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.

Meredith Riddle-Chastang's recollection of the joys of summer camp has resurfaced as a top story.

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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.