september + october 2022 Downtown or The Boulevard Art Festival Celebrates 50 Years The Man Behind The Food Sex Trafficking: Part lll In A Series Fans Returning To The Theater — Finally
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“We’re honored to provide top-quality, innovative healthcare right here in your neighborhood.” Shane Magee, M.D. Managing Physician Memorial Villages Campus We’ve made it easy to get the exceptional, connected care you and your family deserve. Schedule Appointmentan Today! SCAN or 713-442-7005.call Accepting more than 50 health insurance plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, KelseyCare, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare Advantage plans! NOW OPEN! Kelsey-Seybold – Memorial Villages Campus 40+ medical specialties • On-site Kelsey Pharmacy • Laboratory • Diagnostic services 926377417 1001 Campbell Road, Houston, TX 77055 Located at the corner of I-10 and Campbell Road in Spring Valley Village EXCEPTIONAL CARE, CLOSER THAN EVER.
The True Art of Living Well – The Village of Tanglewood
Join The Village of Tanglewood for monthly events or visit for lunch to experience its excellent culture and a taste of tradition in luxury senior living. Visit our website, www.villageoftanglewood.com or call 346-800-5981 to schedule a tour and lunch.
We’ve Got the Power
Contact Us Today (346) 800-6119
A Houston tradition in luxury senior living, The Village of Tan glewood offers discerning seniors an elegant lifestyle and mainte nance-free living with a host of services and amenities, each designed to allow residents to Live Life Well®. The luxury senior living com munity allows residents to experience the best of all worlds, with the freedom to enjoy friends, community ties, and personal interests, along with superb dining and worry-free transportation—all includ ed in your monthly lease.
The Village of Tanglewood believes that your apartment home should be as appealing as its premier location. With high-qual ity design details and finishes, such as nine-foot ceilings, crown molding, spacious walk-in closets, stainless steel appliances, washer & dryers, and balconies, our residents enjoy traditional, luxury living.
As sole owners of the latest, most advanced piece of equipment, The Village of Tanglewood has full rights of usage. This is advantageous compared to most communities leasing the equipment where they are at the mercy of others in when and how they are able to use the generator. The Village of Tanglewood prioritizes the safety and comfort of its residents to be able to have the freedom to utilize such an important piece of equipment without any potential obstacles.
The Village of Tanglewood is located minutes from the Galleria, Theatre District, and the Texas Medical Center, allowing us to provide access to the best that Houston has to offer.
There is a lot of positive energy at The Village of Tanglewood! The community has a fully operational generator. With this full-building generator, there is no outlet that can hide. The entire building will be powered which will eliminate the need to evacuate residents, ensure power for necessary equipment, provide safety and security during inclement weather, prevent mold growth, and food from spoiling. The on-site generator will also ensure that systems such as refrigerators, stoves, and air-conditioning will be served without missing a beat.
Powered by the latest generation, state-of-the-art generator, e Village of Tanglewood provides its residents the safety and security to weather whatever mother nature has in store. As the only senior living company in Houston with the newest high-powered generators, residents are able to live with peace of mind knowing
Powered by the latest generation, state-of-the-art generator, e Village of Tanglewood provides its residents the safety and security to weather whatever mother nature has in store. As the only senior living company in Houston with the newest high-powered generators, residents are able to live with peace of mind knowing their safety and comfort is prioritized. 800-6119
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6 | Mv | September + October 2022 PUBLISHER M. A. Haines EDITOR Lisa June Memorial Villages magazine is published bi-monthly by SNS Media. Articles are welcome and will be given careful consideration for possible publication. Memorial Villages magazine does not assume any responsibility for unsolicited materials. Materials submitted will be returned if accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Box 980757 Houston, TX 77098. You can also e-mail intownmagazine@gmail.com. Copyright 2022 by Intown magazine. All rights reserved. Content may not be reprinted or reproduced without permission from Intown magazine. / september + october 2022 contents For advertising rates and information: 713.525.8607 intownmagazine@gmail.com Space reservation deadline is 15 days prior to publication. Send comments, thoughts or ideas to intownmagazine@gmail.com PRODUCTION Web Design CSS Art & Design Layout & Graphic Design CSS Art & Design Graphic Designer Cris Bell Photographer Wells Brown CONTRIBUTORS Lindsay Mowad William VirginiaMareneHanoverGustinEvansAttwellPhilipBerquistMinniePayneBilleaudAnderson ON THE COVER 8 PUBLISHER’S LETTER 10-13 ARTS & EVENTS 14-15 ARTS SEASON STARTS SEPTEMBER 16-19 THE MAN BEHIND THE FOOD 20-21 SEX FOLLOW-UPTRAFFICKING 22-23 FINANCIAL FOCUS 30 16 22 14 8
David Michael Young Broker Provendavid@youngrealtyhouston.com713-320-6453AssociatePerformance–YearAfterYear Providing expert residential real estate services in the Greater Houston Area since 2002.
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is the 2nd home purchase transaction we have done with David. As always, David is a true consummate Real Estate professional and is always there to address every detail associated with the transaction throughout the process. Thank you David!” Stephen W, Buyer & Seller With two decades of experience in the Houston real estate market, David M Young lets his clients do the talking. Need a Real Estate Agent you can trust? HAR Client Experience Rating 242 Pine Hollow Ln Pine Hollow / Tanglewood Area Featured Listings ML #: 14680197$1,150,000PaidPatrol / No HOA Bayou View 31,236 SF Lot “Our family has dealt with David many times over the last 20 years, We keep going back to him because he so qualified, personable, and reliable.” Mark L, Buyer & Seller “David is basically considered a member of our family now. There is no one I would trust besides him when buying or selling a house.” Melissa L, Buyer & Seller “David covers all the bases. He's a great communicator, & he's detail oriented. This is my 4th transaction with him.” Lloyd O, Buyer & Seller “David is the best real estate agent I have ever come across, and the runner-up isn’t even close.” Rocky R, Buyer & Seller ML #: LotBed/Bath:684293324-5/4.5Size:11,851SF$1, 395,000 Year Built: 2004 SqFt: On5,422golf course 11415 Legend Manor Dr Royal Oaks Country Club68429332$1 395 000
8 | Mv | September + October 2022
ublisher’s letter
Was it downtown like in Denver, where we had built a walkable 16th Street filled with shops, restaurants, and bars? I wanted to be near the action in my new city. Living in downtown Denver in my 20s had been a blast. Any big city should not be defined by one place, but it helps to have a center. Even smaller cities like Nashville have Music Row and San Antonio’s River Walk.
The “Boulevard” as in Post Oak Boulevard. It is home to much of the poshness Houston offers, with glitzy hotels and world-class shopping centers like the Galleria and River Oaks District. Uptown, as it is often referred to, hosts the main Holiday tree lighting that so many families gather to celebrate. Downtown has some great hotels, posh new residential high rises, Minute Maid, Toyota Center, George R. Brown, the theater district, and Discovery Green. That long, winding road splits downtown and the Galleria/Post Oak Boulevard. Not overly glitzy, but one that includes a football stadium on one end and leads you downtown via the venerable Allen Parkway -one of our most revered drives. On this journey, you get the true heartbeat of the city, passing through West U and River Oaks, two of Houston’s most beautiful neighborhoods - it’s that long and winding road that centers Houston - Kirby Drive.
Photos: The Cultural Landscape Foundation
W
I was struck by the extreme friendliness of the people I met. People were loud and proud of Houston and Texas, which was contagious. I cruised the sprawling metropolis noticing the beautiful lush landscape surrounding the Galleria, which I had mistaken for Houston’s Downtown. My decision to accept the move to Houston was an easy one. Upon relocating to Houston, it was quite a while before I actually went to downtown Houston. I wondered then, as still I do today - what’s Houston’s center of attraction. Where was Houston’s Times Square, Rush Street, or Hollywood Boulevard?
The Long and Winding Road
hen I first visited Houston over 30 years ago about a possible job transfer to Houston, I knew very little about it. It was the headquarters of the weekly business publication, the Rocky Mountain Journal (a sister publication of Houston Business Journal), part of (Cordovan Corp, which now is Advance Publications) where I worked in Denver. I knew from television it was home to NASA and, as a kid growing up, had an excellent reputation as a golfing mecca for potential college players at the University of Houston. But it was February and Denver’s coldest month. As my flight landed in Houston to visit the corporate headquarters about a transfer, they had just announced it was a perfect 70 degrees Fahrenheit. I think I’m in love.
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Alley Theatre
Modern and Contemporary at the Menil Ongoing through Jan 23, 2023
September 10 at 8 p.m.
Artupdate houston published every two weeks by houstonintown. Go to website and sign up for newsletter to receive free update.
The Sugar Shack Ongoing through Dec 31, 2022
Somi presented by DACAMERA
September 17 at 8 p.m.
Body Worlds & The Cycle of Life King Tut’s Tomb Opens Oct 28
Performed LIVE on stage and online! This performance will be livestreamed! You can choose to watch it on our website here, our YouTube Channel here, or Facebook here!
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
Amoako Boafo: Soul of Black Folks Ongoing through Oct 2, 2022
IF REVOLUTION IS A SICKNESS
Performed LIVE on stage and online! This performance will be livestreamed! You can choose to watch it on our website, our YouTube Channel, or Facebook!
This performance is LIVE on stage and will not be livestreamed.
Every Saturday, Rain or Shine 9am - 1pm
Ken Ludwig’s Lend Me A Soprano Sept 16 through Oct 9
Fall ExtravaDance #YayDance produced by Houston Metropolitan Dance Center September 9 at 8 p.m.
Beauty and Ritual; Judaica from the Jewish Museum, New York July 10 through Sept 18
Performed LIVE on stage and online! This performance will be livestreamed!
Sept 21 through Oct 23
Leandro Erlich: Seeing Is Not Believing Ongoing through Sept 5, 2022
Wall Drawing Series: Marcia Kure Through Sept, 2022
Museum Of Fine Arts, Houston Virtual Realities: The Art of M.C. Escher from the Michael S. Sachs Collection Through Sept 5, 2022
September 16 at 8 p.m.
Poggenpohl Houston 5002 Westheimer Road, Suite B 77056 Houston +1 houston@poggenpohl.com832-582-2620
Samuel Fosso: African Spirits Aug 5 through Jan 15, 2023
Hunters Creek Village at First Congregational Church 10840 Beinhorn Road
Gordon Parks: Stokely Carmichael and Black Power Oct 16 through Jan 16, 2023
A.D. Players
H.E.B. presents “The Ultimate Donna Summer Tribute” Starring Rainere Martin
MEMORIAL VILLAGES
Miss Maude
El Grito at Miller Featuring Son Rompe Pera September 15 at 8 p.m.
Diane Severin Nguyen:
Troy Montes Michie: Rock of Eye Sept 23 through Jan 29, 2023
Oct 28 through Feb 26, 2023
Arts + EVENTS
Houston Museum Of Natural Science Special Exhibits Transcending Audubon
Asia Society Texas Center Everything She Has Within Herself Through Nov 13, 2022
Amoako Boafo: Soul of Black Folks Holocaust Museum Houston Charlotte Solomon: Life? Or Theater? Through Dec 4, 2022
Miller Outdoor Theatre
Philip Guston Now Oct 23 through Jan 16, 2023
THEATER
Meret Oppenheim: My Exhibition Through Sept 18, 2022
Walter De Maria: Boxes for Meaningless Work Oct 29 through Apr 23, 2023
Menil Collection
MUSIC & DANCE
Performed LIVE on stage and online! This performance will be livestreamed! You can choose to watch it on our website, our YouTube Channel, or Facebook!
The Houston Jazz Festival produced by The Houston Jazz Collective
Dreher Materworks1
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September + October 2022 | Mv |11 11415 Legend Manor Dr | Royal Oaks CC List Price $1,395,000 | MLS# 68429332 Secure, luxury living in Royal Oaks Country Club. Golf course views from open living areas with high ceiling and wall of windows. Island kitchen, primary + 2nd bedroom down, home office, game room and media room. Large bedroom up has balcony, can be 2nd primary bedroom. 3 car garage. David M. Young | Compass RE Texas | 713-320-6453 26 W Shore Dr. | Bentwater List Price $1,599,000 | MLS# 405434169496377 Luxury lake living in this beautiful custom home on the #5 hole of the Miller Golf Course. Wall of windows for fabulous views of Lake Conroe in gated community. Primary bedrooms con nected by an elevator and all have private balconies and breath taking views and gorgeous sunrises. Beverly Smith | Coldwell Banker Realty | 713-569-2113 CHUBB • PURE • CINCINNATI • AIG • VAULT • BERKLEY ONE Luxury Home Insurance CARRIE OUSLEY, CIC, CISR VICE PRESIDENT 281.224.0762 | carrie.ousley@hubinternational.comwww.carrieousley.com 242 Pine Hollow Ln | Pine Hollow / Tanglewood Area List Price $1,150,000 | MLS# 14680197 Build your home on this 30,000+ SF lot overlooking Buffalo Bayou on a premier street very close to Memorial Park, Up town Park and The Houstonian Club. Paid patrol on street, but no HOA. David M. Young | Compass RE Texas | 713-320-6453
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Kelsey-Seybold Clinic Opens New Memorial Villages Campus
Kelsey-Seybold Clinic has opened its new five-story, 125,000-square-foot campus in the heart of the Memorial and Spring Branch areas. The new clinic represents another significant invest ment by Kelsey-Seybold to bring com prehensive care closer to area residents and their families. The Memorial Villag es campus is one of the largest of several new Kelsey-Seybold expansion projects to serve Greater Houston area communities. Kelsey-Seybold Clinic – Memo rial Villages is located on the north side of the Katy Freeway at 1001 Campbell Road in Spring Valley Village.
ENT, endocrinology, ophthalmology, optometry, gastroenterology, hematol ogy/oncology, infectious disease, neu rology, orthopedics, PM&R, podiatry, pulmonary medicine, rheumatology,
New campus at I-10 and Campbell Road expands health care access for Memorial and Spring Branch residents
Kelsey-Seybold Clinic – Memorial Villages has space for up to 50 providers offering comprehensive primary and spe cialty care for adults and children. The campus offers specialty care in a range of disciplines, including allergy/immunol ogy, audiology, cardiology, dermatology,
VIPs will receive all-day ac cess to the VIP area, along with VIP parking.
festival’s nonprofit partners. Online early bird tickets will be avail able at www.bayoucityartfestival.com.
T
A portion of the proceeds from Bayou City Art Festival Downtown will benefit the Bayou City Art Festival Celebrating 50 Years
his Fall will feature the Bayou City Art Festival’s cel ebration of its 50th year as they return to Downtown Houston on Saturday and Sunday, October 8-9, 2022.
As one of the top art festi vals in the country, the weekend event will bring diverse artists, and patrons will have the opportunity to meet the artists, view original works, and purchase artwork from 19 art disciplines, including world-class paintings, prints, jewelry, sculptures, and more. The festival will feature live music, a food truck park, and beverage stations throughout the festival along with two entertainment stages and art installations. Guests will en joy Houston’s skyline views while enjoying the festival’s wine garden, craft beer gar den, and Art Bar.
September + October 2022 | Mv |13
For the most recent updates, follow the official event hashtags #HouArtFest50 and #BCAF50, like the Facebook page, or follow on Twitter and Instagram.
“Our clinical and support staff are dedicated to improv ing the health and well-being of our communities, and we are excited to serve current and new patients at this incredible new campus,” said Shane Magee, M.D., manag ing physician, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic – Memorial Villages. “Our teams work together to coordinate care and services and are proud to be recognized by patients for deliver ing quality care with respect and compassion.”TheMemorial Villages campus offers patients access to a range of ancillary ser vices, including laboratory services and a Kelsey pharma cy, as well as a broad range of radiology services, including MRI, CT, ultrasound, mam mography, DEXA, fluorosco py and routine X-ray..
“We are proud to offer this beautiful new campus and comprehensive medi cal care to this vibrant and growing community,” said Carla Franklin-McQueen, director of Ambulatory Care, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic. “Our team looks forward to being part of the community and serving current and new pa tients.”The Memorial Villages campus serves as a specialty hub for nearby Kelsey-Sey bold locations, including Tan glewood, River Oaks, Greater Heights, and Memorial City, as well as locations currently under development, includ ing Westchase and Eldridge.
The new Kelsey-Seybold Clinic – Memorial Villages location was designed by ar chitects at Kirksey Architec ture. Tellepsen Builders was the general contractor.
For the ultimate art lov er, Bayou City Art Festival will offer a limited availabil ity VIP ticket experience, including an oasis with light bites and complimentary beer, wine, and other bev erages. The relaxing setting under a canopy of trees will feature roaming musi cians, artistic décor, a phone charging station, and more.
• October 21, 23, 29, November 1, 4, and 6.
14 | Mv | September + October 2022
HGO opens its season in October with a favorite, “La traviata” by Verdi. This revival, a shared production with Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Canadi an Opera Company, will feature the first Houston performance by Grammy-win ning soprano Angel Blue as Violeta. Bry an Hymel sings as her lover, Alfredo, and much-praised baritone Andrei Kymach also makes his HGO debut singing the role of Girogio, Alfredo’s conflicted fa ther. Another HGO debut is an Amer ican composer and conductor Matthew Aucoin who conducts
Juraj Valčuha
• October 28, 29, 30 - All Mozart, Symphony 35, the “Hefner,” Simpho nia Concertante, Music from “Thamos, King of Egypt,” conducted by Jane Glover.All performances are at Jones Hal. The Thursday, Friday, and Saturday per formances begin at 8:00 pm, and Sunday at 2:30 pm. For further tickets and infor mation - www.houstonsymphony.org.
Changes in music directors for a symphony orchestra are a rare occasion. The Houston Symphony has had superb artistic leadership in its DNA with lu minaries like Ferenc Fricsay, Leopol do Stokowski, Sir John Barbirolli, and Andre Previn. Since I moved to Hous ton in 1970, there have only been five at the Houston Symphony - Lawrence Foster, Sergiu Comissiona, Christoph Eschenbach, Hans Graf, and Andrés Orozco-Estrada. Beginning this month, a new Music Director, Juraj Valčuha, takes the helm.
Beethoven Violin Concerto in October and returning in April 2023, leading the orchestra in two performances of the Mozart Requiem.
• September 16, 17, and 18 - Verdi Requiem, conducted by Valčuha.
All performances are in Italian with projected English translation.
Houston Symphony Orchestra
Houston Grand Opera
• October 20, 22, 23 - Beetho ven Violin, Itzhak Perlman soloist; Coleridge-Taylor, The Bamboula, Rhap sodic Dance for Orchestra; Strauss, Der Rosenkavalier Suite, conducted by Valčuha.
What HGO calls “a lost master piece” is “The Wreckers.” Composed by Dame Ethel Smyth in 1906, this will be the “first full-scale production by a major American opera company.”
The 2022-2023 Arts Season Begins this September
Born and raised in Bratislava, Slo vakia, Valčuha brings an extensive and impressive résumé to Houston. He was Music Director of the Orchestra Sinfon ica National Della RAI in Turin, Italy, and is currently Music Director of the Teatro di San Carlo, Naples, Italy, as well as First Guest Conductor of the Konzerthausorchester Berlin. He has led many of the major ensembles of the world including the Berlin Philhar monic, Dresden Staatskapelle, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Vienna Symphony, the NDR Elbphil harmonie Hamburg, Swedish Radio Symphony, Orchestre de Paris, the Or chestre National de France, the BBC and Philharmonia Orchestras in Lon don, Milan’s Filharmonia della Scala and the Montreal Symphony. In the United States, in addition to previous appear ances with the Houston Symphony, he has conducted the orchestras of Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dal las, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, St Louis, Utah, San Francisco, Minnesota, Pittsburg, and New York.
Houston Symphony, John Mangum, interviewed Valčuha from Berlin, which is available on YouTube. I highly recom mend watching it at youtube.com - “An nouncing Juraj Valčuha, Music Director Designate” - This is an excerpt of a much longer “A Conversation with Juraj Valčuha” - again, highly recommended watching.Theconcerts in September and Oc tober are well-rounded and exciting.
Intown’s Classical Music Critic, the Hon. Philip Berquist Honorary Consul of the Republic of Croatia for Texas
Once the announcement of his ap pointment to Houston was public, the Executive Director and CEO of the
The storyline is undoubtedly intrigu
• September 23, 24, 25 - Sibelius Vi olin Concerto, with Joshua Bell; Shosta kovich Symphony 5, conducted by Valčuha.Itlooks to me as if the relationship between HSO and violinist virtuoso Itzhak Perlman is blossoming into mean ingful collaboration. Perlman appears twice this season, first by performing the
• September 22, 24, 25, 30, No vember 1 and 2.
“Peter
This season begins with “Peter Pan,” the classic children’s tale choreographed by Trey McIntyre with music by Sir Edward
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Conducted by the HGO Music Di rector, Patrick Summers.
• October 28, 30, and November 5, 9, and 11.
ing. A town preacher on an ocean coast declares that shipwrecks are premeditat ed and instructs the citizens not to use the lighthouse at night to ensure that the wrecked ships can be pillaged. Another Grammy-winning mezzo-soprano, Sa sha Cooke, sings the lead role.
Elgar and arranged by Niel DePonte.
All performances sung in English with projected English translation.
The venue is the Brown Theater, Wortham Center. The nightly perfor mances begin at 7:30 pm, with Sunday performances at 2:00 pm. Note that Fri day, September 9, Opening Night be gins at 7:00 pm.
Houston Ballet
These HGO productions are both staged at the Brown Theater, Wortham Center. Each nightly performance be gins at 7:30 pm, with the Sunday performances at 2:00 pm.
Keep the emails coming at classi calmusicberquist@gmail.com Pan”, Houston Ballet
• September 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18.
September + October 2022 | Mv |15
For tickets and information, go to www.Houstongrandopera.org.
“Good Vibrations” sets three oneact works to dance. “The Letter V” is choreographed by Mark Morris to the music of Joseph Haydn’s Symphony 88. “Red Earth” by Stanton Welch features a dance celebrating the Australian landscapes. “Good Vibrations” by Arthur Pita was set to premiere in Houston in the 2019-2020 season but was canceled due to the pandemic. It is set to music by Christopher Austin based on the Beach Boys’ iconic song.
by Marene Gustin
I
The Man Behind the Food
When he came from his hometown of Harlingen to Houston in the early seventies, he worked several jobs, including high-end menswear, where he developed his sense of style. But one day in 1978, he decided he needed something more exciting to tell his classmates at his ten-year high school reunion, so he opened a restaurant just like that. The first location was a small house on Shepherd Drive at San Felipe. And while the early days of Armandos saw Palacios doing everything from kitchen work to bussing tables, it wasn’t long before he could relax into the gracious host of Armandos, which became the place to dine in
by Marene Gustin
f you only know Armando Palacios, 74, for his eponymous River Oak’s Tex-Mex restaurant, then you don’t know half of his story.
22 | HEIGHTS | May + June 2022
16 | Mv | September + October 2022
Photos courtesy of Joseph West
The story began as a quest to create the perfect boxer short. We viewed it as locating the perfect home for the family jewels. It needed to be a custom home, handmade, including a spacious ballroom with full seating and a sturdy front entrance so that no one slips out unexpectedly. This home should be built with the finest 400 thread count Pima cotton with virtually no shrinkage (on our part).
“I was working with an architect on a bungalow I bought on Center Street, and they sent Cinda to head up the project,” he recalls. “Much like the beginning of Armandos, the rest is history.”
He moved Armandos to the Westheimer Road location, where there was more space. But despite the contin ued success, in 2000, he decided to close the “Irestaurant.amabig believer in divine inter vention,” Palacios says. “I had opened the New World museum behind my home on Center Street, met the love of my life Cinda, and started a life with her and our daughter, Ali. The location on Shepherd was no longer the right fit, and I knew a bigger and better location would come along when we were ready for it. When I got the call about the location on the corner of “Main and Main” in River Oaks (also known as Westheimer Road and Kirby Drive), I knew that was it.”
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But it wasn’t just the rebirth of Ar mandos the couple was involved in. Their family-owned hospitality company, Pala cios Murphy, continued to grow and now includes the boutique Hotel Lulu, its new Lulu’s Italian café, Mandito’s casual Tex-
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And then he met Cinda Murphy, the love of his life.
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“I have been going to Round Top since 1978,” Palacios says of the quaint Fayette County town known for its an tiquing. “I was inspired to buy my own piece of Round Top history and pur chased the former home of the first set tler in Round Top, James Winn. I was fortunate enough to meet Faith Bybee at the Festival Institute before they had the exquisite concert hall they have now. I was hooked on this small town that was also an escape for many influential Tex ans.” Because of the Houston/Round Top connection, Palacios Murphy opened a River Oaks Lulu’s Italian café in Houston last year in the same center that houses Armandos. But if he had to choose a favorite property, it would be the hotel.“Ihave to say I love everything we have done, but the grounds at Hotel Lulu in Round Top are just exquisite,”
“A good margarita comes down to fresh quality ingredients our house margarita recipe is very simple.”
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Mex, and Popi Burger, all in Round Top. Why the move from Tex-Mex to Italian?
“I would not describe our expansion as a switch by any means. We are diversi fying our offerings as we grow,” Palacios says. “Tex-Mex will always be the foun dation of our company. In fact we are opening another Mandito’s in Bellaire early next year. We wanted to expand our dining options in Round Top, where our original Lulu’s is located. Cinda and I love Italian culture and cuisine, so it was an obvious fit.
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September + October 2022 | Mv |19
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Palacios says. “Which is also home to Lulu’s restaurant and our hotel bar Il Cu culo. From the drop-dead gorgeous stone building from the mid-1800s to all of the charming bungalows we have transformed into the 14 hotel rooms, Hotel Lulu is genuinely unbelievable. There is nothing like it in Texas, maybe even the U.S.”He clearly loves Round Top, where he and Cinda own horses and a donkey, all of which are rescues from Habitat for Horses. They just chaired the an nual fundraising gala for the Gardenia E. Janssen Animal Shelter and support ed the Festival Institute in Round Top. Through the restaurants, they also do nate to many charities. But as much as they love Round Top, Houston is special to them.“Houstonians are by far my favor ite thing about Houston,” says Palacios. “The people are incredible and have ex quisite taste in art, culture, and food. The diversity, the hospitality, and the opportunity are all unrivaled. Houston is a young city, and if you want to create something and you work hard, you can do it. There is a sense of optimism here.”
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son in the video – who was employed as CPS support staff - was dismissed from her position on August 10. The safety and appropriateness with which children in care must be treated is our paramount concern. Nothing less will be tolerated.” Here are the biggest questions. Why ar en’t all social workers licensed caretak ers since their task is short-term care? Why did it take a 14-year-old with a cell phone to uncover this much corruption?
Across Texas and the US, we have seen how the privatization of prisons turned prisoners into profits. Most of us may not know that the Texas Legislature privatized Child Protective Services (CPS), effective ly turning kids into cash under the guise of “Community-Based Care Programs.” Statistics show the average age of a sex trafficking victim is between 12-14 and that 86% of children who are sex traf ficked come from the foster care system. Maybe in Houston, we can start to under stand why those numbers exist.
A Viral Cell Phone Video Exposes CPS Worker
How a 14 year old with a cell phone exposed Child Sex Trafficking in the Foster Care System
There have been other reports of child sex trafficking allegations from CPS this year. In March of 2022, The Refuge, a Bastrop, Texas-contracted shelter for do mestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) victims in the care of the Texas Foster Care System, was accused of trafficking the victims turned foster children while in their care. State records show Iesha Greene was fired in 2020 from a state juvenile facility for having inappropriate relationships with children. The Refuge said it was aware of her previous work there, but it never requested her publicly
By Jamie Winston
20 | Mv | September + October 2022
Turning People Into Profits:
Joshua Rawson Harris | Unsplash IN A SERIES
Texas, it’s not just Houston that has a problem
In August 2022, a video of a Texas CPS worker staying in a hotel with a 14-year-old girl and trying to convince her to become a prostitute went viral across the globe. As an advocate for fos ter children and recovered victims of sex trafficking, I have seen these children not being believed. Not this time! This intel ligent and brave 14-year-old girl exposed an inept system and at least one shame less social worker’s attempt to recruit a child into the world of sex trafficking. We have reported before on an already growing and alarming problem, especially on the southwest side of Houston, where this took place. According to data provided by the State of Texas Audit, the number of Texas foster children placed in unlicensed facilities, such as motels, churches, and offices, surpassed 400 in June 2021 after trending upward for the last year. Before 2021, the number rare ly went above 100. The total number of children in Texas foster care each month in 2021 averaged 15,900, less than in previous years[1]. “The child’s mother, Keisha Bazley, told Fox26: ‘My daughter told me that the worker had been telling her she should do these things, so she said she decided to video her.’ In a statement to FOX 26, Texas DFPS Spokesperson Melissa Lanford said, “DFPS is aware of the video and has taken action. The per
The Lawsuit and the Judge Trying to Overhaul The Broken System
In 2011, a lawsuit was filed against the Texas Department of Family Ser vices (DFPS) for violating the rights of
More Abuse Ignored
available personnel records. She was hired 16 months later by The Refuge. A court document filed to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services detailed how a former employee, who was work ing at the ranch at the time, allegedly sold nude photos of two youths in their care. The Refuge stated it learned in December an employee had reportedly coerced the residents into making commercially sexu al exploitation material and fired the em ployee. The organization said it then “im mediately contacted the DFPS and the BCSO.” In an emergency hearing, Judge Jack called DFPS’ decision not to remove the children immediately after reports of abuse a system failure. Justin Lewis, for mer director of child care investigations for Texas’ protective services agency, said, “DFPS was scapegoating those employ ees.” Before his resignation, he added, “decades of systemic issues and convolut ed processes have led to communication breakdowns in the troubled agency — and kept DFPS executives out of the loop.” Judge Jack blasted the State and revealed that she was the one who initially wrote the letter detailing allegations at the Bastrop facility and expressed concerns over the phone. She asked, “Were the Rangers instructed to investigate or disprove?” Jack also questioned the purpose of McCraw’s (Texas Ranger) letter- “What was the pur pose of the letter -if not for publicity.”
PART III
The public interest will not be harmed by an injunction requiring Texas to con form its foster care system to the Con stitution. With all four factors met, the Court holds that injunctive relief is ap propriate in this case.”
Since her 2015 Ruling, Judge Janis Jack has held several hearings as a result of status updates and emergency reports from the federal monitors appointed, which have resulted in the following con sequences to CPS and The State of Texas:
an answer to a disaster. This isn’t even a bandaid over a bullet hole, and in fact is more in line with shooting the hostage. As Texas continues to implement their overhaul using their strategic design plan phases, and as Judge Janis Graham Jack continues to fight for the foster children of Texas, we will keep you informed.
Go to www.houstonintown for more arti cles from Jamie Winston.
September + October 2022 | Mv | 21
“Plaintiffsto.”
foster children in the system. In 2015 Federal Judge Janis Graham Jack found that “Texas’s PMC (Permanent Manag ing Conservatorship) children have been shuttled throughout a system where rape, abuse, psychotropic medication, and in stability are the norm.” Judge Jack also documented how the Texas DFPS is de liberately deceptive and inefficient in its management of the Foster Care system and is severely flawed, causing harm to children.“ As the system currently stands, foster children often age out of care more damaged than when they entered.” “Years of abuse, neglect, and shuttling between inappropriate placements across the State has created a population that cannot contribute to society and proves a con tinued strain on the government through welfare, incarceration, or otherwise. Al though some foster children are “able to overcome these obstacles, they should not have
In June of 2022, Judge Jack threatened to pursue large fines against the State of Texas for continually failing the 30,000 children in their care. Judge Jack has is sued several orders regarding the foster care system. Judge Jack had previously fined the state $50,000 a day, which she later suspended for ignoring her orders to have foster children in group settings supervised around the clock by an adult who is also awake. Jack has once again warned Texas to get their Foster care sys tem into a functional, safe space for the children or face additional and larger fines with each failure to comply with the judge’s order to keep children safe.
have a Fourteenth Amendment substantive due process right to be free from an unreasonable risk of harm caused by the State. Texas currently vio lates that right.
The Response From Texas
[1] Foster_Care/Litigation.aspbook/child_protective_services/https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/about_dfps/data_[2]https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Protection/
The State of Texas, under the 85th Legislature, in a bipartisan bill (SB11) allowed private LLCs with the most pleasant of names that imply a spa-like experience to become licensed foster care facilities with little to no oversight. These facilities are commonly referred to as Residential Treatment Centers (RTC), and are primarily filled to the brim with teenage children warehoused because of “severe behavioral issues’’ stemming from abuse, neglect, and trauma. This isn’t
By Robert May Assistant Vice President Frost Commercial Banking
22 | Mv | September + October 2022
o matter your interests, making generous gifts to causes you care about can be one of the most meaningful uses of your money. Beyond the intangible rewards, charitable giving offers financial benefits for you. When you give to people or institutions in need, the government may reward you with tax advantages.
But, as with any financial decision, it’s wise to ensure you’ve examined the best course of action. To maximize the impact of your gift, do some homework in advance.Following are important consider ations to giving back:
While most non-profits have good in tentions, not all have the experience and structure required to put your money to its best use. Other so-called charities are downright scams. Before donating, make sure the non-profit is a legitimate, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization. Ad
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Gifts that Give Back:
Make the Most of Charitable Donations
Take time to learn about causes and organizations that align with your val ues. Whether you’re passionate about
helping underprivileged children, pro tecting the environment or supporting the arts, there’s sure to be a non-profit agency awaiting your donation.
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ditionally, ask questions about how your donation will be used. Will it directly benefit the cause you support, or is it paying the salary of the CEO?
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If you’re ready to explore charitable donation strategies, Frost is here to sup port you. Whatever your budget or be liefs, Frost wealth advisors can help you make smart financial decisions that lead to positive change.
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Donations to qualifying 501(c)(3) institutions are tax deductible, so keep your receipts and documentation. But remember that deducting donations of more than $300 ($600 if filing jointly) will require itemizing your tax return. Review IRS Publication 526 for details. If you’re over age 701/2, consider making your donation via a Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA. This strat egy counts toward your required mini mum distribution for the year but does not increase your adjusted gross income. If you’re looking to transfer wealth and limit future estate taxes, consider making monetary gifts to family and friends.
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Ready to take charitable giving to the next level? Consider a donor-advised fund which allows you to contribute to a single account with investment growth potential. The account team handles dis tributing the funds to meet your philan thropic goals and capture tax advantag es. Alternatively, consider establishing a private foundation or charitable trust to meet your philanthropic goals.
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