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TEN DAYS INTO
the 20th century, a drill-
ing derrick just outside Houston struck oil at a
depth of 1,000 feet, spewing Texas tea high into
the air and almost instantly transforming the
city, the state and ultimately the country. Over
the next 100 years, Houston would
grow into a global hub of business
and energy while earning a reputa-
tion as a metropolis full of boisterous oilmen
and their spectacularly coiffed wives. To this
day, some see the city only as a home to men
in 10-gallon hats and $10,000 suits (not that
there’s anything wrong with that), but those
who’vewatched closely know it’smorphed into
something much, much more.
Today’s Houston is culturally diverse, sur-
prisingly green and one of the country’s most
vigorous supporters of the arts. As any local will
tell you, the fourth largest U.S. city has
enough innovative menus to rival the
three that rank ahead of it. And still,
vestiges of the early days remain. Houston is a
seamlessmelding of spurs and sophistication—
and a er experiencing both, you’ll realize you
haven’t truly messed with Texas until you’ve
made your mark on Houston.
WANTMORE?
Download
our iPad app.
BLACK GOLD
Catalina Coffee,
home of Houston’s
best espresso; right,
the circa-1927 Niels
Esperson Building
downtown
88
APRIL 2012
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HEMISPHERESMAGAZINE.COM
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