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Houston is a shithole


Jersey Man10

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8 hours ago, Hate said:

What the fuck is Chicago “known” for? Being windy? I say that as someone who loves Chicago. The fact of the matter is that most North American cities have nothing that makes them stand out. Outside of NY and Washington DC there isn’t much interesting about any other NA town.

Grew up in Houston, lived in SF for 8 years, and now Chicago for 4 so I can offer some perspective here. Houston lacks any sort of unique identity that makes it stand out - much of this is due to how new the city is, but also the fact that it's kind of a hodge podge of sprawl interconnected by 8 lane freeways. In that sense, it's a lot like Dallas and Kansas City. 

SF has its steep hills, bay/bridge views, parks, and unique neighborhoods each with their own identity - North Beach, Russian Hill, Pac Heights Haight, etc.

Chicago has solid character with the Lake Michigan and skyscraper backdrop, beaches, historic neighborhoods (Lincoln Park, Gold Coast, Ukrainian Village, Old Town, Greektown, etc), Wrigleyville on Cubs gamedays, and superior walkability.

LA - incredible weather, hot ass, nightlife, and beaches 

San Diego - weather, beaches, craft beer

Portland- food trucks, scenery, weed, outdoors 

Seattle - Puget Sound, outdoors, Lake Washington, Mt Rainier, San Juan, weed etc 

Denver - Rocky mountains, skiing, beer 

New Orleans - French quarter, Garden District, food, Lake Ponchartrain, partying

Las Vegas - the Strip, casinos, nightlife

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2 hours ago, 6th Street said:

Grew up in Houston, lived in SF for 8 years, and now Chicago for 4 so I can offer some perspective here. Houston lacks any sort of unique identity that makes it stand out - much of this is due to how new the city is, but also the fact that it's kind of a hodge podge of sprawl interconnected by 8 lane freeways. In that sense, it's a lot like Dallas and Kansas City. 

SF has its steep hills, bay/bridge views, parks, and unique neighborhoods each with their own identity - North Beach, Russian Hill, Pac Heights Haight, etc.

Chicago has solid character with the Lake Michigan and skyscraper backdrop, beaches, historic neighborhoods (Lincoln Park, Gold Coast, Ukrainian Village, Old Town, Greektown, etc), Wrigleyville on Cubs gamedays, and superior walkability.

LA - incredible weather, hot ass, nightlife, and beaches 

San Diego - weather, beaches, craft beer

Portland- food trucks, scenery, weed, outdoors 

Seattle - Puget Sound, outdoors, Lake Washington, Mt Rainier, San Juan, weed etc 

Denver - Rocky mountains, skiing, beer 

New Orleans - French quarter, Garden District, food, Lake Ponchartrain, partying

Las Vegas - the Strip, casinos, nightlife

Las Vegas is criminally underrated.  Atleast it was for me.  Ignoring the bachelor weekend nonsense, it is a few hours from world-class national parks and monuments.  Red Rocks Canyon is in its backyard.  Hell, there's a ski resort closer to it (Lee Canyon, 45 miles) than Denver has.  All of the food is there, and the real estate is still cheap.

 

All of these places are better living options.  Well, maybe except SF... too many of the homeless gays

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23 hours ago, mycox said:

I live on Fairview and Waugh. There are at least 10 bars and at 15 good places to eat within a 15 minute walk. Midtown and downtown are a short bike ride away.

That's just a bit east of where I was, but it's definitely a point where the city begins to tighten up geographically.  Short walk to Rudz. 

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On 8/23/2019 at 9:01 AM, 'stache said:

I haven't been to Houston in probably 10 years and don't know about living there, but I assume it's the same as Dallas. Some cool urban walkable areas in and near downtown, and maybe a few other spots, then a vast array of sprawling soulless pale af McSuburbs on the outer ring. The "rivalry" between the cities never made sense to me, other than the natural sports rivalries that develop between intrastate teams and their fans. Both are sprawling monuments to the worship of automobiles, with some cool stuff too if you know where to look. 

At a big pictue level they are pretty much the same places with different weather. No one with the Houston inferiority complex (don't know why that even exists because they are basically the same) will admit that, but it's true. You can tie them together down to the neighborhood level.

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On 8/24/2019 at 9:18 AM, Wally Fairway said:

Dude

- have you never taken the ship channel tour? 
- gone to the San Jacinto Monument/battleship Texas, and drive past refinery alley?
- walk the tunnels, to avoid the oppressive heat (and it's partner, the humidity)?
- watch a football game in a Superbowl stadium that is far better than the trashy Jerrah World up north?

 

A Superbowl stadium? You mean like the Superbowl Stadium in the DFW? That stadium fucking sucks and thankfully they got the state championships out of there after one failed year.

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On 8/23/2019 at 4:12 PM, TexasMan said:

It means 10 miles of Chinatown on Bellaire, instead of 1 shopping center on North Lamar. 

You need to get out more if you think one shopping center constitutes Austin’s “Chinatown”.  Truthfully, Austin doesn’t have one strip, or compact geographic area  which would be called a Chinatown.

However, the northern quadrant of the city is home to the vast majority of Austin’s Asian population, and their associated markets, restaurants, etc.  It just so happens to be more spread out, and thus not as noticeable.

Its also worth noting Austin has the highest percentage of it’s population identifying as Asian of any of the large Texas cities,  And Asians are also the fastest growing group in Austin.

“Asians in Austin are the fastest growing demographic group, doubling roughly every 12 years. Asian Americans comprise 8% of the City of Austin's population and this ranking puts Austin 9th in the country.”

http://www.austinasianchamber.org/asian-data

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8 minutes ago, gecko said:


Sydney, have you ever actually been “IN” The Woodlands? I mean the actual Woodlands, not the wannabe outskirts?

Yes. My sister in law lives there, so we visit frequently. Also, I grew up in spring. Fairly familiar with the area, including the big changes in development around in in the last 20 years. 

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I have lived in Houston since graduating UT in '86.  I've seen the best and worst of this place.  It's not real pretty but it is damn interesting. It is a welcoming place where all sorts show up to make the best of it.  It sucks in the summer but November through February is real nice.  Being honest, the place isn't real sexy but it is loveable and grows on you.   If outsiders are honest, they will admit they had Houston all wrong and give it some credit.  Like every other large city it has its good and its bad.  

It's not that big of a deal.

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I have lived in Houston since graduating UT in '86.  I've seen the best and worst of this place.  It's not real pretty but it is damn interesting. It is a welcoming place where all sorts show up to make the best of it.  It sucks in the summer but November through February is real nice.  Being honest, the place isn't real sexy but it is loveable and grows on you.   If outsiders are honest, they will admit they had Houston all wrong and give it some credit.  Like every other large city it has its good and its bad.  
It's not that big of a deal.

I've been in Houston since 84 and lived in the area my entire life. I'd say Oct through May is very nice. I've spent a lot of time traveling the country on business especially to the large cities in the South. Houston, Dallas and Atlanta are all similar. Big cities with lots to offer and now, more than ever, a ton of young people out and about.
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As a neutral party that kind of gives two shits about both the DFW area and Houston,  it's fun to see pissing matches erupt between the residents of both areas.

I thought we reserved these pissing matches for the dead season , like  when football was all done and we have nothing else to talk about other than firing the current men's basketball coach.  

 

 

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But I have to question why someone who identifies with New Jersey  like  Jersey Man would call Houston a shithole when the whole state of New Jersey is a shithole. .  And a very expensive shit hole at that.    The only reason New Jersey exist is because of sewage overflow from the shitholes to the east and west of them called Philly and NYC.   I guess a tad of the shitholes to the south of them called Baltimore and Washington DC kind of backs up there too?

Edited by Nueces River Rat
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Just now, midtown said:

New Jersey sans the Newark area is absolutely beautiful.   Have you actually even been to NJ?

Yes.... It's a shithole with a couple of scenic areas.   Crumbling infrastructure and you can't use an interstate highway without a toll for that crumbling highway, taxed on everything, residents leaving.....

 

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5 minutes ago, Nueces River Rat said:

Yes.... It's a shithole with a couple of scenic areas.   Crumbling infrastructure and you can't use an interstate highway without a toll for that crumbling highway, taxed on everything, residents leaving.....

Your credibility is zero after that stupid statement

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41 minutes ago, midtown said:

Your credibility is zero after that stupid statement

Yeah. His take is dumb as hell. I'm no NJ apologist and thought the same stuff before I actually moved next door to NJ -- spent a lot of time in NJ and was surprised at how scenic, green, and tranquil so much of the state actually is.

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1 hour ago, Nueces River Rat said:

As a neutral party that kind of gives two shits about both the DFW area and Houston,  it's fun to see pissing matches erupt between the residents of both areas.

I thought we reserved these pissing matches for the dead season , like  when football was all done and we have nothing else to talk about other than firing the current men's basketball coach.  

 

 

this is the last gasp of the offseason

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The weather in all the major Texas cities is bad in June, awful July and August, bad in September, and then pretty damn great.  May and October are usually very nice.

I do like being near the coast.  Because I like to fish.  Restaurants are good.  Museums are good.  The good country clubs here are very affordable compared to other big cities.  Parks have improved tremendously and hundreds of millions are going to be spent on Memorial Park to make it world class.  Shit, Levy park is fantastic for kids.

I will move out of Houston when I retire, I want a place in the hill country and a house in the mountains.  But it is fine for now.  I spend as much time as possible in Colorado or coastal California in the summers, since I can work pretty much anywhere.  The older I get, the more I can afford to spend summers away.

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It’s as if you don’t even know where the breast implant was invented

Strike Two!!!!

Never said anything about where it was invented. Just where it’s consumed and not just for the chest area which in most cases is saline now. Of course saying the use of silicone is just a broad generalization for plastic surgery and trying to achieve an image that sometimes goes to an extreme in certain parts of the country/world and Miami is such place.

So no strike two. More like you threw a wild pitch and it sailed over the Catcher and Ump.
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Never said anything about where it was invented. Just where it’s consumed and not just for the chest area which in most cases is saline now. Of course saying the use of silicone is just a broad generalization for plastic surgery and trying to achieve an image that sometimes goes to an extreme in certain parts of the country/world and Miami is such place.

So no strike two. More like you threw a wild pitch and it sailed over the Catcher and Ump.


Jesus Fucking Christ if you don’t think there is a metric ass ton of “silicone” in Houston Texas and surrounding area.

You just struck out on the same fucking pitch. Go sit the fuck down on the bench.
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Jesus Fucking Christ if you don’t think there is a metric ass ton of “silicone” in Houston Texas and surrounding area.

You just struck out on the same fucking pitch. Go sit the fuck down on the bench.

Oh just chill the fuck up. Why do some people on here take things like this so damn seriously? Fuck. Hurry the heck up Saturday!
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Pancho really hit it - Houston is a very comfortable place and it’s easy to get trapped with salaries that compete with coastal cities and a cost of living the significant beats them. That said, we took the plunge and relocated to SF a few years ago.

As others have mentioned, natural geography is a game changer. And I’m not talking about “oh you’re just an hour from a beach with mud water and flesh eating bacteria” or “the Hill Country is just a few hours away!” - I can be on the Pacific in 15 minutes, the Marin Headlands hiking in 30 and the wine country in an hour. “A few hours” is Tahoe. Or Carmel. Or Mendocino. I can’t remember what we did in Houston besides golf and wait until it was an acceptable hour to find an air-conditioned bar.

The Bay Area is, of course, staggeringly expensive. Outside of the cool parts of SF, Oakland and Berkeley, most of it is suburban, sprawling and scorching in the summers. And that goes for LA as well. When it comes time, NFW am I paying a million to live in some shitty burb like Concord or Dublin. We’re going back to Houston.

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2 hours ago, We’reTexas said:

Pancho really hit it - Houston is a very comfortable place and it’s easy to get trapped with salaries that compete with coastal cities and a cost of living the significant beats them. That said, we took the plunge and relocated to SF a few years ago.

As others have mentioned, natural geography is a game changer. And I’m not talking about “oh you’re just an hour from a beach with mud water and flesh eating bacteria” or “the Hill Country is just a few hours away!” - I can be on the Pacific in 15 minutes, the Marin Headlands hiking in 30 and the wine country in an hour. “A few hours” is Tahoe. Or Carmel. Or Mendocino. I can’t remember what we did in Houston besides golf and wait until it was an acceptable hour to find an air-conditioned bar.

The Bay Area is, of course, staggeringly expensive. Outside of the cool parts of SF, Oakland and Berkeley, most of it is suburban, sprawling and scorching in the summers. And that goes for LA as well. When it comes time, NFW am I paying a million to live in some shitty burb like Concord or Dublin. We’re going back to Houston.

Yeah we considered leaving the Marina for West Oakland or further out to Walnut Creek before I landed in Chicago. The exits for most of my old SF crew includes LA, Portland, Boston, Austin, and Chicago once they wanted to settle down and have kids. 

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On 8/25/2019 at 9:38 AM, 6th Street said:

SF has its steep hills, bay/bridge views, parks, and unique neighborhoods each with their own identity - North Beach, Russian Hill, Pac Heights Haight, etc.

Chicago has solid character with the Lake Michigan and skyscraper backdrop, beaches, historic neighborhoods (Lincoln Park, Gold Coast, Ukrainian Village, Old Town, Greektown, etc), Wrigleyville on Cubs gamedays, and superior walkability.

LA - incredible weather, hot ass, nightlife, and beaches 

San Diego - weather, beaches, craft beer

Portland- food trucks, scenery, weed, outdoors 

Seattle - Puget Sound, outdoors, Lake Washington, Mt Rainier, San Juan, weed etc 

Denver - Rocky mountains, skiing, beer 

New Orleans - French quarter, Garden District, food, Lake Ponchartrain, partying

Las Vegas - the Strip, casinos, nightlife

There is absolutely nothing unique about any of these cities that you can't get in dozens of other cities in the US with the exception of New Orleans.   And none of them would be considered world class for any of the things you mentioned. 

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On 8/22/2019 at 3:01 PM, Jersey Man10 said:

 

First time I've been here. So far nobody can drive. Traffic is horrible. Everyone is an asshole. And it's too fucking crowded.

 

San Antonio comes in 2nd.

 

-Bernard

 

...and people try to get on my case about wanting to move to Austin.

 

Realistically speaking, Houston has a ton going for it.  Its diversity is a major asset in many ways and the food scene is awesome but its missing a) hills and b) hill country/lakes/rivers etc .  That and I never know when it will become Atlantis.  

Edited by texasdago
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5 hours ago, texasdago said:

...and people try to get on my case about wanting to move to Austin.

 

Realistically speaking, Houston has a ton going for it.  Its diversity is a major asset in many ways and the food scene is awesome but its missing a) hills and b) hill country/lakes/rivers etc .  That and I never know when it will become Atlantis.  

Sounds like someone needs to move to Chain O' Lakes. 

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I just cannot fathom going through a summer in Texas again. It’s been 18 years since I left the state and I’m not sure I can ever go back. If you plan on moving to a place without crazy traffic or hot summers, be prepared to never go back to Texas. 

Dallas and Houston are almost indistinguishable to me now. And more and more Austin feels like those two as well.   

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On 8/24/2019 at 12:08 AM, Walden Ponderer said:

I have lived in every corner of Texas at some point in my life, from the Coastal Bend, to Houston, El Paso, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio... All of them had their pluses, most of them had shitty traffic, some had better food than others, and universally, they were all better than College Station.

2 pages before the obvious truth was stated.

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3 hours ago, Newy25 said:

I just cannot fathom going through a summer in Texas again. It’s been 18 years since I left the state and I’m not sure I can ever go back. If you plan on moving to a place without crazy traffic or hot summers, be prepared to never go back to Texas. 

Dallas and Houston are almost indistinguishable to me now. And more and more Austin feels like those two as well.   

The problem I see with your plan is that it leaves you surrounded by people WHO AREN'T TEXANS. Yes, it's hot here and it's a featureless landscape as far as the eye can see but, and follow along closely here, most of the people around you aren't YANKEES. OR WEST COAST DIPSHITS OR EAST COAST HILLBILLIES OR WORSE ONE OF THOSE TWO GROUPS PARADING AROUND AS SNOBS FOR GODS SAKE. 

I need some aspirin. 

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