Leader1004b

Saturday, October 4, 2014 • 1B

Oak Forest resident ﬁnds recipe for success By Christina Martinez christina@theleadernews.com

When Oak Forest resident, Kylie Held Mitchell started her undergraduate at Texas A&M at College Station, she had an idea of what she wanted to do. She had the idea to follow in her mother’s footsteps and started her schooling to study veterinary medicine. What Mitchell was lacking in her studies was passion. During Mitchell’s undergraduate studies she started working at a gluten free bakery. The bakery centers their baking practices on gluten free products for people with celiac disease – a disease where gluten consumption affects the small intestine – or for anyone else who is sustaining from gluten. “I loved seeing how excited people were who had celiac disease and how excited they were to have products they could eat again,” Mitchell said. “And how much nutrition affected their lives.” After seeing the excitement in her customer’s eyes, Mitchell found her passion and after a few forms were ﬁled, she changed her major to get her undergraduate in nutrition and decided her path was to become a registered dietitian. Mitchell graduated with her degree in Nutrition and is now getting her Masters in public health at the University of Texas School of Public Health, while also completing her clinical internship. While studying for her education, Mitchell started her own blog called ‘Yeah…immaeathat,’ a blog centered around Mitchell’s kitchen creations. “I started in 2011 and it’s gotten a lot better since then,” Mitchell said. “I started with just my iPhone and now I ﬁnally have a camera that takes decent photos and I’ve learned more about photography. When it started in 2011, the blog probably had two followers – my mom and sister. Now we’re at 100,000 page views a month and we even have advertisers advertising with us online.” Mitchell says her blog has

turned into a part-time job, with posting a minimum of three times a week, posts to her social media and keeping up with her fan base on her blog and social media platforms. From 2011, Mitchell says her blog has come a long way. She says she’s received a number of opportunities from different companies sending her recipes to try and publish those recipes on her blog. She also says she is frequently contacted for permission rights to her photos. While Mitchell enjoys working with these companies, she isn’t content with doing that work for free. A new venture Mitchell has taken is her eBook, The SingleServing Cookie Cookbook, that has 35 healthy or wholesome single serving recipes. The idea for the book came from her home baking for herself and for her husband. “My husband doesn’t like to eat cookies as much as I do,” Mitchell said. “So I would make a batch of cookies and they would just sit on the counter. Or they would sit on the counter and I would eat all of them. So I started making single serving cookies at night and I would post the recipes on Instagram. People would comment on the posts with interest and would ask for more.” From interest from her readers and a nudge from her husband, Mitchell put together her ideas and recipes. “It seems silly to write a book about cookies, but it was so fun and people are actually buying it,” Mitchell said. “I can’t believe people buy it.” This month Mitchell attended a blogging conference in Vermont, where she learned from fellow bloggers and registered dietitians on nutrition communications and the possibilities to explore through health. Mitchell says she had the opportunity to see ﬁrst-hand how women are making money doing what she loves to do. From a change of major in college, Mitchell is following her passion and she says she is having a lot of fun while doing it.

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Photos by Christina Martinez At the top Kylie Held Mitchell prepares ingredients for her White Chocolate - Chocolate Cookie Cake Cookie, (pictured above). This cookie and recipe are from Mitchell’s eBook The Single-Serving Cookie Cookbook, that she has launched with 35 healthy or wholesome single serving recipes.

Heights Ofﬁce

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Commercial developer part of continued retail surge in Northwest Houston area By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com

As RE:VIVE Development continues furthering its reach in Northwest Houston, principal Bryan Danna knows ﬁrsthand how commercial development is quickly changing the face of the Heights and surrounding areas. The group is currently constructing one of its latest developments, a 3,080 sq. ft. building at the corner of Heights Boulevard and 11th

Street on 13,500 sq. ft. of land, and is completing a remodel of its 5,000-square-foot facility at the corner of White Oak Drive and Studewood Street. RE:VIVE currently manages and leases a variety of shopping centers across the area, including the Garden Oaks Center on North Shepherd Drive, a center at 1102 Yale Street and its South Heights facility at White Oak Drive, among others. While RE:VIVE has helped attract large chains like Best

Buy, Applebee’s and Anytime Fitness, Danna said most of their tenants have been homegrown businesses looking for room to grow. Typically, the larger companies have stayed closer to freeways and other major thoroughfares, however the smaller and often times more unique establishments tend to congregate in centers like those built by RE:VIVE. Smaller tenants include those like the Shepherd Park Draught House, Pinks Pizza, Lola, Bombshell Hair Shop

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and others. “We try to select tenants that work well together and truly complement each othBusiness Loans Made Simple. ers’ businesses,” Danna said. “Most of our places have been mom & pop-style establishBusiness Is On The Line ments, so the market in this �� When �� area has been really healthy.” www.allegiancebanktexas.com See Retail, P. 2B

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�� Branch Operations Manager - Sandy Estes Source: RE:VIVE Development This rendering shows RE:VIVE Development’s new 3,080 sq. ft. retail center currently under construction at the corner of Heights Boulevard and 11th Street. The development is one of several in the area directly leased and managed by the company, which is seeing increased retail demand and, along with it, challenges in meeting the needs of new retail development.

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Page 2B • Saturday, October 4, 2014

Family Bingo Center crosses cultures, generations By Kim Hogstrom For The Leader

At 81 years old, Family Bingo Center Founder Chuck Bertani knows all about what it means to grow old doing what you love. “As you get older, you sort of get cranky,” Bertani said with a chuckle. “So you have to get out of the way, and let the younger ones step up,” Bertani opened his popular bingo hall on Crosstimbers at Shepherd 30 years ago, and over those years, his wife, sister, son, and all three daughters have worked to help keep it in the family. Today, the Family Bingo Center entertains as many as 600 bingo-players a day, and generates a lot of money for local charities. “Our customers are very loyal,” Amanda Pool, 30, Bertani’s youngest daughter, said. “We have guests who have been playing with

us since day one. We have grown up with some of them and we love them. It’s not just that they seem like family, they are family.” Pool and her sister, Jamie Caraway, 35, are now proudly running the Family Bingo Center, and enjoying it every minute of it. Pool admits that she sometimes hears people yell “Bingo” in her sleep, or answers her phone at home with a cheery “Family Bingo.” Isn’t bingo sort of “vintage?” Hasn’t it followed the same path of, say, the hulahoop or croquette? Have the sisters seen the customer base change over time, we ask? “Well yes, we have. They are getting older,” Pool said. “But they are also getting younger. Our regulars are aging, but we also see new, young professionals everyday. There are many of them. They come to enjoy an eve-

ning of entertainment and good, clean fun. We also have children who love to join in. “We have customers from 7 years old, to well into their 90s. Most are local, but last week we had a crowd in from Baytown. That’s one of the wonderful things about bingo - it’s multi-generational and cross-cultural, and it always has been. Everyone enjoys it,” she concluded. When Bertani decided to launch the Family Bingo Center in 1984, he quickly chose the 18,000-square-foot location on Crosstimbers, which used to house grocery store. The bingo hall was the very ﬁrst in Harris County “and possibly the ﬁrst in Texas,” he added. The hall operates by donating 100 percent of its proceeds, after expenses, to four Houston-based charities: “Northwest Stars for the Mentally Disabled” ;“Sports Foundation of Texas” ; “City

Wide Club of Clubs,” and “City Wide Club of Clubs Food Bank #82.” “The donations have added up to millions and millions over the years,” Bertani stated. “Family Bingo is a lot of fun,” Cynthia Gutierrez, a 6month regular player, said. “I feel welcomed, and my favorite part is the speed games. It gets exciting, and when I come close to winning, my heart skips a beat! “The food is good, and the atmosphere is great too. And I love that it’s non-smoking,” she stated. “We have been here for 30 years,” Pool said. “And we are hoping, to be here for the next 30. I think we will. Everyone loves good, clean, family fun.” For more information about Family Bingo Center, go to www.familybingocenter.com.

Cajun, Louisiana food lovers encouraged to get to ‘The Boot’ in the Heights By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

If you are from Louisiana and live in the area, odds are you’ve been to The Boot, 1206 W 20th St. Open since March on the site of the former Shady Tavern, co-owners Christopher “Chico” Ramirez and Billy Duplechin said that they had a good feeling about the restaurant’s success. “It’s amazing how many people in Houston are from Louisiana,” said Billy Duplechin, whose family comes from southern Louisiana himself. “LSU has a huge alumni group here.” Of course you don’t need to be from Louisiana to appreciate good food. Ramirez has been in the restaurant business for 20 years and for the past two oversaw operations at Liberty Kitchen, BRC and Petite Sweets. “It was an incredible experience,” Ramirez said. He knew the Duplechin

brothers – Billy, Glenn and Tommy – from growing up in Kingwood and the Duplechins had gotten to know Shady Tavern owner Dennis Whitworth from doing crawfish boils there. “The crawfish was a side deal,” said Duplechin. “We weren’t planning restaurants.” A restaurant is what they have now, with Whitworth as their landlord. There are five co-owners: Ramirez, the Duplechins and their brother-inlaw Jimmy Jones. Although the menu is constantly expanding, they are known for their crawfish. “Other people think you can just sprinkle something on top,” Duplechin said. “We soak our crawfish in a great tasting boil.” Cajun favorites like red beans and rice and the boiled seafood were family recipes, from the Duplechins’ parents who are also “really good cooks.” How to evolve a 600 square

foot ice house built in 1937 is They have a good crowd for an endeavor they are taking LSU games on Saturdays and in steps. In order to serve Saints games on Sundays as the plated and fried foods well as lighted washer courts. that have recently appeared Ramirez said that down on their menu, the owners the road they’d like to build a needed a kitchen and a fryer, larger restaurant on the propbut they’re located in a ﬂood erty. Their current lease is for plain. The solution – a re- ﬁve years. “Lots of people build a habbed trailer that serves as a stand apart food truck. The name and then move into food is still served in the res- brick and mortar,” Ramirez said. taurant. Another new addition to �� the menu is Po-boys with Leidenheimer bread. “We took a couple of trips to New Orleans,” Ramirez said. “We did a lot of research �� Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling and development with our SHEETROCK REPAIR & TEXTURE food menu. It was important 832-885-4939 to know who to source from.” It’s important to the owners that families come to the restaurant too. “I’m amazed that some restaurants don’t cater to them,” Ramirez said, also the father to a 4 and a 2 year old. “We have a sandbox and the area is completely fenced off.”

Photo By Kim Hogstrom Families and kids of all ages enjoy nights over at the Family Bingo Center, a mainstay for Bingo aﬁcionados for generations, located on Crosstimbers at Shepherd. Owner Chuck Bertani ﬁrst opened the hall 30 years ago and said the establishment attracts as many as 600 bingo-players a day. The Center also donates 100 percent of its proceeds after expenses to four Houston-based charities, and has raised millions of dollars throughout the years.

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�� Photo By Betsy Denson The owners of the Lousiana restaurant, The Boot, stand outside of their location at W. 20th Street. Open since March, co-owners Christopher Ramirez and Billy Duplechin say their menu is constantly expanding, but oﬀer plenty of Cajun mainstays like Po-boys and crawﬁsh.

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Retail, from P. 1B This healthy commercial growth is spurred in part by changing demographics, income and property values. According to the group’s website, within a one-mile radius of its new Heights Boulevard facility is an average household income of over $92,000. At the Garden Oaks Center, the average household income is over $82,000 in a one-mile radius. However, with that kind of spending power comes plenty of competition. Well-parked retail space is difﬁcult to come by, and creating developments that cater to businesses both big and small is a challenge for commercial developers like RE:VIVE. “I think the land comes at a premium when you’re competing with residential devel-

opment,” Danna said. “Residential developers can pay for more land than we can and part of the reason is because we need a lot of parking, so our building to land ratio is low.” Danna said while many residential developments build up to or over 100 percent building coverage, commercial developments may only have about 20 to 30 percent. “It makes it challenging for us to get our product built right,” Danna said. Most tenants look for strong parking ratios with unique designs, shying away from the “typical ﬂat-front suburban strip centers” seen in other parts of the city, Danna said. However, Houston’s required parking ratio can be too low

for many businesses. This will be especially important for the facility at Heights Boulevard, which, according to the organization’s website, has 20,000 cars passing by a day among some of the busiest streets in the Heights. “I think the real issue is that many tenants need a lot more parking than what the city of Houston code calls for,” Danna said. On top of this, construction and land costs have also steadily risen along with demand from homebuyers with strong amounts of income and purchasing power for retail establishments. Danna said he hopes to continue diversifying properties and attracting tenants who can serve these afﬂuent communities.

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Saturday, October 4, 2014 • Page 3B

THE CALENDAR. BIRTH FAIR United Way Center Come to the 13th annual Birth Fair and celebrate natural parenting and pregnancy. Get the latest information about vaccines, birthing options, breastfeeding, babywearing, VBACs, and more. There will be overstuffed goody bags for guests, and activities for children. The Birth Fair will be held from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 4, at the United Way Center, 50 Waugh Dr. The event is free and open to all ages. Information: www.houbirth.org, 832-4996029. BICYCLE RALLY AND SCAVENGER HUNT Houston Heights Association The rally is open to riders of all ages and designed as a casual, self-paced ride. The rally begins at 8 a.m. Oct. 5. Entrants can choose between a 20-mile course through the Heights and near-by neighborhoods, or a shorter 5-mile ride designed for kids and their adult companions - or do both starting and finishing at Marmion Park, 18th Street and Heights Boulevard. Participants can celebrate at Marmion Park for the Post Ride Party and Awards Ceremony with entertainment, door prizes, and refreshments. Visit the website for cost. Information: www.houstonheights. org, 713-861-4002, opt. 6. AARP MONTHLY MEETING AARP Chapter 1265 The monthly meeting will be held at 10 a.m., Oct. 6, at Candlelight Park, 1215 Candlelight Dr. James Rasmus, a fellow AARP member, will speak on the topic, “Outliving Your Money.” Information: 713-681-1133. AMERICA’S NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME Forest West Pool National Night Out is an opportunity for residents to meet their neighbors and to develop a safer environment for their families. The event will be 6 p.m. Oct. 7. Residents can donate fixings or side dishes for the fajita dinner. Information: josephinechoy@att. net, forestwest.com. DEED RESTRICTION SIGNING EVENT Shepherd Forest Subdivision In conjunction with National Night Out on Oct. 7, there will be various locations within Sections 1 and 2 that will have the deed restrictions on hand for review and signature. Signs will be put out at the end of the week for locations. Look for the red balloons. SENIOR FUN FEST St. Dominic Village This free event held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 9, is sponsored by St. Dominic Village, a senior care community, 2401 Holcombe Blvd., and features arts and crafts, food and music. There is

free table registration. Information: 713-822-5419, 713-4403417, eponte@stdominicvillage. org. LEGIONNAIRES BARBECUE American Legion Post 560 Come out for a good meal and support the Legionnaires. Barbecue dinners will be served from noon until sold out Oct. 11. The Post is located at 3720 Alba Rd. Information: 713-682-9287, www.americanlegionpost560.org. MOVIE IN THE PARK Oak Forest Homeowners Association A family Halloween-themed movie and some food trucks will be at Oak Forest Park at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11. Information: www. ofha.org. HEIGHTS GARDEN CLUB MEETING Eskelson Residence The Heights Garden Club will have their monthly meeting at 10 a.m. Oct. 11, at 636 E. 12th St. Experimenting to find plants which will bloom in the many different types of shade created by a two-century old live oak which is on the Harris County tree registry of exceptional trees. Information: www.heightsgardenclub.com. CZECH SOUP TASTING Czech Heritage Society of Texas The Czech Heritage Society of Texas, Harris County Chapter, will host its annual soup tasting from 2-6 p.m. Oct. 12, at the SPJST Lodge #88, 1435 Beall St. The event will include five varieties of soups to taste, all you can eat, for $7 for adults and $3.50 for children under 10 years of age. There will be kolaches, cookies and cakes for sale. Proceeds will benefit the Czech Genealogy Library located at 4117 Willowbend Blvd. For information, call 713-3490500. 5 ALARM SUNDAY FUNDAY Fire Museum of Houston Bring the family to enjoy a beer, bourbon or some whiskey, simple vittles, live and silent auctions, a kid friendly bounce house, games for the young ones to enjoy, mechanical bull, and listen to live Texas music. The event will be held at 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 19, at the Redneck Country Club, 11110 W. Airport Blvd. in Stafford. Proceeds benefit the Educational and Outreach programs of The Houston Fire Museum. Information: 713-524-2526, hfmi@houstonfiremuseum.org. HOUSTON PRIDE BAND MUSICAL EVENT Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church Under the baton of Interim Artistic Director and Conductor Jason Stephens. This musical event is free, and donations are accepted at the door or online.

p.m. Oct. 18, at the Cadillac Bar party room, 1802 Shepherd Dr. The party room entrance is on the side (Nolda St.). Free admission includes hot appetizers, Karaoke, and dancing. There will be a cash bar. Casual attire. Other Waltrip classes are welcome to attend. RSVP by emai. Information: 713-417-4407, 281-620-9603, waltriprams79@yahoo.com.

The concert venue is Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church, 2025 W. 11th St. The performance is at 3 p.m. Oct. 25. A reception will follow. Information: www.houstonprideband.org. SRO PRESENTS “THE WHO’S TOMMY” Obsidian Art Space Standing Room Only Productions is presenting “The Who’s Tommy,” the Tony Award-winning rock opera based on the The Who’s 1969 album that changed the music world forever. Performance dates are Oct. 30, 31; and Nov. 1, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22. Evening curtains are at 8 p.m. There are also two matinees at 2 p.m. on Nov. 8 and Nov. 16. Performances are at Obsidian Art Space, 3522 White Oak Dr. Visit the website to purchase tickets. Information: www.sro-productions.com, 713-300-2358.

WALTRIP HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1969 45 Year Reunion The reunion will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 25, at Whitney Oaks, 816 E. Whitney St. 77022. Dinner will be served, and a cash bar is available for beer and wine. Liquor BYOB. The cost is $40 per person. Visit the website to register. Information: www.waltrip1969.com.

36TH HOUSTON ITALIAN FESTIVAL Bringing Culture to L ife! OCT. 9TH -12TH

Presented by the Italian Cultural & Community Center

AT T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F S T. T H O M A S

AUTHENTIC ITALIAN FOOD & WINE LIVE MUSIC & MORE DISCOUNTED TICKETS PLUS FOOD & BEVERAGE PACKAGES Advance Online Tickets are Only $6 Children Under 12 FREE

HoustonItalianFestival.com

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This project is funded in-part by a grant from the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance SHRED FOR KOMEN Computer Wiz Bring all old, personal papers into the secured bin and once 1 9/1/14 a month, it’s shredded on site TheLeaderAD3.2222x4.indd �� and picked up by Texas Security Shredding at Computer Wiz, 511 Garden Oaks Blvd. Also bring old computers, monitors, printers, hard drives, ﬂoppy disks and CDs for recycling. Information: 713979-4500.

MANNA INAUGURAL FUNDRAISER Ministry Assistance of the Near Northwest Alliance MANNA is celebrating 25 years in the community. A fund-raising event will be held from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 1, in the parking lot of the MANNA Resale Store, 1806 W. 43rd St. This event will be a BBQ dinner and silent auction. Tickets are $15 pre-sale or $20 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at the store or online. Information: 713-504-5486, pdornak@gmail. com, www.manna-houston.org.

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SENIOR GAME DAY Candlelight Park There will be two senior game days on Wednesday and Thursday each week beginning at 9 a.m. at Candlelight Park, 1520 Candlelight Dr. Call 281-989-4589 or 713-6823587 for information.

Reunions REAGAN HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1964 50 Year Reunion The John H. Reagan Class of 1964 Reunion is scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 17. Events include a mixer at Pappasito’s Cantina Memorial City on Friday night, tour of Reagan High School on Saturday morning, and a dinner celebration at Red Oak Ballroom/CityCentre on Saturday night. Information: www. classreport.org/usa/tx/houston/ rhs/1964/

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WALTRIP HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1974 The Waltrip Class of 1974 is holding their 40th reunion the weekend of Oct. 17 and Oct. 18. The mixer at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17, at Wakeﬁeld CrowBar and reunion party at 7 p.m. Oct. 18, at Houston Liederkranz, 5100 Ella Blvd. Catering is by Demeris BBQ, music by The Telstars, photo booth and more. Beer, wine and setups will be available, so BYOB. Other classes and friends are welcome to attend. Visit the website to RSVP and purchase tickets. Information: www.waltripclassof74.com.

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