Houston The "Coolest City In America": Forbes

[desertpunk]

Forbes

image hosted on flickr

Untitled by o texano, on Flickr

Houston Tops Our List Of America's Coolest Cities

Houston is known for many things: Oil, NASA, urban sprawl and business-friendly policies. But the Texas city deserves to be known for something else: coolness.

The Bayou City may not be the first place you associate with being hip or trendy. But Houston has something many other major cities don’t: jobs. With the local economy humming through the recession, Houston enjoyed 2.6% job growth last year and nearly 50,000 Americans flocked there in response — particularly young professionals. In fact, the median age of a Houston resident is a youthful 33.

The result? Over the past decade, the dreary corporate cityscape has been quietly transforming. Stylish housing developments have popped up downtown, restaurants have taken up residence in former factories and art galleries like the Station Museum have been inhabiting warehouses.

Combine that with a strong theater scene, world-class museums and a multicultural, zoning-free mashup of a streetscape and you have the recipe for the No. 1 spot on Forbes’ list of America’s Coolest Cities To Live.

Behind the Numbers

“Cool” is defined by Merriam-Webster’s dictionary as “very good; fashionable.” Of course what, exactly, is good and fashionable is very much in the eye of the beholder. We sought to quantify it in terms of cities, ranking the 65 largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Metropolitan Divisions (areas that include cities and their surrounding suburbs that are defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget) based on seven data points weighted evenly.

Sperling’s Best Places helped us calculate the number of entertainment options per capita in each metro area. We also ranked the cities based on other recreational opportunities, including the amount of green space, the cost and number of outdoor activities like golfing and skiing available, and the number of pro and college sports teams.

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[diablo234]

Not to diss on Houston here, but the writers and editors at Forbes Magazine would not know what "cool" is if it hit them on the head with a shovel. They should just stick to covering business news instead.

[gstolze]

I think Houston is a very cool city and often does not get enough credit. I have traveled all over the US and could easily find myself making Houston my home.

[diskojoe]

Originally Posted by diablo234

Not to diss on Houston here, but the writers and editors at Forbes Magazine would not know what "cool" is if it hit them on the head with a shovel. They should just stick to covering business news instead.

It was pretty legit based upon the criteria they used such as new restuarants, and new jobs that were established.

Houston Press used one of my photos for their blurb about the story.
image hosted on flickr

pink sky 2 by DiskoJoe, on Flickr
http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairba...s_names_ho.php

[diablo234]

Originally Posted by diskojoe

It was pretty legit based upon the criteria they used such as new restuarants, and new jobs that were established.

If the number of new jobs determine what makes a city "cool" then Williston, North Dakota would be the coolest city in the US if you know what I mean. Honestly the article would have been more legit if they mentioned the various museums, the orange show, beer can house, the art car parade, etc but they only focused on restaurants and the local economy which is why I brushed off the article as being nothing more then being a poorly written piece of journalism.

Originally Posted by diskojoe

Houston Press used one of my photos for their blurb about the story.
image hosted on flickr

pink sky 2 by DiskoJoe, on Flickr
http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairba...s_names_ho.php

That's awesome, congratulations.

[WesTexas]

What were these guys on? It's not even the Top 5 in Texas in my book









ok.....
1: Austin
2: San Antonio
3: Fort Worth
4: Dallas
5: Lubbock

[diablo234]

Originally Posted by WesTexas

What were these guys on? It's not even the Top 5 in Texas in my book

ok.....
1: Austin
2: San Antonio
3: Fort Worth
4: Dallas
5: Lubbock

Now that is low.

Honestly I find Houston to be cooler than the last two you mentioned (esp Lubbock since it is out in the middle of nowhere) but whatever, to each their own.

[TampaMike]

For me, "Cool" is museums, open spaces, small boutique shops and restaurants, public art, historic architecture and re-use of historic buildings, and many outdoor events year round. I never would consider job growth as something cool, but wouldn't go without notice.

[gstolze]

Originally Posted by TampaMike

For me, "Cool" is museums, open spaces, small boutique shops and restaurants, public art, historic architecture and re-use of historic buildings, and many outdoor events year round. I never would consider job growth as something cool, but wouldn't go without notice.

All of what you mentioned can be found in Houston.

[WesTexas]

I always get lost in Houston. I just dont like the town. Allot of bad experiences, you couldn't pay me to live in Houston. And I'm from West Texas. LBK is a fun town with a party college in the middle of it,

[diablo234]

Originally Posted by WesTexas

I always get lost in Houston. I just dont like the town. Allot of bad experiences, you couldn't pay me to live in Houston. And I'm from West Texas. LBK is a fun town with a party college in the middle of it,

Hey getting lost can be fun. When ever I travel to different cities it amazes me how much cool stuff I find off the beaten path in places like Bogota or New York such as cool buildings, street markets, used bookstores, head shops, authentic ethnic shops and restaurants, etc.

Anyways compared to other Texas cities honestly Houston outshines them all as far as overall amenities as concerned, but if you are someone who is not into large cities like Los Angeles, Miami, or Chicago, then I can see why Houston can be a turnoff.

[desertpunk]

30 years ago when Houston was a juggernaut, I remember the articles and talk of how someday Houston would eclipse New York. And the city has only added new attractions and ammenities since. The 'cool factor', whatever that is, means nothing to me. Everyone claims Portland is so cool but I would choose Houston over Portland any day. Cool for me is about unlimited possibilities. What city better embodies that than Houston?

[tampasteve]

I have to say that personally I would put Austin over Houston as far as Texas goes. But, it really varies. If you are going for a "vibe" then Austin would be better (to me), but if you are judging by museums, and mass cultural activities then Houston would best Austin. It just depends on what is your thing. Austin has a great live music scene and outdoors activities too, but then, so does Houston. Austin is just known for its "coolness" nationally.

But in the end it is really up to what you like best.

Steve

[JJG]

Originally Posted by WesTexas

What were these guys on? It's not even the Top 5 in Texas in my book









ok.....
1: Austin
2: San Antonio
3: Fort Worth
4: Dallas
5: Lubbock

I'm a Fort Worthian and even I disagree with this.

[blakeaustin]

Austin is the coolest city in Texas. These guys were confused.

[diablo234]

Even though the Forbes article was crap, I would tie Houston with Austin as far as coolness goes. There is some stuff here that you will just not find in Austin or most anywhere else including some of the following.


Beer Can House:


The Orange Show:


The (Original) Art Car Parade:




The Flower Man of Houston's Third Ward:


Rendez-vous Houston: A City in Concert

Rendez-vous Houston: A City in Concert was a live performance by musician Jean Michel Jarre amidst the skyscrapers of downtown Houston on the evening of April 5, 1986, coinciding with the release of the Rendez-Vous album. For a period of time, it held a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest outdoor "rock concert" in history, with figures varying from 1 to 1.5 million in attendance.

The Inversion Sculpture:


Aerosal Warfare:

[blakeaustin]

Umm... that's not cool, that's just strange and ugly. I would kill myself if I ever had to move to Houston, but then again someone in Houston would probably kill me first. lulz*

[JJG]

So who wants to take that one?

This kid has been batting 1.000....

[diablo234]

Originally Posted by blakeaustin

Umm... that's not cool, that's just strange and ugly. I would kill myself if I ever had to move to Houston, but then again someone in Houston would probably kill me first. lulz*

It's called "art" but I guess you would not know that is would you?

Anyways people who are truely cool don't care what other people think. From what I am seeing you are just one of the many "posers".

[blakeaustin]

LIES!! There is such thing as ugly art. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder so please explain to me how 4 legs and an upside down buggie is cool. Also I'm sorry, but even the Cleveland Turner dude calls it "junk," what he hangs on his house. How did you miss that? It's lame you perceive me as a poser because I don't like his junk when really it couldn't be further from the truth. I don't live to please other people ok. LOL