Houston Vs. New York!? (Dallas, Fort Worth: credit, calculated, living in)

[mpope409]

Originally Posted by jfre81

One could say Houston is a global capital of the energy, biomedical/biotech and aeronautical sectors but is still second-tier at best in most respects compared to NYC, Moscow, London, Tokyo etc.

For now just be glad that people don't have to say "Houston, Texas" all the time. People don't say "Los Angeles, California." Simply say "Los Angeles" or "LA" and everyone knows where you're talking about. Houston is starting to have that level of name recognition nationwide.

One day, nationwide could turn to worldwide. The city is on the right track.

Houston is already worldwide. Maybe not in the highest way, but it still has a significant world status. Its diversity did not come for no reason.

[mpope409]

Originally Posted by nyevik

Have you ever lived in Moscow?
I personally think it belongs in the same tier with London, Tokyo, NYC, etc...
Regardless, just being the "energy capital of the world" is not synonymous with being one of "the capitals of the world", just does not exert the same level of influence. Major decisions are made in Washington DC(political) and NYC(financial). Not to doubt the importance of Houston as one of the world's main Petroleum Industry centers, two rival cities that can claim this crown come to my mind immediately - Dubai and ,well, again, Moscow.

Not really rivals because Houston is unarguably the energy capital of the world. It's not just energy either. Medicine and space travel are big business in Houston. The only reason Houston is not more popular is because publicity hasn't been the greatest and it's not a very very old city. Still, it has much more in common with the New Yorks and the Los Angeleses than it does when cities smaller than it. It will not always be this way. I guarantee that its reputation will get larger as the years go by.

And if it only has one more point than Houston, what makes Moscow so great?

[KerrTown]

Originally Posted by jfre81

For now just be glad that people don't have to say "Houston, Texas" all the time. People don't say "Los Angeles, California." Simply say "Los Angeles" or "LA" and everyone knows where you're talking about. Houston is starting to have that level of name recognition nationwide.

I was watching WGN on Thursday and Tom Skilling was comparing the humidity in Chicago with "New Orleans and Houston, *flashback* Texas." He kind of stumbled between Houston and Texas. I was mad when he mentioned Texas but it must be the memory of his brother convicted and shipped up North. I guess it's now possible to visit him on the weekends now. He still seems to avoid mentioning Houston.

[Spade]

Originally Posted by mpope409

I can see myself retiring in Austin when I'm done doing it big in Houston. Austin is still city, but to me it is just sooo so nice. It's smooth and easy, and if there's no traffic, a drive can be so calm and relaxing. Great place.

Wait a minute? There's no traffic in Austin? I don't think the people of Austin have been informed of this. For a medium sized city, it has the worst traffic in the nation. 709,000 people and still growing fast with only ONE interstate that is mostly six lanes with a few miles of 8 lanes between 290 and the breakup by UT.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by Spade

Wait a minute? There's no traffic in Austin? I don't think the people of Austin have been informed of this. For a medium sized city, it has the worst traffic in the nation. 709,000 people and still growing fast with only ONE interstate that is mostly six lanes with a few miles of 8 lanes between 290 and the breakup by UT.

Live and work near the center of town, away from the freeways, and you are absolutely golden. You may not even need a car, and things to do and people to see (or sometimes the other way around) are everywhere nearby. Very walkable city if lacking in modern transit - may not stay that way in its absence however.

But try to drive into town at rush hour and it's a mess. They're trying to fix it, but I don't know if everyone wants to live in an Austin that's overrun by concrete.

Especially when just three hours away to the east, there's a city trying to color itself more green, building inward and expanding rail.

That said, don't assume that by the time you retire (I'm told I'll never retire, at least by the mass media) that you're not already in the better city.

[mpope409]

Originally Posted by Spade

Wait a minute? There's no traffic in Austin? I don't think the people of Austin have been informed of this. For a medium sized city, it has the worst traffic in the nation. 709,000 people and still growing fast with only ONE interstate that is mostly six lanes with a few miles of 8 lanes between 290 and the breakup by UT.

I said if there's no traffic. There are certain parts of the Austin area that are not constantly clogged.

[jfre81]

What I am looking forward to is increasing transit and the pedestrian friendliness in Houston. I think once that happens you will start to catch a very Austin-like vibe in the Inner Loop. It's taking root in places like the Heights, and Montrose still has its bohemian identity despite being more yuppified and big-box than I like to remember it - they recently plopped down a cookie-cutter CVS where Bambolino's Pizza and a sushi bar(?) used to be on Montrose at Richmond - WTF? Couldn't they at least build something mixed-use with a CVS on the bottom floor or something?

What I think you'll have here is a large city with a more easy-going approach - we can make an easy sell on this place being easygoing once we do something about all the damn traffic.

[sweetclimber]

Originally Posted by mpope409

All things considered, Houston is not a retirement city. It's too young and active. And where is it quiet at night compared to Manhattan? If anything, a lot of Houston comes alive at night.

San Antonio is the retirement place.

I would say that one could retire near Houston, like Cypress area, livingston, Magnolia and such but not the city of Houston where there is so much going on!

[neotextist]

Originally Posted by jfre81

What I am looking forward to is increasing transit and the pedestrian friendliness in Houston. I think once that happens you will start to catch a very Austin-like vibe in the Inner Loop. It's taking root in places like the Heights, and Montrose still has its bohemian identity despite being more yuppified and big-box than I like to remember it - they recently plopped down a cookie-cutter CVS where Bambolino's Pizza and a sushi bar(?) used to be on Montrose at Richmond - WTF? Couldn't they at least build something mixed-use with a CVS on the bottom floor or something?
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Bambolino's moved to Lower Westheimer. I think it's near Taurian, IIRC.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by houstoner

Bambolino's moved to Lower Westheimer. I think it's near Taurian, IIRC.

Yeah, it's there, 1700-1800 block or so of Westheimer - I think they actually moved the old building there because it looks just like I remembered it years ago.

I'm just saying it sucks to see that make way for something no better than the same type of CVS you see in Sugar Land or something. It looks so out of place where it is.

There's also a sushi bar near Bambolino's at its current location Westheimer location, so sometimes things have a way of staying the same despite changing...