This Week's Hot Headlines
Veteran Houston chef cooks up new Menil cafe and more popular stories

Claire Smith is cooking up something new.
Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Houston news of the week, beginning with three restaurant openings. Plus, a billionaire family plans to make unprecedented donations, and a premier shopping destination gets a new owner. Catch up on our most popular stories below, then plan your weekend right here.
1. Veteran Houston chef claims Menil restaurant for new all-day cafe. The Menil Collection has found a new operator for its campus restaurant. Veteran Houston chef and restaurateur Claire Smith will open a new concept called Chrôma in early 2026.
2. Houston billionaires will donate almost entire fortune to charity. Houston billionaires Rich and Nancy Kinder have announced plans to donate an astounding 95% of their multi-billion-dollar wealth to charities.
3. Exclusive: New pub flies into familiar Montrose space with NY-style pizza. Ducky’s Pizza and Tavern is now operating in a quiet, soft opening phase in the former Riel space at 1927 Fairview Street.

4. Longtime Houston kolache bakery opens new Memorial location. One of Houston’s most reliable kolache bakeries has opened its new location near Memorial City Mall.
5. Memorial City developer acquires all of CityCentre's retail properties. One of Houston’s premier shopping and dining destinations has a new owner. MetroNational has acquired the retail portions of CityCentre from Midway.

Lazy Lane is already winning fans in Garden Oaks. Photo by