Out and About in Houston
Author: Eyal Feldman
After my introductory trip to America's fourth largest city, I was pleased to find it a vibrant and stylish cosmopolitan town that beautifully unites Western and Southern heritage and culture. Houston has been one of the country’s great boomtowns and is recognized globally for its energy industry—particularly for oil and natural gas—as well as for biomedical research and aeronautics. The energy of the city is not just based in petroleum; the warm locals and tourists alike lend their own kind of energy that makes Houston a fun place to hang out and make some new friends.
Houston acts as a true cultural capital that bridges the South and Southwest- it even hosts some of the best museums in the country. A cultural highlight here is the Menil Collection, with features works by Warhol, Leger, and Picasso and is within walking distance of the Rothko Chapel. The Chapel contains 14 large-scale Mark Rothko paintings and a tranquil reflecting pool and plaza, as well as the Byzantine Fresco Chapel which showcases two 13th-century frescoes rescued from war-torn Cyprus. Not far from there is The Museum of Natural Science, with lots of educational exhibits, a 25,000 square foot rainforest with butterfly garden, a 3-D IMAX theatre and a planetarium.
The downtown area of Houston is a trendy district of restaurants, clubs, shops, condos, hip hotels, and an architecturally stunning baseball stadium. Other central Houston neighborhoods, including gay-popular Montrose and the up-and-coming Midtown region, are definite places to check out and spend some time. A trip here would not be complete without visiting The Galleria, the biggest shopping mall in Texas. Just be sure to remember where you parked cause even the parking lot is huge, so you might get lost!
The Houston gay scene is based in Montrose. An attractive neighborhood a couple of miles southwest of downtown, Montrose has a mix of early 20th-century homes and cottages, as well as newer sections of condos and apartments. The gayborhood's epicenter is where Westheimer Road crosses Montrose Boulevard, which puts you within walking distance of countless gay bars and gay-friendly restaurants. There are also a ton of stores nearby where you can purchase a drink or two; if things go well maybe you can even pick up some Boy Butter lubricants at the local Walgreens pharmacy. There is a always place in my heart for Houston and I can easily find myself going back there time and time again.