Cute Former CityBook Model Named Chef of Chris Shepherd’s Revamped Downtown Resto

Evan W. Black

OPENED AT THE beginning of 2021, Underbelly Hospitality’s Georgia James Tavern was a glimmer of hope for the return of Downtown as a social destination post-pandemic. It was first known as an offshoot of Georgia James Steakhouse, but now — with a new menu and a new chef — the eatery is stepping boldly into its own identity.

Can’t-Miss Spring Openings: Return of a Celeb Chef, New Montrose Hot Spot & More!

Robin Barr Sussman

APRIL IS JUST about to wrap, and the culinary hits keep coming! Here’s a rundown of the latest openings.

At Surprise-Filled Gala, JDRF Raises Nearly $2 Million More Than Goal to Fight Type 1 Diabetes

Jeff Gremillion

WHEN JDRF, THE leading global organization focused on researching type 1 diabetes, finally held its slickly produced Promise Ball with its “Day in the Life” theme after a two-year Covid break, it had high expectations. It set a fundraising goal of $2 million — which, it turns out, was all wrong. Instead, with the help of chairs Amber and Clay Bretches, the organization had an eye-popping haul of $3.7 million!

Jacob Hilton, a.k.a. Travid Halton, at home in his kitchen, where he enjoys cooking as a form of therapy.

PINK FLOYD'S THE Wall. Sinatra’s In the Wee Small Hours. Beyonce’s Lemonade. Three divergent examples of the album as a cathartic, psychological, conceptual work, meant to be experienced in a single sitting. Houston singer-songwriter Jacob Hilton, 37, who records as Travid Halton, a portmanteau of his mother and father’s names, might balk at being mentioned in such company. (This is a thoroughly unpretentious man, who describes himself as an “archaeologist turned singer-songwriter.”)

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Art + Entertainment

How did you get to where you are today? The present moment is a combined history of my family, my time as an athlete, my passion for learning, and my desire to see the world be better. I grew up as a successful springboard and platform diver, however, an injury caused me to seek alternative treatments to heal my body. In that process, I discovered the power of yoga, exercise, meditation, mindset, and nutrition. This holistic approach eventually led me to open a Pilates and cycling studio called DEFINE body & mind. I opened studios around the nation, and after selling most of my business between 2017-2019, I was ready to explore how I could make an even greater impact on the wellbeing of our community. In 2023, I started actively working on a brand new multi-family/apartment concept called, Define Living. The idea focused on offering health and wellness services within a beautiful apartment setting to increase the wellbeing of our residents. Having a strong sense of community is the number one factor in living a happy life, so why not build a community where daily fitness, cooking classes, and social connection are the norm? We opened Define Living in March of 2024, and we couldn’t be happier with how things are being received. We are already looking at building more concepts like this in the Houston area and beyond.

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