Heights Magazine

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THE

ONLY SENIOR COMMUNITY

IN THE HEART OF THE HEIGHTS

The Village of the Heights

Located in the quaint, yet vibrant Historic Heights area of Houston, The Village of the Heights offers residents distinctive experiences enjoyable for all. Whether it’s browsing local art shops, strolling through beautiful parks, dining at highly sought-after restaurants, or having access to nearby, high-quality medical services, The Village of the Heights offers a variety of activities and experiences that are enriching, enjoyable, and create memories.

Because our community is based on the idea that life is inherently valuable, rich, and downright enjoyable, we are focused on living life to the fullest. That’s why we offer a rich calendar of monthly activities and events. Our talented chefs prepare fresh, delicious, healthy meals our residents can enjoy in a cozy restaurant-style dining room.

We also value health and wellbeing, which is why we offer residents a variety of popular fitness classes, such as Tai Chi or Sit Yoga, and Fit Aerobics, and a walking club centered around our gorgeous grounds. At The Village of the Heights, we believe socializing is at the center of our residents’ lives. Our residents enjoy a lively, festive community that offers continuing education opportunities, including art, language, and cooking classes. Game nights are a hit featuring Scrabble, dominos, and mahjong, Sunday bingo, and more along with the always popular themed happy hours. And, for those looking for a little R&R, residents can catch their favorite flick at our weekend movie nights.

Residents at The Village of the Heights can choose from a range of living options to provide as much, or as little assistance as needed. From independent living, assisted living, and memory care, residents get the right level of support from our team of expert care associates. The Village of the Heights is committed to serving residents in a way that provides comfort and fulfillment. A place to Live Life Well®.

Visit for monthly events or for lunch to experience the community and a taste of distinguished senior living at The Village of Heights. Visit www.villageoftheheights.com or call 346-8005426 to schedule a private tour and lunch.

Imagine days full of possibilities in your beautiful new home at The Village of Heights Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care. Enjoy delicious supportive living services, and innovative programs that will inspire you to be social & remain physically active. Combined with the added spectrum of care to your individual needs, you’ll have everything to Live Life Well®, no matter

Get out and vote

As a multicultural oasis, business powerhouse, and the world’s energy capital, Houston has a lot going for it, including a couple of experienced, successful politicians who want to become our next mayor. Despite the many hot-button national issues, this year’s fall elections are all about Houston’s race for mayor, and it should be a doozy. The most likely scenario is a runoff in early December between two very well-known legislators. As with most of the past Houston mayors, the election will likely produce a term-limited tenure. Based on the incumbents who have preceded them, the mayor’s office offers relatively easy job security dating back to a ten-year term for then-Mayor Kathy Whitmire. It is, as always, a vital election due to a mayor’s powerful impact on its citizens’ everyday lives and well-being. We try to shed light in our exclusive wideranging interviews with both likely candidates who will still stand for a runoff after the November 7 elections.

Ms. Sheila Jackson Lee is a nationally known long-time Congresswoman with offices in the Heights. She is notable for her work in civil rights and, more recently, health care, which has put her in the national spotlight. The Congresswoman from the Heights District C Texas’ 18th Congressional District will face the long-time outspoken, popular state senator John Whitmire, who has represented the Texas Senate District 15 since 1982. Both have a ton of name recognition and will likely be the two to choose when the votes are counted on the first Tuesday in November. A runoff due to neither candidate getting over 50% would happen in early December, with a date to be determined. Get out and vote, or don’t complain.

Speaking of Houston’s multicultural population, two of our illustrious writers have penned articles in this issue illustrating the melange of our citizenry that makes Houston so alive.

Marene Gustin covers an 80-year celebration of food with the Molina family, and Virginia Anderson does a deep dive into the fascinating rug purveyor Mohsen Rezaei.

Arts +

Artupdate houston published every two weeks by houstonintown. For updates and more go to houstonintown.com and sign up for free updates.

MUSEUMS

Asia Society Texas Center

Opens TSHERIN SHERPA: SPIRITS

Sep 21

Museum Of Fine Arts Houston

Thru WOVEN WONDERS: INDIAN

Sep 4 TEXTILES FROM THE PARPIA COLLECTION

Thru WILLIAM KENTRIDGE: IN Sep 10 PRAISE OF SHADOWS

Thru IMPRESSIONIST AND POST Sep 17 IMPRESSIONIST MASTERPIECES FROM THE PEARLMAN FOUNDATION

Oct 8- ROBERT FRANK AND TODD

Jan 7 ‘24 WEBB: ACROSS AMERICA, 1955

Bayou City Art Festival Downtown

Bayou City Art Festival Downtown, produced by the Art Colony Association, Inc., will be on Saturday-Sunday, October 14-15, 2023.

Located in Sam Houston Park and along Allen Parkway, the Bayou City Art Festival will celebrate providing unique art experiences and education for the Greater Houston area while supporting local organizations and promoting the impact that art has on the Houston community. As one of the top art festivals in the country, the outdoor gallery provides patrons with the opportunity to meet 250 artists, view original works, and purchase one-of-a-kind art, world-class paint-

ings, prints, jewelry, sculptures, functional art, and more. This year’s featured artist is Michelle McDowell Smith, a mixed-media artist from Roanoke, VA.

The weekend festival features two entertainment stages, a food truck park, beverage stations throughout the festival, and art installations. Guests will enjoy Houston’s skyline views while visiting the festival’s wine garden, craft beer garden, and art bar. Bayou City Art Festival will also feature a Collegiate Art Collective, a collection of art composed of Houston-area college art students. For more information, please visit www. bayoucityartfestival.com.

Oct 15- REMBRANDT TO VAN GOGH: Jan 21 ‘24 MASTERPIECES FROM THE ARMAND HAMMER COLLECTION

Contemporary Arts Museum Houston

Thru MING SMITH: FELLING

Oct 1 THE FUTURE

Thru JORDAN STAFER: TRILOGY

Nov 26

Oct 27- SIX SCENES FROM OUR Mar 17 ‘24 FUTURE

Holocaust Museum Houston

Thru “I’LL HAVE WHAT SHE’S

Aug 15 HAVING”: THE JEWISH DELI

Thru BERLIN: A JEWISH ODE TO Sep 10 THE METROPOLIS

Sep 1- THE NEGRO MOTORIST

Nov 26 GREEN BOOK

Menil Collection

Thru ART OF THE CAMEROON

Sep 3 GRASSFIELDS, A LIVING HERITAGE IN HOUSTON

Thru SI LEWEN: THE PARADE

Sep 3

Thru HYPERREAL: GRAY FOY

Sep 3

Thru LONGING, GRIEF, AND Jan 21 ‘24 SPIRITUALITY: ART SINCE 1980

THE ICONIC PORTRAIT

STRAND BY NESTOR TOPCHY

Houston Museum Of Natural Science

PERMANENT EXHIBITS

ALFRED C. GLASSELL, JR. HALL

CULLEN HALL OF GEMS AND MINERALS

EARTH FORUM

FARISH HALL OF TEXAS WILDLIFE

FRENSLEY/GRAHAM HALL OF AFRICAN WILDLIFE

HALL OF ANCIENT EGYPT

HAMMAN HALL OF TEXAS COASTAL ECOLOGY

HERZSTEIN FOUCAULT PENDULUM

JOHN MCGOVERN HALL OF THE AMERICAS

LESTER & SUE SMITH GEM VAULT

MORIAN HALL OF PALEONTOLOGY

STARKE HALL OF MALACOLOGY

WIESS ENERGY HALL

WELCH HALL OF CHEMISTRY

SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS

SHARKS! THE MEG, THE MONSTERS, & THE MYTHS

TRAINS OVER TEXAS

CURATOR’S CHOICE: RECENT ACQUISITIONS OF THE HOUSTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE

LIFE IN STONE

MICROSCULPTURE: THE INSECT

PHOTOGRAPHY OF LEVON BISS

TOURMALINE TREASURES

BIOPHILIA: A DIALOGUE OF NATURE, ART AND SCIENCE

MUSIC & DANCE

HOUSTON SYMPHONY

Sep 29 RAVELS’ DAPHNIS AND - Oct 1 CHLOE

Oct 7- SEONG-JIN CHO PLAYS

Oct 8 RAVEL

Oct 14 BARBER’S VIOLIN

Oct 15 CONCERTO + DULE ELLINGTON

THEATER

A.D. PLAYERS

Sep 6- FOREVER PLAID

Oct 1

ALLEY THEATRE

Sep 22 AMERICAN MARIACHI

Oct 22

Oct 6- LITTLE COMEDIES

Oct 29

Broadway Across America

The Hobby Center

Nov 14- MJ

Nov 19

MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER

100-YEAR CELEBRATION CONTINUES GO TO MILLEROUTDOORTHEATRE.COM

Heights Epicurean

Farmers Market

Every First Saturday of the Month

1245 Heights Blvd

Elanor’s Market

Sat and Sun 9 am - 1 pm 2120 Ella Blvd.

STAGES REPERTORY THEATER

Thru ALWAYS PATSY CLINE

Oct 29

Sep 1 POTUS: OR, BEHIND EVERY

Oct 8 GREAT DUMBASS ARE SEVEN WOMEN TRYING TO KEEP HIM ALIVE

Oct 6- SWITZERLAND

Nov 12

THE ENSEMBLE THEATER

Sep 22- CHICKEN BISCUITS

Oct 15

Theatre Southwest

Sep 15- A DOLL’S HOUSE PART 2

Sep 30

Theatre Under the Stars

Thru JAGGED LITTLE PILL

Sep 9

Oct 10- SWEENEY TODD

Oct 29

SPORTS

Houston Astros

Minute Maid Park

Sep

1 - 3 NY YANKEES

8 - 10 SAN DIEGO

11 - 13 OAKLAND

18 - 20 BALTIMORE

22 - 24 KANSAS CITY

Houston Dynamo

Shell Energy Stadium

Sep 16 ST LOUIS FC 30 FC DALLAS

Oct 7

COLORADO RAPIDS

Houston Dash

Shell Energy Stadium

Oct 8 ANGEL CITY FC

Houston Texans

NRG Stadium

Sep 17

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Oct 1 PITTSBURGH

15 NEW ORLEANS

Beverly Smith CLHMS

Lake Conroe Specialist Coldwell Banker Realty (713) 569-2113

www.lakeconroebeverlysmith.com

David Michael Young Broker Associate, CLHMS, CNE, GREEN Compass RE Texas (713) 320-6453

www.youngrealtyhouston.com

Mariana Saldana Broker Associate

Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan (832) 338-4040

www.uptownrealestategroup.com

Genevieve Rowland REALTOR, MCNE, CLHMS

Multimillion Dollar Producer, ILHM Keller Williams Memorial (281) 904-7014

www.rowland-properties.com

Marilyn Arendt Broker - Owner Marilyn Arendt Properties (281) 433-9113

mma@castle2sell.com

Sherry

Broker, Founder, GRI, CHLMS Energy Realty (281) 797-7892

www.energy-realty.com

Debra Osborn Camino CLHMS, CIPS, ABR, CNE eXp Realty (713) 397-3867

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A waterfront home in Walden on Lake Conroe with 5 bedrooms, 5 1/2 baths, a pool, & a covered boat slip is a fantastic property. Walden is a community located on the shores of Lake Conroe in Texas, known for its scenic beauty and recreational opportunities. Beverly Smith | Coldwell Banker Realty

Wendy Cline Broker

Wendy Cline Properties Group (281) 858-3451

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Christopher Harman Owner Harman Residential Realty Group (281) 704-1047

www.https://harmanrei.com.com

Melonee Piperi Broker Associate CRP, CLHMS, CNE Keller Williams Memorial (713) 465-4646

www.movinghouston.com

Herma Hayes GRI, CDPE, ABR, CSSN RE/MAX Universal (281) 217-5481

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Tara Anderson Platinum Agent, CLHMS, CNE, MRP, SRS, SRES, CIPS Keller Williams Memorial (713) 202-4101

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List Price $2,990,000 | MLS# 13855166

This Gorgeous Estate on 25 Acres is the Best of Both Worlds, Country Living with City Convenience! This Custom Home was Designed by Mark W. Todd Architects & Custom Built by Kerry Emmott Featuring 5 Spacious Bedrooms and 4 & a Half Bathrooms.

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This 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath Beautiful home sits on 4.6+/- Unrestricted Acres In Hempstead, TX! This Custom Home boasts Travertine Tile Floors, High Ceilings, & Beautiful Details

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23106 Laneview Rd | Hempstead

17537 Seidel Cemetary Road | Tomball

Intown’s Classical Music Editor and Critic, the Hon. Philip Berquist, Honorary Consul for the Republic of Croatia for Texas

The new season looks very exciting

We are still in the midst of tremendous heat (I keep reminding myself and others, “THIS IS TEXAS in the Summer!) but September brings the beginning of a new 2023-2024 classical music season for Houston. Perhaps even a break from the weather. From my angle, the new season looks very exciting. Let’s begin -

Houston Grand Opera

One again, HGO has programmed six operas for the 1012-1024 season, including one world premiere that will open the year. Intelligence is about a spy-ring run by women during the Civil War. Composed by Jake Huggie, it brings mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton back to Houston and features the HGO initial performances of Janai Brugger; conducted by Kwamé Ryan. October 20, 22, 28 and November 1, 3.

Verdi’s final comic opera, Falstaff, is presented and completes the fall repertoire. Based of course on Shakespeare, this production features Reginald Smith, Jr. as the rogue and beloved Falstaff. Conducted by Patrick Summers. October 27, 29, and November 4, 8, 10.

Another composer’s final opera, this time Wagner’s, Parsifal returns after a thirty year absence (really hard to believe that it has been

Houston Symphony Orchestra

As has been for many years now, HSO presents its classical music season over eighteen weekends. There are some differences in availability, however, as three of the weekends will be initially available to season subscribers. Those are the Bruckner Symphony No.8 conducted by former Music Director Christoph Eschenbach in February, and the final two concerts in June 202, a “Strauss Festival” with the composer’s Four Last Songs and An Alpine Symphony followed by two unstaged performances of Strauss’s complete opera, Salome. Both of the final Strauss concerts are conducted by HSO Music Director Juraj Valčuha.

My picks for the season highlights include the three concerts mentioned about and the opening weekend of Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe conducted by Valčuha on September 29, 30 and October 1 2023. (Suites 1 and 2 on the 29 and the complete ballet on the remaining two dates.) Valčuha also conducts a “Symphonic Dances Festival” in November with music by Rachmaninov, Barton and Ravel on two weekends.

In early December, former Music Director Andres Orozco-Estrada returning and conducting two important works by Shostakovich, the brilliant Violin Concerto 1 and the chilling Symphony 11, “The Year 1905.”

In February, Itzhak Perlman conducts the Tchaikovsky Symphony 5. In March Valčuha leads three performances of Mahler’s epic Symphony 6, “The Tragic.”

All performances are at Jones Hall and the entire classical schedule as well as other performances can be accessed at www.houstonsymphony.org.

that long!). The story of a group of knights protecting the Holy Grail and trying to save their leader, Amfortas, who can only be healed by the “perfect fool” who it turns out is Parsifal, This production is led by Tony Award - winning John Caird. Russell Thomas is Parsifal, and international super star and HGO veteran, Christine Georke is Kundry. January 19, 21, 27, 31, and February 4 2024. Not to be missed!

Puccini’s Madame Butterfly completes the winter rep. The familiar tragic story of love and betrayal with Puccini’s usual wonderful music, is a revival of another Tony Award winner, Michael Grandage, and stars Ailyn Pérez as Cio-Cio-San and Yonzhao Yu as Pinkerton. Conducted by Patrick Summers. January 26, 28, February 3, 7, 9 ,11.

The spring repertoire brings us Mozart with the immortal Don Giovanni. Lady seducer extraordinaire Giovanni finds himself facing the ultimate vengeance from the world. Conducted by Dame Jane Glover, Luca Pisaroni stars as Giovanni and Andriana Churchman as Donna Anna lead an international cast. April 19, 21, 27, May 1, 3.

Closing out the season is the always popular The Sound of Music by Rogers and Hammerstein. The well known story of the Von Trapp family of Austria during World War 2 stars Isabel Leonard as Maria and Alexander Birch Elliott as Captain Von Trapp. Richard Bado, HGO Chorus Master, conducts. April 26,, 28, 30, May 4, 5, 10, 11, 12.

For more information - www.houstongrandopera.org.

Houston

Ballet

The season begins on September 8, 2023 with A Midsummer Night’s Dream set to the music of Mendelssohn and Ligeti. September 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17.

Next is a World Premiere by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, TUTU with music by Ravel and Stars and Stripes choreographed by George Balanchine with music by JohnPhillip Sousa. Quite a combination. September 21, 23, 24, 29, 30, October 1.

For the holidays, one can again expect Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker with some 33 performances (I think I counted them correctly!). It runs from November 24 through December 27.

February 2024 brings Cinderella with the music of Prokofiev. February 22, 24, 25, March 1, 2, 3.

Bespoke is a mixed evening with music by Bach, Janácek and 48nord. March 7, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17.

Mayerling is set to the music of Liszt. May 23, 25, 26, 31, June 1, 2.

Four Seasons is the season finale and is set to the music of Tchaikovsky, Xiaogang and Vivaldi. June 6, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16.

For more information - www.houstonballet. org.

Another great season of classical music and fine arts awaits us here in Houston. I hope that this guide is helpful.

Let me continue to hear from you - classicalmusicberquist@gmail.com.

at 82

Still going strong and cheesy good

by Marene Gustin

If you live in Houston, you’ve almost certainly eaten at one of Molina’s Cantinas, there are currently three locations of the Tex-Mex stalwart that turns 82 years young this year.

It all began back in 1929 when Raul Molina left his hometown of Laredo, Mexico looking for a better life. He found it working as a busboy in Houston, a job that led him and wife Mary, in 1941, to buy that very same restaurant. It was called the Old Monterrey Restaurant and was located at 1919 West Gray, where a Walgreens now sits. Two sons, Raul Jr., and George, worked in the restaurant and the whole family lived upstairs in a one-room apartment.

They bought another restaurant and in 1952 they renamed it Molina’s Mexico City Restaurant and then Molina’s Restaurant and Cantina. Over the years several more sites were opened. Today the business is run by the three grand-

sons of Raul — Raul III, Ricardo, and Roberto.

“In the beginning, the restaurants were small and had several of the same menu items, all Tex-Mex,” says Ricardo Molina. “Over the years the menu has greatly expanded. We added grilled items like fajitas, seafood offerings, soups, and salads. Many of the signature items remain and are still made with the original recipes, including chili con carne and Enchiladas de Tejas.”

Customers can be rapid about their favorite dishes, such as The Ladies Special combo plate, puffy tacos, and José’s Dip.

The exact birth of the famous José’s Dip is a little murky, but the story goes

Raul & Mary Molina (above) and Roberto, Ricardo and Raul Molina III.

that a waiter named José was once asked by a customer for a special dip, so he put dumped some spicy taco meat into the queso and voilà… José’s Dip!

But the biggest change involved tequila.

“Only beer and wine were served and there were no bars, but in 1971, liquor by the drink became law in Texas, and that changed the restaurant and the industry dramatically,” says Ricardo Molina. “Molina’s began serving their famous authentic (and potent) margaritas, which helped introduce people to tequila and changed the dining experience. This was really a game changer for all restaurants. Restaurants evolved into entertainment venues over the last several decades instead of just somewhere to eat.”

It’s hard to imagine eating Tex-Mex without a cold margarita, it’s even harder — particularly given this year’s heat wave — to imagine eating it without air conditioning.

“The original restaurant was one of the first to install air conditioning,” Ricardo Molina recalls. “Before A/C, sales would drop tremendously in the summer — I understand that was the case at all restaurants.”

Dining at Molina’s can be a family

experience. Many diners are second and third generation Tex-Mex eaters, and almost all the regulars have their favorite waiter or waitress, many of whom have been working at Molina’s for decades. President George W.H. and Barbara Bush were longtime fans. One of the brothers visits each location every day.

“We are Tex-Mex and we’re proud to be Tex-Mex.” Ricardo Molina says. “There was a time that people were saying Tex-Mex isn’t Mexican food, and that’s fine, but we have the same base recipes that we’ve had forever. We do small batch; we grind our own chilies to make gravies and chili con carne and we try to be consistent on those signature items since we have third-generation guests who still dine with us decades later. We want it to taste the same as it did back then. It’s our area’s comfort food.”

Top Shelf Molina’s Margarita

Makes one tasty adult beverage. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo, or taco Tuesday, or any day with this authentic margarita Molina’s way. No mix needed.

INGREDIENTS:

2 oz Premium 100% agave tequila (such as Hornitos)

1 oz Premium orange liqueur (such as Grand Marnier)

1 oz fresh squeezed lime juice

Salt, to rim the glass (optional)

Lime wedges

DIRECTIONS:

•Wet the rim of glass and dip in salt

•Fill with ice

•Pour remaining ingredients into a shaker over ice and give it a good, festive shake

• Strain into salt rimmed glass

• Garnish with a lime edge & enjoy!

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is the Democratic Chief Deputy Whip for the U.S. House of Representatives.

She is the author and lead sponsor of the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, which established the first new federal holiday in 38 years.

And Congresswoman Jackson Lee is the author and fighter for the passage of the Violence Against Women’s Act—signed by the President for the first time in almost a decade.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is an influential and forceful voice in Washington. She is serving her fourteenth term as a United States House of Representatives member. She represents the 18th Congressional District of Texas, centered in Houston, the world’s energy capital. Considered by many as the “Voice of Reason”, she is dedicated to upholding the Constitutional rights of all people. She sits on three Congressional Committees — as a senior member of the House Committees on the Judiciary, Homeland Security, and the crucial Budget Committee. She was appointed the first female Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee for Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, which she now chairs.

Congresswoman Jackson Lee’s major legislative initiatives include the Sentencing Reform Act, the George Floyd Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act, The RAISE Act, The Fair Chance for Youth Act, the Kimberly Vaughan Firearm Safe Storage Act, Kaleif’s Law, the American RISING Act.

She has also introduced the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Reauthorization and Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act, the Federal Prison Bureau Nonviolent Offender Relief Act. She is a champion for women and children, supporting the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and introducing an amendment to funding bills that provides for outreach to minority- and women-owned businesses concerning business opportunities in the commercial space industry, and authored the Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Research and Education Act.

She was named by ‘Congressional Quarterly’ as one of the 50 most effective Members of Congress. The ‘U.S. News and World Report named her as one of the ten most influential legislators in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a founder, member, and Chair of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus and the Congressional Children’s Caucus. She is also chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Energy Braintrust, Co-Chair of the Justice Reform Task Force. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee earned a B.A. in Political Science from Yale University with honors in the first graduating class, including females, followed by a J.D. from the University of Virginia Law School. She is married to Dr. Elwyn Lee, a Yale Graduate and an Administrator at the University of Houston. She has two children Jason Lee a graduate of Harvard University, and Erica Lee a graduate of Duke University, who is also a Member of the Harris County School Board in Houston, Texas. She is also the proud grandmother of two grandkids (twins), granddaughter Ellison Bennett Carter and grandson Roy Lee Carter, III.

Strong leadership and commitment to public service defines John Whitmire. He has spent his adult life as a public servant, working for Houstonians in our state’s Capitol. Now, John is running for Houston Mayor. He wants to take his years of experience and put it to work to fight crime, improve city services and infrastructure, and make Houston a better place to work, live and raise your family.

John’s father was a social worker, his mother was a nurse. From them he learned compassion and that you should treat everyone as you would want to be treated. John helped put himself through school as a social worker for what was then called the welfare office.

While still a student at the University of Houston, John ran for a seat in the Texas House and won. He served five terms there before being elected to the Texas Senate. After 40 years in that body, he is considered the Dean of the Senate, the longest-serving member.

He has served as the Chair of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee for a number of years, advocating his tough and smart crime positions.

In his time in the Texas Legislature, John has many accomplishments of which he is proud. He championed and helped create a Senate district for our Latino community. He worked hard to push through the James Byrd Hate Crimes Act, the Sandra Bland Act, and the Martin Luther King Jr. birthday and Juneteenth holidays. John has helped implement prison diversion, second chance opportunities and a program to allow female prisoners to keep their newborn babies with them instead of having them taken away immediately after birth. Bilingual education. In-state tuition for dreamers. Decriminalizing truancy. Indigent healthcare. John created the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority, which led to the construction of Minute Maid Park, Toyota Center and NRG Stadium. Just this year, he wrote and passed bills that will bring millions of dollars for economic development into downtown Houston, require courts to prioritize trials for persons accused of murder and capital murder to get those offenders off the streets, and require the City of Houston to treat firefighters fairly through arbitration.

John Whitmire

Q&A with Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee

What character traits and experience do you feel will make you an effective mayor?

I am running because I love Houston and want to bring my broad experience to help build its future. I will use the experience I gained at City Hall as an at-large Council Member, as a Deputy Agriculture Commissioner for the State of Texas, and my 14 terms in Congress delivering results for Houston. I am known for working hard and delivering results – I will do the same for the entire city of Houston. I don’t just talk, I deliver.

My vision is for a city that is more inclusive, promotes economic opportunity, and affirms all communities. The Mayor is the CEO for the city and I want to see all services performing at the highest level. Houston is an international city and it is time we leverage our biggest asset - our people. My vision is a city that “Pops”! We have not reached our greatest potential and the best is yet to come. I want to lead that charge into the future as one of America’s greatest destinations for families and businesses. We are the city of WHY NOT! Why not Houston as a tech hub, why not Houston as the renewable energy capital of the world, why not Houston for America’s working families looking for new opportunities.

What are the two or three most important issues facing the city today?

Public safety: My administration will prioritize public safety by addressing crime and gun violence by implementing strong community policing strategies to decrease it. We will allocate resources for violence intervention programs and ensure increased access to mental health services. Additionally, we will work towards improved coordination among all law enforcement agencies within the city of Houston and Harris County. We will advocate the hiring and recruitment of more officers and mandate that our city police department meets all national standards. Furthermore, we will focus on youth-directed violence and allocate additional resources for youth recreation and mentorship programs to provide opportunities for positive development.

Infrastructure: Repairing and upgrading critical infrastructure will be a key priority. We will prioritize the repair of water and wastewater systems, enhanced street lighting, and invest in high tech flood mitigation

efforts. Building more strategically placed and coordinated detention ponds will help prevent flooding and protect communities. It is crucial to ensure that federal and state funds are distributed fairly among neighborhoods to address disparities and prioritize the most pressing infrastructure needs.

Economic diversification: We will work towards diversifying Houston’s economy by providing support for small businesses and creating opportunities for new businesses to thrive in the city.

This includes implementing initiatives that foster entrepreneurship and offering resources and guidance for small and new business owners. We will also promote education and collaborate with four-year universities and community colleges to enhance educational opportunities, aligning curriculum with the needs of the evolving job market and attracting industries that can contribute to the city’s economic growth. We will also analyze and implement processes for fair and equitable city contracting.

What changes, if any, do you recommend for the city’s budget?

I would work with the City Council to look for new and creative revenue streams that would not burden taxpayers but provide the quality services they deserve.

What can and will you do to try and control the soaring rents and prices for homes in Houston?

I would support more single and multi-family housing that is affordable using new technologies that can help decrease the cost of building and would work with housing developers to offer a percentage of housing at less than the market rate in perpetuity (as opposed to only for a few years). And if the budget allowed, I would assign funding for more housing inspectors at the local level to hold bad actors accountable.

First, we must prioritize the preservation of affordable housing. I will work to strengthen existing affordable housing programs and explore innovative strategies to expand affordable housing options throughout the city. I would work with the City Council to look at incentivizing the construction of affordable units, look at rent subsidies for the economically disadvantaged, and protect tenants’ rights to prevent unjust displacement.

What do you propose to do about controlling the damage from flooding and other climate issues?

We will invest in the most modern early detection warning systems, increase community and school education on evacuation procedures, provide major infrastructure im-

provements in our sewer and drainage systems, and consolidate our city’s flood projects through flood district collaboration. I will use my years of experience working with FEMA to effectively coordinate between government agencies, first responders, and community organizations. I would leverage my relationships with the Department of Transportation, HUD, FEMA and the Congressional appropriations committee to ensure that Houston gets its fair share of funding.

How do you propose to keep our schools, events, and people in general safe from attacks?

Texas and the nation have seen so many lives needlessly lost to gun violence. Our streets are turning into war zones and warrantless killing. I support the 2nd Amendment of our Constitution, but I believe as a nation that local, state and federal elected officials have a role to play in addressing the extreme gun violence in the United States. We are the most violent nation on earth as it relates to guns. We must expand the background checks requirement, to prevent prohibited people from buying guns from unlicensed sellers with no questions asked. I also support “Extreme risk laws” or “Red

Flag” laws, allowing judges to temporarily remove guns from dangerous situations. If a court finds that a person poses a significant threat to themselves or others, that person is temporarily prohibited from purchasing and

possessing guns. I also oppose allowing guns in K-12 schools and colleges, outside of trained law enforcement and security staff.

Q&A with John Whitmire

What character traits and experience do you feel will make you an effective mayor?

My experience in the Texas Legislature has taught me you can’t get anything done unless you work with everyone. As mayor, I intend to work with City Councilmembers, the County and the State, because we work better when we work together.

As a legislator, I have dealt with many of the issues facing Houstonians today—public safety, transportation, mental health, to name a few. I have helped create billion-dollar budgets for the State of Texas.

In my time in the Texas Legislature, I have many accomplishments of which I am proud. I championed and helped create a Senate district for our Latino community. I worked hard to push through the James Byrd Hate Crimes Act, the Sandra Bland Act, and the Martin Luther King Jr. birthday and Juneteenth holidays. I have helped implement prison diversion, second chance opportunities and a program to allow female prisoners to keep their newborn babies with them instead of having them taken away immediately after birth. Bilingual education. Improved access to voting. Decriminalizing truancy. Indigent healthcare. I created the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority, which led to the construction of Minute Maid Park, Toyota Center and NRG Stadium. Just this year, I wrote and passed bills that will bring millions for economic development into downtown Houston, require courts to prioritize trials for persons accused of murder and capital murder to get those offenders off the streets, and require the City of Houston to treat firefighters fairly through arbitration.

What are the two or three most important issues facing the city today?

· Public Safety, including fire, police and municipal employees

· City infrastructure, including streets, water lines, flooding and drainage

· City services, including garbage pickup, outrageous water bills, illegal dumping, a barely functioning Permitting Office

· Budget, transparency and ethics

What changes, if any, do you recommend for the city’s budget?

The City Controller is projecting General Fund expenditures will increase by 4.32 percent, compared to the prior year, while recurring revenues are only expected to increase by 2.86 percent, and as ARPA funds

go away this problem is only going to get worse. We have been relying on one-time or short-term funding sources, like ARPA funds, to pay for recurring expenses. Bottomline, Houston’s budget is structurally imbalanced. This is not sustainable.

To right our fiscal ship will require a comprehensive assessment of where we currently stand and developing a long-term plan to get us out of this hole. We must fund only what we can afford, with a priority put on public safety, infrastructure, and basic city services like garbage pickup, water service and parks. To balance our budget we need to look at consolidating the city’s 25 departments and combining services with other government entities. For example, working with Harris County to share libraries, parks and public health. I will see that we work with the county on shared expenses.The future of this city remains bright, but we are at a tipping point. To avoid falling off a fiscal cliff we must face these long-term structural challenges head-on,.

What can and will you do to try and control the soaring rents and prices for homes in Houston?

The City must make affordable housing a priority. We need to ensure Houstonians have a broad span of housing options at a variety of prices from which to choose. This includes more and better-funded programs to assist homebuyers with down payments and incentivize new construction of affordable homes. We should also provide help to people who are in danger of losing their homes; currently Houston is experiencing escalating rental rates, which is increasing evictions. We need to improve our Permit-

ting Office and streamline our review process so builders and homeowners can move forward with their projects in a timely fashion. But we must ensure new development does not drive out the original residents of a neighborhood due to increased property taxes or rents. We cannot lose the neighborhood history and variety that make Houston such a vibrant city.

What do you propose to do about controlling the damage from flooding and other climate issues?

Obviously, flooding is a regional problem and we need to work with all government agencies in a coordinated effort to prevent flooding. Something as simple as maintaining ditches can make a big difference and I’m glad to see that the city is now spending more money to do that. We need more flood mitigation projects like the innovative Willow Waterhole Greenspace Park, which has helped prevent flooding in the Westbury area while creating a beautiful amenity for the community. I secured $1 million in state funding this year for the expansion of that flood mitigation/greenspace.

Build Houston Forward (formerly ReBuild Houston), funded by a drainage fee, has been in existence for ten years with no meaningful improvements being made towards making the city more resilient to a major natural disaster. The funds were supposed to be in a lock box for needed projects but have been used to pay salaries of Public Works employees. We need to honor the spirit of that ballot initiative and use the money for priority projects to make the city more resilient.

We need to have a better relationship

with the General Land Office, which controls federal funds. It is beyond comprehension that Houston would receive no funding at all from the recovery dollars. I have worked with many state officials getting assistance for Houston, including the current Land Commissioner and I will remind all of them that: As goes Houston, so goes Texas.

I will place a greater emphasis on our OEM office and ensure that it is fully staffed and ready for an emergency. We need to have in place plans to coordinate with our many nonprofits like the Red Cross. We need to ensure that we reach out to all our residents with information in their language. I am pleased to see OEM now using social media to deliver information about surviving our heat emergency in various languages; we need to ensure that continues and is expanded. And I am the only candidate who can reach out to our state officials in the middle of the night to get help sent to Houston immediately.

How do you propose to keep our schools, events, and people in general safe from attacks?

We need to increase the number of police officers on the street. This can be achieved partly by hiring civilians to do some of the administrative jobs that officers are doing now and coordinating with other law enforcement agencies that operate within Houston, e.g., constables, school districts and Metro.

We need to get guns and violent offenders off the streets. That’s why I passed Senate Bill 402 this past session, requiring courts to give priority to murder and capital murder cases. We have hundreds of persons accused of these crimes out on bond or as fugitives, committing more crimes. We need to get them locked up to protect our residents.

We need to strengthen the Community Policing Program; when police officers and people in the community know each other and work together, we can reduce and prevent crime.

We also need to better equip our officers on how to handle mental health situations, including enhancing de-escalation training.

We should provide more and better “Second Chance” or re-entry programs that work quickly to integrate former offenders back into the community and help them with housing, jobs and other services so they don’t have to return to crime to support themselves.

Searching for Houston’s freshest authentic Gulf Coast seafood? Look no further than Eugene’s. From For reservations go to: EugenesHouston.com/reservations or call 713.807.8883

signature seafood dishes, to impeccable select Angus Beef steak to the best burger in town, our magnificently prepared culinary options will keep you busy. Open Monday thru Saturday : Lunch 11:00 to 2:30pm / Happy Hour 4:00 to 7:00pm Dinner 5:00 to 10:00pm / Open Saturday 11:00am to 10:00pm Saturday Brunch 11:00 to 3:00pm / Saturday Happy Hour 2:00 to 5:00pm / Closed Sunday

Luxury Home Design Takes Some Turns

Timeless, trending and New ideas by native

homebuilder David Gordon

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Floor-to-ceiling windows, often referred to as window walls, instantly give a space the feeling of open, airy elegance and a focal point of a room. Abundant natural light and an unhindered view help blur the line between the outdoors and the indoors.

The abundant natural light can brighten a space and meld outdoor and indoor living. It also makes a room feel larger and operable windows allow an abundance of fresh air and elegance into the home.

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Open Floor Concept is slowly becoming a timeless design for most luxury kitchens. As a focal ;point of so many hems the kitchen being open to a dining and living area makes an inviting space and one that seems larger than the actual square footage and a must for most new home builds. Fancy countertops and large islands are also being built into most new luxury homes.

Hidden rooms. Bookcases, floorboards and mirrors are not often exactly what they seem to be. Hidden rooms behind them can give a home its unique design and something meaningful to the owner whether it’s a wine room, secret office or out of sight storage. Other concealed rooms can be used for a kids playroom, cellar or media room.

Pools being integrated into the initial design of the home has become an important trend. Builders need to allow for certain code regulations when building next to a structure. Pools become like the kitchen a focal point of the home particularly in Houston’s long outdoor season.

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Black windows. These have been used for awhile now, but almost all the homes we build now has modern black windows. This can eliminate the need for window treatments and generally go with anything.

Dog washing station. Houston loves their pets, and we have now found that they are taking this affinity to a new level with an expanded mud room or self-contained dog washing station for their furry friends. Whether this will be a trend for long is anyone’s guess.

David Gordon is the founder of Aspire Homes, a luxury homebuilder. He founded Aspire (formerly Whitestone Builders) in 2004 with the goal of reinventing the custom home-building process. Gordon graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in Construction Management.

Iranian Born Mohsen Rezaei’s World of Rugs

By Virginia Billeaud Anderson

Some priceless objects were irretrievably lost when Alexander laid waste to Persepolis in 321 BC. Manuscripts of Zoroastrian sacred scripture that were housed in Persepolis’ library, for one. Being a student of Aristotle didn’t stop Alexander from letting the Macedonian army torch books. Another deplorable loss were the Persian rugs. Achaemenid dynasty rulers received the satraps who came to pay tribute and kiss their royal feet in sumptuous surroundings. Cyrus the Great had magnificent rugs. So prized was the rug beneath King Xerxes’ gold plated throne in his audience chamber, only the king’s feet could touch it. It’s easy to imagine handwoven Persian carpets throughout the palace complex Alexander ravaged. Interestingly, it was during this Achaemenid dynastic era (6th to 4th century BC) that Persian rugs evolved into a precious art form. I’m not saying this was the beginning of hand woven rugs, that happened long before, I’m saying the manufacturing techniques and pattern designs developed during the Ach-

aemenid period laid the groundwork for Persian rugs’ unrivalled beauty and craftsmanship. Centuries later, the Safavid Dynasty (1501-1736) advanced carpet production by establishing royal workshops and extending patronage to highly skilled artisans. Perhaps you saw some of the Safavid masterpieces on display in MFAH’s Islamic Art galleries.

Ever read Rumi? In one passage the poet urges, “be drawn by the stronger pull of that which you truly love.” In many ways, Iranian born Mohsen Rezaei who founded Mohsen Oriental Rugs in Houston embodies Rumi’s sentiment. Mohsen’s is a deep-rooted connection to the rugs he loves. Born into a family of Iranian rug merchants, he has spent practically his entire life around Persian rugs, is innately aware of their artistry, and feels inseparable from the historical and cultural heritage that permeates them.

Some people seem destined to do what they do. Whenever I meet one, I pay attention. There’s usually a spiritual lesson in this. At the very least I’m reminded to know myself. Over the course

of some fun visits to Mohsen’s rug store located on West Alabama Street near the Menil Collection, surrounded by stacks of Persian and Oriental carpets, Mohsen told me his story. “I started to learn about rugs when I was 10 years old. Every summer, during my school break, I would go to the Tehran Rugs Bazaar with my father. I became interested in learning to repair rugs. Most of my family was in the rug business, selling, repairing, and cleaning rugs. By the time I graduated high school, I was an expert at antique rug repair.”

Helping his father nail inventory familiarized him with Iran’s rug producing regions and the different styles historically associated with each, to give examples, Tabriz rugs commonly have medallions, and Isfahan rugs often sport arabesques. Such knowledge, it goes without saying, feeds into his work today. “When I worked with my father in the Tehran market we traveled to all the rug cities in Iran - Tabriz, Hamadan, Esfahan, Qum, Naein, Malayer, Zanjan. Also Mashhad and Kashan. We had

Iranian born Mohsen Rezaei in his store Mohsen Oriental Rugs

Persian Esfahan Sayrafian Design

Vintage Persian Kashan 10 x 14

agents everywhere who collected rugs for us, who knew what we wanted, meaning a good rug at the right price. Rug dealers who knew my father a long time found good rugs and bought for us. The people we worked with know what we were looking for. Also we were working rug stores outside of the Tehran market, collecting in the evening and bringing to the bazaar the next morning. In Houston I’m doing the same thing. I buy Persian rugs from U.S. wholesalers due to sanctions, and imported Turkish, Indian and Pakistani rugs, and I attend rug shows in New York, Atlanta, Las Vegas and High Point.”

A reason Mohsen buys Persian rugs from U.S. wholesalers is they’re not prohibited by the U.S embargo against Iranian imports which began with the 1979 Iranian Revolution, and strangely enough has been off and on until now. You might recall Obama ditched sanctions, and Trump reinstated. “Obama released the embargo when he made the nuclear deal, then several years later Trump began it again.” Which gets to the heart of a Persian rug. In the simplest of terms, it’s a rug woven inside Iran’s borders by a meticulous process that begins with wool from Iranian sheep being spun into yarn that is colored with natural plant and root dyes such as madder and indigo. Village women typically perform the weaving, using their hands to form threads into small loop-shape knots, arranging knots into the intricate patterns each region is traditionally known for. Design motifs get passed down through

generations. Most have symbolic meaning, including pre-Islamic associations.

As might be expected, Mohsen’s inventory includes Oriental rugs. On one of my visits I spotted an exceptional Turkish Oushak. Needless to say, rug repair is a cornerstone of his business. Persian rugs generally increase in value over time, so owners tend to hold on to them. If continuing sanctions restrict U.S. supplies and jack-up values, owners will repair and resell years from now to collectors willing to shell it out. Years back, Mohsen repaired my Persian Mahal. Through some haggling, I luckily own four Persians and two from Turkey.

Hamadan is way ancient, one of the world’s oldest cities. Called Ecbatana in antiquity, Greek historians extolled its beauty and riches, describing a gold covered citadel, or as Herodotus suggested, a ziggurat, although archaeologists are having fits trying to find a ziggurat beneath the modern city. In 550 BC Cyrus the Great yanked the rich city into the Persian Empire. In time, his successors built there a summer palace, and you can bet they filled it with Persian rugs. Hamadan became a busy place for buying and selling rugs brought from surrounding areas. Mohsen was born in Hamadan (1972.) “My father and grandfather were from Hamadan. My grandfather didn’t have a store, he simply bought and sold rugs. My father opened his store in Tehran in 1980. My family moved to Tehran in 1990. My father retired and is now a USA permanent resident. Whenever he visits here, I benefit

from his experience. You have to really love this business. People don’t stay in it for very long unless they do.”

Houston beckoned. “In 1998, I immigrated to Beirut, Lebanon and worked in the rug business for two years. In 2000, I immigrated to New York City where I repaired rugs. But from the beginning, I disliked how crowded and rushed it was. I wanted to find a quieter city. One of my father’s friends who was also in the rug business suggested Houston is the best place to work and live. After two months in Manhattan, I moved to Houston and started repairing rugs for Mr. Gus Parvizian. In 2003, I began working for myself. My first location was in an antique store on Dunlavy Street. In 2012, I moved to the Antique Pavilion on Westheimer, but in 2022 it closed for demolition. Fortunately I found a building at 1316 West Alabama. After 20 years of business, I have my own building.”

Given all the rugs he’s handled, I couldn’t help but wonder if Mohsen had a favorite. Which rug really turns him on? “Serapi,” he said unhesitatingly. “Unique color, unique design, and they’re always valuable. They are made near Heriz.” By this he means rugs made in villages nestled throughout the Heriz region of northwestern Iran that feature a less frou-frou, less classical, more abstract take on motifs like palmettes or vine scrolls, some with blue tones that bowl you over.

www.mohsenorientalrug.com

Mohsen’s assistant Adan Martinez repairs a rug

Inventory Mohsen Oriental Rugs

The Mission of Yahweh

“Friends on a Mission”

Host Committee Luncheon

More than 50 “Friends on a Mission” gathered on Thursday, August 3, 2023, in the wine cellar at Tony’s restaurant to join forces for fundraising as host committee members in preparation for the inaugural Leaders & Legends Gala planned for Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. at the River Oaks Country Club.

The luncheon was generously hosted by Betty Tutor and she was joined by Co-Chairs Samantha Kennedy and Saula Valente along with Honorary Chair Warner Roberts as they all welcomed an impressive list of power players ready to work on gathering items for The Giving Tree, raffle, and live auction, which will be conducted by Johnny Bravo.

The Mission of Yahweh, a faith-based shelter that empowers, enriches, and restores the lives of homeless women and children, will recognize the following “Families on a Mission” at the September fete: The Johnny Carrabba Family and Donna Vallone, who have shaped the Houston community through their commitment and service to others.

Melissa Williams Murphy

Ann Ayre

Rosanette Cullen

Samantha Kennedy and Jenny Gorski

Daniel Irion and Richard Hill

Jeanette Doumani, Saula Valente and Jessica Brown

Betty Tutor, Samantha Kennedy and Saula Valente

Yoon Smith, Jolly Blanca, Daniel Irion and Karen Payne

Photos by Daniel Ortiz

The Hon. Susan Soussan, Warner Roberts and Scott Evans

The Hon. Joanne King Herring and Cheryl Byington

Roz Pactor, Pam Sterlekar and Monica Hartland

Kim Moody and Lynnette Davis