Outside the Loop

Your guide to the best of the suburbs. Plus: The city's top 55 restaurants, a ride on Amtrak's Sunset Limited, and our readers' pick for Houstonian of the Year.

In this issue:

Arts & Culture

The Drawl

Houston Celebrities You Didn’t Know Were from Here

Beyoncé and Megan Thee Stallion aren’t the only ones. These Hollywood names all got their start right here in the Houston area.

02/12/2026 By Erica Cheng

Suburbia

When The Woodlands Inspired a Grammy-Winning Arcade Fire Album

The Suburbs captures coming of age on the outskirts—megachurches, conformity, etc.

01/12/2026 By Meredith Nudo

Breaking Tradition

Meet the Women Redefining Houston’s Mariachi Scene

All-female mariachi groups are breaking barriers, inspiring young girls, and reshaping Mexican musical traditions.

01/05/2026 By Jason Collins

How-To

Houston’s Step-by-Step Guide to the Texas Two-Step and More

Step into the rhythm with tutorials for the Texas two-step and the viral moves taking over dance floors across the city.

11/25/2025 By Brooke A. Lewis

Limitless

Iconoclastic Artist Robert Rauschenberg Would’ve Turned 100 This Year

The Menil Collection and Port Arthur’s Museum of the Gulf Coast honor the genre-defying artist’s 100th birthday with new exhibitions.

10/16/2025 By Meredith Nudo

Boot Scoot

How Horni Tonk Tuesdays Sparked a Houston Honky-Tonk Revival

Each week, Shoeshine Charley’s Big Top Lounge entertains a diverse crowd of honky-tonk fans who love dancing as much as they do building community.

10/01/2025 By Elisabeth Carroll Parks

Due Diligence

Art Preservation in the Era of Climate Change: Local Museums Speak Out

Rothko Chapel, MFAH, and others are adapting their buildings and conservation practices as extreme weather threatens priceless collections.

09/30/2025 By Meredith Nudo

Behind the Curtain

NEA Grant Cuts Leave Houston Arts Groups Facing Uncertainty

The loss of NEA dollars is pushing Houston arts groups to rethink how they fund performances, exhibits, and education programs.

09/16/2025 By Holly Beretto

Eat & Drink

Bayougraphy

The Story Behind Thomas Bille’s Belly of the Beast in Spring

One of the best chefs in Texas didn’t think cooking was in his future.

01/02/2026 By Sofia Gonzalez

The Restaurant Sprawl

Houston Chefs Are Redefining Dining in the Suburbs

Fine dining and chef-driven restaurants are spreading from Kemah to The Woodlands, giving suburban diners more than just chains.

01/02/2026 By Sofia Gonzalez

Hard Goodbyes

The Saddest Houston Restaurant Closures of 2025

The year brought the end of some of Houston’s most beloved dining spots, from neighborhood pubs to award-winning kitchens.

12/30/2025 By Sofia Gonzalez

On the Dance Floor

Where to Get Your Step On: Houston’s Best Dance Halls and Honky Tonks

Grab your boots—these are Houston’s go-to dance halls and honky tonks for a night of Texas fun.

12/30/2025 By Brooke A. Lewis

The classics

The Top 10 Classic Restaurants and Bars in Houston

These local spots are keeping Houston history alive.

12/22/2025 By Sofia Gonzalez

Brewing Community

In Houston, Coffee Creates Community

With morning raves and chef residencies, Houston cafés are moving beyond lattes to build community through events, dining, and creativity.

09/25/2025 By Sofia Gonzalez

Staff First

Inside Houston’s Restaurants That Put Employees First

Health care, wages, and respect: How Houston restaurateurs are keeping staff supported through uncertain times.

09/09/2025 By Sofia Gonzalez

Home & Real Estate

Life Outside the Loop

Your Ultimate Guide to Houston’s Suburbs

The pros and cons of Houston’s fastest-growing communities.

01/14/2026 Edited by Brittany Britto Garley By Houstonia Staff

Designing Community

How Houston’s Suburbs Are Redefining Neighborhood Life

Developers are reinventing the suburbs with trails, gardens, and porches that foster connection and make the sprawl feel like home.

12/19/2025 By Diane Cowen

News & City Life

(Don’t) Keep on Truckin’

Yes Ma’am, No Ma’am: The Bad—and the Worse—of Houston Transportation

In this special edition of Yes M’am, No Ma’am, we outline all our least favorite aspects of making our way through the sprawl. And then, we weep.

01/13/2026 By Meredith Nudo

City Limits?

Living in the Sprawl: What Counts as Houston?

From Montrose to Katy, the question of where Houston begins—and ends—has never been harder to answer.

12/18/2025 By Erica Cheng

Ever Wonder Why

Why Isn’t Houston Considered Texas’s Weirdest City?

Houston has art cars, chopped and screwed rap, and Montrose block parties—so why does Austin get the crown?

12/03/2025 By Erica Cheng

City of Philanthropy

How Houston Became One of America’s Most Generous Cities

Houston’s resilience and diversity fuel a culture of giving that touches every corner of the city.

11/24/2025 By Erica Cheng

Houston in Formation

Why Houston Can’t Stop Line Dancing

This low-impact tradition is bringing Houstonians together, boosting health, and keeping dance floors packed across the city.

11/24/2025 By Brittany Britto Garley

2025 Houstonian of the Year

Councilmember Edward Pollard Is Our Houstonian of the Year

From street cleanup to implementing job boards, Pollard’s policies have resonated beyond District J.

11/21/2025 By Erica Cheng

Butts & Babes

Only in Houston: Bike Riders in the Buff and a Rockets Win Written in the Stars

The city’s quirks on full display—from bare-it-all bike rides to baby booms at the zoo.

10/15/2025 By Erica Cheng

20 Years Later

When the Cowbell Rang: How Houston Helped Katrina Survivors Find Family

Houston’s shelters turned chaos into connection, creating a blueprint for disaster relief the federal government couldn’t deliver.

08/29/2025 By Erica Cheng and Brittany Britto Garley

Houstorian

How Streetcars and Trolley Lines Shaped Houston

From mule cars to Metro, public transit has always been a part of the city.

08/22/2025 By James Glassman

Travel & Outdoors

West Texas Insider

A Local’s Guide to Marfa: Where to Eat, Drink, and Explore

Beyond Prada Marfa, discover burritos, bars, and an arts scene that made this town famous.

03/09/2026 By Brittany Britto Garley

Choose Your Adventure

A Weekend in The Woodlands

Stay, shop, dine, and play—The Woodlands is your choose-your-own weekend escape.

02/16/2026 By Brittany Britto Garley

Editor’s Note

What Traveling Solo Across Texas Taught Me

A train trip through Texas reminded me that solitude can open the door to connection.

02/05/2026 By Brittany Britto Garley

Sun City Guide

Exploring El Paso: Sun City’s Ultimate Travel Guide

Savor tacos, murals, and Texas border culture and history with a mountainous backdrop.

02/02/2026 By Brittany Britto Garley

Small-Town Stopover

Why Alpine Is Worth a Stop on Any West Texas Road Trip

With mountains, art, and great food, Alpine holds its own next to Marfa.

01/20/2026 By Brittany Britto Garley

Riding Sunset

Riding the Sunset Limited, a Texas Train Ride to Remember

A ride on America’s oldest named passenger train reveals the beauty and the bumps of traveling through Texas, the slower way.

01/06/2026 By Brittany Britto Garley