Week seven of our Listen To America road trip rolled on into Houston.
The fourth most populated city in America was devastated by Hurricane Harvey in August and is still on the road to recovery. Harvey took over 70 lives, cost the city billions of dollars in damages from rainfall and flooding, and is considered one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the nation.
Despite all of that, Houston trucks on.
It doesn’t matter if you call Houston “Space City,” “Bayou City,” “Magnolia City,” “H-Town” or, well, Houston. The bustling city has an unrivaled vibrancy that can’t really be pinned down.
Space Center Houston appeals to visitors with a taste for the unknown, while downtown’s theater, ballet, opera, and symphony offerings appeal to aspiring thespians, dancers, singers, and those who just appreciate the crafts. There’s also the country’s fourth-largest museum district, which features 19 different institutions ― 11 of which are free!
HuffPost spent some time in Midtown Park, chatting with locals about what makes Houston so great. Here’s what our time there looked like:
Akbar Shahid Ahmed interviews Leanne Schneider.
People sign up to be interviewed during HuffPost's visit to Midtown Park.
Richard Dixon is interviewed while his dog waits.
Kevin Kallet wears a branded T-shirt during HuffPost's video activation at Midtown Park in Houston.
Megan Talley signs up to be interviewed.
Mark Guerra is interviewed during HuffPost's visit to Midtown Park.
Olivia plays a game of cornhole with Craig Callaghan.
A van owned by "Second Servings," an organization that picks up leftover food and gives it to those in need, is parked at Midtown Park in Houston.
Annette Liftman shows leftover food that had been picked up by the organization "Second Servings."
Lars Thorn hits a baseball thrown by Augustine-Pio.
Brothers Augustine-Pio, Alphonsus-Leo and Hyacinth-Michael play baseball at Midtown Park in Houston.
Brothers Augustine-Pio, Alphonsus-Leo and Hyacinth-Michael play baseball at Midtown Park in Houston.
David Vuong and his sons Augustine-Pio, Alphonsus-Leo and Hyacinth-Michael play a game of baseball at Midtown Park in Houston.
Brothers Augustine-Pio, Alphonsus-Leo and Hyacinth-Michael play a game of baseball.
Brad Cowgill plays around by holding a film slate in front of Will Tooke and Emily McCombs.
Police officers on horseback make their way around the HuffPost tour bus.
Also on HuffPost
HuffPost visited Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Oct. 23, 2017, as part of "Listen To America: A HuffPost Road Trip." HuffPost traveled to more than 20 cities on its tour across the country.
Paul Mansfield signs up to be interviewed.
HuffPost interviews Mark Lucero at the Albuquerque Sign Language Academy.
Kristin Reese and her student Pearl play around with temporary tattoos.
HuffPost's Will Tooke interviews Nathan Campbell.
Rafe Martinez of the Albuquerque Sign Language Academy prepares to be interviewed.
A dog sits on a miniature director chair while its owner is interviewed.
HuffPost interviews Jennifer Martinez.
Violetta Bennett, a Albuquerque Sign Language Academy employee, and Ethan Curado, who is about to be interviewed.
HuffPost interviews Leticia Archuleta, who works for Albuquerque Sign Language Academy.
Emma Gray chats with Kaylee and Malia outside the Albuquerque Sign Language Academy.
Hillary Frey chats with an Lin Marksbury during HuffPost's visit to the Albuquerque Sign Language Academy.
Jane and Fred Weis pose for a photo after being interviewed.
Students are interviewed during HuffPost's visit to Albuquerque.
Hillary Frey speaks about HuffPost's bus tour.
Pupils of the Albuquerque Sign Language Academy put on a an event during HuffPost's visit.
Elementary school students in class during HuffPost's visit to the Albuquerque Sign Language Academy.
Audience members applaud as Albuquerque Sign Language Academy students put on a an event.
Rose Jojola cries while talking about her daughter Stephanie Rodriguez's pregnancy.
Students at the Albuquerque Sign Language Academy sign to audience members during an event.
Kristin Reese helps Pearl and Cody apply temporary tattoos.
The NFL will allow players to wear protective Guardian Caps during games beginning with the 2024 season. The caps were previously mandated for practices.
