The Leader • Saturday, November 2, 2019 • Page 1B
Girl power: Women of 19th making impact influential women commemorated a barrier-breaking event for the entire country. Their event was held on the 45th anniversary of the enactment of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which made it illegal for creditors to discriminate against applicants on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, marital status or age. Before the law was passed, many American women could not obtain credit cards without having a man co-sign for them. “I’m proud, and I’m sure everyone else is proud,” said Pam Pellegrino, owner of vintage clothing store Retropolis. “There’s new people coming on the street every day, be-
By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com The allure of 19th Street rests in its colorful signs and storefronts, an eclectic cast of characters and a downhome friendliness unique to an urban locale. A group of entrepreneurial women is largely responsible for the charm of the Heights thoroughfare, which is popular to people from all over Houston. According to Cody White of Half-Moon Media, a marketing company that represents a few 19th Street businesses, the majority of them are owned or co-owned by women. She said that applies to 35 of the 50 businesses between Beall Street to the west and Heights Boulevard to the east, which includes a mix of boutiques, salons, professional services and places that provide food and drink. “I think that if you didn’t have women running these restaurants and businesses on the street, you would not have the diversity and the delight and the creativity that people put into a store or a shop or a restaurant,” said Kelly Contello, owner of The Lift bookstore. “I don’t think it’s an accident.” About 25 of the female business owners gathered Monday night on the patio at Harold’s Restaurant & Tap Room,
Shelley Kennedy and Daphne Scarbrough – along with mayoral candidate Derrick Broze. Michele Leal, who is running for the District 148 seat in the Texas House of Representatives, also was there. The event was organized by White on behalf of Jarrett and Circa Real Estate owner Mary Wassef. “I was worried that some of the women business own-
ers wouldn’t step up and say something, because it’s hard for them to be their own advocates,” White said. “I don’t know if it’s a gender thing or a community thing, but they’re really shy about themselves. So it was great seeing other women saying, ‘No, get them up to the front.’ It went really well.” While breaking down some of their personal barriers, the
Local treats aim to combat depression By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com Gray-hued baked goods are being used to open a dialogue and raise awareness for people suffering from depression and other mental health disorders. The treats, such as cupcakes with gray icing and cookies decorated with sad faces, will be sold at the 7th annual Depressed Cake Shop on Sunday, Nov. 3, from 1-5 p.m. at Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards St. Depressed Cake Shop is a worldwide initiative that inspired Jody Stevens of JodyCakes, a business in Near Northside. “It spoke so close to my heart,” Stevens said. “Because I’m a baker and a chef,
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Photo by Adam Zuvanich The Lift on 19th owner Kelly Contello, left, and Cody White of Half-Moon Media participated in Monday night’s gathering of female business owners at Harold’s Restaurant & Tap Room on 19th Street.
which overlooks 19th Street and is owned by Alli Jarrett. They mingled while enjoying cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and celebrated themselves and their accomplishments, with each business owner addressing the group and sharing her story. Among the other attendees were three candidates for the District C seat on the Houston City Council – Abbie Kamin,
Photo by Kirsten Gilliam Photography Customers line up for baked goods at Depressed Cake Shop in Near Northside.
I thought maybe I can put a twist on it with my friends that are in the industry. We could do a really upscale bake sale and cake auction.”
The bake sale will include hundreds of cookies, brownies, pastries and other treats that will be themed by the incorporation of the color gray.
Attendees will also get the chance to bid on one-of-a-kind cakes, which will be made by the chefs from Nancy’s Hustles, 1751 Sea & Bar, The Dunlavy, Phoenicia, Red Dessert Dive, Sweet Bribery and more. “We’ll be offering an Oreo cookie with ground Oreos that makes the cookie look gray and a cake, but the cake decor is not determined yet,” said Jessica Lusk of Red Dessert Dive. Lusk said the bake shop’s cause is important to both her and head chef Andrea Di Gortari. “Mental illness is so common and we just want to be a part of raising awareness and help to promote self-care,”
cause of the growth of this neighborhood, and it’s a beautiful thing.” Jarrett, who grew up in a small town in South Carolina, said 19th Street has a similar feel. She likened it to a Main Street without a courthouse. The women who lead the few-block stretch held court Monday night, offering advice and support for each other. “I think it’s a pretty big deal, and I think it’s a testament to everybody that works together and shares knowledge,” Jarrett said. “Whether we’re in similar businesses or not, we all are helping each other, and I think that’s important in business and in life.”
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BUSINESS BRIEFS - NOVEMBER
Da Gama Canteen to open at M-K-T It was the opportunity to be one of two restaurants with a patio overlooking the bike trail at the upcoming M-KT Heights development that appealed to Rishi Hospitality owners Shiva and Rick Di Virgilio, according to Colliers International leasing agent Hannah Tosch. “To have those views and the foot traffic (was the draw),” Tosch said. The Euro-Indian restaurant Da Gama Canteen is named after Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer who was the first to map a sea-based trade route to India. Da Gama Canteen, which will occupy 3,250 square feet in the development at the northeast corner of North Shepherd Drive and 6th Street, will offer food and a full bar. It is not Rishi Hospitality’s only Houston restaurant as it also operates Oporto Fooding House & Wine in Midtown. The Di Virgilios also had British pub the Queen Vic before it closed in the summer of 2018. The 200,000 square foot development M-K-T Heights, which is a partnership between Houston’s Radom Capital and Triten Real Estate Partners in collaboration with Bostonbased Long Wharf Capital LLC, is billed as a trail-oriented mixed-use project slated to be completed in 2020. New tenant for Lot 14 Shopping Center Last spring, The Leader reported on Gulf Coast Commercial’s plans to build a 17,200 square foot retail development, called Lot 14 Shopping Center, at 3201 N. Shepherd Dr. According to its marketing flyer, there are seven spaces for lease at the
Contributed photo Euro-Indian restaurant Da Gama Canteen will open in M-K-T Heights, a 200,000 square-foot development, in 2020.
to-be-built development, with one end space already taken by Salata, the salad bar chain that started in downtown Houston in 2005 and now has 75 locations nationwide. New weight loss book from Mangum Manor author Mangum Manor’s Greg Green recently published his second book on weight loss, “The Fad Proof Diet.” “I wrote this book because many people in my world are getting hung up on the different fads, everything from the keto diet to The Whole 30,” Green said. “(They are) having massive rebounds where they gained back everything they lost when they finally quit the diet because they either reached their goal weight or just couldn’t take the restrictive rules of the diet anymore. That’s the major flaw of most of the fads out there: They are completely unsustainable for the long haul.” Green’s book breaks down the fundamentals of weight loss and how to set up a diet based on your preferences.
“The Fad Proof Diet” is available at Amazon.com. ‘Ask Me Anything’ open house invitation Daniela Antelo, an associate broker with Keller Williams Realty, is doing three open houses this weekend where attendees are welcome to ask any questions about local real estate. Antelo and her team will be at 844 Wakefield Dr. on Saturday, Nov. 11 from 1-4 p.m. Questions? Call 713-4948170, e-mail antelodani@ gmail.com or visit houstonbroker.com. Local therapist offers holiday workshops Elizabeth Cobb, a licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed professional counselor and certified “Daring Way” facilitator, is offering two workshops that focus on the beloved message made out of yarn that adorned the T.C. Jester dog park for months: “YOU ARE ENOUGH.” Based on Brené Brown’s shame-resilience research, “Daring Greatly Through the Holidays” will focus on au-
thenticity, courage and living whole-heartedly throughout the holiday season. The workshop is one day only on Nov. 22, and the $250 price includes materials and lunch. “Rising Strong in the New Year,” a one-day only intensive workshop on Jan. 17, is $250, which includes materials and lunch, and embraces being the risks inherent with being you and being all in. Availability is limited for both. If you have something for Business Briefs, e-mail betsy@ theleadernews.com.
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