Austin could also be Texas’s “bizarre” metropolis, however this month, Houston is giving the capital a run for its cash. Within the latest version of Solely in Houston, Houstonia is holding a magnifying glass to all the things from Galveston’s raccoon infestation, Trump Burger’s dance with ICE, and a restaurant artwork heist. Let’s dig in.
Raccoon colonies?
Going to Galveston requires seeing each vacationer attraction: the large Rainforest Café, Moody Gardens, Margaritaville, and *report scratch* the Seawall’s raccoon colonies? Beloved by vacationers and the web, teams of raccoons close to East Seashore have garnered movie star standing throughout the island, a lot to the chagrin of native officers. Island leaders have reportedly elevated the variety of animal traps close to the seaside, sending on-line “trash panda” followers right into a frenzy. Rumors quickly swirled, and the grapevine started reporting {that a} raccoon bit a baby and Galveston’s raccoons would quickly be euthanized. All rumors, metropolis spokesperson Kurt Koopmann mentioned, have been completely false. No official experiences of a raccoon chunk have been reported, and fortunately, seven trapped animals have been relocated to a wildlife rehab facility. Who knew these pests had such loving followers?
Controversial Trump Burger proprietor faces deportation
Houston’s meals scene was abuzz earlier this 12 months when the controversial restaurant, Trump Burger, introduced its debut within the metropolis. Now, in an ironic accident, proprietor and Trump fan Roland Beainy was arrested by ICE and is vulnerable to deportation. Beainy, initially from Lebanon, is accused of overstaying his visa, which expired in February 2024. Data present that the restaurateur was arrested on Might 16 for immigration fraud on an software. Representatives from the Division of Homeland Safety defined that Beainy utilized for authorized standing by way of a girl he deliberate to marry; nonetheless, proof of marriage or perhaps a relationship between the 2 was not discovered. Beainy has denied the allegations, calling them “90 p.c” unfaithful.
Getting too turnt on the ballpark
Anybody who’s ever been to an Astros sport is aware of that Daikin Park’s margaritas are robust. Latest viral movies confirmed the drink’s efficiency, after exhibiting two Astros followers handed out within the bleachers after just a few too many sips of El Tiempo Cantina’s signature margaritas, which have been a ballpark hallmark for the Tex-Mex franchise since 2022. The favored cocktail has spawned a military of memes on-line, and out of doors of the web, which have impressed restaurant administration to alter their insurance policies. After seeing TikToks of slumped followers, El Tiempo’s basic supervisor, Chris Murray, introduced that the park would restrict margarita gross sales to “one individual per ID.”
An artwork heist at Houston’s oldest bakery
For 95 years, Moeller’s Bakery has been doling out all the things from cookies to king desserts made in its pre–World Warfare II oven. Apart from baked items, the bakery can be recognized for its old style window artwork, which normally pops up for holidays. For July 4, employees hung painted canvases on its home windows, depicting references to the Declaration of Independence and the Invoice of Rights. In a single day, thieves stole the work, dashing off in a black truck and prompting the bakery to file a police report. Supervisor James Atwood mentioned the canvases, which have been painted by a now-retired artist 20 years in the past, are value round $500 per piece.
Shipley’s strikes to California, form of
There’s nothing higher than a glazed doughnut from Shipley. Pillowy smooth, completely candy, and laborious to withstand, Shipley Do-Nuts is heaven on earth. However now, heaven is being despatched straight to Beverly Hills, California. In late July, California non-public fairness agency Levine Leichtman Capital Companions purchased the long-lasting Houston model, leading to groans and cries from doughnut followers on-line. Instantly, Houstonians feared that the sale to an out-of-state firm would wreck these excellent doughnuts altogether. (For context, take into consideration what Whataburger used to style like earlier than it was bought off.) On the brighter facet, this isn’t the primary time Shipley has handed by way of non-public fairness. Initially based and managed by the Shipley household, the model was purchased out in 2021 by Austin-based non-public funding agency Peak Rock Capital. Hopefully, nothing modifications an excessive amount of.
