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I'm going to be in Houston with my wife on Thursday and Friday. She's attending a math teacher's conference and I have time on my hands. Does anybody have any ideas for cool or "nerdy" things a tuba playing can do in Houston?

The Houston Symphony seems to have a good program for Friday the 30th. They're doing Schwantner's Percussion Concerto, Vivaldi's Concerto arranged for Vibraphone and Strings, and Selections from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet. Dave Kirk sounds great, and you should hear him if you have the chance.

tuben wrote: There is a great Vietnamese restaurant close to downtown...
RC

Now, I'm sure it's no Vietnamese Kitchen though, right Rob? Mmmm, delicious Spring rolls.

the elephant wrote:If they still do that at the Houston IKEA ...

They do.

I would love to hear the Houston Symphony Orchestra, but unfortunately it's a quick trip and we're returning Friday at noon. I may go to IKEA out of curriousity. I'm likely to visit NASA. I know we're going to have some great TexMex with my wife's cousin (can't recall the restaurant name).

I know we're going to have some great TexMex with my wife's cousin (can't recall the restaurant name).

For TexMex, check out Chuy's or the original Mama Ninfa's. If you want good BBQ, go to Goode Co. over on Kirby or I-10. If you're in mood for gumbo, go to Treebeards downtown (only open for lunch).

I don't know what you're interested in doing while in town, but The Menil Collection is a great contemporary art museum for free. Down the block is the Rothko Chapel (also free).

Sigh, all this talk about Houston makes me miss the place. Hard to believe I moved out over 4 years ago. I definitely am jealous of your trip. Have fun!!

Steve Lamb

I'm definately getting some good TexMex. My wife's cousin is taking us to what he says is one of the best TexMex restaurants in Houston. He said I have to get...I think he said the "Deep Fried Avocado"...sounds gross, but he said it's awesome.

For entertainment the finalists were NASA ($18.95) and Moody Gardens in Galveston ($44.95). You all know that I'm frugile (nice word for "cheap"), so I'm going to NASA. I took a tour with a school group when I was a sophomore in high school. This should be much more enjoyable because I'm by myself and I have all day. I like to take my time and actully read the exhibits in a museum. I spent a full day at the LBJ Library in Austin and still couldn't take it all in!

I heard there was a cool math teachers conference going on.

Eric B wrote:I'm definately getting some good TexMex. My wife's cousin is taking us to what he says is one of the best TexMex restaurants in Houston. He said I have to get...I think he said the "Deep Fried Avocado"...sounds gross, but he said it's awesome.

Fried avocado is Tex-Mex?

Houston has great Tex-Mex. But the best is Molina's, on Westheimer just west of Hillcroft. It's not impossible that you will see George H.W. Bush there, along with Barbara. They have good taste in Mexican food. My family has been eating at Molina's in their various locations since no later than 1942.

The original Ninfa's on Navigation is good, but bring weapons if you go at night. A block away from Ninfa's is Merida, also excellent (but not Tex-Mex).

The Chuy's in Houston, at least the one on Richmond, seems to have closed. Too bad. But then you can enjoy Chuy's on your next trip to Austin or Dallas.

There is so much good barbecue in Houston as to be impossible to narrow it down. The traditional spot is Otto's, on Memorial just east of Westcott.

You should also just drive around. I grew up in Houston, and am still awe-struck when I take the Loop 610 overpass over the Houston Ship Channel. There is more industry within sight of that spot than in most countries. You may hate it, but it will impress you.

There is also the Hermann Park Zoo, which is near the Houston Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of Natural History, and also near the Texas Medical Center (fully as impressive in its scale as the Ship Channel), and Rice University. Texans do their hibernating in the Summer--don't be afraid to plan outdoor stuff. I was in Houston for Christmas last year, and one day we drove down to Galveston to the beach (though we did not swim!).

Rick "who always eats at Molina's when in Houston--ALWAYS" Denney

Rick "

When my son was going to Rice U, I would never miss a chance to go to Two Rows Restaurant & Brewery in Rice Village. Mostly to see if they happen to have their "Whiskey Barrel Stout" on tap. This is a Stout that is fermented in used whiskey barrels, 10% alcohol and only served in 10oz glasses. Isn't drinking beer a "nerdy" thing that tuba players do?

JohnMCooper wrote:When my son was going to Rice U, I would never miss a chance to go to Two Rows Restaurant & Brewery in Rice Village. Mostly to see if they happen to have their "Whiskey Barrel Stout" on tap. This is a Stout that is fermented in used whiskey barrels, 10% alcohol and only served in 10oz glasses. Isn't drinking beer a "nerdy" thing that tuba players do?

I think what you are calling "Rice Village" has always been called just "The Village", corner of University and Kirby. Googling it, I see that it is indeed now called "Rice Village". I'll have to swing by there sometime and try it out. The Village was a popular shopping area before the arrival of big suburban malls, and it's one of the few that really survived. There's another one called "Highland Village" that is similar, near the Galleria. "Village" must have been the standard name for these neighborhood shopping centers. "Briar" and "Wood" are the standard names for malls in Houston. There are even more briars in Houston than villages, heh, heh.

Rick "for whom that part of town was teenage stomping grounds" Denney

Blanchard wrote:You could also go a bit farther and hit up the boardwalk at Kemah which is pretty neat.

Actually, Kemah is about a 5-10 minute drive from the entrance to NASA. Kemah is very nice, especially around this time of year.

Dome to the Hilton and watch the US National K-12/Collegiate Chess Championships.