Convenience Big Store: A Sonic the Hedgehog-themed pop-up cafe is coming to Katy

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The value of gold is soaring. Should we be investing in it?

Weird things happen in an uncertain economy.

Interest rates are doing crazy things to the housing market, grocery prices are so high they could be in low-level orbit, and people have reverted back to prospecting for gold.

Soaring gold prices have Americans seeking out gold bullion, my colleague Erica Grieder reports.

The general idea is that, in a volatile market, gold still holds value. Even if the world becomes a bad 90s disaster film, the logic stands, we can just go back to battering with shiny metal.

It sounds a bit alarmist, but apparently financial experts actually agree with the idea.

"For many Americans, precious metals have an almost atavistic attraction: in the event of a societal crisis, bartering with cryptocurrency might be tricky," Erica writes. "But in general, according to many investment experts, it's good to have a bit of gold — actual gold, in the form of bullion or coins — in your portfolio, because it acts as a hedge for other investments."

I'm not sure I see myself purchasing chunks of gold from Costco, but the idea of panning for gold in a river somewhere actually sounds kind of fun. Maybe I'll factor that into this year's vacation plans.

What are your thoughts on gold as an investment? Does this wacky economy have you considering buying bullion? Any chance I'd have success if I start digging for gold? Let's chat about it- especially that last question, because I am legitimately interested.

Claire Goodman, Katy reporter

claire.goodman@houstonchronicle.com

Need to Know

Dining room at Sonic the Hedgehod Speed Cafe pop-up in Katy.

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The Katy Area Economic Development Council building

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Former Katy Area EDC employee sent to prison for embezzling $280K

A former employee of the Katy Area Economic Development Council has been sent to prison for embezzling more than $280,000 from the non-profit.

Smoked pork sausage poboy and smoked boudin at The Best Stop in Katy

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The Best Stop brings real-deal Cajun cuisine to Katy

Until recently, finding classic Louisiana-style boudin could be a challenge in greater Houston. That changed when The Best Stop Cajun Market opened in Katy.

Growing Katy

Outside view of the HEB on Bissonnet in Bellaire

Photo by: Dave Rossman/For The Chronicle

H-E-B planning a large distribution campus just west of Katy

Residents will soon welcome an H-E-B Distribution Campus to Waller County.

Openings and Closings

Exit 4 Escape Room is now open at 1227 Grand West Boulevard. The escape room features four different challenges.

Shout out

Cheers to the Houston SPCA for serving the community for 100 years.

The organization was founded in 1924 and has played an important role in the community since its inception. In the 1930s, it started operating the city's only animal rescue ambulance and continued to stay up with the times over the years. By the 1970s, the organization said it was finding homes for 100 puppies every week. It founded the Wildlife Center of Texas, a rehabilitation center strictly for wildlife, in 2007.

One last thing ...

Thousands of blue blobs are floating onto Corpus Christi shores, my co-reporter Hana Ikramuddin writes.

The porpita porpita, also called the blue button hydrozoan, looks like a jellyfish, but the mostly harmless creature is actually a collection of cells.