From Cowboy Carter to the Beyoncé Bowl, Queen Bey has done a lot recently to remind the world she’s from H-Town.

Yes, you heard us. There are a handful of reasons to embrace our sweltering, scorching, sizzling, surprising (derogatory) climate.

By Emma Balter

Even though Houston is known as the Energy Capital of the World for a reason, other industries are seeing growth, diversifying our local economy and creating
opportunities for new and old residents alike. Here are the top five industries expected to add the most jobs this year, according to the Greater Houston Partnership. —Uvie Bikomo

1. Health Care
2. Construction
3. Professional, Scientific, and Tech Services
4. Government
5. Restaurants

The city is a leader in cancer care and research, with more than 40,000 people coming here each year for treatment.

By Uvie Bikomo

DJ Screw’s “chopped and screwed” tapes helped change the rap scene on Houston’s southside and simultaneously thrust the city into the spotlight, leading it to become widely celebrated for its hip-hop community. And 25 years after his death, local rappers continue to be inspired by DJ Screw and honor the legacy he left behind. —As told to Sofia Gonzalez

“DJ Screw represents originality and believing in yourself and not being afraid to go against the grain and stand out from the crowd. Screw created a sound that was very singular, and the intention was never really to go nationwide, and because of that, I believe that’s why it spread. [The music] was very intentional and being representative of what his community was all about. It started as a southside of Houston thing, but then it became an overall Houston thing. Then, it became a Texas thing and a national thing. DJ Screw has fans and people that appreciate his music and even incorporate his sound all over the world. Screw represented people that weren’t scared to grow outside of their community and take a chance on themselves.” —Bun B

“[He was] an innovator. He was a person who didn’t mind sharing his platform and helping his brothers. He put us together, and we’re reaping the benefits of being affiliated with him. We appreciate what DJ Screw did. We still holding it down. We still continuing his legacy. No matter where we at, what we got going on, we always keep DJ Screw in our minds and in our hearts, and we keep on promoting him.” —Lil’ Flip

Take Hermann Park, for instance. The Play Your Park campaign raised $55.5 million for lively additions like the Commons, a family-friendly space that opened in April 2024, and the McWilliams Dog Park, which quickly became a hot spot for four-legged Houstonians when it opened in the fall of 2023. Public art now catches your eye at nearly every turn thanks to two new installations by Alyson Shotz and Anthony Suber. Next on the horizon is a large-scale restoration of the beloved Japanese Garden.

And that isn’t the only area experiencing a transformation. Buffalo Bayou Park might be the it girl, but the east side of the bayou has been getting its share of the limelight as the Buffalo Bayou Partnership works on projects that extend its reach. These efforts led to Japhet Creek Park opening last year in Fifth Ward, where locals can enjoy open picnic and play spaces or walk an accessible trail that follows the creek.

A revamped Tony Marron Park will also become a cornerstone of Buffalo Bayou East. Slated to expand from 19 to 40 acres, the park will introduce improved sports facilities, expansive lawns, and new nature play areas for children of all ages. The park has been closed to the public for construction that is expected to conclude in 2027, so we have a lot to look forward to in the coming years. A new bridge will seamlessly connect Tony Marron Park with Japhet Creek Park, the first pedestrian bayou-crossing bridge in the area, helping create a unified green corridor. This ambitious project is part of a $310 million investment by the Kinder Foundation, the City of Houston, and Harris County.

Meanwhile, over at Memorial Park, a running complex at the southwestern arm of the Kinder Land Bridge and Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Prairie was completed last year. The addition includes a 400-meter track, viewing decks, an event space, trails, and a café. These upgrades followed the unveiling of the land bridge in 2023 and the Clay Family Eastern Glades in 2020, both long-anticipated projects. The park’s 10-year plan includes extending the outer loop trails, updating the Old Archery Range, and making stormwater improvements, including ravine and bank stabilization.

But this growth doesn’t stop with the major parks. South of Third Ward, MacGregor Park has been steadily upgrading trails and amenities, making it more inviting for both sports enthusiasts and people who just want to lounge under an old oak tree. Guadalupe Plaza Park in Second Ward, a cultural hub that hosts everything from musical performances to art festivals, will soon welcome Arco del Tiempo, a sundial-like art installation that will serve as a clean-energy solar power source.

With Tony Marron Park set to come roaring back in a bigger, greener way, Buffalo Bayou East becoming more interconnected than ever, Hermann Park’s Japanese Garden on the verge of reclaiming its serenity, and on and on, it seems like we’re constantly welcoming new investments and renovations. And we love Houston for it. —UB

The city funds its art community, and it shows. Here are some of our favorite works about town.

By Meredith Nudo

If you look at a map, Houston is quite literally at the center of everything. The city is about halfway between the coasts; has an international airport giving easy access to so many places in Mexico, South America, and beyond; and boasts tons of airlines that fly out of both Hobby and Bush airports. Based on Houston Airport System data from the second half of 2024 and Google Flight Tracker, here are Houstonians’ favorite locations to travel to, plus a range of flight costs. —SG

TOP 5 DOMESTIC DESTINATIONS

1. Denver, CO (Frontier, Southwest, United): Find round-trip flights in the range of $70–360.
2. Atlanta, GA  (Delta, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit, United): $50–350.
3. Los Angeles, CA (American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit, United): $80–350
4. Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (American, Frontier, Spirit, United): $50–270
5. Las Vegas, NV (Frontier, Southwest, Spirit, United): $80–700

TOP 5 INTERNATIONAL DESTINATIONS

1. Cancún, Mexico (Frontier, Southwest, Spirit, United): Find round-trip flights in the range of $200–550.
2. London-Heathrow, United Kingdom (British Airways, United): $600–1,400.
3. Mexico City, Mexico (Aeromexico, United, VivaAerobus, Volaris): $200–800.
4. Monterrey, Mexico (United, VivaAerobus): $200–800.
5. San Salvador, El Salvador (Avianca, Spirit, United, Volaris El Salvador): $250–400.

We raise big money for causes we care about. But a little goes a long way, too.

By Uvie Bikomo

Here are some of many ways neighbors have been there for one another during hurricanes and other disasters.

By Meredith Nudo

The city’s restaurant workers could be highly competitive, but instead, there’s a sense of camaraderie that’s unique to Houston.

By Sofia Gonzalez

Our diversity is our strength. Everything great about the city comes from the sheer variety of backgrounds and life experiences represented in our neighborhoods. It exposes us to new ideas, new perspectives, new lessons. But what does the diversity we’re celebrating actually look like? How does it show itself in our day-to-day lives and interactions? Let’s take a peek. —MN

Top 10 Languages Spoken at Home

1. English only: 1,149,875 people
2. Spanish: 795,368
3. Vietnamese: 29,060
4. Chinese dialects, including Mandarin and Cantonese: 27,838
5. Arabic: 17,961
6. Hindi: 10,936
7. French, including Cajun: 9,768
8. Persian, including Farsi and Dari: 7,822
9. Tagalog, including Filipino: 6,433
10. Urdu: 6,230

Fun fact: 46.5 percent of Houstonians speak a language other than English at home.

Sources: City of Houston, US Census Bureau data

Places of Birth Outside the US

1. Latin America: 68.2%
2. Asia: 19.8%
3. Africa: 7.0%
4. Europe: 4.1%
5. North America: 0.6%
6. Oceania: 0.3%

Fun facts: 29 percent of Houstonians were born internationally, and 48 percent of Houston children under the age of 18 live with at least one immigrant parent.

Sources: 2023 US Census Bureau data, Migration Policy Institute

HISD’s Dual-Language/Immersion Options

• Mandarin
• Arabic
• French
• Spanish

Source: Houston Independent School District

Houston Neighborhoods with the Most Foreign-Born Residents

1. Alief: 54,110 people
2. Sharpstown: 41,581
3. Eldridge/West Oaks: 26,709
4. Gulfton: 26,289
5. Mid West: 24,003
6. Northside/Northline: 20,261
7. Central Southwest: 18,884
8. South Belt/Ellington: 18,835
9. Golfcrest/Bellfort/Reveille: 18,008
10. Brays Oaks: 17,853

Sources: City of Houston, 2020 US Census Bureau data

Video Game Museum

96 square feet

Located inside of the Game Over Videogames shop in Upper Kirby, this tiny museum covers most of video game history with its collection of consoles and cartridges.

Most niche museum

National Museum of Funeral History

Where else but the unapologetically weird Houston (sorry not sorry, Austin, we’ve stolen your crown) can you learn all about how the deaths of popes and presidents are commemorated? Or how embalming, gravedigging, and cremation processes have changed over millennia? Exactly.

Smallest collection

Climate Justice Museum

0 permanent pieces

Rather than holding on to a permanent collection, the Climate Justice Museum instead features temporary exhibitions commenting on the intersections between climate change, poverty, race, history, class, geography, and other factors.

Largest collection

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Over 80,000 works

All six of the world’s permanently inhabited continents are represented in MFAH’s massive collection, too, making it as diverse as Houston itself.

Most world-renowned

The Menil Collection

Artists, musicians, and architects from around the world come to Houston specifically to study at the Menil’s 30-acre campus. And people come from all over just to take in the art, too. In 2024 alone, they welcomed 68,000 visitors from out of state and 10,000 visitors from outside the country. —MN

Houston is (still) at the core of Texas’s queer culture and advocacy.

By Meredith Nudo

We chatted with Blackberri and Barry Mii Dandy about what drag means to them.

By Meredith Nudo

Here are our favorite bites under $10.

By Sofia Gonzalez

Mark your calendars for some of our favorite annual events.

By Uvie Bikomo

People like Antasia Adamjee, an organizer with Houston for Palestinian Liberation, have gotten involved in local politics through city council meetings.

By Uvie Bikomo

Founded during the Cold War by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, Sister Cities International aims to promote global peace and trust by pairing
cities in different countries. This program encourages cultural exchange, educational collaboration, and economic partnerships. Here are three of Houston’s 19 sister cities that are making a mark.

Chiba, Japan

Houston’s third-oldest sister city relationship, established in 1972, is represented by the Japan-America Society of Houston (JASH) and is one of the most active pairings of the program to this day. Both port cities, Houston and Chiba have fostered economic and cultural relations through several programs and policies. The University of Houston does joint research with Chiba University faculty, an annual Japanese cultural festival is hosted in Houston, and a year-round language program is available for locals. Most notably, JASH runs an exchange program for middle school–age students for two weeks every other year.

Karachi, Pakistan

Established in 2009, the Houston-Karachi Sister City Association (HKSCA) might be one of H-Town’s youngest sister city relationships, but its impact has been significant. Whether through humanitarian aid or cultural celebrations, these two communities have grown together in many ways. In 2022, after several parts of Pakistan were devastated by floods from a monsoon, the HKSCA mobilized to coordinate donations and supplies from Houstonians, ensuring essentials like food, clean water, and medical supplies reached those most affected. The organization also hosts a yearly Iftar feast, the largest in the US, that breaks Ramadan.

Taipei, Taiwan

Established in 1961, the Houston-Taipei sister city relationship is the oldest for both cities. The Houston-Taipei Society (HTS) has facilitated numerous exchanges and strengthened ties between citizens of the two powerhouses, hosting a range of events, including traditional celebrations like Lunar New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival. HTS also hosts art exhibits, music performances, and educational seminars to deepen understanding and appreciation of Taiwanese heritage. In 1976, to commemorate the US Bicentennial, the city of Taipei gifted the Houston-Taipei Friendship Pavilion, an architectural landmark in Hermann Park. —UB

By Emma Balter

We’re H-Town’s biggest champions, but here are some ways we’d love to see the city get its act together.

By Emma Balter