Together At Last

Touchdown: Mark Kelly & Gabrielle Giffords to reunite in Houston and become asame-city couple

Mark Kelly holds wife Gabrielle Giffords' hand at TIRR Memorial Hermann.
Gabrielle Giffords and Mark Kelly
Space Shuttle Endeavour

Astronaut Mark Kelly and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords spoke every night on the phone during the 16-day Space Shuttle Endeavour mission that ended on Wednesday. The courageous couple will be reunited in Houston on Thursday evening.

Before the May 16 space shuttle launch, the duo shared a heartfelt goodbye, including a swim in the Atlantic beside the NASA beach house. In space, Kelly and his five-man crew awoke to Giffords' chosen wake-up song, U2's "Beautiful Day." A symbol of the couple's enduring love, Kelly wore her wedding ring on a chain around his neck during the shuttle flight while Giffords wore Kelly's wedding ring in Houston.

Kelly's eagerness to revisit his wife was evident at a Wednesday post-flight press conference at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., reports USA Today. During that meeting, the astronaut announced, "I really miss her and can't wait to get back there tomorrow to see her." He also revealed that he had just emailed Gifford's mother, requesting to be informed when Gabrielle would be available to talk on the phone.

While Kelly was orbiting the planet, the Arizona congresswoman was at Houston's TIRR Memorial Hermann undergoing cranioplasty surgery to repair the part of her skulls that physicians had withdrawn five months ago to allow room for the swelling of her maimed brain. Doctors report that the surgery was successful, but the risk of infection precluded Giffords from traveling to Florida for touchdown.

Throughout the course of their time dating and being married, the couple has diligently navigated the long distance between their fast-paced careers. But with Giffords in recovery, Kelly's mission to the International Space Station complete and the sunset looming on the NASA space shuttle program, a prolonged reunion is in sight.

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destination-worthy bookstore

Century-old Japanese bookstore authors a new chapter in Rice Village

Courtesy of NewQuest

The Rice Village location will build on the success of Kinokuniya's Katy outpost.

A Japanese bookstore known for its extensive selection of anime and manga is coming to one of the inner loop’s most popular shopping districts. Kinokuniya will open its second Houston-area location in Rice Village this fall.

The store has claimed the former Village Fitness space at 2369 Rice Blvd. for its Rice Village outpost. At almost 5,600 square feet, the store will offer shoppers plenty of room to browse Kinokuniya’s books, stationary, paper goods, and more.

“We’d been looking in the Rice Village area for a long time,” NewQuest managing director and executive vice president Heather Nguyen said in a statement. “We got this one before it could hit the market.”

Kinokuniya opened its first Houston location in the Katy Grand shopping in 2019. The Japan-based chain, which will turn 100 next year, also operates stores across Asia, in the United Arab Emirates, Australia, and the U.S., including Austin and two Dallas-area outposts in Plano and Carrollton.

In addition to books, the store hosts a variety of events, from book signings to horror storytelling sessions to anime meet-ups. The store's "Makerspace" hosts workshops, presentations, and other interactive experiences.

“Kinokuniya will be a tremendous addition to the Village, given its proximity to Rice University and the neighborhood’s reputation as one of Houston’s most walkable and community-oriented destinations,” Nguyen added. “The bookstore aligns perfectly with the area’s culture of learning, discovery, and appreciation for literature.”

Rice Village has been in an almost-decade long process of upgrading its retail offerings with more national and international brands. Last year, Rice University announced the Gateway Project, a $120 million endeavor to create a seamless, pedestrian-friendly corridor linking the campus to the heart of the Village.

shopping openings bookstores kinokuniya rice village