this week's hot headlines

Piano bar strikes a chord in this week's 5 most-read Houston stories

A rendering previews The Kennedy's interior.

Courtesy of The Kennedy

Editor's note: It's time to recap the top stories on CultureMap from this past week.

1. Modern piano bar with lounge vibes strikes a chord in Montrose. Meet The Kennedy. Located in the former Muse/Emmaline space at 3210 W Dallas St., it's the creation of owner Andres Castro, who aims to provide Montrose, River Oaks, and surrounding neighborhoods with a comfortable space for enjoying live music, lounging on a shaded patio, and eating a good meal.

2. Beloved Mexican bakery opens near the Galleria with pan dulce and more. One of Houston’s favorite destinations for pan dulce has arrived in the Galleria area. El Bolillo Bakery is now open at 3507 Fountain View Drive.

3. Ken Hoffman's favorite Houston Hooters among dozens closed nationwide. It wasn’t surprising that Hooters recently announced it was closing many of its restaurants. But hold on. The Hooters on Kirby and the Southwest Freeway was on the list of restaurants that closed. That is/was my go-to Hooters. I guess the “was” is one of the reasons it was on the chopping block.

4. $1 million donation advances brain research at Houston's Rice University. A big donation to Rice University will soon help researchers better understand the workings of the human brain. Harry Yan and Weiman Gao have bestowed $1 million on the Baker Institute of Public Policy to establish the interdisciplinary Neuro-Policy Program.

5. Favorite Chicago hot dog shop Portillo's reveals 2 more Houston outposts. Portillo's announced that it will open two more locations in Stafford and Katy as well as one in the Dallas suburb of Grapevine. They join Portillo’s previously announced plans to open locations in Richmond and Willowbrook. All five new locations are expected to open by the end of the year.

openings closings universities hot-headlines

Shopping scene

Eyewear, boys' clothes, and 'splendid' ice cream coming to Rice Village

RIce Village at dusk with shoppers walking around

COurtesy Rice Village

Shoppers in Rice Village will have more options, with three new retailers set to open in the coming weeks.

Shoppers in Rice Village are about to have an even broader selection of boutiques and eateries. The Rice Real Estate Company announced this week the arrival of New Orleans-based eyewear brand KREWE, local boys’ boutique ParkerJoe, and Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams.

KREWE offers luxury sunglasses and optical frames that draw inspiration from the rich cultural heritage of New Orleans. Designs blend classic and contemporary aesthetics, creating unique, fashion-forward frames. The retailer will occupy a 941-square-foot store at 5515 Kelvin Dr. Suite 125, and opens in time for shoppers to find great gifts or get a new look for the holidays. The Rice Village location is the brand's first brick-and-mortar location in Houston. There’s a grand opening fête on Saturday, December 7 from 5 to 8 pm with creative New Orleans fare, live music, and other fun.

In January 2025, shoppers can look forward to ParkerJoe. It’s the second location for the mother-daughter-owned shop, specializIng in apparel for boys from newborns to around 12 years old. Shoppers will find a rich selection of apparel, accessories, shoes, toys, and books, as well as specialty items such as golf and tennis apparel, suits, formalwear, and Texas-themed toys and clothing.The new boutique will occupy a 1,975-square-foot store at 5515 Kelvin Drive, between Vuori and Paper Source.

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams also joins the mix, opening a 1,603-square-foot location at 5411 Morningside Drive, across from Torchy's Tacos, in early 2025. Jeni's has gained a cult following for its one-of-a-kind ice creams such as Brown Butter Almond Brittle and Brambleberry Crisp.

The new retailers further cement the Village’s reputation as a shopping destination, offering customers a wide selection of eclectic finds.

"Rice Village continues to attract a dynamic mix of local and national brands," said Kenneth Jett, vice president for facilities and capital planning and president of Rice Real Estate Company. "These new tenants reflect our commitment to providing a vibrant, walkable destination for shopping, dining, and community experiences. We are thrilled to welcome these esteemed brands to our community.”

The new additions complement recently opened stores like The Beaufort Bonnet Company, an upscale children’s lifestyle apparel brand located at 5515 Kelvin Drive Suite 120 and Paper Source, a haven for stationery enthusiasts and craft lovers, located just steps away at 5515 Kelvin Dr. Suite 100. Rice Village is also home to a number of restaurants, including Navy Blue, Hamsa, and Sixty Vines.

Courtesy of Rice Village

Shoppers in Rice Village will have more options, with three new retailers set to open in the coming weeks.

rice village openings shopping ice-cream