This Week's Hot Headlines

Where to eat, J.J. Watt's mystery lady and the joys of summer camp lead the week's top stories

Editor’s note: Another week has come and gone so we’ve rounded up the most popular stories on CultureMap from the last week:

1. Where to Eat Right Now: 10 distinctive new restaurants that are definitely worth a try in June. As part of CultureMap's monthly roundup of the latest and greatest eateries around the city, food editor Eric Sandler profiles 10 can't-miss spots, including upscale butcher shop and steakhouse B&B Butchers and Karbach Brewing Co.'s new restaurant.

2. Love Match or Just Good Friends? J.J. Watt spotted in Paris with beautiful blonde tennis star. In recent weeks, Houston Texans superstar defensive end J.J. Watt has been seen a number of times with Danish tennis pro Caroline Wozniacki, leading some to speculate about a possible romance between the two.

3. After move to $10.5 million River Oaks mansion, Joel Osteen offers Tanglewood land for $1.1 million. Several years after this piece on mega-church pastor Joel Osteen and his move to a multi-million dollar River Oaks mansion first appeared, it remains an extremely popular story.

4. Houston's massive flood and jinxed Montrose location lead the week's top stories. CultureMap recaps the most popular stories of the each week, and last week's edition, which included the torrential downpour and subsequent flooding and the closure of a Montrose restaurant in a seemingly unlucky location scored high.

5. Happy Summer Camper: Inside the Texas camp culture that changed my life. Five years ago, CultureMap staffer Meredith Riddle-Chastang extolled the virtues of summer camp in hopes that the long-time tradition is not lost on today's children living in a digital age — and the story resurfaced just as the season begins.

6. Drink & eat on the cheap: Hot new happy hours deals get the summer rolling. If you're looking for the best happy hour deals around town, contributor Marcy de Luna has you covered with eight of the city's top spots, whether you need an after-work cocktail or a delectable bar snack.

Caroline Wozniacki and J.J. Watt were first spotted together at the NCAA basketball finals in Indianapolis last month.

JJ Watt and Caroline Wozniacki at NCAA men's basketball finals

Twitter @NLF

Caroline Wozniacki and J.J. Watt were first spotted together at the NCAA basketball finals in Indianapolis last month.

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This Week's Hot Headlines

Historic Houston hotel unveils major makeover and more top stories

Historic Houston hotel glows after top to bottom renovations

Sam Houston Hotel is refreshed and ready for guests.

Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Houston news of the week, featuring a downtown hotel's major glow-up and a toast to our Tastemaker Awards nominees. Read on for more of the week's top stories, then find the best things to do this weekend right here.

1. Historic Houston hotel glows after top to bottom renovations. As downtown Houston street construction smothers locals ahead of the FIFA World Cup, a Lamar High School alum has quietly restored a Federalist-style landmark hotel to its former glory.

2. Houston's 10 best bars of 2026 power a diverse drinking scene. It’s been a brilliant year for Houston’s bar scene, and the 10 contenders for the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards Bar of the Year category are all heavyweights in their own right.

3. The 11 best restaurants of 2026 showcase Houston's world-class status. The time has come for our final categories leading up to the annual Tastemaker Awards. Meet the 11 nominees for Restaurant of the Year.

Credence food spread Credence is a ranch-inspired live fire restaurant. Courtesy of Credence

4. Texas sees 5th highest surge in gas prices in the U.S. since 2025. Houston residents who are feeling the sting at the gas pump aren't alone: Residents all around Texas are seeing soaring prices for regular and diesel fuel in 2026.

5. Texas' 2 national parks boast best scenery in the U.S., per report. Guadalupe Mountains National Park and Big Bend National Park out in far west Texas offer the best views of the American wilderness in 2026, according to a new national list.