Adventures in H-Town

Finding the perfect home within the Loop: Location love in an eclecticneighborhood

How can you not love a city that has a Ferris wheel right downtown?
Downtown Aquarium - Houston/Facebook
I can get nearly any place in record time from my new house including TheGalleria in 15 minutes.
The Beer Can House is just one pretty cool attraction to see.
Memorial Park is now a perfect five-minute walk away.

When I first moved to Houston and started writing this column, one of the comments that I received in response to my "Life in a Pink Bubble" story pooh-poohed my rose-colored glasses view of life in my newly adopted town. I was told that after living here for a while, I would feel differently.

Well, I am happy to report that this is most definitely not the case. How can you not love a city that has a Ferris wheel right in the heart of downtown, visible from the freeway? That has the absolute best food ever? That has shopping options to appeal to anyone, that's close to a beach . . . my list goes on and on.

Hurrah! We are firmly settled into a new house inside the Loop at long last. And since the jumbo move-in from the suburbs, I've had time to really check out my eclectic neighborhood, Rice Military. I have yet to come across anything that looks like a former military base, but lots of other cool things are found at every turn, with new ones popping up every day.

So many that I've made a list of things I love about the new place.

1. Location, Location, Location

I can get to nearly any place in record time from my house. No more adding a full hour to get into the city from the land of suburbia. This is a glorious feeling and anyone who has done their time in a soul-crushing commute can relate.

To get to my fantastic new job: 15 minutes. To get to my favorite restaurant: 15 minutes. To pop over to the Galleria: 15 minutes. To take in a play: 15 minutes. Heavenly!

2. People Watching

Since the properties around me are mostly three-story deals with garages, people basically drive into their homes and vanish. But a walk or drive around the area will highlight the diversity of our neighborhood: Singles, couples young and old, some families, artists, business people, you name it.

Having come from a city full of zoning restrictions, this is a new world. I now live near a bike shop, lawyers' offices, a Mexican craft store, a bar, a larger office building, a tortilla shop, a small factory of sorts, several art galleries, a giant red rooster, the famous Beer Can House and what appears to be a pair of silos taken from a grain factory and placed in front of a someone's home.

Truly sights not found in our former suburban neighborhood.

3. Memorial Park

Now a perfect five minute walk away. How I love this place! My wonderful, fabulous boyfriend introduced me to the park during my first visit to Houston and it was love at first sight.

Last summer, like everyone else, I watched with an increasing sense of dread as the trees began to shrivel up and die. The park is forever changed now as the clearing process continues, but I know that plans are in place to move forward and make the best of the aftermath of the terrible drought.

In addition to the city’s efforts, groups like Trees for Houston are doing their best to replant the park. Now when I go to the park and see the trees that survived, I feel like giving them a high-five.

4. Decorating

This has been tricky, as the boyfriend has defined tastes and a strong sense of what he likes and what he doesn’t. As we set up our new place, it became very apparent that our tastes are not necessarily the same.

He prefers a more traditional type of decor than I do, and since he had virtually all of the furnishings while mine languish in storage back in Nashville, I have had to adjust to a more conservative look.

A visit from my family brought a few key pieces which I have incorporated into the look, and I'm now scouting out places all over Houston to continue the decorating process. Barbara Kuntz at CultureMap recommended High Fashion Home, and while my bank account has not benefited from my love of this fantastic store, I never leave there without finding something perfect for my home.

5. Going to the Dogs

I love dogs, but due to our schedules we can’t take on a pup at this time. Lil’ Daisy who flew with me when I moved from Nashville to Houston, is now enjoying “retirement” with my family in the countryside of Tennessee. Fortunately, I can check out the daily dog parade that takes place virtually anytime I head outside.

Now that summer is here, I have no doubt that many new sights, sounds, and people are about to come my way as I learn more about my new surroundings and my adopted city. I feel certain my love of H-Town is here to stay.

What is your favorite part of Houston in the summer?

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New Museum District high-rise lures tenants with events and on-site bar

Photo courtesy of Sentral

Forme, a new high-rise apartment building in the Museum District, offers amenity-driven living.

High-rise apartment living is taking on a new look at Forme, which just opened its doors in the Museum District. Located at 5501 LaBranch Street, the 33-story building boasts urban living centered on wellness, productivity, community, and restoration, with a setup that blends the best of luxury hospitality and amenity-driven living.

Residences range from 500-square-foot studios and efficient junior one-bedrooms and studios to 1,400-square-foot three-bedroom homes with panoramic views stretching across Hermann Park, downtown Houston, and the Museum District skyline. Rents start at $1,750 per month.

Designed by Lamar Johnson Collaborative and operated by Sentral, Forme’s intended residents are young professionals seeking to balance busy personal and professional lives with supersized amenities tailored for recharging, re-focusing, and networking. To that end, the building’s 60,000 square feet of shared space provides a plethora of amenities and gathering spots, including a 20,000-square-foot fitness and recovery area, a 9,000-square-foot outdoor pool deck with pool and expansive hot tub, and 20,000 square feet of flexible coworking space along with a 12th-floor cocktail lounge dubbed The Branch on La Branch.

Apartment interiors emphasize warm modernism and everyday functionality, pairing floor-to-ceiling windows with quartz countertops, gas ranges, soft-close cabinetry, walk-in closets, smart-home technology, and wide-plank flooring.

“Forme was conceived as a living environment where the experience extends far beyond the apartment itself,” said Myron Washington, associate director of portfolio operations for Sentral, in a statement. “Every space inside the building was designed to support the rhythms of modern life – from movement, recovery, and creativity to productivity and social connection. Residents can begin the day with an exercise class, work from a fully serviced coworking floor, attend a wellness lecture or networking mixer in the evening, and end the night poolside with neighbors overlooking the skyline. It creates a completely different relationship between people and where they live.”

Residents can expect sunrise workouts, run-and-brunch gatherings, poolside picnics, wellness activations, social mixers, and professional networking events. When it opens in July, The Branch on La Branch will offer a boutique hotel-style cocktail lounge and raw bar. In the meantime, weekly wine tastings with light bites are available every Thursday from 6-8 pm thru the end of the World Cup, featuring international wines reflective of the countries playing matches in Houston. These events are also open to the public, and reservations can be made through Sentral management at Forme.

Photo courtesy of Sentral

Forme, a new high-rise apartment building in the Museum District, offers amenity-driven living.

The complex’s fitness center offers dedicated spaces for strength training, Pilates, yoga, HIIT, mobility work, cardio conditioning, and recovery, along with hydromassage chairs, luxury locker rooms, personal training services, and scheduled fitness classes led by an onsite fitness director. The 1,200-square-foot pool and 550-square-foot hot tub are surrounded by daybeds and chaise lounges, making the pool deck a natural place for sunset gatherings and other events.

Residents who work remotely can do so in Forme’s flexible coworking space operated by Regus. Spanning 20,000 square feet, the space includes reservable offices, quiet zones, collaborative areas, and meeting rooms designed to support both focus and connection.

In addition to traditional apartments, the high-rise also has furnished residences, extended stays of 30 days or more, and nightly accommodations.

“Every detail — from the way you work and train to how you rest and connect — is designed to meet you where you are and move with you,” according to Forme’s mission statement.

With so many amenities and so much thought given to designing an ecosystem where residents can live, work, and play, Forme should hit a sweet spot for a certain kind of renter. The high-rise’s location, within walking distance of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, restaurants such as Lucille's and MF Sushi, and Hermann Park, is merely icing on the 33-story cake, giving residents easy access to some of the city’s best cultural, entertainment, dining, and wellness spots.

high-rises openings