloved brand started out as a Brooklyn food truck focused on simple, high-quality ingredients rather than so-called healthy alternatives. The brand motto has remained the same since its humble beginnings: “A life without anything good is bad.” In addition to the Rice Village scoop shop, Van Leeuwen has future plans to open storefronts in Montrose and Uptown Park. 2565 Amherst St., Ste. A, vanleeuwenicecream.com
93’ Til’s nightly playlists are generally a mix of hip-hop, funk and jazz. PHOTO: BY BADWXLF
Since its quiet debut in December, 93’ Til has quickly become Montrose’s new neighborhood hot spot. Combining retro tunes with craft cocktails and eclectic fare, this bar and lounge manages to be both divey and upscale at the same time. The brainchild of friends and fellow chefs Gary Ly and Lung Ly, 93’ Til captures the laid-back vibes of an NYC record bar—including a nightly playlist spotlighting the restaurant’s collection of 500-plus records. An ode to the owners’ singular culinary experiences, the menu boasts not-so-typical staples such as charred confit carrot, pork cheek shepherd’s pie, clam toast and foie gras PB&J. If you ask us, spring seems like the perfect time to sip on a StrawBarry Manilow and listen to oldies. Cheers! 1601 W. Main St., 93-til.com
Elizabeth Murray, “C Painting” (1980-81, oil on canvas) PHOTO: COURTESY OF COLLECTION ELEANOR AND BOBBY CAYRE, NEW YORK, NEW YORK ©2020 THE MURRAY-HOLMAN FAMILY TRUST/ARTISTS RIGHTS SOCIETY, NEW YORK
In its latest show, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston presents a side-by-side view of works by painter Elizabeth Murray and sculptor Jessi Reaves. In Wild Life: Elizabeth Murray & Jessi Reaves, paintings by the late Murray span four decades while Reaves’ creations are from the past six years. Murray, who is perhaps best known for her use of massive canvases of varying shapes, was influenced primarily by the surrealist and pop art movements. Reaves, a New York-based artist, has gained notoriety for crafting large-scale pieces that function as both furniture and art. The exhibition, which runs through May 16, reveals Murray’s lasting impact on modern-day artists—including Reaves. 5216 Montrose Blvd., camh.org
Photography by: Kirsten Gilliam, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, Badwxlf, Collection Eleanor and Bobby Cayre
