Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Traveling to Houston, Texas

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Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 02-29-2008, 09:35 AM:

I am leaving this upcoming Tuesday morning for Houston, Texas! I will be in town one night for a job interview so I probably will not have time to check out any sites. Anyone ever been there, or have any comments on the area? I was wondering what the cost of living is like, if housing is affordable, and what it is like to live in the Houston area???

Thanks a million guys!

Posted by Mitchell Dvoskin (Member # 751) on 02-29-2008, 10:13 AM:

Don't miss The Alamo Draft House. Beer and movies, what more could you want in life...

Posted by James R. Hammonds, Jr (Member # 673) on 02-29-2008, 01:28 PM:

The Summers are very hot and very humid.
There are plenty of restaurants and plenty of bars.
We have red light cameras, so be careful when running red lights.
If you smoke, plan on doing it outdoors.
The traffic here is absolutely horrible, so try to live close to where you will work if you move here.
If it's in Pasadena, don't worry.
You'll get used to the smell in no time.
There is a lot of stuff in Spanish, but you don't have to learn Spanish to get by (yet).
There are a few museums, but nothing that I've ever heard of standing out from any other place.
The crime risk varies depending on your area.
I haven't looked at pricing on rent for apartments since sometime in July, but you can get some 1 bedrooms for as low as $500/mo.
If you're looking for a house, you can find some 4 bedroom houses for under 200K.
I don't know how that compares with the rest of the country, but its an example you can use.
I grew up here and my opinion is that it's not a bad place to live, but it's nothing to scream about either.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 02-29-2008, 02:07 PM:

It's humid. And hot. Not as good as Dallas. Not really a desirable place to be.

Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 02-29-2008, 09:02 PM:

See this thread.

Posted by James Westbrook (Member # 3690) on 03-01-2008, 02:27 AM:

Normally when Adam responds like that, the thread gets a lock down. Did Adam forget to lock it down? [uhoh]

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 03-01-2008, 03:15 AM:

Nope, Houston is such an awful town, it deserves two threads.

Posted by Jennifer Pan (Member # 2035) on 03-01-2008, 03:29 AM:

Only thing good about Houston is the fact that my cousin owns a donut shop there... maybe even a few shops by now.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 03-01-2008, 01:40 PM:

Sean, I thought you set yourself up in the service business?

Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 03-01-2008, 05:56 PM:

After weighing everything and having the theatre that talked me into it in the first place back out at the last minute I decided it wasn't feasible. Also, New England already has some of the best technicians in the country and there is no way I could compete with the experience and knowledge of these guys.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 03-01-2008, 07:52 PM:

Well if you end up moving to Hell (sp?) I'll run you around to a couple of places the next time I am in town.

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 03-01-2008, 08:41 PM:

As mentioned, it's hot and humid during summer.

On the other hand, during the rest of the year it's (most of the time) simply not quite as hot but still humid. It's like you've got a hot/humid season followed up by a almost-hot/humid season.

The traffic is an issue but I've avoided it since I made sure that my school, apartment, and work are all fairly close to each other and don't need to get onto the freeways for them.

And as mentioned you can get apartments for pretty cheap and you also have to note that the price doesn't necessarily indicate if it's a good neighborhood or not. Like my apartment complex is pretty quiet most of the time and not much in terms of crime and I'm paying $435 a month (one bedroom) whereas a classmate is at a place that's about $760 per month for a single-bedroom and lots of apartments there have gotten broken into.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-02-2008, 08:48 AM:

In my two visits to Houston over the years I can only remember seeing traffic on the interstste go all the way into the setting sun!! There IS alot of good food in Houston though... After living in a dry climate so long I don't even like visiting humid places unless its in the fall/Winter seasons.
Mark

Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 03-02-2008, 10:03 AM:

Sounds good brad. I am glad to see that there are a couple other Film-Techers in the area. Bieng from New England I enjoy cooler days. I think sixty degrees is perfect, but for the right job I am sure I could get use to the heat and humidity. I am excited because the company I am interviewing with is growing and seems like they have really nice locations and do things right. It seems like it may be a great fit for me! I'll let you guys know, and thanks again for your replies and advice!

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 03-02-2008, 11:34 AM:

quote: Sean McKinnon
I think sixty degrees is perfect, but for the right job I am sure I could get use to the heat and humidity.

Nope, but if the self-brainwashing actually works, then go for it. [Razz]

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 03-02-2008, 12:38 PM:

As I've said on the other threads, I absolutely loved my days in Houston. I lived there from '85 to '87. Loved the food, loved the people, loved the setting. I was paying $400/mo. for an apartment back then on Richmond Avenue near Fondren (Southwest end), so it's good to know things haven't changed that much. I later bought a house in Humble (Atascocita) and got it for a song - it was like $200 a month.

Btw, the humidity is good for your skin!

The only things I didn't like were critters: wood roaches, geckos, and fire ants.

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 03-03-2008, 05:09 PM:

Dolby once tried to send me there (for a CP-200 problem). Temp was 130 degrees at the airport. I did not go. Trouble turned out to me humidity/mold affecting the logic!!!! Louis

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 03-03-2008, 11:48 PM:

quote: Tim Reed
The only things I didn't like were critters: wood roaches, geckos, and fire ants.

Geckos are good to have. They'll eat the other critters.

Posted by James Ness (Member # 4631) on 03-04-2008, 07:30 PM:

definitely come visit the Alamo West Oaks, i'm not biased or anything [Wink]

Posted by Robert W. Jones (Member # 4228) on 03-04-2008, 08:41 PM:

Houston is a great place. Enjoy the traffic and ambiance.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 03-05-2008, 09:38 PM:

quote: James Ness
visit the Alamo West Oaks

Hey, I used to service the Plitt West Oaks Mall, and the General Cinema West Oaks 6 across the street, at Hwy 6 and Westheimer. [Smile]

It was the district office.

quote: Chris Slycord
Geckos are good to have. They'll eat the other critters.

Chris, they must've been goldbricking when I lived there. [Wink]

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-05-2008, 10:03 PM:

quote:
Btw, the humidity is good for your skin!

I donno... 40 plus years in Chicago didn't help my skin at all... 10 years in the desert hasn't hurt it so to say.

Sean.. a thought... when you get there check out Johnson Space center for a used space suit.. Stay air conditioned where ever you go in Texas!

Mark

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 03-06-2008, 04:44 PM:

Houston is like Detroit...a place to be FROM!

Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 03-07-2008, 11:17 AM:

Well, I got back the other night and all I will say about it is that it was quite an experience.

[ 03-07-2008, 05:24 PM: Message edited by: Sean McKinnon ]

Posted by Joshua Waaland (Member # 287) on 03-07-2008, 03:53 PM:

Houston Sucks! [puke]

I've been there several times and I couldn't find a single thing I liked about that town. Humid, ugly and full of oil refineries. The Dallas/Fort Worth area on the other hand is quite nice. [thumbsup]

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 03-07-2008, 10:05 PM:

Oh, I love the heck outta DFW! LOVE it!

FWIW, it's been over 20 years since I've been in Houston. I'm sure it's changed since then.