immersed in history

Cool new cultural series showcases Houston's Black history with feasts, tours — and wine

For any Houstonians who would like to know how deep the African-American history and culture is in this town, Houston First has set up a collection of tours for those ready to be enlightened.

Houston Signature Experiences is the newly launched, immersive-experience collection designed to honor and showcase the city's Black-owned businesses and its pivotal role in Black history.

“We have long talked about how we could create authentic experiences that tell Houston’s story,” Houston First CEO Michael Heckman noted during a media preview that was recently held at The Heritage Society at Sam Houston Park. “And there’s no better time than during Black History Month to create and kickoff these types of authentic experiences that we have.”

The Heritage Society is where people can take the “From Plantation to Emancipation” tour, held on the second and fourth Saturday of the month, where your tour guide and actor breathe breath life into the struggles and triumphs of those who lived through the times of slavery and the jubilation of freedom.

On select Saturday mornings, head over to the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church for “From Chains to the Church.” In the 90-minute experience, guests can traverse the church grounds (established in 1866) and become part of a story that celebrates the determination of a people who fiercely held onto the land their ancestors secured with newfound freedom.

In a true H-Town food experience, Houston This Is It Soul Food will cook up “40 Weight Gravy: A Soulful History of Houston Soul Food” every other Saturday. This tour is really just a feast provided by the restaurant (opened in 1959) where you celebrate the history of soul food and the bonds it strengthens with every shared meal.

If you’d like to follow that with dessert, Black-owned Lucy Pearl’s over at POST Houston will have “Southern Sweets & Soulful Stories” Thursdays through Sundays. This experience blends the flavors of history, life lessons, and the profound journey of becoming with the captivating stories behind some of our favorite desserts.

Finally, for the day-drinkers, Pur Noire Urban Wineries (another Black-owned spot) will have “Pur Pairings That Speak to the Soul” on second and fourth Tuesdays. It’s an experience that is both a lesson in the art of winemaking and a celebration of culinary artistry.

The partners are psyched to be part of this endeavor, where they get to tell stories not only about Houston, but their stories. Lucy Pearl’s CEO/co-owner Nicole Morris has already done two tours at her establishment. “My experience is curated around pivotal decisions through my years, and it was always centered around the kitchen table and the dessert on the table,” Morris said. “And these desserts remind me of comfort and love. So, that’s what I want my customers to tap into – the times they were loved through the desserts.”

Since The Heritage Society and Antioch have had a good working relationship throughout the years, pastor Lou McElroy believes it’s the duty of both the society and the church to school locals and visitors about the city’s Black-and-proud forefathers. Said McElroy, “Through that relationship and loving our city, working with our city in other capacities, this opportunity presented itself, which allows us, along with others, to tell our stories and the impact that our ancestors had in creating this town.”

For more information and to book a tour, visit the Houston Signature Experiences website.

5 experiences plantation to emancipation seasoned w/ soul food, stories, and wine

welcome to houston

Musical theater veteran joins prominent Houston company

Courtesy of Stages

Stages has named Valerie Rachelle as its new associate artist director.

A Houston theater company is adding an accomplished artist to its ranks. Stages announced that Valerie Rachelle will be the company’s new associate artistic director beginning in January 2026.

For more than a decade, Rachelle has been artistic director of the Oregon Cabaret Theatre in Ashland, Oregon, where she oversaw artistic vision and operations. That theater specializes in musical theater performances offered in a cabaret setting.

Rachelle comes to Houston with a career spanning nearly 30 years as a director and choreographer. She has extensive experience in developing new musicals and plays for regional theaters and opera companies across the United States, including the Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Utah Shakespeare Festival, and Sierra Repertory Theatre. She was appointed to her position at Stages following a nationwide search.

“I’m beyond thankful for this opportunity to join this incredible company, and I’m excited to be a part of a creative entity that has a strong mission and vision as Stages,” Rachelle said in a statement.

In her role with Stages, she will support artistic director Derek Charles Livingston with season planning and casting; liaise with artists, press, and staff; and coordinate day-to-day operations for the artistic department. She will also assist with crafting educational materials, direct and choreograph productions, and serve as the primary liaison with theatrical unions.

“We are thrilled to welcome Valerie to Stages in this role,” said Livingston. “I have seen her work as a director and director choreographer — she's excellent. Those skills combined with her experience as a theatre artistic director and manager only further fortify Stages' commitment to artistic excellence and community engagement.”

Born and raised in Eugene, Oregon, Rachelle began her career as a dancer and apprentice ballerina with the Eugene Ballet Company before earning her BFA in acting from California Institute of the Arts. She received her MFA in Directing from the University of California, Irvine. She has held teaching and directing positions at numerous institutions, including the University of Southern California, Southern Oregon University, Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, and others. She has also served as a mentor through Statera Arts, an organization dedicated to gender equity in the arts.

Rachelle teaches musical theater, auditioning, and singing at Southern Oregon University when she isn’t on the road as a freelance director and choreographer. She’s also a classically trained singer and toured the world with her parents and their illusionist show as a child.

“Joining the team that has a long-standing reputation of excellence in theater is an honor,” Rachelle added.

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