It's a given that it's much easier to meet women in places that are less threatening — just try to hit on a stranger in, say, a parking garage for negative confirmation of that adage. And where on Earth is less threatening than a children's museum? And where are adults more starved for a little adult conversation than after an hour or so in a mass conclave of shrieking children? At the Children's Museum, a casual, friendly word is likely to fall on the receptive ears of many a baby mama at her wits' end. Ease of meeting is just one advantage. You can also get a good read on what sort of future you might have. When you meet their kids right at the start, you're jump-stepping lots of potential down-the-road drama. All the cards are already on the table: You can see right before your eyes the finished products of their past reproductive efforts. If they look like Gaby Solis's kids from Desperate Housewives, you'll be warned. Even more important, you'll get a peek at their parenting styles, so before you ever hop in the sack, you can avoid those crazy, sexy lovers who turn out to be quasi-abusive or neglectful parents.

For 23 years, crazy-ass folks have been tricking out all types of vehicles in all kinds of guises in what is truly a uniquely Houstonian tradition. Erstwhile Blues Brother Dan Aykroyd (himself the driver of a certain infamous 1974 Dodge Monaco) was the Grand Marshal of the 2010 installment of this family-friendly frivolity that, as always, did not fail to deliver the goods. About 300 cars were featured, along with the random bicyclists/roller-skaters/random merrymakers. It made us want to slap some singing fish or giant bunny ears on our boring old ride as soon as we got home. ¡Viva el automóvil!

READERS' CHOICE: Art Car Parade

When it came to reporting on the ever-expanding Metro scandal, Greenblatt led the pack. He broke the news on the document shredding, and then, like a hungry pit bull's jaws locked on a limb, he asked question after question and dug deeper and deeper, until it became virtually impossible for the beleaguered agency to issue empty statements while hiding behind smiling flacks. Simply put, Greenblatt did what a good investigative reporter is supposed to do: dig for the truth, hold people accountable and let the public know what's really going on in their community. No wonder he's won an Emmy, an IRE award, seven Edward R. Murrow awards, a National Headliner award and numerous others.

READERS' CHOICE: Dominique Sachse – KPRC

When you're talking about real estate, the only thing that matters is location, location, location. That mantra also applies to bus stops. This year's winner for Best Bus Stop isn't the prettiest, or the most well outfitted or even the most comfortable. It's the stop that allows for the best people-watching (a crucial factor in making the long wait for Metro a little more bearable). Situated at what was once Houston's gay crossroads, the area is now populated by hipsters headed to late-night eateries, couples out on the town, friendly neighborhood psych patients, sweaty laborers and urbanite college kids. It makes for an ever-changing, always entertaining, colorful parade.

We'll always have a special place in our hearts for the downtown, main branch of the HPL, but let's face it: Driving downtown is about as much fun as a migraine. Thank goodness there are plenty of convenient branches, and right now our favorite is this bright, clean building that opened in 2005. Located in well-scrubbed Braeswood Place, the library is next to a YMCA, a park and a fire station, which adds to the cozy neighborhood feel. Inside, the building's windows let in a ton of sunlight, all the computer terminals actually work and the shelves are wonderfully maintained. If you don't have kids, or if maybe it's just been a long time since your Web-surfing ass has actually gotten up and gone to a library, you owe it to yourself to check out this branch. You're sure to become a regular.

Okay, sometimes the lines can be long, but they always seem to send someone out to try to siphon off some of the stamps-only and potential self-service customers to keep things moving. The building has a special older, funky charm and we're going to be sad if the feds ever succeed in selling it off. The staff doesn't change too much, so if you go for long enough, they actually recognize you. This is the place to go to get the mail out the fastest in Houston; it's the mother ship. But what we like most about it is that you don't have to know every postal regulation in the book — Sugar Land branch, are you listening? — to be able to send out your mail. They'll help you through the process, do it quickly and send you on your way with some nice, efficient customer care.

With new rolling stock recently expanded to add more leg and ass room, the now-50-year-old Hermann Park train and its $3 ticket still offer some of the cheapest and gentlest thrills in town. The choo-choo travels just fast enough to bring some relief from the heat, and now that it has added actual stops — one at the Museum of Natural Science, another at the Med Center and an actual connection to Houston's slightly less rinky-dink light rail train — it's not just fun, it's also (almost) useful too. Little known fun fact: Between eight and ten each morning, you can charter the Hermann Park train. With your own private train at your disposal, you can feel like a latter-day Cornelius Vanderbilt in your own hometown.

Michael Berry might be too conservative for some, but we like how he has his finger on the pulse of Houston's hot-button issues. We like to tune in after work to see what he makes of the day's events, even if we don't always agree. Often controversial, always compelling, he doesn't talk over his callers like many of his right-wing talk show brethren; he actually tries to engage his callers, even — or especially — if he doesn't completely agree with them. He's a smart guy, and he understands politics and people from all walks of life. It makes him extremely listenable, and — dare we say it? — likable.

READERS' CHOICE: Michael Berry — KTRH

We knew to expect some fireworks when Kevin Fine rode the 2008 Democratic wave into a district-judge seat. After all, being a heavily tattoed former cocaine addict is not the typical way to get to the bench, unless it's as a defendant. The fireworks came this year when Fine declared the state's death-penalty law unconstitutional. "We execute innocent people," he said, simply. His ruling won't have any lasting effect unless pigs begin to fly, but it was still a provocative, challenging move.

Within Houston, there is a hidden city. No, were not talking about the tunnels, were talking about the behemoth oil refineries and petrochemical plants that stretch along and dominate the Houston Ship Channel, the commercial engine of the city. These industrial complexes are hidden, tucked behind a security wall of chain-link fences and armed guards. The only way to get a good glimpse is by water. Enter the M/V Sam Houston, which has been running public tours along the Houston Ship Channel since 1958. Take the 90-minute cruise and gaze at the seemingly unending sweep of twisted steel and spaghetti-network of tubes and pipes. The ride inside the air-conditioned boat is free, but reservations are required 24 hours in advance, and dont forget to bring a photo I.D. Sadly, security precautions prohibit taking any pictures, which means you cant see this spectacle of engineering any other way.