Oldest Houston - Paperback

by Lydia Schrandt (Author), Biju Sukumaran (Author)

From the historic downtown Annunciation Church to the first Indian restaurant in the Mahatma Gandhi District, Oldest Houston examines the city through its historic neighborhoods, ethnic enclaves, buildings, and businesses. The tales of its oldest park, music hall, brewery, and BBQ joint reflect the changing face of The Bayou City, its character, and its cultural diversity. Local journalists Lydia Schrandt and Biju Sukumaran guide you on a journey back in time through Space City. Eat chile con carne enchiladas and sip margaritas from an 80-year-old Tex-Mex restaurant. Walk in the musical footsteps of Willie Nelson and Beyonce at the nation's longest running recording studio. Get fitted for bespoke cowboy boots from a sixth generation leather worker. Picnic in a park built to commemorate Juneteenth, or step inside an 1847 house beneath the gleaming skyscrapers of downtown. Whether you're new to Houston and looking for an entertaining introduction or a longtime resident digging deeper into your favorite haunts, Oldest Houston will help you look at the nation's fourth largest city with new eyes.

Author Biography

Editor and photographer Lydia Schrandt has covered travel for USA TODAY 10Best and TripAdvisor and has served on the board of the SATW (Society of American Travel Writers). She's lived abroad in eight cities on three continents while visiting numerous more. Since moving back to the States, she spends her time exploring the hidden histories and stories of Houston, her adopted hometown. Freelance journalist and photographer Biju Sukumaran has covered overseas travel for, among others, National Geographic Traveler, Esquire, GQ, Vogue, Lonely Planet, and CNN. But after working and living abroad for a decade, he's become more fascinated with his native city, Houston, Texas. There he likes uncovering back streets and the fusion eats that make his hometown famous.