Emma Balter

Houston

Editor-in-Chief at Houstonia

editor in chief @HoustoniaMag ✨ forever food writer 👩🏻‍💻 past: @chron @HoustonChron @WineSpectator 🌈 she/her

Articles

150+ Reasons to Love Houston

1 week ago | houstoniamag.com | Emma Balter |Uvie Bikomo |Sofia Gonzalez |Meredith Nudo

When you ask Houstonians why they love the city, their answers are often vague—“the people,” they say, or “the food.” There are, last we checked, people and food everywhere, so what exactly does make Houston such a special place? It can be hard to pinpoint. Houston is a place that gets under your skin. A place with inexplicably infectious energy. A place that’s comfortable and easygoing while also providing discovery at every turn.
Houston Would Be a Perfect City If It Did These 7 Things

1 week ago | houstoniamag.com | Emma Balter

Houston, we love you—as evidenced by all the gushing reasons we’ve just enumerated showing that we’re still very much head over heels. But sometimes, you really know how to grind our gears. It’s when we become trapped on a gridlocked 610, or stroll on a sidewalk that suddenly disappears, or arrive at a blinking red light at a busy intersection that our fondness dissipates, leaving us to shake our fist at the sky and exclaim, “Why, Houston? Why?!”Yes, we love you.
We Have Ideas for the Astrodome (and So Do You)

2 weeks ago | houstoniamag.com | Emma Balter |Uvie Bikomo |Sofia Gonzalez |Meredith Nudo

Just do something—anything!—with the Astrodome. Image: Houstonia Composite/Shutterstock.comAh yes, the age-old question. What on this godly earth are we going to do with the Astrodome? The landmark rings in its 60th birthday on April 9, but there’s nothing much to celebrate. Closed to the public since 2009, the so-called “Eighth Wonder of the World” was once an unabashed source of Houston pride.
The (Un)official Houston Food Bingo

3 weeks ago | houstoniamag.com | Emma Balter

This story is part of our “Reasons to Love Houston” package, published in the Spring 2025 issue. Houston’s food scene is second to none—sorry, not sorry to literally every other city in the country. You could easily play bingo (and then some) with all the countries whose cuisines are accessible right here in Houston. So, why not play bingo? Grab some friends, print this grid out, and get down to eatin’.
What We Love About Houston Weather (Yes, You Heard Us)

3 weeks ago | houstoniamag.com | Emma Balter

Image: Houstonia Composite/Shutterstock.comThis story is part of our “Reasons to Love Houston” package, published in the Spring 2025 issue. There are, actually, some things to love about Houston weather...stick with us. Yes, hurricane season is taxing and traumatic. Yes, the sweltering heat of our summers makes us “humad” all season. But we found some reasons to embrace the city’s climate. Okay, we found three reasons. Going all out on Halloween decorations to overcompensate.
A Weekend in New Orleans Is Just What You Need Right Now

1 month ago | houstoniamag.com | Emma Balter

New Orleans has kept its charm and party ethos, through thick and thin. Image: Cedric AngelesNew Orleans is without a doubt the most interesting American city. It looks, feels, sounds, tastes like no other. It’s both a place that’s nothing like the rest of the country and a place that could not exist anywhere else. A visit to the Big Easy always feels like a wild party you can’t believe you’re invited to.
The Best Days to Visit the Houston Rodeo to Avoid Crowds

1 month ago | houstoniamag.com | Emma Balter

We love the Houston rodeo, but the crowds? Not so much. Image: Courtesy Houston Livestock Show and RodeoThere’s something for everyone at the Houston rodeo—but introverts may find it a little harder to join in on the festivities. In 2024, a whopping total of 2,553,185 people attended the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, decked out in their cowboy finest.
The Rodeo Reuses the Same Very Special Dirt Every Year

1 month ago | houstoniamag.com | Meredith Nudo |Emma Balter

The mix of clay, sand, and topsoil is the rodeo’s secret ingredient. Image: Nicki EvansThe rodeo dirt woke up on February 24 and decided to take a rain check. It was supposed to be the day the careful mix of clay, sand, and topsoil was scheduled to be moved into NRG Stadium for the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. But because of the previous weekend’s rains, the dirt was a tad moister than its optimal level of 12 to 18 percent—and a true diva gets out of bed only when she’s ready.
Our 10 Favorite Ideas for a Perfect Houston Date Night—or Day

2 months ago | houstoniamag.com | Emma Balter

The George Observatory is part of the Houston Museum of Natural Science, just outside the city in Needville. Image: Courtesy HMNSAs Valentine’s Day approaches, not all of us are jazzed about the idea of Hunger Games-ing our way to a reservation at one of Houston’s most romantic restaurants. So why not skip the sit-down dinner with your significant other and dozens of other couples, and opt for something a little different this year?
The Heroes of Hurricane Beryl

Nov 18, 2024 | houstoniamag.com | Emma Balter

Image: Shutterstock.comEditor’s note: These Beryl heroes were an honorable mention in the 2024 Houstonian of the Year awards. As with every major storm, Hurricane Beryl this July certainly produced its fair share of main characters (ahem, CenterPoint), but the majority were thankfully of the Good Samaritan variety. Honorable mentions for Houstonians of the Year go to these locals whose deeds particularly impressed us this hurricane season.