Hannah Laster and Dana Wempe
From Your Site Articles
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)
Summer oysters at Little's Oyster Bar (photo by Garrett Smith)
Phat Eatery
Sizzling beef with black pepper (photo by Chuck Cook)
After chef-proprietor Alex Au-Yeung lost his battle with cancer in March of this year, the new outpost of his acclaimed Phat Eatery — which originated in Katy and garnered him a James Beard nod in 2022 — in The Woodlands is even more worth the trek. It opened this week and is a celebration of Au-Yeung's legacy, from the mouthwatering menu (roti canai is simply the only way to start a meal) to the beautiful, expansive space that is three times the size of the Katy location. It was said to be his "dream restaurant," so on his behalf, Directors of Operations Kevin Lee and Marvin He proudly bring their friend’s dream to life within Grogan’s Mill Village Center.
El Bolillo Bakery
Another Houston favorite has opened a new location. El Bolillo Bakery is now open on Fountain View, in the now-colorful building previously home to Firehouse Saloon. The murals featuring butterfly motifs were painted by a 10-year employee of El Bolillo, Mariel Rascon. Take in the vibrant visuals while placing an order for the award-winning tres leches — representative of the bakery's traditional Mexican roots — and an impressive array of 100-plus breads and pan dulce showcasing global flavors and creativity. This is the fifth El Bolillo Bakery in the Houston area.
Holman Draft Hall
Holman Draft Hall (photo by Emily Vitek)
The Midtown food hall will close on July 1 — but will be right back, they say! It'll reopen in August as Solarium, which will offer "an expanded multi-faceted experience including full drink and dining service," per a release. This weekend, Holman Draft Hall hosts a "BRB" happy-hour event all weekend long, with special pricing on beer, wine and frozens, and a brunch menu featuring "Brunchuterie" boards.
Sound & Color
Dawn Burrell (photo by Jenn Duncan)
Chef Dawn Burrell debuts a new dining series celebrating culinary and mixed-media arts, inspired by her vast travels. The first one is this Saturday, June 29, and is presented in collaboration with chef Dominick Lee of forthcoming Augustine's. New Orleans-reared Lee has worked in Houston kitchens including Kiran's and Poitín, and most recently opened an exciting bar-restaurant in New York before making his way back to Houston. For her part, Burrell has also just returned to H-Town, after a five-month stint in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where she opened Marcus Samuelsson's namesake restaurant, Marcus Addis. Tickets are available here.
Little's Oyster Bar
Little's Oyster Bar (photo by Garrett Smith)
One of Houston's hottest reservations has a refreshing new menu to tout. Try the Soupe de Poisson with grilled scallops, wild-alligator andouille and garlic toast, or perhaps the chicken-fried soft-shell crabs with hot honey. Keep things lighter with selections like summer squash with olive-salsa-verde — and don't turn down a drink! The Peach Pit with Maker's Mark and peach cream soda hits the spot.
The Pit Room
Sundae selections at The Pit Room (photo by Alex Montoya)
The new Memorial City barbecue joint has a can't-miss feature: a dessert bar with ice cream (not just chocolate and vanilla here — there's red-velvet-white-chocolate, snickerdoodle and more!), toppings, and options for cookie sandwiches and sundaes. Yes, please.
State Fare
All three locations of this comfort-food-chic standby will serve a 'Merica-Style Freedom Board during the four-day July 4th weekend, with elote-style corn ribs, deviled eggs, and State Fare's famous dill pickle dip with barbecue chips. And try a flight of frozen cocktails, available all summer long.
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