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Kiehl's Easy Riders

Harleys roar through Houston: This fashionable motorcycle gang is on a mission to fight AIDS

Clifford Pugh
Oct 31, 2013 | 3:51 pm

Chris Salgardo has ridden his Harley up and down the west and east coasts to raise money to find a cure for AIDS. Now the president of Kiehl's Since 1851 is roaring across Texas.

Salgardo, accompanied by amfAR (The Foundation for AIDS Research) CEO Kevin Robert Frost, British artist Conrad Leach and rock 'n' roll celebrity photographer Travis Shinn, recently made a Houston stop at the Kiehl's Highland Village store as part of their five-day "Texas Ride for amfAR." The foursome traveled from Austin to Dallas for the Two X Two for AIDS and Art fundraiser, with stops in Sugar Land (at the Kiehl's counter at Dillard's in First Colony Mall), Houston and Longview.

"I've never come across so much rush-hour traffic where car drivers are so considerate to motorcyclists."

"I think that Texas gets a bad rap for not being supportive and emphatic to HIV/AIDS causes and I just don't think that's true," Salgardo said. "There's something about Texas, every time I come, the Southern hospitality is amazing.

"To be able to be on a bike, you see the country and you see the small towns like you can't in a car, so it's really a thrill for me."

Leach, who hails from London, said he found Texas drivers courteous to motorcycle riders, which might surprise some locals. "It's a really motorcycle-friendly place to ride. I've never come across so much rush-hour traffic where car drivers are so considerate to motorcyclists. Here I've never felt so welcomed on a motorcycle. First time in Texas, first time on a motorcycle in Texas. I'll definitely be coming back," he said.

The nice thing about a long motorcycle ride in Texas, Leach added, is the amount of miles you can cover in a day. "You can really stretch out and relax and start to enjoy the scenery," he said. "In Europe, by the time you've warmed up, you've arrived at your destination. Whereas here, the journey is everything — and it's wonderful."

The idea to launch charity motorcycle rides came naturally, said Salgardo, who has been riding motorcycles for more than 30 years. The skin care company, which has been in business since before Lincoln was president (1851), has long featured vintage motorcycles in its stores around the world.

In Houston, the band Dovetail greeted the riders and guests, who were treated to scull-themed nail art manicures and photos at the Smilebooth, along with skin care consultations. All proceeds from sales of Kiehl's Limited Edition Ultimate Strength Hand Salve benefit AIDS research, Salgardo noted. (A tube retails for $28.50.)

"Texas is a huge market for Kiehl's," Salgardo said, noting two stores in Dallas (at Highland Park and NorthPark) and one in Houston, with a new store planned to open in The Woodlands at the beginning of 2014. "We're not done with Houston yet. I will be back."

Conrad Leach, center in motorcycle jacket, and Travis Shinn, kneeling, pose with Kiehl's sales associates.

Kiehl's Texas Run at Highland Village October 2013 Kiehl's staff
Photo by © Wilson Parish
Conrad Leach, center in motorcycle jacket, and Travis Shinn, kneeling, pose with Kiehl's sales associates.
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fore!

Buzzy East River destination opens new 9-hole golf course and restaurant with a view

Eric Sandler
Nov 11, 2022 | 10:30 am
Buzzy East River destination opens new 9-hole golf course and restaurant with a view
Courtesy of Midway

Play golf with a view of downtown at East River 9.

Local golfers have a new place to play a quick round, and the Fifth Ward has a new, family friendly restaurant with a view of the action. East River 9 and Riverhouse Houston have recently opened their doors.

As its name implies, East River 9 is a nine-hole, par-three golf course with a companion driving range, putting green, and pro shop. The course offers holes that run between 80 and 150 yards with two staggered tee boxes per hole. Touted as the only public, nine-hole, par-three course inside the 610 loop, East River 9 also has stadium lights that allow for evening play.

In addition to playing the course, customers may practice their swings on a 300-yard driving range that looks toward downtown and work on their short game on the 12,000-square-foot putting green. The attached pro shop offers rentals, equipment, and food and drink.

Six pickleball courts keep the facility up to date with the latest sports trend. They’re allocated on a first-come-first-served basis with paddles and balls available for rent.

“We are thrilled to welcome the community to East River to experience a casual, family-friendly setting that overlooks Buffalo Bayou and downtown Houston,” founding partner Clayton Freels said in a statement. “The concepts complement one another and create a one-of-a-kind atmosphere for all to enjoy – regardless of your age or skillset.”

Turning to the restaurant, Riverhouse offers a menu of classic American fare in a family friendly environment. Operated by Otto’s BBQ owner DKC Group, Riverhouse serves wings, queso, burgers, salads, and tacos. Located in a repurposed industrial building, the patio offers a view of the golf course, Buffalo Bayou, and the downtown skyline. Families will enjoy a kids play area, outdoor games, and a kids menu.

East River 9 and Riverhouse are the first new concepts to open at East River, real estate developer Midway’s massive mixed-use development that's currently under construction along Buffalo Bayou near the intersection of Jensen Drive and Clinton Drive in Fifth Ward. Ultimately, the project will include more than 150 acres of residential, office spaces, retail, restaurants, and more. In 2023, phase one will open with tenants such as Austin’s Lick Honest Ice Creams, El Condor Coffee Roaster, and Broham Fine Soul Food & Groceries, a grocery store from former Indigo chef Johnny Rhodes.

East River 9 course layout

Courtesy of Midway

Play golf with a view of downtown at East River 9.

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Ken Hoffman rallies Houston to shatter the 1 million-attendance mark for the downtown Astros parade

bregmans' big week

Alex Bregman rocks the red carpet with wife Reagan and returns to meet hundreds of Houston fans

Steven Devadanam
Nov 11, 2022 | 9:30 am
Alex Bregman reagan bregman CMA Awards 2022
Reagan Bregman/Instagram

The Bregmans rocked the red carpet at the CMA Awards.

Days after the Houston Astros won their second World Series title and greeted an estimated 1 million fans at the downtown victory parade, All Star slugger/third baseman Alex Bregman and his wife Reagan Bregman rocked the red carpet at the annual CMA Awards.

Alex exuding a dashing 007 vibe in his black tux, posed for red-carpet pics with entrepreneur and new mom Reagan, who dazzled in a shimmering Bronx and Banco gown (as noted by Tootsies creative director.)


View this post on Instagram
A post shared by reagan elizabeth bregman (@reaganelizabeth)

Barely catching their breaths, the Bregmans hurried home to Houston and, as Alex points out, to little baby Knox. “We were sprinting through the airport, stopping each other up the stairs trying to hold him first,” Alex told CultureMap the next day at a fan meet-and-greet appearance. More than 600 faithful lined the parking lot to get a glimpse and autograph with him.

Alex, who chuckled when we mentioned that he rocked a James Bond look at the awards, shared his favorite country acts, given his CMA trip: “Cody Johnson and Jason Aldean are my two favorites for sure,” he said, adding he’d like to see both at RodeoHouston. He got to hang with Johnson and Aldean at the CMA Awards: “They’re both outstanding guys.”

When asked about his finger, now bandaged, the Astros fan favorite told us it “feels pretty good. I probably could play today,” he said with a grin, “but the doctors probably wouldn’t allow that.”

Next up are some horse races next week with this Bregman Family Racing. “I’m excited — I might be able to finally see one run for the first time.” The power couple also have a few weddings, then it’s Knox time, and training.

“This offseason is going to be focused on getting back into great shape and getting ready to win another one.”

And that’s music to Astros fans' ears.

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Movie Review

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever wears its emotions on its sleeve

Alex Bentley
Nov 10, 2022 | 4:05 pm
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever wears its emotions on its sleeve
Photo by Annette Brown

Angela Bassett in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

The Marvel Cinematic Universe and writer/director Ryan Coogler find themselves in almost an impossible position with the long-anticipated Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The death of star Chadwick Boseman in 2020 left a gaping hole in both the ongoing MCU and in Coogler’s story plans for this film, which likely had to be mostly scrapped in the absence of his character, King T’Challa.

And so, like much of the MCU’s Phase Four films, Wakanda Forever feels tenuously patched together. Coogler and co-writer Joe Robert Cole address the elephant in the room right away, starting the film with T’Challa’s (off-screen) death, a sequence that is as elegantly handled as possible. It is the first of multiple times in the film that characters like his sister Shuri (Letitia Wright) and mother Ramonda (Angela Bassett) grapple with the loss, moments that never fail to bring big emotion into the film.

At first, it feels like the film’s main storyline will be successful, introducing a new group of beings, led by Namor (Tenoch Huerta), who live underwater in a country they call Talokan. Like Wakanda, they live in an area that’s rich with vibranium, which makes their deep-sea land a target for countries eager to be on a level playing field with Wakanda. Naturally, they defend their territory at all costs, with the mysterious nature of the Talokans leading to them being confused for Wakandans.

Early conflicts between the Talokans and Wakandans are suitably entertaining, with the Talokans – featuring blue skin, masks filled with water to be able to breathe at all times, and possible regenerative properties – seemingly indomitable. But as the film goes along, and especially in the final act, the battle scenes become repetitive and filled with subpar CGI that takes the viewer out of the necessary escapism mode.

The film works best when it returns to the personal aspects of the story. Without the presence of T’Challa, the film becomes mostly about the women of Wakanda, including Shuri, Ramonda, Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), and warrior Okoye (Danai Gurira). The way each adapts to their new or adapted roles is much more interesting than any of the fights. Coogler also takes time to give the history of Namor and the Talokans, making them deeper than other nemeses in comic book films.

When it comes time for a particular character to finally take up the mantle of Black Panther again, the reveal is not much of a surprise. But whether it’s the reluctance of that character, the appearance of the character in the suit, or the incoherence of the scenes showing off that person’s skills, there’s little that’s exciting about the newly-minted superhero.

It’s also disappointing that – after the world-building and addressing of real-life racial issues in the first film – this film doesn’t push harder in that regard. Coogler and the production team, especially costume designer Ruth E. Carter, make Wakanda as real as ever, but the implicit promise T’Challa makes at the end of the first film - that Wakanda would be a beacon for Black people around the world - is only lightly addressed.

There is little the filmmakers could do about it, but the film misses Boseman’s larger-than-life aura. Much of the film centers on Shuri, but Wright is better as a supporting actor than a lead. A better choice would have been Bassett, who is as strong as ever, or Nyong’o or Gurira, who are each compelling in their roles. Winston Duke once again makes the most of his brief appearances as M’Baku.

For all its faults, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is still the most watchable of the recent slate of MCU films. The central conflict doesn’t yield many rewards, but the film wears its emotions on its sleeve, giving fans permission to publicly grieve the generational talent gone too soon.

---

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever opens in theaters on November 11.

Angela Bassett in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Photo by Annette Brown

Angela Bassett in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

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