{"id":2018,"date":"2023-08-10T07:35:05","date_gmt":"2023-08-10T07:35:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?page_id=2018"},"modified":"2023-08-18T06:21:50","modified_gmt":"2023-08-18T06:21:50","slug":"elementor-blog-3","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?page_id=2018","title":{"rendered":"Blog"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"2018\" class=\"elementor elementor-2018\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-138c8c4 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"138c8c4\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c090e1a elementor-hidden-desktop\" data-id=\"c090e1a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-56e1d50 elementor-nav-menu__align-center elementor-nav-menu--dropdown-tablet elementor-nav-menu__text-align-aside elementor-nav-menu--toggle elementor-nav-menu--burger elementor-widget elementor-widget-nav-menu\" data-id=\"56e1d50\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;layout&quot;:&quot;horizontal&quot;,&quot;submenu_icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;&lt;i class=\\&quot;fas fa-caret-down\\&quot;&gt;&lt;\\\/i&gt;&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-solid&quot;},&quot;toggle&quot;:&quot;burger&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"nav-menu.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav aria-label=\"Menu\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu--main elementor-nav-menu__container elementor-nav-menu--layout-horizontal e--pointer-underline e--animation-fade\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-1-56e1d50\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-home menu-item-2390\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Calendar of Events<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1990\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?page_id=1593\" class=\"elementor-item\">Restaurant Picks<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2034\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?page_id=2018\" class=\"elementor-item\">Blog<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1988\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?page_id=1738\" class=\"elementor-item\">About<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-toggle\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Menu Toggle\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-menu-toggle__icon--open\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"33\" height=\"30\" viewBox=\"0 0 33 30\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M0.682775 0H32.3387L31.6559 2.42075H0L0.682775 0ZM0.682775 13.6555H32.3387L31.6559 16.0762H0L0.682775 13.6555Z\" fill=\"#340084\"><\/path><path d=\"M0.739415 27.3398H32.3953L31.7125 29.7606H0.0566406L0.739415 27.3398Z\" fill=\"#340084\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"elementor-menu-toggle__icon--close eicon-close\"><\/i>\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Menu<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"elementor-nav-menu--dropdown elementor-nav-menu__container\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-2-56e1d50\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-home menu-item-2390\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Calendar of Events<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1990\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?page_id=1593\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Restaurant Picks<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2034\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?page_id=2018\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Blog<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1988\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?page_id=1738\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">About<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-93f5dad elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"93f5dad\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-29fe362\" data-id=\"29fe362\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c7420af elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c7420af\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"1972\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?attachment_id=1972\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/LOGO_3.svg\" data-orig-size=\"237,54\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"LOGO_3\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/LOGO_3.svg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/LOGO_3.svg\" width=\"237\" height=\"54\" src=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/LOGO_3.svg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1972\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"1972\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?attachment_id=1972\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/LOGO_3.svg\" data-orig-size=\"237,54\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"LOGO_3\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/LOGO_3.svg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/LOGO_3.svg\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9c705ce elementor-nav-menu__align-center elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-nav-menu--dropdown-tablet elementor-nav-menu__text-align-aside elementor-nav-menu--toggle elementor-nav-menu--burger elementor-widget elementor-widget-nav-menu\" data-id=\"9c705ce\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;layout&quot;:&quot;horizontal&quot;,&quot;submenu_icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;&lt;i class=\\&quot;fas fa-caret-down\\&quot;&gt;&lt;\\\/i&gt;&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-solid&quot;},&quot;toggle&quot;:&quot;burger&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"nav-menu.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav aria-label=\"Menu\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu--main elementor-nav-menu__container elementor-nav-menu--layout-horizontal e--pointer-underline e--animation-fade\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-1-9c705ce\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-home menu-item-2390\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Calendar of Events<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1990\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?page_id=1593\" class=\"elementor-item\">Restaurant Picks<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2034\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?page_id=2018\" class=\"elementor-item\">Blog<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1988\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?page_id=1738\" class=\"elementor-item\">About<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-toggle\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Menu Toggle\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"elementor-menu-toggle__icon--open eicon-menu-bar\"><\/i><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"elementor-menu-toggle__icon--close eicon-close\"><\/i>\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Menu<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"elementor-nav-menu--dropdown elementor-nav-menu__container\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-2-9c705ce\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-home menu-item-2390\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Calendar of Events<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1990\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?page_id=1593\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Restaurant Picks<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2034\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?page_id=2018\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Blog<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1988\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?page_id=1738\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">About<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3bd89f4 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"3bd89f4\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-186d84e\" data-id=\"186d84e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5bbadaf elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5bbadaf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">BLOG<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bccf4d1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"bccf4d1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3981a23 elementor-grid-1 elementor-grid-tablet-2 elementor-grid-mobile-1 elementor-posts--thumbnail-top elementor-posts--show-avatar elementor-posts__hover-gradient elementor-widget elementor-widget-posts\" data-id=\"3981a23\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;cards_columns&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;cards_columns_tablet&quot;:&quot;2&quot;,&quot;cards_columns_mobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;cards_row_gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:35,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_row_gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_row_gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"posts.cards\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-posts-container elementor-posts elementor-posts--skin-cards elementor-grid\">\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-1499 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-uncategorized\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?p=1499\" >\n\t\t\t\tDear Mama: The Saga of Afeni and Tupac Shakur \u2013 A Call For Action\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>I recently finished watching the 5 episodes for the documentary, Dear Mama and I am happy that I digested it in parts because it has<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?p=1499\" aria-label=\"Read more about Dear Mama: The Saga of Afeni and Tupac Shakur \u2013 A Call For Action\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-avatar\">\n\t\t\tNo Comments\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-1451 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-uncategorized\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?p=1451\" >\n\t\t\t\tBilly Porter \u2013 Black Mona Lisa Tour\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>I am so grateful I received an email that Billy Porter was coming to Houston. When I looked at the venue and saw that it<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?p=1451\" aria-label=\"Read more about Billy Porter \u2013 Black Mona Lisa Tour\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-avatar\">\n\t\t\tNo Comments\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-1355 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-uncategorized\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?p=1355\" >\n\t\t\t\tUjima: New York Edition\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>The pandemic has provided us many benefits, including how we examine and eliminate the continuous oppression of groups of people in the US. In addition,<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?p=1355\" aria-label=\"Read more about Ujima: New York Edition\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-avatar\">\n\t\t\tNo Comments\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-1327 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-uncategorized\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?p=1327\" >\n\t\t\t\tAmoako Boafo: Soul of Black Folks\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Contemporary Arts Museum Houston I can not remember where I first was introduced to the work of Amoako Boafo which is the blessing and the<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?p=1327\" aria-label=\"Read more about Amoako Boafo: Soul of Black Folks\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-avatar\">\n\t\t\tNo Comments\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-1280 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-uncategorized\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?p=1280\" >\n\t\t\t\tThe Inaugural Kwame Onwuachi Family Reunion Food &#038; Wine Event at the Salamander\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>The very first time I learned about the James Beard Awards was through an event called Iconoclast . The Iconoclast Dinner Experience (IDE) was created<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?p=1280\" aria-label=\"Read more about The Inaugural Kwame Onwuachi Family Reunion Food &#038; Wine Event at the Salamander\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-avatar\">\n\t\t\tNo Comments\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-1217 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-uncategorized tag-conjure tag-delita-martin tag-texas-art\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?p=1217\" >\n\t\t\t\tConjure by Delita Martin\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>I remember the first time I saw Delita Martin&#8216;s work in 2017. It was an exhibit called &#8220;Between Sisters and Spirits&#8221; at the Nicole Longnecker<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?p=1217\" aria-label=\"Read more about Conjure by Delita Martin\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-avatar\">\n\t\t\t1 Comment\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9cb1b87 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"9cb1b87\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-52d08e2\" data-id=\"52d08e2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-949158b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"949158b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/white_logo.svg\" title=\"white_logo\" alt=\"white_logo\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aaabb6d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"aaabb6d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b><span class=\"nounderlines\">\u00a9 <\/span><\/b>MERLEX PICKS 2023. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>BLOG \u00a9 MERLEX PICKS 2023. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_canvas","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2018","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P7hzta-wy","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1738,"url":"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?page_id=1738","url_meta":{"origin":2018,"position":0},"title":"About","author":"admin","date":"August 8, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"ABOUT US We are a cultural event and restaurant guide for Houstonians and visitors.http:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Merlex-Picks.mp4 Houston has a rich diversity of things to do, and the last thing we want is you being left out. In addition, we periodically leave this great city to experience cultural events and share on this\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/LOGO_3.svg","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1509,"url":"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?page_id=1509","url_meta":{"origin":2018,"position":1},"title":"Elementor #1509","author":"admin","date":"August 4, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Our site is getting a design makeover. Please don't mind our appearance. In the meantime, see this weekend's calender of events. August 4, 2023 Summer Nights at MFAHAugust 4, 2023\u00a0@\u00a06:00 pm\u00a0-\u00a09:00 pmThe Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77005, USASummer is heating up. Cool down at\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1662,"url":"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?page_id=1662","url_meta":{"origin":2018,"position":2},"title":"Calender of Events (old)","author":"admin","date":"August 8, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Event Calender A curated list of the latest cultural happenings in Houston AUGUST 11, 2023 \u00a0Opening Reception | \u201cMagical &Mystical Oaxaca\u201d WHEN:\u00a06:00 pm\u00a0-\u00a08:00 pm WHERE: The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77005, USA CALENDER INFO\u00a0 You\u2019re invited to explore\u00a0Magical and Mystical Oaxaca: Celebrating Oaxacan Art\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/LOGO_3.svg","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1593,"url":"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?page_id=1593","url_meta":{"origin":2018,"position":3},"title":"Restaurant Picks","author":"admin","date":"August 5, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Restauraunt Picks In addition to fun events, we love food. This is our list of restaurants we either love or want to try*. Feel free to provide your favorites. American 93 TIL*1601 W Main StHouston, TX 77006BELLAGREEN2305 West Alabama Street, Ste R2Houston, TX 77098BISTRO MENIL1513 West Alabama StreetHouston, TX 77006BLOOM\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/LOGO_3.svg","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5,"url":"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?page_id=5","url_meta":{"origin":2018,"position":4},"title":"Home","author":"admin","date":"September 15, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"[vc_row parallax=\"content-moving\" parallax_image=\"68\" ova_container=\"0\" css=\".vc_custom_1442341274203{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}\"][vc_column css=\".vc_custom_1442339813808{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}\"][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=\".vc_custom_1443423569743{background-color: #f5f5f5 !important;}\" el_class=\"light featured-line xs-padding\"][vc_column css=\".vc_custom_1443423706320{padding-top: 12px !important;padding-bottom: 12px !important;}\" offset=\"vc_col-lg-6 vc_col-md-6\"][\/vc_column][vc_column width=\"1\/2\" css=\".vc_custom_1443423721706{padding-top: 12px !important;padding-bottom: 12px !important;}\" offset=\"vc_col-lg-4 vc_col-md-4\"][\/vc_column][vc_column width=\"1\/2\" css=\".vc_custom_1443423731114{padding-top: 12px !important;padding-bottom: 12px !important;}\" offset=\"vc_col-lg-2 vc_col-md-2\"][vc_raw_html]JTNDYSUyMGhyZWYlM0QlMjJodHRwJTNBJTJGJTJGZGVtby5vdmF0aGVtZS5jb20lMkZldmVudG1hbmElMkYlM0ZldmVudCUzRHN0YW5kYXJ0LWV2ZW50LW5hbWUtMSUyMiUyMGNsYXNzJTNEJTIyYnRuJTIwYnRuLXRoZW1lJTIwYnRuLWRldGFpbHMlMjIlM0VUaWNrZXRzJTIwJTI2YW1wJTNCJTIwRGV0YWlscyUyMCUzQ2klMjBjbGFzcyUzRCUyMmZhJTIwZmEtYXJyb3ctY2lyY2xlLXJpZ2h0JTIyJTNFJTNDJTJGaSUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=\".vc_custom_1442398408527{padding-top: 70px !important;padding-bottom: 70px !important;}\"][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=\".vc_custom_1443435097166{padding-top: 70px\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":612,"url":"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/?page_id=612","url_meta":{"origin":2018,"position":5},"title":"Home 2","author":"admin","date":"September 15, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"[vc_row parallax=\"content-moving\" parallax_image=\"68\" ova_container=\"0\" css=\".vc_custom_1442978470271{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}\"][vc_column css=\".vc_custom_1442343131026{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}\"][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_class=\"color\" css=\".vc_custom_1442998376808{padding-top: 12px !important;padding-bottom: 12px !important;background-color: #ed4a43 !important;}\"][vc_column width=\"1\/4\"][\/vc_column][vc_column width=\"3\/4\"][vc_column_text][\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=\".vc_custom_1442461687830{padding-top: 70px !important;padding-bottom: 70px !important;background-color: #f5f5f5 !important;}\"][vc_column width=\"1\/4\"][\/vc_column][vc_column width=\"1\/4\"][\/vc_column][vc_column width=\"1\/4\"][\/vc_column][vc_column width=\"1\/4\"][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=\".vc_custom_1442461676906{padding-top: 70px !important;padding-bottom: 70px !important;}\"][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=\".vc_custom_1442464934437{padding-top: 70px !important;padding-bottom: 70px !important;background-color: #f5f5f5 !important;}\"][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=\".vc_custom_1442464996749{padding-top: 70px !important;padding-bottom:\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2018","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2018"}],"version-history":[{"count":55,"href":"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2018\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2412,"href":"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2018\/revisions\/2412"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.merlexpicks.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2018"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}