There are a lot of special years in Houston's history, but 1987 might be one of the most memorable. Emerging from a recession spurred by a dramatic drop in the price of oil, the city exhibited its can-do spirit with a series of projects and special events that forged its future. The dramatic Wortham Theater Center, financed almost entirely f...

Many people don't realize it, but Houston is a great place for writers. The Bayou City has inspired a wide range of popular authors, from Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove, Terms of Endearment and dozens of other novels) to Justin Cronin (The Passage and The Twelve, which comes out in October). This special series highlights the thriving Houston...

Sure the weather is hot but summer means fun — whether you stay in Houston or plan some great getaways. During the month of May, we discuss a lot of ways to make summer in Houston more enjoyable. We look at ideas to stay cool, from air-conditioned museums to the best picnic spots, offer a guide to the summer's hottest movies, books (in paper...

Fad? Trend? Or the hallmark of a changing way of life? During Earth Month, CultureMap examines what green living means in the 21st century. We've asked our staff and a wide range of contributors to sort through the clutter and explain what going green means. Everyday people tell us how — and why — they have made green living a big part...

Hidden Houston, an interactive multimedia series created by CultureMap in partnership with Houston's Voice, employs a combination of video, photo essays, audio and text to reveal the many things that are unique about the Bayou City and the surrounding area. The series explores the wonderfully inventive and inspiring attractions and inhabitan...

The FotoFest 2012 Biennial salutes contemporary Russian photography during a six-week span of hundreds of exhibitions and events throughout Houston. In this CultureMap special editorial series, staff writers and contributors highlight the many different events, ranging from opening night (March 16) to the International Fine Print Auction (March ...

Saddle up, it's rodeo time in Houston! For nearly a month, the Bayou City returns to its roots with the 80th annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. In this special CultureMap editorial series, we embrace the cowboy spirit with a vengeance. We examine the city's western heritage and why it endures, look at cool western wear and boots, r...

February is The Love Month, and it's not just because Valentine’s Day falls in the middle. In this special editorial series, we celebrate everything that has to do with love as we feature some great love stories and investigate how the search for romance never ends. CultureMap staffers and contributors also offer a compendium of the things w...

Even though Houston is turning 175, it's a young city by most standards. With a year-long celebration that began last summer and continues this August, we think it's a great opportunity to examine what makes the Bayou City unique and so intriguing. In this special editorial series, CultureMap writers and contributors look at great moment...