While Houston is the fourth largest city in the nation, the housing market is still among the most affordable – it is approximately 23% below other major urban areas. The cost of living is also somewhat lower than most other major cities.
For a major urban area Houston is astonishingly green and lush. The inner city is surrounded by I-610 or, as we Houstonians are apt to call it, the LOOP. Within the Loop is the prestigious Rice University and the Texas Medical Center, The University of Houston, the Museum District – which by the way, is also the fourth largest museum district in the country – the Theater District, all in addition to the breathtaking modern, commercial architecture which houses our central business district.
Houston offers Texan hospitality with a cosmopolitan flair! On a stroll through our city a visitor is likely to encounter any one of the 90 different languages being spoken, a variety of cuisines being offered or a cultural festival from any one of these ethnic cultures! So, whatever you fancy at that moment, Vietnamese, Chinese, French, German, Belgian, Indian, Ethiopean, Jamaican, British…all these cuisines are available to you.
Chances are Houston has grown since the last time you saw its skyline.
Downtown is a mix of business, entertainment and some very eclectic residential opportunities! From historical to contemporary, the heart of Houston has it all! The northwest corner of downtown is home to origins of Houston: where the plat was laid out by the founding fathers in 1836. The Downtown Historic District has preserved many of the facades of the residential and commercial architecture.
The Theater District encompasses 17 blocks and ranks second to New York in terms of numbers of concentrated theater seats in a downtown area. It is home to the Houston Ballet Center, Houston Grand Opera both of which are housed at the Wortham Theater Center, The Houston Symphony which finds its home at the Jones Hall, The Music Hall which is home to Theater Under the Stars and the Alley Theater, to name just the main ones. The Alley literally began in an alley in 1947 and is one of the oldest resident theater companies in the country. It now has two stages, its own repertory company, and hosts diverse plays by contemporary dramatists. Call 713-228-8421 for the upcoming schedule.
In 2002, the Theater District added the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. CLICK HERE for a calendar of events for 2005. For more information on the Theater District, call 713-658-8938 or visit www.houstontheaterdistrict.org.
In February 2003, the Downtown also added the Downtown Aquarium: which has in addition to its views of exotic marine life, seafood restaurants, and carousel, Ferris wheel… The Bayou Place is a collection of live music, movie theater, and restaurants.
The Museum District is the fourth largest museum district in the U.S., and is home to 15 world-class museums. It is clustered around Rice University, The Houston Zoo and one of our two major inner city parks, Hermann Park. You can visit the Museum of Fine Arts, which is recognized as one of the premier art museums in the country and largest in the Southwest at 5601 Main Street. The Glassell School of Art – which is a premier fine arts school in Houston, is adjacent to it. Admission is FREE on Thursdays. For more information call 713-639-7300 or visit www.mfah.org. CLICK HERE for a calendar of events.
The Children’s Museum of Houston is ranked among the top children’s museums by Child magazine. It has 14 galleries of hands-on, minds-on activities for children. It is located at 1500 Binz and is open Tuesday through Saturday 9a.m. to 5p.m. Thursdays 5-8 p.m. are FREE FAMILY NIGHT. For information visit www.cmhouston.org or call 713-522-1138. CLICK HERE for a calendar of events.
Contemporary Arts Museum of Houston is an award winning, all-metal structure that complements the genre of art it surrounds. Admission is always free, thanks to the generosity of Les Marks/Jay Marks Mazda-Hyundai. It is open Tuesday through Saturday 10a.m. to 9p.m. For information call 713-284-8250. CLICK HERE for a schedule of upcoming events.
The Menil Collection is designed by Renzo Piano and features more than 15,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographs, prints and rare books. Admission is FREE. It is located at 1515 Sul Ross and is open from 11a.m. to 7p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. If you are an art lover, then this is a must! For information call: 713-525-9400.
Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum: The museum displays the only intact examples of 13th century Byzantine wall painting of this size and importance in the Western Hemisphere. These 13th-century works were stolen by thieves from a Chapel in the town of Lysi on Cyprus when it was occupied by the Turks, cut up into pieces and smuggled off the island. They were rescued and restored by the Menil Foundation. The dome and apse now reside on long-term loan from the Church of Cyprus in an intimate chapel designed by the award-winning architect, Francois de Menil. Admission is FREE. It is located at 4011 Yupon and open between 11a.m. to 6p.m. Friday through Sunday. For more information call 713-521-3990.
Houston Center for Contemporary Craft is one of the most innovative organizations in the country. It is dedicated solely to crafts; the emphasis is on glass, fiber, clay, metal and wood. It is located at 4848 Main and is open from 10a.m. to 5p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. ADMISSION IS FREE. Call 713-529-4848 for more information.
The Rothko Chapel: Your tour of Houston is not complete until you have visited the Rothko Chapel. It is an intimate chapel available to people of every belief and faith. This modern meditative environment was inspired by the paintings of the American abstract expressionist, Mark Rothko. It serves both as an art museum and a public forum for a range of educational programs, inter-religious symposia and dialogues. The chapel is located at 1409 Sul Ross and is open daily. For information call 713-524-9839.
The Rienzi: used to be the home of Carrol Sterling Masterson and Harris Masterson III. It houses a stunning collection of European art and antiques and is located at 1406 Kirby Drive. The Rienzi was designed by John Staub and expanded in 1972 by architect, Hugo Neuhaus. For information call 713-639-7800.
The Miller Outdoor Theater: Come to the Hill! It is alive with theater, dance, music and certainly Houston’s premier outdoor theater. And…best of all….IT IS FREE! The park presents shows also for children. Pack a picnic and bring the family for some wonderful performances! Pick your favorite: theater, ballet, symphony…international….pick up a calendar of events and choose which one you would like to attend.
It is just south of downtown and is undergoing a fast-paced redevelopment. The 7.5Mile light-rail that runs from Downtown to the Medical Center is expected to run through it. Midtown offers all the neighborhood services: from churches to shopping.
Montrose, known as the last outpost for entrepreneurs is home to local artists, actors, musicians and students, and is in the throes of being taken over by young professionals. It is well known for its unique flavor with its special shops, galleries and architecture.
The Historic East End is a 16-square mile area that lies between downtown and the Port of Houston. It was the backbone of the city’s early industry. It has a strong migrant flavor! This is the corner for authentic Mexican restaurants, and home to the Orange Show folk art museum as well as the Lady of the Guadalupe Church.
Heights: is located north of Downtown. Rooted in the late 1800s the Heights area houses many Victorian homes. The neighborhood presents many seasonal festivals throughout the year and Houstonians are welcome to participate. Antique shops, small businesses lining its town square give you the nostalgic feeling of what Main Street USA must have been like! It is also home to at least three nurseries that specialize in exotic and native Texan plants.
THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER: More than 50 years ago the Texas Medical Center was conceived, and today it is a 42-member medical care institutions complex. Patients come from around the world to the center for the state-of-the-art procedures, quality care and medical breakthroughs. With the largest emergency system in the nation, the center performs countless trauma-related procedures each year. Adjacent to it is the Reliant Park, home to the Houston Texans. The complex was originally known as and famous as The Astrodome. Some of the most coveted neighborhoods and housing is right here! For the Metro Rail runs through the Medical District all the way to Downtown. There is a diversity of housing to choose from: luxury hi-rises, mansions, townhouses, bungalows, condominiums and cooperatives. It has attracted a plethora of restaurants, quaint antique shops and bookstores and exotic boutiques exhibiting international ware from around the world.
The Uptown area is actually also known as the Galleria. The Galleria mall is a three-story collection of the most distinguished and famous stores of the nation under one air-conditioned roof with its indoor ice-rink and a wide selection of bars, bistros, cafes, restaurants, pastry shops and fast food eateries. It showcases four-star hotels, parking is free, and a fun and exhilarating experience!
The price of real estate within the loop is moving up, up and away!
Just outside the Loop lie neighborhoods/subdivisions that are the immediate suburbs: Memorial, Spring Branch, Meyerland, Westbury, Sharpstown, Maplewood, Westwood, Macgregor, etc.. Each neighborhood has its own history and flavor. Each subdivision has its own Home Owners Association, and each of them offer different facilities such as neighborhood playgrounds, pools, civic clubs, etc. Houston does not have ZONING LAWS. So, unless a subdivision instituted pretty strict deed restrictions, commercial and residential properties stand cheek-by-jowl. Most Houstonians like it that way and are not ready to change it! It gives Houston a unique flavor and in most instances, offers a major convenience. If you need any information on any of these neighborhoods, email me. The second ring is the Beltway-8 or Sam Houston Tollway.
Outside of the Beltway is where you will find Master-Planned communities. In the 1960’s developers came up with the concept of Master-Planned communities which offer a wonderful mix of lush scenery, modern conveniences: good schools, shops, eateries, and satellite medical facilities – all set in wooded areas with lakes, ponds and streams. To mention a few and the best known: the Woodlands, Cooperfield, Sugar Land, Cinco Ranch and Shadow Creek Ranch. It is a very appealing lifestyle for families with children and well worth looking into. Then there are the gated communities and golfing communities in and around Houston.
| Memorial Park: home to the Houston Arboretum, public tennis courts, golf, jogging and biking trails, picnic spots, soccer clubs, walking clubs and The Houston Polo Club. |
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| Cullen Park has game field, bike and jogging trails, picnic areas. |
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| Hermann Park: home to the Houston Zoo, Miller Outdoor Theater, Houston Garden Center, the Museum of Natural History, The Japanese Garden and an 18-hole golf course and last, but not least, hike and bike trails. |
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| Nature Discovery Center 7112 Newcastle P.O. Box 777 Bellaire, TX 77402 Phone: 713-667-6550 www.naturediscoverycenter.org The Nature Discovery Center offers everything from Discovery Rooms full of intriguing nature-themed exhibits to guided bird walks. The center organizes educational programs, including "Nature at your Doorstep," an interdisciplinary field study class for children. |
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| Mercer Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
22306 Aldine Westfield Rd.
Humble, TX 77338-1071
Phone: 281-443-8731
Mercer's 250-acre Texan woodland has an eastern section, which features botanical gardens of daylilies, bamboo, ginger, and a variety of endangered species. The western section includes the arboretum, which has an outdoor classroom, picnic areas, and interpretive wayside signage. |
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| Houston Arboretum and Nature Center
4501 Woodway Dr.
Houston, TX 77024
Phone: 713-681-8433
www.neosoft.com/~arbor
Visitors to the arboretum and nature center can saunter down five miles of wooded trails, experience sights and smells at a sensory garden, and observe butterflies, hummingbirds and other animals in the Wildlife Garden. The nature center also offers educational and interpretive programs for children and adults. |
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| Armand Bayou Nature Center
8500 Bay Area Blvd.
Houston, TX 77258
Phone: 281-474-2551
www.ghg.net/abnc
One of the country's largest urban wildlife preserves, this 2,500-acre center features more than 370 species of wildlife. Along the five miles of trails, visitors will see three ecosystems: hardwood forest, estuarine bayou, and coastal tall grass prairie. Bison roam several acres of the prairie, and red-tailed hawks keep a watchful eye in the Texas Raptor exhibit. |
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| Bear Creek Park: golf, aviary, and picnic facilities in the Addicks Reservoir. |
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| Clear Lake Park: boating, fishing, rowing |
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| Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center: specially designed for the handicapped. It is a 225 acres of nature preserved for your enjoyment. Hiking, biking, picnicking, barbecuing. Along the white sands of Spring Creek, with a variety of native flora and fauna. |
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| If you are serious hiker or a nature lover, go to www.texashiker.com for detailed information on all the nature in and around Houston. (Big Thicket, Port Aransas, Brazos Bend State Park, Lake Houston and the list goes on. You will not regret it!!!) |
Two major features to catch in the Spring in Houston would be: The Azalea Trail and the Texas Bluebonnets. Tickets to the Azalea Trail are available at all major nurseries as well as the River Oaks Garden Club. And in Texas, wildflowers are a passion! This spectacular display is legendary, and is by no means accidental. It was carefully planned, cultivated and preserved by the late Linda Byrd Johnson, the wife of President Johnson. In fact, it is said, that so passionate was she about nature and beauty that this was her contribution to Washington D.C. – the cherry blossom season! The wildflower season is short and if the weather conditions are conducive, then the beauty is at its peak in April. The prime months are March, April and May. It is a tradition in Texas, and one tradition that will remain with you…take a drive up to the Hill Country for lunch and watch the breathtaking carpets of Indian Paintbrush and Texas Bluebonnets and Wild Verbena on your way up.
All neighborhoods and subdivisions will have their collection of places of worship. Listed below are some that may be of help to you.
The Interfaith Ministry: located at 3217 Montrose Boulevard. A list of some of the churches of Houston follows. The Ministry can provide a comprehensive list of all the churches and affiliated worship centers in Houston. The ministry can be reached at 713.533.4900.
Annunciation Catholic Church, 1618 Travis Street, Houston 77003 Tel: 713-222-2289
Christ Memorial Lutheran Church, 14200 Memorial Drive, Houston 77079 Tel: 281-497-0250
First Unitarian Universalist Church, 5200 Fannin, Houston 77004, Tel: 713-526-5600
Heights Christian Church, 1703 Heights Blvd., Houston 77008 Tel: 7013-861-0016
Church of Jesus Christ, Latter-Day Saints, 5531 Beechnut Street, Houston 77096 Tel: 713-660-9793
There are 12 Buddhist Temples in Houston.
Amitabha Buddist Society, 7400 Harwin, Houston 77036 Tel: 713-339-1864
Avatamsaka Buddist Lotus Society 6515 Corporate Drive, Houstn 77036 Tel: 713-774-1808 For more information go to Superpages.com
The Islamic Society of Greater Houston can be reached at 713-524-6615. Below is a list of three Masjids. You can receive detailed information on the nearest Islamic Schools as well as places of worship from the Society.
Houston Masjid of Al Islam, 6641 W Bellfort, Houston 77087 Tel: 713-643-9586
Makkah Masjid of Greater Houston, 3505 South Dairy Ashford St., Houston 77082 Tel: 281-496-5225
Muhammadi Masjid Mosque, 11830 Corona Lane, Houston 77072 Tel: 281-498-6666
There are 10 Hindu Temples in Houston.
The Chinmaya Mission, 10353 Synott Road, Houston 77099 Tel: 281-568-9520
Houston Durga Bari Temple, 13944 Schiller Road, Houston Tel:713-797-9057
Meenakshi Temple of Houston, 17130 McLean Road, Pearland, TX. Tel: 281-489-0358 For more information go to: hindutemplehouston.net
A list of Jewish Synagogues follows. For further information visit www.jcc.org - it has a comprehensive list of activities, support groups, and other resources for people of the Jewish faith.
Congregation Beth El, 3900 Raoul Wallenberg Drive, Missouri City 77459 Tel: 281-499-5066
Congregation Beth Israel, 5600 N. Braeswood Blvd., Houston 77096 Tel: 713-771-6221
Congregation Beth Jacob 2401 Avenue K, Galveston 77550 Tel: 409-762-4545
Congregation Beth Shalom 101 N. Coulter Dr., Bryan 77083, Tel: 979-822-2738
Congregation Beth Shalom Woodlands, 5125 Shadowbend Place, Houston 77381 Tel: 281-362-1100