Construction on Brooklyn Pizzeria, a locally owned and operated Italian restaurant group, is projected to begin in Kingwood in January, according to Dec. 23 filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

The details: The $200,000 project will consist of renovating a roughly 2,500-square-foot space at The Shoppes at Kingsgate, per the filing.

Brooklyn Pizzeria will offer dishes including lasagna, manicotti, baked ziti and spaghetti with meatballs, with all the sauces made in house, according to the company's website. The eatery will also offer several appetizers, including buffalo wings and garlic knots.

What’s next: While a projected opening date is not yet available, construction on the project is expected to wrap up in March, according to the filing.

• 1345 Kingwood Drive, Kingwood

The Kingwood Farmers Market is now under the management of JG Events, officials announced in a Dec. 28 news release.

Meet the owners: Previously managed by the Austin family, the Kingwood Farmers Market will now be managed JG Events, which is owned by the Wertman family. Led by husband and wife Tim and Krystal Wertman and their daughter Kelsey, the company manages and oversees a range of local events including Kingwood's annual In A Pickle Festival. The Wertmans have extensive farmers market experience as longtime farmers market vendors as The Jelly Girl.

"I began my small business journey as a vendor at this very market when it first opened nearly 16 years ago," Krystal Wertman said in the release. "This market helped shape our family, our business and our love for community. Stepping into this role doesn't feel like a change—it feels like coming home."

Check it out: To commemorate the change in management, a community celebration will be held during the Kingwood Farmers Market on Feb. 1.

FIFA World Cup 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most in-demand sporting events in the tournament's history, with over 150 million tickets requested during the Random Selection Draw ticketing phase to date. The figure represents the highest demand in FIFA World Cup history, according to a Dec. 29 news release.

Current situation: The final Random Selection Draw ticketing phase opened Dec. 11, a process that allows first-time fans to apply for single-match tickets based on who is playing whom, where and when for group stage matches.

As of Dec. 29, the draw has already garnered over 150 million ticket requests by fans from over 200 countries, bringing the FIFA World Cup 2026 oversubscribed over 30 times based on verified credit card numbers submitted with each ticket application, per the release.

Get involved: The Random Selection Draw will remain open until Jan. 13 at 10 a.m. Officials noted that the timing of a ticket request does not affect the chances of success.  

United Airlines launched its first nonstop service route from George Bush Intercontinental Airport to Tepic, Riviera Nayarit, Mexico, on Dec. 20, according to a Dec. 22 news release.

The details: With the addition of the route, IAH will now serve as the sole U.S. destination out of the Tepic International Airport, according to the news release. The new route operates once a week on Saturdays, with seasonal service available from mid-December to mid-August. It provides direct access to the Riviera Nayarit region, according to the news release. With the addition of Tepic, United now serves 24 destinations in Mexico and 52 destinations across Latin America from IAH, the news release states.

Also of note: At William P. Hobby Airport, travelers moving through the Central Concourse now have a new sit-down dining option with the December opening of the Yard House, according to a Dec. 22 news release.

Six major roadway projects are being planned, are underway or will kick off soon across the Greater Houston area.

Upcoming projects
1. Mykawa Road widening
Project: Construction on Mykawa Road will consist of roughly 3 miles of a four-lane divided boulevard with storm drainage, signals, lighting, landscaping and a 10-foot shared-use path, among other features.
Update: 90% of design submittals have been received and are being reviewed by Pearland city staff and the Texas Department of Transportation. TxDOT is bidding, constructing and managing the project.

• Timeline: construction slated to start in 2028 with a completion in 2030
• Cost: $21.4 million

• Timeline: Construction will begin in early 2026.
• Cost: $40,000 (design)