tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72686223260347011992024-03-15T20:09:52.870-05:00the heights lifeViulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065221466265514944noreply@blogger.comBlogger404125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268622326034701199.post-35716851186427068972016-09-26T07:00:00.000-05:002016-09-26T07:00:23.806-05:00You have the water. Use it.<div style="color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I made this post recently on Instagram/Facebook and had a (sort of unusual) request to add to it to the blog. Easily accommodated, so here it is:</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proctor Park<br />Instagram: The Heights Life</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Six-ish years ago, these beautiful trees were just sad, little saplings. They didn't even provide an inch shade. Not long after they were planted, the state of Texas suffered back to back years of horrible drought. Much shade was lost across Houston. Not these trees, though. These trees were loved and cared for by members of this community. It was not unusual to be at the park and see a person pull up in an SUV with a dozen random vessels full of water, lugging them back and </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; text-align: justify;">forth from curb to root. There were those who found it silly or a waste but look now. Look at them! </span></div>
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It was a real community effort that saved these trees, but it wasn't organized via social media or discussed at a neighborhood Association meeting. It was just in the heart of people who live in the Heights. No one needed to ask, because enough humans knew what a few gallons of water here and there could do. They now give off enough shade for a family's blanket or a small pack of four legged friends.</div>
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I want to ask you now to take an opportunity to water your community. Everyday work to help it grow. Reject the notion that it's too hard to fill buckets of water or that your couple of gallons won't make a difference. Reject the notion it's too hard to love your neighbor *and* their chickens, too hard to go the speed limit to keep children safe, too hard to pick up your dogs waste, too hard to ask your neighbor if they might actually need help mowing that unruly grass, too hard to look at faces which don't look like yours and realize they still want the same simple things like watching a tree grow enough to enjoy it's shade. <b>You have the water. Use it.</b></div>
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Viulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065221466265514944noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268622326034701199.post-58985666764263123052016-09-24T15:46:00.001-05:002016-09-24T15:46:18.412-05:00Heights Happenings: A special grand opening for a new LFL Sept 25, 2016<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
Let me start by saying, if you've never been to the <a href="http://friendshouston.org/welcome" target="_blank">White Oak Friends Quaker meeting house</a> on 26th Street in Shady Acres, you might want to go just to see the building itself. It's a truly gorgeous space, conceptualized by American artist and Quaker James Turrell, who is probably most well known in Houston for the <a href="http://skyspace.rice.edu/cms/visit-skyspace/" target="_blank">"Twilight Epiphany" Skyspace</a> at Rice University. The meeting house is a real jewel in our community!</div>
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This weekend, the Friends invite neighbors in the Heights and the greater Houston communities to join them for the dedication of the Children’s Annex to their Little Free Library. The Children's Annex was built by Patrick Brooks and painted by Heights artist <a href="http://morrisondesignhouston.com/" target="_blank">Pen Morrison.</a></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white;">1318 West 26</span><sup>th</sup><span style="background-color: white;"> St</span></b></div>
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<b>Refreshments will be provided.</b></div>
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Brooks writes, "For three years, the original Little Free Library under a shade tree along the front fence has been a neighborhood treasure—people find a book they would like to read to take with them, leave a book they have finished for someone else to enjoy. They leave notes in the log book about how much they enjoy it, and sometimes they ask for something like more kids’ books. Friends listened, and responded with building a Little Little Free Library in part from wood recycled from the original floor of the Meetinghouse. It is positioned near the original, but slightly lower down for easier access for kids."</div>
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The Little Free Library movement began in Wisconsin in 2009 and quickly grew into a movement to promote literacy and the love of reading by building free book exchanges and is now worldwide with nearly 40,000 Little Free Library book exchanges. There are over a dozen Little Free Libraries in the greater Heights area, which can all be found on the LFL's map <a href="https://littlefreelibrary.org/ourmap/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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The one in front of Live Oak Friends Meeting was the one of the first in The Heights and the fourth in Houston, now there are a many others, but not many which focus just on children’s books.</div>
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For more on the Friends' event: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.friendshouston.org/content/LFL_grand_opening&source=gmail&ust=1474834685762000&usg=AFQjCNG_wWEpVNk_rlkAbpUu86mtkNKOwA" href="http://www.friendshouston.org/content/LFL_grand_opening" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>friendshouston.org/content/<wbr></wbr>LFL_grand_opening</a></div>
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More about the Little Free Library movement: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://mailbox.mdanderson.org/owa/redir.aspx?REF%3D1xuLolnqTkK07ktPSILIndpA175ThzCR_DeOHrL51ylkBSxNc-HTCAFodHRwczovL2xpdHRsZWZyZWVsaWJyYXJ5Lm9yZy8.&source=gmail&ust=1474834685763000&usg=AFQjCNF8PoWxxH0MTEReZaS_ITYKK1RDnQ" href="https://mailbox.mdanderson.org/owa/redir.aspx?REF=1xuLolnqTkK07ktPSILIndpA175ThzCR_DeOHrL51ylkBSxNc-HTCAFodHRwczovL2xpdHRsZWZyZWVsaWJyYXJ5Lm9yZy8." style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://<wbr></wbr>littlefreelibrary.org/</a></div>
Viulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065221466265514944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268622326034701199.post-88971445641774986382016-09-21T15:55:00.000-05:002016-09-21T15:58:09.869-05:00The Post You've All Been Waiting for: Indian food coming to the Heights<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This summer, Garden Oaks/Oak Forest got the thing the Heights has been longing for, asking for more than anything else. When <a href="http://www.houstoniamag.com/articles/2016/8/1/the-greater-heights-gets-its-first-indian-restaurant" target="_blank">Govinda's Vegetarian Restaurant</a> opened in early July at the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1308873831"></span>Hare Krishna Temple<span id="goog_1308873832"></span></a> on 34th Street, the near-loop-orbit neighborhood got Indian food. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Well, that's it," we thought. With Govinda's close enough, we were going to settle for it. It's better than none, right? But the dream never really died. S</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ay what you want about us, but Heights people like to stay in the Heights when they can. Govinda's was closer, but not close enough. It didn't satiate the Indian-I-can-ride-my-bike-to desire of the community.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And luckily now all the settling and trying not to be disappointed can be </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">short-lived! </span><span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">After years of asking, begging, wishing, and even being faked out, this is the post you've all been waiting for. </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We are getting a </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">real life Indian restaurant </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">right in the actual Heights! </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://tarkaindiankitchen.com/" target="_blank">Tarka Indian Kitchen</a> is bringing its award-winning Indian cuisine to the Heights. The lease is signed and the build out has begun. </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Austin-based casual Indian restaurant, which currently has four locations in Austin and another in San Antonio, will open in the Heights on 19</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><sup>th</sup></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> at Shepherd early next year. It joins <a href="http://www.kasushi.com/" target="_blank">Ka Sushi</a>, <a href="http://www.fatcatcreamery.com/" target="_blank">Fat Cat Creamery</a>, and <a href="http://www.hugsanddonuts.com/" target="_blank">Hugs & Donuts</a> in <a href="http://www.reviveco.com/#welcome-supplyingdemand" target="_blank">ReVive Development</a>'s strip along the north side of 19th. They will be housed in the new building, just west of the rehabbed strip holding these other neighborhood favorites. When constructing the building, the developer was able to save the huge oak tree on the property, which will be incorporated in to Tarka's outdoor seating area. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Tarka serves "</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Fresh + Fast + Flavorful</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> Indian cuisine" including classics like curries, kabobs, biryanis, and freshly baked flatbreads, plus modern offerings like Naanini sandwiches. The Heights location will offer specialty drinks like Mango Lemonade, Fruity Lassis, plus wine and beer. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">They will also be a welcome addition to our too-small take out selection with online and mobile ordering via their website and their own iPhone ordering app. Lovely side note:</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> restaurant has been recognized as a Green business for its packaging and commitment to recycling, as well. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">“We are very excited to bring Tarka to Houston, said Tarka CEO & co-founder Tinku Saini. “Our fresh take to Indian food is perfect for the Bayou City.” He said Tarka is actively looking for additional locations throughout Houson and the surrounding area. “We look forward to joining Houston’s vibrant and diverse community.”</span> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">“Tarka offers a faster, more casual alternative to Indian food, without sacrificing quality, flavor and freshness,” said Executive Chef Navdeep Singh.</span> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">People can see their meal being cooked fresh-to-order from an open kitchen that features a beautiful copper hood. The fresh approach is instilled in the name Tarka, which translates into the sizzle of freshly sautéed ingredients.</span> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“You know that sound you hear when garlic, ginger and other fresh ingredients hit a hot pan? That sizzling sound, that amazing aroma, that’s Tarka,” said Chef Singh. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This fresh approach can also be seen in Tarka’s popular Indian flatbreads. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Our dough is made fresh in house, everyday, and we bake our bread fresh to order for our guests, so you won’t get fresher bread anywhere,” he added.</span></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAp7S7oGRLPcv9qXJ8KLVc0tWmNnBU9xHcQ34kIrfQGm24gRIZpIhlQRLPrCUyfar9JD8rHT9El78A1CjLIKr1ChoLhecyv8m8hvXPtCF9CLPrRguWJI_8IQ8pIsiw-h-i0DevnA0TNsYk/s1600/Vegetable+Samosas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAp7S7oGRLPcv9qXJ8KLVc0tWmNnBU9xHcQ34kIrfQGm24gRIZpIhlQRLPrCUyfar9JD8rHT9El78A1CjLIKr1ChoLhecyv8m8hvXPtCF9CLPrRguWJI_8IQ8pIsiw-h-i0DevnA0TNsYk/s200/Vegetable+Samosas.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Design plans include a modern dining room with plush booths, hand blown glass pendants, and photographs of Indian street scenes and food. Vibrant Indian music will fill the space.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> Add the shaded patio under a </span>beautiful, old oak--- sounds like some Heights residents will soon find their personal version of nirvana.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">While some people may be skeptical </span>of a chain, this Texas-based restaurant has accolades to combat that cynicism. Last year, <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Zagat named Tarka #2 on their list of Top Fast Casual Restaurant Chains in Austin; Austin Chronicle readers voted Tarka #14 on their Favorite Restaurant List in 2012 and also honored Tarka as most successful spin-off in 2010 and Best Takeout in 2011 and 2012. In 2016, the restaurant was also named Runner Up Best Indian in San Antonio by Express News Readers just 18 months after opening.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">We've been asking and someone </span>finally<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> heard us. This is happening, people!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To keep updated, like their Facebook page at <span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/tarkaindiankitchen">www.facebook.com/tarkaindiankitchen</a> </span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Garlic Naan</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Image: </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tarka Indian Kitchen</span></span></td></tr>
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Viulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065221466265514944noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268622326034701199.post-81913064899425001552016-06-06T17:18:00.002-05:002016-06-06T17:19:37.977-05:00What we know right now about the HEB in the Heights:<div>
I have been reading a lot of misinformation about the HEB-driven petition to allow off- premise sales in the dry section of the Heights. While there is still only speculation about the location, there are some actual facts. Here are the facts as I know them:</div>
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<li><b><a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/H-E-B-backing-effort-to-make-dry-area-of-Heights-7945778.php" target="_blank">The petition is backed by HEB</a></b>, who hired a law firm to handle the drive. Some of the canvassers, who are paid and may or may not be your neighbors or Heights residents, may not know about HEB, only the firm that hired them. Either way, it's all about HEB.</li>
<li><b>The petition itself does NOT actually change anything about the existing law</b>. The petition puts the issue on the ballot to be voted on in November.</li>
<li><b>You can only sign the petition</b> and participate in the subsequent vote <b>if you live in <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1uJlMyFxgFYN0muJCZmaozfyreuI&hl=en_US" target="_blank">the dry zone.</a></b></li>
<li>The petition/future vote are for *<b>off premise sales of beer and wine only.</b>* This means you can buy beer or wine at the store and take it elsewhere. You will not be able to drink at the store. </li>
<li>The petition and vote will <b>NOT ALLOW</b> <b>hard liquor sales</b>. </li>
<li><b>Restaurants</b> and bars <b>will still have to get a club license</b> to serve on-premise beer/wine/alcohol in their establishment.</li>
<li>The HEB on Washington Ave at Heights is a done deal. The store that is at issue will be in the Heights proper, obviously <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1uJlMyFxgFYN0muJCZmaozfyreuI&hl=en_US" target="_blank">within the dry zone</a>. </li>
<li><b>HEB will not build a store</b> in the Heights if the off-premise beer and wine sales <b>vote fails</b>.</li>
<li>This HEB, should it get built, will <b>NOT be a Central Market</b>. HEB will not be building any more Central Markets in the Houston area for the foreseeable future.</li>
<li>The petition and subsequent vote are supported by both the Agricole and Treadsack restaurant groups. </li>
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Whether or not this is beneficial to the Heights is still largely a matter of opinion. There are two reasons residents of the dry zone may want to sign the petition:</div>
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1) Because they support the off-premise sales and want and HEB.</div>
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2) Because they believe it should go to a vote, whether they support it or not.</div>
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There may or may not be more information, but this is what I know to be fact at this point from a source at HEB. If you are a stake holder in this process, i.e. live in the dry zone, please help spread facts, regardless of whether you are for or against the change.</div>
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It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. Personally, I like the off-premise limitation, because I whole heartedly support the dry zone, but see many benefits in this HEB. The HEB Washington location will actually be more convenient for me, but the (probable location) of the new store will serve a whole other area of the Heights, Shade Acres, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest, and Independence Heights.</div>
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The Heights Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541533475991004821noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268622326034701199.post-59880800481627935182016-04-22T09:58:00.000-05:002016-04-22T09:58:30.778-05:00Heights Kids Day of Music is Awesome. And Awesome Bites is, too!<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://scontent.fhou1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t31.0-8/12697459_1103904296321177_2476932504654244093_o.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a></span><a href="https://scontent.fhou1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t31.0-8/12697459_1103904296321177_2476932504654244093_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://scontent.fhou1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t31.0-8/12697459_1103904296321177_2476932504654244093_o.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="background-color: white; clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Get ready! Happening tomorrow, the Second Annual <a href="http://www.heightskidsdayofmusic.com/" target="_blank">Heights Kids Day of Music</a>, April 23 at Love Park! This is a FREE festival, bringing family-friendly, local music to the Heights</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Main Performers include:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Linsey Papion & DJ Puppy Love</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- El Rectorado del Son</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Tickle</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- The Legacy Group</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Yogi-G</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- AndyRoo</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">In addition to just hearing great music, the event will be interactive with an Instrument Petting Zoo and a Singing Station, as well as a Creative Zone where attendees can do activities with local organizations focused on the arts. </span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">These activities include everything from making your own instrument to artwork to trying your own hand at playing an instrument.</span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> Check out the Creative Zone sponsors and activities here: </span><a href="http://www.heightskidsdayofmusic.com/creative-zone/" rel="nofollow" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.heightskidsdayofmusic.com/creative-zone/</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #4e5665; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">This non-profit festival really is all about being in the Heights and for the Heights. It's a great place for small, local businesses to get a large </span></span></span><span style="color: #4e5665; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">audience, especially if they offer something useful to families. Jennifer Thai is a mom who is hoping she does just that. About five months ago, Thai launched <a href="https://www.facebook.com/awesomebitesco/?pnref=lhc" target="_blank">Awesome Bites Co.</a> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444;">Awesome Bites Co started out very much as a personal journey. </span><span style="color: #333333;">Jennifer's child was diagnosed with both egg and peanut allergies, forcing changes in how she fed her own family. She baked and tweaked and perfected delicious and nutritious treats for her home; then became ServSafe Food Allergy Certified and a Certified Texas Food Handler, so she could also make them for yours.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since starting the business late last year, Jennifer usually usually finds an audience at Memorial Villages Farmers Market but this Saturday she will be at the Heights Kids' Day of Music. After baking for her family, she started her business because she found, like her, "there are a lot of people looking for foods to meet their dietary restrictions or healthy options." She is so excited to attend her first public event in the Heights and would love for families with food allergies, or who just like to make super healthy choices when they can, to come out and sample her treats.</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Everything </span><a href="http://www.awesomebitesco.com/" style="white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Awesome Bites</a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> makes is dairy, egg, soy, peanut & tree nut free (except coconut), and vegan. Of course she also has much demanded gluten free options. The core item is the Super Muffin, which has no added sugars or sweeteners (meaning also no honey, agave or stevia); instead each muffin is a FULL serving of fruits and veggies! If you are an adult with food sensitivities or a parent of a kiddo with allergies, looking for a nut free snack, Thai wants you to know she is here to help you out. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #4e5665; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Photos: Awesome Bites Co FB</span></span></span></span></div>
Viulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065221466265514944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268622326034701199.post-56583074953915248842016-03-13T12:50:00.001-05:002016-03-13T12:59:34.625-05:00Project Prom: Clean your closet. Help students in need.<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Communities In Schools at Reagan HS is planning for Prom 2016, which will be held in April. To help students in need enjoy this special event, CIS is asking for donations of formal dresses, shoes, jewelry, or handbags. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">If you're not familiar with CIS, they are the social work component in HISD, working as a "</span></span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: sans-serif; text-align: start;">campus-based Dropout Prevention program." They provide direct social services to at-risk students and connect them with community resources.</span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: sans-serif; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">At Reagan HS, they have students struggling with everything from food insecurity to homelessness to abuse, all while trying to graduate and even go to college. You can just imagine how much going to prom will mean for these kids! Most of them won't be able to make it without community support. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: '"helvetica"', '"arial"', sans-serif;">If you do not have dresses to donate but still want to help, the </span><a href="http://www.houstonheightswomansclub.com/Donations" style="font-family: '"helvetica"', '"arial"', sans-serif;" target="_blank">Houston Heights Woman's Club</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: '"helvetica"', '"arial"', sans-serif;"> is once again coordinating this drive and they can also accept monetary donations to buy tuxedo rentals for the guys or help with restaurant gift cards for a pre-prom dinner. You can go to their "</span><a href="http://www.houstonheightswomansclub.com/Donations" style="font-family: '"helvetica"', '"arial"', sans-serif;" target="_blank">Donations</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: '"helvetica"', '"arial"', sans-serif;">" page and let them know you want your contribution to go to "Project Prom."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">In 2013, our community was able to provide dresses and accessories for over 27 young women at Reagan. </span><a href="http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2013/04/16/reagan-seniors-treated-to-prom-shopping-spree/#more-6530" style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Click here</a><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> to read about the last drive and see the HISD photo album!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=350199228387930&extragetparams=%7B%22hc_location%22%3A%22ufi%22%7D" dir="ltr" href="https://www.facebook.com/sonomaheights/?hc_location=ufi" style="cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Sonoma Retail Wine Bar & Restaurant Heights</a><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> is available as a drop off point during business hours- which is all the time; they are open from lunch until late evening. If you have donations, please feel free to bring them by the restaurant and leave them with a hostess or manager. We love our local businesses and appreciate their support.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">This is a great pay-it-forward opportunity, as well. Whatever does't get selected by Reagan students will get passed on to other high needs high schools within HISD for their students. Items that don't get selected for prom for whatever reason go to school theater departments. Can you think of anything better to do with that bridesmaids dress? Probably not!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Email me with any additional questions! I'm happy to get you in touch with whomever is most qualified to answer. info@theheightslife.com</span></span></div>
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Viulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065221466265514944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268622326034701199.post-75804027436585242182015-08-26T11:42:00.000-05:002015-08-26T11:45:18.249-05:00Heights' HITS Theater Fundraiser is All American<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Located in the Heights for over 35 years, <a href="http://www.hitstheatre.org/" target="_blank">HITS Theater</a> is a leading nonprofit performing arts education organization for young people. In addition to wonderful, family friendly, and affordable performances, HITS provides production and technique training through after-school and weekend performance based-classes. Each year, HITS serves approximately 900 students, grades 1 through 12, at their Heights theatre home. The theater also demonstrates a strong civic commitment, developing theatre education classes during and after school. This allows our local public schools to deliver and augment their current performing arts curriculum. Currently outreach programs are in place in the Heights at Harvard Elementary and, new this year, Hogg Middle School.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">HITS is a 501(c)(3) organization. Individual support is their primary avenue for funding their mission to "inspire youth through the power of theatre." In addition to the support of patrons, they have one amazing fundraiser: The annual <a href="http://www.hitsfashionshow.com/" target="_blank"><span class="il">American</span> <span class="il">Girl</span> Fashion Show</a>. The <span class="il">American</span> <span class="il">Girl</span> Fashion Show attracts a diverse, family oriented audience, and features an interactive and stylish showcase of historical and contemporary fashions by the ever popular <a href="http://www.americangirl.com/" target="_blank"><span class="il">American</span> <span class="il">Girl</span></a>. Attendees also get a seated meal, raffle prizes, take-home treasures, and more.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: HITS Theater </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>HITS is currently seeking approximately 125 <span class="il">girls</span>, ages 6-13, to model in this show. They will be holding model calls this weekend, August 29<sup>th</sup> and August 30<sup>th</sup>. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">HITS Theatre is holding a model search for its upcoming American Girl Fashion Show®. Girls ages six to
thirteen are invited to audition to be in the fashion show, which features American Girl® historical and
contemporary fashions as well as the Girl of the Year doll, Grace. Model searches will be held on
Saturday, August 29 from 1:00 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Memorial City Mall (303 Memorial City Way) and
Sunday, August 30 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Barnes & Noble – River Oaks (2030 West Gray). </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">HITS Theatre is looking for approximately 125 girls to model historical, contemporary and Bitty Baby
fashions in the fashion show. Auditions are held on a first-come, first-served basis. Girls who pre-register
are seen first. Pre-registrations are accepted through August 24, but walk-ins are also welcome. The
audition is free, but there will be a model fee of $45 for girls selected to participate in the fashion show.
Model s will be selected based on their resemblance to the American Girl® dolls and whether they fit in
the size 10 and 6x clothes provided by American Girl®. To download a model application and learn more
about the fashion show, visit www.hitsfashionshow.com.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 21</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: 4pt;">st </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">annual American Girl Fashion Show® will be held on:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday, November 14, 2015 at
10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunday, November 15, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The show takes </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">place</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> at the Junior
League of Houston. Adults and children are invited to attend as the American Girl® dolls come to life.
The show features a showcase of historical and contemporary fashions , with an array of outfits, from sleepwear to fancy dress. A limited number of advance general admission
tickets will go on sale August 29 and 30. Information on purchase of advance tickets will be available at
the model search events. Tickets sales open up online for all shows and all seats on September 21. All
proceeds from the American Girl Fashion Show® benefit HITS Theatre, a 501(c)(3) performing arts
education organization for Houston area youth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sponsor tables are now available online and are the only way to reserve a runway table at the fashion
show. Call 713-904-3777 or visit www.hitsfashionshow.com/sponsor to purchase a sponsor table.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a unique and fun way to support art and theater in our community. If you're not interested in participating by attending, but want to assist HITS with their mission, you can always make a donation </span><a href="http://www.hitstheatre.org/support-us/donate-online.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">HERE</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. If you're not interested in donating cash, you can still support HITS via amazon.com, Kroger, and other rewards programs. Learn about how to do that </span><a href="http://www.hitstheatre.org/support-us/contribute-with-rewards-programs.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">HERE</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span></div>
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Viulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065221466265514944noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268622326034701199.post-75677439353597597282015-07-15T13:41:00.000-05:002015-07-15T15:22:33.924-05:00The Heights Helps-- HHWC Supporting Kids in Need with Uniforms<div style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: justify;">
Amazingly, summer is nearing its end for one of the largest school districts in the country. HISD heads back to class August 24. While the Heights is more affluent than it has been for many years, our neighborhood schools still serve a large population of kids in need. For back to school, the <a href="http://www.houstonheightswomansclub.com/" target="_blank">Houston Heights Womens Club</a> is focused on their mission of community service work by helping students in need on the Heights. The members are trying to collect 1000 New or lightly used uniform pieces for students in need around our community. </div>
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The goal of the drive is to distribute uniforms, via their schools, to students who have only 1-2 uniform sets and who can't make it through the week on uniforms. Many of these students also have limited access to laundry facilities, which makes the simple act of getting dressed fo<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">r school a stressful and sometimes humiliating experience. Throw in the challenges of the school day (art projects, lunch, playground tumbles, bathroom accidents) for the younger students, and it adds up to an acute need. <b>The HHWC asked some of the principals to estimate how many students they could help;</b> the administrators were almost confused by the question. One principal said "<b>all of them</b>." Another one said that the need is "<b>bottomless</b>." Many of the participating schools have student populations of over 90% free or reduced lunch.</span></div>
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Participating schools are: Browning, Crockett, Field, Love, Harvard, and Helms Elementary; Hogg and Hamilton Middle, and Reagan High (they have actually hit the Reagan goal with 200 pieces collected, but are short for the other schools). </div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Schools are especially in need of </span><b style="text-align: justify;">khaki shorts in elementary sizes for girls and boys (sizes 4T-12)</b><span style="text-align: justify;">, and navy blue, goldenrod, or </span><b style="text-align: justify;">Hunter green polo shirts for girls and boys (sizes XS-XL)</b><span style="text-align: justify;">. They definitely take gently used pieces, so this is a great reason to clean out your kids' closets!</span></div>
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Here's a link with info on dress code and sizes, and it also includes a way to donate directly by credit card if you'd like the HHWC to shop for you:</div>
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<a href="http://www.houstonheightswomansclub.com/Uniform-Drive" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.houstonheightswomansclub.com/Uniform-Drive" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.houstonheightswomansclub.com/Uniform-Drive</a></div>
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<a href="http://saras.com/" target="_blank">Sara's Bed and Breakfast</a>, 941 Heights Blvd, has generously offered to be a collection point for clothing drop offs. Could it be any easier? </div>
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You can find the items students need at local shops like our neighborhood thrift stores and Label Warehouse on 19th Street (they have polos starting at $3.99). Also, national retailers like Target and The Children's Place on Shearn, and Walmart on Yale, have uniforms at good prices.</div>
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Thanks for making the back to school transition just a little easier for kids who are already struggling with the material needs of their education. Your help makes a difference and will all year long!</div>
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D7268622326034701199%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D7567743935359759728&media=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com%2Fgadgets%2Fproxy%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.houstonheightswomansclub.com%252FResources%252FPictures%252FDonations%252FUniform%252520Drive.jpg%26container%3Dblogger%26gadget%3Da%26rewriteMime%3Dimage%252F*&xm=h&xv=sa1.36&xuid=m2iZkx9nWMU_&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 26px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 340px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D7268622326034701199%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D7567743935359759728&media=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com%2Fgadgets%2Fproxy%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.houstonheightswomansclub.com%252FResources%252FPictures%252FDonations%252FUniform%252520Drive.jpg%26container%3Dblogger%26gadget%3Da%26rewriteMime%3Dimage%252F*&xm=h&xv=sa1.36&xuid=m2iZkx9nWMU_&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 26px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 340px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>The Heights Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541533475991004821noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268622326034701199.post-1206891512463964852015-06-03T12:56:00.001-05:002015-06-03T14:16:52.772-05:00Blockbuster Beauty<div style="text-align: justify;">
Since the day Blockbuster on Cavalcade at the five corners closed, everyone has been aflutter wondering what was going to go in to the space. The "For Lease" sign came down and work was seen in progress but no one could answer the question "What will it be?" </div>
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Apparently, it will be the newest location for Sola Salons:</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">In 2004, Sola Salon Studios</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -1.1em; vertical-align: baseline;">®</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> was established with the opening of our first location. Now with over 200 desirable locations open nationwide, Sola Salon Studios</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -1.1em; vertical-align: baseline;">®</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> is proud to offer salon professionals the freedom and benefits of salon ownership without many of the risks associated with opening a traditional salon. Sola Salon Studios</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -1.1em; vertical-align: baseline;">®</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> is an innovative salon model in which experienced hairdressers, estheticians, nail stylists, massage therapists and other like-minded salon professionals come together under one roof to take their careers to the next level. To date, we have provided more than 5,000 professionals with premium, individual salon spaces in which they own and operate high-quality salons. If designing your own salon space, setting your own schedule and prices, and creating a larger profit margin with retail sales appeals to you, then follow your dreams with Sola – all for about the same price as renting a chair or booth (and maybe even less). </span></span></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">We take pride in being the largest, fastest-growing salon studio business in the country. Join the Sola Salon Studios</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -1.1em; vertical-align: baseline;">®</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> community and experience a level of creative independence and career support you won’t find anywhere else.</span></span></span></blockquote>
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So there it is. They have divided the building, built out a small space and a larger space, from what I could tell, and now have two front doors. <strike>Maybe Sola's concept will only be part of the complete build out? I guess we will just wait and see.</strike> According to a follower on FB, the whole building will be salons, possibly as many as 22 individual studios.</div>
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You can find out more about Sola Salon Studios on their <a href="https://www.solasalonstudios.com/about/" target="_blank">website</a> or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/solasalons" target="_blank">Facebook page</a></div>
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What's also curious about Sola Salons going in to the old Blockbuster is the other new business opening in the strip just south of 20th. "Glam and Glow" at 1911 Studewood has paper over the windows and a sign promising blow outs, sunless tanning, and other beauty treatments. What they do not have is any on-line presence. It's like all of the sudden this part of the Heights is some kind of beauty vortex. It's interesting to me that these businesses turned up here, when the only other recent development in that area has been <a href="https://plus.google.com/104209549381249896952/about?hl=en" target="_blank">a dialysis center</a> and beer (<a href="http://townincitybrewing.com/" target="_blank">TownIn City brewery</a>). </div>
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Of course, if you drive around East Sunset Heights or even Monte Beach, you can see the rapid changes going on. Development has pushed quickly in to those neighborhoods, as original homes come down and townhouse, patio homes, and large single family homes replace them. It's still unusual to see these types of businesses be the trailblazers. Makes me wonder what will be next?</div>
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Arizona-based Sprouts Farmers Market opened it's new location on Yale this week. The store, just south of the I-10 feeder, announced their grand opening with a flyer celebrating their "Heights Location." Well, sort of. Regardless of their actual geography, the neighborhood has been buzzing about having an option closer and/or more affordable than Whole Foods, that isn't Kroger.</div>
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The first thing I noticed when I walked in is how small it is. When you compare it to any of the other supermarkets in the area, it's practically minuscule. Having never been to a Sprouts before, I am unsure if this was a choice specific to this location, or if all of their markets are roughly this size? It kind of reminded me of the conversation I had at holiday party once with a regional manager from Target. I mentioned I live in the Heights and he told me the Taylor location is the 2nd highest earning Target in greater Houston, with the first being a huge super store in Katy. Everyone at Target corporate was shocked when this came to be. It was largely because they built it based on the demographics from 2000, which didn't reflect any of the growth that had happened in the Heights or Washington corridor between the census and the development. This was why they didn't build it as a Super Target and subsequently reconfigured the space to cram food in there, as well as to bring in more merchandise across all departments. Knowing this story, I am left to wonder if Sprouts under-estimates how much business they will actually do, or if a smaller store is their m.o.?</div>
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Either way, the store size has its pros and cons. I like a smaller, easy to navigate store. I like to get in and out quickly and know where everything is. That said, inventory has to suffer based on space limitations. After my walk through and small shopping trip, I think this store will do very well and satisfy the needs of many in the communities around it. Here is a look inside the store at 195 Yale:</div>
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When you enter through the southern door, you will find a large vitamin/supplement section, plus some health and beauty. The north door takes you in to their bread and bakery section. It was small, yet solid; not overwhelming but you'll find most of what you want. Muffins and other breakfast pastries, breads ranging from Mrs Baird's White to <a href="http://www.foodforlife.com/product/breads/ezekiel-49-sprouted-whole-grain-bread" target="_blank">Ezekiel Sprouted</a> in your normal price ranges. Some pies and cookies, but not as much as you see at either WF or Kroger. There is also a large case of chilled, natural sodas for individual purchase here, in close proximity to the prepared foods.</div>
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The prepared foods case is small with mostly salads, but also some pasta casseroles and other items to bake that look suited for 1 very hungry or 2 not as hungry people. Not huge and probably best suited to "it's late and I need to grab anything for dinner" for my family.</div>
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When the Sprouts was first announced, everyone who had been in one before raved about their bulk selection and how it blows our usual supermarkets away. I rarely ever buy from bulk bins so I can't comment from experience, but they did have a nice selection and I bought yogurt covered raisins, happy to buy just as much as I think my five year old should have access to.</div>
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With two small kids at home, crackers are a staple. We love the Annie's bunnies and the Back to Nature version of wheat thins. The prices were comparable to Whole Foods and less than Kroger's natural foods section. However, if you want something like basic Triscuits or cheap saltines, you'll be out of luck at Sprouts.<br />
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Cereal was the same way. Lots of organic variety but no Cheerios.</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGY02inAmAmeR7j95clS-SXvkkxHCxro64wgJ2mdZRJM8lXD5rXsU9CsI9BtdUB7Njt-f6n0WOK65HLrGDsShpOdvXDUDbw2_Jm43pE7rKVqVHUs9praihitPTd6i2CczPhrqraKopM3cm/s640/blogger-image-1865107903.jpg" /></div>
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Small "ethnic"selection of Asian and Latino pantry items.</div>
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There were definitely ample Gluten-Free options sprinkled through out the store, including several quinoa pastas. The overall pasta selection was small, but the sauce variety was surprisingly wide, with their house brand organic sauce on special for $2.00/jar. This is a great deal (as long as it tastes good, which I can't verify at this point). Even the regular price of $3.49 is good for a decent organic sauce.</div>
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Good dairy selection- plenty of yogurt and the basic sour cream/butter/cottage cheese. Mostly organic but they did also have some non-organic milk. Prices were normal, but specials were really good! Note that if you come in the south door (on your left when facing the store), and go straight back to dairy, you won't find cheese. The cheese selection, including slices, shredded, and blocks, is over by the bread department.</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikoS6LMfg14K0elQpEqxQxNt3fNDT8BKDxL7f3JalvisugMrML5JgJLk4j0bsQvhD7yoy-pok0zS14uEqBeN5v3tv49ImdVpoWT5Msv2BL5fEXUDax1vMA7XAGJks7rik_y3i7lH1ipajO/s640/blogger-image--1981973590.jpg" /></div>
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The produce was a sight to behold-- so pretty! Now, common sense might suggest to you that the store just opened, so of course the produce looked great. Those of us who went to the Broger on Studewood when it first opened know this isn't always the case though. You might remember, I found <a href="http://theheightslifehouston.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-very-eh-outing-to-studemont-kroger.html" target="_blank">multiple bags of rotten lettuce</a> on their first day open. Anyway, the produce at Sprouts looked gorgeous. Their veggies are everyday basics, not a lot of exotic or unusual items. I think for most people this is ok, but if you are, say, looking at a recipe that calls for something not-so-basic, you may want to save yourself two trips and head straight to Whole Foods or Central Market.</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSM50r0-6eb8buAJ2HP-4jb4RNIefoUcOW2do5B9iLORZP1XO2lSoDjwnuQl6qLG4aHYtFR9PEfvQX0Aqufp8SDytn67Q1Dnj9cAevjsZ0PDsMq9Ziw4pMYwoOR5_FaFof09KT_LlUJ_PA/s640/blogger-image--1537926821.jpg" /><br />
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I neglected to scope out the percentage of organic versus conventional, so when my friend Kat went, she posted some pics on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheHeightsLife/posts/933584680014457?comment_id=933589463347312&reply_comment_id=933611826678409&offset=0&total_comments=24&notif_t=share_comment" target="_blank">THL's Facebook page</a> of the wide variety of organic veg, including this celery at an amazingly low price:<br />
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Thanks, Kat!</div>
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Wine and beer selection is very small, but there are at least a couple things any wine or beer snob can throw in their cart for dinner at home or to carry to a BYOB restaurant.</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZfDJVavHEZJrofaWVP8KBadK5GZziLnbXyP4dk_xOccpv1xr4chGZgwb-OB0bG6S1bBEX0V2vax1qrv-BKWITlJdbT6KPsjQGqYVlBkByA0WhIlnGCUcHJnFOL1PBs7HMFoDcLepcE6W/s640/blogger-image--274471071.jpg" /></div>
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Meat case looked great. My husband is all about a variety of sausages, so this will please him.</div>
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Bacon, hotdogs, and other meats of that variety are pretty much all organic and uncured versions.</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Dg5WJ_eQI_Ze7XjZ3k7qKeYmjrhy4-jzxDGwqadIpPE8c0zLtn_6N2X8UEhrnn-63iEUYtdCOrCz72kDDBy_Vl4j_Iouo169VSk79QBqBD-TAljpRcAraqXoNhLMRGcxkja9Szb7VtIE/s640/blogger-image-1947672127.jpg" /></div>
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Meat loaf and stuffed peppers looked really good! Glad I saw these outside of the other prepared foods selection.</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcGkuZSqbmH3WKOw-VNuR-2oNJebPUMEIoYYAYBr2RHAYIgW9m-TOarAyD2m5MqY-4g_cgTiUxqkBlCWRSKKEpWbJ_SpURUI9jvNVyP0EbhaBsgsAzqd4yF4J0o76cELSud9LE4becNDA/s640/blogger-image--1455128419.jpg" /></div>
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Fish looked nice. Cheaper than Whole Foods; not dried out and old-looking like Kroger's.</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitd1xOEvtuit5-x3Y6Om-raScV7L2uHlupMbO9-f1ZUGFBPRkY2cEHAryGszNeqGn3RejttXLdAYrOqCTFPjbWrpiCCSqY3nNF92js0XHALW5IRZO1y17tyIgNVXyz31M-yLwAIBSUWGgI/s640/blogger-image-1643745857.jpg" /></div>
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Sushi.</div>
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Cashiers were nice and helpful, although they did not know (or just didn't bother to) pack my cold items together and pack other like-items together. I worked at a grocery store in college and we were trained very specifically on how to bag. Because that made me somewhat neurotic about bagging, I always put things on the belt in the order I prefer them bagged. Whole Foods always gets it right. Kroger will put a bottle of bleach in with your produce and a half pint of ice cream with your dry goods. Like most other aspects of comparing the three, Sprouts still has some work to do, leaving them firmly in the middle. </div>
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Generally, though, it was a very pleasant experience. Prices are average and the specials are really good. Sadly, I will still not be able to buy all the things my family eats on a weekly basis in one store. That said, I am glad this is here and can replace Kroger for a lot of the "I just need an onion, some milk, and tortillas" trips I find I take. And certainly there are a lot of people in and around the Heights who will welcome this as their new, primary food shopping destination. It's not an HEB, but it's something...</div>
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P.S. You can access their <a href="https://www.sprouts.com/specials/-/flyer/store/136" target="_blank">sale flyer</a> and <a href="https://www.sprouts.com/web/guest/coupons" target="_blank">store coupons</a> on their website.</div>
Viulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065221466265514944noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268622326034701199.post-32859036059871251012015-02-03T08:44:00.000-06:002015-02-03T08:44:14.512-06:00Heights Happenings: Blue Line Bike Lab to raise funds for MS 150<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just a simple C&P from the press release for your consideration:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Blue Line Chili Bowl at Ladybird’s Bar </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Benefiting Blue Line Bike Lab MS150 Team</span></span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The third annual Blue Line Chili Bowl benefiting the Blue Line Bike Lab MS 150 Team is set for <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_310269827" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Saturday, Feb 7</span></span>, starting at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_310269828" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">noon</span></span> at Ladybird’s Bar. Ladybird’s is located at 5519 Allen St. at TC Jester near Washington Ave. Chili teams are invited to sign up for this festive event that attracted over 20 teams and 300 attendees in 2014, raising just over $5,000.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_Z5UyX3QP47ih9g9wwm51-9QXuNajwxeZtcAA2rj7dgpj3_ZbAbC3WufZwMLmC9947CGVFLmwMow5uldV3cA4WVC5yEGsyE4uPw2Myux7oCRDDOL3XV83sYJDbjAIybHz0U5m6NGS8ub/s1600/1512250_721188207899070_1393434867_o+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_Z5UyX3QP47ih9g9wwm51-9QXuNajwxeZtcAA2rj7dgpj3_ZbAbC3WufZwMLmC9947CGVFLmwMow5uldV3cA4WVC5yEGsyE4uPw2Myux7oCRDDOL3XV83sYJDbjAIybHz0U5m6NGS8ub/s1600/1512250_721188207899070_1393434867_o+(1).jpg" height="239" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The BP MS 150 is the top fundraising ride for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Nationwide; there are 100 Bike MS rides. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Team Blue Line has set their highest goal in their five-year history of riding in the MS 150. The team is made up of riders that have friends and family who suffer from Multiple Sclerosis. With funds generated by the Chili Bowl, the goal of raising $75,000 is more attainable. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fund-raising organizer Kevin Chenevert says, “Events like this give us an opportunity as a team to raise money above and beyond the $400 minimum required by the MS Society.” This will be the third year teaming up with Charles Bishop and his establishments. “Charles and I have a good relationship and with his people and our volunteers we always pull off a fantastic event ” </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chenevert continues, “This year, we will again be aiming for 30 teams and the competition will be decided by a host of local celebrities and chefs.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In addition to $10 tasting bowls, attendees can purchase raffle tickets for a shot at a large and varied selection of items from many local area businesses. There will also be a silent auction featuring pieces from local artist’s and other desirable items.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeh2E-ewHFpCgZ3Jz27NVQjPYEnGfO1lN5buJNNvbUPv4o5XZJBLSUeRKdppUCoPmK0G-F8RpF7f6cmllJJmVxxR-vOpecKgGfa7xrRj971fl4pcrIzAQcurnJRxgiahcr4TKUF38eJhsU/s1600/1737993_10152387623334206_1917886534_o+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeh2E-ewHFpCgZ3Jz27NVQjPYEnGfO1lN5buJNNvbUPv4o5XZJBLSUeRKdppUCoPmK0G-F8RpF7f6cmllJJmVxxR-vOpecKgGfa7xrRj971fl4pcrIzAQcurnJRxgiahcr4TKUF38eJhsU/s1600/1737993_10152387623334206_1917886534_o+(1).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Expect entertaining MC work from John “Mills” McCoin and diverse eclectic live music from bands Poor Pilate, Tommy Lynch Band, Grisbee and Cavern Hymnal.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 1; white-space: pre-wrap;">The BP MS 150 starts in Houston on </span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_310269829" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; line-height: 1; position: relative; top: -2px; white-space: pre-wrap; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Saturday, April 18</span></span><span style="line-height: 1; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and finishes in front of the Bob Bullock Museum near the State Capitol in Austin on </span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_310269830" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; line-height: 1; position: relative; top: -2px; white-space: pre-wrap; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday, April 19</span></span><span style="line-height: 1; white-space: pre-wrap;">, following an overnight celebration in La Grange. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 1; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For additional details and to sign up your chili team, contact Ladybird’s at </span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="tel:%28713%29%20393-7647" target="_blank" value="+17133937647">(713) 393-7647</a></span><span style="line-height: 1; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, by email at </span><a href="mailto:charles@ladybirdsbar.com" style="line-height: 1; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">charles@ladybirdsbar.com</span></a><span style="line-height: 1; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or visit the website </span><a href="http://www.ladybirdsbar.com/" style="line-height: 1; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ladybirdsbar.com</span></a><span style="line-height: 1; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Updates are posted at </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ladybirdsbar" style="line-height: 1; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">facebook.com/ladybirdsbar</span></a><span style="line-height: 1; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 1; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here is the Facebook event, as well: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/363929383788521/" target="_blank">https://www.<wbr></wbr>facebook.com/events/<wbr></wbr>363929383788521/</a></span></div>
Viulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065221466265514944noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268622326034701199.post-69587069722255524962015-01-11T17:11:00.000-06:002015-01-11T17:11:25.070-06:00226 Recordings: A 2nd Look at Studio Life on 19th Street<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 18px;">Back in 2010, I was invited to an open house at a new recording studio in the Heights. I </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">couldn't make the event, so I was invited by the studio owner for a private tour instead. What resulted was not only a blog story (<a href="http://theheightslifehouston.blogspot.com/2010/06/this-neighborhood-is-being-recorded.html" target="_blank">This Neighborhood Is Being Recorded</a>) but a wonderful friendship. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">It is a funny "small world" kind of story. As Mairi Cox, whose husband Paul is the audio engineer who runs the studio, gave me a tour and talked about the studio, their then 18 month old daughter Clara toured with us. I also had a toddler around the same age and conversation flowed between studio business, living in the Heights, and parenting.</span></span></span><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> Eventually my younger son went to school with her daughter. In a real small world twist, Mairi's mother ended up teaching both of my sons at the Montessori school they attend; one that Mairi, herself, also attended as a child. Us meeting- it was all kind of meant to be.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">After the tour, Mairi invited me to see their home behind the studio. I met her dog, Telly, whose fluffy, Samoyed hair was appropriately caked with some mac'n'cheese (appropriate when you have a toddler, that is). We talked a lot about the Heights and living on/ raising kids in a business dominated area, which I was totally fascinated by. I love living in my little Historic District- tidy bungalows all in a row. It was hard to imagine living in the heart of the 19th Street shopping district! </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I asked Mairi what it was like living on 19th Street in the middle of a commercial district. I kind of expected an "it is what it is" answer, but that is not what I got. She referred to the store owners as her "neighbors" and said they all drown Clara with attention. She said "When you live in a [residential area], you can't just walk outside and in to your neighbors house," but she can. The merchants on her block were totally supportive, even when construction of the building took up Gen's parking lot. She likes the fact that it's kind of the "opposite of a neighborhood" by being full of activity during the day and then totally quiet at night. Of course, it suits the work they do as well. "Bands can hang out in the [front courtyard] and not disturb anyone." She also loves how she can walk so many places. That, she says, is a "Heights thing."</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Now it's almost five years later. Mairi and Paul have added to their family- another Samoyed, Sampson, and also had another child, Georgia, who is affectionately known to everyone on 19th Street as "Peach." The Cox family has grown and the demands of their recording studio have grown, as well. They are currently working to meet the growing desire for their studio by</span> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">reconfiguring current space to add a second studio. They have also added an education component with a program for people who are interested in becoming Audio Engineers.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEmfiy0uYWx3PwkWlW9oBPMypstxknNPY8rnmZT6ZZg4DLFQfjAgbotKYwzXPzKqOAI5G5t48P_8BzbtBp5L15Be0CITsBE-OMbuC4Z4p5w5dIGTo4A0mOEcZEsHcSLhM3ZF-B0jdJGNz/s1600/class.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEmfiy0uYWx3PwkWlW9oBPMypstxknNPY8rnmZT6ZZg4DLFQfjAgbotKYwzXPzKqOAI5G5t48P_8BzbtBp5L15Be0CITsBE-OMbuC4Z4p5w5dIGTo4A0mOEcZEsHcSLhM3ZF-B0jdJGNz/s1600/class.jpg" height="264" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Audio Engineering class in progress at 226 Recordings on 19th Street</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The years since they put up their metal building have brought a lot of changes to the Heights and 19th Street, as well. Having the shopping district as their front yard gives the Coxes a unique perspective on the neighborhood. I asked Mairi if she still has the same feelings about living in our own, little downtown.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">"We absolutely love being in the Heights. And we love living on 19th Street. We actually bought the lot in early 2008 and definitely noticed the neighborhood changing. </span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">Sometimes we walk our dogs down the street and try to remember the histories of all the storefronts. It’s actually hard to keep track of all the changes, even though we’ve been here for just a small fraction of the street’s history. Of course, we were sad to see some great neighbors go, like Tansu, Young at Art, and Balinska’s."</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4njoUBZSMC2s7mrnVPhJLI-q-jEkCvjEowr9tQ5OBWSQqqk1PKpTILk8OYLGjp7aD5Jtc8tsLZS84rADOD_fJS-7NA78wXfFUZ2Kqdz2iRMdEYsKEfAtsRMryEHLUSe3a-4skBn_IQgl/s1600/wln2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4njoUBZSMC2s7mrnVPhJLI-q-jEkCvjEowr9tQ5OBWSQqqk1PKpTILk8OYLGjp7aD5Jtc8tsLZS84rADOD_fJS-7NA78wXfFUZ2Kqdz2iRMdEYsKEfAtsRMryEHLUSe3a-4skBn_IQgl/s1600/wln2012.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul Cox, left, was as an audio engineer in LA, working with the likes of Macy Gray, Stanley Clarke, Ernie Watts, and more. Home in Houston, Cox records local musicians at his 19th Street studio and offers classes in Audio Engineering. </td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Cox has a positive outlook for the recent wave of businesses, though. There are some tough losses (Harold's comes to mind), but she sees</span> "there are also new businesses with a lot of momentum." <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> And as far as the future, Cox says "more than anything, the sense of community among the merchants seems to be solidifying more and more, which is great. There are some really motivated new businesses and everyone’s attitude is really positive."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">As the Heights has grown in popularity, it's hard to imagine it could do anything but help 226 Recordings to be in the heart of one of Houston's most popular communities. This has been especially true for the Audio Engineering program they added. </span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The new program is a </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">unique opportunity to learn the craft of audio engineering school right </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">inside their</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> Heights recording studio. </span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">While they get students</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"> from nearby </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">areas like Garden Oaks, Oak Forest, Near Northside, and, of course, from right here in the Heights,</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">they also draw a lot of future engineers</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">as far away as Katy, The Woodlands, and Pearland. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">It's worth the commute for a lot of people. 226 has </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">created<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> "an intense" and hands-on 16-week program, which consists of instruction during three 3-hour classes and one 4-hour lab per week, which </span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">prepares students to be audio engineers, not just assistants. They also go beyond instruction, to help with client development for their students.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">And often, the supportive environment plus great, local vibe of our </span>neighborhood<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> wins them over. "More than a few students that lived in the suburbs have moved to The Heights after getting to know the area by attending our class," Cox says.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIp8653qgUshfMnkfNEq5hsq5Eg2-U5BtPVEXmZB-DMnN-4eQEUADqDdfdQFMW9Z6WQ3LrZmsoeJ3D-4TYDeBh796PsWYbT6-bfXZynLGid5HzS0AleQojVxM4NyFbiZGu81IWphihEhDp/s1600/IMG_2763.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIp8653qgUshfMnkfNEq5hsq5Eg2-U5BtPVEXmZB-DMnN-4eQEUADqDdfdQFMW9Z6WQ3LrZmsoeJ3D-4TYDeBh796PsWYbT6-bfXZynLGid5HzS0AleQojVxM4NyFbiZGu81IWphihEhDp/s1600/IMG_2763.jpeg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">A commissioned art piece for the studio by local artist Chad Landry</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">"Our students and clients definitely take advantage of our location. We love giving clients and students recommendations on places to shop, eat, or drink. We are very proud to be where we are and really enjoy sharing all the area has to offer with our guests. <a href="http://treadsack.com/downhouse/" target="_blank">Down House</a>, <a href="http://www.carterandcooley.com/" target="_blank">Carter & Cooley</a>, and <a href="http://www.heightsgeneralstore.com/" target="_blank">Alli’s Pizzaria</a> are places we always recommend to anyone looking to grab a bite.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> I can’t tell you how many times a client or student has called and said they’re just grabbing some <a href="http://boomtowncoffee.com/" target="_blank">Boomtown</a> and will be right over. Or after a session or class, they head over to <a href="http://www.vinaledge.com/" target="_blank">Vinal Edge</a> to shop for records."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The Coxes are rabid supporters of local businesses, too. I can go with Mairi to pretty much any store in the Heights, not just on 19th Street, and they know her. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This is because their shopping philosophy is "to pretty much to look for whatever we need from one of our neighbors first."</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3DTmtyZjAfdwkayl14WOsffr6N6V_AosSHD8-3XUMv18_i9YTPo8HCpFEiRl3ch6U21Dp2DHL6-7c-j9liKVRiwOvVNCkiXQmlMGtAXXbjDJex0wZfjbhg-veccCWZZw7DCVE3Ef_yOpQ/s1600/clouds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3DTmtyZjAfdwkayl14WOsffr6N6V_AosSHD8-3XUMv18_i9YTPo8HCpFEiRl3ch6U21Dp2DHL6-7c-j9liKVRiwOvVNCkiXQmlMGtAXXbjDJex0wZfjbhg-veccCWZZw7DCVE3Ef_yOpQ/s1600/clouds.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This great 48x36 painting hangs in the living room of Paul and Mairi Cox's home on 19th Street. It is from their 19th Street neighbor, <a href="http://gallerymsquared.com/" target="_blank">Gallery M Squared</a>.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This shows in their home and their studio. "Many pieces of our furniture are from <a href="http://www.gensantiques.com/" target="_blank">Gen’s Antiques</a>, and probably all of our picture frames and lamps we own are from <a href="http://www.blisson19th.com/" target="_blank">Bliss on 19</a></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><sup><a href="http://www.blisson19th.com/" target="_blank">th</a></sup></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">. And of course our kids are taking advantage of <a href="http://www.bligbluewhale.com/" target="_blank">Big Blue Whale</a> being right across the street. Thread and <a href="http://www.manready.com/" target="_blank">Man Ready</a> are also pretty well represented in our house. All of our art is from Gallery M Squared or directly from a local artist." </span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The art part is key for Mairi.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: justify;">Another painting in the Cox home, purchased from one of my favorite Heights stores, </span><a href="http://hellolucky.com/" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Hello-Lucky</a>.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I think having local art in the studio is especially important. Even though we don’t create visual art, we definitely feel proud to help recording artists fulfill their visions. We know how hard it is to make artistic dreams a reality, so it’s important to us to support local artists regardless of their medium. <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">" This local-centric behavior has made a difference in surprising ways. This year o</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">ne of their engineering students actually decided to forgo the Galleria at Christmas and do all his shopping on 19</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><sup>th</sup></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">. He lives in Katy, so Mairi thinks it says a lot about what the neighborhood has to offer. And I'm sure her leading by example had an impact as well. She was impressed with his dedication to this community and, like many of us, ended her thoughts with "I wish some of our residential neighbors cared as much about our unique local businesses as he does." Me, too.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This piece from Gallery M Squared hangs in the studio at 226 19th Street.</td></tr>
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I<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">f you or someone you know is interested in sound engineering, 226 Recordings' <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">16 Week program begins each year in January and September. They also offer a more intense summer program that begins in June and ends in August. Students can also earn credit for an internship related to a traditional degree. Learn all about the studio, the </span>curriculum, pricing, and registration here: <a href="http://226recordings.com/">226Recordings.com</a></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D7268622326034701199%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D6958706972225552496%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dallposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dallposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dpostname&media=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com%2Fgadgets%2Fproxy%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252F2.bp.blogspot.com%252F-3ylJOyEIejo%252FVLLw6M6JFVI%252FAAAAAAAAJmI%252Fq_AKQL2JZoc%252Fs1600%252Fclass.jpg%26container%3Dblogger%26gadget%3Da%26rewriteMime%3Dimage%252F*&xm=h&xv=sa1.35&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 193px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 758px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D7268622326034701199%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D6958706972225552496%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dallposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dallposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dpostname&media=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com%2Fgadgets%2Fproxy%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252F2.bp.blogspot.com%252F-3ylJOyEIejo%252FVLLw6M6JFVI%252FAAAAAAAAJmI%252Fq_AKQL2JZoc%252Fs1600%252Fclass.jpg%26container%3Dblogger%26gadget%3Da%26rewriteMime%3Dimage%252F*&xm=h&xv=sa1.35&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 193px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 758px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Viulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065221466265514944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268622326034701199.post-14479045491131882392014-12-02T12:24:00.001-06:002014-12-02T13:16:31.238-06:00Opportunities for Giving in the Heights #GivingTuesday<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today is what has become known as #GivingTuesday in the social media world. From <a href="http://givingtuesday.org/">GivingTuesday.org</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What is #GivingTuesday?</span>We have a day for giving thanks. We have two for getting deals. Now, we have #GivingTuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back. On Tuesday, December 2, 2014, charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world will come together for one common purpose:<b> to celebrate generosity and to give.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are so many opportunities to give in the Heights, both for #GivingTuesday, and all through the Holidays. Actually, the organizations that help our community could use help all year round. In the spirit of the season and the day, though, here are some local, greater Heights area organizations that would appreciate your support:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://ahchinc.webs.com/" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">AIDS Housing Coalition Houston</a></span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Located in the Heights, AHCH has been assisting those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS for over 20 years. G<span style="text-align: justify;">ifts donated to this organization will be used to house, feed and otherwise educate people living with the HIV virus and AIDS progression. AHCH-inc. has also served guests Cancer and other immune system chronic diseases.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">They need donations of winter clothing, volunteer hours, and many other resources. Please visit this </span><a href="http://ahchinc.webs.com/" target="_blank">How You Can Help Page link</a><span style="background-color: white;"> to donate.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://himfoodpantry.org/" target="_blank">Heights Interfaith Ministries Food Pantry</a></span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">This small pantry, opened in 2009, is 100% volunteer based. </span><span style="line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">It was started by a consortium of Heights Faith communities to serve families in our local zip codes (77007, 77008, 77009, and 77022). </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">With so many families suffering from food insecurity in a growing neighborhood, the help of the community is so necessary so the HIMFP can serve the needs of our neighbors.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">Donating is so easy! You can Feed Frank at the HIM building, 3525 Beauchamp, 24/7. Frank would love to be filled with non-perishable foods and diapers (larger than newborn size). This time of year, Frank also graciously welcomes new and lightly used toys for client parents to gift their kids at Christmas. You can also give funds via their </span><a href="http://himfoodpantry.org/home/contributions/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;" target="_blank">PayPal link</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://www.wesleyhousehouston.org/" target="_blank"><b>Wesley Community Center</b></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Founded in 1904, Wesley Community Center has helped generations of Houstonian's in the Near North Side community and beyond. Offering everything from early childhood education to care for needy seniors to job training, this community service agency is truly full service. Their missions statement reads: <i>Helping people help themselves and each other</i>. And they do! Their amazing Financial Opportunity Center helps people struggling to get out of poverty by teaching them how to change their spending behavior and make long term financial goals. Read more about the <a href="http://www.wesleyhousehouston.org/our-agency/foc-financial-opportunity-center/" target="_blank">FOC here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wesley can use help with everything from tending their gardens (which provide fresh produce for needy families) to office help. Like most non-profits, though, they can also use financial and in-kind support. They accept non perishables for their food pantry, have an on-going <a href="http://www.wesleyhousehouston.org/donate/wesley-wish-list/" target="_blank">wish list</a> for materials, and also gladly take financial donations via their <a href="http://www.wesleyhousehouston.org/donate/ways-to-give/" target="_blank">giving page link</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Support our local schools</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">Texas is 46th in the nation for per capita spending on public schools. Our schools, especially those with high rates of poverty, depend on the community to help them provide a proper education for their students. When kids can learn and thrive, we all benefit! Here are several projects to help build stronger schools and raise smarter kids in our community:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jefferson Elementary</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jefferson Elementary is a high poverty school in 77009, just across 45 from the Heights. They currently have four projects on DonorsChoose.org including a couple of basic necessities lists for things like paper, dry erase markers, and folders.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This link will take you to all of their projects: </span><br />
<a href="http://www.donorschoose.org/school/jefferson-elementary-school/17337/?teachers=true"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">http://www.donorschoose.org/school/jefferson-elementary-school/17337/?teachers=true</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">Browning Elementary</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">Browning is a high poverty school, with 65% of students qualifying for free lunch. They are a Title 1 school in Monte Beach with a great need for access to arts and technology. They only have one small project- to buy a new iPod. It has received $0 so far and only has a couple weeks left until the project expires. This should be such an easy wish for our community to grant!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px; text-align: left;">Help buy a new iPod and bring joy to the little ones at this school here: </span><a href="http://www.donorschoose.org/project/please-help-replace-our-old-orange-ipod/1388249/#materialsList" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">http://www.donorschoose.org/project/please-help-replace-our-old-orange-ipod/1388249/#materialsList<span style="line-height: 24px;"> </span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">Love Elementary</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px;">Many of you probably remember when HISD wanted to shut down Love a few years ago. The parents and community fought back, and now they continue to fight for the best education for their students. Love needs a lot of basics and their amazon.com wish list gives you the opportunity to help by sending everything from tempera paint to uniform pants for students in need.</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px;">Support Love's teachers and students here:</span></span><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/ref=cm_wl_search_1?ie=UTF8&cid=A3I02VFMIRD3A0"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/ref=cm_wl_search_1?ie=UTF8&cid=A3I02VFMIRD3A0</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Field </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">Elementary</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Field, perhaps the cutest school in all of the greater Heights, is experiencing a bit of a renaissance. The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fieldfriends" target="_blank">Friends of Field group</a> has not only donated time, talent, and money to making the </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">school better; they have actually enrolled their kids there! Still, this small group of parents wants to help the whole school community. Their big goal for this year is to stock the library with all the great books elementary schools need to fuel the learning and imaginations of their students. This project, if completed, would add 3000 books to the schools library.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Help buy books by simply buying off their Amazon wish list and they'll be sent directly to the school: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/1D67XYE243S98/ref=cm_sw_su_w">http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/1D67XYE243S98/ref=cm_sw_su_w</a></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Roosevelt Elementary</span></b><br />
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Roosevelt, in Oak Forest area, is another Title 1, high needs school. This school caters to many kids whose first language is Spanish. They have projects that include listening stations, so students can hear books read to them in English to increase fluency, and just generally providing books for the student population.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They have seven projects on DonorsChoose.org. You can select one to help here: <a href="http://www.donorschoose.org/school/roosevelt-elementary-school/16576/?active=true">http://www.donorschoose.org/school/roosevelt-elementary-school/16576/?active=true</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><b>I know there are ample other opportunities to give in the greater Heights, so please do share info and links in the comments if you have other organizations that also need our support!</b></span></h3>
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Viulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065221466265514944noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268622326034701199.post-52920760571882612922014-11-24T19:34:00.003-06:002014-11-24T19:34:54.011-06:00Go crazy? Don't mind if I do....Hey, all!<br />
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I've gotten quite a few emails lately asking if I have quit blogging here. Well, as I have been known to say, sometimes my real life gets in the way of The Heights Life. It's been a crazy few months; I've spent a lot of time feeling a little like this:<br />
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Fear not, though! I have some stories about Heights businesses on the way- small, local companies that you don't hear about in most of the Houston social news. I look forward to sharing that information with you after the holidays are over. Until then, you can always dig through old posts and, of course, we are having a great time on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheHeightsLife" target="_blank">The Heights Life Facebook page</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/theheightslife" target="_blank">Instagram</a>.<br />
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Thanks for visiting! Hope to see you around the Heights.<br />
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Viulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065221466265514944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268622326034701199.post-89533285698553889992014-08-27T11:36:00.000-05:002014-08-27T12:25:21.098-05:00Instacart Launches, an early review & a Discount for you guys!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; letter-spacing: 0px;">Instacart</span><span style="color: #0433ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"> (www.Instacart.com)</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">, the only service that can deliver groceries from multiple local stores within an hour, launched Houston’s first one-hour grocery delivery service today. </span>You<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> probably read about it <a href="http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2014/08/instacart_launches_in_houston_providing_a_quick_grocery_delivery_service.php" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2014/08/instacart_launches_in_houston_providing_a_quick_grocery_delivery_service.php" target="_blank">here</a>, or saw the story <a href="http://www.myfoxhouston.com/story/25992335/instacart-your-own-personal-shopper" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See last paragraph for discount code</td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Starting today, Instacart customers in Houston can order groceries from both Whole Foods Market and H-E-B. Additional stores will be added in the coming weeks, and customers can combine items from multiple stores into one order. All this and it will be delivered to your door.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">"Originally launched in San Francisco and since expanded into many other major cities, Instacart has disrupted the traditional <a href="http://www.instacart.com/"><span style="color: #0433ff; letter-spacing: 0px;">grocery delivery</span></a> space with its crowdsourced labor force dubbed "Personal Shoppers" who shop for and deliver grocery orders providing their own transportation in as little as one hour. This eliminates the need for costly infrastructure such as inventory, warehouses, trucks and full-time drivers." It kind of reminds me of Uber, but with groceries. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Instacart will initially serve the areas of downtown Houston and inside the loop, west of downtown, including the neighborhoods of Montrose, The Heights, River Oaks, West U, Rice Military, Memorial Park, The Galleria, Bellaire, Briargrove, Memorial Villages, </span><span style="color: #232323; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Midtown, Washington Ave, Upper Kirby and the Museum District</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">. A map of Instacart’s coverage areas can be found at <a href="http://www.instacart.com/locations"><span style="color: #0433ff; letter-spacing: 0px;">www.instacart.com/locations</span></a>.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Houston customers who order TODAY August 27 will receive a free month of deliveries.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">While Houston City Launcher Matt O’Connor is looking at "the proportion of young professionals who work long hours is very high in Houston and we expect the convenience of Instacart for grocery delivery to resonate with them," I also see tons of families with two working parents in the Hieghts. I think those people are ready, willing, and able to pay for this convenience as it means one less errand and more time together. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Customers can open an account at <a href="http://www.instacart.com/"><span style="color: #0433ff; letter-spacing: 0px;">www.Instacart.com</span></a>, and get free delivery on their first order of $10 or more. Instacart also offers an Amazon-Prime like service called Instacart Express -- an annual membership that eliminates delivery fees for all orders of $35 or more. The cost is just $99. Customers can sign up for a free two-week trial at <a href="http://www.instacart.com/express"><span style="color: #0433ff; letter-spacing: 0px;">www.instacart.com/express</span></a>. They have also offered an exclusive</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> $10 off free grocery promotion code for The Heights Life readers and followers: </span><a href="https://www.instacart.com/store?code=heightslife" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">HEIGHTSLIFE</a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> Also, if you order TODAY (Sept 27, launch day) you get a month of Express service for free.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A friend of mine in Woodland Heights was eager to try the service. She ordered early this morning and had this to say about the experience: </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Today was about convenience. </b>I needed to get to work on a project, so knew I’d be at my desk and could wait for a delivery. I used my desktop computer to shop, not the app.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Creating your order is fairly easy. It helps to know the brand name—searching “Bob’s Red Mill Oat” got me the oatmeal I wanted.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I didn’t try to order anything that required a special description. <b>I did order one produce item I’m fussy about—bell peppers. I wanted to see what I’d get.</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">At check-out, it showed the list of recommended substitutions for each item, and I had three options: yes, swap it for the recommended one; yes, but substitute a different item than the one suggested (and then I could search to find my preferred sub); or, don’t get a substitute if what I want isn’t available. <b>You should hover over the suggested substitute to check the price and avoid surprises– the $3.49 hummus had a $7+ recommended substitute</b>, which I declined to accept because I could make a gallon of hummus for that much money.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The prices were a bit higher, which is how the delivery fee stays low, for sure. Today, I was willing to pay for the convenience. I’d want to check to see just how much higher, and I wonder if the company pass along any special store pricing, or if they buy at the sale price but sell to the user at the regular one.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>I placed my order at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_352108190" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">10:41</span></span>.</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>The shopper called from the store to double-check the substitutions.</b> Online, I only had the option to select organic cauliflower; she wanted to be sure I would be OK with conventionally-grown.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>I got a text at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_352108191" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">11:13</span></span> saying my order was on the way, with an estimated delivery time of <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_352108192" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">11:50</span></span>. The actual delivery was at 11:35ish. </b>By <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_352108193" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">11:44</span></span>, I had a text from Instacart allowing me to rate the experience.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The peppers passed my inspection. The eggs arrives safely, too.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I’d do it again, especially if I were ordering my staples and cleaning supplies. I wonder if the app allows you to scan barcodes to create a favorites list?</span></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFuSekts1DOev2ImFeH3OVq3HjQGeig_yDgQUTMONzKvJMawnMvtPXIJfW8_T_O38lIzUld0YWYeWmmXed0JCHiICBDw14vlrfXv2luBxXecBbllK4D_TTxxtG8mNvX2nQeRhJoWzY9jj/s1600/IMG_3397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFuSekts1DOev2ImFeH3OVq3HjQGeig_yDgQUTMONzKvJMawnMvtPXIJfW8_T_O38lIzUld0YWYeWmmXed0JCHiICBDw14vlrfXv2luBxXecBbllK4D_TTxxtG8mNvX2nQeRhJoWzY9jj/s1600/IMG_3397.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nina delivered the groceries</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiic2yIhzl4s53MObl4aQlNv9ohyWTqDwmDMYmAsrqBTsUBEelTK4QPTsrcdiSYmv4bNvJNwzgfDwccMCPguzI02Q5Lkd-jTF1pFqCogoEQAEMu6_7iyPPt_SANeYozMUuSN7elCoj5AMmH/s1600/IMG_6318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiic2yIhzl4s53MObl4aQlNv9ohyWTqDwmDMYmAsrqBTsUBEelTK4QPTsrcdiSYmv4bNvJNwzgfDwccMCPguzI02Q5Lkd-jTF1pFqCogoEQAEMu6_7iyPPt_SANeYozMUuSN7elCoj5AMmH/s1600/IMG_6318.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crowd sourcing allows for quick delivery</td></tr>
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Viulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065221466265514944noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268622326034701199.post-5305500301080414222014-07-29T22:23:00.002-05:002014-07-29T23:17:10.644-05:00In The Zone: Zone 9 Tropicals<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Growing up in Louisiana, Wayne DuPont lived with a mom and two sisters who loved plants. He was surrounded by the houseplants they would grow and grew to love plants as well. After his sisters left home, he took on their roles of resident plant grower, learning the many lessons it takes to successfully propagate and grow plants. His first lesson in household horticulture came along with his first "greenhouse," his sisters' unused doll house. Without enough light, his plants died. Lesson learned.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t1.0-9/10435921_10153018189153696_747169634639144921_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t1.0-9/10435921_10153018189153696_747169634639144921_n.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Around the 8th grade, DuPont's interest in engineering (he's now a pipeline engineer) started to surface, and he once again decided he needed to engineer a greenhouse. A real one. Again, at the age of 13, he learned a valuable lesson: 7' is not enough height to manage temperature in a green house. Plants- fried. Lesson- learned.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the next few years, DuPont would continue to tinker with house plants and dabble in propagation, the process of creating new plants from seeds, cuttings, bulbs, and other plant parts. When he went off to college, he got ... busy... and kept a couple houseplants but generally left the cultivation hobby behind.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A variety of tropicals in different stages of growth in the "propagation room."</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">In 1990, Wayne DuPont bought an original bungalow at 1015 Arlington in the Houston Heights neighborhood. The </span>house had your usual St Augustine front yard. The back yard was "largely empty, low lying, and flood prone." There were a few trash trees and a long driveway along the south side of the house. With space to use, the itch to work with plants resurfaced. He used the back of the long driveway to build a greenhouse; this time, one that was functional for real cultivation. DuPont started working with tropical plants, suited to the heat and humidity of Houston. He collected different plants and propagated them, soon filling up his greenhouse. And then outgrowing it. He was good at what he was doing, and his hobby had become very successful, a bit more than he needed for himself. DuPont figured he should move some of the plants out so he could continue growing more. He started Zone 9 Tropicals as a way to do this, and maybe make some money to support the habit, plus share wonderful, unique plants with others who enjoy them. DuPont started offering his plants online at <a href="http://zone9tropicals.com/">Zone9Tropicals.com</a> and quietly hosting "open garden days" 2 weekends a month at his Arlington Street home. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The back of the main greenhouse</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444;">When you walk under the sun-faded Zone 9 banner, it's hard to imagine what you're going to see. A narrow driveway has been transformed in a greenhouse bursting with amazing plants, many taller than an average man. Rows and rows and rows of smaller pots cover shelves. Pots sit on pedestals and the ground. It is hot and damp and vivid green and amazing flowers. As you reach the back side of the greenhouse, you might think that's it. After all, it's amazing enough. A doorway appears and leads to another green house, full of smaller plant rooms, some for shopping, other for propagation, and a dry room for certain varieties of plants that need a slightly different climate. Zone 9's administrator Randy Judd has noticed locals love exploring these nooks. The small rooms have a "certain Heights character," says Judd. While Zone 9 continues to have strong internet sales, local sales have started to surpass online receipts. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plant lovers benefit from stopping by the greenhouse. Because it's labor intensive to keep plants at an appropriate size for shipping and, because there are additional steps that must be taken to mail a plant, the cost of the process is added to the price of the plant, plus the cost to ship. Locally, shoppers get lower prices and more variety. DuPont is proud of the unique selection of plants he can offer thanks to his<span style="background-color: white;"> independent propagation and growing. Larger, local nurseries and local suppliers</span><span style="background-color: white;"> make their money selling bedding plants, so it's not in their best interest to sell tropicals. Roughly </span><span style="background-color: white;">75% of what DuPont sells is unique to Zone 9, not for profit but for the sheer pleasure of growing and owning these varieties of plants. DuPont knows that "people care that it's local." They appreciate that the plants are well cared for and "get excited to have the one [plant] they want that they can't find elsewhere."</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are interested in tropicals or plants different from what you've seen at the bigger nurseries, you can pre-shop on the website, keeping in mind that your local price will be lower. There are also a number of plants that aren't offered on line, i.e. items that can't be kept in small pots or generally wouldn't ship well. A visit during open garden weekends will allow you to browse a greater variety, including tropical fruit trees and spice plants.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As Zone 9 Tropicals has gained a strong, local following, Wayne DuPont has figured out that he wants to do more. His love of plants is bigger than his residential yard on Arlington. DuPont and Judd, the admin, are excited to have purchased six acres in the nearby Independence Heights neighborhood. They are planning multiple greenhouses and much more room. As a full nursery, they'll also be able to be open regular hours. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until then, you can still visit Zone 9 Tropicals on Arlington Street and see what they have to suit your plant fancy. They are open the 1st and 3rd weekend of month during the growing season; Saturdays 9am -5pm, Sundays 1pm-5pm (although Sundays are packing/shipping days so you might catch them there on off weekends, too).</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Zone 9 Tropicals</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1015 Arlington (parking on street)</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://zone9tropicals.com/"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zone9Tropicals.com</span></b></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Zone9Tropicals" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zone 9 on Facebook</span></b></a></div>
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Viulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065221466265514944noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268622326034701199.post-5935636891310859332014-07-22T10:53:00.000-05:002014-07-22T16:08:49.138-05:00Zelko Bistro Is [Probably Not] Leaving The Building<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
UPDATE (4:07 pm) Well, this was a complicated and crazy morning. Below you will find the account of my conversation with the leasing agent from Berkshire Hathaway. However, this afternoon Zelko posted messages on both Facebook and Twitter, claiming they are in negotiations but plan to stay in the 11th Street location. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnrb_UkDe23qevWdZZgmvmEd3sPz3WM4kGV0NCSaKDVvL7AMqfgctKuRI6P41T1FCp0LIiYPq3C-6DlJivIhiSlQp8KQ0E8PUAHarEnZa-MD8bKzFHZF1lvI72y5oMnJEAm5C8Pny7fgc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-22+at+3.59.24+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnrb_UkDe23qevWdZZgmvmEd3sPz3WM4kGV0NCSaKDVvL7AMqfgctKuRI6P41T1FCp0LIiYPq3C-6DlJivIhiSlQp8KQ0E8PUAHarEnZa-MD8bKzFHZF1lvI72y5oMnJEAm5C8Pny7fgc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-22+at+3.59.24+PM.png" height="233" width="400" /></a></div>
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Some theories involve the property owners putting out the sign as a last ditch effort to bring the negotiations to an end and get a lease signed. Could be... In any case, I think the neighborhood will be very happy to see one of our favorite restaurants stay open for business. I am sure that, in the melee Chef Zelko was able to see how many people support and love her restaurant. I would be willing to bet a new wave of business is coming her way as she has been catapulted back in to the neighborhood consciousness in a big way. Maybe that was also a plan? Ha! Who knows, but hopefully we can all enjoy her comforting food in that unique and lovely space for a long time to come. </div>
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This morning I posted and tweeted this picture of Zelko Bistro with a "For Lease" sign in front. After many retweets and many Facebook comments speculating about what's going on, I decided to try to get to the bottom of it myself.</div>
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A call to the restaurant was answered by a pretty concerned employee, who assured me they were open. His voice told me he was confused and probably a lot nervous. He had no idea what the sign meant. His confusion regarding the issue was such that I literally pulled up the photo and triple checked that I had the right building.</div>
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Next I called the number on the sign. Mike Huff, a Realtor from Berkshire Hathaway right down the street, returned my call immediately. I had a pleasant and informative chat with him, and he assured me the building is for lease. Zelko will be moving out. He doesn't know when and can't disclose much about why, but whether they close or re-locate is uncertain (although there are additional, unsubstantiated claims that they will relocate. Yay!). Either way, they will no longer be housed in the gorgeous bungalow at 705 E 11th.</div>
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According to Huff, who represents the property owners, they have been in negotiations with Jamie Zelko for at least six months. Huff says that the owners have gone to great lengths to keep Zelko Bistro in the building but negotiations broke down and became "one sided." While I am sure there is a second side to the story, this is all we have right now.</div>
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Currently, the sign has been taken down because of a call to Huff from the restaurant. There have been many calls interested in the space, even in the short time it was posted, Huff said. So, while Zelko seems to be open for lunch service today, the building is available for lease immediately. The owners hope to "not have a single day of vacancy" between the exit of Jamie Zelko's concept and what ever new one takes over.</div>
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This is a sad day for the Heights. This restaurant was much loved. Jamie Zelko is a Heights resident and respected in our community for her food and <a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/kyrie/article/The-buzz-is-all-about-honey-in-the-Heights-4448728.php#/0" target="_blank">her honeybee project</a>. I wish good things for her and hope to eat her Captain's Chicken or better-than-my-grandma's meatloaf again some day. Until we have more information, though, you might try grabbing lunch. My heart really goes out to the employees, who seem to know nothing about the fact that they may be losing their jobs any day. Give them an extra tip at your <i>au revoir</i> meal today. They'll need it.</div>
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Addendum from Facebook:</div>
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<span data-reactid=".7z.1:3:1:$comment805680969471496_805682012804725:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.$author"><a class="UFICommentActorName" data-ft="{"tn":";"}" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=1581661961&extragetparams=%7B%22hc_location%22%3A%22ufi%22%7D" data-reactid=".7z.1:3:1:$comment805680969471496_805682012804725:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.$author.0" dir="ltr" href="https://www.facebook.com/jeremy.goodwin.90?fref=ufi" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Jeremy Goodwin</a></span><span data-reactid=".7z.1:3:1:$comment805680969471496_805682012804725:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:0"> </span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".7z.1:3:1:$comment805680969471496_805682012804725:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body">Here is the skinny. The sign was up for a few hours, the landlord is upping the rent to what I consider an untenable amount, already has a list of potential clients and took the sign down. The restaurant will stay open until the end of the lease, I don't know when that is but probably 90 days.</span><span data-reactid=".7z.1:3:1:$comment805680969471496_805682012804725:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.4"></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">UPDATE, maybe (12:49 pm): People keep calling the restaurant out of concern. They are being told by employees at Zelko that "the sign was a cruel joke." Above are details of my conversation with the leasing agent, Mike Huff, of Berkshire Hathaway. If this is a joke, it's pretty well thought out to have the Realtor duped as well. Only time will tell at this point...</span>Viulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065221466265514944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268622326034701199.post-10499999228749564502014-07-11T10:55:00.001-05:002014-07-22T11:51:34.777-05:00Sneak Peek: The Big Blue Whale<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Pink Polka Dot/Olive Anne has vacated the spot on<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #37404e;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"> 237 W. 19th Street. Opening in it's place comes The Big Blue Whale, a more comprehensive toy shop with items for more ages (and more genders) than it's predecessor. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm49lA9lE7No0-bCEFwiUzpUC4wJf1c3y8R_KKZ-iQjZv_IyX5xf3MikKkTwIuJfcJgsTXuh-ULk2ePJJMi-DzD58Uo-bx54jMrpUwzxAm5B1h4IMEm2Q2hHSDicxWDnjIvJRty1T6ONR-/s1600/10168140_1539784772914841_7472624653830866272_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm49lA9lE7No0-bCEFwiUzpUC4wJf1c3y8R_KKZ-iQjZv_IyX5xf3MikKkTwIuJfcJgsTXuh-ULk2ePJJMi-DzD58Uo-bx54jMrpUwzxAm5B1h4IMEm2Q2hHSDicxWDnjIvJRty1T6ONR-/s1600/10168140_1539784772914841_7472624653830866272_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Owner Vanessa Woodhouse is a Native Houstonian and Heights resident who hopes the shop will become a destination for "curious kids and the people who love them." The Big Blue Whale will carry brands familiar to many with kids in their lives, like Crocodile Creek, Playmobil, Skip Hop, </span><a href="http://www.hapetoys.com/us/en/" style="line-height: 20px;" target="_blank">Hape</a><span style="line-height: 20px;"> (sustainable bamboo and wood toys from Germany), and </span><a href="http://www.schleich-s.com/en/US/" style="line-height: 20px;" target="_blank">Schleich</a><span style="line-height: 20px;"> (realistic animal and nature figures). There will also be lots of books, arts and crafts, games, and vintage style toys.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">The shop will open for business next Tuesday, July 15th. Until then, a quick peek:</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Big Blue Whale</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">237 W 19th</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">281.685.3044</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/bigbluewhaletoys" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Facebook/bigbluewhaletoys</span></a></div>
Viulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065221466265514944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268622326034701199.post-91736085441982752362014-06-23T14:13:00.003-05:002014-06-23T14:13:32.703-05:00Seeing More Red: A quick look at the completed Red Dessert Dive on Studewood<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we all wait with bated breath for Red Dessert Dive on Studewood to actually open, here is a further look at the 961 sq ft bakery and coffee/wine bar. For background on Red read</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">my post from April- <a href="http://theheightslifehouston.blogspot.com/2014/04/sneak-peek-red-dessert-dive.html" target="_blank">Sneak Peek: Red Dessert Dive</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is the light fixture which inspired the interior design of the whole space. It hangs in front of the southern window and adds a lot of visual interest to a decidedly clean and organized space.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coffee bar is ready to go. Staying true to her desire to be local, shop owner Jessica Lusk is using coffee products from <a href="http://boomtowncoffee.com/" target="_blank">Boomtown Coffee</a> on 19th Street.</span></div>
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I love the view from a good window seat. Not everyone thinks Studewood is a view, but I adore living in the city and that means passing cars.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The night we <strike>crashed her party</strike> popped in, Lusk had invited a few friends and family to come by. The menu was limited but we were treated to samples of beer bread, cookies, and this dreamy thing: A kolache filled with bacon and cream cheese. I hate to admit that I went back for seconds and could have probably had a third. I hope these are regular menu items!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This blondie was also to die for. I don't even know what was in it other than a taste of heaven. My husband, who was born without much of a sweet tooth, enjoyed it immensely.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Gh8nR56Wp4SWj76zzH8glhZph3AjLc4RQhiGrAKchXQwUeW704NLQWcUaHVnRLqt_IFLOgKc4csR4fCN_5tIH1MEHLEpZSAWH5x5Ns5tqHiItckCzxrM7k7QJH0r4ziqdL7SZWu5IKTB/s640/blogger-image-245986664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Gh8nR56Wp4SWj76zzH8glhZph3AjLc4RQhiGrAKchXQwUeW704NLQWcUaHVnRLqt_IFLOgKc4csR4fCN_5tIH1MEHLEpZSAWH5x5Ns5tqHiItckCzxrM7k7QJH0r4ziqdL7SZWu5IKTB/s640/blogger-image-245986664.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Giant jars of cookies that are a step above everyday seem to really exemplify what Red Dessert Dive will be- a comfortable, local spot that is just the other side of ordinary. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I look forward to their opening in the next couple of weeks and will be sure to step across this threshold often!</span></div>
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Viulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065221466265514944noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268622326034701199.post-62952396938613536002014-05-28T22:21:00.000-05:002014-05-28T22:34:59.299-05:00Heights Bites: Lillo & Ella<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Last week I shared <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lilloandella" target="_blank">the Facebook page for a new restaurant</a> in Heights-adjacent Lazybrook/Shady Acres. Today I had lunch there. Lillo & Ella only opened a week ago and I was of the mind-set to give them some time, but the location was suggested by a friend with whom I really-extra-more-than-normal-enjoy eating out. I haven't written a "Heights Bites" in a long time and thought today would be the perfect opportunity to talk a nibble of food again, so I agreed to her suggestion and we headed to northwest Harris county (I kid. I kid).</div>
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The first thing I noticed as I pulled up to this familiar corner of Ella, across from<a href="http://www.tonysmexrestaurant.com/" target="_blank"> Tony's</a>, was how much cleaner the entire lot looked. The building looks bright and inviting and not so much like you'll get tetanus there. <i>Disclaimer: I like to <a href="http://www.hubcapgrill.com/hubcap_grill_heights.html" target="_blank">eat</a> and <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/shiloh-club-houston" target="_blank">drink</a> at a lot of places where someone might get tetanus from, say, stepping on a rusty nail. That's not a criticism, necessarily, just a point of fact. </i>It was very welcoming. I pulled right up in front of the orange doors, unsure if that was acceptable but there were no signs to the contrary. It wasn't until I left that I noticed they have added considerable parking to the west. Another nice change from its predecessor. </div>
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Inside had the same feeling- crisp and welcoming. I'll admit to having never actually been inside El Gran Malo. I only ate/drank on the patio. I can't claim to know much about how different it is now, but Lillo & Ella is small and tidy, with a lot of natural light. About half the tables were filled with groups of two to four having conversations, but it wasn't loud, even for a small space with all hard surfaces. The music was upbeat but not distracting. It seemed every bit the casual, neighborhood joint.</div>
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The menu is pretty small, which can be good and bad. It was good for me today, as I was feeling very indecisive and having about eight choices worked to keep me from over analyzing something as simple as my lunch. <i>Houstonia has the lunch and dinner menus on line here: <a href="http://www.houstoniamag.com/eat-and-drink/gastronaut/articles/first-look-at-lillo-and-ellas-menus-may-2014" target="_blank">Houstonia Gastronaut </a></i></div>
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I was really tempted to get the Bao because I love steamed buns so very much, but decided to go with one of the handful of entrees. I ordered the flat iron steak, which is not something I would usually get at lunch but it just sounded right. My lunch date was swayed away from the Bao when I ordered an entree; she ended up going with the quail.</div>
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I know a lot of Texans can eat a steak for lunch. I am usually not one of them. What ever it was that drew me to a hunk of beef for lunch this day, I am grateful for it. My perfectly lunch sized steak was beautifully cooked. It didn't rely on a lot of salt or pepper for taste, just good quality meat. The steamed rice was excellent- lightly sweet and just enough on the plate to have some with every bite of steak and veggie. Mint and cilantro garnishes gave several bites slightly different tastes, all of them good.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSiqtxiUMwkzPrv-BW3lLDGCQuutJW7JoL0wz3zZ7yNF6d8iwAF6TUQYK2OKo61p8RkNKET8dzqqyhRjUZ9CXhBMfP2nDzVflTBlfgZNLNA1gdQXhskGLzceIFHZK5lRf3geNnRsiHT5b/s640/blogger-image--2022599224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSiqtxiUMwkzPrv-BW3lLDGCQuutJW7JoL0wz3zZ7yNF6d8iwAF6TUQYK2OKo61p8RkNKET8dzqqyhRjUZ9CXhBMfP2nDzVflTBlfgZNLNA1gdQXhskGLzceIFHZK5lRf3geNnRsiHT5b/s400/blogger-image--2022599224.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The quail was chopped but of course still on the bone. This is one of the reasons I stay away from quail- for me the work always falls slightly short of the reward. My dining companion didn't mind, making quick work of pulling off tender, large pieces of meat to mix with the rice, and, yes, picking up the bones with her fingers to get the good stuff. She was very pleased with the flavor, noting that hers was flavorful but didn't overly rely on spices. Just enough. Like me, she loved the rice. We both cleaned our plates.<br />
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When the waitress came over to ask if we wanted to see the dessert menu, I shrugged her off. I just ate a steak. At lunch. The glare that came across the table was one for the ages. I am glad I was ocularly threatened in to another course because, well, Nutella Pie. So.... I can't really say much more except that. And "banana ice cream." It was kind of sick. Our server came to clear our almost-clean-enough-to-be-back-on-the-shelf plate and said "It's so good, isn't it? Sometimes in the kitchen I want to shove my face in the whole pie. The whole pie." I hear ya, sister.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63NGG_IEKohUHMXYdJKtuhYLvnk0H-b9DGgZsuG1NNa_tJpnoNeIBGjW5bqvorVZrn4cVtHdI0ZfJePCsI0i0dfb4LuylCm2375xS11FMDFDS3Y7BmvApIKoaZJTjbrPkaqbVU0AQ0CRk/s640/blogger-image--836426984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63NGG_IEKohUHMXYdJKtuhYLvnk0H-b9DGgZsuG1NNa_tJpnoNeIBGjW5bqvorVZrn4cVtHdI0ZfJePCsI0i0dfb4LuylCm2375xS11FMDFDS3Y7BmvApIKoaZJTjbrPkaqbVU0AQ0CRk/s640/blogger-image--836426984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHctUsiVWWbishzWGjhYFCXfNTJmiv0BuDSAMNdOCqb12-lBOQQhqBKdJOqF8ztiCtT_3S1TXJeqpRUBVOGFS72snhVoO7RQWtF8nMHZWiQoozukb4Iu0C3wlTVlEcEsBkDgUTWvhT4loi/s1600/blogger-image--1270475682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHctUsiVWWbishzWGjhYFCXfNTJmiv0BuDSAMNdOCqb12-lBOQQhqBKdJOqF8ztiCtT_3S1TXJeqpRUBVOGFS72snhVoO7RQWtF8nMHZWiQoozukb4Iu0C3wlTVlEcEsBkDgUTWvhT4loi/s640/blogger-image--1270475682.jpg" /></a><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;">For a restaurant that's only been open for a week, I found the service efficient and friendly. It wasn't very busy, but after a decade in the service industry I know all too well that you often get the worst service when a restaurant is not crowded. Servers and kitchens depend more than most people realize on momentum. If they can get the service right in week 1, they should be in pretty good shape going forward. </span><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;">Go there now. Now it's a cool, neighborhood joint. Get to know the servers, the bartender. Do it now because I don't doubt this restaurant will get lots of good reviews and press and soon will be even harder to get in to than it's sister establishment, <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/roost-houston" target="_blank">Roost</a>. It could end up being much more than a neighborhood joint, despite how much it looks like one. Lillo & Ella could very well end up the second <a href="http://www.rainbow-lodge.com/" target="_blank">real destination restaurant</a> in the Lazybrook district. </span><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;">More:</span><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><i><span style="text-align: center;">Houston Press- </span><a href="http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2014/05/kevin_naderi_talks_lillo_ella_and_lunch_brunch.php" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Kevin Naderi Talks Lillo & Ella and Lunch & Brunch</a></i></span></div>
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Viulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065221466265514944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268622326034701199.post-33988048569611294232014-05-22T11:43:00.000-05:002014-05-22T12:02:25.222-05:00Community Helping Community: Near North Side's Wesley Community Center summer food drive<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.wesleyhousehouston.org/" target="_blank">The Wesley Community Center</a> has served the Near Northside neighborhood in Houston for over 100 years. L</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">ocated in the shadow of downtown and just to the east of the Heights, Wesley has served working poor individuals, children and families of Houston’s Near Northside and surrounding neighborhoods for over 100 years. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 1904, women from the First United Methodist Church of Houston developed a goal of strengthening the quality of life and outcomes for their community. When they looked around they saw families in need, including many children who were left orphaned and women made widows by deaths caused during the expansion of area railroads. In the century since then, the organization has evolved to provide a comprehensive range of Early Childhood Education, Out-of-School Elementary and Youth programming, Senior and Social Services, Community Outreach, and Economic Development Services. The Wesley Community Center of today serves over 27,000 community members each year and works in partnership with a number of other organizations to promote the development of the neighborhood and its residents.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The near north side community has a significant number of residents who fall under the poverty threshold. Many families in this area rely heavily on local schools to provide their children with daily meals. Often the only meals they get are the ones served at school. Access to food during the summer months is critical for the children of low-income families because without school, many are not receiving nutritious meals, leaving children vulnerable to experience hunger and <a href="http://www.apa.org/pi/ses/resources/indicator/2012/06/household-food-insecurities.aspx" target="_blank">the myriad issues </a></span><a href="http://www.apa.org/pi/ses/resources/indicator/2012/06/household-food-insecurities.aspx" target="_blank">that</a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.apa.org/pi/ses/resources/indicator/2012/06/household-food-insecurities.aspx" target="_blank"> go along with being food insecure</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To respond to this pressing need, Wesley Community Center is launching “Stock the Shelves: Summer Food Drive” as a community-wide food drive during the month of May. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Their goal is to collect 10,000 pounds of food to help an additional 250 families during the summer months. This collection of food will culminate with a major food distribution on June 21, 2014 at Wesley Community Center’s food fair. With only eight days left in May, they are just under 1/2 way there. Near North Side is very </span>near to the Heights and kids from that community play at our park, go to our schools, work at our businesses. We are a community ready and willing to help, so let's see if we can do something for our neighbors!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Summertime is particularly hard for families living below the poverty line,” explains Wesley Executive Director, Diana Garbis, “We often forget that our school lunch programs can be a lifeline to these low-income families and going without them over the summer leaves many with food insecurity. Families run out of food, reduce the quality of their food, cut back on meat, feed their children unbalanced meals, or adults often forgo meals altogether so their children can eat. Many families are left hungry if they unable to find alternative food resources.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wesley Community Outreach Coordinator, Leah Wade, added, “It is also hard for people to visualize how even the smallest donations can add up to make a huge impact. We are hoping to collect 10,000 pounds of food this month. If one person collected two bags of rice, two bags of beans, and 10 can goods, they would have donated 10 pounds of food. If three other people do the same, we will have 40 pounds of food, which is enough to feed a family of four. 100 pounds of food feeds 2.5 families of four and once you get up to 1,000 pounds of food, we can help 25 more families.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Summer is quickly approaching and our neighboring </span>community<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> is still in need. Want to help? </span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maurachan Soups (Dried Soups) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spaghetti Noodles</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spaghetti Sauce</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Box Mashed Potatoes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Granola Bars</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crackers</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other non-perishable items are welcomed</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Donations of food can be brought Reba Veal Henderson Food Cooperative located at 1235 Lorraine Street, Houston, TX 77009, Monday through Friday 9am-5pm. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Please call </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">713-223-8131</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> ahead of time to ensure a staff member is onsite to receive your donations. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beyond their goals for this summer, Wesley has a strong commitment to battling hunger in Houston. Their clients range from the elderly, to new immigrants, to the working poor, to professionals who have lost their jobs, and more. They provide food assistance to a growing number of families through emergency food assistance, monthly distributions of fresh fruit and vegetables, and their food cooperative programs for families and seniors that maximizes their food dollars by doubling their cash investment.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They also recently created an organic community garden in the hopes of adding more fresh produce to their client’s diets. Wesley’s mission is to minister to the needs of individuals and families by helping people help themselves and each other. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Monetary donations can be mailed to 1410 Lee Street, Houston TX 77009, or made via secure payment online at <a href="http://www.wesleyhousehouston.org/"><span style="color: #0433ff; letter-spacing: 0px;">www.wesleyhousehouston.org</span></a>. Wesley is also able to assist with employer matching gifts, planned gifts, and gifts of stock. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">If you are interested in making a significant impact in the lives of families that lack the resources to combat hunger, please contact Leah Wade, Community Outreach Coordinator, at <a href="mailto:lwade@wesleyhousehouston.org"><span style="color: #0433ff; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>lwade@wesleyhousehouston.org</b></span></a></span><span style="color: #0433ff; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b> </b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">or 713-821-8907 to volunteer or for additional information. </span></span></div>
The Heights Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15541533475991004821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268622326034701199.post-35308665596053293402014-04-16T15:24:00.000-05:002014-04-16T22:19:47.170-05:00Sneak Peek: Red Dessert Dive<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;">Jessica Lusk grew up in Tomball, but with strong ties to the Heights. Her grandfather grew up here, her mother lived here until high school, and her family still owns her grandfather's Heights home. These ties make it no surprise that this community has drawn her in, this time to start a small business in Houston's most local-business-loving neighborhood.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">While attending Texas A&M, where she would eventually graduate with an Environmental Design degree, Lusk left Texas </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">to head to New York </span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">City for an architecture internship, where she fell in love with the small spaces occupied by unique businesses. So much in New York seemed "tiny and weird" compared to what she had always known in Texas, but she relished it. She </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;">returned to Texas and then stayed close to home, earning a Masters in Architecture at University of Houston. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Lusk began her career in Houston, she soon realized that, despite her excellent education, the working environment of architecture was not where her heart was. She decided she wanted to be an entrepreneur and Stella Bakes was born. Stella Bakes, a homebaking cupcake business, was an experiment; a way for Lusk to see if she had the mettle to own her own business- to do all the work and assume all the risk. She decided she did and put together a business plan for... more work and even greater </span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">risk.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">1045 Studewood, next to the new SOHO boutique</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Jessica Lusk was living in New York, one of her favorite places was the original </span><a href="http://www.magnoliabakery.com/" style="line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Magnolia Bakery</a><span style="line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Tucked in to a tiny space in the West Village, Magnolia Bakery was practically an institution the day the doors opened. Inspired by the Magnolia and encouraged by her experience with Stella Bakes, Lusk decided she wanted to own a dessert shop. Unlike both Magnolia and Stella Bakes, Lusk did not want this dessert shop to be "cute." She doesn't think that desserts, whether it's cupcakes or cheesecakes, need to always be so "girlie." She wanted something decidedly different and came up with the concept of Red, a business named for her grandmother, a "feisty redhead and amazing baker."</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">While the general aesthetic of Red will be very different from it's inspiration in New York, one similarity remains in Lusk's new venture: small. She knew she wanted the Heights area and she knew she wanted less than 1200 sq feet. What she has ended up with is a little sliver of Studewood, coming in at a very New York-ish 961 sq ft.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jessica Lusk's background in architectural design has definitely helped her dream of tiny become a big reality. Lusk did all the plans for Red herself and has plans to put every inch of the space to use. As plans developed, the concept became clear for Lusk. Red will have "classic American desserts with a twist" plus a nice selection of beer and wine. There will also be a strong coffee program from Boomtown Coffee on 19th Street. Coffee "was not am afterthought" for Lusk, and in it's final incarnation, Red be more "of a coffee shop with an emphasis on desserts" than a bakery itself. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The Fredricksburg light fixture that is dictating the interior design of Red</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Red will share parking with SOHO Boutique, eeking out just enough to allow permitting for eating and drinking in house. Right now, there isn't much to see inside, but that isn't stopping Lusk from holding to a May opening. What you will be able to expect come May is a "</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;">a funky, fun, eclectic bakery," where the Rolling Stones provide the soundtrack and funky versions of desserts you love will satisfy your sweet tooth. Lusk has drawn interior design inspiration from an amazing light fixture she found outside of Fredricksburg, TX. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;">A subway tile wall will give focus to the service area, where you'll find </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">eight bar stools and a window bench for enjoying your sweet with your beverage of choice. Materials like reclaimed wood and cast iron piping will create an environment, Lusk hopes, that bucks the trend of cutesy when it comes to desserts. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Service area will be on the south wall,</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">eye catching white subway tile and rustic elements for an almost masculine aesthetic</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHoVPz_AHmqmbMW6zb2SgNJEgfn43qLVAF65mAKNB8hzhSRpNMRmkt7vnsrFTPz9Ycf1xF2CN9D3jAwyAWJYDUQOD6KH8xQ1s7_Vb-jbJBjaAYfzUf3nvwWAdHIzC9OC1-6idPdWdxI42/s1600/blogger-image-1813111363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHoVPz_AHmqmbMW6zb2SgNJEgfn43qLVAF65mAKNB8hzhSRpNMRmkt7vnsrFTPz9Ycf1xF2CN9D3jAwyAWJYDUQOD6KH8xQ1s7_Vb-jbJBjaAYfzUf3nvwWAdHIzC9OC1-6idPdWdxI42/s320/blogger-image-1813111363.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Plans for the finished space, including a micro-office for Lusk</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">True to the neighborhood, Lusk is focusing on using local vendors for everything from beer selection to coasters to employee uniforms. While she is getting help on the wine list, Lusk will be putting the beer list together herself. And she is no longer doing the baking. Focusing on operations is where she thinks she's best used, so she has a pastry chef, as well as a </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">barrista to handle the front of the house. When the doors open for business, Red is going to be open from roughly 7 am until 8 pm. Lusk is open to changing this as she is able to see what her customer base prefers. With hours and some other aspects of the business, Lusk is willing to remain flexible and experience some trial and error "until we find our sweet spot." Pun intended?</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">As of today, April 16, some good progress toward Red's anticipated May opening</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My interaction with <i>True North</i> started with this email from Heights Kids Group early Saturday morning:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Does anyone know anything about this? Someone put a rooftop (and part of a house/garage?) in the median on Heights between 4th and 5th. Looked like workmen were arriving with tools to remove just now. (hope not) Looked like a statement to the death of the bungalow. Spot on IMO. Go see quickly if you are interested.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A quick update shortly after noted that they were not removing it, but had actually added a steeple to it. Someone wondered if it had to do with the fire at Heights Presbyterian... Then someone announced: it is an art installation. The rooftop at 4th St has had everyone talking, with multiple pictures posted to The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheHeightsLife" target="_blank">Heights Life Facebook page</a> and in my Twitter and <a href="http://instagram.com/theheightslife" target="_blank">Instagram</a> feeds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, what's the real deal on the project? It's called <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">“True North” and has been a long time dream of </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Gus Kopriva, owner of Redbud Gallery on 11</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><sup>th </sup></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">and an icon in the local art scene; a name recognized</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> both nationally and internationally. Kopriva has long dreamed of producing large scale public art exhibitions in Houston. He hatched a plan "to expand the placement of public art pieces to numerous locations throughout the city and particularly along the esplanade of Heights Boulevard." The esplanade, which is a Scenic Right of Way from White Oak Bayou to 20</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><sup>th</sup></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> Street, has long enjoyed the tender, loving care of the <a href="http://www.houstonheights.org/" target="_blank">Heights Association</a> with native trees, flower gardens, irrigation systems, drinking fountains, the much-loved jogging trail, plus memorials, benches, gazebos, and public "Thank Yous" to the likes of long time residents, business owners, and volunteers like Carl and Melvalene Cohen. With </span>much<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> effort and cooperation, this project got approval from the City’s Parks Department and Public Works as a major location for a public art exhibit. And now we all get to benefit.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">What is <i>True North</i> about? The idea is for a sculpture project that "is a representation of local works of contemporary art along the esplanade for the enjoyment of our community and visitors. Exhibits—produced by highly recognized Texas artists—will foster the understanding and advancement of art." Sounds good.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The first <i>True North</i> sculpture installation will be in place for roughly nine months. </span>There will be ten total sculptures from eight artists, including a 2-piece project from <a href="http://glasstire.com/2013/06/10/lee-littlefield-houston-sculptor-and-pop-up-artist-has-died/" target="_blank">Lee Littlefield</a>, who passed away last year and to whom the show is dedicated. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">Here is the line up, in no particular order:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Carter Ernst-</b> The only piece by a woman artist, "Pointing North" is actually not installed yet. Weather caused some delays, but sometime on the weekend of April 4 you can expect to see a large fiberglass dog on 600 block of Heights. Her piece is inspired by Ernst's own dog and, as Gus Kopriva noted in our chat, is perfect for the Heights, a very dog-centric neighborhood.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Dan Havel- </b>Pictured above, the church that launched so much speculation is "Wildlife Sanctuary." Back in the 1990s, an old church was torn down/converted in to a funeral home on 18th at Columbia. Havel is r</span>e-introducing a piece of Heights history back to the neighborhood, but he is also making this architectural remnant functional with a purpose. If you get close, you'll see small doors that hold bird seed for the many feathered friends that live in and travel through the Heights. Another elemtnet of note: the s<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">teeple was once hit by lighting, which twisted it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Paul Kittelson- </b>Lawn Chairs (my apology to the artist. I failed to get the official name of this really awesome piece). Kittleson is known for large scale, whimsical art like giant popcorn pieces and lighting strike. He also does a lot of public works. A sculpture prof at UofH, his piece is simply "about furniture that is utilized a lot in the Heights." A piece of wall art with the fabric used for the chairs will be available at the Heights Association auction next weekend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Lee Littlefield-</b> His "Cypress Flowers" should look familiar to anyone in Houston. He took cypress and pine wood and used those materials to create brightly colored trees which are installed all over town.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Patrick Medrano- </b>"From the Hood to The Heights" --- Medrano has taken the common architectural element of the shotgun house, suited it for dogs, and gave the dogs' house oars for a canine escape from some kind of imminent flood or hurricane. Once again, we love our dogs in the Heights.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Steve Murphy- </b>"Things You CAn't Get From Books" Kopriva isn't sure what that means! LOL! In any case, this abstract sculpture is found in a small stand of trees, giving it more of a presence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Dean Ruck-</b> "Hourglass"- This sculpture on 18th, is 14' tall with 150 5" mirrors. Dean is well known for his previous works with Dan Havel, most notably the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inversion_(artwork)" target="_blank">Inversion</a> house in Montrose. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Ed Wilson-</b> "Folded Plane" Wilson created a giant stainless steel paper airplane.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A year of planning and a Mayor’s Initiative Grant through Houston Arts Alliance, along with private donations, has made this project possible. There has been effort from many notable locals working with</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> Kopriva. A Heights icon herself, artist Chris Silkwood is a long time community activist and was also leadership for this bunch of loveliness. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">It's only been three days and I already love everything about this art installation. I asked Kopriva if there would more sculptures or other projects after these are gone in November? He can't say right now but I think he hopes so. He sees Houston really bursting in to the national art spotlight right now and believes that there ample room for projects like this around our lovely city. We "have a lot of Boulevards," he noted. He wants to see the neighborhood's reaction and take community in to consideration. I think this is a thoughtful way of operating. I feel pretty sure, based on the excitement I've seen so far, that our community will welcome projects like this many times over. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Like all art, our interpretations will be subjective. I imagine the piece open to most interpretations will probably be "Wildlife Sanctuary." Kopriva shared a story with me about being stopped by a pastor during the installation of the piece. "Is this a church?" he asked. He </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">was concerned about a sinking church and what that might be symbolic of. "Oh no," Kopriva told him. "It is arising. It's being re-born." The pastor was lucky</span> to have someone to work on his perspective with him that day, allowing him to leave in a more positive place than he arrived. Not everyone will be able to interact with the curator of this project or the artists who created it, but certainly many discussions will be had about all of it and what it might mean.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some might muse about the meaning of <i>True North</i> and how it applies to each sculpture. The name is the most literal part of the project: it is a reference to Heights Boulevard, which does, indeed, run true north.</span></div>
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Viulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065221466265514944noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268622326034701199.post-38165476054152190272014-02-26T16:02:00.002-06:002014-02-26T16:03:18.048-06:00Why do I support local businesses?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are a lot of reasons. One is because for every $1 you spend at a local store, there is a greater return in to our local economy. The <a href="http://www.the350project.net/home.html" target="_blank">3/50 Project</a> urges people to support local businesses because for every $100 spent locally, $68 comes back to our local economy:</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">from www.350project.net</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then there is the way local businesses care about the community they live and work in. That care is demonstrated in posts like the one Justin Engle, owner of the just-starting-to-get-built microbrewery <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TownInCityBrewingCompany?ref=br_rs" target="_blank">Town In City</a> Brewing Company, made to our community's Nextdoor message board.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hi fellow neighbors!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">I wanted to give you a heads up about West Cavalcade at the five point intersection. Starting tomorrow (</span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1393445852_0" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">February 27</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">), Town in City Brewing will start excavating their lot. There will be numerous trucks off-loading dirt from the property and bringing select-fill for the property. The trucks should be spread out throughout the day. With the current construction on N. Main and Airline, you may have a slight traffic delay for the next two days. </span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">I will try and give a heads up when the concrete pour comes as there will be a lot of truck traffic for those two days. </span> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have any questions, please feel free to comment or private message me. I do apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">It's thoughtful things like this that make this network of streets and electrical lines and sewer pipes a community. </span></div>
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<b>Thanks, Justin, for being a great neighbor and a great local business owner. Your thoughtfulness is noted and much appreciated. And your beer is super good.</b></div>
</span></span></span>Viulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065221466265514944noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268622326034701199.post-91906090979365957312014-02-14T10:07:00.000-06:002014-04-16T16:04:17.639-05:00A Short and Sweet Valentine's Story<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More than a decade ago, a woman named Tanita lived on Harvard Street in the Houston Heights. A mere three blocks away, a nice young man named Keith was living the bachelor life on Columbia. The nearby-neighbors met, fell in love, got married, had a daughter, and that is how the rest of us got the Heights Candy Bar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OK, maybe that is too short, although no less sweet.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gorgeous gifts from Hammond's</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tanita Gumney met her husband while they were both single and living in the Heights. Soon after they got married and settled in to his house on Columbia, Keith's mother opened a small shop in the neighborhood. You may be familiar with it: <a href="http://www.oolalagifts.com/" target="_blank">Oa La La on Studewood</a>. When I moved to the Heights <span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 18px; text-indent: 2px; white-space: nowrap;">Judy Pfardresher's </span>beautiful gift shop was still young, yet was one of the very first Heights landmarks that I knew well, even before the shops on 19th Street or Onion Creek.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since Oo La La opened in 2003, the space has seen some changes. Pfardresher has subdivided the building in to three shops. On the north side is Tulips and Tutus, helmed by another Judy, Judy Meyer (allowing me to refer to my visits to the shops as "Going to see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Judy's" target="_blank">The Judys</a>."). In a rare location switch, Meyer actually left the 19th Street retail district to join OoLaLa. While that meant a reduction in foot traffic, it almost doubled the space for precious baby gifts, thoughtful toys, and adorable clothes. On the south side, we've had the first incarnation of</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Kaboom Books. When Kaboom relocated to Houston Ave, Frosted Betty cupcakes moved in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few months ago, Frosted Betty closed up shop. As Gumney and Phardresher sat around one evening talking about what new thing they would love to see in the vacant space, the concept of a candy shop was stuck in Phardresher's head. One thing lead to another and her daughter-in-law agreed to helm the shop. Heights Candy Bar was born.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I really wanted all natural candy," said Gumney, but when she got to picking stock, couldn't get away from traditional candy because, well "[it] is so much fun!" In the end, she decided to go with all of the above. "Life is a balance, and there is room for both."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">Gumney is optimistic about the community supporting another locally owned business, especially one that is unique in the neighborhood right now. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">"Everyone needs a little sweet something-something every now and then, right? I've tried to get a good mix of traditional candy, natural candy and gift-y items." She thinks </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">the space feels good when you walk in, and hopes it will be a destination, "somewhere worth the stroll or drive over."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although she has barely been open a week, she/s already having fun with the concept. Opening right before Valentine's Day has helped make the first few days a lot of fun, despite the stress of opening a new business. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #454545;">The thing I like best, so far, is people coming in to buy Valentine's for a sweetheart - and I know both people (giver and receiver). Glad to be sharing sweet love! I really like recommending the all natural chocolates, then someone tries them for the first time, enjoys them as much as I do, and gives them to their sweetheart. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">I got a text from one customer that simply read, "Oh my" and my response was, "I know!"</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stop in to see the shop for yourself and make your sweetie happy many days a year, not just this one prescribed to us. Whether you're a hard core chocoholic, fan of retro dime store candy, or need a gift in a pinch, I think Gumney's hope will be realized: Heights Candy Bar will be a great, local destination.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Marich is a California based, family owned company that has been making premium candies for over 30 years</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hammond's, made in Denver, was skyrocketed into the national consciousness when Williams Sonoma started putting the candies in their ubiquitous catalogs</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_LVf5DBdTPYDVTZ0IC4Sm-x646XBiUYclnqEZ7uGCQhlgjvPw59a1lLTvThd98krReP07x6cGdXLqIwc1gZYRbqqnlLt2LQFjZSXe6Dcln8phtLur4z6O4zUtIPJYCKl2WvdZNUmeT9c/s1600/IMG_1713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3tZ0xOSBTPYZI_XasdWc1n5Y-XzlG5bekETBb9Gs9DFfD9JsDMD5o-GioVCnFHmUpH2-0IfASnS8riH8QUvLPFbi0AOkSHcfjGSmbnOVrUYu-6nPTk5kdCF9hk7jxeXAflCfABANd3f9/s1600/IMG_1720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_LVf5DBdTPYDVTZ0IC4Sm-x646XBiUYclnqEZ7uGCQhlgjvPw59a1lLTvThd98krReP07x6cGdXLqIwc1gZYRbqqnlLt2LQFjZSXe6Dcln8phtLur4z6O4zUtIPJYCKl2WvdZNUmeT9c/s1600/IMG_1713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></a></div>
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<b>Heights Candy Bar - 833 Studewood 77007</b></div>
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<b>Hours are 10-6 Tuesday-Saturday (closed Sunday & Monday)</b></div>
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<b>Follow them on Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Heightscandybar" target="_blank">Heights Candy Bar</a></b></div>
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<a href="mailto:ilovecandy@heightscandybar.com" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1392388488801_5726" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; outline: 0px;" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:ilovecandy@heightscandybar.com"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1392389686_0"><b>ilovecandy@heightscandybar.com</b></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">P.S. Oo La La has started a Facebook page as well. Follow Judy here: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Oolala/258190994356721" target="_blank">OoLaLa </a></span><br />
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Viulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065221466265514944noreply@blogger.com0