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    Cuba Connections

    Airline brings Cuba closer with direct weekly flights from Houston to Havana

    Shelby Hodge
    Jul 16, 2015 | 2:33 pm

    Beginning in August, Cuba gets a bit closer to Houston when HavanaAir begins direct service between Houston Intercontinental Airport and Havana. Weekly flights will be operated on Wednesdays.

    In a release today announcing the flights, PRNewswire reports that the Miami-based air carrier will utilize Eastern Air Lines Boeing 737-800 jets.

    "HavanaAir has strived to extend the utmost in customer services to the island," Mark Elias, the company's president and COO, noted in a statement. "And our partnership with Eastern has proven to provide an entirely new level of service to Cuba with their Next Generation Boeing aircraft."

    The Houston-Havana route will add to the company's growing system which includes 65 flights a month to Havana from Miami with additional service to Camaguey and Santa Clara, Cuba.

    Don't get your hopes up for a leisurely vacation on the Caribbean Island. The Houston Business Journal writes that according to the U.S. Department of Treasury's website, general tourism is not allowed. However, visits with a purpose such as official government business, authorized family travel, public performances, education, sports activities, etc. are permitted. According to the government website, "Travel related transactions for other purposes remain prohibited."

    Like a page from the past, Havana streets are other-worldly.

    havana cuba
      
    Photo by Nathan Laurell
    Like a page from the past, Havana streets are other-worldly.
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    Hot Lineup

    3 Houston chefs head west for Aaron Franklin's Hot Luck music and food fest

    Brianna Caleri
    Mar 7, 2025 | 11:30 am
    Rebecca Masson Fluff Bake Bar
    Courtesy of Fluff Bake Bar
    Rebecca Masson, Fluff Bake Bar.

    In February, Austin's food and music festival Hot Luck announced the general arc of its 2025 events, from a kickoff party at Franklin Barbecue to an outdoorsy brunch. On March 5, it follows that announcement with a chef lineup featuring dozens of the city's best and most influential chefs, as well as three prominent Houston participants.

    Individual tickets (starting at $207.52 including fees) and all-inclusive passes (starting at $632.14) are now on sale. The festival will be held May 22-25.

    For those who haven't been to Hot Luck — founded by James Beard Award–winner Aaron Franklin, Mohawk owner James Moody, and Feast Portland founder Mike Thelin — the main draw is not just great chefs but live music to keep the night going. It's almost like a series of afterparties that many of the chefs attend. Only the most energetic festival attendees will make it to food events and concerts every night, and there are tons of options in both experiences.

    Although the food events are similar to each other — always including some kind of mixed sampling — the main differences are venue and lineup. Attendees who are devoted to a few restaurants will need to plan accordingly, but discovering new favorites is usually the best part.

    Here are the chefs attending each event in 2025, with the Houston chefs noted in bold:

    Thursday, May 22

    Giddy Up at Franklin Barbecue

    Pre-party for Whole Enchilada pass holders.

    • Ana Castro (Acamaya)
    • Amanda Shulman and Alex Kemp (My Loup)
    • Geoff Davis (Burdell)
    • Lawrence “LT” Smith (Chilte)
    • Nate Barfield (Hot Stuff)
    • Aaron Franklin (Franklin Barbecue)

    Friday, May 23

    Nite Moves at Assembly Hall

    Street food-focused kick-off party.

    • Andy Quinn (The Noortwyck)
    • Ariana Quant (Uchi)
    • Arlin Smith and Andrew Taylor (Eventide Oyster Co.)
    • Bob Somsith (Lao’d Bar)
    • Cheetie Kumar (Ajja)
    • Jeremy Sewall (Row 34)
    • Jordan Rubin (Mr. Tuna)
    • Sarah Lim (OMG Squee)
    • Sophina Uong (Mister Mao)
    • Tavel Bristol-Joseph (Canje)
    • Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel (Birdie’s)
    • Valerie Chang (Maty’s)
    • Yoshi Okai (Otoko)

    Saturday, May 24

    Al Fuego at Jester King Brewery

    Live-fire cooking with a "backyard gathering" feel.

    • Aaron Bludorn (Bludorn)
    • Amanda Turner (The Fiery Talon)
    • Anthony Pratto and Xose Velasco (Discada)
    • Ashleigh Shanti (Good Hot Fish)
    • Ben Savage (Kalimotxo)
    • Edgar Rico (Nixta Taqueria)
    • Evan LeRoy (LeRoy and Lewis)
    • Genevieve Taylor, Nick Weston, Lee Tiernan and Gill Meller (YETI)
    • Genie Kwon and Tim Flores (Kasama)
    • Joshua Pinsky (Claud and Penny)
    • Justin Yu (Theodore Rex)
    • Kyle Knall (Birch)
    • Leina Horii & Brian Lea (Kisser)
    • Michael Fojtasek (Maie Day)
    • Misti Norris (Rainbow Cat)
    • Nick Erven (Summer House on Music Lane)
    • Nick Goellner (The Antler Room)
    • Philip Speer (Comedor)
    • Raul Esquer and Roy Servan (Taqueria 10/10)
    • Rebecca Masson (Fluff Bake Bar)
    • Sergio Ledesma (Geraldine’s)
    • Sheena and Ben George (Besame)
    • Todd Duplechan (Lenoir)

    Sunday, May 25

    Camp Sunnyside at Fair Market

    Campfire brunch wrap-up.

    • Ashley Christensen (Poole’s)
    • Beto Robledo (Cuantos Tacos)
    • Diego Galicia and Rico Torres (Mixtli)
    • Ernest Servantes (Burnt Bean Co.)
    • Fermín Núñez (Suerte and Este)
    • Fiore Tedesco (L’Oca d’Oro)
    • Ian Thurwatcher (Poeta)
    • Joanne Canady-Brown (The Gingered Peach)
    • Kevin Fink (Emmer & Rye)
    • Mariela Camacho (Comadre Panaderia)
    • Mason Hereford (Turkey and The Wolf)
    • Paola Velez (Author of Bodega Bakes & co-owner of Providencia, Bakers Against Racism)
    • Renee Erickson (The Whale Wins)
    • Sarah McIntosh (épicerie)
    • Siobhan and Taylor Manning (Cafe Olli)

    Hot Luck benefits the Southern Smoke Foundation, a nonprofit for food and beverage workers. Stay tuned for Hot Luck's final lineup announcement, announcing the music lineup usually across several venues.

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