At Janelle Alexis, we not only aspire to make each and every guest to feel and look their very best, we want everyone to feel like part of our amazing crazy family. We laugh, we cry, we dance, but most of all we value each other and every single guest that walks through the door. When visiting us, you are always greeted by our little ESA’s Gizmo and Luna, but we are more than just fun! We bring expertise and specialization with hair extensions, color, balayage, mens cuts, keratin treatments, make-up application and updo’s.
East River 9 and Riverhouse Houston
“Our goal is to create an international, inspired neighborhood that resonates with the flavor of Houston — one of the most diverse cities in the western world,” says Concept’s managing principal Jeff Kaplan. “Houston lacks an authentic walkable corridor that celebrates the diversity within one neighborhood.” The Plant — named for the nearby Coffee Plant/Second Ward station on the MetroRail’s Green line — is being brought to life in a master plan architected by Gensler, and is the first real estate redevelopment of its kind in Houston to connect the light rails to the bayou trails of our heavily car-dependent city.
“It’s a multiyear project,” says Kaplan, noting that it will eventually include more than 1,000 multifamily units and will also prioritize locally owned and operated retail tenants, such as the trendy Eden Plant Co. (which doubles as a coffee shop). Current restaurants include Neighbors Pizza, paleta shop Popston, The Re-Up Juice Bar, and newly relocated Street to Kitchen by James Beard awarded Chef “G” Painter and her husband Graham Painter. “We think the result will be a neighborhood with supercharged vibrancy and that feeling you get when you’re in a city that’s cool, creative and authentically weird.”
It’s one of many transformative projects currently underway in the East End, a newfound hub for the cool, creative and weird. Just across the bayou, East River is a striking property from Midway that was recently honored as the winner of the Houston Business Journal Mixed-Use Landmark Award for its urban revitalization. Current tenants include event venue Le Tesserae by The Astorian, the Houston Maritime Center + Museum (opening soon!), and several restaurants.
But perhaps its main draw is East River 9, a nine-hole public golf course with a driving range, putting green and pickleball courts — and a full-service restaurant that boasts a mean burger and frequent live music. “East River … will redefine Houston’s urban landscape,” says David Hightower, Midway’s VP of investment and development, citing “focus on pedestrian-friendly design, innovative mixed-use spaces, and cultural amenities” as the project’s cornerstones.
Nearby, Agrigole Hospitality — which can take at least partial credit for turning Houstonians’ attention eastward several years ago, opening several restaurants on St. Emmanuel St. in EaDo — recently debuted a sister location of its Heights-area staple Eight Row Flint.
Sunset Golf at East River 9
Brass Tacks
A rendering of East Blocks
Le Tesserae
Lightnin's Good Times
Pepperoni pizza at Vinny's (photo by Ralph Smith)
Alexandra Pena and Aaron Bludorn (photo by Lauren Holub)
With Bar Bludorn, the unstoppable chef — who has successfully opened three restaurants in Houston in the last three years, and has his sights set on a fourth, at the Bunkhouse Group’s forthcoming Saint Augustine Hotel in Montrose — put the cooking in the hands of the beautiful and capable Alexandra Peña, who is easy to spot in the shiny open kitchen.
A visit to Bar Bludorn ushers in punchy flavors of mostly classics with some twists — like carrot-ginger soup with fresh and candied ginger, and a Wagyu short rib Rueben sandwich on housemade bread we would gladly eat daily. The surprise of green-pea hummus sings with fresh garlic (order extra pita bread — it’s that good!).
Expect a wide range of entrees, including a lovely Ora King salmon filet with yogurt-dill sauce; tender steak frites draped in au poivre vert; and roasted duck with mango and yam. Fried chicken gussied up with peanut-butter gravy, mashed potatoes and collard greens is a popular option, and of course there’s a towering tavern burger, served with a single slice of tomato as thick and juicy and indispensible as the patty itself.
But one of the best dishes is homemade tortellini: so perfectly al dente with a unique artichoke stuffing and garnish of bright tomato confit and lemon zest. Addictive.
As for dessert, the Lime in the Coconut is a textural dream. It’s like a deconstructed key-lime pie but better, and topped with crunchy clusters of coconut flakes.
The handsome, softly lit and intimate restaurant has a timeless clubby look, while still being everyday-comfy. It’s located in the nondescript, red-brick rectangular building previously home to Jonathan’s the Rub. Walls between the adjacent tenants were all knocked down, and Bar Bludorn is one giant open-concept space, flanked on either end by a bustling kitchen and a classic, tavern-style bar. One long wall is lined with half-circle-shaped booths that give a prime view of the whole room.
Planning to pop in without a reservation? The bar area typically fills up daily by 5:30pm, so advanced planning is recommended to snag a coveted dining-room table. Cheers!
Country Ham Beignets (photo by Caroline Fontenot)
Lemon Ricotta Ice Cream Sandwich (photo by Caroline Fontenot)
Dining Room_ (photo by Claudia Casbarian)
Spaghetti Carbonara (photo by Lauren Holub)