Inside Today: Girl scouts honor Hortense Ward, Heights suffragist Page 2
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Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston
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Saturday, November 9, 2024 • Vol. 69 • No. 45
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Lucky Dog Mobile Groomers sets sights on national expansion with goal of 100+ trucks by 2026 By STEFANIE THOMAS edtior@theleadernews.com
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Houston Heights couple Edris Yousefi and Janina Quevedo most definitely barked up the right tree when they turned their maternity and paternity leave into a booming pet grooming venture, Lucky Dog Mobile Groomers, now set on a national expansion. Launched in early 2023, the mobile grooming business has quickly grown to an eight-truck corporate fleet, with additional licensees across Alabama, Arizona, and Kansas. By the end of 2026, they aim to operate
over 100 grooming trucks, expanding their reach to new markets throughout Texas and the U.S. Yousefi, Lucky Dog’s CEO, brings years of experience in franchise expansion, having previously worked with brands like Sport Clips and various startups. Inspired by Quevedo’s background in pet care, he saw potential in reimagining mobile grooming. “Much of what we’ve been able to accomplish with Lucky Dog Mobile Groomers so quickly has been by reimagining an industry that has been heavily reliant on a mom-and-pop business model,” he said. “We’ve lev-
eraged new technologies and tools to create efficiencies and scale, while centering the experience on our customers who value convenience, consistency, and a high level of care.” The Lucky Dog team kicked off with a single truck in Houston in early 2023 and quickly added a second in April 2024. Today, their operations span eight corporate trucks and seven additional licensee trucks. They plan to roll out nine more vehicles before the end of 2024, covering the East Coast areas of Westchester See LUCKY DOG P. 5
OUT OF THIS WORLD!
Memorial City Mall lights up for the holidays
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Submitted photo
Mia Bella Yousefi, Eris Yousefi and Janina Quevedo.
Best Regards launches charcuterie-style Sunday brunch, fusing culinary creativity with a stylish vibe By LISA MORALES The Leader News Contributor
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at ARTECHOUSE
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Mike Vowell displays his collection of memorabilia from the time his band’s cassette tape traveled to space.
Business: See who’s coming, and who’s going
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The cassette tape that traveled to space By CHRIS DAIGLE The Leader News Contributor
Holiday meal catering with the Houston Food Bank: Feed your family and Houston’s hungry
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Check out Art Valet’s interview with Islamic Art Festival artist Asiya Nuretdinova
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THE INDEX. People ���������������������������������������2 Topics ����������������������������������������4 Classifieds ���������������������������������7 Local Culture �����������������������������8
Photos by Chris Daigle
The Zydeco Dots have played around the world several times since Greater Inwood resident Mike Vowell started the band in 1987. While audiences rave about the rich Louisiana sound, Vowell proudly tells us that, on one occasion, the band’s music was out of this world — literally! Vowell plays a scrub board in the band, known as a frottoir, but commonly also referred to as a rubboard, or a washboard. “In French that means to agitate and scrub, so my title with the band is rubboardist,” he said. While one would think that a Zydeco player would be Cajun from Louisiana, Vowell came from Gary, Indiana, and came to Houston as fast as he could.
The Heights welcomes a new player in the brunch game as Best Regards, a cocktail lounge known for its unique atmosphere and tailored dining experiences, unveils a fresh concept: customizable charcuterie-style brunch boards, or Best Boards. This women-owned establishment, helmed by Houston native and hospitality entrepreneur Morgan Hansen, has set out to transform the brunch experience into a highly personalized affair, combining an eclectic menu with an ambiance that champions connection and style. Hansen shared that Best Regards’ brunch boards were crafted to encourage guests to be part of their own culinary experience. “Our customizable charcuterie-style brunch boards were inspired by the desire to create a personal and interactive brunch experience,” she explained. “In a bar designed for connection, I wanted our menu to reflect that same spirit— encouraging guests to explore flavors See BEST REGARDS P. 2
“I was a music teacher with HISD when we started,” he said. “We had a band that was all HISD magnet teachers, called Ted and the Polka Dots. That eventually evolved into Pierre and the Zydeco Dots and the rest is music history.” Vowell has a hundred stories of life in the spotlight. The Zydeco Dots have opened for big artists and big artists have opened for them. “We opened for Leon Russell several years ago, and two members of our band said, ‘Who’s that old man coming up the ramp?’ The drummer said, ‘that’s Leon Russell!’” he recalled. The band’s huge fan base resulted in an interesting encounter. It took decades for Mike Vowell to “We were playing at Party On The receive confirmation that his band’s Plaza in the early ‘90s downtown when tape had indeed made it into orbit, See TAPE P. 5
thanks to a chance encounter with astronaut Tom Henricks.
Photo by Michael Anthony
Morgan Hansen, founder of social lounge Best Regards
Celebrating a Decade of Inclusive Care: Elation Physical Therapy leads the way in LGBTQ+ health and well-being By LISA MORALES The Leader News Contributor As Elation Physical Therapy nears its 10th anniversary, the practice continues to stand out for its pioneering approach to providing compassionate, inclusive care to the LGBTQ+ community. Founded by Dr. Roy Rivera, Elation has earned a reputation not only as a physical therapy provider but also as a safe, supportive haven where Submitted photo patients feel understood, respected, Dr Roy Rivera, founder of Elation Physical and empowered. For Rivera, who has Therapy.
dedicated his career to building a more inclusive healthcare environment, the journey is both a professional mission and a personal calling. “I was inspired to create a safe, inclusive environment at Elation Physical Therapy because of the profound need within the LGBTQ+ community for compassionate, understanding healthcare,” Rivera shares. Reflecting on the barriers many LGBTQ+ individuals face, he explains that fear of misunderstanding or judgment often prevents people from accessing essential care.
“This realization sparked a commitment in me to build a physical therapy practice where every person would feel respected, understood, and empowered to seek the care they need without judgment or fear.” At Elation, this commitment goes beyond words. The practice offers specialized programs, including post-operative care for gender-affirming surgeries and other treatments designed to meet the unique needs of LGBTQ+
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See ELATION P. 3