Looking for a way to treat Mom this Mother's Day? Check out some of the events in the Memorial District!
Mother’s Day Flower Shop
FRIDAY, MAY 12 - SATURDAY, MAY 13
12:00 pm - 6:00 pm @ The Square at Memorial City
Nothing says, “I Love You” better than flowers, so come stop by breen’s Florist pop-up shop at The Square during Mother’s Day weekend! Not sure how to arrange them? Houston School of Flowers will be hosting Flower Arrangement Demonstrations at The Square on May 13th @ 2:30pm AND 4:30pm.
Madewell <3 Mammas
Join Madewell at CityCentre on Saturday, May 13 from 12 - 3 PM for a We (Heart) Mamas Party, co-hosted with Deep Roots TX Floral Studio benefiting Girls, Inc. Treats will be provided by QUIN candy. Receive a free Do Well tote with the purchase of Madewell-exclusive Girls, Inc. tee; 25% of sales from the Girls, Inc. tee will be donated to Girls, Inc.
Fit for the Cure: A Bra Fit Event
SATURDAY, MAY 13
11:00 am - 5:00 pm @ Memorial City Mall in Macy’s Intimate Apparel Department
Take action in the fight against breast cancer and join us at Fit For The Cure: The Ultimate Bra Fit Event to help end breast cancer. Receive a Complimentary Bra Fitting & Gift with Purchase! Here’s how it works:
Come in for acomplimentary bra fitting.
Wacoal will donate $2 for every fitting, no purchase required.
Wacoal will donate anadditional $2 for every Wacoal bra or shapewear piece purchased at the event.
Receive a free Navy Tote with any $80 Wacoal purchase, while supplies last! This event benefits Susan G. Komen For The Cure
Live Music at CityCentre
Come enjoy the live music at CITYCENTRE in the plaza every weekend*! A new line-up with performance times is posted every week; enjoy a wide range of sounds, from smooth jazz to Caribbean steel drums, and classic rock to country.
Friday, May 12 from 7 - 10 PM: Larry Glass Band (Country)
Saturday, May 13 from 7 - 10 PM: The Surf-O-Matics (Instrumental Surf & Classic Rock)
Sunday, May 14 from 5 - 8 PM: Sunday Night Live featuring Kelley Peters (Inspirational)
*Weather permitting.
Mother’s Day Flower Arrangement Demonstrations
SATURDAY, MAY 13
2:30 pm - 4:30 pm @ The Square at Memorial City
Houston School of Flowers will be hosting Flower Arrangement Demonstrations at The Square on May 13th @ 2:30pm AND 4:30pm.
The Square Live!
SATURDAY, MAY 13
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm @ The Square at Memorial City
Saturday nights in Memorial City just got a little more exciting. The Square Live! features live music by one of Houston’s best party bands, dancing, giant games and fun for the whole family.
Were you inspired by Breaking2, the incredible attempt by three elite runners to run a sub-2-hour marathon this weekend? If you missed the event, don't miss a chance to get out and enjoy this beautiful weather! Come tonight and check out the CityCentre Running Club.
Join the CItyCentre Running Club every Monday night between 5:45 and 7:30 PM in front of Grimaldi’s Pizzeria for a free 5K fun run followed by tasty post-run snacks provided by Grimaldi’s Pizzeria. CityCenre Running Club a free social running group, and is an affliate of the national organization FFP Running Clubs. For more details, visit citycentre.ffprunningclubs.org.
After 3 rounds of auditions, 30 potential Anne Franks, and multiple actors doing cold readings, Queensbury Theatre and L. Robert Westeen, the director of Queensbury’s upcoming production of The Diary of Anne Frank announced the role of Anne Frank was handed to Artemis-Melania Postolos. “She fit. The casting came down to not only talent, which Artemis has, but also how she would fit in with the rest of the company of actors,” Westeen stated about his final choice for Anne. “After all the actors were sent away, the production team and I sat around the casting table looking at every potential Anne’s height. Comparing five foot two inches versus five foot five inches. It came down to inches. The talent was overwhelming, but she literally had to fit just right into our story.” Rounding out the rest of the company: Ted Doolittle (Otto Frank), Karla Brandau (Edith Frank), Sommer Neugebauer (Margot Frank), Ariana Bermudez (Miep), Francisco Ramos (Peter Van Daan), Frank Mena (Mr. Kraler), Janye Anderson (Mrs. Van Daan), Steve Korbin (Mr. Van Daan), and Ron Jones (Mr. Dussel).
The production is set to officially open on Friday, May 5, 2017 at the Queensbury Theatre in the black box theatre, and run through Saturday, May 20, 2017. Queensbury and the production team have been working closely with the Holocaust Museum Houston as a educational resource, and have begun planning joint events that will be announced in the coming weeks to coincide with the opening of this special production.
An impassioned drama about the lives of eight people illegally concealed from the Nazis in a storage attic,The Diary of Anne Frank captures the claustrophobia, fear, hope, laughter, grief, and realities of their daily existence. In this powerful adaptation by Wendy Kesselman, Anne Frank confronts her rapidly changing life and the increasing horror of her time with astonishing honesty, wit, and determination. This is a new adaptation for a new generation.
"Wendy Kesselman's finely textured new DIARY tells a deeper story. A sensitive, stirring and thoroughly engaging new adaptation." —New York Newsday. "A powerful new version that moves the audience to gasp, then tears." —Associated Press.
Opening: Friday, May 5, 2017
Closing: Saturday, May 20, 2017
Performances: Thursdays at 7:30 pm; Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm and one Sunday matinee on May 14, 2017 beginning at 2:00 pm.
Tickets: General Admission $28.00, Students $23.00 and Seniors $23. Group rates are available and may be arranged through the box office by calling: 713.467.4497 or you can visit queensburytheatre.org for more information.
Cyclone Anaya’s is ready for Cinco de May!. Mark your calendar on May 5 for a party you won’t want to miss, featuring Houston’s famous Original Jumbo Margarita alongside DJ’s, promotions, giveaways and more. And in the meantime, fiesta forever on one of the district’s most festive patios.
jJoin the folks at Memorial City Mall and AARP for a free shredding event
Every two seconds someone’s identity is stolen. Shredding confidential documents you no longer need is one good way to protect yourself, and the AARP Fraud Watch Network wants to help. Bring any confidential documents to our Operation Stop Scams events, and we’ll shred them for free. It only takes a few minutes and can save you lots of headaches later on!
For more information and to register,
visit aarp.cvent.com/Memorial-City-Mall-Shred-42217
FRIDAY, APRIL 14
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm @ Parking lot off Gessner and Kingsride Lane near Sears
Gear up for the upcoming release of Disney Pixar’s Cars 3 this June with a chance to see five-time Piston Cup Champion Lightning McQueen, tech-savvy trainer Cruz Ramirez and sleek next-gen racer Jackson Storm. Take a photo with the stars of “Cars 3” and see exclusive footage from the film and take part in a variety of themed activities and fun! This event is free and open to the public.
If you’ve driven through the Memorial District recently, hopefully, you’ve caught sight of our new district monument markers. The monumentation marks the boundaries of the district and establishes a uniform, polished look throughout the area. The stone structures feature the Memorial District logo and complement the street signage already in place throughout.
The eleven monuments are being rolled out in two phases. Phase one, already underway, can be seen at the western boundaries of the district-along the Beltway feeder at Memorial Drive, the 1-10 feeder, and Westview- as well as long the northern boundaries.
Phase two is underway and will be completed after after roadway infrastructure projects on the eastern edge of the district are completed.
Queensbury Theatre, 12777 Queensbury Lane, Houston, TX 77024 is proud to present It Ain’t Nothin’ but the Blues, a sizzling musical revue that traces the history of blues music with more than three dozen songs. The eight member cast and incredible onstage band create the atmosphere of a blues club during a musical journey from Africa to Mississippi to Memphis to Chicago. Called “A non-stop spree of joyous entertainment,” It Ain't Nothin' but the Blues is “a potent blend of visual eloquence and historical sweep that engages the eye and touches the heart while its songs soothe the ear” - The New York Times
A 1999 Tony nominee for Best Musical, It Ain’t Nothin’ but the Blues is directed by Roshunda Jones, choreographed by Bethany White, and features eight of Houston’s most talented musical theatre performers. With music director Jim Vukovich at the keys, the band and singers rip through a multitude of blues classics, including “The Thrill is Gone”, “Fever”, “Walking After Midnight” and “Strange Fruit”.
The original Broadway production of It Ain’t Nothin’ but the Blues featured Houston’s own Eloise Laws, who received a “Best Actress in a Musical” Drama Desk Award nomination for her performance. The show also picked up a Tony Nomination for Best Book of a Musical, with Lita Gaithers being one of only three African American women to ever be nominated in this category.
It Ain’t Nothin’ but the Blues opens on March 31, 2017 and plays until April 22. Performances are Thursday evenings at 7:30, Friday, and Saturday evenings at 8:00, with a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee on April 9 and a 7:30 Sunday evening performance on April 16. To purchase tickets, please visit www.queensburytheatre.org or call the box office at 713.467.4497.
It Ain’t Nothin’ but the Blues is suitable for all audiences.
It Ain’t Nothin’ but the Blues has book lyrics and music by Charles Bevel, Lita Gaithers, Randal Myler, Ron Taylor, and Dan Wheetman, and is based on an original idea by Ron Taylor. The play is being produced by arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.
Come out to CityCentre for the 8th Annual Doggy Party on the Plaza! This free, family fun event benefits Houston area rescues & showcases over 80 local businesses! Bring your doggys and come shop, eat, play games & enjoy our Doggy costume contests sponsored by North Houston Veterinary Specialists. Meet celebrity guests and don’t miss the Annual “Rescue Me!” Parade. There will be the Bow-Wow Kids Craft Area, face painting, photos with your pet and so much more! Take a stroll down Rescue Row sponsored by VERGI 24/7. Grab a snow cone (and even a few Doggy Treats) and party for the doggys. It’s a funfilled day that promises to make your tail wag!
On April 8, 10 AM - 3:30 PM, Conscious Couture Resale Events will combine couture shopping from the closets of fashion icons, designer sample sales, inspiring panel interviews with Style Boss honorees, and the fight for freedom of women and girls around the world. They will offer women rare access to deeply discounted luxury merchandise, celebrity fashion & beauty secrets, and contagious girl power. A portion of all ticket sales will be donated to United Against Human Trafficking.
Conscious Couture’s 2017 Style Bosses include: Chloe & Sydney Dao (Dao Chloe Dao Boutique & Squid, Inc. PR), Joy Sewing (Houston Chronicle), Yvonne Guidry (The Spoiled Latina), Anika Jackson (Interesting Houston), Natasha Hastings (Olympic Runner), and Theresa Roemer (NI30D Athletics/True and Real Collection). They will be selling their personal closets and their brands, alongside other amazing style influencers and designers, CITYCENTRE tenants, and couture consignment boutiques.
Click here to purchase your tickets.
The Memorial District is proud to welcome Ben Pisklak to its board of directors. Keen to jump into the role, Ben notes, “Having served on similar boards in the past, I recognize the valuable input that these organizations can bring to bear on relevant issues such as economic development, traffic flow, infrastructure and resident life.”
Pisklak is a founding principal of Slate Real Estate Partners, responsible for all aspects of the company's development, financing, construction and acquisition activities.
Prior to founding Slate Real Estate Partners, he served as the Chief Investment Officer and Executive Vice President for Gables Residential, where he led all aspects of the company's development, construction and acquisition activities. He also worked as an associate with Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, a Houston based commercial mortgage banking firm; the Hanover Company, a Houston based multifamily development and management company; and was a staff accountant for Ernst & Young, LLC.
A graduate of Texas A&M University with a BBA in Accounting and a MS in in Accounting and Taxation, Ben is a Certified Public Accountant (dormant status).
He lives in Houston with his wife Carrie and three children, Katie, Abby and Connor. In his free time, he is an avid outdoorsman, devotes time to his charitable causes, and is involved with his church.
In a city flush with outstanding Tex-Mex options, Caliente Tex-Mex Restaurant and Wine Bar in Town & Country Village sets itself apart with its commitment to providing fresh food while pushing the culinary envelope and delivering “to-go” that presents like “dine-in”.
Caliente started with simple counter service of a carefully selected menu made with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. Chris Smith, Caliente's owner and the force behind the menu, says, “We make everything fresh in the house. We don’t have a freezer.” Smith’s goal is to provide farm-to-floor, quality products,sourced in Texas.
Smith got his start working for Pappas Restaurants in college, driving back from A&M on the weekends to wait tables in Houston. After graduating, the history major had his sights on teaching, but his Pappasito’s general manager had different ideas and encouraged him to change his trajectory. Smith gave it a shot and never looked back, working as a manager for five years and a general manager for 17 years.
In 2014, Smith amicably parted ways with his Pappas family to open Caliente. He notes that he’s a culinary guy who’s opened a business not a business guy who’s opened a restaurant. He recalls, “I had about 10 items (on the menu), and these 10 items we were going to do real well.”
In December 2014, Caliente expanded to add a dine-in experience, extensive take-out and catering, and great wholesale wine offerings. Smith says, “The first year you kind of figure out what you want to do. We changed the concept two or three times the first year. The second year you work on that concept. The third year you can focus on the culinary aspect. 'How can I narrow in on getting the food better'”
In its third year, it’s hard to imagine what 'better' looks like on Caliente’s menu. Some of Smith’s favorites include the fajitas served with grilled veggies and serrano peppers and the ribs. A hands-down customer favorite is the sour cream enchiladas. On the menu from day-one, they have had such popularity Smith created a complimentary sour cream fajitas dish. With fresh takes on Tex-Mex classics and fun options like a Salsa Flight, the menu has something for all cravings.
Caliente’s location, in Town & Country Village, fronting onto the Beltway feeder just south of Queensbury, makes it convenient for carry-out and delivery service. Whether dining in or taking away, Caliente focuses on quality presentation. “For our to-go experience, we want the same dining-in experience with...We focus on great plate presentation with quality, microwaveable to-go containers. We try to the be the best at to-go and make it easy for the consumer.” Looking for an easy Tuesday night take-away? Try Caliente’s Tuesday Night Fajitas special.
The wine is something Caliente does a bit differently. They sell high-end wine at cost, offering a variety and selection beyond what can be found in local stores. Smith samples and carefully selects them all and strives to offer wines of value and taste to customers.
What wines is Smith currently drinking? For a white wine, he picks Heritance Sauvignon Blanc out of Napa Valley. He says it’s value all the way: nice, light and crisp, perfect for sipping on hot Houston nights. For a red, the Halter Ranch red Grenache blend is what Smith has on-hand as his own house.
Three years in, Caliente is a mainstay in the community and not just for the fantastic eats and outstanding selections of wines. Caliente frequently sponsors swim teams and neighborhood events, provides concessions for shows at the Queensbury Theatre and hosts fundraisers for SBISD schools like Thornwood, Rummel Creek, Meadowood and Bunker Hill.
As Caliente’s popularity continues to grow, Smith will expand as well. This spring, Smith and a partner will open Pablo’s in Richmond. Pablo’s will offer the same food in a larger setting, with 10,000 square feet of space, two private rooms and a bar.