Heights - River Oaks - Montrose Edition | November 2023

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Heights River Oaks

Montrose Edition VOLUME 5, ISSUE 8 NOV. 7DEC. 7, 2023

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

SHAWN ARRAJJCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Houston groups seek to reverse rising domestic violence trends

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

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

BY SHAWN ARRAJJ

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

CONTINUED ON 14

Also in this issue

Impacts: 36-story hotel opening on Allen Parkway (Page 6)

Education: HISD approves new principal evaluations (Page 9)

Transportation: Construction starts soon on Montrose (Page 11)

Business: EZ’s Liquor Lounge aims to be Heights staple (Page 19)

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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

Impacts

W. 34TH ST.

W. 25TH ST.

Now open

ELLA BLVD.

290

610

20TH ST.

W. 18TH ST.

T. C. JESTER BLVD.

W. 11TH ST.

WHITE OAK DR.

W. 6TH ST.

WHITE OAK PARK

WASHINGTON AVE.

6 Rumi’s Kitchen The eatery specializes in traditional Persian cuisine with Middle Eastern influences. Other offerings include a Persian-themed cocktail program and jeweled rice, a Persian dish made with butter and spices, named for its golden color. The eatery can seat 170 guests in its bar and dining areas. • Opened Oct. 16 • 1801 Post Oak Blvd., Ste. 120, Houston • www.rumiskitchen.com

MEMORIAL PARK

BUFFALO BAYOU PARK

BUFFALO BAYOU

ALLEN PKWY.

BUFFALO PARK DR.

610

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Expansion

527

7 BeDesign The retailer specializes in high-end, European home decor items. Officials celebrated the store’s 10th anniversary Sept. 22 by unveiling a new 20,000-square- foot showroom, which represents a quadrupling in size from the store’s previous location. • Expanded Sept. 22 • 2016 W. Alabama St., Houston • www.be-design.us

W. ALABAMA ST.

JACKSON ST.

RICHMOND AVE.

610

288

owned business has operated its original location since 1947 at 2430 Rice Blvd., Houston. • Opened Oct. 16

Now Open

In the news

1 Annabelle Brasserie The modern French restaurant’s menu includes artisanal breakfast, lunch and dinner plates curated by Executive Chef Russell Kirkham. It includes items such as a raw bar, caviar, veal sweetbread, steak frites and braised beef short ribs. The eatery’s building was designed with elements of a Parisian cafe and also includes a sunroom

• 2360 W. Alabama St., Houston • https://houstondrycleaner.com

8 Backstreet Cafe Officials celebrated the eatery’s 40th anniversary in October. Backstreet Cafe was founded by Tracy Vaught in 1983. Hugo Ortega, a James Beard Award-winning chef, started his career there as a dishwasher in 1987. The cafe is known for its diverse menu with southern, Cajun,

Coming Soon

4 Hotel Daphne The hotel is set to open in early 2025. It is planned to have 49 rooms, a pool, a lobby restaurant, library, retail shop, and a focus on providing a space for both guests and the community. Heights Floral Shop, located across the street from the hotel, will relocate into the hotel. • Opening early 2025 • 347 W. 20th St., Houston • www.bunkhousehotels.com 5 Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth Nonprofit Bread of Life is redeveloping the former gymnasium on its campus to create 31 housing units to support Houston residents in need. The permanent supportive housing development in Midtown will be named after Houston-natives Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland. • Coming late 2024 • Jackson Street at Gray Street, Houston • www.breadoflifeinc.org

with bar seating. • Opened Oct. 18 • 811 Buffalo Park Drive, Ste. 100, Houston • www.annabellebrasserie.com

Creole, Hispanic and Asian influences. • 1103 S. Shepherd Drive, Houston • www.backstreetcafe.net

2 Francesca’s This boutique sells a curated collection of women’s clothing, jewelry, accessories and gifts. The new store also offers a miniature shop within the shop for Francesca’s tween line, titled Hello Franki. • Opened Sept. 22 • 5085 Westheimer Road, Houston • www.francescas.com 3 Collegiate Cleaners Services include dry cleaning, laundering shirts, alterations, and washing and folding laundry. The company can work with designer garments, wedding garments, bedding and linens, and leather. The family-

Closings

9 The Art Institutes The for-profit, private system of art schools with locations in eight cities—including Houston—announced the permanent closure of all schools Sept. 30. The Houston location was launched in 1965 as the Houston School of Commercial Art. It offered courses in media arts and animation, culinary arts, graphic design, interior design, web design and interactive media. • Closed Sept. 30 • 4140 Southwest Freeway, Houston • www.artinstitutes.edu

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BY ASIA ARMOUR, SHAWN ARRAJJ, MELISSA ENAJE & SHAHERYAR KHAN

Now open

Coming soon

10 Kido The school—open to children from 6 weeks old to 5 years old—features indoor and outdoor play areas along with a soccer field. Offerings include Spanish and English curriculum in addition to the company’s proprietary art, literacy, and science, technology, engineering and math programs. • Opened Oct. 21

11 Thompson Houston Hotel The hotel will feature 172 guest rooms, including 34 suites with floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of Houston’s skyline. Guests will have access to a 1-acre outdoor rooftop with an infinity pool and cabana area. Rooftop restaurant Sol 7 will offer cocktails

and food alongside a green space setting. A wellness floor will feature six treatment rooms, a hair and nail salon, a relaxation sanctuary, and a spa area. • Opening Dec. 21 • 1717 Allen Parkway, Houston • www.hyatt.com/thompson-hotels/iahth

• 1307 Yale St., Houston • www.kidoschools.com

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News

BY WESLEY GARDNER

HISD OKs principal evaluations with more emphasis on special education

A closer look

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

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

New Houston ISD principal evaluations:

35% for student achievement

30% for quality of instruction

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

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

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

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

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

Elementary school

$110K-$160K

Middle school

$115K-$180K

High school

$130K-$195K

SOURCE: HOUSTON ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

What they're saying

A look back

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

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

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

HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

Real estate

Number of homes sold

September 2022

September 2023

Residential market data

34 24

27 31

-29.4%

+14.8%

77006

77019

Home sales continue to be strongest in the Heights area, though the numbers were mostly flat when comparing September 2023 with September 2022. The average number of days a home spends on the market fell in four ZIP codes.

77 66

10 12

-14.3%

+20%

77007

77098

77006

610

77007

76 78

+2.6%

77008

77019

Median home sales price

77098

2022

2023

77006

+3.5%

$515,000

497,500

288

77007

+16.7%

$560,000

$480,000

Homes sold in Heights, River Oaks, Montrose area by price point

77008

+6.8%

$593,000

$555,000

77019

+44.6%

$781,000

$540,000

September 2023

$1 million+

77098

-23.3%

$682,500

$890,000

$750,000-$999,999

Average days on market

$500,000-$749,999

-36.2%

+29.2%

-28.6%

-31.1%

-19.4%

$250,000-$499,999

<$250,000

NEIGHBORHOOD DATA PROVIDED BY VICTORIA HAWES DEVENNEY JAMESTOWN ESTATE HOMES 832-296-1663 VICTORIA@JAMESTOWNESTATEHOMES.COM WWW.JAMESTOWNESTATEHOMES.COM

77006

77007

77008

77019

77098

In-house custom home design In-house interior design center Available homes in Oak Forest and the Heights

JamestownEstateHomes.com Victoria Hawes vh@jamestownestatehomes.com

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Transportation

BY SHAWN ARRAJJ

Construction to start in 2024 on Montrose Boulevard As design work continues on the first phase of a project to make pedestrian and safety improve- ments to Montrose Boulevard, officials with the Montrose Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone are preparing for the start of construction in early 2024. The overview The project entails: • Full roadway reconstruction • Wider sidewalks and shared-use paths • Safer crossings • Improved drainage project’s first phase; and using more crossing signals in place of previously proposed Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons. A L L E N P K W Y . Y . BUFFALO BAYOU BUFFALO BAYOU PARK N

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

Some Montrose residents have expressed con- cerns about the removal of 57 trees in conflict with construction. Removed trees will be replaced, and crews will not remove any of the 13 mature live oak trees in the median, TIRZ officials said. Construction on the first phase will run through late 2024. A timeline and cost for the second seg- ment, from West Clay to I-69, is to be determined.

Upcoming construction will target the first of two phases of the project from Allen Parkway to West Clay Street at the cost of $14 million. What’s next Plans have been tweaked based on public feed- back. Notable changes include adding more public art; adding a shared-use path on the east side of the

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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

Government

BY SHAWN ARRAJJ & MELISSA ENAJE

Houston unveils new Love Park upgrades Ocials with the city of Houston hosted a ribbon cutting Oct. 24 for $1.1 million in improve- ments to Love Park in the Heights. The big picture Love Park, located at 1000 W. 12th St., Houston, was one of 22 parks targeted for improvements in the Houston Park Board’s 50/50 Park Partners ini- tiative, which seeks to make improvements to city parks with an emphasis on seeking partnership funding and incorporating community feedback. The city of Houston has put more than $14 million into the program in total. The Love Park improvements were funded in part by a $250,000 contribution from ExxonMobil. The details Improvements at Love Park included: • New playground equipment for ages 5-12

Houston land trust gets $5M donation Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has made a $5 million donation to the Houston Community Land Trust, a “transformative” gift that ocials said will help fund new pilot programs in the city. The overview Pilot programs will focus outside of the traditional single-family home model, including testing new options for multi- family aordable rentals and commercial spaces, ocials said. Founded in 2018, the HCLT works to provide assistance to prospective homeown- ers who make under 80% of the area median income level, including by limiting monthly mortgage payments to less than $1,050. The trust has helped 182 individuals and families secure permanent housing.

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

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

W. 13THST.

LOVE PARK

W. 12THST.

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

NRG Arena

• A new exercise station • Consolidating the picnic area to increase open green space • Regrading and smoothing the surface of the large multiuse eld • Resurfacing and replacing the walking trail • Five new LED lights throughout the park • A new detention area and drainage swales, which are open channels that collect water from hard surfaces to reduce runo • New benches, picnic tables and trash cans

610

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

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

Zooming in

Two-minute impact

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

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

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

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

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

Guns Other*

2021

2020

2019

2022

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

SOURCE: HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Intimate partner violence homicides, tracked by local law enforcement

A local look

2022

2020

2021

2019

Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council housing queue

Requests for shelter: 956

Requests for shelter: 1,307

Placed in shelters: 330 Still in queue:* 977

Placed in shelters: 367 Still in queue:* 589

2021

2022

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

*AS OF THE END OF THE YEAR

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

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

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

The Bridge Over Troubled Waters

60 40 20 0

Q4 Q1

2021

2022

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

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY SHAWN ARRAJJ

Legislative approach

What's next

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

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

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

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

House Bill 2715

House Bill 1432:

National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-7233

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

House Bill 5202

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

SOURCES: TEXAS LEGISLATURE, TEXAS ADVOCACY PROJECT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

A MUSICAL JOURNEY FROM TRADITION TO THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

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Prayer and Well-being: A Spiritual Adventure A Free Christian Science Lecture by Nate Frederick, C.S. Prayer and Well-being: A Spiritual Adventure

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Events

BY ASIA ARMOUR

Nutcracker Market Guests will be welcomed by giant nutcracker statues and a red carpet at the annual Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market. The event will feature apparel, accessories, jewelry, food, home and holiday decor, toys and gifts from local vendors. • Nov. 9, 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Nov. 10, 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Nov. 11, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Nov. 12, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. • $20+, free admission for ages 2 and younger • NRG Stadium, 1 NRG Park, Houston • www.houstonballet.org/about/nutcracker-market

Bella Gaia and William Close & The Earth Harp Collective To close out the 100th season of Miller Outdoor Theatre performances, artist William Close and the Earth Harp Collective will collaborate with Bella Gaia, a visual performance utilizing aerial acrobatics, to tell the cosmic story of earth and all its interconnectedness. • Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m. • Free • 6000 Hermann Park Drive, Houston • www.milleroutdoortheatre.com

Houston Boy Choir, a festive gift shop, a champagne reception and an exhibit from Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo History are just a few ways The Heritage Society will spread cheer this year. • Dec. 2 and Dec. 9, 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. • $20 (adults), $10 (children ages 5-18 ), free (children 5 and under) • 1000 Bagby St., Houston • www.heritagesociety.org/annual-candlelight-tour decorated trails at the Houston Arboretum. Soak in the festive cheer at special holiday-themed sip stops. The evening walk includes three glasses of wine or Saint Arnold beer, light bites and a limited-edition etched wine glass to take home. Attendees must be 21 or older. • Dec. 15, 5:30-7 p.m. • $50 (members), $55 (nonmembers) • 4501 Woodway Drive, Houston • www.houstonarboretum.org/event/ holiday-sip-stroll-2 Holiday Sip N Stroll Sip a delicious beverage and stroll along lightly Sights and Sounds Meditation: Winter Solstice The meditative experience celebrates the winter solstice and will take place alongside the sounds of singing bowls and wind chimes played by Saumil Manek. Guests can enjoy a special winter light installation by Houston artist and engineer Kelly O’Brien. • Dec. 21, 6-6:45 p.m. • $25 • 105 Sabine St., Ste. B, Houston • www.buffalobayou.org Zoo Lights The Houston Zoo staff invites friends and family to sip hot chocolate and walk through the grounds this holiday season. Past iterations of this tradition featured 15 miles of LED lighting to illuminate the zoo’s oak trees, pictures with Santa, animal- themed lanterns and a 33-foot-tall holiday tree. • Daily through Jan. 7, 5:30-10 p.m. • Starts at $17.95, free admission for ages 2 and younger • 6200 Hermann Park Drive, Houston • www.houstonzoo.org

$28.25 • Begins at intersection of Smith and Lamar streets • www.houstontx.gov/thanksgivingparade

November

Markets for Makers The event features more than 120 local makers specializing in home decor, fashion, art, design and food. On-site activations will include do-it-yourself stations, photo walls, beverages and bites from a variety of food trucks. • Nov. 11-12, 10 a.m.-5p.m. • $8 (general admission), $15 (VIP), free for children under age 12 • Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards St., Houston • www.marketsformakers.com Great Houston Pie Run Houston Running Co. will host its seventh Houston Holiday Series race with a family-friendly 10K, 5K and Kids K to celebrate Thanksgiving. The races start at Downtown Houston’s Fish Plaza. At the finish line, participants will enjoy pies, beer and music. All participants receive a Great Houston Pie Run finisher medal and unisex T-shirt. • Nov. 19, 7:30 a.m. (5K/10K), 9:30 a.m. (Kids K) • $50 (10K), $40 (5K), $20 (Kids K) • 501 Texas Ave., Houston • www.houstonrunningco.com/great-houston-pie-run1. html City of Houston Thanksgiving Day parade This annual event usually draws hundreds of thousands of Houstonians to the heart of Downtown. Elaborate floats, marching bands, and holiday decor and balloons will traverse 20 city blocks as crowds cheer. The parade is one of the oldest in the country, according to the City of Houston website. • Nov. 23, 9 a.m. • Free (general admission), premium seats start at

December

Mayor’s Holiday Spectacular Join Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner in the outdoor pavilion of City Hall for tree lighting powered by Reliant Energy, fireworks and multiple performances to start December and kick off the holiday season. In the past, multicultural dances, singers, and orchestras have been featured entertainment, as well as photo ops with Santa and holiday-themed vendors.

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

Holiday Vibe Artisan Market The market takes on a holiday theme in December and will feature photos with Santa. The market will also includes more than 300 local artists and makers, live music by DJ Lifted and complementary cocktails from Deep Eddy, Megaton Brewery and Dripping Springs Distilling. • Dec. 2-3, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. • Free (admission) • POST Houston, 401 Franklin St., Houston • www.posthtx.com Mini Candlelight Tours The Heritage Society of Sam Houston Park will decorate historic homes with holiday decor, candles and actors reenacting 19th century Houston in December for the organization’s annual candlelight tour. Performances by string ensemble HeartStrings Houston, carols by The

HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

Dec 8 - 10 • free Fri • Dec 8 • 5 & 6pm Sat • Dec 9 • 10 & 11Am Experience the Christmas story through singing, dancing, and puppets! This show is a ton of fun, a tad bit of crazy, and it’s absolutely FREE for the entire family. The Kids Crazy Christmas Show is the perfect way to kick off the Christmas season! Sun • Dec 10 • 1 , 2 & 3pm

Second Baptist Church • Woodway Campus 6400 Woodway Dr at Voss Rd second.org/woodway

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Business

BY ASIA ARMOUR

The bar oers some bites, like the crunchy taco trio ($12).

The “big three” at EZ’s Liquor Lounge include the ranch water, freezer martinis and the nitro Irish coee, all served ice cold.

PHOTOS BY ASIA ARMOURCOMMUNITY IMPACT

EZ’s Liquor Lounge owner aims to make White Oak dive bar a ‘neighborhood staple’ in the Heights

Matthew Tanner, owner of EZ’s Liquor Lounge, sits with Greta, the bar dog.

Everything in EZ’s Liquor Lounge has a story, said owner Matthew Tanner—from the Tall Texan behind the bar to the Texas-shaped high-top table carved by Tanner’s uncle. These elements estab- lish a feeling of nostalgia, Tanner said. His vision for EZ’s, which opened Oct. 21, 2022, was to pay homage to the classic dives in Houston. “A lot of the older neighborhood bars that we enjoyed going to are starting to close down, either because a person who has owned it doesn’t want to own it anymore, ... or the property gets sold out from under them, and a high-rise goes in its place,” Tanner said. “It was our thought to recreate those kinds of places but with a little bit more modern approach to the average program.” DO IT ANYWHERE ANY T I ME

It’s 5 o’clock somewhere EZ’s “big three” include the ranch water, freezer martinis and the nitro Irish coee, all served ice cold. Fresh ingredients, freezing cold glasses and mugs, and a fusion of elevated cocktails and clas- sic oerings are what sets EZ’s apart, Tanner said. For Tanner, EZ’s is a place where neighbors meet, “people talk to people,” and where “commu- nity is everything.” “I want [EZ’s] to be cemented into the commu- nity as the place you go on Thanksgiving when you’re done visiting family ... or just gather with friends and play pool because y’all want to hang out or watch the Astros,” Tanner said. “It’s all about camaraderie here.”

3302 White Oak Drive, Houston www.agricolehospitality.com/ezs-liquor-lounge

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