Not every city magazine in America would publish a cover story on the great outdoors in September, but then again, 1) Houstonia isn’t every city magazine, and 2) Houston isn’t every city. For most places, September signals a time of retrenchment, a time to batten down the hatches and get ready for that long winter’s nap. Not here. We’ve been battening down all summer—it’s time to throw open those doors and rekindle our relationship with nature. And while not every city magazine in America would equate rekindling a relationship with killing animals, 1) Houstonia isn’t every city magazine, and 2) you get the idea. Anyway, whatever your feelings for the flora and fauna outside your door, we bet you’ll find something on the next few pages to make you want to raise the shades and head out into the light. Why not? In Houston, it might as well be Spring. —Scott Vogel