I love Houston and I love Real Estate. I would do anything to help you Buy, Sell or Lease in the Houston area. I am a native of Mexico but I grew up in Houston. Let me show you what is available in Houston Real Estate. I will work 24 hours a day and 7 days a week for you. I want to be your Realtor.
So another day, another networking event..A Realtor's job is never done, literally and figuratively. I started off the night again at my usual watering hole, Byzantio.. Yes, i love that place. It is central to all of my networking events. So obviously I ran into my friends, Ilia and Julie.
Then, I was off to my networking event of the night with Kaleidoscope's monthly happy hour and meet and greet. Kaleidoscope is a fun group of arts people that are into Fashion, Music, Film and Art.
"Kaleidoscope focuses on the expansion of this culture by spotlighting the economic increase of fashion design, clothing merchandising, music influence, visual and performing art, photographic and cinematic film, and a variety of other art and entertainment."
With its founder Pamela Andino, the monthly event was sure to be lively and creative.
This is Pamela, after i saw this picture, I thought she might be in the witness relocation so i might have blown her cover.. hope not though. At the event, I met some really creative people and I think I made some new friends. We even exchanged numbers. They also had a really great art piece, so i decided to take a picture of it. The event was held at The Flat.
The Flat is a great location that never fails to deliver. The Flat, 1701 Commonwealth St, Houston, TX 77006, is a great spot with a great out door patio. They have food and drinks and AWESOME music. I don't know if they have a resident DJ but the music is always on point.
The area is a near the heart of the city and it is home to many creatives and professionals alike. It is called Montrose and it is full of charm and good vibes. There are many restaurants, bars and coffee shops. Many people travel to this area to be around young "bohemian" types and great food. This area is also very central and close to everything cosmopolitan. It is truly "of the city." Although it has changed lots since the 70's when many "alternatives" came to this area to come to a liberal part of town, it still holds its joie de vivre. I then returned to Byzantio to see the Thursday night Belly Dancers and to say "kali nichta" to my Greek, Indian and African buddies...
Yesterday was a great day. I started out the evening going to my favorite bars and home away from home, Byzantio, a Greek cafe and restaurant located just outside of midtown. I ran into a friend of mine who is just one of the sweetest lady girls in the world.
I also got to see some a couple of great guys as well, (no picture taken bc I forgot) my friends John and Stephen, grabbing a spirit on the countdown to school letting out for the summer. Then is was off to the next stop of the night, Axelrad. I had a chance to go to a new bar in town that really lived up to everything everyone had been talking about and I got to celebrate a real mensch in the community, Navid Zanjani.
Axelrad, 1517 Alabama, Houston, TX, is a great looking bar with LOTS of outdoor space. It serves beer, mostly and they are just now starting out with a margaritas. They have food right around the corner, a great ambiance and good looking people. I really enjoyed myself and now I know why everyone has been going there for months now. It is awesome. It is right on the other side of midtown, so close to everything, and it comes to you from some great local guys that have been doing wonders for the city with their brand of businesses. Thanks for helping make Houston fabulous guys!
The best part of the night was that I ran into my favorite childhood friend and fake-cousin, Patty. I had not seen her in a couple years. I don't know why, I guess people just get busy but I love her.
While at Axelrad, well, I got hungry. So I decided to go and look for food. Luigi's Pizza is right around the corner and very tasty but I wanted a little something different. I found a crepes pop up shop that will soon be residing almost next door at a new coffee shop to be called, Retrospect Coffee. Here is a crepe-ista and what she had to say....
Houston has great things coming... Past, Present and Future, Houston is awesome. Stay tuned for my next travel around town. Remember Buy, Sell, Lease or Invest. I want to be your Realtor.
About a nine months ago, we here in Houston and in the surrounding areas, had lots of flooding and many good people were effected. After many months of rebuilding, we were hit again last week. Some of the same good people were effected yet again. This was and is a horrible situation not just for those poor people but also for Houston and our entire community. When one community hurts, we all seem to hurt and I stand by that. So I did what any good Houstonian would do, I reached out to those effected and I offered to help.
Well yesterday and for the past week, I have spent my time in one of the beautiful area in the Houston areas, Sugar Land. I have been looking for rental homes for some of my dearest and long time friends that were effected by the floods. Obviously this by no means makes what they went through better but it is a small glimmer of light that will hopefully get their lives a little bit closer to normal for the time being.
In Sugar Land there are really some great areas for example Greatwood, New Territory and Telfair.
These areas are literally stunning and very well maintained. I remember touring these areas before they were fully developed and I could already see the potential. People then started flocking here because of the amazing schools, shopping areas and proximity to the city. I mean there was not one thing that Sugar Land does not bring to the table.
Now the pièce de résistance is Telfair, a master planned community with its own Museum of Natural History. Sugar Land also has its own regional airport!!
Well so although this is on going struggle for many people, I am just very happy that I can help out whomever I can and however I can. Please let me know if I can be of service.
This past weekend I had the opportunity to go and learn about Hispanic Women's, Voting and Educational issues in Texas and in California at an event called La Voz de La Mujer. It was an event that was put together by some very hard working people in the local community. The special invitee was Dolores Huerta, inspirational figure to many in the struggle for civil rights mostly in Southwestern United States. She was part of a panel of Houston leaders who's expertise covers non-profit services management to local and statewide school boards. These speakers were each great in their own right. The event took place at Baker-Ripley, located at 6500 Rookin, Houston, TX 77074.
This place was literally a compound. It was massive. It was a clinic, a school, a meeting venue and a lot more that I did not have a chance to see. It is part of Neighborhood Centers which is a multi-million dollar non-profit that helps the community with classes for those that want to better themselves, bi-lingual clinics for those that are most comfortable speaking to doctors and other medical personnel in their first language. Houston truly seems to be trying its best in order to care for our growing population.
The speaker that was motivating most to me though was our very own Houston former HISD school board member, Juliet Stipeche. She was great in her specific choice of words and explaining how, not only was serving in the school board was but also how difficult it was because of the extreme cuts to our Texas public schools through our legislature. She talked about the struggle that continues and about how we must continue to fight for Texans, past, present and future.
Houston really does seem to be doing a lot in respects to protecting our children and their parents in regards to their educations and their future properties and taxes. I was also able to hang out with some great Houston business persons and all around good friends at a local drinking establishment, Lizzards, yes with double "zz," 2715 Sackett St, Houston, TX 77098. We talked about everything including marriage, dating, careers and my favorite, Real Estate. Lizzards has a great patio and it is located in Upper Kirby area right next to River Oaks. It was a really great place to just sit outside and grab a drink.
I then had the opportunity to visit my favorite place outside of my home, Byzantio, 403 W Gray, Houston, TX 77019. This place is awesome. It has great food, drinks, out door sitting and it dog friendly. It close to midtown and it has great downtown views. Their food is great and they have from Greek inspired burger to old Greek classic dishes that are so tasty. I love it hear from the great family environment to the regulars that make this place a "home away from home." Some of my best freiends come here often as well.
You also get a chance to make new friends as well from Norway, Guyana, Mexico, Israel, Kenya, Colombia to Russia, everyone come here.
Supporting Houston is truly my pleasure. Whether it is through Real Estate or connecting people and helping their dreams come true, I love it. Let me help you find your dream home via Buying, Selling or Investment in Houston. You wont be let down. I want to be your Realtor.
I found my long lost friend!!! Well she wasn't lost so much as away getting her Doctorate.. So Proud of her! Yay Pammy!!
So yesterday night, while at a networking event with my two pals, Joseph and Tom (the German), I ran into my old pal Pam. Well now it's Dr. Pam Hernandez PhD. This new group of great young Latinos is called Latino Mixer and it was their second meeting ever. They are doing some good things in Houston and I wanted to learn more and network, my buddies wanted to meet girls too so it was kind of a two birds situation. This group gathers and network and talk about life in Houston and in their careers from the viewpoint of Americans of Latino descent.
I mostly met people that are in the non-profit sector. That in itself is very interesting. I was talking to one girl about her work dealing with the infamous the "School-to-Prison Pipeline." I personally think that is very important work as I have been watching PBS documentaries and listening to stories on NPR about this very troubling issue. All in all I think Houston is getting some great people coming in to take over as leaders in every industry. The future sure does look bright for Houston and I proud to be part of it as a Realtor.
The venue was a place called 3rd Floor in the midtown area of Houston. It was large and there were three other groups meeting there as well. The servers were very nice and pleasant. The environment was overall good. The best part of the place was not only are they nice with a large selections of beers but they also have free appetizers. Yes, ok ok, it was bite sized pieces of bread with a sprinkle of cheese but I think that it tasted good and free is always affordable. I mean in a world where everything now costs "an arm and a leg," it was refreshing and it showed that this place really cared about their customers. I give it an hard A. The only downside is that drinks were a bit pricy-er, which really is to be expected in the midtown area. Over all i give it an A.
If you are looking for a great area of town that is in walking distance from great food, great entertainment, walk-able outdoor areas, then Midtown is for you. I would love to help you Buy, Sell or Lease. I want to be your Realtor.
Well I usually travel around the city of Houston by myself. Sad, nah. I mean i prefer it but I am used to it. I mean I go to a lot of events, lectures, and real estate functions. I love meeting new people and I love learning about Real Estate in the city. I will begin a series today chronicling my travels through Houston, what I learn about the city and the people that make things happen. I will do it all from a Real Estate point of view mixed with living a less then perfect life while trying to make the world better one day at a time.
So yesterday I go to a meeting in the East End part of Houston. It is a great older area of Houston with lots of charm and art. A couple of years ago a "revitalization" started in the area and it seems to just have take off from there. I mean new a new stadium was built and the rail started running in that part of town... the whole nine yards. Now there are more restaurants and bars, which is more in the the EADO part of town but i will get to that part a bit later.
So after my meeting, that went great btw, I had a Real Estate event. It was for this new building that will totally change the EADO area, which is right next to the George R. Brown Convention Center and to Dynamo Stadium, it is the The Ivy Lofts, https://theivylofts.com/ . It is a great new building that is perfect for the professional Millennials. (#HOUmillennials ask me about it)
I also ran into my buddy that I had not seen in a while, Marti
Afterwards I went to another event with some of Houston's great artist talents. #KscopeHouston.
They are a group of wonderfully talented people doing great things in Houston with film, fashion, music and art.
WE’VE BEEN WAITING OVER A YEAR to see Beyoncé’s line of athletic apparel for Topshop, so of course Queen B did not disappoint, debuting her new brand, Ivy Park,on the cover of Elle magazine this week.
The result is a line that’s streamlined and functional—this is about not about wearing your yoga pants to brunch (although you still can do that), it’s about what you wear when you’re putting in the hard work to feel ***flawless.
As a result, Ivy Park is closer to UnderArmour than Lululemon. It takes more inspiration from the boxing gym than the yoga studio, with its predominately black and grey color scheme and graphic use of the brand name on many of the pieces. Based on what we can see in the video, it looks like the line will include tanks, yoga pants, headbands, sweatshirts, swimwear, pool sandals, kids’ versions (although those may only be for Blue Ivy) and, in true Beyoncé fashion, a fitness leotard/body suit.
The first half of the name is obviously inspired by Beyoncé’s daughter, and the singer says “Park” comes from the workouts she did growing up, when her dad would wake her up to go running. “The park is what made me who I am,” she says.
The video voiceover doesn’t name the exact park that she says came to symbolize discipline and hard work, but it’s probably not Parkwood Park, a sliver of a green space in the Third Ward, where Beyoncé grew up, that’s pictured in the video, despite the fact that Parkwood Entertainment is the name of Beyoncé’s management company. In previous interviews Beyoncé and former Destiny’s Child bandmate LaTavia Robertson spoke about their training regimen of singing while running the 3.5-mile trail at nearby Hermann Park—but then again, that name doesn’t have quite the same ring to it.
Ivy Park will be available April 14 at Topshop and Nordstrom.
WHEN YOU COMBINE TWO FANTASTICALLY HOUSTONIAN INTERESTS—cars and art—into a free parade, it’s destined to become a perennial event, which is why theArt Car Parade is now entering its 29th year.
“It’s something unique to Houston,” says Jonathan Beitler, PR representative for the annual Art Car Parade. “And it’s our form of public art.”
After almost three decades, the parade will experience a significant change this year, as construction on Allen Parkway means this year’s route will move to its former downtown destination. The parade will run along Smith Street from Pease to Walker, making a left turn at Walker, then a second left onto Bagby, and ending at Lamar. Scattered in the mix, you’ll find beverage stations, food truck and gift shops.
The parade, known for its wacky and unique cars, will feature over 215 vehicles this year. Look for old favorites like the hulking Rhino Redemption—which originally premiered at Burning Man in 2014—and 88 new creations coming from Houston as well as states across the U.S. and even as far afield as Canada and Mexico. “Whether it’s monsters or animals…we think the public will enjoy them,” says Beitler with a laugh.
Since its inception, the Art Car Parade has always included an educational component, encouraging student participation from elementary, middle and high schools throughout the city. “It’s rare that you get to create something to show to such a broad audience,” says Beitler. “And at such a young age.”
The parade is a unique opportunity for students to create, collaborate and celebrate their work, though Houstonians of all ages can apply to be a part of the Art Car Parade each year—and of course, all Houstonians are invited out to watch, says Beitler. “It’s an exciting experience that celebrates the joy of art and the joy of being creative.”
29th Annual Art Cart Parade, Saturday, April 9. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (parade begins at 2 p.m.) Free. thehoustonartcarparade.com
JAGI KATIAL, CUP OF TEA IN HAND, is wandering the construction site for the soon-to-open White Oak Music Hall. There are cranes overhead, lighting to install, and stacks of pipes and copper tubing everywhere. In other words, there’s a long way to go before the three-stage venue on the Near Northside, just off North Main Street next to the new Raven Tower, opens its doors.
“It seems like we’ve been pushing dirt around outside for forever, but here we are,” says Katial, the head of Houston-based concert-promotion company Pegstar, who founded Free Press Summer Fest along with Omar Afra of Free Press Houston.
While the hall’s two indoor stages aren’t set to open until June, at the time of our visit the outdoor stage, set on a hill above Little White Oak Bayou with room for up to 3,000 concertgoers, is just weeks away from its debut. French electronic rock band M83 is booked to play the first show on April 9.
In 2013, Katial and WOMH managing partner Will Garwood spotted White Oak’s abandoned plot of land featuring views of the twinkling downtown skyline—located steps from a planned METRO Rail stop—and saw an opportunity. “I’m a music guy,” says Katial, “so my thing has always been about attracting people through music. Everything has been focused around that.”
The venue’s sleek indoor stages—one of which will hold 400 people; the other, 1,400—will be outfitted with the latest sound equipment and all the bells and whistles required to make this a music-lover’s music venue (as well as a space for hosting lectures, weddings and conferences).
To call White Oak Hall an upgrade from Fitzgerald’s, Pegstar’s previous home base, is an understatement. “Fitz’s always felt like a house show,” Katial says, “but that was also the impetus for all the problems—sound problems, safety problems, floor problems, logistical problems.”
The schedule for the outdoor stage is still a work in progress, although a couple big shows are planned in addition to M83: Folk-pop trio The Lumineers play an already-sold-out show May 21, and The Flaming Lips take the stage on Memorial Day.
Katial emphasizes that big-ticket names like these weren’t always easy to come by in this city. In the past, he explains, “just to get people to come to Houston was a little bit of an uphill battle. But people are always intrigued about Houston.”
With anticipation surrounding the new venue building to a fever pitch, the old adage seems truer than ever: If you build it, they will come. “I have no doubt it will be packed,” says Katial. “People are hungry for music in Houston.”
What it’s getting right: The eclectic neighborhood offers some of the city’s best cuisine, nightlife and coffee-shop options—all paired with strong walkability. With so much coolness within arm’s reach, Montrosians can leave their cars parked as they enjoy the good things in life.
New in the neighborhood: Cooking Girl, the second solidly spicy Sichuan restaurant to open in the past year (a Montrose outpost of Chinatown favorite Mala Sichuan came first) and another main attraction at the increasingly busy corner of Fairview and Taft, where slick newcomers like Cuchara and Max’s Wine Dive mingle with quirky old-timers like Gratifi and Bar Boheme.
If you only have an hour: Wander the Menil Collection, then relax in its adjoining park and enjoy the people watching.
New in the neighborhood: New and improved green spaces abound, most notably the expansion of the Brays Bayou trails and the restoration of Gus Wortham Golf Course starting this fall. And lately, Telephone Road has the free-spirited energy of Lower Westheimer before all the fancy restaurants moved in—check out Wired Up Records and Books, the eastside outpost of hip barbershop Cutthroat, Chocolate Wasted Ice Cream, Blue Line Bike Shop and East End Studio Gallery, all within a couple blocks of neighborhood stalwart Bohemeo’s.
What it’s getting right: As affordable housing gets harder to come by, young professionals are increasingly looking to East End neighborhoods like Eastwood, Idylwood and Magnolia Park, where well-maintained and rehabbed bungalows from the 1930s and ’40s on leafy streets can still be found for under $200,000—if you’re lucky. This is also one of the most pedestrian-friendly parts of town, with a large cyclist community and myriad transportation options via the new METRO Green line.
If you only have an hour: Grab some queso and fajitas at the Original Ninfa’s on Navigation.
New in the neighborhood: The vintage vibe of 19th Street is getting a jolt of new energy with the renovation of the Heights Theater, which launches this fall. And the number of dining establishments working around the neighborhood’s dry-zone rules continues to grow, with Bernadine’s, Ka Sushi, Southern Goods, Hunky Dory and the forthcoming Il Cane Rosso all making citywide waves.
What it’s getting right: With seven historic districts in the Greater Heights area, there’s not another neighborhood in Houston that values its heritage as much as this one. Despite the ever-pricier homes, the neighborhood still retains an eclectic, artsy sensibility, and its dedicated hike-and-bike lanes and trails make this neighborhood one of the most inviting in the city.
If you only have an hour: Check out The Wilde Collection (it’s the only store on Yale with a hearse parked out front), a curiosity and oddities shop, then mosey over to Heights Vinyl on White Oak to browse its thousands of new and vintage albums.
What it’s getting right: The planned community prioritizes green space, with golf courses, miles of hike and bike trails, community pools, more than 110 parks, and a 200-acre lake available to residents. There are homes at multiple price points here, and many of the subdivisions have their own town centers.
New in the neighborhood: The 66-acre mixed-use development Hughes Landing, set on Lake Woodlands, is a local favorite, offering seven restaurants with lakeside views, a boardwalk, and a Whole Foods Market plus high-end apartments and office buildings.
If you only have an hour: Stroll through Town Center, the downtown of The Woodlands, and explore its 1,000 acres of shops and restaurants.
What it’s getting right: Not quite Inner Loop and not quite suburbia, Memorial offers the best of both worlds, with reasonable commutes, quality schools and tucked-away neighborhoods in which kids can still play in the streets, plus shopping and dining minutes away at CityCentre, Town & Country Village and Memorial City Mall. Residents also have access to the picturesque Terry Hershey Park hike-and-bike trails along Buffalo Bayou.
New in the neighborhood: Bowl & Barrel—the first Houston location of the Dallas hotspot that combines a luxe bowling experience (complete with leather couches) with a European beer hall and modern American tavern—opens soon at CityCentre.
If you only have an hour: Escape the concrete jungle at the Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary, a restored log cabin homestead and peaceful 17.5-acre wooded preserve along Rummel Creek that’s a habitat for native plants and animals and a haven for birders.
Rico’s serves food all day and night in Bagby Park.
What it’s getting right: This always-evolving neighborhood is as diverse as the city itself. Highly walkable and packed with mixed-use developments, the area is known for its vibrant nightlife and explosion of arts venues.
New in the neighborhood: Not only are multiple eco-friendly street-beautification projects underway on Holman, Brazos, Main and Caroline, the area has seen an onslaught of bars and restaurant openings, and Midtown’s new arts-and-culture center, MATCH, opened last fall.
If you only have an hour: Snap a selfie by the giant “midtown” public art piece in Bagby Park, share your life goals on the “Before I Die…” chalkboard, and choose from dozens of dining options in walking distance for a night on the town.
Public trails abut the Southwyck Golf Course in Pearland.
What it’s getting right: By 2025, Pearland is projected to double in population, which makes sense considering its relative proximity to the Med Center and its still-cheaper-than-Inner-Loop housing prices. Offering ample green space, small-town appeal, excellent public schools and plenty of recreational activities, the city to the south is a suburban dream.
New in the neighborhood:The town continues to expand its roster of parks, recreation options and libraries. There’s a new nature trail on Magnolia Road, and this fall, the Tom Reid Library will get a 7,900-square-foot facelift.
If you only have an hour: Fans of famous barbecue joint Killen’s descend here from Houston and beyond. But if you don’t want to wait in the infamous line, head south to Froberg’s for some old-timey strawberry-picking, then pick up some fresh-fried pies at the adjoining general store.
What it’s getting right: Spring Branch has become a destination both for luxury properties and affordable single-family ranchers and townhomes, although prices here continue to rise. Offering easy access to Memorial, Uptown, the Energy Corridor and downtown, the neighborhood is also known for its vibrant international dining scene. Spring Branch ISD’s public schools are among the city’s very best.
New in the neighborhood: Experience weightlessness without all that pesky NASA training at iFly’s indoor skydiving center.
If you only have an hour: Grab a meal of bulgogi in the food court at Super H Mart, then walk it off by browsing the aisles of the East Asian mega-mart, which has all the ingredients to make your own grilled Korean beef at home.
What it’s getting right: There are plenty of perks that come with living in a tiny municipality, such as prompt, responsive service from everyone from trash collectors to police, as well as a full slate of sports leagues, classes and more from the West University library and community center. Despite (or perhaps because of) home prices starting around $1 million, this leafy enclave both looks and feels like a small town.
New in the neighborhood: Check out West U’s first Little Free Library, a tiny replica of West University Elementary School, which opened in October in Colonial Park. Then take the whole family for burgers at Little Matt’s, where an iPad station and arcade games will keep the kids busy while parents sip on free margaritas (limit two).
If you only have an hour: Grab a bleacher at a Little League game at Paul Wallin Field. This town takes its baseball very seriously—Barbara Bush once threw out the first pitch on opening day, and the Senior team won the Little League World Series in 2014.
What it’s getting right: Garden Oaks and the adjacent Oak Forest appeal to young families, who take advantage of its top-rated schools, pocket parks, neighborhood clubs, seasonal events and, lately, a slew of interesting new restaurants. Both offer a mix of new construction and older homes: Garden Oaks is loaded with 1930s and ’40s bungalows, while Oak Forest offers ’50s ranch houses aplenty.
New in the neighborhood: Gigundo-gym O Athletik combines an indoor soccer pitch, MMA ring and training equipment, yoga studio, sauna, juice bar and more under one, massive 35,000-square-foot roof.
If you only have an hour: Walk the bayou at T.C. Jester Park, then refuel at Doyle’s, a favorite in the neighborhood for over 60 years for its old-school pizza, pasta and Italian fare.
This article appeared in the April 2016 issue of Houstonia.
