Inspired by a trip to Italy, Jasmine Chida founded SweetCup Gelato and Sorbet Originale in Montrose in 2012 to bring authentic Italian-style gelato to the Houston area.

Quote of note: “There's just so much about Italy that just opened up my eyes, and I saw a different perspective,” Chida said. “Ingredients are really emphasized in Italy, and it just left a lasting impression on me.”

In 2025, Chida said she expanded her business to Cypress to expand her products and clientele. Prior to expanding to Cypress, Chida said SweetCup Gelato and Sorbet Originale sold its products at Central Market.

Craving gelato? Specializing in gelato, sorbet and frozen yogurt made from scratch in small batches, SweetCup Gelato and Sorbet Originale offers 48 rotating flavors made with ingredients imported from Italy as well as local ingredients. With blueberries handpicked from Moorhead's Blueberry Farm by Chida herself, Chida said some flavors offered this summer include the blueberry lemonade sorbet, blueberry sangria sorbet and blueberry pie frozen yogurt.

Carrie’s Pilates is now open at its North Shepherd Drive location after hosting a soft opening for invited guests June 12 and a grand opening event for the local community June 13.

The background: The woman-owned studio offers clientele high-intensity pilates and cross training workouts designed to strengthen, tone and reshape the body in an approach that is different from standard weight training, Studio Manager Emily McDearman confirmed.The woman-owned studio offers clientele high-intensity pilates and cross-training workouts designed to strengthen, tone and reshape the body in an approach that is different from standard weight training, Studio Manager Emily McDearman confirmed.

Another detail: Officials added that all sessions are led by an experienced instructor who challenges clients to reach their goals and guides them through the 45-minute program, regardless of body shape or size.

• 1533 N. Shepherd Drive, Ste. 210, Houston

More renters in the Greater Houston area signed leases in May as available listings and prices dipped slightly, according to a June 17 report from the Houston Association of Realtors.

The breakdown: The number of rentable single-family homes in the Houston area fell by about 0.8% compared to May 2025, with 54 fewer new listings to choose from, according to the monthly rental market update. Additionally, the number of signed leases increased by 5.2%.

As for average lease prices, costs eased by 0.3% compared to last May, with the average price totaling $2,346 in 2026, the report shows.

Diving in: Meanwhile, townhomes and condos saw an increase of 8.2% in the number of leased listings and an increase of 0.5% in price.

What they’re saying: “In today's economy, many consumers are taking a more measured approach to major financial decisions, and renting remains an attractive option for some households,” said HAR Chair Theresa Hill.

Texas education officials gave preliminary approval June 23 to the state’s first mandatory reading list, which includes nearly 200 literary works that public school students would begin reading as soon as 2030.

The overview: The proposed list incorporates about a dozen stories from the Bible, including the tale of David and Goliath in second grade and direct biblical excerpts beginning in fourth grade. In total, students would be required to read more than two dozen texts in early elementary grades and about 10 literary works per year from sixth grade through high school.

What's happening: Members of the Republican-led State Board of Education voted 9-5 to cut several titles from the reading list June 23, following nearly eight hours of public testimony a day earlier.

More than half of those who testified June 22 asked the board to shorten the list, include more diverse authors and remove religious references. Others praised the SBOE for creating a list that they said would teach students about “American exceptionalism” and prioritize classical literature.