Is San Antonio forgotten in Texas? (Houston, Dallas: schools, college, shop)

[radiolibre99]

Then what is it about Austin that captures all the attention? I was walking around downtown Houston and marveled at all the recent development and thought to myself that it's looking like a real deal city now. It felt as though I was in a mini-Chicago or something of that nature, real cosmopolitan. How does Houston get slammed but Austin gets praised?

Same thing with SA. They make it seem as though it's Oakland to Austin's San Francisco. The architecture seems to be fascinating and it has a character that reminds me of a Spanish/Mexican/Mexican-American version of New Orleans. I imagine the culture there with it's heavy Mexican influence must be great as I was looking for the level of influence of Mexican culture that I saw in Los Angeles but couldn't find in Houston. I am sure it's in SA.

How is the Mexican food there? Can you find authentic Mexican food from all regions? I love food from the region of Oaxaca.

[C24L]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

Then what is it about Austin that captures all the attention? I was walking around downtown Houston and marveled at all the recent development and thought to myself that it's looking like a real deal city now. It felt as though I was in a mini-Chicago or something of that nature, real cosmopolitan. How does Houston get slammed but Austin gets praised?

Same thing with SA. They make it seem as though it's Oakland to Austin's San Francisco. The architecture seems to be fascinating and it has a character that reminds me of a Spanish/Mexican/Mexican-American version of New Orleans. I imagine the culture there with it's heavy Mexican influence must be great as I was looking for the level of influence of Mexican culture that I saw in Los Angeles but couldn't find in Houston. I am sure it's in SA.

How is the Mexican food there? Can you find authentic Mexican food from all regions? I love food from the region of Oaxaca.

I like the Mexican food in SA.I am not for sure if you can find food from all the regions of Mexico as we just eat Tex-Mex there.

[War Beagle]

Economically there probably isn't as much going on as the other cities. Austin has tech, Houston has oil and medical, and DFW has a whole bunch of everything. But there is development going on in SA for sure. And unlike Austin, Houston and DFW, I rarely hear many negative comments about it. Most Texans seem to like it.

[radiolibre99]

Well isn't just as pretty as Austin nature wise?

[War Beagle]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

Well isn't just as pretty as Austin nature wise?

North it's really pretty starting around bulverde. Actually the southwest portion down near Castroville is scenic too. Due south isn't all that great though.

[the topper]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

Then what is it about Austin that captures all the attention? I was walking around downtown Houston and marveled at all the recent development and thought to myself that it's looking like a real deal city now. It felt as though I was in a mini-Chicago or something of that nature, real cosmopolitan. How does Houston get slammed but Austin gets praised?

Same thing with SA. They make it seem as though it's Oakland to Austin's San Francisco. The architecture seems to be fascinating and it has a character that reminds me of a Spanish/Mexican/Mexican-American version of New Orleans. I imagine the culture there with it's heavy Mexican influence must be great as I was looking for the level of influence of Mexican culture that I saw in Los Angeles but couldn't find in Houston. I am sure it's in SA.

How is the Mexican food there? Can you find authentic Mexican food from all regions? I love food from the region of Oaxaca.

Don't get too carried away: Downtown Houston is still very dead and is a work in progress. They've build high rises but demolished a lot of them, too, unfortunately. It's close to forming a restaurant district but still has a way to go.

Good things about Houston: many sub districts with buildings, good population of 2,240,000, big city amenities like theaters, sport teams and etc, and finally an international airport with Hobby airport.

[radiolibre99]

Originally Posted by the topper

Don't get too carried away: Downtown Houston is still very dead and is a work in progress. They've build high rises but demolished a lot of them, too, unfortunately. It's close to forming a restaurant district but still has a way to go.

Good things about Houston: many sub districts with buildings, good population of 2,240,000, big city amenities like theaters, sport teams and etc, and finally an international airport with Hobby airport.

Well I meant to say all of inner loop not just downtown. I was just impressed at the new buildings. There's a new one that reminds a bit of the Wilshire Grand in downtown LA. I just found it to be perfectly understated. I liked how it wasn't too packed and that it was a little less crowded than midtown and uptown. I'd live there in a heartbeat.

I do get it's a work in progress but I like it as is and don't want to see it overrun. But even with Houston's burgeoning development how is it not a notch above Austin? Do SA and Austin have a more developed core and offer more urban amenities? I could see SA having some of it but I just think Houston is the most complete Texas city even if it's still in development

[TXsurburbanmom]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

Well isn't just as pretty as Austin nature wise?

My part of SA is rolling hills much like Austin. I think I recall someone mentioning it to you in the past and you liked the area - Stone Oak. Besides the hills it is also a popular location for Mexican Nationals. Not so sure about Oaxacan cuisine, but many of the Mexican restaurants out here are not Tex-Mex. The bulk of the transplants are from Guadalajara (big influx about 9 years ago) and Monterrey (lots and lots since the cartel violence escalated). One of the country club areas, Sonterra, is sometimes dubbed Sonterrey. At my son's school we have volunteer moms from a Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Korea, India, etc. so for SA it's pretty diverse. It is a more conservative and family oriented part of town but the nightlife has picked up a lot in the last few years.

There is very much a Mexican influence in SA. If you're not but grew up here you learn to love it and speak enough Spanish to order the yummy food correctly. Lots of Texas history here to be proud of as well from Crockett and Bowie to De Zavala and Seguin. As an added bonus Boerne, Fredericksburg, Gruene and New Braunfels are a short drive if you want a dose of German Texas flavor.

[radiolibre99]

Originally Posted by Bobcat4

My part of SA is rolling hills much like Austin. I think I recall someone mentioning it to you in the past and you liked the area - Stone Oak. Besides the hills it is also a popular location for Mexican Nationals. Not so sure about Oaxacan cuisine, but many of the Mexican restaurants out here are not Tex-Mex. The bulk of the transplants are from Guadalajara (big influx about 9 years ago) and Monterrey (lots and lots since the cartel violence escalated). One of the country club areas, Sonterra, is sometimes dubbed Sonterrey. At my son's school we have volunteer moms from a Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Korea, India, etc. so for SA it's pretty diverse. It is a more conservative and family oriented part of town but the nightlife has picked up a lot in the last few years.

There is very much a Mexican influence in SA. If you're not but grew up here you learn to love it and speak enough Spanish to order the yummy food correctly. Lots of Texas history here to be proud of as well from Crockett and Bowie to De Zavala and Seguin. As an added bonus Boerne, Fredericksburg, Gruene and New Braunfels are a short drive if you want a dose of German Texas flavor.

I loved the Mexican influence in Los Angeles and it seemed to really add to the character of that city. I just feel as though a lot of the Mexican culture is a bit suppressed in places such as Austin and in Houston but I picture the culture to be very lively and wholly celebrated in SA as much as it is in Los Angeles, and as much as French/Creole-Cajun culture is in New Orleans. I think I saw something in SA that was akin to Olvera St in Los Angeles where they sell all these artisanal Mexican stuff. And there must be Day of the Dead parades and such, no?

[the topper]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

Well I meant to say all of inner loop not just downtown. I was just impressed at the new buildings. There's a new one that reminds a bit of the Wilshire Grand in downtown LA. I just found it to be perfectly understated. I liked how it wasn't too packed and that it was a little less crowded than midtown and uptown. I'd live there in a heartbeat.

I do get it's a work in progress but I like it as is and don't want to see it overrun. But even with Houston's burgeoning development how is it not a notch above Austin? Do SA and Austin have a more developed core and offer more urban amenities? I could see SA having some of it but I just think Houston is the most complete Texas city even if it's still in development

Austin has the most vibrant downtown and the most construction going in the downtown core. It's very popular for hipsters. It's also the state capital. Houston is better off than San Antonio and Dallas. It has better population and more diversity. Dallas is fancier but Houston is a working class down to earth city with some class in Bellaire/ Galleria.