Heights - River Oaks - Montrose Edition | February 2026

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Heights River Oaks Montrose Edition VOLUME 7, ISSUE 11 FEB. 11MARCH 10, 2026

INSIDE

Dining events to feed Houston Food Bank

BY CASSANDRA JENKINS

Houston Food Bank

In scal year 202425, nearly 94,000 people volunteered at the Houston Food Bank. (Jamaal Ellis/ Community Impact)

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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

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Reporters Jovanna Aguilar Angela Bonilla Sarah Brager Ariel Buford Bradley Dountz Melissa Enaje Wesley Gardner Cole Gee Rachel Leland Emily Lincke Roo Moody Tomer Ronen

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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION

W. 34TH ST.

Impacts

W. 25TH ST.

290

610

20TH ST.

What’s next PERMITS FILED WITH THE TEXAS

DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION

W. 18TH ST.

T. C. JESTER BLVD.

7 Brunello Cucinelli The nearly 4,800 square-foot project will include the construction of new retail space in the River Oaks District. The boutique offers luxury men’s and women’s apparel, fragrances and eyewear, as well as select home decor. • 4444 Westheimer Road, Ste. F155, Houston • www.brunellocucinelli.com 8 Slowpokes The spot is known for its in-house roasted coffee and a menu with biscuits, croissants and bagels. According to TDLR, the shop will be under construction from

W. 11TH ST.

WHITE OAK BAYOU

WHITE OAK DR.

W. 6TH ST.

WHITE OAK PARK

WASHINGTON AVE.

TAYLOR ST.

MEMORIAL PARK

SAWYER ST.

EDWARDS ST.

W A S

February through August. • 3001 W. 11th St., Houston • www.slowpokeshtx.com

BUFFALO BAYOU PARK

BUFFALO BAYOU

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Relocations

610

W. GRAY ST.

9 Backstreet Cafe The veteran establishment along Shepherd Drive updated its reopening timeline from late 2025 to the summer of 2026. The new location is expected to be 6,600 square feet and include a second floor. • Reopening summer 2026 • 1201 S. Shepherd Drive, Houston • www.backstreetcafe.net 10 The Phoenix After 19 years of business, the brewery and pub will relocate to a new space off Richmond Avenue. Owner Vu Truong said the move was due to leasing issues. The new property will go through three rounds of renovations before fully opening in the next year. • Relocating this summer • 1643 Richmond Ave., Houston • www.phoenixow.com 11 Picos Restaurant After an outpouring of community support, the owners of the Mexican cuisine restaurant announced plans to relocate rather than shut down. The new location is still under consideration, with more details expected to be shared by early spring. The current location will continue to operate during the transition. • Opening late 2026 • 3601 Kirby Drive, Houston • www.picos.net

CALIFORNIA ST.

2 7

527

W. ALABAMA ST.

FARNHAM ST.

SUL ROSS ST.

RICHMOND AVE.

operators of the new saloon, which will take over the former space occupied by Space Cadet. • Opening in March

Now open

1 Pinkerton’s Barbecue The restaurant officially opened its third location with an Upper Kirby establishment. The menu features Texas-style pit barbecue, including slow-smoked brisket, pork ribs, sausage and chicken. • Opened Jan. 20 • 3801 Farnham St., Houston • www.pinkertonsbarbecue.com 2 Altuzarra With its first location in Houston, the River Oaks boutique specializes in luxury women’s clothing, handbags and other accessories. • Opened mid-November • 4444 Westheimer Road, Ste. C120, Houston • www.altuzarra.com PetSet This custom-built mobile spay-and-neuter clinic hit the streets in Houston in January to expand the nonprofit’s ability to bring preventative veterinary care to local neighborhoods.

• 4002 N. Main St., Houston • www.heydarlinsaloon.com

4 Exilio Latin Flair Bari Hospitality Group will debut this new restaurant concept in the Harlow District that will encompass a sophisticated Latin menu, warm ambiance and vintage

wine program. • Opening TBD • 2817 W. Dallas St., Bldg. C, Houston

5 Biscuit Belly Serving southern comfort food and homemade biscuits, the new breakfast and brunch concept is expected to open in the Heights area this fall as part of a larger expansion. • Opening fall 2026 • 3601 White Oak Drive, Houston • www.biscuitbelly.com 6 Blushington The luxury beauty brand confirmed the address of its first Houston lounge ahead of its spring 2026 opening date. It offers professional blowouts, makeup application and skincare services. • Opening spring 2026 • 3601 Westheimer Road, Houston • www.blushington.com

In the news

12 Archway Gallery Functioning as Texas’ longest-running, artist-owned gallery, the space is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. The celebration will include the launch of a new exhibit on April 11.

• Opened in January • www.pet-set.org

• 2305 Dunlavy St., Houston • www.archwaygallery.com

13 Menil Bookstore Officials with the popular art museum announced the on-campus Menil Bookstore will undergo renovations starting in spring 2026. The updated shop will feature

Coming soon

3 Hey Darlin’ Saloon James Cone and Derek Dobbins will be the owners and

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BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

16 Loft18 Located near Houston Heights, the sports bar and grill closed in January. In a statement, the owners said the closure was due to challenges such as an increase in crime and rising market costs. They hope to relocate to a new area in the future. • Closed Jan. 1 • 2313 Edwards St., Ste. 200, Houston • www.loft18.com 17 Graffiti Raw The all-day kitchen and bar owned by The Big Vibe Group closed on New Year’s Eve. The restaurant served dishes inspired by the Californian food scene. • Closed Dec. 31 • 1001 California St., Ste. 101, Houston 18 Fiori Known for being both a restaurant and a floral boutique, the establishment served authentic Italian cuisine. Chef Alessio Vitale said he was stepping back from the business to spend more time with his family. • Closed in October • 4315 Montrose Blvd., Houston • Instagram: @fiori_htx

an expanded interior, an enhanced backyard with shaded seating and public restrooms. • Renovations starting in spring

Now open

• 1533 Sul Ross St., Houston • https://bookstore.menil.org

Closings

14 Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille In a Jan. 9 announcement, the River Oaks staple announced its impending closure. Restaurant officials said the decision was caused by a contractual dispute with the restaurant’s landlord. Perry’s offered high-end steak and seafood options. • Closed Jan. 24 15 Kazzan Ramen and Bar Known for its variety of ramen options and cocktails, the Heights location closed on Jan. 24 after operating on Heights Boulevard for almost two years. Restaurant representatives did not provide a reason for the closure. • Closed Jan. 24 • 1997 W. Gray St., Houston • www.perryssteakhouse.com

19 The Hat Chick Owner Leslie Kuhn opened her first storefront for this custom design and hat business in November after running an online store for a few years. The shop sells a variety of hats, accessories, jewelry, belts and bags. The business also offers private events for weddings, fundraisers and corporate events. • Opened Nov. 28 • 3607 White Oak Drive, Houston • www.thehatchick.com

• 191 Heights Blvd., Houston • www.kazzanramenhtx.com

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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

Election Voter Guide

2026

Dates to know

Where to vote

Feb. 17: First day of early voting Feb. 20: Last day to apply for ballot by mail (received, not postmarked) Feb. 27: Last day of early voting March 3: Election day and the last day to receive a ballot by mail (or March 4 if carrier envelope is postmarked by 7 p.m. at location of election)

Harris County residents can cast their ballots at any polling location during early voting or 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 R Republican *Incumbent

NOTE: CANDIDATES ARE LISTED IN BALLOT ORDER

County Judge R George Harry Zoes R Orlando Sanchez R Aliza Dutt R Warren A. Howell

D Melissa McDonough D Marvalette Hunter D Theresa Courts Local elections County Clerk R Mike Wolfe R Lynda Sanchez D Teneshia Hudspeth* District Clerk R Chris Daniel D Darrell Jordan, Jr.

Sample ballot

Federal elections US House, District 7 R Tina Cohen R Alexander Hale R Erin M. Montgomery R Alexander Z. Kalai D Lizzie Pannill Fletcher* US House, District 38 R Jeff Yuna R Michael Pratt R Craig Goralski R Jennifer Sundt R Jon Bonck R Barrett McNabb R Larry Rubin R Shelly Dezevallos R Avery Ayers R Carmen Maria Montiel

R Oscar Gonzales R Marty Lancton D Matt Salazar D Letitia Plummer D Annise Parker Department of Education, Place 7 R Beverly Barrett R Denise Dick

D Angie Dozier D Carlis Lollie D Pernell Davis

R Madison Guillory D Silky Joshi Malik County Attorney

D Desiree Broadnax D Donna G. Glover

R Jacqueline Lucci Smith D Audrie Lawton Evans D Abbie Kamin

D Roslyn “Rozzy” Shorter D Jose “Alex” Maldonado

SOURCE: TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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BUSINESS UPDATES

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BY CASSANDRA JENKINS, TOMER RONEN & JESSICA SHORTEN

KEY: D Democrat R Republican

What do you feel are major challenges facing the oce currently? Harris County Attorney

What do you see as the greatest challenge for Texas in the next 5 years? US House, District 7

Abbie Kamin Occupation & experience: Civil rights attorney; Houston Council member; chair, Houston Public Safety Committee; chair, Houston Labor Committee 713-701-9006

Erin Montgomery Occupation & experience: Funeral director, operations director and community leader/ volunteer https:// erinmontgomeryforcongress.com/

Tina Cohen Occupation & experience: Tx-07 mother, resident and business owner, manufacturing, worldwide shipping, home builder, remodeling, manage rental properties 713-783-1500

I will work to strengthen the County Attorney’s Oce to operate transparently, ethically, and eectively; expand access for residents and neighborhoods; increase the capacity to respond quickly when Harris County is under attack; and reform our systems to protect vulnerable adults and children from exploitation and abuse.

We must address the harm done to our industries under the previous administration and refocus on productivity and growth. It is time to get back to work—revitalizing our oil elds, advancing medical research and fostering the creation and support of small businesses across the state.

Republicans need to focus on parents’ rights, illegal immigration, law enforcement and scal responsibility.

Audrie Lawton Evans Occupation & experience: Civil court judge, senior trial attorney State of Texas, assistant general counsel, assistant attorney general 832-324-5763

Alexander Hale Occupation & experience: Energy and chemicals consultant (Alvarez & Marsal), AEI, U.S. Senate, Patriot Capital 713-487-6231

Alexander Z. Kalai Occupation & experience: CFO and EVP of Amarapex; chaired a US Department of Commerce trade mission to the UAE https://kalaifortexas.com

Managing explosive growth while maintaining reliable infrastructure—especially our power grid and water systems. Texas added more people than any state, but our infrastructure hasn’t kept pace. We need massive investment in grid reliability and water security before the next crisis hits.

Harris County faces unprecedented attacks from state ocials undermining local authority, limited resources amid expanding environmental and voting rights litigation, and the need for trial-ready capacity to defeat well-funded opponents, while supporting a growing advisory workload for county operations and proactive litigation.

Candidate’s answer did not meet the required guidelines, and the candidate requested their answers not be edited.

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.

HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION

Election

KEY: D Democrat R Republican

US House, District 38

How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process?

Jeff Yuna Occupation & experience: Proven entrepreneur, small business owner, 6th gen Texan, minister, family man, experienced leader, community supporter 281-886-9996

Michael Pratt Occupation & experience: Officer, U.S. Marine Corps, business leader at Compaq & HP, 3-term President, Tomball ISD Board www.prattfortexas.com

Craig Goralski, JD Occupation & experience: 43 years in public safety, including school safety, law enforcement, legislation, financial management and public administration 713-459-4667

I run the most accessible and transparent campaign in Texas’s 38th Congressional District. Every voter has direct access to my personal cell phone number (281- 886-9996) for questions or concerns, and anyone is welcome to stop by my store (Tomball Pawn & Jewelry at 14011 FM 2920, Tomball) anytime to …

As the only publicly elected officeholder, I’ve earned a reputation for respecting parents and taxpayers by staying present, accountable, and engaged. I’ll keep listening, living in TX-38, holding town halls, attending community events, and meeting with constituents because real accountability means showing up, listening, and staying accessible.

I will keep lines of communication open with my constituents and attend local events on a regular basis. I will consider feedback from our constituents when making decisions.

Jon Bonck Occupation & experience: Mortgage banker www.jonbonck.com

Barrett McNabb Occupation & experience: CEO, retired army infantry officer, 82nd airborne paratrooper, two bronze star medals, successful business leader 713-301-8376

Melissa McDonough Occupation & experience: Realtor/ broker (30 yrs), finance, volunteer legislative lobbyist (20 yrs, 50 bills) www.melissaforcongress.com

I am rooted in this community through my family, church, and business. Listening to people in Texas 38 is part of my daily life. I will stay accessible, engaged, and accountable, and take the voices of this district with me to Washington.

I will spend as much time as possible in the district, not inside the Washington beltway, meeting with Republican grassroots clubs and holding regular town halls. I will also use secure digital tools to poll constituents on key issues, ensuring my votes reflect the district’s will and values.

If you’re old enough to vote, work, and pay taxes, you deserve a voice in shaping policy. I will use digital town halls, social media feedback, and issue-based working groups to engage all people year-round. My staff will reflect the district’s diversity, and I welcome everyone’s active participation.

Marvalette Hunter Occupation & experience: Architect, planner, real estate developer with over 20 years’ experience, housing, economic development, and finance www.marvalettehunter.com

Theresa Courts Occupation & experience: I am a veteran, an educator, and a mother ready to fight for everyday families www.courtsforcongress.com

clarity. For more election coverage, go to www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.

I will stay accountable and transparent year-round by holding regular town halls, sharing clear updates, and maintaining open, accessible channels for constituents. By listening to residents and acting on their input, I will ensure community voices guide my work in Congress.

In Congress, I will work for the people of the district. Establishing an advisory committee of community members from all walks of life will keep the needs of the community centered in our work. Hosting town halls and community meetings throughout the year to meet constituents where they are at.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY MELISSA ENAJE & JESSICA SHORTEN

Harris County Judge

What are your top three priorities for constituents in Harris County, and why?

George Harry Zoes Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.

Orlando Sanchez Occupation & experience: Former Houston City Council & County treasurer, board member Capital Bank & HCA Hospital Northwest www.orlandosanchez.com

Aliza Dutt Occupation & experience: Mayor of Piney Point Village, leading energy analyst on Wall Street, living the American Dream www.teamdutt.com

Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.

Cut property taxes because as we’ve all seen our tax dollars are wasted. Create a public safety district that would allow any of more than 12,000 law enforcement officers in our region to respond to emergency calls. Use the flood control bond money approved by voters to address flooding.

Supporting law enforcement officers and first responders is critical for the safety of our families, homes, and businesses. Additionally, with over 5 million residents, reliable infrastructure is a top priority—from roads to drainage systems. We will achieve both goals by empowering local authorities to solve issues closest to them.

Warren A. Howell Occupation & experience: Business owner, construction executive, commercial insurance/ risk manager, Air Force veteran, civic association president www.warrenhowell.info

Oscar Gonzales Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.

Patrick “Marty” Lancton Occupation & experience: President of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association www.lanctonforharriscounty.com

Restore public safety and rule of law by strengthening coordination across agencies, supporting law enforcement and fixing bottlenecks in courts and jail capacity. Stop waste and restructure county operations with a full audit of departments, contracts, payroll classifications and procurement—then cut what doesn’t serve core duties. Rebuild basic infrastructure and ...

Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.

Reducing crime, improving public safety, infrastructure including flood control, and capital improvements that directly improve safety and quality of life. These are my priorities because Harris County MUST focus on solving problems, not growing bureaucracy.

Matt Salazar Occupation & experience:

Letitia Plummer Occupation & experience: Practicing dentist, small business owner, former Houston City Council member, and community nonprofit founder www.drletitiaplummer.com

Annise Parker Occupation & experience: Houston mayor, controller, and council member. Managed multi-billion- dollar budgets; led emergency response during ... www.anniseparker.com

Entrepreneur, workforce employer, economic policy and community development advocate www.votemattsalazar.com

My first priority is a zero-based, accurate budget so every dollar is justified. That foundation allows three priorities to function: public safety and disaster readiness, economic mobility and government accountability. Without honest numbers, even good ideas fail to deliver.

I will prioritize justice by expanding Cite and Release and non-police emergency responses. I’ll establish a County Housing Trust Fund for permanent affordability and hold landlords accountable. Finally, I will aggressively fund Harris Health clinics in underserved communities and expand behavioral health services to address the root causes of community …

Flood infrastructure resilience; emergency preparedness; and affordability for working families. Next is access to healthcare. These issues directly affect safety, stability and quality of life, and require coordinated planning, disciplined budgeting and accountability. Overlaying all these is the imperative to protect Harris County from attacks by Abbott, Paxton, and Trump.

HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

Government

Education

BY SARAH BRAGER & EMILY LINCKE

BY WESLEY GARDNER

HISD survey shows confidence in the district is steadily rising

610 $16M flood prevention project set for Turkey Gully Flooding is expected to be reduced for up to 238 homes and businesses located near Turkey Gully after Houston City Council voted on Jan. 14 to expedite a drainage and paving project. The full story According to city documents, the project will include: • Acquiring parcels of land for the project through dedication, purchase or condemnation 238 properties from flood risk in a 10-year storm event 171 properties from flood risk during a two-year storm event How residents will be impacted Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin said the Turkey Gully project is expected to save: 157 properties from flood risk in a 100-year storm event

HPD to hire 50 cadets The Houston Police Department secured three years of federal funding for a hiring initiative that will bring in 50 new cadets. The gist Houston City Council on Jan. 21 approved a $6.25 million federal grant with a nearly $2.1 million cash match from the city, according to agenda documents. The grant provides $125,000 per officer distributed across three years for 50 total recruits. Funding for the initiative is set for Houston’s fiscal year 2026-27 budget.

Houston ISD board managers reviewed the results of a new family survey that shows growing family confidence in their children’s education and the overall direction of the district. The details Matt Sawyer, HISD’s deputy chief of data and impact, presented the results of the survey to board managers at a Jan. 15 meeting. Sawyer said the results indicated improved feelings. HISD Superintendent Mike Miles touted the results of the survey in a Jan. 15 news release. “These results reflect the hard work of our educators, staff and school leaders who are com- mitted to student success every single day,” Miles said in the news release. “Families are seeing real improvement in their schools and across HISD.” A closer look Sawyer said the survey was sent out to around 104,700 families and included responses from

more than 11,000 families from across the district, representing a roughly 25.7% response rate. Sawyer said the demographic breakdown of respondents closely resembled that of the district. Sawyer pointed to several key findings: • Roughly 84% of families would recommend their child’s school to other families • Around 79% of families believe their child’s school is improving • Roughly 67% of families believe HISD is improv- ing and headed in the right direction What’s next HISD officials said in the news release that they will use the survey findings to maintain quality instruction and identify opportunities for contin- ued acceleration and advancement. “We’re grateful for [the families’] confidence and will continue working to earn their trust,” Miles said in the news release.

Houston ISD parent satisfaction survey Superintendent Mike Miles said responses were taken from more than 11,000 families from across the district.

Favorable

Neutral

Unfavorable

I feel well informed about school events and activities.

I would recommend my child’s school to other families.

8.1% 84.1% 7.8%

4.8% 88.7% 6.4%

• Building a new storm trunk system to push water from Turkey Gully into White Oak Bayou • Improving storm drainage systems • Constructing new sidewalks, curbs, driveways, underground utilities and additional detention The Turkey Gully project is about 90% designed, and about $16 million has been secured for the project, per the agenda item. The project will start construction in the fall and last through 2028, according to the Engage Houston website.

W. 28TH ST.

Based on my child’s experience, I believe HISD is improving.

My child is learning as much as I expect.

HPD hiring program 3-year cost estimate

17.9% 67.2% 14.9%

5.6% 87.1% 7.3%

WHITE OAK BAYOU

W. 20TH ST.

Federal grant total $6.25M $2.08M City match total +

Total funding

NOTE: NOT ALL TOTALS EQUAL 100 PERCENT

SOURCE: HOUSTON ISD/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

W. 18TH ST.

$8.33M

SOURCES: CITY OF HOUSTON, ENGAGE HOUSTON/COMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: CITY OF HOUSTON/COMMUNITY IMPACT

HOUSTON SUPERSTORE 2410 Smith Street (713) 526-8787

SHEPHERD 1900 S Shepherd (713) 529-4849

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

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Transportation

BY CASSANDRA JENKINS

Upcoming project

MEMORIAL PARK

MEMORIAL DR.

WILLIA ST.

BUFFALO BAYOU

F E A G A N S T .

WOODWAY DR.

WESTHEIMER RD.

610

RIDGEWOOD ST.

1 Waugh Drive & Heights Boulevard Improvements Project Project: The project consists of installing new traffic signals, crosswalks, Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramps and updates to pavement marking and signage. Update: Houston City Council signed an interlocal agreement on Jan. 13 for design and construction. • Timeline: Q3-TBD • Cost: $1.4 million • Funding sources: Memorial Heights TIRZ, federal funding

2 Cherryhurst Sidewalk Improvements Project: The project aims to improve walkability to the bus stops on Westheimer Road and includes the construction of new 5-foot sidewalks, wheelchair ramps and driveways. Update: The TIRZ board received a bid for the project on Jan. 5. Construction is set to begin in February. • Timeline: February-July • Cost: $1.05 million • Funding source: Montrose Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone

3 Uptown Memorial Park Trail Project Project: The project will create a pedestrian and bicycle trail system that will connect Uptown to Memorial Park’s western edge, as well as a 350-foot suspension bridge over Buffalo Bayou, a 156-foot truss bridge and an elevated boardwalk. Update: Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026. • Timeline: 2026-2027 • Cost: $22 million • Funding sources: Texas Department of Transportation, federal grants

HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

Dining events to feed Houston Food Bank From the cover

What’s being done

Current situation

Stone said allowing the Houston Food Bank to be the sole beneciary of this year’s funds from Eat Drink HTX will hopefully help them to continue to “reach more areas and more people.” “We’re really lucky that we have the world’s largest food bank by distribution in Houston, which can reach more people on a daily basis,” she said. “Because of that impact, and because of how ecient they are, we decided to make them the sole beneciary.” Over the past 20 years, Houston Restaurant Weeks has raised approximately $22 million for the Houston Food Bank, which equates to about 66 million meals, according to the foundation’s website. Meanwhile, Eat Drink HTX, which is cel- ebrating its fth year in 2026, has raised $76,000. Voss said HRW is by far the food bank’s largest event and provides a “substantial” amount of money to the nonprot, as does Eat Drink HTX. “The funds we get from The Cleverley Stone Foundation support our general operating bud- get,” she said, “and these events are so successful that it’s something that we’ve come to depend on as a revenue stream for the Houston Food Bank.” The food bank’s operating budget goes toward several services, Voss said. In scal year 2024-25, its $436 million budget was able to provide 140 million meals across 18 counties, supply 14 million meals through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Pro- gram and feed 7 million children through dierent food bank programs. For comparison, the North Texas Food Bank, which is often seen as the next-largest distributor in Texas behind the Houston Food Bank, dis- tributed 116 million meals in FY 2024-25 with a roughly $200 million operating budget, according to the food bank’s annual report.

The proceeds for Eat Drink HTX, a two-week-long charity dining event in February, will go to the Houston Food Bank this year—a change from previous years when funds were split among two or more dierent nonprots. Ocials with Eat Drink HTX, the sister event to Houston’s largest annual foodie fundraiser, Houston Restaurant Weeks, made the announcement in early January. This year, 130 restaurants will participate in the program, with nearly 50% of participants located inside Loop 610. Katie Stone, president of The Cleverley Stone Foundation, which produces both Eat Drink HTX and HRW, said they chose the Houston Food Bank due to the recent nancial strain and challenges it experienced last year. The food bank saw major cuts in federal funding and basic agricultural products in 2025, as well as a 43-day government shutdown that aected funding. Julie Voss, chief development ocer for the Houston Food Bank, said the nonprot lost more than $11 million in federal funding last year, which equated to about 40 tractor- trailer loads of food, as well as the loss of some community support programs. However, Voss said in the wake of the federal funding cuts, she has seen the amount of philanthropic support increase, making up a “far larger” portion than it previously did. Fiscal year 2325 audited numbers The Houston Food Bank lost around $11 million in federal funding in 2025, but saw an increase in philanthropic funding.

Making an impact Houston Restaurant Weeks and Eat Drink HTX have raised over $22 million for the Houston Food Bank since 2003.

Cleverley Stone created HRW, and the one-week event yielded a $5,913 donation to Houston’s End Hunger Network

2003

HRW became a month-long event and donated $1.2 million to the Houston Food Bank

2012

Ocials extended HRW into September to help restaurants impacted by Hurricane Harvey, with a $2.5 million donation to the food bank

2017

The Cleverley Stone Foundation establishes Eat Drink HTX

2021

To date, HRW has raised $22 million , which equates to 66 million meals

2025

Government

Philanthropy

Other

SOURCE: HOUSTON RESTAURANT WEEKS COMMUNITY IMPACT

$18.67M

2022-23

$44.3M

$5.23M

$28.03M

2023-24

$48.22M

$17.57M

$24.56M

How it works

2024-25

$49.44M

Restaurant donation per meal sold

Meal prices

$5.75M

$10.58M

2025-26

Dinner ($25)

$1 donation

$44M

Eat Drink HTX will take place Feb. 15-28 across the Greater Houston area, with returning restau- rants in the Inner Loop, including local favorites such as Dandelion Cafe, Pok Pok Po and Preslee’s, as well as newcomers such as Traveler’s Cart, Peppaz HTX and Nando’s Peri-Peri. Dinner will be priced at $25 , with lunch and brunch both priced at $15 . Similar to Houston Restaurant Weeks, Stone said participating restau- rants will make donations based on their sales.

$4.21M

Lunch ($15)

$0.50 donation

Meals distributed

140M

Brunch ($15)

$0.50 donation

132M*

120M

SOURCE: THE CLEVERLEY STONE FOUNDATIONCOMMUNITY IMPACT

A $0.50 donation will generate 1.5 meals for the Houston Food Bank and a $1 donation will generate three meals, Stone said.

2022-23

2023-24 2024-25 2025-26

SOURCE: HOUSTON FOOD BANKCOMMUNITY IMPACT *THIS NUMBER REPRESENTS THE GOAL FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY CASSANDRA JENKINS

Houston Restaurant Weeks will take place this year from Aug. 1 to Sept. 7. The 38-day foodie event will include an extensive list of participating restaurants and serve specially priced, multicourse prix-xe menus for brunch ($25) , lunch ($25) and dinner ($39 or $55) To see a full list of participating restaurants, visit https://houstonrestaurantweeks.com/ searchresults/

Looking ahead

What they’re saying

Starting Feb. 15, residents can nd a restaurant listed on the Eat Drink HTX website, choose brunch, lunch or dinner, and reserve a date between Feb. 15 and Feb. 28 to dine out. Stone said restaurant owners can also sign up to participate in the event until Feb. 15. Participating restaurants in Eat Drink HTX 1 Dandelion Cafe-The Heights 2 da Gama canteen 3 Be More Pacic 4 Cowboys & Indians Grill 5 B.B. Lemon 6 Andes Cafe 7 District 7 Restaurant & Market 8 District 7 Grill-Midtown 9 BOL 10 Boheme

Je Buhrer, general manager of the Dandelion Cafe, which has been participating in Eat Drink HTX for three years at its Bellaire location and opened a new location in the Heights in 2024, said that the charitable aspect plays a signicant role in the restaurant’s decision to participate every year. “Supporting initiatives that directly benet the Houston community is incredibly important to us,” he said, “and supporting organizations like the Houston Food Bank allows us to make a tangible

290

ELLA BLVD.

E. 20TH ST.

E. 11THST.

impact and shed light on their impact.” Both Eat Drink HTX and HRW were also

SHEPHERD DR.

designed to help out restaurants during histori- cally slower periods of dining out, Stone said, such as in late February and in August. Owner of Heights & Co. Brian Doke said both events are a great way to engage with the city. “It denitely brings in new guests,” he said. “A lot of Houstonians look through the list and pick places they’ve never been, so it’s a great way to try out places and for us to meet new guests.”

610

MEMORIAL DR.

11 Echoes 12 Epicure 13 Escalante's Tex-Mex-Highland Village 14 Preselee's 15 Hughie's Tavern & Viet Grill

MONTROSE BLVD.

R D .

R I C H M O N D A V E.

SOURCES: HOUSTON RESTAURANT WEEKS, THE CLEVERLEY STONE FOUNDATIONCOMMUNITY IMPACT

HOUSTON’S HEALTHCARE SAFETY NET FOR 60 YEARS.

HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION

Events

BY ROO MOODY

Heights Rodeo The Houston Heights Association is throwing the neighborhood’s first rodeo at the historic fire station. The event will include fun for the whole family, local vendors, music and food.

February

Galentine’s on 19th Street Stroll through 19th Street in the Houston Heights for a Galentine’s celebration featuring champagne, puppy booths and shopping at local businesses.

• Feb. 21, 2-6 p.m. • Free (admission)

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

• Feb. 13, 4-8 p.m. • Free (admission)

• 19th Street, Houston Heights • www.19thstreetheights.com

Woodson Black Fest Celebrate Black History Month with spoken word performances, poetry and music at the fifth annual Woodson Black Fest at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. • Feb. 21, 1-4 p.m. • Free (admission) • 5216 Montrose Blvd., Houston • www.camh.org/event/woodson-black-fest-2026 Houston Holi The festival of colors is returning to Houston with all-day color play, live Bollywood performances and traditional rituals at Midtown Park. • Feb. 28, noon-5 p.m.

Valentine’s Day Twilight Tour at Rienzi Toast to Valentine’s Day with live music, light hors d’oeuvres, wine and a walk through the 1950s mansion full of 17th- and 19th-century European antiques. • Feb. 14, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Live at Live Oak: Celebrating Lunar New Year The outdoor music event is part of a series dedicated to different cultural holidays and features a lion and dragon dance as well as family- friendly activities. • Feb. 21, 4-6 p.m. • Free (admission) • Clay Family Eastern Glades, 6500 Memorial Drive, Houston • www.memorialparkconservancy.org

• $65 (adults), $60 (members) • 1406 Kirby Drive, Houston • www.mfah.org/rienzi

Tapas on the Trails Help raise funds for the Houston Arboretum by exploring softly lit trails with six different food stops and specially selected beers and wines. • Feb. 14, 5-9 p.m. • $110 (member), $125 (nonmember) • 4501 Woodway Drive, Houston • www.houstonarboretum.org/event/tapas-on-the-trails

• $20 (general admission) • 2811 Travis St., Houston • www.houstonholi.com

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Business

BY ROO MOODY

Good on Paper is a family aair, as Henry’s mother-in- law and two daughters work at the bookstore.

Henry said ordering books made her realize children are reading more stories about dragons than she realized.

PHOTOS BY ROO MOODYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Good on Paper serves as local gathering place

Anna Henry was walking down 19th Street looking to buy a nice card in early 2024 when she realized there wasn’t a local bookstore in the area. Henry and her husband, Chris Hysinger, had recently moved from Montrose to the Heights, and she said the two were surprised at the lack of bookstores. That day, she said, they decided it was something that needed to be done. The local impact Founded in November 2024, Henry said Good on Paper was always meant to be a place for the com- munity to gather, and for them, the whole point was to give back to the neighborhood, whether that be through donations or book clubs. The store oers four dierent book clubs, as well

as workshops, craft nights and author signings. Additionally, Henry said she’s proud to have a woman-owned, small business on 19th Street. “When you shop local, everything just stays here in our community,” she said. Something to note Henry said she wanted the store to be a place where all types of people are represented. “We have so many dierent cultures that are represented in the Heights, and there’s denitely a responsibility to ensure that we’re not just provid- ing a perspective that looks like us,” she said. Looking ahead Henry plans to expand into the space right next to the shop by April.

Details about the store’s book clubs and reading materials are posted on the website.

W. 19THST.

W. 18THST.

250 W. 19th St., Ste. D, Houston www.goodonpaperbooks.com

MARCH 28 SATURDAY TH

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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION

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Real estate

The median price of homes sold was down in four of five local ZIP codes by an average loss of 13.9%. Homes in the Montrose area saw the only price jump, with an approximately $148K difference. Residential market data

Number of homes sold

December 2024

December 2025

-8.8%

+21.43%

+10.77%

-9.30%

-41.18%

610

77006

77007

77008

77019

77098

77008

77007

Median home sales price

77019

December

2024

2025

77006

$546,500 $579,125 $675,000 $895,000 $680,000

$695,000 $537,000 $610,000 $663,250 $591,613

77006

77098

77007

288

77008

Homes sold by price point

77019

December 2025

77098

$1,000,000+

$750,01-$1,000,000

Average days on market

$500,001-$750,000

+90.6%

-9.2%

+26.67%

+31.4%

-9.09%

$250,001-$500,000

<$250,000

MARKET DATA PROVIDED BY CB&A REALTORS 832-678-4770 • WWW.CBAREALTORS.COM

77006

77007

77008

77019

77098

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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

New CI Market LAUNCHING IN FEBRUARY

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HEIGHTS NOW OPEN! 1616 W 22nd St. Houston, TX 77008 832-699-3399 MONTROSE 1616 Montrose Blvd. Houston, TX 77006 713-496-3596

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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION

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Whatever your heart requires, we’ll help keep it beating strong. We personalize treatment plans that utilize cutting-edge techniques, like a heart arrhythmia treatment that minimizes the risk of heart failure and stroke without the need for blood thinners. This is innovative heart care designed around you. memorialhermann.org/heart You are at the heart of our advanced cardiac care.

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