Confirmed! Summer in Houston, TX!

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  May 07, 2008 9:50 AM GMT

  So, I'm really excited because I was just confirmed I got a summer internship with Hewlett Packard in their Houston site
  
  Luckily one of my friends is also interning there, so we started looking for apartments.
  
  The thing I'm concerned about is public transportation; is it good? does it suck?
  I'm pretty sure there are some RJers from Houston that can help me out on this.
  
  Also, what are good spots to visit? I really hope I have enough free time to explore around the city and its surroundings (I SHOULD..it's an internship, not a full time job! lol) --keep in mind, I'm not 21 yet (lame, I know)
  
  oh, the HP Houston site is huge; so there's a higher probability that there's an RJer that works there...anyone?
  
  any input would help, guys.
  
  thanx!
  
  -r

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  May 07, 2008 12:36 PM GMT

  rawOOL saidSo, I'm really excited because I was just confirmed I got a summer internship with Hewlett Packard in their Houston site
  
  Luckily one of my friends is also interning there, so we started looking for apartments.
  
  The thing I'm concerned about is public transportation; is it good? does it suck?
  I'm pretty sure there are some RJers from Houston that can help me out on this.
  
  Also, what are good spots to visit? I really hope I have enough free time to explore around the city and its surroundings (I SHOULD..it's an internship, not a full time job! lol) --keep in mind, I'm not 21 yet (lame, I know)
  
  oh, the HP Houston site is huge; so there's a higher probability that there's an RJer that works there...anyone?
  
  any input would help, guys.
  
  thanx!
  
  -r

  
  
  rawOOL,
  
  Unfortunately, Houston has one the crappiest public transportation system of all major cities. That city has been built according an "urban sprawl" model. Everything is spread out and not easily accessible. Have you ever been to L.A. If so, picture that but with an close to non-existent pub. trans system. Houston does have a light rail system that runs btwn the medical center and downtown.
  
  In terms of places to see:
  It all depends on your interests.
  But there is a cool little Bayou park just northwest of downtown...a great place to workout...get bitten by water moccasins, etc...
  
  You definitely should check out Galveston and Kemah just so you can say you have been there.
  
  I hear downtown has been revitalized a little bit...so you might find some things to do down there.
  
  Oh yeah, there is also a summer concert series at Herman Park (it's pretty cool...and FREE). That is down in the medical center and across from Rice U. (go owls...my alma mater).
  
  You might be able to meet up with ShawnTO since he is moving down there for work.
  
  Make sure you take lots of OFF, cool clothing, and a good umbrella (those summer storms are no joke and they pop up out of nowhere)

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  May 07, 2008 1:02 PM GMT

  places of interest...."a cool little Bayou park" ..... ..... THAT'S IT??????
  
  Who the hell can live in such places? A city with "a cool little Bayou park" as a point of interest! ...Good lord, save me! .....or shoot me! ... ... I dont know which I would want.

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  May 07, 2008 1:12 PM GMT

  OMG, this town gets such a bad rap.
  
  No, I don't work at HP, but it's way on the NW side of town, if I remember correctly.
  
  Public transit inside the loop is great. Lots of bus service, light rail in midtown/downtown, with more miles of rail to come. Don't know about the 'burbs, though.
  
  The cute Bayou park someone mentioned is actually almost a river walk, of sorts. I remember hearing that the city is thinking of morphing it into something more along the lines of San Antonio's river walk.
  
  There is a really cool new urban park called Discovery Green, downtown, that you should check out:
  http://www.discoverygreen.com/en/cms/?104
  
  Lots of theater and music in the downtown theater district. Also, lots of cultural events at Rice U.
  http://www.houstontheaterdistrict.org/
  
  Plenty of sporting events, of course, if that's your thing.
  
  Hermann and Memorial parks, respectively, offer a respite from the city sprawl.
  http://www.hermannpark.org
  http://www.houstontx.gov/parks/memorialpark.html
  
  The Museum District, near Rice U., offers some world class museums and entertainment.
  http://www.houstonmuseumdistrict.org/default.asp?id=70
  http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2744470-houston_things_to_do-i-nhood-Montrose+Museum+District
  
  Then there's the Montrose District, which is Houston's gayborhood.
  
  Hope you enjoy it! Summer weather can be brutal, but the rest of the year, it is quite nice.
  
  *edited to add links

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  May 07, 2008 1:50 PM GMT

  Alot depends on what kind of summer Houston has.
  In general, you will want to plan your outdoor events after 6:00 pm.
  Very hot/dry summers are good in one aspect - it keeps the mosquito population down. These summers are great for outdoor stuff after 6:00 pm. I lived there in the summer of ?2000 - i beleive it was August with temps in the 100-110 range with a heat index of 110-115 - just really horrible. Not a dry heat - remember, this is not Arizona with low humidity and dew points - this is the texas gulf coast.
  Normal temperatures/Rainy summers are great for doing stuff outdoors = as long as you have mosquito repellant. I lived there when the average summer highs have been in the low 90s with prevailing winds out of the northeast bringing lower humidities and dew points - a really great direction for more tolerable summers.
  I lived near the coast so will speak to that. If you enjoy the ocean - great. Visit the Kemah area and Galveston later in the day or early in the morning - once things have cooled off. Watching a tropical storm come onto shore on the Galveston sea wall is exhilerating. If a hurricane is expected - stay away -even for a category one (mostly due to flooding).

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  May 07, 2008 4:37 PM GMT

  Check out the museum district. Houston has great museums. Plus they have good planetarium shows.
  
  I have to say, it is humid in the summer. Get ready to take a bunch of showers.

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  May 07, 2008 5:29 PM GMT

  ruck_us saidOMG, this town gets such a bad rap.

  
  
  I KNOW!!!
  
  Life is what you make of it.
  I have only been in Houston since Feb 1st of this year, but so far it has bee VERY good to me. Everyone I have met here that has something nasty to say about it (most of the time) has either been here WAY too long, doesn't realize that there is life outside of Montrose (the gayborhood) or is just not outgoing enough to go see and do things that are out there.
  I do think that Houston has a few aspects that aren't so great, but the only two that I think are major factors (and mostly unique to Houston) is the lack of good public transport and (from what people have been telling me) the heat/humidity of the summer. The rest that I've heard can really be applied to almost any american city: too many people, traffic, crime etc..
  
  There is a lot to do and see in H-town. especially for a newbie!
  
  

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  May 07, 2008 5:42 PM GMT

  any good recommendations for gyms?

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  May 07, 2008 5:53 PM GMT

  that depends on what part of town you are in and what kind of gym you are looking for.
  There is 24 Hour fitness, Ballys, LA fitness, the YMCA and the one in Montrose is FIT Athletic club. There are also some other upscale 'health clubs' here and there.
  I think the most reasonable is 24 Hour fitness. If you looking to be seen and don't mind paying a lot of money then FIT is the one to go w/. Beautiful inside but I don't really think its worth paying for unless you would be there at least 4 days a week and can afford it. It is nice tho!

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  May 07, 2008 8:18 PM GMT

  I have lived in Houston since 1997. For damn sure I recommend Houston over my hometown in Indiana (66,000 and shrinking). Most of the comments about Houston so far are good, not much to add here. If you go the Bally's route, West U is insanely crowded, Galleria is hard to get to, North Shepherd (where I go) is good, and there is one on 290 that gets good reviews. When August rolls around, air conditioning is a necessity, not a luxury (actually, it is a necessity for most of the year).

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  May 07, 2008 8:25 PM GMT

  cowboyathlete saidI have lived in Houston since 1997. For damn sure I recommend Houston over my hometown in Indiana (66,000 and shrinking). Most of the comments about Houston so far are good, not much to add here. If you go the Bally's route, West U is insanely crowded, Galleria is hard to get to, North Shepherd (where I go) is good, and there is one on 290 that gets good reviews. When August rolls around, air conditioning is a necessity, not a luxury (actually, it is a necessity for most of the year).

  
  Bally's West U. is probably one of the gay-friendlier gyms in town. If you go at off-peak times, there really aren't any crowds to speak of.

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  May 07, 2008 9:00 PM GMT

  I used to go to Ballys West U, but the cruising was too heavy and the parking was a nightmare. I go to a gym to lift.

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  May 07, 2008 9:36 PM GMT

  I live in Dallas, but I LOVE Houston....I lived most of my adult life there and I miss living there every day.
  
  I've often said, its not the kinda place you want to go on vacation, but its a great place to live. Like every other city, you have to know where to live and where to go, etc.....
  
  Just try to find a place "Inside the Loop" and you should be happy.....unfortunately, if you're working for HP, you're probably gonna be way out in Northwest Houston (far suburbs)....it would be quite the commute and without a car you're gonna be SOL.

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  May 07, 2008 10:06 PM GMT

  ruck_us saidOMG, this town gets such a bad rap.
  
  No, I don't work at HP, but it's way on the NW side of town, if I remember correctly.
  
  Public transit inside the loop is great. Lots of bus service, light rail in midtown/downtown, with more miles of rail to come. Don't know about the 'burbs, though.
  
  The cute Bayou park someone mentioned is actually almost a river walk, of sorts. I remember hearing that the city is thinking of morphing it into something more along the lines of San Antonio's river walk.
  
  There is a really cool new urban park called Discovery Green, downtown, that you should check out:
  http://www.discoverygreen.com/en/cms/?104
  
  Lots of theater and music in the downtown theater district. Also, lots of cultural events at Rice U.
  http://www.houstontheaterdistrict.org/
  
  Plenty of sporting events, of course, if that's your thing.
  
  Hermann and Memorial parks, respectively, offer a respite from the city sprawl.
  http://www.hermannpark.org
  http://www.houstontx.gov/parks/memorialpark.html
  
  The Museum District, near Rice U., offers some world class museums and entertainment.
  http://www.houstonmuseumdistrict.org/default.asp?id=70
  http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2744470-houston_things_to_do-i-nhood-Montrose+Museum+District
  
  Then there's the Montrose District, which is Houston's gayborhood.
  
  Hope you enjoy it! Summer weather can be brutal, but the rest of the year, it is quite nice.
  
  *edited to add links

  
  
  You know darn well the pub trans system is piss poor for a so called major city!
  
  And that light rail system is a joke!...and world class musuems...I doubt it...that museum district is smaller than my parents backyard at home (and that's not that big)
  
  Now there are plenty of places to eat...I mean...how do you think H-town was dubbed "fattest city" a few years in a row!!!
  

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  May 07, 2008 10:09 PM GMT

  kinetic said[quote][cite]ruck_us said[/cite]OMG, this town gets such a bad rap.

  
  
  I KNOW!!!
  
  Life is what you make of it.
  I have only been in Houston since Feb 1st of this year, but so far it has bee VERY good to me. Everyone I have met here that has something nasty to say about it (most of the time) has either been here WAY too long, doesn't realize that there is life outside of Montrose (the gayborhood) or is just not outgoing enough to go see and do things that are out there.
  I do think that Houston has a few aspects that aren't so great, but the only two that I think are major factors (and mostly unique to Houston) is the lack of good public transport and (from what people have been telling me) the heat/humidity of the summer. The rest that I've heard can really be applied to almost any american city: too many people, traffic, crime etc..
  
  There is a lot to do and see in H-town. especially for a newbie!
  
  [/quote]
  
  Not really! I think he is looking for things unique to Houston. You would expect the fourth largest city to offer more than it actually does.

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  May 07, 2008 10:12 PM GMT

  ruck_us said[quote][cite]cowboyathlete said[/cite]I have lived in Houston since 1997. For damn sure I recommend Houston over my hometown in Indiana (66,000 and shrinking). Most of the comments about Houston so far are good, not much to add here. If you go the Bally's route, West U is insanely crowded, Galleria is hard to get to, North Shepherd (where I go) is good, and there is one on 290 that gets good reviews. When August rolls around, air conditioning is a necessity, not a luxury (actually, it is a necessity for most of the year).

  
  Bally's West U. is probably one of the gay-friendlier gyms in town. If you go at off-peak times, there really aren't any crowds to speak of.[/quote]
  
  Hmmm...I used to workout there all the time while at Rice since Rice's main gym was so shatty!!!!
  
  I'm curious to know why you define it as a gay-friendly gym. I ask b/c it seemed like a regular gym to me...nothing out of the ordinary

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  May 07, 2008 10:14 PM GMT

  smalltownboy saidI live in Dallas, but I LOVE Houston....I lived most of my adult life there and I miss living there every day.
  
  I've often said, its not the kinda place you want to go on vacation, but its a great place to live. Like every other city, you have to know where to live and where to go, etc.....
  
  Just try to find a place "Inside the Loop" and you should be happy.....unfortunately, if you're working for HP, you're probably gonna be way out in Northwest Houston (far suburbs)....it would be quite the commute and without a car you're gonna be SOL.

  
  
  Yeah...but Houston runs circles around Dallas. So I am not surprised you miss it so much!
  
  Dallas sucks too!...relatively speaking that is!

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  May 07, 2008 11:33 PM GMT

  Houston is a great city with a lot to offer. Despite the mediocre public bus transit system, the hot humid weather and the total absense of zoning and land use controls, it is an amazingly beautiful, modern city. The downtown skyline is one of the most spectacular skylines in the South especially at night when most of the tallest skyscrapers are all lit up. There is Hermann Park and the Houston Zoo. There is the Galleria on Post Oak Blvd. and Westheimer Road that has three levels of world class shopping and dining. The worlds tallest building located outside an urban core is located right behind the Galleria complex, it was known as the Transco Tower back in 1993 but with oil company acquisitions and takeovers, I do not know its current name but it is a beautiful, soaring 64 story glass skyscraper. If you are into bodybuilding, Houston has several Golds and World Gyms located throughout the sprawling metropolis. It has several beautiful parks. Westheimer Road and Richmond Avenue are two interesting major thoroughfares. Then there is Montrose and the gay nightspots with all the hot, hunky men. I wish that I could join you because Houston was my escape from Fort Polk, Louisiana during holiday weekends.

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  May 08, 2008 12:03 AM GMT

  Geez, another RJer moving to Houston. We're all going to have to get together and take over the town!

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  May 08, 2008 4:11 AM GMT

  roadbikeRob saidHouston is a great city with a lot to offer.
  
  The worlds tallest building located outside an urban core is located right behind the Galleria complex, it was known as the Transco Tower back in 1993 but with oil company acquisitions and takeovers, I do not know its current name but it is a beautiful, soaring 64 story glass skyscraper.

  
  
  It's called "Williams Tower" now, but locals still refer to it as "Transco".
  
  Just for the record, a good friend of mine owns a gym in Houston called "Crew Fitness"...it's NOT a "gay-gym", but probably the most gay-friendly gym in town. It use to be called "Fitness Exchange" but they've moved and changed the name too.
  
  http://www.crewhealthandfitness.com/index.html
  
  Also good friends with the head-trainer @ "Fit" which has amazing views of downtown....they're gay-friendly too, but a bit more the metrosexual crowd works out there.....
  
  http://fitathletic.com/houston/index.html
  
  
  
  

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  May 08, 2008 4:54 AM GMT

  orthojock said
  
  You know darn well the pub trans system is piss poor for a so called major city!
  
  And that light rail system is a joke!...and world class musuems...I doubt it...that museum district is smaller than my parents backyard at home (and that's not that big)
  
  Now there are plenty of places to eat...I mean...how do you think H-town was dubbed "fattest city" a few years in a row!!!
  

  
  Bitter much?
  
  What do you expect from the energy capitol of the world? This city, like most cities in the west and southwest, was built on the car culture. It's not particularly easy to retrofit a commuter city with mass transit, but they're at least making an effort. Now, I will agree that you need a 4x4 to navigate all the friggin pot holes around here. My god, it's like driving in the back country of the third world.
  
  Yeah, definitely no shortage of great food, here. Just don't forget to hit the gym after gorging on just about any cuisine you can imagine.
  
  Listen, I never in a million years thought I'd be defending -- let alone living in -- H-Town, but here I am, and I'm finding a lot to like about it.
  
  As for Bally's West U., are you kidding me? They may be bi-curious for all I know, but without a doubt, there are a lot of guys playing on the home team, there.

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  May 08, 2008 5:17 AM GMT

  I live in Houston.
  
  x

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  May 08, 2008 11:27 AM GMT

  ruck_us said[quote][cite]orthojock said[/cite]
  
  You know darn well the pub trans system is piss poor for a so called major city!
  
  And that light rail system is a joke!...and world class musuems...I doubt it...that museum district is smaller than my parents backyard at home (and that's not that big)
  
  Now there are plenty of places to eat...I mean...how do you think H-town was dubbed "fattest city" a few years in a row!!!
  

  
  Bitter much?
  
  What do you expect from the energy capitol of the world? This city, like most cities in the west and southwest, was built on the car culture. It's not particularly easy to retrofit a commuter city with mass transit, but they're at least making an effort. Now, I will agree that you need a 4x4 to navigate all the friggin pot holes around here. My god, it's like driving in the back country of the third world.
  
  Yeah, definitely no shortage of great food, here. Just don't forget to hit the gym after gorging on just about any cuisine you can imagine.
  
  Listen, I never in a million years thought I'd be defending -- let alone living in -- H-Town, but here I am, and I'm finding a lot to like about it.
  
  As for Bally's West U., are you kidding me? They may be bi-curious for all I know, but without a doubt, there are a lot of guys playing on the home team, there.[/quote]
  
  Well. We will see within the next few years how receptive city officials and residents are to improving the pub trans system (including expanding the light rail). Hopefully I'll be back in H-town for med school (Baylor COM all the way!!!!...my dream school)
  
  Re: West U. Bally's...LOL...never gave it much thought. There were a couple of overly friendly dudes there that I knew of (who would always bother me during my workout or while I was getting my gym bag out of the lockeroom downstairs)...but I never thought much of it beyond the fact that they were really chatty. I also never changed there since I went to Rice. That's funny though!
  
  Watch me go looking for that next time I go to Houston...LOL!

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  May 09, 2008 4:08 AM GMT

  Hey guys,
  
  Thank you all for your replies; I really appreciate it =D
  
  

  orthojock said
  
  rawOOL,
  
  Unfortunately, Houston has one the crappiest public transportation system of all major cities. ... Have you ever been to L.A. If so, picture that but with an close to non-existent pub.

  
  
  haha, yeah, I LIVE in LA, so I know how that goes! I guess I'll be having fun getting to places! lol
  
  

  ruck us said
  
  OMG, this town gets such a bad rap.
  ...
  Hope you enjoy it! Summer weather can be brutal, but the rest of the year, it is quite nice.
  ...
  Yeah, definitely no shortage of great food, here. Just don't forget to hit the gym after gorging on just about any cuisine you can imagine.

  
  
  I'll try to focus on the nice things people say about the city... awesome links! They Seem really interesting; I'll try to check those places out.
  
  oh and yumm... I'll definitely be gorging on some awesome food every now and then...and hitting the gym too. I think HP has a gym in site; I doubt it's gay-friendly...but I'm sure it's at least geek-friendly
  
  

  twentyfourhourslater
  
  Visit the Kemah area and Galveston later in the day or early in the morning - once things have cooled off. Watching a tropical storm come onto shore on the Galveston sea wall is exhilerating. If a hurricane is expected - stay away -even for a category one (mostly due to flooding).

  
  
  
  NIce! As idiotic as it sounds I want to experience at least a tropical storm... it'd be something new that I wouldn't get here in California
  
  

  DJBens77
  
  Check out the museum district. Houston has great museums. Plus they have good planetarium shows.
  
  I have to say, it is humid in the summer. Get ready to take a bunch of showers.

  
  
  hehe yeh, I'm already preparing myself to feel sticky lol
  
  

  kinetic
  
  I have only been in Houston since Feb 1st of this year, but so far it has bee VERY good to me

  
  
  
  seems like we'll experience Houston summer for the first time huh? =P
  
  
  

  smalltownboy
  
  Just try to find a place "Inside the Loop" and you should be happy.....unfortunately, if you're working for HP, you're probably gonna be way out in Northwest Houston (far suburbs)....it would be quite the commute and without a car you're gonna be SOL.

  
  
  eek... oh well, at least I cant complain saying I didnt know
  
  

  roadbikeRob
  
  There is Hermann Park and the Houston Zoo. There is the Galleria on Post Oak Blvd. and Westheimer Road that has three levels of world class shopping and dining.

  
  
  
  Cool, I'll make sure I spend some time shopping =P
  
  

  ShawnTO
  
  Geez, another RJer moving to Houston. We're all going to have to get together and take over the town!

  
  
  haha for sure! How many of us will be there? Lets plan this!
  
  __
  
  Again, thanx a lot, guys; if you have any other recommendations, keep 'em comin!
  
  -r
  
  

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  May 10, 2008 11:35 PM GMT

  Ok so, keep me updated on a Houston RJ meetup, [lease.
  
  I'll pass on organizing it.
  
  x

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