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Houstonia Newcomer's 2019 Flipbook PDF
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S ’ R E M O C Guide NEW
New to the Bayou City?
Here's what you need to know, from the hottest restaurants to the coolest local celebrities. PLUS: how to fight mosquitoes and WIN.
Nationally Recognized Care Right Here in Your Neighborhood Thanks to the countless patients who place their trust in our expert team, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center is recognized as a 2019-20 Best Hospital by U.S. News & World Report. Additionally, we’re proud to be nationally ranked in Neurology & Neurosurgery, Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, and Oncology. Our renowned physicians offer hope through the rapid translation of new discoveries into improved patient care. As we live out our healing mission, we’re committed to keeping patients and families involved in their care every step of the way.
More at CHIStLukesHealth.org/BSL.
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CONTENTS 47
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A HELPING HAND
TOUR YOUR OWN TOWN
A CUP OF CLUTCH CITY
10 traits that make us … us.
10 Houston nonprofits worthy of your time, money, or both.
Whether you move in there or not, six great neighborhoods full of options for eating, drinking, shopping, and more.
10 bars for 10 types of Newstonians.
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IT’S WAR! When mosquito season hits, Houstonians take matters into their own hands.
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H-TOWN FOR FAMILIES: A BUCKET LIST From culture and sports to food and nature, something for everyone.
A POP CULTURE PRIMER The H-Town books and albums you need to know, plus everything Travis Scott.
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WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE?
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TRAIL TO VICTORY Our favorite Houston-area spots for walking, running, and biking.
HOUSTONIA | NEWCOMER’S GUIDE 2019
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GETTING SCHOOLED The best Houston-area private schools and ISDs.
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THE DELECTABLE DOZEN These oh-so-Houston dishes will help you go from uninitiated to initiated in no time.
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HOUSTON’S TOP DOCTORS AND DENTISTS Need a medical professional? Look no further than our 2019 lists.
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AND FINALLY An ode to the H-Town strip mall.
CANOER: COURTESY HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT GIRL: COURTESY HOUSTON FOOD BANK TRAVIS SCOTT: SHUTTERSTOCK/HURRICANEHANK CRAWFISH AND NOODLES: MAX BURKHALTER MOSQUITO: SHUTTERSTOCK
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The best you is what we do.
TM
One of the nation’s most awarded plastic surgery practices. All Surgeons are Board Certified or Board Eligible by American Board of Plastic Surgery
Best Aesthetic Practice in Texas by MyFaceMyBody 2016
Best Plastic Surgery Practice by Medical Livewire 2016
Leading Plastic Surgeon of the US by Goldline Research (Forbes 2009)
Top Doctor by H-Texas Magazine 62 times
Top Doctor by Houstonia Mag 25 times
Compassionate Doctor Award by ASAPS 7 times
Doctors’ Choice by H&FSM 22 times
Super Doctors by TexasMonthly 4 times
Super Doctor by MySuperDoctors 6 times
Best Doctors by Best Doctors List 9 times
Top Doctors by Castle Connolly 2016
REALSELF Top Doctor by RealSelf 9 years
REALSELF Top 500 by RealSelf 4 times
Over 332 Medical Presentations & Publications
713.352.1740 | mybeautifulbody.com | HOUSTON
N E W C O M E R'S
GU I D E
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Catherine Matusow
[email protected] MANAGING EDITOR
Dianna Wray
[email protected] ART DIRECTOR
Monica Fuentes Carroll
[email protected]
A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R S
Gwendolyn Knapp
[email protected]
Morgan Kinney
[email protected] LIFESTYLE EDITOR
Abby Ledoux
[email protected] DINING EDITOR
Timothy Malcolm
[email protected] D I G I TA L E D I T O R
Nicki Koetting
[email protected]
A S S O C I AT E A R T D I R E C T O R
Amy Kinkead
[email protected]
C U S T O M P U B L I C AT I O N S E D I T O R
Laura Furr Mericas
[email protected]
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Chesney Fuller
FOUNDING EDITOR
Scott Vogel
Saturdays, S undays, and Thanksgiving Friday
Why leave the Kingdom?
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October 5 th through December 1 st
HOUSTONIA | NEWCOMER’S GUIDE 2019
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H R R E L AT I O N S H I P M A N A G E R
The Center is a mind+body+spirit wellness center which offers a comfortable and comforting place where Houstonians can come to explore their psyche, to deepen their connection to their body, and seek holistic health care.
Espy Redila
Traditional Chinese Medicine interventions for mind+body+spirit+cosmetics: • Acupuncture • Cupping • Moxibustion • TuiNa • Gua Sha • Herbal Therapy • Food Therapy • Cosmetic Facelift Our psychotherapeutic counseling services include: • Jungian • Psychodynamic • Attachment/ Development • Interpersonal • Mindfulness • Family Systems • Cognitive Awareness Mention this ad for a 10% discount on your first session with us.
NEWCOMER’S GUIDE 2019
We Serve: • Individuals • Couples • Families • Adolescents • Children • Groups
1728 Bissonnet St. Houston, TX TheCenterForHAS.com | 713-526-4444
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ILLU STR AT IO NS BY P E TER RYA N
Who D o We Think
Are? We
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T R A I T S
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M A K E
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elcome to Houston! You’re going to love it here. We promise. First things first, though. As you may have noticed, our city isn’t all that much to look at, particularly when compared with the more scenic vistas of places like Denver and Seattle. It’s hot, humid, and, occasionally, hurricane-y. San Diego we ain’t. But! We have a great food scene, a thriving arts culture, plenty of jobs, affordable housing, and all that comes with a fast-paced, urban city. More than that though, we have Houstonians. That’s right: When you get right down to it, what newcomers love most about Bayou City is the people. We’re pretty awesome. This city really is an acquired taste. You may resist it—and us—at first. Then, after a while, you’ll find yourself opining to friends from other parts of the country about the restaurants and the great neighborhoods and—most of all—your friends, your neighbors, the woman who checks out your groceries, and the man who delivers your mail. And suddenly, without even noticing, you’ll be a Houstonian like the rest of us. You’ll realize that we’ve grown on you—sort of like mold after a tropical storm. What are Houstonians like, then? Even in our radically infinite diversity, we have some startling similarities. Without further ado, here are 10 traits residents of this fine city share: BY JEF F B ALKE NEWCOMER’S GUIDE 2019
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We are generous. ➡
3 questions for native Californian
MICHELLE MARGAUX,
Rockets sideline reporter What are some misconceptions you had about Houston? People warned me how bad the traffic would be. I didn’t believe them because most of my adult life has been spent in Southern California, and I thought nothing could be worse than that. I genuinely think the Houston traffic is right on par with Los Angeles's. But it’s a good sign, because that means the city is full of people. What surprised you the most? The restaurant and food scene. There is never a shortage of cool places to go out to eat. It’s a blessing and a curse, if you know what I mean. I also didn’t expect there to be so many young professionals. I took a walk around Buffalo Bayou Park and felt like the area was buzzing with people in their twenties and thirties.
You may have heard about how, after Hurricane Harvey, everyday citizens set forth in their boats to rescue friends— human and animal—in need, or how we took in hundreds of thousands of our neighbors from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, or how our local charitable organizations have given the city some of its finest parks and artistic treasures. We tend not to wait on help from the outside around here.
We are eclectic.
Our diversity as a city is legendary. But the many ways said diversity has seeped into the cultural landscape? That can catch you off guard. Musicians find their rhythm in hip-hop, jazz, rock, Latin, punk, and classical grooves, sometimes all at once. Artists use canvases and freeway overpasses and giant slabs of concrete and beer cans as their mediums. We can visit a gun show, a quinceañera, a gay pride event, a mega-church service, and a performance-art show … all in the same day. Austin wishes it was as weird as us.
We are casual.
There are fashion plates all around, of course, but shorts and flip-flops are commonplace. More than anything, we like to relax. A nice margarita on a fan-cooled patio is a way of life here, for Houstonians in designer duds and Bermuda shorts alike. And, no, we don’t all wear cowboy hats and boots, unless it’s Go Texan Day, when everyone dresses in their best Western duds and spontaneously runs out of the city’s offices and schools to wave at trail riders. (By the way, no one, not even your boss or teacher, cares if you do this. In fact, they’ll probably run out with you.)
What advice would you give someone moving here? Don’t expect to walk anywhere. I’ve always lived in very walkable cities, and you really do drive everywhere here. Also, prepare for sports to be a big deal. Go ahead and give up your respective childhood teams—you’re a Houston fan now.
HOUSTONIA | NEWCOMER’S GUIDE 2019
We are congested. ⬋
Yes, the pollen is brutal in the spring, but that’s not what we’re talking about. Houston is a car city. We’re trying to reform, adding new public-transportation options and better hike-and-bike paths, but the reality is, if you live here, you drive. Combine that with the perpetual road construction, and you get traffic, and plenty of it. Houstonians endure some of the worst commute times in the country, so download some podcasts and get comfy. >>
COURTESY
Meet the n! Newstonia
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WE HOUSTON’S ARE RELOCATION EXPERTS Thousands of people move to Houston every year…and for good reasons. It ranks among the top U.S. cities in job creation, and has one of the nation’s most dynamic economies. Our vibrant community of arts, culture, food and commerce has the world’s attention. The Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty award-winning relocation team has achieved extraordinary results by holding the highest standards of customer service and consistently exceeding them. We have established relationships with relocation management companies, corporations and other real estate brokers across the globe to help transferees buy or sell a home.
If you’re planning a move, let us be YOUR REALTOR®.
Tess Chaney, CRP, GMS
800-927-2774 [email protected] r e l o c a t i o n m t s i r. c o m
sothebyshomes.com
Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered (or unregistered) service marks used with permission. Operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Real estate agents affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc.Equal Housing Opportunity.
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We are messy.
Again, it’s not lost on us that Houston isn’t going to win any beauty contests. We don’t have mountains, and our “rivers” are muddy-bottomed bayous. Our sprawl is legendary—over 600 square miles of it inside the city limits alone, dotted with strip malls connected by twisting freeways and roads whose names change without warning. It’s a hot mess, but it’s our hot mess.
We are hungry. ⬊
For years now our city has been recognized in national publications for its unique food scene. We also have been deemed America’s fattest city more than once. We can live with the latter, we suppose, so long as it comes with the former. Few places in the world—let alone America—offer the kind of abundance and diversity of cuisines Houston does. Latenight Vietnamese, early-morning breakfast tacos, lunchtime shawarma, and weekend barbecue don’t even begin to scratch the surface.
We are complicated.
Living in the most diverse city in America, that is also in the South, can be confusing for newbies. Houston itself is decidedly blue, while Harris County and surrounding suburbs are quite the contrary. We are home to Christian mega-churches and Hindu temples and Islamic mosques and Buddhist monasteries. We speak countless languages and are loaded with immigrants. Fortunately, most of us believe our differences only serve to make us stronger. >>
We are tough as nails. ➡
Meet the n! Newstonia 3 questions for Minnesota native
ROB MELROSE,
artistic director of the Alley Theatre
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What are some misconceptions you had about Houston? It is so embarrassing because I love Houston and now consider it home, but I had never been here before I interviewed to be the next artistic director of the Alley Theatre. I imagined it to be a very industrial city with huge oil refineries everywhere. Of course, once I knew I’d be coming to Houston to interview, I did my research. I watched Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown episode about Houston, and then there is a wonderful interview with Lynn Wyatt on CNN about her favorite places here. I also called all my friends who had ever lived in Houston, and all of
HOUSTONIA | NEWCOMER’S GUIDE 2019
them told me how much they loved it. This got me very excited about the possibility of moving here. What surprised you the most? The people here are so friendly and easy to get to know. It is a very welcoming place. It is also one of the most diverse cities in the U.S., which means it represents what is best about our country. It is a dynamic and fun place to live. I had known about the Alley’s reputation, but I didn’t know how many other first-rate arts institutions there are here. The people of Houston decided long ago that they wanted this to be a great arts city, and they
really know how to support the arts. And it makes a tremendous difference. It is very easy to do something every night of the week here. What advice would you give someone moving here? To really enjoy Houston, you need to get out and experience the amazing restaurants and the arts that the city has to offer. The variety is astounding, and the quality is so high everywhere you go. In that CNN interview, Lynn Wyatt said that “culture is the soul of the city.” From what I’ve experienced here, the soul of Houston is rich, multilayered, and beautiful.
JOHN EVERETT
#HoustonStrong isn’t just a hashtag for our city popularized after a hurricane. It is who we are. This entire city was built on a mosquito-infested swamp and sold to unsuspecting investors by con artists. Yet we invented the artificial heart, put a man on the moon, and dug a ditch all the way from the Gulf of Mexico to downtown Houston, creating the biggest port in the country. We’ve beaten back recessions and stared down hurricanes. You won’t find a more resilient bunch, and we’re damn proud of that, too.
“Cancer, I found hope here” Emily Dumler | Cancer Survivor Emily Dumler beat lymphoma with help from an innovative clinical trial at MD Anderson Cancer Center, the only hospital in Houston solely focused on ending cancer. We offer access to more than 1,250 clinical trials – many only available here – to provide our patients with groundbreaking treatment options and the best hope of defeating cancer. Choose MD Anderson first. Call 713-745-9940 or visit FindYourMDAnderson.com.
Ranked number one in the nation for cancer care by U.S. News & World Report.
LEAGUE CITY | SUGAR LAND | TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER | THE WOODLANDS | WEST HOUSTON
We are stormy.
There is a general misconception about Houston—mainly because we are a city in, you know, Texas—that our climate is more “tumbleweed-ridden desert” than “rainforest.” Yet we have a lot more in common with the latter. That makes for lush green space, mild winters, dewy skin, and rain … lots of rain. Now, an event like Hurricane Harvey was an anomaly, but of course the threat of tropical weather is a reality of life on the Gulf Coast. Get a good weather app, and you’ll be fine.
Meet the n! Newstonia
3 questions for Maine native
STEPHEN IVES,
CEO of the Houston YMCA
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Most of all, we are friendly. ⬇
If you happen to be standing in line in a grocery store and a woman randomly begins talking, there is a very good chance she is not on the phone, but rather chatting with you. This is normal. Don’t be frightened. We wave at our neighbors, nod at total strangers, and smile and talk about the weather in waiting rooms. We’re just like that. So, to all the newcomers out there, it’s pointless to resist. You’re in Houston now, and you’re already part of the family.
What are some misconceptions you had about Houston? Coming from the Northeast—and after spending some time in the Midwest—I was not familiar with Houston other than the idea that it was a very large city and had a great YMCA. I imagined that I would see a lot of concrete. I was pleasantly surprised to find so much green space, bike paths, and so many wonderful neighborhoods inside the 610 Loop. I also have enjoyed the way this city moves traffic. While our highways do get overtaxed at times, the system makes it easy to find where
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GU I D E : M E E T T H E N E I G H B O R S
you’re going and, in comparison to Boston, is easy to navigate. What surprised you the most? I’ve found the people to be extraordinarily welcoming and friendly. I also have enjoyed the amount of pride our people here in Houston have for their historical neighborhoods. I had never experienced bayous and find many of them to be quite beautiful. There is tremendous resilience among the people I have met. What advice would you give someone moving here? While there is a downtown, there are
also wonderful areas like the Galleria, Memorial City, and the Medical Center that can provide a city experience. I encourage people to take some time to get to know the city before deciding where to live. There are so many great options, and in three to six months you can get an understanding of what each area has to offer. I also would encourage new arrivals to consider commute time when choosing a place to live, and to start or keep an exercise routine as I have not found a bad meal here yet. The restaurant options are amazing.
COURTESY
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FIND YOUR PLACE IN THE SUN. Discover multiple master planned communities this summer.
Let’s be neighbors again
LIVE. WORK. DISCOVER.
New homes from the $320s to $2 million+
New homes from the $230s to $500s+
New homes from the $220s to $1 million+
The Woodlands Hills
Surrounded by rich natural beauty, our communities focus on health and wellness, and provide residents with top-rated schools, acres of parks and lakes, miles of hike and bike trails, shopping, dining, entertainment and more, all conveniently located within the Greater Houston area.
105 242
1488
The Woodlands
GRAND PARKWAY
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FRY ROAD
Bridgeland
290
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59 45
GEORGE BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT
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610 DOWNTOWN HOUSTON
59 Homes within The Woodlands, Bridgeland and The Woodlands Hills are constructed and sold by builders not affiliated with The Howard Hughes Corporation (“HHC”) or any of its affiliates, companies or partnerships. Neither HHC nor any of its affiliated companies or partnerships guarantees or warrants the obligations of, or construction45by, such 288 builders. No representation is made as to the availability or pricing of homes. Prices and specifications subject to change. The developer is pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of Equal Housing Opportunity in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin. Realtors welcome.
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THE ENEMY: M O S Q UI TO E S
G WEND O LYN K NAPP
During spring and summer—peak mosquito season in Bayou City—longtime Houstonians take matters into their own hands to reclaim their backyards and front porches. Need a battle plan, Newstonian? First, clear your yard of standing water, where these needle-nosed, disease-carrying insects breed, as well as debris piles, where they lurk. Then decide on your second method of attack:
METHOD
ADVANTAGES
MOSQUITO DUNKS
These insecticide pellets kill larvae in planters and pots.
FOGGERS
RESIDUAL SPRAYS
PROFESSIONAL MISTER INSTALLATION
PROFESSIONAL BARRIER SPRAY
ESSENTIAL OIL BUG SPRAYS
MOSQUITO TRAP
DISADVANTAGES
SAFE FOR PETS?
COST
LASTS FOR
Won’t kill mosquitoes flying around in your face.
Yes. Doesn’t harm cats, dogs, fish, or birds.
$5 to $10 for a six-pack
One month
Aerosol and thermal foggers get rid of mosquitoes just long enough for your backyard piñata beating.
It’s temporary. Also, foggers kill butterflies and bees.
Sort of. The fumes can be harmful.
$5 cans; machines $70 to $200
24 hours
Regularly spraying these insecticides leaves residue on plants, killing mosquitoes on the cheap.
Mosquitoes may grow resistant, and the insecticides will kill butterflies, pollinators, and other good insects.
Yes, but don’t spray it near them.
$20 to $100
One month
$1,500 to $15,000, depending on size of yard
Potentially forever, if you get the lifetime warranty
Yes.
$60 to $100 per treatment
Three weeks to a month
Some are fine, some are not.
$7.99 for Burt’s Bees Herbal Insect Repellent; essential oil costs vary.
Backyard misting systems are set up and maintained by pest-control pros.
Professional mosquito assassins armed with backpack sprayers.
Daytime use can harm good insects, and mosquitoes may grow resistant.
Can be harmful to good insects
Lavender, citronella, lemongrass, peppermint, and other essential oils repel mosquitoes while you do sunrise patio yoga.
Some mixtures shouldn’t be worn on the skin. And mosquitoes may bite you anyway.
Carbon dioxideemitting traps attract and kill mosquitoes.
Effectiveness depends on wind direction and mosquito trickery.
Yes, and it kills ticks, too.
Yes.
$20 to $800
Sources: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension; MosquitoNix; Mosquito Squad; Houston Mosquito Systems.
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A few hours, max
Months to years; empty trap every two weeks. SHUTTERSTOCK
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GU I D E : M E E T T H E S T A R S
T A E R G BY A B BY LE D O UX
1. FEBRUARY 4, 2018: STORMI’S BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT BREAKS THE INTERNET. There’s no denying Travis
Scott’s relationship exponentially raised his star power—he’s been dating reality star and makeup mogul Kylie Jenner since at least April 2017, when they were spotted courtside at a Rockets game. In a stunning departure from Jenner’s historically highly publicized existence, the couple kept things largely under wraps, which only heightened interest—especially when pregnancy rumors began to swirl last year. They were confirmed on February 4 with the surprise release of an 11-minute birth announcement video, “To Our Daughter,” and the internet went wild—on Super Bowl Sunday, no less. The new parents waited another two days to divulge her name: Stormi Webster. The video now has more than 81 million views.
2. AUGUST 3, 2018: ASTROWORLD DROPS TO CRITICAL ACCLAIM. Scott’s third
studio album—which earned three Grammy noms—is a love letter to his hometown, named for Houstonians’ favorite dearly departed theme park, which closed in 2005. The album is classic Scott, bombastic and bass-heavy with hazy, psychedelic moments throughout, plus a star-studded feature list that spans Drake to Stevie Wonder. Critics hailed the project, which fared just as well commercially, debuting in the Billboard 200’s No. 1 spot and earning doubleplatinum certification. Perhaps best of all, it introduced the rest of the country—nay, world— to the bygone magic of its amusement park namesake, a real feather in Houston’s cap.
TO NO DI SR ES PE CT (E VE R) YO NC É, HO US TO N’ S QU EE N, BE RA PP ER BU T TH E 28 -Y EA R- OL D ER IS BO RN JA CQ UE S W EB ST AT HE R OF FI CI AL LY NI PP IN G N OF M OS THE EL S FO R TH E CR OW . NO T UP -T OFA M OU S HO US TO NI AN I CI TY DATE ON TH E M IS SO UR OR NATI VE ? HE RE ’S 6 M AJ M OM EN TS TO KN OW :
months later Scott made good on his promise to revive the theme park with a one-day music festival at NRG Park, just across the street from the real Astroworld’s former home. More than 40,000 people flocked to the inaugural Astroworld Fest for Scott’s explosive headlining set plus performances by Lil Wayne, Post Malone, Young Thug, and Houston heavyweights Bun B, Paul Wall, Slim Thug, and more. The atmosphere was decidedly that of a grown-up carnival—nostalgic throwbacks like
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HURRICANEHANK/SHUTTERSTOCK
3. NOVEMBER 17, 2018: ASTROWORLD FEST PREMIERES AT NRG. Three
rides, games, concessions, and face-painting entertained the crowds alongside rowdier elements like champagne showers and mosh pits—and successfully resurrected the magic of Astroworld for one thrilling day.
4. FEBRUARY 3, 2019: SCOTT STEALS THE (HALFTIME) SHOW. Once again Super Bowl Sunday proved a fortuitous day for Scott, who enlivened an otherwise underwhelming Atlanta halftime show headlined by Maroon 5. Introduced by SpongeBob SquarePants—the response to a viral internet campaign to feature the Nickelodeon cartoon character following creator Stephen Hillenburg’s death in November—Scott performed “Sicko Mode,” his omnipresent, Grammy-nominated Astroworld single with Drake. In doing so, he became the first Houstonian to get the halftime spotlight since Beyoncé’s iconic 2016 Formation performance at Super Bowl L. This year’s performers caught some flak for taking the gig despite Colin Kaepernick’s ongoing dispute with the NFL, but Scott performed on the condition that the league would join him in a $500,000 donation to social justice organization Dream Corps. “I back anyone who takes a stand for what they believe in,” Scott said in a statement announcing the donation.
5. FEBRUARY 13, 2019: MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER OFFERS KEY TO THE CITY. Scott returned to Houston
T T O SC
for the second leg of his Astroworld tour, easily selling out the Toyota Center—just as he predicted in “Stargazing”—for an electrifying stadium show with over-the-top pyrotechnics, an inflatable astronaut, and three roller coasters. The crowd went wild when Scott brought out a special guest before closing out his set: Mayor Turner. After announcing vague plans for what we can only hope will be a new Astroworld, Turner presented Scott with a key to the city. “We owe so much to this guy for keeping Houston on the map. As the mayor of the city of Houston, I’m so proud of you,” Turner said to raucous cheers. “Because of him, we’re going to bring another amusement theme park back to the city.” And now we wait.
6. JULY 10, 2019: SCOTT IS NAMED ONE OF THE WORLD’S HIGHEST-PAID ENTERTAINERS. Call it a glow-up: Having
raked in a reported $58 million in the previous 12 months, Scott earned the No. 39 spot on Forbes’s annual list after not even cracking the top 100 in 2018. Now, tied with Jackie Chan, he ranks higher than James Harden, Lady Gaga, and Eminem. He's still not the highest-paid member of his famous family, though. That honor goes to none other than girlfriend Jenner, whose $170 million earnings are second only to Taylor Swift's.
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F A S C I N A T I N G A B O U T
LARRY MCMURTRY, MOVING ON (1970)
ALICIA ERIAN, TOWELHEAD (2005)
Even the Pulitzer-winning lion of Texas letters’ minor novels can be well worth the immersion thanks to passages like these: “She watched the fields turn into houses, into lots, into shopping centers, watched the cars, the red lights, heard the honking of irritated commuters, and was indifferent to it all…In Houston she felt more located than she had in weeks, and the heat didn’t matter.” Set in the early ’60s, the novel follows one of McMurtry’s more beguiling and star-crossed heroines, Patsy Carpenter— Emma Horton’s best friend here and in 1975’s Terms of Endearment—as she learns that Rice grad students can be as disappointing and ill-mannered as rodeo cowboys. If not more so.
Jasira, a Lebanese-American teen, goes to live with her father the moment her mother’s boyfriend starts giving her strange looks. In some respects, this is a fairly typical coming-of-age story: a naive but headstrong girl reckons with her blossoming sexuality. But its setting in a nameless Houston suburb (Jasira’s dad works for NASA) as Operation Desert Shield becomes Desert Storm lends added voltage to Erian’s debut novel. Middle-school taunts acquire a xenophobic edge; Jasira’s standoffish father seems far more interested in CNN than in her; and the attentions of her army-reservist neighbor curdle from creepy to criminal. She also stumbles on true Texas hospitality in some improbable places.
SIGMAN BYRD, SIG BYRD’S HOUSTON (1955) “Don Segismundo,” one amigo called the 1940s–’50s Houston Press newspaperman and namesake of Sig’s Lagoon, the record store in Midtown. Byrd haunted long-vanished districts like Catfish Reef and Vinegar Hill, prying eyepopping anecdotes out of characters saddled with nicknames like Slopchest and Pillhead. Long out of print but a priceless investment, this compilation of his newspaper columns bears witness as the sleepy burg Byrd so loved was fading fast and going global. “To us who know her well, this is the most dramatic city in time,” he wrote, “for she changes constantly, growing at once more beautiful and more hideous each day, nightly becoming more seductive and faithless, becoming, before our very eyes, a white-towered megalopolis of the world of tomorrow.”
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ever mind a bayou-riddled answer to Ulysses, Houston has yet to produce a literary soul with sufficient inspiration and talent to view the city as a muse à la Charles Dickens’s London, Saul Bellow’s Chicago, or Raymond Chandler’s L.A. It’s more a lack of motivation than raw material; in a rough draft of Houston’s most-desired occupations, writer falls well short of surgeon, rodeo announcer, petroleum engineer, traffic/weather reporter, or strip-club DJ. But that may yet change. Worthwhile books about Houston tend to be equally sprawling and gritty; the latest—and, arguably, the best—was published just a few months ago. —CH R I S GR AY
LANCE SCOTT WALKER, HOUSTON RAP TAPES (2013)
BRYAN WASHINGTON, LOT (2019)
This interview-packed companion to Walker and photographer Peter Beste’s book-length photo essay Houston Rap probes the roots of the Bayou City’s signature sound in forensic detail. More than 40 personalities reflect on the neighborhood beefs, highschool MC battles, and long-ago gigs at clubs like Rhinestone Wrangler that made it all possible. Stars like Bun B, Paul Wall, and Willie D have their say, but it’s often those deeper in the shadows who offer invaluable insight: DJ Screw’s childhood friend Shorty Mac, and pivotal promoter MC Wickett Crickett (R.I.P.), to name two. Recalls South Park Coalition founder K-Rino, “I [once] had to battle cats on the East Coast just to prove Houston had rap skills.”
Even now America’s top literary gatekeepers can’t quite fathom how Houston could ever be more than pickup trucks and oil money. Washington, a 25-yearold Kentucky native, might help them get over that for good. Raw and poignant, fiction in name only, these 13 stories teem with hustlers, dealers, brawlers, immigrants, ballplayers, and other keenly rendered characters—a multiethnic mélange of uneasy families and ad hoc communities. Washington imagines a blooming culinary paradise that treats its kitchen hands like chattel, and a dynamic metropolis whose constant “molting” leaves plenty of poverty in its wake. His Houston is as confoundingly cruel as the real thing, and as alluringly vital.
MCMURTRY: LIVERIGHT PUBLISHING ERIAN: SIMON & SCHUSTER WALKER: UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS PRESS WASHINGTON: PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE BYRD: VIKING BOOKS
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oing in, new arrivals to the city need to know this: Reducing the musical legacy of Houston, as sprawling and polyglot a city as they come, to a mere five albums is obviously futile. Start with these, don’t forget to visit with talking poets like Guy Clark and Lightnin’ Hopkins along the way, and kick off the inevitable afterparty with late Lake Jacksonian Selena’s perfectly bidi-bidi-bom-bom Amor Prohibido. —CH R I S GR AY
BOBBY “BLUE” BLAND, TWO STEPS FROM THE BLUES (1961)
TOWNES VAN ZANDT, LIVE AT THE OLD QUARTER, HOUSTON, TEXAS (1977)
This, one of R&B’s all-time great heartbreak albums, also stands as arguably the crown jewel in the catalog of Duke-Peacock Records, the twin Houston labels run by the intimidating, controversial Don Robey. House bandleader Joe Scott’s sumptuous horn charts on standout cuts such as “Cry, Cry, Cry,” “Lead Me On,” and “I Pity the Fool” create a doleful portrait of betrayal and disillusionment that nonetheless offers a sliver of deliverance. Although the songs credited to Robey more than likely issued from his in-house musicians, Two Steps confirmed easygoing Memphis crooner Bland as a lion of the blues all the same, even though he rarely tapped into such vivid anguish again.
Later on the well-born, troubled troubadour— who haunted mid-’60s Houston joints like the Jester Lounge—would have his share of off nights, but not this July 1973 evening in the shadow of the old Harris County Courthouse. The foundation of Townes’s formidable legend is here (“Loretta,” “Lungs”), as are lighthearted Dylanesque rap “Fraternity Blues” and the immortal “If I Needed You.” The room was packed, the A/C was out, and the crowd noise was minimal. It’s just Townes, his guitar, and, for once, a minimum of his demons—save the ones already lurking in these exquisite songs.
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ZZ TOP, ELIMINATOR (1983)
Most of the bearded Bayou City trio’s fanbase will probably swear their ’70s output is superior, apparently tone-deaf to the tonguein-cheek brilliance of this MTV-conquering juggernaut. The difference is disco: With its robo-bass and punched-up drums, Eliminator hangs up a giant mirror ball; Tres Hombres and the like are stuck behind roadhouse chicken wire. Pop-cultural ubiquity hasn’t lessened the rush of its relentless singles— “Legs,” et al.—but aficionados know the real party lies in deeper cuts like the wacky “TV Dinners” or naughty-naughty “I Got the Six.” As a more gonzo but equally locked-in alternative, 2012’s La Futura is a gas, too.
LIL’ TROY, SITTIN’ FAT DOWN SOUTH (1998)
SOLANGE, WHEN I GET HOME (2019)
Despite its fat local rap credentials— appearing are two Geto Boys, all of the Botany Boyz, and a passel of Screwed Up Click alumni—this album would be practically forgotten if not for “Wanna Be a Baller,” freeway-perfect fluff that cruised straight into Billboard’s Hot 100. Troy, an aspiring southside mogul who scarcely appears on his own album, wrote the song but left Yungstar, Lil’ Will, Fat Pat, H.A.W.K., and Big T (who sang that sky-high hook) to weave their rhymes around a clever “Little Red Corvette” sample; Prince reportedly liked it so much he never asked for his rightful take. Four of its five performers have since passed away, giving “Baller” a bittersweet legacy that keeps right on ballin’. H-Town’s latest superstar homeboy, Travis Scott, included the song on his NBA 2K19 soundtrack.
Beyoncé’s younger, artier sister pours out a faded paean to the city that shaped her into the fearless, organic, multifaceted artist that she is. Certain tracks and interludes bear the names of such thoroughfares as Almeda, Binz, and Scott, swirling Third Ward geography into a slow-rolling stew of candy paint, swangas, and after-hours shenanigans. Solange and her collaborators—including Gucci Mane, Raphael Saadiq, and Scarface—subvert the stereotypical chopped-and-screwed H-Town aesthetic into something blissful and righteous, an incenseshrouded high that simply will not permit any negative vibes beyond its electric-piano beaded curtain. There’s even a song called “Not Screwed!”
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Houston nonprofits worthy of your time, money, or both By Gwendolyn Knapp, Nicki Koetting, Abby Ledoux, and Dianna Wray
HOUSTON FOOD BANK
This, America’s largest food bank, provides 122 million meals to 800,000 people each year. “To eat is a basic need, and because people have struggles doesn’t mean they don’t deserve the help to get that basic need met,” says HFB communications director Adele Brady. The organization works with more than 600 partner agencies to fight hunger and offer nutrition education in Harris and 17 other counties in southeast Texas. Its successful Backpack Buddy program sends nutritious food home with at-risk schoolchildren each Friday throughout the school year. Brady recalls one enrolled student who started flunking her exams, afraid she wouldn’t be eligible for the program in the next grade, before a teacher intervened. “You know that backpack meant a lot to her and her family.” houstonfoodbank.org
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AIR ALLIANCE HOUSTON
T h i s yea r t h e A m e r i ca n L u n g Association ranked Houston the ninth most ozone-polluted city in America. That might seem bleak, but take heart: We were once ranked sixth. The improvement is a direct effect of “very intentional efforts,” says Bakeyah Nelson, executive director of AAH, which monitors industrial polluters and advocates for protective city policies. Air quality is a matter of public health, Nelson says, especially in an oil-centric town like Houston, in a state like Texas, where there’s a shameful lack of regulation. “We believe everyone has a right to breathe clean air,” Nelson says, “and we know that the air we breathe in Houston is not as safe or as clean as it could be.” airalliancehouston.org
GALVESTON BAY FOUNDATION
Since 2009 KIND’s Houston office has matched pro bono legal aid from top law firms and corporations with unaccompanied child immigrants and refugees heading to U.S. immigration courts across southeast Texas. “Many of the children we serve are fleeing gang and narco-trafficker violence from which their governments cannot protect them,” says managing attorney Claire Doutre. “Without an attorney, it is nearly impossible for these children to navigate the U.S. immigration system. Our volunteer attorneys help ensure that the children have a fair chance to make their case for U.S. protection so that they are not returned to grave harm, or even death.” supportkind.org
BARBARA BUSH LITERACY FOUNDATION
The foundation envisions a future— specifically, 2030—when every child in Houston will be able to read at grade level and have books at home. In 2017 it raised $4.4 million, and partnered with local efforts including Harris County Public Library’s m o b i l e l i b ra ry, t h e Curiosity Cruiser; UH’s literacy research program; and Literacy Advance, which tackles adult illiteracy— one in five Houston adults can’t read. “There are a lot of organizations doing great work in our communities,” says Julie Baker Finck, the president of the foundation, which she launched with Neil and Maria Bush in 2013. “We want to invest in the innovative programs.” Speaking of innovative, the foundation’s own initiative, My Home Library, invites children to go online, pick six books, and get them for free. Last year more than 10,000 kids took part; this year the number of participants could more than double. A $30 donation covers one child’s reading wish list. bushhoustonliteracy.org
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ALL PHOTOS: COURTESY
Just because Houstonians can’t see Galveston Bay from downtown doesn’t mean it’s not vitally important to the city. “Galveston Bay is our lifeblood around Houston—we are all connected to it,” says GBF president Bob Stokes. “We all drain to it.” It’s the foundation’s mission to remind people of this truth through advocacy, conservation, education, and research programs, all aimed at promoting water quality and bay health, preserving this vital resource, and increasing public access to it. “We all have some impact on Galveston Bay whether we recognize it on a daily basis or not,” he says. galvbay.org
KIDS IN NEED OF DEFENSE, HOUSTON
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If you ask what this nonprofit does, be prepared for a laundry list of an answer. Serving more than 500,000 people a year, the organization provides Head Start, day care, and after-school programming, as well as senior-citizen care, disaster relief, and job-training and tax-preparation services for low-income Houstonians of all ages. It accomplishes all this via its eight community centers and 11 “workforce solutions” offices—BakerRipley works with the state to help Houstonians find and keep jobs. “We exist to keep Houston a region of opportunity for all,” says Jeff Kramer, vice president of fund development. bakerripley.org
FRIENDS OF TEXAS WILDLIFE
Marcia Bartos originally wanted to volunteer in a cat-and-dog shelter, but after touring a facility, she realized there was a problem: If she wasn’t careful, she’d end up adopting every pet in the place. Still wanting to help animals without exposing herself to temptation, she linked up with FTW, the Magnoliabased nonprofit that cares for injured, displaced, and orphaned wildlife with the goal of rehabilitating and releasing them. Today she’s president of the volunteerrun, donation-funded organization, whose primary goal is educating people on how to coexist with wild animals. “Every little species is vital to the environment,” Bartos says. “And, of course, every animal matters.” ftwl.org
WRITERS IN THE SCHOOLS
While everyone tells kids to use their imaginations, much of the school day is based around rote memorization and preparing for standardized tests. WITS is the antidote to that monotony, each year connecting thousands of often at-risk Houston kids with professional writers who teach them the craft in hundreds of area classrooms. “We have an active learning field for these kids—they are in charge, they are creating their own stories, they are telling them,” says WITS executive director Robin Reagler. “The kind of education we are offering is the thing kids need most at this point.” witshouston.org
INTERFAITH MINISTRIES
This all-faiths-based nonprofit has two goals: “welcoming the stranger and caring for the elderly,” says president and CEO Martin Cominsky, through refugeeresettlement and Meals on Wheels programs. Among other services, the organization serves hot meals to thousands of Houstonians every week. “The idea was that we would bring people of all faiths together, we would dialogue about issues of our faiths, and we would do service together,” Cominsky says. They’ve been at it for more than 60 years now. imgh.org
When a child is the victim of sexual abuse in Harris County, this group steps up, connecting families to psychological services and working with law enforcement, CPS, and other agencies to spare victims potentially re-traumatizing trips to the hospital or police station, thanks to its on-site medical clinic and private, childfriendly spaces for forensic interviews. “All the families that come here feel like they are protected,” says CAC communications coordinator Martha ViecoGarcia. “They find a place where they feel secure, and the support they need in those difficult moments.” cachouston.org
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WITS: COURTESY CHRISTOPHER DIAZ ALL OTHERS: COURTESY
CHILDREN’S ASSESSMENT CENTER
eight sculptures on Heights Boulevard
March 15 to December 15
JILL BEDGOOD JEFFIE BREWER JEFFREY FORSTER MEREDITH JACK PETER MANGAN MICHELLE O’MICHAEL JOHN CARROLL RUNNELS DAMON THOMAS U N D ERWRITERS*
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MIRÓ | Boulevard Realty | Marsha Dorsey-Outlaw | ENGIE North America Inc. Linda and Simon Eyles | Laura Menefee and Paula Johnson | Kelly Simmons and Keith Crane CALDER | Steve and June Barth | Donna and Jim Bennett | Braun Enterprises | Tyri and David Centanni
CO-CU RATO RS
Linda Eyles | Simon Eyles Chris Silkwood | Kelly Simmons N O N-PRO FIT SPO NSO R
Craft Chu PLLC | Anne and Ken Culotta | Greenwood King Properties | Greystar | Gus and Sharon Kopriva Sue and Ken Korthauer | Denise Martin and Anita Goff | Morris Strategic Investments, LLC | MouerHuston PC Trudy Waguespack Nelson | Newberry Architecture | Chris Silkwood and Gary Milnarich | Southern Green Builders Carol and Buddy Welter | Southern Green BuildersRobert Woods and Dr. Marylou Erbland | PrimeWay Federal Credit Union *as of print deadline
Houston Heights Association In cooperation with City of Houston
EN G I N EERI N G AN D PROJ ECT CO NSU LTANT
Gus Kopriva
more info and underwriting @ www.houstonheights.org • [email protected]
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Years ago a friend said something that stuck with us. “If you can’t find something to do in Houston,” she pointed out, “you aren’t trying hard enough.” She was right. From culture and sports to food and nature, there is something fun for everyone, big and small, young and old, virtually every minute of every day in the Bayou City. Here are 25 must-dos for families:
VISIT HERMANN PARK There is a good reason this is at the top of our list. When you consider the miniature train, the zoo, and Miller Outdoor Theatre—never mind the nearby Museum of Natural Science, Cockrell Butterfly Center, and Children’s Museum—it’s difficult to imagine a better place to take the whole family. That doesn’t even count the massive park, paddle boats on the lake, or 18-hole golf course. hermannpark.org
CHECK OUT SOME ALLIGATORS (OR CROCODILES)
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Major League Baseball remains one of the most family-friendly sporting events thanks to its leisurely pace, good food, and reasonable prices—compared to other pro sports, anyway. And Minute Maid Park is one of the nicest ballparks in America. Plus, you know, the Astros are pretty darn good. mlb.com/astros
TAKE A SUNDAY DRIVE ALONG AIRLINE
If big reptiles are your thing, consider driving south down US 288 and making a couple of stops. To get up close and personal in a controlled environment, try the Crocodile Encounter in Angleton. If you prefer to be a little closer to nature, hit Brazos Bend State Park, where you are almost guaranteed to see a few Texas gators. Either way you’ll get your fill. crocodileencounter.
Start at the soon-to-berenovated farmers markets inside the 610 Loop and make your way north. Along the way you’ll find a seemingly unending series of markets, carnival rides, food vendors, and music, much of which is centered around Houston’s Latino culture. It’s as impressive as it is fun.
com, brazosbend.org
thehoustonfarmersmarket.com
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HERMANN PARK: HERMANN PARK CONSERVANCY MINUTE MAID PARK: JOE HENDRICKSON/SHUTTERSTOCK CROCODILE: CROCODILE ENCOUNTER IN ANGLETON/FACEBOOK AIRLINE: THEHOUSTONFARMERSMARKET.COM
GO SEE THE ASTROS PLAY
Bill Archer Dog Park
GO ICE SKATING … YES, ICE SKATING Believe it or not, there are multiple spots open in Houston year-round, even when it’s 95 degrees outside. Both the Galleria and Memorial City malls boast public ice rinks. For something more traditional, take a Christmastime trip to the outdoor ICE at Discovery Green, which sets up downtown each year. You can pretend you’re on a frozen lake up north while—most of the time, anyway—going without a jacket.
ICE SKATING: DISCOVERY GREEN FACEBOOK ARCHER PARK: SHUTTERSTOCK MOUNTED PATROL: SMASH, THE HOUSTON MOUNTED PATROL HORSE FACEBOOK PAGE CHOCOLATE BAR: FACEBOOK CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL: COURTESY PHOTO RODEO: LGRAPHY/SHUTTERSTOCK
iceatthegalleria.com, iceskatememorialcity. com, discoverygreen.com
FEED THE HORSES AT HPD’S MOUNTED PATROL STABLES The Houston Police Department’s Mounted Patrol can often be seen downtown and at events including parades and festivals. The fine steeds the officers ride are cared for in stables in northeast Houston, and you can visit them. Bring carrots and apples! houstontx.gov/police/ mounted/visitors.htm
TAKE YOUR FURRY FRIEND TO BILL ARCHER OR MILLIE BUSH BARK PARK Some families have kids with four legs, and those furry family members need a chance to run free on occasion. To get the feel of being in the great wide open, Bill Archer and Millie Bush dog parks are best bets. Both are huge—20 and 13 acres, respectively—with water features and all-important washing stations, where you can clean up your pooch before she climbs back in the car. pct3.com/ dog-parks/bill-archer-dog-park, pct3. com/dog-parks/millie-bush-dog-park
INDULGE YOUR SWEET TOOTH AT THE CHOCOLATE BAR
ATTEND THE ANNUAL MCDONALD’S HOUSTON CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL
GO TEXAN ON RODEO’S OPENING WEEKEND
Our city has no shortage of great food, as you’ll soon discover. But if you want to dig into something decadent— and give the kids the thrill of their lives—make a dessert run to this wonderland, where you can go crazy with dozens of varieties of chocolate, ice cream, cake, and other magnificent treats. theoriginalchocolatebar.com
The largest children’s festival in the country is held each spring in downtown Houston, near City Hall. It features live entertainment, celebrity appearances, food, games, and more. Best of all, the event benefits Child Advocates, a nonprofit that assists children suffering from abuse and neglect. houstonchildrensfestival.com
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo lasts three weeks in March, but the opening weekend has it all: the barbecue cookoff, trail riders, rodeo parade, massive carnival, concerts, and, of course, the livestock show and rodeo itself. Plus, no one will laugh at you for wearing a cowboy hat. rodeohouston.com
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If you prefer corsets to cowboy hats, head to the beloved Ren Fest, held every October and November on grounds located about 45 minutes north of Houston. Wear a costume, dine on turkey legs, and interact with clowns, jesters, magicians, and more. texrenfest.com
TAKE PHOTOS IN THE WILDFLOWERS … BUT BE GENTLE Texas is blessed with an abundance of wildflowers each spring, particularly bluebonnets, our state flower. Houston has spread wildflower seeds along area bayous, creating a canvas of color in March and April, perfect for family photos. But remember, they’re delicate! Please tread lightly so that others can enjoy this wonderful spring bounty, too. houstontx.gov/parks
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What was once an empty waterfront is now one of the city’s biggest attractions, complete with amusement park rides, great restaurants, and yacht cruises from the dock, with live entertainment on offer throughout the year. It’s fun to just find a bench and watch the boats go by. kemahboardwalk.com
GATHER FOR STORY TIME Getting kids, especially small children, to sit still for even a few minutes can be, well, challenging. Fortunately, both the Houston Public Library and the Harris County Public Library offer fun and enlightening storytime events every week at branches across the region. houstonlibrary.org/ event-type/storytimes, hcpl.net/ category/branches/storytime
DISCOVER THE SHIP CHANNEL ON THE SAM HOUSTON BOAT TOUR The Port of Houston is an incredible feat of engineering, and you can get a glimpse of it on this popular free tour, a 90-minute ride through a rarely seen part of our city. Plan ahead, because reservations typically fill up at least three months in advance. porthouston.com/sam-houston-boat-tour
KEMAH: VISIT HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL: PORT OF HOUSTON SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTOS
GET MEDIEVAL AT THE TEXAS RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL
STROLL ALONG THE KEMAH BOARDWALK
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VISIT THE SAN JACINTO MONUMENT AND BATTLESHIP TEXAS
SAN JACINTO MONUMENT: SAN JACINTO MUSEUM OF HISTORY PRIDE: PRIDE HOUSTON SPACE CENTER: SHUTTERSTOCK TRAIN: HOUSTON AREA LIVE STEAMERS (HALS) FACEBOOK PAGE AIR TERMINAL: COURTESY
Located near the Ship Channel, this historic monument is the site of the famous Battle of San Jacinto led by General Sam Houston. You can tour the monument—the top gives an incredible view of the city—and the enormous USS Texas, which participated in both World Wars (and which needs repairs and could move soon, so hurry!). sanjacinto-museum.org
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SHOW YOUR PRIDE AT THE HOUSTON GAY PRIDE FESTIVAL & PARADE One of the largest Pride festivals in the country— featuring one of the few parades held at night—takes place annually on the fourth Saturday in June. Since the late '70s members of the LGBTQ community and other Houstonians have gathered each year to celebrate and to stand up for equality. The event attracts hundreds of thousands of revelers, including many families; the festival starts at noon. pridehouston.org
LAUNCH YOURSELF INTO SPACE CENTER For anyone who grew up in Houston, visiting the Johnson Space Center was a field trip rite of passage. Newcomers will want to be indoctrinated, too, as today NASA’s Mission Control is almost like a theme park, with tours and experiences for kids of all ages. Don’t forget: “Houston” was one of the first words spoken on the moon. spacecenter.org
RIDE A MODEL TRAIN WITH THE HOUSTON AREA LIVE STEAMERS What kid—or adult, for that matter— doesn’t like trains? A trip to visit the enthusiasts at Steamers is a particular treat. Once a month the club’s members offer “public run days,” inviting Houstonians to come take a look at, and ride, their replica model steam machines. hals.org/pubrunday.html
LEARN ABOUT HOUSTON FLIGHT HISTORY AT THE 1940 AIR TERMINAL MUSEUM This museum, located on the west side of Hobby Airport, makes use of the original, fully restored terminal and air-traffic-control tower. Not only is it a fascinating look at early flights in and out of Houston, it’s a monument to Art Deco architecture. 1940airterminal.org
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The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
GET CULTURED IN THE MUSEUM DISTRICT In addition to the wild and woolly Children’s Museum near Hermann Park, the area features sophisticated artistic gems that kids will enjoy, from the treasurepacked Museum of Fine Arts, Houston to the world-renowned Menil Collection—also a great picnic spot! mfah.org, menil.org
BE AMAZED, AND A LITTLE CREEPED OUT, BY THE WAUGH BRIDGE BAT COLONY Say ew and wow in the same breath while witnessing thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from beneath the Waugh Street Bridge each evening at dusk, off to hunt for dinner. houstontx.gov/parks/batpage.html
FIND YOUR INNER WEIRDO AT THE ART CAR PARADE Houston has always been a little different, and few events demonstrate that fact like this quirky parade, the largest event of its kind in the world. Each spring hundreds of wildly decorated vehicles drive down Allen Parkway and through downtown, wowing hundreds of thousands of Houstonians. It is a spectacle like no other. thehoustonartcarparade.com
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HIT THE COAST WITH A TRIP TO GALVESTON Living less than an hour away from the ocean is not something to take for granted. Galveston is an absolute treasure of an island, and it’s fun to make the trip just to swim in its warm waters. But the beach is far from the town’s only offering: Family-friendly attractions include the Pleasure Pier, Schlitterbahn Waterpark, Moody Gardens, the Galveston Railroad Museum, and the Historic Strand. galveston.com
EXPLORE THE MANY FACETS OF BUFFALO BAYOU Buffalo Bayou stretches all the way from west Houston to Galveston Bay, traversing some of the most interesting and beautiful parts of the city. Whether you take a pontoon boat ride through the East End, walk or kayak around Buffalo Bayou Park, wander the trails in Memorial Park and the Houston Arboretum, or ride bikes through Terry Hershey Park, there are near-endless ways to enjoy Houston’s most scenic waterway. buffalobayou.org, memorialparkconservancy.org, pct3.com/ parks/all-parks/terry-hershey-park
MFAH: CC/FLICKR/LAWRENCE'S LENSES GALVESTON: VISIT HOUSTON BUFFALO BAYOU: VISIT HOUSTON SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTOS
Buffalo Bayou Pedestrian Bridge
Two magical locations to find specialty, hard-to-find, and handmade toys in Houston!
Big Blue Whale
On the Park
Heights
Kingwood
237 W. 19th St Houston, TX 77008 (832)-623-6990
1271 Kingwood Dr Kingwood, TX 77339 (281)-361-6453
www.bigbluewhaletoys.com
Houston’s Favorite Shops
www.maryandmosstx.com
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TRAIL TOWN
YOU’ VE STRETCHED OUT YOUR HAMMIES, LEASHED UP YOUR GOOD DOGS, AND ARE READY TO CRANK OUT THE MILEAGE. BUT WHERE TO? T HE SE A RE OUR FAV OR I T E HOUSTON-AREA TRAILS.
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GEORGE BUSH PARK HIKE & BIKE TRAIL
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TERRY HERSHEY PARK HIKE & BIKE TRAIL
BARKER RESERVOIR
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1. GEORGE BUSH PARK HIKE & BIKE TRAIL
3. MEMORIAL PARK TRAILS
Don’t get scared if you hear heavy artillery—that would be the shooting range at the Energy Corridor–area park, located inside the Barker Reservoir. It just makes the place all the more Texan, right? Runners can get away from the park’s bike-centric paved path by opting for a loop around the lush grass near the epic Millie Bush Dog Park—named, of course, for Barbara and George H.W. Bush’s deceased springer spaniel—or the soccer complex (hello, bathrooms).
The park’s crushed-granite Seymour Lieberman jogging trail, now an honest three miles, is a runner’s low-impact dream, complete with workout track, brand-new bathrooms, and watering stations. Hardcore trail runners and mountain bikers love the seven-mile “Ho Chi Minh Trail,” which winds along Buffalo Bayou in all its overgrown glory—and yes, there are snakes. Elsewhere hardcore cyclists use the paved picnic area as a practice loop, and hikers flock to the peaceful Arboretum for three miles of shady, indigenous plants, bats, birds, and even a gator.
2. TERRY HERSHEY PARK HIKE & BIKE TRAIL Located along Buffalo Bayou between the Beltway and Highway 6, this incredible gateway to Houston nature boasts some of our greatest hike-andbike trails. The Quail Trail—a shady, lightly hilly paved path stretching from Eldridge Parkway to Wilcrest—is perfect for both walkers and cyclists, and eventually connects to George Bush Park.
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10+ MILES
4. BUFFALO BAYOU PARK What’s not to love about our hike-and-bike trail nestled up against downtown, home to the Waugh Bat Colony, the Cistern, the Johnny Steele Dog Park, a skate park, and one of the best restaurants in town, The Kitchen at the Dunlavy? This destination is as popular among bikers, runners, and walkers as among lovebirds on dates and families exploring the great outdoors. All will want to stop for selfies with the skyline and the park’s amazing public art.
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MAP AND ICONS: AMY KINKEAD
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8. LAKE HOUSTON WILDERNESS PARK TRAILS It’s not actually located on Lake Houston, but the 5,000-acre, city-owned park—30 minutes north of downtown, off US 59—does have its own lovely waterway, Peach Creek, and offers an abundance of natural, leafy, out-and-back trails. Start with the Ameri-Trail, a nearly eight-mile roundtrip run that delivers all the wilderness you can handle, plus beachy pit stops along the creek. If you’d like, turn around at the halfway point—which, fair warning, is easy to miss. Watch out for rogue mountain bikers muddier than Rambo in First Blood. $3 entry fee.
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Built on top of a former Missouri-Kansas-Texas railroad line, this path, also called the MKT Trail, connects the Heights to UH Downtown. Daily, hundreds of walkers, joggers, cyclists, and bike commuters take advantage of the vital shortcut the path offers between the East and West ends of the White Oak Bayou Greenway. But there are other reasons to appreciate it—fireflies near Lawrence Park, a safe walk home from Postino or Target, and an easy hop onto the Paul Carr Jogging Trail on Heights Boulevard among them.
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The park’s two-mile, crushed-granite Marvin Taylor Exercise Trail will take you past the Houston Zoo, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and Miller Outdoor Theatre (hello, short hill repeats), under the shade of beautiful, moss-adorned oaks for much of the way. Want more distance? Hop across Main Street to run the adjacent three-mile Rice University Loop—if you like dream homes, it’s one of the most magical trails in all of Houston.
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5. BRAYS BAYOU HIKE & BIKE TRAIL HEIGHTS TRAIL: FERREZFRAMES/SHUTTERSTOCK HERMANN PARK: ALL STOCK PHOTOS/SHUTTERSTOCK
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This is the longest of all greenways in Houston—soon clocking in at 35 miles— making it perfect for long-distance runners and cyclists. There’s much to see along the way. In the east you’ll pass gems including the historic Gus Wortham Golf Course, The Orange Show, and Gragg Park. In the Third Ward, connect to the Columbia Tap hike-and-bike trail and ride through the TSU campus. And come 2020, you’ll be able to do a dim sum bike tour of Asiatown, thanks to the trail’s westward expansion.
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6. WHITE OAK BAYOU HIKE & BIKE AT TC JESTER PARK
10. SOUTHBELT HIKE & BIKE TRAIL
TC Jester Park in Oak Forest is a great launching point for running along White Oak Bayou. There’s a dog park, the EZ-7 skatepark, baseball fields, a frisbee golf course, and loads of locals getting their steps in on the park’s mile-long granite trail. Take that north, then hop onto the paved trail—watch out for cyclists—and you’ll hit the Watonga Bridge Bat Colony (1.5 miles away). Head south to connect to the Heights Hike and Bike Trail (8 miles away).
Never heard of this south Houston gem? The out-and-back path follows a flood-retention gulch through Clear Brook, with loads of coastal birds and three shady parks along the way. It’s an ideal trail for families with youngsters, dog walkers, or anyone doing long-slow-distance training. Start at Dixie Farm Road Park, where you’ll find bathrooms, covered exercise equipment, a shaded path for walkers, and a retention basin perfect for peeling off quick mile repeats, but do bring your own water bottle if you’re going long.
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TIPS FOR RUNNERS, BIKERS, WALKERS, AND E V E R Y O N E E L S E , R E A L LY.
DO THIS, NOT THAT
along with you. A post-run Topo—complete with natural electrolytes—never hurts, either.
LIGHT ’EM UP, UP, UP
LISTEN UP.
There’s no Texas law prohibiting cyclists or pedestrians from blasting Oingo Boingo at cochleaeviscerating levels, but without at least one free ear, you could be oblivious to the truck about to hook a right in front of you.
SURPRISE! BIKERS HAVE TO OBEY TRAFFIC LAWS. Despite our ever-expanding network of protected trails, any cyclist logging miles is going to end up playing Frogger among the four-wheeled big boys once in a while—which is why cyclists are legally required to stop at lights, signal lane changes, and generally follow the rules of the road.
FOR NEW RUNNERS, IT AIN’T A RACE We have two words for the newbies planning to start with an impromptu half marathon up and down Buffalo Bayou: shin splints . Yes, that sharp, radiating pain is often caused by doing too much, too fast. To build mileage safely, start with two to four 20- to 30-minute runs per week, adding in a single run every second week.
HYDRATE!
This is important year-round, but as things heat up in Houston, not drinking enough water is plain dangerous. An hour before a run or walk, down a tall glass of H20; if you plan to run more than 30 minutes, it’s a good idea to bring a bottle
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Running at night? You’ll want a headlamp. And if you’re on two wheels, state law requires, at minimum, a white light affixed to your front handlebars and a red reflector on the rear.
PEDESTRIANS DON’T ALWAYS HAVE THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. A catchy, if untrue, phrase. Pedestrians must use a designated crosswalk to have the full protection of the law. If you don’t, prepare to hear the horn.
TRACK YOUR PROGRESS
Always looking for a new trail to try? The Strava app collects crowd-sourced running, walking, and biking routes all across Houston (and beyond). It’s also a social network, meaning you can share your progress and follow that of your friends, too.
KEEP CALM AND GET THAT MASSAGE Soothe sore muscles post-run with a foam roller or, to recover from a really rough session, splurge on a deep-tissue massage at Oasis Massage Salon in Asiatown. You’ll be back on the trail in no time.
GOOD GEAR MAKES THE DIFFERENCE You don’t need to drop a paycheck on the latest carbon-fiber, Bluetoothconnected socks, but getting fitted for running shoes at a local shop will go a long way toward preventing painful, expensive injuries. Bikers should buy—and actually wear—a helmet with the brand-new MIPS certification for maximum brain protection.
AMY KINKEAD
BY M O RGA N K I N N E Y
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Essential Neighborhoods WHETHER OR NOT YOU LIVE THERE, THESE ’HOODS—FULL OF GREAT OPTIONS FOR DINING, SHOPPING, AND MORE—DESERVE A VISIT.
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NCE HOME TO LITTLE MORE THAN A FEW LUMBER MILLS, this master-planned community just north of Houston today houses more than 120,000 residents in suburban cul-de-sacs that wind through a still-intact thicket of loblolly pines, yaupons, and oaks. Don’t listen to everything Arcade Fire sings about their idyllic suburban hometown, however; civilization penetrates the forest, with a walkable downtown, real-deal shopping, recreation, and plenty of not-chain restaurants popping up all the time. E A T / D R I N K
There are several clusters of eateries in the sprawling neighborhood to our north. If you’re visiting the Waterway District for a concert, movie, or shopping, make a point to visit chef Austin Simmons’s Tris (triswoodlands.com) and splurge on poached crab with kimchi pancakes or the mean ribeye. Other Waterway musts include Sorriso Modern Italian Kitchen (sorrisoitaliankitchen. com), which serves up classic Italian in a warm, modern dining room, and Schilleci’s New Orleans Kitchen (schillecis.com), where the smoked crawfish dip and duck-and-sausage gumbo taste even better in the easygoing, friendly environs. At Hughes Landing on Lake Woodlands, there’s a Truluck’s (trulucks.com) right on the water, with picture windows that perfectly complement the menu
of seafood favorites. Steps away, Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chão (fogodechao.com) offers the full churrasco experience. And at the critically acclaimed Broken Barrel (brokenbarrelwoodlands.com), chef Hilda Ysusi serves up the hits: a caviar, fried chicken, and champagne board, and snacks like crispy olives and daily popcorn. Finally, along Research Forest Drive, you’ll find burgers and homemade-gelato shakes at Fielding’s Wood Grill (fieldingswoodgrill.com), tasty breakfast and brunch options at an outpost of mega-popular chain Snooze: An A.M. Eatery (snoozeeatery. com), and excellent brisket sandwiches at Dosey Doe Breakfast & BBQ (doseydoe.com/bbq).
AERIAL: SHUTTERSTOCK/THIERRY DEHOVE MARKET STREET: JULIE SOEFER/VISIT HOUSTON BROKEN BARRELL: COURTESY
S H O P / P L A Y The Woodlands is famous for its trees and walkability, so it’s no surprise that its primary shopping destination features the same draws. The upscale, open-air Market Street (shopatmarketstreet. com) is home to a slew of stores, from Kendra Scott to Kate Spade, plus fitness studios, spas, and eateries with primo patios. Definitely stop in Maggie’s (maggies.com)—one of the rare local shops in the development, a 30-plus-year-old treasure trove of giftable goods that range from rustic to refined—and Thomas Markle (thomasmarklejewelers. com), a beloved family jeweler with an impressive Rolex inventory. Little Woodlanders will enjoy Teacups and Tadpoles (uniquekidswear.com), a charming
children’s boutique offering clothes, stuffed animals, and old-fashioned toys. Grown-ups can fulfill their DIY fantasies at Artisanat (artisanatdecorstudio.com), a home decor shop with an eclectic mix of global gifts and local art that regularly offers crafting workshops. Locals flock to Riva Row Boathouse (281-210-3965) for year-round kayaking; the beloved Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion (woodlandscenter.org) for outdoor concerts from big-name acts; and The Game Preserve (gamepreservehouston.com), where a $15 day pass provides unlimited, coin-free access to an entire roster of retro games—Mortal Kombat, Ms. Pac-Man, Frogger, and Donkey Kong among them.
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Sugar Land
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UGAR LAND WAS BUILT BY THE IMPERIAL SUGAR C OMPANY—hence that sweet name—and sits a straight shot down US 59 from the hustle and bustle. It’s also one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas, not to mention one of the most affluent, and we understand why: There’s never a shortage of things to do here. Add in the significant south and southeast Asian communities that add a diverse flavor to the usual suburban offerings, and you’ll definitely want to hop in the car and explore. E A T / D R I N K
First things first: There are awesome sweet shops here. Head to 85ºC Bakery Cafe (85cbakerycafe.com) to peruse the vast selection of Taiwanese pastries—definitely get the coconut tarts and red bean buns; Red Berries Bake Shop (redberriesbakeshop.com) for Indian-influenced cookies and cakes; and Cinnamon’s Bakery (281-242-7655) for pecan rolls and sticky buns the size of the Jolly Green Giant’s fist. On the savory side, there’s Mochi Sushi’s (mochisushisugarland. com) deep maki list and robata offerings; The Rouxpour’s (therouxpour.com) can’t-
miss Three-Napkin Po’Boy and seafood gumbo with sausage; and Singapore Cafe’s (832532-6277) tasty seafood yee mee with Cantonese egg noodles in chicken broth and nasi lemak (rice in coconut milk). Other popular haunts include Azuma on the Lake (azumaonthelake.com), where $2 nigiri and $6 martini happy hour specials are best enjoyed on the lakeside patio; super-chill Vino & Vinyl (vinovinyl.com) at City Walk, where a glass of Pinot Noir pairs perfectly with a Paul Simon spin, and Big Ben Tavern (thebigbentavern. com), where the burgers are thick and juicy and the beers are cold.
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(twentytwofiftyinteriors. com), a “boutique for the home” that’s worth visiting year-round but simply not to be missed at Christmastime. For some R&R, indulge in a mani-pedi at Venetian Nail Spa (venetiansalon.com). For a fun evening out, head to The Smart Financial Centre (smartfinancialcentre.com), a beautiful theater that draws national acts—this fall brings Nickelodeon kid star JoJo Siwa, Styx, and comedian Bill Maher—and, a Christmas tradition, the Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker. To keep the kids busy, head to the Sugar Land campus of the Houston Museum of Natural Science (hmns.org), which boasts a saltwater aquarium and dinosaur-fossil “dig pit,” or the Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center (childrensdiscoveryfb. org), where little citizens can learn about municipal matters in a childsized city called Kidtropolis, USA.
HOUSTONIA | THE NEWCOMER’S GUIDE 2019
ALL IMAGES COURTESY
S H O P / P L A Y Anchored by trusty standbys like Dillard’s, Barnes & Noble, and the Cheesecake Factory, the indooroutdoor shopping center that is First Colony Mall (firstcolonymall.com) is an exercise in nostalgia for the American mall’s glory days. Catch a whiff of the perpetually baking pretzels at Auntie Anne’s, and pretend, for a moment, that it’s 1996, the year the mall first opened. Outside find a well-kept Sephora (sephora.com), blowout mecca Drybar (thedrybar. com), and Scout & Molly’s (scoutandmollys.com), a franchised boutique stocking brands like Cupcakes and Cashmere, Trina Turk, and Spiritual Gangster. The area’s hub for seasonal events and community gatherings, Sugar Land Town Square (sugarlandtownsquare.com), is also home to more shops, including mother-daughter-owned Twenty-Two Fifty Interiors
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E A T / D R I N K This neighborhood is home to some of the most triedand-true restaurants in the city. Head to Lucille’s (lucilleshouston.com) for excellent Southern comfort food; you can’t go wrong with the crab cake benedict at brunch or the smothered duck with a side of hot rolls at dinner. Satisfying similarly severe hunger pangs, the Turkey Leg Hut (theturkeyleghut.com) is the place for a—you guessed it—turkey leg stuffed with spicy dirty rice. Got a big group in tow? There is something to please everyone at Barnaby’s Café (barnabyscafe. com), one of eight locations of the homegrown chain, and always a good choice for burgers, sandwiches, salads, and meatloaf.
Hermann Park, great for a picnic
Dak & Bop (dakandbop. com) specializes in baos filled with spicy fried chicken and beef bulgogi, along with Korean double-fried chicken coated in chile sauces, guaranteed to have you coming back for seconds. Next door, MF Sushi (mfsushiusa.com) serves artistically prepared sashimi and nigiri that showcase chef Chris Kinjo’s serious knife skills. We recommend splurging on one of his omakase dinners. Fine grab-and-go options include tacos and burritos from Bodega’s Taco Shop (bodegastacoshop.com), grilled cheese from Pinewood Cafe (hermannpark.org) inside Hermann Park, and paninis and healthy wraps from Green Seed Vegan (greenseedvegan.com).
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HERMAN PARK: VISIT HOUSTON CHRIS KINJO: KATE LESUEUR ZOO: STEPHANIE ADAMS
MF Sushi brings the magic.
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Visit the elephants at the Houston Zoo.
FFICIALLY FORMED IN 1997, this district is a destination in its own right, and not just for its 19 museums (11 of which are free, all the time), all located within walking distance of one another. The area's restaurants, tree-lined streets, superlative park, and bayou-hugging trails deserve a visit, too. It's no wonder there's been an insurgent wave of townhomes and mid- to high-rise apartments here. Parking is increasingly scarce, but no matter—just hop on the light rail or any of the multiplying bike shares to get to where you’re going.
Museum gift shops might be the best-kept secret of Houston’s retail scene. All the major players in this cultural hub have markets to match, and most are cleverly curated treasure troves of giftable goods from the quaint and quirky to the downright scholastic— many collections in the shops are paired to ongoing exhibits. Such is the case at the Museum of Fine Arts Shop (mfah.org/shop), which has even earned a nod from The New York Times for its thoughtful inventory that’s included stuffed corgis and rubber wellies during Tudors to Windsors, and paintbrushshaped pens and tiny, framed masterpiece magnets for Vincent van Gogh: His Life in Art. It’s no surprise that the Houston Museum of Natural Science Store (museumstore.hmns.org) is ground zero for everything dinosaur-related—there’s an entire “paleo” gift category— and other science-y souvenirs, like kitschy plush organs (the cutest spleen you’ll ever see) and a periodic-elements tie. There’s more to this shop, though, including high-end NEWCOMER’S GUIDE 2019
gifts like diamond earrings and one-of-a-kind decor from around the world. At the shops at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (crafthouston.org), offerings include a cache of unique, handmade jewelry, and at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (camh.org/visit/shop), you’ll find, among other gems, garments printed with works by exhibiting artists. But it’s the Czech Center Gift Shop (czechcenter.org/ccmhgiftshop) that takes the cake for the most uncommon finds, like complex marionettes and antique crystal goblets. Of course, the museums themselves are world-renowned—don’t miss the MFAH’s Icons of Style: A Century of Fashion Photography, on view through September 22. And you can—and should—bask in the neighborhood’s natural beauty at Hermann Park (hermannpark.org), a 445acre conservancy with pedal boats, public art, and gorgeous gardens, located next door to the wildly popular Houston Zoo (houstonzoo.org). | HOUSTONIA
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ET’S PUT IT THIS WAY: You know you’re in the ritzy part of town when even the neighborhood strip mall has been designated an art deco landmark. Indeed, this tony Inner Loop enclave claims some of Houston’s most famous and high-powered residents, and sheer demand has clustered the finer things into a single neighborhood. So whether it’s a white-linen lunch, top-notch nail job, or just the opportunity to gawk at the masterfully designed manses along Kirby Drive, the wonders here are plenty.
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ONG A WASTELAND OF OFFICE TOWERS AND PARKING LOTS, downtown has been revitalized. Houstonians now peer from the light rail and marvel at wonders such as a world-class theater district, a booming bar scene, and an ever-expanding roster of food halls and eateries. You can waste whole evenings people-watching from the balcony bars overlooking Main Street, gather for Thursday blanket bingo at Market Square Park, cheer on our championship sports teams, or treat yourself to a night at the opera—it’s a choose-your-own adventure game with no losers. E A T / D R I N K Score a table at Xochi (xochihouston. com), James Beard winner Hugo Ortega’s love letter to Oaxaca, and don’t forget to order the rabbit-stuffed, ash-black tortilla infladita de conejo. Nearby, inside Discovery Green, there’s The Grove (thegrovehouston. com)—founded by another local Beard Award winner, Robert del Grande—which serves Southern fare, burgers, and leafy lunches inside its treehouse-like space. For special occasions, one splendid idea is to head to Quattro (fourseasons. com/houston) at the Four Seasons for seafood risotto and a New York strip. Or try chef Dawn Burrell’s inspired soul food at Kulture (avenidahouston. com)—we adore the shrimp and grits. To cram Mutt City’s varied flavors into one wild meal, head to the new Finn Hall (finnhalltx.com), a food hall offering spicy Sichuan, Gulf Coast seafood, burgers,
tacos, Vietnamese street food, and an art deco cocktail lounge under one roof. Other quintessential downtown experiences include lunch-only Treebeards (treebeards.com) for red beans and rice, crawfish étouffée, and jambalaya; Irma’s Original (irmasoriginal. com) for Houston pioneer Irma Galvan’s carne guisada; and Frank’s Pizza (frankspizza.com) for a late-night slice. If you like bar crawls, this is the neighborhood. Start at MKT Bar (mktbar.com) on one of its vinyl and wine nights, then move to Cottonmouth Club (cottonmouthhouston.com) for a round of shots before finishing the night at tequila and mezcal haven The Pastry War (thepastrywar.com). Up for more? Find the door that opens up to ultra-cool speakeasy Tongue-Cut Sparrow (tonguecutsparrow.com).
PONDICHERI: SHANNON O'HARA SHOPPING CENTER: COURTESY WEINGARTEN REALTY XOCHI: COOPER + RICA FINN HALL: STRATA VISUALS
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E A T / D R I N K A Deco dream: River Oaks Shopping Center
It’s no surprise that some of the most gorgeous restaurants in town are in the River Oaks area— none, perhaps, more beautiful than Brenner’s on the Bayou (brennerssteakhouse.com), nestled next to Buffalo Bayou, where patrons sit surrounded by foliage and a waterfall while savoring their filet mignon. Inside the dramatic dining room at local landmark Tony’s (tonyshouston.com), the see-and-be-seen crowd nibbles on pasta with tableside-shaved black truffles and dessert soufflés. The beautifully appointed Roka Akor (rokaakor. com) is home to true Kobe wagyu. And the modern, rustic Bosscat Kitchen & Libations (bosscatkitchen-houston. com) serves new American fare, best enjoyed in its whiskey room. State of Grace (stateofgracetx.com) offers a mashup
of Houston favorites including Mexican dishes and seafood— you simply have to spend a happy hour slurping down local and imported oysters in its pretty space. Meanwhile, Ouisie’s Table (ouisiestable.com), a cheerful temple of Southern cuisine serving up favorites such as grilled lamb chops and quail with wild boar sausage, is where you’ll want to celebrate your next birthday. Houstonians love brunch; River Oaks residents, even more so. Tiny Boxwoods (tinyboxwoods. com) serves up delights including chorizo-and-egg pizza on its sunny patio; Pondicheri (pondicheri. com), home to James Beard Award semifinalist chef Anita Jaisinghani, offers masala eggs and dosas in her eclectic dining room; and a’Bouzy (abouzy.com) is the place for champagne toasts and chicken Florentine crêpes while doing some serious people-watching.
S H O P / P L A Y Shopping is a sport in posh River Oaks, where luxury goods are a dime a dozen. For proof, start at River Oaks District (riveroaksdistrict.com), the upscale outdoor shopping and dining destination with a store directory that reads like a page out of Vogue: Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Cartier, Hermès, Tom Ford, Canali, Stella McCartney. Come for the window shopping, stay for the most luxurious movie theater experience you’ll ever have at iPic (ipic. com), the swanky cinema with private pods of plush, reclining seats and full tableside service—cocktails, too—at the push of a button. If old-school is more your speed, catching a flick at the historic, art deco River Oaks Theatre (landmarktheatres.
com/houston) is like timetraveling to 1939. And while you’re visiting River Oaks Shopping Center, hit Saint Cloud (shopsaintcloud.com) across the street for a chic closet update. With its massive inventory, luxury emporium Tootsies (tootsies.com) is a local institution that hosts trunk shows and designer appearances throughout the year. Other must-sees include à bientôt (abientot713.com), a neighborhood staple for baubles and monogrammed everything; Sid & Ann Mashburn (sidandannmashburn. com), a preppy his-and-hers destination with on-site tailoring; and Maida’s (maidas.com), the go-to for bespoke cowboy boots for over a century now.
FOREVER XXI: SHANNON O'HARA DISCOVERY GREEN AND TOYOTA CENTER: VISIT HOUSTON SAINT CLOUD: JENN DUNCAN
S H O P / P L A Y Traditional brick-and-mortars are few and far between in this part of town, which is actually a benefit at Forever 21 (forever21.com). Downtown’s two-story standalone location is consistently less crowded and chaotic than its nearby mall counterparts. The absence of a developed downtown retail scene proved to also be an opening for LAUNCH (shopvisithouston.com), a rotating incubator for homegrown designers. What began as a pop-up boutique for Super Bowl crowds in 2017 turned out to have serious staying power: Two years later LAUNCH has,
well, launched the careers of more than 100 local makers, who have gone on to open stores of their own and land major distribution deals. There’s plenty of opportunity for recreation here, too, including Discovery Green (discoverygreen.com), the 12-acre urban park that regularly hosts art installations, flea markets, concerts, and theme nights at the roller rink. When it’s too hot, go for a spin at RYDE (letsryde.com), downtown’s first indoor cycling studio, or get an up-close look at James Harden’s beard during a Rockets game at the Toyota Center (toyotacenter.com). THE NEWCOMER’S GUIDE 2019
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ON’ T GO NEAR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WITHOUT AN APPETITE. Yes, Houston’s first suburb— established 1896—is now one of its major culinary epicenters, with ice houses and bistros and brasseries sprouting along historic, tree-lined boulevards. Both families and young professionals flock here to enjoy it all, and the residential neighborhood has grown even busier as a new round of spiffy retail developments pops up among the craftsman bungalows, turn-of-the-century mansions, and, as of late, townhomes.
Big Blue Whale, for the young and young-atheart
the block is the always-poppin’ Heights Bier Garten (heightsbiergarten.com)—get the house-made Szechuan peppered beef sausage to go with your brew. White Oak Drive is lined with excellent options, including Coltivare (agricolehospitality.com/coltivare) for Italian-American fare and gin and tonics in the herb-filled garden; Pho Binh (phobinh.com) for pho, banh mi, and fresh-squeezed juices; and Tacos-a-Go-Go (tacosagogo.com) for some of the best breakfast tacos in town. Other area musts include Street Food Thai Market (streetfoodthaimarket. com) for spicy basil-fried rice and pad khing; Pinkerton’s BBQ (pinkertonsbarbecue. com) for brisket with a side of bourbon; Morningstar (832-806-1115) for coffee and sea salt donuts; and Sweet Bribery (sweetbribery.co) for the city’s fanciest ice cream.
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Instantly recognizable: The Heights
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E A T / D R I N K This hot foodie neighborhood boasts not one, but two spots for trying the cuisine of James Beard Award winner Justin Yu: Better Luck Tomorrow (betterlucktomorrowhou.com), offering creative cocktails alongside nimbly prepared, elevated bar chow on its bustling patio, and the newish Squable (squabletime. com), a casual, Euro-centric restaurant serving up Dutch baby pancakes and a hip wine list. The area around 23rd and Shepherd streets has fast become a grub hub. Devour a plate of shakshuka at the neighborhood outpost of Snooze: An A.M. Eatery (snoozeeatery.com), try the delicious, mouth-numbing pad krapow gai at Singaporean spot Sing (cravesing.com), grab the stellar fajitas al carbon at Ford Fry’s Superica (superica.com), or let loose with the fried chicken or tasty Pharmacy Burger at Fry’s next-door concept, La Lucha (laluchatx.com). Just down
HOUSTONIA | NEWCOMER’S GUIDE 2019
Heights Mercantile (heightsmercantile.com) is the neighborhood’s coolest hangout, an unorthodox low-rise development with trendy tenants and contemporary architecture to match. If boho-chic Favor the Kind (favorthekind.com) is the cool girl on the block, Rye 51 (rye51.com) is the refined gentleman, thanks in part to an in-store whisky bar. Women’s boutique Saint Lo (saintloboutique.com) is full of upscale, hand-picked inventory, while neighboring Lemon Laine (lemonlaine.com) is the destination for all-natural beauty, from Goop supplements to an “oil bar” for custom-blended facial serum. The clean-beauty theme continues upstairs at Paloma (paloma-beauty. com), a sleek, minimalistic space that might just be the prettiest—if not the only—nontoxic nail salon you’ve ever seen. There’s more retail therapy to be had over on W. 19th Street, home to boutique favorites such as Manready Mercantile (manready.com), which is chock-full of gifts any boyfriend would love, and Emerson Rose (shopemersonrose.com),
where you’ll find flirty sundresses and T-shirts that pay homage to Dolly Parton. Retropolis (713861-1950) is the neighborhood’s vintage emporium of choice, while Big Blue Whale (bigbluewhaletoys.com) attracts the young and youngat-heart with a sprawling collection of hard-to-find, classic, and whimsical toys. The Wilde Collection (wildecollection.com) is a bizarre, thrilling addition to any shopping spree. Inside you’ll find a meticulously documented collection of specimens, oddities, and curios—the stuff of Wednesday Addams’s dreams. Think of it like an obscure, macabre museum where all the exhibits are for sale. Want to get your exercise on? Follow the paved, two-way, seven-mile Heights Hikeand-Bike Trail, and you’re apt to spot birds, butterflies, and lightning bugs. If you’re more of an indoors person, try a bounce class at DEFINE Heights (heights.definebody. com)—45 minutes of fat-burning, low-impact interval training on a mini trampoline will feel more like recess than a workout.
LA LUCHA: BRIAN KENNEDY BIG BLUE WHALE: JENN DUNCAN HOMES: VISIT HOUSTON
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N E W C O M E R'S
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From Curiosity to Wisdom
A recognized leader in PK-12 independent school education, The John Cooper School has provided a challenging education in a caring environment for over 30 years. Located on 43 wooded acres in The Woodlands, theU Rvision formative F E AT I N G Bset E STforth S E L Lin I N the G N OV E L I ST years remains the same today - to teach students to become critical and creative thinkers, effective communicators, responsible citizens and leaders and lifelong learners.
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F E AT U R I N G B E ST S E L L I N G N OV E L I ST FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2019
Getting Schooled
BY L AU R A FURR M E R IC AS
LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT FIT FOR YOUR CHILD? THESE EXCELLENT HOUSTON-AREA PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE A GREAT PLACE TO START.
⬉ TOP-RATED: ST. JOHN'S SCHOOL
42
HOUSTONIA | NEWCOMER’S GUIDE 2019
N E W C O M E R'S
TOP of the CLASS :
GU I D E : T H E B E S T S C H O O L S
THE BEST HOUSTON-AREA PRIVATE SCHOOLS
N
COURTESY ST. JOHN'S SCHOOL
Competitive and pricey, Houston’s top private schools know their worth. But with college-style courses, small class sizes, high test scores, and many students advancing to top-rated universities, it’s no surprise families are lining up to score a coveted spot.
SPORTS
AVERAGE SAT / ACT
STUDENTTEACHER RATIO
HIGHESTGRADE TUITION
A
B+
1480 / 33
7:1
$30,515
B+
A+
A-
1420 / 32
10:1
$25,000
A+
A+
A
B
1350 / 30
7:1
$28,525
Coed
A+
A
A+
B
1380 / 32
8:1
$27,960
Catholic
Female
A+
A
A+
A+
1320 / 30
9:1
$18,850
1,773
n/a
Coed
A+
A+
A-
B-
1340 / 30
9:1
$28,075
9 to 12
1,238
Catholic
Male
A+
A
A+
A
1340 / 31
11:1
$21,750
Willowbend
6 to 12
525
Jewish
Coed
A+
B-
A+
B+
1320 / 31
8:1
$21,030
Episcopal High School
Bellaire
9 to 12
733
Episcopal
Coed
A+
B+
A+
A-
1270 / 29
8:1
$27,025
10
St. Thomas High School
Rice Military
9 to 12
590
Catholic
Male
A+
A
A+
A-
1270 / 29
11:1
$18,180
11
Second Baptist School
Tanglewood
PK to 12
1,010
Baptist
Coed
A+
NA
A
A
1280 / 29
9:1
$22,000
12
St. Thomas’ Episcopal School
Meyerland
PK to 12
666
Episcopal
Coed
A+
A
A-
B
1240 / 29
6:1
$19,900
13
Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart
Hunter’s Creek Village
PK to 12
703
Catholic
Female
A+
A-
A-
B-
1250 / 29
8:1
$26,000
14
The Post Oak School
Bellaire
PK to 12
514
n/a
Coed
A+
A+
B+
C+
1270 / 30
15:1
$27,678
15
British International School of Houston
Energy Corridor
PK to 12
1,120
n/a
Coed
A+
B+
B
C
1330 / 30
5:1
$24,675
16
St. John XXIII College Preparatory
Katy
9 to 12
444
Catholic
Coed
A+
A
A-
B+
1280 / 28
7:1
$16,990
17
The Woodlands Christian Academy
The Woodlands
PK to 12
655
Christian
Coed
A+
B+
A+
A
1230 / 27
7:1
$23,170
18
Houston Christian High School
Northwest Houston
9 to 12
470
Christian
Coed
A+
B+
A
B
1240 / 28
11:1
$25,510
19
School of the Woods
Hilshire Village
PK to 12
288
n/a
Coed
A
B
B+
B-
1270 / 29
7:1
$19,244
20
Incarnate Word Academy Downtown
9 to 12
354
Catholic
Female
A+
A
A+
B
1150 / 26
8:1
$14,150
21
The Woodlands Preparatory School
The Woodlands
K to 12
221
n/a
Coed
A+
A
B
C+
1220 / 26
6:1
$22,564
22
Providence Classical School
Northwest Houston
PK to 12
405
n/a
Coed
A
A
B+
B-
1230 / 27
9:1
$13,548
23
Cypress Christian School Willowbrook
K to 12
650
Christian
Coed
A
A-
A
A
1250 / 29
11:1
$16,800
24
Logos Preparatory Academy
Sugar Land
K to 12
497
Christian
Coed
A
A-
B
B-
1290 / 28
4:1
$8,300
25
Northland Christian School
North Chase Park
PK to 12
531
Christian
Coed
A
A
A+
A-
1190 / 28
9:1
$15,900
CLUBS AND STUDENT BODY ACADEMICS DIVERSITY ACTIVITIES
GRADES
STUDENTS
RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION
K to 12
1,258
n/a
Coed
A+
B
Piney Point Village
PK to 12
1,423
n/a
Coed
A+
The Awty International School
Spring Branch East
PK to 12
1,689
n/a
Coed
4
The John Cooper School
The Woodlands
PK to 12
1,267
n/a
5
St. Agnes Academy
Sharpstown
9 to 12
921
6
The Village School
Briarforest
PK to 12
7
Strake Jesuit College Preparatory School
Sharpstown
8
The Emery/ Weiner School
9
SCHOOL
NEIGHBORHOOD
1
St. John’s School
Upper Kirby/River Oaks
2
The Kinkaid School
3
Data comes from Niche's 2020 Best Private High Schools in the Houston Area list and schools' websites.
NEWCOMER’S GUIDE 2019
| HOUSTONIA
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N
N E W C O M E R'S
DISTRICT LINES :
GU I D E : T H E B E S T S C H O O L S
T H E B E S T H O U S T O N - A R EA ISDs
It’s not uncommon to move to Houston—or even within Houston—for the public schools. Some of the best in the state and the country are based in Houston-area independent school districts—and if you’re lucky (or savvy) enough to live in the right spot in the right neighborhood, you’re in. We’ve compiled everything you need to know about the area’s top-performing districts, as well as our largest, central district, HISD. Plus, where you’ll find the best magnet programs, happiest teachers, safest campuses, and more. PERCENT PROFICIENT IN READING
PERCENT PROFICIENT IN MATH
75,428
87
90
94
1230 / 28
15:1
6,087
90
94
99
1230 / 28
16:1
20
14,932
88
93
97
1190 / 27
16:1
A+
24
21,585
86
91
98
1230 / 28
16:1
A+
9
5,266
87
93
99
1160 / 25
14:1
46
41,819
83
86
95
1210 / 27
17:1
58
59,764
81
87
93
1210 / 27
16:1
A
87
114,868
80
85
93
1170 / 25
16:1
Humble
A
46
41,224
79
83
93
1140 / 26
15:1
Montgomery
A
9
8,296
85
90
92
1160 / 26
16:1
Klein ISD
Klein
A
52
51,810
77
84
92
1160 / 26
15:1
PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
CITY
OVERALL NICHE GRADE
TOTAL SCHOOLS
NUMBER OF STUDENTS
1
Katy ISD
Katy
A+
67
2
Friendswood ISD
Friendswood
A+
6
3
Tomball ISD
Tomball
A+
4
Pearland ISD
Pearland
5
Barbers Hill ISD
Mont Belvieu
6
Clear Creek ISD
League City
A
7
Conroe ISD
Conroe
A
8
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
Houston
9
Humble ISD
10
Montgomery ISD
11
GRADUATION RATE
AVERAGE SAT/ACT
STUDENTTEACHER RATIO
12
Fort Bend ISD
Sugar Land
A
75
74,146
80
84
94
1190 / 27
17:1
13
Lamar Consolidated ISD
Rosenberg
A-
41
30,829
80
86
94
1150 / 25
16:1
14
Deer Park ISD
Deer Park
A-
14
13,185
77
87
88
1120 / 25
16:1
15
Spring Branch ISD
Houston
A-
49
35,079
68
75
89
1190 / 27
16:1
16
Magnolia ISD
Magnolia
A-
15
12,816
74
82
93
1150/25
15:1
17
Alvin ISD
Alvin
B+
27
23,587
72
79
93
1100/24
15 :1
18
La Porte ISD
La Porte
B+
12
7,713
79
86
92
1090 / 23
16:1
19
Huffman ISD
Huffman
B+
4
3,443
74
79
99
1130 / 25
16:1
20
Crosby ISD
Crosby
B+
9
5,992
70
79
92
1120 / 24
15:1
21
New Caney ISD
New Caney
B
19
14,677
65
72
93
1080 / 23
15:1
22
Pasadena ISD
Pasadena
B
69
56,282
68
76
88
1070 / 23
15:1
23
Goose Creek Conolidated ISD
Baytown
B
29
23,926
67
76
90
1070 / 23
16:1
24
Galena Park ISD
Houston
B
24
22,784
70
80
87
1060 / 22
16:1
25
Alief ISD
Houston
B
46
46,376
61
70
90
1050 / 23
14:1
Houston
C+
287
216,106
63
71
79
1100 / 26
19:1
N OT Houston ISD RAN K ED
LARGEST DISTRICTS
BEST PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS IN HISD
BEST DISTRICTS FOR SPORTS
BEST DISTRICTS FOR TEACHERS
BEST DISTRICTS FOR AP/IB PROGRAMS
1 HOUSTON ISD
1 CARNEGIE VANGUARD HIGH SCHOOL
1 ALVIN ISD
1 BARBERS HILL ISD
1 KATY ISD
2 CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS ISD
2 MICHAEL DEBAKEY HIGH SCHOOL FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONS
2 CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS ISD
2 TOMBALL ISD
2 FRIENDSWOOD ISD
3 KINDER HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS
3 KATY ISD
3 FRIENDSWOOD ISD
3 TOMBALL ISD
BEST DISTRICTS FOR MAGNET PROGRAMS
BEST DISTRICTS FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS
3 KATY ISD
SAFEST DISTRICTS
BEST DISTRICTS FOR DIVERSITY
DISTRICTS WITH THE BEST TEACHERS
1 FRIENDSWOOD ISD
1 FORT BEND ISD
1 FRIENDSWOOD ISD
1 CLEAR CREEK ISD
1 CLEAR CREEK ISD
2 BARBERS HILL ISD
2 CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS ISD
2 MONTGOMERY ISD
2 GALVESTON ISD
2 SPRING BRANCH ISD
3 TOMBALL ISD
3 ALVIN ISD
3 BARBERS HILL ISD
3 HOUSTON ISD
3 GALVESTON ISD BEST
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HOUSTONIA | NEWCOMER’S GUIDE 2019
BEST DISTRICTS FOR ALTERNATIVE SPECIAL EDUCATION
1 KATY ISD 2 PEARLAND ISD 3 CLEAR CREEK ISD
Data comes from Niche.com’s 2020 Best School Districts in the Houston Area list. Only independent public school districts were considered.
Newcomers Guide Ad (Regis School) 2019.pdf
C
1
7/11/19
1:54 PM
Houston's only all-boys 3 Pre-K–8th grade school
M
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Educating Scholars and Gentlemen in the Sacred Heart tradition since 1991
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Schedule your visit today! www.theREGISschool.org
Building bridges to the future
STARTS HERE.
At St. Francis Episcopal School, learning goes beyond the classroom walls. For eighth-graders, a field trip to the Port of Houston and the city’s bayou system opened their eyes to the math behind the history, evolution, and current state of our city’s waterways. They then put equations
into
practice,
producing
scale-model cranes and presenting their mathematical functions to an audience. It’s just one of the many ways our teachers bridge the gap between abstract concepts and real-world applications— bringing learning to life.
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS AGE 2 THROUGH GRADE 11.
SIGN UP FOR A TOUR
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N E W C O M E R'S
N
GU I D E : M U S T - T R Y D I S H E S
12
O H -S O - H O U STO N DI S H E S TO H E L P YO U G O F R O M U N I N I T I AT E D TO I N I T I AT E D I N N O T I M E In a city that boasts more than 10,000 restaurants, with a roster of cuisines spanning the Gulf Coast to Ghana and back again, where the heck does a Newstonian start? These quintessentially Houston dishes—Tex-Mex, barbecue, Vietnamese, Viet-Cajun, West African, Chinese, and more—will go a long way toward explaining where we’re coming from. (Hint: It’s everywhere). Curated by Timothy Malcolm
Beef Fajitas at
COOPER + RICCA
THE O R IGI NAL N I N FA’ S ON NAV IG AT ION
Since 1973, when Houston’s own Mama Ninfa Laurenzo reportedly cooked up the very first fajitas, diners across the country have been salivating at the sound of skirt steak sizzling on a scalding-hot skillet. If you’re a fan of this classic dish, the landmark where the dearly departed queen of H-Town Tex-Mex once cooked—now in the capable hands of executive chef Alex Padilla—is a must-visit, although be prepared to wait. Fill up a housemade tortilla with that superior steak, sautéed onions, peppers, pico de gallo, and guacamole, and wash it down with a Ninfarita.
e a st e nd | ninfas.com NEWCOMER’S GUIDE 2019
>>
| HOUSTONIA
47
Glazed Doughnut at SH I PLE Y D O - NUTS
There are other comers, to be sure, but in Houston the Shipley glazed is, and always will be, the gold standard. You know what happens when you bite into one of these iconic treats, a go-to since 1936: Sugary flakes and moist dough melt together and dissolve into an irresistible nectar. It’s as if you’re eating the sweetest cloud in the heavens.
multiple locations | shipleydonuts.com
Shrimp and Grits at LU C I LLE ’ S
L u x u r i o u s a n d d ow n - h o m e — that’s how we’d describe both this temple of Southern food and its signature dish: plump Gulf shrimp and spicy andouille over buttery, luscious stone-mill grits with todie-for broth, plus tomatoes and pickled onion that add tang to every bite. You’ll get an extra bowl for the tails, and if your fingers don’t get a little dirty, you’re doing it wrong. Make sure to add an order of thick, hot yeast rolls with soft whipped butter.
museum district | lucilleshouston.com
Viet-Cajun Crawfish at C R AWF IS H & NO O D LE S
Trong Nguyen, owner of this überpopular spot, has found the perfect alchemy of Cajun crustacean and Vietnamese spice profiles in his signature dish, Vietnamesestyle crawfish. He cooks the mudbugs in an ultra-spicy stock, then tosses them with garlic, butter, and other crave-worthy ingredients for a crazy-crowd-pleasing result. Never had the pleasure? Watch your neighbor twist, pull, pinch, and suck; go to town; repeat. Oh, and remember: Mild-style will numb your mouth. Medium-style is for the pros. Spicy-style is a few years away, newbie.
bellaire | crawfishandnoodles.com
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HOUSTONIA | NEWCOMER’S GUIDE 2019
N E W C O M E R'S
N
GU I D E : M U S T - T R Y D I S H E S
Chopped Ribeye Banh Mi at RO O STA R
Banana Pudding at
PIZZ I TO L A’ S B A R - B - C UE If you want tasty ribs, there are few better places than this unassuming barbecue shack off Shepherd Drive. But make a little room for that allimportant post-barbecue treat: a heaping helping of creamy, custardy banana pudding, topped with banana slices and, naturally, fresh Nilla wafers. Crush up the wafers with your spoon to make every bite perfect. You’re welcome.
rice military | pizzitolas.com
This iconic Vietnamese sandwich—featuring some form of protein, a rich spread such as mayo or butter, cilantro, pickled vegetables, and jalapeño, on a crunchy baguette— is arguably Houston’s most ubiquitous dish. It gets the subtlest of makeovers at this modern counter-service spot with two locations. Unusual varieties include smoked salmon and avocado, but for our money, the chopped ribeye cannot be beat. The beef’s juices blend just enough with the creamy garlic aioli inside a light yet durable roll that ably holds it all together. You might just order a second one.
spring branch, uptown | myroostar.com
Deshebrada Tacos at
BROTH ERS TAC O HO U SE If there’s a long line at a taco shop— and said line moves fast—then congratulations, you’re in the right place. At both breakfast and lunch, the pros at this neighborhood staple serve up delicious tacos very quickly. Try the deshebrada version—slow-cooked, juicy brisket on a thick flour tortilla.
east end | facebook.com/brostacohouse
Nancy Cakes at
LUCILLE'S AND SHIPLEY'S: COURTESY CRAWFISH & NOODLES: MAX BURKHALTER ROOSTAR: COURTESY PIZZITOLA'S: MONICA FUENTES CARROLL NANCY'S HUSTLE: JENN DUNCAN
N AN CY’ S H USTLE Why do these unassuming corn cakes taste so good? It’s a delicious mystery. At this hip East End hangout where small plates, latenight burgers, and David Bowie go together perfectly, these lightand-airy silver dollars are served with smoked trout roe and housemade, cultured, whipped butter. Put a little bit of everything on your fork, breathe deeply, and experience one of the most blissful bites in all of H-Town.
east end | nancyshustle.com
NEWCOMER’S GUIDE 2019
| HOUSTONIA
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N E W C O M E R'S
GU I D E : M U S T - T R Y D I S H E S
Fried Chicken at F R E NC HY ’S
For the quintessential Houston fastfood meal, drive through this local staple and get a fresh-fried drumstick and thigh, which will be delivered in a wax-paper-lined box, accompanied by Cajun-spiced fries, a fluffy buttermilk biscuit, and a huge jalapeño. The chicken—juicy, flecked with pepper, and crispy as all get-out—has Beyoncé’s full endorsement. We can’t argue. The place has been doing it right since 1969.
multiple locations | frenchyschicken.com
Jollof Rice at
TA STE O F NIG E R I A Thanks to Houston’s Nigerian American population—one of the largest, if not the largest, in America—we get to enjoy Nigerian cuisine at restaurants across the city. And the signature offering is always fragrant jollof rice, cooked in tomatoes and marrying smoky and spicy notes. This cool Uptown dinner spot lays claim to Houston’s best version of the dish, especially when paired with tender goat or flaky tilapia.
uptown | tasteofnigeria.us
Soup dumplings at S AR AH PL ACE
Xiao long bao—or soup dumplings— exemplify the thrills of this elegant Chinese restaurant, one of the finest purveyors of the cuisine in the city. For obvious reasons, the dumplings must be eaten carefully—everyone has their own method for nibbling through the exterior to get to the delicate, smoky pork broth within. Pour some vinegar and ginger sauce over top for added zing.
chinatown | 713-995-0985
Beef Rib at
50
the heights | pinkertonsbarbecue.com HOUSTONIA | NEWCOMER’S GUIDE 2019
FRENCHY'S: KATE LESUEUR PINKERTON'S: COURTESY
PI N KERTO N ’ S B AR BECU E Killen’s Barbecue’s beef rib is justly popular, but there’s a smoky renaissance happening in Houston barbecue, and Grant Pinkerton’s Flintstonian hammer of beef is leading the charge. The rich, peppery bark surrounding succulent, tender, perfectly smoked flesh is nearly impossible to stop eating. The regular brisket is no slouch either, by the way.
A C U P O F
CLUTC H C I T Y bars for
For the Ti
e:
ki Devote
VOODOO QUEEN You’d never guess it from the intimidatingly eerie exterior mural, but there’s an incredibly hospitable Second Ward bar on the other side of the wall. These days this once and future dive is run by the same team that brought Moon Tower Inn to the East End, which means the drinks and food are excellent. Look for fried oyster po-boys, huge plates of chicken and waffles, a well-stocked jukebox, and all the crazy daiquiris—hand-blended or pre-mixed in the bar’s many frozen drink machines—you can stand. Yeah, you’re going to want to bring home that commemorative plastic cup. 322 Milby St. | damngoodfoodcoldassbeer.com
og Lover: For the D
KIRBY ICE HOUSE
types of Newstonian
This pup-friendly Upper Kirby spot stretches across a full acre, so you’ll just about always find an open picnic table or spot in the shade. In addition to a lot with 300 parking spaces (yes!), you’ll also find a lineup of 51 beers on tap. Monday brings all-day happy hour from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m., while the bar opens at 11 a.m. on Saturdays to coincide with the Eastside Farmers Market next door, mixing up batches of cheap bloody marys and mimosas until 5 p.m.
BY G WE ND O LYN K N A P P
YOU’RE LIVING IN HOUSTON N O W, B U T Y O U ’ R E S T I L L Y O U — A N O E N O P H I L E , A S P O RT S FA N , A P R O U D P U P - PA R E N T WHO DOESN’ T GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT YOUR BEST FRIEND— AND YOU’RE IN THE MARKET F O R A N E W FA V O R I T E B A R . F I N D T H E R I G H T W AT E R I N G HOLE FOR YOU AMONG T H E S E FA V O R I T E S — S O M E S TA N D B Y S , S O M E N E W C O M E R S T H E M S E LV E S .
3333 Eastside St. | kirbyicehouse.com
er:
ple Watch
eo For the P
DOUBLE TROUBLE
This bar, located across from venerable live-music venue the Continental Club, pulls double duty as a coffee shop, in case you need a pick-me-up beyond a vodka–Red Bull. Previously an abandoned storefront, it features both an inviting interior space and a nice little patio, perfectly situated for watching Midtown’s constant parade of humanity pass by. Don’t miss the frozen bourbon-and-ginger-beer cocktail, the Suffering Bastard. 3622 Main St. | doubletroublehouston.com
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ive Team:
For the D
WARREN'S INN This old standby shows off its divebar credentials like war wounds: It’s open 365 days a year, patrons look at you askance if you order anything other than whiskey or beer (although a few folks get away with a glass of wine), the mostly female bar staff takes guff from no one, and there’s an indoor gazebo—of course there is—where only non-regulars sit. For decades Carolyn Wengar’s bar has anchored Market Square downtown, an eternal H-Town classic. 307 Travis St. | 713-247-9207
VOODOO QUEEN: MONICA FUENTES CARROLL BETTER LUCK TOMORROW: SHELBY TSIKA JULEP: JULIE SOEFER CAMERATA: MAX BURKHALTER ALL OTHERS: COURTESY
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ccerFor the So
PITCH 25 BEER PARK
The Kirby Group and everyone’s favorite Houston Dynamo, Brian Ching, have combined their might to bring us this soccer-focused EaDo spot, located mere blocks away from BBVA Compass Stadium. Boasting 100 beer taps, some classic cocktails, and a couple of frozen drinks, as well as an impressive bar-grub menu from executive chef Brandon Silva, this is the place to watch games on one of 42 TVs—or practice your own kick on the indoor pitch. 2120 Walker St. | @pitch25beerpark
:
ipster:
stemaker
For the Ta
BETTER LUCK TOMORROW At this casual yet refined Heights hot spot, a renowned duo—chef Justin Yu and partner/cocktail slinger Bobby Heugel—let loose in their interpretation of pub grub. Dishes such as chilled octopus slices in a Tunisian hot sauce and the better-than-Whataburger Party Melt are best enjoyed on the casual patio, along with a seasonal Pimm’s Cup in a tall, icy glass. If it’s raining out, boozy Hurricanes come half-off.
For the H
GRAND PRIZE BAR A favorite of both service-industry personnel and cool kids of every stripe, this grungy, youthful Museum District hangout is the place for creative, cuttingedge cocktails from the fertile minds of our city’s young upstart bartenders. Bonus: The old-school jukebox is stocked with local hits and classic deep cuts alike. 1010 Banks St. | 713-526-4565
544 Yale St. | betterlucktomorrowhou.com
nt:
or Ge teel Lady n e G e th For
JULEP
Alba Huerta is the consummate hostess, so it makes sense that she’d run this elegant bar off Washington Avenue, which focuses on—what else?—its eponymous cocktail. Pick from a variety of different juleps and a multitude of bourbons, and whatever you try, make sure to pair it with fresh oysters on the half shell, which come beautifully arranged on ice. 1919 Washington Ave. | julephouston.com
:
erfest Fan
ktob For the O
KING'S BIERHAUS
This Heights-area sequel to the Pearland original focuses on handcrafted cuisine, especially sausages, as well as German and Austrian beers—hundreds of them, in fact. Enjoy yours in the backyard, swaying in a hammock chair to a German band. Kids, by the way, love this family-friendly spot. 2044 East T.C. Jester Blvd. | kingsbierhaus.com
ine Geek:
For the W
CAMERATA
The wine list may not be the longest in town, but it’s expertly curated and packed with variety. Don’t be surprised if one of the smart, engaging bartenders encourages you to try something a little outside your comfort zone—whether that means a rare Georgian orange wine or an unfiltered bottle—to go with your order of thinly sliced prosciutto. Ask about the Montrose bar’s weekly tastings with visiting winemakers. 1834 Westheimer Rd. | pauliesrestaurant.com/camerata
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Since 1954, we’ve made it our mission to provide the best possible care for kids in more than 40 specialties. From common ailments to the most complex conditions, we use the latest research, trials and technology to drive our treatments, measure our outcomes and lead to our next breakthroughs.
It’s our specialty.
Schedule online: texaschildrens.org
© 2019 Texas Children’s Hospital. All rights reserved. BRAND_154271_19
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Healthy in Houston W H E R E T H E
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F I N D
V E R Y
B E S T
M E D I C A L A N D
D E N TA L
P R O F E S S I O N A L S I N
T O W N.
READ ON FOR THE CITY’S:
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TOP DOCTORS 2019 ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY
Sandeep Markan Ben Taub Hospital 713-873-2860
Sriram S. Nathan Memorial Hermann 713-704-4300
CLINICAL GENETICS
Naureen Alim Houston Methodist Hospital 281-888-9870
Maria Matuszczak UT Physicians/ Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-7288
Manuel Munoz Reyes Memorial Hermann 713-790-0841
Hope Northrup UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516
Ashish Asawa Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center 713-328-0828 Niti Yogesh Chokshi Vital Allergy & Asthma Center 713-820-6380 Serge De Golovine McGovern Allergy and Asthma 713-661-1444 David Bruce Engler The Allergy Clinic 713-263-3810 Aries Caesar Gavino McGovern Allergy and Asthma 713-661-1444 Lyna Kit Lee McGovern Allergy and Asthma 713-661-1444 Brian Edward Tison Vital Allergy & Asthma Center 713-820-6380 Dat Quoc Tran Innovative Allergy Clinic 281-701-5457
ANESTHESIOLOGY Joshua B. Cohen Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center 832-355-2666 Lane Joseph Cooper Houston Methodist West Hospital 832-522-0215 Chris D. Glover Texas Children’s Hospital 832-824-5800 Nadia Hernandez UTHealth 713-500-6279 Ranu R. Jain UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-7288
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Ana Lisa Ramirez-Chapman UTHealth 713-500-4472 Ashvin Karra Reddy Texans Anesthesia Associates 713-400-2990
CARDIOLOGY Mahboob Alam Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-2545 Prakash Balan UTHealth 832-325-7211 Jie Cheng Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center 713-541-9955 Ihab Hamzeh Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-2545 Marwan F. Jumean Memorial Hermann 713-704-4300 Biswajit Kar Memorial Hermann 713-704-4300 Nasser Mohamad Lakkis Ben Taub Hospital 713-873-2078 Carmen Waleska Landrau Adorno Houston Methodist Hospital 281-452-5200 Mehran Massumi Kelsey-Seybold Clinic 713-442-0427 Ajith P. Nair Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-2545
HOUSTONIA | NEWCOMER’S GUIDE 2019
Robert Lee Salazar Texas Cardiology Associates of Houston 281-358-1950 Samar Santosh Sheth Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center 713-797-1111 Richard Warren Smalling UT Physicians 832-325-7211 Poyee Pansy Tung UTHealth 832-325-7216 George Antoine Younis Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center 713-790-0400
CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY Joseph Stapleton Coselli Baylor College of Medicine 832-355-9910 Anthony Lopez Estrera Memorial Hermann 713-486-5100 Manish Kanubhai Patel Memorial Hermann 713-704-4300 Hazim Jawad Safi Memorial Hermann 713-486-5100
CHILD PSYCHIATRY Matthew Hinthorn Your Family Psychiatrist - NW Houston 281-849-4080 Jonathan Robert Stevens The Menninger Clinic 713-275-5400
COLON AND RECTAL SURGERY Amit Kumar Agarwal UT Physicians 713-486-4740 Erik Paul Askenasy UT Physicians 713-486-4670 Bidhan Das UTHealth 713-486-4600 Rachel Joy Ellsworth Houston Methodist West Hospital 832-522-3240 Eric M. Haas Houston Methodist Hospital 713-790-0600 Lisa Marie Haubert Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-2262 Scott Thomas McKnight Colon and Rectal Clinic of Houston 713-790-9250
CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE Bela Patel UTHealth 832-325-7222
DERMATOLOGY Melissa Anne Bogle Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Center of Houston 713-622-1720
N E W C O M E R'S
Harry Dao Baylor College of Medicine Department of Dermatology 713-798-6131 Reena Patni Jogi Village Dermatology 713-952-8400 Tracy Michelle Katz The Pearl Dermatology 713-497-1417 Mary Margaret Moore Sienna Dermatology 832-342-9700 Neda Nosrati Village Dermatology 713-952-8400 Jennifer Dawn Peterson The Pearl Dermatology 713-497-1417 Angel Sun Puryear Sienna Dermatology 832-342-9700 Carina Ann Wasko Baylor College of Medicine Department of Dermatology 713-798-6131
EAR, NOSE, AND THROAT Ronda E. Alexander Memorial Hermann 713-486-5000 Ron Joseph Karni UTHealth 713-486-5000 Arjuna Bryan Kuperan My Houston Surgeons 713-955-1863 Nelson Eddie Liou Houston Methodist Hospital 713-798-5900
GU I D E : T O P D O C T O R S
Sancak Yuksel UT Physicians/ Children’s Memorial Hermann 713-486-5000
EMERGENCY MEDICINE Moath Amro Ben Taub Hospital 713-873-2626 Erik Antonsen Ben Taub Hospital 713-873-2626 Jesus Manuel Arroyo Memorial Hermann 713-704-4060 Sarah Kathleen Bezek Ben Taub Hospital 713-873-2000 Vishal Demla Memorial Hermann Hospital Emergency Room 713-704-4000 Pratik Bharatkumar Doshi UTHealth 713-500-7397 Moises Gallegos Ben Taub Hospital 713-873-2626 Spencer Corey Greene Ben Taub Hospital 713-873-2385 Shane Paul Jenks Ben Taub Hospital 713-873-2626 Samuel David Luber UTHealth 713-500-7882 Robert Daniel McArthur Ben Taub Hospital 713-873-2626
Soham Roy UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 713-486-5000
James Joseph McCarthy Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center 713-500-7181
Masayoshi Takashima Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-5900
Ngoc-Anh A. Nguyen Houston Methodist Hospital 713-790-3311
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Malford Tyson Pillow Ben Taub Hospital 713-873-7045
Zeba Barlas Fuqua Medical Center 713-433-2500
Samuel Josiah Prater McGovern Medical School at UT 713-500-7882
Maria Grace Berdayes-Bowles Millennium Physicians 281-359-2080
Natacha Isadora Qureshi Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital 713-842-7831 Kunal Madhav Sharma UTHealth 713-500-7863
ENDOCRINOLOGY, DIABETES, AND METABOLISM Vinita Bhagia Diagnostic Clinic of Houston 713-797-9191 Diana Engineer Desai Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center 713-337-2190 Fareed Elhaj Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center 713-795-0770 Rocio Alexandra Harbison Advanced Endocrinology & Diabetes Clinic 713-796-9466 Medhavi Jogi Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center 713-795-0770 Jyothi Mamidi Juarez Partners in Endocrinology 713-929-0043 Philip Robert Orlander UT Physicians 832-325-7161 Andres Efrain Splenser Endocrinology Clinics of Texas 281-779-4243
FAMILY MEDICINE Adan Alvarez Memorial Hermann Medical Group Copperfield 281-550-9005
Peter Christopher Bigler Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Group 281-210-1200 David Gould Memorial Hermann Medical Group Cypress 281-890-6446 Katherine Holzman Memorial Hermann Medical Group Cypress 281-890-6446 Matthew Scott Horsfield Baylor Family Medicine 713-798-7700 Lillian Howard Memorial Hermann Medical Group Cypress 281-890-6446 Deepa Iyengar UT Physicians 832-325-6500 Monica Ghosh Kalra MHMG Physicians at Sugar Creek 281-325-4100 Camille M Leugers Baylor Family Medicine 713-798-7700 Rolando Rene Maldonado Midtown Family Medicine 713-933-0501 Diana Medina Luminous Health and Wellness 832-417-0523 Robin Michelle Moore Vitality Family Medicine 713-524-9300 Carlos Americo Moreno UT Physicians 832-325-6500 Knic Corpuz Rabara Baylor Family Medicine 713-798-7700
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Bal Reddy UT Physicians 832-325-6500 Graham Victor Segal UT Physicians Family Medicine Clinic 832-325-6500 Mohamad Anis Sidani Baylor Family Medicine 713-798-7700 Irvin Sulapas Baylor Family Medicine 713-798-7700 Jeremy Wei-Kiang Szeto Sugar Land Physicians Center 281-242-6900
GASTROENTEROLOGY Suneal Kumar Agarwal Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-0950 Harshinie Chamindika Amaratunge Greater Houston Gastroenterology 713-795-4444 Brooks Dickson Cash UTHealth 713-704-3450 Johanna Leigh Chan Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-0950 Svetang Vijay Desai Gastroenterology Consultants 281-481-9400 Andrew Wright Dupont UTHealth 713-704-3450 Steven Jay Frachtman Houston Methodist Hospital 713-441-3372 Nadim Jafri Memorial Hermann Medical Group Southwest Gastroenterology 281-725-5970 Manreet Kaur Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-0950 Neha Mathur Houston Methodist Hospital 713-441-3372
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Dang Minh Nguyen Greater Houston Gastroenterology 713-795-4444
Holly Michelle Holmes Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center 713-486-5150
Branden Hsu Texas OncologyHouston Memorial City 713-467-1722
Jachi George Sun Digestive Health Associates 713-468-2030
Anita Bagri Major Harris Health System 713-814-4505
Devesh Mahesh Pandya Oncology Consultants 713-600-0900
George E. Taffet Baylor College of Medicine 832-355-5590
Yuval Raizen Oncology Consultants 713-600-0900
GENERAL SURGERY William Edward Fisher Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-2262 Lillian Shiow-Yu Kao Memorial Hermann, Texas Medical Center 832-325-7125 Saleem Ahmed Khan UTHealth 832-325-7125 Michelle Kathleen McNutt Memorial Hermann 713-486-7560 Michael Maurie Reader Houston Methodist Hospital 713-790-4830 Bradford Glenn Scott Ben Taub Hospital 713-873-2000 Brett David Solomon Baylor CHI St. Luke’s Medical Group 281-637-8920 George Van Buren Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-2262 Kathryn Sowell Agarwal Baylor College of Medicine 713-873-4885
GERIATRIC MEDICINE
GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY Christine Mihee Lee Texas OncologyThe Woodlands 281-296-0365 Joseph Anthony Lucci UTHealth 713-486-1170
Rachel Leigh Theriault MD Anderson - Katy 713-563-9600 Douglas Scott Tyler UT Medical Branch Health 832-505-4000
Larissa Alejandra Meyer MD Anderson Cancer Center 713-792-6810
INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Celestine Shauching Tung Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Hospital Pavilion For Women 832-826-7500
Rene Anthony Amaya Pediatric Wound Care & Laser Specialists 713- 464-9776
HAND SURGERY Nicholas Arthur Fiore II Fiore Hand and Wrist 281-970-8002 Kyle Ross Woerner Memorial Hermann 713-486-7500
HEMATOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY
Angela Catic Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center 713-794-8015
Putao Cen Memorial Hermann Cancer Center, Texas Medical Center 713-704-3125
Carmel Bitondo Dyer UT Physicians Center for Healthy Aging 713-500-3921
Veena Chandrakar Independent Physician Veena Chandrakar, MD, PA 832-377-3260
HOUSTONIA | NEWCOMER’S GUIDE 2019
Kathy Sam Oncology Consultants 713-600-0900
Maria Estel Carlini Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital 713-777-7751 Obiageli Clare Obijiofor Memorial Hermann First Colony Hospital 281-265-0760 Souad Sleiman Youssef Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital 713-339-9949 Gabriel Marcelo Aisenberg UTHealth 713-566-4550
INTERNAL MEDICINE Amee Amin UTHealth 713-704-9389
N E W C O M E R'S
Ketti Awad Houston Methodist Primary Care Group 713-363-8055
Stacey Rubin Rose Baylor College of Medicine 281-381-0596
Megan Anne Berman UT Medical Branch Health 409-747-1883
Shari Paulette Rubin Houston Methodist Primary Care - Bellaire 713-441-9040
Roger E. Campana Katy Internal Medicine Associates 281-392-8620
Charu Sawhney Legacy Community Health 713-671-3041
Mingfang Annie Cheng UT Physicians Multispecialty – The Heights 713-486-7200
Tejal Bipin Shah Medical Clinic of Houston 713-526-5511
Renee J. Flores UTHealth 713-500-5438 Ellen Jean Fremion Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-6333 Richard James Hamill Harris Health System 713-798-0206 Matthew Trevor Harbison UTHealth 832-325-7100 Fatima Latif Khan UT Medical Branch Health 281-482-5695 Preeti Kodali Memorial Hermann Medical Group Sugar Land 281-725-5855 Carson Tan Lo West Houston Infectious Disease Associates 281-599-3222 Reshma Markan Advanced Endocrinology & Diabetes Clinic 713-796-9466 Mahsa Abolfathian Massumi CHI St. Luke’s Health 713-790-8025 Hema C. Patel Houston Methodist West Hospital 281-492-1900 Jose Jesus Perez Baylor College of Medicine, McNair Campus 713-798-8355
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Mona Ahmad Shiekh Sroujieh Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center 713-798-2222 Harish Natverlal Thakkar Southwest Medical Clinic 281-933-9304 Francisco Javier Velazquez Velazquez Medical Practice 713-800-7401
Anthony Johnson UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-7288
George Thomas Mandy Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women 832-826-1380
Kenneth Joseph Moise UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-7288
Tina Sunil Reddy UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-7196
Ramesha Papanna UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-7288
Christopher Junsuh Rhee Texas Children’s Hospital 832-826-1380
Clara Ward UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516
NEPHROLOGY
MEDICAL GENETICS Joseph William Ray UTMB Health Pediatric Genetics 409-772-3466
Laila Eugenia Woc-Colburn Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-2900
NEONATAL AND PERINATAL MEDICINE
MATERNAL AND FETAL MEDICINE
Melissa Carbajal Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women 832-826-1380
Nana Ama Esi Ankumah UTHealth 832-325-7133
Amarnath Chamkur Sunrise Pediatrics 281-679-6165
Sean Cyle Blackwell UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-7133
Bheru Bharat Gandhi Texas Children’s Hospital 832-824-1000
Shannon Michelle Clark UTMB Women’s Health Center 409-772-0596 Joey Ann England UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-7133 Manisha Gandhi Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Hospital Pavilion For Women 832-826-7500
Danielle Rae Rios Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women 832-826-1380
Amy Boriskie Hair Texas Children’s Hospital 832-826-1380 Mona Sameen Khan Texas Children’s Hospital 832-826-1380 Amir Mustafa Khan UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 713-500-5650 Suzanne Marie Lopez UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 713-500-5727
Kevin W. Finkel UTHealth 832-325-6545 Peter Tuan Nguyen Houston Kidney Consultants 713-790-4615 Jingyin Yan Baylor College of Medicine, McNair Campus 713-798-8355
NEUROLOGY Suur Biliciler UTHealth 832-325-7080 Allison Marie Boyle UT Physicians 832-325-7080 George Joseph Hutton Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-2273 Doris Hichi Kung Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-5005 Louise Deborah McCullough UT Physicians 832-325-7080 Ankit Ashwin Patel Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital 281-206-2127 Anjail Zarinah Sharrief UTHealth 832-325-7080
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Melissa Michelle Yu Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-4734
NEUROSURGERY Stephen Alan Fletcher UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-7242 Akash J. Patel Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-4696 Alexander E. Ropper Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-4696 David Ilan Sandberg UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-7242 Manish Narendra Shah UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-7242 Ashwin Viswanathan Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-4696
OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY Dipika Sanjay Ambani The Woman’s Hospital of Texas 713-272-7600 Tara Lynn Bruce OB/GYN Medical Center Associates 713-512-7000 Paul Issa Cook Memorial Hermann 713-796-2200 Quynh-Thu Nguyen Doan Houston Methodist West Hospital 281-717-4366
Susan Margaret Leong-Kee Baylor College of Medicine/ Texas Children’s Hospital Pavilion For Women 832-826-7500 Alicia A. McIntosh Complete Women’s Care Center 713-791-9100 Ziad Melhem Memorial Hermann 713-796-2200 Elizabeth Kathleen Nugent Memorial Hermann 713-486-1170 Apurva B. Pancholy UT Physicians Urogynecology Center - Memorial City 713-486-6160 Waverly Ford Peakes Houston Methodist Hospital 713-797-9666 Michael John Piegari Memorial Hermann 713-704-1500 Torri-Ja’Net Trice Pierce Elite Women's Care Center 281-579-9900 Pamela Anne Promecene-Cook UTHealth 713-486-9300 Diana Racusin UT Physicians Health Center at Bellaire 713-486-9300 Louay Zeid Plaza OB/GYN 713-522-3333
OPHTHALMOLOGY Ore-Ofe Oluwaseun Adesina The Robert Cizik Eye Clinic 713-559-5200
Catherine Namara Gabel Piney Point Women’s Center 713-339-1000
Audrey Elizabeth Ahuero Ophthalmic Plastic Surgeons of Texas 713-953-9932
Damla Gulsum Karsan Women’s Specialists of Houston 713-797-1144
Zaina Al-Mohtaseb Baylor College of Medicine, Neurosensory Center 713-798-5143
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GU I D E : T O P D O C T O R S
Elvia Isela Canseco Berkeley Eye Center 713-526-1600
Kourosh Korsh Jafarnia Houston Methodist West Hospital 832-522-8280
Victor Yonguor Chang Houston Eye Associates 281-347-0176
Matthew Eric Koepplinger Memorial Hermann 713-486-7500
Robert Earl Coffee Berkeley Eye Center 713-526-1600
Shari Rachel Liberman Houston Methodist Hospital 713-441-9000
David Anson Lee Robert Cizik Eye Clinic 713-559-5200
Alfred Ameen Mansour UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 713-486-7500
Matthew Blaine McCauley Berkeley Eye Center 281-363-3443 Brent Randall McQueen Berkeley Eye Center 281-319-4334 Hassan Toufiqur Rahman Retina and Vitreous of Texas 713-799-9975 Amy Claire Schefler Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center 713-524-3434 Regina Lo Sun Berkeley Eye Center 713-436-1551 Elaine Gioklan Thung Houston Eye Associates 713-668-6828 Nan Wang Memorial Hermann 713-559-5200
ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY Timothy Stuart Achor UT Physicians Orthopedics Trauma Clinic 713-486-7560
John Wesley Munz UT Physicians Orthopedics Trauma Clinic 713-486-7560 Theodore Benjamin Shybut Baylor College of Medicine 713-986-6016 Shiraz Ahmad Younas UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 713-486-7500
OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE Payel Banik Osteopathic Healing Hands 713-527-8499
PAIN MEDICINE Marieberta Vidal MD Anderson Cancer Center 713-792-6072
PATHOLOGY Meenakshi Bidwai Bhattacharjee UTHealth 713-500-7874 Sadhna Dhingra Baylor College of Medicine 713-500-5295
Courtney Joseph Amor Memorial Hermann 713-486-8200
Meredith Anne Reyes Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center 832-355-3274
Evan Douglas Collins Houston Methodist Hospital 713-441-3535
Amanda Siewert Tchakarov UTHealth 713-704-4000
N E W C O M E R'S
PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY Gurur Biliciler-Denktas UT Physicians 713-486-6755 John Philip Breinholt UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 713-486-6755 Matthew Douglass Brown UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 713-486-6755 Tal Alon Gospin Pediatric Cardiology Care 281-648-3000 William Buck Kyle Texas Children’s Hospital 832-824-3278 Athar Mahmood Qureshi Texas Children’s Hospital 832-824-3278 Faustino Gustavo Ramos UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 713-486-6760 Chandramouleeswaran Srinivasan UT Health Science Center at Houston 832-325-6516 Adrienne Kilgore Walton UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 713-486-6755 Elizabeth Wen-Si Wang-Giuffre UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 713-486-6755
PEDIATRIC CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE Konstantinos Boukas UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 713-704-4000 Jeanine Marie Graf Texas Children’s Hospital 832-826-6230
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David Everett McMann UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 713-704-4296
Michelle Rivera UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516
Melissa Renee Van Arsdall UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516
Vinai Modini Modem UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 713-500-5650
Nunilo Ignacio Rubio, Jr. UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516
Kristin Lynette Whitfield Van Buren Texas Children’s Hospital 832-822-3131
Matthew Allen Musick Texas Children’s Hospital 832-826-6230
Avni Shah UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516
Matthew Keith Pesek Texas Children’s Hospital 832-227-3250 Shivani Shreekant Tripathi UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 713-500-5553
PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE Stephen Boone Ben Taub Hospital 713-873-2626 Benjamin Choi Texas Children’s Hospital 832-824-5497 Corrie Klopcic Chumpitazi Texas Children’s Hospital 832-824-5497 Andrea Tania Cruz Texas Children’s Hospital 832-824-5582 Robert Michael Lapus UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 713-704-5437 Joan Elizabeth Shook Texas Children’s Hospital 832-824-2277 Saranya Srinivasan Texas Children’s Hospital 832-824-5497
PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGY Tracy Patel Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus 832-227-1370
Katherine N. Velez Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center 713-486-6760 Michael Yafi UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516
PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY Bruno Pedro Chumpitazi Texas Children’s Hospital 832-822-3131 Shawn Fishman Texas Children’s Hospital 832-222-3131 Wallace A. Gleason UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516 Wallace Himes Texas Children’s Hospital 832-822-3131 Essam Manuel Imseis UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516
PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY Julienne Brackett Texas Children’s Hospital 832-822-4242 ZoAnn Eckert Dreyer Texas Children’s Hospital 832-822-4209 Jennifer Haunani Foster Texas Children’s Hospital 832-822-4242 Soumen Khatua MD Anderson Cancer Center 713-792-6610 Trinh Thi-Thu Nguyen Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands - Cancer and Hematology Center 936-267-7444 Kiranmye Reddy Texas Children’s Hospital 832-227-1090 Nidra I. Rodriguez UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 713-500-8360 Amber Mayfield Yates Texas Children’s Hospital 832-822-4502
Fernando A. Navarro UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516
PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Yen Hoang Pham Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus 832-227-1440
Michael Lee Chang UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-7111
Jon Marc Rhoads UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516
Anthony Richard Flores UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 713-500-6626
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Gloria P. Heresi UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516 Debra Lynn Palazzi Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Hospital 832-824-4330 Norma Perez UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516 Susan Haldanen Wootton UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516
PEDIATRIC NEPHROLOGY Sonal Bhatnagar UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516 Ketan Natubhai Patel UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516 Joyce Philip Samuel UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516 Joshua Alex Samuels UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 713-704-4000 Rita D. Swinford UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 713-704-4000
PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGY
Melissa Jones Houston Area Pediatric Neurology 832-471-6248 Mary Kay Koenig UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516 Jeremy Edward Lankford UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516
Ameeben Amee Anilkumar Patel Texas Children’s Hospital 832-822-3300 James Matthew Stark UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516 Nidhy Paulose Varghese Texas Children’s Hospital 832-822-3300
Pedro Mancias UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516
Aravind Yadav UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516
Nivedita Thakur UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516
PEDIATRIC SURGERY
Gretchen Kathleen Von Allmen UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516
Mary Thomas Austin UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-7234
Michael Wesley Watkins UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516
Kanika Alake Bowen-Jallow UTMB Children’s Health 409-772-3695
PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY Shailendra Das Texas Children’s Hospital 832-822-3300 Cindy Kam-Tai Jon UT Physicians 832-325-6516 George Barron Mallory Texas Children’s Hospital 832-822-3300 Katrina Elizabeth McBeth UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516
Ian John Butler UT Physicians 832-325-6516
Siby Pothen Moonnumakal Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus 832-822-3300
David Thuy Doan Child Neurology and Stroke of Houston 832-437-5544
Ricardo Alberto Mosquera UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516
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Mary L. Brandt Texas Children’s Hospital 832-822-3135 Christina Hanowsky Bryndzia UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 713-500-6300 Charles Samuel Cox UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-7234 Matthew Tihen Harting UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-7234 Akemi Loraine Kawaguchi UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-7234 Kevin Patrick Lally UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-7234 Oluyinka O. Olutoye Texas Children’s Hospital 832-822-3135
Ravi Radhakrishnan UTMB Children’s Health 409-772-3695 Allison Leigh Speer UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-7234 Sifrance Tran UTMB Children’s Health 409-772-3695 Kuojen Tsao UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-7234 Sanjeev Ayyangar Vasudevan Texas Children’s Hospital 832-822-3135
PEDIATRICS Candice Allen Texas Children’s Hospital - The Woodlands 936-321-0808 Virginia Cortes Araiza Bee Well Pediatrics 713-572-3200 Monica Arango UT Physicians 832-325-6516 Wendy Brooks Badgwell VIP Pediatrics 713-665-4567 Claire Elizabeth Bocchini Texas Children’s Clinical Care Center 832-824-1779 Joel Winston Bonaparte Sunrise Pediatrics 281-679-6165 Rachel Rosenthal Bray Texas Children’s Pediatrics Ashford 281-496-9700 Deborah Lynn Brown UT Physicians Gulf States Hemophilia and Thrombophilia Center 713-500-8360
N E W C O M E R'S
Michael Christopher Chapman Texas Children’s Pediatrics 713-526-6443 Sonia Chauhan Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital 832-939-9070
Jeffrey Robert Starke Texas Children’s Clinical Care Center 832-824-4330
Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez TIRR Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation & Research 713-799-7024
Michelle Angeline Suhendra Memorial Hermann 713-704-0669
Matthias Heinz Wiederholz Performance Pain and Sports Medicine 346-217-1111
Misti Guarnere Ellsworth UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-7111
Eduard Valenzuela Texas Children’s Pediatrics Ashford 281-496-9700
Lara Ham Finnila Texas Children’s Pediatrics 713-526-6443
Sara Kay Wiley Texas Children’s Pediatrics Houston Pediatric Associates 713-666-1953
Amalia Guardiola UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-7111
Michael Tate Wright Wright Pediatrics 936-582-7337
Mark Doyle Hormann UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-7111
Robert J. Yetman UT Physicians Pediatric Primary Care at Texas Medical Center 832-325-7111
Arnold G. Kagan Kagan Pediatrics 713-436-9200
Wafik Zaky MD Anderson Cancer Center 713-745-1862
Aida Zarina Khanum Bellaire Clinic 713-669-1900 Kristin Cantley Koush Texas Children’s Pediatrics 713-526-6443 Janet Christine Pate Nurture Pediatrics 713-894-2751 Shehla Syed Razvi MD Anderson Cancer Center 713-792-6610 Romina Sabella-River Texas Children’s Pediatrics Ashford 281-496-9700 Sanju Susan Samuel Baylor College of Medicine 832-826-6230 Nina Shah Singhal Sugar Land Pediatric Center 281-207-9191 Keely Garrett Smith UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-7111
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PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION Glendaliz Bosques UTHealth 713-797-5929 John Christopher Cianca Human Performance Center 713-627-3156 Joel Ernesto Frontera UTHealth 713-797-5929 John Scott Harrell Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-7246 Suzanne Marie Manzi Performance Pain and Sports Medicine 346-217-1111 Rosalyn Nguyen Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-7246 Paul Paily Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-7246
PLASTIC SURGERY Rojan Amjadi Pars Plastic Surgery 713-465-6198 Georgen Boutros My Houston Surgeons 713-955-1863 Franklin Boynton Boynton Plastic Surgery 713-997-8466 Paul Francisco Fortes The Aesthetic Center for Plastic Surgery 713-799-9999 Matthew Robert Greives UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-7234 Shayan Alireza Izaddoost Baylor College of Medicine Jamail Specialty Care Center 713-798-6305 Henry Mentz The Aesthetic Center for Plastic Surgery 713-799-9999 Kevin Donal John Murphy Pearwood Plastic Surgery 832-736-8968 David T. Netscher Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center 713-799-8090 German Newall The Aesthetic Center for Plastic Surgery 713-799-9999 Christopher Keven Patronella The Aesthetic Center for Plastic Surgery 713-799-9999
Rukmini Satyamritha Rednam My Houston Surgeons 713-955-1863 Angela Kay Sturm Facial Plastic Surgery Associates 713-526-5665 John Flynn Teichgraeber UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-7234
PSYCHIATRY Frieda Aboul-Fotouh Healthy Minds Psychiatry 832-318-6277 Melissa Kay Allen Harris County Psychiatric Center 713-486-2700 Pedro Manuel Bustamante Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-4857 Michael Justin Coffey The Menninger Clinic 713-275-5400 Raymond Domingo The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD 713-970-8400 Sylvia Gonzalez The Menninger Clinic 713-275-5400 Mollie Rebecca Gordon Ben Taub Hospital Neuropsychiatric Center 713-873-4925 Jared Heathman Your Family Psychiatrist - NW Houston 281-849-4080 Kara Liebling Kahan Kara L. Kahan MDPA 713-218-0100 Chad Michael Lemaire Legacy Community Health 713-351-7360 Hayley Epstein Maislos Hauser Clinic and Associates 713-669-0303 Abigail Babin Nodler Houston Family Psychiatry 713-300-2450
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Gonzalo Jose Perez-Garcia SOC Telemed 888-792-7122
Fidaa Shaib Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-3300
Lokesh Ramesh Shahani UT Harris County Psychiatric Center 713-741-5000
RADIATION ONCOLOGY
Jia Wang Jia Wang, MD 832-930-3365
PULMONARY DISEASE Bindu Akkanti UTHealth 713-704-4300 Kamran Boka UTHealth 832-325-7222 Leonard Hoyin Chow Pulmonary Critical Care & Sleep Medicine Consultants 713-255-4000 Alberto Luis Colomer Pulmonary Critical Care & Sleep Medicine Consultants 713-255-4000
Elizabeth Stroh Bloom MD Anderson - Katy 713-563-9600 Andrew M. Farach Houston Methodist Hospital 713-441-4800
RADIOLOGY Ronald Martin Bilow UTHealth 713-500-7700 Collin Douglas Bray Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-2300 Ethan Oren Cohen MD Anderson Cancer Center 713-792-2121 Pedro J. Diaz-Marchan Baylor College of Medicine 713-793-6362
Kha Tuan Dinh UTHealth 832-325-7100
David Ryan Dunaway Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-4417
Rosa Maria Estrada-Y-Martin UTHealth 832-325-7222
Elliott Robert Friedman UTHealth 713-500-6200
Rahat Hussain UTHealth 713-704-4300
Karen Elissa Gerlach MD Anderson Cancer Center 713-792-2121
Christina Chen-Yu Kao Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center 832-355-2285 Ruckshanda Majid UTHealth 713-572-8122 Brandy Jo McKelvy UTHealth 832-325-7222 Puneet Patni Kelsey-Seybold Clinic 713-442-0427
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Amit Mittal Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital 713-897-5853 Fanny Emilia Moron Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-4417 Tamara Ortiz-Perez Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-4417 Rajan P. Patel UTHealth 713-500-7631
UROLOGY Steven E. Canfield UT Physicians 832-325-7280 Lawrence James Cisek UT Physicians/ Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-7234
Edwin Rodriguez-Reyes Synergy Radiology Associates 713-621-7436
David Wolff Goldfarb Houston Metro Urology 713-790-9700
Tomas Eduardo Uribe Acosta Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-4417
Mohit Khera Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-4001
REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY AND INFERTILITY Anupama S Q Kathiresan Center of Reproductive Medicine: Houston Fertility Clinic 281-332-0073
Wesley Adam Mayer Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-4001 Kevin Guy Nickell Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital 713-771-9224
Jonathan Taesung Kim Houston Fertility Institute 281-357-1881
Samir Pradeep Shirodkar Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center 936-441-1005
Rashmi Kudesia Houston IVF, Memorial City 713-465-1211
Run Wang UT Physicians 832-325-7280
Katherine Knoll McKnight Houston IVF, Memorial City 713-465-1211
James Min Jing Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center 832-355-4112
Jason Samuel Yeh Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital 281-693-2435
Susan De John UTHealth 713-500-7626
RHEUMATOLOGY
HOUSTONIA | NEWCOMER’S GUIDE 2019
Joseph Nathaniel Chorley Texas Children’s Hospital 832-822-4887
Roy Francisco RiascosCastaneda UTHealth 713-704-1704
Jose Alberto Hernandez Texas Children’s Hospital 832-824-7237
Christie Mary Lincoln Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-4417
SPORTS MEDICINE
Ankur Ashwin Kamdar UT Physicians/Children’s Memorial Hermann 832-325-6516
VASCULAR SURGERY Kristofer M. Charlton-Ouw Memorial Hermann 713-486-5100 Joseph L. Mills Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-5700 Miguel Federico Montero Baylor College of Medicine 713-798-5700
TOP DENTISTS 2019 —OFFERS COSMETIC PROCEDURES
ENDODONTICS Jose M. Bisquerra Houston Endodontic Specialists 713-461-1166 Dina Bramipour Moberi Dental Specialists 713-280-3391 Tod T. Bruchmiller Endodontics of Houston 281-655-0063 Shiwei Cai Spring Endodontics 281-203-0503
Jeffrey D. Hanzon Medical Center Endodontics 713-795-0208 Dico Hassid Endodontics Associates of Houston 713-271-9100 Ron C. Hill Southwest Endodontics 713-626-8343 Claudia I. Holt Claudia Holt, DDS 713-218-7811
GENERAL DENTISTRY
George R. Buckley George R. Buckley, DDS 713-669-0084
Eugene L. Aaron Aaron Family & Cosmetic Dentistry 281-332-1919
Kevin T. Burke Kevin Burke, DDS 281-358-2141
Kyle E. Aaron Aaron Family & Cosmetic Dentistry 281-332-1919 Shawn Adibi University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston 713-486-4565
R. Chris Campbell Katy Endodontics 281-693-3200
Kevin H. Izu Fort Bend Endodontic Specialists 281-494-9033
Tracy M. Clark West Houston Endodontics 281-824-3806
Kirby S. Kjar Katy Dental Specialists 281-693-6093
Christopher L. Coleman Endodontic Associates of Clear Lake 281-461-6700
Paul R. LeTellier, Jr. Sugar Land Endodontics 281-340-3636
Craig M. Curd Houston Endodontic Specialists 713-461-1166
S. Brad Mize Woodlands Endodontics 281-681-0100
Manish Garala Medical Center Endodontics 713-795-0208
Kyle D. Moses Silver Lake Endodontics 281-854-2940
Ricardo M. Garza, Jr. Katy Endodontics 281-693-3200
Terry W. Ott Terry W. Ott, DDS 713-218-7811
Joshua C. Gorman Endodontics of Houston 281-655-0063
Adrian Reyes Endodontics Houston 713-400-0026
Juliana A. Barros University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston 713-486-4444
Mark N. Haddad Gulf Coast Endodontics 832-379-2696
Rand K. Russell Elite Endodontics Specialists 281-491-0069
Garrett A. Bethke Harrison & Bethke Family and Cosmetic Dentistry 281-492-6064
Matthew C. Haddad Gulf Coast Endodontics 832-379-2696
J.Kevin Selden Woodlands Endodontics 281-681-0100
Dana R. Boehm Spring/Klein Family Dentist Care 281-370-5088
Shirley J. Cagle Shirley J. Cagle, DDS 281-681-9442 Shelley L. Canada Smiles By Canada 713-957-8668 R. Greg Carroll InStyle Smiles Dental 281-980-7777
Terri L. Alani Terri Alani, DDS 713-621-5141
Cynthia R. Castille Castille & Castille 281-332-5561
Don L. Allen, Jr. Mill Forest Dental Group 281-204-8100
Norman R. Chu Norman R. Chu, DDS 713-721-1662
J. Scott Anderson The Gentle Art of Dentistry 281-247-0407
Steven L. Chumbley Hill Dental Group 281-376-0911
Craig S. Armstrong Craig S. Armstrong, DDS, PLLC 832-251-1234
Rick L. Clemmensen Rick L. Clemmensen, DDS 281-537-2531
Timothy P. Barkley Timothy P. Barkley, DDS 281-374-9490
R. Lee Clitheroe R. Lee Clitheroe, DDS 281-265-9393
John D. Barras Houston Dentists at Post Oak 713-255-1029
R. Dath Collins Royal Oaks Dentistry 281-983-5677 Cynthia A. Corral Bayou City Smiles Dental 713-518-1411 Edward A. Cortez Edward A. Cortez, DDS 713-943-3452 Paul B. Covell Paul Covell, DDS 713-943-9832 Ronald K. Crabtree Crabtree Dental 281-347-1960
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David C. Cunningham, Jr. David C. Cunningham, Jr., DDS 281-363-0470
John D. Hatcher II John D. Hatcher, DDS 713-944-2836
R. Marcus de Guzman Bayou City Smiles Dental 713-518-1411
Ronald D. Hickerson Hickerson and Associates 713-782-3123
Thomas R. Dougherty Thomas R. Dougherty, DDS 281-332-7679 Francis E. Dunlap, Jr. Francis E. Dunlap, Jr., DDS 713-468-5227 Brian M. Ellis Copperfield Crossing Dental 281-855-7774 Kuo W. Eng Kuo Eng, DDS 281-463-2808
Anthony L. Hill The Hill Dental Group 281-376-0911 James P. Hinson James P. Hinson, DDS 713-952-6266 Charles R. Hoopingarner C.R. Hoopingarner, DDS 713-784-8235 Jennine K. Huet Huet Dental 936-321-8888
Thomas N. Ewing The Dentists at Town & Country Village 713-467-3458
Elizabeth A. Hunsaker Dentists on Dorrington Street 713-661-3583
D. Wayde Fawcett Fawcett Center for Dentistry 281-440-6648
Dean V. Hutto Aesthetic Family Dentistry 281-422-8248
Gary N. Frey University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston 713-486-4286
Joseph B. Ilustre Dentistry for Children & Adults 281-488-2483
Deborah J. Gennero Deborah J. Gennero, DDS 281-578-6200 India D. Gibson Bella Smiles Cosmetic and Family Dentistry 832-930-7858
Arthur H. Jeske University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston 713-486-4506 Roger A. Kaestner Pinnacle Dental 713-484-8484
GU I D E : T O P D E N T I S T S
Sheila H. Koh University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston 713-486-4278 Ronald W. Konig Houston Cosmetic Dentistry 713-668-2289 Alice T. Lam Smile Source West Houston 281-531-5700 N. Reynolds Lawnin Tanglewood Dental Associates 713-784-2952 Emily V. Le-Saab Energy Dental 281-496-7493 Franc Lee Lee Cosmetic & Family Dentistry 281-491-8088 Terry Lee Signature Smiles Dental 713-322-3898 Peggy S. Levin Peggy Levin, DDS 281-480-5252 Guy M. Lewis Texas Center for Cosmetic Dentistry 281-612-5224
Karisha L. Madden Madden Dental & Aesthetics 713-667-8080 Patrick J. McClellan Patrick J. McClellan, DDS 713-229-8100 Douglas L. McClung Douglas L. McClung, DDS 281-495-1212 Derek B. McKaskle McKaskle Family Dentistry 281-599-8003 Timothy J. Molloy Tim Molloy, DDS 281-482-7252 David C. Montz Montz and Maher Dental Group 346-307-9421 Anh N. Ngo Aim Dental 713-334-7333 Kathy L. O’Keefe Dentists on Dorrington Street 713-661-3583 Terrence C. O’Keefe Terrence O’Keefe 832-516-6714 Glenda G. Owen Glenda G. Owen, DDS 713-622-2248
Lori H. Logan Lori Logan, DDS 281-609-7377
Lynn A. Palmer Lynn Palmer, DDS 713-464-1551
Drew J. Lomonte Drew J. Lomonte, DDS 713-464-1929
Suzanne Y. Plum Plum Dental Associates 281-558-1144 Eddie C. Pruitt Eddie C. Pruitt, DDS 281-893-9175
J. Chris Gowan Post Oak Dental 713-840-7179
Andrew J. Keene Andre J. Keene, DDS 713-529-0120
Julie W. Long The Dentists at Grand Parkway 281-395-1700
Mark M. Gray Mark M. Gray, DDS 832 416-1717
Amy J. Klein Klein Family Dental 281-531-9258
Celina P. Longoria Longoria Dentistry 281-213-8700
B. Joey Hall, Jr. Katy Family Dentists 832-688-6203
Aric E. Klein Klein Family Dental 281-531-9258
Craig A. Mabrito Mabrito Dental 713-528-0567
Alisa M. Reed Alisa M. Reed Cosmetic and Family Dentistry 281-367-3411
M. King Hardy Hardy Webster Dental 281-446-7353
Rick L. Kline Smile Texas 281-265-7645
Michael A. Macaluso Michael A. Macaluso, DDS 281-870-1488
Carlee A. Reiler Carlee A. Reiler, DDS 713-581-8098
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David C. Rainwater Rainwater Dentistry 281-484-3675
N E W C O M E R'S
GU I D E : T O P D E N T I S T S
Sue E. Richardson Sue Ellen Richardson, DDS 713-796-9600
Allen A. Walker Katy Family Dentistry 281-391-2446
Bryan P. Ritchey Bryan P. Ritchey, DDS 713-461-5770
Karen A. Walters Cambridge Dental 713-790-1111
Victor Rodriguez Clear Lake Dental Associates 281-280-9380
W. Kirk Webster Hardy Webster Dental 281-446-7353
Russell H. Schlattman II Russell H. Schlattman II, DDS 281-444-2660
Jesse G. Welch, Jr. University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston 713-486-4259
James M. Seale James M. Seale, DDS 713-667-3430 Ashraf Seif Baytown Gentle Dental 281-837-9122 Sridhar Sista Dentiq Dentistry 713-526-2904 Bruce W. Smith Montrose Dental Group 713-529-4364 Jack J. Stephens Stephens & Gatewood Dentistry 281-320-2000 Wendy F. Swantkowski Wendy F. Swantkowski, DDS 281-293-9140 J. Derek Tieken Tieken Smiles Dentistry 281-942-0044 Nathaniel G. "Trey" Tippit, III Tippit Dental Group 713-465-1860 Bridget H. Tissue Kingsland Dental Group 281-646-8888 Regina Valter Bellaire Dental Group 713-668-8383
Melissa L. Wilson McCulloch-Wilson Dental 281-503-4068 Steven P. Wolfson Steven Wolfson, DDS 713-789-1225 Michael A. Wong Michael A. Wong, DDS 713-864-8313 Vanida Wongchukit Dentists At Lexington 281-403-3595 Sudarat Kiat-Amnuay University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston 713-486-4194
Alex G. Bachoura Cypress Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 281-256-8400
Zahid S. Lalani Northwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 281-370-4034
R. Brent Bailey Oral Surgery Associates 281-461-1982
John J. Lovoi, Jr. South Shore Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 281-334-9000
Patrick D. Beetar BLVD Dentistry & Orthodontics 281-407-1313 Justin R. Brock The Center For Oral & Facial Surgery and Dental Implants 281-392-1130 Dana M. Brotherton Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates 281-242-2848 Kamal F. Busaidy University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston 713-790-4600 Deborah L. Cooper-Newland Deborah L. Cooper-Newland, DDS 713-592-9336 Nagi M. Demian UT Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 713-500-4000
Laith Mahmood Parkway Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center 713-467-5655 Paul S. Metz Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons of Houston 713-338-9022 Harry E. Morse Cy-Fair Oral Surgery 281-469-2873 David R. Mulherin Woodlands Oral Surgical Arts 936-231-8568 Michael V. O’Shell Memorial Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 713-784-4200
Manuel E. Diaz Oral Surgery Partners 281-484-0220
John G. Orfanos Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons of Houston 713-338-9022
GENERAL FAMILY DENTISTRY
Anu Hullett Southwest Oral & Implant Surgery 713-439-7575
Benito L. Remedios Medical Center Oral Surgery 713-790-9474
Stacey N. Block Stacey Block, DDS 281-558-5700
Jason S. Hullett Southwest Oral & Implant Surgery 713-439-7575
Charles M. Repa Northwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 281-364-9933
ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY
Steven F. Vaughan Contemporary Dental & Orthodontics 713-668-9119
David M. Alfi Houston Methodist Specialty Physician Group 713-441-5577
Robert B. Waheed Robert B. Waheed, DDS 713-622-0123
Michael J. Anton Oral Surgery Associates 281-461-1982
William V. Jordan III Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates 281-242-2848
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Brian D. Schaulin Brian D. Schaulin, DDS 281-992-1153
Phillip A. Kattchee Central Houston Oral & Implant Surgery 713-522-1588
Chad R. Seabold Uptown Oral Surgery & Dental Implants 713-981-0000
Steve L. Koo Piney Point Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 832-924-3799
Shelley L. Seidel Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons of Houston 713-999-4268
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Robert F. Stanton Northeast Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 281-358-2997 Brian D. Stapp Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates 281-242-2848 Terry D. Taylor Houston Methodist 713-790-1995 Thomas M. Weil Piney Point Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 832-924-3799 Mark E. Wong University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston 713-486-4310
ORAL PATHOLOGY John E. Kacher JKJ Pathology 281-292-7954 Nadarajah Vigneswaran University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston 713-486-4410
ORTHODONTICS Audrey M. Boutros Boutros Orthodontics 713-218-8338 Richard W. Boyd, Jr. Garrett Boyd Orthodontics 281-980-3900 Ralph A. Brock II Brock Orthodontics 346-387-6289 Stephen Chen Texas Orthodontic Specialists 832-237-4746 Bryn Cooper Cooper Orthodontics 832-925-8721 Drew M. Darsey Darsey-Krivan Orthodontics 713-464-8905
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Amirparviz R. Davoody Greater Houston Orthodontics 713-662-0621
James F. Krivan Darsey-Krivan Orthodontics 713-464-8905
Vladimir Y. Tabakman West Houston Orthodontics 281-752-4222
Carin E. Domann Town & Country Orthodontics 713-465-3400
Sarah B. Lowe Sarah B. Lowe, DDS 281-487-5466
Wendy S. Willett Wendy Struss Willett, DDS 713-436-4280
Randy K. Ellis Randy K. Ellis, DDS 281-485-6003
Jane S. Lu Scott & Jane Orthodontics 832-539-6388
Jeryl D. English University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston 713-486-4119
Marc B. Magness Magness Orthodontics 713-468-9669
Morton W. Fairleigh Morton Fairleigh, DDS 281-469-3769 Kim K. Forrest Smile Doctors Braces 281-392-4571 Gerardo Guajardo Guajardo Orthodontics 281-427-7376 Mark P. Hablinski Davoody & Hablinski Orthodontics 713-521-2727 Dennis E. Halford Smile Doctors Braces by Dr. Halford 281-980-8351 Shad B. Hanis Hanis & Stevenson Orthodontics 281-693-1333 Leland A. Harris Harris Orthodontics 281-479-5550 Scott S. Huang Scott & Jane Orthodontics 832-539-6388 Brad L. Jennings Jennings Orthodontics 281-497-7920
James E. Martinez James E. Martinez, DDS 281-320-0220 Kathleen R. McGrory McGrory Orthodontics 713-340-1313 Raymond A. McLendon Clear Choice Orthodontic Associates 281-587-4900 Michael L. Mizell Mike Mizell Orthodontist 713-781-5548 Eli Moheb Radiant Orthodontics 713-468-9009 Robert S. Muirhead Lone Star Smiles 281-376-5858 Angela I. Orfanos Town & Country Orthodontics 713-465-3400 Paul A. Phang Image Orthodontics 281-579-2600 Joe M. Richards Richards Orthodontics 281-360-3307
John W. Karotkin Advance Orthodontics 713-783-8888
George F. Schudy George Schudy Orthodontics 281-493-9243
Catherine A. Kerr Catherine A. Kerr, DDS, MS Orthodontics 713-838-9990
Aurora Sordelli Sordelli Orthodontics and Periodontics 281-759-2929
HOUSTONIA | NEWCOMER’S GUIDE 2019
PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY Scott A. Andersen Woodlands Pediatric Dentistry 281-292-4242 Leslie Blackburn Growing Great Grins 281-367-8805 John L. Caldwell Larry Caldwell, DDS & Associates 281-565-5437 Rita M. Cammarata Cammarata Pediatric Dentistry Group 713-666-7884 Pamela C. Clark Pearland Pediatric Dentistry 713-436-4080 Jennifer D. Cunningham Cammarata Pediatric Dentistry Group 713-666-7884 Elsa C. Echeverri Echeverri Dental Center 713-956-8767 Rachael Garrett Kidstown Dental 281-394-7040 Sandhya Harpavat Memorial Family Dental 713-333-8500 Natalie C. Harrison Natalie Harrison, DDS 713-785-3058 Steven M. Hogan Steve Hogan, DDS 713-785-3058 John F. Howe Sienna Pediatric Dentistry 281-778-0060
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Sheryl Hunter-Griffith Kids Healthy Teeth 281-579-8700
David Tang Memorial Pediatric Dentistry 281-858-2135
Charles E. Dyer IV Charles E. Dyer, DDS 281-607-0982
Eva Boldridge Eva Boldridge, DMD, PA 281-597-1800
Bret A. Ibarra Houston Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics 281-484-7732
Lisa M. Treviño Cornerstone Kids Dental 281-444-3999
H. Chu Kim H. Chu Kim, DDS 713-629-5170
Anabel Vega-Negron Anabel Vega-Negron, DMD 281-427-4736
Kenneth M. Lubritz Periodontics & Dental Implants 713-789-7676
George W. Cobb, Jr. Northwest Houston Prosthodontics 281-440-8440
Laji J. James James Pediatric Dentistry 281-870-9270 Gretchen M. Jetton Jetton Dentistry for Children 281-232-7556 Regina L. Lewis Houston Pediatric Dental Specialists 281-890-7475 Kasia J. Lindhorst Smiles For Kids Pediatric Dentistry 713-461-1509 Jennifer R. Mata Mason Park Family Dental-Pediatric Specialist 281-578-7100 Carl E. Pittman Pediatric Dental Specialists and Northwest Orthodontics 281-376-2706
Joel J. Vela Bellaire Pediatric Dentistry 713-661-1100 Jon P. Wheeler Wheeler Pediatric Dentistry 832-403-2814
PERIODONTICS Jeffery L. Blume Jeffery Blume, DDS 281-890-0095 Gina Bonaventura Pearland Periodontics & Dental Implants 281-854-2960 William F. Braden William Braden, DDS 281-480-1898 Charles M. Brown Periodontal & Implant Dentistry 713-944-1320
Lisa G. Richardson Dentistry 4 Children and Adults 2 281-485-7012
Lauren Brownfield Lauren Brownfield Periodontology and Implantology 713-790-0288
Joi Shaw-Morrison Pinnacle Pediatric Dentistry 713-863-7336
Kevin B. Calongne Kevin B. Calongne, DDS 713-365-9626
Adam C. Shisler Cammarata Pediatric Dentistry Group 713-666-7884
Mack E. Coker North Houston Periodontics & Dental Implants 281-444-4704
Ginger B. Stagg Coastal Pediatric Dentistry 979-297-5437 James R. Stamper Stamper Pediatric Dentistry 281-495-8828
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David K. Dennison David Dennison, DDS 832-975-0990 Samuel L. Duncan Samuel Duncan, DDS 713-464-8899
HOUSTONIA | NEWCOMER’S GUIDE 2019
Michael K. McGuire Perio Health Professionals 713-321-2912 Anna M. Munne Anna M. Munne, DDS 713-795-4666 Roberto Porras Texas Periodontal Associates 713-457-6351 Wesam Salha Wesam Salha, DDS 713-784-6065 Kip W. Saunders Periodontal Center of Excellence 281-292-1833 E. Todd Scheyer Perio Health P rofessionals 713-321-2912 Aldo E. Sordelli Sordelli Orthodontics and Periodontics 281-759-2929 Pedro M. Trejo Periodontal and Implant Surgeons of Houston 713-766-0372 Jason D. West Advanced Implant & Periodontal Professionals 281-681-2422
PROSTHODONTICS Rodney F. Beetar University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston 713-486-4343
Matthew D. Gemp Matthew D. Gemp, DMD 713-647-8000 Neal B. Gittleman Houston Prosthodontic Associates 713-469-3458 Maria D. Gonzalez University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston 713-486-4138 Frank C. Greider Frank C. Greider, MS, DDS, PC 713-789-0015 Sergio M. Ortegon Sergio Ortegon, DDS, MS 713-664-9900 Jonathan Penchas Midtown Dentistry 713-489-0744 Ronald G. Ritsco Ritsco Prosthodontics Advanced Dentistry 713-528-0377 Giancarlo G. Romero Houston Dental Implant Center 713-664-1661 Xavier E. Saab Total Image Dental 713-468-7222 Mark L. Stankewitz Mark L. Stankewitz, DDS 713-464-6335 Roberto Velasco Uptown Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry 713-960-1017
If you’re in need of medical care, check out our comprehensive guide to the best doctors across 70 specialities in the Houston area.
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velazquez medical practice, pa 713-523-7844
mdvip.com/doctors/franciscovelazquezmd
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4747 Bellaire Blvd Suite 210 • Bellaire,Tx 77401 United States The primary care physician should provide high quality care, earn the trust of the patient and be always available at the time of need. Being affiliated with MDVIP, a national network of primary care doctors, allows Dr. Francisco Velazquez to have the time to be available for his patients. In order to focus on prevention, he takes the time to know his patients well and that’s what MDVIP affiliation provides. Time to get to know the patient well without rushing the time of the appointments. Dr. Velazquez will work and guide you to achieve your health goals. He believes that at any age, you should know how well you are doing healthwise, and not just go by how you feel. Special areas of interest include high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol management.
Dr Valesquez 1/3 1019.indd 1
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On any block, in any hood, Sharpstown to River Oaks, Frequented by everyone from broke to bougie folks. So similar in layout that you wonder if they’re cloning, Plunked anywhere and everywhere all thanks to lack of zoning. Plentiful and unassuming, heart of urban sprawl, Around these parts there’s more than 20,000, after all. Pretty? No, of course not; they leave much to be desired, With neon signs and parking lots where shady stuff’s transpired. But varied, yes, and useful, too, much more than meets the eye, Hidden gems and low-key sites worth more than a drive-by. Find cuisine from ’round the world—and it’s authentic (duh), Like Tex-Mex, dim sum, barbecue, a steaming bowl of pho. Stop in for a brow wax or have someone cut your hair, Go for shaved ice, dumplings, or a trip to urgent care. Tattoo shops, convenience stores, your favorite taco spot, The strip mall, much like Houston, is just one big melting pot. So scratch the surface of the sprawl and you might be surprised, These little hubs are full of spunk, it should be emphasized. A metaphor for what we are: diverse, authentic, gritty, Don’t overlook the strip mall, it represents our city.
MONICA FUENTES CARROLL
BY ABBY LED O UX
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HOUSTONIA | NEWCOMER’S GUIDE 2019