"AvantGarden has provided the first stage for countless musicians, the first audiences for local
poets, a public laugh for aspiring comedians, and first reviews for original choreography. It
functions as everything from a performance art venue to a comfortable neighborhood pub. It has earned a reputation as a bar even the New York
Times called one of the best in the country. In a city known for strip malls, chain establishments, and disposable architecture, AvantGarden is one-of-a kind. Its cozy feel comes from the fact that it’s located in a house that’s been around so long Howard Hughes used to play in it as a boy. Its owner, Mariana, infuses AvantGarden with her stylish Argentine flair. The
result is a bar and beer garden as unusual as its southern-hemisphere specialty drinks. Mariana makes concoctions that tempt from colorful glass coolers along the bar, and the seating, tables, and light fixtures are handcrafted by artist Nestor Topchy. Even without the live performances, AvantGarden
is the antithesis of the typical chain-formula establishments found all over the city. But what’s most unique about AvantGarden is its genuine commitment to showcasing new, mostly local talent. It has been called an incubator, offering performers their first shot at presenting their work to the public, and a developer of talent, providing the opportunity for artists to cultivate their craft and their careers, before moving on to much larger venues. Mariana
started with a vision to nurture the creative core of the city, and in so doing, she has added significantly to the cultural capital of Houston. And in what was once an under-appreciated neighborhood, Montrose now is a hot area, home to other unique restaurants and bars, but none so special as AvantGarden".
