Pier & Beam is gathering in Montrose this month for a happy hour during the opening week of Doc’s, the new jazz supper club in the historic Tower Theater. Built in 1936 and designed by architect W. Scott Dunne, the Tower is one of Houston’s few surviving historic neighborhood theater buildings. Over the decades, it has seen many lives — from movie house to music venue to video store to restaurants including the beloved El Real Tex-Mex and, most recently, the local outpost of Acme Oyster House.

Doc’s brings the building back into Houston’s musical orbit. Operated by jazz pianist Brent “Doc” Watkins, the founder of Jazz, TX in San Antonio, the 11,000-square-foot venue is being billed as the world’s largest jazz club. An overhaul of the former theater space includes cabaret-style seating, a full mezzanine level, private alcoves, an upstairs bar and an 18-foot video wall — all with touches that echo the theater’s Art Deco past. The choice of location is no accident: jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald recorded a live album at the Tower in the 1980s, a connection Watkins has cited as a sign he’d found the right home.

We’ll be at Doc’s, 1201 Westheimer Road, from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, November 19. Pier & Beam happy hours are an easy way to meet fellow members and introduce friends to the group. They’re casual by design — come when you can, leave when you’re ready and pick up your own tab. See you next week!