spooky spirits

Bewitching new pop-up bar casts a temporary spell on Wash Ave ramen fave

A Halloween-themed pop-up bar is coming to Washington Avenue. The Cursed Cauldron will occupy Ninja Ramen beginning this Friday, October 13 through Halloween night (4219 Washington Ave.).

Cursed Cauldron Angelique Cook Cavazos Alexis Mijares

Photo by Angelique Cook

Angelique Cook Cavazos and Alexis Mijares teamed up to develop The Cursed Cauldron.

Developed by hospitality veterans Alexis Mijares and Angelique Cook Cavazos, The Cursed Cauldron will, as its name implies, serve drinks inspired by the mystical world of witchcraft. The menu features spookified takes on familiar favorites like the Hexpresso Martini and Sex Magic On The Beach as well as Halloween-themed originals like the Oshun’s Offering (Flor de Cana 12-year rum, pumpkin, brown butter, almond, orange liqueur, and lime juice).

Shots, shareable cocktails, and non-alcoholic will also be available. On the food side, Ninja Ramen’s soups have been given a slight twist for Halloween. “Char-boo-terie boards” will also be available.

“This is a passion project for Angelique and I and a way to combine all of the things we love: cocktails, witchcraft, art, storytelling, drama, and costumes,” Mijares tells CultureMap. “We're essentially pouring our imagination out, bringing it to life, and asking others to come along for the ride. We're really looking forward to seeing people get a chance to take it all in and share that fun with them.”

To bring the project to life, they worked with Ninja Ramen owner Christopher Huang to redecorate the space to fit its witchy theme. Popular as a late night spot — especially with restaurant industry workers — Ninja Ramen has been redecorated with new paint, photo-worthy installations, and interactive design elements.

In addition to drinks, customers can expect to interact with fortune tellers, tarot readers, and other performers. A “Mystical Marketplace” will feature creations from local makers.

“There was no better partner who was going to let us get as creative as we want without limitation. How many other bar owners can you approach and say "Hey, we want to paint the walls, change everything, and turn this place into a witch's house and we'll give the space back in good care in a few weeks, just trust us." and have them be 100% supportive of that,” Cook explains. “Ninja also has this naturally spooky charm in it's daily aesthetic (and maybe a ghost or two) so it was top of mind when we brought this concept to life and were searching for a partner space.”

The duo have big plans for the Cursed Cauldron. If all goes according to plan, the collaborators plan to expand to 13 cities in 2024 before exploring nationwide and international editions.

“We've quickly built a magical community and we're looking forward to continuing to create exciting moments for them,” Cook says. “Maybe a witch's ball in the spring? We're also in discussion about other themed pop ups so you might get some more news soon.”

The Cursed Cauldron will be open daily from 4 pm - 2 am. Follow it on Instagram for more details.

holidays cocktails nightlife openings

G'day, Bay Area Citizens

All-day Montrose cafe pours Aussie culture into new Webster pub

Courtesy of Citizen Rec.

Citizen Rec. will serve dishes such as fish and chips and steak and Guinness pie.

The owners of a Montrose coffee shop and cafe are bringing a taste of Australia to Houston’s Bay Area. Citizen Rec is an all-day concept that blends a daytime coffee shop with an evening pub.

Slated to open this fall, Citizen Rec will be located in Webster near the intersection of I-45 and W. Bay Area Blvd. (19403 Gulf Freeway). The concept is an evolution of Citizen, the Australian-inspired, New York-based restaurant that’s been open in Montrose since 2023.

By day, Citizen Rec will serve the dishes that Citizen is already known for, such as avocado toast, miso-butterscotch banana bread toast, and the Australian big breakfast, a platter that includes two poached eggs, sourdough toast, bacon, chicken sausage, smashed avocado, and hash browns. They’ll be paired with coffee, juices, cocktails, and other sips.

At night, the restaurant will become “a moody gastropub” that serves dishes such as steak and Guinness pie, fish and chips, and shrimp on the barbie cooked over live fire. A “secret” Vegemite menu will match the controversial ingredient with savory dishes. Beer and cocktails will enhance the experience. The pub menu will come to the Montrose location after the Webster location opens.

The restaurant’s decor will further transport diners to Australia with details such as wood paneling, stained-glass lights, and retro Australian artifacts. TVs will play cricket and horse racing, while a wall will pay tribute to various famous Australians.

Diners will also have the opportunity to play two-up, a popular Australian pub game, to win $100 off their bills. Sundays will feature live music, food specials, and other details designed to encourage relaxation.

Australia natives Andrew Geisel and Justin Giuffrida founded Citizen in New York. From there, the concept grew to include an additional New York outpost, plus locations in Houston and Austin.

"Aussie cafes have become a phenomenon globally, and we've loved bringing that to life here in the U.S.," Geisel said in a statement. "We want to further immerse our locals in Aussie culture with our version of a pub, bringing playfulness and adventure to what we hope will become their new favorite spot."

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