Bellaire - Meyerland - West University | November 2023

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Bellaire Meyerland West University Edition VOLUME 5, ISSUE 7 NOV. 3DEC. 5, 2023

Attendees hold candles in honor of survivors and families of victims of domestic violence Oct. 16 at one of several candlelight vigils to take place in the Greater Houston area during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

SHAWN ARRAJJCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Houston groups seek to reverse rising domestic violence trends

HAWC is one of several nonprots in Houston seeking to reverse rising domestic violence trends, including a doubling of intimate partner homicides in Harris County from 2019 to 2022.

Johnson is one of the many domestic violence survivors who sought help from the Houston Area Women’s Center. The nonprot, she said, helped her form a plan to exit her relationship safely and gave her a safe space to live.

BY SHAWN ARRAJJ

When Angela Johnson’s ex-husband threatened to burn down her house while she and her chil- dren were inside it, she said she knew she needed to get out of the situation.

CONTINUED ON 16

Also in this issue

Impacts: Speakeasy-style sushi bar opens in Rice Village (Page 6)

Education: HISD adopts principal evaluation system (Page 9)

Government: Bellaire postpones lighting ordinance vote (Page 12)

Events: Holiday activities in the local area (Page 18)

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Whatever happens in our community, we’re here, ready to serve. Providing Level I trauma care at Ben Taub Hospital for people experiencing the worst day of their lives. Reaching out to families struggling to find or afford healthy food. Offering the gold standard in nursing at our Magnet®-recognized Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital. Treating everyone with respect, compassion and gratitude for giving us the opportunity to care for them, work with them, know them. You may not know our name. And that’s okay.

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity. About Community Impact

Market leaders & metro team

Reporters Jovanna Aguilar Asia Armour Melissa Enaje Wesley Gardner Cassandra Jenkins Shaheryar Khan Rachel Leland Emily Lincke Dave Manning James T. Norman Jessica Shorten Lizzy Spangler Graphic Designers Jatziri Garcia Chad Inmon Ellen Jackson Martha Risinger La’Toya Smith Jesus Verastegui Taylor White

Jay McMahon General Manager

Ronald Winters Copy Editors Adrian Gandara Beth Marshall Kasey Salisbury Account Executive Holly Nunez Managing Editor Kelly Schafler Senior Art Production Manager Kaitlin Schmidt

Shawn Arrajj Senior Editor

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Impacts

• 6315 Savoy Drive, Houston • www.newhopehousing.com/locations/savoy

SUNSET BLVD.

Relocations

288

W E S T H E I M E R R D .

4 The Missing Piece A small-business incubator that provides retail space and an online presence, especially for local and female business owners in Houston, plans to relocate from 2476 Times Blvd., Houston. An opening date for the new location has not yet been identified by owner Robert O’Bannon, but the store will still offer seasonal gifts, home goods, jewelry and local artisan goods. • Relocation date TBD • 2371 Rice Blvd., Houston • www.instagram.com/missing_piece_boutique 5 Beautique Day Spa and Salon After a July 14 fire caused extensive damage to the business’s interior, the day spa had to permanently close the doors at its Rice Village location at 2507 Times Blvd., Houston. Beautique plans to relocate to a new space on Weslayan Street at the beginning of 2024. During the transition, employees will continue working from temporary spaces in order to provide consistent service to their regulars. The spa and salon offers many services for the hair, face and body, such as haircuts, facials, massages and lash extensions. • Relocating early 2024 • 5520 Weslayan St., Houston • www.beautiquericevillage.com

M O

288

SAVOY DR.

HERMANN PARK

UNIVERSITY BLVD.

W. HOLCOMBE BLVD.

610

BUFFALO SPEEDWAY

BEECHNUT ST.

BRAYS BAYOU

chains around the U.S., mainly under the Ashley Homestore brand—opened a new concept called Worth & Co. with more upscale offerings. The store offers furniture and decor items including art, textiles, kitchenware, bath essentials, jewelry and clothing. • Opened Oct. 26 • 4500 San Felipe St., Houston • www.worthandco.com 3 Savoy The project by nonprofit affordable housing builder New Hope Housing provides 120 supportive housing units in the Gulfton area. Savoy features one-, two- and three-bedroom units dedicated to working families and individuals with “modest incomes,” according to the nonprofit officials. • Opened Oct. 12

Now open

Expansions

1 Francesca’s This boutique selling a curated collection of women’s clothing, jewelry, accessories and gifts opened a store in The Galleria in September. The store features brighter lighting, vibrant colors and a layout that is double the size of the brand’s average boutique. The new store also offers a miniature shop within the shop for Francesca’s tween line, titled Hello Franki. • Opened Sept. 22 • 5085 Westheimer Road, Houston • www.francescas.com 2 Worth & Co. Dufresne Spencer Group—which operates furniture

6 Gremillion on Sunset The first phase of an expansion of a Rice Village gallery and multiuse space Gremillion on Sunset was completed in September. The building, which used to serve only as an art gallery, has undergone a complete renovation. Future plans include an updated second- floor art gallery space, a split-level art annex and an open-air courtyard. Gremillion on Sunset’s event center courtyard and private dining facilities will open in November and January, respectively.

• First phase reopened Sept. 14 • 2501 Sunset Blvd., Houston • www.gremillion.com

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BY ASIA ARMOUR, SHAWN ARRAJJ & MELISSA ENAJE

Closings

Now open

Coming soon

7 The Art Institutes The for-profit, private system of art schools with locations in eight cities—including Houston—announced the permanent closure of all schools Sept. 30. The Houston location was launched in 1965 as the Houston School of Commercial Art before joining the Art Institutes system in 1978, according to an archived page of the Houston school’s website. The Houston location offered courses in media arts and animation, culinary arts, graphic design, interior design, web design, interactive media, and restaurant management. • Closed Sept. 30 8 Lesley Ann Jewels Lesley Ann Jewels closed in October after opening in 2016 in the Galleria area. The shop was best known for carrying designer brand and high-end fashion jewelry. Owner Lesley Davis said she closed the shop with plans to retire. • Closure ongoing as of Oct. 27 • 4721 Westheimer Road, Houston • www.lesleyannjewels.com • 4140 Southwest Freeway, Houston • www.artinstitutes.edu/houston

9 Norigami The first permanent location of the pop-up features an intimate dining area and speakeasy- style bar that both seat 24 guests. Menu options include hand rolls and appetizers, such as a steak and eggs dish with pickled red onions, creamy steak sauce, quail egg and caviar. • Opened Sept. 21 • 2715 Bissonnet St., West University Place • www.norigamihtx.com

10 Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth Nonprofit Bread of Life is redeveloping the former gymnasium on its campus to create 31 affordable housing units. The permanent supportive housing development in Midtown will be named after Houston-natives Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland. • Coming late 2024 • Jackson Street at Gray Street, Houston • www.breadoflifeinc.org

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Education

BY WESLEY GARDNER

HISD OKs principal evaluations with more emphasis on special education

A closer look

Principals will be classified into one of three categories based on the overall evaluations, with 32% of principals ultimately falling into the “pro- gressing” category, 60% as “proficient” and 8% as “exemplary.” According to HISD documents, the district will use the following criteria to assess student achievement, which will make up 35% of principal evaluations in the 2024-25 school year: • Middle-of-year and end-of-year student assessments • The campus’ overall TEA accountability rating • The campus’ “closing the gap” score included in the accountability ratings Quality of instruction will be assessed primarily based on the results of four unannounced visits at each campus that will include a minimum of 10 spot observations per visit, district documents show. Officials said school action plans, which are created by each campus’ principal at the beginning of the school year, will be measured based on the achievement of goals outlined in the plan.

Houston ISD board managers unanimously approved a new evaluation system for the district’s principals during an Oct. 12 meeting that will be used to determine principals’ salaries for the 2024-25 school year. While HISD Superintendent Mike Miles has previously stressed the importance of improving the district’s special education department, officials said the special education metrics included in 2024-25 evaluation system will not be given the same weight in future assessments. During the board’s Oct. 5 workshop, Miles presented an overview of the district’s plan to improve its special education program following a 2020 report from the Texas Education Agency that found “significant, systemic and widespread” shortcomings in its handling of special education. Investigators found a 10-year pattern of HISD officials failing to properly identify students for special education services and failing to provide specialized services for those with disabilities. In March, TEA officials listed their concerns on the district’s special education department as a factor in the state’s eventual takeover of the district, which included the appointment of Miles and the board of managers. Several public commenters during the Oct. 12 meeting spoke out against the new principal metrics, which they said were put in place without input from campus committees and relied too much on standardized test results.

New Houston ISD principal evaluations:

35% for student achievement

30% for quality of instruction

20% for special education compliance and achievement 15% for compliance of a campus’ action plan

The special education portion of the evaluations will be split into two components:

50% end-of- year academic assessments of the school’s special education students

In the 2024-25 school year, an HISD principal’s base salary will vary depending on their assessments. Principal pay

50% school’s ability to identify students for special education services within the district’s timeline, the quality of education plans, and quarterly progress monitoring

Elementary school

$110K-$160K

Middle school

$115K-$180K

High school

$130K-$195K

SOURCE: HOUSTON ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

What they're saying

A look back

“Not one page of this publication cites a single empirical study substantiating this monstrosity. Not one of the school action plans that factor into the system were ratified by campus ... decision-making committees.” DANIEL SANTOS, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, AT AN OCT. 12 MEETING OF THE HISD BOARD OF MANAGERS

of how they performed. Miles’ plan drew a lawsuit from the Houston Federation of Teachers and was blocked by a Harris County judge because HISD officials allegedly did not ask for teachers’ and other staff members’ opinions as they developed the plan. The HFT lawsuit was dropped after HISD adopted the T-TESS system, which bases pay on planning, instruction, learning environment and professional practice.

The adoption of the principal evaluation system came one month after HISD adopted a state-approved T-TESS evaluation system—or Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System— for the district’s teachers. Miles initially pushed for a plan that generated controversy for its use of a “target distribution” method for designating pay levels, meaning a certain percentage of teachers would be placed into lowest pay designation regardless

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Transportation

BY SHAWN ARRAJJ & MELISSA ENAJE

University corridor project moves forward Officials with the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County are working through the urban design process of the upcoming 25-mile University Corridor bus rapid transit lane. The agency hosted a series of workshops in September to gather feed- back and present plans on a preferred route—from the Westchase Park & Ride to the Tidwell Transit Center—before engineering begins in late 2023. The overview A bus rapid transit route is a dedicated bus route that operates similar to light rail in that buses have sole access to the lanes in use. The project is intended to connect users to destination points and Park & Ride facilities with service that is more reliable and accessible. The details Project costs are still being determined as part

METRO to debut new bike share program A new strategic bike share program that will utilize existing transit hubs is expected to roll out in summer 2024 after officials with the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County unanimously approved funding a $5.5 million contract at a Sept. 28 meeting. Sorting out details METRO will work with PBSC Urban Solu- tions, a Canada-based bike share equipment vendor. Locations of the bike stations will be shared later, but the program will include: • 24-hour service • Initially 140 electronic bikes located at 20 solar-ready stations • Fare prices at $1.25, except for park and ride options, for fiscal year 2023-24

TIDWELL RD.

690

610

RICHMOND AVE.

LOCKWOOD DR. N

WHEELER AVE.

ENIS ST.

288

of the design process, but METRO officials are funding the project in part with METRONext bond funds, and are requesting a 60% federal match through the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grant Program. What’s next Engineering design work is expected to begin in late 2023 and run through the end of 2024. Construction could begin some time in 2025 and last about four years before the new line opens in 2029.

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Government

BY SHAWN ARRAJJ & MELISSA ENAJE

Bellaire revises proposed new lighting ordinance Bellaire City Council postponed a vote on its proposed lighting ordinance to allow city sta to revise the ordinance based on council members suggestions. No date was given for when the revised ordinance would return to council. Coun- cil asked city sta to consider implementing an eective date that would require existing outdoor lighting to comply with the new requirements. Digging deeper Council members also debated penalty costs for those who are found in violation of the lighting ordi- nance. The proposed ne would be no less than $150 for the rst oense, considered a misdemeanor, and no less than $500 for any subsequent oense. Council member Ross Gordon said he was concerned that it would be hard to enforce and dierentiate standards between old and new developments.

Houston land trust gets $5M donation Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has made a $5 million donation to the Houston Community Land Trust, a “transformative” gift that ocials said will help fund new pilot programs in the city. The overview Pilot programs will focus outside of the traditional single-family home model, including testing new options for multi- family aordable rentals and commercial spaces, ocials said. Founded in 2018, the HCLT works to provide assistance to prospective homeown- ers who make under 80% of the area median income level, including up to $150,000 in help with down payments and closing costs. The trust has helped 182 individuals and families secure permanent housing.

Harris County ocials plan to revitalize NRG Park Plans to revitalize the home of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and the Houston Texans are moving forward after Harris County commissioners voted unanimously Oct. 10 to task county ocials with redeveloping the NRG Park complex and surrounding region. 90 NRG Center NRG Park Houston Astrodome NRG Stadium

Harris Center opens mobile wellness clinic A new community health care initiative is taking place with the launch of a mobile wellness clinic in September. The mobile clinic will address the full wellness needs of each patient, including physical, mental and behavioral health. The details Ocials with The Harris Center said that while the mobile wellness clinic will initially partner with community centers for events in precincts 1 and 2, it won’t be limited to just those two areas. “We’ll look at what they’re currently doing with their activities because they’re already connected to the community, and then we add the mobile wellness vehicles to go to these events,” Director Stanley Williams said.

Existing ordinance

Regulations are minimal and lacking in provisions to properly enforce.

Proposed updates

Commercial*: Permits for new construction will require a photometric analysis that studies the lighting at a job site before construction begins. Parking lots*: Parking lot lights would have a maximum height of 20 feet, avoid spillover on adjacent property and be glare shielded. Parking garages*: Lights must be located at the top oor, be directed downward and be glare shielded. Residential: No outdoor lighting after 10 p.m. on resident recreational facilities.

The Harris County Sports and Convention Cor- poration will develop at least two alternative plans to re-envision NRG Park, which is a 350-acre sports and entertainment complex owned by the county that hosts more than 5.5 million people annually. Digging deeper HCSCC Chair James Dixon II said the organi- zation will work collaboratively with input from tenants, the rodeo and the Texans, and ensure the greatest benet for all key stakeholders, such as county residents, and Houston’s diverse residen- tial and business communities. “If we are really methodical and strategic and collaborative and work with pure intent, we can all

NRG Arena

610

end up with something out there that becomes a legacy project for our future,” Dixon said. Ideas discussed for the project included adding more green space, replacing parts of the parking lot with economic mixed-use areas, and looking to potential developments in the surrounding area, Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis said.

SOURCE: CITY OF BELLAIRECOMMUNITY IMPACT *PERTAINS TO NEW CONSTRUCTION ONLY

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Real estate

Number of homes sold

September 2022

September 2023

Residential market data

28 17

19 24

-39%

+26%

77005

77096

Total home sales were down in four of five local ZIP codes when comparing September 2023 with September 2022, while the median home sale price was up in three of five ZIP codes.

34 19

18 15

-44%

-17%

77025

77401

8 4

-50%

77030

610

Median home sales price

2022

2023

77005

-3%

$1,615,050

$1,658,750

288

77025

+31%

$558,000

$427,500

77005 77096

77025 77401

77030

-20%

$775,374

$965,000

NEIGHBORHOOD DATA PROVIDED BY ALINA ROGERS SPARROW REALTY • 281-961-2944 WWW.SPARROW-REALTY.COM

77096

+1%

$441,250

$436,500

77401

+22%

$1,248,000

$1,022,500

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BELLAIRE - MEYERLAND - WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION

Houston groups seek to reverse rising domestic violence trends From the cover

Two-minute impact

Intimate partner violence homicides, tracked by local law enforcement

but those are just those reported, and it’s an underreported crime,” Smith said. “Houston just doesn’t have enough resources.” The number of households in the HCDVCC’s housing queue rose from 589 in 2021 to 977 in 2022. The number of calls requesting shelter space grew between the two years from 956 in 2021 to 1,307 in 2022. Because children are also involved in the request for shelter, HCDVCC ocials said calls for shelter require space for three people on average. Heather Bellino—CEO of the Texas Advocacy Project, a nonprot that works to end domestic violence, sexual abuse and stalking—said legal services are also a huge unmet needs for survivors. “A temporary bed is one thing; free legal services get you where you need to go the fastest,” Bellino said.

Intimate partner homicides tripled in Harris County between 2019 and 2022, according to a study released in February by the University of Houston’s Institute for Research on Women, Gender & Sexuality. At the same time, the number of people in the area seeking shelter was on the rise in 2022. Intimate partner violence, a subset of domestic violence, refers specically to violence toward an intimate partner, current or former. Around 65%-75% of people who call seeking shelter space are not able to get shelter in Harris County, said Amy Smith, communications director with the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, which works to provide safety for survivors and hold abusers accountable. “When you look at the domestic violence reports, it’s staggering,

2021

2020

2022

2019

Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council housing queue

Placed in shelters: 367 Still in queue: 589 Requests for shelter: 956

Placed in shelters: 330 Still in queue: 977 Requests for shelter: 1,307

2021

2022

Average domestic violence/sexual assault calls per day by quarter Houston Area Women’s Center

The Bridge Over Troubled Waters

60 40 20 0

2021

2022

SOURCES: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, HARRIS COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL, HOUSTON AREA WOMEN’S CENTER, THE BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Zooming in

A local look

in the case of U.S. v. Rahimi. The court determined that people subject to domestic violence restraining orders have a constitu- tional right to possess a rearm. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments on the case in early November, and HAWC has started a petition to have the court overturn the previous ruling.

About 73% of intimate part- ner violence homicides in the Houston area between 2019-22 involved guns, according to an October report from the Houston Area Women’s Center. During an Oct. 9 news confer- ence, HAWC President and CEO Emilee Whitehurst raised concerns about a ruling in February by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals

The Houston Area Women’s Center’s new four-story facility is estimated to be completed at the end of 2024 with 360 eciency and one-bedroom units.

Construction will run through the end of 2024. The project costs roughly $45 million, with the city of Houston contributing about $16 million. HAWC also plans to increase its sta from 130 to 177. Once completed, HAWC ocials said they hope to provide safety to at least 95% of those deter- mined to be in danger. HAWC ocials said they would sell their current oce space in Montrose, valued at $12 million.

The HAWC is in the process of opening a new facility that will triple the number of beds on site from 120 beds to 360 beds. The center will also oer: • Behavioral health services • A nancial empowerment center • A career counseling center • An elementary school approved by Houston ISD • A child care center

Intimate partner violence homicides by weapons Guns were more likely to be used in intimate partner homicides in each year from 2019 to 2022 than all other weapons combined.

Guns Other*

2019

2020

2021

2022

*INCLUDES BLUNT TRAUMA, CUTTING AND STRANGULATION, AS WELL AS INCIDENTS WHERE THE WEAPON IS UNKNOWN

SOURCE: HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY SHAWN ARRAJJ

THE GIFT

Legislative approach

Several bills passed during the 2023 legislative session in Texas and signed into law have been cited as victories by domestic violence advocates.

When seeking a protective order against an abuser, a person no longer needs to prove that abuse is likely to happen again. When a survivor is successful in obtaining a protective order, it reduces the chances of abuse happening again by 80% , according to the Texas Advocacy Project. Creates a state-run website that allows the public to search a database of everyone in the state who has two or more family violence convictions. The website is expected to go live in January and will be run the by Texas Department of Public Safety. Gives Texas courts the power to determine if an alleged abuser should be prohibited from, without the survivor’s consent, tracking or monitoring: • The survivor • Their family members • Their household members • Vehicles

House Bill 2715

CALL TO SCHEDULE A PRIVATE SHOWING OF YOUR NEW HOME TODAY.

House Bill 1432:

Often our residents tell me that one of the greatest gifts they ever gave themselves or their family was moving to The Tradition. Here is what one of our residents has to say about the ease of living here: “The Tradition – I just wish it had been here when my mother came for me to take care of her and there wasn’t anything as nice. It is beautiful, everybody is friendly, they keep it up beautifully, they take care of you, they really care, and it just has all the amenities. And I will say that it is doing my kids a favor.” THE GIFT to you – that allows you the time and energy to explore, engage and enjoy this vibrant lifestyle. THE GIFT to your family – who will not worry about your well- being, security, and happiness. I hope that you will consider giving The Gift ® to yourself or to your family and join us at The Tradition. Please make an appointment to tour our beautiful Community, meet residents firsthand and learn more. I look forward to welcoming you home!

House Bill 5202

SOURCES: TEXAS LEGISLATURE, TEXAS ADVOCACY PROJECT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

What's next

the intention to leave. The moment in time between when a person decides to leave and shortly after they leave is the most dangerous, officials said. Instead of leaving on their own, individuals in this situation are urged to call one of the local resources below to form a safety plan to navigate the situation safely.

When it comes to helping people get out of a situation where abuse is taking place, subject matter experts with Harris County nonprofits emphasized the importance of always believing survivors when they talk about what they are going through and taking them seriously. For people who are preparing to leave abusive relationships, experts said to never tell the abuser of

SCAN QR CODE TO WATCH WHAT OUR

RESIDENTS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE TRADITION.

Founder & CEO The Tradition

National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-7233

TEXAS FAMILY-OWNED AND MANAGED INDEPENDENT LIVING • ASSISTED LIVING • MEMORY CARE WWW.THETRADITION.COM THE TRADITION�BUFFALO SPEEDWAY 9339 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, TX 77025 Independent Living (713) 715-1905 Assisted Living & Memory Care (713) 715-1902

Houston Area Women’s Center 24-hour hotline: 713-528-2121 • www.hawc.org

The Bridge Over Troubled Waters 24-hour hotline: 713-473-2801 • www.tbotw.org

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Events

BY ASIA ARMOUR

• Free (general admission), premium seats start at $28.25 • Begins at intersection of Smith and Lamar streets • www.houstontx.gov/thanksgivingparade City of Bellaire Holiday in the Park Families can celebrate the holiday season with live music from local choirs, snow slides, food and other amenities at the Holiday in the Park celebration, hosted by the city of Bellaire in Bellaire Town Square. • Nov. 30, 6-8:30 p.m. • Free • 7008 S. Rice Ave., Bellaire • www.bellairetx.gov/717/holiday-in-the-park

November

DO IT ANYWHERE ANY T I ME City of Houston Thanksgiving Day parade This annual event usually draws hundreds of thousands of Houstonians to the heart of Downtown. Elaborate floats, marching bands and holiday decor and balloons will traverse 20 city blocks as crowds cheer. The parade is one of the oldest in the country, according to the City of Houston website. • Nov. 23, 9 a.m. Great Houston Pie Run Houston Running Co. will host its seventh Houston Holiday Series race with a family-friendly 10K, 5K and Kids K to celebrate Thanksgiving. The races start at downtown Houston’s Fish Plaza. At the finish line, participants will enjoy pies, beer and music. All participants receive a Great Houston Pie Run finisher medal and unisex T-shirt. • Nov. 19, 7:30 a.m. (5K/10K), 9:30 a.m. (Kids K) • $50 (10K), $40 (5K), $20 (Kids K) • 501 Texas Ave., Houston • www.houstonrunningco.com/great-houston-pie-run1. html Nutcracker Market Guests will be welcomed by giant nutcracker statues and a red carpet at the annual Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market. The event will feature apparel, accessories, jewelry, food, home and holiday decor, toys and gifts from local vendors. • Nov. 9, 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Nov. 10, 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Nov. 11, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Nov. 12, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. • $55+, free admission for ages 2 and younger • NRG Stadium, 1 NRG Park, Houston • www.houstonballet.org/about/nutcracker-market Bella Gaia and William Close & The Earth Harp Collective To close out the 100th season of Miller Outdoor Theatre performances, artist William Close and the Earth Harp Collective will collaborate with Bella Gaia, a visual performance utilizing aerial acrobatics to tell the cosmic story of earth and all its interconnectedness. • Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m. • Free • 6000 Hermann Park Drive, Houston • www.milleroutdoortheatre.com

December

wine glass to take home. Attendees must be 21 or older. • Dec. 15, 5:30-7 p.m. • $50 (members), $55 (nonmembers) • 4501 Woodway Drive, Houston • www.houstonarboretum.org/event/ holiday-sip-stroll-2 Sights and Sounds Meditation: Winter Solstice The meditative experience celebrates the winter solstice and will take place alongside the sounds of singing bowls and wind chimes played by Saumil Manek. Guests can enjoy a special winter light installation by Houston artist and engineer Kelly O’Brien. • Dec. 21, 6-6:45 p.m. • $25 • 105 Sabine St., Ste. B, Houston • www.buffalobayou.org Zoo Lights The Houston Zoo staff invites friends and family to sip hot chocolate and walk through the grounds this holiday season. Past iterations of this tradition featured 15 miles of LED lighting to illuminate the zoo’s oak trees, pictures with Santa, animal- themed lanterns and a 33-foot-tall holiday tree. • Daily through Jan. 7, 5:30-10 p.m. • Starts at $17.95, free admission for ages 2 and younger • 6200 Hermann Park Drive, Houston • www.houstonzoo.org

Mayor’s Holiday Spectacular Join Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner in the outdoor pavilion of City Hall for a tree lighting powered by Reliant Energy and fireworks to kick off the holiday season. In the past, the event has included dances, photo ops with Santa and holiday-themed vendors.

• Dec. 2, 6-8 p.m. • Free admission • 901 Bagby St., Houston • www.houstontx.gov/events

Mini Candlelight Tours The Heritage Society of Sam Houston Park will decorate historic homes with holiday decor, candles and actors reenacting 19th century Houston for the organization’s annual candlelight tour. Performances by string ensemble HeartStrings Houston, carols by The Houston Boy Choir and a festive gift shop are just a few ways The Heritage Society will spread cheer this year. • Dec. 2 and Dec. 9, 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. • $20 (adults), $10 (children ages 5-18 ), free (children 5 and under) • 1000 Bagby St., Houston • www.heritagesociety.org/annual-candlelight-tour Holiday Sip N Stroll Sip a delicious beverage and stroll along lightly decorated trails at the Houston Arboretum. Soak in the festive cheer at special holiday-themed sip stops. The evening walk includes three glasses of wine or Saint Arnold beer, light bites and a limited-edition etched

Getting tested for HIV is quick, easy, and FREE.

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You’re a part of our Village, and we’re grateful.

This Thanksgiving, we’d like to thank our friends—both old and new—for helping us create a place where community and commerce bloom. Rice Village has been considered an iconic haven in the heart of Houston since its founding in 1938. Today, through lively community programming, ongoing greening efforts, and other renovations and improvements, we hope to strengthen this legacy, encouraging the gentle commingling of people and place. We’re grateful for all who visit and work here, who continue to shape the Village as both legacy and landmark.

Kirby & University, Houston, TX

@RICEVILLAGEDISTRICT

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Advanced care to put cancer behind you.

Fighting cancer starts with having the right team beside you. And at Memorial Hermann, we’re here for you every step of the way. As one of Houston’s leading providers of cancer treatment, we offer advanced care from screening and diagnosis to treatment and survivorship. With locations throughout Greater Houston, you can find care close to you. This is comprehensive cancer care designed for you. memorialhermann.org/cancer

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