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Burgers and Brew: The Perfect Pair at Hopdoddy
How do you take the everyday burger and make it better? Start with fresh ingredients, homemade buns, farm-raised beef, and a creative mind to think of something different. And there you have Hopdoddy, an Austin based burger bar that is taking burgers to the next level.
Who to Watch in 2019
Houstonians won’t soon forget 2018. It was the year of surprise upsets as a number Democrats unseated long term Republicans resulting in the first Latina and woman Harris County Judge, Lina Hidalgo; County Commissioner Adrian Garcia, first African American mayor of Missouri City, Yolanda Ford; Fort Bend County’s first African American district attorney, Brian Middleton, first Latina in Congress, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia; and the Black girl magic of 19 female judges
Kwanzaa: What You Didn’t Know
We have decked the halls, jingled the bells, and sung the carols but there is still more holiday celebration. After Christmas comes the season of Kwanzaa. Founded in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa is a holiday based on African principles and is celebrated from December 26 to January 1. Most are familiar with the seven principles but may not be knowledgeable about other aspects of the holiday. Continue reading to find out what you don’t know about Kwanzaa.
Wrapping Up the Ultimate Holiday Party
Oh no! Its five days before Christmas and you’re hosting but haven’t planned a thing. Time snuck up on you. Before you panic and pull your hair out, stop, breathe, and get ready to take some notes. Houston Style Magazine put on our party planner hat to bring you all the necessary details to make your list and check it twice to throw the ultimate holiday party at the last minute.
The Art of Gift Giving
Before any bow can be untied or wrapping torn off to see that look of surprise and excitement for what’s inside a lot of planning and thought must take place. One has to make their giftee list and think about what suits people. Gift giving is not easy and truly an art. Never fear as Houston Style Magazine has got you covered this Christmas season with our ultimate gift guide for gifts for her, him, and them.
Kennedy Edwards Is First African American Miss Texas Teen USA
In speaking with eighteen-year-old Kennedy Edwards one thing is definitely clear. Her goal in whatever she does is to strive for excellence and nothing short thereof. In every undertaking, she puts her all in to give the best performance that she can produce at that given time and at that precise moment.
Being Grateful and Thankful for Others
Life without others in it is pretty pointless. The difficult nature of it requires others to bring stability, joy, and balance. People are the ones who offer you love, support, and share in your joys and pain. Others make life less strenuous. Notice I said gratitude and not thankfulness. Though we tend to use grateful and thankful interchangeable they are not the same.
Inner City Nutcracker Keeps Fine Arts Alive for Houston’s Kids
Having a vision for something that has never been done takes more than imagination. It takes passion and a can’t stop attitude. Imagination is needed so that even though no one that looks like you is doing the desire profession you can still see you, not someone that looks like you, but the actual you, not just doing it, but killing it like no other person regardless of sex or ethnicity. A passion that burns so deep and fierce that eating, sleeping, and breathing it is the bare minimum of what you do to succeed.
Midterm Elections 2018: The Year of Women
“Make America Great Again” was the promise Donald Trump made two years ago when he became the leader of the free world. Improved health care, a better economy, and a border wall paid for by Mexico were on our horizon. What we got was scandalous investigations, corrupt international relations, and a flood of offensives that would have caused the start of impeachment hearings for any other seating US President. Trump’s racist rants and loathly lies have divided America versus bringing us together. America’s outlook was bleak rather than bright. Then midterms roll around and Americans who had enough of Trump ran, not walked, to the polls to turn lands that were once red, blue (or almost blue) again. Now with this shift in power, will America rise from the ashes of hate and stagnation to finally allow love and progress to prevail? If that happens then America can truly be great.
From the Classroom to the Stage: Eddie B Takes His Comedy On the Road
Teachers are some of the most underpaid and underappreciated individuals but they are not underproductive. Being that this is the situation of teachers, they naturally have some frustrations, a few complaints, and a lot of headaches about their job. However, there is not an outlet for them to be able to release such aggravation until Eddie B became their voice.
Jocko Sims Breaks All the Rules On NBC’s New Amsterdam
Rules were made to be followed, not broken. Someone forgot to tell the doctors at New York’s New Amsterdam Hospital, a fictional hospital that is the setting for NBC’s new medical drama New Amsterdam, who are breaking all the rules to give patients the best care possible. Dubbed as America’s oldest public hospital, no one is ever turned away regardless of finances, condition, race, gender, or anything. If you need assistance, they say “How can I help?”
Turning Fear Into Faith: Life After Breast Cancer
Fear and faith are not supposed to coexist. Faith is supposed to conquer all fears. When real life happens faith can waver. Faith can be questioned. Faith can even disappear. Just as easily as faith did all the things above, faith can also comfort. Faith can bring peace. Faith can come back. Shawntell L. McWilliams knows the fear and the faith journey. Six years ago she was forced to face fear and her faith was tested. In the end, her greatest fears were turned into her strongest faith.
Glad to See the 2018 Fiat 500L Trekking
Knock, knock. Who’s there? Orange. Orange who? Orange you glad to see me.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated - Alpha Kappa Omega Chapter Kicks Off 90th Anniversary Celebration
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated have been caretakers of their community. In the Houston area, the members of the Alpha Kappa Omega Chapter have been addressing the needs and issues of their surrounding area for 90 years making lasting impacts that affect the lives of individuals and families. Now the ladies are celebrating the legacy of their sisterhood and their service to Houston with a four-month celebration of activities leading to the grand finale, the 90th Anniversary Gala on December 15th.
Volkswagen Passat GT: A New Version of Cool
What is cool is ever changing as it is defined by a generation. Trends in music, fashion, and language help to bring meaning to “being cool.” Topping that list are cars, specifically sports cars. They are fast, fierce, and oh so fun to drive. Nothing could be cooler. For a week, I got to sit in the driver’s seat of Volkswagen’s sporty mid-size sedan, the 2018 Volkswagen Passat GT V6 and learned how it is a new version of cool.
Christina Morales: Proud of Her Heritage, Proud of Her Story
Being told that you are not good enough just because of your skin color is damaging to anyone no matter their race or age. It leads to far greater issues down the line. Having pride in your cultural heritage helps to build self-confidence and self-love while also claiming ownership of your ancestry and honoring the sacrifices, work, and love of those who came before you.
Suicide Prevention Starts With You
“The faster you move, the less pain you endure,” is something seventeen-year-old Ashley Jadine Duncan posted on social media. Looking deeper into that statement and one can see the truth behind it. In today’s society everyone is moving so fast and in so many directions not only do you endure less pain but also you don’t feel, touch, hear or see it either.
Evolution Academy: The School of Second Chances
Second chances are a gift. They are your do over to execute the lesson learned from your first opportunity. Since they are also rare any chance you get one, it shouldn’t be wasted but utilize for everything its worth.
Cadillac CT6 Platinum: The Coolest Thing On Four Wheels
Since the 1920s mankind has been experimenting with autonomous driving. Nearly 60 years passed before the first real prototype with the technology was produced. Many more would debut just a little better than the last. Today autonomous driving has moved from the labs and test tracks to the roads and highways of the world. Lucky for me that I got to try out this hands-free driving technology behind the wheel of the 2018 Cadillac CT6 Platinum AWD.
Yellowstone Schools Gives Students More Than a Traditional Education
Approaching anything, in the same way, expecting different results only leads to the same tired outcomes. A new perspective with a fresh action plan puts a different spin on issues and allows for varied effects. Many schools in the private and charter systems are providing that innovative viewpoint to education by cutting through the red tape of the norm and breaking through with the change of the unexpected.
Salute to Houston's Own Slim Thug
Slim Thug has been running things like a “Boss” for the past twenty years. Coming on the scene in 1998 to catch the ear and eye of DJ Michael “5000” Watts and joining the “Swisha House” family, Slim’s legacy was set to become one of the most well known and respected rappers in the game. From that date to the present, he has dominated the rap game in Houston from his first freestyle to birth a clothing collection, beer line, e-Cigar, construction company, foundation, and constantly give back to the community that helped him rise to the top. He credits Houston for giving him that entrepreneurial spirit. The city stands to salute this Houston legend with all the rights and privileges thereof.
Five Houstonians Named As Top 25 Finalists in H-E-B’s 5th Quest for Texas Best Statewide Competition
H-E-B received more than 700 entries from 140 cities from across the state of Texas of the most delectable, scrumptious, memorable dishes and beverages for its 5th Annual Quest for Texas Best culinary competition. Official judges have had the audacious task of narrowing down that field to the top 25 and five of them are from Houston. All 25 finalists will compete in the final round of competition on August 9-10, 2018, in Austin, TX for prizes totaling $70,000.
Billy D. Washington: Keeps the Crowds Coming, Keeps the Laughs Going
He is probably the funniest comedian that you don’t really know all too well. A superior talent, Billy D. Washington, is not a comedian that you can compare to others. His sets make you challenge your thought, question your actions, and start a conversation. In other words, the brother is deep. Houston audiences got to experience Washington’s higher level thinking when he headlined at the Joke Joint Comedy Showcase.
Growing the Dollar in Black Businesses
Fifteen years ago Frederick E. Jordan and John William Templeton were just two Black businessmen living the American dream. Jordan operated an engineering and construction management company, F.E. Jordan Associates Inc., while Templeton was president and executive editor of eAccess Corp. a scholarly publishing company. Like most in business for themselves, the men had their share of challenges with major factors being limited resources, inadequate income, and lack of respect as men in business. Their climb to the top was no easy feat. “It’s very difficult for Black businesses to survive,” said Jordan in an interview with Black Enterprise Magazine. “Their obstacles are enormous.”
Alpha Kappa Alpha Performs 29 Service Projects for International Conference in Houston
Wherever the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated go, one thing is for certain. Service will be rendered. Since 1928 when the first graduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Alpha Kappa Omega, was chartered, Houstonians have had a front row seat to the work of the first Greek-letter organization.
When Military Meets Art: Honoring Buffalo Soldiers
Turning the pages of history books there was always something vastly missing… the story of African Americans. Sure, there was plenty of information about the dreadful life of a slave who spent long days picking cotton, being sold like property, and being demoralized every minute of their lives. A little was told about the Jim Crow era when African Americans lived in a country where they were thought of as interior and where cheated of rights and privileges and treated less than. Never were the true tales of the days when African Americans were king and queens, inventors and innovators, and savers and heroes. Thus, affecting how African Americans saw themselves.
Sisterhood & Service: AKAs Takeover Houston
Either directly or indirectly a lady of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated has had an effect on your life. Maybe she ensured your child could afford college by awarding them a scholarship. Or she helped to plant a garden in your community to answer the need of food deserts in the area. Perhaps you saw a group of them building a house for a deserving family. One might have encouraged you to join a letter-writing campaign to exercise your political voice for policy changes.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Donates $20,000 to HBCUs
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated is historically known for its support of higher education through the awarding of scholarships and charitable donations to educational entities. Prairie View A&M University and Texas Southern University were recent beneficiaries of that generosity when the sorority presented a $10,000 check to each institution as part of its international program theme “Launching New Dimensions of Service (LNDS).”
Chauncy Glover Breathes New Life Into Young Men
Grasping for breath while you are dying inside is hard to experience and watch. The action of inhaling and exhaling of breath is life itself. And without the air needed for that vital action, your system shuts down and life ceases to exist. Young men across our nation are grasping at air to breathe, live, and survive but many are having their breath snuffed out them by various entities. They need help and a way to regain life.
Dads Behind the Mic
Fathers play an important role in their child’s life. Study after study has documented the negative effects that can happen if a male is an absentee father. A child can be affected mentally, psychologically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually resulting in low self-esteem, lack of ambition, and feelings of not being loved.
Appreciating African American Music Stirs One’s Soul
Music is a great storyteller. Through written words, a story is told, of course. But, the story set to music also comes alive in all of us with the emotions the music evokes. Hearing a particular song can cause one to smile, cry, laugh, and/or feel comfort, pain, relaxation, or any other sentiment. And, in African American history, music has always been a storyteller for the messages and information music communicates. Slaves escaping the plantation often used the guise of music to send encrypted messages to each other. This is why music is so important to the African American culture and any culture in the world.
Meet the African American and Hispanic Valedictorians of 2018
Before kindergarten, you couldn’t wait to go to school. Finally reaching the enrolling age, your parents set you on your educational start. Mastering your numbers, colors, and ABCs, you advanced through the grade levels to reach the ultimate goal, high school graduation.
Summer Travel Like a Pro
Basking in the rays of the sun on the white sandy beach overlooking the clear blue water. Relaxing under a blanket of stars scattered in the midnight sky. Letting your cares rollaway while lounging in a hammock on a lazy afternoon. Making memories to last a lifetime while enjoying the company of family and friends.
Moms Who Rock the Mic - Rachelle Renee
The life of DJ and a mother have a lot in common. Both have people that love to scream their name. Both always have places that require their attendance at a successful event. Their schedules would make anyone exhausted. Go is their middle name. Kandi Eastman, Supastar, and Rachelle Renee know this all too well. As some of Houston most well known DJs, they balance being a mother with that of being everyone’s favorite DJ. Allow me to reintroduce DJs who are moms that rock the mic.
Moms Who Rock the Mic - Kandi Eastman
The life of DJ and a mother have a lot in common. Both have people that love to scream their name. Both always have places that require their attendance at a successful event. Their schedules would make anyone exhausted. Go is their middle name. Kandi Eastman, Supastar, and Rachelle Renee know this all too well. As some of Houston most well known DJs, they balance being a mother with that of being everyone’s favorite DJ. Allow me to reintroduce DJs who are moms that rock the mic.
Moms Who Rock the Mic - Supastar
The life of DJ and a mother have a lot in common. Both have people that love to scream their name. Both always have places that require their attendance at a successful event. Their schedules would make anyone exhausted. Go is their middle name. Kandi Eastman, Supastar, and Rachelle Renee know this all too well. As some of Houston most well known DJs, they balance being a mother with that of being everyone’s favorite DJ. Allow me to reintroduce DJs who are moms that rock the mic.
Hundreds of Students Get Academic Enrichment at AKA ASCEND Summit
The Alpha Kappa Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA) and other Houston area AKA chapters in partnership with The Dow Chemical Company hosted hundreds of high school girls and boys at an ASCEND℠ Summit where students had the opportunity to receive academic enrichment and life skills training to support their journey to college or vocational employment.
Cinco de Mayo: A Celebration of Hispanic Culture
For so many Cinco de Mayo is a day to indulge in some amazing Mexican food and be a lush after drinking a pitcher of margaritas. But I am not judging. It has become like Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, and other holidays that have been over commercialized to the point that some people have forgotten the real reason for the holiday in the first place.
Dr. Grenita Lathan: Not Compromising to Give Children the Best
Three weeks in and Dr. Grenita Lathan is still smiling. The North Carolina native was recently appointed as Houston ISD Interim Superintendent of the largest school district in Texas and the seventh largest school district in the country with more than 210,000 students and close to 300 schools.
2018 GMC Terrain: Reinvented with a New Look, Engine, and So Much More
Day after day they haunt drivers. No matter how drivers try to avoid them someway the vehicle always drifts towards them. As soon as one is fixed two more seem to appear in its place. They cost drivers tons of money to fix their vehicles from their damage and in taxes to repair. Those pesky hollow cavities formed by the erosion of rock.
Expand Your Palette During HBRW 2018
A party is not a party without it. It can be the focus of any lively conversation. Rich, bland, sweet, salty, or spicy there is no end on how to describe it. Food is a common denominator for all people. Each culture has its own distinct taste and flare that makes it unique to its people. Combine food with culture and fun is sure to follow.
Chevrolet Tahoe: A Large SUV with a Larger Price Tag That’s Worth It
Everything about Lake Tahoe is big. Its sheer size and majestic nature was inspiration enough for General Motors to name their full-size SUV Tahoe. And for one week I got the chance to test out the 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD Premier.
Budget to Reduce Your Debt
Managing your money can seem like a daunting task when trying to weigh out what must get paid versus buying things that you just want. The later is the troublemaker. All those incidental expenses for desires that you think you can’t live without adding up and if you don’t watch out those incidentals will have you in the poor house. Not a good look my friend. I want to live in the black and not the red. The best way to do that moving forward is to adopt some new financial habits. Priority number one in this process is creating and managing a budget.
2018 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4
Horses, cows, bulls, and hogs Cowboys, ranchers, singers, and clowns Music, shopping, eating, and big fun The rodeo is all said and done As the many trailers all leave town They’re hitched to the best rides around In trucks as wide and big as Texas They’re tough enough to keep the paces With many brands from which to choose For the next seven days, Ram 1500 is what I cruise
Crystle Stewart: Homegrown Talent Stars in Tyler Perry’s 'Acrimony'
What would happen if …? How many times in a lifetimes does one pose this question to themselves? What if this path was taken? What if I had taken this or that opportunity? What if my path hadn’t crossed with that person? What if I had given that person a chance? Sometimes we are grateful that we moved quickly for the things we leaped on. But at other times we live in regret for things we let go because we ran out of patience. So many questions that go unanswered and hang on in our thoughts is enough to make a person go crazy if one lets it. Living in regret or being grateful is the basic premise behind the new Tyler Perry film ‘Acrimony. ‘
Mixing Country and City in the 2018 GMC Canyon Denali Diesel
With all the plethora of trucks in the city for the rodeo, I felt like I had been given membership to the unofficial truck club with the keys in my hand to the 2018 GMC Canyon 4WD Denali Diesel. Though I felt privileged for my membership, it did not help my confidence any when preparing to review this midsize truck until I took a closer look.
First Ladies Acting First Class
Upon their husbands answering the call to minister, preachers’ wives stood alongside their husband in a supportive role. Even when their husbands would further follow the path as a shepherd of God by heading a church, wives remained supportive in their new role as First Lady.
Buick Enclave: Premium for a Reason
Every time I have to go somewhere that calls for the need for me to get fancy I go into a panic thinking that I have nothing to wear because I know I won’t have time to shop for something beforehand. Low and behold every time there is a stunner in my closet like a beautiful surprise that I had totally forgotten I had that is just perfect. The Buick Enclave is like that; an enthralling eye-opener on the road capturing driver’s attention making them wonder why they hadn’t taken a closer look before.
Staying Safe In the Wake of State Bombings
Houston and Austin are connected as cities and communities according to Houston Police Department Chief Art Acevedo. It is because of this bond that when something happens in one city the residents of the other feel affected as well. When three bombs were detonated in the Texas capitol over the course of ten days, residents in Austin were shaken and so were Houstonians.
Larry V. Green: Friend, Mentor, and Leader for All
The Life & Legacy of Larry V. Green Told By People Who Knew Him
Green has always been associated with new life, growth, and a certain kind contagious energy. These descriptions align perfectly with the character and legacy of Houston City Councilman Larry V. Green. In his well-lived life that was shorten all too soon, Green was able to use his power and influence to bring liveliness to the city of Houston and everyone he came across. With his passing, Houston has lost a bit of its color. Green was found dead in his bed at home on Tuesday, March 6. He was 52 years old.