CultureMap Countdown
Housewives stay on top, but furor over "Bellaire socialite" moniker is mostdebated story of the week
Yvonne Stern, left, and Susan Plank at a society galaPhoto by Dave Rossman
Tower Theater, soon to house a Tex-Mex restaurantPhoto by Clifford Pugh
White House party crasher Michaele Salahi is a central fixture in the "RealHousewives of Washington, D.C."
Bravo has announced the next Real Housewives series: It takes place in Washington, D.C., with the infamous Michaele Salahi, and debuts Aug. 5 on Bravo. Could Houston be "housewives central" after that? The possibility of a series set in the Bayou City continues to intrigue CultureMap readers, who made our story on who might be cast in a Houston version of the popular reality show the top-viewed story for the third week in a row.
But the story that spurred the most discussion — and the most heated debate — was CultureMap editor-at-large Shelby Hodge's takedown of the national media for referring to Yvonne Stern as a "Bellaire socialite." Some who didn't read the story closely were outraged at what they perceived was a slap at Stern, an unwitting victim of a murder-for-hire plot hatched by her husband's mistress. But others saw it as a commentary on the lengths the media goes to to pump up a story.
Other top picks: Former Channel 2 weatherman Jonathan Novack got bounced from The Bachelorette, but he's rebounding in a new reality show, Bachelor Pad, debuting Aug. 9 on Channel 13. Seems like Novack is Houston's reality king.
On the restaurant front some good news: A new improved Mai's is rising from the ashes, with a modern design and updated menu. We can't wait for the opening. Midtown's not the same without Mai's.
And restaurateurs Bryan Caswell and Bill Floyd are teaming with former Houston Press restaurant critic Robb Walsh to create a new Tex-Mex restaurant in the old Tower Theatre. It seems like a perfect location and an intriguing teaming of talent.
As everybody knows, Houston can't have too many Tex-Mex restaurants.
Most-viewed stories June 13-19:
1. Look out! The Real Housewives of Houston are coming! Producers quietly casting now
2. Justin Bieber's Twitter Army Can't Keep Kim Kardashian Away
3. "Bellaire socialite" moniker proves irresistible to national media covering Stern shooting
4. The Yoko Ono of the NBA: Khloe Kardashian puts the LA Lakers' title in jeopardy
5. World Cup controversy: The vuvuzela stays but minidresses go
Editor's picks:
1. Bryan Caswell and Robb Walsh teaming up for Tex-Mex in the Tower Theatre
2. It's over: Jonathan Novack gets bumped from The Bachelorette
3. Educators and students mourn the death of Parish school founder Robbin Parish
4. Lots of changes at Highland Village with more to come
5. The new modern Mai's (it's bigger): Anna Tran reveals the rebuilding plans for Midtown icon
