Contributor

Citysearch

The Scene – This converted art deco theater between Montrose and Rice University serves hip Houstonians who'd rather spend a late Gulf Coast night cruising a bookstore than a bar. The lush, deco feel of the place was preserved, and the books and magazines are placed with a smart understanding of the metaphors of space: A huge periodical rack replaces the old movie screen, literally at the bottom of the building, while art theory floats high up in the balcony. The coffee bar is up there, where book lovers sporting tattoos or Hush Puppies can gossip or brood and read Ginsberg or Vogue.…