As our sister blog Eating...Our Words does, from time to time Rocks Off will be giving your our picks for the top taverns in various Houston-area neighborhoods. Of course, the lines can be porous, but here anything with a TABC license that cannot reasonably be considered either a restaurant, coffeehouse or live-music venue is fair game.
In this case, we've bent a few of the above rules (just a bit) and rather than confine ourselves to a specific area of town, have cobbled together the most "hip" places in town and put them all into one spot. This is a list is for places -- a typical night at some of these places; a specific night at others -- where young Houston dresses not necessarily to impress, but to see and be seen nonetheless.
10. POISON GIRL With a solid selection of Texas craft beers and weekly poetry readings, Poison Girl is a no-brainer for hipsters. Having been a staple of the Montrose area for years now, it's always brimming with young and aging scenesters alike, despite being easy to miss. Head out back and bump shoulders with the Kool-Aid man and wax philosophical with some thoughtful strangers.
1641 Westheimer, 713-527-9929, Facebook page
9. GRAND PRIZE BAR For three years now, Grand Prize has been the melting pot of Houston bars, bringing together youthful Montrosians and Museum District yuppies alike. Even Bun B shows up from time to time. Whether downstairs, on the balcony or in a dark corner somewhere, scenesters, hipsters and young successfuls all flock to and from Grand Prize's front door for craft beers, cocktails and a fully operational kitchen.
1010 Banks, 713-526-4565, Facebook page
8. FITZGERALD'S (Open Mike Night) Unless otherwise noted, Fitzgerald's Houston hosts an open-mike every Wednesday night. It's become quite the spectacle, due in no small part to management by the one and only John Mills-McCoin. Like any open-mike, it can be hit-or-miss, but the beers are cheap, the crowd young and the music loud. Skinny jeans, mustaches and Pabst Blue Ribbon abound.
2706 White Oak, 713-862-3838, fitzlivemusic.com
