hip to be square

Houston snubbed on ridiculous list of America's coolest cities

Apparently Houston isn't as cool as Dallas or Austin.

A new study ranking the coolest cities in America has revealed Houston was entirely snubbed on the list, while two other Texas cities made the cut.

The survey by British gambling company Betway.com ranked 50 most populated cities across the U.S. and Canada, ranking them on factors associated with "being cool."

Though Houston was nowhere to be found, Austin faded into the background by landing in the No. 11 spot. Dallas came in at No. 14 on the list — not even the top 10, but nonetheless one of only two cities in Texas to make the list at all.

Boston, Massachusetts claimed the title as the coolest city in America, followed by Las Vegas, Nevada (No. 2), and Portland, Oregon (No. 3).

The rankings were determined based on seven "coolness" factors including the median age of residents, the number of tattoo parlors, record stores, upcoming music events, street art murals, and vegan/vegetarian restaurants each city has.

The report specifically called out the two Texas cities' "energy and culture" and gave nods to their respective culinary scenes.

"What makes a city cool often goes beyond its reputation or famous landmarks – it’s the unique blend of culture that provides the energy," the report's author wrote. "From thriving music scenes and vibrant street art to foodie hotspots and inclusive, laid-back vibes, the coolest cities offer something authentic, exciting, and effortlessly memorable."

In defense of H-Town
Channeling CultureMap's late columnist Ken Hoffman, who has criticized similar studies in the past: There is so much that makes Houston cool that this silly study doesn't appear to take into account.

This city treasures its numerous music and cultural icons, and we aren't just talking about Beyoncé. Houston's top-tier universities are shining beacons in the education field, and its nearby suburbs are among the best places to live in the nation.

Houston's food scene is unmatched with several new bars and restaurants opening up all over the city, offering affordable lunch specials, trendy meals, and cocktails galore.

Plus, the city's fashionistas are pioneering sustainable clothing swaps to keep perfectly good pieces out of landfills and promote slow fashion practices. And don't even get us started on the city's colorful and thought provoking art scene. It's not like Boston has a Meow Wolf or a citywide event like the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. If that's not cool, we don't know what is.

The top 15 coolest American cities are:

No. 1 – Boston, Massachusetts
No. 2 – Las Vegas, Nevada
No. 3 – Portland, Oregon
No. 4 – San Francisco, California
No. 5 – Seattle, Washington
No. 6 – Denver, Colorado
No. 7 – Nashville, Tennessee
No. 8 – Washington, D.C.
No. 9 – Detroit, Michigan
No. 10 – Los Angeles, California
No. 11 – Austin, Texas
No. 12 – San Diego, California
No. 13 – Phoenix, Arizona
No. 14 – Dallas, Texas
No. 15 – Columbus, Ohio

lists rankings

the search is on

Game-changing leader of Houston Parks Board to retire after 10 years

Houston Parks Board CEO Beth White stands at a podium at the Captain Herod Memorial, Houston Mayor John Whitmire is seated nearby.

Photo by Melissa Taylor

Beth White speaking at the Captain Herod Memorial on January 28,2025

It's the end of an era at the Houston Parks Board (HPB). CEO Beth White announced Wednesday, May 21 that she will be retiring on January 1, 2026.

"As I reflect on my career, one of the most rewarding decisions I have made was coming to Houston," White said in a statement. "The entrepreneurial drive in this city is very powerful, our public-private partnership model is second to none, and the creativity at play is a model for the nation."

White began her stewardship of the HPB in 2016. Before coming to Houston, she oversaw Chicago's Trust for Public Land, guiding the development of the city's famous elevated trailway, the 606. Her experience made her perfect to lead the HPB as Houston dedicated itself to a radical improvement of its park spaces. With HPB responsible for 3,300 acres across 250 parks, as well as coordinating access to another 14,000 acres, it was an executive position for an area physically larger than many cities.

White proved herself a competent and visionary general of Houston's greenspaces. During her time, she led the revitalization of 30 Houston parks, mostly in marginalized and underserved communities. Her work netted her an appointment to the chair of the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) by former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden in 2021, where she helped federal agencies make long-term plans about public space usage.

Perhaps her greatest accomplishment as CEO of HPB is the Bayou Greenway project, a bold re-imagining of Houston's waterways. The project has built 150 miles worth of trails that hug the various bayous and creeks meandering through Houston, turning what were often foot traffic barriers into an artery system of green trails connecting various park spaces across the city. Isolated pockets of community space are now linked through easy to use trail systems, making foot traffic across Houston simpler and more beautiful to experience.

“It is very gratifying to see that Houstonians are embracing parks and greenspace as an essential part of the region’s infrastructure. I am proud to have played a part in Houston’s green renaissance and look forward to continued progress thanks to the talented and dedicated staff and board at Houston Parks Board,” said White.

Cory King, president and CEO, and Ben Feit, principal, at Kittleman and Associates, are leading the search for suitable candidates to fill White's very big shoes. In the meantime, White will continue to lead the organization for the rest of the year.

"Houston Parks Board would not be in the position it is today without the guidance and leadership of Beth White. As we commemorate her throughout this year, we are grateful that Beth’s vision has helped transform our organization into a regional and national leader for parks and greenspace,” said Houston Parks Board chair Cullen Geiselman Muse. “We are also excited to begin the search for her successor. Houston is a unique region that offers different opportunities to maximize available space and create multi-purpose greenspaces that make real, lasting impacts on our communities. We look forward to sharing more information as the search progresses."

parks houston parks board beth white