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    Get Gifting

    Check this list twice for holiday gift ideas you can only get in Texas

    CultureMap Create
    Nov 19, 2024 | 1:15 pm
    Presents

    Make it a wrap on holiday shopping.

    Photo by Elena Noviello/Getty

    It's time to get a jump on your holiday shopping, and you probably have a varied list of tastes, budgets, and interests to accommodate.

    This gift guide takes all that into account, with a wide range of suggestions for an even wider range of friends, family, colleagues, neighbors, babysitters, pet sitters, tutors ... well, you get the idea.

    From festive experiences to cozy clothing, the best presents are right here. You might even finish your shopping early this year, which is perhaps the best present of all.

    Rodeo Uncorked winePhoto courtesy of Rodeo Uncorked

    2025 Rodeo Uncorked! Collector’s Case
    Make an oenophile's year with this curated collection of award-winning wines, all packaged in a commemorative, branded wood box.

    The 12 selected bottles are chosen from the 2025 Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition, an annual event before the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo that attracts the best wine producers globally, making the selection process a true testament to the quality of wines presented. The panel of esteemed judges — composed of industry experts, winemakers, and connoisseurs — rigorously evaluate a wide range of wines across a bevy of categories including red, white, sparkling, and more.

    The box is priced at $650, $300 of which is a tax-deductible donation to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, supporting the youth of Texas. The Collector's Case is on a first come, first serve basis, with pick-up dates and times communicated at the end of January.

    Camp Aspen sweartshirtPhoto courtesy of Camp Aspen

    Camp Aspen elevated loungewear
    Aspen is where scenic majesty is bookended by frozen winter wonderlands and sun-dappled summers; townie charms easily intersect with fabulous global luxury; mountain purity meets playful debauchery; and adventure junkies hobnob with opulence connoisseurs.

    But the place with almost everything was, until recently, missing one special something: a premium and playful lifestyle brand to celebrate the destination year-round. Hence, Camp Aspen elevated loungewear, co-founded by Houston siblings Maidie and Patrick Ryan.

    Camp Aspen elevated loungewear is designed to embody the spirit of this timelessly cool Colorado destination while playing into the whimsical nostalgia of sleepaway camps so deeply rooted within a sizable Texan contingent that has now made Aspen its home away from home.

    Its Range collection nods to an iconic way to get around Aspen. The Range crewneck sweatshirt, in particular, has twice sold out online, so with this latest restock the brand enhanced its desirability even further. It has been luxuriously upgraded with a sleeker logo patch on the back and a more indulgent, 100-percent cotton fabrication. Available in Aspen green (obvi), summit white, and the new midnight blue.

    Holiday espresso martiniPhoto courtesy of Valencia Hotel Collection

    Valencia Hotel Collection Holiday Packages
    Make this season truly unique with two exclusive packages crafted to bring a touch of holiday magic to your stay. Experience the charm of the boutique hotels located in Austin, College Station, Las Colinas, Lubbock, and San Antonio, each offering a distinctive blend of luxury, style, and warm hospitality.

    The Holiday Sweets package invites you to relax in luxurious guest room accommodations and savor two praline-infused signature holiday cocktails or mocktails, perfect for setting a festive mood.

    For a more indulgent experience, The Sweet Holiday Escape package includes guest room accommodations, a delightful holiday breakfast at the hotel restaurant, and two praline-infused cocktails or mocktails to make your stay even sweeter.

    Whether you’re looking for a festive retreat or a cozy getaway, these packages offer the perfect blend of seasonal warmth and luxury in the inviting atmosphere of these boutique hotels. Celebrate the season in style and book your holiday escape today.

    Elevate your holiday gifting with the luxury of Valencia Hotel Collection. Choose eGift cards for memorable stays or shop Valencia at Home for signature scent candles and sprays, bedding, and more.

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    This Week's Hot Headlines

    Houston restaurateur reveals massive steakhouse and more top stories

    CultureMap Staff
    May 23, 2026 | 11:00 am
    Mack Allen's restaurant rendering
    Courtesy of Mack Allen's
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    Editor's note: It's time to catch up on the top Houston news of the week, from a ritzy new steakhouse to a Santa Fe-inspired hotspot. Plus, seven Houston suburbs rank as the best places to live. Read on for our most popular stories, then check out the best things to do Memorial Day weekend.

    1. Houston restaurateur steps up with massive River Oaks-area steakhouse. A massive new steakhouse is coming to the River Oaks area this summer. Meet Mack Allen’s, a new project from Rouxpour owner Mack McDonald that’s scheduled to open in July.

    2. How a Houston couple's Santa Fe ranch inspired their family-friendly hotspot. Long Weekend — the new family-friendly, breakfast-to-dinner hotspot — has quickly settled in to its home in Lazybrook/Timbergrove.

    3. Lively Houston neighborhood bar will shutter after only 1 year. A Houston bar is closing its doors after only a year. Good God, Nadine’s will close on May 31 due to its property being sold.

    Good God Nadine's bar interior Gin Design Group designed the interior of Good God, Nadine's. Photo by Becca Wright

    4. 4 Houston spots make Texas Monthly's 25 best new taquerias list. Texas Monthly taco editor José Ralat has released his list of The 25 Best New(ish) Texas Taquerias in 2026. Houston and San Antonio take the lead, each with four spots.

    5. 7 Houston neighbors make U.S. News list of best places to live in 2026. Several Houston suburbs have been crowned the best places to live in the U.S. for 2026, according to U.S. News & World Report. Sugar Land was the highest-ranked city in the Houston metro, and it ranked as the 10th best place to live in the country.

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