Now through Jan. 16 at Reliant

Yacht or pontoon? Discover your boating style at the Houston Boat Show

Look out, Beyoncé.
Glitter seats. Good for Snooki, not for me.
Boats should not have crazy speakers. Or wings.
Trim and adorable, with gleaming wood paneling, mid-century crafts like the"Burban & Water" look like something out of a classic preppy catalog.

I walked into Reliant Center with the autotuned strains of T-Pain and Lonely Island singing "I'm on a Boat!" in my head.

The Houston International Boat, Sport & Travel Show is the largest indoor boat show in the country (as well as one of the oldest) and the perfect place to indulge my inner boat enthusiast.

But in a room with dinghies, yachts and everything in between, there was only one question: What kind of boater am I?

First there's the low-slung, practical pontoon boats, some of which are decorated in a woodsy camo theme that matches my late-90s cargo pants. I could cross it off because I'm not going boat-bound to hunt or fish, but the name "pontoon" seals the deal. The word itself sounds like something smelly you find in the back of your fridge. Pon-toooooon.

Next I discover an entirely different kind of boat. Full of glitter seats, add-on speakers, and bright, flaming paint jobs of red, lemon yellow, hot pink and electric blue, I've wandered into the land of Hummers on water. I'm sure there's plenty of cooler storage (the better to shotgun a Natty Light, brah) and a wicked sweet sound system that may or may not come with Journey tunes pre-loaded, but these boats will never be my style. If I rejected a pontoon because it was ugly, I'm rejecting these floating disasters because they hurt my eyes.

Instead I'm quickly drawn to the beautiful boats on display from the Antique & Classic Boat Society. Trim and adorable, with gleaming wood paneling, mid-century crafts like the "Burban & Water" look like something out of a classic preppy catalog, like they'd be the preferred toy of a Kennedy (and not just because it's named after a cocktail). I imagine jaunts off the coast of Martha's Vineyard with a blazer-clad Hugh Dancy with my hair wrapped in a Hermés scarf.

But if glamor is what I'm looking for, there's no substitute for a yacht. Near the middle of the room sit the biggest, most luxe boats at the show. Even the carpeting between the just-impressive and the awe-inspiring vessels is littered with gold coins, as if to remind visitors that they better have plenty of coin to dream this big.

I climb up to the biggest boat, a 39-foot two-story yacht. It's the kind of boat Jay-Z and Beyoncé are seen lounging on in St. Barths. If the classic boats are old luxury, this yacht is all about modern glam. I belong here. But even though this is the best deal to get on a boat — prices are lowest at the winter boat show because boat dealers and factories give the best incentives to clear out inventory for the new models — the $400k is still a little out of my price range.

Oh well. I may not being going home with a boat anytime soon (sorry, T-Pain!). But I can hang out on the top deck for a while, pretend the halogen lights are the Mediterranean sun, close my eyes, and dream.

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tapping into safety

Bike trail connecting EaDo and Third Ward shines with new lights

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Solar lamps will light up the Columbia Tap Trail before the FIFA 2026 World Cup, with more to come.

The Columbia Tap Trail is getting safer and brighter. The Greater Southeast Management District and the East Downtown Management District announced on Monday that Phase 1 of their Columbia Tap Trail Comprehensive Improvement Initiative had begun, which will install 50 solar powered lights along the trail before the start of the FIFA 2026 World Cup with more to come later.

"The Columbia Tap Trail is more than a bike path. It is a vital artery connecting communities that have shaped Houston's history," said Brian Smith, board chair of the Greater Southeast Management District. "This project demonstrates what's possible when districts, city officials, and federal partners work together to create safer, more accessible public spaces. This $7.5 million investment isn't just about lighting. It's about building a trail that serves our neighborhoods for generations. With the world's eyes on Houston this summer, we're proud to showcase infrastructure that will serve our community long after the final whistle."

When completed later this fall, Phase 1 will have installed 300 new lights along the 10-foot-wide paved parkway. Further improvements as part of Phase 1 will include emergency call boxes, improved signage, and safety features at the various intersections.

Houston is in the midst of a massive expansion of both its public parks and access to the city through walking and bike paths. The Columbia Tap Trail is a 4-mile trail from Dixie Drive to Emancipation Avenue that serves as an important artery for Third Ward and East Downtown. It follows the path of the old Tap and Brazoria Railway, a vital method of exporting goods from Houston that was largely built by enslaved Black Texans. Naturally, Black communities sprang up around the trail, making it a hub of accessibility for generations to come.

Improving the trail opens up alternative and safer paths than driving to destinations like Hermann Park, the Houston Zoo, and the Houston Museum of Natural Science thanks to links to the Brays Bayou Hike and Bike Trail at the southern end, as well as numerous schools, neighborhoods, and small businesses. Along with the Hill at Sims and the larger Bayou Greenway Network, Houston greenspaces and parks are becoming thoroughfares. Houston Council Member Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, who frequently uses the trails, applauded the city's commitment to improving and revitalizing the trail system.

"The Columbia Tap Trail has long been a priority for our office because it directly impacts public safety, mobility, and quality of life for the neighborhoods it connects," she said. "As someone who lives in the District of Destination and personally uses this trail, I understand firsthand how important these improvements are to the residents, students, workers, families, and visitors who rely on this corridor. Nearly two years ago, we brought this need to Mayor John Whitmire, and I am grateful that he recognized the importance of this historic trail and worked with us to move these improvements forward."

parks sustainability