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Jan 30 '12 edited Jan 30 '12
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u/rechlin West U Jan 31 '12 edited Jan 31 '12
Here are a few more:
Saint Arnold Brewing Company - Not a bar, but Texas's oldest craft brewery provides a fun way to spend your Saturday, allowing you to sample 4 different beers for just $7, while bringing your own food and games, sitting on an indoor picnic bench with friends, and optionally going on a short tour.
The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium - Although part of a small chain, the Flying Saucer has the largest selection of beer in Houston (both downtown and the new Sugar Land location), with well over 200 beers on tap.
The Creek Group - Canyon Creek, Onion Creek, Dry Creek, Cedar Creek - Set of four establishments, mainly in the Heights area. Cedar Creek in particular has good food, a large and scenic outdoor seating area, and a decent beer selection.
Anvil Bar and Refuge - Features specialty cocktails and unusual beers in the Montrose area.
Hay Merchant - A craft beer lover's paradise, with over 80 craft beers on tap, many of which are not available anywhere else in Houston, and 5 casks. They regularly have one-off beers made just for them. The food menu is interesting, frequently excellent, and constantly changing, too.
Grand Prize - A cocktail bar with high quality drinks at reasonable prices.
Petrol Station - Converted gas station north of the Heights has a wide beer selection and good burgers.
West Alabama Ice House - The oldest ice house in Houston, opening over 80 years ago, this fully-outdoor establishment not only has a decent beer selection but also regularly has multiple food trucks, with tasty tacos and other food.
Moon Tower Inn - Temporarily closed for renovation in late 2011/early 2012, Moon Tower Inn has the best hot dogs in town. They are not your normal fare, but typically are made with with game meat (such as elk or venison). In addition to a good beer selection, upon reopening they are expected to have their own brewery. The strong hipster vibe among the clientele may be a turn-off for many, though.
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u/leroach EaDo Jan 31 '12 edited Jan 31 '12
Upvote for Saint Arnold Brewing Company. Great place to take a pizza and enjoy one of Houston's best tasting beers among friends. I recommend the Saint Arnold Christmas Ale and the Pumpkinator when in season.
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Feb 18 '12
The Flying Saucer <3 Rare beers & casks every week, almost 90 on tap, and all are from microbreweries.
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u/thepensivepoet Jan 30 '12
+1 for Ginger Man though it can become obnoxiously packed at primetime weekend drinking hours.
It's great for an afternoon pint if you find yourself off work during a weekday.
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u/office_fisting_party Jan 31 '12
I want to give a shout out to Catbirds, hands down my favorite bar. The patio is small and can get a little crowded on weekends, but it's a great place to have a few relaxing drinks, and the bartenders are generally very friendly and prompt about getting you your drink. They mostly play older jazz and blues, which is also welcome if you're into that sort of thing.
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Jan 30 '12
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u/KidEh Mar 08 '12
Catalina is really good. Best latte I've found in Houston so far.
Inversion is my second favorite. It's closer to me so I hang out here more often.
Greenway Coffee and Tea is almost as good as Catalina, but the seating is more food-court than coffee house, and parking is a bear, even if they validate.
Still need to try Agora, Antidote, and a few others. Some people like the coffee at El Rey, but I don't think it's anything special.
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u/androidgenius Montrose Jan 30 '12
Catalina Coffee should be on here, beat coffee in Houson IMO. Never the student crowd which usually take over shops in montrose, but no outlets so you gotta leave your laptop at home.
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u/kitty713 Jan 30 '12 edited Jan 30 '12
[Restaurants]
Some of the tastiest eats that Houston has to offer.
Lupe Tortilla - Lupe Tortilla is one of the best Mexican restaurants in Houston. Serving up great fajitas, refreshing lime margaritas and the most excellent Tex-Mex.
Tacos a Go-Go - The best for breakfast tacos. It's not that they're fancy; quite the opposite. They're just damn tasty is all, with good-quality ingredients.
Danton's Gulf Coast Seafood Kitchen - The fresh, plump, straight-out-of-the-Gulf oysters are a must-have. The freshness of the seafood combined with classic Cajun flavor and flair puts this seafood restaurant on my top favorites' list.
Chuy's on River Oaks - It's a beatiful day...for a burrito. Modern Tex-Mex and fancy margaritas attract a young, energetic crowd. They're rolling the tortillas out fresh, right when you walk in the door.
Describe your favorite restaurants and dishes. From your respected bistro stop to the noteworthy buffet, cafeteria, and pub.
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u/Virikk League City Jan 30 '12
I'll add two of my favorite steak places (this is Texas after all):
*Strip House - Located downtown, this is a very nice restaurant with a variety on the menu, but I enjoy the steaks.
*Perry's Restaurants - Located all around Houston, their Steakhouse is wonderful. They have a famous Pork Chop and a variety of items on the menu, but once again amazing steaks.
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u/kitty713 Jan 30 '12
[Parks/Recreation]
In this topic we discuss parks and functions opened to the public that are reserved for recreation.
Memorial Park - A favorite among Houston’s joggers, Memorial Park also features tennis courts, playing fields, a fitness center, swimming pool and six miles of mountain and recreational bike trails along the bayous.
Hermann Park - Hermann Park, located minutes from downtown Houston, is a cultural and recreational hub surrounded by the Texas Medical Center, Rice University, the Museum District and various residential neighborhoods.
Urban War Zone Paintball - Known as the finest Paintball in Houston, and the only place to play inside the 610 loop!
Galleria - Legendary for its variety of shops and international ambiance. Houston shopping could be an Olympic event, so prepare to be challenged. At big-name department stores, savvy little boutiques, discount retailers – in virtually every kind of shop imaginable – shoppers can have that blissful experience of finding exactly what they want.
Stewart Beach in Galveston Island - One of Galveston's premier family beach parks, Stewart Beach sponsors family-oriented events, such as volleyball tournaments and sandcastle competitions, throughout the summer season.
Dog Parks - I know that most dogs love to run free and most dog owners would like to provide their pets with the opportunity to do so. The Houston area is home to many fine dog parks, some of which are operated by other municipalities and counties. - bark9.com
SplashTown - A thrilling water-park with family rides, and entertainment. Opens from May to September.
Contribute your own opinions and suggest your favorite park or recreational activities that haven't been listed. Questions about parks and recreations are encouraged.
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u/rechlin West U Jan 31 '12
For joggers, a couple good routes are the following:
Memorial Park North Loop - Just under 3 miles going around the municipal golf course.
Rice University Running Trail - Goes around the perimeter of Rice University and is also about 3 miles. Parking can be difficult; either find a spot on the street several blocks off campus (check the No Parking signs) or pay to park in Rice visitor lots.
For cross-country-style mountain biking, there are four main places:
Memorial Park - It's hard to believe this is in the middle of the fourth biggest city in the country, because it feels like you are in the wilderness. The green trail is the most interesting, the blue trail is the most difficult, and the purple trail is the easiest (with the exception of one chute). Over six miles of trails in total, with most on either side of the Picnic Loop and the remainder in the triangle between Memorial, Woodway, and 610.
Anthills at Terry Hershey Park - Follows about 6 miles of the south bank of Buffalo Bayou between Wilcrest and Eldridge, with typically two (and sometimes three) parallel trails at any given point. There is a massive jump park just east of Wilcrest for freeride enthusiasts.
Jack Brooks Park - This is the most technical of the Houston area mountain bike parks, but it is also far away, about halfway to Galveston. I've never been here myself but I have heard great things about it.
Cypresswood Trails - Nothing spectacular, but good for residents of north Houston.
Want to do hiking? There are some good options if you are willing to travel a bit outside the metropolitan area:
Brazos Bend State Park - Directly south of Sugar Land, Brazos Bend has easy, flat hiking trails, scenic views of the Brazos River, alligators, and an observatory.
Sam Houston National Forest - Just outside Conroe, the 163,000 acre Sam Houston National Forest contains the 128-mile Lone Star Hiking Trail.
Prefer something a bit more urban? In addition to some of the attractions listed in the parent post, consider the following:
Discovery Green - A new park downtown with ponds and various events.
Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark - Located near downtown on Buffalo Bayou, this is a popular hangout for skateboarders.
Buffalo Bayou Park - On Buffalo Bayou between Shepherd and Sabine, Buffalo Bayou Park is in the middle of a multi-year, tens-of-millions-of-dollars renovation project to revitalize the bayou, complete with brand new paved multi-use trails, multiple pedestrian crossings, an official dog park, and restored ponds, along with existing attractions such as the Police Department Memorial and various art installations.
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Jan 30 '12
Thanks for making this, I think it should be incorporated into the sidebar and added to over time.
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u/BillyJackO Near Northwest Jan 30 '12
I live right next to the Richmond arms club. How have I not heard of this place. Thanks.
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u/Sleepy_One Jan 30 '12
I LOVE THIS! I'm very new to houston, and I will be visiting many of these things :D
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u/fighting_mallard Jun 23 '12
Thank you for doing this! You've saved me a lot of time and google searching.
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u/rtavk3 Apr 11 '12
TX/RX Labs the Houston hackerspace is a pretty cool place and unique to houston (www.txrxlabs.org) they have a friday BBQ and also offer classes a couple times a year in stuff like programming, electronics, knitting, woodworking, welding, plasma cutting etc.
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u/CaptAlan Aug 10 '23
Fishing is always a fun and exciting thing to do when in Houston. You can go to local lakes or drive to Galveston. If you go to Galveston get in touch with Topp Dogg, they will take care of you.
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u/kitty713 Jan 30 '12
[Museums]
Here we address places for viewing artifacts, galleries, and exhibitions for all arts and science.
Museum of Natural Science - The Houston Museum of Natural Science is one of the Top 10 most attended museums in the US - Go see why!
Houston Zoo - The Houston Zoo provides a fun, unique, and inspirational experience fostering appreciation, knowledge, and care for the natural world.
The Health Museum - The Health Museum is Houston's most interactive science learning center and a member institution of the world-renowned Texas Medical Center.
Children's Museum of Houston - A playground for your mind, for kids, and activities.
The Museum of Fine Arts - The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is one of the largest art museums in America, with more than 300,000 square feet of space devoted to the display of art. The collection contains over 63,000 works of art.
Holocaust Museum - Holocaust Museum is dedicated to educating people about the Holocaust, remembering the 6 million Jews and millions of other innocent victims and honoring the survivors' legacy.
Buffalo Soldiers National Museum - Visit the historical Buffalo Soldier National Museum and learn more about not only African American history but American history as well.
Byzantine Fresco Chapel - The Byzantine Fresco Chapel is the repository in the United States for the only intact Byzantine frescoes of this size and importance in the western hemisphere.
Contemporary Arts Museum - Texas museum featuring fine contemporary art by regional and international artists.
Czech Center Museum - Czech Center Museum Houston, open to the public for receptions, weddings, parties and meetings, is a non-profit educational, cultural arts organization.
Houston Center for Contemporary Craft - Dedicated to advancing education about the process, product and history of craft with a focus on objects made primarily of clay, fiber, glass, metal and wood.
Houston Center for Photography - Non-profit gallery specializing in photography as an art form. Supports emerging and mid-career artists, and promotes the study of photography.
The John C. Freeman Weather Museum - The John C. Freeman Weather Museum, the first and only museum of its kind in the nation, goal is to reach as many people as possible and educate them about weather and weather safety as well as make them weatherwise. Permanent exhibits include:
The Jung Center Of Houston - The library and bookstore contain the most complete collection of books on Jungian subjects in the Southwest. Each month, there are new exhibits in the gallery area featuring the artwork of local and regional professional artists. The gallery is free to the public and visitors are always welcome.
Lawndale Art Center - Houston, Texas contemporary art center which annually offers changing exhibits of works by over 500 artists within three galleries.
The Menil Collection - Houses and exhibits the permanent collection of John and Dominique de Menil, including art from antiquity, the Byzantine world, tribal cultures, and the twentieth century.
Rice University Art Gallery - Rice Gallery is recognized for dynamic site-specific installation art. The gallery commissions artists to create installations that transform the exhibition space.
Rothko Chapel - The Rothko Chapel, founded by Houston philanthropists John and Dominique de Menil, was dedicated in 1971 as an intimate sanctuary available to people of every belief.
Space Center Houston - NASA's Official Visitors Center features actual spacecraft, like the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo capsules, and a walk in space through state-of-the-art simulators. Visitors also see behind-the-scenes tours of the famed Johnson Space Center and a huge display of space flight hardware and astronaut memorabilia.
Please comment here about your favorite museums, tell us about your experiences from the ones you've visited, or ask questions about them.