The Best Texas Swimming Holes

20 incredible lakes, rivers, and spring-fed pools for summer Trying to decide which swimming hole to pick for your next getaway? We’ve got options—lots of them. Plus: A guide to our ever-changing downtown, and Omar Afra's fall from grace.

In this issue:

Arts & Culture

Lights Out

How to Kill a Music Festival

For a moment, Day for Night was beloved by Houston and the world. Then a #MeToo-style reckoning launched its founder’s spectacular fall from grace, revealing just how shaky his empire was in the first place. Where does the city go from here?

06/26/2019 By Morgan Kinney

Happy 243rd Birthday, America!

How Will You Celebrate Fourth of July This Year?

Houston has an Independence Day celebration for everyone.

06/25/2019 By Timothy Malcolm

Ice House

Our Hopes and Dreams for the Upcoming Destiny's Child Musical

The drama! The Houston landmarks! The 2000 appearance on Cribs! We want it all.

06/25/2019 By Abby Ledoux

Music

The Houston Symphony Will Honor Selena This Month

Of course, the first performances of The Music of Selena had to be in Texas.

06/25/2019 By Chris Gray

Eat & Drink

Destination: Downtown

Where to Drink Downtown Right Now

Nine of our favorite, can't-lose bars, for whatever mood you're in.

06/25/2019 By Gwendolyn Knapp

Destination: Downtown

Where to Eat Downtown Right Now

Downtown is now a foodie paradise.

06/25/2019 By Timothy Malcolm

Stress Test

What's CBD Coffee Like?

No, it won't make you high. But what does it do?

06/25/2019 By Timothy Malcolm

The Drawl

4 Cocktails You Should Drink to Remember the Moon Landing

Bartenders across town have concocted a variety of NASA-centric offerings to help Houston celebrate that “one small step” right.

06/25/2019 By Dianna Wray

Pour

The Toasted Coconut Promises a Tropical Getaway in Montrose

Seek out the new tiki bar's The Lost Word cocktail.

06/25/2019 By Timothy Malcolm

Restaurant Review

Killen's TMX and Tamales Don Pepe Are Welcome Additions to a Packed Field

Más Tex-Mex, por favor.

06/25/2019 By Timothy Malcolm

Editor’s Note

Editor's Note

Follow These 8 Rules and You'll Fit Right in at Warren's Inn

No. 7: Never question the wisdom of the tough-as-nails female staff. Under any circumstances.

06/25/2019 By Catherine Matusow

Home & Real Estate

Destination: Downtown

The Houstonian's Essential Guide to Downtown

A revamped, revitalized, verging-on-unrecognizable district

06/25/2019 By Houstonia Staff

News & City Life

Destination: Downtown

What You Should Do Downtown This Summer

From festivals to theater to bingo in the park, here is this season’s downtown must-do list.

06/25/2019 By Morgan Kinney

Destination: Downtown

This Handy, Dandy Map Guides You Through the Downtown Tunnels

Everything you wanted to know about the tunnels.

06/25/2019 By Chris Gray

Destination: Downtown

Get to Know Downtown's Newest Parks and Buildings

Five of the coolest projects reshaping the neighborhood.

06/25/2019 By Morgan Kinney

Destination: Downtown

How Downtown Houston Went from Barren to Bustling

Decades of building new parks, sports arenas, bars and restaurants has transformed downtown into a place where Houstonians actually want to live, work and play.

06/25/2019 By Dianna Wray

Ace of Hearts

This World-Renowned Heart Surgeon Has a Few Tricks Up His Sleeve

Magic tricks, that is.

06/25/2019 By Jeff Balke

Dept. of Curiosities

We Found the City’s Most Unique Bike Collector

Timothy Chatman is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to preserve—and expand—his two-wheeled obsession.

06/25/2019 By Morgan Kinney

Perfect Party

July's Perfect Party: Wait-Do-We-Have-FOMO Edition

We want to be at all the things all the time this month.

06/25/2019 By Catherine Matusow

The room where it happened

You Can Now Walk Around the Apollo Mission Control Room at Space Center Houston

Thanks to the town of Webster, a Kickstarter campaign, and help from many, many Houstonians, the room looks exactly as it did when Neil Armstrong touched down on the moon.

06/25/2019 By Dianna Wray

Ice House

Houston Is the Card Skimmer Capital of the Nation. What Is Being Done About It?

“It’s not only getting more frequent, but technology is constantly evolving. We haven’t kept up.”

06/25/2019 By Gwendolyn Knapp

Bayougraphy

What’s Kept Chef Manabu Horiuchi at Kata Robata for a Decade? Freedom.

“The Japanese see a young chef and think lower quality. Americans see a young chef and don’t care. They want to eat the food and then be the judge. It’s nice for me.”

06/25/2019 By Gwendolyn Knapp

Travel & Outdoors

Destination: Downtown

We Don't Know What the New Downtown Park Will Be Called, But We're Excited About It

Expect quite a bit of lounging room, covered and open seating, a B-Cycle Station and bike-repair area, a fenced-in dog run, and a casual café with indoor and outdoor seating.

06/25/2019 By Gwendolyn Knapp

Destination: Downtown

We Need to Save Sam Houston Park

Come on, H-Town. This is your history.

06/25/2019 By Gwendolyn Knapp

Dive Right In

20 Texas Swimming Holes to Cool You Off This Summer

It’s that time of year again, Houston, when the weather is downright relentless and we have to escape. But don't despair: There are many cool, clear, refreshing lakes, rivers, and spring-fed pools to enjoy right here in this beautiful state of ours.

06/25/2019 By Morgan Kinney, Gwendolyn Knapp, Nicki Koetting, Abby Ledoux, Catherine Matusow, Laura Furr Mericas, and Dianna Wray