Every once in a while, Houston really challenges its citizens with its oddities. For this month’s Only in Houston, we’re looking into the stars, while catching glimpses of cheeks.

Clothing optional, bikes mandatory

Houston’s fight for safe biking infrastructure has been brewing for some time, with local organizations advocating for bike lanes and protective barriers on roads dominated by cars. But bikers took the battle up a notch this year, using September’s World Naked Bike Ride Houston to protest recent policy changes under Houston mayor John Whitmire. The nude(ish) 12-mile ride stretched from East End to Downtown and encouraged riders to go “bare as you dare” to highlight the vulnerability of cyclists and pedestrians on roads. Bike enthusiasts showed up and showed out, riding bikes topless, donning neon thongs and helmets, cheeks out and all. Safety first, clothing second.

Baby fever!

2025 has been a banner year for the Houston Zoo, which has seen an adorable baby animal boom in recent months. In August, the zoo celebrated the successful hatching of a boat-billed heron chick. Two weeks later, it welcomed a male okapi calf into its habitat—a major win for the endangered species native to Central Africa. Also born this summer: a Baird’s tapir named Norah and a rare eastern bongo calf named Hamish. Baby shower plans haven’t been announced, but maybe we should all chip in on a nice stroller.

The stars say…Rockets win

Houston basketball fans, rejoice: An astrologer predicts a stellar season for the Rockets. The social media–famous astrologer and major sports fan  known as “The Zodiac GM” has evaluated the team’s “moon signs and elements,” and the future is lookin’ good, according to a Chron.com report. The Zodiac GM noted that newly traded power forward Kevin Durant has “the right energy” for head coach Ime Udoka and should also complement those of Amen Thompson and Alperen Şengün. Have doubts? The possibly clairvoyant sports fan predicted the Rockets’ 2017–2018 record season and a “misalignment” between Milwaukee stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard before the 2024–2025 season, Lillard’s last with the Bucks.