The author's posts are entirely his or her own and may not always reflect the views of Movoto.
1. Things May Be Bigger In Texas, But They Are Huge in Houston
If you asked anyone what they thought about Texas, the "everything's bigger" stereotype is sure to come up--but this one's definitely true of
Houston, which is the largest city in Texas. Not only that, but Houston's 634 square miles is big enough to fit the cities of New York, Washington, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, Minneapolis, and Miami. Houston's massive size means it has a ton of diversity and plenty of culture--and with the population booming, it's just going to get more diverse in the future. Each neighborhood--from Chinatown to Sunnyside--has its unique identity. and there's even some small town charm in the mix. All this diversity means lots of cultural activities that span the globe without leaving the city limits, and tons of interesting folks to meet. Come by and say howdy (that's Texas for "hello"), won't you?
2. Hope You're Fixin' To Sit A Spell, Because Houstonians Ooze Southern Hospitality
Though Houston defies a lot of Texas and Southern stereotypes, this one definitely holds true. If you come to Houston, you're in for some proper southern-style hospitality, y'all. And beyond the polite chorus of "sirs" and "ma'ams," you'll find a whole community dedicated to helping others with volunteer organizations like the Houston Food Bank and Volunteer Houston. And if you're hungry after all of that volunteer work, you can always enjoy more food-based southern hospitality at Mikki's Café.
3. Houstonians Are A Bunch of Hip Hop Heads, And Are Chopped And Screwed And Sippin' On Syrup
If you trace the roots of southern hip hop back, you're find yourself back in the '80s in Houston, with the Geto Boys who were one of the very first southern rappers to gain mainstream success. Rap in Houston has been going strong ever since. It's where the chopped and screwed style was invented, and was also where "purple drank" was first popularized. Ever hear a song referencing 713? That's Houston they're talking about--and plenty artists got their start in this big city, like Bun B, Willie D, and DJ Screw. If you're a lover of southern-style hip hop--or just looking to expand your musical horizons--go on an adventure for your ears by heading out to Lucie's or The Red Rooster.
4. Houstonians Hate Your "Houston We Have A Problem" Jokes
You've seen "Apollo 13," we get it. We liked the movie too, but honestly, we've heard these jokes a thousand times and they've started to wear our southern hospitality a bit thin. And while we're on the subject of tired jokes: No, we don't ride horses to work--but we're pretty sure that would make Houston's traffic jams even worse. So stop asking us where we parked our horse already, please.
5. Houstonians Also Hate The Tennessee Titans (More Like Tennessee Traitors!)
The NFL is rife with rivalries, but few, er, rival the Houston Texans vs the Tennessee Titans. The Texans were formed in 2002 replacing the Oilers, which had previously moved to Nashville and become the Titans. While some part of every Texans fan still holds a torch for the Oilers, that only feeds the flame of their hatred for the Titans. This rivalry extends to the field and has even led to a few fistfights between the players.
6. Houstonians Are All Gun Nuts
It says a lot about the city's attitude towards firearms that even Houston's democratic mayor owns a gun and has a concealed carry permit. Houston is also home to the Armed Citizen Project, which distributes guns and training to individuals in high-crime neighborhoods and plenty of gun shows. If you're in the market, check out regular events from Premier Gun Shows and the Houston Gun Collectors Association.
7. Houstonians Are A Bunch Of Urban Cowboys
We have the belt buckles, boots, trucks and Stetsons, but in all honesty, most Houstonians have never farmed or ranched a day in our lives. That doesn't mean we don't enjoy faking it sometimes. At the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, you'll see plenty of people decked out in true country style and riding in pickups that have never encountered anything rougher than a pothole.
8. In Houston It's All About "Drill Baby, Drill"
Oil and energy are big business here. Admittedly, Houston's oil business doesn't always get good press--Enron and BP America are both Houston-based (oops!)--but it's not all bad news. In fact, it's the energy industry that's kept Houston's job market going strong even when the economy isn't. With more than 5,000 energy companies in Houston and 78,000 jobs in the city's Energy Corridor, chances are that anywhere in the city limits you're within shouting distance of someone who works in the industry. Which means you might not want to brag about your bio diesel car too much, lest that lauded southern hospitality dry up.
9. Houstonians Are Addicted To Tex-Mex, And If You Lived Here You Would Be, Too
If you haven't tried the regional delicacy that is Tex-Mex cuisine, you simply haven't lived. Trust us on this, the cheese enchiladas at Los Dos Amigos are the best of all possible cheesy Tex-Mex dishes. But don't limit us to just Tex-Mex, all of the stuff we just said about diversity translates into culinary diversity, too. So no matter what your taste, there's at least one (and likely many) restaurant to please you. Looking for Indian? Try Pondicheri. Italian? Tony's is the place to be (if you have the budget for it). Craving Vietnamese? Pho Binh is definitely the best in Houston, and maybe the best in the country. No matter where you decide to eat in Houston, you definitely won't go home hungry.
10. Houstonians Can Take The Heat
Texas doesn't really do seasons in the sense that northerners might think. Instead we have blistering hot summers that tend to run April through September. Expect temperatures in the 90s and 100s with plenty of sunshine to go with it--great if you're a cactus, but not so great if you're a human. But some days you just have to live up to your Texan heritage--whether you were born here or you've chosen Houston for yourself--and go out and enjoy the sunshine at outdoor festivals like the Free Press Summer Fest in June or the Houston Shakespeare Festival in August. Just remember to pack a beach towel, wear your sunscreen, and drink plenty of water (though carrying a Camelbak is optional).
