"Ultimate Houston"
Anything and everything Houston has to offer
http://www.chron.com/entertainment/ultimate/
Everyone scoffed at the idea of an indoor stadium until Judge Roy Hofheinz built the Astrodome. When it opened in 1965, it became the ultimate domed stadium and was heralded as "the Eighth Wonder of the World."
At one time, many doubted humans could travel in space. But President John F. Kennedy championed the idea, and a NASA astronaut training complex was built on a ranch once owned by "Silver Dollar Jim" West in Clear Lake in 1961. Less than a decade later, "Houston" was the first word heard on the moon.
Other ultimates have dotted Houston's history. Some, like Williams Tower, the ultimate suburban skyscraper because it is the tallest outside of any downtown area in the nation, are things we like to brag about. Others, like the collapse of Enron -- the ultimate business failure -- aren't.
For this special section, we sought out things that make Houston special. We scoured the area, from The Woodlands to Friendswood and Katy to Pasadena, to come up with our list of the best of the best.
While searching for the area's ultimates, we found the best bar to dance on, the fastest freeway to nowhere, the ultimate comedy act on television, the best-looking Astro and the perfect pampering place for a metrosexual. We even found the ultimate landmark. We bet it's not what you'd expect.
We also searched for the ultimate edibles and gained a few pounds by sampling flan, foie gras, double-espresso ice cream, meatloaf and mashed potatoes, for starters. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it. Pass the Rolaids. Ultimately, we figured out that finding the ultimate anything in Houston is hard to do because there are so many choices.
We don't expect you to agree with all our picks. Heck, we nearly got in a few hair-pulling, name-calling fistfights over some of the final choices.
Here's what we'd like you to do. Click on any of the "Tell us what you think" links and agree, disagree and/or suggest your own pick.
It's the ultimate way to spend the day.
-- |