Houston has its problems, but I like my Montrose
-
7/4/2006
One good thing about Houston is that if you don't like where you're living, just move to another part of town, and you just might find something to like. Houston is not a monolithic place; each part of town has something different to offer. When I first moved here in 1995, I lived out in the 'burbs in Katy. If I had stayed there, I probably would be ranting and raving like many of the other posters who hate Houston. I just didn't like where I was. But then during college I started working in the Montrose/Museum District area and discovered that this is where I want to be. I finally got an apartment in the area about 3 years ago and love it. It's in a central location in the city, so it's convenient to many areas, such as Downtown, the Galleria, and the Medical Center. You can get to any of these places without taking freeways, which is a big plus. Montrose is kind of the quirky, "artsy" part of town, so it's close to all the museums and galleries, there are lots of little shops (a lot of antique and resale clothing stores in lower Westheimer), neighborhood bars, like Catbird's and Rudyard's, and coffee houses like Agora and Brazil. It's also the center of Houston's gay community and tends to be more liberal than most of the city (you could probably say that this is the part of town that really, REALLY wishes it were in Austin). The Gay Pride Festival is fun, whether you're gay or not. The cost of living is probably a bit higher than out in the 'burbs if you want to own a home, but there's something for everyone here, from cheap apartments to expensive loft and townhomes, and moderate to high-priced homes. There's something for just about every budget. If you're one who wants to leave Houston for someplace less Republican but can't the cost of living in those places, Montrose might be your place.
Jennifer | Houston, TX