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Saturday, March 9, 2024 • Vol. 69 • No.10
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Houston’s Art Car Museum to close its doors by end of April By Stefanie Thomas editor@theleadernews.com Houston’s iconic Art Car Museum, a long-standing symbol for contemporary art and a testament to individual expression, is set to close its doors next month following the recent deaths of its owners. The museum, located on Heights Boulevard, has been a cornerstone of Houston’s
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cultural landscape since its inception in 1998. Founded by Ann O’Conner Williams Harithas and James Harithas, both passionate supporters of the Art Car movement, the museum quickly garnered national attention with its audacious profile designed by artist David Best. Featuring works from both local and international artists, the museum has
served as a showcase for the vibrant art car community, participating in events such as Houston’s renowned Art Car Parade and the FotoFest Biennial. The Leader was unable to reach Noah Edmundson, Director of the Art Car Museum for this article. Museum officials did, however, express sentiments regarding the closure on the Art Museum’s website.
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“It’s a bittersweet moment for all of us at the museum. For more than 25 years, we’ve been dedicated to showcasing unique forms of contemporary art, and it’s been an incredible journey,” the statement reads. “But as we look towards the future, we’re excited about the discussions underway with local and regional See ART CAR MUSEUM P. 6
After Urban Eats: Levi Rollins’ new venture, Salt & Sugar, fuses the best of two worlds By Stefanie Thomas editor@theleadernews.com The Houston dining scene is in for a flavorful treat with the opening of Salt & Sugar, a new culinary venture led by Levi Rollins, owner of the recently closed Urban Eats. Alongside his new business partner, Houston entrepreneur Armando Velasquez, Rollins is set to redefine casual dining in the heart of Houston with Salt & Sugar, described as “A Houston Nosherie, Delicatessen, and Patisserie.” So what exactly is a nosherie? Rollins defines it as a place where patrons can stop in for a delightful bite at any time of the day, whether they’re craving something sweet or savory.
Bunny Hive Houston: A game-changer for parents and little ones
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Photo courtesy of HFD Station 13
It’s on! Registration for Tour De Houston is underway
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HFD Pipes and Drums is an all-volunteer organization comprised of musicians who pay tribute to firefighter colleagues at memorials and funerals.
Local firefighters spark community unity with Oak Forest parade, pub crawl fundraiser By Stefanie Thomas editor@theleadernews.com
Guest column: A psychologist’s take on election candidates
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Friends for Life offers resources to dog adopters
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As St. Patrick’s Day approaches March 17, Houston Fire Department Station 13 in Oak Forest is gearing up for its eighth annual Lucky 13 Pub Crawl. The community is invited to join as firefighters from around Houston and beyond parade their way along Wakefield Drive with bagpipes, an antique fire truck, and as many as 200 personnel. Area residents are encouraged to line the roads, bring out the kids to cheer from the sidelines, and ultimately follow the crowd for some adult fun at four nearby watering holes. “Our pub crawls started as a way to bring our crews and the community together,” said Capt. Paul Bivens of HFD Station 13 in Oak Forest. “Over the years, it evolved into a fundraiser for firefighter charities, all while maintaining its core focus on camaraderie and fellowship.” The tradition began in 2015 when
Photo courtesy of HFD Station 13
HFD Station 13 in Oak Forest is organizing the Lucky 13 Pub Crawl for the 8th time this year on St. Patrick’s Day.
the station underwent renovations with support from the community. Seeking to give back, the station or-
ganized a pub crawl as a fundraiser for the HFD Pipes and Drums, an allvolunteer group typically called upon to play at very solemn occasions like firefighter memorials and funerals. “We had about 35 people on that first pub crawl,” Bivens recalled. “It was a fun time, and we raised money for a worthy cause.” Since then, the pub crawls have grown in size and scope, estimated to attract around 200 firefighter participants this year. The event now serves as a fundraiser for multiple firefighter charities in addition to HFD Pipes and Drums, including the Captain Renaud Foundation and Firefighters Helping Firefighters. “The Renaud Foundation provides critical support to injured firefighters and their families,” Bivens explains. “Additionally, we help fund scholarships in memory of Capt. William Gunderson, who passed away in 2021. It’s our way of honoring his legacy and See FIREFIGHTERS P. 6
Opportunity Knocks Rollins, reflecting on the whirlwind transition from closing Urban Eats in late January 2024 to opening Salt & Sugar in just over a month, describes it as a rise from the ashes. “I was so strapped and overwhelmed with all the stress and fallout of closing Urban Eats. To close a $3 million restaurant and open another one in such a short time frame—it’s just craziness that we actually made it happen,” he said. Rollins elaborated on the unexpected opportunity that paved the way for Salt & Sugar’s inception. “About three weeks before we closed Urban Eats, a friend of mine, Armando, approached me with an intriguing proposal. He wanted to breathe new life into a struggling bakery,” he said. “Initially, I was hesitant; I was knee deep in the challenges of closing Urban Eats. But Armando persisted,
See SALT & SUGAR P. 6
Photo courtesy of Salt & Sugar
Levi Rollins, former owner of Urban Eats, now leads a new venture at Salt & Sugar, A Houston Nosherie, Delicatessen + Patisserie.
Garden Oaks resident Annie Wild: Actor, storyteller, advocate for women in the arts Art Valet: How artist Rikki Mitman got Mitch Cohen to dance
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By Lisa Morales The Leader News Contributor Annie Wild, a talented actor and storyteller hailing from Houston, is making waves in the world of theatre with her captivating performances and dedication to empowering female narratives both on and off the stage. In an exclusive interview, Wild shared insights into her journey as an actor, shedding light on her inspirations, experiences, and aspirations. Wild’s passion for storytelling blossomed from her earliest memories, nurtured by a family deeply rooted in the arts. Her mother, Judy Sublett Wild, is a talented painter, her brother, Chandler Wild, is involved in filmmaking, and sister Lizzie Wild also shares a
passion for acting. “I think having parents who instilled the value of the arts, and the validity of careers as artists was a very important catalyst in my career as an actor,” Wild said. “My mom always had realistic conversations with us about the challenges we would potentially face and how Annie Wild hard we would have to work if we chose artistic career paths.” These frank conversations did not deter Wild from pursuing her passion
and building a full life with a growth and learning mindset. Wild found herself drawn to the stage from a young age when she became involved in the Stratford Playhouse at Stratford High School. Her journey took her from Houston to The Boston Conservatory, where she honed her craft and earned a BFA in Musical Theatre. Reflecting on her time at the conservatory, Wild describes it as four incredible years of rigorous training that prepared her for the professional world. Upon graduating, Wild ventured into the bustling theater scenes of New York City and Los Angeles before the pandemic brought her back to her roots in Houston. Since returning, Wild met the love of her life: partner
Jeremy Gee, who is also an actor, and has had the opportunity to work with theatre companies Stages, The Alley Theatre, The Ensemble Theater, Main Street Theater, Catastrophic and Dirt Dogs Theatre Co. She has also started a career as a voice actor with Sentai Filmworks in Houston and Hachette Audio in New York while still being able to audition remotely and film out of state for some projects. One of her recent endeavors includes her involvement in Stages production of Laughs in Spanish, where she portrays the character of Jenny, the personal assistant of movie star Estella Velez. Wild speaks fondly of her character saying, “My favorite thing See ANNIE WILD P. 2
See DAO P. 1
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