🤠 Howdy, Thursday!

☀️ Today's weather: Sunny, with a high of about 84 and a low of 60.

🎂 Happy birthday to our member Becky Eisenberg!

🗣️ Situational awareness: Harris County judge candidates Letitia Plummer and Orlando Sanchez will debate at 7pm tonight and will air live on PBS TV Channel and other digital platforms.

Today’s newsletter is 833 words — a 3-minute read.

United Airlines opens its new Terminal B North Concourse at Houston's Bush Airport today, wrapping up a major phase of the $2.6 billion redevelopment.

Why it matters: After roughly two years of construction, the new concourse replaces decades-old facilities and gates and adds modern amenities and more space for travelers.

The big picture: The new three-level, 765,000-square-foot concourse features 22 gates designed to accommodate larger aircrafts.

• United says the transformation will increase the number of passengers it can accommodate on peak travel dates in 2026 by 40% compared with 2023.

Zoom in: The new concourse also features a United Club nearly the size of a standard American football field — the largest airline lounge in the Americas, per the airline.

• The project also includes improvements to Terminal B South, including accommodations for larger regional aircraft and additional jet bridges.
• Other upgrades include baggage-tracking technology, jet bridges for every United flight in North Concourse, expanded curbside and roadway capacity, a ground-level check-in area and a traffic bypass between Terminals B and A.

What they're saying: "This is a really important market for us," United CEO Scott Kirby tells Axios. "We've been here a long time, and it's important to invest in it and make it better for customers."

• Phil Griffith, United's vice president of airport operations at its Houston hub, tells Axios the new gates will allow the airline to serve more destinations with larger planes.
• "The frequency of flights will grow, and the route destinations will grow as well," Griffith said.

State of play: United continues to expand in Houston, where it serves 65 international destinations, including 57 in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Follow the money: United says it has invested more than $3.5 billion at Bush Airport since 2015.

• The Terminal B transformation was funded through a combination of airline and city investments.

What's next: The lobby and all the restaurants in the refreshed terminal will be open by the new year.

• Griffith said the road construction and traffic detours are largely over.

The redesigned Terminal B North Concourse at Bush Airport is flashy, spacious and full of new amenities.

Why it matters: United Airlines designed the upgraded space to make travel more comfortable, with Houston restaurants, public art, family-friendly amenities.

Zoom in: Here's a look at what's inside the new concourse:

• A massive United Club: The 54,000-square-foot lounge seats 800 travelers and features two bars, two buffets, 11 private phone rooms and a 1,350-square-foot outdoor terrace overlooking the airfield.
• Houston restaurants: Travelers can grab food from local favorites including Blood Bros. BBQ, B&B Butchers, Rosie Cannonball and Pizaro's Pizza, along with Katz Coffee and Blue Bell ice cream.
• Public art: A $16.8 million art program, the largest in Bush Airport's history, features 10 major installations inspired by Houston's bayous, culture and history, per United.
• Family-friendly spaces: A children's play area and sensory room offer places to play, unwind or take a break from the airport's hustle and bustle.
• The concourse also has a nursing room and a service animal relief area.

🏀 The Houston Comets have landed Frost Bank as a founding partner of the returning WNBA team as the bank extends its partnership with the Houston Rockets. (Houston Business Journal)

🏭 Sugar Land is moving forward with plans to preserve the century-old Imperial Sugar Char House, which has sat vacant for more than two decades. (Houston Public Media)

🗳️ Neil Bush, brother of former President George W. Bush, said he voted for Democrat James Talarico in Texas' U.S. Senate race, citing concerns about Republican Ken Paxton's record. (Houston Chronicle)

🛍️ Shop handmade goods at the Contemporary Handweavers of Houston's Fall Artisan Market, featuring jewelry, woven accessories and home decor.

• Friday-Sunday. Times vary.

🩰 Watch the Joffrey Ballet perform Alexander Ekman's "Midsummer Night's Dream," a contemporary take on the traditional Swedish midsummer celebration.

• Performing Arts Houston. Friday and Saturday. Limited tickets starting at $49 are available.

🚲 Bike through Houston during the annual Park to Port Bike Ride, a 20-mile round-trip ride along the Bayou Greenway from Hermann Park to Mason Park.

• Starts at 8am Saturday. $50 registration.

🐐 Play with animals at a free petting zoo and Halloween market hosted at William Price Distilling.

• Noon-6pm Saturday.

🎃 Get spooky at M-K-T's seventh annual Hike, Bike & Fright Fest, featuring a trick-or-treat trail, costumes and family-friendly entertainment.

• 2–5pm Saturday. Free.

🍬 Collect treats at Rice Village for its first village-wide Trick-or-Treat on Saturday. Participating merchants will have branded window clings.

• 4-7pm. Come in costume and bring a bucket for candy from participating businesses. Free.

Thanks to Bob Gee for editing this newsletter.

🪄 Shafaq still hasn't decided on her Halloween costume.