All Access

All-Access Weekly Digest

Standard

Houston

Houston Alerts

Alert

blue

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Houston.

Axios Houston

A picture of the Houston skyline with the letters IAH

Axios Houston Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Houston Members

Membership

Hermann Park's trees are showing signs of heat, drought stress

Leaves are wilting, roots are drying out and the ground around the trees is cracking.

News

Barbers Hill student suspended over locs

The move comes as the Texas CROWN Act took effect earlier this month.

Ike Dike's progress is slow 15 years after hurricane

Wednesday marks the anniversary of Hurricane Ike's landfall.

Houston sees rise in hate crimes

Houston's hate crimes surged last year to their highest levels since 2002, according to a new report.

Saint Arnold, True Anomaly, Karbach win Great American Beer Festival medals

Food and Drink

Three Houston brewers medaled at the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Great American Beer Festival" data-vars-click-url="https://www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com/the-competition/2023-winners/" data-vars-content-id="21607de7-0b4b-4ed7-a11d-ce2a593d6c3c" data-vars-headline="Saint Arnold, True Anomaly, Karbach win Great American Beer Festival medals" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com/the-competition/2023-winners/" target="_blank">Great American Beer Festival</a> in Denver last weekend.Why it matters: This is the premier U.S. beer contest, and the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="competition for the best brews has gotten stiff" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2022/09/30/texas-craft-beer-production-increasing-after-2020" data-vars-content-id="21607de7-0b4b-4ed7-a11d-ce2a593d6c3c" data-vars-headline="Saint Arnold, True Anomaly, Karbach win Great American Beer Festival medals" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2022/09/30/texas-craft-beer-production-increasing-after-2020" target="_self">competition for the best brews has gotten stiff</a>.

Workers at True Anomaly Brewing hold a flag while celebrating their win at the Great American Beer Festival

Budget Bites: Dinette offers a crunch in every bite

Our most recent search for a budget bite found us at Dinette, a casual Vietnamese fusion restaurant that opened last year in the Heights.Our experience: The lobster and salted-egg fried rice might be the menu&#x27;s Instagram star, but there are some delicious smaller plates that won&#x27;t break the bank.

Street to Kitchen restaurant to relocate

The acclaimed Street to Kitchen Thai restaurant will relocate to The Plant in Second Ward.

Things to Do

The acclaimed Street to Kitchen Thai restaurant will relocate to The Plant in Second Ward.Driving the news: Benchawan Jabthong Painter, who recently <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="won the Best Chef: Texas" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2023/06/06/street-to-kitchen-chef-wins-james-beard" data-vars-content-id="5dc40fa4-715e-4e61-88e6-7cd043ec9931" data-vars-headline="Street to Kitchen restaurant to relocate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2023/06/06/street-to-kitchen-chef-wins-james-beard" target="_self">won the Best Chef: Texas</a> James Beard award, and her husband, Graham Painter, will open their new location in November with the capacity to serve 100 guests — almost three times as many as their current space, which is just 2 miles away.What they&#x27;re saying: &quot;I am thrilled to be able to expand Street to Kitchen, so that we can not only serve more Houstonians, but bring our unapologetically Thai food and our philosophy of fun to the HTX food scene,&quot; Benchawan Jabthong Painter, known as &quot;Chef G,&quot; said in a statement.<ul><li>Since the James Beard nomination earlier this year, the 10-table eatery at a former gas station complex in the East End has been a lot busier, she told Axios when she won the award.</li></ul>Details: The new restaurant at 3401 Harrisburg Blvd. will be in a 2,800-square-foot space at The Plant in Second Ward, a mile-long stretch of restaurants and shops designed by Concept Neighborhood.<ul><li>Street to Kitchen will introduce its Thai omelets out of the new location’s walk-up window.</li><li>It will also expand its beverage menu to include cocktails.</li><li>There will be outdoor patio space that is slated to be completed by the end of this year.</li></ul>Of note: Street to Kitchen will continue to operate out of its existing location at 6501 Harrisburg Blvd. in the meantime.The Plant in Second Ward also features other restaurants and drink places, like Little Red Box Grocery, POPSTON, The Re-Up Juice Bar, Neighbors Pizza Bar and Eden Plant Co.<figure><img alt="" height="4672" id="0b8dcc1b-3452-4b0b-8480-86ab50712a62" src="https://images.axios.com/OeoRc-VPbtsQDUWy_nnADwh8BgM=/2023/07/20/1689879295306.jpg" width="7008"/><figcaption>The Plant in Second Ward. Photo: Micheal Anthony</figcaption></figure>

Dairy Queen reigns in Greater Houston

There are 93 Dairy Queens across the Houston area.

Dairy Queen is the most common ice cream chain across the Houston metro area, with Marble Slab and Baskin-Robbins as runners-up.<ul><li>That&#x27;s according to a new Axios analysis of Yelp data from Axios&#x27; Kavya Beheraj and Erin Davis.</li></ul>

Bun B's Trill Burgers finally opens

It's time to get an OG burger at Trill Burgers' brick-and-mortar.

Bun B&#x27;s Trill Burgers quietly opened its first brick-and-mortar location Wednesday.Catch up quick: Trill Burgers was previously only open at pop-up locations, notably during the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Houston Rodeo in March" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2023/03/13/vegetarian-guide-houston-rodeo" data-vars-content-id="5e9a155b-1e4a-4a8b-9e00-5b17ba7c17d3" data-vars-headline="Bun B&#x27;s Trill Burgers finally opens" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2023/03/13/vegetarian-guide-houston-rodeo" target="_self">Houston Rodeo in March</a> and Mayor Sylvester Turner&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Trill Burgers pop-up" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-houston-27b58a7c-83b6-4ffd-8398-421d639b7496.html" data-vars-content-id="5e9a155b-1e4a-4a8b-9e00-5b17ba7c17d3" data-vars-headline="Bun B&#x27;s Trill Burgers finally opens" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-houston-27b58a7c-83b6-4ffd-8398-421d639b7496.html" target="_self">Trill Burgers pop-up</a> in September.

Houston rapper Bun B, wearing a black shirt and cap, smiles and holds two boxes filled with OG burgers in front of a bright-yellow building 

Budget bites: 511 Thai

The Med Center-area eatery is a delectable place to dine.

I recently dined at one of my favorite Thai restaurants and couldn&#x27;t resist sharing.Details: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="511 Thai Asian Eatery" data-vars-click-url="https://511thaiasian.com/" data-vars-content-id="666092ff-d440-402d-9cb7-00cffdfb2dac" data-vars-headline="Budget bites: 511 Thai" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://511thaiasian.com/" target="_blank">511 Thai Asian Eatery</a> is a casual place with plenty of comfortable seating and several tasty options, from street noodles to curries.

Budget Bites: Bluestone Lane

The Australian coffee shop and eatery is relatively new to Rice Village.

The Houston team met up recently at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bluestone Lane" data-vars-click-url="https://bluestonelane.com/" data-vars-content-id="8b66cd28-ef6b-4e18-aa44-c2fdcdae73da" data-vars-headline="Budget Bites: Bluestone Lane" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bluestonelane.com/" target="_blank">Bluestone Lane</a>, a relatively new coffee shop in Rice Village.Details: Bluestone Lane is an Australian-inspired cafe that boasts its own coffee beans, delectable eats and plenty of food options for any budget.

Top 10 Houston restaurants by reservation in February

The monthly list is published by OpenTable.

Houston really leaned into its eclectic food scene in February.Driving the news: OpenTable published its latest list of 10 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Diners&#x27; Choice" data-vars-click-url="https://www.opentable.com/s/dinerschoice" data-vars-content-id="91a8de6b-fed4-4718-9feb-b81e8ff3c54f" data-vars-headline="Top 10 Houston restaurants by reservation in February" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.opentable.com/s/dinerschoice" target="_blank">Diners&#x27; Choice</a> winners, a monthly filing of most-booked restaurants through the site.

Illustration of utensils with hungry emojis on them.

Hobby Airport could see new restaurants soon

Houston City Council will vote Wednesday on a 10-year contract.

Hobby Airport&#x27;s food landscape could look a lot different in the coming months.Driving the news: Houston City Council will vote tomorrow on a 10-year contract with a restaurant company called <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Areas HOU JV LLC" data-vars-click-url="https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_tx/0803289083" data-vars-content-id="074a7d0f-eb34-4edb-846e-b97c8c8ab053" data-vars-headline="Hobby Airport could see new restaurants soon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_tx/0803289083" target="_blank">Areas HOU JV LLC</a>.

Houston's 10 James Beard Award semifinalists

Being on the list equates to having made exceptional culinary achievements.

Several Houston chefs and restaurants got some major nods from the prestigious <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="James Beard Foundation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.jamesbeard.org/awards" data-vars-content-id="00d71afb-2c1a-41cb-9a2e-280983bdb2e6" data-vars-headline="Houston&#x27;s 10 James Beard Award semifinalists" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.jamesbeard.org/awards" target="_blank">James Beard Foundation</a>, which released its semifinalist list Wednesday.Why it matters: The James Beard awards are considered the Oscars of the food world. Being on the list equates to having made exceptional culinary achievements.

Illustration of a first place ribbon with a gold plate at the center.

Food and Drink 🍽