EAST DOWNTOWN

Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to highlight the contributions and achievements of Hispanic Americans in our country, and Houston has plenty of landmarks where you can learn and celebrate this vibrant community that has made an impact in the Bayou City.

HOUSTON – Houston welcomes its first self-serve wine bar in East Downtown. Roots Wine Bar, at 3107 Leeland Street, aims to eliminate the “uptight” or unapproachable stigma associated with wine tastings by providing an innovative and interactive wine experience, the company says on its website. The establishment, which opened to the public in mid-February, offers a rotating menu with over 50 different wines to sample using fully automated wine dispensing machines. Customers use a keycard to pour their own samples from a wall of taps. Roots also feature a rotating menu of gulf coast bites, such as caramelized Brussel sprouts, fried oysters, crawfish croquettes, and Amberjack Ricotta dumplings.

HOUSTON – Police have arrested a man in connection with the fatal shooting of another man near East Downtown. The shooting happened around 6:40 p.m. Friday at a residence on Hadley Street between Live Oak Street and Nagle Street, police said. When they arrived, they said they found Donald Glen Jones, 34, rendering aid to 49-year-old Kevin Verdine, who was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Police said they took over trying to render aid until paramedics arrived, but Verdine was pronounced dead at the scene. He was subsequently arrested and charged with murder in connection with Verdine’s death.

HOUSTON – February is looking “lovely” as Houston’s Rooftop Cinema Club is set to open their new venue in Houston’s East End District. The Drive-in off Navigation is set to open Thursday. Tickets are $5 per vehicle up to two occupants, and $10 per vehicle for three or more occupants. Tickets for The Drive-In off Navigation are available starting at 2 p.m. Tuesday and cost between $22-$36 per vehicle, depending on vehicle occupancy and the day of screening. These are the featured February films:Feb. 3: “Father of the Bride,” “50 First Dates”Feb. 4: “Romeo & Juliet,” “Friday the 13th”.

Chris Sonnier, homeless and living in a tent downtown, would be caught in the path of TxDOT's I-45 expansion plan. To Sonnier, whose family has a long history in Fifth Ward, TxDOT’s plan will end up paving over even more Black history that’s far too often forgotten. “That’s history… history that don’t get talked about in the history books.”TxDOT’s I-45 expansion project has been in the works for years now. Duckworth has been active in opposing the I-45 project and has attended several Stop TxDOT I-45 meetings over the past couple of years. Jackson and Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia also signed a separate letter in early December criticizing the I-45 project.

Houston City Council voted to expand the city's market-based parking boundaries to include parts of Midtown, East Downtown and Near Northside. Houston City Council voted July 17 to expand the boundaries of the citys market-based parking area, which previously only covered downtown. I believe that itll be good for small-business development and also that it will lead to better streetscapes, said District H Council Member Karla Cisneros, whose district includes part of Near Northside. We have parking requirements to protect neighborhoods, said District J Council Member Mike Laster, whose district includes much of southwest Houston. The Midtown Management District and the East Downtown Management District both issued formal letters of support for the measure.

The original building on the site had been built in 1900, according to appraisal records. A demolition permit was also issued for a coffee shop-restaurant Christo Mio, 2523 Quenby St., in the Rice Village area. The site, which has had a sign promoting a coffee shop coming soon, received building permits for a remodel earlier this month. Use the interactive map to view additional demolition permit details. About Demo Monday: Every week, Community Impact Newspaper will update readers on demolition permit activity across Houston.