Our My Top 5 series invites enterprising, active, and engaged Houstonians to take a minute and share their favorite H-Town distractions when they’re not hard at work. This week, we’re pleased to feature accomplished the Houston realtor, David B. Atkins of Martha Turner Sotheby’s, to share his own local faves and insights into what gives Houston its flavor.
My Top 5 Things to Do in Houston
by David B. Atkins
- Never need to wish for a dish – Easily one attribute that has put Houston on the map is our food scene—and not just the quality, but the diversity. Steakhouses and barbecue joints like Mastro’s and Killen’s are fan favorites for the prototypical Texan-grub, but don’t fear venturing into the realm of high quality sushi establishments like MF Sushi, authentic Spanish food at BCN Taste & Tradition, or interior Mexican decadence at Picos. Refined palates shouldn’t miss the French mastery happening at Etoile or the Bananas Foster at Brennan’s.
- My heart belongs to art – While New York may have the centuries’ long lineage of great museums, you shouldn’t sleep on our vast collections of artwork. The Museum of Fine Art, Houston has more than 70,000 pieces in their repertoire and The Menil has modern masterpieces from the likes of Picasso, Klee, Twombly, and de Kooning. And if you ever find yourself wanting to escape reality for a few hours, grab a seat and enjoy the sanctuary of Rothko Chapel.
- Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks – As a kid, some of my best memories were going to the 8th Wonder of the World—the Astrodome—to watch the cowboy shooting his guns on the scoreboard. The teams of the ’80s developed my love for the game, and that passion was resurrected in the mid-2000s when the ‘Stros went to the World Series in ’05 and finally reached the pinnacle in 2017, becoming the World Champs. The stadium really doesn’t have a bad seat, with 81 opportunities to let time stand still for three hours. And while BBVA Stadium is cool, and Toyota Center and NRG Stadium are sights to see, Minute Maid Park is tops on my list of sport venues in the city.
- Shop ‘til you drop – The Galleria is hands down, one of the most recognized names in retail shopping, drawing millions of visitors a year. Where else can you people watch like you are at the Champs Elysees and look down upon the miles of smiles found on the ice rink? But if you are looking for a little more than fashion, it’s the breadth of small, homegrown shops that create the pulse of the city. Jewelry stores such as Zadok’s, home furnishings and accessories boutiques like Lam Bespoke, and fun ‘mom and pop’ toy stores, namely Papa Ben’s Train Place, are scattered throughout the city.
- Your thirst comes first – Whether you want to adorn yourself in a sports coat or little black dress, go a little lighter with a pair of jeans or sun dress, or get uber casual in flip flops and shorts, the bar scene in Houston is second to none. Mixology is a thing, and it’s a thing that gives all of us wings. Depending on my mood and attire, you’ll find me enjoying a martini on the patio at Bar Annie in the Galleria area, sipping on a vino at Mutiny Wine Room in The Heights, or with a bottle of Texas micro-brewed suds in hand, laughing from ear to ear with friends at a picnic table at the West Alabama Ice House.
About David B. Atkins
A listing agent with Martha Turner Sotheby’s, David B. Atkins has targeted his efforts toward Inner Loop neighborhoods close to the Rice University area, including Southgate, West University, and Bellaire. His priority is to ensure he surpasses all of his clients’ needs. Along with a 10,000-sq.ft. warehouse full of furnishings to stage his clients’ homes—an unprecedented service offered by a realtor—he incorporates innovative marketing, unwavering energy, and unparalleled market knowledge. These ingredients integral to his Houston successes. With a decade of experience, he’s a top-ranked realtor in Houston and across Texas. Atkins was MTSIR’s top seller for the first half of 2020 and remains one of its top producers.
