 |
|
HOUSTON
The fourth largest city in the US
Houston has all of the modern, big-city amenities of its larger counterparts mixed with a slow, Southern routine.
While the city is internationally known as home to the NASA Space Center and strong medical and energy industries, Houston also offers a vibrant cultural community; with distinctive neighborhoods, a team for every major professional sport, a variety of performing and visual arts groups in the Theater and Museum districts, and a rotating list of annual parades and events, the cultural opportunities are as diverse as the population.
|
If your personality is a little more green than the average cosmopolite, you'll find plenty of outdoor activities in Memorial and Hermann parks - and the Gulf Coast beaches and Texas Hill Country are just a short drive away.
Houston is primarily a business city and doesn't cater specifically to young people the way a college town might. Rather, young professionals are readily absorbed into the existing job market, making this a good place to find a lot of entry-level opportunities and "real world" experience in any sector. Not to mention that you can get a little more out of your paycheck - Houstonians enjoy one of the lowest costs of living among major U.S. cities.
Neighborhoods
 Montrose
Houston's eclectic Montrose neighborhood houses a diverse crowd - artists, students, musicians, hippies, yuppies-and probably your best bet for finding an affordable, centrally-located place to live. Montrose has a young, bohemian energy and offers plenty of activities, from funky thrift stores, record shops, and art galleries to some of Houston's longstanding and well-loved bars and cafes. Apartments in this area are generally older and found in small complexes, converted houses, duplexes, above garages and shops - really, anything goes. The neighborhood is compact, and most everything is within walking or biking distance. Easy access to the larger business districts will save you time on your commute to work. (1/1, $500+)
Midtown
Recent development has rejuvenated Midtown, the district just south of downtown. Large, multi-storey apartment complexes and townhome communities make this Houston's most fashionable urban neighborhood - with rent prices to match. Midtown is in a constant state of flux; the newest, hippest bars, restaurants, and clubs emerge and then slowly fade in a continuous struggle to satisfy their choosy Midtown clientele. The area has a stark, planned-community feel - you will have to drive a little to reach the nearest grocery stores and shopping centers, but the neighborhood itself is pedestrian-friendly. Use the METRORail for a cheap, alternative way to access Downtown and the Museum and Medical districts.(1/1, $750+)
Set away from Houston's inner city, Uptown is home to The Galleria, Houston's largest mall - three stories of small boutiques and national anchor stores (think Saks, Macy's, Kate Spade, Ralph Lauren, Neiman Marcus, Barney's Co-Op). Also one of Houston's major financial and business districts, Uptown is where you'll find fine dining restaurants, international travelers and businessmen, and anything upscale and high-fashion. Rent is surprisingly comparable to other parts of the city, and you won't have to go far to find a grocery store, park, or state-of-the-art gym. Don't let the location fool you - traffic is just as busy here as it is downtown, especially during the Christmas shopping season when the streets around the mall turn into virtual parking lots. (1/1, $675+)
Museum District/Rice Village
These two adjacent neighborhoods, bordered by Montrose and the Medical Center, are best known for their quiet, tree-lined streets and for the many med students, Rice University students, and young professionals who live here. Rent is cheaper in the Museum District than in Rice Village. Aside from the numerous museums and Hermann Park, the Museum District is mainly residential. But the nearby Rice Village has the answer to the Museum District's lack of amenities: the area's shopping centers and bars are a lively place to hang out, day or night.
(Museum District 1/1, $550+, Rice Village 1/1, $650+)
A note about roommates:
It is generally true that living with a roommate is more affordable than living by yourself. However, Houston is not a city dominated by young people - the young professionals and students are spread out across the city, although the highest concentrations are found in the neighborhoods listed above. If you need to find a roommate, try looking on craigslist.org, the bulletin boards at local cafes, or the good old fashioned way: word of mouth.
Transportation
With few alternative transportation options available, a car is a basic necessity for battling Houston's massive urban sprawl. Expect heavy traffic during rush hour and perpetual construction on city roads and freeways. Houston's public bus system, METRO, services most parts of the city, but with limited hours and reliability issues, METRO is not very popular. METRORail, the single-line lightrail, connects Downtown, the Museum District, Medical Center and Reliant Stadium - again, not useful unless you live or work in close proximity to the line. Transportation will end up costing a significant amount of money, but there is a brighter side: gas in Houston tends to be lower than the national average, and you're going to need a lot of it.
Local Lingo
Howdy! If you're thinking about moving on down to Houston, you might want to read up on the Texas accent. Despite similarities to southern accents, the Texas accent is different, and there are plenty of "cowboy colloquialisms" to prepare yourself for. You'd hate to be as welcome as a skunk at a party, wouldn't ya?
If it's raining hard, a local might refer to this big storm as a "toad choker," also known as a "toad strangler."
As in many parts of the southern United States, supper is actually what many folks refer to as dinner. Dinner is lunch - although most people now call it lunch, don't get confused if your daily meals are breakfast, dinner, and supper!
 |
|
A native Houstonian, Michelle Friedrichs is a recent graduate from the University of St. Thomas with degrees in English and Philosophy.
|
|
|
Energy
• ConocoPhillips
• Marathon Oil
• Halliburton
• Reliant Energy
Foodservice
• Sysco
What do you love about working in this city?
Houston is a great place to work because it isn't dominated by one industry. You have the opportunity to meet a variety of people and work in a variety of different fields.
Kathryn, 24
U. of St. Thomas, Assistant to Managing Attorney
|
