Houston: The musical cadence of Texas

By Luciano Garcia

Dallas, Houston and Austin belong to the Blues Triangle in this state. Houston is not always associated with rhythm, but it has a known story to tell. In the 1950s and 1960s, Duke / Peacock Records was the most influential label of blues, gospel, and African American

R&B artists, preceding Motown in a decade. Famous artists were born and played in this region, among them the great Stevie Ray Vaughan. Others who deserve to be named: Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Janis Joplin, T-Bone Walker and Johnny Winter.

 

Historical landmark dedicated to the musician Lightning ‘Hopkins

 

The House of Blues, also known as simply HoB, is a theater franchise that currently has a unit in thirteen different cities in the United States, all with a capacity of 1,300 people. The gigantic space has several environments and is perfect for a more intimate happy hour or dinner combined with a great show later on the main stage.

 

Vinyl fans cannot stop passing by at the Cactus Music Store.

 

Houston is the most important city in Texas. It is a huge economic and business center and everyday executives from around the world go through the city. It is a modern metropolis, full of mirrored buildings, urban centers, luxury hotels, zillions of highways, huge shopping malls, boisterous nightclubs, traffic … But despite that, it is a great place for sightseeing.

 

Houston, a city that promotes the meeting between urban sophistication and southern hospitality

 

A replica of the space shuttle on top of the Boeing 747 SCA that it carried for 223 times for 42 years NASA’s space shuttles welcomes in the central square of the Space Center. Opened in 1992, the planned center for science, engineering, technology has received more than 20 million people. There are cinemas, live shows, 400 spatial artifacts and dozens of exhibits.

 

If the heart of American space programs pulsate at Cape Canaveral, it is because the brain commands everything from Houston. While at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, it is possible to watch the launch of a NASA space mission at the Johnson Space Center, 40km from Houston, the operations control center and the place where astronauts live and are trained.

 

You may have heard the famous phrase “Houston, we have a problem,” immortalized in the movie by Tom Hanks in the movie Apollo 13. This historical record was heard at NASA’s former Space Mission Control Center, open to visitors. Today, there are three command units like that, which control from the International Space Station to the daring missions to Mars. At a certain point you go through a room and see the astronauts training and working. It is a unique experience.

 

 

Retired Rockets at Houston Space Center Rocket Park

 

In 2019 NASA celebrates the 50th anniversary of the man’s arrival on the Moon with a special program.

 

CityPASS is a discounted ticket program that already exists in ten American cities. The visitor can experience six attractions, paying just over half the value of the regular individual tickets: Downtown Aquarium, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston Zoo, Museum of Fine Arts or Children’s Museum, George Ranch Historical Park or The Health Museum and Johnson Space Center, NASA.

 

400 upscale stores like Prada, Valentino, Tiffany & Co and Chanel are at The Galleria, Houston’s most exclusive mall

 

A must see in the city is watching an NFL game. On the day of the match I watched, Houston Texans (the home team) versus the NY Giants. American football is a sport of conquest of territory. That is why strategy is fundamental. The main goal is simple: to reach as many times in the opponent’s endzone. The more the team can do this, the more points it will add up.

 

Houston hosts interesting and curious restaurants, such as The Armadillo Palace, which combines live music and snacks. Now, the city is a treat especially for those who are a good carnivore – after all, we are in Texas. Jackson St BBQ is among the best restaurants in town. Among the specialties are the “brisket”: a cut known as bovine breast in Brazil. Although rarely an option for our barbecue, it is very traditional in the grills of the USA, especially in Texas. It’s over 13 hours baking on the fire and an incredible taste.

 

Texas state-shaped pool, an original lazy river from the Marriott Marquis Hotel

 

TIP: In 2019, the documentary “America’s Musical Journey”, narrated by actor Morgan Freeman and promoted by US tourism, opens in Brazil. The production celebrates the cultural diversity of the country through its musical history.