[LSyd]

ground pics taken on a sunday in early december; aerials taken around new year's; i need to get back on a weekday off so i can get up the Chase tower with my telephotooooooooooooo (maybe later this month.)

and i'll answer the question that some snarky northern/midwest forumer is bound to ask: "Where are all the people?"

1. in church
2. watching football
3. at the park enjoying the great weather (see the pics farther down)

1
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159664/original.jpg
2
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159666/original.jpg
3
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159658/original.jpg
4
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159662/original.jpg
5
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159660/original.jpg

downtown and nearby
6
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159113/original.jpg
7
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159112/original.jpg
8
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159114/original.jpg
9
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159109/original.jpg

is that Polaris' evil twin? (Polairs being the fugly blue revolving restaurant in Atlanta)
10
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159111/original.jpg
11
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159115/original.jpg
12
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159116/original.jpg
13
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159117/original.jpg
14
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159118/original.jpg
15
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159119/original.jpg
16
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159120/original.jpg
17
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159121/original.jpg
18
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/91567351/original.jpg
19
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/91567352/original.jpg
20
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159122/original.jpg
21
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159159/original.jpg
22
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/91567353/original.jpg
23
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159160/original.jpg
24
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159161/original.jpg
25
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159162/original.jpg
26
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159163/original.jpg

i wish i had a wide angle lense...
27
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/91567354/original.jpg
28
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159164/original.jpg
29
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159165/original.jpg
30
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159166/original.jpg
31
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159167/original.jpg
32
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159168/original.jpg
33
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159169/original.jpg
34
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159170/original.jpg
35
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159171/original.jpg
36
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159172/original.jpg
37
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159174/original.jpg
38
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159201/original.jpg
39
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159202/original.jpg
40
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159205/original.jpg
41
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159206/original.jpg
42
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159207/original.jpg
43
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159208/original.jpg
44
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159209/original.jpg
45
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159210/original.jpg
46
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159211/original.jpg
47
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159212/original.jpg

time to ride the train towards the Rice area...
48
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159213/original.jpg
49
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159214/original.jpg
50
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159215/original.jpg
51
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159216/original.jpg
52
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159217/original.jpg
53
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159635/original.jpg
54
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159638/original.jpg
55
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159640/original.jpg
56
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159642/original.jpg
57
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159643/original.jpg
58
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159652/original.jpg
59
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159647/original.jpg
60
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159649/original.jpg
61
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159656/original.jpg

going back downtown
62
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/91567355/original.jpg
63
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/91567357/original.jpg

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[urbannomad]

Where is #5? Is that the woodlands or the new development in the Kingwood area?

Great photos!

[Boris]

Nice set El Cid.

[Sekkle]

Very nice!

[Thundertubs]

Nice pics. I like the equestrian statue above the reflecting pool. Out of context I would have guessed that to be in Arlington VA.
I feel bad about making fun of physical differences in others, but not quite bad enough to point out that the lady in the wheelchair at the light rail station has, instead of two legs, one superleg.

[LSyd]

thanks y'all.

Nice pics. I like the equestrian statue above the reflecting pool. Out of context I would have guessed that to be in Arlington VA.
I feel bad about making fun of physical differences in others, but not quite bad enough to point out that the lady in the wheelchair at the light rail station has, instead of two legs, one superleg.

i could see that she was missing a leg, but wasn't sure what i was seeing, so i went back to the original pic in full size and noticed...

THE GUY NEXT TO HER IS WEARING AN "IMPEACH BUSH" CAP AND "ARREST CHENEY" SHIRT!!! IN A RED STATE!!! :haha: :tup:

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[Evergrey]

nice to see some non-skyline pics of Houston

[Bergenser]

Houston is so nice! :D

[ColDayMan]

Great shots!

[Michi]

and i'll answer the question that some snarky northern/midwest forumer is bound to ask: "Where are all the people?"
It's ok, Detroit's in the Midwest and people ask this all the time. You just gotta look past it.

Nice new perspectives of Houston! :)

[Shasta]

Nice photos.

I do wish more people would mill about downtown on Sundays but it'll eventually get there. The cranes you saw will help (new shopping district downtown and a new 380 unit apartment tower).

Hermann Park is by far my favorite place in Houston. It's beautiful and the crowd there is much more reflective of the city than Memorial Park (on the Westside) that tends to draw a largely WASPy crowd!

[KevinFromTexas]

Good stuff. Lots of skyscrapers in that first aerial.

[xzmattzx]

Houston has a lot of nice architecture.

[Austinlee]

Awesome pics!

This one really caught my eye. I found myself staring at it for awhile. A stark red building in foreground, extremely tall scraper in background, and a huge shiny rim on the pickup truck!

http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159166/original.jpg

[TXLove]

really great set of Houston pics!!!!

[Tom Servo]

http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159206/original.jpg
this is a great shot.

http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159658/original.jpg
*cough* :cool:

[denveraztec]

Sweet shots!

[Ex-Ithacan]

Love the old buildings that have kept their style. Houston does have one heck of a skyline. Dandy tour Steve, thanks.

[Reverberation]

http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159206/original.jpg
this is a great shot.

http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159658/original.jpg
*cough* :cool:

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think I can barely see the outline of the coast in that one.

[Derek]

9
http://www.pbase.com/lsyd/image/92159109/original.jpg

-

I stayed at that Marriott in July.

Nice shots!:tup:

[flar]

Man, Houston's got some really nice old buildings.

[OhioGuy]

I love Chicago and I'm happy to have relocated to here. At the same time, Houston will always occupy a special part in my life. The 2.5 years I spent there were good times and the city far exceded my expectations when I first moved there. Thanks for the great pics! It's always good to see Houston. :)

[Tom Servo]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think I can barely see the outline of the coast in that one.

i don't know... all i see is a faint skyline through dense smog.

[Shasta]

i don't know... all i see is a faint skyline through dense smog.

Yes, Yes. Houston = Dirty Air. We all get it. You've posted that theme enough already. I am beginning to miss your old rants about conservatives, SUVs, fat people, and mindless sprawl.

Did it ever occur to you that ANY photo of ANY metro region taken with a zoom lens trying to capture a skyline 26 miles away while landing at an airport through a dirty airplane window will have a very similar quality?

[ChiPsy]

I love Chicago and I'm happy to have relocated to here. At the same time, Houston will always occupy a special part in my life. The 2.5 years I spent there were good times and the city far exceded my expectations when I first moved there. Thanks for the great pics! It's always good to see Houston. :)

Me too, Ohio Guy -- although I'm deeply thankful I get to live in Chicago, I enjoyed Houston and my time there took me by surprise: It's a unique, funky city.

But like AdrianX (who's originally from Houston if I remember), I've got my own one-note song: Why can't Whataburger come up north?!!! :slob:

[Xeelee]

Cool pics

[Tom Servo]

Me too, Ohio Guy -- although I'm deeply thankful I get to live in Chicago, I enjoyed Houston and my time there took me by surprise: It's a unique, funky city.

But like AdrianX (who's originally from Houston if I remember), I've got my own one-note song: Why can't Whataburger come up north?!!! :slob:

or maybe taco cabana? :)

and yes, i am. but like most smart people, i got out of that 1 horse town as fast as i could! :runaway:
and i never looked back. every time i go back down to texas, which is fairly often, i go to austin and san antonio. or dallas sometimes.

[Reverberation]

Just because we have yards..........and cows...... Whatever, it's a nice place. What does being smart have to do with leaving?

[Reverberation]

And late night Taco C is clutch and a half.

[Shasta]

or maybe taco cabana? :)

and yes, i am. but like most smart people, i got out of that 1 horse town as fast as i could! :runaway:
and i never looked back. every time i go back down to texas, which is fairly often, i go to austin and san antonio. or dallas sometimes.

Yeah, Yeah, we all get it. The cool people leave Houston. You are so trendy for liking Austin more than Houston. If only we could all be so hip.

But, if ONLY we could truly get you to stop looking back we'd not have to wade through your endless drivel on ANY and EVERY Houston photo thread about fat people, smog, sprawl, conservatives, etc... If you really want to stop looking back, then stop opening Houston threads and ruining them. At the very least, you need to realize that you are being RUDE to the photographers who submit their work.

In the end, you'd think that somebody so intelligent and hip as you seem to be because you had the brains to move to Chicago would be having way too full of a life to spend time even bothering with Houston posts.

[JManc]

adrian, quit trolling.

[LSyd]

thanks for all the intelligent, mature, and productive comments...

i don't know... all i see is a faint skyline through dense smog.

being from Houston, you should know that there's often fog/haze (and not just the smog part.)

when i took the ground pics, i called over to the San Jacinto monument to check on the conditions; "You can't see anything from the top, too much fog."

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[dktshb]

I was in Houston last August and went to many of those areas. I will probably be going back in March and will plan on staying downtown. I wasn't able to explore as much as I would have liked because it was way too hot for this So Cal man to be walking around. Great photos.

[daniel_t]

Please correct me if i am wrong, but Houston looks kinda dirty. The downtown area is pretty deserted and the city doesn't look at all attractive. Am I describing the city correctly? These are great pics but Houston just looks very unattractive.

[Metro Matt]

Please correct me if i am wrong, but Houston looks kinda dirty. The downtown area is pretty deserted and the city doesn't look at all attractive. Am I describing the city correctly? These are great pics but Houston just looks very unattractive.

Houston's no more dirty than any other large city, like NYC or LA.

It might not have all the pretty hills like whats found around Austin, but Houston is by far the greenest city in all of Texas & one of the greenest in the nation, a lot of the city especially on the north & east sides sits on what was once nothing but forests with 50 foot tall pine trees all around (much like Atlanta) of course a lot of that land has been clear cut to build on, but there has been a massive undertaking the past 3 years to plant trees & shrubery along all of the freeways & preserve mature trees when building instead of hacking them all down. Houston's vegetation is kinda unique, you can see pine trees & palm trees all in the same city because its so large geographically (540 sq. miles) it covers two seperate regions of Texas, the Piney Woods of East Texas, & the Coastal Plains near the Texas Gulf Coast.

[Rail Claimore]

Houston's no more dirty than any other large city, like NYC or LA.

It might not have all the pretty hills like whats found around Austin, but Houston is by far the greenest city in all of Texas & one of the greenest in the nation, a lot of the city especially on the north & east sides sits on what was once nothing but forests with 50 foot tall pine trees all around (much like Atlanta) of course a lot of that land has been clear cut to build on, but there has been a massive undertaking the past 3 years to plant trees & shrubery along all of the freeways & preserve mature trees when building instead of hacking them all down. Houston's vegetation is kinda unique, you can see pine trees & palm trees all in the same city because its so large geographically (540 sq. miles) it covers two seperate regions of Texas, the Piney Woods of East Texas, & the Coastal Plains near the Texas Gulf Coast.

Trees are one thing I miss about the Southeast, Atlanta in particular. Chicago has some forest preserves and is pretty good in comparison to some other Midwestern cities, but it doesn't come close to what you find in Atlanta. The one time I traveled through Houston, the eastern part of I-10 and areas to the north near IAH reminded me of a flat version of Atlanta.

In fact, now that I think about it, Houston seems to be a much larger version of my hometown (Huntsville, AL) only with the Gulf instead of mountains on two sides of the city. Heavily forested in parts, flat prairie in others, and all with an urban landscape that's dotted by commericial and industrial use of aerospace, tech, defense, and manufacturing companies and master-planned subdivisions and communities for residential development. And of course, they both have NASA.

[Xeelee]

Why can't we all just get along?

[volguus zildrohar]

Go transit!

[LSyd]

thanks y'all.

I was in Houston last August and went to many of those areas. I will probably be going back in March and will plan on staying downtown. I wasn't able to explore as much as I would have liked because it was way too hot for this So Cal man to be walking around. Great photos.

it'll be a lot cooler in march. maybe too cool and windy (that's how it was when i was there in march 2 years ago.) but it's more tolerable, that's for sure.

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[Great_Hizzy]

Please correct me if i am wrong, but Houston looks kinda dirty. The downtown area is pretty deserted and the city doesn't look at all attractive. Am I describing the city correctly? These are great pics but Houston just looks very unattractive.


Yes, as the pictures clearly demonstrate. Houston is filthy. Trash and filth and decay everywhere. What a shame.

Great set, LSyd. I like your varying perspectives of the old Ben Milam Square Building. We'd all like it to be turned into residential units (at least there's the new restaurant that was sort of attached to the old lobby). It sticks out being the only building in that area of MMP that hasn't really been renovated.

[toxteth o'grady]

Houston always looks better in the Summer months. There's something about the greenery that tends to cover the trashier bits.

Houston also has a tendency to be very patchwork, with nice neighborhoods butting up against industrial grit.

Things have changed a lot in five years, though. An influx of wealth brought by $100 a barrel oil, and redevelopment of the Medical Center seems to have cleaned the town up a bit...