move over, polo bar

Rodeo Bar-B-Que contest's most over-the-top tent goes bigger and better with cowboy chic — and its own speakeasy

In Houston, it takes a lot to upstage world-class brisket, sausage, and other smoked goods. But last year, what arguably stole the show at the 90th annual World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest wasn't a fatty, marbled brisket or superbly smoked sausage — it was a tent.

"Tent" perhaps is a misnomer. The utterly dazzling Cotton ‘Q Club Cookoff destination staged by title sponsor Cotton Holdings, Inc. redefined cowboy chic and became a media and local sensation.

Cotton CEO (and true Houston cowboy) Pete Bell and his rock star marketing/event guru Zinat Ahmed (who designed the tent) spared no expense, putting an elegant western spot that sported a posh, equestrian theme and spanned nearly 9,000 square feet. Seven-foot shimmering horses, hundreds of roses, a tufted bar, plaid flooring, and navy blie drapes brought an NYC Polo Bar vibe to the the Cookoff.

Bigger, better, and Breggy

Seems hard to top — but Ahmed and the Cotton team have done just that this year. The wood-paneled tent with crystal-and-antler chandeliers now boasts an additional 1,150 square feet of space, making the "tent" now a total 10,292 square feet, including 6,212 square feet of tented space. Apropos, as the tent will see more than 2,000 Bar-B-Que guests from Thursday, February 23 through Saturday, February 25.

Literally thousands of constantly refreshed, long-stem red roses bloom in vases everywhere, creating a Tournament of Roses. "My vision was to have the Kentucky Derby in a tent," Ahmed told us Wednesday, February 22 as we toured the tent. Mission accomplished, indeed.

The 50-foot wood bar now is joined by smaller bars serving up signature spirits from Dripping Springs distillery. As for bites, Cotton joined forces with Houston Astros superstar Alex Bregman and his Breggy Bomb products, including Breggy Bomb Original BBQ Sauce, sustainably raised R-C Ranch steaks seasoned with Breggy Bomb El Jefe Seasoning, and even Bregman-autographed koozies for attendees.

All hat, all style

Another MVP partnership includes milliner Teressa Foglia; Cotton brass and VIPs will sport custom, one-of-a-kind felt and straw hats designed by the legendary Foglia.

Cotton will also host a Grammy-Award-nominated country act as entertainment; one wonders how the company will top last year's performers, the handsome country crooners, Midland.

The ultimate rodeo IYKYK

In perhaps in Cookoff history, this tent will boast its own speakeasy — one that needs its own specially sanctioned key for access. The Golden Pony is a posh, fully air conditioned escape that Ahmed describes as "disco cowgirl meets whiskey room."

Here, on-theme accoutrements incude gold pony door knockers, taxidermed animal mounts (like the ones in the main tent), disco balls, quirky art. Luxe spirit Casa Del Sol will serve as the VIP room's exclusive tequila.

For those lucky enough to make it in, don't forget to snap a pic with the glorious golden pony — a great way to capture a night of horsin' around.

Kudos to Cotton Holdings for topping what seemed impossible to top, and proving that here in Houston, bigger is always better.

$Cotton \u2018Q Club$

Photo by Steven Devadanam

The Cotton ‘Q Club's VIP room is 'disco cowgirl meets whiskey room.'

RIP, Wally

Texan Wally Funk, oldest woman to travel into space, dies at 87

Wally Funk aboard Blue Origin New Shepard

Photo courtesy of Blue Origin

The 82-year-old Wally Funk became the oldest person to go to space on July 20, 2021.

GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) — Wally Funk, an aviation pioneer who was the oldest woman to launch into space, has died. She was 87.

Funk died Wednesday, July 8 at her apartment in an assisted living facility in Grapevine, Grapevine City Councilwoman Duff O'Dell said Thursday. O'Dell, who described herself as Funk's caregiver, said she was by Funk's side. Funk had fallen a couple of times recently and had an infection in her leg.

“It took its toll,” O'Dell said in a phone interview.

Wally Funk became a hometown hero in Grapevine. Facebook/Wally Funk's Space for Race

Funk was one of 13 female pilots who went through the same tests as NASA’s all-male astronaut corps in the early 1960s but never made it into space. In 2021, she got her chance aboard Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket. At the time, the 82-year-old was the oldest person to go into space, though the record was later broken by “Star Trek” actor William Shatner and Ed Dwight, America’s first Black astronaut candidate. They were both 90.

Bezos chose Funk as an “honored guest” to ride alongside him and two others on an up-and-down hop from West Texas aboard his Blue Origin rocket.

In interviews after the 11-minute flight, Funk enthusiastically told reporters, "I loved every minute of it. I just wish it had been longer.”

Wally Funk in her '20s as a flight instructor. Facebook/Wally Funk's Space for Race

She became a hometown hero when she returned home to Dallas-Fort Worth; the city of Grapevine threw a parade for her history-making experience.

“Wally Funk never stopped believing that one day she would reach space. Her passion for flight, perseverance, and love of exploration will continue to inspire generations of Americans. Godspeed, Wally,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman posted Thursday on X.

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This story contains material from CultureMap story archives.

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RIP, Wally

Texan Wally Funk, oldest woman to travel into space, dies at 87