Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with houston

How do you get from Houston to Dallas?

bluefly — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:57:13 -0800

Is there a cheap way to get from Houston to Dallas without renting a car? I'll be in Houston for a week over New Year's, and I'd like to visit Dallas for a couple days. Is there a bus or a train? Airplane tickets are ~$200 with tax, which is a little pricey for the sort of jaunt I was imagining. Thanks.

Downtown Houstonfilter: Feed us fast and cheap

desuetude — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:24:02 -0800

Where are the cheap, quick, delicious eats in downtown Houston? I'm staying at the Hilton Americas Houston for a conference and need some alternatives to the overpriced hotel dining options. Part of the reason I'm at this conference (other than the awesome perk of meeting Mefites, of course) is to oversee a travel awards program for my organization, and I know my awardees are going to want to stretch their stipend as far as possible. However, there is very limited time for lunch in between sessions.

Where can people grab inexpensive but good lunches and dinners very close to the hotel?

I saw this AskMe about Vietnamese in downtown, but I'd like more downtown recommendations.

Brunch for 2 in Houston?

abdulf — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:42:18 -0800

Romantic brunch ideas in Houston? On a Sunday? I am thinking somewhere that offers a little more privacy than the local IHOP. Bonus if it's located near other interesting stuff (like shops, parks, etc). I realize things may be closed on Sunday morning.

Houton Help for Hapless Habitant

bumpkin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:09:07 -0800

Going to Houston for a three week training course. Evenings and weekends off. Help this pasty Canadian be able to rave about it upon my return... This recent AskMe not only removed the dread (three weeks... on a corporate training course... in a hotel... in Texas...) but actually got me kinda pumped for it.

I have weekends and evenings to myself. I generally like cities and what they offer: art, food, music, books, cinema, people but am also someone who loves mountain and wind sports and being outside. Basically, I am preconditioned to think of Houston as the epitome of our civilization's imminent collapse and I want to give those a thorough thrashing.

Thanks in advance...

(Also: would be happy to take any Houston MeFite out for a beer...)

Can anyone recommend a real estate lawyer in Houston?

getupandgo — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:17:40 -0800

The wife and I are in the process of buying a home in Houston (TX). We have/had a real estate lawyer that we were working with, but she has gotten extremely non-responsive (we just found out yesterday that she has some family issues), and the deal just got a little more complicated. We were going FHA, and one of the stipulations of the deal is that the seller must own the house for 3 months before selling it. Apparently, we were told one thing, but the actual facts and paperwork say another. So we have another month and a half before we can purchase the property. We have been offered, by the seller, a 12 month lease, that can expire upon purchase of the property.

Now, that could be all well and good, and we really do need to move on this quickly, however there are two issues; first, is that we don't have a lawyer to look over the lease and to protect our interests currently, and secondly, we're going to miss out on the 8k tax credit (unless the deadline is extended).

Are there any reputable real estate lawyers in the city that anyone has dealt with and can recommend?

Wedding reception in Houston -- any ideas?

runtina — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 08:45:18 -0800

Wedding venue in Houston, TX? We're looking for a budget-friendly, unique site to have a wedding reception in January 2010. The ceremony will be separate and small, but we'd like to have a fun, casual celebration for all our friends. Centrally located (inside the loop) is good but we're not ruling anything out. Any suggestions?

Quiet restuarant in Houston on a Saturday night?

treepour — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:28:33 -0800

Is there a quiet, intimate, conversation-friendly (on a Saturday night!) restaurant in or near the Montrose area of Houston, TX? My significant other is going to be visiting his family in Houston tomorrow, and wants to take them out for dinner to a place that's as intimate and not-too-loud as possible. He prefers something in the Montrose, Museum District, River Oaks, the Heights, downtown, or nearby. Patio a plus, but intimate overrules patio -- he's visiting on a rather serious occasion. I realize this is next-to-impossible, but would really appreciate any suggestions.

Live in Houston? Who does your taxes?

JPowers — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:16:03 -0800

Live in Houston? Who does your taxes? I'm looking for recommendations for a good personal accountant in Houston, Texas, that can help my brother understand the tax implications of being self-employed. He makes less than $50,000/year, is 24, and basically needs someone to help him understand how much he should set aside each paycheck for federal income and self employment tax, plus anything else he doesn't know about.

The accountant doesn't necessarily have to specialize in this area. And if you have no idea if your accountant deals with the self-employed, please recommend him/her anyway and I'll do the research. I'm basically just trying to avoid using Google to find an accountant here, since I figure personal MeFi recommendations will be much better.

Thanks in advance.

From Austin to Spring, Texas. How to stay sane.

bodywithoutorgans — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:09:39 -0800

After 7 glorious years in Austin, I have been demoted to relocating to Spring, Texas for a job. After a few days of getting the lay of the land, I am very disappointed. How do I stay sane? If distance makes the heart grow fonder, I now realize the dearth of coffee shops, independently owned businesses, ecological consciousness, artists, and general quirkiness in Spring only confirms my love for Austin.

To get a feel for my personality, I am a mid-20s male who enjoys art installations, large libraries, experimental music, and social theory. The brutal compulsion of the economic has forced me to get a "real job" and move to a suburb dominated by god, country, and guns.

So:
1) I know that I am 20 miles north of Downtown Houston. I have taken a look at this thread for suggestions on interesting things in Houston. Can one suggest interesting venues for my personality type in Houston? For example, the Nameless Sound collective is something I could get excited about.

2) Would it be a better idea to commute 20 miles to work from Downtown Houston instead of living in Spring itself?

3) How does one maintain one's individualism in a deeply conformist community? More specifically, how does one make friends in Spring Texas. I've got Metafilter for esoterica and email to keep in touch with my Austin friends but I'm missing the physicality of meatspace.

4) Does Spring have any secret gems that I've overlooked? Or is it Starbucks Starbucks Starbucks all the way down?

Please help Hivemind!

Recommendations for watch repair in Houston?

arcticseal — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 11:25:07 -0800

Recommendations for quality watch repair in Houston? Can anyone recommend a good watch repair store in Houston? A pin on the clasp of my Omega Seamaster has broken only 14 months after the whole clasp was replaced due to the same issue.

I took the watch back to the store in the Galleria where it was replaced last year, but they want to charge me for an entirely new clasp (again), due to the pin having stops on both ends (like a capital I). Last year it cost $150, this year it's quoted as $250. The warranty on the repair last year was only 12 months. Given that the original pin and clasp lasted 10 years, I'm feeling somewhat short changed. They're unwilling to budge on trying to get Omega to rectify the situation as a goodwill gesture and faced with their attitude, I'm certainly not going to give them my business again.

Help me recreate Chicken Verde Pizza!

JannaK — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:47:06 -0800

I had the world's most delicious Chicken Verde pizza at Cafe Brasil in Houston last week and want to know what was on it (namely, which herbs). Any Houstonians able to help me out? Menu and Googling haven't helped, and I'm no longer in Houston to go back and inquire. There was chicken, some sort of Mexican cheese and then what looked like basil and parsley, but didn't taste like either. Lemon juice was added too, if I remember correctly.

I'm dying to re-create this pizza, but don't know where to start.

Is there a mini-church for me in Houston?

grablife365 — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:04:49 -0800

In need of recommendations for mini-churches in Houston, would prefer near Sugar Land but will look into anything. I heard a while back about mini-churches and mega-churches. I'm not into mega-churches like Lakewood Church here in Houston due to the crowd and it not being personal but I'm also finding that I'm not into medium sized churches either, ones that boast of 100 to 200 people. I like to be in small groups of people no more than 20 to 50 people. Even smaller would be a plus.

It would be nice to be involved like I am with a small Bible study where we aren't talked to too much and instead can interact with the discussion. Other characteristics I would like would be a church that is informal, laid back, non-denominational and of course open to new visitors.

Is there any church like that in Houston even near Sugar Land? I'm hoping there is one here that could fit me better than the medium and near mega ones I've been to in the past few weeks.

Thank you.

Downtown Houston Views

thack3r — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:34:36 -0800

Awesome views of downtown Houston? I'm looking for recommendations for great views of downtown Houston--the skyline, the city lights, awesome urban-y stuff. Restaurants, hotels, and public spaces are preferred; if it's a bar, it has to be 18-up. I already know about Eleanor Tinsley Park and Discovery Green, and I'm looking for something more... indoors? Air-conditioned? It's not required, but definitely preferred. I'd like to hear all suggestions, though! Thanks in advance!

Help us be happy in Houston

Anonymous — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:17:55 -0800

Moving to Houston - new job in the Sugar land area. *Sigh* Is there any reason to be positive about this? My long term partner has a transfer to Houston for the next 3 years and I will be visiting for extended periods and doing some telecommuting. Neither one of us has ever been excited about Texas, and definitely not Houston. We're more Pacific Northwest in style, currently filling time with hiking, biking, running, and watching Mad Men on tv. We don't do church or entertain or have kids. We aren't enthusiastic about hanging out with Ken DeLay. We are thinking about buying a house and have heard that a pool will be a good thing, though sometimes they come with alligators. Well, the dog won't like that, though I might be amused from a distance if I can blog about it at a nearby coffee shop. Does anyone have any advice on how to fast-track our enjoyment of the place, including where to live?

Where are some cool places to live in inner-loop Houston?

junipero — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 22:14:18 -0800

Where are some cool places to live in inner-loop Houston? My lease is up at the end of July and I'm excited to find a new place, and to live on my own for the first time in awhile. I want to stay inside the Loop, but I'm not entirely opposed to going a wee bit outside. I'd love some suggestions on neighborhoods to look in, apartments to check out, tucked away, hidden charming little places, etc.

What I'm looking for:

1. An old house/apartment/duplex/whatever. I've got to live somewhere that has character. I do not want to live in a new building. I would go so far as to say this is the most important factor for me.

2. It will just be me and my two pugs, so I don't need a whole lot of space. A bedroom, living room, kitchen, and bathroom is enough, but I am hoping to find a place with either a second bedroom or similar kind of space that I can use as an office.

3. I would kill to live in a loft. Like, a real loft. I love the artists lofts in the Heights, but I don't know if there are any residences around those buildings.

4. I am a single young woman and need to be in a place that is fairly safe. I need to be able to walk my dogs around the block when it is dark outside. This may very well make #3 nearly impossible, but safety is quite important, obviously.

5. I would prefer to NOT have to park in a parking garage.

6. I'm a high school teacher, so that's the kind of rent we're talking about. I can pay up to $850/month plus utilities/cable/internet, but that is stretching it a tad bit.

I've lived in Houston all my life and am pretty familiar with the neighborhoods inside the Loop on the West side. I'll definitely be looking in the Heights, Montrose, Cherryhurst, West U., Southampton, Downtown, Boulevard Oaks, Upper Kirby, etc. What I'm asking you for are more specific recommendations, and suggestions of areas I may not have though of. If you have a friend who used to live in a really cool place, or if you have heard of a great spot, etc.

Ah, one more very important thing -- I am NOT interested in living in midtown.

Thanks!

Four Bulgarians and the great American roadtrip.

halogen — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:05:10 -0800

Help me plan a family road trip from Houston, TX to Seattle, WA. How to get a cheaper rental car, should we go to Monument Valley, and a bunch of other questions. My family (50-year-old dad and possibly mom, 30-year-old sister and 25-year-old me) will be reunited in June for the first time in six years, and we will be driving from Texas to Seattle over the course of ten days. My sister will be visiting from Bulgaria, and she hasn't been to many places in the US, so I'd like to show her as many amazing sights as possible.

At the end of the trip, everyone other than me will be flying back to Houston, TX, so we are renting a car. However, picking it up at an airport in Texas and returning it in Seattle really hikes up the price of rentals, and I couldn't find any places that will let us drop it off at a non-airport address. Do you have any advice as to how we can get the best deal?

This is the tentative route we have planned. We've already booked lodging in Grand Canyon and Yosemite, but everything else is subject to change. Would you advise us to go check out other places, too?

Is it worth visiting Monument Valley? Nobody mentioned it in this previous thread. The surreal photos I have seen certainly make it look incredible, but is there anything to do there? As in, can we hike in the middle of June, or will it be too hot?

Should we spend a night in Napa Valley (if so, where exactly should we stay) or continue on to Portland (presumably at least one of us avid wine drinkers will be sober enough to drive at that point)? What is there to do or see on the San Francisco, CA to Portland, OR stretch?

I've never been in a car for an entire ten days. What should we be prepared for? Are we going to end up hating each other (we get along pretty well, but even better when we are on different continents or coasts), and what could we do to be better prepared?

A Monday in Houston... With a Toddler

mrbula — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 21:25:40 -0800

It looks like we're going to be in Houston for a full day, and are trying to find something to do. Difficulty: We have a two-year-old in tow, and Houston's famed Children's Museum is closed on Mondays. :( Usually it's pretty easy to find travel recommendations here, but I was surprised to not find much on Houston (except this).

We're probably going to hit the Galleria at some point--our hotel is very close to it--but would like to see something other than a shopping mall while we're here. Parks, museums, any recommendations along those lines would be useful, especially if they're toddler-friendly and unique to Houston. (And, uh, open on Monday.)

We'd probably like to get a decent dinner in the evening, so recommendations on kid-friendly restaurants would be appreciated as well.

Grill pan gift suggestions for newlyweds

grouse — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 09:20:02 -0800

I'm going to get my friends a grill pan for their wedding. What should I get and what should go with it? My friends like barbecue and meat, so I thought about getting a little patio grill. I called their apartment's management office and they said no way. So instead my idea is to get a grill pan.

They have a lot of other Calaphon Contemporary nonstick stuff on their registry, so I was going to go with that unless you have better suggestions. What are your suggestions for size and model? I see Cook's Illustrated did a roundup, but not being a subscriber I can't see the results. I figured a small one would be fine—assuming they aren't going to have big parties, they aren't going to wish for one of those unwieldy double-size ones, right?

Then the question is what to go with it. One route would be to get some accessories like some nice tongs and a cookbook (suggestions welcome). Maybe an oversized container of kosher salt (I know they would get a kick out of this since she is converting to Judaism). Even with all that it's probably not as big a gift as I wanted to send them so I would probably want to add another small-medium item. Suggestions welcome.

Another idea would be to buy some steaks. Are mail-order providers like Omaha Steaks worth it? If so, recommendations are welcome! Or maybe I should try to arrange something with a local butcher or store instead (they live in Houston). While I usually hate gift cards, I think life is a bit crazy there right now so I was thinking I would get them a gift card so they can use it whenever they want. On the other hand, the mail-order steaks are frozen anyway, so maybe I should just send them now.

I'm looking to spend about $100 overall, which is why it will probably be either steaks or accessories. I'd prefer to ship (and unless I buy before the wedding tomorrow that is my only option). Amazon Prime options are also preferred cause I can ship them fast for free.

Your general advice welcome.

Vanilla mousse cake in Houston

thack3r — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:19:39 -0800

Where to get (awesome) vanilla mousse cake in Houston? I need to wrangle up a delicious vanilla mousse cake for a friend's birthday in Houston, TX. Does anyone have any bakery recommendations? I have plenty of time (a couple months), but I don't want to screw this up.

Wurst in Houston, TX.

halogen — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:43:02 -0800

Where can I buy authentic German Weisswurst (or any other sausage that would go well with homemade soft pretzels) in Houston, TX? I live in the Museum District and will have access to a car after 6pm, but I'd prefer not to have to leave the loop.

I need a tuxedo......t-shirt!

chrisfromthelc — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:50:49 -0800

I need a tuxedo t-shirt. Oh, and I need it by Friday. I'm seeing a friend this weekend, and as a part of a long-running, convoluted joke, I need to show up wearing a tuxedo t-shirt. I only realized that I needed it this morning, and have been racking my brain trying to think of a place in Houston that carries that sort of stuff.

Any ideas?

Multiple Mystery Songs

batmonkey — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:33:00 -0800

Three songs I'm looking for - various degrees of difficulty... Easy:
Song played frequently on KEXP 90.3 in Seattle in '07. A dude is going to head to his shack with his woman and smoke weed (he may have used euphemisms...damn my conceptual memory). Sure it's not "Shake the Shack Tonight" by Sid King & the Five Strings. Solo artist, I think, but could be wrong. Quite frequently played on Fridays, near rush hour. However, even my digging through the archived playlists isn't jogging my memory. I'll bet you're smarter than me & know it right off.

Medium:
House-ish song from the late '80s. Most remember the samples: "Brothas and Sistas!", "I've got a question" - may be snippets of the same person, more likely separate samples. I've been told it may be tackhead. I've been told it may be "[?]screw" or "screw[?]". I know it most comes to mind when listening to "Beat Dis" by Bomb the Bass or "Hey, Poor - Jesus is Here" by Front 242. The "I've got a question" part is the most central piece of the whole search. Played in various clubs there (notably #s), heard years later in Dallas, lost the slip of paper with the details long ago.

Hard:
A version of "White Rabbit", house-ish - trippier/swirlier than techno - from very early to mid '90s (I dunno, could be late '80s, too). The key here is that it was played at The Church (Goth night at Dallas's Lizard Lounge") fairly frequently, generally in a set containing "Daisy Chain 4 Satan" and "Sober".

Calculus Tutor in the Houston area? Specifically Northwest Houston.

isoman2kx — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:01:49 -0800

Does anyone know a tutor in the Northwest Houston area for Calculus and (bonus points) for Physics? I've come to the realization that I might need a tutor for when I have questions in Calculus. Since my dad passed away last March, I don't have anyone to instantaneously ask for Calculus help. Looking up things on the internet for hours is too slow and me staring at it for hours is also too slow. I use cramster and it helps, but even on cramster, I don't feel they do the job of explaining it in detail like "I" would want it. There are tutors about 20 mins away from me or so at my campus that I used to go to, but I'd ideally like just one on one tutoring at a house or something with a whiteboard/blackboard and all that good stuff.

Does anyone in the Houston area know a good, yet cost-effective tutor in the northwest area? I don't like the fact that I'd have to pay for a tutor regardless, but since my dad isn't here anymore... it's become increasing difficult as I advance up the Calculus ladder and now I'm in Calculus II. I live fairly close to where 290 and 610 meet. So inside the west part of the 610 loop is cool or up to like Highway 6 and 290 is cool too.

Bonus points if the tutor does University Physics I (cal-based) as well :)

Thanks for any suggestions you guys can give...

-Travis

Fried livers & gizzards in Houston?

mrbill — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:03:04 -0800

Where can one find fried chicken livers & gizzards in west Houston? Growing up, my dad introduced me to fried chicken livers n' gizzards as a perfect redneck finger food/snack food, especially for fishing trips. Buy some raw to use as bait, and another box of em cooked to eat while you fish!

I was able to buy them in high school (southwest Oklahoma) from the deli section of the local grocery store, right next to the egg rolls and stuffed jalapenos, but I've been unable so far to find any in Houston! I've tried Kroger, Fiesta, etc, and have come up empty.

So, where in west Houston (within 5-10 miles of BW8/Westheimer) can I go to buy fried livers and gizzards? Or am I out of luck, and just live in too urban an area?

What shows/bands playing this week in Houston does the hive mind recommend?

Robert Angelo — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:52:51 -0800

Houston-Live-Music-This-Week-Filter: Help me be a cool uncle! :-) My nephew is visiting from out of state and he wants to see live music. He is in his early twenties and up for rock, indie, acoustic, whatever; I am a middle-aged stick-in-the-mud who doesn't get out much. He's leaves for home Saturday. He doesn't have a car and doesn't know the lay of the land, so I've agreed to awaken from hibernation and take him out.

What's a good place to take him in Houston or more evenings between now and then? What shows/bands playing this week in Houston does the hive mind recommend?