What does it mean to be an “insider,” exactly? Does it mean getting invited to fancy $500-a-plate dinners at River Oaks oil estates? Having Mayor Sylvester Turner’s personal cell phone on speed dial? Well, sure, that’s being an insider in one sense, but there’s so much more to it than who you know. In Houston, it’s also what you know.
Being an insider means intimately and innately understanding when to wave in traffic and why that winding body of water is called a bayou, not a creek or a river. It means having a back pocket full of talking points the next time someone brings up the Astrodome and knowing how to entertain yourself—and your friends, family or visitors—for free.
It also means taking the time to learn those secrets Houston likes to keep to itself: where to find the hidden entrance to that one bar, the fastest DPS office, the quickest place to park at the Galleria, the best swimming hole no one’s ever heard of, the off-menu items even the foodies don’t know. It means pointing out oft-overlooked pockets of the city as you hurtle onto the entrance ramp to Spur 527, cruise down Wayside Drive, or head up the steps to Sundance Cinemas at Bayou Place.
Being an insider means that you don’t just live in this city—you are part of this city, a city you know as well as your own reflection. And if you don’t feel that well acquainted with Houston yet, well, we’re about to bring you up to speed.
How to Houston: An Etiquette Guide
Lessons from a native on when to wave in traffic and why we smile at strangers
What’s a Bayou Anyway?
And how do you pronounce it?
Courtland Place: Going Behind the Gates
How one Montrose neighborhood conserved its century-old charms
Houston Life Hacks: 5 Famous Locals Share Their Tips
On where to park downtown, how to fight the sun, and why to ride your bike
In Houston, History Hides in Plain Sight
The city’s most important movers and shakers aren’t always where you’d expect to find them.
The 10 Best Ways to Entertain Yourself for Free Around Town
A real insider knows that fun doesn't come with a price tag—especially in a city like Houston.
The Best DPS in Houston
Yes, a best DPS office does exist—and it’s pretty amazing.
Off-Limits: Exploring Houston’s Abandoned Places
Houston’s own Flickr-famous Secret Squirrel on sneaking into—and photographing—the city’s most iconic empty buildings
Talking Houston: A Cheat Sheet
How to conduct a conversation on some of the city’s most popular topics, including what on earth is going on with the Astrodome.
Behind the Scenes at Three of Houston’s Most Private Clubs
A glimpse of what the initiated aren’t missing out on at the Petroleum Club, the Briar Club and the Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa.
A Houston Sports Fan’s Lament
To be a Bayou City supporter is to be perpetually disappointed—and perpetually hopeful.
At the Blue Lagoon, Where the Water’s Warm
Houston’s best swimming hole is, okay, technically in Huntsville.
No Zoning? No Problem!
Our four favorite examples of what happens when you take a no-holds-barred approach to development
Where’s Your Sign?
How to find four of Houston’s most hidden bars
Island Time: The Ideal Galveston Itinerary
Everyone has their secret island haunts; we’re sharing ours.
Houston’s Most Delicious Off-Menu Dishes
You’ll need to ask for these four favorites, including the chicken-fried lobster tail of your dreams.
How to Hook a Whale
A tongue-firmly-in-cheek guide to landing a billionaire in the Bayou City.
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