This week we’ve partnered with Mossrose Bookshop to give 3 people a Read and Sip package including a complimentary book and coffee! That means 3 readers will get a $20 gift card to Mossrose Bookshop and a $10 gift card to Segundo Coffee. All you have to do is click on this link to enter the raffle to win. *UPDATE: This raffle has ended.

Winners will be randomly selected and emailed tomorrow morning.

Mossrose Bookshop is a Latina-owned bookstore in Houston, made for romance lovers to gather, share stories, and find their next favorite read. A hidden gem inside the Ironworks building where community and love stories meet.

In Houston, you can either look at the concrete or you can look at the plants. 

When you start gardening you begin to notice and recognize all the life around you–especially in the seasons of spring and summer. “Oh look at that crepe myrtle! Vytex! Omg a field of black-eyed susans!” I’ll never not be in awe when we’re on the way to Museum District and I spot black-eyed susans growing on the ledges off I-69 freeway. I expect them to be there, but I always feel a small sense of wonder and surprise when I actually do notice them zooming by, almost like I’m waving to a friend. 

Houston is a gardening city. A long growing season, mild-ish winters, and lots of sunshine. While summers are brutal (this year is not so bad yet, thanks to the rain), the sub-tropical climate lends to a slightly wider variety of plants that can survive and thrive here like ferns, coleous, and my favorite, caladiums, because they remind me of Koroks. Don’t get me started on flowers. (I’m obsessed). A trip to Houston Garden Center or Cornelius Nursery with an iced latte or matcha in hand is a guaranteed mood boost.

Earlier this year in an attempt to reduce screen time (ha), a random TikTok said that memorizing poems can give your brain something to do, to slow down and think, rather than mindlessly consume. The tip was to pick a poem that’s short, something that rhymes, and ideally something that’d resonate with you. After a few light Google searches I landed on a Robert Frost poem.

I found it pretty easy to memorize. The more I tried to recite it out loud, the more I got into the cadence and the words began to come out of me effortlessly. I’d recite it randomly in the car, in my head while doing errands, or late night under my breath after a few drinks as my underwhelming party trick. On the surface the poem reflects that the only certainty in life is change. Everything in life eventually withers, or rather, morphs into something else.

This line, though, “So Eden sank to grief,” has me in a chokehold. Any other time this is a poem about nature’s elusiveness and transient beauty. Right now, to me it feels like a poem about the tragedy at Camp Mystic. The same rains that’ve kept my plants lush and made the heat bearable carry a different weight now. Water gives and water takes away.

This season my garden is a slow work in progress. My first zinnia finally bloomed last week with bright pink petals, the entire flower head the size of my palm. Nature is a continued source of joy and inspiration, and cultivating a garden makes me appreciate rainy days differently. But soon it’ll all be gone come fall, then winter too as the temperatures drop again. Next year, I’ll have to start all over again.

LATELY IN HOUSTON

“Goodnight, Camp Mystic.” Our hearts our heavy with the disastrous flooding and crisis that has now led to over 100 deaths with dozens still missing. It’s important to treat these stories with immense care. Olivia Messer, Editor in Chief at The Barbed Wire, honors both the young girls and counselors lives and the legacy of Camp Mystic.

Move over Slow Rogan. Little Woodrow’s is in its 17th season of hosting their unique and quirky turtle racing event. Drawing huge crowds, these turtle athletes have (human) fans making signs and t-shirts. How fast can a turtle go? Turns out, pretty fast.

“What does it mean to love at the end of the world?” Zahrah Butler, assistant collections manager at The Reading Room, explores queerness as resistance and crafting narratives that empower us to get through. Don’t sleep on Zahrah Butler’s beautifully curated list.

A Q&A with Tomashi Jackson. In this Glasstire interview, Tomashi Jackson gets into her art upbringing, early influences, and the importance of great art teachers. ICYMI Tomachi’s Jacksons latest exhibition “Across the Universe” is currently on view on CAMH.

ONLY IF YOU KNOW

All Weekend

• Fri & Sat: $50 Flash tattoos at Moonlight Studio

• Fri & Sat: Summer Symphony Nights at Miller Outdoor Theatre

• Sat & Sun: Ikebana sessions at Taidaima

Thursday, 7/10

7pm-11pm, Nightlife | Ice House Radio will be spinning at Echoes with a select group of DJs. 

6pm-9pm, Nightlife | The Kennedy is hosting Dining For A Cause night. “100% of all sales to the Community Foundation - Kerr County Relief Fund.” There’ll be live piano and vocals by Louie Carrington.

Friday, 7/11

6pm, Bingo | Sunset Bingo is back at Levy Park! “🎟 $10 for 8 games | Sales 6–7 PM | Games 7–9 PM 🎁 All proceeds support Levy Park's free programs” Must be 18+ to claim a prize.

7pm-2am, Nightlife | Noche de Cumbia Festival is back at Axelrad. “Two stages. One night. All cumbia, puro poder. Mercadito, street vibes, late-night rhythms — the kind of party you feel in your chest.” Arrive early! Axelrad opens at 2pm. Tickets are now at $18.

10pm-2am, Nightlife | R&B all night with Something To Feel and 4 Lovers Only featuring music by DJ’s Saynt Chris and Trestaxx at Off The Record. RSVP or buy tickets. $20.

Saturday, 7/12

11am-1pm, Book Club | Silent Book Club will be at Gristworkz again. “Unwind, read, and connect with fellow book lovers in a cozy, no-pressure setting.” Free.

12pm-5pm, Art | It’s Second Saturday at Sawyer Yards! Don’t miss a chance to explore and meet artists at their studios. “Wander through six repurposed warehouse buildings, where over 100 artist studios will be open for you to discover unique works across every medium.” Free.

12pm-6pm, Clothing Swap | Stop by The Swap’s Houston’s Flyest Clothing Swap at Coffee House at West End. “🎟️ $10 with donation or $25 for purchasing a bag to swap without items”

12pm-11pm, Festival | MOTH is having their very first MOTH Fest at POST. “Curated by Moth, one of the city's most visionary small venues and breeding ground for Houston's next wave of sonic innovators, this gathering celebrates boundary-pushing local acts from hypnotic experimental electronics and jazz to soul-stirring rap and R&B and more.” Free to attend. RSVP.

1pm-4pm, Art Reception | CAMH is hosting their annual Summer Community Celebration. “This year’s celebration includes a chance to explore the galleries, make hands-on activities, and special community partnerships.” Free. RSVPs encouraged.

4pm-6pm, Crafts | Taiba’s Flowers is hosting a Summer Floral Workshop at Eden at POST. “You’ll learn essential floral care, design principles, and color theory while working with textures and shapes specific to the season. Perfect for anyone eager to learn fun tips and tricks for flower arranging.” Tickets are $65.

6pm-12am, Festival | Continental Club is celebrating their 25th anniversary with a big party and festival-style show featuring 10 bands. Tickets start at $10. $15 day of the show.

9pm-1am, Live Music | Echoes is presenting another legendary night of Curley Cormier and The Gladiators featuring Joe “The Thrill” Hill. Catch Ice House Radio downstairs beforehand. Free.

Sunday, 7/13

10am, Workshop | Carla Sue is hosting Jazz & Journaling at Kindred Stories. “Join us for a morning of self-reflection, stillness, and peace while guided by the smooth sounds of jazz.” $20. SOLD OUT.

10am-4pm, 713 Day | Sam and Davy and Apollo Media are hosting 713 Day at Solarium where they’ll be debuting a new Hill Country t-shirt and having an Astros watch party. “100% of profits from the Hill Country Tee will go to help relief efforts in Kerr County.” Free.

2pm-5pm, Crafts | Learn how to decorate cakes! Vintage Cakes is hosting a Hello Kitty Matcha Cake Decorating Class at the Original Chopshop. “No experience needed- all tools provided:-)” Tickets are $85. SOLD OUT.

7pm-9pm, Poetry | Mixtape Deli is hosting a Poetry Jam at Kept Secret. “Whether you’re a seasoned performer or just want to share something from the heart, the mic is open to all!” Admission includes a sandwich and complimentary wine. Tickets start at $23.

8pm-12am, Nightlife | Hang out at Wine and Sage Night at ’93 Til. “Tell a friend. We will be playing deep cuts, edits, your favorites, and everything in between. All Soul. All R&B. Come be open minded and come unwind.” Tickets are $6.

Congrats to our winners last week who won coffee to Honey Art Cafe!

ON THE HOU(S)E Concierge

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