Off to the Races

Make your Derby Day a delight with one of these fab fetes

Hats are a big part of any Derby party

Photo by Jim Fannin

Don't let Cinco de Drinko slow you down: Nurse that hangover Friday and then hit it hard Saturday for any (or all) of these fabulous Derby Day events. Note that most parties start in the early afternoon, with post time for the big Kentucky Derby race set for 5:25 p.m. Houston time.

Anvil Bar & Refuge - 12 p.m.
Anvil's second annual "Come for the Races, Stay for the Juleps" Derby Day party will have the races broadcast on a big screen as well as half-price bourbon mint juleps — if you're dressed in your best Derby Day duds.

Reserve 101 - 2 p.m.
Reserve's Derby Day juleps are crafted from an infusion of Woodford Reserve (the official bourbon of the Derby) with mint and Habanero chili peppers. The spice-tinged whiskey is mixed with agave nectar for a touch of sweetness; the cocktails are on special all day for $10 a piece.

Jackson's Watering Hole - 4 p.m.
Jackson's 2011 Dirty Derby benefits Trees for Houston with specials on hard lemonade, beer and comfort food courtesy of Raising Cane's. Consider this Derby party a taste of how the other half of Kentucky does the Derby; wear your best white trash gear to play blackjack and pay a visit to the temporary tattoo artist. Tickets are $30 at the door or $20 pre-sale.

Branchwater Tavern - 2 p.m.
Branchwater Tavern's Kentucky Derby Bash will broadcast the races on the flat screens and provide guests complimentary bites (menu includes pulled pork sliders and shrimp n' grits) along with $5 mint juleps and whiskey tea smash till 7 p.m. Derby attire is encouraged; wear your widest brim and get your first mint julep free!

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lumpia lost

Guy Fieri-loved Filipino restaurant closes in the Heights after 6 years

Courtesy of Be More Pacific

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A pioneering Houston Filipino restaurant has served its last meal. Be More Pacific is closed as of Tuesday, March 31, the restaurant announced on Instagram.

The note traces the restaurant’s evolution from an Austin food truck to an Austin restaurant and eventually to a Houston location.

“To our guests, friends, and community — thank you. Thank you for the support, the Kamayan feasts, the celebrations, the halo-halo summers, the karaoke parties, and for letting us share a piece of our culture with you,” the note reads in part. “You helped make Filipino food part of the conversation, and we’re incredibly proud of that.”

The Houston location opened in 2020. It distinguished itself with its stylish layout that includes an indoor-outdoor bar, a spacious patio, and karaoke rooms. At the time, founders Giovan Cuchapin and Mark Pascual teamed up with Houston hospitality veteran Roveen Abante (Conservatory Gallery, among others) to bring the Houston location to life. Abante referred all questions about the closure to Cuchapin, who has yet to respond to CultureMap’s request for comment.

When it opened, the restaurant quickly earned a following for its flavorful Filipino fare, including signature items such as lumpia, garlic fried rice, and chicken adobo. Groups could order a kamaya feast built around proteins such as roast pork or whole snapper.

Guy Fieri featured Be More Pacific on a 2021 episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. In this clip, he samples the restaurant’s kare kare, a curry made with brisket.

Be More Pacific was among the first ambitious Asian restaurants to open in the Heights. While it may have closed, its legacy lives on with concepts such as JŪN and Agnes and Sherman, both of which earned finalist nominations in the 2026 James Beard Awards.

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