Pier & Beam heads to Avondale this month for a January happy hour at Bar Madonna, the cocktail bar inside The Marlene, a recently opened boutique inn in a historic Neoclassical house at the edge of Montrose and Midtown.

Built in 1910-11 and designed by architect George H. Fruehling, the house is a splendid example of early Avondale architecture. Its full-height porch, Ionic columns and symmetrical façade reflect the scale and ambition of Houston’s early 20th-century residential development. After more than a century primarily as a private residence, the building has been adapted for a new public use.

The project is led by antiques dealer Lily Barfield, who approached the transformation with an emphasis on preserving the building’s historic character. Original floors, doors and exterior woodwork were restored, and new interventions were designed to fit quietly within the existing fabric. The inn’s rooms are individually furnished, and the property now includes shared spaces open to both guests and visitors.

Pier & Beam is Preservation Houston’s next-generation member group for individuals ages 21–45, bringing together people interested in architecture, history and the city’s changing built environment. Through informal gatherings, tours and programs like this one, Pier & Beam offers a way to connect with others who care about how Houston grows and what it chooses to keep.

We’ll be at Bar Madonna, 109 Stratford Street, from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, January 13. Pier & Beam happy hours are casual and come-as-you-are. Stop by when you can, stay as long as you like and pick up your own tab.