Seven corridors comprising the Houston Design District in west Houston came one step closer to being converted into a banner district after a public hearing on the topic was held by Houston City Council on Dec. 3.

What it means: The Houston Design District—located at the northeast corner of the intersection of Loop 610 and I-10 and southwest of Hempstead Road in west Houston—is being considered for 62 banner installations on light poles throughout the area. If approved, the banners would display the words “The Houston Design District” paired with the district’s logo.

Explained: The motivation behind making the Houston Design District a banner district is to:

• Formalize the design district’s identity
• Beautify the area
• Spark economic development

Hotel Daphne has officially opened as Bunkhouse Hotel's second Houston property, following the debut of Hotel St. Augustine in January.

As of Dec. 3, Hotel Daphne is now available to book.

Read all about it: Located off of West 20th Street, Hotel Daphne is a 49-room boutique hotel that highlights the spirit of the Heights and Texas region, while also being presented as a European-inspired escape. The exterior design of the building includes painted brick, stepped parapets and steel windows, while the inside reflects the Heights' diverse style of arts and crafts.

The hotel also boasts several amenities, including a pool, an interior courtyard, a jewel-box library that doubles as an intimate event space, a curated retail shop and an all-day restaurant.

• 347 W. 20th St., Houston

Check out these eight restaurants and bars serving holiday cocktails throughout December. This list is not comprehensive, and details are subject to change.

Buttermilk Baby: The restaurant is featuring several limited-time beverages for the holidays, including Candy Cane Crush, alcoholic or nonalcoholic Santa’s Nog, and alcoholic or nonalcoholic Baileys Hot Chocolate.

• Available through Dec. 31 
• $4.99-$13.99 (per drink)
• 600 N. Shepherd Drive, Ste. 250, Houston

Good God Nadine’s: The Heights bar is serving a line-up of classic, photo-worthy cocktails for the holidays, such as a Gingerbread Martini and Dreaming of a White Cosmo. 

• Available through Dec. 31
• $15 (per holiday cocktail)
• 33 Waugh Dr., Houston

Nine new medical cannabis dispensaries could soon open in Texas, the Department of Public Safety announced Dec. 1.

The overview: The nine companies were preliminarily approved to join three existing dispensaries that provide medical-grade, low-THC products to eligible patients through the Texas Compassionate Use Program. The program's expansion comes after state lawmakers passed House Bill 46 this spring.

Lawmakers also allowed dispensaries to store products in multiple locations, which advocates said would cut costs, and added more qualifying conditions to the program.

Zooming in: The nine providers given conditional licenses Dec. 1 are:

• Verano Texas LLC in West Texas
• Trulieve TX Inc. in the Panhandle
• Texas Patient Access LLC in North Texas
• Lonestar Compassionate Care Group LLC in North Texas
• Lone Star Bioscience Inc. in South Central Texas
• PC TX OPCO LLC, dba PharmaCann, in Southeast Texas
• Texa OP, dba TexaRx, in the Rio Grande Valley
• Story of Texas LLC in Southeast Texas
• Dilatso LLC in North Texas