Friendly Fire

San Antonio mayor accuses Houston of "river envy" as River Walk flap with Anniseheats up

San Antonio residents are defending their beloved River Walk after Houston mayorAnnise Parker calls it a "cement ditch."
San Antonio mayor Julián Casto says Houstonians have a case of "river envy."
Courtesy photo
So far, Parker hasn't backed down . . .
Photo by Tyler Rudick

You can't just go around talking trash about the River Walk and expect to get away with it . . . at least according to San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, who took a friendly jab at Houston Mayor Annise Parker after she called his city's celebrated tourist attraction "a cement ditch."

"Seems like Houstonians have a little river envy," Castro told KAAB Fox San Antonio. "Mayor Parker is a good mayor. We have a good relationship, but it was clear from her comments that Houstonians are more than a little jealous of the River Walk."

"Seems like Houstonians have a little river envy," said Castro. "[I]t was cle ar from her comments that Houstonians are more than a little jealous of the River Walk."

Parker doled out the "cement ditch" comparison during a Wednesday ceremony recognizing Buffalo Bayou Park's placement on the 2012 10 Great Public Spaces list compiled by the American Planning Association. Though the quip was meant in jest — and used to highlight efforts to preserve the bayou's natural ecosystem — our neighbors to the west aren't taking it.

"She doesn't understand nature, she doesn't understand urban planning and she's missing out on a wonderful opportunity in life," San Antonio resident Sarah Harte complained to KAAB.

"I can't believe anyone would have anything bad to say about the San Antonio River Walk," said another resident. "That's just beyond belief."

For now, the two mayors appear to be keeping their cool. Castro is hoping to smooth things over with an open invitation for Parker to join him for lunch on the River Walk the next time she's in San Antonio.

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Classic Houston steakhouse ranks No. 2 in America and more top stories

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Taste of Texas took the No. 2 spot on the list.

Editor's note: It's time to catch up on the top Houston news of the week, starting with two steakhouses finding the national spotlight. Plus, a Midtown bar announces last call and a crawfish favorite expands. Read on for our five most popular stories, then head here to plan your weekend.

1. Classic Houston steakhouse ranks No. 2 in America on Yelp top 100. When it comes to Yelp's top restaurants, people have the power. The online reviews platform has compiled user opinions to find out which restaurants across the country have the best reputations. Seven Houston-area restaurants made the top 100, with a classic steakhouse coming in second overall.

2. Houston steakhouse makes 2026 list of America's most romantic restaurants. Locals might want to make their Valentine's Day reservations early. Houston's iconic Pappas Bros. Steakhouse at the Galleria has been spotlighted in OpenTable's 2026 list of the top 100 most romantic restaurants in America.

3. Midtown bar with creative cocktails and craft taps will close in February. A staple Midtown cocktail bar will soon serve its last drink. Wooster’s Garden will close on February 12, co-owner Jeff Barati announced.

Last call for Wooster's Garden. Photo courtesy of Wooster's Garden

4. Essential Houston crawfish joint heads to Beaumont for new location. One of Houston’s favorite destinations for crawfish is heading east. BB’s Tex-Orleans will open its 12th location this spring.

5. Texas fave Blue Bell previews new high-protein frozen dessert. Blue Bell is flexing a new product line, and this time it's not a new flavor, but a new nutritional wonder: a "high-protein frozen dairy dessert."