<p>BerkeleyMom – there used to be a nice small grocery store on Rice Blvd in the Village, but it moved locations a number of years back. I’d love a Trader Joe’s. Sadly, there’s none in Texas.</p>
<p>Antarius – it’s interesting that you think University Ave in Palo Alto is more college-friendly. When I was at Stanford one summer that area was definitely geared to the affluent. I find Rice Village to much more moderate, with shops and restaurants at all ends of the spectrum.</p>
<p>Trader Joes :(</p>
<p>will miss it so much.</p>
<p>Oh I do have a question about The Village. I heard you can buy many outfits there for really cheap… does the themes of most events (well at least the big ones) fit with the things available in The Village? Like I can buy whatever I’d need from The Village for most of the themed events because the coordinators will make things easily available at The Village?</p>
<p>Sorry if that made absolutely no sense…</p>
<p>I assume you’re thinking of Value Village. The Village usually refers to Rice Village, an area of shops and restaurant very close to campus. Value Village is a chain of thrift stores. But yeah, thrift stores will have stuff that might work for costumes and whatnot, but that’s not a concern until well after O-Week. You’ll figure it out.</p>
<p>blackeyedsusan - it definitely is. there are normal resteraunts and stuff. it is definitely got some affluent targeted shops but it just seems more student friendly</p>
<p>I used to think that the Village wasn’t student-friendly, but most of the restaurants there are relatively cheap and offer discounts to Rice students.</p>
<p>
This just popped into my mind (because of of the word: costumes). What is Halloween like at college? Is there like pranks?</p>
<p>nod is on halloween I believe. read about it in your oweek booklet</p>
<p>yeah NOD… costumes are minimal importance</p>
<p>Things that make up Houston:</p>
<p>-What us Houstonians call the “Z word” (zoning)—I admit, if you’re coming from another major city, or even a small urban town, Houston’s lack of real urban planning might creep you out for this very reason; However, having traveled all over, there’s nowhere like it, and eventually you get used to it. I always tell people, “It’s a strange place to visit, but a great place to live.” </p>
<ul>
<li><p>the wealth of different cultures, races/ethnicities, political ideologies, religions, etc.</p></li>
<li><p>the food—I go to school in Boston now, and while Boston has great restaurants, the amount of delicious food in this town, from cheap eats to fine dining, are abundant. We specialize in Tex-Mex, Mexican and BBQ, but you can find just about anything you crave in Houston. PS. Don’t be afraid to try that random, sketchy looking taqueria…it might just be the best Mexican food you ever eat.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>-not too many tourists—It may seem insular of me, but I consider Houston a place that most people have no clue about. I like it that way and after a while you might start to be OK with that.</p>
<p>-the art, museums and music—I love the Menil Collection and the Museum of Natural Science makes me feel like a kid all over again.</p>
<p>Things I like:</p>
<p>My favorite neighborhoods are: Montrose (where I live with my boyfriend), Rice Village (WOOO!), Museum District</p>
<p>Some of my favorite places: House of Pies, Angelika Film Center, the Esperson building, Central Market (waaaay better than Trader Joes could ever hope to be—If you’re ever out of Ramen, head here for free samples), Chocolate Bar/Candylicious, the Breakfast Klub, Pacific St. (Yes, I’m gay) and Grand Lux Cafe. Eh, add Taco Cabana (only when I’m trashed though). </p>
<p>Publications I like: Free Press Houston, Houston Press</p>
<p>Things I dislike:</p>
<p>The fact that we don’t have a Six Flags Theme Park anymore.</p>
<p>Humidity (in the summer) Most of the year, it’s not really a problem…then again, it’s the only season I’m home for nowadays.</p>
<p>Sidewalks in poor condition/lack of pedestrian culture</p>
<p>I miss AstroWorld. :(</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>haha… no way</p>
<p>Trader Joes totally pwns. Central market is nice but no Trader Joes is a cultural lacking in Houston</p>
<p>and thesublime - Boston totally wins hands down. going there today actually from califoria for a week. Patriots fan perhaps?</p>
<p>Trader Joes is amazing.</p>
<p>HAHAH! Trader Joes is grocery shopping for kids…it’s been severely disappointing given all the hype. (I kind of figured you were from California.) It sucks big asparagus stick! At least the stores I have been to in Boston are pretty weak, but I’m guessing there are more offerings in the California stores. So for me Central Market > Trader Joes, all day, every day. I said I really like Boston, but it definitely makes you wonder “What happens after you’re 25…” and there’s no where to get “down home” cooking or laid-back atmosphere from–some of the things I missed most. I’m not that big of a sports fan either, so Boston gets weird.</p>
<p>
Actually I’m from the midwest.</p>
<p>My comment was really directed at Antarius. Actually, Trader Joe’s isn’t bad, it’s just not THAT good…only my opinion though. (Maybe I go to the wrong one?)</p>
<p>Ahh sorry. I only know one so I don’t know.</p>
<p>I agree with you about Trader Joe’s. I think it’s overrated. I still think it would make a great addition to Rice Village, though just about any grocery store would do the trick.</p>
<p>hmmm I dont think it has been mentioned enough
austin > every other city in texas
not to say the others are bad</p>
<p>Well, it’s not exactly as close to Rice as in the Village, but a brand new grocery store is opening up today a little over a mile from Rice (on Buffalo Speedway between Bissonnet and Westpark). It’s a new store concept from HEB (that’s a smaller version of Central Market). [Houston</a> - Eating Our Words - The Stampede Towards Buffalo Market](<a href=“http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2009/08/the_stampede_towards_buffalo_m.php#more]Houston”>http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2009/08/the_stampede_towards_buffalo_m.php#more) FYI, there’s also a new Smashburger that opened up across the street from that location last week. ;)</p>
<p>@amdn</p>
<p>[vomits]</p>
<p>That’s what people who haven’t been to Texas think. Houston is not the best city known to man, but I can assure you, it does not bow to Austin. Austin is city life for kids–it lacks high culture and the food is average. Rice alone blows away UT.</p>