I visited the Bryan Museum in Galveston a few weeks ago to do some reporting for an article on the Karankawa Indigenous peoples. While I was there, I noticed pamphlets previewing an upcoming exhibit about historic immigration to the island.

The Bryan Museum on Galveston Island is housed in a historic orphanage. (Anna Raj/Courier HTX)

On Nov. 7, a special exhibit on Jewish immigration to Texas will open in the museum halls, showcasing how immigrants have shaped our state, no matter where they’re from.

The exhibit will focus on the Jewish families who sought refuge in the Lone Star State, fleeing persecution in their home countries in pursuit of a better life in the United States.

The exhibit is titled “Port of Promise: Jewish Pioneers of Texas” and will run through Jan. 21, 2027.

Galveston Island was once known as the Ellis Island of the West, and thousands of immigrants came to Texas through the port from Europe, Latin America, and South America.

The special exhibit will also feature educational panels and lectures.

The Bryan Museum boasts gorgeous fixtures and stained glass. (Anna Raj/Courier HTX) 

I’m looking forward to seeing this exhibition; it seems especially relevant in light of recent attacks on immigrant communities, even in our own city. Hopefully, the museum reminds us all how important it is to support communities facing persecution.

The fall season bounces in with the Houston Pumpkin Festival’s jumping pad. (Houston First Corporation)

Houston may not have the leaf change you’ll see in other parts of Texas, but it makes up for what it lacks in fall color with more than enough fall spirit.

No matter where you live in Houston, you’re not far from a pumpkin patch, fall festival, or a beaming family photo op as kids, couples, and multigenerational families come together to usher in autumn.

So as you head out for your own Great Pumpkin Quest or hit the road to spend a Saturday soaking up all the fall vibes, keep these patches, farms, and urban options in mind. Some are well-known and huge, some are under-the-radar and more intimate, and some are still being discovered among Houston’s many options.

The one thing they all have in common is their ability to delight young and old—maybe so much that you visit all eight!

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Aunty Mawa’s Maafe from ChòpnBlọk was created in collaboration with a James Beard semifinalist. (Anna Raj/Courier HTX)

🥪 Trill Burgers is expanding. Set to open in October, it’s fourt location will be the first to have late-night hours, all the way up until 3 a.m. on weekends. Here’s where you can find it.

🍩 A little bit of New England is coming to the Gulf Coast. Some popular Houston supermarkets will open in-store Dunkin’ kiosks, including one with dine-in seating. Find out which stores will have them..

🍽 What’s on my plate:

Last week, I visited Montrose staple ChòpnBlọk for the first time with the Courier Texas team. Ordering Aunty Mawa’s Maafe was the second-best decision of the evening (right after dessert) because it was a vegetarian’s paradise.

🚺 Roughly 6,000 union tradeswomen will come together in Houston for a conference from Oct. 9-11. The annual Tradeswomen Build Nations Conference is the world’s unionized gathering of women in skilled trades. The conference will have leadership, mentoring, and networking opportunities for women across the United States and Canada. (TradesFutures)

🚂 Workers from the railroad industry are planning a Houston Rail Labor Solidarity Rally for Oct. 13, focused on advancing the rights, safety, and job security of railroad workers. The rally will feature Texas barbecue and prizes. (Smart Union)

📈 Houston’s job opportunities are growing faster than the rest of the country, a new analysis finds. The city’s annual job growth is moving at five times the rate of surrounding states, indicating economic growth in the area. (Axios Houston)

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

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