Bellaire - Meyerland - West University | November 2024

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Bellaire Meyerland West University Edition VOLUME 6, ISSUE 7 NOV. 5DEC. 3, 2024

Shifting focus

Riders board a METRO bus at the Bellaire Transit Center on Oct. 8. METRO ocials said increasing ridership on local bus routes is a priority for the 202425 scal year.

SHAWN ARRAJJCOMMUNITY IMPACT

METRO’s $1.9B FY 202425 budget prioritizes increasing ridership, improving services

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.”

improve transit services and enhance public safety. Brock said the board intends to use this budget to shift the focus of the transit authority away from its current status as a “needed” mode of transporta- tion to one that people would “want” to use. “We want to build up our ridership so that people

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,

CONTINUED ON 10

Also in this issue

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Impacts: New indoor pickleball facility opens near Bellaire—learn about The Pickleball Spot (Page 4)

Community: Check out local farmers markets and artisan markets in the area (Page 14)

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Impacts

off apparel, accessories, beauty items, home items and shoes from brands sold at Nordstrom stores. • Opened Sept. 26 • 100 Meyerland Plaza, Houston • www.nordstromrack.com 5 Hi, Sk in The customizable skincare studio is known for its noninvasive treatment options, such as dermaplaning, microdermabrasion, oxygen therapy and peel infusions. Other treatment options include sculpting, lymphatic facials, microneedling and chemical peels. • Opened Oct. 1 • 5425 Kelvin Drive, Houston • www.hiskin.care 6 Ring Concierge 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

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

3 6

E .

12C

West University Place

KELVIN DR.

HERMANN PARK

ELMST.

UNIVERSITY BLVD.

12A

W. HOLCOMBE BLVD.

Bellaire

BUFFALO SPEEDWAY

610

288

MEYERLAND PLAZA

BEECHNUT ST.

12B

Meyerland

HELIX PARK AVE.

BRAYS BAYOU

14 11

S. POST OAK RD.

Coming soon

7 Fizz Nai l Lounge The Houston nail spa will offer manicures, pedicures, waxing and lash extensions. Nail enhancements—such as soft gel technology gel-x, dip powder and acrylics— will also be offered. • Opening first quarter 2025 • 8845 W. Loop 610 S., Ste. B, Houston • www.fizznaillounge.com 8 Connec t H ighstar The four-story, 77-unit housing project is being developed by Connect Community, a nonprofit community development organization. The project will also include a 9,000-square-foot Textile Lab & Entrepreneurship Center, which will offer manufacturing, production and business development support. • Opening spring 2025

• Opened Oct. 16 • 6400 Bissonnet St., Houston • www.bcm.edu

Now open

1 The Pic kleball Spot The new indoor pickleball facility offers open play, events and tournaments. The facility features three indoor pickleball courts and two large skills training areas. • Opened Sept. 7 • 5310 Elm St., Houston • www.thepickleballspottx.com 2 Baylor Tee n Heal th Clinic The free clinic provides free and confidential primary and reproductive preventive services for Harris County adolescents and young adults between ages 13-24. Services include gynecological services, birth control and family planning, primary health care and immunizations, among others.

3 S kim s 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 4 N ordst rom Rack The fashion retailer occupies the former Best Buy location in the Meyerland Plaza. Guests can shop at the 34,000-square-foot store, which offers up to 70%

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9 Sherry an d Jim Smith Engineering, Sci- ence and Nursing Complex The new $60 million building at Houston Christian University will provide a consolidated space for science laboratories, classrooms, instructional and simulation labs, makerspace learning environments, and faculty and administrative offices. It will cater to students seeking jobs in data science, statistics, cybersecurity, computer science, registered nursing and kinesiology. • Opening fall 2026 • 7502 Fondren Road, Houston • www.hc.edu

Medical Center’s Helix Park, according to filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Potbelly offers sandwiches, soups, salads and desserts. • 7255 Helix Park Ave., Houston • www.potbelly.com 12 H -E -B The grocer launched tap-to-pay services across all its Texas stores in October, allowing customers to make quick, contactless payments using digital wallets such as Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay. Customers can use tap-to-pay at registers, self-checkout lanes, H-E-B restaurants and H-E-B pharmacies.

Coming soon

• A 5106 Bissonnet St., Bellaire • B 4955 Beechnut St., Houston • C 5225 Buffalo Speedway, Houston • www.heb.com

In the news

10 Housto n Fire Museum 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, as well as adding a private room for celebrations and an outdoor courtyard with an inflatable fire safety house. • 2403 Milam St., Houston • www.houstonfiremuseum.org

14 Ojo de Agua The Mexico City-born casual dining concept serves authentic Mexican and Mediterranean dishes, along with a beverage program that includes made-to- order juices, smoothies, teas, coffees and cocktails. A children’s menu will also be available as well as grab-and-go market items. • Opening in 2025

Closings

13 Bi g Lo ts The location on Kirby Drive is set to close in mid- November after the company announced a new wave of store closures in late September. The store will be holding a 25% off sale until it officially closes. • Closing mid-November • 8210 Kirby Drive, Houston • www.biglots.com

• 7255 Helix Park Ave., Houston • www.grupoojodeagua.com.mx

11 Potbelly Sa ndwich Shop The shop is slated to open in Houston at the Texas

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BELLAIRE - MEYERLAND - WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION

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Transportation

BY SHAWN ARRAJJ & CARSON WEAVER

Maintenance resumes on Poor Farm Ditch Workers with the Harris County Flood Control District resumed maintenance work Oct. 9 on the northern segment of Poor Farm Ditch between University Boulevard and Bissonnet Street in the city of West University Place. What’s happening Crews will work through November to replace concrete panels and patching areas of the slope- paved ditch, according to an Oct. 7 announcement from the city of West University Place. Work began at the intersection of Plumb and Edloe streets before progressing north to Sunset Boulevard. What readers should know A rolling work zone will be in place along Edloe while work is ongoing, but will only be in effect during work hours. Traffic is expected to be reduced to one lane along small portions of Edloe

Expanded IAH terminal opens

Poor Farm Ditch maintenance area Work area

EDLOE ST.

BISSONNET ST.

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

PLUMB ST.

UNIVERSITY BLVD.

to allow room for construction vehicles and equip- ment, but Edloe will be fully open after workers finish each day, West U officials said. The recently finished Edloe Pathway—which runs from Georgetown Street to Albans Road—will remain open and safe to use during construction.

SOURCE: HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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BELLAIRE - MEYERLAND - WEST UNIVERSITY 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 single-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%

$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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Real estate

The total number of homes sold was down in four of five local ZIP codes when comparing data from September 2024 with September 2023. Residential market data

Number of homes sold

September 2023

September 2024

-35.29%

-15.79%

-25%

+12.5%

-26.67%

77005

77025

77030

77096

77401

77005

77401

77030

Median home sales price

77025

September

2023

2024

610

$1,615,050 $556,500 $775,374 $439,250 $1,248,000

$1,650,000

77005

77096

288

$522,100

77025

$1,035,000 $403,000 $989,430

77030

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

77096

77401

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BELLAIRE - MEYERLAND - WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION

Shifting focus From the cover

Diving in deeper

Two-minute impact

Key projects

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. Projects included bus stop enhancements, improved park and ride lots, new circulator routes and the implementation of three bus rapid transit, or BRT, lines. In June, METRO officials announced they would not proceed with the federal grant process for the University Corridor BRT line, arguing funding would be better spent elsewhere. As of Oct. 14, none of the $3.5 billion of bonded funds from METRONext has been used. Brock said the agency will focus on increasing ridership before taking another look at building new infrastructure. A METRONext BRT line serving the Gulfton area remains on track, with METRO waiting to hear back on a grant application, Brock said. She said it made sense to keep that project since it was smaller in cost and tied to a larger revitalization effort in Gulfton. METRO rider Courtney Winton said he uses the agency’s bus service to get from the Gulfton and Bellaire areas to Downtown Houston. He said he believes METRO should focus on services to help empower residents who rely on public transit. The shift in focus toward ridership is what METRO officials are referring to as METRONow. METRONow investments account for $173.4 million in the capital budget and will focus on three main priorities: providing cleaner buses, boosting service times and enhancing public safety. METRO aims to add 33 new police officers to patrol bus stations, 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.

METRONext

Although several bus rapid transit projects have been paused by the METRO board, the Gulfton Corridor BRT continues to move forward. Gulfton Corridor BRT

610

GULFTON ST.

B E LL A IR E B L V D .

HILLCROFT AVE.

The project creates a bus-only lane to improve speed and frequency of service in one of Houston’s most transit-dependent communities. Status: Grant application submitted Estimated cost: $200M-$300M

METRONow

FY 2024-25 expenditures

Operating budget: $980 million Capital budget: $598 million Debt service budget: $96 million General mobility program transfer*: $217 million

New buses to replace outdated vehicles and maintain high- frequency routes More police officers to patrol bus stations and accompany passengers An increased focus on service times, cleanliness and accessibility

Total $1.89B

*A CERTAIN PORTION OF METRO FUNDS ARE TRANSFERRED EACH YEAR TO FOUR HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCTS FOR GENERAL MOBILITY PROJECTS.

SOURCE: METRO/COMMUNITY IMPACT

A slow recovery METRO budget

By the numbers

METRO ridership

Other services Local bus services

$1.89B*

120M 90M 150M 60M 30M 0

$2B

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-pan- demic 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.

$1.50B

$1B

$.5B

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

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY SHAWN ARRAJJ & CASSANDRA JENKINS

Also of note

Going forward

METRO’s FY 2024-25 budget 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 a 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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BELLAIRE - MEYERLAND - WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION

Government

BY SHAWN ARRAJJ & CASSANDRA JENKINS

Sports Authority names Canetti as interim CEO

Bellaire approves plans for 6-story development Bellaire City Council approved the nal plan Oct. 7 for a six-story commercial development and oce building that will be built at the southwest corner of Bissonnet Street and West Loop 610. What you need to know Developer Bissonnet Street Ventures will develop the project, which will feature a parking garage and a building primarily for medical ser- vices. It will also feature a ground oor lobby with potential for retail or restaurant space, according to the presentation shared with council. Council approval came after architectural rm Project Luong submitted a number of amend- ments based on feedback from both council members and residents. Nine conditions were

Houston keeps same property tax rate 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 previous 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 eorts 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 Oce, 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 won’t be able to sell “tail and n” reworks, which typi- cally include skyrockets, missiles and bottle rockets, 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 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-

ers that HCHSA had become dicult to collaborate with and had “moved away from its core mission.” The HCHSA board is made up of 13 members conrmed 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

610

• Meeting the number of o-street parking spaces • Complying with the city’s tree ordinances More details Alec Luong from Project Luong promised during the meeting that the rm would see if it could save more trees along the driveway after citizens voiced concerns about the vegetation.

attached to the approval, including: • Having beautication elements

BUFFALO SPEEDWAY 9733 Buffalo Speedway (713) 838-7486

HOLCOMBE 2314 W Holcombe Blvd (713) 669-1722

WESLAYAN 3902 Bissonnet (713) 218-8144

Community

BY CASSANDRA JENKINS

Farmers markets

Hou st on

Houston

Bayou City Community Market The market features local produce, wagyu beef, baked goods, on-site prepared foods and artisan goods, among other products. The market hosts events to support the community, such as coat and school supply drives. • 10425 Hillcroft St., Houston • 9 a.m.- 1 p.m., every second and fourth Saturday of the month • www.bayoucitycommunitymarket.com Braeswood Farmers Market Braeswood Farmers Market vendors sell fresh locally- farmed produce, organic pasture-raised eggs, grass-fed wagyu beef and fresh prepared gourmet foods.

• 5501 Beechnut St., Houston • 9 a.m.-1 p.m., every Saturday • www.braeswoodfarmersmarket.com

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.

Urban Harvest Farmers Market All products at the Urban Harvest Farmers Market come from within 180 miles of Houston. It is one of the longest running markets in Houston and is the only one operated by a nonprot. Ocials are celebrating their 20th year of continuous operation.

• 2752 Buffalo Speedway, Houston • 8 a.m.-noon, every Saturday • www.urbanharvest.org/urban-harvest-farmers- market

• 2600 Navigation Blvd., Houston • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., every Sunday • www.eastendhouston.com/market

Market Square Park Farmers Market This new open-air farmers market spotlights local growers and makers, and provides access to seasonally fresh and aordable fruits, vegetables and prepared foods. There is also live music from local performers and other weekly entertainment. • 301 Milam St., Houston

Memorial Villages Farmers Market Market highlights include high-quality vendors, live music, food demonstrations and ample parking. It is also pet- friendly and child-friendly with a playground and children’s activities.

Rice Village Farmers Market The Rice Village Farmers Market hosts a variety of vendors who sell everything from locally sourced produce and grass-fed meat to neighborhood honey. • Kelvin Drive at Amherst Street, Houston • 9 a.m.-1 p.m., every irst and third Sunday of the month • www.rice-village.com/event/farmers-market This list is not comprehensive.

• 10840 Beinhorn Road, Houston • 9 a.m.-1 p.m., every Saturday • www.mvfarmersmarket.org

• 10 a.m.-2 p.m., every Saturday • www.downtownhouston.org/do/ market-square-park-farmers-market

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Events

BY ASIA ARMOUR

Par for Pets The Houston Humane Society hosts this 34th annual golf tournament at the Hermann Park Golf Course and raises funds for the organization’s initiatives, which impact more than 60,000 animals annually. • Nov. 8, 8 a.m. • $200-$8,000 (sponsorships); $10-$100 (raffle tickets) Bellaire Arts and Crafts Festival The Bellaire Culture and Arts Board restores this event at Paseo Park with over 75 local vendors, food, children’s activities and live music. • Nov. 9, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. • Free (admission) • Paseo Park, 5000 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire • www.bellairetx.gov • 2155 N. MacGregor Way, Houston • www.houstonhumane.org/golf Movie Night at Helix Park Guests can visit Texas Medical Center’s Helix Park for a screening of “Top Gun” while snacking on popcorn, candy and an assortment of drinks.

November

2024 Jewish Book & Arts Festival This 52nd annual book and arts festival at Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center celebrates the Jewish experience and cultural impact in the world. It features a book lovers lunch with Samantha Green Woodruff and a culinary hands-on class with Micah Siva. Attendees can choose between a full festival pass or a three-event subscription. • Through Nov. 16, times vary by event • $55-$175 • 5601 S. Braeswood Blvd., Houston • www.erjcchouston.org ‘The Year of Magical Thinking’ Main Street Theater in Rice Village kicks off its 2024- 25 season with a performance of the Joan Didion play adapted from her memoir. The one-woman play tells the story of the sudden and unexpected loss of Didion’s husband and the prolonged illness of her only daughter. • Through Nov. 17 (dates and times vary) • $15-$59 • Main Street Theater-Rice Village, 2540 Times Blvd., Houston • www.mainstreettheater.com

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

• Nov. 15, 6-8 p.m. • Free (admission) • 1885 Old Spanish Trail, Houston • www.helixpark.com

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BY ASIA ARMOUR

Dak & Bop’s garlic bread is made with herb cream, mascarpone, garlic butter and grated parmesan.

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Dak & Bop’s menu is a combination of Korean, Italian and Latin avors.

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Dak & Bop owner honors father’s legacy through food Jason Cho originally planned for his Korean fusion eatery Dak & Bop to help his father retire, he said. of in Greater Houston and one of the very few dining options in the Museum District.

Dak & Bop Owner Jason Cho reopened the restaurant in its original space in early 2024.

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Cho said he decided not to renew his lease at the original Dak & Bop on Binz Street in 2021 because of the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, but he reopened at the space earlier this year. “There’s a place in my heart for this spot because they’re the ones who gave me a chance,” Cho said. Craving Korean cuisine? Since fully reopening in February, Dak & Bop has fused Korean, Italian and Latin avors, and has added traditional Korean dishes to the menu’s mix. Aside from the double-fried full chicken wings, sig- nature items include loaded kimchi fries, and garlic bread stued with mascarpone cheese and herbs.

But when his father died before construction could begin on the restaurant, Cho said he began to reevaluate his motivations. He said the plan became much bigger than him and his family, and it widened his perspective to bring pride to Houston’s Korean community at-large. “I’ve always lived by this kind of mantra, which is you have to do it, because ... failure is like the audition to success,” Cho said. “I’d rather try and fail instead of having doubts about why I did not try.” The background When Dak & Bop originally opened in 2014, Cho said it was one of the rst Korean eateries he knew

1801 Binz St., Ste. 120, Houston www.dakandbop.com

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We’re thankful for our Village community.

This Thanksgiving, we want to take a moment to thank our wonderful community—both familiar faces and new ones—for making Rice Village a cherished landmark. Since 1938, Rice Village has blossomed into a vibrant hub in the heart of Houston, where traditions are celebrated, and memories are made. Through our community events, green spaces, and ongoing improvements, we continue to create a welcoming space where people can gather, shop, and enjoy.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Rice Village!

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