Editor's note: It's time to catch up on the top Houston news of the week, from a record-breaking grand champion sale to a beloved restaurant's impending closure. Plus, where to have brunch on Easter 2026. Read on for our most popular stories, then visit this guide for more weekend fun.

1. Houston billionaire bids record-breaking $1 million for rodeo's champion lamb. A Houston billionaire paid tribute to his daughter with a record-breaking bid at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Oil and gas entrepreneur Jeffery Hildebrand and his family paid $1 million for this year’s Grand Champion Market Lamb.

2. Southwestern-inspired Houston restaurant will close after 28 years. A restaurant that has served the neighborhoods near Rice University for almost 30 years will soon shutter. The Raven Grill announced it will close on Sunday, March 29.

3. Houston's 10 best bartenders of 2026 treat strangers like regulars. While all of the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards nominees for Bartender of the Year have skills in craft cocktails, it’s their ability to build relationships with their customers that truly stands out. That’s why our panel of expert judges selected them as the best of the best.

Cheers to the Bartender of the Year nominees. Courtesy of Bandista

4. DIY paradise VEVOR opens first global flagship store in Houston. The popular online hub for tools and equipment has opened its first-ever global flagship store right here in Houston.

5. Running list of Houston restaurants serving decadent Easter brunches. Houston restaurants have embraced the Easter brunch trend wholeheartedly, with epic feasts in a range of cuisines and price points.