My Neighborhood: Montrose, Houston—Artists’ Enclave

Bill Arning While some of the restaurant recommendations may currently be open for takeout only, and you may need to make a private appointment with certain art galleries, this neighborhood spotlight still delivers everything Montrose, Houston has to offer. And when the rest of the galleries, theaters and restaurants open their doors again, you’ll know exactly where to head for a dose of great art, great food and even better culture. For art adviser, curator, and critic Bill Arning, the hardest part of relocating to Texas in 2008 was driving. “I’d spent my whole life in walkable cities in the Northeast,” he says. “I’d never even owned a car!” Happily, “Houston has a great art energy, and that’s my number one thing when picking a city to live in. “Today, Houston and its environs feel a lot like the L.A. art scene in the 1960s,” Arning says. “Artists can afford studio space and a house, have access to a vibrant gallery scene, and enjoy local and international foot traffic, and collectors here like to support local artists.” To minimize driving, Arning settled in Montrose, “one of Houston’s most walkable villages and a marker of counterculture in Texas,” says Arning, who writes a monthly column for OutSmart Magazine, Houston’s LGBTQ magazine. “The city is so supportive of LGBTQ art makers in all mediums that I will always have more to write about,” he says. —by Suzanne Shelley STATE OF THE ART Sicardi Gallery “The state of Texas is bigger than the country of France, so a tremendous wealth of art and art history has evolved here,” says Arning. Three “glamorous, contemporary, accessible” local art galleries not to miss are Jonathon Hopson Gallery (904 Marshall St., 832.819.2918 ), Sicardi Gallery (1506 W. Alabama St., 713.529.1313 ), and Moody Gallery (2815 Colquitt St., 713.526.9911). TO DINE FOR “When you’re in Texas, you’re in the ‘Republic of Bar-Be-Que,’ and Texans have a lot of opinions about what constitutes the best BBQ. Many are willing to drive two hours to find the best, most authentic BBQ,” says Arning. “However, Montrose has been graced with a world-class pitmaster, who opened The Pit Room .” 1201 Richmond Ave., 281.888.1929 Hugo’s “For traditional Mexican food (not Tex-Mex fare) in an elegant space, Hugo’s fantastic chef, Hugo Ortega, has created an imaginative menu that features excellent, authentic dishes from many regions of Mexico.” 1600 Westheimer Rd., 713.524.7744 GREAT SPACES “ Indianola (1201 St. Emanuel St., 832.582.7202 ) is a wonderful, airy restaurant with interesting pan-Asian cuisine. It’s next door to a great theater and comedy venue called The Secret Group (2101 Polk St., 832.898.1088 ), which has a great bar, rooftop patio, and back showroom that is a hub for edgy stand-up comedians.” Flatland Gallery (1709 Westheimer Rd., 713.528.1993 ) is a “terrific local gallery and art space” attached to Café Brasil (2604 Dunlavy St., 713.528.1993), “a legendary space that has housed a number of top galleries. Both Flatland Gallery and Café Brasil host events and outdoor film screenings in the garden.” CULTURE CACHE “People in Houston talk about the Houston Grand Opera the way people elsewhere talk about their sports franchises. Patrick Summers brings a mix of old and new classics to debut here.” 510 Preston St., #1504, 713.228.6737 MATCH “ Midtown Arts & Theater Center stages impressive theater productions and dance performances all year. With tickets being so affordable, I tell friends to try any performance. You won’t be disappointed.” 3400 Main St., 713.521.4533 Find your next home in Texas today.