Introduction to Houston’s Weird and Wonderful World
As the seasons change, Houston gets cooler and a lot weirder. The city has once again outdone itself, with a series of bizarre happenings that have left residents and visitors alike scratching their heads. From Elon Musk’s interest in tunneling through the city to influencers recording a near-death dining experience, Houston has proven that it’s a place like no other.
Elon Musk’s Tunnel Vision
City experts have been toying with the idea of building massive tunnels to divert floodwaters from destroying Houston since Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Now, Elon Musk’s Boring Company is vying for a $760 million flood mitigation project in the city. Musk and Rep. Wesley Hunt have pushed local and state officials to hire the company to build two narrow, 12-foot tunnels around a major watershed. While the Boring Company has worked on transportation tunnels across the US, it doesn’t have experience in flood mitigation.
The End of an Era: FunPlex Closes Its Doors
In one of the saddest updates of the year, owners of Alief’s FunPlex announced its permanent closure after nearly 40 years in business. The indoor amusement park never truly reopened after closing for renovations during the height of the pandemic. FunPlex was a beloved institution in Houston, with its roller rink and indoor amusement park attracting visitors from all over the city. Even Beyoncé filmed a music video at the park and hosted a party there, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to save it.
Poker Winners Become Big Losers
Houston’s poker clubs have become a target for local crime rings. In recent weeks, police have reported an uptick in theft, with 20 robberies recorded. Seventeen of those successful poker players were robbed after leaving the Lucky J Social Club. The robbers used a tactic called "jugging," where they follow players who have won large sums of money from one poker club to the next and rob them.
A Crash Course in Dining
In a bizarre incident, local influencers Nina Santiago and Patrick Blackwood were filming a mukbang at brunch restaurant Cuvée’s Culinary Creations when a black SUV crashed into the restaurant. The collision shattered windows and sent the pair flying. Despite being sent to the hospital for treatment, they returned to finish their meal of salmon sliders. The video of the incident went viral, with even the restaurant pinning it to their Instagram profile.
Celebrity Endorsements
Houston’s kolaches have gained a new fan in Grammy-award-winning singer Lizzo. The "Juice" singer took to TikTok to proclaim her love for the city’s kolaches, sampling breakfast renditions from Kolache Factory, Christy’s, and Shipley Do-Nuts. Lizzo, who grew up in Houston, has been repping her hometown proudly, showing off a Mexican candy haul from Fiesta Mart in another video.
Conclusion
Houston is a city that’s full of surprises, from its weird and wonderful happenings to its beloved institutions and celebrity endorsements. Whether it’s Elon Musk’s tunnel vision, the end of an era for FunPlex, or a crash course in dining, Houston has proven that it’s a place that’s always on the move. With its unique blend of culture, entertainment, and eccentricity, Houston is a city that’s sure to keep you on your toes.
