Family-owned restaurant Jonathan's the rub opened its fourth Houston location Dec. 10 in Bridgeland Central, a commercial hub within the Cypress master-planned community.

Read all about it: Founded by chef Jonathan Levine, Jonathan's the rub brings classy comfort cooking to Bridgeland with over 5,500 square feet of interior space and two patios, according to a Dec. 10 news release.

The new restaurant located at 20215 Bridgeland Creek Parkway, Cypress, also includes private dining rooms, a bar and indoor-outdoor space with fire and greenery, according to the release.

On the menu: Described as "new American fare with a global twist," Jonathan's the rub offers scratch-made dishes including hand-cut steaks, fresh seafood, pastas and salads, according to the news release. The restaurant also serves craft cocktails, rotating draft beers and a curated wine selection from an in-house sommelier.  

Quote of note: “We were looking for the next frontier—a community with a booming population and a clear vision for growth that aligns with our brand,” Levine said in a statement.  

Cy-Fair ISD officials and community members welcomed three new faces to the board of trustees Dec. 11.

In case you missed it: Recently elected trustees Lesley Guilmart, Cleveland Lane Jr. and Kendra Camarena were sworn in during a Dec. 11 board work session, marking the official start of their four-year term. 

Shortly after the swearing-in ceremony, the board unanimously elected Trustee Julie Hinaman to serve as board president. Hinaman was first elected as a CFISD trustee in 2019 and is currently serving her second term. Additionally, the board elected Lane vice president and Guilmart secretary.

Quote of note: “My primary focus is to build trust with our community [and] ensure the board works collaboratively to best serve the students, staff, taxpayers and stakeholders in the district,” Hinaman told Community Impact. 

Stay tuned: The board will meet Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. in the Mark Henry Administration Building for its regular meeting, where it will take action on items discussed during the work session. 

Pending single-family sales in the Greater Houston area rose 7.2% year over year in November, according to the Houston Association of Realtors’ November 2025 Housing Market Update released Dec. 10. Meanwhile, single-family home sales decreased year over year in November from 6,499 to 6,347, according to the report.

What else: In terms of home prices, the median home price decreased 1.5% to $325,000, according to the report.

Quote of note: “Houston’s housing market is setting into a balanced pace,” HAR Chair Shae Cottar with LPT Realty said via news release. “Buyers now have more time, more options and a little more breathing room to negotiate. Sellers are still attracting offers, but realistic pricing and expectations make all the difference.”

Sonia Lopez was appointed by Harris County commissioners Dec. 11 to serve as one of the county's civil court judges to fill a vacancy as the presiding judge runs as one of the Democratic nominees for Harris County attorney.

Quote of note: Lopez, standing beside her family, told court members that she will work hard to earn the trust of Harris County residents.

“I have to thank my parents who taught me the value of hard work,” Lopez said. “They came to this country to live the American dream, and I think they have accomplished that.”

The setup: The appointment comes as presiding Civil Court Judge Audrie Lawton Evans formally entered the 2026 primary election by Texas’ Dec. 8 candidacy filing deadline. Six total races are being contested by both Democratic and Republican candidates across the March primary elections, including the Harris County attorney position.

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from this week? Check out five trending stories in the Greater Houston area from Dec. 8-12.

A sneak peek: Vegas Texas Casino officials said the practice-style casino has plans to open between Dec. 15-Jan. 1 in Cypress pending receipt of its Certificate of Occupancy and TABC license. The casino is fully compliant with all Texas gambling and sweepstakes laws, and no gambling of any kind is offered, officials said. 

In case you missed it: On Jan. 1, drivers will see an increase in toll rates, according to a Nov. 18 news release from the Harris County Toll Road Authority. The toll rate increases are along the Montgomery County Toll Road Authority’s portion of Hwy. 249. 

Craving something new? From a new sushi spot to a rebranded Mexican birria locale, Community Impact compiled six dining updates across the Greater Houston area, including restaurants that recently opened or are coming soon.