HTX-HRM: Impact 10/29/2025

Looking to celebrate Halloween with good food and festive drinks? Check out these bars and restaurants across Houston that are rolling out limited-time specials.

Októ: The Mediterranean restaurant is hosting its first-ever Vampire Ball, featuring costumes and festive Halloween-themed cocktails. Regular dinner reservations will also be available throughout the evening.

• 888 Westheimer Road, Ste. 119, Houston

Heights & Co.: The bar invites guests to take a trip to HalloweenTown and enjoy a lineup of movies, a spooky S’mores Board and themed cocktails, such as the Blood Bag Cosmo and Grave Digger Espresso Martini.

• 1343 Yale St., Houston

PKL Social: To celebrate Halloween, the pickleball-themed sports bar is hosting a costume contest and free open play on two courts from 7-10 p.m. The bar will also give out Halloween-orange Jello-O shots with every purchase.

• 1112 Shepherd Drive, Houston

Trippin Taco, a halal Mexican cuisine food truck, is debuting in Houston. 

The event: A ribbon-cutting event is scheduled at 5550 Val Verde St., Houston for Nov. 8 at 5 p.m. with free food, discounts and giveaways, according to an Oct. 22 news release.

What’s on the menu: Founded by Ahmad Kilani, the food truck creator of Clutch City Cluckers and Juicy Joint, Trippin Taco will serve cuisine inspired by Mexico City including halal Angus beef.

Menu items include birria tacos, tamales and fusion ramen bowls.

“We’ve spent months perfecting every recipe to bring authentic Mexican flavors with our own halal twist,” Kilani said in a news release. “Houston has such an incredible food scene and we can’t wait to share this new concept with the community.”

• 5550 Val Verde St., Houston

TDECU—Houston’s largest credit union—and Smart Financial Credit Union—one of the city’s oldest—announced plans to merge, according to an Oct. 22 news release, combining their legacies under a shared mission to strengthen communities and expand member opportunities.

Marking a milestone: Pending regulatory approval and a member vote by Smart Financial, the merger is expected to be finalized in early 2026. The combined credit union will hold nearly $6 billion in assets and serve more than 460,000 members across Texas through a network of 48 branches, per the release.

TDECU President and CEO Isaac Johnson will lead the merged organization, while Smart Financial CEO LeAnn Kaczynski will serve as chief integration officer for one year to oversee the transition.

Also of note: TDECU’s ties with the University of Houston, Houston Texans and Buc-ee’s will join Smart Financial’s work with Smart Financial Centre and local charities through the Smart Financial Foundation.

Members of both institutions will see no immediate changes to accounts or services during the transition, according to the release.

Memorial Hermann Health System announced in a Oct. 23 news release that Guy B. Giesecke will take over as senior vice president and chief executive officer of Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital.

What we know: Formerly the chief executive officer over the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Giesecke will transition to his new role with Memorial Hermann immediately.

Quote of note: “I’m honored to join Children’s Memorial Hermann and contribute to an organization so deeply committed to advancing high-value, patient-centered care,” Giesecke said. “This is an exciting opportunity to help build on a legacy of excellence while supporting the health and well-being of children, families and communities across the region.”

Harris County commissioners will meet Oct. 30 with more than 300 agenda items on the docket, including potential discussions on panhandling and roadside vendor regulations, a public hearing on the Ben Taub Hospital expansion and results from the county’s pay equity study.

What you need to know: New laws restricting or banning panhandling and vendors along roadways may be coming to unincorporated Harris County in light of a state bill that went into effect Sept. 1. During Harris County Commissioner Court's Oct. 16 meeting, Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey brought the motion to create new guidelines on roadside vendors. 

Also on the agenda: Harris Health officials look to authorize notice of a public hearing Dec. 11 about the acquisition of nearly 9 acres of Hermann Park for the redevelopment and expansion of Ben Taub Hospital in the Texas Medical Center.

What else: County human resources officials look to discuss results from the Gallagher Consulting pay equity study, with the possible action to implement recommendations.