Chicago to Houston? (Dallas, Austin, Galveston: transplants, college, salary)

[DANNYY]

Originally Posted by Belem148

If you like live music, there is not much other than local stuff-not very innovative-think cover bands. Don't plan on seeing any national or international acts except Insane Clown Posse for the millionth time at Bogarts or some 500 dollar lawn seat stadium show in the summer.

Basically the art/music scene constitutes only regional acts?

[homeinatx]

To get back on track, I love both Houston and Chicago. I lived in Chicago for 4 years, and if not for the unspeakably vile weather, it would be my favorite city in the U.S. . There is very little you can do in NYC that you cannot do in Chicago for half the price, an eighth of the hassle and none of the attitude. Houston is not there yet. Houston has world class cultural amenities. The Rothko Chapel is one of the seven wonders of the modern world, and there are great restaurants at every price point. But Houston sprawls and you have to drive a lot between places of interest, and architecturally, unlike Chicago, 80% of the city is hideous - cheaply built, mass produced housing of the popcorn ceiling, never met an architectural idea they did not like, nasty tract housing. The historic core is tiny, and traffic is bad, though not as bad as Chicago. Public transportation is much, much, worse. I never thought I would be nostalgic for the El. Ultimately, for me, Houston is like a much more spread out uglier version of Chicago with much better weather. Houston is easily the most cosmopolitan and culturally vibrant city in Texas. but pretty, it ain't.

[DANNYY]

Originally Posted by homeinatx

To get back on track, I love both Houston and Chicago. I lived in Chicago for 4 years, and if not for the unspeakably vile weather, it would be my favorite city in the U.S. . There is very little you can do in NYC that you cannot do in Chicago for half the price, an eighth of the hassle and none of the attitude. Houston is not there yet. Houston has world class cultural amenities. The Rothko Chapel is one of the seven wonders of the modern world, and there are great restaurants at every price point. But Houston sprawls and you have to drive a lot between places of interest, and architecturally, unlike Chicago, 80% of the city is hideous - cheaply built, mass produced housing of the popcorn ceiling, never met an architectural idea they did not like, nasty tract housing. The historic core is tiny, and traffic is bad, though not as bad as Chicago. Public transportation is much, much, worse. I never thought I would be nostalgic for the El. Ultimately, for me, Houston is like a much more spread out uglier version of Chicago with much better weather. Houston is easily the most cosmopolitan and culturally vibrant city in Texas. but pretty, it ain't.

It'll be a really long time, 3 or so decades before Houston get's there, and by then it might be a little to late.

[EEstudent]

Originally Posted by homeinatx

To get back on track, I love both Houston and Chicago. I lived in Chicago for 4 years, and if not for the unspeakably vile weather, it would be my favorite city in the U.S. . There is very little you can do in NYC that you cannot do in Chicago for half the price, an eighth of the hassle and none of the attitude. Houston is not there yet. Houston has world class cultural amenities. The Rothko Chapel is one of the seven wonders of the modern world, and there are great restaurants at every price point. But Houston sprawls and you have to drive a lot between places of interest, and architecturally, unlike Chicago, 80% of the city is hideous - cheaply built, mass produced housing of the popcorn ceiling, never met an architectural idea they did not like, nasty tract housing. The historic core is tiny, and traffic is bad, though not as bad as Chicago. Public transportation is much, much, worse. I never thought I would be nostalgic for the El. Ultimately, for me, Houston is like a much more spread out uglier version of Chicago with much better weather. Houston is easily the most cosmopolitan and culturally vibrant city in Texas. but pretty, it ain't.

Good post... Houston has nice areas, and ugly areas. Some people like to only talk about the pretty areas which accounts for only 20 to 30 percent of Houston, whereas the remaining majority of what Houston is really like is swept under the rug. And when someone does try to point it out they get put on blast for it.

I think you summed it up quite nicely.

[theSUBlime]

Originally Posted by EEstudent

Good post... Houston has nice areas, and ugly areas. Some people like to only talk about the pretty areas which accounts for only 20 to 30 percent of Houston, whereas the remaining majority of what Houston is really like is swept under the rug. And when someone does try to point it out they get put on blast for it.

I think you summed it up quite nicely.

What's so different about that than any other city? Yeah I think the post was a good one, but what you're not realizing is that the only difference between Houston and many other cities is that their areas are popularized by the media and people tend to overlook the bad. I've heard Cabrini Green wasn't so hot, but of course tourists aren't going to know about that, or want to visit it. Other cities like NYC for instance, have an incredibly high income disparity, but no one talks about that, they only talk about Manhattan. The real problem is the accessibility, because you can't get to the good areas of Houston without going through the bad areas. But I guess that doesn't really matter, it's kinda like talking to a wall.

[SouthernBoy205]

Originally Posted by theSUBlime

What's so different about that than any other city? Yeah I think the post was a good one, but what you're not realizing is that the only difference between Houston and many other cities is that their areas are popularized by the media and people tend to overlook the bad. I've heard Cabrini Green wasn't so hot, but of course tourists aren't going to know about that, or want to visit it. Other cities like NYC for instance, have an incredibly high income disparity, but no one talks about that, they only talk about Manhattan. The real problem is the accessibility, because you can't get to the good areas of Houston without going through the bad areas. But I guess that doesn't really matter, it's kinda like talking to a wall.

Great Post!

[chicagomama]

Homeinatex: Awesome post.

The Sublime: Cabrini Green was demolished and they built mixed-income houses. It used to be a terrible neighborhood but now the crime is way low. (but don't worry, there are plenty of other bad neighborhoods).

[theSUBlime]

Originally Posted by chicagomama

Homeinatex: Awesome post.

The Sublime: Cabrini Green was demolished and they built mixed-income houses. It used to be a terrible neighborhood but now the crime is way low. (but don't worry, there are plenty of other bad neighborhoods).

Yeah Englewood from what I heard

[cheryjohns]

Originally Posted by theSUBlime

What's so different about that than any other city? Yeah I think the post was a good one, but what you're not realizing is that the only difference between Houston and many other cities is that their areas are popularized by the media and people tend to overlook the bad. I've heard Cabrini Green wasn't so hot, but of course tourists aren't going to know about that, or want to visit it. Other cities like NYC for instance, have an incredibly high income disparity, but no one talks about that, they only talk about Manhattan. The real problem is the accessibility, because you can't get to the good areas of Houston without going through the bad areas. But I guess that doesn't really matter, it's kinda like talking to a wall.

Good post.

[Sampaguita]

Originally Posted by theSUBlime

What's so different about that than any other city? Yeah I think the post was a good one, but what you're not realizing is that the only difference between Houston and many other cities is that their areas are popularized by the media and people tend to overlook the bad. I've heard Cabrini Green wasn't so hot, but of course tourists aren't going to know about that, or want to visit it. Other cities like NYC for instance, have an incredibly high income disparity, but no one talks about that, they only talk about Manhattan. The real problem is the accessibility, because you can't get to the good areas of Houston without going through the bad areas. But I guess that doesn't really matter, it's kinda like talking to a wall.

Spot on!