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Article Excerpt
Alive with energy and rich in diversity, Houston is a dynamic mix of imagination, talent, and first-class attractions that makes it a world-class city. Home to a vibrant economy, beautiful surroundings, and some of the friendliest people in the world, it's no wonder that Houston is a popular international destination.
If you're not one of the nearly 2 million city residents or 4.5 million people in the metropolitan region, it might be daunting to decide what to do in the fourth largest city in the nation. Houston truly has something for everyone.
You can enjoy Houston's outstanding performing and visual arts venues Try one of the countless restaurants offering cuisine in every style from Tex Mex and South American to Middle Eastern and Vietnamese. For sports fans we have local teams representing all major sports. Do some shopping; Houston offers something to fit every budget, from the exclusive shops in Houston's Uptown area to the outlet malls just outside the city. That's just the beginning.
To give you an idea of all that Houston has to offer, I asked some folks to tell me what they like about Houston and beyond. Here's what they recommend.
Shopping
The members of my book group are a pretty diverse lot, spanning a wide range of ages and stages of life, but we have one thing in common: we all enjoy shopping, and not just for books. From antiques to zoom lenses, we leave no store window unexamined, so the recommendations were all over the place when I asked the group about places to shop.
* Furniture and housewares: Heights Antiques on Yale, antique shops along Westheimer, Bering's, Antique Pavilion, Surroundings, Sur La Table, Williams-Sonoma, Crate and Barrel, Cost Plus World Market, Cities, Crazy Ranch Designs, Adkins Architectural Antiques, Texas & the Territories
* Gifts: Paula Fridkin Designs, Jubilee, Bering's, Events, Sloan Hall
* Costume jewelry: Paula Fridkin Designs, Fly High Little Bunny, Dervish, Bead Shop, Masterson Design, Tootsies, Joseph's
* Women's clothes: Saks, Neiman Marcus, Wink, Mix, BB1, Foley's, T. J. Maxx, Woman's Work for maternity, Top Drawer, J. Tiras Classic Hand bags, Anthropologie, Tootsies
* Women's shoes: Velvet Slipper, Joseph's, Sole Sensations, Saks, DSW
* Men's clothes and accessories: Neiman Marcus, M. Penner, Joseph A. Banks, Martin Pike Custom Clothing, Maida's Custom Made Belts & Buckles
* Children: Fundamentally Toys, Pam's Imagination Station, Blue Bird Circle Resale Shop, Target, Cotton Tots, The Gap
* Books: The one thing we could all agree on is that we appreciate the personal attention and expert advice available at Brazos Bookstore.
Then came the ultimate challenge. If we each had $1,000 to spend anywhere we wanted, where would we shop? Oh, the possibilities.
Amy Overbey is married with two small girls, but don't let her Southern belle accent fool you. She's a six-foot blonde with a law degree from Ole Miss who works in insurance management. She loves to cook and entertain, so she would spend her $1,000 at Sur La Table. She also likes shopping at BB1. "Darlin', they have pants that are long enough for my legs."
Danae Stephenson, the director of administration and finance for a technology company, is remodeling an old house with her longtime boyfriend. She leaves most of the building-related shopping to him, which gives her more time to explore the home furnishings and gifts at Kuhn-Linscomb. You'll also find Danae in the middle of sales at Saks and Neiman Marcus.
Darcy Brannan is the youngest member of the group, and perhaps the busiest. In a span of about six months she bought and furnished a house, finished vet school, and got married. She had her wedding dress made by Mr. Santos, who "has a whole lot of personality." With her imaginary $1,000, "I'm heading to the spa at the Houstonian for some R&R."
Edith Nordloh is a married preschool teacher. With two young boys, she "shops for clothes that won't show dirt." Her favorite place is Foley's in Northwest Mall. For kids, Edith recommends, "Give them a couple of dollars and let them have fun in the Dollar Store." With $1,000 she'd take care of herself with some clothes at Eddie Bauer and beauty treatments at Beautique Beauty Salon and Day Spa.
Katy Childs, a writer and producer with a beautiful smile, enviable poise, and legs to die for, is also married and has one teenage daughter. Katy is always telling us about the fabulous bargains she finds at T. J. Maxx. Since she enjoys entertaining friends and family, "I'm sure I could spend a thousand dollars quickly at Crate and Barrel."
Linda Eyles, our favorite interior decorator, and her husband just moved into a new house with their chocolate Labrador retrievers Strider and Hazel. Linda is a Gemini, and her two personalities could not agree on just one place to spend $1,000, so she'll split her funds between Williams-Sonoma and DSW. After all, her philosophy is "You can't have too many shoes."
For myself (married with one daughter in high school and another in college), as much as I like to shop in Houston, or anywhere else for that matter, I'm pretty sure I'd have to spend my $1,000 on a piece of sculpture for my garden that I've been eyeing. That is, unless I got a sale catalog from any shoe store in town.
Those are just our ideas. In Houston your shopping options abound, and for many, it all begins at the Galleria.
Since opening in 1970, the Galleria has been among Houston's most popular tourist and shopping destinations. It is often the first place savvy travelers want to visit. Nestled between two of the city's most exclusive neighborhoods, River Oaks and Memorial, it is famous as one of the nation's premier examples of a dynamic, mixed-use environment, with internationally known shops and restaurants.
The Galleria offers 1.7 million square feet of space, featuring more than 300 fine stores and restaurants, two high-rise hotels, and three office towers. It also offers a variety of other amenities, including a full-sized ice rink for recreational and figure skating, a roof-top swimming pool, a private health club with indoor tennis courts, a video arcade, 31 restaurants, two full-service national banks, two tailor shops, a travel agency, five beauty salons, and a post office.
The mall is anchored by Neiman Marcus, Macy's, Lord and Taylor, and Saks Fifth Avenue and boasts such exclusive stores as Tiffany & Co., Yves Saint Laurent, Ralph Lauren Collection, Fendi, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Cartier, as well as J. Crew, the Sharper Image, and the Cheesecake Factory.
The Galleria recently completed a major renovation, spending $25 million to make aesthetic and structural improvements, including the addition of new carpets and floorings, soft leather couches and chairs for relaxation, a three-story glass elevator, and glass guardrails.
Its $100 million expansion is nearing completion, scheduled to open in March 2003. The expansion will include an additional 700,000 square feet of space for Houston's first Nordstrom, a flagship Foley's, and 70 new stores.
Here's a selection of area shopping malls and centers.
Inner Loop
* Highland Village is a classy shopping center that includes anchor stores Tootsies, Harold Powell, Victoria's Secret, and The Gap, as well as numerous smaller-scale retailers such as Fitigues, Surprises, White House/Black Market, Anthropologie, and Donald J. Pliner.
* Near Rice University and the Museum District, Rice Village is one of the city's oldest, best-loved shopping enclaves and home to anchor stores such as The Gap, Just Add Water, Banana Republic, Express, and more. The special Village flavor is provided by unique boutiques such as Z. Bead, J. Silver, and Guatemala; bars and clubs such as the Gatsby and the Gingerman; and perhaps the city's best cluster of Thai restaurants.
* River Oaks Shopping Center offers top-notch shopping. Stores such as Chico's, Talbot's, upscale resale shop Twice New, and artsy outpost Texas Gallery make spending a day in River Oaks fun. Ladies also have fun shopping for handbags and jewelry at J. Tiras Classic Handbags and Paula Fridkin Designs. Contemporary styles are available for men, women, and children at Cotton Club.
* Uptown Park is a Euro-style shopping plaza just a few blocks from the Galleria. Ample parking and architecture accessorized by fountains and gardens make it a breath of fresh air. Women can appreciate the casual chic apparel at Ann Taylor Loft and to-die-for shoes at the Velvet Slipper, Lucho is a find for fashion-conscious men, and Cowboys and Angels specializes in nursery decor.
West Side
* Memorial City Mall is home to a new Lord and Taylor and the new Foley's flagship store. Dillard's and Target Greatland are scheduled to open here in 2003. In the meantime, enjoy shopping at Sears, Mervyn's, Gadzooks, and many more stores.
* Katy Mills, an outlet mall and entertainment complex, is a must for any shopper. Anchor stores include Off 5th Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet; Bed, Bath, and Beyond; and Bass Pro Outdoor World. Looking for a novel lunch? Check out the Rainforest Cafe, with its cascading waterfalls and...
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