Just found out that a buddy of mine and I are going to Houston for the Network Security Symposium at the ISA Expo next week, where some of our work is being presented.
We know absolutely nothing about Houston.
The fine men and women of Slowtwitch know pretty much everything.
So… What’s there that we shouldn’t miss? Avoid at all costs? Anything in between?
Thanks!
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Well it’s lonesome in this old town
Everybody puts me down
I’m a face without a name
Just walking in the rain
Goin’ back to Houston, Houston, Houston
I got holes in both of my shoes
Well I’m a walking case of the blues
Saw a dollar yesterday
But the wind blew it away
Goin’ back to Houston, Houston, Houston
I haven’t eaten in about a week
I’m so hungry when I walk I squeak
Nobody calls me friend
It’s sad the shape I’m in
Goin’ back to Houston, Houston, Houston
Goin’ back to Houston, Houston, Houston
I got a girl waiting there for me
Well at least she said she’d be
I got a home and a big warm bed
And a feather pillow for my head
Goin’ back to Houston, Houston, Houston
Well it’s lonesome in this old town
Everybody put me down
I’m a face without a name
Just walking in the rain
Goin’ back to Houston, Houston, Houston
Depends on where you are staying and what you want to do ? If you are in the Galleria area or mid town. Memorial Park has some great running paths and trails plus 2.9 mile loop around the park.
Check out Houstonracing.com and go to the forums pages. Quite a bit of info there.
If you are looking to eat out, many good restaturants of all kinds. Everything from TexMex , BBQ to Argentine.
Shouldn’t miss: 1) I guess NASA is probably the only “must do” in the Houston area. 2) Drive by some nice looking neighborhood, then stop and pull a flyer from a “for sale” house. If you’ve lived in California recently you are in for reverse sticker shock.
“Avoid at all costs” 1) Any outbound freeway from 4pm to 7pm. 2) Any inbound freeway 6:30am to 8:30am. 3) Any area with standing water near and after sunset, unless you are packing DEET.
Thanks guys. We’re staying at the Doubletree Guest Suites, 5353 Westheimer Rd 77056. I’m not sure where that places us, but I’m told it’s about a 1/2 hour from the Reliant Center where the actual expo is being held.
I won’t be taking my bike, and it’s fairly unlikely that I’ll be running either, as I have yet to recieve confirmation either way about a possible stress fracture in my left foot (4th metatarsal). I hope the hotel has a nice pool.
Given that it’s a short trip (arrive Mon eve, leave Thurs afternoon) I was more wondering about “fun stuff to do” rather than training options. The gallery sounds like a good option. How far is the space center from downtown?
Anyone have a favourite restaurant? Bike shop? Brewery?
Kubo trained most of the other chef’s around Houston. I used to live about 5 minutes from there and it was a real treat for us. It’s in the Rice Village, which you can get to by driving along Westheimer towards downtown, go past the galleria and keep going a few miles. Then turn right on Kirby and go about two miles down. That will get you close.
Kubo’s is upstair from Victoria’s Secret, in case you need a landmark to navigate by.
Long time since I lived there, but sounds like you are staying in the galleria area, sort of the night club area. The galleria itself is an upscale shopping mall. There are a lot of great places to eat in the area, strap on the feed bag at Taste of Texas for a 4000 calorie dinner and top it off with a 2000 calorie desert at House of Pies. I’m not sure where the Reliant Center is, but if that is the Convention Center on the East side of downtown, then NASA is another 40 minutes (guessing) south of there in Pasadena. They’ve done a lot of redevelopment downtown since I left, might be worth checking out as a eating/hang out area. If your a history buff, the San Jacinto monument is good with the Battleship Texas. If you get a full day, head to Galveston and its Strand. For the 4th biggest US city it has remarkably little for tourists I always thought, but that was 7 years ago.