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Her first night out: Gabrielle Giffords leaves the confines of TIRR for a Sundaysupper at Grotto

Gabrielle Giffords and Mark Kelly in a pre-shooting photo.
Recovering congresswoman Garbrielle Giffords dined out with friends at Grotto onSunday.

Diners at Grotto on Westheimer at Loop 610 on Sunday night knew something out of the ordinary was afoot — security men were all over the place. Only those paying close attention noticed the woman in the wheelchair being escorted into the private wine room. It was Gabrielle Giffords.

In what was her first true public outing since arriving at TIRR Memorial Hermann in late January, the recovering congresswoman had a quiet dinner with husband Mark Kelly and their close friends Paige and Tilman Fertitta.

The space shuttle launch that had been set for last Friday was to have been her first public venture, but the takeoff was canceled for that day and then delayed further. The only glimpse (albeit grainy, blurry and from a distance) of Giffords afforded to the public since the shooting in Tucson on Jan. 8 occurred last week as she boarded a private jet at Ellington Airport for the trip to Florida.

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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.