Convenience Big Store: The best steak spot in Katy, according to readers

This Katy high school's monster mum almost stole the World Record.

I guarantee you this is the most classically Texas story you'll read all week: a high school in Katy constructed a 20-foot-mum as part of their agriculture class.

A team of students from Morton Ranch High School in Katy created an enormous mum called "Big Bertha," my co-reporter Ralph Green writes, because this is Texas, and of course they did.

While traditional mums are, in theory, supposed to be wearable, Big Bertha stands two-stories high, making her more of a mural than apparel item.

Despite her behemoth size, Big Bertha is not the biggest mum ever to aggrandize homecoming season in Texas. That title goes to a school in Fort Worth with a 22-foot mum.

My favorite part of the story is this very honest quote from Christopher Flores, the agriculture teacher that helmed this massive undertaking: "The giant mum was made of butcher paper, tissue paper, hot glue and desperation."

I hope you find this story as endearing as I do. Something about a bunch of kids working together to honor the Texas mum tradition just warms my heart.

I'd like to extend my kudos to these creative students and their tenacious teacher at Morton Ranch High School for giving us a fun story to kick off the week.

Claire Goodman, Katy reporter

claire.goodman@houstonchronicle.com

Education

Architectural rendering of the new Sugar Land Academic Building 2.

Photo by: SmithGroup

New renderings released for University of Houston's $65M Sugar Land academic building.

The University of Houston Sugar Land's new $65 million academic building, Sugar Land Academic Building 2, is officially under construction.

Need to Know

Filet mignon at Perry's Steakhouse in Katy

Photo by: Courtesy/Perry's Steakhouse

These are Katy's top 5 steak restaurants, according to readers.

Here are the top five best places to order a steak, according to Katy residents.

A pedestrian makes her way through a late afternoon rainstorm downtown on Monday, Sept. 25, 2023 in Houston.

Photo by: Brett Coomer, Staff Photographer

Katy water restrictions have been lifted following heavy rainfall.

The city of Katy has officially lifted all watering restrictions after multiple days of consecutive rainfall.

Openings and Closings

Welcome, Mazajj Organic Coffee, to the Katy area. Mazajj offers traditional Yemeni-style coffee with light bites.

Shout out

Congratulations to the 13 Katy ISD students who won big in the Fort Bend County Fair art competition. Special props go to Brooklyn Tran, a junior at Jordan High School, who emerged as a talented artist for her outstanding work by winning the Reserve Champion award for her piece titled "Sharp Shooter."

One last thing ...

Thank you to everyone who submitted a recommendation for Houston-area Student of the Month. The nominations are closed, and now it's time for readers to vote on the winner.