Axios Houston

August 08, 2024
๐ถ๏ธ Here's Thursday. The weekend is in sight!
๐ซ Today's weather: I'm melting. You're melting. We're all melting with a high near 100.
Today's newsletter is 924 words โ a 3.5-minute read.
1 big thing: Breaking down breaking
Breaking makes its debut at the Paris Olympics tomorrow, showcasing hip-hop culture like never before. Since it's a fresh addition, here's a quick rundown of how it all works.
Why it matters: Houston has its own stars in the limelight โ one as a competitor and one as a judge.
The big picture: For the first time in Olympic history, 32 breakers (16 B-boys and 16 B-girls) will compete in one-on-one battles.
- Athletes from the U.S., China, the Netherlands, South Korea and Australia will compete against each other.
Zoom in: Jeffrey Louis, known as B-Boy Jeffro, is one of the four breakers competing for Team USA. He qualified for the team at the June Olympic Qualifier Series in Budapest, Hungary.
- Louis, from Alief, found his passion for breaking at Westside High School. He says growing up in Houston influenced his moves.
The intrigue: Longtime breaker and Houstonian Moy Rivas is also in Paris, but as a judge.
- Rivas, the founder of Break Free Worldwide, has been a dedicated breakdancer and competitor for years. Now, he'll have the opportunity to judge and witness breaking being taken seriously on the Olympic stage.
What they're saying: "They're going to be able to see that it's much more than this circus act, it's actually special," Rivas told Fox26. "These kids and young men and women are actually pouring their heart into this."
What's next: The women's competition begins tomorrow and the men's begins Saturday.
Here are some terms to know:
- A battle is a one-on-one competition between two breakers, made up of multiple rounds.
- A throwdown is a 60-second freestyle routine.
- A round is two throwdowns (one from each breaker).
- Popular moves include the top rock, down rock, flare, air flare and freeze.
- Biting means to copy another breaker's moves.
- Crashing is when a breaker makes a mistake.
- The emcee and the DJ ensure audience engagement and crowd energy.
2. Airport museum fundraising to repair storm damage
Houston's historic 1940 Air Terminal Museum has been in better shape.
The big picture: Beryl left the museum, located inside the city's original art deco municipal airport building at Hobby Airport, with water and wind damage.
- The facility is insured, but the Houston Aeronautical Heritage Society, which runs the museum, is facing "significant" deductibles.
Driving the news: The nonprofit is asking the public to chip in through GoFundMe.
- The campaign, which kicked off July 26, has a goal of raising $25,000, but as of Wednesday it had raised only $700.
Catch up quick: The museum houses exhibits on Houston's storied aeronautic past.
- That includes the proliferation of home-grown airlines and the training of Women Airforce Service Pilots during World War II.
๐ญ Jay's thought bubble: Back in 2021, having never visited the museum, I nuzzled my way into spending a day there by pitching a story on the museum's little-known features and factoids.
- That day, I learned five new things about Houston, and I often remember the impact reporting that story had on me โ from a renewed respect for retro knickknacks to the importance of preserving the city's historic infrastructure.
The bottom line: With a city infatuated with destroying its built history, here's one way to help preserve it.
3. Astros keep Silver Boot another year
The Astros secured one final victory against the Texas Rangers yesterday, continuing their regular-season dominance over the American League West foe.
Catch up quick: The teams entered Wednesday's matchup in Arlington tied in the three-game series (1-1) and overall for the 2024 season (5-5).
- The two won't meet again in the regular season, meaning the winner went on to win the otherwise inconsequential Lone Star Series and coveted Silver Boot.
Spoiler alert: The boot's staying in Houston.
- The Astros took an early lead and kept the Rangers at bay in yesterday's 6-4 victory.
- Several Astros had a multi-hit game, and newly acquired starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi recorded eight strikeouts in 5.1 innings.
Flashback: The Astros last year were unable to secure a victory in the American League Championship Series against the Rangers, who went on to win the 2023 World Series.
Yes, but: This being Houston's eighth consecutive season to win the Lone Star Series solidifies the team's dynastic strength all while Rangers fans ward off criticism that last year's World Series victory was a fluke.
The bottom line: We'd say "see y'all in October" to Rangers fans, but with a 4% chance of them making the playoffs, what's the point?
4. Bayou Buzz
๐ A federal judge dismissed most of the claims in a lawsuit brought by a Black high school student who alleged that Barbers Hill school officials discriminated against him when they punished him for refusing to change his hairstyle. (Houston Public Media)
๐๏ธ Houston ISD says the number of D- and F-rated schools dropped by two-thirds in preliminary Texas Education Agency scores. Meanwhile, the number of A- and B-rated schools roughly doubled. (Houston Landing)
๐งพ Acclaimed Thai eatery Street to Kitchen is ditching its 22% service charge after it was spotlighted by the New York Times. (Chron)
5. Weekender Guide
๐ Party to Chappell Roan's top hits tomorrow at the House of Blues' Pink Pony Club night.
- 9pm. $17.
๐ Or if you're having a brat summer, rave at Warehouse Live Midtown to Charlie xcx's bops.
- 9pm Saturday. $25.
๐ฑ Scare yourself at the Houston Horror Film Fest at Houston Marriott Westchase all weekend.
- Day pass is $40.
๐โโ๏ธ Sweat it out and do mat Pilates at the POST rooftop Sunday.
- 11am. Free.
๐ฆ Drink a cocktail and hang with dinos at the Mixers & Elixirs event at the Houston Museum of Natural Science tomorrow.
- 7-10pm. $25.
Thanks to Chloe Gonzales for editing and Khalid Adad and Aurora Martรญnez for copy editing this newsletter.
๐ฅ Shafaq is refreshing this Axios Summer Olympics medal tracker.
โ๏ธ Jay has the travel bug.
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