FORBES: Houston is America's Hippest City

[Queen Palm]

Originally Posted by dalparadise

Right, which is why I said Houston is a unique place that is perfect for millions of people. It is not "hip," though, no matter how many anecdotal suburban encounters cited. It never struck me as a great urban environment, either -- one that would inspire creativity or inventiveness. Where are the entrepreneurs? Where are the artists? Where are the innovators?

Should we be surprised that a region of 6 million people can come up with a few good restaurants and bars? I enjoyed Houston very much. By Texas standards, yes, it is pretty hip and urban. That is fine and embraceable. There are pieces of "hipness" on a world scale that Houston will probably always lack, though.
(1)Dense, walkable neighborhoods - this fosters street life and builds character -- admittedly, good and bad -- in neighborhoods. In charming districts, streets are alive with cafes, shops, residents and vendors.

why does it seem in the last several years, this is a "must-have" in regards to Houston? Why can't people accept that the city just isn't designed or laid out to be a dense, urban mecca? Don't get me wrong, I understand to a degree, the ability and availability, to be able to walk out of your home down the street to a cafe or bookshop. But not every city is designed or structured in that manner.

It doesn't make Houston less "cool" or less "hip" because there aren't blocks upon blocks of "walkable urban density". Houston has those areas, but to expect that every square mile of this huge city (metro area, even) ought to be densely filled, brick building, by brick building, is silly.

I'll say it again, if you want that, go to NYC, or Philly, or Boston..

[diet1]

I don't have time nor patience to answer all your points, but i'll answer some.

Originally Posted by dalparadise

(yes I'm aware of Houston's new Chinatown, but street signs in a foreign language and tilt-wall concrete buildings don't add up to a distinct district. What tourist would seek out old or new Chinatown in Houston? If they did, what would they find? Would they have a sense of the Asian heritage of the city?

Yes, most of the people working there along with the customers, carry on with their own language and culture. You will also find the same thing in areas that are mostly east Indians, Hispanics and others.

Originally Posted by dalparadise

Houston is a big city for big business. That bodes well for job seekers, which is great for owning homes and raising families. Big companies pay big salaries. But, there isn't much of a spirit of invention here. Where are the technology upstarts? Where are the small, unique businesses creating new categories altogether? San Francisco, Seattle, NY, Denver, LA and even Austin get this.

You are right, Houston is the #2 U.S. city for global trade Houston No. 2 U.S. city for global trade - Houston Business Journal
However, from 2001 to 2011 Houston's creative economy grew by 8 percent. By 2011, with more than 146,600 jobs, it employed more people than the Texas Medical Center. Editorial: Houston's economics of creativityNew thinking - Houston Chronicle

Originally Posted by dalparadise

Houston is a great place to work and raise a family and sure, there are fun diversions offered. As a creative person in a creative industry with no kids, I just value different things in a city.

Did you know that most artists and creative people have fled cities like San Fran, NY due to their out of this world rent costs. They have come down here in droves. I do some sculpting and life drawings, and I tell you, there are innumerable places and people here to do this with.
ARTCRAWL HOUSTON 2011
Houston Artists - Houston Art Scene

[sxrckr]

Originally Posted by Austinite101

Then we agree to disagree.

Come on man, you've said yourself that you're in high school and that your experience living outside of Austin is close to nil. It's obvious you're inexperienced with Houston and I will always wonder why some feel the need to tear other places down in order to build their city up.

[Austinite101]

Originally Posted by sxrckr

Come on man, you've said yourself that you're in high school and that your experience living outside of Austin is close to nil. It's obvious you're inexperienced with Houston and I will always wonder why some feel the need to tear other places down in order to build their city up.

I travel in one year more than most Americans will travel in their lifetimes. I'm plenty experienced in that regard. And I'm hardly tearing down cities. Houston's a great city.