A pleasing touch of moonlight, flowers and sunshine came to East Aldine just in time for Valentine’s Day. But the feel-good objects won’t fade away like the holiday. They are permanent neighborhood decorations known as Mini Murals, which are hand-painted and clear-coated on traffic signal control cabinets at two key traffic intersections where Aldine drivers, [...]
“A party without cake is just a meeting.” -- Julia Child Late at night, while her family is sleeping, Laura Lumbreras is busy in her kitchen, cooking the sweet treats for her home-based business, Pookie Pops. Her strawberry chocolate cake pops are always popular at Valentine’s Day, but her new specialty is a toasted marshmallow confection known as a [...]
The story of the brightly painted, 30-foot school bus known officially as "The Art Bus" is, in a way, not unlike the story of 2020. If something could go wrong, it did. Not unlike that terrible year, however, the 8-month history of The Art Bus is also a story of passion and persistence through a [...]
Once upon a time there was a tire shop on Lauder Road. But now — thanks to hard work, dreams and lucky timing — the same space is a colorful oasis of eye-popping food, drink and festive fun. And it’s easy for customers to take pandemic precautions there. The place is Caballo Stop and Drive [...]
Just inside Indomable, a western wear store, there is an overwhelming fragrance of finely tooled leather blended with a hint of cedar from the rough-hewn shelving. The shop is filled with boots of all colors and sizes, western clothing, turquoise jewelry and rows of hats for children, women and men. Located at the end of a shopping [...]
There is a group of people in the East Aldine Management District who have gotten healthier during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are the customers of Heavenly Cruisers, a specialty bicycle shop owned by Noe and Jane Lopez, devoted entrepreneurs and parents of two teen-age daughters, who run their small business behind a welding shop. Tucked [...]
Stepping inside Elsy’s Bird and Feed store, any shopper can tell the experience is going to be fun. An 8-foot, brightly-colored metal rooster looms over the entrance, as a gray African parrot named Paquito chirps a cheerful “hello,” and a large macaw named Rio flies over rows of bird seed, dog food and treats, pet [...]
Before packing on any more pandemic pounds, residents of the East Aldine District might want to sip a “skinny horchata” at the Revive Healthy Spot on Aldine Westfield Road. The health food store and dining spot offers health advice, along with healthy “meal shakes,” snacks and meal plans to boost immunity, energy and overall well-being. [...]
There were scary masks, clown masks, funny masks, pretty masks, safety masks, pig masks on deputies. It was, after all, the Halloween Caravan hosted by the East Aldine District. Everybody also wore a smile. The wildly successful parade sponsored by the District brought out happy trick-or-treaters for a safe and silly celebration that simply could [...]
City parks need upkeep. Especially when they get torn up by wild hogs. The feral beasts were the problem at Keith-Wiess Park that led the East Aldine District to one of Jeff Baker’s businesses, Houston Hog Removal. Because the district and the city are non-profit operations, Baker donated his crew’s time and effort to round [...]
