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EDITOR’S LETTER Hey there reader! My name is Autumn Rendall, Executive Editor of Cooglife Magazine, and I’d like to formally (so formal I’d be wearing a ball gown and a monocle if I could) welcome you all to the first issue of the 20202021 school year. This is my first issue as Editor of Cooglife, and I couldn’t be more excited (and nervous) for you all to read what my amazing staff and I have been working so hard on over the last month. The annual “Welcome To Houston” issue of Cooglife has a very special place in my heart — not only as a die-hard Coog but as a Houstonian. I’m originally from a small southeast Texas town, and ever since I first visited Houston on an elementary school trip to the zoo I have dreamed about calling this city my home. When I was finally out of high school in the summer of 2017 I couldn’t wait to make my move to UH and explore the city. However, a catastrophic event we all know as “Hurricane Harvey” had other plans. The storm hit during my first week of classes, and Houston and its surrounding communities were changed forever.
My family and I had evacuated north of the hurricane. During that time there was nothing to do but sit and wait for sunnier skies and answers about the status of our home. Though my plans for getting to know Houston had been technically put on hold, seeing the city and its citizens come together in such an aweinspiring way to help each other recover from Hurricane Harvey gave me the most authentic and beautiful understanding of the town I’m now lucky enough to call home. Rolling it back to present day — as Houston, and the world, take on every obstacle 2020 throws our way (you know .. a pandemic, another hurricane, heartbreaking violations of human rights and more), our city still has shown the same bravery and empathy as it did during fall 2017. Reader, I hope this issue fills you with as much excitement and pride for Houston as it did for me. Anyways, what are you still doing on the Editor’s Letter? There’s a whole magazine to enjoy!
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COOGLIFE // August 2020
-AUTUMN RENDALL Executive Editor
EDITORIAL
Autumn Rendall, Executive Editor cooglife@thedailycougar.com
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Juana Garcia, Creative Director of The Cougar ame@thedailycougar.com Jiselle Santos, Managing Editor of The Cougar me@thedailycougar. com
PLAYLIST
CJ Moorer, Coog Radio Station Manager, director@coogradio.com
WRITING
Haya Panjwani Sofia Gonzalez Santiago Gaughan Anna Baker Sydney Rose
ADVERTISING
csmadvertising@uh.edu
August 2020
4 Houston Events Calendar 6-7
Making The Most Out of Houston
8-9
Playlist For A Perfect Houston Drive
10-11
Sneak Peek of “Color Field” Exhibit
12-13
Best Restaurants in the Third Ward
14-15
How To Still Have Fun Indoors
16-17
Quiz: The Perfect Socially Distant Activity for You
18-19
Opinion: Dear Houston,You’re Still The Place To Be
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Disclaimer: Events may be affected by Hurricane Laura and COVID-19 (because it’s 2020).
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Mo’ Better Blues Screening @ 10:45pm at The Drive-In at Sawyer Yards
Houston Botanic Garden Opening Weekend: Celebrating Latin America from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Virtual: Latinx Student Mixer by UH Weeks of Welcome @ 4 p.m.
Tenet Movie Screening at Moonstruck Drive-In Cinema at East River @ 8:30 p.m.
Monday Market on the Bayou at The Raven Tower @ 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Monday Market on the Bayou at The Raven Tower @ 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
on the Bayou at The Raven Tower @ 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
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Virtual: Krewella Concert by UH Weeks of Welcome @ 7:30 p.m.
Virtual: Evelyn’s Park presents Virtual Tai Chi in the Park on Facebook Live @ 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Screening at The Walmart Drive-In Theater in La Marque @ 7:30
Spy Kids Movie Screening at The Walmart Drive-In Theater in Pasadena @ 7:30 p.m.
Virtual: Rothko Chapel presents Contemplation & Sound: Jewish Tradition @ Noon
Sound Healing Meditation in the Cistern at Buffalo Bayou Park from 6:00 pm to 6:45 pm
Virtual: Ladybird’s Virtual Trivia Night on Zoom @ 7 p.m.
Sound Healing Meditation in the Cistern at Buffalo Bayou Park from 6:00 pm to 6:45 p.m.
Trivia Under the Stars at CityCentre @ 7 p.m.
Virtual: Houston Art Deco Live Lecture on Facebook Live 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Movies Under the Moon at Kings Harbor Screens “Up” @ 7:30 pm 1660 W Lake Houston Pkwy
Virtual: 14 Pews’ Anti-Racist Book Club on Zoom @ 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
30 1 Sound Healing Meditation in the Cistern at Buffalo Bayou Park from 6:00 pm to 6:45 p.m.
Virtual: Rico Nasty Concert by UH Weeks of Welcome @ 7: 30 p.m.
Virtual: Stages Studio Sessions: Tamara Siler in Concert Online Performance @ 7:30 p.m.
Friday Night Lights Movie Screening at The Walmart Drive-In Theater in League City @ 7:30 p.m.
Stages Studio Sessions: An Evening with LaBraska Washington Online Performance @ 7:30 p.m.
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The Lion King Drive-In Movie Screening @ 7:00 p.m. 13334 Wallisville Road
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Tuesday
SEPTEMBER Urban Harvest Farmers Market @ 8:00 am to 12:30 pm on 2752 Buffalo Speedway
Rooftop DriveIn Concert with Night Drive and The Vapor Caves at Axelrad @ 6:30 p.m. to 10:30
Farm Stand: Covid 19-Drive By or Pick-up at Hope Farms HTX @ 10401 Scott Street from 9 a.m. to noon
Farmers Market at Imperial Park Recreation Center in Sugar Land from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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EXPERIENCE HOUSTON: Social Distance Edition
As Houstonians, even though we live in the nation’s fourth most populated city, it’s hard not to feel isolated, alone and uninspired during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, there are still many ways to enjoy
1 Catch a flick at the drive-in movie theater For all movie lovers, many drive-in theaters are still offering their services. At The DriveIn at Sawyer Yards, guests can watch the night’s featured film from their cars through an FM station as it’s projected onto an almost 100-foot “screen” along silos. Food and drinks are also available through a contactless pickup system. A few of the classics hitting the screen soon are Jurassic Park, 10 Things I Hate About You and The Sandlot.
2 Watch the bats at the Waugh Bat Bridge
all of the life, arts and culture our city has to offer while making sure to wear a mask, use social distancing and taking other COVID-19 precautions.
3 Spend a day mural hopping Anyone itching for inspiration during these times can utilize Houston’s incredible public art scene by making a day out of going from mural to mural. Using the website houstonmuralmap. com, those wanting to visit or photograph these vibrant pieces of work can finally get directions to all their favorite murals. The website explains exactly how many murals are in a certain area and where each is located. Take a drive around the city spotting murals with the perfect playlist (check out page 8 for Coog Radio’s music recommendations).
4 Take a walk around Discovery Green Located in the heart of downtown, Discovery Green is an urban park perfect for going on a nice evening stroll while taking in some iconic Houston sights. The green space is also home to some amazing pieces of public art.
Another one of Houston’s many parks is Buffalo Bayou, a.k.a. home of the Waugh Bridge Bat Colony. Bat-lovers, or anyone interested in catching a glimpse of these interesting creatures, can visit the park’s bat observation deck right around sunset to see 5 Ride a bike through town Mexican free-tailed bats emerge There’s almost no better way to clear from under the bridge. your head, get some exercise and see the city all at the same time than taking advantage of one of Houston’s many bike trails. Try checking out Buffalo Bayou’s Hike and Bike Trail Trail, Memorial Park and White Oak Bayou Greenway. 6
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by SOFIA GONZALEZ
6 Virtually visit the Houston Zoo For all of its guests that are staying indoors, the Houston Zoo hosts weekly Facebook live streams every Wednesday to give an inside look into what everyone’s favorite creatures are up to.
7 Learn something new on a virtual museum tour The Museum of Fine Arts and the Houston Museum of Natural Science offer free virtual options for their exhibitions. Through the Museum of Fine Arts website, art lovers can view collections and selected exhibitions, online film screenings, art-making activities, recorded lectures and artist talks all through the safety of their screen. The Houston Museum of Natural Science offers virtual tours for two exhibitions: Wearable Art Plains Indian Clothing and Accessories from the Gordon Smith Collection and Google Cultural Institute Collections.
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Photo by MFAH archives at English Wikipedia - Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons., Apache License 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index. php?curid=12842364
Photo By Another Believer - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15028650
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ File:Downtown_Houston_2.jpg
CRUISIN’ HOUSTON
1. SONG: Walking On A Dream
ARTIST: Empire Of The Sun ALBUM: Walking On A Dream (10th Anniversay)
4. SONG:
Don’t Touch My Hair ARTIST: Solange ft. Sampha ALBUM: A Seat at the Table
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2. SONG: Texas Sun ARTIST: Khruangbin, Leon Bridges ALBUM: Texas Sun
5. SONG: Rollin ARTIST: Calvin Harris ft. Future, Khalid ALBUM: Rollin (feat. Future & Khalid)
Coog Radio’s playlist for the perfect drive around town
3. SONG:
Girls in the Hood ARTIST: Megan Thee Stallion ALBUM: Girls in the Hood
6. SONG:
In Love ARTIST: Aaron May ALBUM: CHASE
Open the Spotify app on your phone and scan this code using the built-in camera to pull up the playlist!
7. SONG:
YOSEMITE ARTIST: Travis Scott ALBUM: ASTROWORLD
10. SONG:
8. SONG: Cirles ARTIST: Post Malone ALBUM: Hollywood’s Bleeding
Brown Eyed Lover ARTIST: Allen Stone ALBUM: Building Balance
9. SONG: Dilemma ARTIST: Nelly ft. Kelly Rowland ALBUM: Nellyville
11. SONG:
That’s O.K. ARTIST: Jonwayne ALBUM: That’s O.K.
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Sarah Braman (b. 1970). “Here”, 2019. Concrete drainage pipe, powder-coated aluminum frames, laminated glass. 96 × 140 × 140 inches. Courtesy of the artist and Mitchell-Innes & Nash, New York. © Ironside Photography
Spencer Finch (b. 1962). “Back to Kansas”, 2015. Exterior household paint on canvas. 190 × 186 inches. Collection of Christian Keesee, New York and Oklahoma. © Ironside Photography
COLOR FIELD A New Outdoor Sculpture Collection Coming to UH this Fall by HAYA PANJWANI The University of Houston system’s Public Art program is launching a new outdoor exhibit this fall at the UH Main Campus. The collection, titled “Color Field”, will feature the works of six contemporary artists in the form of large-scale sculptures throughout the campus. “Color Field” is a collaboration between the Public Art program at UH, which is one of the oldest public art programs in the nation, and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. The program hopes that this is the first of many collaborations of its kind. The collection of works to be displayed are as follows: • “Here” (2019) by Sarah Braman • “Untitled (Wind Chimes)” (2014) by Sam Falls
• “Back to Kansas” (2015) by Spencer Finch • “Negative Space” (2019) by Odili Donald Odita • “Forms from Life” (2019) by TYPOE • “Cloud,” “Gigaff,” “Pop,” “Bunny,” “Kitty,” and “Pink Sexy” by Jeffie Brewer • And a sound exhibit called “Color Field Outside/In” and “Color Field Inside/ Out” (2019) by Amos Cochran Public Art Director and Chief Curator, Maria Gaztambide, mentioned that she is particularly excited for “Back to Kansas” by Spencer Finch.
a reference to the (“The Wizard of Oz”) film, which begins as it ends — depicting Kansas on black and white film; only shifting to Technicolor while in the fantasyland of Oz.” Gaztambide said students can expect a wide array of programming surrounding the exhibition. Students can look forward to events like an opening watch party in October, or “Public Art Walks” taking place throughout the year via Instagram Live. The exhibition is expected to bring a great deal of vibrancy to campus and will run from October 2020 till May 2021.
“If you sit with this work for at least 30 minutes during the dimming light of sunset, you will see how the colors shift from vibrant to grayscale. This change is not an illusion, but an effect of your eye’s response to color and light over time. Finch chose this effect as
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Best Restaurants in the Third Ward WRITING AND PHOTO BY AUTUMN RENDALL
If you’re interested in eating some great cuisine while supporting local businesses, look no further than the Third Ward. With a collection of savory, sweet and vegan options — there’s something for everyone to dig into without even leaving the neighborhood. Here’s some of the best restaurants the Third Ward has to offer: 12
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1. Crumbville This Third Ward bakery is known for its insanely delicious and homeade stuffed cupcakes, cookies and brownies — available in vegan, non-vegan and gluten free options. Try the “Cookie Minaj” or the vegan Oreo cupcake if you get the chance! Currently, the business accepts online pre-orders for curbside pickup and walk-ins.
2. Frenchy’s Chicken What wonderful thing is there to say about Frenchy’s that hasn’t already been said? This fried chicken-based establishment is a staple of both Houston and the Third Ward. Even iconic Houstonnative celebrities like Beyonce and Travis Scott have recommended the restaurant. Try the Creole Sampler to brighten your day.
4. Cream Burger
5. STUFF’d Wings
For a delicious burger and a tasty milkshake at a price that’s even sweeter, Cream Burger is a must visit burger spot that’s right near the UH campus. Named for its famously good burgers and milkshakes, the shack has been run by the same family since 1961. French fries, hot dogs and frito pies can also be found on the menu.
Stuffed. Chicken. Wings. Need I say more? This restaurant is known for its chicken wings that can be stuffed with dirty rice, boudin, seafood boudin and mac and cheese. Try an order of eight seafood stuff’d wings for an amazing meal.
3. Soul Food Vegan With a mission to end food deserts while offering delicious, nutritious and plant-based meals to the Third Ward, Soul Food Vegan has become a huge hit in the area over the last five years. They’ve got plenty of classic southern and cajun comfort food options like poboys, boudin balls, burgers and more — and it’s all vegan too!
6. This Is It Soul Food This Is It is one of the city’s oldest soul food restaurants — and one of the most iconic ones at that. Their slogan “where every meal gives you a Sunday feel” couldn’t be more true. Try the Ox Tails Plate with sides of mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, rice and gravy, and two pieces of cornbread. Don’t forget to order their banana pudding to finish it off!
University of Houston’s Undergraduate Literary Magazine https://glassmountainmag.com/ Boldface Writing Conference Shards Online Join our staff, send your work, attend our events! More info? Find us at glassmountaineditors@gmail.com
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FIVE WAYS TO STILL HAVE FUN WHILE STAYING INDOORS
(because there’s you know ... a pandemic) BY SANTIAGO GAUGHAN
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s the months during the COVID-19 pandemic drag on and the temptation to return to “normal” life grows, it is important to remember the limits we need to place on our trips outside to protect ourselves and others from the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported over five million cases in the United States on August 13. As many still face the awful health, financial and unemployment effects of the virus, it is just as important as ever to maintain social 14
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distancing, mask up and stay informed about what we need to do to do our part in stopping the spread of the virus. Limiting close face-to-face contact with others is the best way to reduce the spread of coronavirus, according to the CDC, so here are five things you can do while staying indoors that I could think of that did not involve rhythmically smashing your head into a wall:
STREAM MEDIA
One way to distract yourself from classwork and COVID-19 is to consume media. There are plenty of free movies, web shows, television series and podcasts that are only a click away. If you don’t want to watch anything new, I would like to recommend opening a webcam and having a staring contest with yourself. Alternatively you could play rock paper scissors with yourself, but that will always end in a draw.
VIRTUALLY THROW A PARTY
It is important that we maintain social distancing where possible, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with your friends online. There are plenty of fun things to do in a video call aside from just talking. PowerPoint parties, where each guest presents a PowerPoint over a niche interest they have, are a good way to show people funny stuff you are interested in. You could also have a karaoke session or play Jackbox TV games.
CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES There are a lot of reasons to get hopping mad about the current political climate, but there are luckily many ways to share your voice with your local representatives to make a difference. You can find your senators and representatives’s emails and phone numbers for their constituents to contact online. Our senators have different ways to email them, so look online for specific details.
LEARN TO COOK
If you want to learn something outside of school, then cooking could be the activity for you. There are countless video and written recipes online for whatever type of cuisine you may be interested in. However, if you would rather just read the recipes and look at cool food pictures instead of actually cooking I refuse to judge you.
READ SOMETHING
Hot take: reading is fun! If you’re looking for some quality time by yourself, books are more solitary than video calls and can take longer to finish than movies. Check out your local, or UH library, online and browse the countless books and comics available for free.
In conclusion, staying indoors is one of the easiest ways to keep others safe, assuming you have a place to stay. As we go outside for essential errands while COVID-19 continues to spread and many still face its effects on their health, job and homes, remember to wear masks and utilize other COVID-19 preventative measures to keep others from getting sick. We must act as a community in order to overcome this as a community.
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QUIZ
What socially distant activity should you do when you’re bored? BY SYDNEY ROSE
1. Would you consider yourself a very social person?
5. Have you been on TikTok during this time?
A- Yes! I’m an extrovert, and I miss being with people. B- No, I’m definitely an introvert. C- I’m an ambivert, I enjoy company in small doses. D- I can vibe in big groups or by myself socially.
A- For hours on end. I’m always sending videos to my friends. B- I don’t have TikTok. C- I’ve been making lots of TikToks in quarantine. D- I have the app, but I don’t use it that often.
2. Be honest: have you been following social distancing guidelines so far? A- Not as well as I could be… B- I literally have not left my house in months. C- I only see a few people in person and meet virtually for the rest of the time. D- I only go out for essential reasons.
3. Has your creative muse been up since quarantine? A- Not really — it comes and goes. B- Muse has been sky high since quarantine started. C- Not at all, in fact, it’s been down. D- It has increased a little bit.
4. What inspires you the most or keeps you motivated? A- My friends, family and the relationships I have with people B- Thinking about the future and what’s ahead C- People I follow on social media and other celebrity role models D- Life’s many experiences motivates me to go out and try new things. 16
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6. Which album that dropped during quarantine have you streamed? A- Folklore by Taylor Swift B- After Hours by The Weeknd C- Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa D- A little bit of them all and some other ones too
7. What would you say your favorite season is? A- Spring B- Fall C- Winter D- Summer
RESULTS: Did you get mostly A’s, B’s, C’s or D’s? Mostly A’s- You and a couple of friends should put on your masks and have a socially distanced picnic in a local park! Pack some lunch, pull out the blankets and keep at least six feet apart as you catch up with what everyone’s been doing during this time.
Mostly B’s- You should take up bullet journaling or scrapbooking — something on the fun and creative side of things.You have a lot of feelings during this quarantine, which is so valid. You should document them, so you can look back on this time in the future!
Mostly C’s- You should be bingeing a new show on Netflix or having a virtual viewing party with some friends, whether it’s laughing at whatever cheesy romantic comedy just came out or hyping up the latest new, addicting series.
Mostly D’s- You should try learning a new hobby or skill during this time, like something you have always wanted to do but never had the chance to do before. Finding an instrument to play, a craft to make, or a book to read can be a cute and fulfilling way to spend time. COOGLIFE // August 2020
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Dear Houston,
You’re Still The Place To Be BY ANNA BAKER
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f you pay attention to the news, it’s hard to not have a negative mindset towards the world. The pandemic goes on, human rights continue to be violated, natural disasters keep ruining lives and more. Although a new semester has just started, it’s completely valid to struggle with finding motivation for classes while the state of the world continues to escalate. However, the city of Houston is still a great place to be right now even amongst all the troubling updates of the world that we’re reminded of each day. Being a major city, Houston continues to struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic, but we fortunately have a quality medical infrastructure to face it. Even as a non-STEM major it’s cool knowing that my city has the largest medical center in the entire world. The Texas Medical Center is known for its cancer research at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, which has been ranked the top cancer care center in the country by the U.S. News & World Report’s annual “Best Hospitals” survey. In fact, many of the hospitals in the Texas Medical Center in Houston rank very high in the country. If you need a doctor while in Houston, you’re definitely in the right place.
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Harris County’s mask order helped make Houston a model for other Texas cities and counties when it came to handling the pandemic. Although the Houston case numbers are still high, we are the fourth most populated city in the U.S. after all, we are trying to keep those numbers from rising. Things can be pretty scary in a big city during a pandemic, but it feels good knowing that your town and its citizens are doing what they can to help. Speaking of which, local volunteers recently set up a community fridge in the Third Ward — which is a huge win for fighting food insecurity in the area and reducing food waste. There are many people that are food insecure year round, but after the pandemic many have been left jobless and homeless. A community fridge is a great way to help make food more accessible to our local community members no matter their financial status. Our University has also not been afraid to show kindness to its students and community, especially compared to other colleges out there during the coronavirus pandemic. UH didn’t hesitate to give us refunds for housing and parking last semester when effects of the pandemic began to hit the area. They also gave students the pass/fail grading option not only for the Spring 2019 semester but also for the Fall 2020 semester for undergraduates to
ensure students don’t have to see their grades drop because of circumstances out of their control. Some may think this is the bare minimum, and it is always good to stay critical when it comes to your university, but when you look at other colleges who kicked kids out of dorms without much time to pack, didn’t give refunds and kept their grading policy the same, it feels good to know your university did the right thing for its students. UH also decided that all classes would have an online component to them, and those who do attend in-person classes are able to maintain six feet of separation. They could have had plenty of in-person classes like some colleges are right now but decided not to since it wouldn’t be safe. They also are enforcing mask wearing and other COVID-19 preventative measures on campus, so your safety as a student is definitely being taken into
account. We also cannot forget that we go to a top tier research institution. UH not only enforces policies to limit the spread of COVID-19 — they also fund research to eradicate the virus. Just recently, physics researches created an air filter that can trap and kill the coronavirus. The filters would be installed in air conditioners to help kill viruses in medical buildings. Things are still really hard right now for a lot of students, but know that you’re going to a great school in a great city that’s part of a great community dedicated to finding solutions for its citizen’s hardships.
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