This Week's Hot Headlines

Shirtless coach, Restaurant Weeks drama and hot new restaurant lead this week's top stories

Editor’s note: It's time to recap the most popular stories on CultureMap from this past week:

1. Near nude photo of Kliff Kingsbury goes international, completely buries Texas Tech's silly watch "controversy." A Grantland article on Texas Tech football coach and "sex symbol" Kliff Kingsbury linked to CultureMap's coverage of a viral photo depicting him shirtless, spurring the year-old story to the top spot this week. It's still a good read.

2. More Houston Restaurant Weeks drama: Celebrity chef never made 2013 donation, officials say. One of the city's most notable chefs is making headlines for failing to keep a donation promise to the Houston Food Bank as part of Houston Restaurant Weeks.

3. Hot new restaurant from former Underbelly chef launches soft opening with fun menu. This hotly-anticipated restaurant addition to The Heights is serving up Southern comfort food with a whimsical twist.

4. Big changes for iconic Houston concert venue — beer garden, more parking and better bathrooms! Legendary live music venue Fitzgerald's is changing hands with the promise of major improvements to the nearly 100-year-old building.

5. New York City-based Halal food chain picks prime spot for first Houston location. A popular NYC restaurant is breaking into the local market with an upcoming Inner Loop location.

6. Houston's hottest new happy hours for cheap drinks and delectable eats. Give your wallet a break and check out CultureMap's top picks for the city's best happy hour deals featuring light bar bites and cool cocktails.

This photo of a shirtless Kliff Kingsbury has the young Texas Tech coach made headlines across the globe.

Kliff Kingsbury Texas Tech football coach shirtless with two girls in bikinis

FoxSports.com

This photo of a shirtless Kliff Kingsbury has the young Texas Tech coach made headlines across the globe.

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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.