Twelve Reasons Why

SB+ is Your Go-To Magazine for Staying Informed

By Liz Clearman

Happyone-year anniversary to us! We cannot fathom how it’s already been a full 12 months since our very first issue debuted in the community, and we’ve received fantastic feedback from our readers (thank you wholeheartedly to those who take the time to message or email us). We thought it would be fun to look back on some of the stories, people, and events we’ve covered over the past year. We pride ourselves on bringing you content about happenings both in and around Spring Branch, local restaurants and watering holes and the people behind the scenes, the small businesses that help our community run, keeping you up-to-date on SBISD happenings, and informing you about anything else that we think residents might want to know. Thank you for your loyal readership over the past year, and we hope that you’ll continue to think of us as your go-to source in the Branch.

1 Our inaugural August 2022 issue featured an Alfred Hitchcockian photo of Noel Tolentino, owner of The 800 Club and SAT tutor/coach extraordinaire. You now also know about the history of Memorial City as well as the German roots of Spring Branch.

2 September’s issue brought you the buzz on the multitude of mom-and-pop coffee shops in the area for your daily caffeine fix, which fit nicely with our main story about the mamas who are loyal members of the Spring Shadows Moms Club.

7 For the month of love (i.e., February) SB+ interviewed Freedom Floral shop owner Chelsea Wrobel about her passion for all things floral and design. Rodeo time made its way into the mag as well, and we got to know a Spring Branch cookoff team.

8 Spring Branch’s The Hair Lab owners MariaElena and Mario Salazar graced our March cover, giving residents a glimpse into both their hair and business acumen. Eleven new and upcoming restaurants showed us how highly sought after commercial space is in our neighborhood.

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In October, we highlighted local business owner and basketball connoisseur Jay Coleman (The Branch by SWAG Elite) as well as local wineries, distilleries, and breweries. Who knew we had one of each in the SB/Memorial area?

4 November profiled Memorial kid hero Lily DuBose, who founded nonprofit Lily’s Toy Box after the devastation of Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The business profile shined the spotlight on newcomer restaurant Low Tide Kitchen & Bar in Spring Branch, owned by South Carolinian and low country maven Alli Jarrett.

5 Unofficial “Mayor” of Spring Branch and well-loved owner of former bar and kitchen The Branch, Kyle Pierson, was our December feature, and we also highlighted the reopening of Orangetheory Fitness as well as nonprofit Sleep in Heavenly Peace’s search for a Spring Branch facility.

6 To kick off January 2023 and all those “new year, new me” gym resolutions, we listed out eight different gyms/fitness centers in Memorial and Spring Branch – including brand-new EMS Enhanced – as well as some tried and true tips on minimalism and organizing.

9 In April, residents learned that Spring Branch has the nation’s firstever 3D-printed house being built – er, printed – right here in our backyard! In addition, the second annual Color Run was a smashing success and gave students at both Spring Woods and Northbrook high schools the proms of their dreams.

10 May brought the annual SBISD board of trustees election, and local realtor J. Carter Breed told us about the rebranding of his business to NewTrust Real Estate. We also introduced a new columnist, The Drunken Cyclist, and his oenophilic knowledge.

11 June’s issue featured an eggs-citing new restaurant, The Toasted Yolk Café, that landed in Spring Valley by the hand of owner Perry L. Jordan III, bringing us a delish place to get breakfast, brunch, lunch, and yes, even adult beverages. We also highlighted several happenings in SBISD, including Stratford’s sweep of the Tommy Tune Awards as well as several educators who won both district and state awards.

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For July, Spring Branch-based remodeling company Home Remedy graced our cover and gave us a peek into why they’re a highly sought after business for renovations of all kinds. We also talked to Ken Brunecke, owner and operator of Kolache Kings and local nonprofit Kidz Grub.

Reader praise:

“I just wanted to drop you a quick note to tell you thank you for highlighting so many school events and cool things happening in SBISD in the SB+ magazine. We have started to get them at my house, and although I get no other magazines, and mail piles up in our mailbowl, I’m always excited to stop what I am doing to check out the magazine. Thank you so much for shining a positive light on our district and what we accomplish in it.” – Stephanie W.

“Just a note to say thank you for putting out the SB+ magazine! I look forward to reading every issue. I love that you highlight different individuals and happenings in the area! Keep up the great work!” – Maria F.

“I was just reading the latest edition and was overjoyed to see both a ‘Happy Pride Month’ greeting, and a short article explaining Juneteenth and its importance. THANK YOU for being inclusive and recognizing that the neighborhood is broad and varied — and that that variation makes us better and stronger. Please go on including ALL people in Spring Branch.” – Kathryn H.