Editor’s note: It's time to recap the most popular stories on CultureMap from this past week:
1. In hair-raising move, Houston company tells Donald Trump: You're Fired! Following the billionaire presidential candidate's inflammatory remarks about Mexican immigrants, a Houston-based company has pulled its sponsorship of the Miss USA, Miss Universe and Miss Teen USA pageants from which Trump so famously profits.
2. Most beautiful mansion in River Oaks? Veranda magazine thinks so, Houston designer applauded. The home of Sheridan and John Eddie Williams, decorated by J. Randall Powers, is getting national attention thanks to a 13-page spread in the most recent issue of Veranda magazine.
3. #GetWellBob: Legendary TV sports anchor Bob Allen takes leave of absence to battle cancer. Get well wishes have poured in for Allen, who has scores of fans from his time at KTRK Channel 13 and now at KHOU Channel 11, since he announced his temporary departure from TV.
4. Welcome back! Garth Brooks heats up Houston stage with rambunctious high-energy performance — and crowd loves it. Seventeen years since his last performance in the Bayou City, the country superstar wowed crowds during his four-day, eight-show run at Toyota Center, performing along with his wife, Trisha Yearwood.
5. Popular bar agrees to change policies after feds charge discrimination against African-Americans, Asians. Arcade bar Kung Fu Saloon, with locations in Houston, Austin and Dallas, has settled with the Department of Justice following allegations of discrimination in admitting customers according to race.
J. Randall Powers is getting some major national attention for his redo of the River Oaks home of John Eddie and Sheridan Williams.
Late August is one of Esquire's best new restaurants.
Photo by Leonid Furmansky