Shop for spring at Houston's top charity fundraisers

SHOP FOR A CAUSE

Photo by Painted Peacock Photography

As spring shopping fever surges, two upcoming events will help inspire a thoughtful approach to seasonal fashion and home décor. The Houston Junior Forum and The American Heart Association invite Houstonians to shop for a cause at their charitable affairs.

Photo by Painted Peacock Photography

April Salazar at the 'Shop With Heart" launch at Kuhl-Linscomb in 2022.

During both shopping events, customers can purchase high-end frocks, fun trends, gourmet food, and everything in between from notable retailers. Here are all the details to inspire an elite spring shopping list.

The City Market Benefitting The Houston Junior Forum

Kick off the spring season by perusing more than 65 retailers at the second annual The City Market. The two-day shopping event, held at the Bayou City Event Center on March 30-31, will benefit The Houston Junior Forum, a women's non-profit organization committed to providing charitable services for children, youth, women, and senior adults in the greater Houston area.

The event is the primary fundraiser for the 77-year-old charitable organization. Savvy shoppers will find everything from fashion and accessories to home décor, unique gifts, and gourmet food. Retailers include Boots & Bows Smocking Co, Creek Road Designs, Brenham Kitchens, Freida Rothman, Hila, One Hip Mom, and more. A complete list of retailers is available here.

The City Market has several ticket packages, making it easy to shop for a cause. Shoppers can participate in everything from a preview party to shopping and lunch or a general admission ticket. Prices range from $20 to $275 for the two-day event.

Shop With Heart Card Benefitting the American Heart Association

Prepare for fabulous discounts during a ten-day premier shopping event benefiting the American Heart Association. The Shop with Heart Card runs April 21 through 30, and cards are available to purchase online or for pre-order before they go on sale on March 31. Shoppers looking for a 20-percent discount on regularly priced merchandise and services at many of Houston's premier retailers can purchase a card for a minimum donation of $50.

One hundred percent of the proceeds benefit the American Heart Association. Retailers include Abejas Boutique, Bering's Hardware, The Container Store, Christy Lynn, David Peck, Frock Shop, Intermix, Kuhl-Linscomb, Tootsies, Weidner Hasou & Co, and so many more – a complete list of participating retailers is available here.

The American Heart Association will host an after-hours soiree at Kuhl-Linscomb to launch the ten-day event. The Shop with Heart Card Kickoff event will be Thursday, April 20, from 6-8 pm. Everyone is invited to purchase a Shop With Heart Card to receive discounts at an extensive list of local retailers and restaurants, with a $50 minimum donation. At the event, shoppers will enjoy light bites, drinks, door prizes, and a DJ.

Ad Placement 300x100

Ad Placement 300x600

CultureMap Emails are Awesome

Property Showcase

Gigantic 50-foot shark's jaw-dropping debut tears into Houston's top stories of the week

this week's hot headlines

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

1. Gigantic 50-foot shark dives into Houston museum for jaw-dropping new showcase of Earth's greatest predator. Visitors can meet these fin-tastic friends via a 360-square-foot virtual “shark tank,” where sharks of all shapes and sizes swim by.

2. Esquire toasts Heights watering hole as only Texas spot on 2023's Best Bars in America list. The bar takes its inspiration from classic dives like Alice's Tall Texan and the Shiloh Club.

3. Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo makes history with election of first female chairman of the board. She takes over for departing chairman Brady Carruth..

4. Houston Tex-Mex institution serves up opening date for long-awaited West University location. It joins sister concept Adair Kitchen in the Kroger-anchored shopping center.

5. This is how big Houston apartments get for $1,500 a month. If you head to neighboring Pasadena, residents get an average of 1,180 square feet of space for the same price.

Meet the gifted chef showcasing authentic, home-grown Greek fare to Houston, plus hottest food news

What's Eric Eating Episode 285

On this week's episode of "What's Eric Eating," chef Mary Cuclis joins CultureMap food editor Eric Sandler to discuss Kriti Kitchen. The Pondicheri veteran opened the family-friendly Greek restaurant in January.

The conversation begins with Cuclis explaining how she entered the world of professional cooking. Prior to opening Kriti Kitchen, she trained at Bo Innovation, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Hong Kong, and spent 10 years working for James Beard Award finalist Anita Jaisinghani at Pondicheri, the acclaimed, Indian-inspired restaurant in Upper Kirby.

At Kriti Kitchen, she honors her Greek heritage by serving dishes she's experienced when visiting family in Greece. Sandler asks her about the ways in which her cooking is different from Houston's other Greek restaurants.

"A lot of the Greek food I found in Houston was very delicious but very much street food. The kind of food I'm wanting to portray is more homestyle, things that I eat with my relatives," she says.

"For example, when you go to a taverna in Crete, a lot of times it's a couple running the whole thing. They invite you back into the kitchen to smell the stew. It's stewed meat and a lot of fresh vegetables with beans and lentils. I don't think too many people see that side of Greek food. I wanted to share a little bit of what I see with my family and what we eat when we're there."

Listen to the full interview to hear Cuclis explain why Kriti Kitchen offers both dine-in options during the day as well as heat-and-serve options that customers can pick up for dinner. She also discusses her goals for the future.

Prior to the interview, Sandler and co-host Rebecca Masson, chef-owner of Fluff Bake Bar, discuss the news of the week. Their topics include: Nobie's owners Martin and Sara Stayer's plans to open a new pizzeria; Roswell's Saloon opening in Montrose; New York City's Lady M establishing a permanent presence in the Galleria; and Masson's experiences during Austin's Hot Luck food festival.

In the restaurants of the week segment, Sandler and Masson share their thoughts about meals at two new Italian restaurants. First, they recount the highs and lows of a meal at Triola's Kitchen. Then, they share first impressions of Bari Ristorante, a new restaurant in River Oaks District that serves classic Italian dishes.

Photo by Ajna Jai

Chef Mary Cuclis is this week's guest.

-----

Subscribe to "What's Eric Eating" on Apple podcasts, Google Play, or Spotify. Listen to it Saturdays at 2 pm on ESPN 97.5.

Famed luxury shoe brand Jimmy Choo steps into Houston with stylish boutique in first outlet locale

WELL-HEELED

Local favorite Houston Premium Outletshas exciting news for fashion-forward and price-conscious shoppers. The renowned luxury brand Jimmy Choo has recently opened its doors, bringing its signature high-end styles and accessories to Houston.

Shoppers will be delighted to find an extensive range of Jimmy Choo's coveted collection, including trendy shoes, chic bags, stylish eyewear, cute small leather goods, and other must-have accessories.

The luxury footwear brand hit the scene in the 1990s and quickly became a favorite of Princess Diana. Carrie Bradshaw and Sex in the City catapulted the shoe to a household name and the shoes became synonymous with femininity and luxury.

With more than 200 stores worldwide, Jimmy Choo is no stranger to the fashion scene. However, this outlet store marks its first in Houston, making its elevated shopping experience more accessible to a broader array of discerning buyers.

Savvy Houston shoppers will be thrilled to find top-notch designer pieces at prices that won't break the bank. Jimmy Choo joins other luxury brands at Houston Premium Outlets, such as Armani Outlet, Burberry, Tory Burch, Coach, and Cole Haan. It's the perfect excuse to make the journey to Houston Premium Outlets and stock up on summer wardrobe essentials.

-----

Photo courtesy of Jimmy Choo/Instagram

The Jimmy Choo boutique at Houston Premium Outlets includes shoes, bags, stylish eyewear, small leather goods, and other must-have accessories.

Jimmy Choo; Suite 955, near Armani Outlet; Houston Premium Outlets – (Suite 955, near Armani Outlet); 29300 Hempstead Rd. in Cypress.

View All Listings