Lamance couple leads Mon Ami royalty

David and Kerri Lamance of Cypress were crowned King and Queen Mon Ami XIII for the Mardi Gras season.

Krewe Mon Ami’s Fantasy of Flight Ball was Feb. 3 at the MCM Elegante’ Hotel. Drek and Cari Reese of Groves and Bryan and Leah Shoemaker of Port Arthur were dukes and duchesses.





Bed Bath & Beyond

Need to slice your avocado in style, stock up on tubular ice cube trays for your water bottle or sit your dish srubbie in style on a stainless steel “chariot?”

That’s all in the “beyond” department of Bed Bath & Beyond, new at Central Mall. There’s also hotel-style sheets, fluffy towels, pillows, mirrors, clocks and something the Beaumont store doesn’t have. A “deluxe bridal” room rimmed with Wedgewood, Mikasa and Lenox offerings. Store manager Debra Smart said Central Mall’s new BB&B; is the only one for miles with this bridal area.

Robert Harkins of Jones Lang LaSalle, vice president and general manager of Central Mall, said the mall is at about 90 percent capacity and is still growing after a Hurricane Rita comeback.

“We’re just excited that Bed Bath & Beyond has come not only to Port Arthur, but to Central Mall,” he said.

Harkins said Kay Jewelers should open in the spring and other projects are in the works that he can’t yet discuss. The Central Mall BB&B; store is 23,000 square feet and is the company’s 64th store in Texas.



Heart for the Arts

The Southeast Texas Arts Council will host A Heart for the Arts, a Valentine’s dessert reception, from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11 at Suga’s Deep South Cuisine & Jazz bar, 461 Bowie St., Beaumont. Tickets are $25 and the event will feature a silent auction. R.S.V.P. by Feb. 7 by calling 835-2787.



Sammy’s in the news

Port Arthur’s Sammy Stone Atchison says he was recently placed in the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

“I am accepted as ‘entry’ into the ‘07 Pulitzer Prize for Gospel Songwriting, featuring ‘Letter to Jesus.’ I am continuing to release the single ‘Don’t’ to country radio,” he writes.

The singer is known for his Elvis tributes.



Got art?

The Texas Artist Museum is looking for loans of art from area artists. In March, works of Clarice Holloway will be exhibited as part of TAM’s 20th anniversary celebration. TAM plans small retrospective exhibits during the year including works from Maudee Carron, Georg Hampton, Tootsie Hansen and Katherine Durso.

If you have these artists in your collection and are willing to loan them for exhibit, call 983-4881.



Pashmina style

You might not be able to say it well, or know that it’s made from a pashmina goat’s wool in Nepal, buy women are getting big into these. Some come with designs suitable to drape over a table. Charlene Martina of Humble goes for the classic solid wraps in luxurious cashmere. Make them scarves or stoles, but make them yours through www.thepashminastore.com. While in South Asia, Martina got hooked and came home with a new business.

“The artisans in Nepal are amazing,” Martina said. “They take great care to literally weave traditional secrets into each piece.”

For $29.99 and up, you can drape a super-soft piece around you and feel like a movie star ducking the paparazzi. Martina’s are the softest I’ve ever cozied up to.

Contact this reporter at ddoiron@panews.com.