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The best party district in Atlanta is about 15 blocks north of downtown IMO. (Crescent St. in Midtown.) But yes, Castleberry Hill in downtown ATL has a vibrant nightlife *every* night of the week. Back in 2002, most of the action was in Buckhead. But now it's Midtown, Castleberry Hill and Virginia-Highland.
On the broader point, Miami trumps all "sunbelt" cities on the nightlife question, with NOLA being the only real rival. 1.Miami; 2. NOLA; 3. LA 4. ATL 5.Austin 6. SF 7. Houston, maybe.
How are you going to put Atlanta and Austin in front of San Francisco? Is that a joke? Ive been to all three cities, San Francisco blows them out of the water. It has such a diverse range of nightlife, is infinitely more dense, etc. The nightlife in SF is better than any of these cities besides the top 3, by a landslide.
I cannot possibly take anyone seriously who thinks that the nightlife in Houston outdoes Miami/South Beach and Los Angeles. I'm not saying that Houston doesn't have their share of nightlife, but to try to say that it's comparable to Miami/South Beach or LA is a joke. And you forgot Vegas. How convenient.
Have you even been to South Beach to make such a judgement?
I have been to South Beach.
What is so urban about that?
It's kind of pre-fabricated...to polished. It's there for whoever thinks they want to rub elbows with celebrities or are celebrities themselves.
But the AREA...not nearly in downtown Houston's class in terms of urban flavor.
And South Beach is not downtown. Los Angeles downtown is comparatively dead after the Garment District shutsdown apart from Lakers games.
I cannot possibly take anyone seriously who thinks that the nightlife in Houston outdoes Miami/South Beach and Los Angeles. I'm not saying that Houston doesn't have their share of nightlife, but to try to say that it's comparable to Miami/South Beach or LA is a joke. And you forgot Vegas. How convenient.
Have you even been to South Beach to make such a judgement?
I have been to South Beach.
What is so urban about that?
It's kind of pre-fabricated...to polished. It's there for whoever thinks they want to rub elbows with celebrities or are celebrities themselves.
But the AREA...not nearly in downtown Houston's class in terms of urban flavor.
And South Beach is not downtown. Los Angeles downtown is comparatively dead after the Garment District shutsdown apart from Lakers games.
And why would Houston, a culturally-sophisticated metro of almost 6 million including millions of transplants and transients (many with money) not have nightlife comparable to LA and Miami?
So I guess we aren't counting Las Vegas as the Sunbelt anymore, even though the last thing they need is more sun
Its ok though, I can't judge nightlife because I'm not 21 yet. Gotta wait 6 months for that one...
Is Las Vegas an actual city? Technically I guess so.
It always seems more like an R-Rated Disney construct to me. Nothing like grand hotel casinos and cheesy lights and polished sidewalks to compose "urban", I guess.
And why are we digressing a bit to general "nightlife?"
Downtown nightlife in the Sunbelt. As Petula Clark sings..."DOWNTOWN."
I did not say "most vibrant"...I merely stated "most urban."
San Antonio's nightlife downtown doesn't feel all that edgy. It's lively but I don't feel like I'm in Chicago. Downtown Houston does feel fairly similar to Rush St. in Chicago.
Austin...same thing. More like Tampa's Ybor City of olde...with less douche bags.
Dallas...it's a bit too polished and whitebread in downtown for my tastes. It really is Oklahoma with more lights.
For that flair, I much prefer Ft. Worth, actually. The vibe seems more suited. Overall multi-cultural vibe of downtown Houston is much more appealing to me.
Of Sun Belt downtown nightlife...Houston's is most comparable to that of a Chicago in feel and vibe.
Last edited by worldlyman; 02-12-2010 at 06:30 AM..
I guess. Nightlife is but one factor to having a real vibrant active 24 hour downtown. Residents is the key. Everything else will fall into place. Nightlife cannot sustain a active downtown by itself. That's why many people say Houston squandered the momentum on main street after the 2004 superbowl.
I agree with you in terms of overall downtown viability.
But let's remember there was once a time post 1970s when downtown Houston was dead after 5pm.
Now there's an active nightlife at least, cultural activities...and now a magnificent complementary park along with sports stadia for those into that. Downtown is still improving.
Houston, I don't think, will ever be downtown-centric as such. It's just one part of the grand sprawl, or at least the focal point, an option for work and play..and there are many, many wonderful new things going on around this sprawl and I love it.
Not many other major metros can boast of so many types of concrete and commercial environments like the Houston area.
I've met plenty of people over 25 who still enjoys Austin's nightlife, but that's not true for everyone obviously. Which city has the better nightlife is subject to opinion (you can find a lot in Austin that you can't find Houston and visa versa), but the OT was about how Houston's downtown compares in liveliness compared to other Sunbelt cities. From my experience, Houston's downtown liveliness pails in comparison to San Antonio and Austin (not to mention New Orleans or SF)
It's different strokes for different folks. I don't feel that "edge" in Austin or San Antonio that I get out of downtown Houston. In numbers of pedestrians, you might have a point for your case. In terms of genuine "urban vibe", perhaps not.
New Orleans and SF don't follow typical Sun Belt construction...though they are in the Sun Belt, I don't really consider them as such.
In Houston...I take the overall context. The downtown is fascinating in its own way...yet it is but one point in what's morphing in a great hybrid metro.
The nightlife in Houston is very spread out. You don't have anything like 6th Street, the Riverwalk, or the French Quarter in Houston. I think the LT lines under construction will do wonders for Houston's nightlife because it will connect all the hot spots by rail.
I don't really want a huge district in Houston like those. I'd like to see more bars spread out in City Centre, Sugar Land Town Square...some of those cool buildings that lost some businesses in the Montrose...more in the Midtown area...
Keep downtown vibrant AND sophisticated but not too crowded. When I go, I think it's lively enough. Just a right mix of pedestrians and architectural vibe. That is the true liveliness to me.
Well, I can't blame you for a badly worded OT. Besides, the clips he showed where not very "lively" for a Saturday night and I think most people would agree with me. Nothing against Houston's nightlife (I agree that it is a bit underrated and it's certainly not "boring"), but to me it seems the OP is trying to make it appear to be something it's not. There's nothing wrong with Houston's nightlife being spread out, but I don't think I would refer to the spots he mentioned as being the most lively in the Sunbelt.
Those clips don't do justice to what is actually seen and felt.
I've been to South Beach on a Saturday, had COLD-SHOULDERED service from deli owners off parallel streets...I've walked the Sunset Strip on a Saturday night, even drinking some latte from the Hollywood Hustler.
The urban ambience of those two celebrated models of nocturnal happenings simply don't compare to what downtown Houston offers.
The germaine mix of homeless, everyday people, mixed races and social classes, Irish bars and hip hop to Latino clubs...even the spillover from the adjacent Theater District...
that IS urban in the truest sense.
I'm sure there are unknown hip areas in LA and Miami outside the known circuits but I am not concerned with those and not really relevant to the topic.
Looking at Houston in its context...no there is no pedestrian overload necessarily in one district...think of Houston as series of entertainment districts, happening and diverse in their own way.
Some awesome nightspots and hang-outs even in typical strip malls.
Just these CHOICES of districts make Houston one of the most engaging entertainment cities in the USA. And the fact it's not necessarily geared for a tourist industry is an actual plus to me.
For example, on Richmond Avenue, between N. Shepherd and Kirby is a convergence of COLORFUL converted bungalow bars and cafes ...Blue Fish Sushi, Mugsy's Bar, Hobbit Cafe and the like...I love that stuff. Things like that make Houston sooo fun and give it unique character. I don't notice those types of places in tourist-anal and glamor-anal Miami and LA. So festive and fun yet free of touristy excess.
I've lived in both SoCal and Florida...and I never get bored in Houston. Too much condescension against Houston, one of the fasted growing metros still, ever changing.
Last edited by worldlyman; 02-12-2010 at 06:25 AM..
^^ Those things are not only abundant in LA and Miami. They are the norm. HOwever, you can't compare downtown Houston to South Beach. It's just a different animal. The nightlife and street traffic for both places cannot be compared. Downtown Houston has a ways to go to get to that level.
Quote:
Originally Posted by wpmeads
I completely agree with this jluke! You might agree with be, but I don't think most Texans could give two s**ts about "celebrity" parties or "celebrity culture." .
That's the party scene for Houston's hip hop community. Look at the pictures. Notice the "celebrities" that always has something going on in Houston. It matters.
Quote:
I don't really want a huge district in Houston like those. I'd like to see more bars spread out in City Centre, Sugar Land Town Square...some of those cool buildings that lost some businesses in the Montrose...more in the Midtown area...
I agree and disagree. Not a fan of the SLTS but I like the spread out thing only if it's in the city preferbly in the loop and the Galleria. However, you can have huge districts and have bars spread out amongst the city. Once again, look at DC. You have a huge and popular district in U Street. But you also have Gallery Place, Adam's Morgan, up and coming H Street, and even Georgetown on M Street. Also, Houston's scene closes to early . I think 2-3 am. That needs to change.
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