Fall 2023

Dr. Abigail Rodriguez

Plastic Surgeon

12 GREETINGS

15 FEEDER / NEWS

22 FEEDER / DESIGN

Granny chic is in for fall!

24 FEEDER / BEAUTY

Chic medspas open all over town.

26 FEEDER / ART

A beloved artist is inspired in part by his mother’s battle with cancer.

28 FEEDER / NEWSTONIAN

Aussies bring a cool café concept to Houston.

30 FEEDER / ESSAY

Our editor gets to the heart of the Med Center.

34 PARTY PEOPLE

38 FEATURE / SQUAD GOALS

Soccer stars kick it in sexy streetware.

48 FEATURE / LEADERS & LEGENDS

The annual portfolio honors local luminaries.

66 BOOK REPORTS / DINING

All the new pizza places! Plus: more dining news.

72 BOOK REPORTS / TRAVEL

Fall in love with Door County. Plus: San Antonio.

76 GUIDEBOOK

PLUS! HELPING A HERO & NOTABLE NONPROFITS

Flip the issue over for a very special section.

“I am proud to offer a bespoke rapid recovery protocol after surgery, tailored to ensure each of my patients looks and feels their best sooner.”

On the Cover On the Cover Houston Dynamo Artur de Lima Jr. of Brazil, in Giorgio Armani, photographed by Phoebe Rourke

HOUSTON’s Choice in Plastic Surgery

At ACPS we pride ourselves on providing award winning results & service. Our 7 surgeons are some of the most awarded aesthe�c surgeons in the na�on with over 500 awards, publica�ons & presenta�ons in over 30 countries.

|

Dr. Paul Fortes

Dr. Abigail Rodriguez

Dr. Henry Mentz

Dr. Rolando Morales

Dr. Germán Newall

Dr. Chris Patronella

Dr. Kris� Hustak

Meet The #NanFam

The Nikki Hohman Team

Awarded “Best Team” by Houston Agent Magazine in 2022, The Nikki Hohman Team showcases unmatched dedication and expertise. With over $95 million in sales, their mark on the Houston market is evident.

(832) 622-3149 | nikki.hohman@nanproperties.com

The GF Group

The GF Real Estate Group brings nearly a decade of real estate experience to the table. As a Top Producing team, we specialize in working with buyers, sellers, investors & renters. Whether you’re taking the first step or the next big leap in your real estate adventure, we are dedicated to helping you find your happy!

(210) 286-8785 | geron.fuller@nanproperties.com

Luanne Marshall

Known for building genuine relationships throughout her career, Luanne is a distinguished Top Producer, Christie’s Luxury Specialist & Christie’s Masters Circle Member.

(832) 419-0685

luanne.marshall@nanproperties.com

Nicole Brende

Nicole Brende excels as a luxury real estate expert with over a decade of experience. Renowned for exceptional service, she is a certified relocation specialist in Houston.

(713) 302-9828

nicole.brende@nanproperties.com

Anmol Dalwadi

A residential agent known for outstanding results, Anmol specializes in representing buyers, investors, and first-timers in Houston’s prime areas.

(936) 252-8167

anmol.dalwadi@nanproperties.com

Karine Couture

Karine Couture is an accomplished real estate agent with over 20 years of experience in real estate. Specializing in foreign investors, she is fluent in French, English, and Spanish, to service clients from diverse backgrounds.

(713) 391-7815

karine.couture@nanproperties.com

$650,000

Ana Salazar

Ana Salazar stands out in Houston’s real estate as part of the Refuge Group agent with expertise in residential properties. Bilingual in Spanish, she connects seamlessly with diverse clients.

(713) 530-1546

ana.salazar@nanproperties.com

Gracie Garza

Specializing in first-time homebuyers, rentals, and investment properties, Gracie is dedicated to providing exceptional service to all of her clients.

(832) 629-7362

graciela.garza@nanproperties.com

Alexis Mendoza

Alexis Mendoza has been in the real estate industry for almost a decade. She works tirelessly to build long lasting relationships with her clients built on trust, transparency, and hustle!

(832) 983-2006

alexis.mendoza@nanproperties.com

Beckie Martinez

Beckie Martinez, a decade-long Houston real estate expert, blends luxury know-how with a unique loan officer background, earning unparalleled trust in the industry.

(832) 860-8644

beckie.martinez@nanproperties.com

T&J Homes

Thomas Eureste and Jason Nguyen’s unparalleled local knowledge and commitment make them the top choice for buying, selling, or investing in Houston.

(832) 866-3208

thomas@nanproperties.com

(713) 703-0217

jason.nguyen@nanproperties.com

$699,000

10415 Westray St, Houston

Co-Listed by Nikki Hohman & Ashley Alonzo (832) 622-3149 | nikki.hohman@nanproperties.com

5011 Gibson St, Houston Listed by Thomas Eureste (832) 866-3208 | thomas@nanproperties.com

Greetings

WITHOUT A DOUBT, Leaders & Legends is my favorite issue of the year. We really take our core mission of highlighting local luminaries to the next level, and I take great pride in playing a small role in the casting of the net. In some ways — like a proud parent, lol.

When you have a person who has made such an enormous impact on our community — they are generally enmeshed in a myriad of civic projects and responsibilities because they genuinely care about the growth of society as a whole.

LISA HOLTHOUSE Executive Publisher

THEY

SAY YOU’RE

never famous in your own hometown. It’s probably also true that you’re not famous among your close pals. I think that’s the case with my friend Van Morris, an MD Anderson oncologist we’re honored to include in this year’s Leaders & Legends portrait collection.

I’ve turned to Van many times over the years, asking for him to nominate other physicians and researchers for past L&L collections. And he’s never failed to offer up his colleagues, insisting they are the top of their field and deserving of commendation. He’s like that, always pulling for his friends. He’s rarely missed a CityBook event, come to think of it, or an opportunity to brag on and build up his magazine-editor buddy.

But I guess it took a headspinning array of national media, from The Washington Post to the Today show, shining a spotlight on both his life-saving medical expertise and tearjerking human kindness to illuminate that Van

Houston is chock full of incredible human beings making a real difference in our world, not just in our city. As such, the task is never easy even to narrow down the field, much less the persons in each field. Take for example my wonderful friend David Weekley, who is an absolute legend in the real estate world. He is one of the most generous and philanthropic gentlemen in our city! He could easily be a legend in that field as well, right next to my other dear friend Cynthia Petrello. And I suppose that’s what makes a legend in our minds.

himself is an inspirational leader who should be honored in our annual piece. (The story of how he and a fellow doctor cured their patient and then walked her down the aisle at her wedding made quite a splash!)

In Leaders & Legends, Van joins an elite club years in the making, that includes billionaire business titans, a Grammywinning diva, a Nobel Prize laureate, a civil rights icon, a diplomat Julia Roberts played in a movie, James Beard-lauded chefs, a Wimbledon tennis star and a war hero who became a congressman, not to mention a few globally famous socialites, a Warhol muse and many more.

Houston is full of extraordinary people who’ve helped shape the most fascinating city in the world, and who are guiding it steadily to an extraordinary future. And sometimes those people are sitting right across from you sipping margaritas at El Tiempo. And isn’t that another great reason to love this town?

These leaders and legends use their gifts and strengths to promote and lift up our community in more ways than we can count. I mean, pinch me. Dr. Bud Frazier who worked with Drs. Cooley and DeBakey! If he’s not a living legend, then I don’t know who is.

Again, like a proud mama, I am honored to play a small role in highlighting these esteemed role models. And more than anything, I thank them for the innumerous gifts they share with our community and our world. I am grateful and humbled by their abundance and greatness.

With gratitude…

JEFF GREMILLION Editor-in-Chief

Voted “Best Custom Jeweler in Houston”

Hail, César

HOUSTON-BORN DESIGNER César Galindo — whose creativity and grit helped shape brands like L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani and Baby Phat — has unveiled his Fall ’23 ready-to-wear collection, full of envelope-pushing silhouettes and unexpectedly chic textiles. On the heels of showcasing his Spring ’24 line at NYFW, Galindo returns to H-Town for a runway show and personal appearance at Fashion Woodlands, benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Nov. 4.

–evan w. black

THE DISPATCH SPIRITS

Houston-based distiller Fox & Seeker has launched the Botanic Harvest Gin, created from locally grown grains and botanicals Mexican mint marigold, Grey Owl juniper — harvested from the Houston Botanic Garden’s culinary garden. A percentage of profits from sales of the new gin will benefit the Garden.

Music

JASTIN MARTIN

SIGNED EARLIER THIS year to Def Jam Records, Houston-based R&B artist Jastin Martin, 23, has wasted no time: Her debut full-length album dropped in August, with vibey, trap-soul songs galore.

Citing artists like Drake, SZA and H.E.R. among her influences, Martin has been writing her own music since the age of 9. Themes of the 10-song album Miss Me Yet? include self-discovery and

MUSIC

The Houston Symphony performs its annual (free!)

Hocus Pocus POPS concert in The Woodlands, Oct. 20.

ART

Barbara Davis Gallery presents The Trees are Humming, a solo exhibition by Yuriko Yamaguchi

She twists together hand-cast resin, paper pulp, and steel wire to invite communion with the natural world around us.

MUSIC

Bayou City Music Center welcomes R&B superstar Janelle Monae, Oct. 10.

Art

State of the Art

Opening Sept. 29 at the Menil Collection, the simply titled Chryssa & New York exhibit showcases the industrial-inspired installations crafted by Greek-born artist Chryssa during her 20-some years in New York like this 1962 piece, “First Preparatory Work for a Neon Box.”

It’s the first survey of the mononymous artist’s work in more than five decades. –ewb

embracing emotions in the moment, especially as pertains to heartbreak.

Those emotions are particularly palpable in acoustic-guitar-heavy, neo-soul numbers like “Weird,” in which her soothing voice renders lyrics like feeling like I’m about this close to disappearing / feeling like I’m dried out and I’m jaded / I’m tired now and I’m faded –ewb

THE DISPATCH

ART

Anya Tish Gallery presents the debut solo exhibition of Ruhee Maknojia’s vibrant paintings and animations. The Houston-based artist, who grew up in an Indian-Pakistani home, draws upon themes of magical realism, philosophy, history and storytelling. Pattern and Power is up through Oct. 14.

Art

Pretty as a Picture

MUSIC

Chris Stapleton plays The Woodlands’

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Oct. 13.

FAMILY FUN

Now open in the Galleria: The Houston outpost of the popular Museum of Illusions, which originated in Croatia and has 40 locations in 25 countries and counting. Expect immersive rooms like the “Tilted Room,” in which the surface is not as flat as it appears, as well as Instagrammable scenes like the “Cloning Table.”

THEATER

In October, the Alley presents the world premiere of Anton Chekov’s Little Comedies, consisting of five one-act plays by the acclaimed Russian playwright.

AFTER MORE THAN 40 years, a Rice-area gallery closed in 2021. But Gremillion Fine Art just reopened as Gremillion on Sunset, showcasing work by artists who are also physicians in its inaugural exhibit, Merging Worlds, up through Oct. 16. Later this fall, the gallery’s new event space called Horizon, occupying an expansive courtyard that segues into a neighboring 1940s-era home, will bow. –ewb

Just in time for fall, bold French fashion house Balmain has opened its first Texas flagship store in River Oaks District, where its edgy-glam apparel and accessories shine among design elements like parquet flooring, marble shelves and antique furniture. –

Art of Healing

Work by Frank Mahzari, an internal medicine specialist and painter, on display at Gremillion on Sunset

1. Mohair jumper, $1,690.

2. Earrings, $795. 3. Clutch, $1,250. 4. Scarf, $650.

THERE’S A BETTER APPROACH TO CANCER CARE

At Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center, we treat every aspect of your cancer. Leading oncologists work with our specialists across disciplines to minimize cancer’s effects on major organs. One comprehensive team — dedicated to your individual care — uses the latest research, treatments and technology to stop your cancer. From infusion and clinical trials to surgery and reconstruction, our innovative care is available at locations across Greater Houston.

That’s the difference between practicing medicine and leading it.

713.790.2700

houstonmethodist.org/cancer

THE DISPATCH JEWELRY

The Houston sisters behind LeMel Jewelry, who opened a showroom in Rice Village last year, have bold new additions to their line of collectible fine jewelry. Plus: Some of the brand’s bestsellers are now available in “minime” sizes for kids!

DESIGN

Coinciding with its 10th anniversary, BeDesign recently completed renovations of its sprawling showroom on West Alabama, featuring furniture, lighting and rugs from sought-after European designers.

ART

On Oct. 21, Archway Gallery in Montrose hosts Palette to Palate, a five-course gourmet meal paired with wine by chef Soren Pedersen. Each course is inspired by the work of an Archway artist. Tickets are $100 per person, available via Archway’s website.

DANCE

Celebrating his 20th season with the Houston Ballet, Stanton Welch delivers the mixedrep program Tutu, through Oct. 1.

Art

renewed energy

For the first time since opening in November 2020, the upstairs galleries of the MFAH’s Nancy and Rich Kinder Building have been refreshed. Three new shows — Contested Landscapes, Hidden Histories and Love Languages — present paintings, sculptures

Fresh Perspective

The Kinder Building’s Prints and Drawings gallery now includes this untitled 1967 print by William N. Copley, from the Chiron Press portfolio ‘Artists and Writers Protest Against the War in Vietnam.’

and wildly imaginative mixed-media creations pulled from the museum’s extensive modern and contemporary collections, including works by Houston- and Texas-born artists. The second-floor galleries devoted to disciplines like photography and drawings are exhibiting new works as well. –ewb

Books

Taking Her Shot

In her debut novel, former Houston sports reporter Brooke Bentley takes some oft-dispensed advice and writes about what she knows. In Sideline Confidential, newly minted journalism grad Blake Kirk learns how tough she has to be to make it in the male-dominated world of pro sports. –ewb

Black ceramic case. Self-winding chronograph movement. Limited to 200 pieces.

Granny Chic

By Evan W. Black

1. Pillow, $59, by Urban Renewal at Urban Outfitters. 2. Morrocan Earth rug, price upon request, at Madison Lily. 3. Tabitha chair, $460, at High Fashion Home. 4. Maze indoor-outdoor table, $159, at Urban Outfitters. 5. Loire mirror, $449, at High Fashion Home. 6. Modern Love lamp, $129, at Urban Outfitters. 7. Jylin sleeper sofa, $2,898, at Anthropologie. 8. Lani leaf table lamp, $320 for two, by Safavieh.

Bring your appetite for discovery.

We’ll bring you the showroom experience you’ve been waiting for.

When you walk through our doors, bring an idea. A dream. A vision. Our showroom is designed to inspire you with on-site chefs, product experts, and exclusive events - all so you can fully experience everything your kitchen can be.

ABOUT FACE

Nationally renowned skincare clinics, often as chic as they are competent, are setting Houston aglow!

By Evan W. Black

Beauty-biz heavy-hitters from all over the country are (finally) descending upon H-Town, promising to rid customers of wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and more. Having been launched in Nashville by nurse practitioner Maegan Griffin, upscale Skin Pharm has opened in a sparkly new building on Westheimer. With soaring white walls awash in natural light and warm style, the space reads more boutique hotel or urbane spa than clinic. Treatments include microneedling, filler, Botox and more. The Gold Infusion facial is a wonder; your skin will glow, and, weeks later, people will comment! There’s also

a line of raved-about products, including its viral Papaya Enzyme Cleanser.

Nearby in Montrose Collective, membership-based beauty company Skin Laundry of California serves up high-tech treatments like laser-resurfacing facials alongside specially formulated serums and sheet masks designed to maximize results.

Now open in the River Oaks Shopping Center, Heyday is another national chain offering monthly memberships with enticing perks and discounts. It promises to “take the guesswork out of skincare,” with customizable 50-minute facials and shopping guidance from estheticians, who seem to understand that accessibility is key to forming sustainable skincare habits. Expect a robust selection of products from high-end go-to brands like Supergoop!, Tata Harper and others.

Similarly, Hi, Skin aims to make custom skincare affordable, and is now open in M-K-T Heights and, soon, Uptown Park. Flexible membership plans are on offer here, too.

Finally, Los Angeles-based Alchemy 43 — with “microtreatments” like peels, microneedling, Botox, fillers and more — has broken into the Texas market with locations on two of Houston’s biggest thoroughfares, Westheimer and Memorial. 

Clockwise from below: Skin Pharm Houston providers Macy Siddiqi and Adriana Castaneda; Hi, Skin’s high-tech beauty boutique; a customized facial at Heyday.

In the Cards

Inspired in part by his mom’s cancer battle, David McGee sees a fortune of resolve and hope. By Chris Becker

Amaster of portraiture, modernism and abstraction, with works in the permanent collections of museums across the country, Houston artist David McGee clung to his practice like a lifeline throughout the pandemic and the political upheaval that still plagues the country today. His highly anticipated new show at Inman Gallery, The Tarot Cards and The Gloria Paintings (through Nov. 1) is, as a result, his most deeply personal exhibition to date.

Reigning over the show are four large-scale watercolor portraits of elegant Black women in gowns, surrounded by exotic birds and gigantic butterflies. On each canvas, the subject is pushed forward, as if onstage, and seems to be prepared for battle. “They are women fomented by the fire of injustice, and are in control of their own destiny,” he says. “They have embraced their future and their past.”

These equanimous women, each an amalgamation of figures from McGee’s imagination, first materialized in his tarot-card paintings, shown above. Beautifully rendered in watercolor, ink and graphite, they speak to McGee’s career-long obsession with image and language,

and in our time of false narratives and virtual political realities, are designed to inspire deeper thinking by first scrambling the viewer’s brain. In “Nature Girl,” a young Black woman in a gothic Victorian dress, her spine as straight as a soldier’s, holds a bloodied ax just to the left of her thousand-yard-stare.

As a respite from the sensory overload of the tarot cards, Inman has dedicated an entire room to The Gloria Paintings, a series McGee began in 2020, when his mom Gloria was diagnosed with cancer. Hung together, these abstract but somehow familiar shapes — reminiscent of foliage, clouds and musical notes, realized in thickly applied brushstrokes on burlap — are visually immersive. McGee calls the series a “bouquet” for his mother. “They are all about the joys of flowers and nature, and the plumage of life. I don’t know if these pictures were for Gloria or for me!” Now cancer-free, Gloria remains “a fountain of support and sustenance” for McGee.

Having come through the trauma of the past three years, and with a major retrospective of his work scheduled for 2025 at Charlotte’s Bechtler Museum of Art, McGee is sanguine about the future: “You just have to do the best you can with the time you have.” 

G’Day Houston!

What happens when two young Aussies with burgeoning coffeeshops in New York endure the Covid pandemic? Houston gets its first Citizens Café. But there’s more to the story for co-owners Andrew Geisel and Justin Giuffrada — affable chaps who quickly fell in love with our city.

“New York is a wild and wonderful place I am eternally grateful to for helping me build a business and where I met my fiancée. But I felt like it was time for a new chapter, out of New York,” says Geisel, who grew up in Gold Coast, Australia. With his forthcoming wedding, the couple wanted a more “normal life with a house, a backyard and plenty of parking.”

Geisel met his current biz partner and fellow Aussie Giuffrada in 2015 while working as a barista in a popular Manhattan café. They quickly became mates and eventually formed the Citizens brand with three shops in New York, which Giuffrada runs. Leveraging his architecture degree,

Geisel handled the design of the spaces and collateral as well as the direction of the coffee program.

(In Houston, he created a Waiting Room for guests to self-serve coffee and beer from taps.) When they decided to expand, they first looked at San Diego, a beachy-cool town with active vibes that channeled Australia. Ultimately, they set their radar on Texas.

“We considered Austin but picked Houston because it’s a foodie town,” explains Geisel.

“Houstonians are adventurous diners, so we thought they would embrace the Aussie concept, plus the sheer size of Houston is tremendous so the idea of growing it here made better business sense.” At Citizens, the duo champions everything they love about an Australian café. The fresh fare is eye-opening, bright and modern, much like the space. “We offer items like bowls and smoothies, but it’s not all health food. There’s something for everyone, especially those craving a big brekkie.”

Expect Texas tweaks like the BBQ-pulled-pork eggs benny with chipotle hollandaise; a mouthwatering double brisket burger; and cast-iron baked eggs with chorizo. The scratch-made cheddar biscuit sandwich — egg, cheese, bacon, tomato chutney — is a staple, and the banana bread French toast with miso butterscotch and mascarpone also wows. The “famous smashing avocado” toast (apparently invented in Australia) sports feta and beetroot hummus.

Its full coffee bar is a signature of Citizens, joined by fresh juices, wellness lattes and slushies, as well as cocktails (Kiwi marg, anyone?). When Geisel isn’t bustling around Citizens, he loves playing chess and is really into vintage audio stereos (turntables) and old jazz. Regarding the future of Citizens, Geisel says, “We adore the idea of sharing our brand with additional wonderful neighborhoods in Houston.” 

Two Aussies bring their successful global-coffeeshop concept to Montrose. By Robin Barr Sussman

Great Mates Justin Giuffrada and Andrew Geisel of Citizens Café

Journeys in the Heart

After his own cardiac procedure, our editor takes the pulse of a famous heart surgeon — and traces the Texas Medical Center’s fascinating heart history. By Jeff Gremillion

As a longtime Houston journalist, I’ve been trained to be impressed by the Texas Medical Center and its history. It’s the largest complex of its kind in the world, a leader in research in cancer, heart disease and more. It has several major hospitals and multiple medical schools, employs 100,000 people and treats 10 million patients a year. That’s all in the brochure.

But, over the summer, my interest shifted from merely professional to very personal. For the first time, after having lived nearby and having written about the Med Center for nearly 20 years, I became a patient there. I had heart surgery. Well, a heart procedure, a so-called ablation to correct a troublesome arrhythmia called atrial fibrillation.

Anyway, with a newfound fascination in the topic, I was thrilled to visit with pioneering heart surgeon and medical-device inventor Bud Frazier when we shot him at The Texas Heart Institute in the Medical Center for our Leaders & Legends portrait series in this issue (see page 51). In talking with him, I was intrigued, of course, with all his many firsts and milestones — but

mostly I was moved by his stories of the early days, and how he still remembers one patient from nearly 60 years ago. An Italian boy.

It was 1966, and O.H. “Bud” Frazier was a med student at Baylor. He’d stumbled into a specialty in cardiovascular surgery when a buddy of his roped him into helping with a research project on what at the time must’ve seemed like science fiction: the artificial heart. His teacher was the famous — and famously hard to please — Michael DeBakey, regarded as one of the greats in the field. “He was so mean and so tough,” Frazier tells me. “I wish he’d had a little more of the milk of human kindness.”

For decades, Frazier himself has been one the world’s leading figures in heart surgery, having invented and implanted multiple types of heart pumps and artificial hearts, not to mention having presided over more heart transplants than anyone else on the planet. But he was just 25 when he was tasked with “working up” a 19-year-old Italian man before DeBakey performed an aortic valve repair.

“The boy was so happy to be getting his heart fixed,” recalls Frazier, who, now 83, still keeps a windowless office filled to the brim with rare books at the Institute. “His mother was there with him. He was going to be able to do so much, was going to be an engineer.”

But things didn’t go as hoped. The patient went into cardiac arrest on the operating table. Frazier, just a few years older than the patient at the time, stepped in to keep him alive as long as possible. “I was young and strong, and I could massage his heart. I did this while he was awake.”

The Italian boy died decades ago with his heart in Frazier’s hand; the doctor still remembers every detail. (He remembers details about all the patients — especially the kids — lost under his care, and he still glances at the floor and speaks

in hushed tones when he talks about them. His story about the five-year-old redheaded girl who died the same morning as two other children in high-risk procedures is a real heartbreaker; that day, Frazier says he fell apart and had to read St. Paul in the hospital chapel a while “to get my wits about me” before going back to rounds.)

But, even among such tales of drama and tragedy, the story of the Italian boy was unique in its impact. “I remember thinking, if my hand could keep him alive, there ought to be a pump that could do it,” he says.

And so began Frazier’s lifelong passion, which was reaffirmed a few years later after he was drafted into Vietnam as an Army surgeon, flying highly dangerous missions with soldiers aboard attack helicopters. “I really couldn’t do much for anybody under those circumstances, but they said having a doctor there was for the ‘morale of the troops.’ I told them, if it was for the ‘morale of the troops,’ get Sophia Loren,” he says with a chuckle, before returning to a more serious aura. “I was lucky to get out of Vietnam alive. So I decided to work with these pumps, to try to do something that might make a difference for people.”

The young doctor went on to be further mentored by Denton Cooley, beloved founder of The Texas Heart Institute and the first surgeon to implant a total artificial heart. He compares the “very gentle” Cooley’s skills to Lindbergh crossing the Atlantic using only a compass. “Nobody could do what Cooley did,” he says.

Frazier has written many important chapters in the long, profound story of cardiac surgery in the Texas Medical Center. And it’s kind of wild that, as a patient, I can now add a pithy line or two myself.

My ablation procedure seems like Star Trek stuff compared to the early days of DeBakey, Cooley and Frazier. (In the Institute’s beautiful atrium of a museum, Dr. Bud shows me a makeshift blood oxygenator made from a coffeepot, from an era in which Med Center docs often built surgical devices themselves using whatever they could find, on their own dime, never giving a

second thought to patents or pay-outs.)

In my case, in a hospital a few blocks from Texas Heart Institute, electrophysiologist Brian Greet — an extra-specialized kind of cardiologist who did part of his training at the Institute, where staffers are proud to point out he’s an alum — utilized remarkably advanced technology. No retrofitted Mr. Coffee’s in sight!

Without opening my chest, and using only minimally invasive small tubes called catheters — the room where this happens looks a lot like an O.R. when you’re wheeled in there on a gurney, but they insist it’s called a “cath lab” — Greet accessed my heart via blood vessels in my groin. Once inside, he used an imaging device called CARTO, proffered by Johnson & Johnson’s sprightly Biosense Webster team in Houston, to make a colorful, real-time 3D “map” of my heart. Working from these images on large monitors, Greet, using another catheter outfitted with a heating element, then burned the heart tissue that appeared to have been causing the a-fib. He ablated it, is what he did. He emailed me the CARTO images that night, as I was home resting after my day trip to the hospital.

For his part, Frazier isn’t quite as impressed by the whizbang tech as I am. “I’m amazed by the advances,” he says. “To some degree But technology comes on the backs of the pioneers, the people who were creative, who did something that hadn’t been done before. If you fail, everybody calls you an idiot. And if you succeed, everybody else tries to take as much credit for it as they can.”

One thing Frazier and I do agree on is how special Houston is, as a place for discovery. He likens the spirit of exploration and risk-taking in medicine to the wildcatters who got rich going for broke in the oil patch. “In Houston, you could do something and get away with it,” he says.

It also helps that many of those wildcatters became generous philanthropists, funding the development of a cutting-edge medical enclave that would become the perfect milieu for research — growing fast and bold, with little red tape. “They didn’t have restrictions.”

As my time with Frazier winds down, I take his parting words to heart. Pun absolutely intended. “A lot of the advances in cardiac surgery occurred here, in this Medical Center,” he says. “Not at Harvard or Princeton or Yale. They didn’t do it. I think it was done here because you could do things, and if it failed, you could try again. I don’t think it could have been done anywhere but Texas — and in Texas I don’t think it could have been done anywhere but Houston.” 

Ticker Talk A 3D image of our author’s heart and, at right, a moment with renowned heart surgeon Bud Frazier.

FEEDER Party People BRINGING THE HEAT

Despite the scorching temps, the fall social season got underway early, with ample soirees benefiting causes ranging from cancer research to high-flying hall-of-famers. More than 220 Houston Ballet supporters who turned out for Opening Night were treated to a fabulous dinner on the Wortham stage after the lavish production. This year’s season-opening performance was John Neumeier’s take on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which informed the dreamy, enchanted-forestinspired décor — think jewel-toned floral arrangements with votive candles beautifully suspended from the branches. Astros pitcher Joe Smith and his wife Allie LaForce welcomed hundreds to their HelpCureHD gala, where guests learned about and raised funds for Huntington’s Disease. ... At the Champions for Healthy Families luncheon hosted by the Astros Foundation, 22 wives, girlfriends and children of ballplayers strutted their stuff in stylish seasonal attire provided by Tootsies. More than 300 guests cheered them down the runway, and many scored autographed memorabilia, with funds going to four organizations with which the Foundation works — Kids Meals, Houston Food Bank, Children’s Assessment Center, and Astros Youth Academy. Score! ... Tootsies also hosted

Danny and Iris Shaftel at ‘CureHD’

Leisa Holland Bowman and Len Cannon at ‘Cattle’

Anita Vyas and Karishma Asrani at ‘Dress’

Cinthya Reade, Jayne Johnston and Bethany Buchanon at ‘Champions’

Duyen and Marc Nguyen at ‘Ballet’

Jo Furr and Erin Furr Stimming at ‘CureHD’

Margaret Alkek Williams and Stanton Welch at ‘Ballet’

Phoebe and Bobby Tudor at ‘Ballet’

Stacy and Jason Johnson at ‘Cattle’

FEEDER Party People

Dress for Success Houston’s 20th annual Summer Soirée at its Upper Kirby boutique. The group’s young professionals supporters, dubbed Women of Wardrobe, raised about $20,000 during the shopping event.

... Nearly 1,000 boot-scooting attendees clad in glittering Western attire turned up at 713 Music Hall for the 2023 Cattle Baron’s Ball, benefiting the American Cancer Society. Pat Green and country-music outfit Midland provided a live soundtrack while two-steppers raised a whopping $1.5 mil for cancer research. ... And the Lone Star Flight Museum hosted a group of luminaries and aviation enthusiasts for an event in honor of new inductees into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame Some 300 folks attended the event at the museum in the Heritage Hangar, where numerous historic aircraft are stored. 

Jacquie Baly and James Craig at ‘Cattle’

Lynn Wyatt at ‘Ballet’

Scott Rozzell at ‘Aviation’

Ashley Kanzler and daughter Logan at ‘Champions’

Norman and Donna Lewis at ‘Dress’

Anita Sehgal and Kristina Somerville at ‘Champions’

Joe and Jeanie Engle at ‘Aviation’

Dusty Baker, Jim Crane and Dana Brown at ‘Champions’

Kat Pressly, Allie LaForce, Reagan Bregman and Jacob Smith at ‘CureHD’

GOALS SQUAD

Kick it in the season’s sexiest streetwear, with Dynamo soccer pros Artur de Lima Jr. of Brazil and Iceland’s Thor Úlfarsson, along with Dash stars and Cali natives Michelle Alozie and Diana Ordóñez.

Photos by Phoebe Rourke

Styling by Todd Ramos

Hair and makeup by Edward Sanchez

Shot on location at The Laura Hotel

On Michelle: Dress, by Valentino. Opposite page, on Thor: Turtleneck, $1,095, by Ralph Lauren, at Neiman Marcus.

On Diana: Turtleneck, leather skirt and blazer, and handbag, all by Gucci. Opposite page, on Artur: Sweater, pants, shirt and hat, all by Gucci.

On Artur: Jacket and pants, both by Armani, with Ullysse Nardin limited-edition Blast, $38,500, by Tourbillion, yellow-gold ring, $2,850, and bracelets, $3,980 and $6,600, all at Valobra Master Jewelers. Opposite page, on Thor: Sweater, coat and jeans, all by Gucci, with Ocean Sport Chronograph, $18,500, by Harry Winston at Valobra Master Jewelers.

On Michelle: Pants, blouse, velvet jacket and jewelry, all by Armani. Opposite page, on Diana: Suit, handbag and jewelry, all by Chanel.

On Diana: Sweater dress, belt and jewelry, all by Michael Kors. Opposite page, on Thor: Sweater, pants, scarf and trench coat (on table), all by Michael Kors.

LEADERS LEGENDS&

In the sixth annual portfolio, meet luminaries from all walks of life who have helped make Houston and beyond a better place.

Photos by Jhane Hoang, Text by the Editors, with Chris Becker

David Adickes, photographed at his home studio

Legend in the Arts David Adickes

Even if you don’t recognize the name David Adickes, you’ve probably enjoyed the sight of his sculptures. There’s “Mount Rush Hour,” four 18-foot-tall busts of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Sam Houston and Stephen Austin, visible to commuters as they approach downtown via I-45 — and located in Theater District is “Virtuoso,” a 21-ton sculpture of a goateed cellist caught in midbow. Lately, he’s concentrated his artistic energy on some smallerscale drawings, as exhibited this summer at Redbud Gallery. For Adickes, 96, the pleasure that comes with making art, be it big or small, is key to his longevity. “My secret is, I do what I want to do,” he says, “rather than what everybody else wants me to do.”

Leader in the Arts Abbie Preston Edmonson

Within a span of a few months, ceramicist Abbie Preston Edmonson, 36, decided to move out of her Hardy & Nance studio space and start a new phase of her career as an MFA candidate at UH, and also launch HTX Clay, a membership-based ceramics studio with instruction and open hours. Oh, and she lost pretty much everything she owned in a fire. As any decent artist does, she funneled her emotions into her work, creating at times delicate, gold-flecked functional pottery — but more recently, sculptures of burned vinyl and wood from the fire, wrapped in gauze. “So much of the work I’ve been creating sculpturally is about the tension of joy and sorrow, and holding the space for both.”

david adickes stylist : angelique gioldasis

Abbie Preston Edmonson, photographed at HTX Clay

Leader Van Morris

It’s not just MD Anderson oncologist Van Morris’ prowess as a physician-researcher — his work on blood testing that can lead to life-saving early detection of all kinds of cancer is causing worldwide excitement — that makes him such an inspirational leader. It’s also about the special bond he forges with patients. One such bond even made national headlines recently, including in The Washington Post, People and many other outlets. Morris, 43, and fellow doc Emma Holliday gave away the bride at her wedding, after curing her rare anal cancer. “It struck me the impact we as doctors have on people outside the walls of the hospital,” he says. “It’s humbling.”

Legend O.H. ‘Bud’ Frazier

It seems that Shakespeareloving, rare-book-collecting O.H. “Bud” Frazier, 83, could be considered a legend for his storytelling alone; the one about his dinner with “that Irish singer” who turned out to be Bono is a good one. But it’s his work as a pioneer in daring heart procedures that’s made him famous. Trained by the famously dueling forefathers of modern cardiac surgery — DeBakey and Cooley — the surgeon-inventor was instrumental in creating and successfully installing several iterations of pumps and artificial hearts. And he’s performed more than 1,300 heart transplants, more than anyone else on earth.

frazier assistant photographer michael ramos

Van Morris, photographed at his home

O.H. ‘Bud’ Frazier, photographed in his office at The Texas Heart Institute

Cynthia Petrello, photographed at her home

Legend Cynthia Petrello

One look at Cynthia Petrello, and it should come as no surprise that her past lives include that of a soap-opera actress, model and TWA flight attendant. The stunning, stylish Houston philanthropist has a busy-asever social season. “Everyone’s working fast and furiously to commence the fall season,” she says in September, citing upcoming events for the MFAH, Alley and HGO. “We’re all very excited.” And while she lives a glamorous life, the reason behind her and husband Anthony’s generosity is poignant and purposeful: daughter Carena, who was born in 1997 at 24 weeks, and has cerebral palsy. “She is the center of my whole life. It’s why I got involved, due to her love of the arts and her ability to respond positively to all they provide.”

Leader Kristy Bradshaw

Having grown up training for a career in ballet, Kristy Bradshaw ended up pursuing finance. But the dreams of her youth are still realized daily. “I credit all of my academic and professional success to the values that ballet instilled in me,” says the mom of three, who cofounded the Houston Ballet’s young professionals committee Ballet Barre in 2009. Fast-forward to 2023, and she’s the Ballet’s board president, and she also chairs the board of the Hermann Park Conservancy. “Our latest project, The Commons, will be unlike anything our city has ever seen,” says Bradshaw, 43, who’s also involved in Southern Smoke Foundation. “I don’t like to sit still, so keeping busy honestly gives me life.”

Kristy Bradshaw, photographed at her home

Leader Jalen Baker

In 1930, the vibraphone was mainly known from NBC’s three-note station identification tune. Decades later, 28-yearold vibraphonist Jalen Baker is using this unusual instrument to explore new musical realms in jazz, both with his trio, who just finished a two-year residency with Dacamera, and his quartet, as heard on Baker’s critically acclaimed 2023 album Be Still. While his mentors include vibraphonists Chase Jordan and the late great Harry Sheppard, Baker has always drawn inspiration from all types of instruments to shape his unique sound. “Since there’s not many vibraphone players throughout history, I always felt like I could float around a bit more.”

Legend Bun B

This isn’t the first time Bernard James Freeman, a.k.a. Bun B, has been named a “legend,” and with his ever-evolving resume, it certainly won’t be the last. A pioneering force in Southern hip-hop and a champion of Houston and many communityfocused causes, the rapper, 50, brought record-breaking crowds to the Rodeo for his H-Town Takeover concerts in 2022 and 2023 — and is now also a successful restaurateur, thanks to his wildly popular Trill Burgers food-truck-turned-pop-up sensation. The wait for one of his mouthwatering smashburgers in the former James Coney Island space on Shepherd regularly tops two hours.

jalen baker stylist : angelique gioldasis , studio : the park htx ; bun b studio : the park htx , assistant photographer andrew danna , stylist : leslie rivas , makeup artist : bianca rivas

Jalen Baker, photographed at The Park HTX

Bun B, photographed at The Park HTX

Kendall Miller, photographed at the 1661

Tanglewood sales gallery

Leader Kendall Miller

Back in 1946, William Farrington developed the Tanglewood neighborhood, planting hundreds of trees and laying roots for Houston families to call the area home for generations to come. Today, Farrington’s grandson Kendall Miller, 58, is building upon the vision with 1661 Tanglewood, a 34-story building currently under construction that Miller calls “an estate in the sky, built for those who seek the promise of high-rise living without the sacrifice of space.” Building features will include a 75-foot rooftop pool, surrounded by 40 dramatically lit Tuscan-style columns. Himself a Tanglewood resident, Miller, who has three sons and two grandsons, declares the project an “encore” to his own grandfather’s hard work. “Our family is dedicated to Tanglewood’s continuing stewardship.”

Legend David Weekley

It’s hard to drive a mile or two in residential pockets of Houston without seeing his name. He started his homebuilding company in 1976, at the age of 23, and within a few years, helmed one of the fastestgrowing companies in the nation. Approaching its 50th year, David Weekley Homes annually closes around $3 billion worth of new homes in 19 different markets. But Weekley, who serves as chairman of his company, intends on leaving a legacy beyond business: He and wife Bonnie have pledged to give away the majority of their wealth during their lifetime, and he founded what is now the Dovetail Impact Foundation to carry out his promise.

David Weekley, photographed at his corporate offices

L&L Culinary Arts

Legend Alex Brennan-Martin

His mother, Ella Brennan of New Orleans’ Commander’s Palace, was, undoubtedly, a culinary legend. But it’s easy to argue that Alex Brennan-Martin, 64, has achieved that status, too, putting his own delicious spin on a Brennan-family recipe that consists of attracting and growing talent, with a side of Creole-spiced Southern hospitality. “The team we have had over the years is a source of great pride and joy to us all,” says the Brennan’s of Houston restaurateur, whose kitchen has seen chefs Chris Shepherd, Mark Cox, Mark Holley, Patrick Feges and others. “I love visiting with our alums and hearing how they have developed their own spins on what they learned from us.” Brennan-Martin’s next course? A “major expansion” of the courtyard bar.

Leader Benchawan Jabthong Painter

Known to many as Chef G, Benchawan Jabthong Painter, who with her husband Graham operates the East End Thai restaurant Street to Kitchen, won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Texas in June. In a matter of days, the restaurant outgrew its 36 seats, and a move to a nearby space three times its size was announced for the fall. “More space, more drinks, more elevated food on the dinner menu every night,” explains Chef G, 30, who in 2016 moved to Houston from Thailand, where she worked at her grandma’s neighborhood restaurant. The Painters will also soon open their second concept, Th_Prsrv in Kemah, the world’s first Choctaw-Thai restaurant.

Alex Brennan-Martin, photographed at Brennan’s of Houston

Benchawan Jabthong

Painter, photographed at Street to Kitchen

How did you get where you are today? The EMS industry, quite literally, never stops. Our staff and units are called to serve our community every hour of every day; there are no weekends, holidays, or “days off.” Obviously, the demands of EMS are not for the faint of heart, and we have established a culture of service and accountability that is different than nearly every other organization. Our leadership team sets this culture by exhibiting their passion for this industry daily. Their tireless dedication makes a better experience for our staff when they come to work and for our patients and clients when they call on us to transport their loved ones.

Who do you credit? Foremost, I credit the leaders and staff of my team. Beginning with Vice President Sumi Patel, who has been with ORION for 15 years, I am extremely proud to work with, and for, everyone who wears our logo. Houston has amazing diversity in the community, and ORION celebrates that both publicly and internally, as seen in the makeup of our leadership team and staff. The people who work at ORION do so because they are committed to our mission and to providing the most professional medical care to every patient we transport. Their devotion to and support of ORION has made us one of the best EMS companies in the city.

IN ACTION LEADERSHIP

What lessons have you learned that might enlighten/inspire? One of the most important roles that Sumi and I play is mentoring and guiding our managers, so that they can effectively lead their departments. Watching their professional growth is very rewarding, but it also has clear benefits to the business, as it allows us to expand to meet new opportunities. Over the last 15 years, we have learned that complacency is not an option. The EMS industry is vibrant, especially in Houston, which requires ORION to have an agile and dynamic business model. We are constantly evaluating our processes to ensure that we are meeting the needs of our community in ways that provide the most impact and value to them. We are tactical enough to respond to every day-to-day circumstance that arises, while, at the same time, maintaining a strategic focus on our goals for the future.

What’s new or upcoming for ORION? As we continue to fulfill our mission of service to the Houston community, we are excited to expand our reach into other hospital systems in the region. Our team and fleet are growing to ensure that we are always ready to serve the people of this community.

GERARD O’BRIEN PRESIDENT/CEO & FOUNDER SUMI PATEL VICE PRESIDENT

IN ACTION LEADERSHIP

THERESA ROEMER

How did you get to where you are today? My journey has been profoundly shaped by a blend of transformative experiences and formative influences. One of the central pillars of my journey has undoubtedly been the concept of “tough love” that I was fortunate enough to encounter during my early years. Raised in an environment where discipline and a strong work ethic were highly valued, I was instilled with principles that laid a solid foundation for my present success.

During my upbringing, I was entrusted with responsibilities that demanded unyielding dedication and diligence, such as the task of milking cows. These seemingly ordinary chores, however, carried invaluable life lessons. They not only taught me the virtue of persistence but also instilled within me a profound appreciation for the rewards of unwavering effort. It was through these early life experiences that I came to truly understand the essence of diligence and commitment, virtues that have since been instrumental in charting my path.

Whom do you credit? Through the application of “tough love,” my mother instilled invaluable life lessons in me. Also, the profound teachings of Zig Ziglar, whose inspirational messages have profoundly influenced my approach to motivation and personal development. Immersing myself in Zig Ziglar’s wisdom allowed me to grasp the transformative power of positivity, the significance of setting meaningful goals, and the art of helping others unlock their full potential. “You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.” –Zig

Ziglar

What lessons have you learned that might enlighten and inspire others? My journey has been marked by a multitude of invaluable lessons that I wholeheartedly believe can serve as a guiding light for individuals striving for success and personal growth. One fundamental truth I’ve come to embrace is the notion that nobody else is going to do the work for you. If you harbor aspirations of achieving greatness and realizing your full potential, it is imperative that you are willing to invest unwavering dedication, hard work, consistency, determination and unwavering focus into your pursuits.

What’s new in your life or work that you’re excited about? I’m delighted to unveil a series of exciting initiatives that have recently become a focal point of my life and professional journey.

Foremost among them is the launch of “Houston Style Icons,” an innovative virtual competition that brings together the crème de la crème of Houston, Texas’ most stylish individuals. This project not only celebrates the diversity of personal fashion but also serves as a platform to recognize and honor the creative expression that resides within our community.

Furthermore, I am eagerly anticipating the annual “Fashion Woodlands” event, meticulously curated by yours truly, set to take place this November. This event promises to be a veritable extravaganza, a convergence of fashion aficionados, trendsetters and industry professionals alike. It represents an opportunity to celebrate the artistry and evolution of fashion while fostering a sense of community and collaboration among those who share a passion for the industry.

In addition to these engaging projects, I’m currently in the midst of crafting my fourth book. Writing has long been a source of personal fulfillment and a means of imparting knowledge and inspiration to others. This forthcoming literary endeavor symbolizes my continued commitment to sharing valuable insights, experiences and motivation with a broader audience.

I’m excited to announce the creation of my own exclusive private community called “The Vault,” bringing together a collective of like-minded individuals who desire notable success in their respective fields. This community serves as a nexus for networking, collaboration and mutual support, providing a fertile ground for the exchange of ideas and the cultivation of personal and professional growth.

theresaroemer.com

SARAH CALLAWAY SULMA

How did you get to where you are today? I was raised by a family that had a strong work ethic coupled with high moral standards. I was pretty much given the groundwork - I just had to put it in play!

Whom do you credit? I’ve had a lot of help and guidance building my career from people like Cathy Cagle, and the late Tony Vallone as well as my friends and family. They have always been supportive and are my biggest cheerleaders. Real estate is a relationship business and it’s important to remember that at the end of the day.

I started in residential real estate as Cathy Cagle’s assistant and now I’m lucky enough to be her partner on our team. She saw something in me and took me under her wing. We both have the same drive and views on what is important in our industry: our clients,

loyalty, honesty, and transparency. I’m forever grateful for her mentorship.

What lessons have you learned that might enlighten and inspire others? Every day is something new and every transaction is different. Each client’s home search or sale process is a different journey. It’s my job to make sure they have a desirable outcome while always keeping their best interests in mind.

What’s new in your life or work that you’re excited about? We are preparing for a busy fall! We have some gorgeous new listings going live and buyers who are ready to find their new homes.

713.299.9888

sarah.callaway@greenwoodking.com

@caglecallaway.gk

Southern Comfort

At new Josephine’s in Midtown, Underbelly alum Lucas McKinney scoops out his version of Mississippi mud pie, homaging his home state. For more on this and other dining news, see page 68.

Life of Pie

By Robin Barr Sussman

Crazy but true: It’s never too hot for pizza in H-Town. Case in point? At summer’s (record-breaking) end, several buzzed-about pizza joints had just bowed, or were readying to open their doors, offering an enticing lineup of pies — and a few surprises, too.

After four years of missing the puffy, wood-fired pizzas and other delights at The Pass & Provisions, chef Gallivan debuted his highly anticipated restaurant, Elro Pizza and Crudo, in Midtown in July — and it’s stayed packed nightly since.

Named after Gallivan’s children, Eleanor and Ronan, Elro offers fare beyond its titular dishes,

including salads, elevated snacks, and hoagies on housemade bread. But refreshing crudos — think nepitella -cured salmon with apples; and snapper with pickled mango, olives and chiles — and puffy-crusted pizzas delight, to be sure. Meat lovers will dig the chorizo with piquillo peppers and arugula, while the Guanciale has Parmesan sauce and arrives dusted in black pepper.

Gallivan, who was the chef and wine buyer at The Pass and Provisions, has curated a concise wine list ranging from natural sparklers and New World favorites to Old World benchmarks. The bar features

Perhaps it was never out — but at this moment, pizza is most definitely in. Here, a handful of inspired Italian-and-more spots for grabbing a slice.

Nice Slice! Clockwise from top left: Elro’s mushroom pizza, its Badlands Shandy cocktail, and aptly named Jewel Bar.

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Mike Mahlstedt

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classic cocktails and house specialties, as well as tap beer. Art deco pendants and globe lights hang throughout the space, which is paved in whimsically printed emerald green wallpaper, while the terracotta-like tiles on the main bar are a nod to terracotta used in traditional pizzerias. The rest of the 1928 bungalow are equally playful and intimate, thanks to designer Betty Maccaganan.

Sara and Martin Stayer of beloved Montrose-area Nobie’s are also grabbing a piece of the pie. The justopened Nonno’s , located on

Dining

Richmond adjacent to the Stayers’ bar, The Toasted Coconut, is already earning raves for its Chicago tavernstyle pizza — and even more raves for its impressively 1980s setting, down to the Pizza Hut chandeliers and retro pinball machines.

Fluffy, focaccia-style pan pizzas by the slice are on offer as well as snacks, salads, desserts, cocktails and natural wines.

The latest newbie is from chef Anthony Calleo, the creator of now-shuttered Pi Pizza, whose Gold Tooth Tony’s is in its soft-opening phase in the Heights. Calleo

LATEST DISH!

HOUSTON’S BEST FOOD NEWS, IN SMALL BITES ...

Named after chef Lucas McKinney’s great-grandmother with a nod to a steamship with the same name that shipwrecked in the Gulf of Mexico, Josephine’s is now serving eclectic Gulf Coast fare in Midtown. In addition to oysters and starters like etoufee cornbread, chef McKinney is particularly excited about the crabmeat melt po’boy, inspired by a sandwich that originated in the late 1940s at Rosetti’s Café in Biloxi.

Hugo’s and Caracol are celebrating Chiles en Nogada season through December! Legend has it that the dish — a poblano pepper stuffed with shredded pork, chopped fruit, plantains, sweet

potatoes, almonds and raisins — was created in Chef Hugo’s hometown of Puebla, Mexico, in 1821, when Mexico declared its independence.

Chapman & Kirby has opened a next-door cocktail lounge, Private Client. The vibe is casual elegance, as seen in bar bites like the hashbrown-foiegras sandwich with fig jam.

Now open on W. 11th at Yale, Best Regards social club is shaking up the Heights bar scene. The 4,000-squarefoot space was previously home to Calle Onze and Chivos, and now boasts a verdant, covered wraparound patio. Expect DJ tunes, live music and creative cocktails.

Etouefee cornbread at Josephine’s

Retro Chic Gin Braverman outfitted Nonno’s with video games and chandeliers that demonsrate an impressive commitment to the 1980s aesthetic.

has spent the past few years as a chef at Rudyard’s, where his Detroit-style pizzas garnered a cult following. In addition to his golden-crusted rectangular pizzas, Gold Tooth Tony’s will have a few appetizers, plus meatball subs and specialty lasagna.

Fans of the Detroit version should note that Austin-based Via 313, which Calleo credits for exposing him to the pizza style, will open its first H-Town outpost in Memorial City later this fall. (Austin’s Home Slice also migrated to Houston, posting up in Midtown last year.)

Those who prefer New Yorkstyle can soon visit Angie’s , formerly Louise’s, in The Plant Second Ward. And Russo’s New York Pizzeria continues to expand, opening its latest restaurant in Morton Ranch in September, plus a spinoff called Olio & Farina in Tomball. Here, guests can partake in a tasting menu that features a selection of chef-founder Anthony Russo’s hand-stretched, madefrom-scratch pizzas topped with unique flavors, textures, and ingredient combos inspired by pizzas around the world. Wine and cocktail pairings are available, too. We’ll raise a glass to that! 

Dining

LATEST DISH!

After 45 years, Armandos is serving Sunday brunch (10am-3pm) for the first time. Guests can look forward to huevos rancheros, chilaquiles, and a sinful waffle selection including savory and sweet options.

Just in time for (hopefully!) cooler weather, Gaspachos Mexican Bites is rolling into Levy Park, replacing the shuttered burger joint Love Shack. From the familiar team behind freshsqueezed concept Gaspachos Fruits & Cravings food truck comes this counter-service pitstop with crispy flautas, hot dogs and tacos, as well as other street snacks. Pair those with beverage options including margaritas, micheladas, and agua frescas.

Committed to changing its offerings twice yearly, March has debuted its latest Mediterranean-menu theme: Sicily! Continuing through December, chef-partner Felipe Riccio’s luxe six- or nine-course tasting menus include the likes of peperunata, a roasted pepper stuffed with king crab alongside Sicilian pistachio cream.

Chef-owner Ali Mesghali and co-owner Stephen Kaplan created Rumi’s to offer a sophisticated

take on Persian cuisine — kebabs, steamed jeweled rice dishes and more. The 5,200-square-foot Houston restaurant, opening in October in the Zadok family’s Post Oak Place, will be the fifth in the country.

The Washington Corridor welcomes Tin Drum Asian Kitchen, a healthy Hong Kong-inspired eatery offering a slew of veg-centric stir-fries, wok-tossed noodles, street snacks and ramen. The dishes are a mix of Sichuan, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian and Korean cuisines, and are made-to-order in an open kitchen. Hit the boba bar for fruit teas, milk teas and slushies in dreamy flavor combos.

The honcho of Goode Company Restaurants has secretly been working for years on his first standalone projects under his own personal brand. Levi Goode’s Credence and Sidebar will be adjacent to each other in The McKinley at Memorial City, debuting next summer. Credence is a SouthTexas-ranch-inspired, upscale, live-fire cooking concept, while Sidebar has a speakeasy-lounge vibe — think Champagne and caviar.

Levi Goode

Square One Gold Tooth Tony’s mouthwatering take on Detroit-style pizza

Open ‘Door’

An autumnal dream, Wisconsin’s Door County beckons scorched Houstonians with fall foliage and food.

After such a brutally hot summer, Houstonians likely crave — even more intensely than usual — a picturesque fall. You know, apple-picking and crisp evenings and beautifully colored leaves and the like. Find a satisfyingly stereotypical destination in Door County, a quaint yet cultured region of Wisconsin boasting 300 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline.

It’s well known among Midwesterners for its wineries, seasonal orchards and farms, and general vacation-ready vibe. But for those of us recovering from a record-setting summer, the appeal goes far beyond the (delicious) eating and drinking: Door County seems like it’s plucked straight out of a movie, with vintage bed and breakfasts, pumpkin patches and old-school soda shoppes , all set against a backdrop of lighthousedotted cliffs.

By Evan W. Black

To get here, fly into Green Bay and drive an hour and a half up the peninsula; it’s a three-hour trip from Milwaukee. The bays and inlets of the peninsula each have their own flavor and offerings. Places to stay range from the Scandinavian-mod Dörr Hotel in Sister Bay to the Victorian bed and breakfast White Gull Inn in Fish Creek (don’t sleep on the cherry-stuffed French toast). In between there are ample art galleries and studio spaces, like Edgewood Orchard Galleries, housed in a 1918-built barn and set within an old apple and cherry orchard. Outside there’s a sculpture garden, filled with works of all shapes and sizes, available for purchase. “Maybe an art gallery seems sort of stuffy,” muses the owner J.R., “but everyone loves a walk through the woods.”

Speaking of seeming stuffy, some people call Door County the Cape Cod of the Midwest. Locals snarl

Great Pick! Lautenbach’s Orchard Country, a winery and market in Fish Creek

REFRESH FOR FALL

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at this reference. (Well, seeing as they’re from the Midwest, they’re too polite to actually snarl. But it’s clearly not their preferred nickname.) Instead, they use words like “tradition” and “family.” Many businesses here are owned and operated by multiple generations, such as Wilson’s, a red-and-white striped restaurant serving a one-liter root beer float and a perfectly charred burger with views of Eagle Harbor. Add MacReady Artisan Bread Company to the itinerary for handcrafted sandwiches made by the owner, who lives on a farm nearby with her husband and dogs and tomato garden.

Tours of Door County Coffee & Tea and the nextdoor Door County Candle Company are fun for couples or families — but one would be remiss to visit this region and not stop by Renard’s Artisan Cheese. For a special evening out, snag tickets for the Northern Sky Theater, which seasonally puts on productions — many of which are original world premieres, like the recent Cheeseheads! The Musical — at a facility in Peninsula State Park, among towering trees and twinkling stars.

No matter which way you slice it, a fall getaway to Door County is beautifully cheesy, in all the best ways. 

SAN WITH A PLAN

It’s as fun a time as ever to visit San Antonio. Hit the road!

By Evan W. Black

A vibrant destination any time of the year, San Antonio is especially exciting in October, leading up to weekend-long Dia de Los Muertos celebrations all over town. A river parade and special events in the La Villita Historic Village are among the festivities Oct. 27-29. Walkability is key, as ever — and two new Marriott properties have just opened in the heart of the River Walk, ensuring an easy trip for all.

The adjoining hotels, AC by Marriott and Element by

Westin, are located on Soledad at Commerce; each offers a tasty breakfast buffet, and there’s a rooftop bar with bites, brunch and unbeatable skyline views.

The River Walk itself offers plenty of tourist-trappy fun (especially for families), but hop over to Hemisfair for more park and garden spaces, plus trendy eats like Box St. All Day. Farther east, find a more sophisticated take on the city’s mariachi-andmargaritas vibe at still-new Carriqui, with South Texasinspired fare. 

Stay and Play The adjoining AC by Marriott and Element by Westin hotels, a block from the River Walk

Bread Winners Bread Winners From left: Carb-loading at MacReady’s; Wilson’s old-school exterior; cheesy goodness at Wild Tomato Pizza in Sister Bay

GuideBook

list that includes more than 250 Champagnes or sparklings. Excellent take-out and delivery specials! 2300 Westheimer Rd.

NEW! ALBI mediterranean

creamy black-truffle sauce by Salerno native chef Giancarlo Ferrara. 6100 Westheimer Rd., 713.532.2201

NEW! ANDIRON steakhouse

ago. Expect an imaginative take on seasonal fare along with hefty vegetarian selections. 1103 S. Shepherd Dr., 713.521.2239

A’BOUZY american

This sceney restaurant and patio combines a menu of shareable plates with prime meats and a raw bar. Pick from the substantial wine

Tucked away on the second floor of a shopping center, intimate and elaborate Albi sports lush interiors in jewel tones with velveteen banquettes, chandeliers and ambient lighting. Albi bridges Middle Eastern cultures and cuisines including Lebanese, Turkish and Greek. 1947 W. Gray St., albihouston.com

AMALFI italian

Charming Amalfi touts coastal Italian dishes like homemade fettuccine in

The elegant and spacious steakhouse is the latest concept from Michael Sambrooks, owner of The Pit Room and Candente. Meats, seafood and vegetables are cooked over the 22-foot live-fire grill suite, sourced from Spain and visible from the dining room. 3201 Allen Pkwy., andironhtx.com

BACKSTREET CAFÉ american

Housed in a two-story 1930s home, Hugo Ortega’s Backstreet Café became a River Oaks staple 30 years

BCN spanish

Named after Barcelona’s airport code, BCN offers authentic Spanish cuisine in a white-tablecloth setting. The specialty gin and tonics are a must-have, as is the Spanish Iberico ham. 4210 Roseland St., 832.834.3411

NEW! BENNY CHOWS

chinese

Bringing to mind Chinese restaurants in Ben Berg’s native New York, from the menu to the decor, Benny Chows is a

DINING DISTRICT 1

MEMORIAL, GALLERIA AREA, RIVER OAKS, UPPER KIRBY, MONTROSE

Chicken sausage raviolii at Pastore

photo by kristen gilliam

delight. With Chinese-born exec chef Shirong Mei at the helm, Benny Chows serves dishes both familiar — dim sum, decadent Peking Duck and uniquely Texan, a la the Smoked Brisket Egg Roll starring Truth BBQ. 1818 Washington Ave., bennychows.com

BLUDORN american

Aaron Bludorn and his wife Victoria Bludorn (née Pappas, of that Pappas family) deliver a Gulf-tinged New American menu and low-key fine-dining to Montrose. 807 Taft St., 713.999.0146

BRASSERIE 19 french

Wine with lunch and bubbles with brunch is the norm at this sceney River Oaks spot. Situated in the center of a busy shopping strip, Brasserie 19 is reminiscent of a Parisian sidewalk café. 1962 W. Gray St., 713.524.1919

cuisine with dishes like spaghetti-and-sea-urchin and sweet-corn ravioli with lobster. The elegant space is one often considered for special occasions. 1520 Westheimer Rd.

DAILY GATHER american

This CityCentre patio spot is the latest under the Five 12 Restaurant Concepts brand, which also has Dish Society. Shareable starters and well rounded entrees make up the hefty lunch and dinner menus; weekend brunch is fun! In CityCentre, dailygather.com

DORIS METROPOLITAN

steakhouse

This glam steakhouse is inspired by Middle Eastern flavors. Hot tip: The breadbasket alone may be worth the trip. 2815 S. Shepherd Dr.

EL TIEMPO tex-mex

CITYBOOK DINING DISTRICTS

1 Memorial, Galleria Area, River Oaks, Upper Kirby and Montrose

2 Garden Oaks, the Heights, Washington Corridor

3 Midtown, Downtown, EaDo, Third Ward, Fifth Ward

4 Bellaire, West University, Museum District, Med Center

HUGO’S mexican

ordered in advance — are authentic and full-flavored. 4444 Westheimer Rd., 713.629.4444

LIBERTY KITCHEN american

BRENNER’S

ON

THE BAYOU steakhouse

Enjoy dinner with a view at this steakhouse nestled on the lush banks of Buffalo Bayou. Steaks, sides and decadent desserts are all good bets, as are craft cocktails from the restaurant’s hip Blue Bar. One Birdsall St., 713.868.4444

CARACOL mexican/seafood

Hugo Ortega’s seafood-savvy concept boasts Mexican coastal cuisine in a swanky, mod space on Post Oak. 2200 Post Oak Blvd., 713.622.9996

COMMON BOND bakery

Don’t miss the buttery croissants as big as your face at the original Montrose location of the beloved bakery and cafe. 1706 Westheimer Rd., 713.529.3535

DA MARCO italian

High-end Da Marco puts a luxurious spin on Tuscan

El Tiempo delivers Tex-Mex in a big way with platters like the ancho-glazed grilled quail with cheese enchiladas and spicy shrimp chalupas. 322 Westheimer Rd, 713.807.8101

multiple locations visit restaurant website for details

EUGENE’S gulf coast

The menu and the gold-gilding-happy space itself call to mind the best old family-run haunts of New Orleans. Expect really great combos of butter, garlic, acid and fresh Gulf goodness. 1985 Welch St., 713.807.8883

HS GREEN american

Fast-food meets cleaneats at this orderat-the-counter restaurant near the Galleria. Wash down a customized wrap or salad with a cold-pressed juice. 5092 Richmond Ave., 713.904.3547

Chef Hugo Ortega’s namesake restaurant is a Houston staple, serving up authentic Mexican cuisine with margaritas to match. Guests love the festive weekend brunch buffet where indulging in seconds is a must. 1600 Westheimer Rd., 713.524.7744

KATA ROBATA japanese

Discreetly situated in a retail center, this top-notch sushi bar serves up fresh, innovative Japanese dishes daily under the direction of executive chef Manabu Horiuchi. 3600 Kirby Dr., 713.526.8858

LA GRIGLIA italian

From caprese salad to wild mushroom lasagna, the menu at La Griglia is simple, but elegant. When Houston weather permits, enjoy the patio, complete with fire pits and scenic River Oaks views. 2002 W. Gray St., 713.526.4700

LE COLONIAL french/ vietnamese

French-Vietnamese cuisine is presented in a posh space in River Oaks District. Dishes like the crispy whole duck — which serves up to four people and must be

A fab brunch destination with locations in River Oaks and Memorial City, Liberty Kitchen touts over-the-top, seafood-savvy comfort food. 4224 San Felipe St., libertykitchen oysterette.com multiple locations visit restaurant website for details

NEW! LITTLE’S OYSTER BAR seafood

The Pappas family’s latest recipe includes a prime location on Shepherd, and plenty of caviar. Chef Jason Ryczek wows with strikingly presented seafood dishes. Check out the retractableroof patio! 3001 S. Shepherd Dr., littlesoysterbar.com

MAD spanish

Everything at this BCN sister concept — from the mirrorlined hall to the bathroom to the little foie gras spheres that look like ice cream cones — is photo-worthy. Reservations recommended. 4444 Westheimer Rd., 281.888.2770 77 | houstoncitybook.com

CityBook Partner

MALA SICHUAN chinese

This longtime Chinatown favorite is equally popular inside the Loop. Mala’s menu packs a punch with dishes like the dry-pot chicken and three-pepper duck. 1201 Westheimer Rd., 832.767.0911

multiple locations visit restaurant website for details

UPDATE! MARCH mediterranean

An exclusive and pricey tasting-menu-only affair, March lives up to the hype. Choose six or nine courses of highly refined, Mediterranean-inspired dishes by chef-owner Felipe Riccio, who is currently channeling Sicily. 1624 Westheimer Rd., marchrestaurant.com

MARMO italian

An Italian restaurant meets a classic steakhouse at Marmo, where you’ll also find a bustling bar and nightly live music. Get the squid-ink campanelle! 888 Westheimer Rd., 832.626.3400

NEW! MONEYCAT japanese

This exciting “New Japanese” restaurant from chef Sherman Yeung of sushi star Tobiuo in Katy is in Kirby Grove. Be sure to try the Tomato Garden dish, with “soil” made of squid ink. 2925 Richmond Ave., moneycathtx.com

NOBU sushi

At socialite-savvy Nobu, hyperinformed waiters float around, delivering bite-sized delicacies on geometric white plates to tables. Unique takes on sushi include ones with pickled cucumbers, Shiso leaf and Japanese mackerel. In the Galleria, 832.987.2599

OSTIA mediterranean

Ostia is an indoor-outdoor

oasis for farm-to-table Italian and Mediterranean eats. The terracotta-andstucco patio feels worlds away from Houston, and is a nice place to post up and enjoy a cocktail. 2050 Dunlavy St., ostiahou.com

OUISIE’S TABLE southern

This River Oaks institution serving Southern standards — shrimp and cheese grits, New Orleans red snapper, chicken and waffles at brunch! — is charming. 3939 San Felipe St., 713.528.2264

NEW! PASTORE italian

Underbelly Hospitality’s latest resto boasts a seafood-forward menu spotlighting the flavors of seaside Portofino or Sicily. A rotating seafood tower and oysters with prosecco granita are just a few cooling starters on the opening menu. Follow those with heaping portions of pasta! In Regent Square, pastorehouston.com

PS-21 french

Expect a “laidback” twist on stereotypically stuffy French fare from chef-owner Philippe Schmit, who after years away has returned to the Houston culinary scene with PS-21. Now serving lunch! 1947 Richmond Ave.

UPDATE! RAGIN’ CAJUN cajun

There’s no better spot to get the fixins for a backyard boil than the original Ragin’ Cajun on Richmond. New location open in Spring Branch! 4302 Richmond Ave.

RIEL american

Riel offers an American menu inspired by local color and chef Ryan Lachaine’s Ukrainian heritage; the Montreal smoked meat is splashed with French’s

Owner Nicholas Bagwell and family

mustard. 1927 Fairview St., 832.831.9109

TASTE OF TEXAS steakhouse

This famous classic steakhouse — thick bacon wraps around your filet — touts cozy, rustic environs that live up to the name. There’s actually a Texas history museum inside! 10505 Katy Fwy., 713.932.6901

TONIGHT & TOMORROW

european

In the storied La Colombe d’Or, expect eclectic but sophisticated European dishes with Southern touches. 3410 Montrose Blvd., 713.517.1001

TONY’S italian

A cherished part of the Houston dining scene, Tony Vallone’s namesake restaurant is an exquisite treat from start to finish. 3755 Richmond Ave., 713.622.67788

UPDATE! UCHI japanese

It’s hard to beat Uchi for fresh, interesting sushi and sashimi — and the Brussels sprouts are can’t-miss. Check out the new nextdoor omakase concept, Oheya. 904 Westheimer Rd., 713.522.4808

at BB’s: From Maw Maw’s gumbo to a platter of fried catfish, find New Orleansstyle cooking with a Texas twist. 2701 White Oak Dr., 713.868.8000

multiple locations visit restaurant website for details

B&B BUTCHERS steakhouse Venture in for the deep-fried A5 Wagyu katsu sando, or similarly stacked deli sandwich in the adjoining butcher shop, at this boutique steakhouse. A rooftop terrace makes B&B a premiere Sunday brunch destination. 1814 Washington Ave.

COLTIVARE italian

With its “no-reservation” policy, the restaurant’s onsite garden — where many of the herbs and produce for the Italian dishes are grown doubles as a charming waiting area. 3320 White Oak Dr., 713.637.4095

LORO fusion

In a former church, Loro melds the flavors of Southeast Asian and Texasbarbecue cuisines, courtesy of Austin-based Tyson Cole (of Uchi fame) and pitmaster Aaron Franklin. Expect an elevated-country-dancehall vibe courtesy of architectdesigner Michael Hsu. 1001 W. 11th St., loroeats.com

MAX’S WINE DIVE southern Here, keeping it classy means pairing fried chicken with a glass of Champagne. Max’s is hardly a dive, with a serious wine list and hearty Southern plates. 4720 Washington Ave., 713.880.8737; maxswinedive.com

NOPO CAFE american

BB’S CAFE southern

Get your Cajun-food fix

An all-day café from Ben Berg, NoPo offers a menu of classics like a piled-high club sandwich, pizzas and more. In the front, find unique local provisions, premade meals and freshly

baked pastries to-go. New happy-hour specials and cocktail list! 1244 N. Post Oak Rd., nopocafe.com

POSTINO italian

Rosé — and everything else — all day! This patio spot in Heights Mercantile is always packed, especially during the bottle-and-board special, available after 8pm on Mondays and Tuesdays. Now open in Uptown Park! 642 Yale St., 346.223.1111 multiple locations visit restaurant website for details

RAINBOW LODGE

steakhouse

True to its name, Rainbow Lodge provides steakhouse and wild game fare in a rustic lodge setting. Outdoor seating on the newly expanded wine deck is coveted. 2011 Ella Blvd., 713.861.8666

TRATTORIA SOFIA italian

A new ItalianAmerican spot from Berg Hospitality looks like a trattoria you might stumble upon in rural Italy, with enchanting and spacious indoor and outdoor garden seating. 911 W. 11th St., trattoriasofia.com

no-frills Midtown diner. The line starts forming bright and early, but being part of the “klub” is worth the wait. 3711 Travis St., 713.528.8561

BRENNAN’S OF HOUSTON

southern

Count on this decadesold Houston staple for an exquisite dining experience full of Southern-Creole flavors. Seating spans two levels and guests love Sunday brunch in the courtyard. The turtle soup with sherry is famous, as are the pralines. 3300 Smith St., 713.522.9711

INDIANOLA american

On the Gulf-centric menu, find not only superb seafood, but lots of plates with influence from Mexico and ones utilizing local beef and pork. Now serving brunch! 1201 St. Emanuel St., 832.582.7202

NEW! LUCY PEARL’S bakery

Decadent cakes, picture-perfect cake pops and down-home pies await at this craft bakery inside the POST Houston complex. Go for happy hour Mon.-Weds., 4-6pm, for 20 percent off. 401 Franklin St., lucypearls.com

NINFA’S ON NAVIGATION

tex-mex

The origin of Tex-Mex, Ninfa’s is always packed no matter when you dine. Guests love the fajitas and loaded quesadillas. For something different, try the grilled octopus. 2704 Navigation Blvd., 713.228.1175

UPDATE! STREET TO KITCHEN thai

Chef-owner Benchawan

THE PALM steakhouse

Houston’s 43-year-old location of The Palm steakhouse has relocated from the Galleria to Downtown’s mixed-use GreenStreet development. 1201 Fannin St., thepalm.com

TOUT SUITE bakery/coffee

Stop by this all-day-bakery for a macaron or cupcake, or post up for a while at a community table and enjoy bites like avocado toast and fresh-squeezed juice. 2001 Commerce St., 713.227.8688

COPPA OSTERIA italian

All of the Neapolitan-style pizzas and handmade pastas are popular at this Rice Village winner. The walk-up pizza window is a hit in the largely pedestrian-friendly area. 5210 Morningside Dr., 713.522.3535

GRATIFY american

Grant Cooper’s Gratify is a see-and-be scene, with a creatively curated and highly shareable menu. The most memorable and delicious dish might be the charred octopus with sweet potato. 5212 Morningside Dr., gratifyhouston.com

NEW! KRITI KITCHEN greek

Offering counter-service breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with grab-and-go items and heat-and-eat meals, Greek-inspired Kriti Kitchen is now open in West U. Keep an eye out for wine dinners! 4010 Bissonnet St., kritikitchen.com

LE JARDINIER fine dining

The fine-dining French resto inside the MFAH’s new Kinder Building is, itself, a work of art — both in its decor and its food presentation. 5500 Main St.

BADOLINA bakery

From the owners of Doris Metropolitan, this unique bakery offers the classics and standbys, plus unique and artful desserts. Tip: Get there early, as items often sell-out before noon! Try the sitdown restaurant Hamsa next door. 5555 Morningside Dr., badolina bakery.com

CARRABBA’S italian

LOCAL FOODS american

This fast-casual diner has a guilt-free menu of sandwiches, salads, soups and sides, all made fresh using locally sourced ingredients. The Rice Village location has an attached wine bar. 2424 Dunstan Rd., 713.521.7800

multiple locations visit restaurant website for details

THE BREAKFAST KLUB

southern

Enjoy a feast of homestyle classics — wings and waffles, catfish and grits — at this

Painter won a James Beard for Best Chef Texas thanks to her concept spotlighting elevated Thai street food. 6501 Harrisburg Blvd.

One of two locations which are still familyowned by Houston’s famed Carrabba family, the original Carrabba’s on Kirby serves made-from-scratch Italian fare — from pizzas fresh out of the wood-fired oven to housemade cheeses and pastas. 3115 Kirby Dr., 713.522.3131

TINY BOXWOOD’S american

Expect a line at this popular garden-set getaway, where the chocolate-chip cookies have earned as much of a reputation as the restaurant itself. Snag some, along with housemade ice cream, at the next-door Milk & Cookies. 3636 Rice Blvd.

DINING DISTRICT 3 MIDTOWN, DOWNTOWN, EADO, THIRD WARD, FIFTH WARD

DINING DISTRICT 4 BELLAIRE, WEST UNIVERSITY, MUSEUM DISTRICT, MED CENTER

94.5 The ,Buzz has provided over 50,000 students with the school supplies necessary to embark on their academic adventures, KidsSMART, which supports and encourages at-risk students’ academic progress in partnership with TEACH (To Educate All Children), and Houston Children’s Family Emergency Fund at Texas Children’s Cancer Center through the Texas Children’s Hospital Supportive Care Program, which seeks to alleviate nancial burden off of families so that they can focus on what really matters - the wellbeing of their precious children. HCC works to create a world where every child has their very own bed, clothing, school supplies, transportation, health services, and joyful holidays.

met by our generous sponsors, Back2School in partnership with The Rod Ryan Show on

with dedicated sponsors and committed volunteers, we have provided support to 300 agencies through our unique programs. These programs include, A Better Night's Sleep, which has supplied over 31,000 beds to children in need, HCC Closet, which has provided clothing and other small household items to over 33,000 children and their families at no-cost, Chariots for Children, which has provided 322 specially equipped vehicles to agencies and individual families, our Christmas Toy Distribution, which has brought holiday cheer to over 15,000 children, Adopt-A-Family, which gives struggling families the opportunity to have their speci

hrough our invaluable partnerships

impacting the lives of more than 3 million children across the Houston area!

Houston Children’s Charity is celebrating 27 fruitful years of

Within a very short period, we have not only formed an official nonprofit organization, elected a board of directors, and raised money to help support the mission, but we have garnered tremendous support from the community which will help bring this necessary conversation to the front of the line. Pink Bows Foundation isn’t just about losing one amazing young woman, but what she represents. Pink Bows Foundation will make a significant difference in how people will enjoy attending events and go home safely at the end of the night.

members to form a 501c3 to formalize the action needed to create measures so that no family would have to deal with the pain of losing a child in such a senseless manner.

Foundation is proud of the quick action by community

What are you most proud of? The Pink Bows Safe Space tent was launched in June of 2023. Our 20 x 30 foot Pink Tent sticks out like a beacon of light at any event. The Pink Bows Safe ™,Space is designed for individuals who feel overwhelmed, anxious or uneasy, and need a mental health break. Our safe space will offer a quiet and calming environment where you can remove yourself from the chaos and relax, take deep breaths, find a peaceful spot to sit, focus on an object, listen to soothing music, or speak to one of our Mental Health Counselors. Our goal is to provide a friendly atmosphere that is safe and welcoming to everyone, where you can reset and feel confident that you are not in any emotional or physical danger. Additionally, Pink Bows

Additionally, there are hundreds of other “surviving victims’” the ones that survived the trauma, who will be scared for the rest of their lives too. Pink Bows Foundation is determined to lead the efforts to improve safety protocols at concerts, festivals, and events to ensure that more lives are not needlessly lost.

Ten people were killed when certain companies and people prioritized profits and notoriety over safety. The lifetime of emotional pain and agony for the families and friends who lost a loved one will never go away. Their lives will never be the same.

Why did you launch the organization?

What is your mission? Pink Bows Foundation promotes stronger safety protocols to be consistently implemented at entertainment venues while encouraging safe spaces and protecting attendees to prevent avoidable injuries or death.

What year was your organization launched? Pink Bows Foundation was founded in May of 2022 following the tragic loss of Madison Alexis Dubiski, who lost her life while attending Travis Scott’s Astroworld Music Festival at the age of 23, on November 5, 2021 in Houston, Texas.

Tell us about your big give. Pink Bows ’sFoundation big give is to fund multiple mechanisms that support training, design and facilitate safety protocols, and create specialized safety plans via task forces specific to outdoor music festivals to help mitigate future tragedies and keep patrons safe. We will rely heavily on the support of groups working with local and state agencies to implement a “Maddie’s Law” or “Showstoppers” type of initiative, which would allow a third-party, independent decision-maker to stop an event when mandatory regulations and safety protocols have been breached, to ensure safety at concerts, festivals, and other large gatherings.

PINK BOWS FOUNDATION

America reported that Harris County had the highest percentage of children living with food insecurity among highly populated counties nationwide. More recent studies from Children at Risk and Northwestern University indicate the pandemic created a long-term economic impact that will affect low-income families for years. With an estimated 50,000 children under six facing food insecurity in Houston, Kids Meals’ primary goal is to serve at least half of them by 2031 and to continue building the infrastructure to keep growing. To accomplish this goal, we need Houstonians to partner with us as volunteers and donors to build a better city for our children and families.

What are your major challenges? In 2008, Feeding

Kids’ Meals employees are committed and passionate about their work. In fact, our drivers are our “Hope Providers” because Kids’ Meals provides so much more than just a meal, they provide hope daily. In addition, our incredible 20,000 annual volunteers are a force to be reckoned with. They give over 60,000 hours each year to make sandwiches and pack lunches for the children in our city.

How many employees and volunteers work with your organization? Forty employees work at Kids’ Meals with most staff delivering direct program services to children.

Tell us about your big event. On Monday, November 13, 2023, at the Marriott Marquis Houston, the 15th Annual Harvest Luncheon will bring together over 1,400 attendees from corporations, foundations, and Houstonians interested in delivering hope to the future of our great city by investing in the next generation. Our luncheon offers a VIP experience, Mimosas & Market, a curated group of incredible vendors offering a collection of unique items to kick off your holiday shopping, and a spectacular silent auction crowned by an outstanding program. Sponsorships and tickets are on our website.

What’s been your impact in the community? Kids’ Meals is a first responder to impoverished children. In addition to nutritious daily meals, we deliver weekly grocery bags of fresh produce and non-perishable staples. We leverage our daily access to connect families with vital wrap-around service information such as early childhood education, adult and child literacy, medical/dental care, ESL classes, financial planning, mental health, and job skills training. Our average all-in cost per meal delivered is only $2.

Meals has prepared and delivered more than 13 million free meals to food-insecure children in 52 zip codes in Harris and Montgomery Counties. What started as a small grassroots organization, delivering a few hundred meals per day, now delivers an annual daily average of more than 8,400 meals. For the first time ever, we are on pace to deliver 2.1 million free, healthy meals in just one year in 2023. By ensuring children have basic daily nutrition, we are changing not only their mealtimes but their entire lifetimes.

Since its inception, Kids’

What are you most proud of?

Why did you launch the organization? More than 50,000 children in our city are going to bed hungry, living in food deserts, and living food insecure. Children who are ages 5 and under suffer most from lack of nutrition because their brains and bodies are in the most formative years and are not yet old enough to receive free meals through the school system. In response, the Kids’ Meals program launched to help end childhood hunger in our city.

What is your mission? Launched in 2006, Kids’ Meals’ mission is to end childhood hunger in Houston by delivering free, healthy meals year-round to the doorsteps of Houston’s hungriest preschool-aged children and through collaboration, provide their families with resources to end the cycle of poverty.

KIDS’ MEALS

Your participation will help us raise funds to empower children and families on their healing journey and raise awareness to prevent child sexual abuse in our community.

Tell us about your big event. The CAC is excited to welcome guests to our annual Spirit of Spring Gala on April 12, 2024. The Gala will be held at the Houstonian Hotel and chaired by CAC Board Members Buckley Morlot and Kim Pinyopusarerk. Last year, we hosted our first gala after a 20+ year hiatus. This year, we are excited to focus on the power of prevention and encouraging our community to become part of the solution to end child sexual abuse. Join us for a fun and mission-focused evening as we hear from Jenna Quinn, a child sexual abuse survivor and namesake of “Jenna’s Law” legislation on the state and federal level.

What are you most proud of? At The CAC, awareness and advocacy are the foundation for keeping children safe. The CAC provides prevention trainings to adults and children in Harris County. We are proud to announce that in 2022, our team trained 36,685 community members – a 239% increase from 2021 to 2022! You can learn more about our free virtual and in-person trainings on our website www.cachouston.org.

Why did you launch the organization? The CAC is the only advocacy center in Harris County and the largest nationwide. We provide healing services to over 6,000 child sexual abuse victims and their families each year.

What is your mission? The mission of The CAC is to provide a professional, compassionate and coordinated approach to the treatment of sexually abused children and their families and to serve as an advocate for all children in our community. We exist to protect children, heal families, and prevent child sexual abuse and child sex trafficking in our community.

What year was your organization launched? The Children’s Assessment Center (The CAC) began providing services to Harris County children and families in 1991, and our Foundation was created in 1995 to provide additional funding for increased access to our well-rounded care.

The goal of The CAC is to provide all the services children and families need in one place. We provide forensic interviewing, therapy and psychological services, and medical services at no cost. We also facilitate community outreach and prevention training to raise awareness about child abuse in our community and how to keep children safe. We hope our process will give children and families the tools necessary to empower them on their healing journey. We exist to help our community become a better, safer place for each child of Harris County.

THE CHILDREN’S ASSESSMENT CENTER

What are your major challenges? Securing funding, like for many non-profit organizations, has proven to be particularly challenging as we navigate the post-Covid-19 landscape. Given our status as the longest-running conservation organization in the region, which was founded by Terry Hershey, it is imperative that we honor our historical legacy while offering modern approaches that will safeguard our region’s bayous for generations to come.

How much have you raised since you launched? Through years of hard work and dedication to preserving Houston’s rich and diverse bayous and waterways, the organization has successfully raised $8.5 million since 2012.

BPA has actively engaged over 10,000 volunteers in litter cleanups, training community scientists in water quality protection, and gathering vital data on the well-being of riparian and bayou corridors.

dedicated employees across four key programs: Bayou Appreciation, Bayou Citizen Science Program, Stream Corridor Restoration and Clean Bayous. Since 1966,

How many employees and volunteers work with your organization? BPA’s mission is driven by a team of five

Tell us about your big event. We are thrilled to announce in early 2024 the bayou-inspired theme for our annual spring fundraiser gala. This event is pivotal in securing essential operational funds for our organization. We are also excited to announce our Summer 2024 Brown Bag Series: “Balancing Growth, Preservation, and Conservation.”

and identify two private lines releasing into the bayous that are being investigated.

water leak, identify an additional leak that is pending repair,

2023, our team, with the support of the Texas Conservation Corps, conducted targeted bacteria monitoring along Pine Gully and Little White Oak Bayous, waterways known to have high levels of bacteria. This project tested 35 points of concern across the two bayous. Through our efforts, the city was able to find and remediate a grease blockage and a

How have you impacted the community? In the Summer of

What are you most proud of? We are in the process of establishing an extensive network of informative and captivating interpretive signage throughout Harris County Parks. Additionally, we are working towards creating a circular economy for plastic products, identifying and reporting bacterial leaks at their origins, enhancing access to and utilization of our bayous by diverse communities, and actively involving the people of Houston in everyday stewardship efforts.

Outraged by the state of the bayou and the absence of a democratic process, Terry Hershey, a resident of Memorial herself, joined forces with BBPA and swiftly emerged as its most prominent and passionate advocate.

Chimney Rock that had been severely affected. Fallen trees and bulldozed undergrowth was harming its landscape. Further investigation revealed that the Harris County Flood Control District had initiated a rerouting of Buffalo Bayou without any prior public notification.

In 1966, Terry Hershey and a group of concerned individuals stumbled upon a section of Buffalo Bayou near

Why did you launch the organization? In the mid-1960s, a collective of homeowners residing in Houston’s Memorial Park area came together to establish the Buffalo Bayou Preservation Association (BBPA). Their primary goal was to safeguard the natural beauty of the local bayou.

What is your mission? At Bayou Preservation Association, we work to celebrate, protect and restore our bayous and waterways. Through a science-based approach to policies and actions, led by collaboration, we work to restore a network of healthy bayous, streams and watersheds.

Preservation Association emerged in 1966, devoted to watershed oversight and information dissemination, promoting community education and participation in watershed management decisions.

What year was your organization launched? Bayou

PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION

What are your major challenges? With Houston being home to more than 32,000 non-profit organizations, I think one of our biggest challenges is ensuring we stay up to date on community issues and the overall needs of underserved children to ensure that our presence as a non-profit and imprint as a funder stay current and aligned with how we can make the greatest impact on those in need.

child abuse prevention; pediatric medical research; human tracking prevention and recovery; substance abuse prevention and rehabilitation; education and scholarships, including after-school programs; residential centers and foster care; family health and wellbeing and much more.

How much have you raised since you launched? Since its inception, Spindletop has raised and distributed more than $26 million, which directly assist programs that support the following:

How many employees and volunteers work with your organization? There is a total of two full-time employees at Spindletop Community Impact Partners. We are small but mighty and have an ever-flowing group of dedicated Board Members, Emerging Leader Steering Committee members and volunteers from across the energy sector, totaling more than 500 people.

enjoy, which are collected by our Spindletop “elves” – children from different non-profit partners.

which recognize community leaders within the energy industry and a Volunteer Service Award. Guests also take part in the annual Spindletop Toy Drive by bringing toys and books for children to

which include the Spindletop Award and Spindletop Founders Award

Along with traditional gala festivities, guests enjoy performances by two Spindletop non-profit partners – a dance performance by the children of Ensemble Theatre and instrumental entertainment by the Small Ensemble of Virtuosi of Houston. Three awards are presented,

Tell us about your big event. The Spindletop Holiday Ball is the premier holiday event in the energy industry, with executives and industry professionals from companies across the energy sector in attendance. On November 29, Spindletop will host its 49th Annual Spindletop Holiday Ball at The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston.

Greater Houston, The Children’s Assessment Center, Urban Harvest and Youth Development Center.

TEACH-To Educate All Children, YMCA of Greater Houston, Kids’ Meals, Camp for All, Palmer Drug Abuse Program, Girls Inc. of

• Nurture: Rise above disability and illness enabling individuals to live healthy, capable lives

• Protect: Advocate for children’s safety and security within our community

• Empower: Inspire youth to become confident, self-aware individuals using life skills that strengthen social and emotional development

• Educate: Bolster foundational education resources to prepare children for all levels of schooling

How have you impacted the community? Spindletop strives to make a significant impact on our community’s children and have most recently adopted an impact model to best illustrate this to the community. Our impact statement is: Spindletop connects at-risk youth to resources that educate, empower, protect and nurture them throughout their life’s journey. Spindletop implements its positive change on the greater Houston community through four defined giving pillars, which include:

What are you most proud of? There is so much to be proud of, but most importantly, it is inspiring to see one industry rally together to support the betterment of children. At Spindletop, we strive to set at-risk youth on a path for brighter, healthier and happier futures. We do so not only through funding, but also volunteerism. While many of our sponsors are contributing corporate funds to Spindletop’s mission, members of each corporation – be it rising leaders, executives or retirees – offer their personal time to work hands-on with these special children at a variety of service projects that Spindletop hosts. Since the inception of our volunteer program in 2018, we have built a volunteer army of more than 500 who offer their time, energy and compassion to these children and help facilitate STEM fairs or arts and crafts projects, assemble student ID kits for parents to be prepared should their child go missing, clean up school gardens for children to learn about healthy eating, and much, much more! In 2022 alone, our volunteers contributed more than 1,150 hours to the community in service work –an in-kind gift of nearly $37,000 in volunteer time. Spindletop strives to see positive change in the lives of Houston’s children, and we are able to do so with this tremendous support!

Through donations and sponsorships received, integral funding is provided annually to local youth non-profit organizations serving children in need.

Why did you launch the organization? Spindletop was founded by an energy executive who had a vision to gather the energy industry behind a collective cause – helping Houston’s at-risk children. It all began with a charitable golf tournament, which has grown over the years to be the world’s largest energy professionals charitable golf tournament. Today, Spindletop holds two annual special events –the Spindletop Golf Tournament and the Spindletop Holiday Ball.

What is your mission? Spindletop Community Impact Partners, Inc. enhances the lives of at-risk youth through funding and volunteering from the energy industry, while promoting fellowship and networking among its participants.

What year was your organization launched? Spindletop Community Impact Partners, Inc. was founded in 1966 with a focus on connecting members of the energy industry with local non-profits serving at-risk children.

These giving pillars allow us to touch every aspect of a child’s life, including education, mental health, safety and overall well-being, and healthcare and special needs. This year, Spindletop has supported more than 30 organizations across these four areas, including

COMMUNITY IMPACT PARTNERS

How can people support your mission? If you are looking for a meaningful and life-changing experience, consider volunteering, making a donation, hosting a fundraiser, or becoming a community partner with us! With your help, we can continue to provide love and support to over 100,000 cancer families.

How many hospitals is BIG Love in? BIG Love is serving 10 Hospitals throughout Texas offering over 12 service-based programs to pediatric cancer families. The Hospitals being served at this time are Texas Children’s Hospital (Main Campus, Katy, and The Woodlands), MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital (Houston), Dell Children’s Medical Center (Austin), Methodist Children’s Hospital (San Antonio), Brooke Army Medical Center (San Antonio), McLane’s Children’s Hospital (Temple), Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital (Houston).

Until a cure is found, the journey through cancer, especially one for a child, is incomprehensible. BIG Love strives to ease the childhood cancer journey by meeting the most basic and urgent physical, emotional and financial needs of oncology and hematology patients and their families throughout their entire cancer journey and beyond.

BIG Love was born out of much suffering, we believe we can ease the suffering for thousands of others through our own first-hand experience and innovative approaches to pediatric cancer care.”

illness gave me insight to recognize the strong need for basic support for the littlest and sickest in our communities. Although

Why was BIG Love founded? “In 2004, my daughter Brooke, was diagnosed with leukemia and passed away in my arms on September 29, 2006,” said Jessica Phillips, cofounder of B.I.G. Love Cancer Care. “Her love changed my life forever, and her

($2k each)

• 21 College Scholarships given to survivors or their siblings

• 49 Free Individual Grief Therapy sessions provided

• 5,111 Healthy Catered meals delivered to hospital rooms

• 8,640 Individuals have received food, drinks, snacks

• 1,328 Holiday gifts and baskets delivered to help make the holidays brighter

• 53 families are enrolled in a support group and receive special opportunities and gifts

• 23 Kids are enrolled in our Sibling Support Groups

• 52 End-of-life families received daily personalized care including: meals, gift cards, supplies and special requests

• 103 families received significant financial support for housing, funerals, medical supplies, transportation and other pressing needs

• 575 Kids were granted wishes for special food, toys, clothes, comfort items

• 582 families newly diagnosed received gifts, food, gift cards and other necessary supplies

2022 Impact:

How does BIG Love impact the communities they serve? After 16 years of service, BIG Love now provides over 15 innovative programs at 10 Texas hospitals helping families from the moment of diagnosis all the way to survivorship or loss.

B.I.G. LOVE CANCER CARE

Co-Founder Jessica Phillips

with BIG Love Ambassador, Jared Zavala

www.SalvationArmyHouston.org

Phone: (713) 752-0677

Houston, TX 77002

1500 Austin Street

salvationarmyhouston.org

To volunteer, donate or learn more about The Salvation Army of Greater Houston, please visit www.

Salvation Army volunteers change lives, uplift families and support communities throughout our nation every day. Some of the many ways to get involved include helping pack Food Boxes for those suffering from food insecurity, becoming a Bell Ringer at Christmas or adopting an Angel through The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program.

The Salvation Army relies heavily on generous public support, faithful community partners and committed volunteers who support its programs and play a crucial role in its ability to provide quality social services for the entire community. Through the skills and experience they bring, volunteers make significant contributions by positively impacting the lives of those they assist.

Each year nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army. The Salvation Army is the largest non-governmental social services provider in the United States serving every zip code. Of every dollar given locally, about 84 cents goes directly to program services in the Greater Houston Area.

Since 1889, The Salvation Army of Greater Houston, a United Way of Greater Houston partner agency, has served Harris, Montgomery and Fort Bend Counties through three areas of focus: Life Navigation, Youth Development and Rehabilitation. Programming locally includes supportive shelters, corps community care centers, emergency disaster relief, social services, youth programs, senior programs and adult rehabilitation.

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

THE SALVATION ARMY OF GREATER HOUSTON

What are you most proud of? The number of people we have brought into our circle of giving back and raising awareness of the organizations in our city that are helping those in need. Our mission extends beyond just our company, family and friends. Many of our clients and their teams have seen the impact of BLDit and generously give their financial support to the organizations we works with growing our mission year over year. We want to build more than just buildings, we want to build a better Houston – together.

How have you impacted the community? We have been fortunate to work with several local organizations that are changing lives each and every day. Just a few of the ways we have given back this year include: BLDit has been able to support B.I.G. Love Cancer Care serving at 10 Texas hospitals; provide a construction facelift to the Sunshine Kids house through The Arts of Healing Foundation; support the Houston Police Department of South Gessner Gulfton’s Back-to-School Drive with 200 backpacks; and supported HLSR Armed Forces Committee in honoring our First Responders.

“Helping children in need has always been at the heart of BLDit,” said Joshua Weisman, CEO of Construction Concepts. BLDit’s areas of giving focus on organizations that are service-based and directly impacting the lives of children and their families. Whether that’s through their cancer journey, scholarships for education, mentoring, or fun experiences that allow them to experience a break from their day-to-day life, BLDit is dedicated to providing opportunities to support children in families in need of a helping hand.’

What is the purpose behind your philanthropy?

(Building Lives and Dreams in Texas), was established to foster a philanthropic relationship in the community and bring about meaningful change in the lives of others.

What is your mission? Construction Concepts is committed to building a better future for the communities where we live and work. Our charity initiative, BLDit

CONSTRUCTION CONCEPTS

Zach has learned each day is a gift, and he knows the gift of an adapted home has given him the ability to live each day to the fullest.

Zach is very humble and is so grateful to Lennar and Helping a Hero for the openness and safety of his new house which allows him to be the husband and Dad he wants to be. Zach still can't believe that Lennar committed 10 homes to Helping a Hero and applauds them for a job well done.

moved into their Lennar Home in Montgomery County near Zach’s family. It is the first time, his large truck is able to fit into his garage and the height of the ceiling still enables him to use the crane on his truck for his Segway wheelchair while inside the garage.

hunting and fishing equipment at Bass Pro. Zach and Misty

Now that he has a home that enables him to go into every room on his wheelchair he can be the husband and Dad he wants to be.

After being stabilized at Landstuhl, SPC Parker did his extensive rehabilitation in San Antonio where he met his future wife, Misty, who was an NCO in the military. An incredible love story unfolded and they are now happily married with two children. Zach and Misty love to take their boys fishing and on any outdoor adventure. Since Misty is a native of Springfield, MO the kids love to explore the Wonders of Wildlife Aquarium while their dad shops for

PC Zach Parker joined the US Army to help fight the enemy and protect our way of life. In 2011, he was deployed to Kandahar Province in Afghanistan as a combat medic for his platoon. They were on a route clearance patrol in June of 2012 when they hit a deep buried IED that left SPC Parker a triple amputee. Zach lost his left arm through the shoulder, right leg at the hip, and left leg above the knee.

Even after difficult trials and the loss of three of his limbs,

Zach is not one to be conquered by his circumstances.

Welcome Home and God Bless the USA!

CPL Downes was the first hero to receive a home in our Johnny Morris 100 Homes Challenge. Helping a Hero partnered with Caldwell Homes to build this beautiful 2600 sq ft adapted home with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Challenger The Eagle, Paula Deen and Lee Greenwood presented her the keys to her future. "Having an adapted home means the world to me. It gave me hope to dream again and to believe that the bend in the road is just the beginning of God's blessings." said Sue. Marrying the love of her life, Tim Crutchfield, provided the fairy tale ending she always dreamed about.

Lake where she is able to drive her UTV donated by Bass Pro Shops around the golf cart friendly community. The Boardwalk boasts shops like Kendra Scott and restaurants like First Watch. The peaceful lake community provides the perfect setting to visit the Veteran's Memorial where she can remember her best friend who died in the same blast she survived. CPL Sue Downes joined the Army as a Military Police Officer and deployed to Afghanistan where she was a HUMVEE gunner. After her promotion to driver, she volunteered to fill in for the gunner who was sick so a humanitarian mission wasn't canceled. You see...she still had one day of leave before she was to report for duty. Shortly after the mission began, they hit 2 landmines powered by a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG). She lost both legs below the knee, her liver and intestines were lacerated, and she suffered a traumatic brain injury. Medivac couldn’t fly due to the blizzard, so they had to drive over the grueling terrain for 7 hours. She is here today to give glory to God and a hug to her children who motivated her to keep fighting to live.

PL Sue Downes Crutchfield, USA (Ret) lives in Towne

Helping a Hero Home Recipient

C

USA (RET)

CPL SUE DOWNES

CRUTCHFIELD,

The freedom she has in her Helping a Hero adapted home brings tears to her eyes when thinking of those dark nights she struggled to reach her second floor bedroom.

and makes time to attend Groundbreakings, Welcome Home Ceremonies, golf tournaments and other events. We must never forget the stories of 9-11 and we must continue to pass them to the next generation. The legacy of patriotism is alive and well in the Clemens family and we are grateful to Roger for being an incredible example on and off the mound.

Our heroes love Roger and love his stories. They treasure the signed ball he often gives them. And, Roger has a unique way to inspire them to dream again. For the past 15 years, Roger has been a major supporter of Helping a Hero. He loves our heroes

to receive The Lee Greenwood Patriot Award for his tireless support for our military throughout his career and in retirement.

20 years after that fateful day, Roger Clemens had a chance to share his story with some of our heroes who were severely injured while defending our nation. Helping a Hero selected Roger

oger Clemens spent 24 years in the MLB and received 7 Cy-Young Awards. In 2001, Roger played for the New York Yankees and was scheduled to pitch on 9-11. He woke up to the news that a plane hit the World Trade Center. Like most Americans, it wasn’t until the 2nd plane hit, that he knew America was under attack. The next few days were challenging. The MLB didn’t know what to do or how long to wait until resuming games. Anyone who knows Roger, knows he is a patriot. He wore the #22 jersey and when he heard that the nearby Fire Station 22 had some losses, he went to visit them. When MLB finally resumed games, the Yankees traveled to play in Chicago. There wasn’t a dry eye in the stadium as the National Anthem was sung. Roger got his 20th win but the real take away from the game was the national unity and patriotism among the fans.

National Ambassador, Helping a Hero

ROGER CLEMENS

For More Information, please call Misty at 888-786-9531.

Noon – Shotgun Start Awards Dinner and Auction

11:00am – Check In and Lunch

Helping a Hero Golf Tournament at Black Horse Golf Club, Cypress, Texas

Save the Date - February 29, 2024

Shilo is a family man who is committed to his five children and his wife, Jamie. In 2012, Helping a Hero partnered with ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to build Shilo a new home equipped to serve the needs of Shilo’s unique medical and physical circumstances. Today, Shilo is a motivational speaker, sharing his story with groups around the country, raising awareness for PTSD and serving as an inspiration to fellow soldiers.

The devastating injuries required that Shilo remain in a medically induced coma for 48 days; after, he spent nearly three years recovering and undergoing intensive physical therapy at the burn unit of Brooklyn Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio, TX. While at BAMC, he was the first soldier to participate in cutting-edge regenerative stem-cell research to regrow his fingers, and later received prosthetic ears. Shilo’s recovery has involved more than 75 surgeries, which required his family to spend up to six hours a day on wound care. Shilo also struggled from PTSD. In 2010 he was medically retired from the Army. Shilo reflects on his time in the service and his injuries: “Everything in life is a gift. Sometimes it may not be the gift you want but you realize that your challenges are a new beginning.”

On his second deployment with the 10th Mountain Division he was assigned and worked near southern Baghdad. On February 19, 2007, Harris’ armored vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED). The explosion injured the driver and ended the lives of three of his fellow soldiers. Shilo survived but with severe third degree burns on 35% of his body. The severity of the burns meant the loss of Shilo’s ears, the tip of his nose and three fingers. The crushing explosion fractured his left collarbone and C-7 vertebrae.

hilo Harris came from a family with deep roots in military service. As a son of a Vietnam veteran, Shilo always knew he wanted to be a soldier. On September 11th his life changed forever and shortly afterward he enlisted as a Cavalry Scout in the US Army.

Helping a Hero Home Recipient

serve in “The Battle of the Bulge” in World War II

Johnny’s father on his way to

Infantry Johnny Morris with his father and personal hero, John A. Morris.

serve in “The Battle of the Bulge” in World War II If

Johnny’s father on his way to

Maurice

prestigious Order of

Johnny Morris with his father and personal hero, John A. Morris.

guide he is programs our brave uniform. A few

strong affinity their respect and was father, John World War II served his the Bulge.”

Bass Pro Shops was celebrating its 50th Anniversary at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville when Johnny Morris invited Helping a Hero to surprise a wounded warrior with a key representing their future Helping a Hero home. Six companies stepped up to fund the other 75% of a Helping a Hero home and we were able to surprise six heroes with homes. It was an incredible night. Commitment to Active Military & Veterans

who carries on the legacy of his father, John A. Morris who served in World War II in the Battle of the Bulge. When Johnny learned about Helping a Hero, he wanted to get involved. He first committed 100% of the funding to build 10 adapted homes for our wounded heroes and then launched the 100 Homes Challenge where he committed to pay 25% of the cost of the next 100 Helping a Hero homes. Since then, he has invited the public to join the challenge by donating any amount or even funding the other 75% of a home.

ohnny Morris, Founder and CEO of Bass Pro Shops, is a patriot

JOHNNY MORRIS Founder and CEO, Bass Pro Shops

Emry was so excited when Frank asked her if it would be ok for him to marry her mom? She hugged him and said, “I believe my Daddy sent you to us so you can watch over and protect us like he did!” Frank and Tawnee recently added to their family when they welcomed their precious son little Frank III. Perry Homes is building Frank and Tawnee’s accessible home where Frank will finally have complete freedom inside his home for the very first time. Helping a Hero is planning a Welcome Home ceremony in midNovember. Thank you to Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops, Black Rifle Coffee and The Perry Homes Foundation for funding this home. This beautifully blended and growing family knows the best is yet to come.

When the two met, Frank and Tawnee had an instant connection that everyone around them could see. Their friendship grew and their relationship blossomed. Frank understood that by loving Tawnee, it also meant he would be helping raise, guide, and love the child of a Fallen Brother.

to honor Marty was to continue to live, and love. Never did she think that love would strike twice in her life.

daughter Emry, and her 3 beautiful step-babies. The best way

"I like Frank. He’s my best friend.

There’s no couple as cute as you and Frank, Mommy – except you and Daddy," Emry said. Even

Lola the family dog cuddles up to Frank, approving of the match!

once he met his fiancé, Tawnee Gonzalez. They were drawn to each other and understood each other on a deeper level because Tawnee too had to overcome great loss. Tawnee is the widow of Sergeant Marty Gonzalez, USMC. Sgt. Gonzalez was a highly decorated Marine who was injured in Fallujah, Iraq, and ultimately gave his life after dying from his injuries sustained in combat. Tawnee had to stay strong for her

Frank overcame many obstacles alone, but that all changed

Following his rehabilitation at BAMC, Frank began his long road to recovery by overcoming the grief of losing both of his legs. He had to face his new reality alone, and not give in to the depression looming over him. For Frank, the next 15 years involved countless surgeries, rehabilitation, broken relationships, dashed dreams, but he never gave up hope that tomorrow would be better. Today, he is one of the top motivational speakers in the wounded warrior community and teaches veterans to thrive, not just survive.

PL Frank Fields joined the Army and deployed to Sadr City, Iraq with the Big Red One. Frank conducted over 100 missions and was a member of an infantry unit that primarily conducted missions at night. On November 21, 2006, Frank and his unit went out on Route Brewers… which was known for being one of the heaviest hit routes in Sadr City. CPL Fields was driving the lead HUMVEE, when they were hit by an EFP causing the inside of the vehicle to be engulfed in flames instantly. When CPL Fields tried to exit the HUMVEE, he fell straight to the ground not realizing he had lost both of his legs in the blast. His platoon sergeant dragged him away from the exploding truck, ultimately saving his life.

Now J.P. is an author as well. His book, Walking Again, tells the story of his journey from childhood, to the battlefield, his recovery and his new life today with his beautiful wife, Crystal. He is a motivational speaker hired by the United States Army to speak on “Resiliency” to active duty service members around the country.

Hero built his home in Canyon Lake, Texas. It is 3 bedrooms and is fully wheelchair accessible. His home has many adaptations including wider doors, a roll-in shower, and a rollunder sink and other safety features throughout his home.

a Hero, he was single with the dream of pursuing a music career. Meredith reached out to Lee Greenwood and built a recording studio into his home. J.P. has had the opportunity to sing with many famous musicians over the years and is now traveling around the country speaking and singing. Helping a

When J.P. first met Meredith Iler and the leaders from Helping

JP’s Dad served sixteen years in the Air Force, but JP decided he would join the US Army to pursue tactical training. J.P. enlisted in December 2008 and deployed to Afghanistan two years later. During a routine route clearing mission, a 300 lb IED exploded, taking both of his legs, broke his pelvis and disconnected his spine. He had a long rehabilitation facing him when he got back home. While there are still many challenges ahead, J.P. is confident that God protected him on the battlefield and continues to watch over him each day.

ustin “JP” Lane was in 8th grade when 9-11 happened and the twin towers fell. He decided on that day that he would go fight for America as soon as he was old enough.

Buckingham and Tate Stevens

J.P. & Crystal Lane, Meredith Iler, Travis Strong, Michael Groover, Paula Deen and Tate Stevens on Paula's front porch after a day of cooking.

Mr. Michael Sloan CPA, Treasurer

HelpingaHero.org. (IRS Tax ID 20-5433598)

You can also mail a check payable to Helping a Hero:

Make a donation today: https://secure.helpingahero. org/100homes-website-home. Or call 888-786-9531 and arrange for a donation through your foundation, transfer of stock, an in kind donation to a home or becoming a 75% sponsor of a specific home.

Helping a Hero and the 100 Homes Challenge.

Please join Paula Deen and support

Few people have seen what Paula saw on a daily basis growing up with parents who struggled in the home due to their amputations. Paula has been an ardent supporter of Helping a Hero since her first $10,000 donation from the Bag Lady Foundation in 2014 and we are blessed by her passion and commitment to making our heroes' lives easier. “Helping a Hero is doing the Lord’s work by building these adapted homes and changing our heroes lives.” Paula Deen shared.

c/o

Paula Deen Build Homes for our Military Heroes

Choking back tears, Paula recalls her parents living in a

Her parents faced obstacles just to go to the restroom, take a shower, or shake off the pain of getting up from a fall.

dad struggle to accomplish simple tasks in their unadapted home was difficult. He died at the young age of 40. Then her mother lost her leg and Paula watched her struggle even more to get around the home as she died before getting a prosthetic.

Her dad was riding his bicycle home from work at the age of 16 when he was hit by a truck and lost his leg. Seeing her

Paula has a personal connection to Helping a Hero's mission.

Paula really got to know our heroes.

Paula and Lee co-hosted a telethon for Helping a Hero where

40th All Star Tribute Concert in Huntsville, Alabama in 2021,

Lee Greenwood was singing. Lee served as the National Ambassador for Helping a Hero for over a decade and opened so many doors for Helping a Hero. After Lee Greenwood's

Paula's involvement with Helping a Hero began in 2014 on her Paula Deen Live! Tour. Paula invited Meredith Iler and several heroes to be in the audience for a show when

who inspired her to become our National Ambassador.

Today, Paula has a thriving food empire and is the author of 18 cookbooks that sold more than 11 million copies. And when you read her latest cookbook, you will see some photos and stories about Helping a Hero and the men and women

aula Deen, the Queen of Southern Cuisine, is an American cooking and lifestyle icon. Paula’s success story began with just $200 left to her name and her ability to cook. She decided to start “The Bag Lady,” a home-based catering company and then opened The Lady & Sons restaurant in Savannah with her sons, Jamie and Bobby.

National Ambassador, Helping a Hero

PAULA DEEN

regular home, “They never complained, and I can’t help but think how fortunate my parents would have been had they been blessed with a specially adapted home. It’s hard for us to imagine being in this spot, living day by day with all the trials and roadblocks, it takes a special person.”

Help

Helping a Hero is doing the Lord’s work by building these adapted homes and changing our heroes lives.

difference and is still needed today.

brought tears to her eyes to know Helping a Hero is making a

that, Lee Greenwood and several of the heroes surprised her with The Lee Greenwood Patriot Award in her hometown of Dallas alongside the other Lee Greenwood Patriot Award honorees that night: Mica Mosbacher, Clark and Tavia Hunt, Jim Caviezel, and Roger Clemens. Having her Helping a Hero family honor her for her passion, patriotism, and commitment to building adapted homes for our heroes meant the world to her. When SSgt Daniel Gilyeat, USMC (Ret) told her, “You are worth my sacrifice and you changed my life forever,” it

Helping a Hero is blessed to have leaders who are committed to accomplishing the mission of building homes for our wounded heroes. Lee Greenwood joined the charity in 2012 as the National Ambassador and has been another tireless leader singing at dozens of Groundbreakings and Welcome Home Ceremonies. In tribute to the 40th Anniversary of our second National Anthem: God Bless the USA and to his 80th birthday, Helping a Hero merged two annual awards to form the Lee Greenwood Patriot Award. Meredith is the first to honor others and rarely allows anyone to honor her. Knowing

She is the author of the upcoming book, Parenting Patriots,

For Meredith, living is packing 28 hours into every day. She is up early at 4am each morning and has already accomplished a full day of work before others finish their first cup of coffee. She is a tireless worker and is motivated to instill patriotism and ensure the next generation knows how special America is.

As she was speaking to a group in New Mexico, the speaker before her challenged everyone in the room to write down a goal each year and stick to it. The caveat was, it could only be 6 words. She didn’t even need the two minutes given by the speaker to do this daunting task that day. Her words: Bucket List Checked Off, Now LIVE!

His death at only 40 years old spurred Meredith to accomplish all her “bucket list items” by 28.

Her infamous “Bat Phone” as was dubbed by the Houston Chronicle has given her access to a patriotic network of donors she has met along the way. It all started when she was just the daughter of a self-made millionaire and legendary YPO speaker, Morgan Maxfield. He took a job in a parking garage to meet Lamar Hunt after failing to get a meeting with him for 6 months through the front door. Her Dad and Mr. Hunt became business partners that ultimately led to her dad moving to Kansas City and becoming the first CEO of Hunt Midwest.

call. Additionally, she is a Rotarian and enjoys visiting Rotary Clubs in small towns and big cities who help get things done.

and has two children who are patriots too. Her children created Liberty 614 when they were 6 and 10 to commemorate Flag Day and the day “Under God” was added to our Pledge of Allegiance. It’s also the U.S. Army Birthday. COVID thwarted their plans to build an American Flag cake at the White House out of strawberries and blueberries like she had done so many times in kindergarten classes to teach about the order our states were added to the union. The Iler Family is committed to patriotism and to insuring they leave legacy footprints for others to follow.

The stories are endless of how she has pulled together leaders in 26 states to accomplish her mission to build an adapted home for as many wounded service members who need physical adaptation for daily tasks like taking a shower. It was helpful to tap into the Stewart Title network across the country as a way to meet builders and developers with just a phone

“Meredith Iler is a force of nature.”

Her commitment to our country’s bravest men and women has only intensified since that first USO event in 1995. With the founding of the Helping a Hero Home Program, she has spearheaded her quest to show gratitude to our most severely wounded military veterans by providing them with specially adapted homes. She donated more than 2,000 hours per year for 8 years to launch the charity into one of the top 4 national homebuilding charities that build homes for our injured service members. General Tony Cucolo said it best when he said,

She has taken her advocacy abilities and has become an amazing fundraiser having raised over $100 million for many charities including Star of Hope Mission, Houston Christian High School, Emmy Gifford Children’s Theater, AD Players and of course her beloved Helping a Hero. Meredith has devoted her life to service and philanthropy. She was recognized by Houston Woman Magazine as one of the 2009 50 Most Influential Women in Houston. At only 27 years old, she received the National Volunteer of the Year Award from the American Diabetes Association. Her extensive list of accolades includes being the first civilian to chair the National USO Gala, which raised $1.8 million at a time when the USO was in financial distress.

eredith Iler is the Founder and National Chair of the Helping a Hero Home Program. She is a sixth generation Texan, and a part of the Stewart Title family. She graduated from Southern Methodist University and graduated 7th in her class at Creighton Law School. She was a decorated Moot Court advocate first at South Texas College of Law where she won the F. Lee Bailey Moot Court Competition and then represented Creighton where she won her Regional and faced her best friend and former Moot Court partner in the ABA National Finals. Meredith lost her father in a plane crash when she was 15. Her Moot Court Coach and Constitutional Law Professor at South Texas, T. Gerald Treece, was a father like figure and taught her about life and perseverance that have served her well throughout her career.

M

Founder, Helping a Hero Home Program

MEREDITH ILER

A few months ago, Fred Rothman, COO of LENNAR, was in the audience as we presented the Lee Greenwood Patriot Award to Louis and Patti

25% of the funding up front for each home really helps us put the team together with confidence to fund the other 75% needed to build each home.

once again to build these adapted homes. Knowing that we have

Then after being decimated by COVID and donations dwindling, Johnny Morris, Founder and CEO of Bass Pro Shops, launched the 100 Homes Challenge and set the course to go on offense

What is your biggest blessing and what does the future hold? Helping a Hero started on a trajectory for success through Rotary and then Chuck Jenness, George Bishop, Joanne King Herring, Rex and Marillyn King, Robert and Kim Marling, the Stewart family, George W. Strake, Jr., Jim Crane and Keith Mosing stepped up in 2011 and 2012 to help us grow to serve the mounting need nationally for Helping a Hero homes.

Hero has delivered almost $100 million in homes to wounded warriors. And we have invested heavily to serve thousands of heroes through our other support programs.

How much have you raised since you launched? Helping a

Breland of Breland Homes. He jumped up and ran to the microphone to join the 100 Homes Challenge by building at least 10 homes on our fixed cash budget.

We still need to raise millions to complete our 100 Homes Challenge, but with anchors like Johnny Morris and Lennar, the future is looking bright.

How many employees and volunteers work with your organization? We have 4 employees and thousands of volunteers involved in our organization. Our key volunteers are our builders and our subcontractors without whom Helping a Hero would not exist. Most of our builders and many of our subs commit to build at cost so we are able to stretch our dollars and help more of our heroes receive adapted homes. And our donors have really stepped up to insure the cash funding needed to build the homes is available.

Twila Carter ran the Astros Foundation for a decade and received our Patriot Award last month. She then made a surprise announcement and issued her own $250,000 challenge to build a home as part of her acceptance speech. She personally committed the first $25,000 in memory of her dad who served. Houston Texans owners, Cal and Hannah McNair donated $50,000 and others joined in. We are confident the community will help us fully fulfill this challenge. It’s neat to see patriotism spark patriotism and that is what Helping a Hero does.

Helping a Hero to thank our wounded heroes in a tangible way.

32 homes in varying stages of planning and construction in 16 states. Children have donated money they earned mowing lawns to help build these homes, others have held bake sales and coin drives. Builders, suppliers, and subcontractors donate their time and materials. Thousands of people collect gift cards, secure a year of mowing or electricity, and even donate 6 months of day care. There are so many creative ways to welcome our heroes to the community. Master planned communities and several cities have honored our home recipients by asking them to be the Grand Marshall in their Veterans Day Parade. The examples are endless when Americans with a heart of patriotism and gratitude join with

to build homes throughout the nation and currently we have

I am a patriot and after meeting the heroes who had lost limbs and were in recovery at the Intrepid in San Antonio, I wanted to help our heroes function independently despite their combat injuries. In 2007, we were filming Extreme Makeover: Home Edition with Ty Pennington and officially formed the Helping a Hero Home Program. After that episode, I joined with Houston Mayor Bill White and committed to build 15 adapted homes for wheelchair bound heroes, amputees, burn victims, blind and heroes suffering from severe TBI’s. Once we understood the vast need for adapted homes, Helping a Hero expanded its mission and has awarded close to 200 homes in 26 states.

Why did you launch the Helping a Hero Home Program?

Helping a Hero has led the way

Hero has united patriots by mobilizing school children and community organizations like Rotary, DAR, and building partners. They are Americans wanting to help make sure our heroes have adapted homes.

How have you impacted the community? Helping a

What is your mission? Helping a Hero's primary mission is to build custom adapted homes for catastrophically wounded heroes injured in the Global War on Terror. We believe in helping our wounded heroes in all aspects of their lives. We do this through our Home Program and with our other programs, which include Helping a Hero Outdoors (fishing and hunting outings), Marriage and Caregiver Retreats, Sports and Recreation Outings, and other family activities.

HELPING A HERO featuring