something to smile about

Houston rapper promises new Texans stars CJ Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. dazzling gift from celeb jeweler

CJ Stroud Will Anderson Jr Houston Texans 2023

Texans cornerstones CJ Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. pose in front of their new office.

Photo courtesy of Houston Texans

The Houston Texans shocked the pro football world with a high-stakes grab of two potentially franchise-defining cornerstones in the 2023 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 27.

Long-suffering Texans fans literally jumped for joy when the team selected Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud with the No. 2 pick overall. But the big shocker came when immediately after, the Texans picked Alabama pass rusher Will Anderson Jr. — considered by many the best player in the entire 2023 class — at No. 3.

Though the Texans paid dearly to move from No. 12 to No. 3 overall, the move is being largely heralded across sports media and the NFL landscape, particularly with those who've been critical of the Texans' front-office moves of late (no need to re-hash all that now).

A team forced to rebuild slowly, the Houston Texans, led by general manager Nick Caserio and head coach (and beloved former Texans player) DeMeco Ryans put the NFL on notice that they’re not only rebuilding, but ready to win now.

Nothing in the NFL is guaranteed (hence the "any given Sunday" mantra). But Stroud replaces controversial and ousted former Texans QB Deshaun Watson as the face of the offense. Meanwhile, Anderson is already being compared to perennial NFL defensive greats and could very well be this team's next Justin James Watt.

Fans packed the Texans' official draft watch party and received a video message from the two new Texans. Later, Houston rapper Paul Wall (the People's Champ) and rap icon Bun B officially welcomed Stroud and Anderson from the fan fest. The People's Champ promised Stroud and Anderson a dazzling gift from one of our most buzzy jewelers.

“Now, I talked to my boy Johnny Dang,” Wall told the duo. “He said he got your grillz ready! He said he got your grillz ready!” Instantly recognizing the swag, Stroud and Anderson laughed, Stroud even pointing to his teeth.

For the uninitiated, grills are shiny, often jewel-encrusted adornments worn over the teeth. Known as Houston's celebrity grill maker, Dang has crafted pieces for local and national celebs, including Beyoncé, Astros players like Lance McCullers, Jr. and Jeremy Peña. Dang was even featured The World According to Jeff Goldblum; the actor proudly showed off his gold, Dang-crafted grill in interviews later.

Paul Wall Bun B Houston Texans draft party 2023 Paul Wall promised grillz for the dynamic duo.Screen capture via Houston Texans/Facebook

Wall's gift promise capped off (sorry) a joyous event for the team that has a dearth of them of late.

“Couldn’t have celebrated last night’s draft pics at a better place with better people,” Bun B, who sported a No. 23 Texans jersey, tells CultureMap after the big day.

“It excites me to see what the future holds,” Stroud told fans and the media on Friday, April 28. “We don't have a limit. We can do whatever we put our minds to and whatever Christ asks us to do. So I'm really excited.”

As are fans everywhere in Houston. Here's hoping that the next big celebrity gift for Stroud and Anderson comes courtesy of our Trill OG (and frequent CultureMap Tastemaker Awards emcee) Bun B. We're sure the dudes will love a box of his Trill Burgers, the hottest smash burgers in America.

And here's hoping this glowing hardware from Dang is foreshadowing for another coveted gem: a Lombardi trophy.

telling stories

Black-owned Houston bookstore opens new home in historic Third Ward space

Kindred Stories bookshore Eldorado Ballroom

Photo by Craig D. Lindsey

Kindred Stories has moved to its new location.

Even though its grand reopening will be held this Saturday, May 17, Third Ward bookstore Kindred Stories has already begun a soft opening at its new location inside the Eldorado Ballroom at 2310 Elgin Street.

Since September 2021, the Black-owned bookstore was located on Stuart St., one of many businesses that came to life thanks to Project Row Houses’ Incubation Program. Last year, the nonprofit informed Kindred and the other business that they had to vacate their premises at the end of this month to allow new businesses to occupy the spaces.

Thankfully, Kindred already had its eye on the Eldorado location, next to neighborhood eatery The Rado Market (which has a collection of cookbooks curated by Kindred). It’s a space previously held by Hogan Brown Gallery, which abruptly closed in December. “I had caught wind that this space might be available,” Kindred founder/owner Terri Hamm tells CultureMap.

Hamm turned the moving process into a fun little event for her and her loyal customers. “Last Tuesday, we invited about 20 of our top community members that, you know, are always in the store and have really supported us all of the year,” she says. “We packed up all the books in the space in an hour and, then, we moved everything in an hour. So it was like the beautiful way to close out that space in the midst of the community that has really supported us throughout three-and-a-half years there. And we spent the last four days kind of unboxing and just getting all set up.”

Hamm says the new location is certainly roomier (around 1200 square feet) than their previous spot, which was only 450 square feet.

“There's more room to just spend time in the store,” she says. “I feel like that's the ideal bookstore experience, when you can go in and really take your time. I feel like in the other space, it was so small, people kind of felt like they were in a rush.”

Although Kindred is open and ready to welcome anyone looking for Black-and-proud literature, Hamm insists they’re only 90 percent done. More light fixtures need to be installed. Plants and furniture have to be brought. They even have custom-made wallpaper that needs to be installed.

“So, we have a few little things that need to happen,” says Hamm, “And, then, I feel like the space will be really, really ready – probably in another six months.”

In the meantime, it’s business as usual. This month’s calendar of events includes various appearances from authors as well as a couple of book clubs. Hamm is looking forward to new bookworms coming in and discovering what Kindred Stories has to offer.

“The bestsellers are selling,” she says, “But I feel like, in this space, people are going to get to discover a lot of under-the-radar titles, just because there's more space to see the books and explore.”

kindred stories eldorado ballroom shopping books bookstores openings

something to smile about

Houston rapper promises new Texans stars CJ Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. dazzling gift from celeb jeweler

telling stories

Black-owned Houston bookstore opens new home in historic Third Ward space

River Oaks gourmet grocer unveils cozy new name and big Dallas plans

Massive, German-inspired beer garden coming to new Energy Corridor project

4 fresh new restaurants now open in suburban Houston