The Lighthouse Boutique Hotel is “coastal but subtle.” It’s a description of the Port Isabel hotel as given by one of its owners, Ana Martha Diaz. The two-story, 8,000-square-foot building sits across the street from an 1850s-era lighthouse, providing a name and sense of place for the specialty hotel. It stands on the land that was the site of a military depot built during the U.S.-Mexican War of the mid-19th…
The Boys & Girls Club of McAllen, Visit McAllen, McAllen Parks & Recreation, PONY and the McAllen Chamber of Commerce will hold a joint press conference Jan. 18, announcing the return of the PONY International Softball World Series to McAllen in July. The Boys & Girls Club of McAllen has a long-standing relationship with Visit McAllen, McAllen Parks & Recreation, PONY and McAllen Chamber of Commerce through collaboration efforts in youth and community development. This…
Brownsville’s extensive network of hike-and-bike trails has a new addition with the opening of the West Rail Trail. The nearly 7-mile-long trail was officially opened on Oct. 14 at Oliveira Park during a ceremony with remarks from Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. and Brownsville Mayor Trey Mendez. The $8-million trail project runs from Palm Boulevard in the heart of the city and on northward past Alton Gloor Boulevard. It…
The Centennial Celebration of Texas State Parks is right around the corner, and park lovers are invited to get outside and join celebrations across the state. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, in partnership with Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, will celebrate 100 years of Texas State Parks beginning in Jan. 2023. “We invite all Texans to experience these precious public lands that truly belong to them,” said Rodney Franklin, TPWD’s…
Omar Juarez started boxing at age 8 under a father’s watchful eye at gyms in Brownsville. Rudy Juarez was an amateur boxer as a youth in Matamoros before family responsibilities obligated him to work and give up the sport. The elder Juarez wanted something different for Omar. Rudy then began taking young Omar to tournaments and other boxing-related activities where the youngster could sharpen his skills. Some of those treks…
Registration for the 29th annual Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival is now open for the event taking place Nov. 9-13 at the Harlingen Convention Center. The festival includes field trips, seminars, a trade show, a silent auction, a raptor show, kids’ activities and family fun. A keynote speaker for the event is Christina Baal, the 2022 Bird of the Year Artist for the American Birding Association. A wide array of…
A World Boxing Council-affiliated event is coming to Harlingen in early October, expected to attract 400 amateur boxers and 4,000 fans to the city’s convention center. Atlanta-based Sugar Bert Boxing Promotions is bringing its Green Belt Tournament Series to Harlingen. It will likewise be the first time Sugar Bert will hold one of its tournaments in Texas. There will be four rings in the convention center, each hosting 50 bouts.…
The City of McAllen will host the International Festival & Events Association 65th annual conference from Sept. 19-21. The McAllen Convention Center will be the host site for attendees from not only Texas, but also 29 U.S. states and 10 countries from around the world. This is the first time since 2011 that the convention has been hosted in Texas. “This edition of the IFEA’s annual convention and expo promises to…
The City of Hidalgo, using grant funding provided through a partnership with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, has completed a series of projects to improve fish habitat and fishing access at Old Hidalgo Pumphouse Channel. The site is directly adjacent to the Old Hidalgo Pumphouse Museum and World Birding Center. This project is one of 21 receiving funds through the Habitat and Angler Access Program. The initiative began in 2021…
The city of South Padre Island will see the building of its long-awaited historical museum after being awarded a $1.5-million federal grant via funds from the American Rescue Plan. The grant will go through the Economic Development Administration and will be matched with $375,00 in local funds. It is expected to generate $1.2 million in private investment. City leaders hope the new museum will be open by summer 2023. Community…