Road Map

All roads lead here: Houstonian Michael Carroll shares his favorite places &spaces

Best place to impress clients: Fleming's, because nothing beats a good steak
Michael Carroll
Photo by Allie N. Fields
Favorite place to take out-of-towners: Armadillo Palace
A place that makes you feel as if you are not in Houston? Hotel ZaZa by the poolin the summertime.

Editors Note: Newcomers to Houston sometimes find it a hard place to navigate. But most people who have lived here a while have a ton of recommendations. In a new series, called Road Map, Allie N. Fields gets Houstonians-in-the-know to reveal their favorite haunts.

In Road Map, we showcase a sample of homegrown locals and let them grab the wheel for a journey across Houston to confess their own personal geography of beloved jaunts, haunts and tried-and-true corners. From where to get lost or where to be found, just blast the a/c and enjoy the ride.

Meet Michael Carroll. Status? Adorable and good, old fashion fun.

With an insatiable sense of humor and up for anything attitude, this entrepreneur is president of Riverway Properties, where he specializes in the management, development and disposition of residential communities.

He seems to be anywhere and everywhere. You know that person you can’t take anywhere without someone knowing him? This is your guy.

1. Alma Mater/ High school? Strake Jesuit College Preparatory

2. Favorite kolaches? Shipley's ham and cheese (there is no substitute)

3. Where do you take out of towners?Armadillo Palace

4. Favorite mid-week dinner spot?Jenni's Noodle House

5. The place where you can guarantee yourself a food coma? Lupe Tortilla

6. Guiltiest pleasure? Buttered movie popcorn at Edwards Greenway with thrown in Peanut M&Ms, it's all about the sweet and the salt .... my momma taught me that one!

7. Favorite place for take out?Red Lion's chicken tikka masala

8. Where to check out art? Anyplace showing Caroline Schiller's newest creations!

9. Best place to find a last minute outfit? Billy Reid

10. Sunday hangover food? Ponzo's Pizza Pepperoni Black Olive Jalapeño and a slice of their chocolate eruption cake, Sunday night special.

11. Where I feel inspired? My shower (kind of weird).

12. Best second date spot?Vinoteca Poscol

13. Where I met my current love? Ha ha! Yeah Right! ;)

14. Favorite street? North Boulevard

15. Best martini?Zimm's

16. Best place to get your groove on? Mi casa blasting the latest hand-crafted playlist

17. Your dry cleaner?Eagle Express — Nassar is the best!

18. Best 2 a.m. food run? No. 2 with cheese and jalapenos, WHATASIZED with a Diet Coke!

19. A place that makes you feel as if you are not in Houston?Hotel ZaZa by the pool in the summertime.

20. Where you work out?LA Fitness on Richmond at Weslayan

21. Carwash? Mister Car Wash on Kirby

22. Best place to impress clients?Fleming's — can't beat a great steak!

23. Your playground? My driveway with two TVs outside on any college football Saturday a.k.a. The Lanai, a college football tradition since the fall of 2000.

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accessibility brings empowerment

Autonomous cab company cruises into Houston with wheelchair-accessible rides

Courtesy of Cruise

The six month program is available is more than 90 Houston-area ZIP codes.

A California company with autonomous cabs has announced a new pilot program in partnership with a provider of wheelchairs and mobility solutions.

Cruise has teamed up with Numotion for a six-month wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV) pilot program in Houston, offering free transportation for qualifying Numotion customers, according to the companies. The program will operate in over 90 Houston-area ZIP codes.

“Numotion is excited to partner with Cruise to offer a seamless and convenient solution for wheelchair users in the Houston area. By providing transportation to and from repair appointments, we're alleviating a significant stressor and providing a way for our customers to receive their service and repair faster,” says Mike Swinford, CEO of Numotion, in a news release. “We're constantly striving to innovate and improve the lives of our customers, and this collaboration demonstrates our ongoing commitment to providing beneficial customer experiences."

Cruise entered the Texas market last year, with Houston services launching in October 2023 before the company put all operations on pause following a California crash. This is the first Texas announcement for Cruise since the pause.

"Accessibility is core to our mission at Cruise. This pilot program with Numotion is doing more than providing accessible rides – it’s about empowering people in the community with greater mobility and independence, while also building learnings to better our service in the future," says Craig Glidden, president and chief administrative officer at Cruise about the new pilot.

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The story originally was published on our sister site, InnovationMap.