Before Houstonians knew the venue as AvantGarden, it was a mansion owned by Murray Davis. Davis’ grandfather originally moved into the house in 1915. At the front of the house, there was a scale business and in the back, a repair shop. Howard Hughes, who later became a billionaire and well-known celebrity in Houston, used to play at the mansion with the Davis children. Years later in 1995, Mariana Lemesoff purchased the now vacant mansion on Westheimer, hoping to transform it into a performing arts venue.
Lemesoff didn’t intend for the club to start off with a gothic aesthetic, but the black walls and the name Mausoleum attracted a certain crowd. She went with it for a while, booking some goth-centric bands. Lemesoff eventually decided to change the name to Helios to draw a more diverse crowd. By 2007, the name changed to AvantGarden.
Over the years, AvantGarden continued to evolve, becoming a central place for spoken word artists in Houston. Write About Now, which was founded by Amir Safi, hosts weekly poetry slams and open mic nights every Wednesday. The gathering has drawn attention from artists and celebrities all over the country, such as Chance The Rapper and Lenny Kravitz. The venue now boasts a bar and also hosts weddings and live music performances.
So, what happens once you become Houston Poet Laureate? Outspoken Bean, who has performed at AvantGarden and served as the Houston Poet Laureate, shares his journey. [City Cast Houston 🎧]
