Check your voter registration, plus a 79¢ lunch and Houston's weekend

This applies if you registered to vote, or changed your address, through the DPS website while renewing your license in the past year. Your paperwork may never have reached the county.

A software problem kept some records submitted through DPS online services from getting to county election officials, and some go back as far as October 2025. Harris County received about 108,000 records. Roughly 33,000 were duplicates, which leaves more than 75,000 to process. It isn't only Harris County: Montgomery County reported 34,780 records.

Why it matters: the deadline to register for the Nov. 3 general election is Monday, Oct. 5. Counties have until early voting starts Oct. 19 to finish processing, but you don't want to find out at the polls.

What to do: check your status at VoteTexas.gov or with your county election office. Officials say to check even if you didn't register recently. If something's wrong, go to your county voter registrar's office, fill out a paper form, and tell them you originally registered through DPS so they can trace it.

What's next: DPS says the issue is fixed but hasn't explained what went wrong. If a problem survives to Election Day, you can cast a provisional ballot while officials research your registration.

About 1,400 home sales went through last week, 21% fewer than the same week last year. About 3,500 homes went up for sale, the same as last year. In total, roughly 37,000 homes are for sale across the Houston area right now.

So people are putting homes up for sale at the usual pace, but fewer are actually selling. If you're shopping, you have more choices and less pressure to decide fast. You have time to look around, get a good inspection, and push back on price.

People are still shopping, though. Open house visits were up 6.2% that week. They're looking. They're just slower to buy.

This is only one week, so don't read too much into it. And these numbers cover the whole Houston area. Inside the Loop, what's for sale can change from one street to the next.

This email is general market information only. It is not tax, legal, or financial advice, and it isn't a recommendation about your specific property or purchase. The market data comes from Houston Association of Realtors Weekly Report; it's believed reliable but not guaranteed and can change quickly. For tax or legal questions, please talk with a qualified professional. For advice on your own situation, book a call. If you're already working with another agent, this isn't meant as a solicitation and you should review with your agent they will better understand your specific circumstances than I will.

Information About Brokerage Services
Texas Real Estate Commission Consumer Protection Notice

Could we finally get that rain we been needing? Forecast shows we might, but Houston has not always delivered. Keep up to date with your chosen forecaster.

The 79-cent pork chop is back Friday.
At 10:30 a.m., each of Perry's six Houston-area locations hands out cards to the first 200 people in line. There are 100 for the pork chop lunch and 100 for the prime rib steak sandwich. You have to be 21 or older, it's dine-in only, and cards must be redeemed by noon. Miss out, and the chop is $24 at its regular price. A local food critic panned the chop last year. People line up anyway, and last time the woman at the front said she got there at 5:30 a.m.

Trill Burgers finally opened on Westheimer.
Bun B's fourth Houston-area location opened Friday at 7616 Westheimer, just west of Hillcroft/Voss, in a former Boston Market. It's the first Trill with late-night hours. It's open 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily for now, and in October the drive-thru will stay open until 3 a.m. Friday through Sunday. Southwest Houston finally gets its own, no drive to Montrose required.

The Astros' season is over.
Chicago swept the best-of-three Wild Card series at Daikin Park. It took Game one 6-3 Tuesday, then won Game two 7-3. It's a quick exit for an 81-81 team that still won the AL West.

Rain is in the forecast again, finally.
Much of the Houston area is abnormally dry, and parts have slipped into moderate drought. Rain chances climb to 60% Thursday and Friday, as leftover moisture from what was once Hurricane Polo meets a slow-moving front. The Weather Service puts local flash-flood risk at marginal to slight, with the heaviest rain likely west of Houston. Our advice: have a rain plan for outdoor weekend events, and don't test your usual flooded underpass.

Jo Koy: Koy Meets World Tour at Toyota Center
🏠 INDOORS
One of the biggest names in stand-up brings his arena tour downtown. Most of his material comes from his family, so expect stories you'll be quoting on the drive home.
📅 Friday, October 2 | 8 p.m., 1510 Polk St.
💵 Ticketed
Get tickets →

Sound Healing Meditation in the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern
🏠 INDOORS
A guided meditation with singing bowls and wind chimes inside the old underground reservoir off Allen Parkway, where the echo does half the work. Bring your own cushion or mat.
📅 Sunday, October 4 | 10–10:45 a.m., 105 Sabine St.
💵 $20
Book a spot

Movie Night on the Lawn: Selena at POST Houston
🌦️ OUTDOORS
Selena on a rooftop lawn with the downtown skyline behind the screen, during Hispanic Heritage Month. You can't plan a more Houston Friday night. Bring a blanket, since lawn chairs aren't allowed, and check POST's socials if it's raining.
📅 Friday, October 2 | 8–10 p.m., 401 Franklin St.
💵 Free with RSVP
RSVP

47th Annual Festival Chicano at Miller Outdoor Theatre
🌦️ OUTDOORS (covered seating available)
Two free nights of Tejano and Chicano music in Hermann Park. Little Joe y La Familia headlines Friday, and David Lee Garza y Los Musicales closes Saturday. If rain shows up, grab a seat under the covered section instead of the hill.
📅 Friday, October 2 & Saturday, October 3 | 7 p.m., 6000 Hermann Park Dr.
💵 Free
See the program

8th Annual Hangar Bash at Lone Star Flight Museum
🏠 INDOORS
A '70s and '80s funk, soul, and disco party surrounded by historic aircraft at Ellington Airport. It's 21 and up, so dress the part.
📅 Saturday, October 3 | 5 p.m., 11551 Aerospace Ave.
💵 From $20
Get tickets

60th Original Greek Festival
🌦️ MOSTLY OUTDOORS
Houston's longest-running food festival takes over Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Montrose for three days of food, dancing, and cathedral tours. Go Friday at lunch, when admission is free for everyone.
📅 Thursday, Oct. 1 | 5–10:30 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, Oct. 2–3 | 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m., 3511 Yoakum Blvd.
💵 $10 adults, kids 12 and under free; free for everyone Friday 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Plan your visit →

Southern Smoke Festival at Discovery Green
🌦️ OUTDOORS
More than 90 chefs, a Grateful Dead theme, and the best single afternoon of eating in Houston, all for a good cause. Proceeds support food and beverage workers in crisis.
📅 Saturday, October 3 | 4–8 p.m., 1500 McKinney St.
💵 $225 general admission
Get tickets →

Rhinoceros at MATCH
🏠 INDOORS
Ionesco's absurdist comedy, where a town's residents turn into rhinos one by one, directed by Houston theater favorite Tamarie Cooper. It's a sharp, funny night in Midtown that costs only what you decide to pay.
📅 Friday, October 2 | 8 p.m. (runs through Oct. 8), 3400 Main St.
💵 Pay what you can
See the show →

Poder Hispano Festival at POST Houston
🏠 INDOORS
A free Hispanic Heritage Month celebration inside POST, with folkloric performances, food from across Latin America, Latino-owned vendors, and kids' activities. Stay for the Piñata Fiesta workshop at 1 p.m. if you've got kids.
📅 Saturday, October 3 | Starts at noon, 401 Franklin St.
💵 Free
See the festival →

Untitled Art, Houston at the George R. Brown
🏠 INDOORS
The contemporary art fair is back downtown for year two, with dozens of galleries from around the world, including plenty from Texas. It's indoors, visual, and a little less predictable than another outdoor market.
📅 Friday–Sunday, October 2–4 | 11 a.m.–7 p.m. (Sunday until 5 p.m.), 1001 Avenida de las Americas
💵 Ticketed
Get tickets →

4th Annual Houston Bluesfest at POST Houston
🌦️ OUTDOORS
Trudy Lynn, Mathias Lattin, and more of Houston's blues lineage on one bill downtown, ending in an all-star finale. It's a strong way to close the weekend.
📅 Sunday, October 4 | 4–8 p.m., 401 Franklin St.
💵 From $28.65
Get tickets →

Happy Hour Fridays at the MFAH
🏠 INDOORS
Wander the galleries in the Museum District, then end at the bar. It's one of the cheapest good Friday nights in Houston.
📅 Friday, October 2 | 5–8 p.m., 1001 Bissonnet St.
💵 $5 drinks (cards only)
See details →

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Ever wonder why Perry's pork chop is so absurdly big? Chris Perry told CultureMap in 2019 that the size was meant to be part of the marketing plan. Taking leftovers home kept his name in your fridge, back when he couldn't afford billboards. culturemap

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