The West University Buzz - May 2026

EDITOR’S NOTE

Recently, I had lunch with my childhood friend, Teri. Every time we get together, she mentions places I had never heard of before. She’s that “in-the-know” friend. Which is wild because I used to think I was that friend. This time, she recommended Finca Tres Robles, an urban farm in Second Ward. Intrigued, I started digging. I discovered Small Places, the nonprofit that planted the first seeds – literally – that grew the farm from roots to harvest. When I called to find out more, co-founder Tommy Garcia-Prats answered the phone. I knew his name sounded familiar. Turns out he is one of 10 brothers who grew up as part of a close-knit Meyerland family; we had featured his family years ago. Cathy and Joe Garcia-Prats instilled in their sons the importance of giving back. Today, Tommy and two of his brothers are doing just that with Finca Tres Robles. Read more in this issue. And even if I’m not as plugged-in as I thought (yes, I think Teri has earned that title), here’s to hoping that The Buzz helps our readers be “in the know” about Houston spots worth exploring. joni@thebuzzmagazines.com

THE BUZZ MAGAZINES

Published by Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401 info@thebuzzmagazines.com

Editor-in-Chief

Joni Hoffman

Publisher Michael Hoffman

Editor Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld

Editorial Assistant Mackenzie Malveaux

Design Manager John Duboise Staff Writers Tracy L. Barnett

Sharon Albert Brier

Cindy Burnett

Andria Dilling

Angie Frederickson

Todd Freed

Cindy Gabriel

Cathy Gordon

Michelle Casas Groogan

Dai Huynh

Annie Blaylock McQueen

Jennifer Oakley

Ben Portnoy

Cheryl Ursin

Accounting & Contract Administrator Meena Dost

Account Managers Andrea Blitzer

Jo Rogers

Intern Halliday Mafrige

On our cover: Hope Lum and Madeleine Sheehy make a difference at Finca Tres Robles, an urban farm in a Houston food desert. Cover photo by Michael Hart, hartphoto.com

The Buzz Magazines has made all reasonable attempts to verify the accuracy of all information contained within. Advertising claims are solely the responsibility of the advertiser. Copyright © 2026 Hoffman Marketing & Media,

Your letters, thoughts, opinions

Travel tales

Thank you, Tracy Barnett [Four Years in Bangalore: A Houston Family Finds a Bigger World, March 2026, Travel Buzz]! We got our magazine and it has been fun seeing who recognized us and saved a copy to give to us. We feel like mini celebrities! Thank you so much! It was great to share our story with you and others!

Jennifer Erich

Mystery solved: Hats off!

I enjoy writing items for The Buzz, and I hope readers enjoy reading these items. Sometimes, I suppose, they stir up mystery.

I received a small package from a reader with a copy of my recent article on cowboy boots [These Boots are Made for What? Getting in the Texas state of mind, March 2026]. It contained two lapel pins. One lapel pin was a small cowboy hat with the salutation, “Hats off!” The other pin was a boot decorated with the emblem of Harvard University and labelled with the name of our local alumni club. The only message was, “Sui generis,” which, for non-Latin scholars, means “One of a kind.”

The return address was a bit smudged, but I made out the name, Harris. I went through a list of folks I know named Harris, but none seemed to be the kind reader.

It took until I received a list of attendees for an upcoming alumni club book club meeting, and I came across the person with too many lapel pins, one Rick Harris.

So, mystery solved. Thank you, Rick. And thank you to all who read my stuff in The Buzz

Ben Portnoy

Getting better with age

Lee and I thoroughly enjoyed your Diane Keaton article [Everybody Loves Diane Keaton: Especially ‘women of a certain age’ by Cindy Gabriel, Feb. 2026]! When Lee is feeling down about his age (like he’s the oldest person on the face of the earth!), I just open the newspaper to the “Birthdays Today” and let him know there are many celebrities who are older than he! Lynn Redgrave, Faye Dunaway, etc.!

Susan Hancock

Problematic description

Tracy Barnett’s April “Travel Buzz” piece [Family Reunion: 150 Relatives, Three Countries, and One Unforgettable Family Trip] was worth reading, to be sure. The Kimzey clan’s commitment to family, and to educational travel, is impressive. But there was a sentence in the article that blew my mind with its offensive inappropriateness. It’s when Ms. Barnett describes the brilliant art installation of those small plaques in Vienna – which, according to the writer, “mark the homes of Jewish residents deported during the Holocaust.” I had to

read it a second time to make sure my eyes were not deceiving me. Deported?! American antisemitism is growing stronger. And one of antisemitism’s closest friends is Holocaust denial. The Viennese Jewish residents you speak of – only a portion of the six million slaughtered – would have been happy had their fate been simply to be “deported.” They were murdered. It is precisely this kind of obscene minimization and use of immoral euphemisms that is not many steps away from outright denial. The definition of “deport” is “to send (a foreign-born noncitizen) out of the country by legal order.” Do you see how many ways the word “deport” is just not true?

Using that word is a mistake, and not a small one.

David Tobin

Editor’s note: David, thank you your thoughtful letter. You are absolutely rightthe use of that word was a mistake and oversight, and we apologize for any offense we might have caused. We updated that sentence in the travel story online.

Email us at mailbag@thebuzzmagazines.com. Or send to Mailbag, The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet St., Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401. Please include your name, address, phone number and email address for verification purposes. Letters or emails addressed to The Buzz Magazines become the property of the magazine, and it owns all rights to their use for publication. Addresses, phone numbers and email addresses will not be published. Letters are subject to editing for clarity and length. Views expressed in letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Buzz Magazines, and The Buzz takes no responsibility for the content and opinions expressed in them.

We are looking for residents for upcoming articles who:

• Were recently married and would like to participate in an upcoming Wedding Buzz column.

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If this sounds like you or someone you know, please contact us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com or 713.668.4157, ext 102.

4 Editor’s Note

Mailbag: Letters from Readers

Unmixing Tex-Mex History: Some Cinco de Mayo and other surprises by Cindy Gabriel

Cindy Gabriel delves into Cinco de Mayo and Texas history.

Horsing Around: My family’s fascination with the Kentucky Derby by Halliday Mafrige

Joni Baird has loved horse racing since she was young and, over the years, passed on her passion to her daughter and granddaughters.

Thoughtful Reads for Mom: Book recommendations for Mother’s Day by Cindy Burnett

Books are a great Mother’s Day gift idea.

Special Getaways with Mom: More than a trip by Annie Blaylock McQueen

For these Buzz families, mother-daughter or mother-son trips, some spanning multiple generations, have become a special tradition.

Houston’s Art Scene: A beginner’s guide to art in the city by Andria Dilling

Our city offers countless opportunities to enjoy unique, vibrant art.

Houston Parks: What’s new this spring and what’s coming soon by Annie Blaylock McQueen

Discover (or re-discover) local parks to explore.

Rumor Has It by Sharon Albert Brier

From Our Archives: Tiny Retreat: A doctor’s respite in miniature by Cathy Gordon

Patricia Eifel, a radiation oncologist, works on her exquisitely detailed dollhouse in her free time. This story was originally published in May 2015.

Buzz Reads by Cindy Burnett

reviewer Cindy Burnett recommends five recently or soon-to-be released titles.

A Healing Harvest

Growing hope in a Houston food desert by Michelle Casas Groogan

Brothers Tommy, Dan, and Mark Garcia-Prats founded nonprofit Small Places and urban farm Finca Tres Robles. Volunteers, including Krissi Reid, Madeleine Sheehy, Patricia Hsing, Vaughan Clark, and Hope Lum, work to help cultivate community, connection, and hope in the heart of Houston’s food desert.

Travel Buzz: Where Memory Lives: A Family’s San Diego Tradition by Tracy L. Barnett

San Diego holds sweet memories for Robyn Campbell, her mom Sheryl Androphy, and Robyn’s family.

SportzBuzz by Todd Freed

SportzBuzz Jr. by Annie Blaylock McQueen

Event Roundup by Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld

Events to add to your calendar this month.

Buzz Kidz: Small acts of service bringing lasting impact by Barrett Fowler

Neighborhood Tails by Mushi

Buzz About Town by Angie Frederickson

Back Porch: Well-Intentioned Gifts: Trust but verify by Andria Dilling

We all want to give gifts that will be cherished. But sometimes even the best intentions go awry.

by Cindy Gabriel, staff writer

Unmixing Tex-Mex History

Some Cinco de Mayo and other surprises

As a dyed in the wool Texan, I have had a lifelong interest in the nature of the threads that define me. Cinco de Mayo is a good reason to look into how Mexico shaped Texas.

I grew up in Fort Bend County about a mile from the banks of the Brazos where some of the first American settlers arrived with Stephen F. Austin’s Old Three Hundred. The Old Three Hundred were families mostly of British descent, from Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Missouri who settled in the fertile bottom lands of the Brazos, Colorado, and San Bernard Rivers.

Maybe I wasn’t listening in class but, as I started researching for this article, there were some things that surprised me. First, I didn’t know that Mexico was a newly minted country in 1821, just declaring its independence from Spain when the colonists first arrived. I also had no idea that those colonists had to agree to be Catholic. But more importantly, I wasn’t aware that Mexico was as determined to end slavery as the new settlers were determined to keep slaves.

Austin offered a written synopsis of his Texas years shortly before he died.

The year is 1836. I sit here in a quiet moment reflecting on 15 years of labor, dust and diplomacy. My hair has grayed since I first crossed the Sabine River in 1821…. When I first arrived the Mexican government was new and fragile. They gave me the power of an Empresario—part land agent, part governor…I spent years learning their language and their laws, and I became a Mexican citizen….But there was always a shadow over our fields, the question of labor. Most of my settlers came from the American South. They brought with them the only economic system they knew, slavery. I knew the Mexican heart was set against it.

By the fall of 1825, Austin’s colony had a population of 1,790, of which 443 were slaves. Mexico initially permitted colonists to bring slaves, though children born into slavery must be freed by the age of 14. It was as if Mexico was trying to wean Texas off its slave-owning habit. Austin, ever the eloquent negotiator – and on behalf of his pro-slavery colonists – tried to wordsmith his way past it.

I spent my nights drafting indentured servitude

contracts— legal fictions to satisfy the Mexican law while keeping the plow moving in the dirt. It was a compromise that satisfied no one. By 1833 the bridge I built began to crumble.

Austin spent some two years imprisoned by Mexican authorities, for sedition, after writing a letter to the Texas colonists encouraging them to start a new state without Mexico’s approval. But alas, a new president, Santa Ana, offered him amnesty. Soon the colonists would face this same Santa Ana in a revolution, including the famous battle of the Alamo. But the final battle, the Battle of San Jacinto, led by Sam Houston, gave Texas a new

History often meanders, turns, and gets downright muddy like the Brazos River that brought Austin and his gang here in the first place.

hero. Houston was elected in a landslide as the first president of the Republic of Texas, soundly trouncing Austin. In the heat of republic fever, Austin became viewed as too much of an appeaser with Mexico. Note the melancholy tone of his final words.

I sit now in a republic I helped birth, but scarcely recognize…. I am tired, I have given my life to this land. And whether history remembers me as a loyal Mexican subject or the Father of Texas I only hope they see I did my best to encourage people to immigrate to Texas as part of Mexico, but slavery and cul-

tural differences proved too difficult to maintain peace.

Maybe I needed to hear these words from Austin himself. Maybe I needed to let go of my own vague notions that slavery was somehow not a major cause of the Texas revolution. Now, while I remember Goliad, the Alamo, and The Battle of San Jacinto, I must also remember Mexico’s determination to defeat slavery and Texans’ determination for slavery to persist. It puts a little stagger in my Texas swagger, but maybe our ability to look in the mirror will help ease some of our differences.

Texas spent 10 years as a Republic (18361846). A pretty little spot in the Texas Hill County called Waterloo was renamed Austin in 1939 as the new capital of Texas.

Here’s something else I was wrong about. I am apparently among the 40 percent who thought Cinco de Mayo celebrated Mexico’s independence from Spain. History often meanders, turns, and gets downright muddy like the Brazos River that brought Austin and his gang here in the first place. Cinco de Mayo wouldn’t come until around the time of the Civil War. In 1862, after Mexico defaulted on its loans with Europe, French forces invaded Puebla, Mexico. On Cinco de Mayo, 1862, a rag-tag Mexican army overcame the well-equipped, larger French army. Its celebration to this day is still a Puebla event, though the wider national celebration of Mexican Independence Day is September 16th.

Actually, my friends from Mexico say Cinco de Mayo is a bigger deal in the U.S. than it is in Mexico. And while it’s a great excuse for a margarita, it doesn’t hurt to acknowledge a few sobering facts about my beloved state of Texas.

by Halliday Mafrige, contributing writer

Horsing Around

My family’s fascination with the Kentucky Derby

Holding my breath, I stared at the television screen from underneath my oversized hat. It was Saturday, June 6, 2015, and I was eagerly hooked on the third jewel of the Triple Crown – The Belmont Stakes. My grandmother, mother, and sister sat beside me in equally large, frilly hats to commemorate the occasion, all intensely focused on the race.

This year was particularly exciting as we were rooting for American Pharoah, the horse that, by finishing first, would win the Triple Crown and end the 37-year drought of the award.

The horses were coming around the final corner, our hero in the lead, and the jockeys began to push their steeds even faster. American Pharoah put a little distance between him and the horse in second, then a little more, then a little more. We were screaming him on from behind the screen: “Go, go, go!”

He did it. American Pharoah became a Triple Crown winner, and we were frantic. Jumping up and down, hugging each other and yelling our support, our joy was palpable.

At the end of the celebration, we all toasted – my mother and grandmother clinked their bubbly, and my sister and I raised our glasses of bubbly water.

“This might never happen again in our lifetime,” I remember my mom saying.

It did, in 2018, but the energy from that moment sticks out to me all these years later. It was a joyous moment that exemplifies my childhood love of horse racing, passed down through the generations.

As a child growing up outside of Denver, my grandmother, Joni Baird, loved horse racing. She credits her equine fascination to the western TV shows and movies she watched when she was young. She remembers Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, and Hopalong Cassidy coming to the rescue on horseback and stopping the bad guys.

She says that horses were always around her as a kid, and she would seek out opportunities to be around them. As a young adult, one of her good friends, Betsy Noel, worked at a large animal veterinarian clinic that treated local racehorses, including the Denver Broncos’ own mascot Thunder.

“When we met, we were in our 20s,” Noel

says. “We would have casual conversations about how amazing of an animal they are, how they're so spiritual and impactful. We grew together in a lot of ways.”

When my mother was born, my grandmother passed on her love of horses to her daughter. When she was about eight, my grandmother purchased a Shetland pony for 30 dollars from a friend she worked with in law enforcement. They told my mother she could have the pony for a quarter and a kiss on the cheek. My mom named her Blondie Thunderbolt Tidbit.

“I thought Blondie was a good horse name,” says my mother, Joe’l Mafrige. “Tidbit was my favorite snack, and I picked Thunderbolt because it was badass.”

My mom says she remembers the small pony being “mean as hell” and biting people. When she was 10, my mother started spending summers down in Cookson, Oklahoma with her aunt and uncle, riding her next two horses,

Raindrop and Chica. She would even participate in rodeos during her time in the Sooner State, barrel racing on Chica.

“I was a city girl playing cowgirl during the summers,” my mother says.

Needless to say, I was introduced to horses and horse racing at a very young age. I remember curling up with my grandmother on the couch and watching each race of the Triple Crown, looking at the pretty horses and guessing which ones would win, place, or show.

I always enjoyed learning the names of the horses, since the racing thoroughbreds had fun or unusual names. It was also an opportunity to flex my horse knowledge that I had gained at camp, particularly in coat colors, which made me feel really cool.

The story of Secretariat and the 2010 Disney film of the same name further reinforced the love of horse racing in my house. I loved that movie – it probably went

(continued on page 14)

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triple platinum in my home between me and my younger sister. To us, it was not only an exciting horse story, but one of persistence.

“It was a story about family, dreams, and goals,” my sister Olivia Mafrige says, “and even though we were kids, it spoke to us. We understood it.”

Secretariat is often considered the best racehorse of our time, but he would rarely get a good start out of the gate, often starting in the back and making his time back up by the end. Ultimately, he won 16 of his 21 total races. He won the 1973 Triple Crown, setting – and still holding – the fastest time record in all three of its constituent races. Secretariat taught me and my sister never to give up.

One scene from the movie also taught my sister what “fore” means in the context of golf (meaning “look out!” for a flying golf ball), and she would run around screaming it before throwing things at me. She thought it was hilarious.

In 2012, my grandmother was at a local charity event and came across an auction item she couldn’t pass up: sponsoring our own race at Churchill Downs. She purchased a suite at the Kentucky track on a race day, which came with naming the race, photos with the winning horse, its owners and jockey, and a small replica trophy. My dad chose the name: The Mafrige Lone Star Showdown.

So, we ventured to Kentucky in early June for the race. That is when our parents surprised us with a trip to Claiborne Farm, the place where Secretariat retired and was later buried.

I was eight during this trip, so I do not remember all of the details of the vacation, but one thing my sister and I both remember vividly is the chaotic road trip to the farm. The five of us were crammed in one small rental car. With two young children and one wife on their

respective device’s maps app, all screaming directions at the same time, it was my father’s worst nightmare.

“I just giggled the whole time,” said my grandmother, who was sitting unhelpfully in the back seat.

After driving in circles for a while, we eventually arrived at the farm and were taken to the stables where my sister and I were able to meet and feed some horses before visiting Secretariat’s grave. It was a somber moment, but we appreciated paying our respects to the racing legend.

Race day was an amazing experience as well, with Time to Ride winning the Mafrige Lone Star Showdown, running 5 ½ furlongs in 1:05.03. We got to go down to the track, meet the horse, jockey, and owners, and experience the race firsthand.

I remember being really excited about the betting process, going by the numbers and having my mom spend two dollars on whichever horse had the best stat line. My sister was playing the bet-on-whichever-horse-has-the-bestname game and was upset when my picks won more money than hers. I will admit that I have always had a bit of a competitive streak.

As I grew older, I grew out of my “horse phase.” I would still watch the Derby with my grandmother and mother, but I would not watch the Preakness or Belmont. I did not even watch as Justify won the 2018 Triple Crown. But my grandmother never faltered in her passion.

In 2018, my grandmother’s friend Betsy Noel called with an exciting update: She found a way to buy micro-shares of racehorses to help the owners pay for their expenses. My grandmother was thrilled at the opportunity and bought each member of my immediate family a share in a young thoroughbred named Authentic. She jokes that all together, we owned about 15 tail hairs of the horse. She, Betsy, and my mom all watched

Authentic grow as a horse and an athlete, finishing first in multiple races, until he qualified for the 2020 Kentucky Derby. My grandmother says she remembers that they were beyond excited.

Derby Day arrived. My grandmother was on the phone with Betsy all day, watching the leadup to the race and buzzing with excitement. Then, the time came for the most exciting two minutes in sports. My grandmother came to our house and brought her hat collection for us all to wear while cheering on the colt. The gates opened, and even with a start on an outside gate, Authentic led the race the whole way through. Authentic had beat the clear favorite and won the Kentucky Derby. There may not have been screaming fans in the stands due to the pandemic, but my living room was in an uproar.

“We jumped for joy!” says my grandmother, “It was unbelievable.”

My family had become micro-owners of a Kentucky Derby-winning horse. The market instantly exploded, as people recognized the opportunity, and other horse owners opened their horses up to micro-shareholders. After striking gold on her first swing, my grandmother also found success in 2024 when Seize the Grey won the Preakness Stakes.

These days, she remains heavily involved in the sport’s scene, hosting watch parties, purchasing shares, and tuning into horse race Sundays. This year, as I’ll be in Houston during the Derby for the first time since I left for college, I look forward to donning a fabulous hat and curling up on the couch with her on May 2nd to celebrate the 152nd Kentucky Derby. And maybe watching Disney’s Secretariat afterward.

Editor’s note: Tune into the 152nd Kentucky Derby on NBC or the Peacock app on May 2, around 5:57 p.m.

by Michelle Casas Groogan, staff writer

A Healing Harvest

Growing hope in a Houston food desert

It’s an area of Houston where you would not expect to find a vibrant, prolific farm, but fresh, organic produce is exactly what is being grown at Finca Tres Robles, an urban farm in the historic Segundo Barrio or Second Ward. One and a half acres flanked by a forsaken factory and a sprawling apartment complex – a small farm making a big impact.

If you stood here just two years ago, you would have seen only a crumbling parking lot, its surface fractured into jagged slabs of concrete. The idea that this land could ever become a thriving farm – one capable of yielding thousands of pounds of fresh, organic harvest for the community – would have sounded less like a plan and more like a dream. But a dream did take root here, the dream of Tommy, Dan, and Mark Garcia-Prats, brothers and native Houstonians. Tommy studied international relations in college but ended up working on an organic farm in Maine and got hooked.

“It completely changed my life – I didn’t realize I had so much power and ability to just put things in the ground and transform a space,” said Tommy Garcia-Prats, executive director. “In 2013, I moved back to Houston, and that’s when the concept started developing. I wanted to keep farming closer to my family and I couldn’t find any farms here to work on. Then we started the original farm with two of my brothers, Dan and Mark.”

The brothers founded Small Places, guided by a simple but ambitious vision – to be in a neighborhood where the farm is part of the fabric of daily life and to provide community members with the tools to be healthy. They started the farm on a lot owned by Harris County a couple of blocks away, unremarkable save for three magnificent, century-old oak trees, which inspired the farm’s name, Finca Tres Robles, which translates to Farm of the Three Oaks.

The county reclaimed the land four years later but gave the group the current site. The name endured: Finca Tres Robles, even though the neglected, crumbling lot was void of trees. The process of urban rewilding commenced –creating fertile ground and pressing three fledg-

to grow 15,000 pounds this year and then double that number.

ling oaks into the soil.

Changing the essential health infrastructure of a low-income neighborhood is no easy task.

“Harris County just did a report that found 1in 2 Latino children will grow up to be diabetic,” said Tommy. The study found that key risk factors included the number of Harris County residents living in food deserts and/or experiencing food insecurity. The East End, where the farm is located, is considered a food desert, an

area that lacks grocery stores and healthy food options. The neighborhood is historically and predominantly Latino.

“It’s actually more expensive to try to keep sick people healthy than keep healthy people healthy,” said Tommy. “So, really, we’re trying to make an economic argument that it's just a good investment to give people good food on a weekly basis.”

Patricia Hsing found

(continued from page 16)

Finca Tres Robles when she was in between jobs in health insurance and looking for innovative ways to give back to her community.

“It’s just a fantastic organization. They only serve four zip codes in Houston, one of which is the most food-insecure zip code in the entirety of Harris County. So they're high impact from that perspective,” said Patricia, who has helped lead some fundraising projects and coordinate a service project for her two sons’ Cub Scouts troop, growing marigolds for the farm. “I was also very interested in it from an experimental perspective because I’ve been in health insurance for 25 years and no one's figured out how to fix health problems.”

If the founders’ names sound familiar, that’s because the large Garcia-Prats family is wellknown for giving back to the community. Cathy and Joe Garcia-Prats raised 10 sons in their modest Meyerland home. They have written parenting books and served as speakers at national events. All the boys went to Catholic schools, all graduat-

ing from Strake Jesuit College Preparatory.

“Our parents taught us to see our lives as an opportunity to make our community better,” said Tommy. “They taught us to be involved in ways that help build a world that we want to be a part of.”

It’s a mission Krissi Reid embraces, especially after having grown up on a cotton and grain farm in South Texas. She is still an avid gardener today. Her husband, Taylor, first met Tommy through a mutual friend; they scheduled a lunch and the two have been big supporters ever since.

“I was just blown away by this young man. He took us to see the original farm, and I couldn’t believe how he took this land and just turned it into an oasis. It wasn’t fancy at all, but the amount of production on that tiny postage stamp,” said Krissi. “They’re committed to making systemic change. He's not trying to do something for everyone. He's trying to change health through agriculture in the city. You know, how many urban farmers do

you meet?”

Krissi knew she could give Tommy a bigger platform to share his message. As a member of the River Oaks Garden Club (ROGC) the last seven years, she brought Tommy in for a presentation last fall, followed by a tour of the farm. Hope Lum was one of 40 club members moved by the mission.

“It was exciting to see what he’s doing out there because he is building a community. And not just farming, but a lot of educational components,” said Hope, who is a decade-long member of ROGC. “We saw his focus and wanted to help with his vision.”

Along with beautification, the ROGC mission includes protecting the quality of the environment through educational programs and civic improvement. Finca Tres Robles easily met the criteria for a $14,000 grant that helped finish their greenhouse. Madeleine Sheehy, president of ROGC, said only about half of the applicants receive grants every year, but Finca Tres Robles was notably turning something small into big

rewards.

“He’s trying to get the people who live in that neighborhood to invest in themselves and enjoy community at the same time.”

“It’s small, but it’s powerful,” said Vaughan Clark, who has 25 years of service with the ROGC. “And since it’s in a food desert, he has this system at their farm store. You get a laminated card, and put it in the basket.”

They call it Fresh Food For All, a trust-first system removing barriers to getting organic food. A customer can simply grab a 25 percent or half-off card and put it in the basket – no questions asked.

Dan Garcia-Prats is the director of operations at Finca Tres Robles and admits they have had to learn a lot about becoming farmers, such as discovering lesser-known vegetables like kohlrabi. Kohlrabi is a cabbage-like vegetable with alien-like tentacles and just as foreign to many in this community.

“We’re city boys. Growing up in southwest Houston, we come from a place of ignorance

about farming; you just don’t get a lot of opportunity to learn about farming,” said Dan. “We have learned a lot, so that’s why it’s important for us to have a lot of education here throughout the year.”

Here, education is synonymous with farming whether it is cooking classes, workshops, apprenticeships, or community events like the Salsa de Mayo Festival happening on May 16th.

The fourth annual event kicks off tomato season and honors the historic tradition of salsas infused right here in the neighborhood.

The farm just celebrated one year at the new site, but Finca Tres Robles has been feeding families in this community for more than five years, and changes aren’t just measurable – they’re felt.

“We talk about going deeper rather than wider,” explained Tommy. “Our food-access program is really geared around food security. And some of the households that have been receiving food from us, I'm thinking of one family in particular, the mother is off her blood pressure medication and has lost weight.”

"Since there are chronic diseases in my fam-

ily, including hypertension, obesity, and prediabetes, healthy foods have helped us maintain a better quality of life, achieving a notable change since we started receiving the food boxes,” said Marling Alfaro, a daughter from that family who lives in the neighborhood.

“The health of my adult relatives and my niece has changed, reducing the use of medications that were previously prescribed.”

Nourished by community altruism and rooted in hope, Finca Tres Robles has already proven bountiful – and a 40-year lease from Harris County leaders ensures it will keep growing.

Editor’s note: Learn more about nonprofit Finca Tres Robles at smallplaces.org/places/fincatresrobles. Finca Tres Robles holds Volunteer Day every second Saturday of the month. The fourth annual Salsa de Mayo Festival takes place May 16, 3-8 p.m. and is free to the public. The farm is celebrating the first spring harvest and will hold a fundraising farm-totable dinner created by local chef, Taylor Tucker (Tiny Champions), on May 14, 2026, 6-9 p.m.

by Cindy Burnett, staff writer

Thoughtful Reads for Mom

Book recommendations for Mother’s Day

Deciding on a Mother’s Day gift is often tricky. Books make great gifts no matter who you are buying for this month. There are so many different genres and subject matters – there is something for everyone. Below, I list some great books to consider, including some fabulous audio productions (note: an audio book gift subscription is a great option for those who enjoy reading that way). Here are some suggestions for the mother in your life:

For the mom who enjoys thrills:

Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams – When two friends, Tess and Allie, set out on a caving adventure, things quickly take a dark turn. They are followed by a mysterious stranger who will not leave them alone and who eventually traps Tess deep inside a narrow cave. Allie is nowhere to be found when Tess finally escapes 24 hours later, and when the police begin to investigate these horrific events, it is quickly clear that someone from Allie’s past may have targeted the girls. The more the detective investigates, the more questions arise. This heart-pounding thriller kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading it; Adams has written the best thriller that I have read in a long while – brilliantly plotted and very claustrophobic.

For the mom who enjoys Broadway musicals:

In Gad We Trust by Josh Gad – In his wonderful memoir, Josh Gad dives into a wide array of personal topics, the lasting impact of his parents’ divorce, how he struggled with weight and self-image, his first big break, his take on fatherhood, and much more. I devoured this one on audio in two sittings and am now an even bigger fan of his than I already was. I loved the backstage gossip and behind-the-scenes stories about filming the Frozen movies and performing in his Broadway shows.

For the mom who likes to learn about other places and time periods through nonfiction:

The Finest Hotel in Kabul by Lyse Doucet – When the InterContinental Kabul opened in 1969, Afghanistan’s first luxury hotel symbolized

the dream of a modernizing country now connected to the rest of the world. More than 50 years on, the InterContinental is still standing. It has endured Soviet occupation, multiple coups, a grievous civil war, a US invasion, and the rise, fall, and rise of the Taliban. Lyse Doucet, the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent, has been checking into the Inter-Continental since 1988. And here, she uses its story to craft a richly immersive history of modern Afghanistan. I loved how she framed the history of the country against the backdrop of the Intercontinental and those who have a connection to it – a creative way to tell the country’s history.

For the mom who likes to learn about other places and time periods through fiction:

The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens –Hana Babic is a quiet, middle-aged librarian in Minnesota who wants nothing more than to be left alone. But when a detective arrives with the news that her best friend has been murdered, Hana knows that her past life in Bosnia during the war has caught up with her. There is a constant undercurrent of danger and urgency throughout the story as the events of Hana’s earlier years are revealed. This story of revenge, the horrors of war, and secrets that won’t stay hidden is a winner. And while the war scenes were hard to read, I was glad to learn more about the war in Bosnia.

For the mom who has a tough relationship with her mom:

What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown –In What Kind of Paradise, Janelle Brown evocatively wrestles with the effects of progress, technology, and power through the lens of a fierce and lonely girl and her paranoid and extremist father. Jane has spent her entire life in rural Montana living off the grid with her father. He

is evasive about their past, claiming only that her mother died in a car crash that led them to move to Montana. When she accompanies him on a trip that ends in murder, she realizes that nothing is as she believed it to be. Brown brings to life the early days of the internet with vivid detail creating such a tense experience for the reader who understands how drastically different things are today from how early internet pioneers wanted or expected them to be. This haunting page turner explores right and wrong, extremism, technology, and family.

For the mom who likes literary fiction: The Ferryman and His Wife by Frode Grytten – In this quiet but profound book, Nils Vik, a ferryman in rural Norway, sets out on his last ferry trip, on what will be his last day on Earth. As he travels along the fjord with his dog, who died years before, he encounters other dead individuals who played a part in his life and whom he met while ferrying them to and from his village. His logbook is a physical reminder of everyone he transported over the years; some of these trips made sense to him at the time and others seemed insignificant but as he reflects on them all together, he comes to see the connections that weave throughout this life. This beautiful book tells the story of a life well-lived and focuses on the impact people have on each other, both large and small. I listened to this one and thoroughly enjoyed the audio production.

For the mom who values beautiful writing: The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater –January 1942. The Avallon Hotel & Spa has always offered elegant luxury in the wilds of

West Virginia, its sweet water washing away all of high society’s troubles. General manager June Porter Hudson has guided the Avallon skillfully through the first pangs of war. But when the family heir makes a secret deal with the State Department to fill the hotel with captured Axis diplomats, June must persuade her staff to offer luxury to Nazis and their sympathizers. The novel blends actual historical events with elements of magical realism, while also exploring themes of privilege, myth and lore, loyalty, and the hidden depths of human nature. Stiefvater’s writing is lyrical, bringing her beautiful tale vividly to life.

For the mom who loves memoirs:

This American Woman by Zarna Garg –In This American Woman , Award-winning comedian Zarna Garg turns her astonishing life story into a hilarious memoir, spilling all the chai on her wild ride from escaping an arranged marriage and homelessness in India to carving her own path in America and launching a dazzling second act in midlife. This memoir is incredibly captivating. I am not really a lover of comedy shows and comedians, so I was a bit skeptical, but this one is about so much more than that. She narrates the audiobook production (which I highly recommend) and is very genuine and funny. The jokes do not feel canned at all, and her story is truly incredible.

For the mom who likes historical fiction:

Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor – In this creative imagining of Auntie Em’s life before Dororthy visits Oz, Hazel Gaynor brings Emily Gale to life. From her early years in Chicago to her time on the prairie, Emily’s life is fascinating and immersive. Life in rural Kansas during the Depression and the Dust Bowl are vividly described, and the various Easter eggs from The Wizard of Oz are an added bonus. While I am not a big Wizard of Oz fan, I enjoyed this absorbing story about charting a new path, triumphing over adversity, and finding hope in the face of loss.

For the mom who loves feel-good stories with some depth:

Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding by Lian Dolan – This delightful and charming novel tackles the popular wedding storyline from a completely fresh perspective. The stars of this tale are the two mothers – the mother of the bride Greek-born Alexa Diamandis, a single mother and travel planner, and the mother of the groom, Abigail Blakeman, an old-money member of the Daughters of the Revolution. When Penelope and Chase announce their engagement, neither mother is excited for the pending nuptials. What ensues is an often funny and touching romp about two women who overcome their differences and some of their own personal issues while planning an amazing wedding with their adult children. Interspersed

throughout the novel is an advice column by Aunt B to “Dearly Beloved and Betrotheds” which hilariously pokes fun at how weddings bring out the crazy in people.

For the mom who enjoys tear-jerkers:

The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff – The Bright Years spans over six decades and is structured in three parts, each told from a different point of view: Lillian, a woman who has experienced numerous losses and simply desires a stable and quiet life with her husband Ryan and daughter Georgette; Georgette who endures the many ups and downs of her parents’ relationship, and finally Ryan, an artist and gallery owner who grapples with his father’s addiction and his own alcoholism. This tale of inherited generational trauma, poor choices, and the enduring connection of family pulls at the heart strings while eliciting so many feelings - anger, sorrow, frustration, and ultimately empathy. Damoff’s portrayal of alcoholism and its lasting effects on family members is honest and at times hard to read. Have tissues ready – the book is tear-inducing.

Editor’s note: Cindy Burnett also writes our weekly Page Turners column at thebuzzmagazines.com. She hosts an award-winning book podcast entitled Thoughts from a Page Podcast www.thoughtsfromapage.com, runs the Instagram account @thoughtsfromapage, and regularly speaks to groups about books.

by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Special Getaways with Mom

More than a trip

May is a time to celebrate mothers, and it often brings reflection on the special ways families spend time together.

Mother-daughter and mother-son trips are especially meaningful ways to step away from daily routines and reconnect in new places. Whether it is a quick trip to the Hill Country or an international adventure, it can be filled with special moments and memories.

For mom of two boys Rachel Cruz Auwarter, one such trip across the ocean became the start of something much bigger.

“London is my favorite city anywhere,” Rachel, an avid traveler, said. “I love the energy, the culture, the history, the sheer diversity, and the endless ability to be surprised.”

Rachel had traveled to London twice before with her two sons, Miles, 8, and Ryan, 14. One trip was with her husband alongside a visit to Scotland, and another was with just Rachel and the boys while her husband was on a work trip in Portugal.

She had always loved London, but on a

recent trip with just Miles, the experience took on new meaning as they created a shared bond over their love of the same city.

Miles, 8, a student at Condit Elementary, had developed a deep connection to London, just

“There is something special about traveling with the women who raised you and those you are raising,” Jamie said.

like his mom. They went to London when Miles was 6, then again at 7, and then again at 8 with just Rachel.

“Miles just fell head over heels in love with the city,” she said. “The shows on the West End,

the royal parks, the street markets, the restaurants, and bakeries, wandering the side streets, the Sherlock Holmes Museum, the palaces. He was ready for all of it.”

His interest went beyond typical sightseeing.

“He is seriously obsessed with the London Underground,” Rachel said. “He has pocket maps of the Tube system all over our house, a huge map in his bedroom, puzzles, books, even bedsheets.”

“We had never done a solo mother-son trip before this,” she said. From the start, he helped plan every detail of their trip. “He wanted to travel every line on the Underground and write a review for each one,” Rachel said.

They also visited the Paddington Bear Experience, explored the London Aquarium, and spent time at the London Transport Museum. They created their own walking tours through Covent Garden, Notting Hill, and Westminster. Sometimes, the best moments came without a plan. They boarded buses simply to see where they would go. “It’s really kind of an addiction

for me,” she said.

They took a baking class in North London, learning to make scones and clotted cream together. The plan did not unfold perfectly. “We got lost trying to find donut shop number three,” Rachel said. “But we ended up stumbling across The Shard and some incredible old Victorian buildings. It turned into one of our favorite parts of the trip.”

They worked their way back together. “Miles took out his map, sat on a subway bench, and created a whole new route through parts of the city we had never visited,” Rachel said. “It was a good lesson in how to handle curveballs in travel.”

The unplanned moments became favorite moments. “Those are some of the best memories for me,” Rachel said.

One Buzz family embarks on travel across multiple generations. For mom Andrejka Bernatova, travel with her mom, mother-in-law,

and her kids is an opportunity to come together in various parts of the world and bridge distances. Her family has roots in the Czech Republic, Spain, and Venezuela, and they gather each year in places like Prague and Madrid. Her two sons, Jack and David, attend The Kinkaid School.

What makes their experience especially unique is the presence of both sides of the family at once. “I think what makes our situation unique is the fact we get both my parents and in-laws together, not just one set of grandparents at a time,” she said.

“The mix of cultures and languages in that setup is extremely unique,” she said. They cherish their time together wherever they meet, to bridge the generations in beautiful cities.

For mom Jamie Pierce, travel has also become a way to connect across generations. She has explored New Zealand, Paris, and Barcelona with her daughters, Ava and Emma, and her

mother, Vivian Piper.

The tradition began nearly 20 years ago when Jamie and Vivian traveled together to Italy. “My mom and I started a tradition back in 2007 in taking a mother-daughter trip every year together,” said Jamie. “We decided to extend the tradition to my girls. My favorite was Paris and Barcelona because of the culture, food, and people that it exposed everyone to. My girls tried snails, octopus, and things they would never try here. They saw flamenco dancers and learned about different artists. It is one of the reasons I love to travel is to get exposure to other cultures and people,” said Jamie.

For the group, it is more than just a trip. It is a defining memory of a lifetime. “There is something special about traveling with the women who raised you and those you are raising,” Jamie said.

“It wasn’t just the places,” she said. “It was the time together.”

by Andria Dilling, staff writer

Houston’s Art Scene

A beginner’s guide to art in the city

It’s easy to live in a place and never take advantage of what makes it unique. Between work and kids’ activities and just the plain old daily routine, stepping out of our bubble takes thought.

Arts activist Michele Leal wants to remind us to look outside our bubbles. In February, she was appointed by Mayor John Whitmire as Houston’s new Director of the Office of Arts (formerly the Mayor’s Office for Cultural Affairs). As the former chairman of Houston Arts Alliance, a member of the Houston Public Library Foundation board of directors, and a past co-chair of the Latino political advocacy organization Latino Texas PAC, Michele’s enthusiasm for Houston’s arts community is contagious.

“So much is happening here all the time, and there’s always something new,” Michele says.

“Just last week, I attended so many diverse events. The 10th anniversary of the Latino Film Festival, the ballet, the Ernesto Neto exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts.” The latter is a colorful, large-scale crochet installation merging craft and contemporary art that Michele says is “great for all ages, because you walk through these nets and experience the art in a very interactive way.” For more on Ernesto Neto’s SunForceOceanLife exhibit, on view through Sept. 7, go to mfah.org/art/exhibitions/ernestoneto-sunforceoceanlife-26. Admission to the permanent collections at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is free every Thursday, with discounts available for special exhibitions.

Michele is quick to point out that in 2023, the Museum District welcomed more visitors than all of our major sports teams and the

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo combined, over 7 million of them. “Houston is truly a world-class arts and culture destination. Often we aren’t aware of how fortunate we are to have what we have here.”

This summer, consider exploring the art scene that you just might be overlooking. Maybe you plan a summer project to find as many of Houston’s public works of art as you can. Michele gets excited talking about Houston Arts Alliance’s new Civic Art Map, which makes exploring easy. With more than 800 works of art created by more than 500 artists, Houston is a scavenger hunt for creative expression, and this map is the guide to use. See houcityart.org/map. “It’s a really fun, easy way to identify all of the works in the collection by neighborhood,” Michele says. “You can curate

your own tour of public art downtown or at a library or anywhere around town.”

Houston’s Civic Art Program marries city construction projects with the arts scene, dropping public art – murals, paintings, photos, statues, and more – into unexpected places. Interesting fact: Houston’s Civic Art Ordinance sets aside 1.75 percent of every city construction and capital improvement project’s budget for art commissions, acquisitions, and conservation.

The map refreshes every night, so you’ll always be up-to-date on the newest and greatest (and you’ll be aware if pieces have moved on).

More maps: the Houston Mural Map leads you to nearly 750 murals around the city, as found by artists, community partners, and volunteer mural hunters. If you find a mural that hasn’t yet made the map, you can submit it. See houstonmuralmap.com.

And we haven’t even mentioned downtown, which is home to a collection of outdoor art all its own. Giant murals, important sculptures, poetry etched into sidewalks, and photo ops galore sit amidst sky-high buildings designed by icons like I.M. Pei, Philip Johnson, and more. See downtownhouston.org/experience/public-art.

Our skyline itself is something to see. Try the vantage from Eleanor Tinsley Park (downtownhouston.org/go/eleanor-tinsley-park) or the POST HTX Skylawn, (posthtx.com/skylawn).

Just outside downtown in Rice Military, the Beer Can House is uniquely Houston. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! claims that it’s constructed of more than 50,000 recycled cans. Built by a retired upholsterer for the Southern Pacific Railroad, the house began as a creative way for John Milkovisch to turn thousands of found marbles, rocks, and metal pieces into decorations for his yard. When he ran out of space, John built up , covering his house with aluminum siding made of beer cans. More than 50 years later, the Beer Can House is covered in cans and remnants of cans that tinkle in the wind and make a one-of-a-kind Houston landmark. See orangeshow.org/beer-can-house.

Drive farther up Memorial to Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern , the former City of Houston drinking water reservoir that was reopened in 2016 as an underground space for tours, art installations, and events. This spring, artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s Undercurrents opened with bright LED light cables forming an underground network over a mirrored surface of water covering the floor. Buffalo Bayou Partnership describes the installation: “The resulting matrix of zigzagging lines of light creates a seemingly endless ‘switchboard’ of connection across the entire width and length of the Cistern, an effect which is doubled by the uncanny reflectivity of the water pooled at the bottom of this monumental piece of Houston’s infrastructural history.” Michele says the Cistern is an excellent spot to beat the heat. “It’s not quite as warm

as the rest of Houston might be in the summer,” she says. Tickets are $15. (See Buffalobayou.org/location/the-cistern.)

Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s website also provides details of the many works that make up art along the bayou. See buffalobayou.org/public-art/.

Nearby, Michele says Sawyer Yards in the historic First Ward is Houston’s “original arts district.” Home to Winter Street Studios and one of the largest working artist communities in

“Houston is truly a world-class arts and culture destination. Often we aren’t aware of how fortunate we are to have what we have here.”

the country, Sawyer Yards consists of multiple reclaimed, historic buildings housing artist studios, restaurants, and more. Put Second Saturday Open Art Studios on your calendar –this month, Sat., May 9 – and take time to wander through open art studios, where you can meet some 300 artists and view their work in six warehouses. See sawyeryards.com/events/second-Saturday. For a full list of events, go to sawyeryards.com/events/upcoming-events.

Back in the Museum District, Clutch City Craft at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft celebrates the cultures and traditions that make Houston one-of-akind. From western- and rodeo-themed wearable art, to fiber artists designing space suits for NASA, to craft inspired by the moniker “Clutch City” itself, Clutch City Craft high-

lights the many facets of our city while making space for the thoughtful expression of Houston artists, who make up the highest concentration of working artists in Texas. See crafthouston.org/exhibition/clutch-city-craft.

There’s so much more. “The seven cultural districts in Houston, designated by the Texas Commission for the Arts, serve as hubs and conveners for what is happening in their communities,” Michele says. “They all house different programs and events, not just with museums or nonprofits, but also with small businesses.” Fifth Ward, Arts District Houston, East End Houston Cultural District, Third Ward Cultural District, Midtown Houston, the Museum District , and the Houston Theater District are opportunities for Houstonians and visitors alike to engage with Houston’s diverse culture.

“Houston is this really interesting melting pot, with a rich culture and history,” Michele says. “It’s an indicator of what the rest of the country will eventually look like.”

And if you’re traveling, be sure to check out the works of art exhibited at the Bush Intercontinental and Hobby Airports, home to one of the largest collections of art in the aviation industry with some 450 pieces from local, national, and international artists. For a map of art in Houston’s airports, go to fly2houston.com/hou/world-class-art, and scroll down to click on Civic Art Collection Interactive Map

“There’s a lot of pride and excitement in Houston. There’s an energy,” Michele says. “We want people to know how much we have to offer, that there’s something for everyone. There’s never a dull moment, for sure.”

Editor's note: Check out Houston Museum District’s website for a running list of what’s happening in “one of the most highly concentrated cultural areas in the world.” houmuse.org

by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Houston Parks

What’s new this spring and what’s coming soon

Beautiful weather has graced us in Houston, and playgrounds across Buzz communities and beyond are filling with visitors. For families, this is the season when parks feel less like an option and more like a necessity.

There are tons of great parks, playgrounds, and green spaces around Houston. Here, we took a closer look at playground updates, with tips and ideas for parents of toddlers and older kids.

Lafayette Park

4337 Lafayette St., 77401

Hours: Daily, 5 a.m.-9:30 p.m.

Parking: Small parking lot and street parking around the park.

Bellaire recently added a new play structure that is great for kids aged 2 to 5 at Lafayette Park through a partnership between the city and PATRONS for Bellaire Parks, a nonprofit that supports improvements to Bellaire’s green spaces.

The equipment is scaled for younger kids, encouraging climbing, imaginative play, and social interaction. The platforms are lower, transitions are smoother, and less overwhelming for smaller children learning their ropes. The new structure, near the existing structure for older kids, creates a space where siblings of different ages can play side by side. City leaders are exploring additional shade enhancements and seating upgrades to make the playground more comfortable during warmer months. See bellairetx.gov/1717/Lafayette-Park.

Pumpkin Park

3600 Locke Ln., 77027

Hours: Daily, 6 a.m.-9 p.m.

Parking: Parallel street parking around the park. Originally established in 1938 as River Oaks Park, Pumpkin Park is a Houston classic. It is a five-acre neighborhood space that recently underwent planned improvements led by the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, the Houston Parks Board, and community supporters. Visitors can find a Little Free Library and recent landscaping updates.

The park is great for preschoolers. It is known for its orange pumpkin play structure, and offers a shaded, fenced-in playground with low equipment that feels safe and manageable for young children. Additional beautification projects are expected as part of ongoing maintenance plans. Follow Friends of River Oaks Park – Pumpkin Park on Facebook.

Memorial Park Playground

6501 Memorial Dr., 77007

Hours: Daily, 5 a.m.-11 p.m.

Parking: Parking lot onsite.

Memorial Park is one of Houston’s largest green spaces, and its playground is expansive. The play area includes swings, climbing features, and slides suited for a range of ages. Younger children can stick to the lower features, while older kids can play on the taller features.

What sets Memorial Park apart is the surrounding green space. Families can combine playground time with a walk along wooded trails or a picnic near the Eastern Glades. This time of year, wildflowers begin to sprout.

For children of all ages, and active families, this park offers room for everyone. Recently, Memorial Park Conservancy announced the restoration of the old Camp Logan as Memorial Groves, a section of Memorial Park that honors Houston's World War I veterans.

A new playground and visitor center will be built, as well as improvements to a walking trail coming in 2027. This year, visitors can expect to see continued progress on the Memorial Groves project. See memorialparkconservancy.org.

The Commons at Hermann Park

1700 Hermann Dr., 77004

Hours: Daily, 6 a.m.-11 p.m.

Parking: Recommended to park at the Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza Garage (Winpark), located at 6400 Fannin Street.

This newer park, which opened in April 2024, serves children of all ages, including children with special needs. The space includes a large play area, water features, shaded seating, and an inclusive design. Some of the features include accessible walkways, rope-climbing

structures, a carousel, interactive water play areas, shaded picnic spots, musical play elements, and inclusive equipment that allows children of all abilities to play.

Hermann Park Concessions is undergoing the process of adding concessions vendors at the park to add food and beverage options for visitors. Park officials anticipate expanded food and beverage plans to make it more like a true picnic in the park. See hermannpark.org.

Discovery Green

1500 McKinney St., 77010

Hours: Daily, 6 a.m.-11 p.m.

Parking: A variety of parking options, including metered street parking, parking garages, and surface lots.

Discovery Green is full of family fun downtown, and it caters to kids of all ages. Its playground encourages climbing and group play, and the open lawn nearby gives children space to run. In spring, the park’s calendar fills up with festivals, exercise classes, and family events.

The splash pad becomes a highlight in the warmer months of the year. For younger children, the shallow water jets offer safe sensory play. New attractions include Bumper Boats ($12) or Cruiser Boats ($25) that seat up to five people. This year, Discovery Green continues to expand its seasonal programming and familyfriendly attractions. See discoverygreen.com.

Evelyn’s Park

4400 Bellaire Blvd., 77401

Hours: Daily, 5 a.m.-11 p.m.

Parking: Two parking lots, one available from Newcastle Street and one from Mulberry Lane.

Evelyn’s Park mixes traditional playground structures with open lawn and shaded seating. The layout works well for families juggling toddlers and older children. While little ones explore the play area, older siblings can toss a ball or join a casual soccer game nearby.

Spring weekends often bring live music and community gatherings. For parents of very young children, the defined play zones make supervision manageable while still offering variety. Enjoy a meal at Betsy’s after playing at Evelyn’s Park. Park leadership is looking to introduce additional community events and seasonal programming. See evelynspark.org.

Joe Gaither Park: Blakely’s Butterfly

4901 Mayfair, 77401

Hours: Daily, 7 a.m.-9 p.m.

Parking: Parallel street parking around the park. Joe Gaither Park is a sweet neighborhood pocket park, with an open green space and playground area. In December, the community gathered to honor 8-year-old Blakely McCrory’s life with a butterfly-themed play feature in memory of her and others lost in the Texas Hill Country floods. Blakely, who lived just a few houses down from the park, spent many days playing there.

PATRONS for Bellaire Parks, the City of

Bellaire, and neighbors worked together to create the joyful space that reflects Blakely’s spirit and her love for playing at Joe Gaither Park. In 2026, community members plan to continue hosting remembrance gatherings and small park enhancements that preserve the spirit of the butterfly-themed space. See bellairetx.gov/1716/Joe-Gaither-Park.

Evergreen Park

4500 Evergreen St., 77401

Hours: Daily, 7 a.m.-9 p.m.

Parking: Parking lot onsite.

Evergreen Park features a zipline, open green space for families, barbecue pits for family cookouts, picnic tables, and more. The park is located directly across the street from the Evergreen Pool. Follow @WeareEvergreenBellaire on Instagram for updates on plans by PATRONS for Bellaire Parks to redevelop the beloved space in Bellaire. This year, redevelopment discussions are expected to move further into the planning phase.

Buffalo Bayou Park

105 Sabine St., 77007

Hours: Daily, 6 a.m.-11 p.m.

Parking: Limited parking available in lot at 105B Sabine St. Also available in City Lot H at 1643 Memorial Dr. and along Allen Parkway.

Buffalo Bayou Park is in the heart of Houston, a 2.3-mile linear park that winds along the banks of Buffalo Bayou near downtown Houston. It spans 160 acres from Shepherd Drive to Sabine Street, in between Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive. There are tours available, food trucks, a dog park, a playground, and more. See buffalobayou.org.

Levy Park

3801 Eastside, 77098

Hours: Daily, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. (Children’s Park)

Parking: Available onsite and along Eastside Street and Wakeforest Avenue.

Levy Park is an urban green space that is fun for the whole family in the Upper Kirby District. The park features activity areas, a dog park, community garden, children’s park and splash pad, all surrounded by beautiful landscaping. Levy Park offers free, year-round programming that includes wellness, the arts, education, and recreation, offering something for all ages. See levyparkhouston.org.

Camden Park

2951 Wilcrest, 77042

Hours: Daily, 7 a.m.-9 p.m.

Parking: Parking lot onsite.

Camden Park is West Houston’s new park, sprawling across 3.5 acres along Wilcrest Drive in the Westchase District. The park features a large activity lawn, a performance pavilion, Sunday Press café, a playground with a water play area, and a fenced dog park.

Visitors can enjoy free programs year-round, including fitness classes, live music, story times and children’s workshops. See camdenwestchase.com. Park organizers are expected to add more to their lineup of public events. See camdenparkwestchase.com.

As spring unfolds and summer approaches around the corner, these beloved Houston parks fill with families enjoying time outdoors. Parents push swings. Toddlers swoosh down slides. Older kids toss a football. Moments like these are what make Houston’s parks special, designed with thoughtful planning and care.

. by Sharon Albert Brier, staff writer

Rumor Has It

Canine catwalk. At Evelyn’s Park’s “Bark in the Park” event, the Canine Catwalk proved it’s a dog-eat-dog fashion world, as 30 pups in “arf couture” strutted the hot-pink carpet for prizes from Pet Supermarket. Georgia Mazzu’s Jack Russell hopped into second in a bunny costume, while Chris Williams’ Shih Tzu Sebastian “drove” off with Best of Show in Astros gear, per Kim Reichert. Heidi Hanke (with Sarah Hanke) dazzled in a frilly organza gown, Jennifer Holman’s Bella in ruffles and Bingo in a Hawaiian shirt and yellow shoes double-teamed the runway, and Loren Garcia’s Buttons the Beagle in pink ribbons added to the howling cheers. Total paw-ty perfection!

Flower power. The 88th Azalea Trail was a blooming triumph, led by co-chairs Hilary Purcell and Emily Bolin and 170 committee members. Visitors strolled through four stunning private gardens in Tanglewood and Memorial, plus Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, Rienzi, and The Forum of Civics, delighting in clever topiaries of golfers and flower-covered lounge chairs that sparked bouquets of joy. Nearly 22,000 attendees soaked in the petals and prose, while proceeds supported civic landscaping, horticulture, conservation, and education. Special kudos to the incredible Flower Team leaders – Carole Bailey, Adele Spalding, Stacey Henningsen, Patti Broussard, Sally Matthews, and Jo Brueggeman – whose creativity always blooms.

Royal read. Stephanie Perkins – aka Celeste Connally in her writerly alter ego – grew tired of the way spinsters were typecast, so she flipped the trope and rewrote their endings. The USA Today bestselling author drafts drafts her Regency-era mysteries on location, spending a month in England and touring Windsor Castle to capture authentic narrative texture. Her latest, Revenge, Served Royal, reveals that until 1930, husbands could legally commit their wives and control inherited funds, a chilling subplot worthy of gothic tension. Stephanie also whisked readers into culinary history, featuring Marie-Antoine “Antonin” Carême, the first celebrity chef after cookbooks debuted in 1815. She shared behind-the-scenes “author’s notes” while speaking for the Houston Junior Forum, where

Mom Judy Perkins served delicious treats enjoyed by book fans Jane Page Crump, Kay Newman, Mary Reed, Donna Dawson, Jan Arrington, and Betsy Blakeman among others.

Queen for life. Former Mardi Gras Queen Emma Carruth still reigns – because once a queen, always a queen (tiara optional, attitude required). With loyal subjects from Louisiana, Horseshoe Bay, and Houston, her court gathered at Debbie Dacus’ home for a royally unforgettable 80th. Guests were greeted by a mirrored welcome and Emma’s glam portrait, plus sparkle from a towering floral, a mermaid head, and Mardi Gras flair. A video tribute teed up the grand moment – shooting candles on a two-tiered cake. Hosts Cinda Stanley, Lois Strasberg, Debbie Dacus, Carol Blanda, Shaune Bagwell, and Sherry Hurst ruled the room, while David Dacus and Scott Randolph poured like pros. Emma also feted 18 guests at the Yacht Club – ending with pop-ins and a pajama party.

“Sue-ness,” complete with props, scrapbooks, a rock-decorating station, and even a photo op with Elvis. Daughter Mandy Shefman (in from San Diego) and granddaughter Quinn welcomed guests, while grandson Brock was off with his robotics team. Perry McCall, Wendy Haardt, Celia Anderson, Rebecca Otieno, Pat Cummings, and Mary Grace Landrum donned festive hats in Sue’s honor. As Sue shared a tale, and Ellen Kalish a poem, Quinn trotted in on an inflatable hippo – proving this party had plenty of hippopower and humor.

Worthy coincidence. In a case worthy of legal legend, Gene and Nancy Silva journeyed to Washington, D.C. for the Supreme Court showdown of Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Corporación Cimex, S.A. – and a little family jurisprudence on the side. Before oral arguments, Eugene Silva II , Senior Counsel at Exxon Mobil, moved for admission to the Supreme Court Bar – ably seconded by his father, Gene Sr., retired Vinson & Elkins partner and longtime bar member. Chief Justice John Roberts granted the motion without objection. The kicker? Gene II’s admission landed exactly 45 years to the day after his father’s – clearly precedent-setting, with no appeal necessary.

Not your typical party – just like Sue Shefman. Her 80th at Drew and Pam Shefman’s home was a full-on celebration of

Artful event. The Watercolor Society of Houston made quite a splash with its 49th International Watermedia Exhibition – where brushes, brilliance, and a little artistic drama were all on full display. Juror Don Andrews praised the “wow-factor” caliber of entries (clearly, no paint-by-numbers here!). With over 300 submissions and just 80 making the cut, the competition was fierce. Dean Mitchell took first place for Pacing the City Block, while local standouts Maksim Koloskov and Daniela Werneck also snagged honors. Thanks to Lynn Rodriguez and Larry Spitzberg, the event was a masterpiece from start to finish – no smudges, just strokes of genius.

MORE ONLINE

See Rumor Has It at thebuzzmagazines.com for additional photos. Have some good news to share? Email us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com.

by Cathy Gordon, contributing writer

Tiny Retreat

A doctor’s respite in miniature

This story was originally published in May 2015.

Editor's note: Over the last 25 years, we have printed thousands of stories spotlighting inspirational neighbors. Now, in our From Our Archives column, we are highlighting some of our stand-out articles from over the years. For some, these stories may be new to you. For others, a familiar story may resonate in a different way now. Find all Buzz articles online at thebuzzmagazines.com.

It’s nice to have a retreat, a place to regroup after a long week. Buzz resident Patricia Eifel, a radiation oncologist, finds working on her stately home, Foxhall Manor, good for the soul.

“My job can be intense. Having this house to work on is good therapy,” she says, skimming her hand over buckled wallpaper. “This needs replaced. I’ll make my own wallpaper next time.”

Yep, Patricia is handy. She peruses patterns to make wallpaper and installs her floors and moldings. She even put in the home’s electrical system. “Tricky. My least favorite job.”

But she has never once set foot in the house. Hands? They’re all over the place.

“It’s all in the details, making it look real,” says the Bellaire miniaturist who works in standard 1:12 scale, meaning an inch in miniature equals one foot in real life.

“I love it when people see a picture I have of one of the rooms and they ask, ‘Is that your house?’ Well, it is my house. But I don’t have to worry about much maintenance or cleaning.”

Indeed, not even the pets in this tiny dwelling need much caring after. “Oops, my canary doesn’t look well,” she says of the bird, half the size of a pinkie, lying on the floor of his cage. “I’ll tend to him later.”

Patricia is a woman of many talents. She’s a passionate photographer, classical pianist, an avid cook. As chief of the Gynecologic Radiation Oncology Service at MD Anderson Cancer Center, she tends to patients, teaches, pens medical papers and writes books on the latest medical techniques in her field. And when the mood strikes, she trolls the Internet for artisan-made collectibles to add to her teeny, tiny house.

“I think you have to be a bit compulsive to do this,” she quips. “First you discover a dollhouse, then all the hundreds of things that go with it. It becomes a challenge. Can I make these rooms look like they’re not in miniature in photographs? My goal is to get better at that.”

Seems her visual acuity in analyzing medical scans comes in handy when working with miniatures. “I’m looking at 3D pictures all the time,” she explains. “I think you have to be one of those people who pays a lot of attention to detail to pull this off.”

“My job can be intense. Having this house to work on is good therapy,” she says.

Patricia’s call to the small began with childhood visits to the Art Institute of Chicago with her mom. There, in the museum’s basement, is a world of wonder, The Thorne Rooms. This permanent collection of 68 incredibly detailed miniature rooms, depicting styles spanning the centuries, were created between 1934 and 1940 at the urging of Chicago socialite and miniature enthusiast Narcissa Niblack Thorne.

“If you’re a little girl growing up in Chicago, it’s like child abuse if you don’t take your child to see The Thorne Rooms,” says Patricia, laughing. “I went back years later, and the nostalgia of it hit me. I think I’ve always been intrigued by dollhouses and miniatures.”

Years later, she found an excuse to indulge when

a granddaughter arrived on the scene after years of grandsons. “Finally!” When the grandchild was old enough to appreciate it, Patricia bought a $150 kit (“basically a box of milled lumber,” she says) and got to work, constructing and furnishing the Victorian-style dollhouse in time for Christmas.

Her granddaughter loved it, and Patricia’s penchant for the petite grew.

Her current project, Foxhall Manor, a more elaborate kit with all the bells and whistles, is canvas for her latest obsession, making miniature furniture.

“I’ve really become entranced by the skilled artisans who make miniature furniture,” she says. “Some of their pieces, well, you’d be gobsmacked. Amazing!”

For the past five years, she’s taken furniture workshops under professional artisans at the Chicago International Miniatures Show. This year, she’s added food to the menu, learning how to make tiny edibles out of polymer clay like the lemons, cheese, cake and duck legs in her tiny manor kitchen.

“I’m particularly pleased with the way this turned out,” she says of a Chippendale Neo-classical marquetry demi-lune side table she made.

A miniature reproduction of a Louis XVI transitional commode, circa 1770, is another favorite she handcrafted.

It’s difficult to describe what’s so enticing about miniatures, Patricia says.

But enticed, she is.

“It’s whimsical and entrancing, like listening to Beethoven or gazing at a fabulous painting. The idea that a human being can create something so tiny and it can look so perfect. That kind of creativity? I think we all share a bit of that genetic code.”

. by Cindy Burnett, staff writer

Buzz Reads Five picks for May

Buzz Reads is a column about books by reviewer Cindy Burnett. Each month, Cindy recommends five recently or soon-to-be released titles.

The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett (historical fiction) – After almost two decades, Kathryn Stockett, author of The Help, returns with a compelling historical drama set in Depression-era Mississippi. The story centers around three female characters: 24-year-old Birdie Calhoun, who has been sent by her family to borrow money from her newly married and now wealthy sister, Meg Lefleur, a precocious orphan abandoned by her mother on Christmas Eve, and Charlie, a woman low on hope with nothing left to lose. The three characters’ stories converge as they try to claim control over their lives. Stockett weaves in numerous themes including forced sterilization of women deemed feeble-minded or immoral, adultery, alcoholism, and the ties that bind families. This ode to strong women, female friendships, and identity clocks in at 634 pages, but is well worth the time commitment. It will appeal to those who love historical fiction and well-developed characters. Homebound by Portia Elan (speculative fiction) – This epic saga spans six centuries and multiple timelines – 1983, 2080, and 2586 – as the story explores humanity, climate change and the ways in which it will impact the world, how small choices and decisions can cause significant ripple effects through time, and the way in which everyone plays a role in this immense universe. In 1983, Becks, a lonely teenager who loves to code, works on an early computer game left unfinished by her cherished and recently deceased uncle. In the 2080 timeline, Tamar moves to Alaska to work for a mysterious company whose professed purpose is to rehabilitate smart robots to repair human habitats on Earth. Yesiko is a ship captain in 2586 who is navigating the expansive seas in a dramatically-changed world, who takes on additional passengers that change her outlook and purpose. Elan’s engrossing writing transports the reader across space and time in a tale that focuses on the impact individuals make on the world in ways that they will never see as well as the power of hope and connection. Homebound will be a great fit for fans of Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, speculative fiction, intelligent stories, and climate fiction.

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth (mystery) –Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick is an 81-year-old woman who has lived on her street for decades and primarily stays to herself while making sure she knows everyone else’s business. When her nextdoor neighbor turns up dead, and a precocious young girl moves in across the street, her carefully constructed life begins to fall apart. This moving story creatively blends humor, pathos, and timely themes, and both Elsie and Persephone are truly delightful. I recommend going in blind on this so that nothing is spoiled. This book will appeal to readers who love mysteries, creative premises, elderly protagonists, and humor.

The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout (fiction) – This melancholic but ultimately hopeful book stars Artie Dam, a popular high school teacher who is secretly lonely. As he struggles with feelings of isolation and is unable to pinpoint why, he learns a secret that shakes him to his core. This revelation sets him on a new course, reevaluating his relationships and what he holds dear. Through Artie, Strout demonstrates and reflects on the effects of the turmoil and upheaval of the last few years and how much these events have impacted and shaped everyone, from children and teens to adults of all ages. I love her ability to capture and portray what it means to be human through her storytelling as well as how our actions impact others, and her characters have stayed with me since I finished this one. Readers who love stories about engaging characters and the human condition will want to read this one.

The Yankee Sphinx by Mark Frost (historical fiction) – This absorbing work of historical

fiction opens with the last days of the Roosevelt era and goes back in time to when the narrator, Will Hassett, is hired to work as a speech writer for FDR in 1934. Hassett, Frost’s great-uncle with whom Frost was close, kept detailed journals from his years spent working closely with Roosevelt, and the author bases his book on those journals and other family documents. Hassett is an outstanding narrator and his depiction of the various pivotal events surrounding World War II with Roosevelt’s deteriorating health kept me on the edge of my seat. I felt like I was listening to an old friend tell me stories about events with which I was familiar but clearly didn’t know the whole story. The book is incredibly engrossing, and I read it in one sitting. This book is a great fit for history lovers, compelling stories, and timely reads.

Editor’s note: Book reviewer Cindy Burnett also writes our weekly Page Turners column at thebuzzmagazines.com. She hosts an award-winning book podcast entitled Thoughts from a Page Podcast www.thoughtsfromapage.com, runs the Instagram account @thoughtsfromapage, and regularly speaks to groups about books.

. by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer

Travel Buzz

Where Memory Lives: A Family’s San Diego Tradition

There’s a moment, Robyn Campbell says, when the past and present meet in the quietest ways. A white egret lifts off the edge of a golf course or drifts across the shoreline, and her son Landon lights up. It’s the same bird he once spotted with his grandfather – and now, years later, he says seeing it feels like a small, living reminder that he’s still there.

In San Diego, for this family, memory has a way of lingering. What began as a father’s love of golf has become something much bigger: a place where the family returns each summer not just to vacation, but to reconnect – with each other, and with everything that came before.

That story begins with Robyn's parents, Sheryl and the late Joel Androphy. Joel was a promi-

nent Houston attorney whose love of golf – and of California – first drew the family west. The couple traveled to San Diego when Robyn and her brother Daniel were little, and something about the place stayed with them: the coastline, the courses, the easy pace of life by the ocean.

In 2008, they made it permanent, purchasing a home along the Aviara Golf Course in Carlsbad, where the fairways wind through coastal hills above the Batiquitos Lagoon and the Pacific is never far away. That home would become the centerpiece of their family life in the summers.

Over time, it evolved far beyond a vacation retreat – hosting holidays, anchoring summer traditions, and eventually serving as the setting for Robyn and her husband Chris’s wedding.

After Joel’s passing nearly three years ago, the home has taken on an even deeper role: not just a place they come back to, but one where his presence is still felt in the rituals and rhythms he set in motion.

A place to grow together

For Robyn and Chris, the home became part of their story almost from the beginning. They had only been dating a few months when Robyn’s parents invited Chris to spend the Fourth of July in San Diego – a longstanding family tradition. It was his first trip to California since childhood, and he still remembers the feeling.

“I still get the same kind of feeling every time we travel there,” he said. “It’s such a unique

place. The moment you step out of the airport, you see all of the Navy ships, San Diego Bay… and you understand why people are drawn there from all over the world.”

From that first visit, Chris quickly bonded with Joel over early morning workouts and long days on the golf course.

“It meant so much to both of them,” Robyn recalls. “They just clicked.”

Over time, those visits settled into a pattern. Each Fourth of July, the family gathered in San Diego, the days unfolding with an ease that felt far removed from life back home – mornings at the beach or on the course, afternoons with friends, and evenings that stretched into long conversations and shared meals. In 2015, Robyn and Chris were married there in a spectacular seaside Fourth of July celebration at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, deepening the home’s place at the center of their lives.

Now, their three children – Landon, 7, Beau, 5, and Nora Jo, who turned 1 in January – are growing up with the same traditions.

In the words of Landon, it’s “Go to the beach, get ice cream, go to sleep… and then do it

again” – often with a stop at Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream before heading home. Beau nods eagerly, fully committed to a plan that includes chocolate ice cream, boogie boards, and the occasional wipeout that leaves him covered in sand, “looking like a sandwich.”

Beyond the beach, San Diego opens up in every direction. There are hikes along the cliffs at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, outdoor concerts by the water, and evenings at the Del Mar Fairgrounds with its rides and music. The family makes time for the San Diego Zoo – “probably the best in the world,” according to Chris; explores nearby coastal towns like Encinitas, a laid-back surf town just minutes away; and occasionally ventures to Disneyland. Between it all are simple pleasures – fresh seafood, poolside afternoons, and long, unhurried evenings that stretch the day just a little longer.

But that sense of ease was tested after Joel’s passing nearly three years ago. That first summer, Robyn recalls, felt uncertain – her mother wasn’t ready to return, and the house carried a different weight. It was Chris who gently

encouraged her to go anyway, to bring the boys as they always had. What they found was something unexpected: not just grief, but comfort. The routines – beach days, shared meals, familiar places – became a way of holding onto Joel, even as they began creating new ones without him.

A house full of memory

That first return was difficult. Walking back into the house without him, Sheryl recalls, was overwhelming. “I just lost it,” she says quietly. Even now, she doesn’t go alone, choosing instead to be there when the house is full again – when her daughter and grandchildren bring it back to life.

And in many ways, they are continuing exactly what she and Joel began. The brothers move easily through the same rhythms their grandfather once set in motion – golf outings, beach days, evenings filled with music and laughter. And with Nora Jo, a new chapter is just beginning.

“She will be able to do more, and enjoy it,” Sheryl says with a smile.

(continued on page 36)

TOGETHER

(continued from page 35)

“We'll get to dress her up as a princess to go meet the princesses at Disneyland.”

She watches wistfully as she sees her granddaughter stepping into the same world of wonder her older brothers already know so well. That continuity is what keeps her coming back. Watching the next generation claim the space – talking all year about when they’ll return, building their own rituals, layering new memories onto the old – has given the home a new meaning.

“I love it,” she says. “It’s the next generation beginning.”

Where they find them still

On the golf course, the past is never very far away.

It was there, on the 18th hole, that Landon

first noticed the white egret – walking the edge of the green as he played alongside his dad and his grandfather. They named it “Whitey,” a small moment that stayed with them.

Now, whenever an egret appears, they know exactly who it is.

“It’s Gramps,” Landon says.

The birds show up in San Diego, in Houston, in unexpected places – quiet reminders that seem to follow them.

Ladybugs began to appear – sometimes just a few, sometimes in swarms – arriving in ordinary moments and the hardest ones. In Houston, especially, the family has come to see them as Joel’s presence. In California, it is the egret that carries him.

And out on the water, there is another kind

Tips from Our Travelers

of remembrance.

Dolphins, the boys say, are for Nana Nancy, Chris’s late mother – appearing just beyond the waves, a glimpse and then gone. Both losses came close together, within a single difficult season.

The future, for both of them, is tied to the water. Landon talks about exploring the ocean’s depths; Beau dreams of discovering new species.

And maybe that’s the quiet legacy of this place, shaped by wonder, connection, and the natural world.

A landscape where a grandfather can still walk the course. Where a grandmother can surface in the sea.

And where three grandchildren, looking out over the Pacific, are already beginning to follow them.

By Robyn and Chris Campbell

Worth the splurge: Disneyland (VIP guides to avoid lines), Pirates Dinner Adventure, VIP Safari Experience at the Safari Park, Seaforth Boat Rentals & Yacht Charters (Seaport Village San Diego), Sesame Street Place Park, San Diego Zoo (add on animal VIP experience), Del Mar Fairgrounds (June through July 5th – amazing concerts), Torrey Pines Golf, Aviara Golf Club, Temecula Wine Country (hot air balloon), Knott’s Berry Farm, Dana Point Harbor Whale Watching Cruise, La Jolla Sea Caves and Kayaking, Birch Aquarium Tidepool Touch Tanks, California Watersports on Carlsbad Lagoon, Carlsbad beaches – the best!, Chartering a boat for the day and going to Catalina Island, Padres game at Petco Park, The New Children’s Museum, Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay, Monarch Beach Golf in Dana Point, Del Mar Racing

Don’t miss: La Jolla Cove (can kayak through), Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve (the best hiking and views of San Diego), Legoland, USS Midway Museum, relax on the beach and watch the sunset and surfers in the water, (offered through the Hotel del Coronado), driving up the coast from San Diego to San Francisco (stopping in Santa Barbara, Carmel, and Santa Cruz – worth it!)

Favorite restaurants: Pelly’s (Carlsbad), Sally’s Waterfront Dining (San Diego), Tom Ham's Lighthouse (best Sunday brunch in San Diego), Pacific Coast Grill (best sunset views in Cardiff-by-the-Sea), C Level Lounge (San Diego), Juniper and Ivy (San Diego), Cove House (La Jolla), Monarch Ocean Pub (Del Mar), Campfire (Carlsbad), PRK101 (Carlsbad Village – great for watching sports), Lotus Cafe & Juice Bar (Encinitas), Poseidon on the Beach (Del Mar)

Packing: Lightweight t-shirts, shorts, golf shirts, pants/jeans, casual button-down, dresses, sweatshirt or jacket for night, swimsuit, coverups, sandals, comfortable walking shoes, athletic clothes, hat, pajamas, socks, sunscreen, beach bag, backpack for snacks and water, light rain jacket. California is very casual and easygoing!

Don’t bring: Heavy winter coats, excessive shoes, large umbrellas, overly formal wear (casual and chic is the Cali style)

Don’t forget: Light layers, stroller, Disney Autograph Book for signatures, binoculars

Local favorite: Fish Shop (Encinitas) or Station Sushi (Solana Beach), followed by Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream (Carlsbad Village), watching the surfers and the sunset!

Not worth the trouble: Finding a parking spot at a beach – if one is full, choose another beach. There are so many incredible beach spots.

SportzBuzz SPORTS

. by Todd Freed, staff writer

With its post-season victory over Wisdom High School, the Memorial Mustangs boys soccer team secured its first playoff win in 25 years. The Mustangs then defeated Tompkins and Humble while advancing to the regional finals in the UIL 6A soccer playoffs. “The deep playoff run was historic, but this group of players had high expectations and kept focused on continuing to win,” said Memorial head coach Bryce Haskett

For the season, the Mustangs posted an 18-35 record while coming within three victories of a state championship. “We had fantastic leadership from our captains and a simply talented group of players,” said Haskett. “They had a desire to play their best every night.”

“We had several guys contribute over a physically challenging 26-game season,” said Haskett. “Farid Alipaz was our leading scorer while Radovan Lekic was also an offensive leader. Evan Lewis was our maestro in the middle of the field and Aroosh Sood played the role as our defensive midfielder perfectly. Also, twin brothers Thomas and James Howard kept our defense organized and were physically formidable.”

For the fourth consecutive season, and eighth time in the last ten years, the Episcopal Knights are the SPC Boys Soccer champions. The Knights defeated the St. Stephen’s Soccer Academy 1-0 in the SPC tournament final. “This one was special,” said Knights head coach Travis Smith. “Our seniors were especially motivated to win a championship in all four of their years.”

The victory capped off an undefeated 12-0 season for the Knights. “This was one of the strongest teams we’ve had since I’ve been with the program,” said Smith. “Amazingly, we only gave up two goals over the entire season. We were incredibly difficult to score upon.”

“Our senior captains, Richard AgyemanYeboah and Jacob Holzhauser, were tremendous leaders who’ve been with this program for four years.” Other top players included junior midfielder Sebastian Guerra and senior goalkeeper Jared Pineda. “Sebastian is one of the top players in the city while Jared had a career-

defining save in the closing minutes of our SPC final victory on a shot that nine times out of ten would’ve been a goal.”

Meantime, Episcopal also won the SPC Girls Soccer Championship in a dramatic come-frombehind victory over St. Stephen’s in the SPC final. Episcopal rallied from a 2-0 deficit with only 25 minutes remaining for force overtime and ultimate victory in a penalty kick shootout.

“It was probably the most epic comeback I’ve been a part of ever,” said Knights soccer coach Rachel Fox. “Ironically, before the game, we showed the girls a video of the UCLA women’s soccer team coming back from a 2-0 second half deficit to win a national championship, and we did kind of the same thing in our SPC Final. We even had a second half goal called off but still scored twice to force overtime.”

After a scoreless overtime and in the fifth round of the penalty shootout, senior Ryan Fox connected on a do-or-die goal to send the shootout to sudden death. Then, after freshman goalkeeper Elle Mayfield blocked the next attempt by St. Stephen’s, Episcopal’s Mia Hodgson knocked in the winning goal in round six of the shootout to give the Knights the remarkable victory.

The victory marked the Knights’ second SPC Championship in the last three seasons with seven of its ten seniors now set to play collegiate soccer including Fox, Hodgson, Claire Johnson, Amelia Kusinski, Nora Jordan, Jocelyn Day, and Kyra Spears

For the first time in 45 years, the St. Thomas Eagles are state soccer champions. The Eagles

defeated Parish Episcopal 2-1 in the state final to win the TAPPS Division 1 State Championship. “You could say there’s a bit of relief because we’ve been trying so long with so many great teams, but just coming up a bit short,” said Eagles head soccer coach Kenny Martin.

A St. Thomas alumnus himself (Class of 2001) along with a pair of his assistant coaches, the state championship was especially meaningful for Martin. “It’s just so special for us to get over the hump and break the curse. We had so many alumni rooting for us because they wanted nothing more than for St. Thomas to win the title.”

In winning the title while posting a tremendous 24-3 record, the Eagles were led by a sensational season from senior Baker Day, who scored 27 goals in 27 games. “Baker was one of our big leaders who would, at times, really put us on his back and get it done on the field,” said Martin.

“We also had a stellar back line led by senior Sebastian Vargas. He’s a 6-foot-5 high jumper who’s quite a weapon as a defender. Junior midfielders Ian Cartagena and Eugenio Labarthe were both our motors in the midfield. Overall, it was a total cast of players that led to our championship.”

Editor’s note: Todd Freed is the host and executive producer of H-Town High School Sports, which airs Saturday at 10:30 p.m. on CW39 and Monday-Thursday on AT&T SportsNet SW. To submit high school sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, please email todd@thebuzzmagazines.com.

. by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

SportzBuzz Jr.

Welcome to SportzBuzz Jr., a column spotlighting neighborhood athletes in elementary and middle school.

Pandas LAX

The Pershing Pandas lacrosse team grew into a competitive roster of 14 players, led by coaches Mark Temple (pictured, at right) and Lucas Prosecco (pictured, at left). Since August, the team has practiced two to three times a week, focusing on sharpening fundamentals and strengthening teamwork. The players enjoy team dinners and have a strong bond on and off the field. The team includes players (pictured, back row, from left) Nathan Timmons, Robert Meir, Reid Ashlin, Jaxson Lee; (middle row, from left) Josh Thomas, Luke Waltman, Ben Brown, Theodore Randall, Riley Graf, Landyn Heard, Declan Nichols; (front row, from left) Cameron Erlichman, Ollie Horan, and Zander Jacobs. With steady leadership and growing chemistry, the Pershing Pandas enter the lacrosse season prepared and united, ready to compete.

Wildcats win

The Wildcats captured the Freshman Flag Football Division championship in the Southwest Football League, finishing with a strong showing among first- and second-grade teams. The roster featured friends from West U Little League and several schools, including West U Elementary, Poe Elementary, River Oaks Elementary, St. Vincent de Paul, Jack Segal Academy, and Presbyterian School. Coaches Travis Walding and Jason Kohll led the team through a season marked by steady effort and growth. In the championship game, the Wildcats faced the Bulldogs of River Oaks Baptist, a matchup that included several familiar faces from West U Little League. Pictured (from left) are coach Walding, Hank Walding, Nash Nichols, Beau Guerrini, Grayson Kavalinas, Preston Connelly, Brenton Rucker, Anderson Connelly, Drew Kohll, coach Kohll, Michael Brinkmann, Eli Walding, Nolan Lindquist, Jack Sellin, and Gray Cornelius.

Pin Oak soccer

The Pin Oak Middle School girls’ soccer team closed its season with a home field victory, finishing with a 4 and 1 record. Crystal Krolczyk and Shelly Hulbirt coached the team. Their focus on teamwork carried through the regular season and into competition at the Hamilton Middle School Girls Soccer Tournament. Pictured (back row, from left) are Ella Pridgen, coach Krolczyk, Olivia Moore, Allison Rojas Reyes, Skylar Barragy, Josephine Mugg, Evelyn Faykus, Bella Torres, Jaylene Gomez Martinez, Lila Cooley, Lydia Nguyen, coach Hulbirt, Loreana Meling, Naaya Sambasivan; (front row, from left) Monique Robinson, Parker Langley, Natalie Nguyen, Anariel Flores, Angely Gobellan, Giuliana Ruiz, Ximena Deanda Arambula, Zoe Alecio, and Maci Chavez; not pictured: Catherine Cune.

Editor’s note: Send your best high-resolution photos and behind-the-scenes stories about young local athletes, in both team and individual sports, to SportzBuzz Jr. at info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Include all contact info, names, ages, grades and schools. Featured athletes must live in Buzz-circulation neighborhoods. Items will be published on a space-available basis.

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Sign up to find out what we’re buzzing about at thebuzzmagazines.com/morning-buzz.

. by Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld, staff writer

Event Roundup

May brings us tons of lively springtime festivities and Memorial Day Weekend brings that first feeling of summer fun, plus ways to honor those who gave their lives in service to our country. Here’s a sampling of some Buzzworthy events happening this month:

Party at the Pavilion

Fri., May 1, 7-9 p.m.

Bellaire Town Square

Free

PATRONS for Bellaire Parks and the City of Bellaire host Party at the Pavilion, a free live music series. On May 1, enjoy Bayou Roux, a unique blend of traditional Cajun, zydeco, blues, country, and traditional folk music. Bring a chair or blanket and your own food and drinks.

Sunset Cinema Series

Fri., May 1, 7:30 p.m.; Fri., May 8, 7:30 p.m.

Memorial Park, Clay Family Eastern Glades

Free

Watch a free movie on the lawn at Clay Family Eastern Glades. A selection of food trucks will be onsite with items for purchase. Outside food and beverages are welcome (no glass). Complimentary popcorn will be provided. May 1: Six Triple Eight (PG-13); May 8: Next Goal Wins (PG-13).

Kentucky Derby Day and Derby Fest

Sat., May 2, 9:30 a.m. (the Derby begins at 5:59 p.m.)

Sam Houston Race Park

$10+; VIP options available.

Get a taste of the Derby experience on Derby Day with viewings of races, food vendors, a hat contest, live music, and more.

Soul Flower Music Fest

Sat., May 2, 2-9 p.m.

Discovery Green

$12.49+

Soul Flower Music Fest features national and local soul, R&B, and neo soul artists. There will also be food, games, shopping, photo booths, contests, and more.

Panda Fest

Fri., May 8, 410 p.m.; Sat., May 9, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun., May 10, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park

$17+/general admission

Panda Fest, the nation’s fastest-growing Asian food and culture festival, is making its anticipated Houston debut at The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park this month. Look forward to 80+ food vendors serving over 200 authentic and fusion dishes from China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and more; a vibrant market of 20+ artisan vendors; entertainment ranging from traditional lion dances to K-pop performances; and photo opps with a 15-foot inflatable panda.

Children’s Museum Houston’s Cinco de Mayo Celebration Thurs., May 7, 5-8 p.m. (Free Family Night Thursday)

Children’s Museum Houston

Free

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo through hands-on activities and fun performances, including a create-your-own “cascarones” (confetti-filled eggs); learn about the story behind Cinco de Mayo; enjoy a lively performance by Las Américas Ballet Folklórico; craft your own maraca or design a colorful piñata.

Freedom Plane National Tour: Documents

That Forged a Nation Exhibit

May 8-25

Houston Museum of Natural Science, museum store

Free

From the National Archives, this traveling exhibition brings original Founding-era documents to HMNS in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. See one of only 50 known copies of the Declaration of Independence, Oaths of Allegiance signed by Washington and Hamilton, and the Treaty of

Paris that secured America’s independence.

Just Plane Fun

Memorial Day Weekend Sat., May 23-Mon., May 25

Lone Star Flight Museum

General admission: $18/adult; $15/youth 12 to 17; $12/child (5 to 11); free for children 4 and under

Memorial Day Weekend features fun activities for aviation enthusiasts of all ages at the Lone Star Flight Museum. View Vietnam-era aircraft on display, hear from pilots during Hangar Talks, assemble and launch paper airplanes, test piloting skills in the flight simulators, and more. The special weekend honors the brave men and women who courageously gave their lives in service to our nation. See LoneStarFlight.org.

Memorial Day Run

Mon., May 25, 7 a.m.

St. Thomas High School

Price varies

Join for Houston Running Co’s Memorial Day Half, 10K, 5K, and Kids; K/Family Walk, honoring the men and women who have given their lives serving in the U.S. Military.

Houston Brewsology

Sat., May 30, 7-11 p.m.

Houston Museum of Natural Science

$73.78+ general admission; VIP admission available

Sample over 50 breweries and 150 beers while exploring the Houston Museum of Natural Science at this fun 21+ event.

Editor’s note: Events are subject to change. See this article at thebuzzmagazines.com for links. Find more events at thebuzzmagazines.com/calendar and see our weekend roundup online every Friday.

Enter The Buzz 2026 Photo Contest Deadline May 15, 2026

Submit photos for our 21st annual Photo Contest. Deadline May 15.

To submit photos, and for contest rules, visit thebuzzmagazines.com/photocontest

Winning photos will be published in our July issue and on our website. To view our 2025 winners, visit thebuzzmagazines.com/2025-photo-contest

Our grand prize winner will receive a Nikon Z 30 compliments of Houston Camera Exchange. The Z 30 is Nikon’s smallest, lightest Z series mirrorless camera—incredible image quality, full compatibility with 40+ interchangeable NIKKOR Z mirrorless lenses, amazing creative effects, and easy setup via your smartphone.

Sponsored by

by Barrett Fowler, age 16

Buzz Kidz

ATHE “ULTIMATE GIFT” Barrett Fowler, a sophomore at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, shares a meaningful project completed through Young Men’s Service League.

Small acts of service bringing lasting impact

s a member of the Young Men’s Service League (YMSL), I’ve learned that service is about more than just completing hours. It is about showing up, working together, and doing something that truly makes a difference. This year, our West U chapter’s “Ultimate Gift” project gave me the opportunity to experience that through our work with Halo House Foundation.

Halo House provides housing for patients and families who travel to the Medical Center for blood cancer treatment. Many families must stay in Houston for weeks or months while receiving care. Knowing that patients are going through some of the most difficult moments of their lives made our service feel more meaningful. Working alongside other YMSL moms and sons, we helped transform Halo House’s outdoor

space. We planted flowers, spread fresh mulch, refinished outdoor furniture, built outdoor games, and added decorative touches. We wanted families staying at Halo House to have a peaceful space where they could feel more comfortable and supported.

The most meaningful moment for me was on the final day of the project. Several residents joined us in painting rocks for the Inspirational Rock Garden. Some wrote words like “Hope,” “Strength,” and “Faith,” while others painted colorful pictures or meaningful messages. Seeing patients and family members participate in something we helped create made the experience feel personal. It showed me that our work was not just about making something look nice, but about helping create a space where people could feel encouraged.

This experience also connected to something bigger in our community. In 2024, The City of West University Place officially proclaimed April 21 as Young Men’s Service League Day, recognizing the positive impact YMSL has made in encouraging young people to serve others.

Through the Ultimate Gift project at Halo House, we didn’t just help improve an outdoor space. We helped create a place filled with hope, kindness, and community. This experience taught me that even small acts of service can have a lasting impact, and it gave me a greater appreciation for helping others.

Want to be a Buzz Kid? Email approximately 350 words, a high-resolution photo and caption to info@thebuzzmagazines.com.

Create a buzz for your biz.

Est. 2002. Mailed to 58,000 homes monthly. To advertise in The Buzz Magazines, contact us at 713.668.4157, ext. 101 or advertising@thebuzzmagazines.com

Decedents’ final income tax return

Death may be the end of you, but not your income taxes. The IRS treats not only court-appointed executors and administrators, but also anyone who is in charge of your property following your death, e.g., trustee or surviving spouse, as the “personal representative” of your estate. That person must file your final IRS 1040 income tax return, and, until your assets are retitled, IRS Form 1041 fiduciary income tax return each year your remaining assets generate more than $600 in income. There’s no extra credit for avoiding probate or just pocketing the money. There is extra credit for living in Texas. We have no state income tax.

Your personal representative should file Form SS-4 to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for your estate. It’s required for opening an estate bank or brokerage account or for use on an estate Form 1041. Your Social Security Number is used on your final Form 1040.

To ensure the personal representative can receive IRS notices, it’s best that they file IRS Form 56, informing the Service of their fiduciary relationship to you and your estate, as well as their mailing address.

Your final Form 1040 reports income (and deductions, etc.) from January 1 through the date of your death, but not beyond. If your estate assets generate more than $600 in income the rest of that year or future years, Form 1041 must also be filed. Form 1040 reports income on a cash basis. Form 1041 reports fiduciary accounting income, which is determined under state law.

Sometimes the cash and fiduciary accounting methods result in the same amount of income; often, they do not. The income tax brackets for

individuals (Form 1040) and trusts and estates (Form 1041) both start at 10 percent and end at 37 percent. The similarities end there. For individuals, there are 7 income tax brackets; for trusts and estates, there are 4. Unmarried individuals hit the 37 percent bracket above $626,350 annual income; trusts and estates hit 37 percent above $15,650.

Trusts and estates get a deduction for distributions to beneficiaries, who pay the tax on their share of the trust or estate income distributed on their own 1040, using the same tax brackets as other individuals. It pays to take care of business and make all the distributions practical sooner rather than later, so the overall income tax burden is lower and is distributed among all the beneficiaries.

A good CPA comes in handy for these issues, but they are hard to get on short notice, especially for a one- or two-year relationship. It is worth securing one well before death, to ensure their availability for generations to come.

We write wills and go to probate court. Foreign nationals and international families welcome.

Russell W. Hall, Bellaire Probate, Attorneys at Law, 6750 West Loop S. Ste. 920, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.662.3853, bellaireprobate.com/blog

PETS Neighborhood Tails

Mushi, 17 months, Golden Retriever, Tartan Lane

Hi, my name is Mushi – in Japanese, this means bug! I’m a 17-month-old Golden Retriever and I live in Braes Heights with my family of two human sisters Cora and Evelyn (age 10 and 12), a Golden sister Lily (age 15), and a Boykin brother Mick (age 10). I enjoy walking to Mark Twain in the morning and saying hi to my friends. I love the snow and the sun, but not the water! When I get tired, I like to take naps in the window. Another hobby of mine is chewing – I keep very busy with antlers but sometimes I get in trouble eating drywall. I am a Velcro dog to the core, and I have lots of interest in people who come to see me (including the squirrels)! I hope we can say hi soon!

Got a cute critter? Email a picture of your pet with approximately 150 words to info@thebuzzmagazines.com.

A healthier option

The hospital is a place to go to get better, right? Not necessarily, especially if you’re an older adult already suffering from ailments.

Hospitals are filled with contagious germs, so an elderly person may come out sicker than they went in. I’ve seen it many times, and several expert surveys show that about 33% of people over 70 who enter the hospital come out sicker than they were before. Plus, physicians in hospitals don’t know your loved ones since they’re not the primary care physicians who know your parent’s or spouse’s medical history and issues. For people who need in-home healthcare, avoiding a trip to the hospital is the best way to stay safe (unless there’s an acute, life-threatening episode).

Instead, it’s best to surround our home-bound loved ones with sufficient resources and healthcare management to keep them at home. This requires proactive, proper care with oversight from their established physician, sometimes a concierge physician who will even see them in the home. A key part of this care is also establishing relationships with other professionals so you can marshal the best resources for your loved one’s situation. Establishing those relationships can start with a simple call to Personal Caregiving Services, which has long-standing relationships with the best medical and nonmedical professionals for your loved one.

Check out more tips on my YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SidGerberPCS. S. Gerber & Associates, 3730 Kirby Dr., Suite 1200, Houston, TX 77098, 713.857.3227, sid@personalcaregiving.com

Senior care conversations

Family conflict often starts with timing. One person sees the change. Another person lives far away. Everyone feels pressure, then the conversation turns personal. You can reduce conflict when you keep the conversation grounded in goals and recent facts.

Start with a short, calm opening. Name what you want for your loved one. Safety, dignity, less stress, a stable routine. Then share specific examples from the last two weeks. Missed medications. Falls. Missed meals. Isolation. Driving concerns. Specific examples keep the conversation clear.

Ask questions that invite ownership. What feels hardest right now? What do you want your days to look like in six months? What support would help you keep control and stay safe? Let your loved one speak first. People resist when they feel pushed.

Offer two choices, not 10. For example, in-home help a few mornings a week or an assisted living tour. A small choice reduces overwhelm and keeps momentum. Keep the conversation short and repeat it. One long talk rarely solves it.

Define roles to reduce friction. One person tracks health details. One person tracks finances and paperwork. One person tracks lifestyle fit. This prevents the same debate from repeating every week.

If conflict keeps rising, bring in a neutral guide. A local advisor can hold a family call, clarify care levels, and suggest options that match needs and budget. That outside structure often lowers emotional heat and moves the family forward.

Hannah Inselmann Wier, Assisted Living Locators, 832-833-2469, assistedlivinglocators.com/sw

. by Angie Frederickson, staff writer

Buzz About Town

Auction of arias

Elizabeth Fritschle and David Satterfield (pictured) were among the crowd at the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Houston’s Auction of Arias gala. The Society is Houston’s oldest opera company, dedicated to sharing the legacy of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operas. This year’s event, coinciding with the Society’s 75th season, was the 11th annual gala and raised more than $130,000 to support the July 2026 production of The Gondoliers at the Wortham Theater Center, as well as the Society’s scholarship program. Gilbert & Sullivan Society Houston’s board president Joe Carl White welcomed supporters to the Baker Institute at Rice University for a three-course dinner and vocal performances. Guests bid to select songs from a musical “menu,” with high bidders choosing Gilbert & Sullivan favorites including “Three Little Maids” from The Mikado, “Poor Wandering One” from The Pirates of Penzance, “Je Veux Vivre” from Roméo et Juliette, “You’ll Be Back” from Hamilton, and “The Song That Goes Like This” from Spamalot.

Hearts for our parks

Michelle Huth and Stephanie Magers (pictured, from left) co-chaired the 34th annual Park Lovers’ Ball benefiting West University

Parks. Hearts for Our Parks was held at The Post Oak Hotel and raised nearly $500,000 to further beautify and improve West U’s parks and green spaces. More than 300 community members enjoyed an evening with a silent auction, big board, and live auction items curated by Carrie Allen, whiskey blackjack, a bubbles and vino pull, and music from popular band Password. West University resident Rev. Katie

Montgomery Mears, associate pastor at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, provided the invocation and fellow West U neighbor and KHOU morning anchor Ilona Carson emceed the event. The underwriting team was led by chairs Eliza Coleman, Meagan Glover, and Jennifer LaForge.

The wonder of childhood

Co-chairs Lexi Sakowitz Marek and Natasha Stolte (pictured, from left) joined more than 400 other supporters for Children’s Museum Houston’s 2026 Friends and Family Luncheon This year’s event was the most successful luncheon in the Museum’s history, raising a recordsetting $237,000 for early-learning initiatives. Marek and Stolte, along with emcee Katherine Whaley, welcomed guests at River Oaks

Country Club. The event’s keynote address was delivered by Spencer Russell, founder of Toddlers CAN Read, who shared a message about helping children embrace challenges to build confidence. Proceeds from the Friends and Family Luncheon will support the Museum’s newly announced “Gallery of Wonder,” the largest museum space in the nation dedicated to early learning for infants through age five.

It’s all Greek to me

Joni Landon, Sally Anne Schmidt, and Debbie Padon (pictured, from left) welcomed more than 250 high school senior girls from around the city to the Houston Alumnae Panhellenic Association’s (HAPA) 2026 Recruitment

(continued on page 50)

Roundtable. Each year, HAPA presents an information session about the process of joining a sorority to help 12th graders prepare. The event began with a general assembly for girls and many of their mothers to learn about what sorority life entails and the process of joining, known as sorority recruitment. Breakout sessions followed where girls had the opportunity to learn more about sorority life at the specific college or university they plan to attend. For more information about sorority recruitment for the 2026-2027 school year, visit houston-panhellenic.org.

The gift of mobility

Jana and Richard Fant (pictured) joined fellow supporters at the largest-ever Chariots for Children van-distribution event at The Post Oak Hotel. Houston Children’s Charity gifted 98 wheelchair-accessible vans, valued at $5.39 million, to local families with children living with conditions including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, Rett syndrome, spina bifida, paraplegia, WolfHirschhorn syndrome, and other chromosomal disorders. At this year’s distribution event, which marked the organization’s 30th anniversary, supporters heard from Houston Children’s Charity president and CEO Laura S. Ward about the efforts made for children in the community. Houston City Council member Twila Carter read a proclamation from Houston

Mayor John Whitmire declaring the day “2026 Chariots for Children Day.”

Hoops for a cause

This year’s Randy Reisbord AZA Wheelchair Basketball Tournament is scheduled for May 16 at The Zone at 10371 Stella Link Road. Randy Reisbord, a B'Nai Brith Youth Organization (BBYO) chapter, welcomes both able-bodied and wheelchair players in grades 8 through 12 to participate in the 14th annual event. The tournament was created in honor of a former chapter member who was diagnosed with spina bifida, and proceeds will benefit TIRR Memorial Hermann’s Hotwheels wheelchair basketball team, Randy Reisbord AZA, and other charities. Pictured are participants at last year’s event. To learn more or register for the tournament, contact Noah Sonabend at nsonabend@emeryweiner.org.

A glowing event

Jeff Gunst and Brooke Bentley and Nina and Clint Rand (pictured, from left) enjoyed Ambassadors for Texas Children’s Hospital’s third annual Glow in the Park event. Chaired by Sterling and Taylor Dio, the event was held at

Chevron Center at Memorial Park Golf Course and provided a sneak peek of the 2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open, which was held shortly after. More than 225 supporters enjoyed an evening of indoor and outdoor glow-in-thedark golf experiences and contests that let guests practice their putts. Attendees also mingled with local favorites including the Houston Astros mascot Orbit and canine friends Pluto and Crosby, representing the “Pawsitive Play” program at Texas Children’s. Funds raised at Glow in the Park will support the Ambassadors’ 2026 initiative, Kangaroo Crew, Texas Children’s medical transport team that includes specially designed ambulances, helicopters, and a fixed-wing plane.

Wear red for women

Cindy Cook, Melody Torno, Roz Pactor, and Tracy Faulkner (pictured, from left) supported the American Heart Association at the Houston Circle of Red Wear Red Day brunch. Hosted by 2026 Circle of Red chairs Tracy Faulkner and Cindy Cook, the event brought together members of the Houston Heart Guild, community leaders, and advocates to

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raise awareness of heart disease, the leading cause of death among women. Brunch attendees heard from impactful speakers including survivor Regay Hildreth, Dr. Shaden Khalaf, cardiologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Kacy Allensworth, who performed lifesaving CPR on her husband during a cardiac emergency. The speakers urged women to take charge of their heart health through education, early detection, and community support.

Breaking the fast together

The Muslim Community Association hosted its annual Interfaith Ramadan iftar at Patio by La Pasha. Iftar is the evening meal that breaks the daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan. This year, the organization welcomed 175 friends, neighbors, and local community leaders of differ-

ent faiths to share a meal and celebrate community connection. Attendees heard remarks from Brother Mubeen Khumawala about the meaning of Ramadan and the importance of compassion, reflection, and unity. Pictured are (top row, from left) Win Frazier, Sharon Citino, Umer Khan, Brian Witt, Bellaire Mayor Gus Pappas, Zeyad Metwalli, Maarig Ahmad, Maria Kari, Nooreen Baig, Rakshanda Aslam; (middle row, from left) Raquel Porras, Cheryl Bright, Dalia Moghazy, Beth Jones; (bottom row, from left) Shama Rasheed and Pernia Latif

For the kids

The Charity Guild of Catholic Women recently awarded $789,830 to 53 nonprofit organizations across Greater Houston. This year’s grant funding supports children in the community through arts, education, health and well-being, hunger

relief, and social-services programming. Funding is generated by sales at the volunteer-run Charity Guild Shop that offers a variety of consigned merchandise including apparel, household items, furniture, and artwork. This year marks 103 years of The Charity Guild of Catholic Women. Since 1996, the organization has provided more than $10 million to more than 200 children’s charities. Pictured, from left, are children’s charities committee members Jan Redd, Susan Cichon, Donna Sisak, Arlene Kleinpeter, Ann Patin, Sandy Walker, Ellen Goodrich, Erin Alexander, Cathy McDonnell, Suanne Bouvier, Rose Swain, and Pat Kerwin.

Be seen in Buzz About Town. Send your high-res photos and community news to info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Items are published on a space-available basis. Also share your upcoming-event listings on thebuzzmagazines.com.

. by Andria Dilling, staff writer

Back Porch

Well-Intentioned Gifts: Trust but verify

“Grandma Helen, may she rest in peace, used to love cabbage with noodles,” says my dad, Bernie Milstein. “I can’t remember what the heck she called it, but she made the noodles and the cabbage and put it all in butter. And it smelled terrible.

“She made it because she liked it. And when she would make it, when I was in high school, I would leave so I didn’t have to smell it.

“Make a long story short, your mom and I got married and went to visit my mother [in New Jersey]. We walked into the house, and we were hit with this smell. I said, ‘Mother, what are you doing?’ And she said, ‘I’m making your favorite cabbage with noodles.’ And of course your mother didn’t think much of it. So we thanked her for thinking of us and we left. She never made it again. She was a wonderful mother, but when she made that stuff I couldn’t stand it.”

And so goes the time-and-again story of a mother – or a child, or spouse, or another family member – gifting their loved one with something they think they love, when in fact, it’s the opposite.

Linda Elmer remembers her father giving her mother a giant bottle of White Shoulders perfume. “He was so proud,” Linda says. “He announced to everyone that it was my mom’s favorite. Several years later, I noticed the bottle was almost full, and I asked her about it. She told me it really wasn’t her favorite, that she had complimented someone who was wearing it, and my dad took that to mean she loved it too. She didn’t have the heart to tell him she didn’t really like it.”

Fast-forward several years to Linda having her own children. “I remembered that bottle,” she says, “and I had to gently tell my kids that I liked other scents besides lavender when they started giving me lavender everything. I wanted to avoid a giant lavender candle in my future!”

Dena Prasher’s family owns a similar folklore. “Every Mother’s Day or birthday or Christmas,” Dena says, “someone in our family would give my grandmother a nesting hen dish. I never knew how it all got started, but years later, after

having amassed quite a collection, Granny casually thanked my mother for a recent gift, adding that she wasn’t sure why everyone was giving her these ‘chickens.’

“We laughed and laughed. For some unknown reason, everyone thought she loved them.” Looking back, Dena says, she realized her grandmother was married to a gentleman farmer, meaning their house was in town, as opposed to on a farm. “She probably very much thought of chickens as livestock and not as cute, decorative items,” Dena says.

sider starting Mom’s day with pancakes in bed. Although you just might check in with her first.

Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes

Still, when Granny passed away, each grandchild kept a nesting hen as a remembrance of their grandmother. “And for a chuckle,” Dena says.

Tina Pyne chuckles (sort of) when she talks about Williams Sonoma peppermint bark. “Joe and I have been married 27 years,” she says, “and every year for Christmas he gets me peppermint bark. I hate peppermint bark!

“He eats the whole thing every year. Two years ago, he tried to give me a bite and I told him I really don’t like it. He was shocked.” They laughed and shared the misunderstanding with their family. Last year for Christmas, Tina received beautifully-wrapped gifts from several people. Come to find out: “Those f-ers all gave me peppermint bark!”

As a mother on the eve of Mother’s Day, I will advise us all (myself included) to actually ask: What might Mom truly enjoy to commemorate giving us life?

It will never measure up, but you might con-

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons sugar

1 ½ tablespoons baking powder

1 teaspoon kosher salt

2 large eggs

2 cups buttermilk

2 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled

1 cup blueberries

In a bowl or quart-sized measuring cup with a spout, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the eggs, buttermilk, and melted butter; stir gently to combine. The batter will look a little lumpy; let it rest for 10 minutes. Melt a little butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Pour 1/3-cup scoops of batter onto the skillet. Scatter a few blueberries over the top. Let the pancake sit untouched until you see bubbles form on the top, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and repeat, continuing with remaining batter and blueberries. Serve with maple syrup and butter.