Information / Sources, Houston

Favorite thing: Before Europeans came to what is now the Houston area (the first explorator of the region being the spaniard Cabeza de la Vaca in 1528), indians called Karankawas roamed the Gulf Coast area. The last Karankawas were killed in 1858. Karankawas were nomadic hunter-gatherers, living mainly on fish.

More on Karankawas can be found in the Handbook of Texas Online
This picture was taken from a website on the Karankawas of Padre Island
A map of Karankawas territory can be found at http://www.texasindians.com/karank.htm
Authentic descriptions of Karankawas by early European explorators can be found here

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Houston has a semi-tropical climate. The weather is extremely pleasant throughout the year, except in the summer when it is very hot and humid. When it rains, it is generally very heavy, sudden and violent storms, and floods are common. Finally, like all the Gulf of Mexico coast, Houston can get hit by hurricanes from July to October (see my Warning or Danger tips for details on hurricanes).

December-January-February
Temperatures: 40-65ºF (4-18ºC)
Rain: 3' (88 mm)
Wind: from the North
Winter is very mild in Houston. I generally still have beautiful tropical flowers in my garden in December! We generally get only a few nights of freeze. Temperatures vary wildly, sometimes with gorgeous warm days, and others gray and cold. Although the cloudiest months of the year on average, there are still lots of sunny days.

March-April
Temperatures: 50-78ºF (10-26ºC)
Rain: 3' (88 mm)
Wind: from the Southeast
The best time to come to Houston! The weather is generally gorgeous, warm with cool nights. Houston is full of blooming azealeas late in March, and the spectacular wild flower season is at its peak in mid-April. Best time to go see alligators as well.

May-June
Temperatures: 64-90ºF (18-32ºC)
Rain: 5' (130 mm)
Wind: from the Southeast
Extremely pleasant time to be in Houston but only up to mid-June when it generally starts to be too hot and humid. It can rain a lot, like a whole week non-stop (the dramatic flooding from tropical storm Allison happened in June 2001), but you can get plenty of sun (May 2003 was completely dry!).
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Fondest memory: -
July-August
Temperatures: 72-93ºF (22-34ºC)
Rain: 4' (90 mm)
Wind: from the South-Southeast
Houston summer is very very very hot and humid. With the humidity, a temperature of 95 can easily feel like more than 100ºF. The nights are also hot and muggy. If you are outside, make sure you have lot of water to drink with you and lots of sun cream. Take a sweater for inside the buildings which are in contrast freezing cold! Although in general sunny, you get occasional violent thunderstorms. It is the peak of the hurricane season, so be aware of the meteo. Thunderstorms and hurricanes can be accompanied by tornadoes, so listen to the radio for warnings during these times. Houston gardens, streets and roads are lined with beautiful colored blooming oleanders, crepe myrtles and hibiscus.

September-October-November
Temperatures: 55-88ºF (10-31ºC)
Rain: 4' (110 mm)
Wind: from the E-NE, then SE, then N
Again a beautiful season, fall in Houston! Pleasant temperatures, lots of sun. Note that it can still be too hot and humid till mid-September and that hurricane season is still on till mid-November. It can rain a lot, like October 2002 where we have not seen the sun for a month! Not too many trees turn into beautiful fall colors like in Canada or New-England. Here it is more subdued as most native species do not loose their leaves: pines are evergreen (duh...) and live oaks loose and gain their new leaves at the same time in March-April only. For fall tree color, it is best to go to some parts of the Hill Country (NW San Antonio, about a 4 hour drive from Houston) as native trees there put on a spectacular show. Hibiscus are still giving spectacular shows, however.

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As you will be driving a lot in Houston and likely be stuck in a few traffic jams, listening to the radio might help you pass the time. Here is a quick guide to Houston's radio stations.

Quick guide :

88.7FM, KUHF: National Public Radio news and programs, classical music
90.1FM, KPFT/Pacifica: alternative radio, defenders of human rights, BBC world news
91.7FM, Rice University: weird musics of all types! Very fun, despite the sleepy voices of the student announcers. Childrens' program on Sat afternoon
90.9, Texas Southern University: jazz mainly

FM Stations

* KJIC, Southern Gospel, 88.1 FM
* KUHF, Houston's Classic Choice, 88.7 FM
* KSBJ, Christian, 89.3 FM
* KACC, Alvin Community College, 89.7 FM
* KPFT, Pacifica, 90.1 FM
* KTSU, Texas Southern University, 90.9 FM
* KPVU, Prarie View A&M University, 91.3 FM
* KTRU, Rice Radio, 91.7 FM
* KRTS-FM, Classical, 92.1 FM
* KKBQ-FM, Country, 92.9 FM
* KOVE, Spanish Adult Contemporary, 93.3 FM
* KKRW, Rock Oldies, 93.7 FM
* KTBZ, Alternative Rock, 94.5 FM
* KIKK-FM, Country, 95.7 FM
* KHMX, Adult Pop Rock, 96.5 FM
* KKTL-FM, Pop Oldies, 97.1 FM (Simulcast of KLDE)
* KAYD, Country, 97.5 FM
* KBXX, Urban Contemporary, 97.9 FM
* KTJM, Rhythmic Oldies, 98.5 FM
* KODA, Adult Comtemporary, 99.1 FM
* KILT-FM, Country, 100.3 FM
* KRTX, Top 40, 100.7 FM
* KLOL, Album Rock, 101.1 FM
* KMJQ, Urban Contemporary, 102.1 FM
* KLTN, Spanish, 102.9 FM
* KJOJ-FM, Rhythmic Oldies, 103.3 FM (Simulcast of KTJM)
* KRBE-FM, Top 40, 104.1 FM
* KHCB, Christian, 105.7 FM
* KQQK, Tejano, 106.5 FM
* KHPT, 80's, 106.9 FM
* KLDE, Pop Oldies, 107.5 FM
* KXTJ, Tejano, 107.9 FM

Fondest memory: -
AM Stations

* KILT, Sports, 610 AM
* KIKK, Business News, 650 AM
* KSEV, News/Sports/Talk, 700 AM
* KTRH, News/Sports/Talk, 740 AM
* KBME, Big Band, 790 AM
* KEYH, Spanish, 850 AM
* KJOJ, Vietnamese, 880 AM
* KYST, Spanish, 920 AM
* KPRC, News/Sports/Talk, 950 AM
* KRTX, Spanish News/Talk, 980 AM
* KLAT, Spanish News/Talk, 1010 AM
* KKHT, Christian Talk Radio, 1070 AM
* KNUZ, Spanish Religious, 1090 AM
* KTEK, Religious, Vietnamese, 1110 AM
* KYOK, Gospel, 1140 AM
* KGOL, Asian, 1180 AM
* KQUE, Spanish Music, 1230 AM
* KXYZ, Spanish News/Talk, 1320 AM
* KWWJ, Gospel, 1360 AM
* KCOH, R&B, 1430 AM
* KLVL, Spanish Religious, 1480 AM
* KANI, Gospel, 1500 AM
* KYND, Spanish Religious, 1520 AM
* KILE, Spanish Religious, 1560 AM
* KMIC, Radio Disney, 1590 AM

Website on Houston radios with links to the stations' websites:
http://www.houston.tx.us/radio.html

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Houston is the 4th largest city in the USA: 2 millions inhabitants in the city itself, 4.5 millions if you include the suburbs. It is located on the Southern coast of the USA, along the Gulf of Mexico. Downtown Houston is actually about 30 miles (40 km) from the coast where the resort town of Galveston lies. A huge bay is located just Southeast of Houston, it is Galveston Bay.

The country around Houston is very flat as it is located on the Gulf of Mexico coastal plain (a carbonate platform). Bayous (=wet lands) characterize most of the landscape around Houston, except in the North where big pine forests extend for hundreds of miles, and the Northwest where fields and forests alternate in gently rolling hills. Serious hills start near Austin and San Antonio, in the Hill Country, about 4 to 5 hours drive Northwest of Houston.

The climate is subtropical, a little too humid and hot in the summer, but otherwise pleasant throughout the year. In winter it freezes maybe 2 or 3 nights a year! It rains a lot, but in big bursts in the form of violent tropical storms and thunderstorms, leaving an overall impression of a very sunny place!

Houston (founded 1836) developped mainly around the oil industry and a huge amount of the population still works in petrochemicals. It is also home to the NASA Johnson Space Center where astronauts receive their training, where 'mission control' is located, and where the Moon rocks are curated.
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Fondest memory: -
Here are more facts on Houston
(most of them from the City of Houston website):
- Home to 18 Fortune 500 companies and more than 5,000 energy related firms, Houston is considered by many as the Energy Capital of the world.
- Houston has the most affordable housing of 10 most populated metropolitan areas; Houston housing costs are 39 percent below the average of 26 U.S. urban populations of more than 1.5 million.
- The Port of Houston ranks as the nation's largest port in international tonnage and second in total tonnage.
- Houston is home to the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical center in the world, with a local economic impact of $10 billion. More than 52,000 people work within its facilities, which encompass 21 million square feet. Altogether 4.8 million patients visit them each year.
- Houston is home to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The largest rodeo in the world, it attracts more than 1.8 million visitors each year.
- And I have to add, Houston has won the dreaded title of "fatest city in the USA", meaning that there is here the largest percentage of overweight people in any american city!!
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Favorite thing: To get spatially oriented in the city, I like to think of Houston as a big clock face. Okay, it sounds stupid, but it works b/c the interstates either run in circles around the "clock" or intersect in the middle of it. Downtown (& the theater district) is in the center of the clock, the Medical Center/Rice Village/Museums/Astroworld area are at 6 o'clock, Sugarland is at about 7:30, Katy is way out past the 9, the Woodlands are way out past 11, and Clear Lake/NASA is at 4. Galveston would be way out past 4.

Favorite thing: CLICK HERE TO HAVE A GOOD VIEW OF THIS
MAP OF HOUSTON showing:

-- Freeways and main highways

-- Airport locations
A1 Bush Intercontinental Airport
A2 Hobby Airport
A3 Ellington Field

-- Suburbs

-- Districts of Houston or points of interest (numbers)

Caption by numbers:
1 Downtown
2 Museum District & Herman Park (Museum of Fine Arts of Houston (MFAH), Museum of Natural History, Children's Museum, Holocaust Museum; N of 2 across 59 is the Menil Collection)
3 Montrose Area
4 Freeman's Town = 4th Ward
5 Rice University
6 Medical Center
7 Rice Village
8 Braeswood & West University
9 Memorial Park (Arboretum)
10 River Oak
11 Greenway
12 West End
13 Old 6th Ward
14 The Heights
15 Post Oak (Galleria)
16 Memorial
17 Tanglewood
18 Spring Branch
19 Mid Westheimer Villages (Hilshire, Spring Valley, Hedwig, Hunters Creek, Bunker Hill, Piney Point)
20 Bellaire & Sharpstown
21 Westberry
22 Stadiums (Reliant & Astrodome)
23 University of Houston
24 Texas Southern University
25 Riverside (Brays Bayou)
26 East End
27 North Side
28 San Jacinto Monument
29 NASA Johnson Space Center
30 Armand Bayou
31 Morgan's Point
32 Kemah Boardwalk
33 National Museum of Funeral History

Favorite thing: Caption by alphabetical order
4th Ward = Freeman's Town 4
(Old) 6th Ward 13
Arboretum (in Memorial Park) 9
Armand Bayou 30
Astrodome & Reliant Stadiums 22
Baytown Town E of Houston
Bellaire & Sharpstown 20
Braeswood & West University 8
Brays Bayou (Riverside) 25
Children's Museum (Museum District) 2
Clear Lake area Suburb SE of Houston (League City, Webster, Kemah, Seabrook, 29, 30,32)
Clear Lake Shores Suburb SE of Houston
Deer Park Suburb E of Houston
Downtown1
East End 26
First Colony Suburb SW of Houston
Freeman's Town = 4th Ward 4
Friendswood Suburb SE of Houston
Funeral History (National Museum of) 33
Galveston Beach Resort SE of Houston, along the Gulf of Mexico
Galena Park Suburb E of Houston
Galleria (Post Oak) 15
Greenway 11
(The) Heights 14
Herman Park & Museum District 2
Holocaust Museum (Museum District) 2
Humble Suburb NE of Houston
Jersey Village Suburb NW of Houston
Johnson Space Center NASA 29
Kemah Suburb SE of Houston
Kemah Boardwalk 32
Kingwood Suburb NE of Houston
La Porte Suburb E of Houston
League City Suburb SE of Houston
Medical Center 6
Menil Collection N of 2, on the N side of highway 59
Memorial 16
Memorial Park9
Mid Westheimer Villages (Hilshire, Spring Valley, Hedwig, Hunters Creek, Bunker Hill, Piney Point) 19

Fondest memory: Missouri City Suburb SW of Houston
Montrose Area 3
Morgan's Point 31
Museum District & Herman Park 2
Museum of Fine Arts of Houston (MFAH, Museum District) 2
Museum of Natural History of Houston (Museum District, Herman Park) 2
National Museum of Funeral History 33
NASA Johnson Space Center 29
North Houston Suburb N of Houston
North Side 27
Old 6th Ward 13
Pasadena Suburb E of Houston
Pearland Suburb S of Houston
Post Oak (Galleria) 15
Reliant & Astrodome Stadiums 22
Rice Village 7
Rice University5
River Oak 10
Riverside (Brays Bayou) 25
San Jacinto Monument 28
Sharpstown & Bellaire 20
Shore Acres Suburb E-SE of Houston
Space Center (NASA-JSC) 29
Spring Branch 18
Stadiums (Reliant & Astrodome) 22
Stafford Suburb SW of Houston
Sugarland Suburb SW of Houston
Tanglewood 17
Texas City Town SE of Houston
Texas Southern University 24
University of Houston 23
Webster Suburb SE of Houston
Westberry 21
West End 12
(Mid) Westheimer Villages (Hilshire, Spring Valley, Hedwig, Hunters Creek, Bunker Hill, Piney Point) 19
West University & Braeswood 8
(The) Woodlands Suburb N of Houston

Favorite thing: This is a view of Houston from space.. You can clearly see the network of freeways converging on downtown...

Someone actually asked me whether I took this picture myself...and he was serious. I didn't know what to answer so I said yes.. ;) It takes all kinds!!!