The 09-16-23 Edition of The Heights Leader

O the mat See how St. Pius X got their first win of the season and more in this week’s high school football roundup

delays accountability ratings release

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Those wanting to see how their own or their child’s school is measuring up when it comes to the Texas Education Agency’s annual accountability ratings are going to have to wait just a little bit longer, according to the organization.

On Tuesday, the TEA announced that there is going to be a “temporary” delay of about a month in the release of the organization’s 2023 A through F accountability ratings for schools in Texas. According to the TEA, the ratings were set to be released on Sept. 28, but will now be released in October.

The organization said the delay is meant to “allow for a further re-ex-

amination of the baseline data used in the calculation of Progress to ensure ratings reflect the most appropriate goals for students.”

Texas’s state legislature developed the current accountability system, which ranks schools and districts on a scale of A to F, back in 2015. The system rates schools based on three areas – student achievement, school progress and a campus’ ability to close academic gaps, according to the Texas Education Agency.

According to the TEA, the delay is needed in order to implement the “periodic” update of the A-F indicators and cut points. Cut points are defined as “specific numerical targets” that districts and campuses must reach in order to receive a particular letter grade. Since the passage

of House Bill (HB) 22 in 2017, Texas state law requires cut points and indicators in the accountability system to be updated periodically according to the TEA. Those have remained unchanged since 2017, according to the organization.

“Maintaining high expectations helps guide our efforts to improve student learning and support,” Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said. “The A-F system is designed to properly reflect how well our schools are meeting those high expectations, and the adjustments we are making this year will ensure it continues to serve as a tool for parents and educators to help our students.”

Whenever they are released, a number of Houston ISD schools will be waiting to see how they performed

Area nature spots hosting Houston Bird Week events

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Larger than life Check out

Art Valet as Mitch Cohen catches up with an artist whose work will be at First Saturday Art Market this weekend

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Simos Diner has been a neighborhood staple. Check out reviewer Dan Greer’s experience inside today

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The city of Houston is preparing an annual series of events later this month that are meant to recognize the importance of the city’s wildlife and birdlife and how the city helps those birds who pass through the region, and there are multiple area preserves and nature spots hosting one or multiple events.

From Sept. 23-30, Houston Audubon is hosting its fourth annual Houston Bird Week. Houston Bird Week first began in 2019 as an idea from Houston Audubon’s inaugural Young Professionals Advisory Council to commemorate Houston Audubon’s 50th anniversary, according to its website. From there, the efforts grew to include a city-wide competition to determine the Bird of Houston - which was made official with a proclamation by the mayor’s office – that eventually led to the Yellowcrowned Night Heron becoming the official bird of Houston, according to the organization.

Among the spots hosting an event during the weeklong festivities are

Lorraine Cherry Nature Preserve in the Heights, as well as White Oak Bayou and the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center.

“Houston Bird Week is a celebration of the important role Houston plays in the journey of billions of migratory birds and the everyday lives of our resident birds,” Houston Audubon says on its website.

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Harris County is home to many historic sites, including many of the historic Heights neighborhoods. And this year, one of the organizations dedicated to celebrating and preserving knowledge of the county’s history is celebrating a milestone.

Man wanted for alleged sexual abuse of child

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Houston authorities are searching for a man who is wanted for allegedly sexually abusing a child multiple times over a period of years, according to a news release from Houston Crime Stoppers.

Archie Lee, 37, is wanted by police on charges of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child, according to Harris County court records. Lee remains on the run as of Wednesday, according to Crime Stoppers.

Crime Stoppers said that the Houston Police Department officers were responding this past March 23 to a report of alleged sexual abuse that allegedly happened in the 4500 block of Sherwood Lane near the Lazybrook/Timbergrove area. During the course of the investigation, Crime Stoppers said the victim made an outcry of alleged sexual abuse by Lee over a period of two years from February 2008 through February 2010.

Lee is described in court records as being a Black male standing about 5-foot-11 and weighing 180 pounds with brown eyes and black hair.

Houston Crime Stoppers may pay up to $5,000 for information that leads to the charging and/or arrest of Lee. Information can be reported by calling 713-222-8477 (TIPS). Community members can also submit tips online at crimestoppers.org or through the Houston Crime Stoppers mobile app.

The Audubon says that due to Houston’s location along the Gulf of Mexico as well as various factors – restoring prairies, bird-friendly education programs, and more – that earned it a Bird City designation in 2020, the aim is to celebrate the city’s contribution to the lives of birds that pass through it.

The Harris County Historical Society, founded in 1923, is celebrating its 100th year in existence this year, according to a news release from the nonprofit organization. And to help celebrate the centennial, the Historical Society is working to encourage interest in Harris County’s great history, to recognize its 100-year legacy, and to establish an endowment

for an annual Award of Excellence given to a student through the Center for Public History at the University of Houston.

“The purpose of the Harris County Historical Society is to encourage, advocate and administer the discovery, collection, preservation and publication of

Photo by Greg Lavaty

Photo from Houston Arboretum Facebook

Among events will be guided tours and more during Houston Bird Week.

Mike Morath in the latest rankings. Local schools Love and Durham elementary schools both saw their ratings make huge jumps from C ratings in 2018-2019 to an A in See TEA P. 3

Photo courtesy Crimestoppers Archie Lee See Centennial P. 3

Woman shot, killed east of Heights

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A woman was shot and killed in a shooting just east of the Greater Heights earlier this week, according to the Houston Police Department. The woman’s identity is pending an autopsy from the

county’s medical examiner, according to the police department.

Officers responded to a shooting call in a parking lot at 1406 Hays St. just after 5 p.m. Wednesday, according to HPD, to find the woman lying unresponsive and suffering from a single gunshot wound.

Paramedics from the Houston Fire Department took her to Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital, according to HPD, where she was pronounced dead. There was at least one other person present at the time of the shooting, according to the department, but there have

been no charges filed yet in the ongoing investigation according to HPD.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact HPD’s Homicide division at 713-308-3600 or speak anonymously to Houston Crime Stoppers at 713-2228477 (TIPS).

Three firefighters hurt fighting Independence Heights fire

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Investigators are searching for the cause of a heavy house fire that caused three firefighters to be injured while attempting to extinguish it in Independence Heights earlier this month, according to the Houston Fire Department.

Two firefighters were hurt and treated on scene, accord-

ing to the fire department, while another was taken to the hospital. No residents were found inside or hurt as a result of the fire, according to HFD, though firefighters did find a deceased dog inside according to the department.

HFD said crews responded to a call in the 200 block of Lena Drive in Independence Heights just after 1:30 a.m. on Sept. 2 to find heavy fire coming from the side of a one-sto-

ry house, and involving cars in the driveway under a carport with an initial report of people trapped, according to the department. However, after forcing entry through a gate and conducting several searches, HFD said just the dog – and no people – were inside.

Crews were then able to eventually extinguish the fire, according to HFD, before arson investigators came out to the scene. More than 50 crews

Medicare

Pris Mouton, Insurance Agent. Mouton Ins & Fi. Svcs. (713) 825-8108

in all from stations, 58, 30, 15, 31, 34, 13, 62, 67, Heavy Rescue 11 and Rehab 8 were dispatched to the scene, according to the department.

Arson investigators are still working to determine what led to the fire breaking out, according to the fire department, with the HFD saying the fire caused an estimated $250,000 worth of damage to the home.

One killed, one hospitalized in Acres Homes shooting

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A woman was killed and a man hospitalized as the result of a drive-by shooting in Acres Homes early Thursday morning, according to the Houston Police Department. The identity of the woman

is pending an autopsy from the county’s medical examiner, according to the department. A 41-year-old man was also injured in the shooting, according to police, and taken to an area hospital to undergo surgery. Police said the woman’s son, 3, was also in the backseat of

the car at the time of shooting but was uninjured. Officers came on scene in the 2800 block of West Gulf Bank Road in Acres Homes to find the man and woman inside a crashed car, according to the department, with the woman in the driver’s seat and the man in the passenger seat.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police, while the man was taken to a hospital to undergo surgery. Citing eyewitness reports, HPD said the woman was driving her car near 2800 Gulf Bank Rd. in Acres Homes around 2:45 a.m.

THE TV – “The Texas Longhorns are moving to the SEC while the ACC is adding SMU. Rice has joined the AAC moving from ConferenceUSA. Baylor and Texas Tech etc. etc.” Houston has three universities that play major athletics, and none is in the same conference. But remem ber the Southwest Confer ence? You could drive from Houston and catch an after noon game in College Station and be home by bedtime. How about nipping over to Lexing ton, Kentucky, or Columbia, South Carolina? Rice Owls, get ready for your old rival, the Bulls. (That’s South Florida University in Tampa.)

Alas, those days are gone, but let’s re-visit the fall Saturday afternoons when hearing, “The Longhorns are on the 20. Five seconds left. The Aggies are dug in. Here’s the snap!” Or: “There’s not an empty seat in the Cotton Bowl as the Mustangs take the field against the Horn Frogs.” The Southwest Conference (hereafter the SWC) is as dead as the League of Nations, Kern Tips and the Humble Football Network. It died of money, or the lack thereof among the weak

The weeklong celebration – held in the last full week of September each year – includes both virtual and inperson events built around the city and region’s wildlife and bird life, according to Audubon’s website, with events such as birding opportunities, watch parties, movie nights, and more.

First up on among local spots is the Lorraine Cherry Bird Survey at Lorraine Cherry Nature Preserve in the Heights, at 2400 W. 11th St. From 8-10 a.m. on Sept. 26, interested parties can meet at the kiosk at the entrance right across from the corner of Shelterwood and Pineshade

last year’s ratings according to state data. Additionally, Stevens Elementary jumped from a D/unrated in the 20182019 rankings all the way to a B in the most recent rankings according to state data, while Wainwright Elementary jumped from a D/unrated to a C rating according to TEA data. Garden Oaks Montessori School saw its rating increase from a C (73) in 2018-2019 to an 85 (B) in last year’s ratings. Frank Black Middle School (83 to 90) and Hogg Middle School (81 to 90) also saw their grades go from a B rating to an A.

Of particular note will be the more than 50 schools that have begun to implement superintendent Mike Miles’ “New Education System” program. The total final campus list includes 36 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, nine high schools, and two specialty schools. Local schools such as Scarborough High School (4141 Costa Rica Dr.) and Booker T. Washing-

THE TOPICS.

It’s time for a conference (re)call

LYNN ASHBY Columnist

man Trophy was won by five SWC stars. Incidentally, did you know that the Heisman is named after John Heisman who coached at Rice? The league also produced five winners of the Outland Trophy, which honors the nation’s outstanding lineman.

we are talking football, but the SWC made its mark in other areas, as well. Conference schools won 64 national championships, and had more than 350 first-team allAmerica athletes. We can’t forget Phi Slamma Jamma with Hakeem the Dream and Clyde the Glide. There were Sheryl Swoopes, Carl Lewis and Roger Clemens. (This brings up the question of how do the non-football teams travel? Can Rice swimmers book a round-trip flight from Houston to Philadelphia and not miss classes?) In football, the SWC produced seven national champions. The Heis-

before setting off on a hike that will consist of walking the 1.75 miles of unpaved trails looking for various birds that inhabit the preserve.

Then on Sept. 27, biking and birding enthusiasts will have the option of tagging along on a biking and birding tour of White Oak Bayou. The group will ride and traverse White Oak Bayou while keeping an eye out for birds along the bayou.

Finally, on Sept. 29, there will be a “Birds and Beans” event at the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, 4501 Woodway Dr. just south of the Heights in the Washington Avenue/Rice Military area.

The beginning of the end for the SWC came in the early 1960s when pro football arrived in the state’s two largest markets, Dallas and Houston, siphoning off support and interest. In a large part, however, the SWC self-destructed because of TV money. Ivy is not the only green that academia loves. The 1980s also saw recruiting scandals and NCAA probations. In that decade, only Arkansas, Baylor and Rice kept clean, or weren’t discovered.

SMU had so many flagrant violations that it was the first – and only – football program to be given the so-called Death Penalty. The NCAA canceled the Mustangs’ 1987 season, and limited it to seven road games for 1988, which the school itself cancelled. Most of the players left. The vaunted Mustang football program, which had filled stadiums, never recovered. (As a tad I

During the outdoor discussion, Audubon said the event will explore ways to create a bird habitat in any space, how to help bird migrants every morning, and fun ways to help bird scientists track population health.

“There’s something for all Houstonians to enjoy,” Houston Audubon says on their website. “Your participation and excitement will help our city continue to be a welcoming home for birds.”

Prices for each event vary, according to the Audubon’s website. To see a full list of events and register, or for more information about Houston Bird Week, visit the Audubon’s event website at houstonaudubon.org/programs/ birdweek/birdweek.html.

Centennial from P. 1

sold programs in the Cotton Bowl, and when SMU played UT or TCU there, I could sell my stadium pass for more money than I made peddling programs.) Later, the head of the SWC told me, “The NCAA had no idea it would be so devastating. It would never do that again.”

Arkansas left for the SEC in 1992, and by 1994 the wheels, or cleats, had come off. The heavyweights in the conference were UT, A&M and Tech, which had big crowds, big bucks. (The current UT athletic budget is $187 million, the largest of any university in the nation.) The conference was uneven, the games lopsided, and it was not just a Texas secret. On Sept. 12, 1962, at Rice Stadium, President John F. Kennedy’s famous challenge to Americans to send a man to the moon, asked, “But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas?” He really said that.

Meanwhile up north, the Big 8 Conference - made up strictly of state schools in six states -

wanted the SWC’s three strongest football members to join. The three were ready to split, but were state schools, heavily dependent on the Texas government for funds. The then-governor, Ann Richards, and the powerful lite guv, Bob Bullock, were both Baylor Bears. So the Waco school was included in the merger.

The SWC’s leftovers – Rice, TCU, SMU and UH – drifted away to conferences that included such crowd-magnets as Alabama-Birmingham, Cincinnati, Central Florida, Marshall, Idaho and Hawaii. So the old Southwest Conference never again pitted Texas towns and neighborhood alumni against one another, not to mention student bodies. Back in 1926, students from A&M and Baylor got into such a battle at halftime during a Baylor homecoming game that an Aggie, Lt. Charles Sessums, was killed, and the games were cancelled until 1931. Only a few years ago, Rice’s Marching Owl Band, aka the MOB, poked such fun at the Aggies’ recently passed-on mascot, Reveille, the band had to hide inside the stadium until catering trucks could slip them

to safety. Juices don’t flow like that against East Carolina. That’s all history now. In 1997 the official records of the conference from 1914 to 1996 were moved from Dallas, the SWC’s headquarters, to Texas Tech where they became part of the Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library. A major relic is Rice Stadium, which was built with 47,000 seats – expandable to 70,000 -- because, back then, Rice could fill them. George R. Brown of Brown & Root got the contract to build the new stadium and broke ground in February of ’50. Brown vowed to have the new stadium ready for the first game the following September. Problems slowed down construction, so a reporter went out to check on the project as the deadline loomed. There was none other than George Brown himself shoveling and mixing and sweating. When the reporter asked, “Mr. Brown, do you really think you’ll have this stadium ready in time?”

Said Brown, without looking up, “It’s a night game.” Ashby is a sport at ashby2@ comcast.net

ton High School (4204 Yale St.) along with M.C. Williams Middle School (6100 Knox St.), Burrus Elementary (701 E. 33rd St.), Osborne Elementary (800 Ringold St.), and Wainwright (5330 Milwee St.) as well as Highland Heights elementary at 865 Paul Quinn St.

“The final ratings methodology will be posted once this analysis of the growth data is complete, and about two weeks later, A-F ratings will be issued for parents, educators, and the public to use to help Texas schools continue to improve,” the TEA said in the news release.

New Well Puppy & Kitten Exam

historical information, records, oral histories, visuals and other materials relating to the history of Harris County, and to educate the public about the important history of Harris County, Texas,” the historical society’s website reads According to the news release, the organization said Harris County is home to one of the most important histories of any region in the state, from the San Jacinto Battleground - where Texas won its independenceto the Astrodome, which was the first domed stadium in the U.S., as well as the Johnson Space Center and more. Harris County, named after John Harris

and first called Harrisburg County according to the organization, was one of the original counties in the new state of Texas and is the oldest and largest county in the state of Texas.

Harris County is also home to the historic Houston Heights neighborhood, which was founded in 1891 according to the city of Houston Planning and Development Department’s Historic Preservation Manual and annexed in 1918. The neighborhood includes a variety of architectural styles from the turn of the century, according to the city’s website.

According to the organization’s website,

they hold various events throughout the year that focus on celebrating and remembering the history of Harris County and its roots – and that includes some presentations on local spots. Among past presentations this year according to its website have been by Garden Oaks resident Shellye Arnold, who is the president and CEO of the Memorial Park Conservancy. Arnold spoke on Memorial Park’s cultural history, and how that history relates to the land itself, according to organization’s website.

The organization is also always looking for more members in its effort to celebrate and preserve the history of Harris

County, and will accept anyone whose passion matches up with their goals.

“Membership in the Harris County Historical Society includes a wide range of Harris County residents and is open to anyone interested in our county’s compelling history,” the news release said.

For more information about the Harris County Historical Society, community members and anyone interested in becoming part of the organization can email them at harriscountyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com or visit the organization’s website at harriscountyhistory.org/index.html.

TEA, from P. 1

PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK

Pictured is one of the bird species found at the Lorraine Cherry Nature Preserve, which will be one of the hosts for a Houston Bird Week event later this month.

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Football roundup: St. Pius X o the mat with big victory

– including two sacks – to lead the Panthers’ defensive effort, while Brown (two interceptions, two deflections) and Yearwood (interception) added strong defensive games on top of their offensive exploits.

It had previously been a tough start to the season with a couple of early losses for the St. Pius X Panthers. However, they’re hoping last week’s wig win can be a springboard to the rest of the regular season.

St. Pius X got its first win of the season this past week, as the Panthers took down Woodlands Christian Academy 35-19 to get their first win of the 2023 season. SPX will face off with La Marque this weekend to continue nondistrict play.

Joshua Mitchell led the way for the Panthers’ offense in the win over Woodlands Christian, rushing for 106 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Alex Yearwood had five catches for 92 yards to pace the Panthers’ receiving corps, while Kameron Brown and Michael Fowler each caught a touchdown pass in the contest.

Defensively, the swarming Panthers’ defense forced six total TWCA turnovers while holding the Warriors to just 243 total yards in the game.

Samuel Williams had 13 tackles and three tackles for loss

Lutheran North Academy suffered a nail-biting loss last week, falling 40-37 against St. Francis Episcopal to drop to 1-2 on the season. Isaiah Greenhouse threw three touchdowns and caught another for the Lions, while Tiras McNeal caught two scoring tosses and threw one of his own. Sion Cleveland scored from everywhere, hauling in two touchdown passes to along with a rushing score and kick return touchdown. Lutheran North will look to get back on track with a game against Galveston O’Connell this weekend.

St. Thomas (2-0), the current top-ranked Texas private school by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, was off last week and will return to action this weekend against Austin Regents.

Public schools

The Scarborough Spartans continued their own earlyseason surge, winning 26-0 against KIPP Northeast to win their third straight game opening the season. It was the second shutout of the season already for the Spartans, who have now won three games in a season for the first time since 2005. They will have the week off before facing off

with Worthing in their district opener on Sept. 21. Heights bounced back from a loss to take down Kingwood 16-8 last week, improving to 2-1 on the season. Reggie McNeal Jr. threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns, with receivers Zaylen Cormier (147 yards) and Lamont Robins (114 yards) being his favorite targets, while RaSean Mitchell rushed for 81 yards.

Dylan Ray led the defensive effort with 10 tackles and an interception, and Jaylon Bi-

hms had six tackles including two sacks.

The Waltrip Rams got off the mat for their first win of the season, beating Milby 46-0 in the district opener for both teams. Running back Jaylen Middleton was the star of the show for the Rams (12, 1-0 district) with 200 yards and four rushing touchdowns on just 15 carries, while Eric Norris hauled in two touchdown passes from quarterback Kevion West. Booker T. Washington

Last week’s scores

Scarborough 26, KIPP Northeast 0 Heights 16, Kingwood 8 Waltrip 46, Milby 0 St. Pius X 35, Woodlands Christian 19 Pasadena 47, Booker T. Washington 20 St. Francis Episcopal 40, Lutheran North Academy 37

dropped last week’s matchup against Pasadena 47-20 in their final non-district game, falling to 1-2 on the season.

They will have this weekend off before kicking off district play against Kashmere on Sept. 23.

Hymns and Hers.

Hymns and Hers.

Everyone is welcome at Heights Church. We are an exciting blend of old and new, we warmly invite you to visit.

11am COFFEE 930AM | BIBLE STUDY 1OAM | WORSHIP 11AM | 230 W. 20TH ST. 77008 Heights Church @heightschurchhouston Heights Church, Houston, Texas HeightsChurchHouston.org

11am COFFEE 930AM | BIBLE STUDY 1OAM | WORSHIP 11AM | 230 W. 20TH ST. 77008 Heights Church @heightschurchhouston Heights Church, Houston, Texas HeightsChurchHouston.org

Everyone is welcome at Heights Church. We are an exciting blend of old and new, and we warmly invite you to visit.

Photo by Wayne Donnelly

St. Pius X’s Kameron Brown looks for a lane while running the ball earlier this season. The Panthers defeated The Woodlands Christian Academy last week for their first victory of 2023.

Art Valet: Artist paints larger than life in full color

First impressions are forever: I will always envision big, bold, colorful flowers when Summer Lydick comes to mind. Lydick paints beautiful flowers on canvas big, close up, tropical, jaunty, playful. They are a reflection of Lydick herself, she says, “My work is a self-portrait.”

My first encounter with the vivacious Lydick was at the Bayou City Art Festival in 2017. If we spoke at all, it was a passing greeting, but the impression was made. She was professional and so was her booth, covered floor to ceiling in floral paintings.

I didn’t know it was Lydick’s first juried art festival. She recently told me she had been waitlisted, and got in when artists cancelled after Hurricane Harvey. Since then, she’s been accepted into more than a dozen juried fine art festivals.

Lydick loves being on the road and making connections with people, and it’s a thrill to get a response to her art. But even before joining the festival circuit, Lydick was no wallflower.

After getting bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art, Lydick painted on her balcony in Paris for an exhibition, and completed largescale murals for cities and

corporations. She infused her colorful aesthetic into the total redesign of a children’s wing of a church. She even created the artwork for individual suites of a hotel in Costa Rica.

When festivals remained closed in 2021, Lydick executed large window displays of her work for luxury retailer Tootsies. She also singlehandedly created a pop-up show in Miami for the launch of favorite author Elizabeth Gilbert’s book, Big Magic. Lydick works two distinct series: sunflowers and tropicals. Sunflowers symbolize positivity, happiness, courage, and warmth, and have become her signature theme.

Each painting is an original that embodies the artist’s playful optimism and bold confidence.

In her tropical series, Lydick features hibiscus, birds of paradise, monstera, and palms, among other va-

rieties. These paintings pulse with the vibrant electricity of hiking through a teeming jungle toward a waterfall, or walking along a sandy beach at sunset.

“My art is uplifting and positive,” Lydick says. “There’s enough heavy negativity these days, so I’m doing my part to put positive energy back into the world. Color saves lives. It inspires us to think better, work smarter, and play more. My art is about beauty, color, and joy; ultimately, it’s about hope.”

A recent addition to the nearly 20-year-old First Saturday Arts Market, Lydick will attend this Saturday’s make-up date at 540 W. 19th St. The market was

postponed due to the unseasonably hot summer, even for Houston. Details can be found at https://firstsaturdayartsmarket.com/ Get details on Summer Lydick’s other upcoming events on her website at summerlydick.com, and follow her on Instagram to catch her dancing while she paints. You probably guessed that already, right? That page can be found at instagram. com/summerlydick.art/.

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: Sweet Bribery, Montrose ice cream parlor combine for new concept

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A popular Heights ice cream shop is partnering with a Montrose-based creamery to bring a new and unique concept to the neighborhood.

Sweet Bribery, housed at 250 W. 19th St. in the Heights, has partnered with Montrosebased Craft Creamery for a new concept called Sweet Bribery by Craft Creamery in the same location. According to a news release, the concept is aimed at combining Sweet Bribery’s classic ice creams, beer, and wine with a rotating selection of Craft Creamery’s creative ice creams.

Founded by Chef Steve Marques and his wife Kim Kaase, Craft Creamery opened in 2020 with unique ice cream flavors such as Oaxaca ‘Hot’ Chocolate, Smokey BBQ Brisket, Cacio e Pepe, Jalapeno Cornbread, and more. Sweet

By Dan Greer For The Leader

Bribery by Craft Creamery will expand its line of sorbets, “boozy” ice creams, and adult floats such as the Champagne Float and Porter Float among more than five sorbets and champagne float flights, as well adult sips like beer floats and Katz’ Coffee Affogatos.

There will also be 20 ice cream flavors in the case, according to the release – among them being Sweet Bribery’s

traditional favorites like Tahitian Vanilla, Real Strawberry, Salted Chocolate, and Cookies N’ Cream, along with Craft Creamery specialties such as Lavender Honeycomb, Miso Caramel, and Campfire S’more.

“We have dreamed of being on a busy corner in the Heights since we started the business and knew that this was the perfect opportunity to make it come true,” Marques

said. “We have always been a fan of Sweet Bribery and look forward to a great partnership.”

Sweet Bribery by Craft Creamery is open Sunday through Thursday from 1-10 p.m., and Friday-Saturday from noon-11 p.m. For more information, follow @craftcreameryhtx on Instagram or visit sweetbriberyhtx.com.

Area brewery hosting Oktoberfest Sept. 30

Later this month, a local brewery in the Washington Avenue area will host an inaugural Oktoberfest festival event at its taproom.

Urban South Houston announced earlier this week that the craft brewery will hold its first Oktoberfest celebration at its taproom at 1201 Oliver St. Suite 10. There will be an array of delectable German-styled beers, live music, a brand-

new souvenir stein, market vendors, and more available at the celebration, according to a news release from the brewery. The release said the taproom will transform into “a haven of traditional Bavarian aesthetics, creating an authentic atmosphere for attendees.”

“We are thrilled to host our Oktoberfest celebration in the Houston taproom, bringing together the community for a day of fun, music, and, of course, incredible beer,” Urban South Brewery founder Jacob Landry said. “Our team has worked to create an experience that pays homage to the rich traditions of Oktoberfest while infusing it with the unique spirit of Houston.

For more details about Urban South HTX’s Oktoberfest celebration, community members can visit and follow the Houston taproom on Facebook and Instagram.

Review: We’ve always got Simo’s Diner

Sometimes a film can take you back to a pivotal time and place in your life that, today, seems almost too idyllic to have been real. Such a film came out in my remarkably carefree college days. “Diner” was set in 1950’s Baltimore and centered around five buddies entering adulthood. These chums spent an inordinate amount of their time at Fell’s Point Diner. It was more than their hangout, it was the place to recharge, catch up, laugh and ponder the big, and not so big questions of life. It was the one constant in their lives. When the realization hit them that life was about to take them on separate paths, one of them remarked, “We’ve always got the Diner.” Similarly, our city has had Simo’s Diner for decades. On this morning’s visit to Simo’s I was accompanied by a very special breakfast companion – my dad.

I have been to Simo’s many times, but my dad is a regular. Everyone here knows him and his menu preferences. He’s kind of a big deal.

You’ll notice several things upon entering. It’s got that “diner feel,” but everything is neat and tidy and clean. When you take a quick scan around you, you’ll see what you’d probably expect at a diner. Folks look like they work hard and are here for a meal that will energize them for the day. The dress code is, “Yes, you must be dressed to eat here.” The employees will greet you with a smile and get you seated right away. This process was even easier for us since my Dad apparently has his own special booth. Our server’s greeting was just as welcoming as that first cup of coffee.

“What can I get you Hon?”

We made it easy on her and both ordered the “Simo’s Special.” This breakfast special is basically comprised of every item on the right side of the

menu. I jest, but seriously here’s what the special will get you –three eggs any style, three large strips of bacon, a sausage patty, hash browns or grits and pancakes. I also got a biscuit with sausage gravy. Did I mention that the Simo’s Special comes in at $9.99?

The eggs were cooked perfectly, just as I asked, over-me-

Simo’s Diner

Address: 5004 N.

Shepherd Dr. Dining options: Dine-in, takeout

Hours: 6 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday, breakfast until 11 a.m.; 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, breakfast until 1:00 pm

Entrée prices: $7.25$15.99

Kid-Friendly: Yes

Alcohol: No

Healthy Options: Yes

dium. The sausage and bacon were also delicious and perfectly cooked. My grits were tasty and of the correct texture, with no lumps. The pancakes were large and fluffy. Plus, they drop off one of their jumbo syrup dispensers, not one of those pitiful, thimble-sized plastic cups. But the biscuit and gravy was my favorite. The biscuit was

Star of the show: Biscuits and gravy with Simo’s Special Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

baked to perfection and the gravy had just the right amount of small sausage chunks. The gravy wasn’t runny, yet didn’t come out in globs. It had that tried and true, grandma-approved, homemade taste and consistency.

The Simo’s Special hit it out of the park for its deliciousness as well as its incredible value. We were here for the breakfast today, but they also offer an impressive lunch buffet with different specials every day. Today’s included beef tips, catfish and a plethora of fresh vegetables. I recommend their chicken and dumplings. You can also order off the menu where some of the Simo family’s Greek influences can be sampled. The entire operation is efficient and unpretentious with a complete focus on the customer. To my knowledge and relief, you will find no truffle oil here. About the only “fusion” you’ll see here is maybe some bacon in their green beans, or extra cheese in the macaroni. And most happily, nowhere will you see Simo’s described as “Elevated Dining.”

The inscription on their coffee cup says it best – “Simo’sWhere the working people eat”. Isn’t it good to know we’ve always got the diner.

Contributed photo

Bird of Paradise by Summer Lydick

Summer Lydick in front of her Tootsies window display

Summer Lydick in front of her Tootsies window display

Contributed photo

Summer Lydick paints the sunflowers from her backyard

Contributed photo

Contributed photo

Photo by Dan Greer

Pictured is the lunch buffet at Simos Diner on North Shepherd Drive. The familiar spot offers a comforting environment along with good food.

Contributed photos

Craft Creamery Chef Steve Marques and his wife Kim Kaase are partnering with Sweet Bribery for a new concept in the Heights.