Houston - April 22 to 25, 2012

[SekishikiMeikaiHa]

Part 1 of 7: View from the Magnolia Hotel

These pictures were taken from the Magnolia Hotel, located at Texas and Fannin.

1-1: The Magnolia Hotel


The next two were taken from the 7th floor:

1-2: The Christ Church Cathedral across the street


1-3


The rest were taken from the roof top pool (23rd floor):

1-4


1-5


1-6


1-7: JP Morgan Chase Tower


1-8


1-9


1-10: The Harris County District


1-11


1-12


1-13: Minute Maid Park


1-14: George R. Brown Convention Center


1-15


1-16


1-17


1-18

[diskojoe]

Nice view from Magnolia. Did you stay there or just went up for the roof view during the day?

[toyota74]

Nice rooftop shots...Whats with all the carparks everywhere??

[Chicago3rd]

Originally Posted by toyota74

Nice rooftop shots...Whats with all the carparks everywhere??

Oh...the first photos you have seen of Houston?

Great photos! Lots of potential and lots of good already in downtown Houston.

[SekishikiMeikaiHa]

Thanks all! I stayed at the Magnolia while working in Houston for a few days. The stadium and the convention center need the parking I guess.

Part 2 of 7: View from the BG Group Place

These pictures were taken from the BG Group Place where I worked, located at Main and Rusk.

Most of the pictures were taken from the 22nd floor.

2-1: The BG Group Place


2-2: Main St, looking NE


2-3


2-4


2-5: Main St, looking SW


2-6: Main & Walker


2-7


2-8: Main & Walker


2-9


2-10


2-11: The Magnolia Hotel just left of center


2-12


2-13


2-14


2-15


2-16: Fannin St, looking SW


2-17


2-18


2-19


2-20


2-21


The last three were taken from the 34th floor:

2-22


2-23


2-24

[SekishikiMeikaiHa]

Part 3 of 7: Buffalo Bayou Walk

3-1


3-2


3-3


3-4


3-5


3-6


3-7


3-8: The Downtown Aquarium Ferris Wheel


3-9


3-10: Columns


3-11


3-12


3-13


3-14

[SekishikiMeikaiHa]

Part 4 of 7: Tunnels and Skywalks

A small sample of the extensive tunnel and skywalk system.

S. Louisiana Tunnel and Skywalk:

4-1: CenterPoint Energy Tower to Hyatt Regency Houston Hotel


4-2: Under CenterPoint Energy Tower


4-3: Under CenterPoint Energy Tower


4-4


4-5


4-6


Downtown Tunnel Loop:

4-7


4-8


E. McKinney Tunnel and Skywalk:

4-9


4-10


4-11


4-12: 1 Houston Center to 4 Houston Center


4-13: 4 Houston Center


4-14


The Shops at Houston Center:

4-15


4-16: 1 Houston Center (L), Fulbright Tower (R)


4-17


4-18: Toyota Center


4-19

[SekishikiMeikaiHa]

Part 5 of 7: Street View

Thanks to Google, I don`t have much interesting to offer.

5-1: Historic District


Christ Church Cathedral

5-2


5-3


5-4


Main St

5-5: Looking NE


5-6: Looking SW


5-7


5-8: Tranquillity Park


Some kind of festival was going on:

5-9


5-10


5-11


5-12: Downtown Aquarium


5-13


5-14: Hermann Square


5-15: City Hall and Hermann Square


5-16


5-17


5-18: Lamar & Louisiana


5-19


Main Street Square:

5-20


5-21

[LSyd]

nice pics, thanks

-

[SekishikiMeikaiHa]

Thank you!

Part 6 of 7: Food

The Magnolia Lounge:

6-1


6-2:
Chicken Fried Steak:
Hand breaded; served with country gravy & choice of two sides:
Sauteed spinach with roasted garlic butter & macadamia nuts
Boursin mashed potatoes


6-3:
Buttermilk Pan Seared Chicken Breast:
Marinated in ranch country spices then finished with a roasted red pepper cream & choice of two sides:
Veg du jour
Starch du jour


6-4:
Grilled Chicken Sandwich with cajun fries:
Buttermilk marinated chicken with prosciutto, baby field greens, swiss cheese & red pepper aioli on a ciabatta loaf


Complimentary Breakfast Buffet:

6-5


6-6


Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen:

6-7: Located near the Reliant Stadium


6-8


6-9


6-10


6-11


6-12


6-13


6-14:
Costa Rican Mahi Alexander:
Blackened mahi mahi with shrimp, scallops & crawfish in a white wine cream sauce, with dirty rice


6-15:
Texas Redfish Pontchartrain:
Pan-broiled redfish with crabmeat & shrimmp in a brown-butter wine sauce, with dirty rice

[plinko]

Definitely would recommend the Magnolia to anyone staying in DT Houston.

Looks like you got around pretty good.

[SekishikiMeikaiHa]

Yes, the Magnolia was magnificent!

Part 7 of 7: George Bush Intercontinental Airport

Arrival:

7-1


7-2


7-3


Departure:

7-4


7-5


7-6


United Club:

7-7


7-8


7-9


7-10


7-11


7-12


7-13


7-14


7-15

[diskojoe]

That was some tasty looking grub. I might have to stop into magnolia to get one of those Chicken sandwiches.

[SekishikiMeikaiHa]

The chicken sandwiches were my favorite too. The redfish, on the other hand, was too salty for me.

Bonus: Philadelphia International Airport

B-1: Landing in Philadelphia


B-2: Shopping


B-3


B-4: Food Court


B-5


US Airways Club:

B-6


B-7


B-8


B-9: Overlooking the Food Court

[TexasPlaya]

Thanks for the set. That was a beerfest going on in downtown Houston. I didn't go because it's a ripoff in my opinion. However, I was at this bar (in this shot at the midrise on the left, in the foreground) called the Flying Saucer having some pints. If you squint you may be able to see my bike locked up.


I love Pappadeux's. They have some fantastic gumbo.

[whatsthepoint13]

Wow, Downtown Houston has a lot more history and urbanity than I had expected. Also, every single one of the food shots just made me hungry. Anyway, fantastic shots, a very diverse tour. Thanks!

[diskojoe]

Flying saucer FTW!

[Shasta]

Nice tour of my home town. The Pappas Family runs a much better operation than the Landry's group!

Back when I was living in Boston, I stayed at the Magnolia a few times. It's a nice place and I loved the view from the roof top pool. Hopefully, the rumors of a Kimpton brand hotel coming to 806 Main (the 60s clad white striped bldg across Main from BG Group Place) are true. I worked in 806 Main back in 1993-1995 and that place was a dump then. Can't imagine what it is like now...

[urbanactivist]

Wow excellent tour, and thanks for sharing!!! It's "festival season" right now in Houston... every weekend there is a festival of some sort happening in Downtown, sometimes two or three simultaneously. Festival season lasts from late March all the way through July 4th.

Amazing shots of the tunnel system. This is one of the best Downtown threads I've seen on SSP

[espalorius]

looks like the world's largest ghost town
awesome skyline though
thanks for sharing