Best Off Campus Apartments: The Campus Vue
Experience the freedom of living off campus without the hassle of waking up late for class and facing I-45 every morning. Located a 10-minute walk, 5-minute bike ride, or 1-minute car trip away from UH, The Campus Vue features three different apartment styles for residents to choose from. They also include a cyber café, a free weight and fitness room and even a tanning bed salon. Premium student housing, next to campus and a tanning salon? Sign us up for a lease. 4459 North Macgregor Way 77004
Best Bike Shop: Daniel Boone’s Cycles
Open since 1968, Daniel Boone Cycles self-proclaims as “the cyclist dream shop.” It has equipment and knowledge for beginners and experts alike. Don’t be shocked if you have a bit of a hard time driving to find them; the shop is low key, but just keep an eye out for all the weird cycling memorabilia out front.—GF
Photo by Kyrie Bouressa|Cooglife
Best Tattoo Shop: 713 Tattoo
This tattoo parlor has long been a Houston favorite. With talented artists, patrons are destined to love its tattoos and piercings. 713 Tattoo has been kind to its customers and its customers have been kind to 713 Tattoo. It offers fair pricing for original work in a safe, clean and creative environment. Students love it for its diverse portfolio and great customer service. If you want a tattoo or piercing, 713 seems to have zero unsatisfied customers. –MV 1533 Westheimer Rd.
Best Place to Keep Fit: Campus Recreation and Wellness Center
It’s hard to balance school and a healthy lifestyle, but the Rec makes it so easy to want to workout. An indoor track, free workout classes, a 53-foot rock-climbing wall, a leisure pool that has a hot tub with a capacity for 20 and a dry sauna? That’s a steal. The Rec, open until 11:30 p.m. on weekdays, is just a swipe of your Cougar Card away. –IB
Best smoke: BC Smoke Shop
BC Smoke Shop is a great place for all your smoking essentials, and a must-see if you’re looking for a nice new pipe. They stock high-quality glass pieces instead of the cheesy items that other stores often sell. The staff is accommodating and knows everything about the quality of its merchandise. They are great at helping you pick out what you need. Plus, they often hand out free lighters. –IB 7909 Westheimer Road 77063
Best Gay Bar: F Bar
Photo by Stewart Lyons|Cooglife
The “F” must stand for fabulous because that’s exactly what this place is. Situated near downtown Houston, F Bar offers patrons strong cocktails in an upscale atmosphere six nights a week. The club’s interior features several plasma television screens, lounge seating overlooking the dance floor, an outdoor patio with a full bar and chandeliers that add to a luxe ambiance. F Bar also hosts a couple of weekly drag shows with a regular cast. The sophisticated environment, friendly bartenders and customers who have embraced the call to “come get gorgeous” have led to the venue quickly becoming one of Houston’s hottest clubs. –BH 202 Tuam St. 77006
Photo by Stewart Lyons|Cooglife
Best Gay Bar: South Beach
South Beach brings Miami’s tropical vibes right into Houston’s robust nightlife scene. The after-hours club is outfitted with a spacious dance floor, colorful laser lights and liquid ice jets to cool off patrons while they dance the night away. South Beach is open three nights a week — Thursday, Friday and Saturday — and often hosts drag shows from popular performers like RuPaul’s Drag Race winners Raja and Bianca Del Rio. “South Beach is my favorite club in Houston,” digital media junior Britney Buford said. “I can always count on a fun night every time I go there. For me, a night out isn’t complete without a trip to South Beach. –BH 801 Pacific St. 77006
Best Bar: Sage County
With just one step, Sage County customers are transported from Houston’s Midtown neighborhood to a roadside dive bar. Sage County’s décor gives the place an old, rustic feel with a lounge-like atmosphere. It has everything one would expect from a good dive — signature cocktails and great bar eats like burgers and fries. Sage County specializes in fun — offering customers daily drink specials (happy hour is all day on Mondays), an outdoor patio, Moonshine shooters served in branded red Solo cups and plenty of space to dance. Sage County even has classic arcade games like Big Buck Hunter and Pop-a-Shot alongside ping-pong tables. –BH 2416 Brazos 77006
Best Country Bar: Wild West
What’s not to love about Wild West? It has all the standard trappings of a country bar — solid oak dance floor, Tex-Mex food and a casual atmosphere. There’s plenty of space to two-step and line dance with friends. And if you scuff your cowboy boots, don’t worry — there’s a shoe shiner on hand to quickly buff out any scrapes and get you back to the fun. “Some of the best times I’ve ever had have been at Wild West,” said Shahea Walker, an English junior. “It doesn’t matter if you can’t line dance. Just go and have a good time.” Customers also love Wild West’s versatility. The club doesn’t just play country music; they mix in pop and even hip-hop so that everyone can have a good time. –BH 6101 Richmond Ave. 77057
Best App for Students: Snapchat
Although it may go down in the DMs, Snapchat has been chosen as the best app among UH students. When the app was released, it redefined social media because of its revolutionary features. “I like Snapchat because it’s more private,” health promotions senior Melvin Suell said. “But when someone screenshots my story all privacy just goes out of the window, so you have to be extra careful.” Besides the occasional privacy mishaps, Snapchat is a trusted social media source for young people and now it has become the third most used app among millennials. –BB
Photo by Matt Flora|Cooglife
Best Place to Buy UH Gear: UH Bookstore
The UH Bookstore has more than just books. It has shirts, pants, pajamas, workout clothes, license plates, accessories and other things that are branded to let everyone know of your Cougar pride. The bookstore’s clearance rack is a fan favorite, because of its unique finds. “A lot of stuff on the clearance rack are the last of its kind,” kinesiology senior Brianca Stout said. “That is why I like buying my things from there so when I go to the next football game I don’t have the same shirt as everyone else.” –BB
Best Resale Shop: Buffalo Exchange
College students sometimes find occasions to become ballers on a budget. Buffalo Exchange has one location in Houston. Buffalo Exchange is great for your pocket and your closet because you can also get sell clothes you don’t wear. If you’re interested in becoming a thrifter, Buffalo Exchange is a great place to start. Designer clothes at reasonable prices? Imagine what your wardrobe will look like.—MV 1618 Westheimer Road
Best Place to Study: M.D. Anderson Library
Once you see your awesome peers studying for their mid-terms, your competitive instincts kick in and you can’t help logging out of Netflix and getting down to business. The library is buzzing with lively energy from motivated students within their own academic fields. Check it out for yourself.—MV
Best Salon: SalonTrose
The hip and trendy Montrose area has a new, hip and trendy hair salon — the cleverly named SalonTrose. Set up in a converted house on Roseland Street, SalonTrose is a full service salon. The shop’s services are a bit pricey — a cut and blowout will set customers back about $100 — but your updo is worth it, girl (or boy — they cater to men, too.). SalonTrose’s team knows what they’re doing and with several stylists and color specialists on staff, there’s no shortage of experts around to help turn customer’s hair dreams into a reality. So, treat yourself to a new ’do — your hair will thank you.—BH 3820 Roseland St. 77006
Best Salon: Visible Changes
Visible Changes is a Texas institution. The hair salon chain was launched by Maryanne McCormack back in 1977 with just one location in Greenspoint Mall. Today, Visible Changes has 17 salons in major malls across the state and 12 of those rest in the greater Houston area. A visit to Visible Changes isn’t like a visit to any other hair salon. These neighborhood shops offer high quality services from extensively trained professionals at an affordable price. Catering to both men and women, the stylists at Visible Changes can do anything from a cut and color to de-frizzing keratin treatments and perms.—BH Various locations around Houston
Photo by Stewart Lyons|Cooglife
Best Sex /Adult Gift Shop: Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve takes all of the taboo out of visiting a sex shop. Customers rave about the store’s bright and comfortable environment as well as its helpful and friendly staff. Adam and Eve offers a varied product line, selling everything: lingerie, toys, adult movies. “It’s definitely the best sex shop I’ve been to in Houston,” said Vanessa Onyekwere, a broadcast journalism junior. “Everything is clean and organized. They have a lot of different products to choose from and I can’t wait to go back.” In addition to their ecommerce site, Adam and Eve also has a convenient location on Westheimer.—BH Various locations around Houston
Best Car Dealership: Momentum BMW
For someone looking for a brand new or used BMW vehicle, Momentum BMW knows what you need — well, what you want. Check out its website before you go and you’ll see the new lines it carries such as the X5, M3 and 3-Series. But if you want a real-life brick-and-mortar car shopping experience, head to the dealership at 10002 Southwest Freeway to be welcomed by friendly staff willing to patiently guide you through the myriad of German-made autos. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, Momentum BMW has a CarFinder form to fill out so it can get back to you when it finds your perfect car match. Talk about convenience. Also, Momentum BMW doesn’t neglect its social responsibility as it donates to Houston Children’s Charity, Be an Angel Foundation and Children’s Advocate.—MDV Various locations around Houston
Recent Comments