international design find

Sorella makes Wallpaper* magazine's list of top biz hotels

Hotel Sorella's sizzling design scheme has caught the attention of one of the world's most refined design-minded magazines, Wallpaper*, snagging a spot on the list of the top Best Business Hotels 2010 in the magazine's September issue.

"The hotel is the crown jewel in west Houston's CityCentre, a selfcontained community of shopping, fine dining and top notch office space," reads the magazine's website.

Teaming with Fortune magazine, the design rag employed a panel of discerning judges, who placed Sorella among the ranks of NYC's Ace Hotel, Soho House in Berlin and Dubai's new Armani Hotel. Explains Wallpaper*, "Our shortlist ranges from grand luxury openings to inspiring relaunches of old favourites and contemporary openings in up-and-coming destinations."

The editors lavish praise upon Hotel Sorella for its inspired floor-to-ceiling windows, posh Italian-inspired contemporary décor, and dark hardwood-studded flooring. The Texas-sized closets and bathrooms receive their due. And, of course, Wallpaper* loves the complimentary luxury car service that runs to the Energy Corridor and any hotspot within a five mile radius.

The design scribes also find the dining quite tempting, explaining Bistro Alex's owner, "Alex Brennan-Martin's aim is to serve classics, but with enough cutting-edge cuisine to please foodies."

We can expect to see a glossy spread on Hotel Sorella in the next edition of Wallpaper* City Guide Houston. Until then, wait out the last nights of the sultry summer amid their swank pool-side cabanas.

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safety matters

Houston suburb secures No. 5 rank on list of safest midsized Texas cities

The City of Sugar Land, Texas – City Government/Facebook

Sugar Land is not only one of the best places to live, it's also one of the safest, according to SmartAsset.

As the greater Houston area continues to grow with an influx of new residents, Sugar Land is in the lead for its safety and security for residents, according to a new report.

Sugar Land has been named the No. 5 safest midsize city to live in Texas, and it ranks as the 64th safest city in the U.S., according to a new SmartAsset report.

The report, "America’s Safest Midsize Cities – 2026 Study" reviewed the crime rates and natural disaster risk across 333 midsize cities with populations between 65,000 to 250,000 residents. Disaster risk and auto fatality rates were evaluated on the county level.

The report's author states that no city is entirely risk-free, but there are some midsized cities that "offer residents a stronger sense of everyday security than others." Sugar Land is also among the top-10 best places to live in the U.S.

Based on the study's crime rate analysis, Sugar Land has a violent crime rate of 0.78 per 1,000 residents, a property crime rate of 13.84 per 1,000 residents, and the city's auto fatality rate is 6.85 per 100,000 residents.

SmartAsset found Sugar Land has a "relatively high" natural disaster risk, which was calculated by converting Fort Bend County's risk rating in FEMA’s National Risk Index to a five-point numeric scale. Specific natural disaster risks were not shared, but the report categorized risk levels in five levels: very low, relatively low, relatively moderate, relatively high, and very high.

The safest cities in Texas
Two popular Austin suburbs — Georgetown and Round Rock — lead Texas with balancing the trifecta of affordability, opportunity, and safety, SmartAsset found. Both cities are located in Williamson County just north of Austin.

Georgetown came out on top as the No. 1 safest midsize city in Texas, and it ranked 27th in the national comparison. The city has a violent crime rate of 1.91 per 1,000 residents, and there are 8.74 auto fatalities per 100,000 residents. The city's property crime rate is a little higher, 11.7 per 1,000 residents, but it's among the lowest out of the 35 total Texas cities included in the report.

Round Rock, meanwhile, ranked as the third-safest midsize Texas city, and it ranked No. 53 nationally. This North Austin neighbor also has a slightly lower lower violent crime rate (1.31 per 1,000 residents) than Georgetown, but the city's property crime rate is higher: 19.41 per 1,000 residents.

Both suburbs share "relatively moderate" natural disaster risks, according to FEMA, and the same auto fatality rates.

Other Texas cities that rank among the top 100 safest midsize cities in America include:

No. 28 – College Station
No. 63 – New Braunfels
No. 75 – San Angelo
No. 83 – Bryan
No. 90 – Mission
No. 95 – Pharr

reports smartasset houston sugar land houston suburbs

international design find

Sorella makes Wallpaper* magazine's list of top biz hotels

safety matters

Houston suburb secures No. 5 rank on list of safest midsized Texas cities

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