ready to regatta

Texas' largest canoe-kayak race and regatta paddles back to Buffalo Bayou with all-new route

The 51st regatta is back with an new start and finish line.

Photo courtesy of Buffalo Bayou Partnership

For years, the cherished Buffalo Bayou Partnership Regatta has been the perfect answer to Newstonians' and naysayers complaints that our fair city doesn't offer enough local water activities. Indeed, the regatta is the largest canoe and kayak race in Texas — how's that for Lone Star State scoreboard?

Now, the beloved race is back — with a bit of a twist — for the event on Saturday, March 11. New for this year, the 51st Buffalo Bayou Partnership Regatta will start start and end at Allen’s Landing (1001 Commerce St.).

After casting off at Allen’s Landing, all participants will paddle east and then navigate the turnaround point at Wayside Drive. Then, participants will paddle west to the Allen’s Landing finish line.

This new race route pivot is due to unforeseen lack of access to the usual starting point, according to a Buffalo Bayou Partnership press announcement.

As always, the regatta is open to participants aged 12 and older, who'll compete in the solo, tandem, or unlimited boating categories. Those just looking for an easy day on the water can paddle for fun along the 8.5 mile stretch of Buffalo Bayou.

Here's a quick rundown of the four race start times (all of which are in-water):

9 am: Non-competitive and day-of registrants
9:10 am: Tandem kayaks and solo kayaks
9:20 am: Team sponsors and tandem canoes
9:30 am: Performance Unlimited and Solo Unlimited

The annual event is also a favorite for spectators who line the bayou to cheer paddlers along the race route. The finish line festivities always promise food, drink, and plenty of activities — courtesy of myriad local businesses and sponsors — along with the popular awards ceremony.

Registration for the race is still open. Online registration closes on Thursday, March 9 for $55 per paddler. Day-of registration (March 11) jumps to $60. Discounts are available for BBP members, military, and students (with valid ID).

Importantly, registration does not include kayak or canoe rental. Safety equipment is recommended. Sponsorships are also still available, per BBP. Entry includes a T-shirt and lunch (while supplies last).

A free shuttle service (please, no boats) will be available from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm to take paddlers from the finish line at Allen’s Landing back to the start area, per BBP.

Those ready to paddle for a prize — or a for weekend watery fun should suit up, grab that GoPro, and plan to arrive early for this truly Bayou City bash that celebrates Houston's most significant natural waterway.

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The 51st Buffalo Bayou Partnership Regatta runs from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm on Saturday, March 11. Event starts and ends at Allen’s Landing (1001 Commerce St.). For registration, sponsorships, and more information, visit the official race site. $55-$60.

H-Town rising

Houston leaps back into top 50 'World's Best Cities' list for 2025

Photo by Adrian Newell on Unsplash

Houston made a big leap back into the top 50, ranking No. 40, after previously plummeting into No. 72 last year.

Lively Houston has regained its rightful place among the top 50 best cities in the world, according to a prestigious new report by Resonance Consultancy.

The Canada-based real estate and tourism marketing advisors ranked Houston the 40th best city worldwide for 2025 in its annual "World's Best Cities" list.

The report quantifies the relative qualities of livability, "lovability," and prosperity for the world's top 100 cities with metropolitan populations of 1 million or more. New to the 10th anniversary edition, Resonance partnered with global market researchers Ipsos to include perception-based data into the rankings, surveying over 22,000 people in 30 countries worldwide to determine "the most desirable places to visit, live or work."

Houston made a major rebound after plummeting to No. 73 in last year's report. In 2022, Houston ranked No. 42.

Resonance refers to its previous "World's Best Cities" reports and its 2024 "America's Best Cities" list – which ranked Houston in the top 10 – when explaining the Bayou City's successes. The report praised Houston's vast cultural diversity and placed a great focus on its economic prosperity, even going so far as to suggest Houston residents make more money "and can sock more away."

"...[W]here America’s fourth-largest city truly takes off is in its economic heft and wealth, ranking No. 9 globally for GDP per Capita and No. 14 for Fortune 500 companies in town," the report said. "All that rolls up into an overall Prosperity index ranking of No. 36, which is even more impressive given the No. 14-ranked Price-to Income Ratio [of the city]."

Elsewhere in Texas, Austin and Dallas also earned spots on the World's Best Cities list for 2025, but only one made a similar rebound from the previous year's rankings. Dallas moved up from No. 66 in last year's report to its current rank as No. 55. Meanwhile, Austin took its first tumble out of the 43rd spot (which it had occupied for two years straight) and now ranks No. 53.

London held onto its crown as the No. 1 best city in the world for 2025, followed by New York (No. 2), Paris (No. 3), Tokyo (No. 4), and Singapore (No. 5).