line up at lyric

Downtown's newest food hall serves up 9 exciting destinations, from modern Mexican to Indian street food

Lyric Market will open this fall.

Courtesy of Lyric Market

Downtown's newest food hall is finally taking shape. Lyric Market announced the nine vendors that will serve diners when it opens this fall.

Located in the Theater District at 411 Smith St., the 14,000-square-foot space will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the week with lunch and dinner available on the weekends. The facility includes a 7,500-square-foot deck, a private event space, and a mural by artist Alex Arzu. An adjacent parking garage offers hundreds of spaces, which is sure to appeal to downtown visitors.

Hospitality HQ will manage the facility. Described as a consulting and management group, the company is participating in the opening and management of 10 food halls in states. It has assembled a mix of local and national names to occupy the food hall.

They are:

Sushi Muse: a sushi restaurant from chef Hiroki Odo, who holds a Michelin star at his New York City restaurant Odo.
Mexology: a modern Mexican restaurant from chef Ivy Stark, a New York City chef known for her restaurant Dos Caminos.
Alenbi Falafel + Hummus: a plant-based Middle Eastern street food restaurant from Sof Hospitality, the company behind Doris Metropolitan, Hamsa, and Badolina Bakery.
Lottie’s Smokehouse: a food hall version of pitmaster Scott Lottie's food truck that serve Texas barbecue.
BAD CHX: a food hall version of a food truck that serves both Southern fried chicken and Nashville-style hot chicken.
1929 Po-Boy Kitchen: chef Monica Landry's Cajun restaurant serving po'boys and other dishes.
Press Waffle Co.: the sweet-and-savory Belgian waffle concept with a sister location in The Woodlands.
Kati Roll Wala: an Indian street food concept that serves kati rolls (kebabs wrapped in paratha) and rice bowls.

“We are thrilled to announce the opening of this innovative food hall in downtown Houston,” Hospitality HQ co-founder Akhtar Nawab said in a statement. “Our number one goal is to provide support for best-in-class restauranteurs and truly invest in the surrounding community. We are looking forward to becoming a part of the culturally diverse tapestry that is Houston.”

It's worth nothing that plans for Lyric Market have been scaled down significantly since it was first announced in 2018. Back then, the plans called for between 20 and 30 vendors in 31,000-square-feet. Since then, a number of new food halls have opened, including Bravery Chef Hall, Finn Hall, and Post Market.

openings news-you-can-eat downtown

TX to TN

FlixBus revives affordable route from Houston to Memphis via New Orleans

Photo courtesy of FlixBus

FlixBus is now cruising from Texas to Tennessee.

Traveling from Texas to Tennessee is about to get a lot easier, more affordable, and more scenic. Budget-friendly bus service FlixBus will relaunch its Houston-Memphis route later this month, with service starting Thursday, August 27.

FlixBus is the largest intercity bus network that offers passengers affordable and comfortable travel across 1,800 destinations in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The signature lime green buses come with free Wi-Fi, power outlets, and comfortable seating with extra legroom. Passengers can bring one carry-on and one stowed luggage for their trips.

The Houston-to-Memphis route will depart from 605 Gray St. in Midtown, and arrive at Memphis Bus Station at 3033 Airways Blvd. Travel times might vary depending on the number of stops, traffic, and other circumstances, but will generally be 14.5 hours long.

The seven stops along the Houston-Memphis route are:

Lake Charles (Lakepoint): 750 Enterprise Blvd., Lake Charles, LA 70601
Lafayette (Louisiana): 1701 N University Ave., Lafayette, LA 70507
Baton Rouge Bus Station: 1253 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70802
New Orleans Bus Station: 1001 Loyola Ave., New Orleans, LA 70113
Hattiesburg: 6635 US-49 S, Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Meridian Bus Stop: 1901 Front St., Meridian, MI 39301
Batesville (Terza One Stop Shop): 22023 MS-6, Batesville, MI 38606

The route will operate five days a week with an extended daily service in November to accommodate Thanksgiving holiday demand. Fares for the route start at $88.98 per passenger per way.

Another travel route from Texas to Tennessee
In addition to the return of the Houston-Memphis route, FlixBus just launched its first-ever direct route connecting Dallas to Nashville, with departures running five days a week.

Departures will be from the Dallas Bus Station at 9755 Harry Hines Blvd., and arrive at Nashville Bus Station at 709 Rep John Lewis Way South. Travel times will generally be between 11.5-14.5 hours.

The Dallas-Nashville route will also offer direct access to other travel hubs, including:

Sulphur Springs (travel center): 1600 W. Shannon Rd., Sulphur Springs, TX 75482
Texarkana (travel stop): 4020 S. Lake Dr., Texarkana, TX 75501
Memphis Bus Station: 3033 Airways Blvd., Memphis, TN 38131

The new Texas-Tennessee routes expand FlixBus' network across the South while offering travelers cost-effective and comfortable transportation to "major business, entertainment, and cultural destinations while providing access to smaller communities along the way."

"The South continues to see increasing demand for affordable, convenient ways to travel between major cities," Flix North America head of communications Karina Frayter said in a statement. "As more travelers look for alternatives to driving or flying, we're expanding our network to make it easier to reach the destinations that matter most, whether you’re traveling for school or work, visiting friends and family, or taking a vacation."

Passengers can book tickets for all destinations via FlixBus.com and the FlixBus app.

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