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Saturday, August 31, 2024 • Vol. 69 • No.35
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INSIDE.
Greater Heights Super Neighborhood Council discusses trees, boutique hotel By CHARLIE HARDWICK The Leader News Contributor The Greater Heights Super Neighborhood Council held its bimonthly meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 20, at the historic Heights Fire Station located at 107 W. 12th Street. Council President Kevin Strickland began the meeting by briefly explaining the council’s role as part of the city’s program, which was initially launched under the city’s planning and development department and is codified in the city’s municipal code under
Chapter 33, Article 8. The council aims to encourage residents to collaborate in identifying, prioritizing, and addressing the broader community’s needs and concerns. Following a quick reading of the Council Code of Conduct and other orders of business, the meeting moved on to the invited presenters.
PROPOSAL TO PLANT OVER 200 TREES ALONG THE MKT HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL Emmanuel Nunez, representing the non-profit organizations A Tale of Two Bridges and I Love 11th, present-
ed a proposal to plant over 200 trees along the MKT Hike and Bike Trail. Nunez explained that while permits have been secured through the city’s urban forestry department, additional funds are needed to provide water for the trees during their first two years after planting. He estimated that approximately $20 per tree is needed to ensure adequate watering. The project has been in development for the last two years and aims to plant mainly native trees, with some ornamental varieties for aesthetic purposes. A partnership with Trees For Houston
will help provide the necessary trees and planting materials. The planned area for tree planting is the section of the hike and bike trail between Yale and Shepherd. Nunez stated that the goal is to replicate the canopy patterns found in other parts of the trail to provide shade and cover for this currently barren stretch. The planting project will be divided into three sections—East, Central, and West—with a total of 204 trees to be planted. The tree planting is set to See COUNCIL P. 4
BRICK BY BRICK
Boomtown Brass Band to bring jazz to Marmion Park on Labor Day By LISA MORALES The Leader News Contributor
Karbach launches Pizza & Pints, a match made in heaven
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Third Age Learning Center offers classes, activities for seniors
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BTS: Keep germs away, keep kids healthy
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Tandem bike rides for the vision impaired: Everyone can enjoy the ride!
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Rock band Calfione is coming to a house concert near you
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THE INDEX. People ���������������������������������������2 Topics ����������������������������������������4 Classifieds ���������������������������������7 Local Culture �����������������������������8
Photo courtesy of the Houston Toy Museum
Adults love the Lego and taproom experience.
Houston Toy Museum’s Lego Build Nights: A hit across the Heights and beyond By LISA MORALES The Leader News Contributor What started as a simple event at the Houston Toy Museum has quickly evolved into a city-wide phenomenon, drawing in adults and kids alike to experience the joy of building with Legos in a fun and social setting. The brainchild of Toy Museum owner Sara Broussard, Lego Nights have taken off in popularity, proving that the iconic building blocks are not just for kids. The first indication that these events would be a hit came in February of this year when the Toy Museum hosted a Valentine’s Day Lego Night. The event sold out two nights in a row, leaving Broussard and her team scrambling to meet the demand. “We were blown away by how excited people were about it,” Broussard said. “It was clear that Lego had a much broader appeal than we initially thought.” Recognizing the potential, Broussard
Photo by Lisa Morales
Participants can pre-order Lego sets or purchase them at the venue.
expanded the concept beyond the museum’s walls. The first partnership was with North Shepherd Brewing, which approached the Toy Museum about
This Labor Day, the Heights will come alive with the vibrant sounds of Boomtown Brass Band, a local ensemble dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich traditions of early jazz. The Houston Heights Association will host the band at Marmion Park, located at 1802 Heights Blvd., on Sept. 2 from 7:30-9 p.m., offering an evening of music that promises to transport listeners back to the golden age of jazz. Formed in 2015, Boomtown Brass Band quickly established itself as a prominent figure in Houston’s music scene, particularly within the Heights community. The band was founded with a mission to study and perform traditional jazz, often referred to as “Dixieland.” Over the years, they have expanded their repertoire to include a wide array of jazz styles, becoming a beloved fixture at local venues and private events.
A JOURNEY THROUGH JAZZ HISTORY
bringing Lego Night to their taproom. The March event was a resounding success, bringing in people of all ages to enjoy a pint while building their favorite Lego sets. “It was great to see people who hadn’t been to our brewery before come out for the event,” said Sam Wright, owner of North Shepherd Brewing. “It provided a fun activity and nostalgia for folks who maybe hadn’t built with Legos in years.” Following the success at North Shepherd Brewing, the Toy Museum partnered with Eureka Heights Brew Co., where Lego Build Parties have now become a regular twice-monthly event. “This is our second month partnering with the Houston Toy Museum, and it’s been a huge success,” said Anastasia Carrera of Eureka Heights Brewing. “We’ve had kids, parents, couples, even our own taproom staff
The Boomtown sound is a rich tapestry of jazz history, beginning with the classic New Orleans jazz style, which emerged in the early 20th century. This foundational style, characterized by its collective improvisation and syncopated rhythms, laid the groundwork for what would become one of America’s most enduring musical genres. From New Orleans, the Boomtown Brass Band’s sound travels north to Chicago, where the “Dixieland” style gained prominence in the 1920s. Chicago jazz, known for its upbeat tempos and intricate solos, brought a new energy to the genre, appealing to both listeners and dancers alike. The band also incorporates elements of “gypsy jazz,” a style pioneered by guitarist Django Reinhardt in the early 1930s. Gypsy jazz is distinguished by its swift tempos, swinging rhythms, and virtuosic guitar work, adding a unique flair to Boomtown’s performances. Finally, the Boomtown Brass Band infuses their music with a touch of New Orleans second line, a tradition rooted in the city’s brass band parades. This style is known for its lively, celebratory feel, making it perfect for dancing and creating a festive atmosphere wherever the band plays.
See TOY MUSEUM P. 2
See BOOMTOWN BRASS BAND P. 2
Canopy Crisis: Community workshops address tree loss and solutions in District C By STEPHANIE SHIRLEY The Leader News Contributor Earlier this month on Aug. 15 and Aug. 20, Houston City Council Member Abbie Kamin’s office sponsored educational workshops on tree preservation in her North and South District C areas, respectively. This was both in response to the staggering damage to the community’s canopy and the overwhelmingly extensive power outages Houstonians suffered as a result of line damage during recent storms. District C partnered with Trees For Houston, a local nonprofit organization
whose mission is to ‘plant, protect, and promote trees throughout the greater Houston area’. Following two years of back-toback drought, on May 16 of this year, Houston suffered its first catastrophic derecho. Only 53 days later the community was hit by Hurricane Beryl. While it may have been downgraded from a Category 5 to a Category 1 as it hit the Texas coast, it packed 80+-mile an hour winds and brought significant rainfall. Meanwhile, recovery and clean-up was still under way from the May storm. The one-two sucker punch delivered by Beryl was
devastating to the surviving tree population. The canopy had already suffered massive structural damage and the added wind and water, in such a short period of time, was a significant blow for much of Houston’s timber landscape. Kamin said, “Between the destruction caused by the derecho and the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, it is estimated that at least 50% of our urban trees were affected.” Since Houston has more than 36 million trees, this means that 16- to See CANOPY CRISIS P. 5
Photo by Stephanie Shirley
Nearly 2 months and numerous rounds of clean-up after the second storm, area trees continue to suffer ongoing residual damage.
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