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Heights River Oaks
Montrose Edition VOLUME 6, ISSUE 8 NOV. 7 DEC. 6, 2024
Shifting focus
METRO is focused on increasing ridership by creating cleaner, safer and more on-time buses across Harris County.
CASSANDRA JENKINS COMMUNITY IMPACT
METRO’s $1.9B FY 2024 25 budget prioritizes increasing ridership, improving services
“We want to build up our ridership so that people say, ‘I prefer to ride METRO because it’s easier, it’s cleaner, it’s safer, it’s more reliable and it’s a better choice,’” she said. “We want to make it a choice rather than people being transit dependent.”
Brock, who was sworn in under Houston Mayor John Whitmire’s administration in February, said she intends to use this budget to shift the focus of the transit authority away from its current status as a “needed” mode of transportation to one that people would “want” to use.
BY SHAWN ARRAJJ & CASSANDRA JENKINS
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County approved a $1.89 billion budget Sept. 26 for scal year 2024-25. METRO Chair Elizabeth Brock said the budget will focus on initiatives that increase ridership, improve transit services and enhance public safety.
CONTINUED ON 10
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Impacts: Iconic River Oaks Theatre reopens— nd out what renovations have been made (Page 4)
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Harris County is ground zero for DWI Deaths. We want you to get home and be able to celebrate with your loved ones this season. Don’t become a statistic. DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE.
3
HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION
Impacts
W. 34TH ST.
7 Rin g Co ncierge The New York City-based, women-founded luxury jewelry brand specializes in bespoke, made-to-order engagement rings and fine jewelry featuring solid gold, natural diamonds and gemstones. • Opened Sept. 28 • 5085 Westheimer Road, Level 1, Houston • https://ringconcierge.com 8 Mi Lu na Restaurant & Tapas Bar The new eatery offers seafood along with a variety of meats, vegetarian items and tapas dishes. • Opened Oct. 7 • 888 Westheimer Road, Ste. 126, Houston • www.milunatapasbar.com 9 Meow W olf Houston The Houston exhibit features an explorable radio station with a dozen rooms designed with a labyrinth of paths, portals and hidden doors all filled with interactive mysteries for guests to solve. • Opened Oct. 31 • 2103 Lyons Ave., Houston • www.meowwolf.com/visit/houston
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10 M elr ose The new Montrose cocktail bar will include an international-style service and offer nearly two dozen seasonal cocktails, shareable punch bowls, a two-level patio, koi pond and a large three-sided bar. • Opening fall 2024 11 Kir by Ic e House The Heights location will cover 24,000 square feet of space and feature the longest bar in Texas at 146 feet. The menu will have signature cocktails, over 50 beers on tap and wine options along with rotating food trucks. • Opening fall 2025 • 1421 N. Loop 610 W., Houston • www.kirbyicehouse.com 12 Hote l S aint Augustine Located in the Houston Museum District in Montrose, the Bunkhouse concept will boast 71 hotel rooms and suites across two floors and feature an all-day restaurant, event space, lobby bar and more. • Opening Nov. 15 • 4110 Loretto Drive, Houston • www.bunkhousehotels.com/hotel-saint-augustine • 2517 Ralph St., Houston • www.melrosehtx.com
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288 MAP NOT TO SCALE TM; © 2024 COMMUNITY IMPACT CO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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4 Ski ms The clothing brand specializes in shapewear, loungewear and underwear. The new location in The Galleria mall sells men’s boxers, hoodies and pajamas as well as women’s bodysuits, leggings, bras, T-shirts and tanks. • Opened Sept. 26 • 5085 Westheimer Road, Ste. B2888, Houston • www.skims.com 5 South to North The pop-up shop in Autry Park will offer Latin American- inspired luxury clothing brands from October to mid- January with pieces designed for women by Stathe, Juan de Dios and Agua Bendita. • Opened Oct. 14 • 3711 Autry Park Drive, Ste. 200, Houston • www.southtonorth.co 6 Maven at Sa wyer Yards The new location at Sawyer Yards will function as a full-service restaurant with an all-day dining menu, coffee options and a cocktail bar. Cuisine includes contemporary American fare with a Spanish touch. • Opened Oct. 18
Now open
1 C hopnBlo k The West African quick service restaurant opened a brick-and-mortar location in Montrose with a menu that includes Nigerian culinary staples such as boneless short rib, Cameroon prawns, red stew, rice and beans. • Opened Oct. 1 • 507 Westheimer Road, Houston • www.chopnblok.co 2 Frenc h C uff Boutique The women’s clothing store features classic looks curated by expert personal stylists. Items include dresses, pants, sweaters and skirts as well as shoes and accessories. • Opened Sept. 12 • 2005A W. Gray St., Ste. A, Houston • www.frenchcuffco.com 3 Afuri R amen The popular Tokyo-based ramen brand offers authentic Japanese flavors with signature dishes such as yuzo shio and tonkotsu shio as well as sushi, sashimi, handrolls
Expansions
13 University of H ouston -Downtown The University of Houston-Downtown will expand services to include 17,000 square feet of office and classroom space on Main Street. The space will house a new career center annex, continuing education offices
and steamed rice. • Opened Nov. 1 • 1215 N. Durham Drive, Ste. B-100, Houston • www.afuri.us
and the office of alumni relations. • Expansion ongoing through 2030 • 1801 Main St., Houston • www.uhd.edu
• 1501 Silver St., Houston • www.mavenhouston.com
4
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14 Houston Co mmunity College A ribbon cutting took place Oct. 1 for the new Coleman College at Midtown and its health sciences program. The Midtown campus offers evening and weekend pre- health care courses. • Expanded Oct. 1 • 3100 Main St., Houston • www.hccs.edu 15 Clarkwo o d The Houston-area cocktail bar is expanding this fall to include a 1,500-square-foot courtyard bar along with an expanded menu with outdoor-inspired additions and patio libations exclusive to the courtyard. • Expanding this fall • 3201 Allen Parkway, Ste. 190, Houston • www.clarkwoodhtx.com
17 H-E-B The grocer launched tap-to-pay services across all its Texas stores in October. Customers can use tap-to-pay at registers, self-checkout lanes, H-E-B restaurants and H-E-B pharmacies. • A 2300 N. Shepherd Drive, Houston • B 1701 W. Alabama St., Houston • C 3663 Washington Ave., Ste. 100, Houston • www.heb.com 18 J u lep The classic cocktail bar will celebrate 10 years in service in Houston on Nov. 18 with a proclamation from the city of Houston. The establishment serves house cocktails, beer, wine and non-alcoholic options. • 1919 Washington Ave., Houston • www.julephouston.com 19 Uch iko Houston The Japanese eatery launched a lunchtime service Oct. 7, marking the first time an Uchi concept opened its doors before dinner time. The new menu includes vegetable selections, hot tastings, nigiri and sashimi. • 1801 Post Oak Blvd., Houston • https://uchiko.uchirestaurants.com
In the news
20 River Oaks Theatre The iconic theater reopened to the community in October after being closed for three years for renovation and restoration efforts. The space now includes three screening rooms, a live stage, improved seats, a full kitchen, two bars and an enhanced sound and lighting system. • 2009 W. Gray St., Houston • www.theriveroakstheatre.com
In the news
16 Houston Fire Mus eum The museum reopened to the public Oct. 12 after being closed for four years for a $5.7 million renovation and restoration. Renovation efforts included changing the interior design and the exterior facade, and more. • 2403 Milam St., Houston • www.houstonfiremuseum.org
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Transportation
BY SHAWN ARRAJJ & CARSON WEAVER
Design work underway for paving, drainage Officials with the Houston Public Works Depart- ment are working through the design phase on a paving and drainage project on more than a dozen streets around the Gray and Taft street corridors. The big picture The $8.2 million project involves the design and construction of concrete paving with storm drain- age, curbs, sidewalks, driveways, street lighting and underground utilities. The construction phase is not slated to begin until the fall of 2025 and will run through the spring of 2029, according to HPW information. Zooming in Edward Quiroz, engineer of record on the project, said plans call for building a two-way protected bike lane along Taft Street within the project’s limits, from Gray to Welch streets. A
Expanded IAH terminal opens
Gray and Taft streets paving and drainage work
An expansion of existing Terminal D at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Terminal D-West Pier, opened Oct. 22. The details The expansion features six new gates, D1-D6, that can accommodate wide-body airplanes and be converted to accommodate 10 narrow-body airplanes, according to an Oct. 6 news release. The new terminal also includes: An additional 160,000 square feet to Terminal D A 10,000-square-foot architectural ceiling A 380-foot-long LED wall covering 11,000 square feet of wall space Eight new art commissions by Houston-based artists
O’NEIL ST.
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bike lane will also be installed along O’Neil Street, which cyclists will share with vehicle traffic. Because of narrow rights of way in the project area, Quiroz said plans call for changing a number of two-way streets to one-way streets, including many streets east of Genesee Street. The project calls for improving the pedestrian realm by installing sidewalks of up to 5 to 6 feet in width, Quiroz said.
SOURCE: HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION
Real estate
BY HANNAH NORTON
Texas needs 306,000 more homes to meet demand, experts say
Zooming in
“[Texas is] issuing more building permits for sin- gle-family homes than any other state. ... One of the big issues that we’ve found is that [people are] perhaps not building the right types of houses, specifically housing for low- and middle-income Texans,” said Will Counihan, who leads the comptroller’s data analysis and transparency department. One-third of Texas households are cost bur- dened, Counihan said, meaning they spend more than 30% of their salary on housing. A Texan who wants to sell their current home and purchase a new one should make about $113,000 to qualify for a mortgage loan, compared to about $70,000 at the beginning of the pan- demic, Knapp said.
highest property tax rate—1.68%—in 2021, according to research from the Tax Foundation. Home prices shot up during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Knapp added, as remote work policies allowed more people to move to Texas. In 2019, the median home price in Texas was $241,358, according to data from the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University. Median home prices peaked around $340,000 in 2022 and dipped to about $335,000 in 2023.
Texas’ population growth has outpaced homebuilding since 2020, resulting in a widespread housing shortage, the state comptroller’s office reported Aug. 27. Up For Growth, a national housing policy organization, reported in 2023 that Texas currently needs about 306,000 more homes to meet demand. High home prices, steep mortgage rates and limited supply are driving some potential homebuyers out of the market, said Clare Knapp, a housing economist for the Austin Board of Realtors. Texas also had the sixth-
Texas home prices, 2020-23
Buying a home in Texas has become more expensive in the years since the COVID-19 pandemic began, according to the Texas Real Estate Research Center.
2020
2021
2022
2023
One more thing
25%
Texas should make it easier to build homes in commercial areas and reduce the minimum lot size for single-family residences, said Nicole Nosek, the founder of Texans for Reasonable Solutions, an organization that aims to solve the housing shortage. In May, city of Austin officials voted to cut the city’s minimum lot size from 5,750 square feet to 1,800 square feet. The change was proposed as a strategy to permit more housing types and smaller homes than have traditionally been allowed in Austin.
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
$0- $69K
$70K- 99K
$100- $149K
$150K- 199K
$200K- $249K
$250K- $299K
$300K- $399K
$400K- $499K
$500K- $749K
SOURCE: TEXAS REAL ESTATE RESEARCH CENTER/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Real estate
More homes were sold in the $250,000- $499,999 price range in September compared to other price ranges, according to home sales data for the five ZIP codes in the region. Residential market data
Number of homes sold
September 2023
September 2024
+16.67%
-36.36%
-21.79%
-16.13%
-27.27%
610
77008
77006
77007
77008
77019
77098
45
10
77007
Median home sales price
59
77019
September
2023
2024
77006
77098
$515,000 $560,000 $593,000 $781,000 $675,000
$697,500 $531,500 $570,000 $487,500 $547,500
77006
59
288
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Homes sold by price point
77008
77019
September 2024
77098
23
$1 million+
24
$750,00-$999,999
Average days on market
53
$500,000-$749,999
+56.67%
0.00%
+125%
-15.69%
+24.39%
60
$250,000-$499,999
5
<$250,000
MARKET DATA PROVIDED BY VICTORIA HAWES JAMESTOWN ESTATE HOMES 832-296-1663 VH@JAMESTOWNESTATEHOMES.COM WWW.JAMESTOWNESTATEHOMES.COM
77006
77007
77008
77019
77098
Dallas Chamberlain dallas.chamberlain@jamestownestatehomes.com
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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION
Shifting focus From the cover
Key projects
Diving in deeper
Two-minute impact
METRONext
METRO’s new budget includes reducing initiatives by $31.6 million. As of Oct. 14, none of the $3.5 billion of bonded funds has been used.
METRONext is a $7.5 billion plan that was released in 2019 to enhance mobility in Houston. Harris County voters approved a $3.5 billion bond referen- dum that year to support the $7.5 billion plan. Anticipated projects included bus stop enhance- ments, improved park and ride lots, new circulator routes, and the implementation of three bus rapid transit, or BRT, lines. METRO officials did pause two of the planned BRT lines—the Inner Katy Corridor and the University Corridor. Many Harris County residents expressed concern about halting the BRT lines, especially the highly-anticipated University Corridor. The project was intended to connect three universities and com- munity colleges to historically disadvantaged areas. Greg LeGrande, president of the Neartown- Montrose Super Neighborhood Association, said he was stunned when he heard about the pause. “I’m disappointed,” he said. “I think it’s a bad decision and, what’s worse, they made it without any public input. The money was bonded for specific projects, and while it may be used for other METRO projects, it’s not the ones that people specifically voted for, and that’s unfair.” Brock said the two BRT lines are on pause, not canceled. However, she said she intends to focus on increasing ridership first. The shift in focus is what METRO officials are referring to as METRONow. METRONow invest- ments account for $173.4 million in the capital budget and will focus on three main priorities: cleaner buses, better service times and public safety. METRO aims to add 33 new police officers, improve on-time services from 70% to 100% and implement cleaning inspections.
The $1.89 billion budget is a 15% jump from FY 2023-24’s approved budget of $1.6 billion. In total, METRO’s spending increased by approximately $255 million over last fiscal year. According to METRO’s budget documents, the increased spending comes from capital project expenses that fall under what officials call “core business items,” such as vehicle maintenance, vehicle acquisition, facility maintenance and technology projects. The capital budget—which is 42% higher than the previous fiscal year—accounts for $598 million of the total budget. Brock said one of the most notable capital projects includes purchasing roughly 280 new buses, which comes with a $209 million price tag. Seventy of those vehicles are anticipated to be on the road by the end of February and the remaining 210 by December 2025. Also listed under capital programs are expansion and enhancement costs, which account for $242 million.
University Corridor bus rapid transit line
Starting point A Ending point B
45
B
610
10
WESTPARK TOLLWAY
A
288
59
N
Installing a bus-only lane with increased service connecting transit lines to local universities
Status: on pause until further notice Estimated cost: $2.2 billion
METRONow
Investments account for $173.4 million, and include new buses; more police; and a focus on service times, cleanliness and accessibility.
82 BOOST Westheimer Route
Starting point A Ending point B
45
290
FY 2024-25 expenditures
Operating budget: $980 million Capital budget: $598 million Debt service budget: $96 million General mobility program transfer*: $217 million
59
10
B
6
10
A
45
610
288 610
N
59
Total $1.89B
Improvements to roadways, sidewalks, accessibility and bus shelters
Status: Inner Loop construction underway till April 2025; design underway outside the loop Estimated cost: $11.3 million
*A CERTAIN PORTION OF METRO FUNDS ARE TRANSFERRED EACH YEAR TO FOUR HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCTS FOR GENERAL MOBILITY PROJECTS.
SOURCE: METRO/COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCES: METRO, ELIZABETH BROCK/COMMUNITY IMPACT
A slow recovery METRO budget
By the numbers
METRO ridership
Other services Local bus services
$1.89B*
$2B
120M 90M 150M 60M 30M 0
METRO’s FY 2024-25 budget is one of the largest budgets passed in the transit authority’s history as officials aim to increase ridership. Overall annual ridership has risen since the pandemic, but numbers still remain below pre-pandemic totals. In 2019, combined METRO services, including buses, light rail, park and ride, and curb2curb, were boarded over 85 million times. That amount steadily declined throughout the early 2020s, falling below 70 million. However, METRO officials are predicting that number to increase to nearly 80 million in FY 2024-25.
$1.5B
$1B
$.5B
0
Fiscal year
Fiscal year
*PROJECTED
NOTE: OTHER SERVICES REFLECT ALL METRO SERVICES, INCLUDING LOCAL BUS SERVICES, METRORAIL, METRORAPID, PARK AND RIDE, AND CURB2CURB.
SOURCE: METRO/COMMUNITY IMPACT
10
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY SHAWN ARRAJJ & CASSANDRA JENKINS
Also of note
Going forward
METRO’s FY 2024-25 budget also does not include plans to revive the agency’s bike share program, which went bankrupt in 2024. For the time being, the city of Houston will continue to operate without any bike share program. The previous METRO board approved a $10.5 million contract in September 2023 with Can- ada-based PBSC Urban Solutions to jumpstart the defunct bike share program by summer 2024. However, funding for that contract was not included in the 2024-25 budget, according to METRO documents. METRO is partnering with the University of Houston to study how the bike program could be structured in the future and what entity best suits the role of ownership. Jim Granato, director of UH’s Center for Public Policy, said research is in the early stages. Peter Eccles, director of policy and planning with the nonprofit Link Houston, said he hopes to see METRO bring back the bike share program.
With the FY 2024-25 budget now adopted, Brock said all METRO initiatives this year will be directly tied to increasing ridership. She emphasized that paused BRT projects will come back for consideration in future budgets. “If you have to choose between building infrastructure into the future and taking care of your existing infrastructure, those are choices that need to be made,” Brock said. “It’s hard to support both, so what we’re saying is that we need to focus on what is important to riders and to build that ridership before we move on to building additional infrastructure.” Eccles said Link Houston and METRO agree that increasing ridership should serve as the agency’s “north star.”
METRO’s bike share program would’ve included:
40 e-bikes
200 charging dock points
20 grid-connected charging stations
SOURCES: METRO, LINK HOUSTON/COMMUNITY IMPACT
“Bikes can help expand the reach in METRO’s network. It puts so much more of our region in play for you.” PETER ECCLES, DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND PLANNING, LINK HOUSTON
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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION
Government
BY SHAWN ARRAJJ & CASSANDRA JENKINS
Sports Authority names Canetti as interim CEO
Houston's tax rate to remain unchanged Members of the Houston City Council adopted a property tax rate Oct. 16 of $0.51919 per $100 valuation for the 2024-25 scal year, the same tax rate as the previ- ous year. The takeaway Council members were debating the potential adoption of a higher tax rate to help fund roughly $40 million for ongoing disaster recovery e orts related to Hur- ricane Beryl and a May derecho, both of which caused extensive damage in the city. However, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Oct. 9 the distribution of $50 million in funds to communities in Southeast Texas to help with disaster recovery, which prompted council members to keep the tax rate the same.
Dry weather prompts county burn ban Harris County commissioners approved a burn ban at an Oct. 8 Commissioners Court meeting, which includes restrictions on all outdoor burning as well as the sale of certain reworks. What happened The ban was requested by the Harris County Fire Marshal’s O ce, which cited “prolonged dry and hot weather.” The ban makes exceptions for burns within an enclo- sure that contains all ames and sparks. From Oct. 25-Nov. 1, vendors weren’t able to sell “tail and n” reworks, which typically include skyrockets, missiles and bottle rock- ets, according to the HCFMO. Violations of the ban are considered a Class “C” misdemeanor and could result in a ne of up to $500. The burn ban was still in e ect as of press time.
O cials authorize audits for all TIRZ districts in wake of Midtown scandal All 28 tax increment reinvestment zones in Hous- ton will undergo extensive auditing after members of the Houston City Council approved a $770,000 increase in consulting services to take a deeper dive into TIRZ spending habits. What’s happening? According to an Oct. 16 agenda item, the work will be carried out by the accounting rm Ernst & Young. The process will involve identifying all sources of spending data within an organization, such as vendor selection, supply management, contract pricing and payment terms. The analysis is anticipated to take approximately ve weeks, and the city will seek reimbursement for the $770,000 increase in cost from the TIRZs for all work performed.
“[Tax increment reinvestment zones] spend large amounts of money with
little oversight. So, we want to get inside the operations and see if we can eliminate waste, duplication and corruption.”
The Harris County-Houston Sports Authority has named Chris Canetti as interim CEO. What we know HCHSA board Chairman J. Kent Friedman announced Oct. 14 that Canetti will temporarily ll the spot left by former longtime CEO Janis Burke. Canetti is the former team president of the Hous- ton Dynamo. He stepped down in 2024 to serve as president of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Host Commit- tee. According to a news release from HCHSA, he will continue to serve in that capacity while acting as interim CEO. Friedman said Canetti has a proven track record of success in Houston. In the meantime, Friedman said HCHSA leadership will organize a special committee that will be tasked with identifying and hiring a permanent CEO. In case you missed it The HCHSA’s board of directors voted
unanimously Oct. 11 to release Burke after 18 years of service. The vote came on the heels of Houston Mayor John Whitmire sharing that he had received several complaints from sports venue owners and stakehold-
JOHN WHITMIRE, HOUSTON MAYOR
ers that HCHSA had become di cult to collaborate with and had “moved away from its core mission.” The HCHSA board is made up of 13 members con rmed by the Houston City Council and Harris County Commissioners Court. In addition to choos- ing the CEO, the board is tasked with maintaining sports venues and promoting sports-related events in the county. Burke shared a post on LinkedIn thanking the Houston community for its love and support over the course of her career. As of Oct. 11, Burke has declined additional requests for comment. Chris Canetti
Why now? The decision comes on the heels of an ongoing investigation into the Midtown Redevelopment Authority that led to the alleged discovery of money laundering and theft by former real estate manager Todd Edwards and two contractors. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg charged Edwards with abuse of o cial capacity, money laundering, theft and misapplication of duciary property, according to a June press conference. Edwards allegedly used his position as an o cial of the Midtown TIRZ to use approximately $8.5 million of public funds for personal gain, Ogg said.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Events
BY ASIA ARMOUR
• $33-$62 • 2025 W. 11th St., Houston • https://feverup.com
November
Igbofest Houston This cultural festival celebrates West Africa and takes place at Discovery Green park. It will feature dances from international performers, food and music.
75th Annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade This parade is one of the oldest Thanksgiving Day parades in the country, attracts several hundred thousand Houstonians and traverses more than 20 city blocks through Downtown Houston. The event features elaborate floats, colorful marching bands and high- flying balloons. • Nov. 28, 9 a.m. • Free (admission) • McKinney at Smith streets, Downtown Houston • www.houstontx.gov/thanksgivingparade ‘The Nutcracker’ by Houston Ballet This holiday tradition begins at the end of November and runs through December. Houston ballet dancers perform their rendition of Stanton Welch’s, “The Nutcracker” at the Wortham Theater Center. • Nov. 29-Dec. 29, times vary • $35+
• Nov. 9, 3-10 p.m. • Free (admission)
• 1500 McKinney St., Houston • www.downtownhouston.org
Artist Talk: Wardell Milan The Menil Drawing Institute hosts artist Wardell Milan at this event. Milan will speak on his work “Pulse,” which is displayed at Menil’s Fragments of Memory exhibition on view until Jan. 26. Milan is known for his drawings and collages.
Fall Festival ‘Myths and Leyendas’ This event will celebrate six Houston Latinx artists and explore the Museum of Fine Arts Houston and its commitment to the culture of Latin Americans, Latinos and Indigenous Americans. It will feature food, live music, dance performances and cultural games. Sculptures will remain on display until Nov. 17.
• Nov. 14, 7-8 p.m. • Free (admission) • 1412 W. Main St., Houston • www.menil.org/events
• 500 Texas Ave., Houston • www.houstonballet.org
Candlelight: Tribute to Queen This candle-lit concert takes place at Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church and pays tribute to the
• Nov. 10, 1-5 p.m. • Free (admission) • 5101 Montrose Blvd., Houston • www.mfah.org
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Reach out today and we’ll create a care team for you that includes nurses, clinicians, and your primary care doctor — all in one place. Our team will get to understand all the factors that affect your health so they can give you the very best care for your conditions. You get their time, you get their attention, you get the help you need.
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16
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Community
BY CASSANDRA JENKINS
Farmers markets
Hou st on
Houston
East End Farmers Market The East End Farmers Market blends sights, sounds, cuisine and culture to create an experience that is rooted in one of Houston’s most historic communities.
• 2600 Navigation Blvd., Houston • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., every Sunday • www.eastendhouston.com/market
Eleanora’s Market Over 30 vendors sell high-quality produce, cheeses, meats, baked goods, art, textiles and flowers at Eleanora’s Market in the Heights. The market also consistently hosts chef events, and wine and beer events. • 2120 Ella Blvd., Houston • 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., every Saturday • www.eleanorasmarket.com Heights Mercantile Farmers Market Curated by The Informal Grub, this market has over 60 small businesses offering locally grown produce, grass- fed meat, chef created take-home meals and health- conscious pantry staples. • 714 Yale St., Houston • 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., every second and fourth Sunday of each month • www.theinformalgrub.com Market Square Park Farmers Market This new open-air farmers market spotlights local growers and makers and provides access to seasonally fresh fruits, vegetables and prepared foods. There is also live music and weekly entertainment. • 301 Milam St., Houston
M-K-T Sunset Market The weeknight, family-friendly market puts a spin on the typical farmers market by taking place in the evening. Guests can find live music, face-painting, charcuterie and grab-and-go meals. • 600 N. Shepherd Drive, Houston • 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., third Thursday of every month • www.themkt.com/event-details/m-k-t-sunset- market-43 The Houston Farmers Market This 18-acre market is Houston’s largest and oldest farmers market. Visitors can discover fresh produce, spices, exotic fruits, artisanal crafts, restaurants and retailers all at one location in the Greater Northside District.
The Houston Farmers Market is also one of the only markets that is open daily. • 2520 Airline Drive, Houston • 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., open daily • www.thehoustonfarmersmarket.com
Urban Harvest Farmers Market All products at the market come from within 180 miles of Houston. It is also the longest-running market in the city and is the only one operated by a nonprofit. • 2752 Buffalo Speedway, Houston • 8 a.m.-noon, every Saturday • www.urbanharvest.org/urban-harvest-farmers-market This list is not comprehensive.
• 10 a.m.-2 p.m., every Saturday • www.downtownhouston.org/do/ market-square-park-farmers-market
Shop Smart, Save Big this Holiday Season! Stretch your budget and find hidden gems that make perfect gifts for friends, family—or yourself! Festive décor, Jewelry, Vinyl’s, Handbags, clothing and more.
MAM Blalock: 1625 Blalock Rd Houston,TX 77080 MAM in the Heights: 1015 E 11th St Houston,TX 77009
MamHouston.org (713) 491-4330
17
HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION
Business
BY ASIA ARMOUR
Owner Jesse Cushman said there’s science behind the process of making candy.
Franchise owner Jesse Cushman enjoys teaching people the candy-making process, he said.
PHOTOS BY ASIA ARMOUR COMMUNITY IMPACT
Papabubble specializes in unique, artisan candies Jesse Cushman, franchise owner of the only Papabubble in the U.S., said he was inspired to open the store after watching “oddly satisfying” videos with his son about how candy is made. Papabubble sells artisan treats made in-store, such as caramels, fudge, gummy bubbles, marsh- mallows and s’mores; delivers customized orders; and o ers classes on the candy-making process. “Believe it or not, there’s a lot of science behind it,” Cushman said, “It’s like a fun edible chemistry experiment, and I like sharing that with people.” What’s in a name The name Papabubble is meant to describe what happens when candy is made, Cushman said. “When you [stretch] the candy, you’re folding air into it to get it to a [certain] texture or to look a di erent way,” he said. “And as part of that, you’ll hear a [popping sound] like when you chew gum.” Why it matters The Heights store opened in August 2023 after operating online. Cushman said having a physical space where he can provide an experience is “what gets him up in the morning.”
Papabubble sells artisan candies, which can be customized and are all made in-house.
E. 10THST.
MERRILL ST.
OMARST.
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“Just with how digital everything is these days, we get fewer and fewer chances to interact with people,” he said. “That’s why I like having a retail store. I like sharing the processes with people.”
The Papabubble brand is owned by a company in Barcelona, Spain, with many locations through- out Asia and Europe, Cushman said.
927 Studewood St., Ste. 120, Houston www.papabubblehtx.com
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Care you need. One convenient location. A variety of health care services for you and your family is always close by. Our Convenient Care Centers offer primary care, imaging, physical therapy and a 24/7 ER. Schedule an appointment at any of our seven locations. memorialhermann.org/ccc
Greater Heights | Katy | Kingwood | League City Sienna | Spring | Summer Creek Advancing health. Personalizing care.
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