It seems Defender readers and website visitors really appreciated our first article spotlighting five Houston-area hidden gems.
I guess they agreed that sleeping on Houston is not recommended.
Black Houston, sho-nuff offers something for everyone, with well-known places to get the best food, entertainment, culture, spirituality and nature fixes that you’re seeking. But truth be told, every curve and corner of Houston offers under-the-radar venues to suit whatever fancy you’re rolling with on any given day or night.
Check out these five, and let me know which under-appreciated point deserves to be included in the next round of Houston hidden gems.
African American History Research Center at the Gregory Campus
1300 Victor St., Houston, TX 77019
832-393-1440
https://houstonlibrary.org/aahrc
This under-appreciated Houston gem is dedicated to preserving and promoting the history and culture of African Americans in Houston and beyond. Its goal is to link visitors from around the world to the storied history of this city and Texas. The African American History Research Center at the Gregory School does this via sharing its collections of books, manuscripts and photographs, and hosting events, exhibits and programs that explore the lives and achievements of African Americans. Services and events are open to the public and are designed to educate and engage visitors of all ages.
Burger Park
6704 Martin Luther King Blvd, Houston, TX 77033
713-733-6108
https://burger-park.foodjoyy.com
First off, this is one of them “if-you-know-you-know” spots. Sure, Houston is one of the most revered and respected foodie towns in the country. And H-Town is overflowing with gazillions of the finest of fine dining options. And if that’s what you’re looking for, Burger Park ain’t that. But if you want one of the best fish “sammiches” in the city, or one of the best burgers in Houston or some of the best slushies this side of heaven, Burger Park is your place. Again, fine dining this ain’t. But Trusss! The food… Lord, have mercy.
UnWine on Almeda
4420 Almeda St., Houston, TX 77004
832-804-9506
Lost in all the hoopla, attention and drama that was the Turkey Leg Hut was and still is a diamond of a destination, UnWine on Almeda. Shearone Lewis is the owner and operator of UnWine on Almeda, a wine bar offering housemade sangria, mimosas, craft beer and light bites in an upscale setting. Lewis is a gem of a human being all by herself. But together with her wine bar, they bring life and positivity to those who come through for events, social gatherings or just to purchase Lewis’s extensive collection featuring many of the best Black-owned, Black produced wines in the country and world.
Grady Park
1700 Yorktown Dr, Houston, TX 77056
https://www.houstontx.gov/parks
Nestled between San Felipe and Westheimer, and just minutes away from the Galleria, is a quaint, quiet park that is the perfect, laid-back chill spot. So much so, that Grady Park regulars are probably gonna cuss me out for shining the spotlight on this place that is a literal sanctuary of calmness smack dab in the middle of the big city. The park only has one tennis court and one basketball goal. It does have ample equipment for children to play on. And Grady Park has a track that feels like it’s made of actual, good-on-the-knees dirt and not concrete.
The track surrounds a circular green space perfect for playing catch, laying out a blanket and reading/napping or running around with your beloved pet. The trees that line the track provide the cool-down shade Houstonians always need. But what makes this spot special is that it’s not one overrun with goob-gobs of people. There always seems to be just enough activity to hear the buzz of enjoyment, balanced with enough semi-silence to hear the trees, the wind and the ancestors if you listen hard enough. Our ancestors are everywhere, by the way. I love me some Grady Park.
Camp Logan Historical Marker (at Memorial Park)
6235-6399 Haskell St (@ Arnott St.), Houston, TX 77007
And for you who are looking for new ways to honor our history and our ancestors, check out the Camp Logan Historical Marker, which sits on a small, nearly invisible corner of Memorial Park where the famous (or infamous) camp was located. As you may know, in August 1917, what some labeled a riot took place in Houston, with Camp Logan marked as its starting point. Less a riot and more of a rebellion, Black people, namely members of the all-Black 3rd Battalion, 24th Infantry (Buffalo Soldiers) who were stationed at Camp Logan, were tired of racialized white domestic terrorism constantly aimed at Houston’s Black residents.
When one of their own was beaten and jailed for coming to the aid of a Black woman who had been accosted by HPD, and one of their officers was shot at by HPD and thought dead by his troops, the brothers, armed, literally broke camp and headed to HPD headquarters to see what was up. They were ambushed by HPD and “deputized” white militia members (ordinary white citizens who were given the authority to kill Black soldiers). But after HPD and crew experienced more casualties than the brothers of the 24th Infantry, the bruhs were eventually arrested and court martialed, with some of them eventually executed via formalized lynching.
After over 100 years, the brothers were finally pardoned for committing the “crime” of standing for Black humanity. Camp Logan was located in what is now Memorial Park. The “blink-and-you’ll-miss-it” historical marker is symbolic of how our story is often belittled and hidden. Nevertheless, that ground is sacred because Black soldiers who stood for Black people walked that earth. So, if you’re looking to honor them, that historical marker wouldn’t be a bad place to venture.
