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    Pick Five (Plus)

    Your weekly guide to Houston: Cinco de Mayo goes bingo, Spanish folk dances andDragon Boats roll

    Joel Luks
    May 4, 2011 | 4:55 pm
    • Photo by Eric Mueller
    • "Cinco de Bingo" Cinco de Mayo fiesta is hosted by SCRUBS, the Young Supportersof The Harris County Hospital District Foundation.
    • Buffalo Bayou history tours with Louis Aulbach reveal the rich history ofHouston's waterways. Bayou Bend Main St. 1904
    • Apollo Chamber Players present a fiery concert commingling classical music andfolk tunes of Spanish origin. Ole!
    • Domenico Luciano in Dominic’s "Clair de Lune"
      Photo by Frank Atura
    • At the home of Lemonade Day Founder, Michael and Lisa Holthouse, littleentrepreneurs showed the 14 principles of the lemonade biz. It's not justlemonade. It's strategy. Here, Jalya
      Photo by Brian Nutsch/Lemonade Day Houston
    • A leisurely stroll courtesy of Buffalo Bayou "Foodie Floats," guests enjoyedSpanish wine pairings courtesy of Block 7.
    • The Rothko Chapel is offering a series of free Tai Chi classes suitable for thebeginning and experienced practitioner.

    What a historic last week it's been! We will be talking about where we were when we heard the news, sharing stories with our grandchildren and describing the events having lived through what the future generation will deem as history.

    My own week started with a beautiful and historic boat ride on the Buffalo Bayou, sipping on Spanish vino courtesy of Block 7 while exploring the memoirs of Houston's urban waterways. Buffalo Bayou Partnership's "Foodie Floats" toured the bayou canals while historian Robbie Robinson talked about things past to a lively group, which included John Fanning, in town to play Music Teacher in Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos.

    The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art launched its Art Car Parade festivities with a casual get together at Continental Club's patio. My discovery? Black been burgers from Natachees. Where have I been?

    Rienzi's Spring party was a stylish and elegant affair, allowing guests to stroll through the European decorative arts collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston with a glass of bubbly on hand. Carroll and Harris Masterson loved to entertain and this soiree made their legacy proud and this reporter, delighted.

    Lemonade Day brought out more than 50,000 little entrepreneurs out to sell. A reception at the home of Lemonade Day's founder, Michael and Lisa Holthouse, displayed 14 lemonade stands with children explaining the principles of a successful strategy. This is not just about making lemonade out of lemons. It's about thoughtfulness, creativity and a well-thought-out action plan, providing valuable business experience.

    There was also the TUTS gala, Latin Wave fiesta, iFest, a Houston Symphony concert, Houston Grand Opera's Ariadne auf Naxos, Shepherd School of Music's Mahler Symphony No. 3 and River Oaks Chamber Orchestra's clarinetist Maiko Sasaki at Tasting Room at Uptown.

    On tap for this week ...

    Tai Chi at the Rothko Chapel

    Need to recharge and Zen out? Having attended some of Rothko Chapel's noon time meditations as part of the Twelve Moments of Spirituality and Healing series, I can attest that the folks here know how to put you back together physically, mentally and spiritually.

    Wear comfy clothes and head over to the Chapel grounds, where you will practice near Newman's Broken Obelisk. New to Tai Chi? All are welcome. Thursdays in May at 5 p.m.

    Musiqa's Annual Spring Benefit "MusiqaFiesta"

    I love Musiqa because their concerts are engaging and fun, exposing the hardcore side of contemporary art music. Led by Houston's composition rock stars, this Cinco de Mayo bacchanal mingles awesome tunes by Latin American composers and a dash of jazz with tapas and libations courtesy of Molina's Cantina.

    Try your luck at the iPad2 raffle, bid on silent auction items and partake in the live auction. You know you want to. Thursday at 6 p.m.

    "Cinco de Bingo" at Last Concert Café

    If you are searching for a Cinco de Mayo fiesta, morph your planned debauchery into a good cause. The folks at SCRUBS, aka Young Supporters of The Harris County Hospital District Foundation, are making Bingo hip, chic and fab in "Cinco de Bingo." You could win great prizes like more booze, tickets to cool events and lots of cool stuff.

    Stuff yourself with a fajita buffet and wash it down with domestic and Mexican beers and margaritas. Thursday at 7 p.m.

    Buffalo Bayou Partnership Looking Back History Tours with Louis Aulbach

    Did you know that Allen's Landing used to be the Port of Houston? Many history buffs consider its strategic location the catalyst behind the growth of the city.

    Travel back in time with local historian and author Louis Aulbach and explore the curiosities of yesteryear. Why is it called Buffalo Bayou? Who were the Allen Brothers? To answer these questions, meet at Allen's Landing on Saturday at 10 a.m. Update: meeting location has been changed to the Sabine Promenade.

    Apollo Chamber Players "Gypsies and Toreadors: Folk Dances from Spain" Concert at the Shepherd School of Music

    This string quartet is one of Houston's best kept secrets redefining what it means to be a bad ass in the genre of art music. Specializing in the convergence of folk and classical music traditions, Apollo writes its own arrangements exploiting its fiery, passionate and virtuosic abilities that emerge out of having mastery over the instruments.

    This concert is all about Spain. The quartet will debut a brand spanking new arrangement of Malagueña. Wicked. Saturday at 8 p.m.

    My colleagues picks:

    Editor at large and society scribe Shelby Hodge's pick: Latin Women's Initiative Annual Spring Luncheon

    Shelby says: "There is only one place to be for lunch this Friday — I will be there at the Latin Women's Initiative annual spring luncheon at the InterContinental Houston. It is the liveliest, most fun luncheon each year. Fab fashions in a runway presentation from Jl + Bertholdo, a Latin-inspired marketplace and loads of interesting women." Friday at 10:30 a.m.

    Social media editor and sassy adventure racer Fayza Elmostehi's pick: Houston Dragon Boat Festival

    Fayza says: "If you think paddling is perfect, you won't want to miss the brilliance of the Houston Dragon Boat Festival. You know those traditional Asian long boats, powered by synchronized human arms?

    Those are the ones that'll take over the Buffalo Bayou this weekend, decorated with colorful and expressive regalia. You won't be sorry if you head down to the bayou's banks for a truly interesting cultural experience." Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

    Assistant editor and arts savant Steven Thomson's pick: The Future is Now: A SKYDIVE Fundraiser

    Steven says: "This art collective's fundraiser brings together vanguard performances by artists curated by Nancy Douthey, along with the backing of Houston art world heavyweights like Ian Glennie, Fredericka Hunter, Gemma DeSantos and Judy Nyquist.

    Robots will serve drinks and bites amid 20 performances, all while Metropolis screens on Skydive's exterior. Preview the auction (and start bidding) at theSkydive.org. Dress as your favorite future self." Saturday at 6 p.m.

    unspecified
    news/city-life

    hey, joe

    Trader Joe's sets Cypress opening date, confirms Bellaire plans

    Jef Rouner
    Dec 19, 2025 | 9:15 am
    Front of the Trader Joe's in Cypress.
    Photo courtesy of Towne Lake by Caldwell Communities Facebook page
    Trader Joe's is expanding, and shoppers couldn't be happier.

    Two new Houston-area communities announced that they would be opening Trader Joe's locations, bringing the total number of stores in the city to nine.

    On Thursday, December 18, the Towne Lake by Caldwell Communities Facebook page posted that the new Trader Joe's at 9715 Towne Lake Parkway would open at 8 am on Friday, December 19. Unsold but still-good products left over at the ribbon cutting ceremony will be donated to local nonprofits.

    "Not only does Trader Joe's have great prices on food, drinks, and treats, but as a hobby florist I always find the best selections for my floral arrangements," Copperfield resident Kelsey Zuchlewski tells CultureMap. "Now, with the convenience of having a location right here in our neighborhood, I'm in heaven."

    Confirmation of the Cypress opening followed an announcement on the City of Bellaire's Facebook page that a Trader Joe's would take over the former Randall's at 5130 Bellaire Blvd. The post did not specify when construction will begin or when the location will open.

    "This highly anticipated addition to our community will bring a unique grocery shopping experience and further enhance the vibrant retail landscape of Bellaire," the post said. "We look forward to welcoming Trader Joe’s and will share updates as the project progresses."

    The California-based chain of stores entered Houston in 2012, first in the Woodlands and then, more famously, at the old Alabama Theater space on Shepherd, where it has become a beloved local institution. Since then, the chain has expanded throughout Houston, including a Kingwood location that opened earlier this month.

    Over the year, Trader Joe's has built a loyal following that rivals even H-E-B. Staff at the stores (wearing Hawaiian shirts) are trained to be extremely friendly and helpful, as well as being encouraged to purchase ownership in the company. The selection is smaller and more curated than other larger grocery stores, leading to a boutique experience that many consider to be surprisingly affordable. At least one viral TikToker claims that Trader Joe's beats H-E-B's price, although the latter undoubtedly has a larger selection of goods.

    openingstrader joe's
    news/city-life
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