This past weekend, we attended White Linen Night in the Heights. It has been a popular event in Houston for the past 11 years, but this was our first time. The lively affair started when a couple of transplants from New Orleans suggested it to generate more interest in businesses along 19th street in the Heights area.
The couple, Chris & Kay Thayer, had a business on Magazine Street in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit and flooded 80% of the city. Their shop was not damaged, but they knew life would be very different if they stayed. They became part of the exodus of over 250,000 people resulting from the devastating levee failures against Hurricane Katrina’s powerful winds and water surges during that fateful summer of 2005.
Because of that evacuation, many New Orleanians decided not to go back to a place they loved dearly but knew they had to start afresh elsewhere. Plenty settled in Houston and brought their wonderful Creole culture with them. You can drive around the Heights and realize there is a definite influence.
The organizers of the annual free event only asks that you come dressed in white (preferably all white) and browse the local businesses.
There are lots of freebies like water, teas, photo booth pictures, ice cream samples, appetizers, etc.
If you come before 6:30 pm, you can easily find a parking space at the Chase bank parking lot. It gets harder to find a parking space as the night gets longer. There’s a younger vibe later in the evening.
People packed the upper terrace at Harold’s restaurant and dined on authentic creole cuisine as they viewed the activity down below. We skipped the crowded restaurants and festival food trucks and left around 9 pm to stop at a local Mexican restaurant on the way home.
If you don’t mind the heat that will ease a little as the sun goes down and you enjoy shopping, this should be a night to put on your calendar for next year!
Sources: Creole vs.Cajun ; theheightswhitelinennight.com; datacenterresearch.org
