There’s been a lot of controversy over the streets of Montrose lately. For the past year, they’ve been missing their classic rainbow crosswalks after Gov. Gregg Abbott ordered they be removed. But Montrose won’t give up celebrating its LGBTQ+ history. 

ShaVonne Herndon, our Houston political correspondent, recently reported that Pride banners have gone up on Westheimer, reflecting Montrose’s decades-old identity as Houston’s center for queer life and culture.

Pride banners hang above Westheimer Road in Montrose. (Office of Mayor John Whitmire)

Mayor John Whitmire personally donated funding for the banners, giving $10,000 to the historic Houston neighborhood.

Whitmire was at the center of criticism when crews removed the sidewalks. Protesters were arrested the night construction crews began their work last October.

Montrose’s changing identity as a Houston staple has been the subject of numerous personal essays by members of the LGBTQ+ community. Houston author and former Rice University Professor Bryan Washington wrote a particularly poignant piece on the gentrification of Montrose and what it will always represent to queer Houstonians. You can read it here.

🛍 Videos of Memorial City Mall wings being demolished are circulating on social media. If you’re wondering what’s going on with the old Sears building, here’s your answer. (Houston Chronicle, CW39 Houston)

🍎 HISD’s enrollment has dropped by 9,000 students, soaring past the projected loss. Here’s why Houston students aren’t going back to school. (Houston Public Media)

🍽 Six Houston restaurants made Michelin’s Bib Gourmand list yesterday. While our city didn’t earn any new Michelin Stars this time around, the Bib Gourmand is given to restaurants with “great food at great value.” (Chron)

Who said election season has to be boring? Voting isn’t just our civic duty; it’s a great excuse to make a new playlist. We’ve curated a vibe to take you all the way to the polls. 🎧

If you’re H-Town ’til you drown like I am, National Voter Education Week is a chance to learn how we can make our city better for working people, educators, families, and anyone who wants to see change in their everyday lives. So we put together a playlist of Houston artists to celebrate (and vibe to) the power we have to shape our city. 🌆

💽 Beyoncé’s “Formation”: Houston’s own Queen Bey takes us back to the community response to Hurricane Katrina and the power of movements like Black Lives Matter. Take a cue from the Queen: Get in formation, grab your friends, and head to the polls. There’s power in community.

💽 Scarface’s “My Block”: Houston hip-hop legend Scarface pays tribute to his Southside roots, reflecting on neighborhood pride despite hardship and police violence. The message? Stand up for your community by knowing where candidates stand on issues affecting your block, then vote for the changes you want to see.

💽 Kam Franklin’s “Sunnyside, TX”: Franklin gets personal in this recent release, sharing stories of her family’s Sunnyside neighborhood, from incarceration and financial struggles to Houston’s food deserts. Her lyrics put a human face on issues that often get reduced to campaign promises. When you hear candidates talk about fixing these problems, think about what those promises would actually mean for families like hers.

Add these Houston songs to your playlist, and don’t miss a beat this election season! Check out these key dates to stay on top of what’s coming up.

You’re election-ready. 🙌 Now help a friend get there, too—forward this email before Nov. 3.

If you’re lucky and the weather cooperates, Buffalo Bayou Park can put on a beautiful fall show. (Houston First Corporation)

Houstonians joke that there are only two seasons in our neck of Texas: Hot, sticky summer and slightly less hot and sticky winter. Forget about fall and spring—they just don’t exist in Houston.

If you grew up in the North and miss the autumn foliage or just crave a seasonal change come fall, you can occasionally find enough leaf color in Buffalo Bayou Park to feed your soul (and it’s completely free!).

But if you’re craving true fall—the reds, the golds, a little chill in the air—your best bet is a weekend getaway, and we’ve got some great suggestions.

Below are Houstonian-endorsed spots for leaf-peeping that you can reach in a day or on a lovely weekend getaway. So pack a bag, hit the road, and find fall around Houston at these spots for the best fall foliage.

Spoiler alert: Read to the end for a source that tells you exactly when peak color will hit each area.

Have conversations with community members about loss and grief at this month’s ‘Death Cafe’ for People of Color. (Anna Raj/Courier HTX) 

✍ Get your kiddos interested in the art of writing at this free writers’ workshop, where they’ll bring their own journal and a pen and learn how to write creatively.

🍼 If you’re expecting or know someone who is, this community baby shower is the perfect place to access maternal resources, learn about postpartum care, and access health service providers.

💀 There’s a curated space in Houston where Black folks, Indigenous people, and People of Color can gather to discuss death and dying. This ‘Death Cafe’ will be shaped by discussions of culture, land, and systems.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Anna Raj and edited by Paula Solis.

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