UT Opens up a First-Class Hotel

It looks like The University of Texas has decided to open up an on-campus executive conference center and hotel... and what a hotel it is. For the little economic recession unfriendly sum of $279.00, you can book a standard king room at the hotel. Is the hotel worth it? Absolutely...

Why? If you happen to be going to a Longhorn game, staying on-campus (and not in a dorm, of course) is simply invaluable. Roll out of the room... walk to the game... watch the Longhorns win... and then head back. So easy. It was a breeze for the 7:00 PM kickoff on Thanksgiving night. Given our late arrival time on campus, we didn't have time to go check into a hotel further afield.

And the hotel is actually really very nice. The common areas are first class, there are multiple on-site restaurants (the breakfast buffet is relatively good - cost is reasonable for a hotel like this) and you simply can't beat the location. From what we could tell, the hotel not only had Longhorn fans but other guests who were simply enjoying the new digs.


A few thoughts... spend some time in the relaxing courtyard - a minimalist but very well laid out space with plenty of comfortable seating on the edges. Behind the check-in area, there's a very nice seating area where you can drink coffee (purchased at the nearby coffee bar) and watch some TV. Valet parking is $12.00/day and, ironically, self-parking is higher with in-and-out priveleges.

What else? That's all I can think of... it's a really nice hotel and would gladly stay there again when my economic circumstances warrant. Keep in mind, though, that UT has started something called the Santa Rita Society. While I can't see that they'll sell too many memberships during lean economic times, this may eventually make rooms harder to come by.

And not just occasionally, but at every regular season UT home football game for at least 15 years, you will be guaranteed the right to share the home game experience. You will enjoy the rewards of impeccable service, a concierge at your beck and call, complimentary amenities, a destination restaurant (The Carillon), a sports café (Gabriel’s), exceptional room service, rooms available for private parties – in addition to being near world-class museums, shopping and all that The University and Downtown Austin have to offer. It is a unique opportunity to network in an unparalleled setting, to form lasting relationships with like-minded social, business, educational and government leaders who – like you – are members of this by-invitation-only, inner circle known as the Santa Rita Society.

Room licenses and Santa Rita Society memberships are limited to 250, so you must act quickly. Single rooms (for two people) and a limited number of suites are still available.

Good food in New Braunfels

Being without power for 13 days is harder than you think - even the most basic things are thrown off kilter and you suddenly find that you have to do everything you can before it gets remotely dark outside. Otherwise, it's lantern-time.

That being the case, we opted to flee our powerless situation this past weekend and head up to New Braunfels. Of course, the power came back on on Friday night and, like Thomas, I didn't believe it until I put my fingers in the holes of His hands... we saw the light on Sunday. All is good again.

But... while we were in New Braunfels, we had a chance to eat at some great little places. Most are well-known but, if you haven't been to NB before, you may not immediately know where to go. The area offers the oldest dancehall in Texas, the oldest bakery in Texas, BBQ, home cooking, Mexican and much more. So, here are four places that benefited from our power outage:

Huisache Grill - 303 W. San Antonio - You wouldn't find it unless you knew to take a little dirt backroad next to the railroad tracks. Once there, you'll find a great wine bar and restaurant with a peaceful garden, a nice selection of wine and some very good food. We make it a point to eat here any time we're in New Braunfels. Excellent food.

Crosswalk Cafe - 489 Main Plaza - Right on the main square, this is a great place to get your coffee fix or to grab a light breakfast or lunch. Never overflowing but usually abuzz with regular clientèle. Great place to grab a spot outside and enjoy a nice espresso.

Grist Mill - 1287 Gruene Road - Telling someone about going to the Grist Mill is far from sharing an "inside tip" but, again, if you haven't been to New Braunfels or Gruene, it may not be as obvious. So, make it a point to go to Gruene, put your name on the potentially long waiting list and look forward to eating at a local landmark. When you're done, see who happens to be playing at Texas' oldest dancehall, Gruene Hall.

Union Street Station - 512 E. San Antonio Street - This tiny place is a great place to catch up with locals. Not far from Schiltterbahn, Union Street Station offers breakfast all day as well as sandwiches and other casual and country cooking. 50+ omelets are on the money and, if you get there at the wrong time on a weekend, expect a long wait. Prices are nice and cheap and you get plenty of food.

Houston Restaurant List

I'm going to start maintaining a list of Houston restaurants I like and would recommend via a constantly updated entry. When I think of something I want to add, I'll just bump this to the top. Expect this to start small and grow as we go along...

Downtown (and Nearby)
Azuma Sushi - 909 Texas - Downtown location of outstanding Rice Village area sushi bar. Great design and atmosphere.
Cabo - 419 Travis - Nice big menu - fish tacos always worth ordering. Great balcony seating (if you can find a spot)
Gravitas - 807 Taft - Scott Tycer and Jason Gould's brainchild - tasty food in a loud, frenetic environment.
Perbacco - 700 Milam - Italian-run and very authentic. Great before the theater.
Vincent's -2701 West Dallas - ...and Nino's and Grappino di Nino - all adjacent to each other. Take your pick - all three are excellent.

Galleria Area
Arco D'Oro - 5000 Westheimer - Sardinian cuisine. Grab a spot on the patio.
Berryhill - 1717 Post Oak - Multiple locations. Casual "baja-style" cuisine. Great fish tacos!
Bice - 5175 Westheimer - Elegant Houston-location of Italian-run chain. Pricey. Great for client dinners.
Cafe Lili - 5757 Westheimer - Family-run Lebanese food. Complimentary coffee a nice touch.
Thai Restaurant - 5757 Westheimer - Excellent family-run Thai restaurant with good service.
Uptown Sushi - 1131 Uptown Park - Delicious upscale sushi restaurant. Place to be seen.

Memorial Area
Bistro Provence - 13616 Memorial Drive - Delicious French cuisine. Nice homey interior, excellent patio seating.
Ciro's - 9755 Katy Freeway - Expanded location with a nice outside patio (despite the noise)
Collina's - 12311 Kingsride - One of four locations. Food is decent but a good casual restaurant for families. BYOB. Tasty pizza.

Rice Village Area
Crossaint Brioche - 2435 Rice Blvd - Nice spot for an afternoon cappucino and tarte
Patu Thai - 2420 Rice Blvd - Tiny Thai restaurant short on space but big on quality.
Prego - 2520 Amherst - Great Italian restaurant. Always buzzing... expect a wait.

Upper Kirby
El Tiempo Cantina - 3130 Richmond - Extremely popular spot with delicious Tex-Mex

Upper Westheimer Area
713 Restaurant.Lounge - 10001 Westheimer - Great sushi on an eclectic menu with reasonable prices.
Fadi's Grill - 8383 Westheimer - Original Fadi's location has outstanding mediterranean food.
La Trattoria - 6500 Westheimer - Italian run restaurant with Northern Italian cuisine.
Rioja - 11920 Westheimer - Very good tapas, nice patio with live music on weekend

Other
Achille Express - 1127 Eldridge - Casual Italian-run eatery. Great pizza margherita.
Marine's Empanadas - 3227 Hillcroft - 47 types of Colombian style empanadas made fresh. Delicious.
Rattan Pan-Asian Bistro - 1396 Eldridge - Nice variety of Asian food - well-designed restaurant, attractive patio.

Where I Would Stay in Downtown Houston

Let's say you're coming to Houston for business, for pleasure or for, well, whatever reason. There are plenty of wonderful hotels in town. Some are well-known chain hotels like the Four Seasons. Others are small and intimate luxury hotels like La Colombe D'Or. If you were to ask me where to stay in downtown Houston, I would probably point you to one of four hotels.

Click for a Larger Shot of Hotel and Restaurant Locations

Hotel Icon - This has been one of the city's hottest hotels since it opened before the 2004 Super Bowl. Having stayed there and seen several of the different rooms, I can attest that the rooms are beautifully appointed, the bathrooms are nice and spacious and the entire hotel has a great sense of style.

Alden Hotel - Formerly the Sam Houston, the Alden Hotel is known as one of the hippest hotels in town. Particularly worthwhile are the hotel's restaurant, 17 and the always popular bar, A+.

Lancaster Hotel - As the web site says, the Lancaster is Houston's original small luxury hotel. It consistently gets great reviews from those who stay there and is perfectly situated in the middle of Houston's theater district.

Magnolia Hotel - Just a few short years ago, The Post Dispatch building was reborn as the Magnolia Hotel, one of four Magnolia hotels located across the country. This is a great historic hotel located a short walk from Main Street and Minute Maid Park.

Now, if you're going to stay downtown, you may as well eat downtown. Without going into detail, here are four options you can try over a long weekend in Houston.

• Azuma - Sushi
• Bossa - South American Fusion
• Mia Bella Trattoria - Italian
• Longhorn Cafe - "Texan"

Bossa has always worked well for us as a pre-theater restaurant. Mia Bella is an Italian restaurant with great atmosphere... right on Main Street. Azuma has excellent sushi with a great menu. And the Longhorn Cafe' is a good place for a casual meal, right around the corner from the Lancaster.

Stay ZaZa in Houston

It can never hurt to play tourist in your own backyard... this past weekend, we did just that, staying at Hotel ZaZa in the museum district.

We had visited the ZaZa before... not as hotel guests but as guests for the Tribeza Magazine launch party. Our first impression was immediate... this isn't your grandmother's Warwick Hotel, anymore. The ZaZa was unveiled as an elegant, sultry and somewhat naughty hotel with a dark but alluring side. From the glamorous lobby to the whimsical yet head-scratching water display behind the elevators, the ZaZa is never short on surprises.

Our Balcony Room

Our room was a balcony room on the 3rd floor - nice and spacious with great decor, a fantastic wall-mounted LCD TV and a balcony overlooking... well, not much other than parking garages and the light rail line. See if you can swing a view overlooking the museums and the Mecom Fountains. If anything, at least the sliding patio doors kept most of the noise out of the room.

Turndown with a twist

Some nice touches in the room - little pillows with whimsical sayings, a humorous turndown service, Bulgari toiletries and, since it was our anniversary, a complimentary bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne. Nice indeed. If you're so inclined, ordering breakfast in bed is actually reasonable - more reasonable than our recent stay at the Hyatt Regency on Town Lake in Austin... and while I like the Hyatt, I'd pick the ZaZa anyday. Service was very prompt and attentive although we stayed on a Sunday night -a slow night. Not sure what it would be like during a busy night. From what we've seen at parties, they would be scrambling to keep up.

The pool is a great spot to blow an afternoon

Other amenities in the hotel - be sure to spend some time at the pool... a great area with plenty of nice, big loungers and a little over half-a-dozen private cabanas that overlook the pool area and the Meacom Fountains. Adjacent to the pool is a well-equipped fitness center with about a dozen machines, very nice treadmills and ellipticals, some freeweights, etc. By the entrance to the pool area is a small cafe' and ZaSpa... we cut through the Spa but did not use any services.

ZaZa, as seen from Hermann Park

Now... the area. One of the best reasons to stay at a hotel like ZaZa is the surrounding area... more museums than you can handle in one weekend and Hermann Park. We really enjoyed going out to Hermann Park and taking a nice, leisurely stroll around the reflecting pond. Very peaceful. For dinner, we drive five minutes to the west on Bissonnet to the always charming Raven Grill. Today's lunch was at Niko Niko's... good but not quite up to the hype. We tried to hit Dolce Vita but, alas, Monday was the wrong day (same with the museums, of course).

A stroll in Hermann Park

Anyway, you can't go wrong at ZaZa - a sultry hotel for a glamorous little weekend getaway tucked one of cultural centers of Houston.

Dealing with "Nature" at UT games

This is going to be a pretty "targeted" post as it only applies to some 85,000 or so folks who find themselves on The University of Texas campus on certain Saturdays in the fall.

Let's say you drove up to Austin for a college football game. Kick-off is at 6:00 and you're making your way across campus at 2:00. Or, you just might be hanging east of DKR, tailgating with some friends and enjoying a cold Shiner. A funny grumble in your stomach signals that not all is well "below". Your closest option is a stinky port-a-potty with a slow moving line. Maybe you're right in the middle of campus and don't know which way to turn. You could "fake it 'til you make it" and wait until you get into the stadium (and take your chances with a stadium bathroom). Are there better options on campus?

Nine years as season ticket holders and plenty of additional game experience has led us to some of the better bathroom options on the UT campus. These bathrooms usually tend to be cleaner and uncrowded. In no particular order...

1. Main Building - Entering by the UGL, you can walk to the center of the building and find clean and usually quiet bathrooms. Particularly nice if your morning breakfast is going to require a longer visit.
2. Perry Castaneda Library - Options on each floor. The first floor is usually fine but more frequented. Another option is the Undergraduate Library.
3. The Union - The Union is pretty barren on gamedays so there are never any lines. Bathrooms are on the second floor when entering from the west mall.
4. Harry Ransom Center - Museums normally have clean and well-mainted bathrooms... the HRC is no different.
5. Art Building and Museum - The closest option to the north side of the stadium and typically barren. Walk into the main entrance and turn left. Where else can you ponder the glory of the Gutenberg Bible while taking care of business?
6. School of Social Work Building - This one is favored by those tailgating in the higher dollar Longhorn Foundation tailgating spots. Usually someone will have wedged open a door so you can get it. Gets busier as the day goes on and the beer disappears.

Not recommended...? I would pass on the Texas Exes Center - Tons of people and very cramped quarters. Yeah, they "renovated" the bathrooms but I wouldn't sit down and take my time in there. Only a good option for a quick pit stop when in the Exes Center.

First Football Game of the Year in Austin

We headed to Austin this past weekend to watch our beloved Horns take on the typically beatable Arkansas State Indians. While I can say that the game was ugly and downright not that enjoyable, at least we won. The team better get to work before TCU comes to town.

Anyway, we had originally planned on staying only on Saturday night but we changed our mind at the last second and included Friday night in our plans. This made for some interesting shuffling around since we booked our lodging with Priceline. That left us with good news, bad news and good news. The good news was that Priceline booked us for both nights without a hitch. The bad news, since we booked about two weeks apart, was that we would stay in two different hotels. The good news was landing the Hyatt and the Stephen F. Austin Intercontinental for $100 each.

We've stayed at both hotels and either is a great Austin option. My bids on Priceline were $100 for a four-star hotel in downtown Austin (in case you wanted to know how much we bid to get accepted.) Could we have gone for less? Probably but time was of the essence.

The Stephen F. Austin is located on the corner of Congress and 7th - within easy walking distance to 6th street, the warehouse district and even the 2nd street district. We got a good-sized room with a queen bed. It was bigger than the standard room you might land when making a regular reservation as it had a little seating area with a sofa/coffee table and a desk. We were on the third floor which made the rest of the hotel accessible but we could hear the Congress street terrace late at night (even though we crashed at 1:00). For dinner, we went to Roaring Fork - excellent food, as always, even if the service was somewhat spotty.

Looking across Town Lake to the Hyatt Regency

The next night, we stayed at the Hyatt Regency on Town Lake. Another great location... just a two minute drive from South Congress, walking distance to the Congress Street bridge (if bats are your thing) with great views of downtown. The Hyatt refurbished their rooms a couple of years ago and they're much nicer. The standard Texana theme has been replaced with a sleek and modern theme including Samsung LCD TVs, dark woods and nice modern touches all around.

From Barkitecture.com

On Sunday we ate breakfast at the 2nd street location of Jo's Coffee (a spin-off from the original South Congress location). Sitting outside has a very European feel - mid-rise residential housing on top of retail with a good vibe and buzz on the street. It's very relaxing and you just feel like hanging around outdoors with nothing to do but drink coffee and peoplewatch. Within reaching distance are restaurants like Taverna, CRU Wine Bar and the always delicious Paciugo. You've got to hit Paciugo for great gelato. Two of the best home stores in the area are The Home Retreat (where we found a great clock for our refurbished study) and Mercury Design Studio. Both places that make it easy to drop some cash. There are probably a dozen boutiques and much more. Call it a mini-version of Houston's midtown.

Oh yeah... and course, you know we didn't hit the Austin area without checking out the outlets in San Marcos. We made a quick run on Saturday morning before heading to campus for the game.

All in all, a good trip... some pretty ugly football but a nice long Labor Day weekend.

Dean Whips Up Some Surf

Tropical season can tend to be "nervous season" along the Texas Gulf Coast. Last week's build-up of Hurricane Dean had many in Texas scrambling for batteries, water and random things like beer and pita chips. Given that Houstonians were getting soaked by Tropical Storm Erin and flooding was spreading throughout the city, the prospect of Hurricane Dean had everyone on edge.

In the end, Dean made his presence felt in Mexico... but the positive aftereffect of a tropical system in the gulf is a few days of good waves. That was the case yesterday and the hurricane swell hit the upper Texas Gulf Coast. No, I wasn't able to make it yesterday... I wish. Today's forecasts call for head high waves in Surfside slowly dropping throughout the day. As they say, "you should've been here yesterday..."

Harvest Time in Texas

This weekend marks the beginning of the 2007 Harvest Wine Trail in the Texas Hill country. 22 wineries spread out across the hill country are offering up wine tastings, grape stomps and other fun events. It seems like Texas will get a break from the sweltering heat and the torrential rain so this might be an ideal way to pass the weekend.

Some of the more well-known Texas wineries taking part in the event inlcude Becker Vineyards, Driftwood Vineyards, Fall Creek Vineyards, Mandola Estate Winery and Spicewood Vineyards.

As the number 5 grape and wine producer in the U.S., Texas offers a large variety to choose from. Eight federally approved Viticultural Areas exist in Texas. You can find out more information online on Texas wines at Go Texan Wines.

A Money-Saving Offer and More on Houston

It looks like the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa is running another special to coax visitors to escape the rain and enjoy some time off this summer. Another letter arrived in the mail...

We know that August will bring back those "dog day afternoons" that we actually have grown to miss. You and your faily are invited to "make it one more time" and take advantage of another very special offer to visit Hyatt Regency Lost Pines for $129 per night.

The offer is available only to past Lost Pines guests Sunday-Thursday nights between August 5th and August 30th. You can visit lostpines.hyatt.com and use offer code 1MORE. I'm not sure if they're truly checking to see if you've stayed before but it's worth a shot.

As for Houston, here are a couple places to check out the next time you visit or you may have missed in your own backyard.

We met up with some friends today at Mint Cafe', a family-run Lebanese restaurant located in a shopping center on Sage and West Alabama - caddycorner from Macy's in the Galleria. A variety of homemade Lebanese and Mediterranean dishes make this a great place for a light lunch, a Sunday afternoon meal with friends or an evening bite. The atmosphere is modern but casual and the food is excellent. I particularly like the chicken kafta kabob sandwich. The complimentary olive tapenade and pita chips are delicious and the babaganouj has a wonderfully smoky flavor. Locals routinely rate the restaurant highly for its authentic food and friendly service. The restaurant has been open less than a year but has already developed a loyal following.

Now, onto a store is anything but a secret. In fact, Bering's Hardware has been a favorite of Houstonians in River Oaks, West U. and the Memorial area since 1940 (even though it started as a lumberyard on the east side) Definitely not your run-of-the-mill hardware store, Bering's offers everything from traditional hardware items (think screws, PVC pipe, tools, caulk, etc. to gourmet foods, fine china, luxury baby items, stationery (one of the best selections in town) and more. We went by the West U. location at 3900 Bissonett to pick up some thank you notes but usually visit the Westheimer location. Either one has a great selection although the Bissonnet location is massive.

The Best Store in Houston

Two Saturdays ago, we met up with one of my clients who happened to be visiting Houston from Plantation, Florida. Here are a couple of tips on what to do in Houston, based on our activities from that morning.

One of our favorite places for breakfast in Houston is Buffalo Grille - an always buzzing breakfast place with two locations - one at 3116 Bissonnet (the original near Buffalo Speedway) and one at 1301 Voss (near Woodway/Voss). Now... mind, you... I call it a breakfast place. Tuesday through Saturday, both are open until 9:00. If they serve anything other than breakfast, I wouldn't know. I've never wandered from the breakfast menu.

Anyway, either location is a great place for a nice filling meal. Chances are that when you get there, the line will be out the door. Yes, it's that popular. Just remember three things... the line moves quickly, don't hold the door open (you'll let the A/C out) and don't hold a table until you place your order. The third point is particularly worth noting as it's considered poor form at Buffalo Grill to snag a table before you've actually ordered.

The pancakes are Buffalo Grill are legendary - unless you have a big appetite, you'll only need one. Waffles are quite large, too. I normally opt for migas (although not liked I used to before I lost weight), an omelet or breakfast tacos. Prices are reasonable and the menu is huge. Whatever you choose, you won't leave unsatisfied.

Now, when we went, we were at the Bissonnet location. From there, we drove east on Bissonnet, turned south on Kirby, headed under 59 and turned right on West Alabama until we got to the best store in town - Kuhl-Linscomb. Located at 2424 West Alabama, Kuhl-Linscomb offers a unique shopping destination with an overwhelming number of products. You could spend all morning here... housewares, furniture, fine china, bath and body products, accessories, linens, baby products, pet products, books, etc. etc. etc. Really, it goes on and on and on. The selection is dizzying. I can't even begin to list the product lines and many of them are completely foreign to me (that's because they are foreign). It's not a run-of-the-mill selection as many of the products are hard to find. Their web page offers a glimpse (and then some)

When you walk into the store, you'll soon realize that you've only scratched the surface. In fact, Kuhl-Linscomb is not only made up of the main storefront at 2424 West Alabama, it also encompasses four other buildings. These other buildings are actually houses that have been repurposed into retail storefronts. Buildings one and two, for example, house antiques, high end modern furnishings, linens, china, Alessi, baby furniture and accessories, etc. Building three is filled with modern pieces like Eames chairs, Starck designs, etc. Also, outside the main building, you'll find some interesting and quirky outdoor pieces as well as the entrance into the tiny but sometimes treasure-filled clearance room. You never know what you'll find in there.

It's Easy to Pass the Time at Kuhl-Linscomb

The national press caught on to Kuhl-Linscomb a long time ago and even international publications sing the store's praises. Whether you live in town or just happen to be visiting for the weekend, Kuhl-Linscomb could very well be considered Houston's most interesting and worthwhile store.

$99 Rates at the Hyatt Lost Pines

You'll remember that my wife and I stayed at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort this past March. I posted an entry our our very enjoyable stay. Well, it looks like all the rain this summer left the Hyatt with fewer guests... so ,they're running a $99.00/night promotion through July 31st. Just go to their web page and book a room a Sunday through Thursday. Use RAIN as the promo code. Rooms at this price are limited but, if you have a few spare days, it's worth checking out. We really liked it.

The Place to Stay in Austin

Made a quick trip up to Austin today to visit a client who happens to be running one of our classes. I'm sitting in the lobby of the Embassy Suites in the Arboretum, waiting for the class to break for lunch as I don't want to interrupt them at an inopportune time. Rather than flying up, I made the 2 1/2 hour drive to Austin - a bit weird and boring without my wife since I can't remember the last time I came to Austin without her. I had planned on staying the night with her but due to a variety of reasons, I'm just going to drive back today.

I had made a reservation at the Hotel San Jose - a great hotel to visit if you happen to be coming to Austin. First off, the hotel is immensely popular as it has a great sense of style and is located smack dab in the middle of the SoCo or South Congress. Finding a room here on a weekend during Longhorn football season, for example, is impossible. Yes, you can be placed on the wait list but I've never had that pan out.

If you do stay, skip the shared bath rooms and look for something like a Grand Standard or a Double Queen, located off the street and in the courtyard. The rooms are more spacious and quiet. All rooms have Internet access, great toiletries (gotta love the MOP products they use) and great modern design. One of the best features of the hotel is the grounds - whether hanging out by the pool, enjoying a drink at the immensely popular courtyard lounge ('til midnight) or heading next door to Joe's Coffee Shop for a cup o' joe or breakfast.

We just love staying at this place - it has that "it" factor that you find in cool mid-century hotels in Palm Springs but is mostly lacking in Houston or Austin. Room rates are a little on the high side but you should at least stay there once.

Back to work...

Factory People Closing

My wife loves Factory People, a funky Austin boutique located on the always buzzing South Congress. It's always been very popular and received a ton of good press, even landing on the GQ100 list. I've always admired it for its style and cool architecture but apparently style and architecture weren't enough to keep the storefront open - it's going strictly online. Factory People is open for just a few more days as the whole store is 75% off. Got extra time while in Austin, walk a few doors down to The Continental Club. Roy Head of Treat Her Right fame plays on September 1st.

Oh... and here's a great place for a casual meal in Houston - Island Grill... also known as Island Smoothie. Popular with the Memorial area set, this tiny place has great pitas, healthy meals, smoothies, fish and much more. I'm partial to the fish pita. Located in a strip center at 5709 Woodway (right at Bering), there are a few spots inside and plenty of seating outdoors.

A bit of Canadian and Texan History.

In visiting Canada, I started realizing that I either had a complete lack of knowledge about Canadian history or I had pretty much forgotten what I had learned in school. What was the war of 1812 about? How did Canada play a role? What played a role in the French experience in Canada and why are the Quebecois so adamantly French. Well, while at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, I picked up a copy of The Illustrated History of Canada, a terrific book that takes you from the "first peoples" to the present. I've made it through about 100 pages. If you care about history, the book can help put your visit to Canada in context. Not a guide but a wortwhile companion to Canada.

On a different topic, while driving back to Cardinal from Montreal, we spent some time talking about lakes in Texas, namely Caddo Lake, the only natural lake in the state of Texas. Earlier this afternoon, I noticed that the Houston Chronicle was running an article on both Caddo Lake and Jefferson, a historic town on the banks of the lake. Apparently Jefferson has a very colorful history and is filled with restored buildings and houses. The town used to be the base of a very important inland port that eventually fell out of favor due to a variety of reasons. Nonetheless, with over 60 bed and breakfasts in town (including the first in Texas), Jefferson is supposed to be a great long weekend destination, be it from Dallas or Houston. The drive from Houston is 234 miles and from Dallas the drive is about 168 miles. The Marion County web page offers a great deal of information and searching online can lead to a treasure trove of information, as well.

10 Things to Do in Houston

So you're visiting Houston and you don't know what to do? Here are 10 things to do in Houston... some more random than others and in no particular order.

Drive to 2500 Summer Street, just within spitting distance of downtown, and walk around the parking lot of David Adickes SculpturWorx Studio. Adickes' sculptures tend to be very divisive but like them or not, wandering around a parking lot full of his sculptures makes for some great photographs and a unique memory.

Sculptures galore at SculturWorx

It's getting harder to find a quality dive that's not likely to land you in jail or running for your life. With the demise of legendary places like The Aquarium (not the garish downtown restaurant), they're harder to come by. One place that still fits the bill is Warren's Inn at 307 Travis. Located on Market Square, the bar attracts a mixed crowd. Walk across the street into the dilapidated square and walk along the criss-crossing sidewalks for signs of how the area used to look.

Since you've already made it to Market Square, take a short stroll to La Carafe at 813 Congress. Houston may be relatively young city but this wine bar occupies the oldest building in town. Rumor has it the bar has been around for 130 years... not sure if that's true but step inside and you may be convinced. It's a great place dripping with atmosphere - excellent for a first date, hanging out with a group of friends or whatever.

The towering entrance to the Children's Museum of Houston

This one is so obvious but it's still worth mentioning - head to the Museum District and check out the Museum of Fine Arts Houston (with a stunning modernist building designed by Mies Van der Rohe and one designed by Rafael Moneo), the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the amazing Menil Collection (a short drive down West Alabama to Sul Ross), the Children's Musuem of Houston, the Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum (free and highly worth visiting), the Holocaust Museum Houston and much more. If you decide to visit the museum district by passing through midtown, stop at Farrago for a bite.

Jog on over to Memorial Park, one of America's largest urban parks and go for a run, a bike ride or a round of golf. The 2.93 mile course that circles the golf course is extremely popular, regardless of the weather and is great for a workout and people-watching. Several paved and mountain bike trails are also available. The golf course is one of the best municipal golf courses in the country and, of course, there's tennis, baseball, a pool and more. Not too far away, you have other options like Bayou Bend and the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center. When you're at Memorial Park, you're in the area so you may as well drive by the beer can house at 222 Malone... everyone recommends it despite its quirkiness and the fact that some people can't stand it. Just drive by and take a peek.

Funky signage on Washington Avenue

Wander north from the beer can house until you get to Washington Avenue. You'll notice that the area is undergoing a transition from rundown and crackhousish to up-and-coming. New townhouses are being built and restaurants, stores and coffee shops are sprouting up everywhere. Some highlights include Max's Wine Dive, Metro Retro, Catalan, Cova, Star Pizza, and many many more. Start from the Wescott end and work your way east heading towards downtown.

Depending on when you're in town, you're likely to come across a festival to enjoy, particularly in the spring or the fall. There's the Houston International Festival, the Bayou Arts Festival, the Children's Festival, the Texas Crawfish and Music Festival in Old Town Spring, the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, FotoFest, the Greek Festival, the Turkish Festival and more. Granted, when it comes to festivals, we're no Montreal but you're sure to find something you'll enjoy. Of course, if you've got the time, head up to Warrentown and Round Top for Antique Weekend.

Shop and dine in two unique Houston areas worth visiting - The Heights and Rice Village. The Heights was considered Houston's first suburb and is filled with bungalows, cottages and Victorian homes. Two main areas to visit are funky 19th street and Studemont. Restaurants worth visiting in the Heights include Shade, The Glass Wall and Onion Creek Cafe'. Rice Village, on the other hand, is located just west of Rice University and is a great pedestrian area full of funky shops, boutiques, restaurants and more. This is a great area to pass the day. Three places we like are Prego, Mi Luna and Benjy's. Reservations are highly recommended, particularly at Glass Wall and Prego.

A beautiful October day at Hermann Park

It may be hot and humid in the summertime but one great way to pass an evening is to take in a show at Miller Outdoor Theatre. Bring a blanket, a bottle of wine and some food to enjoy a free show under the stars. Located in Hermann park, just south of the museums, the theater has been offering up cultural events for over 84 years. Upcoming events include Romeo and Juliet, Beehive, the Children's Hilltop Festival, Madame Butterfly and the 11th Houston Grand Taiko Festival. Get to the area early to wander around Hermann Park and even take in a day at the zoo. Bring mosquito spray.

Understanding Houston

Downtown Houston (from blog.kir.com)

June in Houston can be relatively predictable. If there isn't a high pressure system parked over the city, chances are some thunderstorms will pop up across the cities. Right now I'm sitting at the kitchen table, eating a post-workout meal of Dan Dan Noodles from Pei Wei while listening to some Ornette Coleman - the sky turned dark a while ago and thunder keeps blaring in the distance. Yeah... that's Houston in June. It wouldn't feel right without some hearty storms to punctuate the day.

Yup... Houston definitely has its own thing going. Not just in storms but in the people, the climate (definitely the climate), the international scene, the museums and so much more. The thing is, Houston is hard to understand or appreciate by someone who lives out of town. You have to live here to "get it" The New York Times finally got it in 2004 and others are starting to catch on, as well.

Joel Kotkin, a Los Angeles-based urban expert was recently hired by the Greater Houston Partnership to conduct a study on how to keep Houston growing. Kotkin sat down with the Houston press for what I consider to be a very interesting interview. He points out both the good and the bad about the city but definitely makes it clear that Houston has a great deal to offer for those who would get past their preconceived notions and approach the city with an open mind.

JK: I’ve always said if you need a campaign to prove you’re hip and cool, you’re not. Personally I think Houston’s very cool. I don’t think that’s what’s going to drive people to Houston, but what I think is cool about Houston is what happens in the grassroots: The neighborhoods, the Harwin corridor, Montrose, all the little nooks and crannies of Houston are quite interesting. And I’m sure there’s many things I don’t know, even though I’ve been there lots of times.

I sort of make fun of the hip and cool thing, like you know Cleveland has the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and they can’t get artists to go there. They have to do the awards in New York.

...and for now, the skies have opened up and rain is pouring outside. The gutters are suddenly overflowing and the patio is a little lake. It's the kind of rain that tends to really freak out tourists but locals expect in the summertime. The lawn is getting a nice dose of summer rain and the heat, for the moment, is kept at bay. But hey, that's just life in Houston.

Surfing in Texas

It gets relatively annoying when someone who doesn't really know what they're talking about says there isn't any surf in Texas. I've been surfing and bodyboarding for 20 years so either I've been deluded or I've joined thousands of other Texans in making do with what we have on the Texas Gulf Coast.

Now, granted... Texas surf doesn't compare to California, Hawaii or even Florida. However, we do get some decent surf. Springtime and autumn are particularly nice and winter, at times, can be big and clean (but cold!). Despite the summer doldrums, we can get some excellent storm-generated surf... be it a nice low pressure system or a tropical system.

Cold fronts clean up winter waves - Surfside, TX

Now, I'm not going to give you a break-by-break rundown. I'll just leave it at the basics. Some of they main areas, going north to south, (not exhaustive) for surfing in Texas are:

• Galveston
• Surfside
• Matagorda
• Port Aransas
• Mustang Island
• South Padre Island

Being in Houston, clearly the ones that I'm most familiar with are Galveston and Surfside. The lower Texas gulf coast has larger waves due to the shallower waters but I can't always manage four+ hour drives to get to bigger waves in Padre or Corpus.

The biggest wave you will ever see in Texas
South Padre during Hurricane Katrina

Galveston has a few main spots where you will typically find the best waves on the island - on either side of the Flagship Hotel (west side is better, more crowded, but both sides break), around 53rd and 37th street by the jetties and on the west side of the 61st street pier. No one surfs at east beach or really anywhere east of the Flagship. The Balinese used to have serviceable waves years ago but that's no longer the case - I think you can get in trouble for it, too. The west end of the island has some waves along the pocket parks or near Pirate's Beach and Jamaica Beach but that's where it ends. You don't want to surf by San Luis Pass... bad currents and plenty of sharks looking for a snack.

A good day in Galveston at 51st street

Surfside is further down the coast - definitely not as much to do in town but there are waves by the jetty (and area called The Octagon even though the actual octagon is gone and it never really was an octagon), by A-Frames (never really spent any time surfing there) and further up the coast at A-holes. If you're coming from the causeway, you turn right at the main road and eventually turn into the neighborhood at the left. To get to A-holes... well, it's further up the coast towards Galveston in a beach community. I wouldn't know how to describe how to get there but, well, it's there. On certain swells, you get large crumbling waves inside the channel... just you, a few surfers and an oil tanker or two. Surfside is usually bigger than Galveston but sloppier, too. A good day will bring out a ton of heads at the Octagon.

Sloppy chop at the Octagon

More consistent waves can be found further south with Bob Hall Pier known as some of the best waves on the Gulf Coast.

Hollow waves at Bob Hall Pier

The water on the gulf coast, though typically a rich "Chocolate Yoo Hoo", is actually relatively clean. On some spring and fall days, the water is nice and green and you can clearly see your feet while sitting on your board. There aren't too many issues with localism and the vibe is pretty mellow.

For more on surfing in Texas, check out the following links:

• Texas Surfing Spots
  
• Texas Gulf Surfing Association (TGSA)
  
• Wanna Surf - Texas
  
• Ain't No Surf in Texas
• Corpus Christi Surf Cam
  
• Galveston Surf Cam
• South Padre Surf Cam
  
• Surfside Surf Cam

Soaring Through Cypresses in Texas

The first experience people have with zip line or canopy tours is in places like Costa Rica or Nicaragua. In South Africa, you can experience the longest and fastest zip line in the world. Yet, if you're new to zip lining and want to test the waters before your vacation, there's a place in central Texas that you should visit.

Cypress Valley Canopy Tours is an easy drive from Austin - about 30 miles west on 71 and 14 miles from Marble Falls. Well disguised from the road, Cypress Valley includes a series of 7 zip lines that traverse a peaceful valley filled with towering bald cypresses. Each person is equipped with gloves, a safety harness and a helmet. Safety is first and you'll soon find that guides are sticklers. Yes... places in Costa Rica may let you fly upside down (something to look forward to) but in the sue-happy culture of the U.S., they'd prefer you keep both hands on the carriage that connects to the line.


After a basic flight school, you'll be set to take off from the main building and into the valley. The 6 lines and three sky bridges start nice and easy and increase in difficulty, culminating with a 350 foot zip line. First-timers will have a great time and quickly overcome any initial fears. Even those with a fear of heights will feel comfortable and will want to go back for seconds.

Along the way, the guides ask you to look out for interesting landmarks (like a cactus growing in a tree) and will fill you in on the plants and critters that make their home in the valley. Towards the middle of the tour, you'll pass Lofthaven, a pricey treehouse that you can rent by the night. Weekday rates are $250 a night and weeknights are $375. At that rate, you might want to check the Four Seasons on Town Lake.

The whole tour lasts about 1 1/2 hour. It's been a few months since we've been but the rates were under $50 a person. Once you've taken the tour, you can graduate to the Canopy Challenge, a more difficult tour that includes various obstacles along the course. We've yet to do this but plan to do it in the future.

Seeing U.S. safety standards vs. Costa Rican standards was a little unnerving. Places like Cypress Valley make sure you wear a helmet at all times and are quick to show off their heavy duty platforms and safety harnesses. In Costa Rica, our tour guide explained, "I like this tour - they don't make you wear a helmet" shortly before they taught us to fly upside down. Still, we wouldn't trade our Costa Rican tour for anything. Visiting Cypress Valley helped us get amped up for our visit to the Congo Trail Canopy Tour and is worth doing any time of the year when the tour is open.

Sushi Time at Rickshaw in Houston

Despite receiving numerous recommendations, it took us forever to finally check out Rickshaw Far East Bistro in Houston. Located on Westheimer, between Buffalo Speedway and Kirby, a colleague of mine would often tell me it was his third choice after Uptown Sushi and Fish. So, we met up with my cousins and made it out there on a rainy Saturday night.

I'll give my brief impressions. We split lettuce wraps, edamame and summer rolls as appetizers. I really liked the lettuce wraps with excellent chicken and a good range of other toppings like julienne carrots, sprouts and wonton strips. The summer rolls were good but the peanut sauce shone as it had a somewhat Indian flavor I couldn't place.

For dinner, I had three types of sashimi - salmon, tuna and octopus. Very nicely done - good-sized pieces and excellent flavor. My wife had the Tamari Snapper (which she loved and I tasted - excellent!) and my cousins had sashimi and I'm not sure what else... I wasn't that focused on their meals.

Atmosphere is dark and elegant with tables, booths and a sizable lounge area dubbed "Bambu' Lounge". Service was a bit spotty. Despite a relatively slow night due to the rain, our waitress seemed to be pushing us out, as if there was a strong need to turn the table. In one case, rather than getting some low sodium soy sauce, our waitress went to the front and chatted with some coworkers. Still, despite our waitress's less-than-stellar service, we would gladly go back.