Buzz Articles by the Numbers: Top Stories in 2023

Posted by The Buzz | December 29, 2023

Click the Buzz Me button to receive email notifications when this writer publishes a new article or a new article in this column is published.

It’s that time of year again: Every December, we take time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the next. Here, we list the most-viewed stories and pages online within several categories. The below lists are determined by the numbers from Google Analytics. It’s always fun for us to see which stories got the most views online.

Most-viewed stories published in 2023:

Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters and Brené Brown had a conversation about music that moves us at ACL's Bonus Tracks, Weekend 1 of ACL 2023. (Photo: Chris Wasco)

10. Music Moments that Move Us: Dave Grohl and Brené Brown at ACL by Joni Hoffman
Live music – and the powerful experience of attending music festivals – had been on our minds this fall on the heels of Cheryl Ursin’s feature story, The Magic of Music Festivals. Buzz editor Joni Hoffman was looking forward to attending ACL this October when she spotted an announcement that legendary musician Dave Grohl would be in discussion with renowned storyteller Brené Brown. This article, which includes inspirational video clips, is worth the read.

Houston BBYO alumni

9. BBYO reunion: 1975-80 grads by Angie Frederickson
This Buzz About Town item by Angie Frederickson featured the BBYO reunion for 1975-1980 grads, which took place over Thanksgiving 2023. Read more Buzz About Town here.

HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS Everything went as planned during Hayley Friedman and Rohail Khan’s wedding, except one surprise. (Photo: Covenant Pictures)

8. Rumor Has It: December 2023 by Sharon Brier
Our “Rumor Has It” column by Sharon Brier appears in our Tanglewood/River Oaks Buzz and Memorial Buzz magazines each month, and you can always find it online here. Sharon features parties, weddings, travel adventures and misadventures, and shares funny moments from Buzz neighbors.

SCHOOL BUZZ A group of 2023-24 School Buzz correspondents gathered at The Emery/Weiner School to meet each other and take headshots for the upcoming year. Front row, from left: Donna Xue (Houston Christian), Madeleine Skaufel (St. Agnes), Keira Donovan (Memorial), Eden Williams (Westbury Christian), Sophia Wagner (St. Pius X), Kelsy Donovan (Memorial), Eli Karpas (Emery), Shyla Jogi (Bellaire), Audrey Nguyen (Saint Thomas' Episcopal), Solemei Scamaroni (The Village School), Catherine McClees (Stratford), Caroline Larrabee (Stratford); second row, from left: Tessa Harfenist (Duchesne), Julia Harfenist (Duchesne), Anjali Martinez (Carnegie Vanguard), Agnes Tang (Westbury Christian), Dani Barg (Emery), Emma Lai (Post Oak), Carver Hix (Strake Jesuit), Beatrix Gnemi (DeBakey High School); back row, from left: Anika Engler (Second Baptist), Charles Yu (Bellaire), Maggie Hester (St. John’s), Asia Williams (Lamar), Nia Shetty (St. John’s), Alexandra Wong (St. Agnes), and Jordan Muscal (Kinder HSPVA).

7. A Decade of School Buzz: Meet our 2023-24 correspondents by Caroline Siegfried
This fall marked a decade of our School Buzz program, in which high school journalists report on what’s happening at their schools. Every October, we feature our new School Buzz correspondents. Meet them here and check out the School Buzz blog here.

Eleanor Powers Beebe, Kathy Sangster, Carole Stevens Mattingly, and Gail Adler chat. (Photo: Katy Anderson Photography)

6. Like No Time Had Passed: Sixty-five years after Lamar graduation by Andria Dilling
This spring, Lamar High School celebrated its 85th year. In this feature, Andria Dilling chatted with members of the Class of ’58 – who continue to get together for official and unofficial reunions today. This is a special story.

The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict chronicles the long and accomplished life of Hedy Lamarr, the Hollywood screen star from the 1940s and 1950s.

5. 5 Historical Fiction Books About Real Individuals by Cindy Burnett
Book reviewer Cindy Burnett writes our weekly Page Turners column online and monthly Buzz Reads column in print, in addition to feature stories on books, all of which are always popular with Buzz readers. This Page Turners article lists historical fiction reads about real individuals, such as The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict, which chronicles the life of Hollywood screen star Hedy Lamarr. Read more by Cindy Burnett here.

Natalie Alexander poses with her photograph Pure Joy, which received fifth place in the People and Portraits category. In the photo, her daughter Mackenzie is the picture of pure joy. This photo is also the cover of our July 2023 Memorial Buzz. (Photo: Emily Jaschke)

4. 2023 Buzz Photo Contest
Our annual Buzz Photo Contest is always a favorite. We are always blown away by our talented neighbors. View all the winners here. This year, in addition to being featured in the July issue and online, winning photos were displayed at a special pop-up gallery at River Oaks District in late June. Find a recap of the pop-up gallery party here.

Contestant Sarah Fry during her audition process preparing the dish that won her a white apron. (Photo courtesy of FOX)

3. Tastes of their Hometowns: MasterChef Season 13 Contestants with Houston Ties by Naama Machol
Season 13 of MasterChef featured a new theme, "United Tastes of America," showcasing a battle between the four regions of the U.S. Competitors battle for a cash prize of $250,000 and the title of America's MasterChef. Among the competitors this season were Houstonian Kolby Chandler and, representing the Midwest, Sarah Fry, whose aunt lives in Houston and planned a watch party to support her niece on the show. Buzz summer intern Naama Machol covered the show and its Houston ties. Read more here.

Rebecca Linn and Scott Hughes (Photo: Chris Bailey Photography)

2. Congratulations and best wishes by Angie Frederickson
This Buzz About Town item featured the wedding of Rebecca Linn and Scott Hughes. Read more here and find all Buzz About Town here.

Jessica Taylor Sigmon – Baylor University

1. Class of 2023: Where are they headed? by Caroline Siegfried
Our June issue always features new high school grads and where they’re headed. The article includes students’ senior photo and kindergarten photo, and we ask these grads to share with us what they wish they had known as kindergarteners and what they’re most looking forward to in their next chapter of their lives. This feature is a favorite with readers. Read the story here.

Most-viewed stories in 2023 published in past years:

Valian’s Restaurant, where Houston pizza was born, was in the Medical Center. (Photo: www.bellairebook.com)

Here are a list of stories published in the past that were among the most-viewed this year. Spoiler alert: Always among our most-viewed stories is Russell Weil’s 2014 Restaurant Memories article, plus other stories featuring restaurant nostalgia.

10: The Golden Touch: King Tuck and his Royal Astros Superfans by Karen Vine Fuller
9. When Life Has Other Plans: A spine surgeon’s journey with quadriplegia by Cathy Gordon
8. Spooktactular Houses with Great Curb A-Squeal by Karen Vine Fuller
7. Galveston Restaurant Memories: Island favorites from the past by Russell Weil
6. Discovering a Good Mystery Series, Part 2: Updated, One Year Later by Cindy Burnett
5. Graduation, Times 3: Triplets at Memorial High School by Jenna Mazzoccoli
4. 'Is Your Refrigerator Running?': Prank Phone Call Fun by Karen Vine Fuller
3. Menu Memories: Favorite restaurant meals by Russell Weil
2. Travel Buzz: A year of school on the road by Tracy L. Barnett
1. Restaurant Memories: A look back at Houston's dining past by Russell Weil