Metro 101

By Joe Dwyer     8/26/10 7:00pm

Even native Houstonians sometimes have trouble navigating the METROrail - my own freshmen can attest to this - but the rail is a Rice student's best friend. It can connect you to all kinds of food and activities outside the hedges; you just have to know where to look. No car? No problem. The METRO can get you where you want to go. First off, if you haven't already picked up your Q-Card from the Cashier's Office, do it. It's free, and the Cashier's Office will refill the card with $50 every time you get low: All you need to do is present your Rice ID with the Q-Card.

And sure, you can ride the rail without paying for a ticket, but why risk getting busted by METRO Police and ruining your night of fun? It's just not worth it.

Here are some places of interest along the rail to get started with, but don't stop there - your next favorite restaurant or hangout just might be a stop away on the rail. Grab your roommates and friends and get out and explore Houston a bit.

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Remember to always use common sense on the rail, and if taking the bus, double check your route before you leave - Google Maps and www.ridemetro.org are two great resources for route maps and information.

#1 TMC Transit Center: There's not much to do here unless you work in the Texas Medical Center, but you can pick up the #10 Willowbend METRO bus and get dropped off right in front of Target, perfect for weekdays when the shopping shuttle isn't running and your deadbeat roommate doesn't want to drive you there.

#2 Ensemble/HCC: Tacos a Go-Go, my own personal favorite place to eat along the METROrail route, serves up delicious breakfast tacos all day and even more delicious migas. Even better, they're open until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights - perfect for some late-night post-concert munchies on your way back to campus.

#3 Wheeler Station: It's not really a point of interest, so much as a hub to get to your next stop. Do some grocery shopping at the Fiesta Mart across the street, or pick up the #25 Richmond bus to take you to the Menil Collection or even Best Buy off of Loop 610.

#4 Downtown Transit Center: Just like Wheeler, there isn't much to "do" around here, per se, but the Downtown Transit Center can connect you to multiple bus routes. I use it sometimes to catch the #52 Scott/ Hirsch out to my grandparents' house on the northeast side. If you're trying to get to Bush Intercontinental Airport, the Metro Airport Direct shuttle will take you there for $15 every 30 minutes. The #88 Hobby Airport bus also departs across the street, and just costs the normal $1.25 fare. Your Q-Card will work for both.

#5 Main Street Square: If shopping and fancy eating are your interests, get off of the rail at Main Street Square and have a look around the Houston Pavilions. XXI Forever and Books-a-Million are just a couple of the vendors there. If entertainment is your thing, House of Blues has great food and concerts, and Lucky Strike Lanes offers a classy bowling experience - just make sure you bring your wallet.

#6 Preston: Want to see a movie? The Astros? The symphony? A rock concert? A theatre production? The ballet or opera? Preston Station is your stop for all of the above, putting you within easy walking distance of the Angelika Theater, Minute Maid Park, the Houston Symphony, Verizon Wireless Theater, Alley Theatre and the Wortham Center. And, with the exception of Minute Maid Park, all of these places are grouped around Bayou Place, making them fairly easy to locate. Hungry on your way back? Stop by Frank's Pizza on 417 Travis St. - they're open until 1 a.m. on Thursdays and 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

7) UH Downtown: Get off at the end of the line and then walk back across the bridge to find Spaghetti Warehouse overlooking the bayou. Don't let the drab exterior fool you - this place serves up some of the tastiest Italian food in Houston, at a pretty good price too.

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