Founded by two couples, the owners of Ruah Cafe said it reflects their shared belief that travel nourishes both creativity and the soul. Co-owner Daniel Vengoechea said the cafe brings the spirit of travel to the table with gourmet toast and crepes influenced by flavors from around the world.

Quote of note: “We think that the best way to get to know a specific country, city or culture is through its flavors,” Daniel Vengoechea said.

On the menu: Bringing flavors from Amsterdam, Puerto Rico and Buenos Aires to the table, Ruah Cafe specializes in gourmet toast made with artisan bread and fresh ingredients.

With a menu designed to transport customers to different regions around the world through its flavors, Daniel Vengoechea said the menu was crafted to keep customers coming back to explore a variety of cuisines. Daniel Vengoechea said the Amsterdam sourdough toast is the best seller and includes eggs Benedict, bacon, hollandaise sauce, Gouda cheese and microgreens.

Lankford’s announced on Nov. 18 it will open a new location in The Woodlands, where Baja Cantina and Fiesta was previously located.

What they offer: The family-owned Houston burger chain has more than eight decades of history behind it, and the new location will be overseen by third-generation owner Jessica Prior and her husband, Paul Prior, as well as fourth-generation family member Nicolas van der Does, according to a news release.

The Woodlands location will offer new features such as:

• A 12-tap self-serve beer wall
• A milkshake bar with kid-friendly as well as adult options
• Dog-friendly dishes on a Rescue menu benefiting Montgomery County Animal Shelter

• Opening in January
• 24 Waterway Ave., Ste. 160, The Woodlands

Baja Cantina and Fiesta has closed, the business confirmed to Community Impact.

Baja Cantina and Fiesta opened in 2021 and offered a range of Baja-style cuisine inspired by cooking from Mexico and other Latin American countries, as previously reported by Community Impact.

What happens next: Houston burger restaurant Lankford's announced on Nov. 18 it will open in the space.

• Closed Nov. 10
• 24 Waterway Ave., Ste. 160, The Woodlands

Conroe ISD held a dedication ceremony for W. Robert Eissler Elementary School Nov. 13, which opened in August as part of The Woodlands High School feeder zone.

Two-minute impact: The ceremony included speeches from board of trustees President Misty Odenweller, who discussed district growth, and Superintendent David Vinson, who thanked those who helped build the campus.

Former state Rep. Rob Eissler addressed the audience, including his family, to speak about public education and the future of the school.

Notable quote: "Today isn't about me but, it's about the school. It's about the students who will walk these halls, the teachers who inspire them, the parents who will cheer them on ... and the community that makes this place possible," Eissler said.

Because the holiday season can put a strain on struggling families, dozens of organizations across Houston are partnering with local nonprofits and food banks to help provide meals.

For those looking to give, here are 15 local spots to drop off food donations for families in need in the Greater Houston area.

Montgomery County Food Bank: The food bank is partnering with local businesses across the county throughout November and December to collect food donations for the holidays. 

• Through Dec. 31 
• Sample items accepted: cereals, healthy snacks, canned vegetables, canned fruits, grains, canned meat, peanut butter, canned soup, jelly and jam
• 1 Food For Life Way, Conroe

Texas cannot use its newly redrawn congressional map in the 2026 election, an El Paso federal court ruled Nov. 18.

The details: The state must instead use the congressional map that Texas lawmakers drew in 2021, after the 2020 census. 

“The public perception of this case is that it’s about politics,” U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown wrote in the Nov. 18 preliminary injunction. “To be sure, politics played a role in drawing the 2025 map. But it was much more than just politics. Substantial evidence shows that Texas racially gerrymandered the 2025 map.”

What they're saying: Texas Republican leaders said they would “swiftly appeal” the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. If the court takes up the case, its justices will be pressed for time ahead of the Dec. 8 deadline for candidates to apply to run in the March primary elections.

Texas Democrats celebrated the Nov. 18 ruling as "very good news for Texans."