Good Morning H-TOWN! Welcome to the very first edition of Good Morning H-TOWN!—the newsletter that’s here for you, whether you’re conquering the day or just killing time on the toilet. We’ll bring you local events, hidden gems, and everything you need to know to make the most of our amazing city. So, grab your coffee (or an early morning shot - whatever works for you), settle in, and let's make this an amazing week!

H-TOWN HEADLINES

• Announcement: Beyoncé is set to perform during the NFL Christmas Day halftime show at NRG Stadium during the Texans vs. Ravens game. The city is buzzing with excitement, and NRG is rolling out the red carpet with "Queen B" inspired cocktails—curious about what’s on the menu? More on that below ⬇️

• Discovery: A Houston police officer found a deceased man in the back seat of his patrol car outside a city-run drug and alcohol treatment center. The man, believed to be homeless, showed no obvious signs of trauma. An autopsy is pending to determine the cause of death.

• Appointment: President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta, owner of the Houston Rockets and Landry’s restaurant group, to serve as U.S. ambassador to Italy—Tilman, Daddy, can you adopt me? I would thrive in Italy 💅

NATIONAL HEADLINES

• Tragedy: A 50-year-old Saudi doctor drove a car into a crowded Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, killing five people, including a nine-year-old boy, and injuring over 200 others. The suspect, known for anti-Islamic views, was arrested at the scene.

• Homicide: A woman was fatally set on fire while sleeping on a stationary subway train at Brooklyn's Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station. Police are seeking a male suspect, aged 25 to 30, last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, a dark knit hat with a red band, and brown boots.

• Stock Surge: Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT) saw a 147% increase in its stock price last week. The rise was fueled by the company's recent contract with NASA, utilizing its proprietary Dirac-3 technology for advanced data processing and imaging.

• Downfall: XCHG, a Chinese micro-IPO, experienced a sharp decline in its ADR price after its initial rise. According to analysts, XCHG still remains overvalued when compared to competitors. The trend of micro-IPOs from Asian companies has often resulted in significant losses for public investors after their initial hype fades—XCHG just being another example.

Houston is electric with anticipation as we count down to Beyoncé’s highly anticipated halftime performance during the Texans vs. Ravens game on Christmas Day. This isn’t just any game; it’s shaping up to be a citywide event, and for the first time, fans worldwide can join in the excitement as the game streams live on Netflix. Whether you’re watching from the stands at NRG Stadium or hosting a watch party at home, Beyoncé’s star power is set to make this a performance to remember.

To honor our hometown queen, NRG Stadium is pulling out all the stops with custom Beyoncé-inspired cocktails that promise to dazzle your taste buds. But why let the celebration end at the stadium? We’ve done some sleuthing and uncovered the secret ingredients for these signature drinks, so you can recreate the magic in your own kitchen. Here’s what’s on the exclusive menu:

Texas Honey

• 2 ounces TX Blended Whiskey

• ¼ ounce single-press lemon juice

• ¼ ounce honey syrup

• 4 ounces of ginger beer

• Lemon wedge (for garnish)

Blazin’ Cactus

• 1 ½ ounces 1800 Cucumber & Jalapeño  

• ½ ounce Grand Marnier  

• ¼ ounce pomegranate syrup  

• 4 ounces single press lime juice  

• 3 ounces of club soda  

• Lime (cut into a wedge or wheel)  

• 2-3 jalapeño slices (for garnish)  

• Pomegranate seeds (a pinch for garnish)  

Ruby Sparkler

• 1 ½ ounces SKYY Infusions Blood Orange Vodka  

• 1 ounce La Marca Prosecco

• ¼ ounce simple syrup

• 4 ounces single press lime juice

• 3 ounces cranberry juice

• 1 ounce fresh cranberries (for garnish)

Silver Spritz

• 2 ounces Branson Phantom cognac

• ½ ounce Monin Blackberry Syrup

• ¼ ounce simple syrup

• ¾ ounce single-press lemon juice

• 3 ounces of club soda

• 1 ounce fresh blackberries (for garnish)

• ¼ tsp edible silver flakes (for decoration)