Heights - River Oaks - Montrose Edition | October 2024

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Heights River Oaks

Montrose Edition VOLUME 6, ISSUE 7 OCT. 5NOV. 6, 2024

2024 Voter Guide

Investing in infrastructure Harris County seeks voter approval for ood-control bond proposition as Houston eyes tax increase

Mark Jones, political science professor at Rice University, said he believes many local organiza- tions are adding big ticket items to the ballot this year due to a higher anticipated voter turnout often associated with presidential elections. “If you are going to do a [tax rate increase], the best year to do it is during a presidential election,” he said.

BY MELISSA ENAJE & CASSANDRA JENKINS

Harris County residents will decide the fate of a ballot proposition Nov. 5 that could allow the county’s ood control district to raise its tax rate to help fund critical maintenance projects. At the same time, ocials with the city of Houston are considering a tax rate increase of their own to help with recovery eorts related to recent weather disasters.

CONTINUED ON 15

Bualo Bayou cuts through the heart of Houston along Allen Parkway before heading toward Downtown. It’s part of the 2,500 miles of bayous and channels maintained by the Harris County Flood Control District, which is seeking voter approval Nov. 5 to raise its tax rate for outstanding maintenance work.

SHAWN ARRAJJCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Also in this issue

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Impacts: Dandelion Cafe, beloved Bellaire eatery, opens new Heights location (Page 4)

Transportation: Houston to rename bikeway in honor of late Pat Walsh (Page 6)

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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION

Impacts

W. 34TH ST.

on the all-American soda fountain diner, with vintage aesthetics and a menu that includes comfort food such as burgers, fried chicken and biscuits. • Opened Sept. 4 • 600 N. Shepherd Drive, Ste. B-250, Houston • www.thebuttermilkbaby.com 8 K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotel Pet owners can book their dogs for overnight boarding or doggie daycare. Dogs are housed in Kuranda dog beds with soundproof, segmented rooms throughout the facility. • Opened Sept. 28 • 1619 N. Shepherd Drive, Houston • www.k9resorts.com 9 Beauty Shop Heights Local small-business owner Ashley Nadon opened her second indie-and-eco-friendly beauty shop location. • Opened Sept. 14 • 600 N. Shepherd Drive, Ste. 120, Houston • www.beautyshopbellaire.com 10 Via 313 The Austin-based pizza brand specializes in cheesy- crust, Detroit-style pizza, which is made with thick, doughy crust, crispy cheese and dollops of sauce, baked in steel pans. • Opened Sept. 23 • 1541 N. Shepherd Drive, Ste. 1000, Houston • www.via313.com. Tootl Transport The ride service offers rides for seniors, wheelchair users or anyone with mobility or cognitive challenges. Destinations include medical appointments, facility transports and student transportation. • Opened in August • Serves the Greater Houston area • www.ridetootl.com

W. 25TH ST.

22ND ST.

290

610

20TH ST.

W. 18TH ST.

T. C. JESTER BLVD.

12TH ST.

W. 11TH ST.

N. DURHAM DR.

7 9

WHITE OAK DR.

WHITE OAK PARK

W. 6TH ST.

WASHINGTON AVE.

TAYLOR ST.

MEMORIAL PARK

SUMMERST.

SAWYER ST.

W A S

BUFFALO BAYOU PARK

BUFFALO BAYOU

P K

610

W. GRAY ST.

5 11

W. ALABAMA ST.

527

RICHMOND AVE.

288

4 Drake’s Hollywood The Hollywood-inspired restaurant and lounge offers decor, food and cocktails reminiscent of the grandeur of famous Los Angeles venues. • Opened Aug. 29 • 1100 Westheimer Road, Houston • www.drakeshollywood.com 5 Okt o Dishes vary from season to season with recipes curated from the culinary traditions of Greece, Italy and Spain. The menu is designed for sharing with a communal 6 Kira The casual Japanese restaurant specializes in temaki, donburi and kakigori, otherwise known as Japanese hand rolls, rice bowls and shaved ice. • Opened Aug. 6 • 2800 Kirby Drive, Ste. B128, Houston • www.kirahtx.com 7 Buttermilk Baby The restaurant and ice cream bar concept offers a twist dining experience. • Opened Aug. 31 • 888 Westheimer Road, Houston • www.oktorestaurant.com

Now open

1 Gazebo Seafood House The all-day seafood restaurant celebrates Louisiana Cajun flavors and has an extensive cocktail menu. • Opened Aug. 15

Coming soon

11 Mi Luna Restaurant & Tapas Bar The new eatery offers seafood along with a variety of roasted and braised meats, vegetarian items and tapas dishes. • Opening Oct. 7 • 888 Westheimer Road, Ste. 126, Houston • www.milunatapasbar.com 12 Bol The restaurant will pay homage to the flavors of Indian cuisine with a menu that highlights a variety of grilled meats, vegetables and grains paired with house-made hummus, sauces and dressings. Each single-serve bowl is crafted with sustainably-sourced meats and fresh

• 3015 Bagby St., Houston • www.gazebohouston.com

2 Tejas Br ewer y and Taproom The venue offers a rooftop with views of Houston’s skyline with beers served by the pitcher or the pint. Dining options include tacos, burgers, pizzas and chicken flautas. • Opened Sept. 12 • 2101 Summer St., Houston • www.tejasbeer.com 3 New Heights Coffee Roasters The roastery founded in 2022 now has a physical location within the Asch Building. The company focuses on micro-lot coffee, or coffee roasted in small batches to exact specifications. • Opened Sept. 3 • 825 Studewood St., Houston • www.newheightscoffeeroasters.com

produce from local farms. • Opening late fall 2024 • 3201 Louisiana St., Houston • www.kahani.social

13 Mex ican Sugar The Dallas-based restaurant celebrates Mexican culture and cuisine in its architecture, flavors and curated

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

cocktails. Its menu includes dishes such as Mexican Caesar salad, bone-in pork chops and birria ribs.

In the news

Now open

• Opening fourth quarter 2024 • 3505 W. Dallas St., Houston • www.mexicansugarcocina.com

16 Ca nde nte The Tex-Mex restaurant celebrated its fifth anniversary Sept. 20. Owned by Sambrooks Management, the establishment serves classic dishes such as enchiladas, crispy tacos, fajitas and brisket nachos. • 4306 Yoakum Blvd., Houston • www.candentehtx.com 17 Houston Heights Association The 50-year anniversary for the nonprofit, which promotes the Houston Heights community, will take place Nov. 1.

14 Nando’ s Pe ri-Peri The South African restaurant specializes in flame-grilled chicken marinated for 24 hours. The new venue will offer indoor seating for 84 guests and a patio that can seat another 34 diners. • 1111 Westheimer Road, Houston • Opening in mid-2025 • www.nandosperiperi.com

• 107 W. 12th St., Houston • www.houstonheights.org

Relocations

19 Dandelion Cafe The family-owned Houston restaurant includes a wrap-around coffee bar, a shaded patio and a number of private rooms for rent. Menu items include chicken and waffles, breakfast tacos, avocado toast, housemade biscuits and jam, french toast and pancakes. • Opened Sept. 17 • 611 W. 22nd St., Ste. 1B, Houston • www.dandelionhouston.com

15 Bare N ece ssities Spa The spa reopened in a new location after a fire in 2023 forced the Montrose business to close. With seven treatment rooms and a dedicated spray tan room, the business specializes in Brazilian waxing, custom facials and massages with aromatherapy. • Relocated in September • 3800 Southwest Freeway, Ste. 108, Houston • www.bnwax.com

18 State of G race The American restaurant underwent renovations, including a new menu with highlights such as blue crab beignets, a 42-ounce steak, veal chop schnitzel and smoked ricotta tortaloni. The interior design changed from a modern, country style to rich green walls, chandeliers, candles, artwork and ornate antiques. • 3258 Westheimer Road, Houston • www.stateofgracetx.com

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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

Transportation

BY CASSANDRA JENKINS, HALEY MCLEOD, HANNAH NORTON

Houston to rename bikeway in honor of late city planner Pat Walsh Houston city officials are preparing to rename an existing bikeway in Montrose in honor of late planning director Patrick Walsh. The full story Walsh died in 2018 after serving as Houston’s Planning and Development Department director for four years. During his tenure, Walsh led the adoption of Plan Houston, the city’s first general plan. In 2017, he was also responsible for the first update to the Houston Bike Plan in almost 25 years. Now, a 0.8-mile bikeway is in the process of being renamed in Walsh’s honor. The segment of Woodhead Street from Vassar Street to Westheimer Road is on track to be renamed the Pat Walsh Bikeway. The route is

TxDOT issues $123M for public transit The Texas Department of Transportation approved $123 million for public transit initiatives July 30, adding to another $33 million previously approved by the agency. Funding was allocated to rural transit districts; however, transportation entities across the Austin, Houston and San Anto- nio areas will also receive funding. The details The funding will help transit agencies: • Construct or improve public transit facilities and fund over 150 new buses for older fleets • Increase long-distance connections between rural and urban metropolitan areas along 15 routes across the state • Increase the quality of services

E S T H EIMER RD.

Montrose

ALABAMA ST.

Pat Walsh Bikeway

RICHMOND AVE.

VASSAR ST.

SOURCE: HOUSTON PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

almost completely within Montrose and passes the neighborhood where Walsh lived at the time of passing and where his family still resides, according to Let’s Talk Houston, the city’s planning and development department’s online engagement platform. The Bicycle Advisory Committee will vote on the proposal Oct. 23. If approved, it will go to Houston City Council for a final vote.

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Real estate

Total home sales dropped in three of five local ZIP codes when comparing data from August 2024 with August 2023. Only six homes sold in 77098. Residential market data

Number of homes sold

August 2023

August 2024

-48.39%

+3.03%

-23.26%

+20%

-70%

610

77008

77006

77007

77008

77019

77098

77007

Median home sales price

77019

August

2023

2024

77006

77098

$490,000 $503,000 $570,000 $749,000 $652,540

$687,500 $521,950 $602,125 $632,500 $487,500

77006

288

77007

Homes sold by price point

77008

77019

August 2024

77098

$1 million+

$750,00-$999,999

Average days on market

$500,000-$749,999

+86.67%

+40.91%

+80.95%

+116.67%

-31.37%

$250,000-$499,999

<$249,999

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

HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

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Government

BY SHAWN ARRAJJ & CASSANDRA JENKINS

TIRZ includes funds to renovate Montrose library As work continues on a new Montrose library, members of the Montrose Tax Increment Rein- vestment Zone signaled willingness at an Aug. 19 meeting to fund improvements at the existing Freed-Montrose Neighborhood Library. What happened W. MAIN ST.

Agreement reached with labor union Houston Mayor John Whitmire has reached a tentative agreement with the Houston Organization of Public Employees Local 123 Union. Whitmire announced the terms of the new three-year contract Sept. 23. • The city’s minimum wage will increase from $15 to $18 over the next two years • First-years will see a $3,000 increase • A 3.5% raise in 2025 and 2026 for workers Next steps The agreement will need to be approved by the majority of HOPE members and by Houston City Council’s Labor Committee before appearing before the full council. If approved, the contract will go into effect immediately.

By a vote of 5-1, Montrose TIRZ board members approved the TIRZ’s 2024-25 budget and 2024-28 Capital Improvements Plan at the Aug. 19 meeting. Projects in the CIP include spending $11.5 million on the renovation of the Freed-Montrose library at 4100 Montrose Blvd., Houston. The plan envisions the TIRZ spending $1 million on the ren- ovations in the 2024-25 fiscal year and just under $2.63 million in each of the four years after that. Sanjay Bapat, a partner with the law firm Allen Boone Humphries Robinson LLC, which provides legal advice to the TIRZ board, said the funds going toward the library in the CIP are not set in stone. “If we do spend money on a study related to the

library or architectural plans, ... it will come back to this board for approval with more details,” he said at the Aug. 19 meeting. Moving forward TIRZ officials said they were instructed by the city in May to include the Freed-Montrose library as a line item in the CIP, but have not been told what the funding would actually cover. The $11.5 million cost could be split with the Houston Public Library system or another TIRZ, officials said. The library is located within the boundaries of the Midtown TIRZ.

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Election

BY SHAWN ARRAJJ

Voter Guide

2024

Dates to know

Where to vote

Oct. 21: First day of early voting Oct. 25: Last day to apply for ballot by mail (received, not postmarked) Nov. 1: Last day of early voting Nov. 5: Election Day and the last day to receive ballot by mail (or Nov. 6 if carrier envelope is postmarked by 7 p.m. at location of election on Election Day)

Harris County residents can cast their ballots at any polling location during early voting and on Election Day. Visit www.harrisvotes.com for polling locations.

Only candidates in contested elections are included. Go to county election websites for information on uncontested races.

KEY: D Democrat G Green L Libertarian R Republican *Incumbent

NOTE: CANDIDATES ARE LISTED IN BALLOT ORDER.

Texas Supreme Court justice, Place 6 R Jane Bland* D Bonnie Lee Goldstein L J. David Roberson Texas Court of Criminal Appeals presiding judge R David J. Schenck D Holly Taylor Texas Court of Criminal Appeals judge, Place 7 R Gina Parker D Nancy Mulder Texas Court of Criminal Appeals judge, Place 8 R Lee Finley D Chika Anyiam Texas Senate, District 6 R Martha Fierro D Carol Alvarado* Texas Senate, District 15 R Joseph L. Trahan D Molly Cook* Texas Senate, District 17 R Joan Huffman* D Kathy Cheng Texas House, District 134 R Audrey Douglas D Ann Johnson* Texas House, District 147 R Claudio Gutierrez D Jolanda Jones*

Harris County Criminal Court No. 16 judge R Linda Garcia D Ashley Mays Guice Harris County Probate Court No. 5 judge R Ray Black Jr.

Sample ballot

Federal elections President R Donald J. Trump D Kamala D. Harris L Chase Oliver G Jill Stein U.S. Senate R Ted Cruz* D Colin Allred L Ted Brown U.S. Congress, District 7 R Caroline Kane D Lizzie Fletcher* U.S. Congress, District 18 R Lana Centonze D Sylvester Turner U.S. Congress, District 38 R Wesley P. Hunt* D Melissa McDonough State elections Texas railroad commissioner

D Fransheneka “Fran” Watson Harris County district attorney

R Dan Simons D Sean Teare Harris County sheriff R Mike Knox D Ed Gonzalez* Harris County tax assessor-collector R Steve Radack D Annette Ramirez Harris County Department of Education, At-Large Place 3 R Danielle Dick D Richard Cantu* Harris County commissioner, Precinct 1 R Gerry Vander-Lyn D Rodney Ellis* Houston ISD, Proposition A A $3.96B bond referendum in support of building and renovating school buildings Houston ISD, Proposition B A $440M bond referendum in support of upgrading technology infrastructure Harris County Flood Control District, Proposition A Allowing the Harris County Flood Control District to increase its property tax rate from $0.03105 to $0.04897 per $100 of valuation

R Christi Craddick* D Katherine Culbert L Hawk Dunlap G Eddie Espinoza Texas Supreme Court justice, Place 2 R Jimmy Blacklock* D DaSean Jones Texas Supreme Court justice, Place 4 R John Devine* D Christine Vinh Weems

Local elections Harris County attorney

R Jacqueline Lucci Smith D Christian D. Menefee*

SOURCES: HARRIS COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE, TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

Election

BY SHAWN ARRAJJ

BY CASSANDRA JENKINS

KEY: D Democrat R Republican *Incumbent

Texas House of Representatives, District 147

If elected, what would your top priorities be during the 2025 legislative session? I want to fight for appropriations that will benefit the district; remove any obstacles to hiring and creating businesses; a secure border

What should the Texas Legislature work on with regards to public school funding? Revisit public funds for universities sitting on multibillion dollar endowments that don’t grow the sizes of their freshman classes. [Texas A&M University], [University of Texas], [University of Houston] ... their tuition has increased threefold. Freshman classes haven’t grown threefold. ... If they don’t start using their endowments, then they should stop receiving public funds. College education is a … The constitution and state statutes require Texas to fully fund public education. We should ensure every child has a free, quality public education. I vehemently oppose private school vouchers and fought successfully to stop Gov. [Greg] Abbott’s voucher [program] in past sessions. Our public taxes should not pay for private schools.

How will you involve people in decision-making processes to ensure transparency? Advocating for our community means understanding our needs. I have prioritized partnering with city and county leaders, and organizations, and communicating directly with constituents, meeting regularly with them in Washington and Houston. I send a weekly email newsletter during session weeks designed to inform and engage our community.

U.S. Congress, District 7

Why are you running for election to District 7?

Representing Texas’ Seventh Congressional District is an honor and a privilege. I am proud of the work I have done for our community and country since 2019, but there is much more work to do to ensure progress, equality and opportunity for all Americans.

Claudio Gutierrez Occupation & experience: engineer; has owned a project management firm for almost a decade; former precinct chair for Precinct 0030 https://claudio4texas.com

Lizzie Fletcher* Occupation & experience: member of Congress, Texas’ Seventh Congressional District, since 2019; lawyer www.lizziefletcher.com

As the mother of a Black son and aunt of Black nephews, police reform is a very important issue I’ve been fighting for, for over three decades. Also, Texas must expand Medicaid, restoring health insurance for millions of Texans. And I will fight to get the [Texas Education Agency] out of HISD.

Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.

Jolanda Jones* Occupation & experience: Texas state representative, District 147; attorney; former at-large Houston City Council member; former Houston ISD trustee www.jolandajones.com

Caroline Kane Occupation & experience: Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time. www.carolinekaneforcongress.com

Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity. For more election coverage, go to www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.

HOUSTON SUPERSTORE 2410 Smith Street (713) 526-8787

SHEPHERD 1900 S Shepherd (713) 529-4849

WESTCOTT AND MEMORIAL 5818 Memorial Dr (713) 861-4161

Election

BY WESLEY GARDNER

KEY: D Democrat R Republican *Incumbent

What is the biggest issue the district is currently facing and how will you address it? Low voter turnout. Whether it is fully funding our schools, reducing gun violence or expanding Medicaid, the vision and values of Texas Senate District 15 will not be realized until we increase voter turnout and make changes to our statewide leadership.

Texas Senate, District 15

What is your top priority if elected?

Public health. Whether we are fighting for abortion access, safer transportation or to fully fund our public schools, every policy decision we make should be data-driven and rooted in the goal of uplifting vulnerable communities and promoting health.

Molly Cook * Occupation & experience: Texas state senator, District 15; [emergency room] nurse; community organizer, Yes on Prop B, Stop TxDOT I-45 www.mollyfortexas.com Joseph L. Trahan Occupation & experience: technology innovator, angel investor, community developer, citizen statesman, children’s charities for career readiness www.josephltrahan.com

End this criminal invasion at the border and fortify law enforcement to end this crime spree created by the woke agenda making Houston a quasi-sanctuary city.

The district is very diverse with parts needing jobs programs for high school graduates to make a living wage. Crime and drugs are common in certain districts harming our citizens, and the illegal alien invasion is putting a strain on all city and community services throughout. We are a city ...

Learn More

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Investing in infrastructure From the cover

BY CASSANDRA JENKINS & MELISSA ENAJE

Measuring the impact

Two-minute impact

If voters approve the flood control measure, Harris County homeowners with the county’s average property value of $379,030 and a home- stead exemption would see a $60 increase per year in annual taxes, according to the county’s Office of Management and Budget. The average property values in the Greater Houston Heights and Montrose neighborhoods are around $600,000, according to Zillow, a real estate marketplace company. The tax rate increase for a $600,000 home would be around $86.

If the tax rate increase passes, an additional $113 million would go directly into a dedicated maintenance fund supporting critical maintenance projects, staffing needs and new resident-focused communication initiatives.

Harris County voters will choose Nov. 5 whether to fund the Harris County Flood Control District’s proposed tax rate of $0.04897 per $100 of valuation, a nearly 58% tax rate increase from last year.

Major maintenance Among other maintenance needs in Harris County, flood control officials are leading 36 major maintenance projects that are either underway or planned. Estimated costs have not been calculated for 20 of those projects, and the remaining 16 cost a projected $20.8 million.

Precinct 2 Total projects: 11 Estimated cost: $1.9M (costs TBD for 8 projects) Precinct 1 Total projects: 9 Estimated cost: $6.8M (costs TBD for 4 projects) Precinct 3 Total projects: 8 Estimated cost: $6.8M (costs TBD for 3 projects) Precinct 4 Total projects: 8 Estimated cost: $5.3M (costs TBD for 5 projects)

Estimated tax increase per year

Property value

290

$300,000

+$47

99 TOLL

$379,030*

+$60

$500,000

+$79

$700,000

+$110

99 TOLL

610

149

GALVESTON BAY

$900,000

+$142

$1,000,000

+$158

SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCES: HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, HARRIS COUNTY OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET/COMMUNITY IMPACT *COUNTY AVERAGE

One more thing

Staying informed

Oct.

Oct. 7: Last day to register to vote

Houston has not increased taxes in nearly two decades. In the last 10 years, the city’s tax rate has decreased from $0.6388 per $100 valuation to $0.5191 per $100 valuation, according to the city’s website. “The residents have seen the benefits of having a lower tax bill, but the flipside of that is the impact to city services,” Dubowski said. “Yes, you’ve had a lower bill, but your services have been impacted as well.” Meanwhile, Houston ISD has a $4.4 billion bond package on the November ballot, although district officials said the bond will not require a tax rate increase. The bond focuses largely on upgrading and improving more than 270 campuses throughout the district. The most significant improvements at local schools include a partial renovation at Pin Oak Middle School. Almost every other school would see security upgrades and heating, ventilation and/ or air conditioning improvements.

Taxpayers within the city of Houston could also see increases in their annual bills. Houston city officials are considering raising the property tax rate for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Houston City Council is expected to vote in October to adopt a new tax rate that could reflect a 3- to 6-cent increase per $100 of valuation to cover the costs accrued from Hurricane Beryl and the May derecho. Finance Director Melissa Dubowski said the city can use a disaster exception that would allow it to surpass the state revenue cap and raise property taxes without going to the polls for voter approval. The council has until Oct. 28 to decide if it will raise taxes for fiscal year 2024-25. However, city officials have also discussed going to the voters in a future election cycle to raise taxes above the locally imposed revenue cap to expand city services without cutting from the budget.

Oct. 9: Houston City Council hosts tax rate public hearing Oct. 16-17: Virtual Harris County Flood Control District open houses on tax rate increase Oct. 21: Early voting starts Oct. 28: Houston City Council votes on tax rate Nov. 5: Election Day

Nov.

SOURCES: CITY OF HOUSTON, HOUSTON ISD, HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Events

BY ASIA ARMOUR

• Free (admission) • 2473 Winter St., Houston • www.sawyeryards.com

October

Bayou City Art Festival The annual festival at Memorial Park showcases the work of 300 artists across 19 different art categories. Other entertainment in 2024 includes live music, a stilt- walker show, a hula hoop show and group yoga. • Oct. 11-13, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. • $18 (adults), $5 (children ages 6-12), free (children under six), $75-$150 (VIP) ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ Celebrate the return of the historic River Oaks Theatre by attending a screening of the 1975 film “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” The event is paired with a burlesque show from local group The Sisterhood of Lili St Cyr. • Oct. 18, 11:59 p.m. • $20 • 2009 W. Gray St., Houston • www.theriveroakstheatre.com • 6800 Memorial Drive, Houston • www.bayoucityartfestival.com The Silos Open Art Studios Meet with Houston artists at The Silos at Sawyer Yards as their studios and galleries are on display. • Oct. 19, noon-5 p.m.

All Treats No Tri cks Mixer & Market The Brunch! organization hosts this mixer and small business vendor market at Pitch 25 Beer Garden for Halloween. The event features free indoor pilates, a costume contest, music, drinks and brunch. This event is family- and pet-friendly.

• Oct. 26, 2-6 p.m. • Free (admission) • 2120 Walker St., Houston • www.thebrunchofficial.com

November

2024 Korean Festival Houston This event hosted by the Korean-American Society of Houston at Discovery Green Park celebrates Korean culture through immersive dance presentations, K-pop shows, cuisine and interactive games. • Oct. 12-13, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. • Free (admission), $60 (one-day VIP pass) • 1500 McKinney St., Houston • www.kfesthouston.com

Wine & Chees e P airing with the Houston Dairymaids

The Texas Wine School hosts students for this wine class, where participants will learn about how cheese is made as well as different styles and serving techniques. Attendees will then pair various cheeses with six different types of wine. • Nov. 7, 7-9 p.m. • $95

• 2301 Portsmouth St., Houston • www.thetexaswineschool.com

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Community

BY CASSANDRA JENKINS

Houston Coee Collective seeks to boost city’s coee scene A volunteer group called the Houston Coee Collective is aiming to bring dierent opportunities to the city’s coee scene. The overview The Collective is a volunteer group that hosts monthly social events related to coee, provides a number of community resources and helps local coee shops with visibility. Charlie McIntyre, director of coee for the New Heights Coee Roasters, said the Collective was essential in helping him open his rst coee shop in the area. “The Houston Coee Collective really brought us into the community,” he said. “We didn’t have that much in terms of engagement because no one knew about us. They helped bridge that gap. That’s what eventually led us to taking over our new space and opening my rst shop.” Looking ahead Asia Anderson, acting executive director of com- munity culture for the Collective, said the organiza- tion is looking to take its volunteerism to the next level by getting its nonprot designation in 2025. Having a nonprot designation, Anderson said, would make it easier for the group to apply for grants, get sponsorships and form partnerships. Col- lective ocials want to expand beyond events and local contests to add a barista education program, create a scholarship program and participate in global competitions. Learn more about the group at www.htxcoeecollective.com.

The Houston Coee Collective helped Charlie McIntyre open his rst coee shop, New Heights Coee Roasters.

CASSANDRA JENKINSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

The Houston Coee Collective hosted an event in 2023 to support local coee shops and bookstores.

The Houston Coee Collective aims to help local coee shops with visibility and engagement.

COURTESY HOUSTON COFFEE COLLECTIVE

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