October kicked off fall with Banned Book Week, and Houston was one of the Lone Star State’s major cities celebrating with events, fairs, and community gatherings. Social Beer Garden HTX even hosted a Scholastic-style book fair for adults. If you missed that nostalgic trip to the past, don’t worry, because Houston’s love for all things literary is year-round.
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Houstonians gathered at Social Beer Garden HTX for Banned Books Week. (Courtesy of Marcie O.)
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The National Black Book Festival is coming to Houston Oct. 23-25 and will offer free general admission to author exhibits, seminars and workshops.
You can also find community around books in hands-on ways. Brazos Bookstore is planning a crafting workshop on Oct. 30 and encourages you to come in costume.
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Love reading but want to try writing for a change? Publishing your own book can be tough, so the Houston Public Library is hosting a free workshop on Nov. 9 to teach you how to become an independent author.
From creating a book cover to finding an editor, this session will share key tips to help you get your book on the shelves.
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Houstonians gathered at Social Beer Garden HTX for Banned Books Week. (Courtesy of Marcie O.)
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If you’re more interested in books the state doesn’t want your kids reading, Blue Willow Bookshop hosts a monthly banned book club, and their next meeting is on Nov. 10, where they’ll discuss “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah.
Local events like these are great places to meet friends and explore a new space in your community. From reading clubs to festivals, Houston has plenty of bookish events to fill your fall.
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We want to see your face! Take a short video of yourself talking about what’s motivating you to vote, and we may feature it in our newsletter or on social.*
Tell us why you’re voting →
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🗳 Harris County’s ballot is extra long this year, but our political editor Brian McManus has put together a helpful guide on who’s up to run the county, so be sure to jot down some notes before you head to the ballot! (Courier Texas)
🏠 Famed gymnast Simone Biles and her NFL player husband just sold their house in Spring five days after listing it. Here’s how big the house is and what it sold for. (KHOU 11)
📸 League City voters will have the chance to make their voices heard on the issue of Flock cameras, as city council members voted to turn off the cameras if a majority of voters cast their ballots against them on Nov. 3. (Houston Public Media)
🦸♀️ Calling all Marvel fans! The Houston Museum of Natural Science just announced an upcoming exhibition exploring Marvel’s history. The exhibit will feature these unique movie artifacts. (Chron)
🍎 The Trader Joe’s takeover is here. Get ready for a new grocery store conveniently located in this Houston neighborhood, where a Randalls used to be. (Chron)
🏗 Sugar Land just reported that only 4% of its land is undeveloped, stifling new growth. Instead of growing outward, here’s what the city plans to do. (ABC 13)
🏮 Mark your calendars for The Woodlands’ Water Lantern Festival, set for Nov. 20-21. Live music, games, food trucks, and lantern decorating will be available for ticket purchasers. Anyone can attend and watch the luminous show for free. (Woodlands Online)
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Jab We Wed helps Houston couples and vendors, one connection at a time. (Getty Images/Unsplash+)
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By Sam Cohen
Ever wonder how elaborate, multi-day South Asian weddings get planned? Spoiler alert: it takes a lot of time and energy. But a Houstonian is working to streamline that process for couples who want to tie the knot.
Hamza Amir, a Houston-based wedding singer and musician, recently established a South Asian, or Desi, wedding vendor business, Jab We Wed.
Jab We Wed translates directly to “when we wed,” a fitting name for a venture designed to make the planning process easier and more accessible for members of the Desi community.
As Amir explained, “Every weekend for years, I watched couples struggle to find vendors who actually understood what a desi wedding requires.” He added, “Desi weddings aren’t a one-day thing. My own wedding was five days long, split between the US and Canada. That meant five outfits, five venues, different caterers, and many tired relatives.”
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Get spooked by the ghosts of our waterways and take a boat tour on Houston’s creepiest bayous. (Anna Raj/Courier HTX)
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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Anna Raj and edited by Paula Solis.
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