Houston Grand Dame Lynn Wyatt Shares Her City’s Cultural Highlights
On the heels of a new book celebrating the fashion icon and philanthropist, the doyenne shares a few highlights from her hometown
A fashion icon, philanthropist, and 100 percent true Texan, Lynn Wyatt is being celebrated in a new book aptly titled Lynn Wyatt (Susan Schadt Press), by fellow Houstonian Ronda Carman. The book focuses on the 90-year-old cultural icon’s glamorous life—her circle included everyone from Princess Grace to Truman Capote to long-time friend, Elton John—as well as the way Wyatt brings joy—and beauty—to parties, spaces, and premieres in her hometown.
Here are just a few of the doyenne’s highlights, from world-class museums to custom cowboy boots.
What makes Houston such a unique city?
I would have to say the people and their spirit makes Houston the special and unique city it is, and philanthropy is the civic engine that runs it all! Houstonians don’t just give; they build institutions in the medical field and throughout the community. And as I have always said, the arts are the soul of every city, and Houston is one of the few U.S. cities with professional resident companies in opera, ballet, symphony, and theater. Plus, we also have incredible museums such as the Houston Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) and the Menil Collection, as well as The Rothko Chapel—they’re all fabulous and I’m so proud of them all.
How have you seen it change over the past 50 years?
When people said “Houston” in the ‘70’s, they meant energy. Oil, gas, offshore—that was our identity. And yes, energy built the city, no question. But over the decades, Houston stopped being only a headquarters town, and it became a crossroads. Now when I say “Houston,” people think of medicine, space, art, food, philanthropy, and international culture. It’s no longer one note; it’s an orchestra.
In terms of cultural institutions, what are the absolute stand outs for you?
The arts in Houston belong to the city. You go to a performance now and you see every accent, every age, every style of dress, from couture to cowboy boots to sneakers. That’s new and it melts my heart, the inclusivity of it all. And the museums? Decades ago, if you said, “I’m going to see a Mark Rothko in Houston,” people blinked. Now people fly in from all over the world to sit in the Rothko Chapel and just breathe. And the Menil Collection and the MFA are spoken about in almost reverent tones.
Are there shows or exhibitions that you are particularly excited about this year?
Even though the year is almost done, I’m very excited about opera at the Wortham, Puccini’s Il trittico, and The Houston Cinema Arts Festival will be showing Texas-forward movies in my own Lynn Wyatt Theater. And if you haven’t seen it yet, the new Leonardo DiCaprio movie One Battle After Another was fabulous and should be nominated for an Oscar. Make sure you get a big tub of popcorn, my favorite snack in the theater.
Where do you recommend visitors stay when coming to town?
I love some of the small boutique hotels we have like La Colombe d’Or and Hotel Saint Augustine in Montrose. The Lancaster in the Theater District downtown is nice, as is Hotel Granduca in Uptown.
Are there places – special gardens, shops, day trips from the city – that you recommend?
I adore sending guests to places with beauty and soul; gardens and quiet corners: Bayou Bend in March when the azaleas are in full bloom, the Japanese Garden at Hermann Park, and of course, The Rothko Chapel.
For shopping in the River Oaks District, I like our open-air runway with Hermès, Cartier, Dior, and some fun cafes. For more shopping, there’s Tootsies and Lucchese when you need a proper Texas cowboy boot. The Menil Bookstore is outstanding, too.
In terms of restaurants, what are a few of your favorites—from old school Tex-Mex to more refined dining?
I have always loved the original Ninfa’s on Navigation, Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken, Armando’s, Tony’s—in the bar area—and BCN.
Are there places of special interest for lovers of great art and design?
If you love art and design, here’s my little list of places with beauty, soul and a good story:
The Menil Campus, especially Renzo Piano’s main building, the Cy Twombly Gallery, and Dan Flavin’s Richmond Hall.
The Rothko Chapel, 14 Mark Rothko paintings, and Barnett Newman’s Broken Obelisk outside.
MFAH, Kinder Building, it’s our modern and contemporary jewel. From here, wander over to the Cullen Sculpture Garden.
Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern, an underground cathedral for light and sound.