takin' it to the streets

Anvil's Bobby Heugel evolves into a biking champion: OKRA will gift bike racksto restaurants & bars

A simple steel bike rack may be a regular sight in front of inner looprestaurants by the end of the year.
Photo by Melanie Pereira/Collaborative Projects
In fall 2011, Bobby Heugel founded ORKA with business partner Kevin Floyd tohelp sort through the increasing parking issues facing Montrose.
Photo by Debora Smail/RealityPhotography.net
The basic bike rack model planned for OKRA new program currently can be seen atthe entrance of Hay Merchant.
Photo by Melanie Pereira/Collaborative Projects

As the lower Westheimer restaurant row parking crunch continues to draw ire from residents and business owners alike, the Montrose group Organized Kollaboration on Restaurant Affairs (OKRA) hopes to help tackle urban congestion from a new angle . . . one bike rack at a time.

OKRA co-founder Bobby Heugel — who owns the popular Anvil and the recently-opened Hay Merchant (with business partner Kevin Floyd) — first revealed the organization's program in a rather heated letter in response to a Houston Press article, which detailed mounting tensions in the Montrose neighborhood as a fresh crop of restaurants and new construction floods the area with cars. But beneath Heugel's anger over how the Press handled the story is a rather ingenious plan.

In an effort to encourage alternative transportation in Houston, Heugel says his group would be providing complimentary bike racks to small restaurants and bars inside the 610 Loop, and not just those among OKRA's membership of about 20 businesses.

"While OKRA is an advocacy group representing the viewpoint of independent bars and restaurants, we're looking to do things that benefit the whole community," Heugel said.

"The program is about trying to have a more heath-conscious city and raising awareness of the need for more biking infrastructure in Houston," Heugel told CultureMap.

"While OKRA is an advocacy group representing the viewpoint of independent bars and restaurants, we're looking to do things that benefit the whole community."

Heugel noted that he wasn't a steadfast biker until the past year, but has become a staunch supporter of bicycle travel. On Twitter, he has been posting his thoughts on biking infrastructure under the hashtag #shrinkhouston.

OKRA plans to distribute modified versions of the bike racks currently found in front of Hay Merchant. "Soon we hope to start by sending out one a month," Heugel said, "working our way up to one a week by the end of the year."

"The racks are really just a simple modernist design," explained Jim Herd of Collaborative Projects, the Houston architectural firm who created the interior spaces for Hay Merchant and its neighboring Chris Shepherd restaurant Underbelly.

"They have a classic style in steel that's attractive to look at in a number of settings," Herd said, adding that the strong iconic design will show a restaurant's solidarity with the bike program.

"I was at Hay Merchant last night and saw bikes absolutely everywhere. The neighborhood certainly could use more bike racks and we're very proud to be a part of the OKRA effort."

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two days of bbq

2 Michelin-rated barbecue joints holding can't-miss pop ups in Houston

Courtesy of KG BBQ

KG BBQ is bringing its Egyptian-influenced barbecue to Houston.

Two of the Texas barbecue joints to earn Bib Gourmand recognition in the Michelin Guide will be holding pop ups in Houston this week. One is visiting from Austin, while another is a Spring favorite with a one-day-only menu.

On Saturday, December 14, Austin’s celebrated KG BBQ will be serving at Axelrad in Midtown. Part of Texas Monthly’s 2023 list of the Top 25 New and Improved BBQ Joints in Texas, KG BBQ has earned wide acclaim for pitmaster Kareem El-Ghayesh’s Egyptian-influenced take on Texas barbecue.

The menu will include many of KG’s most popular dishes, including brisket rice bowls with smoked Mediterranean rice; smoked lamb chops; sumac-and-cinnamon-rubbed lamb shoulder, and sides such as pink buttermilk potato salad and Baladi salad.

Service begins at 10:30 am. Preorders are available online with a minimum order of $60.

In a statement, Axelrad co-owners Adam Brackman and Monte Large say that KG will make more visits to Houston in 2025. El-Ghayesh adds that he’s a fan of the Houston bar that’s known for its spacious backyard with hammocks, a stage, and a wide-ranging menu of beer and cocktails.

“Since the moment I stepped foot in Axelrad, I loved their culture, their vibrant colors and artistic flare, their attention to detail and hospitality and love for entertainment makes this place perfect for bringing back my nostalgic memories of hosting pop-ups like how I started in Austin,” he said. “I’m proud to bring what I have created to Houston. From how diverse the city is, its beautiful variety of ethnic foods, and large Egyptian community, it has so much to offer. We are excited to serve up some Egyptian BBQ to the Houston community through our pop ups over the next year at Axelrad.”

On Sunday, Spring’s Rosemeyer Bar-B-Q will trade its usual offerings for a special menu of dishes made with smoked whole hog. The menu will include whole hog plates, whole hog sandwiches, whole hog-and-parmesan polenta cakes, and whole hog served over cheese grits with a New Orleans-style barbecue sauce as well as sides and desserts. Service will run from 11 am until everything sells out, likely sometime between 2 and 3 pm.

“The whole menu is filled with specials and cool items we don’t do everyday at the stand,” co-owner Jordan Rosemeyer writes in an email. The motive, beyond exercising some creative muscles, is to raise money for Hogs for the Cause, an annual event that raises money for pediatric brain cancer research and the families who are fighting it.

Like KG, Rosemeyer is also a member of Texas Monthly’s 2023 new and improved list. Located at 2111 Riley Fuzzel Rd., the humble trailer has earned acclaim for its weekly specials, housemade ice cream, and well executed barbecue staples.

news-you-can-eat barbecue pop ups kg bbq rosemeyer bar-b-q