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Community Corner

🌱 Goodbye 2022 + Wardrobe Reset

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Houston.

Chris Stomberg, Neighbor
(Patch)

Hello again, everybody! It's me, Chris, your host of the Houston Daily. Let's get this Friday started right with all the info you need to know for the New Year's weekend. Ready to party? But first, let's look into . . .

  • Mayor Sylvester Turner's last year in office.
  • Remembering Houston restaurants that fell by the wayside.
  • Tips on renewing your wardrobe for 2023.

But first, today's weather:

Cloudy, a shower; not as warm. High: 73 Low: 55.

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Here are the top stories today in Houston:

  1. Mayor Sylvester Turner is entering his last year in office with goals of finishing his existing projects that focus on housing, crime, community facilities, and parks. Projects include his "One Safe Houston" plan to address violent crime, renovations underway in 22 different community spaces, and the completion of his second term goal to construct 10,000 new housing units in an effort to further reduce homelessness. However, Turner's legacy may be marred by a failure to reach an agreement with the Houston firefighter's union whose contract outlining pay and other benefits has been expired since 2017. Multiple lawsuits around the subject are likely to reach their conclusion in summer of 2023, but Turner says that, whatever the outcome, it will likely end up being something the following administration will have to handle. (Houston Chronicle)
  2. As we say goodbye to 2022, let's take one final moment to honor the memory of a number of Houston restaurants that closed their doors for good earlier this year. Heading off the list, James Coney Island at the corner of Shepherd and Westheimer was a hot spot for Houston made hot dogs for many years. However, slow business at the location in recent years led to the property being sold to make way for the first brick and mortar Trill Burger. Well-known watering hole Hay Merchant on Westheimer was sacrificed in order for its parent company to move their steakhouse, Georgia James, into a better location. Lastly, Italian lovers are likely still reconciling with the closures of Vincent's, Nino's, and Grappino di Nino as the Vincent Mandola family sold their land in Montrose and closed their restaurants in order to make way for new blood. The Italian institutions served Houston faithfully ever since 1977, but no one could replace owner Vincent Mandola after he passed from a heart attack in 2020. (CultureMap Houston)
  3. The new year is a time for renewal, so why not take advantage of the opportunity and perform a wardrobe reset? Emily Michaels, owner of fashion line ESKM, shared her suggestions on how to best prepare your closet for the new year. For starters, she says the large majority of your closet "should be things you could see yourself wearing daily and the other 20 (percent) should be more occasion based." Consequently, a wardrobe reset begins with putting aside all of your daily wear and most common outfits while removing any clothing that is damaged, stained, or otherwise unusable. Then, you'll want to get rid of blazers and button-down shirts that are only appropriate for especially formal occasions. Michaels also recommends ditching dresses made for singular affairs and jeans that you don't make you feel confident. Lastly, she recommends holding onto classic Converse, traditionally colored jeans, and all other clothing that pairs well with a variety of your wardrobe. (CultureMap Houston)
  4. A Pearland woman was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her part in an over 20 minute beatdown of an older man that took place in 2021 during the winter storm. The attack happened at the bar Fountainhead off of FM 1960and involved another male assailant who was recently sentenced to 82 years in prison. Looking at surveillance cameras, the 49-year-old victim was enjoying a drink with a friend when the two attackers entered the bar and began to beat him with a barstool, a gun, and their own hands. The victim's account claims that he was knocked unconscious within the first five seconds of the attack, but that didn't stop the two attackers from continuing to harm him for the next half hour. Police responding to the scene couldn't arrive more quickly due to the winter storm. The victim survived the attack but has gone through several surgeries since and remains in recovery. (KHOU.com)
  5. HPD is on the lookout for three masked men that robbed a hotel clerk at gunpoint in the hotel lobby. Surveillance footage shows the robbers demanding the clerk to pull cash out of the register before pushing by him to raid the back office. On their way out, the thieves also took the clerk's personal wallet. Then, they took off in a dark-colored sedan that may have been a Kia Forte. All three suspects are black men in their early 20s. If you have information regarding this crime, you could be awarded a cash payment of up to $5,000 by contacting Crime Stoppers with an anonymous tip at 713-222-TIPS (8477). (KTRK-TV)

Headlines you need to see:

  • Yes, fireworks are illegal in Houston city limits (KHOU.com)
  • Get paid $40 to tell TxDOT about trouble spots on Houston roads (KHOU.com)
  • Traffic shifts coming to University Boulevard intersection Jan. 3 as construction progresses on Buffalo Speedway project (Community Impact Newspaper)
  • Helicopter carrying oil and gas workers with ties to Houston company crashes in Gulf of Mexico; 4 people on board remain missing (KPRC Click2Houston)
  • Mayor Sylvester Turner chosen as 2023 Grand Marshal for 45th annual original MLK Jr. Day parade (KPRC Click2Houston)

Today in Houston:

  • Concert: Tool and Deftones Tribute at House of Blues (7 p.m.)
  • Comedy: The Riot Comedy Club presents Rene Vaca at Rudyards (7 p.m.)
  • Concert: Tobe Nwigwe at 713 Music Hall (8:15 p.m.)
  • Concert: Anime Night at The Secret Group (9 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • The Texans are looking to change their uniforms and they want feedback from you! Follow the link to share your 2 cents on what we should wear next. (KHOU 11 News via Facebook)
  • Brazilian soccer legend Pelé, winner of record 3 World Cups and standard-bearer for 'the beautiful game,' has died at 82. (KHOU 11 News via Facebook)
  • A viral TikTok shows Jason, better known as 'Popcorn Guy', preparing customers popcorn in an unusual and entertaining way. Fans are also calling Jason 'The Butter King'. (KHOU 11 News via Facebook)

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That's it for 2022. I'll be back in your inbox on Wednesday of next week at the latest. Thank you so much for following along with me and staying informed so far. Here's to great things to come for us all in 2023. See you next year! 🎉

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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