something to smile about

Houston rapper promises new Texans stars CJ Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. dazzling gift from celeb jeweler

CJ Stroud Will Anderson Jr Houston Texans 2023

Texans cornerstones CJ Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. pose in front of their new office.

Photo courtesy of Houston Texans

The Houston Texans shocked the pro football world with a high-stakes grab of two potentially franchise-defining cornerstones in the 2023 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 27.

Long-suffering Texans fans literally jumped for joy when the team selected Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud with the No. 2 pick overall. But the big shocker came when immediately after, the Texans picked Alabama pass rusher Will Anderson Jr. — considered by many the best player in the entire 2023 class — at No. 3.

Though the Texans paid dearly to move from No. 12 to No. 3 overall, the move is being largely heralded across sports media and the NFL landscape, particularly with those who've been critical of the Texans' front-office moves of late (no need to re-hash all that now).

A team forced to rebuild slowly, the Houston Texans, led by general manager Nick Caserio and head coach (and beloved former Texans player) DeMeco Ryans put the NFL on notice that they’re not only rebuilding, but ready to win now.

Nothing in the NFL is guaranteed (hence the "any given Sunday" mantra). But Stroud replaces controversial and ousted former Texans QB Deshaun Watson as the face of the offense. Meanwhile, Anderson is already being compared to perennial NFL defensive greats and could very well be this team's next Justin James Watt.

Fans packed the Texans' official draft watch party and received a video message from the two new Texans. Later, Houston rapper Paul Wall (the People's Champ) and rap icon Bun B officially welcomed Stroud and Anderson from the fan fest. The People's Champ promised Stroud and Anderson a dazzling gift from one of our most buzzy jewelers.

“Now, I talked to my boy Johnny Dang,” Wall told the duo. “He said he got your grillz ready! He said he got your grillz ready!” Instantly recognizing the swag, Stroud and Anderson laughed, Stroud even pointing to his teeth.

For the uninitiated, grills are shiny, often jewel-encrusted adornments worn over the teeth. Known as Houston's celebrity grill maker, Dang has crafted pieces for local and national celebs, including Beyoncé, Astros players like Lance McCullers, Jr. and Jeremy Peña. Dang was even featured The World According to Jeff Goldblum; the actor proudly showed off his gold, Dang-crafted grill in interviews later.

Paul Wall Bun B Houston Texans draft party 2023 Paul Wall promised grillz for the dynamic duo.Screen capture via Houston Texans/Facebook

Wall's gift promise capped off (sorry) a joyous event for the team that has a dearth of them of late.

“Couldn’t have celebrated last night’s draft pics at a better place with better people,” Bun B, who sported a No. 23 Texans jersey, tells CultureMap after the big day.

“It excites me to see what the future holds,” Stroud told fans and the media on Friday, April 28. “We don't have a limit. We can do whatever we put our minds to and whatever Christ asks us to do. So I'm really excited.”

As are fans everywhere in Houston. Here's hoping that the next big celebrity gift for Stroud and Anderson comes courtesy of our Trill OG (and frequent CultureMap Tastemaker Awards emcee) Bun B. We're sure the dudes will love a box of his Trill Burgers, the hottest smash burgers in America.

And here's hoping this glowing hardware from Dang is foreshadowing for another coveted gem: a Lombardi trophy.

it's summertime

6 family-friendly activities that are new to Houston for summer 2026

A young boy plays simulated racing at Velocity in Houston

Photo courtesy of Velocity

From video game racing to museums, there are plenty for families to do in Houston this summer.

With school out for summer, parents are looking for things for kids to do that will keep them entertained and engaged. Here's a quick rundown of some of the fun activities opening up for the summer around the Houston area.

Hill at Sims
Located in the Sunnyside neighborhood, Houston's newest part is a $30 million, 100-acre project that's been five years in the making. It offers nearly five miles of paved and dirt trails, a fishable pier, and massive street art murals. The hill itself offers a breathtaking view of the downtown skyline.

Houston Museum of Natural Science Sugar Land
The FIFA 2026 World Cup is almost upon us, leading to rampant outbreaks of futbol fever. The only cure is a cold compress of science, thanks to the Houston Museum of Natural Science Sugar Land location. Through July 3, experts on site will teach about the physics, history, and psychology of the world's most popular game. Weekdays will feature craft stations, interactive exhibits, and group activities, while the weekends explore the countries that are participating in this year's World Cup, leading up to a final global celebration.

Lone Star Flight Museum
On Saturday, June 19, the museum will open its new exhibit Made in Texas: 116 Years of Texas Aviation History. Visitors will see items such as vintage flight attendant uniforms and fine China that was used in first class cabins. In addition, the exhibit showcases aircraft manufactured in Texas and celebrates pilots such as the Tuskegee Airmen and Texas ACES. Through January 3, 2027.

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Just because it's summer is no reason there can't be a little learning as well. The Museum of Fine Arts Houston is hosting a rare showing of masterworks by Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, Henri Matisse, Alberto Giacometti and more. The collection comes from renowned gallerist and dealer Heinz Berggruen, who scoured Europe after World War II through 1990 to acquire many works, some directly from the artists themselves. Though you may recognize the names of the artists, you likely won't be familiar with some of the works on display, as they tend to be more obscure pieces. Open through September 13.

Time Mission
Journey from the beginning of the universe through the molten emergence of the Earth to the far future for a cyberpunk heist. Time Mission is a single room immersive experience that pits 2 - 5 player aged 6 and up through 25 possible mental and physical games to progress through the fourth dimension. Developed by the same minds behind the Museum of Illusions, Time mIssion is just the latest in high-end immersive game services in the Houston, albeit it one with a temporal travel twist.

Velocity Sim Racing Lounge
Go-kart and sim racing often leave the younger children out of the mix thanks to height requirements on the equipment. Velocity Sim Racing Lounge in the Sawyer Yards district is changing that with their new Racer 2.0 rigs. Rated for ages 5 and up, the rigs come with adjustable pedals, steering wheels, and seats, making them far more accessible to both young racers and those with disabilities. Velocity is also debuting a new virtual track, Dino Rush, that lets you race through a prehistoric park.