Good Morning, Heights, River Oaks & Montrose!

Top Story
White Linen Night to bring art, entertainment and shopping to 20th celebration

Art galleries, local shops and restaurants throughout the Houston Heights will welcome thousands of visitors during White Linen Night, the neighborhood's annual celebration of art and community.

White Linen Night will kick off Aug. 1 from 6-10 p.m. along the historic West 19th Street.

The event: The annual event is described as a massive street fair patterned after a New Orleans festival hosted in the French Quarter, where visitors and residents wear upscale white attire to enjoy the summer and support local businesses, per the event's website.

The Feel Good Group, an event planning company, is partnering with the district's 19th Street Merchants Association, which represents the Heights' historic 19th Street shopping district, to host White Linen Night for the fourth year in a row. This year, the event is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

What you need to know: Tickets to the event are $20 and available online or at the event. Kids 12 and under are free. Guests can bring dogs, coolers and reusable cups. However, no glass is allowed.

 
Now Open
Austin-based cocktail bar welcomes patrons to ‘Grandma’s House’ in the Heights

Beez Kneez celebrated the grand opening of its newest location in the Heights on July 20, according to a post on the business’s official Instagram.

In case you missed it: The business welcomed the Heights community with a Friends and Family Night during the soft opening before finishing its first week in business sometime that following weekend, per its social media.

Described as ‘Grandma’s House in the heart of the Heights’ on its Instagram page, Beez Kneez specializes in adult beverages, treats and bar food. Among its menu are its Classy Molassy Cocktails, which patrons can order for a distinct housewarming experience.

  • 1015 W. 19th St., Houston

 

FOODIE FRIDAY
Check out these new restaurants and bars opening across the Houston area.

Lao’d District now serving Laotian food in Sugar Land

Lao’d District has opened a second location in Sugar Land on July 24, officials confirmed.

The restaurant serves Thai and Laotian dishes such as steamed fish, fried rice and a variety of curry options, according to its website. Thai tea and coffee are also available.


Read now.

 

☕️ Latin-owned Eden Coffee & Tea now open in Jersey Village
(Read more)

🍨 16 Handles now serving frozen yogurt in the Fulshear area
(Read more)

🍳 Benny & Hash now open in Montgomery
(Read more)

🥗 Panera Bread sets reopening ribbon cutting date in Spring
(Read more)

 

Hispanic-owned Big Bertha Barbeque serves Cy-Fair

As participants in the Houston Rodeo cook-off for 32 years, Big Bertha Barbeque owners Abel Nuncio and Adriana Nuncio said anyone can smoke barbecue. However, their passion for cooking and commitment to quality ingredients, paired with their famous baked beans, sets the eatery apart from other barbecue joints.

From competing in rodeo cook-offs to being a Cy-Fair favorite, Big Bertha Barbeque started as a catering company in the early '90s and opened a brick-and-mortar location in the Cy-Fair area in 2019.

Aside from a personalized customer service experience, at Big Bertha, the Nuncios said customers can expect fresh barbecue smoked daily. With several smoked meats offered, Big Bertha serves:

  • Brisket

  • Housemade sausage

  • Pulled pork

  • Smoked turkey

  • Pork ribs

  • Smoked chicken

While Big Bertha only operates during lunch hours, Abel Nuncio said he is open to expanding the eatery's hours to offer dinner if there is a community demand for it.


Read more.

CI Business
On-demand laundry pickup service now washing clothes in Greater Houston area

A new laundry pickup and delivery service is now serving customers across the Greater Houston area. LaundryGrab opened in early 2026 and is aimed at helping busy residents who would rather spend time with their families than do laundry.

How it works: The delivery-only service allows customers to place orders online or via the company's app. According to a July 27 emailed statement, workers then collect the laundry from the residents' doorstep, wash and fold or dry clean the items and then deliver them back within a 24- to 48- hour timeframe. Pickup and delivery are free. Services include:

  • Washing and folding

  • Dry cleaning

  • Cleaning household and event linens such as comforters, bedding, sheets, towels and tablecloths

  • Same-day service for urgent orders

Starting rates for a wash and fold service are set at approximately $3.95 per pound. Dry cleaning is priced per garment, starting at $2.95 per item.

  • Locations vary, delivery only (no storefront)

 
Latest News
Woodforest National Bank names new president and CEO, Julie Mayrant

Woodforest National Bank announced the appointment of Julie V. Mayrant as president and CEO as of July 15, via a news release.

Headquartered in The Woodlands, Woodforest has locations throughout the Greater Houston area and in the eastern and southern United States as well as several areas in the Midwest.

The backstory: Mayrant previously served as president and chief community banking officer, a role that oversees the bank's retail division. According to the news release, she has strengthened the bank's relationship-based approach to banking as well as worked to expand access to financial services.

Her start with the bank began with its first in-store branch in Conroe, according to the release.

Woodforest now has more than 740 branches in 17 states.

 
CI Texas
School closures are becoming more common in Texas. Here’s why.

Across Texas, public school districts have approved at least 150 campus closures in the last three years as they grapple with declining enrollment, state accountability issues and hefty budget shortfalls.

What's happening: Among the closures are 56 schools in Community Impact’s coverage areas. Some districts have said that additional closures are not off the table.

Roughly 76,000 fewer students were enrolled in Texas public schools during the 2025-26 school year than the year prior. This marks the first non-pandemic enrollment drop in recorded history, according to Texas Education Agency data collected annually since 1987.

Analysts warn that this year’s enrollment decline is not a one-off, with demographics expert Bob Templeton predicting that enrollment could “drop over 100,000 kids” next year.

What they're saying: “This was a decision that I made, even knowing some of the challenges our students are going to face, because I think the alternative is untenable,” Fort Bend ISD board President Kristin Tassin said as the district voted to close seven elementary schools ahead of the 2026-27 school year.

 

Your local team

Cassie Jenkins
Editor

Email [email protected] for story ideas, tips or questions.

Keep Reading