• Home
  • popular
  • EVENTS
  • submit-new-event
  • CHARITY GUIDE
  • Children
  • Education
  • Health
  • Veterans
  • Social Services
  • Arts + Culture
  • Animals
  • LGBTQ
  • New Charity
  • TRENDING NEWS
  • News
  • City Life
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Home + Design
  • Travel
  • Real Estate
  • Restaurants + Bars
  • Arts
  • Society
  • Innovation
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • subscribe
  • about
  • series
  • Embracing Your Inner Cowboy
  • Green Living
  • Summer Fun
  • Real Estate Confidential
  • RX In the City
  • State of the Arts
  • Fall For Fashion
  • Cai's Odyssey
  • Comforts of Home
  • Good Eats
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2010
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2
  • Good Eats 2
  • HMNS Pirates
  • The Future of Houston
  • We Heart Hou 2
  • Music Inspires
  • True Grit
  • Hoops City
  • Green Living 2011
  • Cruizin for a Cure
  • Summer Fun 2011
  • Just Beat It
  • Real Estate 2011
  • Shelby on the Seine
  • Rx in the City 2011
  • Entrepreneur Video Series
  • Going Wild Zoo
  • State of the Arts 2011
  • Fall for Fashion 2011
  • Elaine Turner 2011
  • Comforts of Home 2011
  • King Tut
  • Chevy Girls
  • Good Eats 2011
  • Ready to Jingle
  • Houston at 175
  • The Love Month
  • Clifford on The Catwalk Htx
  • Let's Go Rodeo 2012
  • King's Harbor
  • FotoFest 2012
  • City Centre
  • Hidden Houston
  • Green Living 2012
  • Summer Fun 2012
  • Bookmark
  • 1987: The year that changed Houston
  • Best of Everything 2012
  • Real Estate 2012
  • Rx in the City 2012
  • Lost Pines Road Trip Houston
  • London Dreams
  • State of the Arts 2012
  • HTX Fall For Fashion 2012
  • HTX Good Eats 2012
  • HTX Contemporary Arts 2012
  • HCC 2012
  • Dine to Donate
  • Tasting Room
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2012
  • Charming Charlie
  • Asia Society
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2012
  • HTX Mistletoe on the go
  • HTX Sun and Ski
  • HTX Cars in Lifestyle
  • HTX New Beginnings
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013
  • Zadok Sparkle into Spring
  • HTX Let's Go Rodeo 2013
  • HCC Passion for Fashion
  • BCAF 2013
  • HTX Best of 2013
  • HTX City Centre 2013
  • HTX Real Estate 2013
  • HTX France 2013
  • Driving in Style
  • HTX Island Time
  • HTX Super Season 2013
  • HTX Music Scene 2013
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013 2
  • HTX Baker Institute
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2013
  • Mothers Day Gift Guide 2021 Houston
  • Staying Ahead of the Game
  • Wrangler Houston
  • First-time Homebuyers Guide Houston 2021
  • Visit Frisco Houston
  • promoted
  • eventdetail
  • Greystar Novel River Oaks
  • Thirdhome Go Houston
  • Dogfish Head Houston
  • LovBe Houston
  • Claire St Amant podcast Houston
  • The Listing Firm Houston
  • South Padre Houston
  • NextGen Real Estate Houston
  • Pioneer Houston
  • Collaborative for Children
  • Decorum
  • Bold Rock Cider
  • Nasher Houston
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2021
  • CityNorth
  • Urban Office
  • Villa Cotton
  • Luck Springs Houston
  • EightyTwo
  • Rectanglo.com
  • Silver Eagle Karbach
  • Mirador Group
  • Nirmanz
  • Bandera Houston
  • Milan Laser
  • Lafayette Travel
  • Highland Park Village Houston
  • Proximo Spirits
  • Douglas Elliman Harris Benson
  • Original ChopShop
  • Bordeaux Houston
  • Strike Marketing
  • Rice Village Gift Guide 2021
  • Downtown District
  • Broadstone Memorial Park
  • Gift Guide
  • Music Lane
  • Blue Circle Foods
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2022
  • True Rest
  • Lone Star Sports
  • Silver Eagle Hard Soda
  • Modelo recipes
  • Modelo Fighting Spirit
  • Athletic Brewing
  • Rodeo Houston
  • Silver Eagle Bud Light Next
  • Waco CVB
  • EnerGenie
  • HLSR Wine Committee
  • All Hands
  • El Paso
  • Houston First
  • Visit Lubbock Houston
  • JW Marriott San Antonio
  • Silver Eagle Tupps
  • Space Center Houston
  • Central Market Houston
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Travel Texas Houston
  • Alliantgroup
  • Golf Live
  • DC Partners
  • Under the Influencer
  • Blossom Hotel
  • San Marcos Houston
  • Photo Essay: Holiday Gift Guide 2009
  • We Heart Hou
  • Walker House
  • HTX Good Eats 2013
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2013
  • HTX Culture Motive
  • HTX Auto Awards
  • HTX Ski Magic
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2014
  • HTX Texas Traveler
  • HTX Cifford on the Catwalk 2014
  • HTX United Way 2014
  • HTX Up to Speed
  • HTX Rodeo 2014
  • HTX City Centre 2014
  • HTX Dos Equis
  • HTX Tastemakers 2014
  • HTX Reliant
  • HTX Houston Symphony
  • HTX Trailblazers
  • HTX_RealEstateConfidential_2014
  • HTX_IW_Marks_FashionSeries
  • HTX_Green_Street
  • Dating 101
  • HTX_Clifford_on_the_Catwalk_2014
  • FIVE CultureMap 5th Birthday Bash
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2014 TEST
  • HTX Texans
  • Bergner and Johnson
  • HTX Good Eats 2014
  • United Way 2014-15_Single Promoted Articles
  • Holiday Pop Up Shop Houston
  • Where to Eat Houston
  • Copious Row Single Promoted Articles
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2014
  • htx woodford reserve manhattans
  • Zadok Swiss Watches
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2015
  • HTX Charity Challenge 2015
  • United Way Helpline Promoted Article
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Fusion Academy Promoted Article
  • Clifford on the Catwalk Fall 2015
  • United Way Book Power Promoted Article
  • Jameson HTX
  • Primavera 2015
  • Promenade Place
  • Hotel Galvez
  • Tremont House
  • HTX Tastemakers 2015
  • HTX Digital Graffiti/Alys Beach
  • MD Anderson Breast Cancer Promoted Article
  • HTX RealEstateConfidential 2015
  • HTX Vargos on the Lake
  • Omni Hotel HTX
  • Undies for Everyone
  • Reliant Bright Ideas Houston
  • 2015 Houston Stylemaker
  • HTX Renewable You
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • HTX New York Fashion Week spring 2016
  • Kyrie Massage
  • Red Bull Flying Bach
  • Hotze Health and Wellness
  • ReadFest 2015
  • Alzheimer's Promoted Article
  • Formula 1 Giveaway
  • Professional Skin Treatments by NuMe Express

    Pick Five (Plus)

    Your weekly guide to Houston: Cinco de Mayo goes bingo, Spanish folk dances andDragon Boats roll

    Joel Luks
    May 4, 2011 | 4:55 pm
    • Photo by Eric Mueller
    • "Cinco de Bingo" Cinco de Mayo fiesta is hosted by SCRUBS, the Young Supportersof The Harris County Hospital District Foundation.
    • Buffalo Bayou history tours with Louis Aulbach reveal the rich history ofHouston's waterways. Bayou Bend Main St. 1904
    • Apollo Chamber Players present a fiery concert commingling classical music andfolk tunes of Spanish origin. Ole!
    • Domenico Luciano in Dominic’s "Clair de Lune"
      Photo by Frank Atura
    • At the home of Lemonade Day Founder, Michael and Lisa Holthouse, littleentrepreneurs showed the 14 principles of the lemonade biz. It's not justlemonade. It's strategy. Here, Jalya
      Photo by Brian Nutsch/Lemonade Day Houston
    • A leisurely stroll courtesy of Buffalo Bayou "Foodie Floats," guests enjoyedSpanish wine pairings courtesy of Block 7.
    • The Rothko Chapel is offering a series of free Tai Chi classes suitable for thebeginning and experienced practitioner.

    What a historic last week it's been! We will be talking about where we were when we heard the news, sharing stories with our grandchildren and describing the events having lived through what the future generation will deem as history.

    My own week started with a beautiful and historic boat ride on the Buffalo Bayou, sipping on Spanish vino courtesy of Block 7 while exploring the memoirs of Houston's urban waterways. Buffalo Bayou Partnership's "Foodie Floats" toured the bayou canals while historian Robbie Robinson talked about things past to a lively group, which included John Fanning, in town to play Music Teacher in Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos.

    The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art launched its Art Car Parade festivities with a casual get together at Continental Club's patio. My discovery? Black been burgers from Natachees. Where have I been?

    Rienzi's Spring party was a stylish and elegant affair, allowing guests to stroll through the European decorative arts collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston with a glass of bubbly on hand. Carroll and Harris Masterson loved to entertain and this soiree made their legacy proud and this reporter, delighted.

    Lemonade Day brought out more than 50,000 little entrepreneurs out to sell. A reception at the home of Lemonade Day's founder, Michael and Lisa Holthouse, displayed 14 lemonade stands with children explaining the principles of a successful strategy. This is not just about making lemonade out of lemons. It's about thoughtfulness, creativity and a well-thought-out action plan, providing valuable business experience.

    There was also the TUTS gala, Latin Wave fiesta, iFest, a Houston Symphony concert, Houston Grand Opera's Ariadne auf Naxos, Shepherd School of Music's Mahler Symphony No. 3 and River Oaks Chamber Orchestra's clarinetist Maiko Sasaki at Tasting Room at Uptown.

    On tap for this week ...

    Tai Chi at the Rothko Chapel

    Need to recharge and Zen out? Having attended some of Rothko Chapel's noon time meditations as part of the Twelve Moments of Spirituality and Healing series, I can attest that the folks here know how to put you back together physically, mentally and spiritually.

    Wear comfy clothes and head over to the Chapel grounds, where you will practice near Newman's Broken Obelisk. New to Tai Chi? All are welcome. Thursdays in May at 5 p.m.

    Musiqa's Annual Spring Benefit "MusiqaFiesta"

    I love Musiqa because their concerts are engaging and fun, exposing the hardcore side of contemporary art music. Led by Houston's composition rock stars, this Cinco de Mayo bacchanal mingles awesome tunes by Latin American composers and a dash of jazz with tapas and libations courtesy of Molina's Cantina.

    Try your luck at the iPad2 raffle, bid on silent auction items and partake in the live auction. You know you want to. Thursday at 6 p.m.

    "Cinco de Bingo" at Last Concert Café

    If you are searching for a Cinco de Mayo fiesta, morph your planned debauchery into a good cause. The folks at SCRUBS, aka Young Supporters of The Harris County Hospital District Foundation, are making Bingo hip, chic and fab in "Cinco de Bingo." You could win great prizes like more booze, tickets to cool events and lots of cool stuff.

    Stuff yourself with a fajita buffet and wash it down with domestic and Mexican beers and margaritas. Thursday at 7 p.m.

    Buffalo Bayou Partnership Looking Back History Tours with Louis Aulbach

    Did you know that Allen's Landing used to be the Port of Houston? Many history buffs consider its strategic location the catalyst behind the growth of the city.

    Travel back in time with local historian and author Louis Aulbach and explore the curiosities of yesteryear. Why is it called Buffalo Bayou? Who were the Allen Brothers? To answer these questions, meet at Allen's Landing on Saturday at 10 a.m. Update: meeting location has been changed to the Sabine Promenade.

    Apollo Chamber Players "Gypsies and Toreadors: Folk Dances from Spain" Concert at the Shepherd School of Music

    This string quartet is one of Houston's best kept secrets redefining what it means to be a bad ass in the genre of art music. Specializing in the convergence of folk and classical music traditions, Apollo writes its own arrangements exploiting its fiery, passionate and virtuosic abilities that emerge out of having mastery over the instruments.

    This concert is all about Spain. The quartet will debut a brand spanking new arrangement of Malagueña. Wicked. Saturday at 8 p.m.

    My colleagues picks:

    Editor at large and society scribe Shelby Hodge's pick: Latin Women's Initiative Annual Spring Luncheon

    Shelby says: "There is only one place to be for lunch this Friday — I will be there at the Latin Women's Initiative annual spring luncheon at the InterContinental Houston. It is the liveliest, most fun luncheon each year. Fab fashions in a runway presentation from Jl + Bertholdo, a Latin-inspired marketplace and loads of interesting women." Friday at 10:30 a.m.

    Social media editor and sassy adventure racer Fayza Elmostehi's pick: Houston Dragon Boat Festival

    Fayza says: "If you think paddling is perfect, you won't want to miss the brilliance of the Houston Dragon Boat Festival. You know those traditional Asian long boats, powered by synchronized human arms?

    Those are the ones that'll take over the Buffalo Bayou this weekend, decorated with colorful and expressive regalia. You won't be sorry if you head down to the bayou's banks for a truly interesting cultural experience." Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

    Assistant editor and arts savant Steven Thomson's pick: The Future is Now: A SKYDIVE Fundraiser

    Steven says: "This art collective's fundraiser brings together vanguard performances by artists curated by Nancy Douthey, along with the backing of Houston art world heavyweights like Ian Glennie, Fredericka Hunter, Gemma DeSantos and Judy Nyquist.

    Robots will serve drinks and bites amid 20 performances, all while Metropolis screens on Skydive's exterior. Preview the auction (and start bidding) at theSkydive.org. Dress as your favorite future self." Saturday at 6 p.m.

    unspecified
    news/city-life

    room for improvement

    Houston has work to do on ranking of America's fittest cities for 2026

    John Egan
    Jul 21, 2026 | 4:30 pm
    People exercising
    Photo by Gabin Vallet on Unsplash
    About 74 percent of Houstonians have exercised in the past month.

    Houstonians are more fit than they used to be, but the city still needs to hit the gym. The Bayou City ranks in the middle of the pack in a ranking of America's fittest cities.

    This year’s American Fitness Index puts Houston at No. 44 among the country’s 100 most populated cities, up from 49th place last year. Houston ranks 26th in the personal health category and a disappointing 64th in the community and environment category.

    The index shows 74 percent of Houston residents had exercised in the previous month, 57 percent had met aerobic activity guidelines, and 33 percent had met aerobic and strength activity guidelines. The first two of those numbers are below the 100-city averages.

    The Elevance Health Foundation and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) produce the annual index, which they say combines measures of personal health behavior, chronic disease outcomes, community infrastructure, and environmental factors “to provide a comprehensive picture of how well cities promote fitness and well-being.”

    Arlington, Virginia, tops the index, followed by Washington, D.C.; Minneapolis; Seattle; and Denver. The Dallas suburb of Plano takes the top Texas spot at No. 12 nationally.

    “The cities that consistently rank at the top aren’t succeeding because of one program or one investment,” Stella Volpe, past president of ACSM and chair of the Fitness Index Advisory Board, says in a press release. “They’ve built systems that support healthier living over time. They are the ones creating environments where physical activity can easily become a part of everyday routines.”

    One thing helping Houston is its strong network of parks. In May, Houston landed at No. 10 in Texas and 69th in the U.S. in the annual ParkScore Index. That was down slightly from 2025.

    Every year, land conservation nonprofit The Trust for Public Land rates park systems in the 100 biggest American cities on accessibility, equity, acreage, investment, and amenities.

    Among other Texas cities appearing in the American Fitness index are:

    • No. 28 Austin, down from No. 21 last year.
    • No. 43 Dallas, up from 46th last year.
    • No. 69 Fort Worth, up from 80th last year.
    • No. 80 San Antonio, up from No. 94 last year.

    “Where you live increasingly determines how healthy you are,” Volpe says. “The healthiest cities don’t just encourage exercise — they make movement part of daily life through infrastructure, transportation, and community design.”

    fittest cityplanorankingshealth
    news/city-life
    CULTUREMAP EMAILS ARE AWESOME
    Get Houston intel delivered daily.
    Loading...