Thriving in West U

Innovative hydration spa refreshes West University with luxe new locale

ThrIVe Drip Spa West U University Houston

ThrIVe’s new West U drip lounge can serve 10 customers at a time in a spacious room with several TVs and reclining loungers.

Photo by Michael Anthony

Inner Loopers looking for an edge with healthy new year’s goals are in for a boost. ThrIVe Drip Spa, the innovative Houston health and lifestyle destination that has become popular in Memorial and The Woodlands, has announced a new West University location.

Located at 3277 Southwest Fwy., the new outpost will offer custom intravenous vitamin drips and B12 boosters that have made ThrIVe a go-to destination for hydration therapy. Benefits, according to cleverly named spa, range from increased energy, stronger immunity and better mood, to healthier sleeping patterns and “noticeably nicer skin.”

As the area’s premier drip spa, ThrIVe offers a menu of customized, medically certified drips and boosters that maximize overall wellness from the relaxing and luxurious Drip Lounge. That includes the Hydrate Drip, which restores fluids and electrolytes to the body following a night out; the Fit Drip, which helps achieve maximum output and improve muscle and fitness health; and the Detox Drip, which removes toxins, relieves stress, and improves well-being.

The spa is staffed by registered nurses with experience working in a clinical setting. The new location features ThrIVe’s largest IV therapy room to date, boasting ten plush recliners below decorative chandeliers emitting soft blue lighting while relaxing music is played overhead. A VIP room offers a perfect setting for group appointments and special events for area residents, businesses, local celebrities, and professional athletes.

The concept’s latest outpost is also adding Emsculpt to its luxury line-up, giving clients the additional option of the body contouring treatment that is said to implode fat cells while building muscle fiber.

Co-founded by sports medicine specialist and orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Eugene Lou; plastic surgeon, Dr. Derek Lou; and former professional baseball player, Royce Huffman, ThrIVe Drip Spa takes traditional medical treatments and serves them up with a modern twist set against a luxe backdrop.

“We feel like we’re the first modern luxury spa in Houston,” said Huffman, in a statement. He added, “We have drawn a lot of interest from diverse set of customers who want a different kind of professional spa experience to rejuvenate, rehydrate, and revitalize through our various custom offerings. We are excited for ThrIVe to have a convenient location inside the Loop.”

health openings

improving emancipation park

Historic Houston park's renovated cultural center completes $18.5M project

People at the Cultural Center at Emancipation Park opening.

Photo courtesy of Darryl Howard Photography.

Third Ward residents got to see the new Cultural Center as part of National Night Out.

Historic Third Ward now has an equally historic, newly-renovated third space in the form of the Cultural Center at Emancipation Park. The Emancipation Park Conservancy officially opened it for the public on Tuesday, October 6, as part of the National Night Out campaign, a community-building initiative designed to bring together neighborhoods and the law enforcement officers that serve them.

“Emancipation Park has always been a place where the Third Ward community comes together to celebrate, connect, and create memories,” said Corey Wilson, president and CEO of EPC. “The completion of the Cultural Center will create even more opportunities for people to learn, gather, and experience arts and culture. National Night Out is the perfect opportunity to invite the community back into this space and celebrate what’s next for Emancipation Park.”

The renovations to the Cultural Center are part of an $18.5 million investment plan that built on a the success of a $34 million campaign completed in 2017 that has fundamentally revamped the park as a modern neighborhood multi-purpose space and gathering spot. Among the upgrades are walls lined with historic photographs and infographics about the history of Third Ward that offer residents and visitors a chance to understand the rich heritage of the area while also providing venues for classes, workshops, and presentations. Other improvements include a new gift shop and enhanced audio-visual amenities.

Emancipation Park is actually the oldest public park in Houston. It was founded in 1872 by four formerly enslaved persons, including the Reverend Jack Yates. The park was built to host early Juneteenth celebrations and has been a cornerstone of Third Ward ever since.

“Emancipation Park was created by the community, for the community, and that legacy continues to guide its future,” said Ramon Manning, board chair of EPC. “We are excited to open the doors to the renovated Cultural Center and welcome our neighbors to enjoy this special place, make memories, and celebrate all that Emancipation Park means to the Third Ward.”

Funding for the Cultural Center's renovation comes from Houston Endowment; The Brown Foundation, Inc.; Wortham Foundation; Shell; O’Quinn Foundation; Claire and Joe Greenberg; Sarah and Doug Foshee; Melvyn and Cyvia Wolff Family Fun; Sara and Bill Morgan; and Carla Knobloch. The Jacqueline W. Bostic Stage was added to the park last year as a performance space thanks to support from the Kinder Foundation.

Photo courtesy of Darryl Howard Photography.

Third Ward residents got to see the new Cultural Center as part of National Night Out.

emancipation park parks openings