gen z playground city

Houston scores top spots for fun things to do and best city to live for Gen Zers in new list

Houston is a Gen Z playground.

Houston boasts a range of options for a younger generation: the booming art scene, restaurants and nightlife, and tons of recreational activities. Even Taylor Swift couldn't say no to three nights of concerts to keep her young fans entertained.

No surprise now that a new study by commercial real estate website CommercialCafe has pegged Houston as the No. 9 best city for Gen Z to live in.

As the report puts it, the "experience-hungry generation" often seek out an affordable area of town with vast opportunities for entertainment, education, or employment, which are three things Houston excels in.

Specifically in the category for fun things to do, Houston ranked No. 2 behind New York City for its famed Theatre District that spans 17 blocks downtown, and is home to the city's nine professional performance arts organizations.

"With 12,948 seats for live performances and 1,580 movie seats, Houston’s Theater District ranks second in the United States for the number of theater seats in a concentrated downtown area, and is one of only five cities with permanent professional resident companies in each of the major performing arts disciplines: ballet, opera, symphony and theater productions," the Houston Theatre District website says.

It would be remiss to neglect Houston's devotion to its home-grown sports culture, with several prominent teams and players taking residence in Clutch City.

Other metrics that were taken into account in CommercialCafe's report include an affordability index, jobs for recent graduates, the city's unemployment rate, and the number of parks per 10,000 residents.

"Specifically, we looked at the share that Gen Zers hold out of each city’s total population to identify where relocating young professionals are more likely to find like-minded individuals," the report's author said.

Houston wasn't the only Texas city to make the top 10, Austin ranked two places higher in No. 7. Elsewhere in Texas, Fort Worth ranked No. 17 and San Antonio ranked No. 20.

The top 10 best cities for Gen Z are:

No. 1 – Minneapolis
No. 2 – Atlanta
No. 3 – Boston
No. 4 – Columbus, Ohio
No. 5 – Raleigh, North Carolina
No. 6 – Tuscon, Arizona
No. 7 – Austin, Texas
No. 8 – Milwaukee
No. 9 – Houston
No. 10 – Philadelphia

The full report can be found on commercialcafe.com.

houston reports city life recreation

Shopping scene

Eyewear, boys' clothes, and 'splendid' ice cream coming to Rice Village

RIce Village at dusk with shoppers walking around

COurtesy Rice Village

Shoppers in Rice Village will have more options, with three new retailers set to open in the coming weeks.

Shoppers in Rice Village are about to have an even broader selection of boutiques and eateries. The Rice Real Estate Company announced this week the arrival of New Orleans-based eyewear brand KREWE, local boys’ boutique ParkerJoe, and Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams.

KREWE offers luxury sunglasses and optical frames that draw inspiration from the rich cultural heritage of New Orleans. Designs blend classic and contemporary aesthetics, creating unique, fashion-forward frames. The retailer will occupy a 941-square-foot store at 5515 Kelvin Dr. Suite 125, and opens in time for shoppers to find great gifts or get a new look for the holidays. The Rice Village location is the brand's first brick-and-mortar location in Houston. There’s a grand opening fête on Saturday, December 7 from 5 to 8 pm with creative New Orleans fare, live music, and other fun.

In January 2025, shoppers can look forward to ParkerJoe. It’s the second location for the mother-daughter-owned shop, specializIng in apparel for boys from newborns to around 12 years old. Shoppers will find a rich selection of apparel, accessories, shoes, toys, and books, as well as specialty items such as golf and tennis apparel, suits, formalwear, and Texas-themed toys and clothing.The new boutique will occupy a 1,975-square-foot store at 5515 Kelvin Drive, between Vuori and Paper Source.

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams also joins the mix, opening a 1,603-square-foot location at 5411 Morningside Drive, across from Torchy's Tacos, in early 2025. Jeni's has gained a cult following for its one-of-a-kind ice creams such as Brown Butter Almond Brittle and Brambleberry Crisp.

The new retailers further cement the Village’s reputation as a shopping destination, offering customers a wide selection of eclectic finds.

"Rice Village continues to attract a dynamic mix of local and national brands," said Kenneth Jett, vice president for facilities and capital planning and president of Rice Real Estate Company. "These new tenants reflect our commitment to providing a vibrant, walkable destination for shopping, dining, and community experiences. We are thrilled to welcome these esteemed brands to our community.”

The new additions complement recently opened stores like The Beaufort Bonnet Company, an upscale children’s lifestyle apparel brand located at 5515 Kelvin Drive Suite 120 and Paper Source, a haven for stationery enthusiasts and craft lovers, located just steps away at 5515 Kelvin Dr. Suite 100. Rice Village is also home to a number of restaurants, including Navy Blue, Hamsa, and Sixty Vines.

Courtesy of Rice Village

Shoppers in Rice Village will have more options, with three new retailers set to open in the coming weeks.

rice village openings shopping ice-cream