Play Like Gary

Texas musician Gary Clark Jr. honors B.B. King with $8,000 Gibson guitar

Gary Clark Jr. plays his limited edition ES-355.

Houstonians who want to play guitar like Gary Clark Jr. will have to get a lot of practice in — but maybe having the same Gibson will help? Gibson Custom is now offering up the Gary Clark Jr. ES-355, a limited-edition model that the famous brand is presenting as "a tribute to the tone and tradition of blues trailblazers."

The ES-355 was originally introduced in 1958. With a thin, semi-hollow body, this instrument became the prized possession of many guitarists for its playability and clean sound. It was manufactured until 1984, and returned to the scene in 2018. Clark has had two custom models with Gibson and Epiphone before.

Although this guitar is primarily a treasure for guitarists who love Gary Clark Jr., the Austin-based musician was paying tribute to an icon of his own, according to a blog post by Gibson announcing the new model. B.B. King, another regular in Austin's music scene, also played an ES-355.

“When I was a child, I had a poster on my wall of B.B. King playing his signature Lucille,” Clark told Gibson TV. “As a kid I always wanted one of those guitars.

Clark's version is limited to only 100 units, and buyers will have to part with $7,999 to take it home.

$Gibson Custom Gary Clark Jr.\u200b ES-355$ Take a closer look at the aged nickel finish on the pickups that give the brand-new guitar a vintage feel.gibson.com

This guitar's body is made of maple and poplar, with a 50s-style mahogany neck, an ebony fretboard, and a multi-ply binding. The most striking design feature, of course, is the Cobra Burst, giving the instrument a silvery finish that really brings out the chatoyancy — the rippling sheen — in the maple.

For hardware, two unpotted Custombuckers cancel feedback for "warm, articulate tones." Aged nickel complements the Cobra Burst with a touch of amber on the switch. Like other custom ES-355s, this one features a Bigsby B7 Vibrato tailpiece. To wrap it all up, the included hardshell case is marked with Clark's monogram.

The Gibson Custom Gary Clark Jr. ES‐355 can be purchased from authorized Gibson Custom dealers, Gibson Garage locations, and Gibson.com.

music blues guitar

that's slick

Affordable indoor amusement park slides into The Woodlands this spring

The indoor park at Slick City The Woodlands

Render courtesy of Slick City Action Park

Slick City offers all the fun of a park without the heat.

Any parent in Houston knows the four sweetest words in the English language are "affordable, indoor, air-conditioned playspace." Slick City, a brand-new dry slide indoor playground, is slated to open in The Woodlands next month to the delight of all sunburn and heat stroke-adverse families in north Houston.

“The Woodlands is a community built around families, and Slick City creates the kind of experiences that bring people together,” said Mandy Bush, co-owner of the Slick City The Woodlands franchise. “We were drawn to the innovation behind the park and the opportunity to create a space where kids, parents and friends can unplug, be active and make lasting memories together.”

Slick City Action park is a relatively new player in the indoor playspace industry. Founded in Denver, Colorado in 2021 by CEO Bron Launsby and Gary Schmit, the playgrounds focus on their patent-pending big slide designs rather than the trampolines and virtual reality games that seem to make up most other major indoor parks. The company has been rapidly expanding into the Texas market, including opening a Denton location last August, as well as parks in Willowbrook, Webster, and Katy.

The Woodlands' location at 3905 FM 1488, Suite 100, will have 35,800 square feet of playspace, with 14 large-scale slides using the company's latest designs. This is also the first Slick City to include a soccer air court, perfect for kids afflicted with FIFA Fever ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Attractions include Riptide, Mega Launch, Cowabunga, Avalanche (V2) and Turbo Twin, as well as a near-vertical thrill slide that rivals theme park coasters in intensity. Admission prices range from $25 to $34 for 90–120 minute sessions, with mandatory $3–$5 CitySocks required

With Houston's hot summers, families sometimes struggle to find places for kids to play away from the unrelenting heat. Playground architects have been steadily adapting their designs for newer parks to account for heat, but nothing beats the power of air-conditioning. Getting to watch the kids fly through the air off of massive slide ramps is a bonus.

Render courtesy of Slick City Action Park

Slick City offers all the fun of a park without the heat.

amusement parks family friendly