Cultural Diversity in Houston: Hookah

     One of my favorite things about our great city is the wide range of different cultures we have here.  I've always wanted to live in a city with a "China Town".  Coming from a small town outside of Beaumont, having a real DOWNtown is exciting enough.  I come from Port Neches, where our "downtown" is literately 1 street with 2-3 stop lights no more than 2 miles long.  Moving to Houston really opened my eyes to all that I was missing in life.  Being here for over 7 years now, I consider myself a Houstonian and all that entails.  I'm an avid fan of the Rockets, Texans, and Astros, I live for our music scene, and I love our diverse food choices more than the average person.

     Since this a blog, and I have plenty of time to elaborate on what I love about our city, let's focus on one of my favorite things to do.  When I first moved to Houston, I was immediately dumped into a school 3-4 times the size of my small town school.  I made friends pretty quickly and started to see all of things I wouldn't experience in Beaumont.  One of the first things I was introduced to, and the topic of this entire post, was hookah.  Some of my friends from back home don't even know what a hookah is!  For those of you that are reading this, let me break down a little history of hookah.

     The exact place and time hookah was birthed is unknown.  Many believe it started in India after the European introduction to tobacco to India some time between 1542-1605.  There were some obvious concerns when using tobacco, so the hookah system was brought to light in order for people to smoke tobacco but have it "purified".   In many Arab cultures, hookah is smoked as a part of their culture and traditions.  Luckily for us, hookah has spread all over the world including North America, UK, Brazil, and many other countries.

          As you can see in the above image, it's a little harder to smoke this than just lighting a cigarette.  With a hookah, you put the shisha (flavored tobacco) in the bowl and cover it with tin foil with holes poked in it.  You then place a red hot coal on top of the foil providing the heat necessary to burn/cook the shisha.  It creates a smoke that travels down the stem into the base and is purified through the water and comes out of the hoses as a very light, flavorful vapor.  It's hard to notice you're even inhaling anything since it's so light.  It's not until you blow out a roomful of white smoke that you realize how much your lungs can hold.

     I have a few local favorites here in Houston to go and sit, relax, and smoke hookah.  I'll start out with my newest discovery with an old friend that goes above and beyond any other place I've been to.  Byzantio Cafe & Bar on W. Gray in Midtown is amazing!  The atmosphere is EXTREMELY laid back.  We're in the perfect season to sit outside and enjoy the weather.  With Houston's no smoking inside law, this makes Byzantio a great stop for great food, good hookah, and a relaxing atmosphere.  It's Greek inspired menu hosts a variety of yummy food like Greek salads, gyro pizza, sandwiches, and "special plates".  I highly suggest heading out here on a weeknight other than Thursday to enjoy a great meal and the beautiful weather.  If you're looking for something a little more lively, Thursday nights, they have belly dancing!

     Ranosh Cafe is a great little gem that is pretty undiscovered by most of the Houston population.  It's located on Fondren in between Richmond and Westpark.  The setting and ambiance here really make you feel like you're a part of the culture.  Most of the patrons are of middle eastern descent, which just makes the quality and the authenticity of the establishment a huge plus in my book.  Walking past the long line of cars and full parking lot, you enter a wrought iron gate into an outdoor state of bliss.  Fountains, palm trees, and amazing landscaping cover the grounds.  A large covered patio with heaters and fans make it comfortable to sit outside no matter what the weather is like.  There is a very small building that you walk into to order your food and hookah from.  Service here is a little slow just because of the mass of people there every day.  Once you get past the wait, the hookah is fresh, the food is absolutely to die for, and the mint tea will leave you only wanting to order another pot.  This place is great and one of my favorites easily.

     If you've never experienced hookah, you're missing out.  I'm a personal owner of a beautiful green 3 hose hookah that makes it's home either on my coffee table or on my patio.  It's definitely a favorite frequently used by any/everyone that comes over to visit.  It's a party favorite and a great conversation piece.  So, to all my friends out there, if you EVER want to relax and smoke a little hookah at my place or anywhere else in Houston, let me know!
   

Domo Arigato Numbers

     The popular night club and concert venue is coming to a bittersweet end.  I can't tell you how many high school Friday nights I spent here with a large group of friends.  In fact, you should never go to Numbers with just one or two people.  I suggest always going in a large group just for the comfort factor.  You can run into some wild crowds that not everyone is used to.  Numbers is probably one of the best places to people watch in Houston and I'll definitely be sad to see it go. 

     Chron.com real estate blogger, Nancy Sarnoff, posted a blog on September 14th breaking the news to the public (Chron.com Blog).  She states that Davis Commercial's Mark Davis is the Marketing Agent for the project and that the building is listed for $13,500 a month!  That's a lot of money for a building that is practically falling apart.  Nancy asks, "Have you seen it lately?" in reference to the building's condition.  Well, Nancy, I have.  I went with a few friends of mine just a couple of weeks ago.  It's in AWFUL condition.  The upstairs has randomly placed rugs to cover obvious soft spots in the floors.  It was running joke between us all, "DON'T STEP ON THE RUGS!"  The bathrooms obviously haven't gotten any cleaner in the past few years.  The men's restroom has the usual puddle of sticky wetness that can only be found in the Number's bathroom.  The women's restroom is still a haven for snorting drugs and odd sexual acts.  Nancy Sarnoff mentions the property is up for $13,500 a month, but that doesn't include the amount it's going to cost to bring the building up to code.  I'm right there with you Nancy.  I'm no fire marshal or electrician by any means, but from the naked eye view of someone who was sober walking through the building, it definitely needs some help.

     Nancy's article also says that the owner isn't looking to "kick-out" Numbers and that Numbers isn't going anywhere.  He obviously is open to new ideas for the place if he has it up for lease though.  One rumor is that Pappa's is looking into opening a chicken and rice restaurant in the iconic old night club.  I don't know about you guys, but I'm not sure eating there, no matter the renovations, is in my near or distant future.  I know what goes on and what has gone on there and that's enough to sway me from ever consuming food there.  No one knows what will happen to the building, but it's in a great location and will draw a crowd no matter what they choose to do with it.

     Not everything about Numbers turns me off.  I've had some really good times there.  Namely the time that a bunch of friends and I decided to pre-game a little too hard before going in.  We sat on this perfectly seat-formed tree and drank from plastic bottles of whiskey and vodka chasing them with cigarettes and bottled Sprite.  One of our friends was working with Homeland Security at the time and was awarded a nice badge along with the gig.  Upon flashing this to the bartender, the drinks kept coming, most of which were free.  When we left, all I remember is sitting in the backseat of a friend's extended cab Dodge Ram with my head bouncing off of the window next to me with the bumps of Westheimer aiding the process.  After about 5 minutes of me not being able to hold my own head up, someone noticed and literately held my head on either side for the rest of the drive.  The rest of the night is pretty much a blur.  It's nights like that one that make me title this blog, "Domo Arigato Numbers".  I thank you for all the wonderful shows and crazy 80s nights you've provided me.  I can only hope and pray you don't end up being another lame second hand clothing store that area doesn't need. 

Family Bingo Center

     Oh, Family Bingo Center, how I love thee.  I was sincerely getting tired of the normal routine of walking into some bar where the crowd was either too stuck up or too energetic.  I wanted a place to go have a good time and enjoy the company of my friends and the people around us, and just relax.  Family Bingo Center provides a fun, family friendly, and entertaining environment for people of all ages.  When you first walk in, it can definitely be a little intimidating.  Once greeted, the attendants behind the counter are extremely helpful and provide you with plentiful knowledge on how their games are run.  Once seated amongst the big-haired senior crowd, the anxious "20 Somethings", and the few kids running around, you feel a sense of comfort and welcome. 

     If you get hungry, they have a pretty diverse menu located in the back of the bingo hall named Chuck's Cafe.  You know it's going to be good when they have an entire section of the menu dedicated to "Fried Foods".  I personally recommend the deep fried burrito with chili and cheese.  They have everything from salads to shrimp plates and homemade desserts to funnel cake.  Everything on their menu is at a really low price and is delivered at a quick pace.  Thirsty?  Have no fear, they offer $7 pitchers of beer as well as an assortment of soft drinks.
 
     They have many options and ways to play, which can be a little daunting to the newbie bingo goer.  I usually settle with the "12 pack" for $10.  This gives you 12 playing cards on 1 sheet of paper for 7 of the 9 games played each night.  The regular games aren't your typical "I've got 5 squares in a row" kind of bingo.  They spice it up by trying to acquire a predetermined shape like the "small picture frame" and the "double chevron".  They also host two coverall games which are $1 a piece per playing card.  This place gives away over $5000 each night.  5 $500 games, 3 $600 games, and 1 $700 are the payouts.  The payouts alone make it worth going.  I can go here and spend around $20 and have hours of fun.

     Recently, the Houston Chronicle posted an article about a competing bingo center in the heights called Lodge #88 (Chron.com on Lodge #88).  They just raved and ranted about how amazing it is, etc.  I appreciate what they have going at Lodge #88, but with the long lines to get in, beer lines, rowdy crowds, and cheap payouts, I feel like there is no comparison.  I go to Family Bingo Center because it's a relaxing good time and I don't have to get there hours in advance.  Most importantly, I NEVER have to wait for my beer.  Also, at Lodge #88 they pride themselves on boo'ing after another player wins.  Not at Family Bingo Center.  We cheer them on and stand and applaud with phrases like, "good game" and "well played".  We do get the occasional complaint that we're being too loud, but it's all in good fun.  They joke with us about it and would never actually kick us out for having a good time.

     I've been to the Family Bingo Center with a wide variety of people.  I've gone with clients, skater friends, roommates, my mom, my girlfriend, the hipster Austin crowd, etc.  I've never been and not had a good time, which is why I keep coming back for more.  Family Bingo Center really is doing bingo right.

Family Bingo Center
641 W. Crosstimbers
Houston, TX 77018
(713) 692-4640

Bubba's Texas Burger Shack

Bubba's Texas Burger Shack
5230 Westpark Dr.
Houston, TX 77056
(713) 661-1622

     The burger here is unstoppable.  It's most definitely one of the best Houston has to offer. I've driven by this place many times very intrigued to say the least. I've heard good things, but how good could a burger be out of some shack UNDER westpark tollway? Oh man was I wrong. The buffalo burger here doesn't lose any juice or succulence as many buffalo patties do. There is a distinct difference between buffalo and beef, but as far as texture and flavor goes at Bubba's, they're equals. Some of the pros of this place include the amazing history as soon as you walk in the place, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming, the service is superb, and the food is astronomically amazing for the price. Cons... well the only con I can think of is you don't get the option of fries or onion rings. They just don't do that here. You can opt for a bag of chips or jalapeno potato salad, but it's just not the same. If you're rushed enough to get your order to-go and not sit and enjoy the scenery, ask for a little to-go cup of there amazing habanero sauce. It definitely adds a spark to the burger worth trying!

     As mentioned in my first posting, I said I'd come up with a way to rate places I visited.  Well, any time I'm reviewing a restaurant of any kind, I'll be using the YES!™ system.  I'll be giving a possible 5 stars for each category:  Y is for Yum Factor.  Each star given in this category will let you know just how yummy the food was.  E is for Environment.  Here, I'll be judging the atmosphere of the establishment on how comfortable/uncomfortable I was and the overall ambiance.  S is for Service.  I'll rate the quality, promptness, and attitude of the service provided at each place. And last but not least, ! will represent the wow factor, something that stood out and blew my mind.

     So here goes, my first rating.  Bubba's Texas Burger Shack, you are about to receive my first rating:

Bubba's Texas Burger Shack:
Y= ☆☆☆☆☆ GREAT burger
E= ☆☆☆☆ Really unique place with lots of history
S= ☆☆☆☆☆ Incredibly nice and fast
!= ☆☆☆ Wow Factor: The habanero sauce.  It really was great.  Not the best, but good nonetheless.
Overall= 4.25 Stars

***Feel free to add your own ratings below!***

New Blog

I've been thinking about starting my own blog for quite some time now.  I always read other's blogs and I always enjoy the personal opinions and insight they have to offer.  What would I write about?  What do I have to say that others may enjoy reading?  Well, after some consideration, I figured I'd just write about what I like.  I want to write about the stuff a typical "20 Something..." year old person would enjoy doing in our great city.  To be completely honest, it wont be entirely focused on the 20s age range.  I would like to hope and think it would appeal to all.  I find myself to be quite diverse in the cultures of Houston.  I love to go out to the fabulous restaurants Houston has to offer.  I also enjoy the music/arts scene of Houston.  We have an amazing day and nightlife here as well.  There's so much to see and so much to do.  I'll try my best to document my experiences and review the places and activities I attend with some form of rating to give you an idea of whether or not you'd enjoy it.  I hope you like what you read and I hope you come back for more...  Stay Tuned.