Katharine Shilcutt
Houston
Director of Communications for Research @RiceUniversity. Former food critic, current DJ at @KTRU, fan of humanity.
Articles by Katharine Shilcutt
Houston’s Skyline Hits Different From These Spots
Take in the stunning skyline from different vantage points. Image: aitcheeboy-stock.adobe.com Sure, it’s not the Manhattan skyline. But there’s something about seeing Houston’s staggered Downtown silhouette come into view while driving on the highway that stirs up a feeling best described as nostalgia and pride. The towers catch the light differently depending on the hour—golden at sunset, moody at dusk, electric after dark—and the vantage point matters as much as the timing.
Brittany Britto Garley
Brittany Britto Garley is the Editor-in-Chief of Houstonia Magazine and an award-winning Houston-based writer shaping the city’s conversations around food, culture, and community. Previously, she served as the Regional Editor of Eater’s Texas sites and as the editor of Eater Houston. Before that, she worked as a higher education and features reporter at the Houston Chronicle and as a features reporter and blogger at The Baltimore Sun.
A Houstonian's Spicy Guide to Crawfish Season
We all love to declare that a certain event or holiday is the most wonderful time of the year. But when it comes to crawfish season, Houstonians really mean it. While Louisiana can take the credit for supplying us with a steady stream of mudbugs, and for popularizing the tradition in the US in the first place, Houston has an undeniable place in crawfish culture.
7 Best Spots to Paddle and Rent Kayaks in Houston
IF YOU LEFT THE LAST BUFFALO BAYOU REGATTA feeling inspired to do some paddling of your own, you’re in luck: Although Houston is not always thought of as a city with ample outdoor recreation activities, there is actually plenty of canoeing and kayaking to be done.
7 Best Spots to Paddle and Rent Kayak's in Houston
IF YOU LEFT THE LAST BUFFALO BAYOU REGATTA feeling inspired to do some paddling of your own, you’re in luck: Although Houston is not always thought of as a city with ample outdoor recreation activities, there is actually plenty of canoeing and kayaking to be done.
COVID doesn't account for troubling trend of unexplained US deaths
Credit: Rice University Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, deaths attributed to many other health conditions have spiked in the U.S.: Alzheimer's, heart disease, cancer and diabetes, for example, have killed far more Americans than would be expected in a pre-pandemic year. This "excess mortality" data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) underpins a new dashboard created by Rice humanities computing researcher John Mulligan that sheds light on this troubling trend.
Raw Deals: Houston's 10 Best Oyster Bars
Life’s just a little more fun when there are oysters involved. Whether you like yours chargrilled, cajun-style, deep-fried, or raw served on a bed of ice with lemon, this natural aphrodisiac never goes out of season. A true ocean delicacy, there are so many options as to how they can be prepared or served based on your taste buds’ cravings. Get cozy at the bar or dine with friends at a table as the dish can serve as both an appetizer or your main course for any seafood lover.
Now's the Time to Start Helping Out, Houston
I don't have a Hurricane Harvey thinkpiece in me, I muttered to absolutely no one as I schlepped the last of a few dozen boxes of toiletry kits donated by United Airlines into Hall C at the George R. Brown Convention Center.
A Cooler Coke: Almdudler
Each Tuesday and Thursday for the next few weeks, we'll be taking a look at alternatives to cokes for the sticky Houston summer that lays ahead. Through the course of drinking various soft drinks and reporting back to you on them, I'll occasionally discover beverages like Vimto: something I feel that I should be familiar with, but somehow am not. It's vaguely frustrating.
Barbecue, Onions and Red Soda: Dispatches from the 2013 Foodways Texas Symposium
Katharine Shilcutt 4 AA When I first heard about the theme of the 2013 Foodways Texas symposium, I was wary: two-and-a-half days of barbecue panels, meals and talks. Two-and-a-half days? Not that there isn't fertile ground to plow for topics, but the sheer amount of time devoted to discussions of smoked meat seemed excessive.
Guide to the Best Crawfish in Houston
Every spring, Houston goes crawfish crazy—and with good reason. Thanks to our unique confluence of cultures, there’s no better city in the United States in which to enjoy the fiery red crustaceans. Whether you’re seeking Cajun-style boils, Vietnamese-style smorgasbords or even Pakistani, Japanese and Tex-Mex twists on the mudbugs, Houston has it all, and Houstonia has your comprehensive guide to making the most of the season—which, lucky you, now lasts all the way into the summer.
What Is Houston Cowboy?
Katharine Shilcutt 4 AA I spend too much time on the Internet, but occasionally get rewarded for my rabbit-holing with stuff like Houston Cowboy. (And this GIF of a kitten getting slapped by a cat for wearing a dumb bowler hat.) I saw Houston Cowboy floating around in a few places yesterday and decided to figure out what the stuff was. How can a Houstonian not be intrigued by this odd syrup-like product being sold in what looks like Thailand, judging by the script on the bottles?
Yes, Floating Fire Ant Nests Are a Real Thing
There are plenty of reasons not to wade through flood waters unless absolutely necessary for a life-threatening emergency situation. Those reasons include: Not being able to see dangerous debris under the water Getting sacked by a floating manhole cover Not realizing how strong the current is Encountering rogue wildlife like alligators and snakes Realizing you're also wading in raw sewage Floating fire ant mounds Wait, what?
Get the Good Kind of Raw Deals on Gulf Oysters
Most of the time, the Gulf oysters we slurp up come from our own Texan waters, but Houston offers everything from appellation oysters scooped up from reefs in Louisiana, Alabama and Florida to fancy foreign oysters from frigid waters far, far away. Here’s where to find the best Gulf oysters on the half-shell for you. Yes, you.
Get Out: Valentine's Pas de Deux at Haras Hacienda
Haras Hacienda began as an equestrian facility in Magnolia. Here to give the Inn at Dos Brisas a run for its money in the Equestrian-Friendly Inn with Fancy Restaurant Just Northwest of Houston category is a new contender: Haras Hacienda, a Magnolia horse farm with on-site boutique hotel, spa and upscale Mexican restaurant.
11 Date Night Ideas Across Town
Grazia Italian Kitchen in Pearland has a sassy hint of speakeasy. Boca2 Gastro Bar Pronounced “Bocados,” this charming tapas joint is ideal for dos to dine—and not only because of the easy-on-the-wallet pricing of its shared plates. Finely tuned Spanish classics like flaky, short rib–stuffed empanadas and hearty albóndigas are best paired with the extensive Old World wine selection or perhaps a pitcher of guava sangria.
Hot Dr Pepper with Lemon: The Ultimate Texas Cold Weather Drink
When I was in college, Dr Pepper ruled our campus (and so did Drayton McLane, but that's a story for another day). No, seriously. It became the official soft drink of Baylor back in 1997. And along with it came Dr Pepper Hour, formerly Coke Hour. Baylor University isn't just renowned for being the largest Baptist university in the world (along with all the questionable behaviors and eccentricities that accompany that title).
Our 5 Favorite Parks in Houston
Where It Is: Why We Love It: This park is the beating heart of the city’s main artery, Buffalo Bayou, a 160-acre greenspace built along 10 miles of waterway in a $58 million undertaking. What to Do: Explore the water in a kayak or on a pontoon boat, walk the Kinder Footpaths, take kids to the Barbara Fish Daniel Nature Play Area, and ride bikes on the Sandy Reed Memorial Trail.
Newcomer's Guide 2018
Houston is wonderful, and Houstonians are incredibly nice—like, almost invasively so. You’ll see as you start to figure this place out. In the meantime, here’s a few handy things to learn about life in Houston as you settle in.
The Best State Parks in East Texas
East Texas: land of towering loblollies and rust-red clay roads, moss-draped swamps and cypress forests, peace and quiet and—yes—the mysterious unknown. Despite the fact that it’s our own neck of the woods, for many Houstonians, the region remains sequestered behind that famous Pine Curtain. Texas Parks & Wildlife defines much of East Texas as the Piney Woods. This region is rich in rainfall, typically 36 to 50 inches per year, which keeps the vegetation verdant.
Take Our Real Estate Survey and Tell It Like It Is
A lot has changed in Houston over the last decade, not the least of which is the housing market. Between the steady influx of Newstonians, the building sprees by developers and the price of oil taking a tumble (and taking a lot of Houston jobs along with it), the real estate game has changed here—for better or for worse. But we know how we feel about it (conflicted, nostalgic, hopeful, a wee bit existential). We want to know how the real estate market has affected you, our readers.
Our 3 Favorite Supermarkets in Asiatown
Going into a grocery store blind is a recipe for accidentally spending $200 on jelly candies and pork belly. Instead, head into these three Asiatown favorites with a list—here’s what to look for at each. This is the place for hard-to-find produce and a truly massive selection of live seafood.
4 Noodle Bowls You Need to Know About
This cozy haunt in Dun Huang Plaza has been serving big bowls of ramen since long before it was trendy. The pork-heavy tonkotsu ramen and a version topped with chicken kara-age (fried chicken nuggets) are both big enough to share. The miso ramen remains a reliable go-to meal, affordable and unpretentious and begging to be enjoyed with a cold Asahi beer. Pro tip: Feeling adventurous? Ask them to make your ramen spicy.
The Houstonian's Essential Guide to Asiatown
Some of our readers, we know, are already intimately familiar with the joys of Asiatown. For them, the Southwest Houston district, with its six square miles of cultural offerings and businesses of every stripe—Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Taiwanese, Malaysian, Japanese, Korean, you name it—is a regular destination, a place to meet up with friends and family and enjoy great restaurants, delectable desserts, affordable spa treatments, shopping, and more.
Anthony Bourdain: "There Has Never Been a Better Time to Eat in America"
Anthony Bourdain is a man who requires little introduction. The author of Kitchen Confidential -- the book published almost exactly 10 years ago, which catapulted him to fame -- and host of popular TV shows like A Cook's Tour and No Reservations, Bourdain is the prototypical bad-boy chef, Marco Pierre White meets Iggy Pop. These days, Bourdain has become considerably tamer and has even given up smoking. But that doesn't mean his wit or his tongue are any less sharp.
9 Heights Restaurants We Love (Right Now)
Two things are certain: There’s never been a better time to dine in this historic neighborhood, and by the time you read this list of its newest restaurants, a handful of others will have already opened their doors. This tidy little restaurant in a converted bungalow boasts an equally smart menu, wherein chef Travis Lenig puts his own spin on the surf-and-turf tradition. (Get it?
Ten Classic Restaurant Commercials from the 1980s
If you're a child of the '80s, much of your misspent youth was misspent in front of the television taking in shows like Mr. Wizard and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. But just as those classic TV shows from your childhood have remained with you all these years, so have the equally classic commercials.
The Dozen Essential Taco Terms You Need to Know So You Don't Look Like a Gringo
Knowing when to say para aquí and para llevar can mean the difference between getting a handy foil lid for your plate of tacos and accidentally slopping them all over your car’s front seat while you schlep them home.
The 12 Best Local Beers to Go With Your Tacos
The only thing that tastes better than a cold beer with your tacos is a really, really good cold beer that makes you say things like, “Do I detect a note of grapefruit?” (Yes, you do.) 8th Wonder Brewery finessed subtle banana and clove notes into this wheat beer, which serve as a nimble complement to the flavors in a typical al pastor marinade: orange, pineapple, cumin, oregano, roasted chiles, and other spices.
The Houstonian's Guide to the Best Tacos (and Beer!) in the Bayou City
Out of all the taco slingers in this sprawling city, who makes the best tortilla-wrapped creations? To answer this difficult question, we brought in a taco journalist who’s been studying the matter for years. Then we set about finding the perfect local brews to pair with them. The result? A mouthwatering tour through H-Town, starring the finest purveyors of what might be Houstonians’ two very favorite things. In This Feature: Our favorite tacos, in no particular order.
Praise Cheesus: The 10 Best Grilled Cheese Sandwiches in Houston
April is National Grilled Cheese month. If you want to move past the basic Velveeta-and-white-bread set-up, try these creative creations across town. What kind of world would we be living in where a so-named establishment, offering a nearly infinite variety of cut-to-order cheeses, didn’t also serve grilled cheese sandwiches?
Visit Your Own Hometown: Houston's Top 10 Hotel Bars
There are distinct advantages to drinking in hotel bars, even at hotels in the city where you live. There is always wi-fi available. The bartender doesn't care if you nurse or linger over your drink; most people are just biding time between meetings or flights anyway. You'll meet interesting people from all over the world, especially at the larger or posher bars in town.
Fraud Alert: Hot Garlic Crab Feed Houston Is a Scam
There's a new branch in the evolution of credit card scamming: the food festival scam, which speaks volumes about the culinary-focused zeitgeist that encourages eager foodies to part with their credit card number in exchange for a ticketed smorgasbord. This is a thing we do now; we just trade away our Visa information to randoms on the internet whom we've never even met.
McDonald's Introduces a Chorizo Burrito
McDonald's and I have a fraught relationship, bordering on the abusive. McDonald's used to be what I turned to in deep times of stress as if its limp burgers were made of pure sweet sativa, to the point that my bank once called me to make sure that my debit card hadn't been stolen as—during the depths of a bad breakup earlier this year—I had been eating McDonald's at least twice a day for a week.
The Definitive Guide to Houston's Farmers Markets
For years and years, they said it couldn’t be done. Although other coastal cities had flourishing farmers markets, back in the ’80s and ’90s, Houston couldn’t sustain one. So interested local chefs, of which there were only a few, made do. Occasionally, somebody would show up to a restaurant’s back door with a bunch of greens dotted with snails, or a bushel of homegrown squash. Chefs would buy it all up and change their menus accordingly.
Rice-developed exhibition ‘Between Love and Madness: Mexican Comic Art from the 1970s’ opens at Lawndale Art Center
When Rice Associate Professor Christopher Sperandio stumbled on a treasure trove of original Mexican comic books from the late 1960s and early ’70s, the artist in him knew he’d found something truly special — and the educator in him knew he’d found a unique opportunity to work with students on a one-of-a-kind exhibition. The result is “Between Love and Madness — The Art of the Mexican Micro Comic,” which opened Jan. 18 at the Lawndale Art Center.
Pinn and CERCL Writing Collective collaborate on new book, ‘Embodiment and Black Religion’
By their very nature, academics want to stake out their own territory, to both conceive of and claim some radical new idea. But for the last four years, Rice’s Anthony Pinn, the Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Humanities and a professor of religion, has had a very different mandate for his graduate students: collaborate, even if it means no longer receiving full credit.
‘Origin, 135 degrees’ marks the first in Rice Public Art’s ‘Platform’ series
It’s not a scaffolding for some edifice to come, nor is it — as one overheard conversation described the structure — a giant jungle gym. Jarrod Beck’s “Origin, 135 degrees” is the first public artwork in a new Rice Public Art series, “Platform.” Its 140-foot long steel cage occupies more than 2,500 square feet between Rayzor and Sewall halls.
‘Why Won’t They Talk: Using Discussion To Facilitate Learning’
Rice University faculty members gathered Jan. 5 to examine innovative teaching methods at the fifth annual “Symposium on Teaching and Learning,” hosted by the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE). This year’s symposium focused on the importance of discussion in facilitating education. “Our workshop today is a part of a focus that we’ve placed this year on discussion-based teaching,” said Joshua Eyler, director of the CTE.
Rice’s Latin American Graduate Student Association sends aid to Mexico and Puerto Rico
Three months after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, roughly half of the island’s 3 million people remain without power. Meanwhile, residents of the Mexican states of Pueblo, Morelos and the greater Mexico City area are still rebuilding following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake that killed 370 people and injured over 6,000 others. The natural disasters occurred back to back — the earthquake Sept.
52 Weekends of Family Fun
From this moment until the last day of 2018, you can now confidently answer when the kids ask that question of questions—What are we doing this weekend? We’ve tracked down the top activities for tots, toddlers, tweens and teens, with an idea for every single weekend of the year, including one-of-a-kind experiences like wolf-sanctuary sleepovers, chocolate factory–themed escape rooms, tiger-training sessions at the Houston Zoo, and conductor-for-the-day fun at Hermann Park.
Why Doesn't Houston Have Its Own History Museum?
Story Sloane III is a man committed to preserving Houston’s history. This makes him an outlier in a demolition-happy city such as ours, a city which—unlike most others around the world—has no museum devoted to archiving its accomplishments and progress over the years, nor its screw-ups and foibles. But this hasn’t stopped Sloane from pushing for a Houston history museum for much of his adult life.
It's January, Which Means It's Strawberry Season
In other cities, you can’t really enjoy fresh strawberries until the spring and summer months. Not so in humid Houston, where our berry season begins with the New Year. Here, three ways to enjoy these sweet treats right now: Froberg’s (3601 W. Hwy. 6, Alvin) has supplied Houston with strawberries since 1936, and every January the family farm opens its fields to the public for berry picking.
PSA: This Rat Fetus Was Not Found in Timmy Chan's Fried Rice
The Original Timmy Chan's on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (a.k.a. Timmy Chan's Chicken & Rice) may have only been inspected by the City of Houston Health Department once since November 2010, but that inspection didn't turn up anything that we'd call remotely offensive. And that Timmy Chan's on MLK almost certainly didn't serve a customer a rat fetus in their fried rice, as several news outlets were reporting this week.
Adios, Mosquitoes
The first hard freeze—when temps drop below the mid-20s for at least a few hours—may not be great news for your pipes, but it does mean a respite from that most Houstonian of foes: the blood-thirsty mosquito. The truth? They’re just hibernating. The idea that these pests are outright killed by the frost is an old wives’ tale, says Dr. Gabriel Hamer, an assistant professor of entomology at Texas A&M University.
Rice alum will run the Houston Marathon from back to front to raise funds for Harvey relief
In characteristic Rice fashion, alumnus Mike Sohaskey ’93 thought creatively when he decided to support Hurricane Harvey relief efforts through the upcoming Chevron Houston Marathon Jan. 14: Sohaskey will start at the very back of the pack and has asked his supporters to pledge dollars for each runner he passes on his way to the finish line.
Rice’s Fay Yarbrough wins NEH grant to research Choctaws in the Civil War
Fay Yarbrough wasn’t expecting to make the sort of discovery that would win her a prestigious National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant when she first began sorting through Choctaw Indian archives at the Oklahoma Historical Society in Oklahoma City in 2006.
Rice’s John Hopkins wins Arlt Award in the Humanities, excavates in Rome
This year John Hopkins, assistant professor of art history and classical studies, traded the hot and muggy summer of Houston for that of Rome. There, steps away from the Roman Forum, Hopkins co-directed an ongoing excavation within the 2,000-year-old Horrea Agrippiana, an ancient warehouse whose recently uncovered foundations are changing the way art and architectural historians understand the early centuries of the Eternal City.
Rice University lecturer debuts video installation at Day for Night festival
Rice’s Lina Dib has found a moment to pause amidst the frenzied construction taking place in the days leading up to the third annual Day for Night festival. The annual event, held Dec. 15-17 on the sprawling campus of the former Barbara Jordan Post Office at 401 Franklin St., brings together cutting-edge musicians and artists who work in more modern mediums: light, sound, video and computer code.
Rice students de-stressed with therapy pets during final exams
– December 11, 2017Posted in: Current News During finals week, Rice students socialized and shared furry snuggles with dogs from the Faithful Paws pet therapy organzation Dec. 6-8 at the Fondren Library. This is the sixth year Fondren has held therapy dog sessions to help students de-stress during final exams. Photo by Jeff Fitlow About Katharine Shilcutt Katharine Shilcutt is a media relations specialist in Rice University's Office of Public Affairs. Comments are closed.
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