A neighborhood located in the west-central part of Houston, Texas. Montrose has a 7.5 square miles area that is roughly bounded by Interstate 69 to the south, Allen Parkway up to the north, South Shepherd Drive to the west, and Taft to Fairview Bagby to Highway 59 to Main to the east. Montrose is one of the major cultural areas in Houston notable for its hippie culture, food scene, art scene, and vibrant nightlife.
During the 70s to 80s, Montrose was the center of the gay community of Texas. The bohemian flavor of the Montrose would spawn both the Westheimer Colony Art Festival in 1971 and the subsequent street fair in 1973, which would become known as the Westheimer Street Festival. Also starting around the 1970s the area became known as the center for the gay and lesbian community of Houston. The area sported an estimated 30-40 gay bars at the time, including the Bayou Landing, thought to be the largest gay dance hall between the coasts, and several gay activist groups, including the Gay Liberation Front.
Things to Do
Montrose is a pocket of eccentricity, flamboyantly jagged jigsaw piece that lends them greater Houston picture with a vivid splash of multi-chromatic vibe. Within a vibrant four-square-mile, you will find many newcomer restaurants, cocktail bars, and art galleries, as well as tattoo parlors, vintage clothing stores, and palm readers.
Rothko Chapel
Historic octagonal brick building with massive abstract murals by Mark Rothko & outdoor sculptures. The Rothko Chapel is an interfaith sanctuary, a center for human rights — and a one-man art museum devoted to 14 monumental paintings by abstract expressionist Mark Rothko. The Houston landmark, commissioned by John and Dominique de Menil, opened its doors 40 years ago. A1 Bed Bug Exterminator Houston
Address: 3900 Yupon St, Houston, TX
Menil Collection
Menil Collection houses approximately 17,000 sculptures, drawings, prints, paintings, rare books, and photographs. This bulk collection was made up once a private collection of Menil Foundation, Inc.
Address: 1533 Sul Ross St, Houston, TX
Printing Museum
The Printing Museum explores the intersections of the history, art, and technology of printing and demonstrates its enduring impact through exhibitions, interactive tours, and creative workshops.
Address: 1324 W Clay St, Houston, TX
Hugo’s
The food is as light and fresh as a seafood cocktail prepared by fishermen on the beach; as deep and complex as the moles of Oaxaca made with an astounding number of ingredients; and as earthy as the simplest handmade corn tortilla.
Address: 1600 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX
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