Oprah's gift, Houston's fall dressing habits & the pink-haired girl in thecoffin capture CultureMap readers

Yes Prep had a lot of smile about this week
Photo by Caroline Gallay
No Uggs in warm weather — even if it is fall
A quinceañera to remember.
Photo by Brissa Aguilar
CultureList tackles sno cones

Oprah Winfrey is ending the last year of her talk show with a flourish. Her gift of $1 million to YES Prep (reported by Fayza Elmostehi) was the most read story on Culture Map this week. "It couldn't have happened to a more deserving school. I am so proud to be a YES'ser before charter schools were popular," wrote one reader.

A lot of readers seemed intrigued by our stories on how to dress for fall weather when the temperatures are still in the high 90s. Jennifer Patterson's rules — no fur-lined UGGS or tiny tank tops — were seconded by readers. "I've hated UGGS as a fashion piece for years. I've always put them in my "wear in case of snowstorm" category," Stephanie Davis wrote. "So tacky outside of a snowdrift. So many other good-looking boots out there that won't make your feet sweat."

(With cooler temps today, however, it may be OK to put a little UGG in your life.)

Contributor Annina Stefanelli also tackled the subject, offering ways to make the transition. Her advice: Recycle pieces from your closet to mix fall accessories with summer styles. "Dig up your tailored trousers, elegant blouses, and lace, while preserving the florals and pleated shorts you’ve been sporting since spring," she wrote. Good advice.

Among the week's most intriguing stories: Wilbert Chinchilla's account of the unconventional quinceañera of Houston's Erika Lopez, which was aired on MTV Tr3s's Quiero Mis Quinces. No shrinking violet, Erika popped out of a coffin with pink hair while zombies hovered around. And the ratings skyrocketed.

My favorite new part of CultureMap is CultureList. It's a page of cool lists of all sorts of things, like quirky Houston attractions, frosty sno-cone stands, sacred spaces and high-end caterers. Check it out and let us know what you think.

Most viewed stories Sept. 19-25

1. Oprah couldn't say not gifting Houston school $1 million

2. The real mystery behind Justin Bieber making out in the backseat of a Honda civic

3. Why I hate fall in Houston: Do you see what everyone's wearing?

4. Blood, sweat and blisters: Lynn Wyatt, Monsour Taghdisi & more gear up for dancing with the stars competition

Editor's picks

1. Culturelists

2. Destination arts city: Houston lures artists into its hip, hot fold

3. The pink-haired girl in the coffin: Houston teen gets an MTV moment — with zombie help

4. Remembering Numbers nightclub and growing up gritty

5. (tie) Houston's top chefs reveal their secret ingredients

(tie) The September issue: How much are Houstonians willing to sweat for the love of fall fashion

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Thanks, Queen Bey

Pop icon Beyoncé donates $100,000 to University of Houston Law School

Photo by Erza Shaw Getty Images

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Pop megastar Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has donated $100,000 to the University of Houston Law Center Criminal Justice Clinic through her BeyGOOD Foundation. The gift will allow the clinic to hire fill-time faculty to head it, benefiting the students who study there.

“I am delighted that the BeyGOOD Foundation has made this very generous gift to the UH Law Center,” said Leonard Baynes, dean of the UH Law Center. “Not only will this funding help establish a full-time criminal justice clinic that provides pro bono legal services in our community, but it will also supercharge our already excellent criminal law and justice programming.”

The clinic is one of nine at UHLC. It helps students learn to navigate the criminal justice system, especially on behalf of clients that are underserved by skilled attorneys. People of color are affected disproportionately by a lack of good, ethical representation.

Beyoncé, the most decorated artist in Grammy history and easily the biggest musical star native to Houston, has a long history of advocating for criminal justice reform. She was a staunch supporter of the police reform following the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, asking law enforcement to “stop killing us” in a web post. In 2020, she penned an open letter to the Kentucky attorney general asking for justice in the death of Breonna Taylor.

Through her BeyGOOD Foundation, established in 2013, Beyoncé has focused mostly on expanding the prospects of Black-owned business and offering education opportunities to students. Forwarding the cause of legal representation in Texas while also helping out marginalized communities compliments her other philanthropic work.

“At UH Law, we envision a legal profession where ‘everyone has the opportunity to prosper,’ as BeyGOOD envisions, and we will achieve this vision by providing access to strong and effective legal representation in criminal proceedings,” Baynes said. “And together, through this gift, the BeyGOOD Foundation and UHLC will shepherd the next generation of criminal justice attorneys in the city of Houston, the state of Texas and the nation.”

Most Viewed & Editor's Picks

Oprah's gift, Houston's fall dressing habits & the pink-haired girl in thecoffin capture CultureMap readers

Thanks, Queen Bey

Pop icon Beyoncé donates $100,000 to University of Houston Law School