Heights Happenings: June 18 - June 27, 2012

Thursday, June 21, 5:30 pm- 7:30 pm: Houston Heights Women's Club bi-monthly Happy Hour

• What started out as a wild hair to get together has turned in to a favorite event for many members of the HHWC. If you're curious about the Club, want to meet some members or have been meaning to join, the HH is a great event. No program, no fuss. Just cocktails, mingling and enjoying company!
• June's HH will be held at Shade on 19th St.
• RSVP via email or on the HHWC Facebook page

Saturday June 23 & Saturday, June 30, 4:30 pm: Support Lucky Dog Rescue by doing Yoga! 

• Happy Belly Studios will donate ALL proceeds from their 4:30 yoga class these Saturdays in June! 
• It is a donation-based class so you can give as little or as much as you want. 
• More information about the class and Heights owned/operated studio at www.happybellystudios.com
• 920 Studemont 

Saturday, June 23, 10 am- 7 pm: 19th Street Summer Tent Sale

• Favorite shops all up and down the street will be offering deals on those things you’ve been coveting for months. 19th Street merchants always put on the best events so this will be worth checking out, even if you’re not shopping. Participating stores include Thread, 18 Hands Gallery, Langford Market, Jubilee, Gen’s Antiques, Casa Ramirez, Replay and more.
• You can get updates and more information on the Shop The Heights 19th Street Facebook page

Saturday, June 23 from 1pm- 6 pm: Happy Birthday to BB’s in the Heights

• They’re going to celebrate big time with Keyun and the Zydeco Masters on the patio and po’boys, hurricanes and a full bar for you to enjoy 
• Cool off with snow cones by Texas Blizzard Shaved Ice, let the kiddos dip in the kiddie pools, and get your picture taken by The Photobooth on Montrose. 
• This will also be the last time to enjoy crawfish at BB’s until next season!

OUTSIDE THE HEIGHTS

Thursday, June 21, 9 pm- 11 pm: The Word Around Town 2012 Poetry Draft

• This year “to shake up the status quo” W.A.T has decided to host a one-night “Poetry Draft” – any and all poets are invited to bring their best work and read in front of a crowd and the organizers – scheduled poets include Joe B, Blanca Alanis, Stephen Gros and Lupe Mendez. 
• The prize: a slot in this year’s line-up for the Word Around Town Poetry Tour. Currently, there are fourteen slots, seven of which have been selected, leaving seven up for the taking. 
• Poets will sign up when they arrive - bring your best two pieces of poetry. W.A.T. expects this to “be a fun night, full of words and thoughtful expression.” 
• Khon’s Winebar, 2808 Milam St

PLAN AHEAD

Thursday, June 28, 7 pm: Sunset Heights Civic Club June meeting moves to a special location - Samadhi Yoga Studios

• Please join the SHCC for this free event 
• This tour of the studio includes an optional instructor led stretching exercise appropriate for all skill levels.  If you plan to participate in that part of the event please wear comfortable and casual clothing, for example light weight sweat pants, leggings and t-shirts, or stretchy shorts and tank tops.  
• Waters and snacks will be provided. 
• The studio is located at the corner of Cortlandt and E 28th. 

Wednesday, July 18, 5 pm- 9 pm: Greater Heights Area Chamber of Commerce’s Heights Community Expo

• This community event from the Chamber features the “Idol of the Heights” singing contest and Heights of Dining. Many local businesses will be on display. Heights of Dining will showcase area restaurants, who will be providing samples. Expected participants include all types of cuisine, including: Beck’s Prime, Chick-fil-A, Dickey’s BBQ, Gabby’s Steaks, Ribs and BBQ, Loco Concepts, Petite Sweets, Pollo Campero, The Big Mamou, Tony’s Mexican Restaurant and What’s Up Cupcake.
• The Expo will take place at the SPJST Lodge located at 1435 Beall Street at West 15^th 
• Admission is $10 in advance and $15 at the door and includes 2 drinks for adults over 21
• For additional information about the Heights Community Expo, or to purchase tickets call 713-861-6735, email info@heightschamber.com, or visit the Chamber website www.heightschamber.com.  

IN OTHER NEWS

Fighting for Feathered Friends--- Middle school student, Isabella Acuña, is working hard to convince city hall to allow Houstonians the option of keeping a few laying hens in their backyards. 

• The current City of Houston ordinance for backyard chickens makes it nearly impossible to legally and responsibly have a backyard flock within residential neighborhoods.
• Isabella became a chicken activist after the city told her to get rid of her six pet chickens. Instead of just whining about the ordinance restrictions for backyard coops, she decided to do something about it. The next day she started her Change.org petition Revise city ordinance to allow chicken coops within 20 ft of a residence. People all over the world have signed the petition to show their support.
• By establishing a permitting process to allow residents to keep a limited number of hens in residential neighborhoods, the City of Houston will encourage stewardship of the environment, food production on a household scale, and environmental sustainability.
• Updating Houston’s confusing chicken ordinance to one clearly stated and easily accessible would allows resident to know how they can keep chickens within the limits of the law, which would reduce complaints and other issues related to noncompliance. Isabella would like the current restrictions revised to the following terms:
• No roosters.
• No slaughtering.
• Eight hens or less permitted per household.
• Coops must be at least 20’ from neighboring residence.
• Permit fee set at a reasonable amount that would cover associated costs of regulation.
• Hens must be housed in a secure enclosure, but allowed roaming in their own yard.
• As Isabella wrote to Houston Mayor Annise Parker, “People told me I cannot make a difference and nobody would listen.” She hopes to prove even a 12 year old can enhance the quality of life in the Heights and Houston
• Please sign the petition to support her mission 

Greenlink bus service is now running downtown. 

• Created by a partnership between the Houston Downtown Management District (Downtown District), BG Group and Houston First Corporation, the route spans 2.5 miles with approximately 20 stops and seven buses operating Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. This free and convenient transportation connects major office buildings along Smith and Louisiana streets to METRO transit stops, the convention corridor, hotels, restaurants, shopping and entertainment.
• The Greenlink fleet consists of seven buses and ridership is expected to average 1,500 to 2,000 people per day. 
• The bus route and points of interest around each stop can be found at downtownhouston.org.

The Houston Public Library is asking for feedback 

• The library system wants to learn more about library users, what services they use and how to make their experiences at its branches better. Respond by completing a brief five-minute survey. If you are someone who doesn't think of yourself as a library user, they still want to hear from you.
• You can access the survey at www.houstonlibrary.org/survey.