In honor of the upcoming Opening Night Concert & Gala of the Houston Symphony on September 19, I’m writing about when I attended this dazzling event myself.
I checked into the Houstonian Hotel – chocolate, strawberries, and a chilled bottle of champagne waited in my room
The Houstonian’s grounds feature a Texas live oak tree that’s approximately 338 years old
The Houstonian was voted the No. 1 resort in Texas – crowned this year in Travel + Leisure’s prestigious World’s Best Awards
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This year’s Opening Night Gala happens September 19
- The evening began at 7:30 PM at Jones Hall
- This year’s Opening Night Gala happens September 19 – Stravinsky’s Firebird takes the stage under Music Director Juraj Valčuha, with soprano Angel Blue making her debut.
- That night I chose a black dress – thrilled later to see I was in the same headspace as Salma Hayek, who wore the same look at the Marvel Eternals premiere the following year!
- Buy your tickets for this year’s Opening of the Season directly from the Houston Symphony website, at Jones Hall in person, or through secondary marketplaces like SeatGeek or StubHub if it’s sold out.
Salma Hayek
Red carpet ready at the Houston Symphony’s Opening Night Gala
After the concert, guests crossed to The Corinthian Houston for a black-tie dinner
I enjoyed a three-course meal with champagne and candlelight
- I stayed in Houston another two nights at The Houstonian, and I was very impressed with the hotel.
My room
Chocolate dipped strawberries
The Houstonian’s interiors—rich in leather and dark wood finishes—were crafted by Kay Lang & Associates
The Houstonian’s pastry kitchen still bakes Barbara Bush’s famous oatmeal chocolate chip cookies
One guest said the staff made them feel “like a long-awaited family member.”
- My weekend in Houston was a delicious blur, but I remember two standout meals: Musaafer in the Galleria and The Annie Café & Bar, a reinvented Houston classic known for its coastal-chic vibe and breezy elegance.
Musaafer in the Galleria, a Michelin-starred Indian fine-dining gem with its dazzling “Palace of Mirrors” interior
Musaafer’s murals transport you straight to Rajasthan—every detail a reflection of India’s royal past
Musaafer isn’t just Michelin-starred—it earned a spot on Time magazine’s World’s Greatest Places list in 2021
The menu is inspired by a 100-day culinary journey across India
The Annie Café & Bar, a reinvented Houston classic known for its coastal-chic vibe and breezy elegance
The Annie Café & Bar
I’ll be back!
