No rules, plenty of cat fights

Basketball Wives gets a Houston cast member: Which Rockets' honey is dribblingto reality fame?

Ashley Walker
Photo by Adam Bouska
Alston Family
Ashley Walkers wants to be known as more than a pretty face.
Rafer Alston, Ashley and their kids
Ashley Walker
Ashley Walker
Ashley Walker

Anybody else think these American shows spotlighting the significant others of professional athletes should just go ahead and adopt the more umbrella term from the Brits, WAGS?

Houston's Ashley Walker would fit more comfortably into the Wives-and-Girlfriends category than into the one bestowed on her by Basketball Wives, the show that will show the Missouri City mom's life starting Sunday night on VH1.

Basketball Wives' second season will feature seven NBA current and ex wives, and Walker promises drama — though says that she'll have no part of it.

"I really wanted to bring some positivity to the show based on things that were shown last season," Walker tells CultureMap of her decision to join the second season. (Four of the cast members also starred in the inaugural season. Walker is a rookie, along with Tami Roman, ex-wife of former longtime NBA player Kenny Anderson.)

Walker is the longtime girlfriend of former Houston Rockets guard Rafer Alston, with whom she has two children. Walker says he views the show as a platform to promote her many causes, which include Ashley Walker's Mission of Love, which sponsors mission trips to Africa, mentors teen girls and renovates recreational parks in New Orleans, and her recent assignment as brand ambassador for Tequila Distinguido. She also has a semi-charitable lip gloss line.

And although Walker insists that she's not interested in the drama and prefers to focus on what she does behind the scenes, there's more than enough to go around thanks to cast members like Shaunie O'Neal (Shaq's ex who is also an executive producer of the show) and the newly engaged Evelyn Lozado. Lozado used to be engaged to former NBA player Antoine Walker years ago, but now she's set to get married to fellow reality-TV diva/NFL receiver Chad Ochocinco.

Yes, Lozado is now technically much closer to being a Football Wife, but Basketball Wives isn't too concerned with following any rules.

Walker reps Houston on the show, but don't expect to actually see any of the H. The entire season was filmed in Miami. If the season trailer is to be believed, cat fights abound, and the show comes close to deserving a re-dubbing as some cast members' eyes wander to the NFL.

Tell us — will you be tuning in?

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"Here come the grannies!"

Walk through the Magic Door to experience the world of Bluey in Houston

bluey and bingo's bedroom at camp in houston

Courtesy of CAMP

Houston will soon be the home of a new CAMP store, featuring interactive installations like the house from "Bluey."

Bluey is coming to the Galleria this February “for real life” through an immersive event that invites visitors to enter the world of the famous Australian Heeler family. This one-of-a-kind experience brings the Heeler home and backyard to life with intricate details that will delight fans of all ages.

Tickets are on sale now for Bluey x CAMP, the inaugural interactive experience of the combination toy store, party venue, and immersive theater space. This is The Family Experience Company’s first CAMP location in Houston, with the business securing a 7,500-square-foot permanent retail space in the Galleria.

Through “The Magic Door,” a pivoting wall, visitors step into seasonally rotating interactive spaces beginning with a 5,000-square-foot lifesize replica of Bluey’s house.

Visitors can play games made popular by the show, such as grannies and keepy uppy, and bust a move when “dance mode” is activated. The kitchen’s fridge is covered in drawings by the Heeler puppies, while the living room TV plays Bluey.

Families can explore both a pillow fort and a cardboard castle — two-story structures complete with slides — before venturing into a playroom stocked with toys and costumes from the show. In the backyard, a recreation of the Heeler’s large tree is surrounded by charming gnomes. A photo opportunity with Bluey and Bingo tops off the visit.

Beyond the world of Bluey, CAMP offers even more for visitors in its Canteen space, with a splatter room, The Schmutz Bar (a slime creation station), a party room, and a playable truck. Customers can also shop for toys, clothing, and accessories.

Houston joins a list of CAMP’s locations in Dallas, Atlanta, New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. Installations change seasonally, with other current features including Paw Patrol, The Little Mermaid, and Encanto.

Courtesy of CAMP

Houston will soon be the home of a new CAMP store, featuring interactive installations like the house from "Bluey."

bluey galleria-houston camp bluey x camp

No rules, plenty of cat fights

Basketball Wives gets a Houston cast member: Which Rockets' honey is dribblingto reality fame?

"Here come the grannies!"

Walk through the Magic Door to experience the world of Bluey in Houston

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