🌱 GJ Tavern + Houston Bakery Fire Reported + Ukraine Fundraiser Event

Get on up, Houston! Here's everything you need to know to get this Friday started off right.

First, today's weather:

Breezy. High: 84 Low: 71.

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Here are the top five stories in Houston today:

1. Georgia James Tavern is changing its name to GJ Tavern and chef to Tim Reading. Georgia James will move its luxury steakhouse to Regent Square mixed-used development. New menu items at GJ Tavern will include a hand-pulled stracciatella with basil pesto and a handmade cavatelli pasta with duck confit and crispy duck cracklins. (CultureMap Houston)

2. After spending $1.7 million in 2021 for N95 face masks that were deemed counterfeit, the City of Houston has recovered most of the money. The mayor’s office confirms that its legal department has recovered $1,332,429.73. (KHOU 11)

3. A fire was reported at a business in The Heights on Thursday morning. The incident happened at Kraftsmen Baking, located at 611 W. 22nd near Shepherd. According to Houston Fire Department, no firefighters or civilians were injured. (ABC 13)

4. Relatives of a Harris County jail inmate are upset they were not notified that he was critically ill with COVID-19 until it was too late. 29-year-old Damian Lopez had been held in the Harris County jail since December 2021 on a misdemeanor charge of indecent exposure. There were also competency issues due to mental illness, according to court documents. (ABC 13)

5. The Anya Tish Gallery is hosting a fundraiser with 100% of proceeds going to the Care Ukraine Crisis Fund, providing immediate aid to Ukrainians in need. The fundraiser will take place April 29th and April 30th at the Anya Tish Gallery in Montrose, 4411 Montrose Blvd., Ste. A, Houston. Anya Tish is a Polish artist and curator nad has been ran her gallery for 26 years. (Community Impact News)

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Today in Houston:

• Ethics Commission Meeting at City of Houston Annex Council Chamber. (3:00 PM)
• Tim Dillon in Concert at City of Houston. (7:00 PM)
• Houston Astros vs. Toronto Blue Jays at Minute Maid Park. (7:10 PM)
• The Riot Comedy Show Presents Joe Machi (Conan, NBC, Comedy Central). (7:30 PM)
• Houston Symphony - Pops Concert at City of Houston. (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• NowMedia TV and the Houston Police department have partnered up to bring you Community Shield - the a new TV Show with the idea to bring Relational Policing to the next level. (Facebook)
• HISD is hosting a RISE recruiting event next Wednesday, April 27th. Educators could receive up to $10,000 in annual incentives. Please RSVP by this Friday, April 22nd if interested. (Facebook)
• Join Downtown Houston on Saturday, April 30th for the city's BIGGEST dog festival, Puppies for Breakfast. They are bringing the big dogs to Historic Market Square Houston for this one-of-a-kind event. (Facebook)
• On May 7th at 11 a.m., award-winning author Malinda Lo is coming to Asia Society Texas Center to speak to teens that love to read. Join in as she talks about "Last Night at the Telegraph Club." (Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Friday! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow morning with a new update.

— Carlos Hernandez

About me: Hello my name is Carlos Hernandez and I am a food writer with over 10 years of experience in the industry. I write the food blog Carlos Eats (http://www.carloseats.com) and also contribute to several newspapers and magazines with food-related blogs and articles.