The 09-02-23 Edition of The Heights Leader

Covering the Heights, Garden

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

With just over two months until the November elections in Harris County, the county is preparing to officially transition its elections operations back over to its elected county clerk and tax assessor-collector’s office in light of last week’s ruling by the Texas Supreme Court.

Effective Friday, the county’s election opera-

tions must now be run by county clerk Teneshia Hudspeth and the office of tax assessor-collector Ann Harris Bennett. The transition comes in light of Senate Bill 1750’s implementation.

And during Tuesday’s regular commissioners court meeting, Hudspeth and a representative of Bennett’s office expressed confidence that there will be no hiccups or delays when it comes to Harris

County’s elections operations.

“While we can all agree that this is not an ideal situation, I am committed to doing the job before me with your full support,” Hudspeth said Tuesday. “Over the last few months, I have worked (with all partners) to ensure a smooth transition of assets, employees, and records in accordance with SB 1750.”

Northside shooting suspect still at large

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Houston police are searching for a man who has been accused of shooting and killing another man in the Northside/Northline neighborhood last weekend, according to the Houston Police Department.

Alexis Gonzalez, 23, has been charged with murder in connection with the shooting, according to Harris County court records. He remains on the run and at large as of Tuesday, according to HPD.

The identity of the victim, believed to be a 32-year-old man according to police, is pending an autopsy from the county’s medical examiner, according to the department.

Police responded to a call at a business in the 100 block of West Little York Road in Northside/ Northline around 2:20 p.m. on Aug. 26, according to the department, to find a man unresponsive and having been shot. Houston Fire Department paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene, according to HPD.

The suspect, alleged to be Gonzalez, had allegedly fled the scene by the time police arrived, according to the department, and remains on the run.

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Students were back inside Houston ISD classrooms for the first time since the takeover of the district by the Texas Education Agency earlier this week, and the new superintendent started the year by taking a tour of some of the schools that are part of the “New Education System” program.

The NES campus list includes 36 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, nine high schools, and two specialty schools, including area campuses. Local campuses that have opted in to be part of the NES system are Scarborough High School (4141 Costa Rica Dr.) and Booker T. Washington High School (4204 Yale St.) along with M.C.

865 Paul Quinn St. And after the first day, superintendent Mike Miles said he is already seeing progress at some of the schools that have implemented the program.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Alexis Gonzalez is asked to contact HPD’s Homicide division at 713-308-3600 or speak anonymously with Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477 (TIPS).

Williams Middle School (6100 Knox St.), Burrus Elementary (701 E. 33rd St.), Osborne Elementary (800 Ringold St.), and Wainwright Elementary (5330 Milwee St.).

HISD’s original list of 28 NES schools included one area school, Highland Heights Elementary at

“I was reminded of how important this work is. It is the most important work of our time. When I got to schools, it was just humbling but also so exhilarating,” Miles said of the first day in an update posted to the district’s YouTube channel on Tuesday. “Schools are my sanctuary – I love being in schools, talking to kids and seeing teachers… it reminds me of how the real work is in the schools. It was a great first day, but the first day is not the end – it’s just the start. And we’re going to try to continue to

Growing pickleball trend bringing new spots to Heights

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

As the sport of pickleball continues to grow in popularity, it has given way to a wave of new concepts making their way to Houston – including multiple spots in the area that are either open or slated to open in the coming months.

Earlier this month, the Heights added a new spot called the Elite Pickleball Club, which is touted as the first fully-indoor Pickleball facility inside the Houston city limits. Elite Pickleball Club opened on Aug. 5 at 600 W. 6th St. in the Heights, and is operated by professional pickleballer Shellton Jean Baptiste as it aims to bring pickleball enthusiasts another spot

to indulge their cravings.

There are currently about 10,000 Houstonians estimated to play pickleball, according to the Houston Pickleball Association. A 2022 report from CultureMap Houston said nearly 5 million people play the sport worldwide. The Houston Parks and Recreation Department currently has 11 outdoor and 17 indoor dual courts available for Pickleball play, according to the city.

But Elite Pickleball believes they’re bringing something to the table that nowhere in the city can offer.

“I am so excited to bring Houston its first indoor Pickleball facility. Pickleball has just exploded in popularity in the

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rounds throughout the district and its schools.

Alexis Gonzalez

Ann Harris Bennett Teneshia Hudspeth

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A man has been arrested and accused of allegedly shooting and killing a woman in Acres Homes over the weekend, according to the Houston Police Department.

Bryan A. Lee, 25, has been charged with murder in connection with the shooting, according to Harris County court records. He has also been charged with Felon in Possession of a Weapon, ac-

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A man was shot and killed in the Greater Inwood area after allegedly attempting to assault a pregnant woman over the weekend, according to the Houston Police Department.

The identity of the man is still pending an autopsy from the county’s medical examiner, according to the police department.

Officers initially respond-

Bryan A. Lee

ed to an apartment complex in the 5600 block of Antoine Drive around 12:45 a.m. last Saturday Aug. 26, according to the department, in response to a call of an assault in progress at the apartment after initial reports had two men allegedly assaulting a pregnant woman and allegedly dragging her through the complex.

Multiple gunshots went off soon after officers arrived, according to the department, before HPD said officers on

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A woman has died after a multi-car wreck that happened near the area early Thursday morning, according to the Houston Police Department.

The identity of the woman, a 34-year-old woman according to police, is pending an autopsy from the county’s medical examiner according to the department.

HPD said the woman was driving her Toyota Camry at a “high rate of speed” northbound at 3400 North Freeway in Northside

cording to court records, and remained in jail as of Tuesday with a total bond set at $1.05 million.

The identity of the woman, believed to be 66 years old according to the police department, is pending an autopsy from the county’s medical examiner, according to HPD.

Officers responded to a call to a home at 2121 Dewalt St. in Acres Homes around 7 p.m. last Sunday, Aug. 25, according to police,

the scene allegedly detained two men who were allegedly running through the apartment’s courtyard. A third suspect was found in the parking lot by a responding officer, allegedly with a gun in his possession, according to the department.

Shortly after, the department said officers found a man dead in the courtyard, and said the man allegedly matched the description of the suspect who allegedly assaulted her. She was taken

and allegedly found Lee sitting on a lawn chair within a private gated property. The woman was laying unresponsive in the driveway of the property with an apparent gunshot wound when officers arrived, according to police, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Lee was then allegedly identified as the alleged suspect in the shooting, according to HPD, and he was subsequently taken into custody and charged.

to a nearby hospital as a precaution, according to police. No charges have been filed, according to HPD, though the department said the investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information about the shooting and/or alleged assault is asked to call HPD’s Homicide division at 713-308-3600 or speak anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477 (TIPS).

Village - just east of the Heights - around 1:15 a.m. Thursday when she allegedly rear-ended a white Ford F350 with a dump truck bed that was also traveling north.

After allegedly hitting the truck, police said the woman lost control of the Camry and struck a wall. Paramedics from the Houston Fire Department pronounced her dead at the scene, according to police.

The truck driver, 66, and two male passengers were taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries, according to HPD. An investigation into the crash remains ongoing, according to the department.

CHURCH

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St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church

Free pancake breakfast September 2 8:30-10am, in Fellowship Hall

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: THURSDAYS @ 10:00am

• Chapel Time for Tots 2 Teens

SUNDAYS @ 10:17am

• In-person, FB & YouTube Worship

www.facebook.com/stmatthewsunitedmethodistchurch 4300 N. Shepherd Dr., Houston, TX 77018 713-697-0671

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Helmuth “Smokey” Charles Stoever, Jr. 04/06/1939 – 08/19/2023

The Lone Czar State

MY FRONT YARD –

While out stealing my neighbors’ water I spot LeRoy Gomez from Mexico, walking his two pit bulls and a German shepherd. “Hi, LeRoy,” I say. “How’s it going?” He frowns. “Nyet goot. My colleague vrom our homeland, Chico Prigozhin, iz det.” I reply, “Sorry to hear that. Hey, I see you have some Concertina wire in your front yard.” LeRoy smiles. “Da, I got it from your Gret Abbot. Vell, doe sverdnya, or rather, adios.”

Odd. I go home and Google Chico Prigozhin just to see if anything comes up. The closest I get is Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the mercenary Wagner Group fighting in Ukraine. He was killed after the plane he was in suspiciously crashed in Russia. I guess he should have kept marching to Moscow. But my research leads me to “Russian assassinations,” and it seems Prigozhin’s death was only the latest in a long string of government-orchestrated murders, beginning with:

“Leon Trotsky, ice hammer to the head, 1940.” Russian President Vladimir Putin is a traditionalist if nothing else. Oppose Vlad much less lead a coup and you are going to have an accident.

Two oligarchs who got on Putin’s wrong side, Igor Kudryakov and Anton Cherepennikov, died one after the other in under 48 hours, one of a “heart attack,” the other of “cancer” although no autopsies were performed on either. Then the chief prosecutor of the ligarchs, Andrey Fomin, was found dead in the Volga River, allegedly not from drowning. He was swimming when “he suddenly died.”

In the same month, Russian scientist Andrey Botikov was strangled to death with a belt in his apartment.

Ravil Maganov, head of Lukoil, Russia’s largest private oil company, criticized the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He “fell from a window at Central Clinical Hospital. He died from injuries sustained.” So far at least 39 Russians including oligarchs and scientists have died in questionable circumstances.

The military is not immune from Putin’s wrath. Take Gen. Gennady Lopyrev. He served in Putin’s personal guard and must have not opened a door quickly enough or forgot to salute Putin. He was arrested in 2016 and recently died in jail of an unspecified illness. The invasion of Ukraine is not going as planned, and its casualties are not all at the front. Gen.

Gennady Zhao recently died in Moscow aged 57 after

was replaced by Gen. Sergey Surovikin, but not for long. Surovikin who was allegedly an ally of mutineer Yevgeny Prigozhin, “was removed from military leadership” and is now reportedly is under house arrest. Update the general’s obit.

Boris Nemtsov, a vocal Kremlin critic who was a deputy prime minister in the late 1990s under President Boris Yeltsin, was shot dead in February 2015 as he walked with his girlfriend in central Moscow. Here’s one strange death. Ivan Pechorin, head of Putin’s Arctic development, fell off a boat at full speed in icy waters and died. Opposition leader Alexey Navalny nearly died in August of 2020 after he was poisoned with a toxic chemical nerve agent. He was treated in Germany, returned to Russia and is now in a gulag.

President George W Bush said of Putin: “I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy. I was able to get a sense of his soul.”

Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates had a different reaction. “I had looked into Putin’s eyes and I saw a stone cold killer.” OK, we get the idea. You cross Putin and you get crossed out. Why should we care? Don’t dig through your neighbor’s garbage, because Putin’s hit men have a long reach. Alexander Litvinenko, a former Russian agent turned Kremlin critic, was poisoned at a London hotel bar in 2006 by two Russian agents who spiked his green tea with the highly radioactive polonium-210. Sergei Skripal, a former agent of Russia’s military intelligence branch, and his daughter, Yulia were safe in the English town of Salisbury -- they thought. In March 2018, Skripal and Yulia were found unconscious on a park bench. They had been poisoned by a Novichok nerve agent. Both spent several weeks in a hospital in critical condition. British police traced the poison to the Skripals’ house, mainly on the front door knob.

The story doesn’t end

there. On June 30 2018, Charlie Rowley was dumpster diving in bins in Salisbury, found a perfume bottle and gave it to his companion, Dawn Sturgess, who sprayed it on her wrist. Sturgess fell ill within 15 minutes and died on July 8, but Rowley survived. British police believe two Russian assassins, who they identified, tossed the nerve agent in the bin after the poisoning where Rowley found it.

This brings us to Aleksandra Yuryevna Krylova and Mikhail Leonidovich Burchik, two top Kremlin spies who came to Texas in 2018 and, using phony names, PayPal, fake emails and other devious methods, got Texans to fight one another demonstrate, and counter demonstrate to help elect Donald Trump. Texans were an easy target. The Kremlin even hatched opposition to an annual military exercise, Jade Helm 15. Now Trump is running for President again. We must wonder if Krylova, Burchik and others have been back to stir up trouble. Look for clues. They could foment a riot at the U.S. Capitol. Maybe they would try to get officials in Georgia to change the outcome of that state’s votes in the last presidential election. Could they have attempted to foist a phony slate of electors from several states in favor of Trump? Thank goodness nothing like that happened.

If Putin’s assassins could go after his enemies in Britain (and France, Austria, Germany, the Arctic Ocean, etc.) why not here? Which brings us back to my neighbor, LeRoy Gomez. Is he paranoid? No. Actually I don’t think he’s Mexican at all. He’s probably Norwegian.

Ashby’s garbage bin is at ashby2@comast.net

SB 1750 was initially drafted after what were classified as “serious election irregularities” during the 2022 Harris County elections managed by previous elections administrator Clifford Tatum. A number of voting centers allegedly ran out of paper ballots and several voting centers having issues with voting machines, among other alleged issues.

And in light of that, the county will turn its elections operations back over.

“Eliminating the office of our elections administrator just over two months before voters head to the polls for a major election is a serious challenge for our county, but one we will overcome,” said Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, who serves part of the area including the Greater Heights. “Today, we will take important steps toward transitioning back to the previous, bifurcated election system”

The state Supreme Court voted for SB 1750’s implementation last week, overturning a lower court’s ruling that temporarily granted Harris County an injunction blocking the bill. A Travis County District Court judge had sided with Harris County on its request to temporarily block SB 1750 and issued a temporary injunction preventing state officials from enforcing the law. However, the office of the Attorney General of Texas appealed the District Court’s order to the Texas Supreme Court.

“We are going to work in tandem to make sure we have a smooth election come November. Right now, we are working very closely to make sure nothing falls through the cracks,” a representative of Bennett’s office said Tuesday. “We want to make sure that we have a successful election come November, and

we are working closely with all partners to make sure that happens. We look forward to doing the job, and doing it to the best of our abilities.”

And though they have been ordered to turn over election operations, SB 1750 does not sit right with some commissioners.

The state supreme court will still hear a challenge to the ruling on Nov. 28, several weeks after the county elections.

“…. We are on the front lines of a coordinated attack from state leaders who are intent on subverting our elections because they fear our diverse and powerful electorate,” Ellis said. “Harris County voters can trust that we’re doing everything in our power to protect their right to vote in fair and free elections this November and beyond.” Commissioners also expressed thanks to the previous elections administration and staff.

“(These storms) are not what they signed up for, but they handled it as professionals,” said Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia, whose district includes part of the Heights and Northside. “Thank you for your professionalism, for your dedication, for keeping your chin up, and for braving all of these interesting crosswinds that have been circulating.”

No matter the circumstances that led to the transition, Hudspeth said Tuesday that her office is committed to ensuring a smooth and painless election process come November.

“I look forward to working with you and all stakeholders to continue to strengthen our election process and the public’s confidence in accordance with state and federal election guidelines,” Hudspeth said.

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Mango Punch playing free concert at Marmion Park Sept. 9

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

In continuation of their ongoing outdoor concert series, the Houston Heights Association will be hosting an afternoon performance by Walter Suhr Mango Punch next weekend that is open to the community.

The free concert, which is part of the HHA’s Music @ Marmion Series, will take place Saturday, Sept. 9 from 3-5 p.m. at Marmion Park at 1800 Heights Blvd. Walter Suhr and Mango Punch’s music includes pop, rock, swing, and jazz among other stylings, according to its website. Attendees can bring their own lawn chairs and blankets as well as food and drinks to watch the show, which will be performed from the park’s gazebo.

The Music @ Marmion series is sponsored by the Houston Heights Association, which serves residents and businesses in the neighborhood, and underwritten by Greenwood King Properties.

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Houston area,” Baptiste said in a news release. “We are happy to give Houstonians a place where they can play every day, no matter what the weather is outside.”

The indoor and climatecontrolled club features eight full-size pickleball courts, according to the release, as well

as a turf lounge area, televisions and cold air-conditioning that runs from 6 a.m.-midnight while the club is open.

Another dedicated pickleball spot, PKL Social, is slated to open in the Washington Avenue area in the coming months at 1102 Shepherd Dr. Both Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday

improve every single day, for 171 more days.” Miles and the district have previously said that the NES program is meant to drive transformation at the respective schools, with regards to academic achievement and career readiness, among other things.

In the most recent accountability ratings by the TEA, Highland Heights received an “unacceptable” rating (below a “C” rating) for a fourth straight year, and is among several HISD schools in similar situations. Wainwright Elementary jumped from a D/unrated to a C rating according to TEA data, though the school still opted in to the program.

At the end of the day, Miles and newlyappointed board managers have said that the end goal is eliminate the education gap that has occurred in HISD over the years and return control of the district to elected trustees as soon as possible.

Ultimately, he believes that the NES system will have a positive impact on the education of HISD and its students. And though he said there will always be room to improve, he is hopeful this week is a precursor of good things set to come.

“I’m amazed at how well the teachers are already implementing the NES model, I’m amazed at how well the students are already getting into the routine. We have teachers doing some great work already (with everything),” he said. “Sure we have some things to improve, and that’s what it’s about. This is a baseline, this a starting point – but we’re improving already, and I expect we’ll continue to do that through the rest of the year.”

morning messages for an update on a more concrete opening date were not immediately returned.

Ultimately, Baptiste and Elite Pickleball said that at the end of the day their main goal is to keep growing a sport that has become increasingly popular not just in Houston, but around

the state and country. The club will feature a calendar of events each month including open play, skill-level matches and tournaments for both members and non-members, according to the release.

For more information on the club and what they have to offer, follow Elite Pickleball on

Facebook and Instagram @ elitepickleballclub or visit their website at texaselitepickleball. com.

“I look forward to teaching people the game that I love and furthering the growth of the sport in Texas,” Baptiste said.

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SPORTS.

Football roundup: Eagles fly high in season opener

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Fresh off a trip to the TAPPS Division I state semifinals in 2022, the St. Thomas Eagles are eager to not only make it back, but make their first state title trip in two decades. And they got their mission off to a roaring start last week with a big opening win.

The Eagles scored early and often in their season-opening win of the 2023 campaign, taking down Houston St. John’s 63-49 in a high-scoring opener –one of four local teams to emerge victorious in Week 1 of the high school football season. It was a back-andforth battle for much of the game, with St. Thomas actually trailing 49-47 entering the final quarter, However, the Eagles would go on to score 16 unanswered points in the game’s final stanza to hold on for the win.

Dual-threat quarterback Donte Lewis lived up to his billing as a player to watch against St. John’s, racking up 499 total yards (382 passing, 117 rushing) and six total touchdowns without a turnover. Lewis’ favorite receiving target was Luke Edgecomb (10 catches, 245 yards), who hauled in all four of his touchdown passes, while Larry Benton III also had seven catches on the night for 97 yards.

Keenan Bonner led the rushing attack with 220 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries as part of an attack that saw the Eagles rack up 735 total yards of offense on the night.

And though stops might have been hard to come by as a whole, there were several standout performances. Michael-Anthony Okwura was strong up front with six tackles and a sack, while linebacker Cooper Davis had a team-leading eight tackles. Defensive back Aron Valentine was also active, making six tackles and nabbing three interceptions on the night.

Elsewhere around local private school action, Lutheran North Academy began its six-man season with a 47-0 win over the New Braunfels Thunder in

LANDAN KUHLMANN Editor

San Marcos last weekend.

It wasn’t as rosy a beginning for the St. Pius X Panthers, who dropped their season opener 41-0 against Second Baptist. Nick Woods had eight tackles and a fumble recovery to lead the Panthers, while Kameron Brown had seven tackles and two pass deflections. Joshua Mitchell had 76 yards rushing to lead SPX’s offensive attack.

Public schools

On the public school side, it was a mixed bag last week, with two of the area’s local public schools coming away with wins.

The Heights Bulldogs came away with a season-opening win over Cleburne with a 28-0 shutout at Waco Midway Stadium last weekend, marking the third time in the last four seasons that Heights has been victorious in their opening game.

Meanwhile, the Scarborough Spartans won their opener for a second straight season last week, blanking Pro-Vision Academy 44-0 to start their season on a high note.

Waltrip fell by a score of 44-13 against North Forest to start their season last week, though there were still several standout performances.

Jaylen Middleton led the Rams on the ground with 123 yards rushing along with having an 85-yard kickoff return touchdown, while Eric Norris caught a touchdown pass from Kevion West.

Booker T. Washington also fell short in their season opener last week, scoring just once and losing 12-8 against Wharton on Aug. 25.

This week’s schedule

Thursday

Booker T. Washington vs. Austin, 7 p.m., Delmar Stadium

Friday

Scarborough vs. Sharpstown, 7 p.m., Dyer Stadium

Lutheran North Academy vs. Legacy Christian, 7 p.m., Lions Stadium St. Thomas at Lumberton, 7 p.m., Lumberton High School St. Pius at Beaumont Kelly, 7 p.m., Kelly High School

Saturday

Waltrip vs. Dayton, 6 p.m., Delmar Stadium

Last week’s scores St. Thomas 63, St. John’s 49 Lutheran North Academy 47, New Braunfels Thunder 0 Heights 28, Cleburne 0 Scarborough 47, Pro-Vision Academy 0 Wharton 12, Booker T. Washington 8 North Forest 44, Waltrip 13

Dr. Becky J. Fredrickson

Board Certfed Ophthalmolo gist. Dr. Fredrickson has been practcing ophthalmology for over 12 years. She routnely sees patents for diabetes, glaucoma, macular degeneraton, and ocular infectons. She specializes in surgical procedures including cataract, eyelid lifs, eyelid cysts, Botox and Juvederm, and pterygia.

1415 N. Loop, Ste 400 • 427 W. 20th St. Ste 100 Houston, TX 77008 713-668-6828 • www.houstoneye.com

Photo from Twitter

St. Thomas head coach Rich McGuire addresses his team following their 63-49 win over St. John’s last week.

Photo by Wayne Donnelly

St. Pius X quarterback Braxton Bies releases a pass during the Panthers’ loss to Second Baptist.

Photo from Twitter Quarterback Donte Lewis warms up before St. Thomas’ game against St. John’s.

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normal. The chair represents home and the splash of color - creativity of course.

With each photo displayed will be a bit about each subject from a questionnaire they answered. What home means to them, what art means to them and advice to the reader about creativity.

Due to the continued heat index, I postponed First Saturday Arts Market until the third Saturday, Sept. 16, at 11 a.m. Details and updates can be found on the website. https:// firstsaturdayartsmarket.com.

What will be excessively cool, and indoors Saturday, September 2, is “The Chair”

A Multi-Media Art Show, presented by The L.W., 6 - 10 p.m. at 2506 LaBranch St.

On the first floor of the two story location, Wonderlikewander, visitors will find photographs by the artist, who wishes to be referred as The L.W. On the second floor, over 27 photographer’s works will be on display.

According to a statement by the artist, “The Chair” is a curation of 32 photos showcasing a range of incredible individuals, each with their own story. “The Chair” is a celebration of home, the arts, life, and the colors that fill this beautiful world.

The L.W. maintains an “office job” while working his passion of photography on the side. The Chair project came about as a way to connect home and creativity apart from the separation that the daily grind creates. He told me the show has been in the works for over a year.

L.W. photographed people of different occupations in a creative way, splattered with paint, but otherwise posing naturally for the photo as

L.W. was unaware when he secured the venue that it had a second floor available. That’s when he invited the local photographers to join him. Many had been collaborating with him already and this was a great opportunity to showcase their talent. He asked them to create images to celebrate the City of Houston and what the city has done for them.

Crystal Park Wreden tipped me off to this fun art exhibit. Wreden herself will be part of the multitude of activities planned at “The Chair.” Park will start and finish a painting live during the event.

Itzcoatl Tezkatlipoka will perform traditional Aztec Dance, beer is courtesy of Equal Parts Brewing and food (for purchase) by Tico Tacos, by sister and brother Jennifer and Fabian Ponce. Desserts and pastries will also be sold by Erick M. Sanchez.

This art event is a microcosm of small business from The L.W., the venue and all participating. Very inspiring indeed, follow the L.W. on Instagram for links and details https://www.instagram.com/ the.l.w/.

Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday Arts Market and The Market at Sawyer Yards. Find him at ArtValet.com for additional highlights and artist’s stories.

Nibbles & Sips: New cocktail bar hits Heights

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A new cocktail bar and social lounge is now open in the Heights, and hopes to bring “an elevated and energetic cocktail bar experience” to the neighborhood.

On Aug. 27, the Best Regards social club opened its doors to the Heights community at 222 W. 11th St. near the intersection of 11th Street and Yale Street in the space formerly occupied by Chivos Mexican restaurant.

The brainchild of Houston native Morgan Hansen, a news release from the bar said Best Regards offers premium cocktails along with a wine and champagne list and creative mocktails. Its cocktail menu will include the “Wolf of 11th Street” (showcasing Hoja Santa Sous Vide Tequilla, cantaloupe melon, honey cilantro syrup, ancho verde and black salt) as well as “White Collar Crime” (featuring cacao nibs infused with Texas bourbon, pecan turbinado, cacao blanc and Aztec chocolate bitters), among other options.

Customers will also have the chance to pair the cocktails with shareable food boards, including a pickle board featuring a variety of pickles and pickled accoutrements, a cheese and charcuterie board, a burrata board with seasonal fruit

and more. Guests can expect to see DJs, and a varity of live music, according to the release.

“Bringing Best Regards from concept to opening has been a thrilling experience and I’m excited to welcome Houstonians to our beautiful and lush social lounge,” Hansen said.

Best Regards is open 4 p.m.-midnight on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 4 p.m.-2 a.m. on Thursdays, 2 p.m.-2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m.-midnight on Sunday. For more information, visit bestregardshou.

com/.

“We’re very excited to open our day-to-night social lounge near one of Height’s most prolific intersections and deliver a unique, world-class hotspot,” Hansen said.

Shaquille O’Neal-backed chicken restaurant coming to area

A chicken restaurant chain backed by a National Basketball Association Hall of Famer is making its way t the area next year.

According to a report from CultureMap Hous -

ton, Big Chicken – a brand backed by former NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal – is coming to the Heights in early 2024. The report says Big Chicken is slated to open at 107 Yale St. in the Heights.

Big Chicken’s website says O’Neal and other backers initially created the restaurant in 2018, and that its menu is a combination of O’Neal’s home-cooked favorites from childhood and “today’s trending flavors.”

Several of the sandwiches on the menu pay homage to some of O’Neal’s nicknames from his playing days, such as the Big Aristotle (featuring muenster cheese, crispy fried onions, and sweet & smoky Memphis BBQ sauce) and the Shaq Attack (with pepper jack cheese, jalapeño slaw, and spicy chipotle BBQ sauce), among others, while its website says the restaurant also offers chicken tenders, sliders, salads, and more.

The Heights restaurant will be Big Chicken’s third Houston location when it opens, joining an existing spot on Westheimer Road and another soon to open in Richmond. For more information on Big Chicken, visit its website at bigchicken.com.

Photo by Becca Wright

Pictured is the exterior of Best Regards, which opened in the Heights earlier this week.

Photo by Becca Wright Best Regards will o er several selections of cocktails on its menu.

Photo by The L.W.

The L.W. will present new photos in “The Chair” Saturday night.

Photos by The L.W.

“The Chair” multimedia indoor art show is set for this Saturday.

Contributed photo

Crystal Park Wreden will paint live at “The Chair” Art Show.