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Hey, friends! Today is National Coffee Day — which, honestly, means nothing to me. I hate coffee, ha. (How did I work at a newspaper so long?) I couldn't care less that Shipley's is giving away free cups of caffeine. But I might stop by for donuts.🙃
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What Houston's Talking About
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🚯 Not The Award We Want
Texas has been named the worst state for toxic discharge in lakes, streams and rivers, according to a new report by Environment America. In 2020, the state released 16.7 million pounds of toxic substances in the water compared to 13.2 million in 2007. Yikes. [Inside Climate News]
🚓 Still Looking
Both Louisiana and Texas police are looking for Alvin ISD teacher Michelle Reynolds, after her car was found in New Orleans early Sunday morning. Reynold’s husband said his wife had been on leave from her teaching job for mental health issues. [Houston Public Media]
📺 Houston Sisters & Netflix
Houston sisters Tembi and Attica Locke serve as executive producers on a new Netflix show debuting next month. “From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily and Finding Home” is based on Tembi's real-life story of falling in love with her husband in Italy, then losing him to a rare form of cancer. [Houston Chronicle]
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Neighborhood Guide: Alief
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Tobe Nwigwe at Netflix's "Mo" exclusive sneak peak in Houston. (Bob Levey/Getty Images for Netflix)
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What New Jersey was to "The Sopranos," Alief is to Netflix’s recent hit “Mo.” Alief-raised comedian Mo Amer plays a non-famous version of himself. And rapper Tobe Nwigwe (also from Alief!) plays Mo’s best friend.
Want to check out the neighborhood for yourself? On a recent City Cast Houston podcast, Alief natives shared their favorite spots. Let's take a look!
Bellaire Bounty
On Bellaire Boulevard, you’ll find a restaurants representing some of Alief's wildly diverse immigrant cultures — including Vietnamese. Pho Dien's bowls combine delicious broth, tender beef, and al dente noodles. Or check out the banh mi at Don Cafe and Sandwich shop.
Mediterranean Legacy
Fadi Dimassi, born and raised in Lebanon, opened his much-loved original restaurant in 1997, when Mediterranean food was rare in Houston. Now Fadi's has locations all over Houston, including one on Westheimer and Dairy Ashford.
Historic Grocery Store
Bob and Arpi Tcholakian, who are of Lebanon and of Armenian descent, opened the original Phoenicia Deli, a Mediterranean-style grocery store near Beltway 8 on Westheimer, in 1983. These days, Phoenicia's ritzy downtown location has higher visibility. But Alief locals recommend hitting up the store on Westheimer.
Houston’s Paradise
Funplex — which appeared on "Mo"! — is a paradise for not only Alief but for all Houstonians. You can bowl, rollerblade, ride the Ferris wheel, play in the arcade, and so much more. Beyoncé even filmed a music video there.
Want to show off your neighborhood? Or is there one you want to know more about? Let me know: brooke.lewis@citycast.fm
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🍽️ Best Dishes This Month
The Houston Chronicle food team breaks down the best things they ate this month, including Caribbean mussels from Hermann Park’s Davis Street, Tex-Mex from El Patio, and a guava pastry from Urbe. Yum. Yum. And yum. [Houston Chronicle]
🍁 Fall Fun
Eater Houston’s round-up of the best food and drink events for the fall include Kulture's Black Chef Table, Karbachtoberfest, City Centre’s first Biergarten, and Chris Shepherd’s Southern Smoke Festival. [Eater Houston]
👨🍳 New Chef
Café Boulud alum Jerrod Zifchak will head Rice Village’s Navy Blue, set to open in November. The new seafood restaurant comes from the same team behind New American, French-inspired mainstay Bludorn. Can’t wait to try it! [Houstonia Magazine]
Best Tex-Mex: What's your favorite Tex-Mex spot? Tell me about it: brooke.lewis@citycast.fm. Bonus points if you send a photo!
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It’s National Coffee Day, and to celebrate, some Shipley’s locations are giving away medium cups of the House Blend coffee, free with a purchase. You can also snag your free cup through the app or online using the promo code COFFEE929.
This weekend the Houston Symphony plays Gershwin's bubbly 1920s jazz — along with works by other American composers. Jeffrey Kahane is both conductor and piano soloist. [$29 and up]
The Houston Texans host their first ever Muslim Family Day, complete with a prayer room, during their game against the Los Angeles Chargers. [$23 and up]
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Today On City Cast Houston
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What are this city’s best places to relax with friends — to meet them for a night of drinks or after a heartbreak? The City Cast crew — Lisa, Carli, AK and me — have loads of ideas.
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Enjoy your coffee and donut-filled Thursday! ☀️
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