Houston People...make your recommendations

[CrashBomb]

I'm going to be in Houston for a little while, probably until the end of June.

I've been here for almost two weeks now and it's alright so far, though nothing like the Pennsylvania woodlands I'm used to. My house in PA is at the end of a dead end street at least four miles from my nearest neighbor, and where I live four miles can be a ten minute drive (four and a half on the 'busa with the flux capacitor mod installed), so living in a city with two and a half million other people is a hell of an adjustment. But it's not as bad as I'd feared...though my opinions on that matter may change as the weather gets more..."seasonally warm." (I've been here in July and August before, so I know what I'm in for over the next two months. I'm not a fan of hot weather, but I'll survive.)

So, locals...what do I need to do while I'm here? Any secret insider spots I need to check out before I make my way back north? What's a good cheap local craft beer? Where do I go to get good Mexican food? (Everywhere?) What do I do on a Saturday afternoon? (I'm without a bike this trip, just a Saab full of junk, so don't say "go riding.") Someone point me towards some interesting places a northern guy should see so he can tell stories about "the time I lived in Texas (for about twenty minutes)."

I'm staying around twenty miles Northwest of downtown, near Cypress, and...some other stuff...I don't know where anything is yet, but feel free to throw out some names and I'll look stuff up online. I don't mind exploring a little, it will help me get my bearings. A friend of mine who used to live here told me if I come home without going to a place called Bubba's Burger Shack he'll have my official carnivore badge revoked, but no one I've talked to so far has heard of it.

I feel like BBQ tonight, I've been here two weeks without a serioius helping of red meat and I'm sure that qualifies as a sin. Where should I go and where should I avoid?

[shawnski]

cypress! nothing is happening there!
ther are alot of good mexican foodout there, try papasito's or lupe tortilla
go to the heart of houston and you see "galleria area", very nice mall and great restaurant around it. the name of streets around it are westheimer and san felipe and voss.
you can go 45 minutes away south to kima which is by the water and great restaurants and seafood, another 30 minutes put you in galveston beach.
( not sure with hurricane ike what type of shape they are now but i have heard thay are good).
downtown has alot of nice places and clubs.( for nite time partying)i live in north side of town, not a whole lot of places to go in north.

while you are in kima you can visit "nasa" if you are into it.

if i remember more i will let you know,have fun!

[si-lo]

about an hour west of Cypress on 290 is the home of the best ice cream. Brenham is the home of Blue Bell ice cream.

There is always the museum of natural science downtown. You would have to visit the Butterfly center. Wear the brightest, loudest shirt you can find and they will land on you. It's pretty neat. There is also I-Max and many other things in the area.

Its been almost 20 years since I was anywhere near Cypress so I'm not much help there. I'm from the SW side, Sugar Land to be exact.

Enjoy your stay.

[shawnski]

burns bbq is one of my best bbq places, 8307 De Priest St
Houston, TX 77088
(281) 445-7574
hope you have gps in you car!

the only problem is order to go not to seat down.

[CrashBomb]

Yes, it certainly seems that there isn't a lot around here except shopping plazas and parking lots.

Someone else recommended Papasito's, so I'll definitely have to try it. I've gotten some decent Mexican food here, but nothing has really wowed me. To be honest, nothing I've had here is really any better than what I can get at the little Mexican place in the town about 20 miles from home.

I've been past the Galleria mall area when I was here before but I don't know what all is there. I was in Galveston about two months before Ike and really liked it, but I'm planning on going down there at some point to see how things look now. My girlfriend was there shortly after Christmas and she said it was still a mess, but all the news about spring break has said they've got the place mostly put back together.

I was at Nasa last year and loved it (I'm a space travel and astronomy junkie, so I'm into that sort of thing), and I'm definately going back this year when I have a little more time to spend.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll check out the Keemah area (that's where the "boardwalk" is, right?) since several local people have mentioned it.

[shawnski]

Yes, it certainly seems that there isn't a lot around here except shopping plazas and parking lots.

Someone else recommended Papasito's, so I'll definitely have to try it. I've gotten some decent Mexican food here, but nothing has really wowed me. To be honest, nothing I've had here is really any better than what I can get at the little Mexican place in the town about 20 miles from home.

I've been past the Galleria mall area when I was here before but I don't know what all is there. I was in Galveston about two months before Ike and really liked it, but I'm planning on going down there at some point to see how things look now. My girlfriend was there shortly after Christmas and she said it was still a mess, but all the news about spring break has said they've got the place mostly put back together.

I was at Nasa last year and loved it (I'm a space travel and astronomy junkie, so I'm into that sort of thing), and I'm definately going back this year when I have a little more time to spend.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll check out the Keemah area (that's where the "boardwalk" is, right?) since several local people have mentioned it.

check the downtown area at nite, clubs, sports bar etc.. watch out for train, make sure you don't get into wreck, it is crazy!!!
if you have been in nasa, it is the same rd. ( nasa rd1) go west and it takes you to the end and take a right and keemah is right there.

while you are there in nasa rd1 before space center there is a italian restaurant called "franca's italian restaurant", check it out great real italian food and pizza, great atmospher and great decoration. the owner she used to be my girlfriend.

[CrashBomb]

about an hour west of Cypress on 290 is the home of the best ice cream. Brenham is the home of Blue Bell ice cream.

We got some Blue Bell ice cream at the grocery store. If it's that good out of the carton it's probably even better at the source. I'll put that one on my list.

There is always the museum of natural science downtown. You would have to visit the Butterfly center. Wear the brightest, loudest shirt you can find and they will land on you. It's pretty neat. There is also I-Max and many other things in the area.

I didn't know there was a butterfly farm here. I stopped at one on a whim when I was in Aruba and it was fascinating. I've also been to the one on the island of Kauai at the nature preserve.

Its been almost 20 years since I was anywhere near Cypress so I'm not much help there. I'm from the SW side, Sugar Land to be exact.

I'm just starting to learn where some of the different "neighborhoods" are, so I think I know vaguely where Sugar Land is. Thanks for your recommendations.

[si-lo]

check the downtown area at nite, clubs, sports bar etc.. watch out for train, make sure you don't get into wreck, it is crazy!!!

Yep the train comes out of nowhere. Be careful walking around downtown.

[CrashBomb]

Yep the train comes out of nowhere. Be careful walking around downtown.

I'll be sure to watch out for that. When I was downtown last time I was here I didn't see the trains running at all, I thought maybe it wasn't operating anymore.

It can't be any worse than the heavy line that runs right behind this apartment complex. I swear the crossing is only 500 feet from the front door and you can hear the air horns at every crossing for at least two miles in either direction. I don't mind trains, I'm from a coal town right on the edge of the rust belt and in steel mill country so I'm no stranger to rail crossings and locos in the middle of the night, but this is ridiculous. I can actually feel the foundation shake when a big one goes by, it's like a mini-earthquake.

[shawnski]

I'll be sure to watch out for that. When I was downtown last time I was here I didn't see the trains running at all, I thought maybe it wasn't operating anymore.

It can't be any worse than the heavy line that runs right behind this apartment complex. I swear the crossing is only 500 feet from the front door and you can hear the air horns at every crossing for at least two miles in either direction. I don't mind trains, I'm from a coal town right on the edge of the rust belt and in steel mill country so I'm no stranger to rail crossings and locos in the middle of the night, but this is ridiculous. I can actually feel the foundation shake when a big one goes by, it's like a mini-earthquake.

we are talking metro train in downtown, i almost got in wreck one time i went there. i forgot all about them and here it comes one and i was listening to dark side of the moon (pink floyd ) blasting!

[CrashBomb]

That's an album you never want to fall asleep listening to. The cacophony of clocks on Time will scare the shid out of you every time. Almost asleep...almost asleeeeeeep....allllmoooossssss *BONG BONG BING BONG CRASH BANG BONG*

So we tried to go to County Line BBQ tonight, but they were closing in fifteen minutes. Taco Cabana was open...not going to go there again...questionable meat, a "salsa bar" that looks like it was refreshed last Tuesday, no beer, and a free spider with every meal...

Maybe I'll get my BBQ fix tomorrow night.

[shawnski]

That's an album you never want to fall asleep listening to. The cacophony of clocks on Time will scare the shid out of you every time. Almost asleep...almost asleeeeeeep....allllmoooossssss *BONG BONG BING BONG CRASH BANG BONG*

So we tried to go to County Line BBQ tonight, but they were closing in fifteen minutes. Taco Cabana was open...not going to go there again...questionable meat, a "salsa bar" that looks like it was refreshed last Tuesday, no beer, and a free spider with every meal...

Maybe I'll get my BBQ fix tomorrow night.

poor guy.. bad nite ha? taco cabana? salsa bar? you need some help!

[shawnski]

i thought two other place for evenings for you, sam's boat in richmond ave. close to galleria has indoor outdoor( better outdoor) good beer, crawfish.
go alittle west of that and you have "dave and buster" very nice place to have food, play pools and bunch of games, you should check it.

[si-lo]

+1 on Sam's boat. Lots of eye candy.

[shawnski]

+1 on Sam's boat. Lots of eye candy.

[Projekt]

Ask around for some good Salvadorean food. The pupusas are great with all the toppings you can put on top. I haven't eaten pupusas in Houston since about 1995/96 so I couldn't guide you to the place..

[rubber2burn]

You and Brendan need to come to Austin and lets go to Bonedaddy's if you do not believe me just as Projekt he will give you the 411 on Bonedaddy's

[Projekt]

You and Brendan need to come to Austin and lets go to Bonedaddy's if you do not believe me just as Projekt he will give you the 411 on Bonedaddy's

Bonedaddy's :drooling3: :mwink:

[si-lo]

You and Brendan need to come to Austin and lets go to Bonedaddy's if you do not believe me just as Projekt he will give you the 411 on Bonedaddy's

I think I've been there. Is it on Research? If so, it is good.

[CrashBomb]

Ask around for some good Salvadorean food. The pupusas are great with all the toppings you can put on top. I haven't eaten pupusas in Houston since about 1995/96 so I couldn't guide you to the place..

Thanks for the idea Projekt, sounds like something I'd like. I love interesting ethnic food from all over the world. I don't think I've ever had anything specifically from El Savador, so I'll look around and see if I can find a place that serves it