Good morning, Fort Bend County! In today’s edition: Landry’s Kitchen expansion, gold and silver surge, a wine tasting, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

🏆 Most popular this week

Curated by popular demand — here are this week’s most-clicked events, local spots, and stories.

Southern and coastal fare: Landry’s Kitchen will expand to Sugar Land, replacing Brick House Tavern + Tap. Remodeling is expected to start in February and wrap May 2026, adding a playground and shade features — see what’s planned and when.

Retail destination nears completion: Construction is set to begin on the final expansion of Grand at Aliana in Richmond, adding two anchors including Dick’s Sporting Goods. One is slated to open in late 2026 — get all the details.

Treasure-hunting therapy: When your shelves need personality, Red Queen’s Attic offers 16,000 square feet of antiques, home decor, furniture, and a tranquil garden nook. Rotating finds and a jewelry corner make “just browsing” feel risky… you’ll likely spot something irresistible to take home.

Burrito night upgrade: When the craving hits, Carmelo’s Mexican Grill comes through with burritos you daydream about mid-meeting: fajita beef, carnitas, mole, even shrimp. Breakfast burritos keep early birds happy, too. Consider this your sign to treat yourself sometime this week.

Community support in action: Thirty-one local nonprofits received grants after Fort Bend Junior Service League’s Sugar Plum Market raised $317,000. Remaining funds will support smaller or emergency needs this year — see how funds were distributed.

Quiet decision on tolls: Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority approved a 2026 toll increase by a few cents as part of its annual adjustment. Rates must rise at least 2 percent or Houston CPI — read the full story.

Are you overpaying? The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. I was paying over $300 for ONE car until I checked out various quotes, switched providers, and ultimately cut my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably losing money too — this free comparison tool makes it easy.

Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had it’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150% in 2025… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your portfolio as a market hedge, American Hartford has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.

A new haircare solution: My hair’s been thinning and I’ve been quietly ignoring it, hoping it’ll fix itself. Plot twist… it hasn’t. When I finally started looking into what I should do, there were so many options I didn’t know where to start. I stumbled on Keranique, and its simplicity really sold me. One kit, no pills, no choosing products, and no confusion whatsoever. It’s also on sale with a money-back guarantee (although I doubt you’ll need it).

📆 Sneak peek at next week

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All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

☕ Home Barista 101 @ BlendIn Coffee Club | Monday (1/12) at 6:00 PM – Home Barista 101 is brewing in Sugar Land, a hands-on class covering espresso fundamentals and latte art you can pull off at home. Skip the Highway 6 drive-thru, upgrade your morning ritual, and impress the house with silky pours, proper shots, and fewer foam blobs.

❄ Family Story Time: Winter Wonderland @ Fort Bend County Libraries – Missouri City Branch | Tuesday (1/13) at 10:15 AM – Give the living room a break and pop to the library for a Winter Wonderland family story time with stories, songs, and action rhymes. It’s a quick 30 minutes, perfect for burning off wiggles, and the take-home craft keeps the magic, and the glitter, going.

🎷 The Felix Deleon Quintet @ Doc’s | Tuesday (1/13) at 7:30 PM – Houston’s own Felix DeLeon brings his quintet, with Nicoya Baker, for jazz that hushes a room and loosens shoulders. Rooted in tradition, polished and playful, expect burnished horn lines, sly swing, and the smug satisfaction of a date night done right.

✂ Ribbon Cutting: Care 4U Clinic @ Care4U Clinic | Thursday (1/15) at 12:00 PM – Fresh ribbon, oversized scissors, and a clinic you’ll be glad to have when that “it’s nothing” turns into something. Come help welcome Care 4U Clinic with a little applause, meet the folks caring for us, and claim early adopter bragging rights.

🍷 Sip, Savor, and Salud: An Intro to Spanish and Portuguese Wines @ Total Wine & More | Thursday (1/15) at 6:00 PM – Skip the airport lines and sip your way through Spain and Portugal instead. This guided tasting covers signature varietals, regional quirks, and why Tempranillo, Albariño, and Touriga Nacional deserve space on your rack. Educational, delicious, and pleasantly grown-up, like homework you can swallow.

💎 Jewelry Show @ NRG Center | Friday (1/16) at 12:00 PM – If you’ve been itching to upgrade the jewelry box, the International Gem & Jewelry Show hits NRG Center with dealers, designers, and sparkle. Think loose stones, custom settings, deals, and plenty of temptation. Leave the mall markup, bring patience for NRG parking, and reading glasses.

🌅 Sunset over Snowy Pines @ Painting with a Twist | Friday (1/16) at 6:30 PM – Meet up for Sunset over Snowy Pines, a deep-breath evening where the sky does the work and the trees provide the hush. Bring layers, a thermos, and someone you like. No playlist, just crunching snow, pink alpenglow, and brag-worthy photos.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

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📻 Fort Bend County report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 63°F – Low: 41°F – Precip: 6%

Partly sunny. High near 63, with temperatures falling to around 57 in the afternoon. North wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 62°F – Low: 39°F – Precip: 1%

Partly sunny. High near 62, with temperatures falling to around 59 in the afternoon. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. North wind around 5 mph.

Most popular house this week

All brick estate in Fulshear Run on a one acre premium corner lot with a circular driveway and a 4 car garage. Five bedrooms with ensuite baths include 2 down and 3 up. Dual staircases, two game rooms, and a media room wired for movies. The chef’s kitchen has ceiling height cabinetry with accent lighting, an oversized island, quartz counters, a pot filler, stainless appliances, and a walk in butler’s pantry.

Accordion doors lead to a private backyard with an outdoor kitchen and bar, plus a heated pool and spa. Wood grain tile flows through every room with no carpet. Meticulous condition, it feels brand new.

Take a peek inside →