Feel for the city? do you have a cvs where you live with a strip center with verizon wireless store and a quiznos? drive to that parking lot... then when you are driving to your friends house take the long way as to hit traffic and ALL the lights.. also make sure that you are in the car AT LEAST 30 minutes per each trip. If you can get a hold of some mosquito put them in your car...and perhaps if you live in a cold place buy a humidifier, close the windows in your car and turn on the heat to full blast.. make sure it gets to at least 90% humidity and you may want to pour a full bucket of water on your head too for an even more realistic feel. if you can do this all in an area that has lots of crime and is really flat even better. Guess what? You've experienced Houston!
You could also buy some world-class opera, ballet or touring Broadway show tickets with good seats the afternoon before curtain, and then eat at a nice restaurant for under $50 and park in downtown for less than $10. All while working a mid-six figures trading job in a city where you can live in a nice neighborhood with a mortgage payment under $1,500.
<object style="height: 390px; width: 640px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uYFO3XRIrSc?version=3&feature=player_detailpage"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uYFO3XRIrSc?version=3&feature=player_detailpage" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="360"></object>
You tweak the script, put Farley or Sandler in the Flea role or just change them to mafia hitmen and stunt cast Deniro or Pacino; then get Gibson, Nic Cage, Costner or Bruce Willis; and Demi, Bullock or Meg Ryan as the principals and you coulda made $200 million.
That's my favorite. Parts of it are filmed on North and South Blvd., two beautiful streets not far from Rice where I used to go for a stroll with my dog, but on the other side of Bissonnet. I lived around that area for years, starting in 1969, so I know it well. A cousin of mine went to Kinkaid, at least until he was kicked out for his behavior (not his grades!). A terrific flick.
Not sure what your definition of "nice" restaurant is but $50 is not possible in ANY city for FINE DINING. By the way, Houston's not known for fine dining. If you're just talking about good food, every city has tons of places for about $50 a person.
If I could double negative rep you, I would. You clearly know nothing about Houston's reputation as a great food city.
Houston has almost twice as many restaurants per capita as NYC scoring 28 or higher for food (on a scale of 1 to 30) on zagat.com. Zagat originated in NYC. Granted, you can spend a lot more in NYC, and you're probably expected to wear a tie and coat to more of those places there, so perhaps that's what you meant. Personally, I prefer dressing more comfortably and spending less. I guess you might say Houston is known for superior food dining. And although I've been known to dress up and drop some serious change on some "fine" dining, my idea of a "nice" restaurant includes more low-key establishments with exceptional food. Houston has those places in spades.
Pole, Houston has some fantastic eateries. No doubt about that, and the prices tend to be lower than some other large cities, like New York, Chicago, LA, and certainly San Francisco, and yes, you can dress in a more laid back way (which I enjoy doing), but for truly great eating and authentic foreign cusine? You go to cities like New York.
Pretty sure part of it was filmed at a house off of FM 149(I think...haven't been down this road in like 12 years) between Magnolia and Montgomery. That's just what I was told. I don't know if this is the truth though.
Whelp... watched Tree of Life this Sunday thanks to this thread. That's time and money I'll never get back. Thanks.