LEADER LISTING The Leader • Saturday, October 26, 2019 • Page 1B
Area Realtors break down home market By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com Realtor Kristi Kolmetz said area homes are still selling. They’re just not selling as fast as they did this summer in her focus neighborhoods: Garden Oaks, the Greater Heights, Oak Forest, Shepherd Park Plaza and Timbergrove Manor. “In June (houses were selling) at or above asking (price),” Kolmetz said. “Now they’re still moving but not as many multiple offers. (Homes for sale) spend 30-45 days on the market before receiving an offer.” How fast a house sells depends on a lot of things, including location and price. Another important, less quantifiable factor is a buyer’s unique wish list. Are they single? A couple? A growing family? A match is made when “what they want” meets “what they are willing or able to spend.” Kolmetz said that in Shepherd Park Plaza, if a buyer is willing to renovate a house in the neighborhood, there is availability in the $440,000$450,000 range. Those who want renovated or new homes are looking at $650,000 and up. For the first time, a Shepherd Park Plaza house recently sold for $1 million. Amanda Cruser with Bernstein Realty broke down the upper and lower end ranges in zip codes served by The Leader as well as what buyers can
Contributed photo Realtors from the area weighed in on pricing trends in neighborhoods such as Garden Oaks, Oak Forest, Timbergrove Manor and the Heights.
expect in each market. The 77018 zip code covers about 7 square miles. Cruser said prices range from less than $100,000 for a lot on the boundaries of the zip code to about $400,000 for a lot zoned to Oak Forest Elementary. “Home prices range from about $250,000-$1.7 million,” Cruser said. “Very generally, $250,000-$600,000 will get
you an original home with updates or a newer build in a planned community with smaller lots, like townhomes, and patio homes. Over $600,000 can get you a newer build or larger home on a larger lot. “There is a fairly dramatic difference in pricing depending upon the zoned school. New builds zoned to (Oak For-
est Elementary) at about 3,000 square feet and up with a fullsize lot go for over $800,000.” The 77092 zip code encompasses about 8 square miles. The area tops out at $775,000 as far as current listings, with condos below $50,000 on the bottom end. “The upper $100,000 to upper $200,000 range will get you an original home that
could benefit from updates,” Cruser said. “Approximately $300,000 and up will get you renovated original homes and some new builds including townhomes and patio homes.” Zip code 77091 is about 7 square miles, with the most expensive home currently on the market listed at $408,500. Listings that come in above $500,000 are all larger pieces
of land. “There are a number of new construction homes on smaller lots in the $200,000 to upper $300,000 range,” Cruser said. “(There are) also a smattering of original homes ready for renovation or smaller homes already renovated. Some condos and lots fall under $50,000.” Zip code 77008 delineates the Heights proper, which is about 7 square miles. “Current listings top out at $2.7 million,” Cruser said. “There are a handful of condos and townhomes under $200,000. (It) would be very difficult to find anything with a full-sized lot for under $500,000.” Priorities for buyers concern schools and potential flooding. “Most of my clients are looking for detailed information regarding flood zones and the flooding history of homes they are interested in,” Cruser said. “Some clients are open to homes that have taken on water and some will absolutely not consider them.” Other clients get attached to original homes in neighborhoods where teardowns have become commonplace. “Some families I work with are looking for a small house with the idea they will grow the house as they grow their family,” Realtor Ginny Ledwell said. “I hear that a lot. (But) buyers are competing with builders because they are the ones with cash.”
Baldwin, known for local activism, sets sights on City Hall By Boulevard Realty This is a paid political ad by Friends of Bill Baldwin. As voters head to the polls this week, many in the Heights, Oak Forest, and Garden Oaks will see a familiar name on the ballot—one that’s been on real estate “For Sale” signs sprinkled around the area throughout the last two decades. Boulevard Realty Broker and Owner Bill Baldwin is running for Houston City Council At-Large Position 4, a position currently held by Council Member Amanda Edwards and for which she will not seek re-election as she runs for the US Senate throughout 2020. While the at-large seat would give him the ability to vote on municipal policy for the entire City, Baldwin hopes his long track record as a community organizer in the Heights speaks to voters in a crowded field where virtually all contenders are touting neighborhood advocacy as a strong suit. “Part of my decision to en-
ter the race really came down to not seeing many candidates across all Council races who had proven experience building consensus, taking tough stances, and making a difference at the neighborhood level,” professes Baldwin. “It is easier said than done.”
As one of the longest-serving Directors on the Board (and a three-term president) of the Houston Heights Association (HHA), the not-for-profit neighborhood association whose mission is to preserve and promote the historic neighborhood, Baldwin grew
the organization’s financial reserves substantially, oversaw the adaptive restoration of the historic Fire Station & City Hall building into what is now a popular event venue owned by the HHA, and implemented important neighborhood programs like the Constable
Patrol Program supplemental crime and safety force. He is now hoping to scale that same sort of impact and executivelevel experience across all of Houston’s neighborhoods. Baldwin admits that the rest of the neighborhood has not always initially been on board with some of the stances he has taken. He points to the 2016 special election to begin modifying the dry area of the Heights to allow a grocery store to sell beer and wine, which he opposed, as one of those battles. “That is a perfect example where the issue at hand was far more complicated than many residents probably realized,” Baldwin recalls about what ultimately passed in a 2/3 vote and set the stage for a total repeal of the historic dry area. “It wasn’t about allowing a grocery store and beer and wine, it was
New owners for center on 34th DeMeritt, had purchased El Mante Tires Shop #1 at 1702 W. 34th St. Now DeMeritt says a small shopping center is planned for the space. “We’re keeping the existing building,” DeMeritt said, noting that major renovations are underway. “The skin is off.” The 4,500 square feet will house two to three servicetype tenants and be ready to
By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com Changes could be coming to an area shopping center that recently changed hands. Houston-based Wu Family Trust purchased the Northbrook Shopping Center, previously owned by Weingarten Realty, for an undisclosed price. The sale of the 174,181 square foot, grocery-anchored retail center, located at 5264 W. 34th St., was announced by CBRE Group, Inc., a commercial real estate services and investment firm. The shopping center is anchored by El Rancho Supermercado, a Hispanic grocery store that opened in 2017. It replaced a Randall’s store. The retail center is 96.6 percent occupied with a 17.9-year average historical occupancy for anchor tenants, according to CBRE. “Northbrook’s long-term stability, high retention ratio and below-market rents garnered a significant amount of interest,” said Mark Witcher, senior vice president of CBRE. “The location in the highly populated and underserved
about preserving a historically significant neighborhood with one of the very few tools in the toolbox for preservation. I was the little guy in that issue, but I am proud to have changed minds and advocated unwaveringly for my neighbors and neighborhood.” The former Planning Commissioner and consummate City volunteer, who resigned from the Planning Commission the day before announcing his run for Council, finds himself facing similar opposition in key issues on the minds of voters this fall, from the North Houston Highway Improvement Project (widely referred to as I-45 Expansion) to development regulations inside the 100-year floodplain. Those are minds he hopes to change in the tail end of See Baldwin P. 3B
FallFest and Yard Sale October 26 8:00 am – 2:00 pm Gethsemane Lutheran Church 4040 Watonga Join us for foods, bake sale, games, face painting, pumpkin decorating and Halloween Trunk or Treat! Yard Sale from 8 to 2. To reserve a Yard Sale booth, contact Lisa at 713-410-5427
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Northwest Houston submarket made this a fantastic opportunity for investors.” Shandy’s to occupy former Maryam’s Cafe AG Antiques owner Debbie Greenbaum said her family, which owns the building where the antique store is located, is leasing the former spot of Maryam’s Café at 315 W. 19th St. to Shandy’s Restaurant, which already has a
popular location on Memorial Drive. Reviewers have called it the best-kept secret in Rice Military. “They’ve been open for 14 years, and have quite a following,” Greenbaum said. Shopping center planned for former 34th tire shop In August, The Leader reported that Summit Path Investments LLC, led by John
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Page 2B • Saturday, October 26, 2019 • The Leader
Playground for All Abilities entering construction phase Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com
One year ago this week, a record crowd came together for the Festival of Abilities at Oak Forest Park to celebrate the vision of an accessible playground. The idea was backed by donations from community businesses and families as well as funding from Mayor Pro Tem Ellen Cohen, the Houston City Council member for District C, and the Houston Parks & Recreation Department (HPARD). Now, after the city council unanimously approved the $120,000 allocation from District C and the $150,000 gift from HPARD, construction will begin. Elyssa Horvath, chair of the park revitalization, said the city funds will go toward the purchase of the playground equipment and the $500,000 that Friends of Oak Forest Park has raised will go toward construction costs. Because of the generosity of the community, Horvath said many wishlist items will be possible for the park, including connecting the sidewalk on Oak Forest Drive to the playground. “As things come up, people are still supporting the park,” said Horvath, who added that Judge Kelli Johnson recently donated funds for lounge
Photo by Betsy Denson Workers have put up a fence that will remain until the Playground for All Abilities is finished at Oak Forest Park.
chairs at the nearby pool. The existing playground is now closed until the unveiling of the accessible park, which is scheduled for the spring. “(Potential) inclement weather days have been built into the schedule,” Horvath said. The Houston Parks Board (HPB) serves as both the fiscal agent and project manager for the Oak Forest Park Revitalization project, which includes Phase I improvements to the tennis and basketball courts as well as new benches and two sets of dual-height water fountains with dog bowls. The playground, which is the first of its kind in the Oak Forest community and the first neighborhood-initiated inclusive playground in the city’s park system, will feature accessible, shaded equip-
ment and amenities like picnic tables, park benches, a large shade structure, an engraved paver path, a bike rack, landscape berm, toddler swing set and painted art tile installation. HPB worked with the Friends of Oak Forest Park to support fundraising activities, manage donations and provide grant assistance. Once funds were raised, HPB managed the design and bidding phases with its prime consultant M2L Landscape Architecture. That led to the award of construction contracts to Landscape Art, Inc. and Lone Star Recreation. HPB will continue to serve as project manager through the construction of the playground, seeing it through until the community celebrates the opening of the Playground for All Abilities. Horvath will continue to be a liaison to the community. “Elyssa Horvath and the Friends of Oak Forest Park have worked tirelessly for the past three years to bring this project to life,” said Beth White, president and CEO of Houston Parks Board. “HPB is excited for the construction phase to begin and witness the efforts of the Oak Forest Park community come to fruition.”
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Football Roundup
Panthers down Concordia Lutheran for first district win By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com Billy Noonan’s maiden voyage as a head coach for St. Pius X may not have gotten off to the most auspicious start, but the Panthers hope last week was a stepping stone for the home stretch. The Panthers outlasted Concordia Lutheran 36-35 last Friday night for their first TAPPS district win of the season, with a fourth-quarter touchdown making the difference in the game. Quarterback Cameron McKeon shined, accounting for 404 yards (308 passing, 96 rushing) and four total touchdowns (three passing, one rushing), while Ricky Thomas Jr. (75 yards, one TD) and Thomas Meadough (87 yards, one TD) led the receiving corps. On the defensive side of the ball, Braden Benys (10 tackles, two sacks) and Jagger Pagano (17 tackles, two tackles for loss) led the charge for the Panthers (2-6, 1-1 district), while Carson Hintz nabbed his first interception of the season to hold off the Crusaders (1-6, 0-2). In other notable area performances last week, Heights’ Jalen Morrison threw for 308 yards and five touchdowns in the Bulldogs’ 45-44 victory over Westside. Receiver Tycorrian Bostick finished with 89 yards and two TDs. It was the third time Morrison has thrown for at least 300 yards this season, but his first such effort since Sept. 14 against Brenham. He has thrown for 2,074 yards and 21
touchdowns this year. Meanwhile, St. Thomas’ Maddox Kopp tossed two touchdown passes while racking up 314 yards through the air in the Eagles’ victory over San Antonio Antonian Prep. Receivers Cameron Bonner (121 yards, two touchdowns) and Spencer Kryger (126 yards, two TDs) also had big days for coach Rich McGuire’s offense. Lutheran High North had a bye last week and will be back in action this week. The area’s two other teams, Scarborough and Waltrip, both lost last week. Follow The Leader on social media @FromTheLeader.
LAST WEEK’S SCORES Oct. 17
Northside 50, Waltrip 35
Oct. 18
Heights 45, Westside 44 La Marque 55, Scarborough 0
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The Leader • Saturday, October 26, 2019 • Page 3B
Baldwin from P. 1B
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Citizen Pilates joins Valencia’s Tex-Mex Garage at Braun Development News broke this week that Valencia’s Tex-Mex Garage will open an eatery at 2001 W. 34th St. Zach Wolf of Braun Enterprises said group fitness studio Citizen Pilates is also a signed tenant. Citizen Pilates owner Jess Hughes said she’s excited to open her third location on 34th Street. Hughes opened her first location in 2015 in Woodland Heights at 3217 Houston
Ave. and her second location in 2018 at 940 Heights Blvd. “We have several clients who travel from the GOOF area to take our classes and it just made sense to give those clients an opportunity to work out in their neighborhood,” Hughes said. “I grew up in Garden Oaks on Gardenia Street and went to Garden Oaks Elementary. I have always loved the neighborhood and have really enjoyed seeing it grow. I moved back to Garden Oaks about a year ago and am really enjoying getting back to my roots.” Have anything for the real estate roundup? E-mail betsy@ theleadernews.com.
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lease by next spring. DeMeritt said the upcoming center has more than what the City of Houston requires for parking. “We’re trying to be a good steward,” DeMeritt said. “Hopefully the community will like what we do.”
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Roundup from P. 1B
“Now I am ready to play an active role in setting City policy in that very same way. By building consensus, engaging, educating, and making tough decisions.” Early voting began Oct. 21 and continues through Nov. 1. More information is available at harrisvotes.com.
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HHA, as a Planning Commissioner, and as a local business leader. I simply couldn’t sleep at night if I just went around telling people what they want to hear,” exclaims Baldwin. “I wouldn’t take these stances if I hadn’t studied each of them carefully and taken the time to listen to all stakeholders and take their concerns very seriously,” he continues.
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past, and that the quick call to halt all new development in the 100-year floodplain is both economically unsustainable and not backed by sound data, though he does support strict development guidelines and increased detention there. “I believe in doing what’s right and in educating others on why it is the right thing to do. I had to do this in the
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the campaign and if he finds himself in City Hall. In those issues, respectively, Baldwin contends that the NHHIP can be transformative for adding pedestrian-friendly public space and encouraging multimodal transportation to decrease congestion, strengthen neighborhood connectivity, and mitigate flooding without repeating the mistakes of the
onald Ray Harding passed away Thursday morning October 17, 2019 while resting peacefully at home. Don was born on December 11, 1940 in Groveton, Texas to Ernest & Jesse Harding, the 9th of 10 children. In 1958, at the age of 18 he moved to Houston where he began his career at Oak Forest Bank (1958 – 1975). On July 18, 1959 he married his high school sweetheart and best friend Merilyn LaJuan Davis. In 1961 he and LaJuan welcomed the 1st of 4 children into the world. Don was a devoted family man and father, always there for his wife and children. From 1976 – 1998 he worked at Merchants Bank and in 1998 he, along with Marilyn Word, Gerry Monzingo & Patti Stewart founded 1st Choice Bank. Next to his family, the opening of 1st Choice Bank stood out as one of Don’s proudest moments. He was a member of Candlelight Church of Christ, served on the Board of Directors at Doctors Hospital and volunteered for numerous charities including The Boys Scouts of America, Oaks Dad’s Club, Heights Chamber of Commerce as well as others. He is preceded in death by both parents, brothers Everett “Big Bubba”, Robert “Sonny” & wife Ellen, James “Buzz” and sisters Tennie Harding, Ernie Fraser, Lucille & husband Freddie Fredrick, Joy & husband Earl Wendt and Lynn & husband Harold Kapalski He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years LaJuan, sons Keith Harding & wife Alison, Kevin Harding & wife April, Kyle Harding & wife Sandy, daughter Kim Thompson and David Noker, grandchildren Aaron Harding & wife Magan, Taryn Day & husband Justin, Brandon Harding, Kandis Harding, Lindsey Harding, Kelsie Thompson, Kylie Thompson, Kalyn Fuentes & husband Miquel, Shelbi Thompson-Riley, Shaylea Thompson-Riley along with great grandchildren Jaxon Harding, Blaise Harding, Lucas Day, Vivian Day, Parker Harding, brother Newt Harding & wife Vikki, sisters in law Lea Vonne Wetuski, Geneva Harding, Edith Harding and numerous nieces & nephews. The family would like to thank Flora Brown and Hazel Holman for their loving care as well as the Pat H. Foley Hospice Plus Care Team. Pallbearers will be & Company Ron Kapalski, Mike Pavlik, 1200 West 34th Street Jay McKinzie, Jimmy McQuilHouston, TX 77018 len, Bill Sellers, William Truss, (713)869-6261 Horace Davis & Jim Worthing. His service took place on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 at Pat H. Foley & Company.
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Page 6B • Saturday, October 26, 2019 • The Leader
Spooky Heights store offers ‘Wilde’ ghost stories By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com
More buyers stop by The Wilde Collection, an assembly of the macabre and mysterious at 1446 Yale St., closer to Christmas. But Halloween brings out a fair number of curiosity seekers. On a recent weekday, a television crew from Fox Sports was there to do a sightseeing segment for World Series guests and a father from Oak Forest had stopped by to show his daughter the store and pay homage to Santa Muerte, the Skeleton Saint. And then there are the spirits. Lawyer B. Douglas II, who owns the shop along with Tyler G. Zottarelle, also lives there. He said people should be skeptical about the paranormal, but he’s also seen many things that defy a simple explanation. Shortly after the store opened, he said visitors – particularly female ones – talked about the weird feeling they got when walking through one of the rooms that was set up as a bedroom. “People usually felt uncomfortable being there,” Douglas said. “Sometimes short of breath or dizzy.” Based on a paranormal investigation done by members of the Mystic Society, a network of mediums and psychics that Douglas put together, he said the ghost of an old woman had been in the room. A former paranormal investigator and conductor of séances himself, Douglas said although objects themselves are not haunted, sometimes for various reasons they attract a certain energy. In this case, the assumption was that the ghost was attracted to the physical arrangement of the items in the bedroom as it possibly reminded her of her own home when she was alive. “Spirits use us like Uber,” Douglas said. “They can only go with a certain energy.” If it’s a positive association, he said they hop on. And if it’s a negative one, he said they throw out energy to repel the one who wields it.
Photo by Betsy Denson Lawyer B. Douglas II stands next to the Restless Doll, which he says might be the cause of recent unexplained phenomena in the store.
When the bed from the arrangement was sold, and the room rearranged, the energy changed. “It’s not as strong currently,” Douglas said. While most of the store is quiet, with mystery cold spots here and there, Douglas said there is one room – to the right of the main entrance – that has the most unexplained phenomena. Douglas said it started when he acquired what he calls the “Restless Doll.” According to the store’s website, https://www.wildecollection.com/, the doll came from a house that sat across from Calgary Cemetery in Galveston. The home was said to be haunted, with one room in particular, a former nursery, ground zero for items falling from shelves and the sound of a child crying. Abandoned for a time, a couple bought it and started renovations in February 2016. When they removed
the flooring by a window in the nursery, they found a smiling doll – which they sold to Douglas, who made it into a piece of art that hangs on the wall. In the past year, Douglas
said several strange things have happened. The store has also posted security footage of the incidents, which can be viewed on its Facebook or Instagram accounts. One shows a doll, hanging near the Restless Doll, launching more than falling off the wall to knock over a marionette to the ground. Another shows a crate of bottles spilling forcefully out from under a nearby table while Douglas is working on a nearby arrangement. Douglas said an investigator saw the bottle video and debunked it, but still could not explain the incident away. Most recently, a stuffed goat that was bolted to the wall adjacent to the Restless Doll fell to the floor. “It was like someone pulled the goat from the wall by the horns,” Douglas said. “Not all spirits communicate in the same way.” The Restless Doll, along with other haunted lore, is not for sale. Douglas still acquires pieces that interest him but said he no longer has to go hunt for them. “People seek me out,” he said. Visitors to the room with the Restless Doll might hear the rustling of feathers and a squawking, but that is easily explained. Douglas houses a collection of well-loved peacocks just out the window. “There are living things here, too,” he said.
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The Leader • Saturday, October 26, 2019 • Page 7B
Art Valet: Help an artist who has supported others Mitch Cohen Art Columnist
Serenity Studios, 1331 Yale St., will host a fundraiser and art show Saturday evening to help offset the expensive costs of living for Houston artist and curator Suzanne Buckland, who is without full-time work while battling cancer. The following statement is something I wrote to define a call-for-artists mailing group I created in 2005: “An artist at large is a fiercely independent, self-promoting artist. An artist at large can be an emerging or established artist that promotes their own work through juried art shows, co-op galleries, markets, festivals, grassroots galleries and salons.” Buckland is most certainly
an artist at large. We met at an art show at about the same time I wrote that statement. Buckland not only selfrepresented her own art, but other’s works, too. In short, Buckland has been one of the behind-the-scenes powerhouses of the burgeoning Houston art scene for at least the past dozen years. Her endeavors include everything in my opening statement, but she’s always included other artists. Buckland fills a unique niche for artists and spaces that would exhaust most people, creating art salons. That entails creating a space for art in offices, hair salons, restaurants and other spaces that might otherwise be ignored if not for the art. She has excelled at this over the years and keeps her patrons and artists informed with a weekly newsletter. Researching Buckland’s current and past work is exhausting! She really is a mover and shaker. Buckland specializes in
Contributed photo An art show benefitting Suzanne Buckland will be held Saturday.
painting oil on canvas, charcoal, pastel and oil pastel on paper. Her goal is to the best visual artist she can be, perfecting her painting and draw-
ing techniques, to put a smile on the face of humanity, to preserve nature, the natural world, the environment, and create a greater appreciation
for art, nature, freedom and artistic expression among the masses. Barbara Harmer, a Houston artist, reflected the sentiment of many artists when she wrote the following on a GoFundMe campaign page for Buckland: “Suzanne is a beautiful person. She is so caring and thoughtful of others. She has given local artists many opportunities to exhibit and sell their art. She is a bright light and should be given the chance to shine.” The Suzanne Buckland Fundraiser takes place from 7-10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. In addition to Buckland’s work being available, other artists will have work on display and for sale. All $30 ticket sales as well as her sold pieces of art will go directly to assisting her with expenses as she battles Stage 3 breast cancer. Drinks and light snacks will be served. Park in the old strip mall on
the corner, not in the vet parking lot. For additional information and tickets, visit www. serenitystudiostx.com. On another note, I would be remiss in my love of Halloween if I did not share at least one haunted outing on these pages to you dear readers. My pick is Saturday’s Monsters Ball featuring Tom Rye’s Upright Citizens presented by The Whimsy Artisan. Browse new work by Rye titled Upright Citizens, characters inspired by Greek mythology, urban legends and classic monsters. The illustrations are of various animals impeccably dressed in attire from the 19thcentury Victorian era. The Whimsy Artisan is located at 1802 Yale St. Meet the artist from 3-7 p.m. See what I did there? You can hit both events if you time it right! You’re welcome. Cohen is an artist and founder of First Saturday Arts Market and the Market at Sawyer Yards. Find him at ArtValet.com.
REVIEW:
Harold’s on 19th Street butters up customers with splendid southern fare By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
There’s a quick and sure way to any southerner’s heart. It includes placing a plate of fried chicken topped with gravy and butter-filled sides in front of them. That’s just what stole this southerner’s heart when I recently dined for lunch at Harold’s Restaurant & Tap Room. The restaurant on the second floor features a patio where patrons can gaze out onto 19th Street. Dining on the patio was my second-best choice of the lunch hour, the first being the meal, because the weather wasn’t humid and a light breeze kept me cool. I started out with an order of Bread & Provisions, which came with homemade curry bread, pimento cheese, butter and pickles. Three slices of bread came on each side of a plate, with the provisions divided in the middle. A golden-brown color skimmed a few of the faces of the bread, and air pockets in the dough made a swirl-like pattern. The curry bread was
Photo by Zarah Parker Fried chicken with mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts.
crunchy, and hard on the outside, but was not overcooked or stale. The bread made a perfect base on which to spread the butter or cheese. The pickles were dark green with a yellow tinge and sweet. The butter was thick and creamy. My main dish, the Fried Chicken & Mash, was recommended by the server because it’s one of the more popular items on the menu. Later, that proved true when a couple at a nearby table ordered the same thing. The Fried Chicken & Mash came with a buttermilk fried-
chicken breast, mashed potatoes, sausage gravy and a side of Brussels sprouts. Freshly fried chicken smothered in sausage gravy was set in front of me not long after I ordered and instantly the aroma wafted up my nasal passage. Suddenly, I was even hungrier than I was before. The chicken was so tender I could use the side of my fork to cut into it. Only a slight hint of sausage came from the gravy, which was the perfect consistency. Not too thick, not too watery. The gravy emphasized the juicy chicken. A scoop of mashed pota-
toes rested beside the chicken. They were almost whipped, with small chunks of potato in every bite. Garlic and butter reigned in the mix, which I always like. What also seemed to be butter-infused were the Brussels sprouts. Only spots of green remained on the vegetable as they turn brown when cooked, and some were crispy. They were buttery, buttery, buttery and I loved it. The typical bitter taste of the sprouts was there, but only barely. There is one thing I could complain about: I already want more fried chicken.
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Engineers with Great Lakes roots to add to Houston’s growing options in cider Zarah Parker Managing Editor
Hard cider was one of the most popular alcoholic beverages in the United States prior to prohibition, when the practice of cutting down apple trees popular for cider-making was adopted. After prohibition, beer grew wildly in popularity. Then in the 1970s, the California wine market boomed. Patrick Kwiatkowski said that’s why cider faded into the background, but over the last decade it’s been making a comeback. He thinks Houston is the perfect place for cider to flourish. “People are discovering that it’s a wonderful, refreshing drink,” Kwiatkowski said. Kwiatkowski, along with business partner Mat Smith, both engineers, have deep roots in the Great Lakes region. They’ve teamed up to create City Orchard, 1201 Oliver St., a cidery in the heart of
Houston that is set to open in late November. “I grew up in western Michigan, which is apple country,” Kwiatkowski said. “I also grew up around apples and apple culture. I also lived and worked in Normandy, France, which is one of the largest cider-making regions in the world. I was really turned on to the hard cider culture when I lived in France.” Apples have also been part of Smith’s upbringing with his family’s orchard, Smith Brothers Farms, located on the shores of Sodus Bay on Lake Ontario. Kwiatkowski said Smith had always wanted to get back into the family business, and that cider making was a more attractive alternative to farming. “I’ve been an amateur cider maker for over five years, and also amateur beer maker for longer than that,” Kwiatkowski said. As a chemical engineer, Kwiatkowski said he’s always had interest in opening a brewery or something similar. Combining his background as
a chemist along with his other experiences, he said it made sense for him to pursue opening a cidery in a city where the drink is not well-established. Initially, Kwiatkowski played with the idea of opening a small operation, but after meeting Smith they decided to go bigger in creating City Orchard. The location is 8,000 square feet, 2,000 of which will be used as a tasting room. In the shop, 2,000-gallon tanks will hold the cider. “We’re making a space big enough to handle Houston,” Kwiatkowski said. Having access to apples and apple juice straight from the apple country of the Great Lakes will be City Orchard’s pulse. Most of the apples will be sourced straight from Smith Brothers Farms, and other apples will come from neighboring and friends’ farms. “I want people to come into our cidery and taste ciders they’ve never tasted before and be surprised at how complex and different and how wonderful ciders can be,” Kwiatkowski said.
Cider is fermented just like wine, and depending on the type of apple, the taste from one cider to the next will be different. Cider made with golden russet apples tastes different than cider made with fuji apples. “My favorite apple is the golden russet,” Kwiatkowski said. “It’s kind of an ugly apple, but it’s a fantastic eating apple, it’s a fantastic baking apple and it really makes wonderful cider.” City Orchard will have at least a dozen types of ciders on tap, including four staple flavors it will try to recreate each year. They business also will brew beer and work with a winery to be able to provide wine. “Every year is a different harvest, which produces different kinds of fruit and some years are better than others,” Kwiatkowski said. “So every year we’ll have something new to make.”
a new restaurant arose, Oak Forest was the perfect place location because they grew up in the neighborhood, and Bement’s never left. The new restaurant is Valencia’s Tex-Mex Garage, 2001 W. 34th St., and is expected to open in early 2020. “It has been wonderful to see the regeneration of our neighborhood,” Bement said. “For us to be able to do what we do in our childhood neighborhood, is a dream come true.”
For this concept the duo is pulling inspiration from their parent’s first restaurant, which was an ice house with garage doors. “(Valencia’s will) also will have garage doors, a bit updated of course,” Bement said, “a dogfriendly patio, delicious menu with some traditional Tex-Mex staples and Valencia-style new recipes featuring rotisserie chicken, top quality farm to table meats and produce.” The serving will also include
homemade tortillas, a selection of margaritas, a kid’s menu with free ice cream and a special menu with vegetarian and gluten-free options. Brunch will also be a big focus. “We are just so grateful to have this wonderful opportunity,” Bement said.
FOOD BRIEFS: New Tex-Mex moving into Oak Forest
Vienna Valencia Bement and Ricardo Valencia have been in the restaurant industry for years and their connection to Oak Forest spans even longer. The brother-sister duo previously owned Cyclone Anaya’s before having to sell the restaurants, which had six Houston-area locations. A location in Austin they maintained ownership of. When the opportunity to open
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Page 8B • Saturday, October 26, 2019 • The Leader
Neighbors: Longtime Oak Forest resident reaches milestone
school and were youth leaders for teens. In fact, their son was married in this church. Sylvia and Joe supported the Oaks Dads Club, where Steve played baseball and football. It has definitely grown since the days of one field and a snack bar. The large lots in Oak Forest provided room for a large garden in their backyard. While Sylvia and Joe both had “green thumbs,” it was Sylvia’s kitchen talents that cooked, canned, froze and served delicious homegrown food all year long! She often shared the bounty from their garden with her neighbors. Sylvia is a bird watcher. Purple martins, owls and hummingbirds were commonplace in her backyard. While Oak Forest became fully enveloped by the big city, Sylvia’s family bought some weekend property to enjoy the woods and nature of the Hidden Forest subdivision in Montgomery County. There Sylvia expanded her knowledge of birds to include the rare pileated woodpeckers and more. They bought land alongside some
of their Oak Forest neighbors. Working together, exploring nature together and eating together tightened the bonds of their friendship. She has seen tornadoes and hurricanes firsthand here in Oak Forest. After devastating storms, the Williamsons and their neighbors worked together clearing downed trees and rescuing a neighbor trapped in her bedroom. The bayou and several streets flooded often before drainage improvements concreted most of the bayou and parklands were built. She and Joe loved nature and would take their dog to walk along the pool and park areas almost daily. When Sylvia and Joe decided to take dance lessons, they didn’t know that would lead them from the Cotton Eyed Joe to ballroom dancing! Many of their dance friends were also Oak Forest residents. The pine trees have slowly been giving way to the oaks. The once-new homes have seen families with small children transition through teenage years to senior living. The neighborhood is experiencing a Renaissance period in which many of the old homes have been torn down and replaced with larger homes that Sylvia calls McMansions! These will also go through changes with the years. Sylvia is a treasure to family and friends, still developing new friendships and experiencing the changes in our community right alongside her neighbors.
Fat Cat Creamery, in a press release. “We wanted to create something special to connect with our kitty-customers in a new way, and making these over-the-top waffle plates seemed like a natural progression for us.” The Sparkle Cat waffle will come with Callebaut Ruby Chocolate sauce, fresh fruit, colorful shortbread cookie crumbles, fancy sprinkles, sparkly whipped cream and a scoop of Cat’s Meow Mexican Vanilla.
The second option is the Stuffed Kitty waffle, which comes with a sausage-stuffed waffle topped with praline sauce, seasonal fruit jam, honeycomb toffee, whipped butter, and a scoop of maple syrup ice cream. Both come with the complimentary cocktail, which will change each brunch. The series begins on Sunday. Oct. 27 from 9 a.m. – noon and with following dates being Nov. 10 and 17, and Dec. 8.
By Elizabeth Villarreal elizasgarden@outlook.com
Happy, happy birthday to longtime Oak Forest resident Sylvia Williamson, who observed her 90th birthday on Oct. 19. Two weekends ago, she celebrated this special occasion with her son Steve and his wife Cathy, granddaughter Karen and her friend Scott, grandson Greg and his wife Rachel and the two great grandchildren Stephen and Claire. Former neighbors and good friends, Vicki and Joe Guidry, send their love and birthday greetings from Blanco, Texas, and said, “We hope you have a wonderful day and may God’s blessings be upon you today and always!” Sylvia has been a resident of Oak Forest since June of 1950. She and her husband, Joe, were expecting their only child when they moved in and Steve was born about a month later. The couple bought their home, which was less than a year old, from friends for just $100 down! At that time Oak Forest was on the extreme northwest side of Houston. Everybody thought they were moving so far away. Although named Oak Forest, the subdivision had more pine trees than oak. Sylvia has seen and experienced many changes that 69 years have brought to this subdivision. Both Sylvia and Joe were members of Oaks Presbyterian Church. They served as elders, groundskeepers, choir members, attended Sunday
Sylvia Williamson
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Renner spruces up H-E-B By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
Layered plywood rings line a wall like sliced produce and an array of salvaged plastic hangs from the ceiling at the newly opened Buffalo Heights H-E-B. Covering the rings are multi-colored strips of wood, resembling the pulp of a piece of fruit. The artwork, called “Sluice,” decorates the entryway to the grocery store at 3663 Washington Ave. The installation was created by area artist Patrick Renner, but he doesn’t take credit for all of it. “All those strips of wood were painted by other people. We didn’t do any of the painting,” Renner said. “We sponsored an event in our shop where a lot of H-E-B personnel came and painted material. So there’s directly the hand of the people that are a part of the company in the piece.” Whether viewers of the art installation think the artwork represents a type of fruit, or simply think it’s a really cool thing on the wall, is perfectly fine with Renner. “It’s really beautiful and quite mesmerizing!” customer Lene Sue Baggett wrote on Facebook. For Renner, it doesn’t matter how the work is interpreted. What he loves is making something that generates a conversation. “We started from the idea of citrus and it kind of went away from that a little bit, to where it was a little more open ended as far as what kind of fruit it was,” Renner said. It’s best to experience the artwork in person, Renner said, because it’s hard to comprehensively photograph an installation of this proportion. Renner, who grew up in Shepherd Park Plaza and now lives just a few blocks away in Shepherd Park, created the piece through his company, Flying Carpet Creative. The company is a public art fabricator and was founded by Renner and Kelly O’Brien in 2015. Renner is the lead artist and works together with O’Brien,
Contributed photo Lifelong area resident Patrick Renner helped created the art installation at the new H-E-B grocery store at 3663 Washington Ave.
the lead technician with a creative spirit, to create structures that exhibit creativity and practicality. “(O’Brien’s) training is in engineering. He’s a licensed engineer,” Renner said. “I have a (Master of Fine Arts degree), so our credentials are wellmatched in terms of sort of the yin-yang that’s necessary for public art.” The team built a scale model of the space at H-E-B to be able to understand what kind of room they had to work with. “As Kelly likes to talk about it, we have like a sandbox to play in,” Renner said, “a way to manipulate things and get a sense for the scale of it and what would be appropriate to fit inside of those perimeters.” The model they first presented for the H-E-B had a different concept for the wallbased piece with the hanging plastic. The latter was immediately accepted, which came as a bit of a surprise for Renner, because he said he felt that the plastic felt more like a rogue element. “As we understand it, they’re plastic that was dumped onto the floor during like a casting process,” Renner said. “So whatever thing was being manufactured, this was the leftover material that was getting thrown away essentially.”
The wall-based piece didn’t make the cut and Renner and O’Brien redesigned the concept into the rings hanging in the store now. Renner mentioned that O’Brien had been playing with the idea of a cutup solid and that it made sense to go for something produceoriented. Renner has been working with painted wood material for years. His first large-scale public installation was in 2013 at Art League Houston. The piece is called the “Funnel Tunnel,” and as its name suggests, is a long, funky-shaped tunnel made of painted strips of wood. And before taking on the project for H-E-B, Flying Carpet worked on two installations, one using natural wood and another using painted wood, for Renner’s alma mater, the Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA), in its new downtown location. As Flying Carpet continues to grow, Renner said it’s a bit of a double-edged sword. “Things have been so busy with the company that I haven’t spent a lot of time with my personal work,” Renner said. But he is slowly bringing his own work to the forefront. On Feb. 1 at Redbud Gallery, 303 E. 11th St., Renner will be doing just that with a solo show.
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