All Things In Houston TX

The Philadelphia Eagles lassoed the Dallas Cowboys on December 22, putting a playoff appearance — and a championship title — farther out of reach for Dallas and further jeopardizing the job of head coach Jason Garrett. Of course, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones expressed disappointment about the 17-9 loss to Philly. But he could hardly be disappointed about a title he did win recently. On December 18, four days before Dallas’ dismal performance in Philadelphia, Forbes… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2tkCmXc from WordPress https://ift.tt/36eDOcj

Editor’s note: It’s been another eventful year in Houston, with a trip to the World Series, major flooding, and a mayoral election. Meanwhile, news in the dining community heated up with what seemed like nonstop openings and closings, as sizzling new restaurants opened and local favorites suddenly bid farewell. It’s been an honor to deliver this daily news and CultureMap promises to be at the forefront of reporting on the culture, lifestyle, and buzz of… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/39wJtwn from WordPress https://ift.tt/2st9hJo

There are some years where the top movies of the year are clear cut, and some years when there are so many great films that it’s extremely difficult to pare down the list. Fortunately for a movie lover like myself, this year fell into the latter category, forcing me into some tough decisions over which fantastic movies not to acknowledge. While opinions will differ, it’s almost a guarantee that any movie on this list will… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/37hW98C from WordPress https://ift.tt/2F8BwzN

Editor’s note: As the year comes to a close, we look back at the 10 most popular restaurant and bar stories of 2019. These are the openings, closings, and newsy bits that Houstonians gobbled up. 1\. Galleria-area restaurant’s sudden shutter shocks Houston diners. Yes, Houston’s is a chain restaurant from the Arizona-based Hillstone Group, but its Westheimer location had been open for almost 40 years. That it suddenly disppeared without any warning shocked people who… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/36kdOfW from WordPress https://ift.tt/2rFqI8W

When assembling CultureMap’s list of Houston’s Top 100 restaurants, we decided to focus on the neighborhoods where our readers live, which is primarily inside the Loop and neighborhoods near the Galleria. After all, those are the areas where the most ambitious restaurants are located. To include a restaurant located beyond the Beltway, it would have to be exceptional; that is, worth the hassle of a long drive and superior to other options in its category…. from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2QB5kdC from WordPress https://ift.tt/39vucvJ

Bayou City live music fans experienced an embarrassment of riches in 2019. CultureMap previewed hundreds of shows over the past year in its Live Music Now column, reviewing and attending many of those, making the task of selecting the best of the bunch no more than a fool’s errand. Ask anyone about their best 2019 concert experiences and each list would be different. Yet, the end of the year requires us to stretch our journalistic… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2sAUk82 from WordPress https://ift.tt/2Qfx74q

If there’s anything you can count on, it’s that Houston residents like their food and sports. That’s reflected in what they name their pets, as sporty and delicious monikers once again reign in the most popular pet names of 2019. Rover.com, the nation’s largest network of pet sitters and dog walkers, dug through the hundreds of thousands of names in its database to come up with the nation’s top 10 male and female dog names,… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/35bmunn from WordPress https://ift.tt/2ZEJr0S

Editor’s note: While Houston’s society fans flock to our stories of fetes, galas, and soirees, this year, readers fell in love with tales of glamorous weddings starring lovely locals — namely a former TV reporter and his handsome fiance. Young professional parties heated up the scene in 2019, as did old-guard staples such as the annual Junior League, Asia Society, and Kentucky Derby parties. And speaking of heat, few events raised temperatures like a fashion… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2QCZxUT from WordPress https://ift.tt/2QchUAX

As a film critic, I get to pick and choose which movies I see, which usually means that I steer clear of obvious stinkers like Playing with Fire, Rambo: Last Blood, or Men in Black: International. But sometimes seeing a bad movie is unavoidable, and sometimes a movie that’s expected to be good goes bad for a multitude of reasons. If you have not already had the misfortune of seeing any of the following 10… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2rKxWZw from WordPress https://ift.tt/356sE8l

From family sedans to electric vehicles to off-road friendly SUVs and farm trucks, the Texas used vehicle market could not be more diverse. December is widely regarded as the best time to buy a new car. Before you’re ready to unload your current model, take a look at what used vehicles Houston area buyers were keenest to purchase in 2019. CultureMap sister site, AutomotiveMap, has partnered with Autolist.com to share this data. To come up… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2sAiFdZ from WordPress https://ift.tt/37oEJXX

At the 10th annual Trafigura Run for the House benefiting Ronald McDonald House Houston, thousands of runners and even more supporters turned out to shower the amazing nonprofit with love and donations. Frost Bank and CultureMap were also there, spreading hope and happiness with the Call Me Optimistic chalkboards and Good Vibes postcards, which attendees could personalize with inspiring messages. The postcards will be included with care packages distributed to Houston homeless shelters during the… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2ZCMc2R from WordPress https://ift.tt/2QB58uT

A staple of Houston’s Jewish community will soon be closing its doors. Belden’s Food Market will close sometime in January. As of now, the store has not set an official closing date, store director Darryl Ames tells CultureMap. He expects the store will maintain normal operations for approximately the next two weeks before it starts to deplete its inventory. At the time, the store will announce its last day of operations and initiate discounts on… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/35bEwpA from WordPress https://ift.tt/2QytTrt

Controversial radio personality Don Imus, 79, died last week at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in College Station, Texas. There’s an old Latin saying — “de mortuis nil nisi bonum” — which roughly translates to “do not speak ill of the dead.” What did those ancient Romans know? Let’s bury Imus for what he was: a hurtful, unfunny, marble-mouthed, foul-mouthed racist whose time was long past. Imus started in radio in 1968 and joined… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2rHvtiv from WordPress https://ift.tt/37ohZaE

One of the Galleria’s most high-profile restaurants will serve its last meals in early 2020. Yauatcha, the upscale dim sum from the Hakkasan Group, has set a closing date of February 16, CultureMap has learned. The restaurant provided the following statement in response to CultureMap’s request for comment: > Over the past years, Yauatcha has served as an acclaimed dining destination in Uptown Houston, providing signature dim sum, Chinese cuisine and pastries – and hosting… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/39pzHfE from WordPress https://ift.tt/2QaEPg8

The company behind downtown Houston’s first food hall has an ambitious slate of projects lined up for 2020. The Company of Nomads, the organization behind food halls Conservatory and Bravery Chef Hall, will open three new venues and relocate a fourth. In a letter to the company’s investors, co-owner Anh Mai outlined the plans he’s developed with his partners, Lian Pham and Shepard Ross, that will give the Company of Nomads a presence in four… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2sx3ySJ from WordPress https://ift.tt/2SG4uyK

Editor’s note: It’s time to recap the top stories on CultureMap from this past week. 1\. Influential Houston comfort food and cocktail restaurant suddenly shutters. The owners didn’t offer an explanation for why they closed Beaver’s, but readers speculated that valet parking undermined the family- friendly atmosphere. 2\. Houston’s 11 best Chinese restaurants for celebrating Jewish Christmas. The big day may have come and gone, but this list also serves as a convenient checklist of… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/358w9Lb from WordPress https://ift.tt/37j8klz

Houston’s professional athletes are a diverse and dynamic bunch, but one thing that unites them is their ability to handle pressure in the spotlight. So it was an uncommon sight to witness top-tier stars in pro football and baseball a little uneasy before the annual Una Notte in Italia. “I guarantee you they’re more nervous about this than going out for a football game,” Jeff Bagwell, baseball Hall of Famer and Houston Astros icon, told… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2shJJPm from WordPress https://ift.tt/2ZtfYqV

The holidays have arrived, which means Instagram feeds full of engagement announcements have, too. While the last few years have been major for weddings — hello, Harry and Meghan, Nick and Priyanka — experts say the momentum will continue well into 2020. For modern couples, whether they identify as classic or the very definition of unconventional, individuality is the name of the game. A growing number of brides and grooms are breaking free from tradition… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/364VmYe from WordPress https://ift.tt/37gsnRG

By any measure, 2019 has been a banner year for Houston restaurants. New concepts from both homegrown talent and out of towners gave passionate diners plenty of places to try. Still, it’s been a turbulent year as both veteran establishments called it quits after long runs and newer establishments vanished as fast as they opened. That phenomenon holds particularly true for Montrose, which both welcomed new establishments ranging from Rosie Cannonball to Sweetgreen but also… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2Qn7VaZ from WordPress https://ift.tt/2EX11ng

For those who need a little recovery from New Year’s Eve partying, or those who decided to skip the evening revelry in favor of a more civilized start to the new year, brunches abound in the Bayou City on New Year’s Day. So, kick off 2020 with one of these options. Just don’t forget the black-eyed peas for good luck. A’bouzy The Champagne destination offers brunch from 11 am to 6 pm, featuring selections from… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/37pvwyL from WordPress https://ift.tt/36dqQvH

Ready to go all out this New Year’s Eve but not quite ready for a trip to New York or Las Vegas? Then Pour Behavior is your spot. The new, 18,000-square-foot Midtown venue has a killer NYE party lined up that you won’t want to miss, with all the excitement of Sin City and glamour of the Big Apple — without ever leaving Houston. This sensational night starts at 8 pm with savory complimentary bites… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/37eB4f5 from WordPress https://ift.tt/3690VVW

An international hospitality company has selected the Hill Country as its first-ever foray into Texas. On December 16, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company, announced it is breaking ground on a new Dolce Hotel and Resort in Fredericksburg early next year. The new 150-room hotel will be owned by the Baxter family, who also owns the adjacent Fiesta Winery, according to a release. The Baxters will retain ownership of the hotel… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2tUB71j from WordPress https://ift.tt/2tUC35P

A little more than a week ago, I was in London for a day and asked a buddy with the British Tourism Office if there were any Christmas markets in the English capital. I’ve visited a few Christmas markets in Europe — in Cologne and Munich and Prague — and they’re a lot of fun, a bunch of wood huts with Christmas tree ornaments, sausages, apple strudel, and holiday souvenirs. I was given the locations… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2Zv7sYn from WordPress https://ift.tt/2MtB17p

On the night of December 31, Houston will be swarming with New Year’s Eve parties. Here’s a rundown of festive gatherings, which include a bubbly hotel party, David Bowie tributes, and tiki fun. Stay safe — and feel free to party hop and plan your night and your ride sharing. Belvedere Uptown Park Courvoisier will present this party, which will have a band on the heated patio and the world-famous DJ Lowdown heating up the… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/37fjGai from WordPress https://ift.tt/2SrbyPM

The end of the year always seems to bring an unexpected restaurant closing or two. This year, it’s Beaver’s; the comfort food restaurant announced it has served its last meal. Owners Jon Deal and Todd Johnson released the following statement about the decision. > Beaver’s played an integral part in building farm-to-table food culture and inspiring a progressive cocktail movement in Houston. It has been our pleasure to serve some of Houston’s best food and… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2rwkAjt from WordPress https://ift.tt/2EUruBZ

The concept of the anti-hero is always something that makes the audience question their own morality. What does it say about us when we’re rooting for Bonnie & Clyde, Walter White, or Tony Soprano to succeed in their misdeeds? Of course, usually anti-heroes have at least shreds of redeeming qualities, something that can’t be said of the protagonist at the center of Uncut Gems. Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) is a jewelry shop owner in New… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2ZsbiBw from WordPress https://ift.tt/2ZpiTAE

Editor’s note: As the year comes to a close, we look back at the 10 biggest real estate stories in Houston for 2019 — including a big tiny home trend, Houston’s hottest neighborhoods, and a midcentury waterfront marvel. 1. New tiny home development in Eastwood is a first for Houston. A cluster of tiny homes on Dumble Street in Greater Eastwood has generated quite the buzz. Refuge, one of Houston’s leading developers, in conjunction with… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/39brHPc from WordPress https://ift.tt/2tTEhT7

On this week’s episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” co-hosts Matt Harris and Felice Sloan join CultureMap food editor Eric Sandler to look back at the year in dining. Their conversation begins with discussions of some of 2019’s best new restaurants, including Squable, 1751 Sea & Bar, and Truth BBQ. They also discuss some of their favorite dishes of the year, such as the crab cakes at Loch Bar and the pancakes on the late night… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2PXVe7l from WordPress https://ift.tt/2MwxO6T

Perhaps no chef in Houston has had a better 2019 than Manabu Horiuchi. Better known as Hori-san, the executive chef of Kata Robata earned chef of the year in the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards, and his restaurant celebrated its 10th anniversary with its reputation firmly established as one of the city’s top dining destinations, including being ranked eighth in CultureMap’s list of Houston’s Top 100 restaurants. Therefore, the time seemed ripe to catch up with the… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2t3aG9h from WordPress https://ift.tt/2Mv7j1M

Houston’s household income jumped in the 2010s, but not as significantly as many other major U.S. metros, a new report shows. Data compiled by apartment website RentCafe and published December 16 shows median household income inside the city of Houston (not the metro area) jumped 23.9 percent during the decade. Houston ranks No. 40 for the rise in household income among the country’s 50 largest cities. Houston’s median household income grew from $42,355 in 2010… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/34XrlIz from WordPress https://ift.tt/2t2Md44

The Christmas gifts have been opened. The dinner has been eaten. (The family arguments have been had.) Now, it’s time to have some fun on this Yuletide weekend. May we suggest these happenings: Thursday, December 26 Spindletop Screening at Bar Boheme Spindletop is a City of Houston-sponsored film production about the first oil gusher in 1901, which launched Texas into the petroleum age. After months of hard work by a record number of people, the… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2sd2aVn from WordPress https://ift.tt/2sdd1i3

As a live action actor, Will Smith has not exactly been lighting it up in recent years. In fact, in the past 10 years, his only true success was 2015’s Focus, and even that got middling reviews. However, as the mostly animated Genie in the new version of Aladdin and now as the lead in the animated Spies in Disguise, the ability to utilize elements not available to him in live action movies has proven… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/37an1aD from WordPress https://ift.tt/2QfzanQ

Renowned American inventor Thomas Edison once said, “There’s a way to do it better, find it.” That timeless adage has been the spark that has ignited countless technological advances over the years and Hylio is no different, applying it to its own mission to disrupt the agricultural technology space. With rampant systemic inefficiencies with current crop spraying solutions negatively affecting farm economics, Hylio developed its AgroDrone, a precision crop spraying drone system that is revolutionizing… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2ZrtY4j from WordPress https://ift.tt/2QkZnBe

Is the Leonard Cohen classic, “Hallelujah,” a Christmas song? That’s what the Arlington, Texas-based a cappella group Pentatonix would have you believe, seeing as their cover of the immortal tune is now creeping into Christmas music playlists. The five-piece that sells a boatload of holiday- themed music and that just performed a sold-out show at the Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land has somehow blasphemed a song with heavenly themes. Yes, it’s a song about… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2EMiK0T from WordPress https://ift.tt/2QhK9gn

There’s no place like Houston for the holidays. In fact, in a festive new report, Houston unwraps the gift of being among the top 25 places in the country for celebrating Christmas. To determine the best places for Christmas celebrations, WalletHub compared the 100 largest U.S. cities based on 33 metrics, such as Christmas events per capita, average price for a ticket to a Christmas party, and shopping centers and outlet malls per capita. The… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2Zk6uxY from WordPress https://ift.tt/2ENBMnl

The debate might rage on about whether or not a new decade begins on January 1, 2020, but one thing is not up for debate at all: all over Houston, there are parties aplenty to ring in the new year. Backstreet Cafe The River Oaks restaurant has a four-course dinner, plus complimentary midnight sparkling cocktail toast, as well as live music by Bob Chadwick. Guests can choose from selections such as Gulf Coast Beignets with… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2s5QhjX from WordPress https://ift.tt/2ER8fta

All across Houston, families with gather to celebrate Christmas by going to church, opening presents under the tree, and dining on a home cooked meal. To them, we say “Merry Christmas!” This list is not for you. Other people, for any number of reasons, will not celebrate a traditional Christmas. Whether travel is too expensive or too inconvenient, whether someone isn’t a Christian, or whether family gatherings just aren’t fun, we propose celebrating Jewish Christmas… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/372uOan from WordPress https://ift.tt/2rny00Y

Editor’s note: Houston’s restaurant scene moves pretty fast. In order to prevent CultureMap readers from missing anything, let’s stop to look around at all the latest news to know. Openings, closings, and coming attractions One of Houston’s most well-regarded French restaurants has served its last foie gras torchon. Energy Corridor favorite Le Mistral closed on Saturday December 21, Houston Food Finder reports. “After 18 years, we had a good run,” chef-owner David Denis tells the… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2SnF6NZ from WordPress https://ift.tt/2sgMIHt

Luisa May Alcott’s Little Women, which was first published in 1868, is an evergreen novel that has had no fewer than eight feature film adaptations and multiple TV adaptations. For those of a certain age, the 1994 version starring Winona Ryder, Kirsten Dunst, Claire Danes, and Christian Bale is the ultimate version, one with which the new version written and directed by Greta Gerwig will have to compete. As always, the film tells the story… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2ELAN7j from WordPress https://ift.tt/393EWRT

Memorial Park​ is a Houston jewel that keeps getting brighter and brighter — and Thomas Claffy isn’t the only one who thinks so. The Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty agent is a native Texan who’s called Houston home for most of his life, living only a mile from the park while helping people buy and sell real estate all over the city. “You always hear ‘location, location, location’ when it comes to real estate, but… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2sSXNib from WordPress https://ift.tt/3713Wra

Houston is a humid subtropical climate — the majority of the year brings hot and sticky weather. Local entrepreneur Kristina Haag found herself struggling to find traditional clothing that is comfortable in the Texas heat, so she created it herself. “With Cotidie, it is all about the functionality of the clothing,” says Haag, founder of the clothing line Cotidie. “It is more traditional items, but the use of technical fabrics is our differentiating factor.” The… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/34QFd7x from WordPress https://ift.tt/2EOeuOg

Three of Houston’s hottest trends will combine at a new business that’s opening in the spring. Amsterdam Co., a coffee shop and CBD dispensary, will open in The Heights, owners Drew Bailey and Michael Migl tell CultureMap. Bailey, a 15-year restaurant industry veteran, and Migl, a concert promoter and marketer, originally announced plans to open in the East End. When that initial deal fell through, they pivoted to a house at the corner of W…. from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2EQw1oU from WordPress https://ift.tt/2ESVm1v

The last year of the decade proved a transitional year for Houston theater, with lots of happy hellos, dramatic moves, and a few sad goodbyes. Stages Repertory Theatre began a long farewell to its Allen Parkway building as they prepared to move to the new Gordy Campus, across the street. Rob Melrose settled into his new artistic directorship at the Alley Theatre. Theatre Under the Stars closed out its stellar 50th season to dance headlong… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/36Vbk7w from WordPress https://ift.tt/2PRxPof

Last week, as a graduation gift (Texas A&M) and my continuing effort to enrich his musical taste at the risk of nerding him out, I took my son to Liverpool, England. It was his first trip to The Beatles’ birthplace and my too many visits. We took the 10 am train from London’s Euston train station, which got us to Liverpool’s Lime Street station in time to rush to Albert Dock and catch the 1… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2PNQwsS from WordPress https://ift.tt/2tJ8BzD

Million-dollar home sales are on the rise across Houston, according to a new report from Texas Realtors. The number of luxury homes — those priced at $1 million or higher — sold in the Houston metro area increased 3.3 percent in the past year, to 1,715 homes sold. It’s the second highest number of sales among the metros studied in the report, which looked at Texas data from November 2018 through October 2019. Those homes… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/398U2FG from WordPress https://ift.tt/2ZiG7IF

Editor’s note: It’s time to recap the top stories on CultureMap from this past week. 1\. These are Houston’s 12 best new restaurants of 2019. Rosie Cannonball, Squable, and MAD lead our picks for this year’s best new restaurants. 2\. Nationally acclaimed ice cream shop now serving scoops in The Heights. Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams won’t celebrate its grand opening until next month, but the shop is already serving scoops. 3\. Here are the top… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/35NxHeK from WordPress https://ift.tt/36VxaHZ

The process of adapting a Broadway musical to the big screen can be a long and arduous one, even for classics of the genre. It took 32 years to make Les Miserables, 28 years to make Sweeney Todd, and 27 years to make Chicago. So it’s no surprise that Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats is just now being made into a movie 38 years after it launched in London and 37 years after its Broadway debut…. from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/35JgRO5 from WordPress https://ift.tt/2ZczdoA

Name: Flynn, as in Game of Thrones actor, Jerome Flynn. (Speaking of actors, we can’t help but notice that Fynn bears a striking resemblance to actor William H. Macy.) Birthdate: December 4, 2013 Ethnicity: Flynn is a tri-color German shepherd and hound mix. He clearly comes from strong stock: All reports are that Flynn came to Citizens for Animal Protection having survived canine distemper as a puppy. (Overcoming distemper without treatment is rare; CAP staff… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2Z8VeVf from WordPress https://ift.tt/2EFnqFS

In 2019, no one has to let a food craving go unsatisfied. After all, a host of delivery apps exist to provide potables and comestibles at all hours of the day and night. Favor, the delivery service owned by Texas grocer H-E-B, sent along some of this year’s most popular deliveries. Not surprisingly, they show that Houstonians like to have food delivered that travels well such as chicken tenders, tacos, and burgers, but chips and… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/2tE4G7i from WordPress https://ift.tt/2Q7iaA4

Marcus Sloan and Shannon Hall have not one, but two reasons to celebrate this holiday season. Their eclectic luxury boutique, Sloan/Hall, commemorates 25 years in business and a third location in the newly transformed C.Baldwin hotel located in downtown Houston. “We can’t think of a better way to celebrate 25 years in business than by opening our third outlet in a hotel that honors a visionary woman who was instrumental in the early development of… from News Feed – CultureMap Houston https://ift.tt/371Ti3D from WordPress https://ift.tt/2EQQ9aR