This used to be our go to spot to take family that would come from out of town. At one point, we…read morepretty much all of them have already seen it, so we stopped going. To my surprise, my children recently said that they have not been there. They must have went when they were quite young and don't remember. It was worth going back to again for us. It's been at least 8 years since we've been there. And it is just as nice as it used to be. The lawn could look better, but there were children blowing bubbles and running around and a little stand selling cotton candy,  so it's got the cute factor to it. It's also the perfect price at free.99 There's a parking garage nearby to pay for parking, which I would definitely recommend, because tow trucks were coming pretty quickly to get cars that did not pay for parking. Even though it was a hot day, just standing next to the water wall had a nice wind and mist coming towards us that we obviously really enjoyed. We saw people taking graduation pictures there and their sweet 15 pictures. It's a great photo op. Overall--it's the perfect price, close to the galleria and worth going to at least once.

This was the first stop when visiting, and shout out to my friend who suggested it. I had looked up…read morefood and bars for us, but I hadn't gotten to landmarks like this. This park is located right across the street from an epic tall reflective building called Williams Tower. When pulling up, I immediately saw the back of the waterwalls and I was quite excited. We were able to park it in a nearby garage and walked over. It's called a park, but aside from the waterwall structure it's just a giant grass field and some benches (that are thankfully in the shade haha). It was a hot day, and I have to say the mist from the water was quite refreshing. We took some amazing pictures and I would take anybody there who was visiting the city. The field does feel like it needs something.... But maybe with the tower there, it's best to leave it empty! My pics looking at it were pretty sick.

Mecom Fountain was gifted to the city of Houston by John and Mary Mecom in 1964, at the entrance of…read moreHermann Park near downtown Houston. Consisting of 3 fountains that continuously run with nighttime illumination and located inside a busy traffic circle, Mecom has provided many a backdrop for photos and quick glances from passing cars. That's what I did when riding a bus back to the Medical district. There are a lot of online articles and pictures about the fountain, including conflict about proposed renovations, stolen lights, and somebody pouring soap to create sudsy effect.

On our way to check in at Hotel ZaZa, we were greeted by the grand Mecom Fountain--it's stunning! I…read morelove that you can see it from both the park and the hotel. It gives the roundabout and the entire museum district a charming, European feel. Such a great spot!

A great community center and really, it is open to every one, not just the Chinese and or Taiwanese…read morepeople. The parking lot in the front is a but small so if you do not see any parking space, don't worry as they have a bigger parking lot. Once you come inside if you already know where to go, you do not need to check in at the front desk. There is a library here with lots of Chinese books. There usually some sort of activity here. There are class rooms upstairs and on the first floor and I did not see an elevator to the second floor.

I am leaving this review after experiencing completely unacceptable, hostile, and discriminatory…read morebehavior from a female staff member at this office. I was directed by the TECO Los Angeles office to contact the Houston office regarding my entry permit. I am currently transitioning from OPT to an F1 visa for a Houston-based school starting in August, so I simply needed to clarify which office had the proper jurisdiction to process my application. I left a polite voicemail briefly explaining my situation. A female staff member called me back and immediately began verbally attacking me. Bizarrely, she aggressively interrogated me about why I didn't leave my phone number in the voicemail--despite the obvious fact that she had found it and was actively calling me back on that exact number. When I calmly and politely tried to ask whether LA or Houston should handle my case, she escalated her abuse. She spoke with a shocking level of arrogance and hostility, telling me that "people like you shouldn't go to Taiwan" and telling me to just "cancel the trip." She went out of her way to say that I am unqualified, that TECO LA wouldn't help me either, and that I simply do not "deserve" to apply for the permit. I called seeking basic administrative guidance and was met with unwarranted personal insults and blatant discrimination. This is an embarrassing and shameful display of unprofessionalism for a representative office. No applicant should ever be subjected to this kind of verbal abuse and superiority complex.

The Museum of Fine Arts is one of 19 museums located in the museum district in Houston. It…read moreencompasses 3 buildings each with several floors. They are connected via underground tunnels. Pricing for the museum is $24. There are several garages in the area to park at and parking is charged a hourly rate. Unfortunately I was short on time but was able to visit the Frida collection, Aztec civilization, and Islamic Art collections. All of the art work was unique. The Frida collection was extremely popular and that's where most of the museums visitors spent their time. Overall I really enjoyed my experience here and wish I had more time to explore. They do have several dining options at the museum including a Michelin star French restaurant, Le Jardinier. The menu looks great and looks like they had a lunch 2 course option there for $45.

Took advantage of Free Museum Thursday, and it was absolutely worth it! If you're looking for a…read morebudget-friendly outing, this is the perfect time to explore. There were plenty of amazing exhibits to see in the free galleries, and parking was only $10. I decided to upgrade my ticket for an additional $10 to access the special exhibits, and it was money well spent. The extra exhibits added so much more to the experience! Whether you're into art, history, or just looking for something fun to do, this is definitely a great way to spend a Thursday. Highly recommend checking it out!

Great business and loved visiting the Artgallery. Staff are very friendly and welcoming. Lots off…read morebooks for sale too.

I got to check our the Jung Center the last time I was in Houston with my cousin…read more I have to say the experience was very peaceful and I have to say I felt like I was in a different world. I can't say I am very artistic, after being in The Jung Center, I do have a very different perspective on art. I'd say anyone that wants to walk away with a new perspective they should check TJC out!

Houston has some truly hidden gems and the Gragg Building is one of them. A unique and historic…read morebuilding in Houston, I was lucky enough to go on a tour of the building led by the Houston Parks and Recreation director, Joe Turner. This 1950's, Frank Lloyd Wright inspired building was the original Houston headquarters for NASA's Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC) prior to the building of NASA Clear Lake. In 1976, the building (originally the Farnsworth & Chambers building) was purchased by the city of Houston and the surrounding land was purchased by Gragg family to create a city park. The building has served as the Houston Parks and Recreation Department's main headquarters since 1977. In 2007, the building underwent a $16 million dollar renovation designed to preserve the historic aspect of the building while modernizing it for future use. The building is now a LEED Gold certified building. The building is also recognized on local, state, and national historic registry sites. All of that history can convey how beautiful this building is. As I drove up to the building (knowing nothing about it), I noticed the low flat roof and Wright inspired design. Walking in, the beautiful original green stone is visible everywhere. Inside the building there are three very prominent features. First, the green floor. Wow! The floor is incredibly shiny and incredibly green. I love it! Second, the original wood paneling is everywhere. The wood paneling was taken down, refurbished, and put back but in better placement throughout the building. And third, the natural lighting and windows. Everywhere you look is natural light and you can see through windows into the interior courtyard as well as outside. The building did not originally have so much natural light, but when the building was being renovated and large amount of asbestos were found, the building was completely gutted and the architects made the decision to add natural light to the plan. I love this building and I'm not an architecture nerd at all. The designers thought of so many beautiful small touches. There are no lights in the ceilings, as everything is lit either by natural light or by upward facing recessed lights to conceal the actual light fixtures. The furniture matches the building, with many modern interpretations and recreations of mid century modern furnishings. The halls are long and bare allowing the structure to speak for itself. The grounds and interior spaces have large beautiful pieces of art. The director told us that the art was mostly taken from the storerooms of the Houston Public Library. The pieces have one thing in common, their names have to do with nature. There is one large commissioned piece outside the cafeteria by James Surls. The piece is reminiscent of "Point of View" which can be found in Market Square Park in downtown Houston. The offices are open and light. The conference rooms are each named after a signature park in Houston. The largest conference table in the main meeting room is the original NASA era conference table. The day we toured, there was a Hurricane preparedness meeting going on where several people were sitting around the same table that John Glenn, Alan Shepard, and Gus Grissom sat. Even John F Kennedy Jr spent time in the building before heading to Rice University to give his famous speech. The building doesn't forget its history. There is a large NASA sign in the front lobby along with photos from the era. The original building sign is still there, just covered with the Houston Parks and Rec sign now. There is a poster in the lobby that is signed by the final four crew members from the shuttle program, and the poster actually went into space with them. The building just screams "mid century modern". I want to call the producers of Mad Men and tell them they need to shoot some scenes here. It was an immense treat to have Joe Turner be our tour guide. His love for the building was apparent and he had a story about every hallway, design aspect, and conference room. What a treat it must be to work in such a beautiful building filled with art. The building is located in Gragg Park, at South Wayside and Wheeler. This area was once the center of Houston's growth. The building is not open to the public, so if you are lucky enough to get a tour, go! Information about the exquisitely done design and renovation can be found here: http://www.houstontx.gov/parks/ourparks/graggpark.html

What an amazing building. There is nothing I can say about this place that Melissa M. didn't…read morealready. Why a 4 not a 5... there are more impressive buildings out there!

I would like to dedicate this review to honor the National Vietnam War Veterans Day on March 29…read more The Vietnam War Memorial statue sits in the center of Universal Shopping Center on Alief side of Bellaire Blvd as known as Little Saigon. We can see 2 soldiers, one American soldier and one South Vietnamese soldier, walking alongside fighting during the Vietnam War. This 27-feet statue is mounted on an oval pedestal with 9 steps. The premise is coned off and no parking nor traffic. I have heard ceremonies often hosted here. Right behind the soldiers statue, we can see 3 flags flown behind a granite wall. They are South Vietnamese, American and Texan flags. A little further behind this area is a smaller status called "Refugees". We can see a woman, a child and three men of different nationalities. According Houstonia Magazine, the architect called it the reason to name this shopping center as Universal. I often bring out-of-town friends to visit Vietnam War Memorial statue, not just to patronize at Universal Shopping Center but to pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of South Vietnam. Dates to remember: The statue was debuted on July 11, 2005. Fall of Saigon was on 30 April, 1975.

If you haven't seen this memorial viet, then you've missed out. It's one of my fave spots in Alief…read more Lots of good memories of the plaza here at the Vietnam War Memorial, which we come to fairly regularly, because one of my favorite barbershops is here. I mean boba shops. I don't, in fact, get my hair cut here. So we have been to an Asian Night Market here as well. But the best memory is that we found our beautiful cat Ellie here. Ellie is one of the best cats in the world, and we're so happy that we found him. Or her. What a wonderful place. When we found Ellie, she was running in circles around this monument trying to avoid the crowd of people that were trying to catch her. Of course Barbi and I scooped her up from the bushes in no time, and now she's the cuddliest, biggest, most adorable Orange Maine Coon in the history of cuddly Orange Maine Coons.

Did you know Houston is the one of the FASTEST location to expedite your passport!!! Make sure you…read moreget an appointment! The lines can fill up so fast! It's always better to go early. Let's talk about parking situation - did y'all know there are few metered parking right in front of the building! Three hours max! It looks like it can be a driving lane! Easy to miss! These work best for quick runs! There are parking lots across the street .. and some diagonal for $6! Friendly staff and make your visit quick! Thanks for being one for the two locations who offer expedited passports! Be nice to the staff! Just ask if it's possible to get your passports same day!

Professional security and staff made it fast, easy and enjoyable. Rare to deal with any government…read moreentity and not want to drink or scream afterward! If youve got to stress over your passport, this experience won't make it any worse! Plenty of paid to park nearby.