Hurricane Harvey

Celebs step up with donations for Hurricane Harvey relief: Kevin Hart calls out stars to join in

Kevin Hart pledged $25,000 to the Red Cross.

Courtesy of ACL Live

Flood-inducing rainfall and devastation: Houston has been battered by Hurricane Harvey with more severe weather on the way. While celebrities from Demi Lovato to Houston native Beyoncé have tweeted their love for Houston during these trying times, several famous names are taking it up a level, expressing their concern and also pledging funds to help relief efforts. A special shout-out to the celebs below, who are donating funds to help those in need.

Actor and comedian Kevin Hart not only pledged $25,000 to the Red Cross, but called out fellow celebrities including Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and Justin Timberlake to do the same:

I'm calling this the Hurricane Harvey Relief Challenge....Lets go @therock @beyonce @chrisrock Jay Z Dave Chappelle @jerryseinfeild @iamsteveharveytv @justintimberlake #HurricaneHarveyReliefChallenge #prayforhouston .....I am getting a link together now people. Help me help Houston....

A post shared by Kevin Hart (@kevinhart4real) on

Aug 27, 2017 at 4:07pm PDT

DJ Khaled accepted Kevin Hart's challenge, donating $25,000 to hurricane relief efforts:

HOUSTON TEXAS my prayers are wit you! I just sent 25k your way to help all the families in need 🙏🏽 @kevinhart4real I accepted your challenge pic.twitter.com/EgCjyT8IKV

— DJ KHALED (@djkhaled) August 29, 2017

In the tweet below, Chris Young sends prayers to Houston. Moreover, the country singer pledged $100,000 to the Red Cross and set up a Go Fund Me page for hurricane relief. You can donate here.

Prayers out to everyone in Houston and surrounding areas. Be safe out there family. #HurricaneHarvey

— Chris Young (@CY24_7) August 27, 2017

Drake, who is in London, said he is working with local relief groups to help:

We are currently overseas in London and all I can think about is how devastated I am as I look at images of the damage Hurricane Harvey has caused. I am praying for the safety of all those affected. Houston has truly been a home to me over the last 8 years. Myself and @futuretheprince are working with local relief groups to aid and assist the people of Texas in anyway we can and in the most immediate way possible. I also want to thank all the men and women of service and volunteers for their courageous efforts to help people in need. I encourage everyone to do what they can to assist the people of Texas knowing whatever effort you can make to help will go a long way.

A post shared by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on

Aug 28, 2017 at 2:13am PDT

Cher tweeted her love for Texas on August 25. In a second tweet on August 27, the icon posted that she will donate funds to help reunite shelter and relief animals with their owners:

SENDING ❤️& PRAYERS 🙏🏻TO
ALL TEXANS‼️Lived in Galveston & Burleson,🎤Toured🌟State For 50yrs.🎥Silkwood In Dallas. HAVE LOVED ONES IN TEXAS💋

— Cher (@cher) August 25, 2017

Texans will Get Through This.Texas 🙌🏻is special in my❤️Since 8.Will make donation 2 help Rescue & Shelter TX animals til
Reunited W❤️'d 1's

— Cher (@cher) August 27, 2017

Lady Antebellum donated merchandise proceeds from their show in Dallas to relief efforts.

Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by #HurricaneHarvey. pic.twitter.com/HBihHtqUcL

— Lady Antebellum (@ladyantebellum) August 28, 2017

Texans star J.J. Watt has set up a fundraiser to help the Houston community via the YouCaring crowdfunding site.

It's extremely difficult to have to watch the events of Hurricane Harvey unfold on TV and not be able to get back to Houston to help with the recovery efforts. I've set up a fundraiser so that we can raise as much money as possible to help our communities and the families of our great city rebuild. Any donation that you can spare, no matter how large or small, no matter what city or state you live in, is greatly appreciated. We will come out of this stronger than ever. www.YouCaring.com/JJWatt #TexasForever

A post shared by JJ Watt (@justinjames99) on

Aug 27, 2017 at 2:19pm PDT

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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.