February: Abigail’s Place
There are an estimated 60 people experiencing homelessness in Fort Bend County, according to data from the Coalition for the Homeless. This is an issue nonprofit organization Abigail’s Place is trying to combat before it happens.
Founded in January 2016 by Shereen Sampson, Abigail’s Place started by assisting single mothers with housing payments, providing food and clothing, and restoring and furnishing homes.
May: God’s Garden
God’s Garden, a Christ-centered community garden in Missouri City, may have begun in 2016 when it earned its nonprofit status, but co-founders Michael and Lorraine Streeb have been community gardening long before then.
The Streebs first grew a 10,000-square-foot community garden at All Saints Lutheran Church in Meadows Place starting in 2000, and it was designed around meeting a basic need: A lot of people could not afford to buy fresh vegetables, Lorraine said. At the church, the couple grew a variety of vegetables, including sorrel, Vietnamese melons, Indian cucumbers, rosemary and buffalo gourds.
June: Mind Neurology Clinic
After completing her adult neurology residency at St. Louis University, Dr. Jontel Pierce decided to forgo the usual route of joining a practice and opened her own instead.
Pierce first opened her practice, Mind Neurology Clinic, in Sugar Land in 2018. In April, she opened an office in Katy. The desire to open her own practice came from wanting to have autonomy and control over every aspect of the business, she said.
Mind Neurology Clinic
11929 University Blvd., Ste. 1B, Sugar Land
2043 N. Mason Road, Ste. 704, Katy
281-402-9522
www.mindneurology.com
Mon.-Thurs.: 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Fri.: 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Closed Sat. and Sun.
September: Frogs, Snails and Fairy Tales
A play and party store tucked inside a Sugar Land strip mall that aims to offer a slice of magic has been allowing young children room to explore their imaginations since 2019.
Business owner Mark Fallet’s idea for Frogs, Snails and Fairy Tales was born out of the need many parents face to occupy their children while they work. With Fallet and his wife busy with work and school, the couple needed something for their daughter to do.
Frogs, Snails and Fairy Tales
350 Promenade Way, Ste. 450, Sugar Land
346-368-2852
www.fsaft.com
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m., weekend hours vary places for play
October: Bollycurves
Mother, son and daughter trio Shiela, Visak and Vismita Varghese own and run Bollycurves, a Missouri City studio offering Bollywood dance and yoga therapy classes with a focus on vulnerability and injury healing.
After Shiela had a neck injury in 2008, she struggled to find workout classes that worked with her injuries. Vismita used her fitness and dance background to do home workouts, which grew to community classes in parks and churches and finally a physical studio in November 2019.
Bollycurves
3334 FM 1092, Ste. 405, Missouri City
713-999-6212
www.bollycurves.com
Hours: Mon.-Sun. 6 a.m.-10 p.m., class times vary
November: Golem’s Gate
Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, Starfinder, Shadowrun and Dungeon Crawl Classics are just a few of the favorite role-playing games, RPGs, that have the attention of people of all ages, all cultures, everywhere.
The most played of the RPGs, Dungeons & Dragons, is played almost every night of the week at Golem’s Gate in Stafford. If compared to the first versions of the game that were released in the 1970s, the game has changed considerably, Golem’s Gate owner Jason Keller said.
Golem’s Gate
4645 S. Main St., Stafford
281-265-6050
www.meetup.com/golemsgate
Hours: Mon.-Thu. 4:30-9 p.m., Fri. 4:30-11 p.m., Sat. 12:30-11 p.m., Sun. closed
December: Loc’d N Studios
Loc’d N Studios owner Natasia Collins did not have aspirations to become a hairdresser.
She taught middle schoolers as a teacher in Fort Bend ISD but had not truly considered entering the hairdressing industry until a teacher colleague urged her to give the industry a shot.
Loc’d N Studios
2440 Texas Parkway, Ste. 216, Missouri City
713-294-9817
www.locdnstudios.com
Hours: Tue.-Thu. 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 9 a.m.-7 p.m; closed Mon., Fri.
