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Top stories of the week: Chris Rock's unfunny movie, Lynn Wyatt's opera weekendand Starbucks' free offer

We ask, "Why can't Chris Rock make a funny movie?"
CultureMap readers loved Starbucks' offer of free coffee on Tax Day
Photo by DelewareOnline
Lynn Wyatt, center, was the center or attention at the Houston Grand Opera Ball.Hubby Oscar, left, and Price Talal of Jordan, right.
Photo by Gary Fountain

Readers are flocking to CultureMap in record numbers — we had our best week ever last week — for an eclectic mix of stories. Postings with pop culture themes dominated the top of the list, but other topics caught your eye — a look at the newly renovated Julia Ideson library, a big proposed rate increase in water bills for apartment renters, our green living series (my personal favorite: the fabric softener diet ), an events calender full of interesting things going on in town, and Janet Gurwitch's interview with Texas Children's Hospital CEO Mark Wallace — the first in a monthly series where she quizzes business leaders on their secrets of success.

Top stories for week of April 10-17:

1. Why can't Chris Rock make a funny movie?

2. Jamie Oliver's worst nightmare: Tasting the KFC Double Down

3. Elin Woods drops her last name for a Swedish manse?

4. Starbucks brings the green to Tax Day and it's free coffee for you

5. Oh my god, get over Tiger Woods swearing at the Masters

Editor's Picks:

1. Fireworks on all levels made the opera ball one for the record books — Houston's premier society scribe Shelby Hodge had the scoop on the Houston Grand Opera "Yellow Rose of Texas" Ball honoring Lynn Wyatt. The big news: Lynn's husband, Oscar, gave $1 million to the opera in her honor.

2. A liberal crashes the Tea Party (and finds some surprises) — CultureMapper writer Sarah Rufca went to the tea party rally at Discovery Green and was surprised to discover some speakers had ideas that seem downright sensible.

3. Greg Scheinman's Profile comes to CultureMap — CultureMap is proud to be the online home for the PBS/Channel 8 series that profiles Houston's top leaders in business, philanthropy, sports, business and the arts. Watch the second season's first episode featuring Sam Gainer, senior partner of Gainer Donnelly & Desroches, one of Houston's largest independent accounting firms. And catch all the episodes of the first season on CultureMap.

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This Week's Hot Headlines

Austin restaurant chain bowls over River Oaks and more popular stories

Photo by Becca Wright

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Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Houston news of the week, including restaurant openings and a major acquisition for MFAH. Plus, where to celebrate New Year's Eve in Houston. Catch up on our most popular stories below, then visit this guide to the best Christmas weekend events.

1. Meet the men behind River Oaks' new destination for bowls and broth. On this episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” Honest Mary’s founder Nelson Monteith and COO Andrew Wiseheart joined CultureMap editor Eric Sandler to discuss the Austin-based restaurant that just opened its first Houston location in the River Oaks Shopping Center.

2. Houston's only Michelin-recognized Tex-Mex restaurant now open in Bellaire. It didn’t take Sambrooks Hospitality Group long to turn Mandito’s into Candente. First announced in September, the restaurant’s second location officially opened December 22.

3. 25 Houston restaurants celebrating New Year's Eve with caviar, bubbles, and more. Houston restaurants are ringing in the new year with indulgent menus featuring caviar, lobster, and steak, along with plenty of bubbly.

4. Houston museum acquires historic Masonic lodge property for new greenspace. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston has acquired a prime parcel to expand its campus in the Museum District.

Holland Lodge masonic building The building at 4911 will be torn down for the new greenspace. Holland Lodge No. 1, A.F. & A.M./Facebook

5. Houston's richest residents, best suburbs, and more top city news in 2025. As 2025 comes to a close, we're looking back at the stories that defined Houston this year. These are the City Life stories that captured Houston's attention.