LOCAL Houston | The City Guide August 2017 | Page 32

FOOD | ARTS | COMMUNITY | STYLE+LEISURE CLUB•ICE HOUSE•LOUNGE GO, GATSBY, GO. By Mike Cook Photography by Ben Sassani, courtesy of Chapman & Kirby Just like a new addiction or the seduction of that next-level lifestyle, there’s a hot new place east of Downtown and people be flock- ing. Seems like they can’t get enough of it, if the lines out front are any indication. Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, they are all there too, parked right out front. And inside, if you’re lucky enough to get there (doormen are a little strict) – temptations and beauty await. A play off the Allen brothers middle names (Augustus Chapman and John Kirby), you know, the founders of Houston, CHAPMAN & KIR- BY, that hot new place with the lines, sits in a gigantic space in Houston's own new East Village area, just, unsurprisingly, east of Downtown on Lamar (right by 8th Wonder Brewery). It's the flagship space in East Village, approximately 9,000sf of indoor space, and it sure shows well. The old warehouse is now done all up in art deco and industrial styling; Chapman & Kirby really draws you in. The curved metal entrance takes up the entire street corner; grand, with curved steps, lots of glass and two huge doors welcoming our city’s finest partiers, it also provides the ideal backdrop for some stellar people (and car) watching. Those temptations inside? In the form of liquid and visual libations, Chapman & Kirby has a huge oval bar and a smaller satellite bar in the front, and there are a lot of beautiful people all over. With no shortage of areas to lounge, sit, stand and be table-served (so 2017), all while surrounded by beautiful Edison lighting, chains, mirrors and metals galore, it’s hard to have a bad time here. There’s even a great space outside between their front and back building with additional seating and some stellar landscaping, and we hear a rooftop area is in the works... Chapman & Kirby is a bar/lounge/club/event space that reportedly serves great food. That said, we can’t comment much on the actual food, but much like the patrons, it sure looked good. Plenty of share- able plates were flying out of the kitchen and if you’re not in the mood to share, there are entrées, flatbreads and salads, too. The drinks , well, those will accompany your night well. Serving a full bar includ- ing craft cocktails, many with creative Houston names (the bar is a tribute to our city), once you drink one, many will show up on your tab, because you’ll order plenty for your crew. We certainly enjoyed our Goldfashioned, a twist on the old-fashioned using Maker’s Mark, elderflower liqueur, angostura and orange bitters. Or, while partying with the DJ, you can choose from the Houston-only draft beer list to keep things moving – Saint Arnold, 8th Wonder, Buffalo Bayou, it‘s a solid list. We approve. And it appears the city approves of Chapman & Kirby, too. CHAPMAN & KIRBY 6.12.2017 11:00am 32 L O C A L | august 17 2118 Lamar Street, 77003 Wednesday 4pm-12am,Thursday-Saturday 4pm-2am Sunday-Brunching hours coming soon www.chapmanandkirby.com august 17 | L O C A L 33