When Ariyanna McGee went in for her 20-week anatomy scan, she expected a routine glimpse of her baby. Instead, doctors found excess amniotic fluid building up around her baby, Genesis Gianna. In the weeks that followed, Ariyanna had to be hospitalized multiple times during her pregnancy because of her dangerously high blood pressure. At seven months, a 3-D ultrasound gave Ariyanna and her partner, Oscar Pineda, their first clear look at Genesis’ face and revealed a cleft lip. Doctors suspec...| CultureMap Houston
A California-based, fast casual Mexican restaurant is returning to the Houston market. Qdoba Mexican Eats will open a location in Humble on October 13. Similar to restaurants such as Chipotle or Freebirds, Qdoba serves burritos, bowls, quesadillas, salads, and more. Protein options include brisket birria, grilled chicken, grilled steak, pork carnitas, and vegetarian. Unlike its competitors, guacamole isn’t extra at Qdoba. Rather, the option to add both guac and queso is included in the pric...| CultureMap Houston
Tucked into a tree-lined bend of Memorial Drive is a home that really needs to be seen to be believed. The exquisite details and luxury living available at 11095 Memorial Drive make it a unique listing in Houston’s real estate scene. It’s on the market for $8.8 million and is listed by Susan Magee and Kellie Geitner of Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty. With timeless craftsmanship and no detail spared, this is a home that turns opulence into an oasis. The French Mediterranean s...| CultureMap Houston
Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Houston news of the week, which is chock-full of new restaurants. Plus, where to get a taste of cozy fall dishes and drinks. Get the details on our most popular stories below, then head to our event planner for more weekend fun. 1. Houston's mad scientist chef resurrects his modern restaurant in Kemah. Houston chef David Skinner is switching things up at his Kemah complex. The chef is bringing back Eculent, his modernist tasting menu concept ...| CultureMap Houston
Cluttercore is the newest home aesthetic craze taking over social media feeds far and wide. For diehard minimalists, the act of discarding an object is euphoric. On the other hand, if thoughtfully justifying the inclusion of an item to the “keep” pile satiates the senses, Cluttercore might be for you. This design concept takes the ever popular Maximalism and turns it up a notch — but what exactly is it? According toBetter Homes & Gardens — yes, even they’re on board — "Cluttercore...| CultureMap Houston
For around 30 years, Daniel Day-Lewis was considered by many to be one of the best working actors, getting nominated for six Best Actor Oscars and winning three of them. Following his sixth nomination in 2018 for Phantom Thread, he announced his retirement at the relatively young age of 61. But now, thanks to his son, he’s gracing the screen yet again in Anemone. The film, directed by Daniel’s son Ronan and written by both the father and son, finds Daniel playing a hermit named Ray, who l...| CultureMap Houston
A previously mail order-only Houston barbecue company will soon open its first brick-and-mortar restaurant. Truboy BBQ will celebrate its grand opening on Thursday, October 9. Located in Missouri City at 8035 Hwy 6, the fast casual restaurant serves Truboy’s menu of halal brisket and chicken. Diners have the options of sliced brisket, chopped brisket, or pulled chicken. Unlike a traditional barbecue restaurant, Truboy isn’t serving plates. Instead, customers may choose to have their smoke...| CultureMap Houston
October is one of the best months to plan a weekend escape from Houston, and League City makes a perfect destination. Just a short drive southeast, this waterside community combines small-town charm, big seasonal events, and crisp Gulf Coast breezes that make you want to linger outdoors. Whether you’re in the mood for lively festivals, historic haunts, or serene sunsets on the water, League City welcomes you with Southern hospitality and a jam-packed fall calendar. Festival fun for every tr...| CultureMap Houston
Twice a year, the quiet town of Round Top, population just shy of 100, transforms into a mecca for design lovers. More than 100,000 treasure hunters, including tastemakers from all over the country, make the pilgrimage to the Round Top Antiques Fair to scour everything from heirloom-quality antiques to quirky one-of-a-kind finds. What began back in 1968 with a handful of dealers showcasing American antiques in one barn has grown into a miles-long stretch of tents, barns, and fields filled wit...| CultureMap Houston
The Woodlands has ranked as the 48th most highly sought-after U.S. suburb of 2025, according to a new national survey by moving services provider MoveBuddha. MoveBuddha's experts analyzed Zillow Home Value Index data and mover search data from August 1, 2024, to September 11, 2025, for 100 of the largest U.S. metro areas. The study then determined the most desirable suburb for each metro by analyzing which had the highest inbound-to-outbound move ratio. Cities that qualified as "suburbs" were...| CultureMap Houston
For almost 25 years, Dwayne Johnson (aka The Rock) has tried to make himself into a movie star, with mixed results. While his leading-man roles did okay, his biggest successes have been as part of franchises like Fast & Furious, Jumanji, and Moana,none of which were entirely on his broad shoulders. Having possibly exhausted his attempts at appealing to broad audiences, he’s finally decided to test out his dramatic acting abilities in The Smashing Machine. Johnson plays Mark Kerr, a mixed ma...| CultureMap Houston
The United States is classically known as a "melting pot" of culture, and Texas' blossoming diversity has earned it a top spot on WalletHub's just-released list of the most diverse states in America. Texas ranked No. 2 nationwide for another year in a row, still living in the shadow of California, which claimed the No. 1 spot. WalletHub's 2025 "Most & Least Diverse States in America" study ranked each state based on six different types of diversity, including socioeconomic, cultural, economic...| CultureMap Houston
Uptown Park’s European-inspired hotel has resumed tea service. The Hotel Granduca, is now serving tea every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 12-2 pm. Afternoon tea had been a staple of Granduca's Alba Ristorante, which closed when the hotel underwent renovations last year. Chef Maurizio Ferrarese has updated the offering for the hotel, which reopened in March. Instead of serving tea at Remi, the hotel's restaurant, tea is offered in the Alba Tea Room that's near the restaurant. “We offer...| CultureMap Houston
As the nights grow longer, we have more hours for theater. What a harvest of shows October brings. We enter spooky season with grave diggers, an immersive sci-fi western, drunk vampires, and probably the scariest of all, small town city council meetings and middle school spelling bees. For those avoiding the chills, the month also brings high-flying insects, spiritual debates, and intergenerational drama and trauma. Plus, a season of sublime opera opens from a Houston arts institution most re...| CultureMap Houston
Houston suburb Friendswood is maximizing its popularity on WalletHub's 2025 list of the best small cities in America, with several more earning spots on the list. The annual survey compared more than 1,300 U.S. cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000 residents based on 45 livability metrics categorized into five key dimensions: Affordability, economic health, education and health, quality of life, and overall safety. Cities were grouped by percentile, where the 99th percentile repr...| CultureMap Houston
Let’s face it – it’s all about Taylor Swift this weekend. Her new album The Life of a Showgirl will drop this Friday and there will be many celebrations going on in the city, from listening parties at Sig’s Lagoon, Pizaro's Pizza Napoletana and Rooftop Cinema Club Uptown to weekend-long release parties at such movie houses as Alamo Drafthouse LaCenterra and River Oaks Theatre. Of course, lots of other things are popping off this weekend, from the Original Greek Festival to the Souther...| CultureMap Houston
One of Texas’s most renowned taquera is popping up in Houston this weekend. Ana Liz Pulido, chef-owner of Ana Liz Taqueria in Mission, TX, will be serving lunch at Third Place, the coffee shop and cafe located inside Heights restaurant Jūn. Pulido has become one of the state’s most acclaimed taco masters. She won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Texas in 2024 and ranked no. 1 on Texas Monthly taco editor José Ralat’s 2024 list of the state’s 50 best tacos. Evelyn Garcia, one of ...| CultureMap Houston
While the runways in New York, Milan, and Paris are still aglow after the Spring 2026 shows, Houston has its own buzzy lineup this fall. Boutiques and designers are rolling out pop-ups, debut collections, and fashion events. From trunk shows and exclusive in-store appearances to holiday-ready launches, the city’s top destinations are turning shopping into a can’t-miss experience. Whether looking for a custom suit, statement jewelry, or a limited-edition handbag, these are the spots making...| CultureMap Houston
October is full of vibrant events happening all over Texas. From popular music festivals like Austin City Limits Music Festival and the Texas Jazz Festival in Corpus Christi, to new museum exhibitions in Arlington and San Antonio, there is a wide variety of events to check out this month. Houston travelers can check out the Día de los Muertos festivities in San Antonio, explore dozens of Hill Country wineries with a Texas Wine Month passport, or stay local with an autumn-themed spa day at a ...| CultureMap Houston
Thinking about making the move to Cypress Green? Located in the heart of Hockley, just northwest of Houston, Cypress Green is a thoughtfully designed master-planned community where nature, comfort, and connection come together. With charming homes, top-tier amenities, and a location that keeps you close to both city convenience and countryside calm, it’s easy to see why so many are choosing to call Cypress Green home. Whether you're a first-time buyer or looking for your forever space, we...| CultureMap Houston
The River Oaks Shopping Center will soon be home to a new restaurant specializing in contemporary Chinese cuisine. Maison Chinoise will open this winter. Located at 1958 West Gray, Maison Chinoise is part of the Dallas-based Lombardi Family Concepts that’s known in Houston for Toulouse Cafe and Bar, its French restaurant in River Oaks District, and Lombardi Cucina Italiana in Uptown Park. “This wonderfully diverse city has embraced our family’s concepts, and we’re thrilled to introduc...| CultureMap Houston
The Museum District recently welcomed a new restaurant devoted to mini burgers, chicken tenders, and milkshakes. Slip Sliders is now open for lunch and dinner daily. Located in the Parc Binz II building at at 1802 Binz St, Slip Sliders is owned by Houston restaurant veteran Rasheed Refaey, whose resume includes Houston’s, Pappasito’s, Le Colonial, and Eddie V’s. With only 22 seats inside (outdoor seating is coming soon), Slip Sliders could appeal to families looking for a quick bite eit...| CultureMap Houston
The Hilton Westchase (9999 Westheimer) is undergoing a significant redevelopment designed to appeal to business travelers, particularly those in the oil and gas sector visiting the companies in the nearby Energy Corridor. “We really wanted to focus on — and celebrate — those travelers,” said Craig Allen Smith, principal of The Woodlands-based design firm Portfolio, who is handling the project. His partner, Portfolio creative director Amy Bentzen Smith, added, "The industry itself is p...| CultureMap Houston
If you’ve been searching for a running buddy who will never bail on a game of fetch, meet Snow, a spirited 2-year-old Lab mix waiting at the Houston SPCA for her forever family. At just 38 pounds, this lean, athletic girl is all about motion, joy, and tennis balls. Snow is ready to hit the ground running — literally.Photo courtesy of Houston SPCA “Do you like to run? Me too!” her bio declares. “We may be a perfect ‘set, match.’” One look at her eager eyes and wagging tail, and...| CultureMap Houston
The owners of Toca Madera are bringing an Italian steakhouse to the Galleria area’s newest mixed-use development. Sparrow Italia is coming to Houston. The new restaurant will join The Henry, a neighborhood restaurant from Flower Child owners Fox Restaurant Concepts, at Central Park Post Oak, a 17-acre mixed-use development located at 2000 Post Oak Blvd. The approximately 6,700-square-foot steakhouse will include a main dining room, a bar area, an outdoor patio, and a private dining room. As...| CultureMap Houston
Houstonians are about to welcome a brand-new cultural happening with a charitable twist: the very first Houston Art Weeks, running October 10-19. Created by the StellaNova Foundation, the city’s newest arts-meets-philanthropy event is styled after crowd-pleasers like the Holiday Shopping Card and Houston Restaurant Weeks. The initiative connects locals directly to Houston-based artists, galleries, and studios, encouraging them to connect with the artisans while shopping for a cause. A porti...| CultureMap Houston
Here's news that'll make a flight delay at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport a bit more palatable: IAH arrives at No. 12 in a new ranking of the country’s best airports for food and beverage options. The 2025 study by commercial furniture manufacturer Restaurant Furniture relied on Google reviews of food and beverage establishments at the busiest U.S. airports to come up with its list. The study included only those restaurants and bars with at least 20 Google reviews. IAH earne...| CultureMap Houston
After a valiant search, the folks at H-E-B have completed their Quest for Texas Best. The annual competition considers products from small businesses around the state with the hopes of settling on a few to be sold in H-E-B stores. A Houston company, My Drink Bomb, placed third. Four Houston companies were named finalists, but only My Drink Bomb secured one of the cash prizes. There were five winners overall, because the competition resulted in a grand prize and two companies tied for third. A...| CultureMap Houston
One of America’s most popular cooking competition TV shows is bringing a live version to Houston. MasterChef All-Stars Live! comes to Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land on Friday, October 17. Inspired by the Gordon Ramsay-lead TV show, MasterChef All-Stars is a stage show that brings together former MasterChef contestants for an evening of cooking competitions. Audience members are called up to participate as sous chefs, including assisting the competitors with the show’s signature Myst...| CultureMap Houston
Houston restaurant group Goode Company is bringing back its Goode Bird fried chicken concept. Now a food truck, the restaurant will make its debut on Thursday, October 16 at Goode Co. Armadillo Palace.| CultureMap Houston
Five Houston universities have been named among U.S. News and World Report's just-released list of best universities in the nation for 2026, with Rice University landing on top in Texas.| CultureMap Houston
The essential source for daily restaurant and nightlife news and the best restaurants, bars, food, drinks and nightclubs in Dallas.| CultureMap Houston
Hope springs eternal, especially in the world of Houston restaurants. Despite a recent string of high-profile closures, entrepreneurs continue to see opportunities to open a diner’s new favorite restaurant.| CultureMap Houston
An innovative take on the co-working space is coming to Houston. Switchyards will open its first location in the Bayou City on Monday, September 29.| CultureMap Houston
Fall is right on the doorstep, which means it's time to break out all the jewel tones and autumnal decor kept hidden away until the first cool breeze hits. Houston homeowners who need a little design inspiration this year should embrace their individuality and take some chances on bold colors, patterns, and textures, according to Houzz's 2025 fall design trends report.| CultureMap Houston
lights out| CultureMap Houston
How can you combine the thrill of physical activity with the joy of video gaming away from the glare of Houston’s angry sun? The answer is Activate, an immersive live-action group gaming experience that will get the blood pumping.| CultureMap Houston
Houston is leveling up its gaming scene with the debut of a new high-tech immersive experience. Called Activate, the indoor venue combines technology and physical activity in 75-minute gaming sessions, which can be played in teams up to five people.| CultureMap Houston
Virtual reality gaming company Sandbox VR will be opening its first Houston location in 2026, combining the community and physical aspects of laser tag with the immersive environment of modern virtual reality video gaming. The location will open at 797 Sorella Court in CityCentre early next year.| CultureMap Houston
Apartment construction has been booming in Houston the last 40 years, fueling a surge in the number of self-storage facilities across the city, too.| CultureMap Houston
Houston Rockets Sold| CultureMap Houston
Houston billionaire and Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta has been nominated to serve as the United States ambassador to Italy, according to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.| CultureMap Houston
Record-breaking evening| CultureMap Houston
The essential source for daily news on politics, crime, health, transportation, and urban Houston life.| CultureMap Houston
Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Houston news of the week, beginning with the richest Houstonians of them all. Plus, a local billionaire is selling his superyacht, and a fancy farm hits the market for almost $30 million. Get the details on our most popular stories below, then plan your weekend via this guide.| CultureMap Houston
Industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails will embark on their first world tour in three years, the Peel It Back Tour 2025, which will include a stop at the Toyota Center in Houston on Friday, September 12.| CultureMap Houston
Day for Night 2017| CultureMap Houston
The latest on the Houston arts and entertainment scene, including theater, movies, opera, music, television, the performing and visual arts.| CultureMap Houston
Nearly 40 years down the spiral, Rock And Roll Hall of Fame inductees Nine Inch Nails returned to Houston and the Toyota Center on Friday, September 12. NIN was last in Houston in December 2017, where they played a rainy, abbreviated set at the final Day For Night festival at the future POST Houston complex on a stage festooned with strands of VHS tape and stinging coastal rain. The Bayou City had been due for a catharsis.| CultureMap Houston
The essential source for daily home and design news, tips, expert advice, profiles of top designers, and the best furniture and home stores in Houston.| CultureMap Houston
Tucked away in an adorable collective of jewel box boutique spaces for local independent businesses sits Hunt & Bloom. This blink-and-you’ll-miss-it shop is a fantastical emporium of all things kitsch. In just under three years, proprietor Will Hunt Lewis, with his encyclopedic knowledge of all things interiors, has made himself indispensable to Houston’s top designers — the designer’s designer, if you will.| CultureMap Houston
Keep up with the latest fashion news and information with CultureMap's coverage of high fashion and couture, including Houston's local fashion design scene.| CultureMap Houston
September is the perfect time to hit the reset button. Summer sun, travel, and long days can leave both the body and mind in need of a bit of recovery. Houston's wellness spots are stepping up with fresh ways to recharge.| CultureMap Houston
According to several recent studies, get ready for a shocker, Houston has really bad traffic.| CultureMap Houston
Few things are more frustrating for Houston drivers than sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic. You're late, you're stuck, and you're wasting time and gas — every single day. It's no surprise that the Bayou City has ranked inside the top 10 in a new list of cities with the worst traffic.| CultureMap Houston
The essential source for daily society news, profiles of city leaders and influentials, and photos of the best charitable events in Dallas.| CultureMap Houston
Elevated Connections| CultureMap Houston
Texas, WalletHub thinks we have a major equality problem. The Lone Star State has ranked at the bottom of the personal finance website's new nationwide analysis of gender equality.| CultureMap Houston
Two University of Houston archaeologists have made scientific history with the discovery of a Mayan king's tomb in Belize.| CultureMap Houston
Houston-based pace technology company Intuitive Machines has landed a $30 million NASA contract for the initial phase of developing a rover for U.S. astronauts to traverse the moon’s surface.| CultureMap Houston
The world’s richest people are wealthier now than they've ever been, and more billionaires have made it onto the 2025 World's Billionaires List than ever before, according to Forbes. This year, 18 Houston-based billionaires are among the richest people in the world, with hospitality honcho Tilman Fertitta leading as the richest Houstonian.| CultureMap Houston
Sure, plenty of Houston millionaires own swanky homes in neighborhoods like River Oaks and Tanglewood. But in recent years, Houston has seen a huge spike in the number of millionaires opting to rent rather than own a place to live.| CultureMap Houston
Despite growing sentiments that the U.S. is on a path towards a recession, Texas is pulling a lot of weight as one of the best state economies in the nation, according to a new annual report from WalletHub.| CultureMap Houston
Inflation has certainly rattled the national economy, but some cities are feeling that sting harder than others — especially Houston.| CultureMap Houston
By any measure, the Bludorn team has gotten off to a strong start in Houston, and they’re not planning to slow down any time soon. Chef Aaron Bludorn, his wife Victoria Pappas Bludorn, and partner/general manager Cherif Mbodji have claimed the former Jonathan’s the Rub space (9061 Gaylord Dr.) for their third restaurant.| CultureMap Houston
be prepared to stop| CultureMap Houston
Rice University has earned yet another accolade worth hooting about.| CultureMap Houston
Labor days| CultureMap Houston
If you’re a workday commuter in the Houston metro area, you may be among the many motorists who’ve cursed the snarled traffic on I-610/West Loop Freeway. This route routinely takes the crown as the most clogged roadway in Texas.| CultureMap Houston
In a surprising turn of events, it's not Houston proper that's earning recognition for its job market, but The Woodlands. The north Houston suburb boasts the No. 24 best job market in the nation, according to a new report by SmartAsset.| CultureMap Houston
Texas is being ruled out as one of the top states to live in the country, according to a new livability study by WalletHub. The Lone Star State ranked No. 36 out of all 50 states.| CultureMap Houston
On this week’s episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” Andrew Smith joins CultureMap food editor Eric Sandler to discuss Savory Fund. The venture capital firm has big plans for Houston.| CultureMap Houston
Grammy award-winning rap artist Megan Thee Stallion is hitting the road this summer with the “Hot Girl Summer Tour,” a tour across the U.S. and Europe that will cover 31 cities including three in Texas as follows:| CultureMap Houston
Houston's post-Rodeo restaurant opening boom is in full effect. Following closely behind the recent debuts of Prime 131 and Bar Bludorn comes another eagerly anticipated new eatery from a veteran of Houston’s hospitality scene.| CultureMap Houston
By any measure, Aaron Bludorn, his wife Victoria Pappas Bludorn, and their business partner Cherif Mbodji have taken Houston by storm with their lively fine dining restaurant Bludorn and Navy Blue, its seafood-oriented sister concept in Rice Village. After a year of planning, the trio are ready to do it again.| CultureMap Houston
There are so many great places to live in Houston that it helps to have an expert on your side. The Neighborhood Guide presented by Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty gives you insider access from the agents who live and work there, providing in-the-know info about your possible new community. ---| CultureMap Houston
Maison Robert Revealed| CultureMap Houston
introducing hotel saint augustine| CultureMap Houston
Longtime U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, who helped lead federal efforts to protect women from domestic violence and recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday, has died. She was 74.| CultureMap Houston