Houston Style Magazine OCTOBER 01, 2026 – OCTOBER 07, 2026
Houston’s Premiere Weekly Publication, Since 1989
Volume 37 | Number 40
Complimentary
H H H H Breast Cancer Awareness Month H H H H
James Talarico Announces Canvassing and Souls to the Polls Programs
Ericka McCrutcheon
Burt Levine Profiles Incumbent HCAD Place 3 Board Member In Tight Race
Rima Adil UN Houston Conference – Terrestrials United for Citizen Diplomacy
Beloved H-E-B Tomball Set for $20 million Expansion
Briones Marks Four Years of Progress
Trill Burgers Now On Westheimer
N E W S | C O M M E N TA R I E S | S P O R T S | H E A LT H | E N T E R TA I N M E N T Supporting Small Owned Businesses
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October 01, 2026 – October 07, 2026
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Publisher Francis Page, Jr. fpagejr@stylemagazine.com Associate Publisher Lisa Valadez lisa@stylemagazine.com Social Media Editor/Videographer Reginald Dominique reggiedominique@me.com Graphic Design /Layout Editor Cameron C. Lee thisiscam6@gmail.com Political Editor Burt Levine texascampaigns@gmail.com Sports Editor Brian Barefield brian_barefield@yahoo.com Food & Wine Writer Monica Jones alexandriajack1991@gmail.com Entertainment Writer D'Nesha Bell / TotallyRandie Totallyrandie@gmail.com Career Columnist Nikki Miles ailormaderesumes2576@gmail.com NATIONAL WRITERS Ben Jealous info@benjealous.com PHOTOGRAPHERS Vicky Pink vhpink@gmail.com ADVERTISING/SALES advertising@stylemagazine.com Got community news? We want to hear from you! SEND: editorial@stylemagazine.com
MINORITY PRINT MEDIA, LLC, D.B.A. Houston Style Magazine & www.StyleMagazine.com Phone: (713) 748-6300 • Fax: (713) 748-6320 Mail: P.O. Box 14035, Houston, TX 77221-4035 ©2026 Houston Style Magazine, a Minority Print Media, L.L.C. Company. All Right Reserved. Reproduction in whole or within part without permission is prohibited. Houston Style Magazine has a 2021 Audit by Circulation Verification Council (CVC). Houston Style Magazine is a member of the Texas Publishers Association (TPA), Texas Community Newspaper Association (TCNA), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), Independent Free Paper of America (IFPA), Association of Free Community Papers (AFCP) and Members of Greater Houston Partnership(GHP). National Association of Hispanic Publications, Inc. (NAHP, Inc.), Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (HHCC), League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Latin Women’s Initiative (LWI), National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), Houston Association of Hispanic Media Professionals (HAHMP), National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), and Supporters of Greater Houston Partnership(GHP)
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By Francis Page Jr. for www.StyleMagazine.com
familiar Tomball grocery landmark is getting ready for a supersized next chapter. H-E-B has registered plans for a major $20 million renovation and expansion of its longtime store at 28520 Tomball Parkway, giving northwest Harris County shoppers something worth putting on the grocery list well before construction begins. According to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing registered September 23, 2026, H-E-B Store #0574 is slated for a “remodel with expansion of existing store.” The privately funded project lists pb2 architecture + engineering as the design firm and identifies 96,237 square feet as the project area. Importantly, that figure does not establish how much new space will be added, so the final size of the expansion remains to be announced. Construction is currently scheduled to begin March 1, 2027, with completion projected for April 28, 2028. H-E-B has not announced a grand reopening date, nor has it publicly detailed any new departments, restaurants, parking changes or expanded specialty services tied to the project. Still, for Tomball shoppers, the message is clear: H-E-B is reinvesting in a store that has been part of the community’s everyday rhythm for years. The timing also carries a little
hometown poetry. During Tomball’s January 30, 2024 Comprehensive Plan Community Open House, residents were asked what kinds of businesses they wanted to see in the city. Among the written responses were “New larger HEB” and “New HEB.” Those comments were individual community suggestions, not a formal mandate and not evidence that they directly triggered the company’s investment. But two years later, a major expansion is officially on the books. Call it grocery-store coincidence with Texas-sized timing. The Tomball Parkway and Graham H-E-B, corporate store #574, already offers a broad mix of services including curbside pickup, delivery, H-E-B Fuel and a drive-thru pharmacy. Its grocery lineup includes the staples Houston-area families know well—from produce, bakery and pantry goods to meat, seafood and prepared foods. H-E-B has not yet confirmed which, if any, of those departments will be enlarged or reconfigured in the upcoming project. This is not the first reinvestment at the address. State records show the Tomball store underwent a $1.7 million wall-to-wall remodel in 2016, followed by a $200,000 curbside remodel in 2018. The newly registered $20 million project is dramatically larger in construction value and, unlike
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those earlier updates, specifically calls for an expansion of the existing store. For a growing Tomball area, that matters. Grocery stores are more than retail boxes; they are traffic generators, employers, neighborhood anchors and, in Texas, sometimes unofficial town squares with tortillas. For Houston Style Magazine, the project is also another reminder of why H-E-B remains such a meaningful corporate presence across Greater Houston. For more than a quarter-century, H-E-B has also been a valued Houston Style Magazine stakeholder and advertising partner, creating a relationship rooted in serving many of the same Houston-area families and communities. Longstanding community investment is not always about replacing what exists. Sometimes it means listening, modernizing and giving a trusted location enough room to serve the next generation of customers. The construction timeline is still more than a year away, and many details remain under wraps. But one thing is already certain: Tomball’s longtime H-E-B is not going anywhere. It is getting bigger.
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October 01, 2026 – October 07, 2026
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Talarico Announces Canvassing and Souls to the Polls Programs to Turn Out Black Voters Statewide By Francis Page, Jr., Editor in Chief, Houston Style Magazine
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ith Texas voters heading toward a consequential November election, U.S. Senate candidate and State Representative James Talarico is expanding his campaign’s outreach to Black voters with a strategy centered on churches, neighborhood canvassing and established community organizations. In an announcement provided to Houston Style Magazine, Talarico for Texas said Houston faith leader Carl Davis, founder of C.D. Davis and Associates, will lead its statewide “Souls to the Polls” effort. National field organizers Lindsey Vaughn and Mac D’Alessandro will direct a door-to-door canvassing program focused on Black neighborhoods, while the campaign is also investing in BlackTOP, the Black voter engagement program affiliated with the Texas Organizing Project PAC. The campaign says the effort is designed around a straightforward principle: voter engagement works best when it is sustained, local and personal. Rather than relying only on television spots, digital ads or Election Day reminders, the program is built around conversations at church, on front porches and at neighborhood doors. Davis’ Souls to the Polls operation will organize participating faith leaders across Texas and encourage voters to make a voting plan during the state’s only weekend of early voting, Saturday, October 24, and Sunday, October 25. The campaign also announced Freedom Summer Tent Revivals planned for East Texas, Houston and Dallas–Fort Worth before early voting
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begins.
Vaughn and D’Alessandro are expected to oversee canvassers hired from the communities in which they will work. The idea is familiar to anyone who has watched successful civic organizing up close: neighbors often listen to neighbors. A knock at the door can
October 01, 2026 – October 07, 2026
sometimes do what a stack of mailers cannot—turn an abstract election into a personal conversation about participation. The BlackTOP partnership adds another Houston-area dimension. Texas Organizing Project says its BlackTOP electoral programs engaged about 1.5
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million Texas voters between 2022 and 2024, and TOP PAC endorsed Talarico for U.S. Senate in May 2026. The organization has long operated in Harris County as well as Dallas, Bexar, Tarrant and Fort Bend counties. For voters, however, the most important message is bigger than any one campaign: know the dates, study the ballot and make a plan. Texas’ voter-registration deadline for the November 3 general election is Monday, October 5. Early voting begins Monday, October 19 and ends Friday, October 30. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. In Harris County, early voting is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. October 19–24 and October 26–30, with Sunday voting October 25 from noon to 7 p.m. Harris County voters can use any countywide Vote Center during early voting and on Election Day. Houston Style Magazine encourages every eligible voter—regardless of party, candidate or political philosophy—to verify registration, review a sample ballot and know where to vote. Democracy is strongest when participation is informed, intentional and broad. For official Harris County election information, sample ballots, voting locations and voter resources, visit:
www.HarrisVotes.com VERIFICATION SOURCES:
Texas Secretary of State; Harris County Clerk Elections Department; Texas Organizing Project.
JUDGE SHAWN THIERRY TAKES THE BENCH AS HARRIS COUNTY’S INAUGURAL 515TH DISTRICT COURT JUDGE
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he Texas House to the Harris County courthouse, Shawn Thierry’s latest public-service chapter now comes with a black robe, a new courtroom and a newly created judicial district. On Friday, September 25, 2026, Thierry participated in the ceremonial oath of office and investiture as judge of Harris County’s 515th Judicial District Court. The 4 p.m. ceremony was held in the Ceremonial Courtroom on the 17th floor of the Harris County Civil Courthouse, 201 Caroline in downtown Houston. The Honorable Bruce Bain, judge of the 165th District Court, administered the oath of office. The Honorable Michael Landrum, judge of the new 514th District Court, presided and later adjourned the proceedings. In one of the afternoon’s most personal moments, Klaire Bijou Marie Thierry joined Judge Thierry’s mother, Joyce Marie Thierry, a longtime educator, in the enrobing of the judge — a meaningful family touch amid the formal traditions of the judiciary. The program reflected a broad cross-section of Houston’s civic, legal, faith and educational communities. Father Jaison George Mangalath, SVD, of St. Mary of the Purification Catholic Church delivered the invocation. State Rep. Mano DeAyala led the United States Pledge of Allegiance, while State Rep. Valoree Swanson led the
By Burt Levine, Political Editor for www.StyleMagazine.com
Texas pledge. Soloist Erica Young provided a vocal selection. Houston Bar Association President Gregory Ulmer welcomed Thierry on behalf of the bar. Remarks were also offered by former Texas Southern University Board of Regents Chairman Brandon Simmons and current Regent Dr. Richard Johnson III. Reverend Willie Davis, Houston City Council Member At-Large Position 2, delivered the benediction. A reception was scheduled immediately following the ceremony. The investiture was ceremonial, but Thierry’s service on the bench officially began September 1. Gov. Greg Abbott appointed her August 25 to a term scheduled to expire December 31, 2028, or until a successor is duly elected and qualified. Thierry is the inaugural judge of the 515th District Court, giving her a role in establishing the administration and working culture of a court that did not exist before this month. The Texas Legislature created the 513th,
514th and 515th judicial districts in Harris County effective September 1, with each court directed by state law to give preference to civil cases. Two additional Harris County districts, the 516th and 517th, take effect October 1. Together, the additions expand judicial capacity for a county whose civil courts handle disputes involving contracts, property, businesses, personal injuries and other matters affecting residents and the regional economy. Thierry brings nearly three decades of legal experience to the bench. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Management from Howard University and her Juris Doctor from Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law. She previously represented Texas House District 146 for four terms and, before her judicial appointment, served as executive director of Policy in the Office of General Counsel at Texas Southern University. Abbott also appointed her to the Texas Juvenile Justice
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Board in 2025. A judgeship carries a different public responsibility from legislative office. Inside the courtroom, the governing standards are law, evidence, procedure, due process and equal treatment before the court. Public confidence depends on those principles being applied consistently, regardless of politics or personality. Thierry’s September 25 investiture therefore marked more than a ceremonial change of title. It formally introduced the first judge of the 515th District Court and placed another piece of Harris County’s expanding judicial system into operation. The invitation stated that it was not printed or mailed at taxpayer expense, while the ceremony program likewise noted that the event was not paid for at taxpayer expense. For Houston Style Magazine readers of Harris County, a new court now has its first judge. For Shawn Thierry, the next chapter will be written not through legislation, but through rulings, procedure and the daily work of administering justice.
More Info. on Harris County Judges https://www.justex.net/courts/civil
October 01, 2026 – October 07, 2026
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ERICKA McCRUTCHEON RUNS FOR RE-ELECTION TO HCAD BOARD By Burt Levine, Political Editor for www.StyleMagazine.com
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hen Harris County voters begin casting early ballots on Monday, October 19, one of the county’s least flashy—but most consequential—contests will be waiting near the end of the ballot: Harris Central Appraisal District Board of Directors, At-Large Place 3. Incumbent Ericka McCrutcheon is seeking re-election in a three-candidate race against Cristin Moses and Jesus Nieto. The contest is officially nonpartisan and open to voters countywide. The office may not generate the headlines of governor, Congress or U.S. Senate races, but its work touches the pocketbooks of homeowners, renters, businesses and local governments across Harris County. HCAD says it appraises approximately 1.9 million parcels with a combined market value approaching $905 billion and serves more than 600 taxing units. Those appraisals help form the taxable-value side of the property-tax equation, while cities, counties, school districts and other taxing entities set their own tax rates. “The Harris County Appraisal District Board of Directors shouldn’t be skipped,” McCrutcheon said, arguing that stability, transparency and accountability matter in an agency whose work affects property owners across the county. She emphasizes that the board does not set tax
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Ericka McCrutcheon rates, but oversees the appraisal district’s governance and administration while taxpayers retain statutory rights to exemptions, notices and appraisal protests. McCrutcheon won the newly created elected Place 3 seat in the June 2024 runoff and began serving July 1, 2024, when Harris County joined other large Texas
October 01, 2026 – October 07, 2026
counties in seating elected members on appraisal-district boards. The change followed statewide voter approval of Proposition 4 in 2023, which added elected directors in counties with populations of 75,000 or more. Her résumé stretches beyond the boardroom. McCrutcheon is president of The Dunamis Group, LLC, a commercial and
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residential general contracting company; a licensed Realtor; a civic-club leader; and a co-pastor and church administrator at Joint Heirs Fellowship Church. She says those roles have given her a front-row view of how property values influence families, neighborhoods, businesses and long-term community stability. “It is critical we listen to property owners and families that have lived on property in Harris County,” McCrutcheon said, describing fair and accurate appraisals as an issue of public trust. That theme is likely to resonate in a county where rising property values can mean growing equity for some owners while also creating anxiety over affordability and tax bills. For voters, the takeaway is simple: finish the ballot. Democracy is not only shaped by the contests at the top; it is also shaped by the public bodies that quietly influence schools, neighborhoods, public services and household finances. The voter-registration deadline for the November 3 General Election is Monday, October 5. Early voting runs October 19 through October 30, and Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Houston Style Magazine encourages eligible citizens to confirm their registration, review their sample ballot and make an informed choice in every race.
www.HarrisVotes.com
COMMISSIONER BRIONES MARKS FOUR YEARS WITH TOURISM, PUBLIC SAFETY, HEALTH AND INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS
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arris County Precinct 4 will launch its new regional tourism initiative this fall with the inaugural Find Your Four Alief Block Party, a free celebration of Alief’s food, music, art and culture. The event is set for Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Amity Park and will kick off the Find Your Four Block Party Series, led by Commissioner Lesley Briones. Find Your Four connects residents and visitors with more than 3,000 events, attractions, restaurants and accommodations across Precinct 4. The initiative aims to increase visibility for small businesses and hotels, drive foot traffic and generate local revenue. With more than 600 attractions, 300 hotels and 2,000 restaurants, Precinct 4 offers a wide range of experiences. The Alief block party will bring that tourism effort into the community, putting the neighborhood’s local food, culture, arts and entertainment in the spotlight. The initiative comes as Briones approaches four years in office, during which her administration has focused on public safety, public health, infrastructure, flood resilience and disaster readiness and response. Briones has advocated for and delivered a county budget focused on maintaining critical services, strengthening public safety and investing in working families. Public Safety and Community Programs Under her tenure, law enforcement
By Lisa Valadez for www.StyleMagazine.com stricted financial assistance to survivors.
agency pay parity efforts have helped reduce deputy turnover by 54 percent. The HART Program, a mental health diversion program that connects people in crisis with resources while allowing law enforcement officers to focus on violent crime, was expanded in the FY27 budget. The program has responded to more than 32,000 calls since its launch. The RISE Program, which sends trusted community members to interrupt violence before it starts, was also expanded in the FY27 budget and has engaged 24,500 residents since its start. Briones also secured a record $3.4 million investment in the FY27 budget for the Domestic Violence Assistance Fund, which provides unre-
Health Care and Food Access Briones’ office has also focused on expanding access to health care and nutritious food, two areas where access remains a challenge for communities across Texas. State health officials have identified barriers to health care access as an ongoing concern, while federal research shows that some communities face significant barriers to reaching healthy and affordable food retailers. Against that backdrop, Harris County Public Health’s mobile clinical and dental units have provided services to 55,000 patients, bringing health care directly into communities. Other efforts include the Baylor Teen Health Clinic and the Mom + Baby Mobile Unit. Food access has also been addressed through community food distributions with Common Market, Second Servings and La Tiendita. The effort is particularly relevant in neighborhoods where residents may face barriers to accessing quality, affordable food. The USDA notes that limited access to healthy and affordable food can be influenced by factors including distance to stores, transportation and household resources. Together, the health care and food access efforts represent a focus on bringing essential services and resources closer to residents, particularly in communities where access can be more difficult.
Workforce Development The Apprenticeship Advantage Program has placed a focus on creating pathways to good-paying jobs for trade graduates. More than 1,800 residents have participated in the program, with 83 percent identified as minorities and 59 percent coming from some of Harris County’s most vulnerable areas. The average first-year apprentice earns $22 per hour, with participants reporting a 40 percent increase in salary before entering the program. Briones has also supported a living wage policy establishing a $21.65 minimum wage for contract workers and a $20 minimum wage for county employees. The policy now extends to Harris Center employees. Infrastructure and Flood Resilience Infrastructure and flood resilience have remained additional areas of focus. The Sidewalks 4 Precinct 4 and Crosswalks 4 Precinct 4 initiatives have resulted in 119 new or refurbished crosswalks and more than 82 miles of new sidewalks. The precinct also cites nearly 250 flood mitigation projects countywide, efforts to strengthen Harris County’s flood warning system and backup generators at community centers to serve residents during disasters.
Read More at:
cp4.harriscountytx.gov/Briones
HAHMP
SYLVAN RODRIGUEZ SCHOLARSHIP GALA SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10TH 6:00 PM C. BALDWIN HOTEL
Raul Peimbert Senior News Anchor Noticias Univision 45-Houston 2026 Lifetime Achievement
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HAHMP.ORG
October 01, 2026 – October 07, 2026
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THE GILDED & GOLDEN GALA: CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE By Francis Page Jr., for www.StyleMagazine.com
Lauren Anderson – history-making Ballerina
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H-E-B's Winnell Herron – Community Legacy Honoree with Debbie Allen – Golden Trailblazer Honoree and Lauren Anderson – Trailblazer and history-making Ballerina
Photos by Jakayla Monay HAA Board Chair – Sergio Selvera with Mayor – John Whitmire and Houston Police Department Assistant Chief – Adrian Rodriguez
old was more than a color at the
toast as guests embraced the evening’s
ty Legacy Honoree for its support of accomplishments and a call to expand
Gilded & Golden Gala — it
“Golden Glamour” spirit in grand
Houston Arts Alliance’s Resilience opportunity, strengthen creative liveli-
was the mood, the moment and
fashion.
and Recovery Program, an initiative hoods and build a more resilient cultural
the perfect backdrop as Houston Arts
At the center of the evening was
Alliance celebrated 20 dazzling years
Houston native and entertainment icon
nity prepare for, respond to and recover
of championing the city’s creative spirit.
Debbie Allen, honored as the Golden
from moments of disruption.
Held September 26 at the stylish
Trailblazer Honoree for her extraordi-
Thompson Houston, the black-tie affair
nary influence across dance, television,
golden glow, the gala carried a deeper unapologetically creative.
welcomed a sophisticated mix of artists,
film, directing, choreography and arts
significance. For two decades, Hous-
philanthropists, civic leaders and cul-
education. Allen made a memorable
ton Arts Alliance has helped shape Alliance is not simply celebrating its
tural tastemakers for an evening where
entrance escorted by investment banker
the city’s cultural identity through arts history. It is stepping confidently into
Houston glamour met artistic purpose.
and philanthropist Andy Moran, cre-
grants, public art, creative initiatives and its next chapter — polished, purposeful
Co-chaired by Leigh Smith
ating one of the evening’s most elegant
community investment.
and S. Shawn Stephens, with ABC13’s
designed to help Houston’s arts commu- sector for Houston’s next chapter.
Beyond the gowns, tuxedos and ton — stylish, diverse, generous and
Rita Garcia returning as emcee, the
Also taking center stage was
Taylor Jackson has framed the 20th an-
celebration sparkled from arrival to final
H-E-B, recognized as the Communi-
niversary as both a celebration of shared
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the evening was quintessential Hous-
After 20 years, Houston Arts
and, quite appropriately, gilded in gold.
Houston Arts Alliance CEO
society moments.
ABC-13 Head Honcho – Mike Carr and wife – DeAnn Carr and daughter with Debbie Allen – Golden Trailblazer Honoree
For Houston Style Magazine,
https://HoustonArtsAlliance.com/gala/
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Photos by TeamStyleMag Sergio Selvera – HAA Board Chair, Taylor Jackson – HAA CEO, Debbie Allen – Lauren Anderson – history-making Ballerina with Debbie Allen – Golden Trailblazer Honoree, Lauren Anderson – history-making Ballerina Golden Trailblazer Honoree and Andy Moran – Philanthropist and Vernique Hutchinson Francis – HAA Vice Chair
October 01, 2026 – October 07, 2026
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October 01, 2026 – October 07, 2026
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2026 UNA-USA NATIONAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT: Terrestrials United for Citizen Diplomacy By Francis Page Jr., for www.StyleMagazine.com
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ouston has always been comfortable thinking big. But when the 2026 UNAUSA National Leadership Summit arrives November 13–15, the city’s most important contribution may be something deliberately close to home: showing how global ideas can become local action. That is exactly where the United Nations Association of Houston is placing its emphasis. UNA-Houston says its mission is to “bring the United Nations closer to home—right here in the Houston area.” That local-first philosophy gives the national summit a distinctly Houston purpose. Rather than treating diplomacy as something reserved for embassies, international capitals or television screens, the chapter connects major global issues to the realities Houstonians encounter in classrooms, neighborhoods, workplaces, civic organizations and community institutions. The summit’s “Terrestrials United” theme makes that connection especially timely. Inspired by the perspective astronauts gain when viewing Earth without political borders, the national gathering will explore human rights, hate speech, discrimination, citizen diplomacy and even space diplomacy. UNA-USA says the goal is to equip chapter leaders, citizen diplomats and UN advocates with practical tools while strengthening the relationship between the United States
and the United Nations. Houston will supply more than the skyline. UNA-Houston brings decades of local programming to the table, including Houston Area Model United Nations, Global Classrooms, Know Your UN, World Café and community programs focused on issues with both global and local significance. That history matters because the summit’s central question is not simply, “What is happening in the world?” It is also, “What does it mean here?”
Under the leadership of President Dr. Rima Adil, UNA-Houston has continued building relationships among education, civic, nonprofit and diplomatic communities. In 2026, the chapter’s International Women’s Day program at Houston City Hall brought together public, nonprofit, health and education leaders. Its Dialogue with Diplomats work has connected Houston institutions with members of the city’s consular community. Those programs illustrate the chapter’s broader approach: begin with a Houston issue, connect it to a global framework and invite local people into the conversation. The national summit extends that model on a larger stage. National visitors will encounter Houston not simply as a backdrop, but as a working example of how a diverse metropolitan community can connect education, diplomacy, civic leadership and international awareness in practical ways. Friday, November 13, opens with national UNA-USA activity and UNA-Houston’s United Nations Day Gala at Hilton Houston Post Oak by the Galleria, 2001 Post Oak Blvd., Houston, TX 77056. On Saturday, November 14, Houston City College’s Alief Hayes Campus, 2811 Hayes Road, Houston, TX 77082, is scheduled to host high-impact plenaries and breakout sessions for chapter leaders, citizen diplomats and participants seeking a deeper understanding
of the United Nations. Sunday programming is planned at Space Center Houston, pending final confirmation, with the UNA-USA Awards Ceremony and plenary sessions. The locations tell their own Houston story: hospitality, higher education and space exploration all woven into one weekend. For UNA-Houston, however, the real opportunity comes after the visitors leave. A successful summit can strengthen local partnerships, expand youth engagement, create new pathways for civic participation and give more Houstonians a practical entry point into international affairs. That is the bridge UNA-Houston is building—global in reach, but local in purpose. As a proud media sponsor, Houston Style Magazine reminds readers that international affairs are not always unfolding somewhere far away. Sometimes, the world’s biggest conversations are happening right here in Houston—and the next meaningful action may begin in our own neighborhood. Registration, Programming and 2026 Summit updates: https://unausa.org/leadershipsummit/ UNA-Houston information: https://www.unahouston.org/
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HOUSTON’S HISPANIC POWER TAKES CENTER STAGE AT THE 2026 STATE OF HISPANICS – DATA SUMMIT & BUSINESS EXPO By Francis Page, Jr. for www.StyleMagazine.com
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ouston loves big numbers. Population. Jobs. Construction. Business growth. But on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, some of the numbers that matter most will tell the story of the people increasingly shaping Houston’s economic future. The Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (HHCC) will present its 2026 The State of Hispanics – Data Summit & Business Expo, bringing together more than 400 leaders from business, academia, government and civic organizations from 3:00–5:00 p.m. at Hilton Americas–Houston, 1600 Lamar Street. Think of it as Houston’s Hispanic economic story—with receipts. Data That Goes Deeper What makes the Summit particularly valuable is its foundation of research. HHCC has assembled an extensive collection of data resources that allows attendees and Houston decision-makers to examine Hispanic influence from multiple angles. Among them is The State of the Hispanic Vote in Texas, examining an increasingly consequential segment of the state's electorate. Research from Dr. Jeronimo Cortina, Associate Professor and Associate Director of the University of Houston's Center for Mexican American
Where the Numbers Meet the Network The 2026 Summit has attracted major corporate support, with PNC serving as Underwriter, Telemundo/NBCUniversal as Premier Media Partner, and AARP and Shell participating as Patron Partners. As a Media Sponsor, Houston Style Magazine is proud to amplify this conversation and spotlight the entrepreneurs, executives, researchers and organizations helping write Houston's next chapter. Because Houston's Hispanic community isn't waiting to become an economic powerhouse. The data increasingly shows that it already is one.
Studies, includes 2024 Texas Trends and an examination of Hispanics in Corporate Boards. The economic picture is expanded through Lopez Negrete Communications' Economic Impact of Latinos in Houston, while Dr. Pablo Pinto, Director of the Center for Public Policy at the University of Houston's Hobby School of Public Affairs, contributes research examining The State of Hispanics in Houston. HHCC's resource library reaches even further, incorporating research on the economic impact of DACA, NAFTA and international trade, and Telemundo's Hispanic Impact Summit data. Together, the resources offer something more valuable than a collection of statistics: context. Laura Murillo: Data Into Opportunity For Dr. Laura Murillo, President & CEO of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, understanding Hispanic Houston isn't simply about representation. It is increasingly fundamental to understanding the region's marketplace. Murillo has described corporate engagement with the Hispanic community as “an economic and business imperative,” emphasizing the enormous opportunity
2026 The State of Hispanics Data Summit & Business Expo Tuesday, October 20, 2026 | 3:00–5:00 p.m. Hilton Americas–Houston 1600 Lamar Street • Houston, TX 77010 businesses have to better understand and serve a large and loyal consumer market. That philosophy sits squarely at the heart of the Summit: measure the community's impact, understand where opportunities and disparities remain, and give Houston leaders information they can put to work.
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REGISTER / TICKETS & SPONSORSHIPS: https://houstonhispanicchamberofcommercetx.growthzoneapp.com/ap/Events/Register/ J5FDMb7CJCzC3
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October 01, 2026 – October 07, 2026
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TRILL BURGERS' NEWEST HOUSTON RESTAURANT WILL OFFER LATE-NIGHT DRIVE-THRU By Francis Page, Jr. for www.StyleMagazine.com
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exas just got a little more “Trill.” Trill Burgers, the Houston-born smash-burger concept co-founded by rap icon and entrepreneur Bun B, officially opened its fourth Houston-area restaurant on Friday, September 25, at 7616 Westheimer Road, just west of the Galleria. The opening adds another highly visible address to a brand that has grown from pop-up sensation to one of Houston’s most recognizable homegrown restaurant stories. The new 3,100-square-foot restaurant gives Trill Burgers something its other locations do not yet offer: a true late-night weekend drive-thru. For now, the Westheimer restaurant is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Beginning in October, the drive-thru is scheduled to stay open until 3 a.m. Friday through Sunday — a welcome development for night owls, hospitality workers, concertgoers and anyone who believes midnight is a perfectly reasonable time for a double smash burger. The location, in a former Boston Market near the Westheimer-Hillcroft corridor, seats about 70 guests
and includes a wraparound drive-thru. Its black exterior and vivid yellow trim make it unmistakably Trill, while the interior doubles down on Houston pride with a custom “Be Someone Trill” mural inspired by the city’s famed “Be Someone” railroad-bridge artwork over Interstate 45. Bun B said the team remains grateful for Houston’s continued support, calling each new opening an incredible feeling and noting how meaningful it is to plant the brand on another iconic Houston roadway. That connection matters. Trill Burgers has never simply marketed itself as a burger company with Houston roots; it has made Houston culture part of the product — from its music and murals to
its collaborations and appearances at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The menu remains intentionally focused. The signature OG Burger features two smashed all-beef patties, caramelized onions, American cheese, pickles and Trill Sauce on a potato roll. Diners can go bigger with the Triple OG or choose plant-based Vegan OG and Triple Vegan OG versions. Kids can order Lil G meals, while seasoned Trill Fries, fresh-squeezed Trill Lemonade and shakes round out the experience. Lemonade flavors include Classic, Strawberry, Blue Wave and Desert Pear, with Arnold Palmer combinations available for those who like a little tea with their trill. Trill Burgers was founded in
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250 National & International Artists 19 Disciplines of Art Live Music & Entertainment Active Imagination Zone VIP Hospitality Lounge Art Installations & Exhibits
October 01, 2026 – October 07, 2026
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Houston in 2021 by Bun B, restaurateur Andy Nguyen and Nick Scurfield. After building momentum through pop-ups and festival appearances, the concept earned national attention when Good Morning America named its burger America’s best in 2022. Its first permanent restaurant opened on South Shepherd in 2023, followed by Spring in April 2025 and Missouri City in December 2025. The brand also operates a campus location at Rice University. For Houston diners, the Westheimer opening is more than another restaurant debut. It is another chapter in a local entrepreneurial success story — one built on flavor, culture, consistency and a city willing to support its own. And once that 3 a.m. drive-thru flips on in October, Westheimer may have a new answer to one of Houston nightlife’s most important questions: “Where are we eating after this?” LOCATION: Trill Burgers — 7616 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77063 TRILL BURGER: https://www.trill-burgers.com/
RIP - Garnet Coleman
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efore Texas knew Garnet F. Coleman as a lawmaker, policy strategist and champion of Houston's Third Ward, I knew him simply as Garnet - one of my first real friends. Our friendship began in sixth grade, when my family moved to Burkett Street in the Timbercrest area of Third Ward. Garnet lived two blocks over on Ewing Street. We rode bikes, spent long Houston summers swimming in our family pools and talked endlessly about music. Garnet's musical ear was already broader than mine. He introduced me to sounds and groups I had barely encountered - Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, The Cars and more - expanding my playlist long before anybody used the word "playlist." We were also two of the neighborhood's most daring young men. Our signature stunt was climbing onto the roof and jumping into the swimming pool below. It was equal parts courage, ego and youthful foolishness - but when you are a kid and the neighborhood is watching, applause can make you feel ten feet tall. Looking back, those jumps taught us something about nerve, popularity and knowing when confidence becomes ego. Music became another adventure. We formed a band called "Electric FUNK," and Garnet became our manager. His father, Dr. John B. Coleman, had opened JB's Entertainment, and Garnet helped book what remains one of the biggest moments of our young lives: opening for B.B. King. For a group of Third Ward kids with instruments, ambition and imagination, it felt like Madison Square Garden.
He Was One of My First Friends Words By Francis Page, Jr. for www.StyleMagazine.com
2025
Garnet Fredrick Coleman
September 8, 1961- September 23, 2026 Garnet came from a family already woven into Houston history. Born in Washington, D.C., on September 8, 1961, and raised in Houston, he was the son of Dr. John B. Coleman and Gloria Jones Coleman. His father was a prominent physician and civic leader who became the first African American appointed to the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. Garnet graduated from Bellaire High School in 1979, attended Howard University and later earned his political science degree cum laude from the University of St. Thomas. I watched that brilliant young friend grow into a man whose name became inseparable from public policy in Texas. Elected to the Texas House in 1991, Garnet represented District 147 for more than 30 years, until 2022. His legislative record included work on Children's Medicaid and CHIP, mental-health parity, HIV/AIDS
services and the Sandra Bland Act. He also advocated for Texas Southern University, Prairie View A&M University and the University of Houston. But public accomplishments are only part of the man I remember. I attended his California wedding to Angelique, and through the decades we maintained the kind of friendship that begins before titles, offices and headlines. On September 23, 2026, Garnet died at age 65. Texas lost a longtime legislator. Third Ward lost one of its most consequential sons. I lost one of my first friends. And when I remember Garnet, I will remember the brilliant mind - but I will also hear the music, see the bicycles, feel that Houston summer heat and picture two fearless boys standing on a roof, getting ready to jump.
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October 01, 2026 – October 07, 2026
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DIGGER: TOM CRUISE AND ALEJANDRO G. IÑÁRRITU DIG INTO A WILD NEW CINEMATIC FRONTIER
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By Francis Page Jr., for www.StyleMagazine.com
om Cruise has spent decades running toward danger on movie screens. In DIGGER, he may finally be running from a catastrophe of his own making. Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu returns with an audacious original story that puts Cruise in the title role as Digger Rockwell, an enormously powerful energy tycoon racing to convince the world he can save humanity before the disaster he helped unleash swallows everything in sight. Opening across North America on Friday, October 2, Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures are positioning DIGGER as the kind of big-screen event that rewards leaving the couch behind. The film was shot entirely in VistaVision and will play in theaters and IMAX, pairing Iñárritu with Oscar-winning cinematographer Emmanuel “Chivo” Lubezki. Their goal is unmistakably cinematic: scale, texture, eccentricity and enough visual swagger to make a 75-inch television feel suddenly very small.
Cruise is surrounded by a formidable ensemble, including Oscar winner Riz Ahmed, John Good-
captured in a single take. Cruise has described the role as one of his most outrageous, while Iñárritu has framed
man, Oscar nominee Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg and Oscar nominee Jesse Plemons. Recent coverage of the film’s London world premiere has also underscored just how far Cruise goes with the character, including prosthetics, a physical transformation and a lengthy monologue reportedly
the movie as a collision of satire, spectacle and human consequence. B e hind the camera, the pedigree is equally stacked. The screenplay is credited to Iñárritu, Alexander Dinelaris, Nicolás Giacobone and Sabina Berman, with a story by Berman, Iñárritu and Jez Butterworth. Oscar-winning and nominated craftspeople
fill the production ranks, from production design and costumes to makeup, editing and casting, while composer Cosmo Sheldrake supplies the score. For Houston Style Magazine moviegoers, DIGGER arrives as a rare fall release built around an original idea rather than a sequel number. That alone makes it worth watching. Add Cruise, Iñárritu, Lubezki and IMAX-sized ambition, and the movie becomes one of October’s most intriguing theatrical swings — part black comedy, part cautionary tale and, judging by its premise, one very expensive reminder that sometimes the person promising to fix the mess is also the fellow holding the shovel. DIGGER opens in theaters and IMAX on October 2, 2026. International rollout begins September 30. Visit the official DIGGER movie site for trailers, theater information and updates.
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October 01, 2026 – October 07, 2026
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TICKETS SELLING FAST - JOSHUA REDMAN AND HOUSTON'S PAUL CORNISH BRING DACAMERA'S FALL JAZZ KICKOFF HOME OCTOBER 17 By Francis Page Jr. for www.StyleMagazine.com
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hen this is the jazz night to put in ink — not pencil. On Saturday, October 17, DACAMERA opens its 2026–27 Jazz Series at Cullen Theater inside Wortham Theater Center with saxophone titan and 10-time Grammy nominee Joshua Redman. Houston pride will be seated at the piano: hometown standout Paul Cornish. Cornish, a Houston native and Kinder HSPVA graduate, returns as part of Redman’s quartet alongside bassist Philip Norris and drummer Nazir Ebo. The group
is closely associated with Redman’s Blue Note album Words Fall Short, built around collective improvisation that makes jazz feel less like a recital and more like a high-wire conversation. Redman has praised Cornish as both an “empath and contrarian” — a musician who can challenge a band while keeping the music natural and connected. Houston knows the pedigree. Cornish emerged from the same celebrated HSPVA jazz lineage that includes Jason Moran, Robert Glasper, Kendrick Scott, Chris Dave,
Walter Smith III and James Francies. His Blue Note debut, You’re Exaggerating!, arrived in 2025, and the Herbie Hancock Institute records Cornish as the third-place finisher in its 2023 International Jazz Piano Competition. Redman arrives with fresh momentum of his own. Blue Note announced September 15 that his next album, If Ever You Would Leave Us (we play for Rollins), will be released November 20 as a tribute to saxophone immortal Sonny Rollins. That makes Houston’s October stop a timely
LERT: T I C K E T A ACT N O W ! FAST. SELLING
JOSHUA REDMAN QUARTET
DACAMERA JAZZ
chance to catch Redman between major Blue Note chapters. The evening starts before the first saxophone note. DACAMERA’s Fall Jazz Kickoff Party begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Event Space at Lynn Wyatt Square, 600 Louisiana Street, directly across from Wortham Theater Center. Expect live music, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and jazzy attire before the quartet takes the Cullen Theater stage at 8 p.m. Party tickets are listed at $50, with $500 event sponsorships available. Concert tickets remain on sale through DACAMERA, with public listings showing prices from $60.50 to $101. DACAMERA’s public ticket page does not display a real-time remaining-seat count — so Houston jazz lovers should not assume the best seats will wait. Houston Style Magazine is proud to serve as a media sponsor for an evening pairing an international jazz heavyweight with one of Houston’s own rising Blue Note stars. Consider this your H-Town jazz alarm: if October 17 is on your calendar, don’t let your ticket be the thing that falls short.
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“A composer-performer who isn’t content to merely rest on laurels, but instead seeks out fresh quartet voices and harmonic dialogues.” — The Jazz Word
Saturday, October 17 | 8:00 PM CULLEN THEATER, WORTHAM THEATER CENTER
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Now at DACAMERA_Sea26-27_Redman_FNL.indd 1
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DACAMERA.COM 713-524-5050
October 01, 2026 – October 07, 2026
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October 01, 2026 – October 07, 2026
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