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LIFESTYLE LETTER

JUNE 2019 PUBLISHER

Andy Patel | andy.patel@lifestylepubs.com EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Abby Strickland | abby.strickland@lifestylepubs.com CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

C. Baron Photography. Brand Tree Media

All About the Guys THIS MONTH WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO PRESENT OUR “GENTS” ISSUE, CELEBRATING ALL THINGS MASCULINE. Of course, there’s Father’s Day on June 16—but there are so many more reasons why it’s great to be a guy this month. With the summer season underway, the long, sunny days can be filled with backyard cookouts, baseball games, camping trips, fishing excursions and so much more. To gather information for this issue, we looked to the experts: the men of Memorial! You might even recognize a few faces. Booking a guys' weekend away this summer? Check out our guide to New Orleans, with recommendations for every type of guy, from the sports fanatic to the history buff. And for those of you looking to improve your physical fitness, we share with you some great exercises you can do at home or in the gym courtesy of BeneFit Training.

CORPORATE TEAM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

We’ve also included some inspiring features on Bread Man Baking Co. and

CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry

Hotel Regina whose owners followed their passion and turned their hobbies

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore

into successful businesses.

ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson

So, gents, sit back, relax and crack open a cold one—because this month is all about you!

EDITORIAL MANAGER Nicolette Martin AD MANAGER Chad Jensen REGIONAL SALES DIRECTOR Eric Williams WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

Andy Patel, Publisher

514 W 26TH ST., KANSAS CITY, MO

LifestylePubs.com/Memorial

Proverbs 3:5-6 Memorial Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Memorial areas’ most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Memorial Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the

Memorial Lifestyle | June 2019

accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

Therese Landa

is a Fourth Generation Houstonian, so not only is she familiar with the city, she understands much of the history to get where we are. She loves her business of real estate. She has been a full time Residential Realtor since 1994. Completing from 45-75 transactions a year. This amount of business and experience, is paramount in her success. It makes her a sharp negotiator. She even has traveled outside of the market territory, with specific clients, as they would not use another Broker to assist them. Her referral and repeat business goes deep, which says a lot about her performance as a Broker. She also counsels new agents and loves to see those she has mentored advance in their own careers. She is a GRI, Graduate of the Real Estate Institute, and CLHMS, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist. She markets homes through multiple listing service, social media, mailings, magazine ads and blogs. In testimonials, the clients describe her as a true advocate for their best interest. Her membership in several Realtor Associations, Greater Houston connections, and Broker Mastermind Round Table, she stays current with matters impatcing her market and it gives her the opportunity to network with like-minded people.

T H E R E S E L A N DA

Broker-Ow ner

She is a 34 year Cancer survivor, and her passion is helping those who currently battle the disease. She is involved in many local charities, where she attends gala to network with people. As well she sponsors many community events, like the local Springfest and Breakfast with Santa. Therese loves art, making Glamorous Kentucky Derby hats, and Gardening.

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INSIDE THE ISSUE JUNE 2019

FEATURES 12 BeneFit Training With Personal Trainer Branden Vaughn

16 Bread Man Baking Co. How a Childhood Hobby Turned into a Bread Empire

20 New Orleans The Guys' Guide to the Big Easy

32 12

32 Donnie Henry The Raconteur of Art

DEPARTMENTS 4

Lifestyle Letter

Good Times

Around Town

Healthy Lifestyle

Locally Owned

26 Water & Woods 32 Artistâ€™s Palette 34 Lifestyle Calendar

pre stige | profe s sionalism | superior

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GOOD TIMES

Bernstein Realty on Great Day Houston Bernstein Realtyâ€™s Social Media Challenge Winners joined Deborah Duncan on Great Day Houston March 25. Amy Bernstein and Kaci Hendrix spoke about how social media is changing the real estate industry.

The Ranch Office Round-Up Michael Haapaniemi hosted the official "Round-Up" launch party for The Ranch Office April 4.Â

Memorial Lifestyle | June 2019

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HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

ARTICLE ABBY STRICKLAND | PHOTOGRAPHY C. BARON PHOTOGRAPHY

BENEFIT TRAINING PASSIONATE ABOUT FITNESS AND HAVING A POSITIVE IMPACT ON PEOPLE’S LIVES, CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER AND CORRECTIVE EXERCISING COACH BRANDEN VAUGHN LAUNCHED

BENEFIT

TRAINING

AUGUST 2015. Branden offers his clients everything from private sessions to weekly boot camps and corrective exercise training. Branden grew up loving sports and noticed all the benefits that being active had on his life, so he decided he wanted to share those with others in his community. Acknowledging every fitness journey will have its ups and downs, Branden’s empathy allows him to stand out from other trainers and gives his clients the confidence to know they have the support and encouragement from a trainer who truly wants to see them succeed. Exclusively for our Gent’s issue, Branden you can do in the gym or at home. Follow him on Instagram @benefitraining.

Memorial Lifestyle | June 2019

HELPING HIS CLIENTS ACHIEVE THEIR FITNESS GOALS ONE REP AT A TIME

shares with us six of his favorite exercises

BRANDEN VAU G H N

WITH

DEADLIFTS Keeping your back flat and head up, bend down and grip the bar shoulder-width apart. Stand up with the bar in your hands, extending your knees and hips and never arching your back.

21s Holding a weight in each hand, start with seven reps raising the arm to a right angle. The next seven reps, start at the waist and raise the weights to the shoulders. The final seven reps are a full-range curl.

AB BARBELL ROLLOUT

DEADLIFTS

On your knees keeping your back and arms straight, roll the barbell forward using your abs to hold your body slightly above ground. Contracting your abs, roll the barbell backward, returning yourself to the starting position.

AB BARBELL ROLLOUT

21S

AB BARBELL ROLLOUT

21S 21S

CONTINUED >

June 2019 | Memorial Lifestyle

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

(CON TI N U ED)

TRICEPS DIPS Using a bench, you want to support your body weight by eccentrically dropping your elbows until your arm is at a right angle then concentrically push your body back up..

BARBELL LUNGE Balancing the barbell over your shoulders with legs hip-width apart, step forward into a lunge position. Return to a standing position and repeat, alternating each leg.

TRICEP DIPS

FARMER WALKS

BARBELL LUNGE

Memorial Lifestyle | June 2019

TRICEP DIPS

FARMER WALKS In each hand, hold the heaviest weight you can and then walk for as long as possible.

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LOCALLY OWNED

ARTICLE ABBY STRICKLAND | PHOTOGRAPHY TREE BRAND MEDIA

BREAD MAN BAKING CO. HOW A CHILDHOOD HOBBY TURNED INTO A BREAD EMPIRE

TASOS KATSAOUNIS, THE OWNER

day. His passion for baking was reignited, and Tasos quickly

OF BREAD MAN BAKING CO., HAS

began experimenting with different recipes and baking

FOND CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF

loaves of bread for his family and friends.

LEARNING TO BAKE BREAD IN THE

Everything changed for Tasos when he received a call

KITCHEN ALONGSIDE HIS MOTHER.

from the Westin Hotel Downtown. They invited him to

It was cheaper to buy the ingredients to

come down for a meeting and bring samples of his bread.

bake bread than to buy an already baked

Tasos was incredibly flattered but explained he wasn’t a

loaf, so he stood by his mother’s side and

business; he was simply baking from home as a hobby. The

quickly learned the art of making bread.

Westin still insisted on the meeting, and soon they were

Tasos eventually put down his baking

discussing the terms of invoicing for 100 loaves a week.

apron, unsure if he would pick it up

In June 2017, Tasos finally left his job of 21 years as a con-

again—and unaware that it would some-

sultant, moved into a small commercial kitchen and began

day change his life.

baking full-time. The speed at which his company has grown

One evening in March 2016, Tasos was sitting in the kitchen with his wife, Roula, rem-

journey has been filled with multiple “pinch me” moments.

iniscing about her late father’s homemade

Fast forward to today, and Bread Man Baking Co. now as

Easter bread and how much she missed it.

11 employees and 52 accounts, including top restaurants and

After being married for eight years, Roula

hotels across Houston. Five local Whole Food stores started

was surprised this was the first time she

carrying his bread in April 2019.

was hearing about her husband’s ability to

With not a penny spent on marketing, this company is

bake bread. She asked Tasos to try and rec-

a true example of the power of social media and word of

reative a loaf of her father’s Easter bread.

mouth. Tasos has also stayed true to his heritage and contin-

So once again, Tasos picked up his apron

ues to bake two of his grandmother's bread recipes.

and began baking.

was more than anything Tasos could have imagined, and his

Bread Man Baking Co. has proved that a hobby-turned-

At the time, Tasos was working as a full-

passion can become a booming empire—and it all started

time global consultant from home, which

with a little boy in the kitchen with his mother, some flour

allowed him to be in the kitchen during the

and his apron.

Memorial Lifestyle | June 2019

June 2019 | Memorial Lifestyle

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June 2019 | Memorial Lifestyle

ARTICLE ABBY STRICKLAND

New Orleans THE GUYS' GUIDE TO THE BIG EASY

NEW ORLEANS IS ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST DIVERSE CULTURAL HUBS. It has activities for everyone, whether you are a full-time dad, a business owner or a true Saints fan.

THE

TOURIST

SAINT LOUIS CATHEDRAL AND JACKSON SQUARE

The city of New Orleans is overflowing with history, and any true tourist should have the Saint Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square first on the list. As one of NOLA’S most notable landmarks, the Cathedral is often referred to as the heart of the city. The church itself is dedicated to King Louis IX of France and was founded in 1720. Jackson Square, a historic park located directly in front of the St. Louis Cathedral, is the location where Louisiana was released from France and became part of the United States during the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. A statue of Andrew Jackson stands tall in the center of Jackson Square. Jackson was a soldier who lead the U.S. Army during the Battle of New Orleans in 1805. He was also president of the United States from 1829 to 1837.

Memorial Lifestyle | June 2019

Bache lor

THE

BOURBON STREET A historic street located in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Bourbon Street is famous for its vivid nightlife. You will find countless bars, live music coming from every doorway, and if you look up onto the balconies, people are cheering you on and throwing beaded necklaces if you are lucky enough to catch them. A nonstop party, Bourbon Street is a popular destination for bachelor/bachelorette parties. With endless drinks, shops, bars and even stops along the way to eat some delicious Cajun food, Bourbon Street is not for the faint-hearted but is certainly a must-see.

CONTINUED >

June 2019 | Memorial Lifestyle

NEW ORLEANS

(CON TI N U ED)

THE

The French Quarter, the oldest part of the city, was founded in 1718. Creole Cottages line the majority of the streets. Jazz music and New Orleans go hand in hand, and for anyone who is a lover of jazz music, the French Quarter has you covered. While the exact birthdate of jazz is unknown, many famous musicians helped put NOLA’s music scene on the map, including Louis Armstrong and Buddy Bolden. Some of the most popular jazz spots include Preservation Hall, Fritzel’s European

M u s ic Love r

Jazz Pub and The Jazz Playhouse. However, you can simply stroll along the streets of the French Quarter and you will find yourself walking into small bars and hidden clubs where you may end up hearing some of the best jazz music you will ever hear. 22

Memorial Lifestyle | June 2019

THE FRENCH QUARTER

THE

sports fan

MERCEDES-BENZ SUPER DOME When you think of sports and New Orleans, the Mercedes- Benz Super Dome, aka the Super Dome, comes to mind. The stadium is home to the New Orleans Saints but also hosts many other well-known football events including the Sugar Bowl and Bayou Classic. The Super Dome officially opened on Aug. 3, 1975, and can seat approximately 73,000 football fans. Sports such as baseball, boxing and even professional wrestling have all taken place at the Super Dome.

CONTINUED >

June 2019 | Memorial Lifestyle

NEW ORLEANS

(CON TI N U ED)

this will do it. For any food lover, New Orleans has some incredible cuisine you must try. From crawfish etouffee to gumbo, from beignets to po'boys, from jambalaya to fried chicken, the choice of Southern cuisine is certain to make anyone’s mouth water. Creole cuisine is Louisiana’s original style of cooking and has French, Spanish, West African, Native American, Haitian, German and Italian influences, making it truly one-of-a-kind. The famous Café Du Monde will always have a queue of people outside eager to taste their coffee and beignets. Arnaud's Restaurant, which was opened in 1918 by a French wine salesman, remains of the best places to go for gumbo and jazz. The Court of the Two Sisters located in the French Quarter is a Creole restaurant that serves both history and delicious food. The ever-popular jazz brunch allows you to try everything from jambalaya and bananas Foster while enjoying live music in the

THE

Food, glorious food. If you haven’t been convinced yet to visit New Orleans, maybe

FOODIE

SEAFOOD AND CAJUN FOOD

city's largest courtyard. Regardless of what kind of food you enjoy, neither you nor your taste buds will be disappointed by the cuisine in New Orleans.

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WATER & WOODS

Tom Oar: Mountain Man

ARTICLE STEPHANIE HOWER PHOTOGRAPHY NATHAN SATRAN

Memorial Lifestyle | June 2019

“HE IS FREE WHO LIVES AS HE CHOOSES.” So reads

I turned 7 years old, my father taught us how to trick ride,

the sign standing sentinel over Tom Oar’s house. Tom

which is doing tricks on the back of a running horse.”

Oar is free.

Despite the dangerous nature of such a hobby, Tom

On an isolated stretch of the Yaak River Valley in

survived and quickly developed a taste for living on the

Northwestern Montana, Tom and Nancy Oar have made

edge. By age 15, the young daredevil discovered a new

their home from the simplest of means and the sparsest of

outlet to sate his adrenaline fix: rodeo.

luxuries. They subsist on the land, gleaning a living through

“My mother drove me to the edge of town, dropped me

Tom’s knowledge of an all but forgotten craft: brain tanning.

off with my bull rope and my rigging bag, and I hitchhiked

He is a master trapper and tanner, pitted against the harsh

to Ohio, and I hired on to ride bulls and bucking horses.”

realities of the seasons and the forests, who has honed his

His mother’s confidence carried Tom toward the

art to a level achieved by few before him. To watch him

warm glow of adventure on the horizon, which he

work is to glimpse a remnant of the past.

chased with characteristic poise and determination.

“I was born a hundred years too late,” he chuckles. “Or maybe 200 years too late.”

By the early 1960s, Tom had climbed the ranks of the International Rodeo Association and established

Raised in the country outside Rockford, Illinois,

himself as a champion rider. He thrived on the excite-

Tom believes he was conditioned for a rugged life-

ment of the sport and consistently made it to the

style. He and his older brother exuded an innate

finals, ranking in the top 10 time and again. Fortune

passion for the outdoors. They spent their childhood

turned on Tom on Valentine’s Day 1970. At the age

roaming free as often as possible, and trick-riding.

of 35, he found himself in the chute perched upon a

“My dad was a real horseman, and he passed that on to my brother and me,” he recalls. “When my brother and

massive bull called Woolly Bugger. CONTINUED >

June 2019 | Memorial Lifestyle

WATER & WOODS

(CON TI N U ED)

“I usually dropped a finger in my bull rope, which meant that your hand was locked into the rope,” Tom explains. “The moment the chute opened, there was some big eruption.” Skulls of man and beast collided, knocking Tom into unconsciousness. Bound tightly by the rope across the middle of the bull’s back, Tom’s hand pinned him to the thrashing animal. “So now my legs and stuff are underneath his hind legs … he’s bucking and stepping on me quite hard.” He admits it is the closest he ever came to death inside a rodeo arena. Nancy watched from the stands as he was tossed violently for

They were confronted by second thoughts about their move.

two agonizing minutes until they were finally able to sever the ropes

Although Tom had experience as a trapper before leaving Illinois,

that bound him. Tom left the arena on a stretcher and didn’t gain

in the ‘80s he knew little about earning a living from the trade.

consciousness for three hours, suffering a severe concussion and

Converting furs to profits proved to be a more challenging endeavor—

bruising over most of his body. Fate had something bleaker in store

until destiny intervened at an Indian Store in Billings.

for the bull.

“We just stopped and went in,” Tom says, “and there it was in black

“They told me that old Woolly Bugger, he died two weeks later,” attests Tom, the twinkle of a cowboy in his eye. “I think I gave him a concussion, too.”

and white; told you how the Indians brain-tanned.” It was his first encounter with the ancient method, the method which would chart a new and unexpected trajectory for his life. The

While he returned to the chutes just a month after this brush with death, he never regained his former success. “It was time for me to quit, you know, so I did.” In 1981, he retired from rodeo. Just as the pitch and yaw of a bronc feeds the spirit of a young man yearning for

book cost him $3, consisted of

“WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WE WERE GETTING INTO OR HOW I WAS GONNA MAKE A LIVING OUT HERE. BUT I JUST HAD A FEELING THAT, BY GOD, I CAN DO IT. I CAN GET IT DONE.”

thrills, the rise and a fall of a mountain feeds the soul of a man yearning for peace. “Nancy and I would come up to Montana in the summertime and go rodeoing out here,” he says. The appeal of the Wild West beckoned, and they loaded all of their possessions into an old pickup truck. Interestingly, the truck they used to begin their life in Montana was bought with money earned from muskrat pelts, a small hint at the future that lay in store for the Oars. “We had no idea what we were getting into or how I was gonna make a living out here. But I just had a feeling that, by God, I can do it. I can get it done.”

16 pages and instantly elevated his craft. It would just take a little bit more luck to turn his tanning into a lucrative business. “Black Powder Rendezvous, they called them,” Tom says. “They were recreations of the old fur-trade days in the Rocky Mountains when all the trappers would meet in one spot.”

Feeling well at home amongst this like-minded crowd of mountain men, he finally discovered a niche for his handmade wares. And when Tom does something, he is certain to do it well. “The most prestigious clothing that you could wear at one of these rendezvous is brain-tanned buckskin clothing,” he says. Patrons immediately sensed the incomparable quality of the brain-tanned hides Tom provided, and the hides began to sell at a remarkable rate. Tom found his peace. Together, Tom and Nancy defied the odds. Danger lurked, isolation taunted, and the bitter chill of Montana winter bore down upon them;

And they did. Through old-fashioned hard work, Tom and Nancy

yet, they endured and prospered. Those who meet Tom, admirers and

trapped, hunted and tanned, living off the land in every sense of the

fellow trappers and so forth, will be greeted by a man who is both

phrase. Yet, the early years were fraught with challenges.

humble and kind. A man who is always willing to share his story and

“The first winter that we spent here was really, really cold,” Tom says.

his trade and his grin. He and Nancy’s contact with the outside world is minimized by a lack of internet or cell phone reception, but his story has spread nonetheless. When asked how he copes with the steady current of visitors making the trek to his property each summer, he just shrugs and confesses he would rather people like him than hate him. At the age of 76, he continues to toil endlessly on his craft and their survival in the mountains. “Amazing life,” he surmises. “I’ve enjoyed every bit of it. And as long as I can still do it, hell, I’m gonna do it.”

Memorial Lifestyle | June 2019

June 2019 | Memorial Lifestyle

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Memorial Lifestyle | June 2019

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WOODED LOT

55 Mott Lane

Piney Point Village · $2,275,000 MLS# 79179561 | 713.932.1032

CORNER LOT

RECENT CONSTRUCTION

314 Magnolia Heights Lane Memorial Green · $1,685,000 MLS# 79812823 | 713.932.1032

12127 Broken Arrow Street Memorial Forest · $1,425,000 MLS# 14670110 | 713.932.1032

June 2019 | Memorial Lifestyle

ARTIST’S PALETTE

“EMBRACE THE OUT-THERE.”

DONNIE HENRY THE RACONTEUR OF ART

ARTICLE ABBY STRICKLAND | PHOTOGRAPHY C. BARON PHOTOGRAPHY

Memorial Lifestyle | June 2019

KNOWN AROUND TOWN AS "THE RACONTEUR OF ART,” DONNIE HENRY IS INSPIRING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH HIS ONE-OF-A-KIND ARTWORK. His gallery, Hotel Regina, is a tribute to his late mother, who was his biggest supporter. She always encouraged him to be creative, and even since her passing, Donnie still feels a connection to her through his work. Donnie uses his imagination to transform vintage memorabilia into one-of-a-kind custom art. Donnie’s journey into the art world began in 2016 and has continued to blossom with plans to take his work more into the commercial side, creating large installations and full-wall-size pieces he hopes you’ll see in hotels, restaurants and casinos very soon. Standing by his motto, “Embrace the out-there,” Donnie will continue to push boundaries and tell stories with his art. For more information, visit HotelReginaMTME.com.

June 2019 | Memorial Lifestyle

JUNE

LIFESTYLE CALENDAR

Jackman for his first world tour.

SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN FEST

HOUSTON REGGAE FESTIVAL

from his hit movies such as The

Peggy Park

Houston's

only

Fried

Greatest Showman, Les Miserable

The International Reggae Group hosts

and many more.

Chicken

the 2019 Houston Reggae Festival in Houston. With a collection of more

With live music, wing eating con-

than 40 different vendors bringing you

tests, cooking demos and all the

food, art and much more from Jamaica

fried chicken you could possibly

and other Caribbean Islands, it is a day

imagine, this is the place to be for

out where dancing shoes are required.

enjoy. Tickets are $20–$75.

8 International

The Toyota Center

ever U.S. headliner tour, "It's My

HOUSTON FOOD FEST

costumes and singing along to all

Party."

With

nonstop

dancing,

incredible choreography, dazzling

Midtown Park

your favorite hits, it will be an eve-

Party, eat, repeat. The 2019 Houston

ning you don't want to miss.

different food vendors from Houston, Austin and other surrounding cities with everything from tacos and bar-

Wisdom High School

third

JENNIFER LOPEZ

Food Fest will host more than 70

INTERNATIONAL KONARK FESTIVAL The

25 Jennifer Lopez presents her first-

any fried chicken lover. Chefs from chicken masterpieces for guests to

he will perform a collection of songs

Peggy Park

Festival returns for a second year.

all over will be showing off their fried

Accompanied by a live orchestra,

Konark

becue and ice cream.

Festival will be an afternoon filled with East and NorthEast Indian classical dance, music and much more. It will be a highly diverse collection of performing arts and classic Indian dances such as Odissi

HUGH JACKMAN

We are always accepting submissions for events you'd like to see included

The Toyota Center

in our Calendar section. Submissions

and Manipur that will take your

Hugh Jackman: The Man. The Music.

are accepted via the Contact Us tab at

breath away.

The Show. Houston welcomes Hugh

LifestylePubs.com/Memorial.

www.gulledgehomes.com 832-767-1020 CUSTOM HOMES BUILD ON YOUR LOT MAJOR RENOVATIONS 34

Memorial Lifestyle | June 2019

LBX LIGHTING INC. LIGHTING STORE, CEILING FANS & CRYSTAL CHANDELIERS

LET US LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE WITH OUR CREATIVITY

3211 FONDREN ROAD HOUSTON, TX 77063

(713) 529-0250 LBXLIGHTING.COM @LBXLIGHTING

@LBXLIGHTINGINC

Simplify your lifestyle. Inspired by a picturesque town in Italy know for its mosaics, Ravenna blends the vibrancy of the city with the charm of a village. This gated community, zoned to Memorial High School, offers new homes ranging from 2,700 to 6,000 square feet and is just minutes away from downtown Houston, The Galleria, and The Energy Corridor.

RAVENNA For information, please contact:

S H AY NA A N D R E W S (713) 367-8906 Huge Dog Park for your Furry Family Members

ShaynaA@LovettHomes.com | www.lovetthomes.com/Houston/Ravenna.html

Lo Le