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    Justin and Kate on H-town

    Kate Upton and Justin Verlander reveal their 5 favorite Houston haunts

    Holly Beretto
    Jun 28, 2019 | 1:00 pm
    Houston Astros Team Up 4 Kids and K9s 2019 Justin Verlander and Kate Upton
    Verlander and Upton share their favorite places to visit in Houston in the New York Times.
    Photo by Daniel Ortiz

    Houston once again is in the national media spotlight. This time, it's courtesy of Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander and his ultra-glam, supermodel wife, Kate Upton, who dish to the New York Times on their five places to visit in the Bayou City. While neither was born in Texas, they got here as quickly as they could, as the saying goes, and they say they've become immersed in the energy of their new hometown.

    With the addition of their baby, Genevieve, and Verlander inking a deal with the Astros to stick around until 2021, Upton and Verlander definitely consider themselves Houstonians. Having the dynamic duo sing the city's praises should increase that intense local pride and serve as a reminder to all that Houston is totally celeb-worthy.

    So, where do Verlander and Upton like to hang out? Here are some of their favorite spots they share with the Times, broken down by neighborhood.

    Downtown
    No surprise that Minute Maid Park made the couple's list of favorite places in Houston. It is, after all, a home away from home for them. Verlander touted the enthusiasm of fans when the team won the 2017 World Series. "Feeling that atmosphere in the ballpark was amazing," he says. Meanwhile, Upton talked about how she and Verlander's brother have a superstition they follow. "We eat popcorn to get hits."

    EaDo
    Kate Upton — who needs no introduction, as she's often called one of the world's most beautiful women — does a serious name drop of her own when she shares her love of Nancy's Hustle (which won Restaurant of the Year at this year's Tastemaker Awards). "My friend Bailey McCarthy introduced me to it, and it is the best burger I have ever had," she tells the Times. "They use an English muffin instead of a bun, and it really just enhances the flavors."

    There was a bit of bickering between the couple when Upton told Verlander, a self-professed burger lover, about the dish. When she insisted they stop in after a game, though, his skepticism vanished. "..[It] really is to die for," he said. Upton clarifies. "[He] said the burger was in the top three [that he'd eaten]." Verlander, clearly sold, does have one significant question: "But does it count as a burger if it’s on an English muffin?"

    Montrose
    Who doesn't like meandering around Montrose, with its funky shops and headlining bars and restaurants? Those who do this routinely might run into the power couple, who told the Times they love the trendy neighborhood. Upton gave shout-outs to home good store Biscuit, Texas honkytonk Goodnight Charlie's, and the Chris Shepherd-led UB Preserve. Verlander offered a pro tip: "[G]oing on a Monday is sometimes better because it’s not as crowded."

    Museum District
    Houstonians understand that our hot, sticky summers come with the package of living in one of the most dynamic cities on the planet. But those who come here from cooler climes tend to get summer shock over how high the mercury can climb. That's definitely the case with Upton and Verlander. Houston summers get so hot, Upton explained, that she and her hubby went looking for things to do where there's air conditioning (yes, we know, that's nearly everywhere). Their hunt for cool led them to the Menil Collection, which Upton called "an awesome art collection."

    River Oaks
    The sports and media power couple lived for a time at the intersection of Upper Kirby and River Oaks, so they're more than familiar with the area — especially where to eat. Tucked away behind a hedge, Tiny Boxwoods is an oasis in Houston's hustle and bustle. Upton raves about its charcuterie board, but Verlander veers toward the burger. "I went there one day before start day — a day I was pitching — and I was looking at the menu and saw the ‘Lucky Burger’ and I was like well, I guess that’s what I better get," he told the Times. "And then I pitched well that game."

    Those looking for a little luck of their own — and maybe some star spotting — might take note.

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    news/city-life

    working hard

    Texas clocks in as 7th hardest working state in America for 2026

    Amber Heckler
    Aug 26, 2026 | 10:30 am
    Downtown Austin view of the Texas Capitol building
    Photo by Felipe Vieira on Unsplash
    Texas has ranked among the top 10 for nearly a decade.

    Texans pride themselves on being industrious, and a new report has confirmed Texas as one of the 10 most hardworking states in America in 2026.

    The Lone Star State claimed the No. 7 spot this year in a slight dip from its 2025 ranking, where it appeared in the top five. Texas last ranked 7th in 2024, but the state has consistently appeared among the top 10 for nearly a decade.

    WalletHub determined the rankings after analyzing 10 "direct" and "indirect" work factors across all 50 states, and then graded each metric on a 100-point scale, where a score of 100 signified the "hardest working." Analysts then examined each state’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order the states.

    There was only a 10.32-point difference between Texas and South Dakota, who claimed the top spot as America's hardest working state in 2026 with a score of 64.59 out of a possible 100 points.

    Texas ranked 6th nationally in the "direct" work factors category, which examined the following six metrics:

    • The state's average workweek hours.
    • Employment rates.
    • The share of households where no adults work.
    • The share of workers leaving vacation time unused.
    • The share of "engaged" workers — those that are "involved in, enthusiastic about, and committed to their work and workplace," as defined by Gallup.
    • The rate of "idle youth" — individuals aged 18-24 who are not currently enrolled in school, not working, and have no degree beyond a high school diploma or GED.

    Texas ties with Louisiana for the second highest average workweek hours nationwide, with Alaska topping the list with the No. 1 longest workweeks in America. Alaska is the only state where workers clock in more than 40 hours per week at their jobs, with WalletHub reporting Alaskans work 41.4 hours on average weekly.

    In the "indirect" work factors category — which encompassed workers' average commute times, the share of workers with multiple jobs, annual volunteer hours per resident, and the average leisure time spent per day — Texas ranked 36th nationwide.

    Here's how WalletHub ranked Texas in three individual metrics:

    • No. 10 – Average commute times
    • No. 20 – Average leisure time spent per day
    • No. 30 – Employment rates

    According to the World Economic Forum, Americans clock in about 1,800 hours at work per year on average, which is 468 more hours per year than workers in Germany. And many are leaving vacation time on the table, WalletHub says.

    "Even when given the chance to take time off, many Americans won’t, as nearly half of workers don't expect to use all of their allotted vacation days," the report said. "It is possible to work hard without overdoing it, though. Hard work is key to success, and the residents of some states understand that better than others."

    Hardest-Working States in America

    Source: WalletHub

    The top 10 hardest working states in America in 2026 are:

    • No. 1 – South Dakota
    • No. 2 – North Dakota
    • No. 3 – Alaska
    • No. 4 – Hawaii
    • No. 5 – Wyoming
    • No. 6 – Nebraska
    • No. 7 – Texas
    • No. 8 – New Hampshire
    • No. 9 – Tennessee
    • No. 10 – Georgia
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