Situated on the gracefully elevated area above Memorial Drive, residents of the city’s latest “it” development find themselves within walking distance to Memorial Park and what’s come to be known as restaurant row on Washington Avenue; that is, of course, if Houstonians actually endeavored to go anywhere on foot.

Not to worry; dash about in your SUV and discover you’re moments from filling those season orchestra seats at the Houston Grand Opera, Hobby Center, Alley Theatre, Houston Ballet or Houston Symphony; and happily, you’re just a valet away from Sunday brunch at venerable hotels like The Lancaster, the Ico, the Alden and the Four Seasons downtown.

Like your culture a tad quirkier? Good news: The Orange Show’s Beer Can House, made of, yes, beer cans and scoped out by tourists from around the globe, is right in the neighborhood.

Unwind with a scenic walk or jog along the trails winding along Buffalo Bayou (urban adventurers can also take to the water and canoe with a guide down the bayou), or jump onto your bike and cycle though the beautiful wooded paths in and around Memorial Park.  

Crave company? Check out West End Bicycles and join their gang of roaming riders as they take to the streets biweekly and on weekends for a fun, rowdy ride.  

Old-timers who’ve been around the neighborhood for a while drop into the Wabash Antiques & Feed store for a dose of local color. Originally opened at the turn of the century, not too many people realize Wabash is an acronym that onetime owner, Manning Mann, created; it stands for Washington Avenue, Bric-a- Brac, Antiques, Sundries and Hardware. But you can think of it as your haunt for purchasing baby chicks, tomato seeds and a big, galvanized- steel trough when the need arises.  

Meanwhile, venture down Shepherd drive to West Gray and take in an art-house flick at the Landmark River Oaks Theatre, then meet for coffee at one of the dueling corner Starbucks stores and discuss the merits of Fellini. Shopping is prime here, too, with Sur La Table, Redstich, La Mode Lingerie, Events and Luke’s Locker and the recently announced Barnes & Noble all found at the River Oaks Shopping Center. Hungry? You don’t have to meander far to find eateries all the cognoscenti are flocking to. From one end of Washington Avenue to the other, you can dine out breakfast, lunch and dinner, dressing up or down at spots like The Daily Grind, noshing on spicy tacos at El Rey or zipping into the drive-thru at Bright & Early for café au lait on the run.

Candelari’s Pizzeria serves up the best pizza pie this side of Little Italy, while you can have your Tex-Mex fix covered at Molina’s and El Tiempo. Channeling a little bit of Spain, Catalan will take you—via small bites—to the sundrenched escape, and be patient: the anxiously awaited Azuma Sushi & Robata Bar will open its third locale any day now. Chic wine geeks craving a little grape juice have some sleek choices too: the madpacked Max’s Wine Dive, The Corkscrew and Cova, the more sedate wine bar and retail stop combined. And, you can walk to Otto’s for a juicy burger or BBQ.