This past weekend, the Houston Symphony launched its extraordinary marriage of performing art and science with the world premiere of a high-def version of Gustav Holst’s early 20th century classic, The Planets. The ambitious project orchestrated by Sundance-acclaimed, British filmmaker Duncan Copp (also an astrophysicist who is one of the world’s experts on the volcanology of Venu...

Whether you’ve been up all night with a crying baby or caught the red-eye from New York to L.A., no doubt your skin is showing the telltale signs of little sleep.  Born with darkness beneath my baby blues I’ve been locked in a vain attempt to hide it for years. Good news you have the power to combat those shadows beneath your eyes (and very easily).   My favorit...

In case you were wondering... Yes! The show now being promoted as Phantom truly is Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera (not to be confused with Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit's Phantom, which premiered in Houston many years ago). The chandelier, the half-mask, the golden angels... Everything is just as you remember it. And it's settling into Dallas for a generous run, February 17 throug...

Drumroll, please: The Society for the Performing Arts is bringing back the international hit Stomp for five performances only, February 12 through 14, at Jones Hall. Even if you've experienced the show before, you'll want to catch this return engagement to see (and hear) what's changed. Sections have been updated and restructured, and there are even two new routines — think tractor-tire inn...

It looks like the musical Les Misérables is about to be immortalized again in a brand-new audio recording. The news comes from John Owen Jones, who  plays Jean Valjean in the 25th Anniversary UK Tour. He just announced via Twitter that his cast will be recorded live next week.Whether or not the resultant CD will be sold in the States has yet to be announced. Presumably the recording wil...

This made the day. I was playing about on Smythson.com, dreaming of some creamy writing paper and note cards, and I decided to order a catalog. I clicked on the pull-down menu for "Title" (a title is a required field, by the way, which is why we love Smythson) and look what popped up — the best pull-down title menu on the planet. The British rock. I rest my case.

Everyone deserves a little love on Valentine’s Day. Send a few cupcakes to those you care for from Crave Cupcakes this February 14th.   Apropos flavors exclusively baked throughout February include strawberry cake with strawberry icing, red velvet, and chocolate mousse with dark chocolate frosting. Each Lilliputian cake is topped with a fondant red disk stamped with the delic...

Pappagallo Bermuda bags, cable knits in palmy shades of green and pink, crisp oxford button downs, tons of argyle, madras plaid everywhere, and blue captain's blazers were some of the country club-ish wardrobe cues at this weekend’s fund-raising fete, Be the Ball benefitting Glasstire and Fresh Arts Coalitions. It was literally a Lilly Pulitzer-rama. But the venue was not ROCC, but the ...

L. Frank Baum came to life again — or at least his Kingdom of Oz — and we were there as the Social Book celebrated their 15th season with a beyond over-the-top bash at Discovery Green last night.A gargantuan party tent bathed in green light, a lavish Flying Monkey Bar complete with sculpted-ice winged simians plus a meeeeeelting witch's castle that dripped Vodka drinks from its t...

Make Your Mark … Temporarily   Have commitment issues? Love the idea of getting inked, but you don’t have the courage to live with a piece of permanent skin art through all of eternity? Make a stylish, albeit temporary, statement with Chanel’s limited-edition temporary skin art. Last fall Peter Philips, their global creative director of Chanel makeup, sent waifs ...