Better known for its brawn than its beauty, Houston has built a solid reputation as a hard-working city lacking in looks and style, thanks to urban sprawl and a noticeable absence of zoning laws. While the city may not be able to completely escape its screaming billboards and oil refineries, numerous projects to beautify Houston have paid off, helping the largest city in Texas to shake its frumpy past and turn a few heads along the way.

This year the opening of Discovery Green added a 12-acre park in downtown near the George R. Brown Convention Center, Minute Maid Park and the Toyota Center. Modeled after great urban parks, Discovery Green aims to provide an interactive green space within the city center. Its features include a one-acre lake, public art installations, a children’s park, interactive water fountains, several promenades and gardens, dog runs, green lawns and a performance site with regularly scheduled programming.

This fall, the Houston Pavilions will open in downtown, aiming to be the city’s premiere entertainment, retail and office hub. The $170 million project covers four city blocks and will add upscale retail tenants, 200,000 square feet of premium office space and a central courtyard. Retail tenants will include the House of Blues, Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar, McCormick & Schmicks, Polk Street Pub, BCBG and the Cork Wine Bar.

To those who know Houston, it is no small surprise that the nation’s fourth largest city is beginning to gain a more sophisticated image. Houston has never been short on culture, contrary to what some uninformed outsiders may think. The city has long been a treasure trove of cultural offerings with its world-class museum district, downtown theater district, off-the-wall art scene, bevy of national sports teams and fine dining venues.

While there may be some who aren’t familiar with Space City’s softer side, the energy capital of the world is a well-known player in the global economy. Built on the energy industry, Houston has successfully diversified and strengthened its economy since the oil depression of the 1980s, which devastated the city. Once claiming 86 percent of the city’s employment base, energy now accounts for less than 50 percent of the city’s economy. Other industries that have flourished in Houston are computer manufacturing, medicine, technology, nanotechnology, space/aerospace and international trade.

Houston also claims headquarters of 26 Fortune 500 companies, including ConocoPhillips, Sysco, Anadarko, Continental Airlines, Waste Management and Reliant Energy. Plus, Houston is home to the world’s largest medical complex — the Medical Center — with 46 institutions, including 13 hospitals, two medical schools and four nursing schools. The Port of Houston drives the city’s international trade, ranking first in the United States for foreign waterborne tonnage and 10th in the world for total tonnage.

With its strong economy, persevering spirit and focus on excellence, Houston is destined to be a winner.

LODGING

HOTEL ZAZA

From its plum location in the charming Museum District, Hotel ZaZa indulges its guests in pampered luxury with a decadent attitude. Boasting the city’s roomiest accommodations, the property’s 315 guestrooms include plush linens, lavish furnishings, black-out drapes, flat-screen plasma televisions, stone and granite bathrooms, and complimentary wireless Internet access. For a unique luxury experience, book one of Hotel ZaZa’s eight specialty-themed suites, such as Rock Star, Tycoon, Black Label or Outlaw. These opulent suites give the opportunity to live another’s glamorous life during your stay.$$$$
HOTEL ZAZA
5701 Main St.
tel 713 526 1991
http://www.hotelzazahouston.com

HOTEL ICON

This opulent hotel in the heart of downtown Houston is the epitome of swank, attracting VIPs and the most discerning travelers. Housed in a landmark bank built in 1911, Hotel Icon has been gloriously restored as a posh boutique hotel with 135 guestrooms and nine luxury suites. Vibrant hues of red and gold mark the richly decorated guestrooms, which feature a luxury bath, plush linens and complimentary high-speed Internet. Don’t miss the modern American fare at award-winning Voice restaurant — the Voice lounge is the place to see and be seen on the downtown scene.$$$-$$$$
HOTEL ICON
220 Main
tel 713 224 4266
http://www.hotel icon.com

THE MAGNOLIA HOTEL HOUSTON

The Magnolia Hotel defines uptown chic with its contemporary design and understated elegance. Its 314 rooms are outfitted with dark wood furniture, crisp white linens, velvet draperies, and marble and granite bathrooms. Guests can take in spectacular views of the city from the downtown hotel’s rooftop pool and Jacuzzi. The hotel hosts a complimentary breakfast buffet, evening reception and bedtime cookie buffet in the cozy Club. Its 44 studios and 19 one-bedroom suites make perfect accommodations for the extended-stay traveler. Other amenities include town car service, complimentary high-speed Internet and 24-hour fitness center.$$$-$$$$
THE MAGNOLIA HOTEL HOUSTON
100 Texas Ave.
tel 713 221 0011
http://www.magnoliahotelhouston.com

DINING

MARK’S AMERICAN CUISINE

In a city lauded for its many quality restaurants, Mark’s continues to be a perennial favorite among Houstonians, critics and visitors alike. Set in a 1920s church in Montrose, the restaurant has an ethereal quality with its stunning stained-glass windows. Chef Mark Cox specializes in modern American cuisine, delighting customers with his one-of-a-kind creations. An excellent wine list and dessert menu perfect a meal at one of Houston’s most beloved fine dining establishments.$$$$
MARK’S AMERICAN CUISINE
1658 Westheimer Road
tel 713 523 3800

IRMA’S SOUTHWEST GRIL

Open for breakfast and lunch, Irma’s Southwest Grill is a top pick for Tex-Mex cuisine in a city overflowing with delicious options for Mexican fare. Located in downtown next to Minute Maid Park, the restaurant is a fun stop before catching a ball game. Reservations are needed on game days. Irma’s original location at 22 N. Chenevert, open for breakfast and lunch on weekdays only, serves up authentic Mexican cuisine with a little less polish but the same exquisite flavor. You can’t go wrong with either option, and be sure to order a glass of Irma’s homemade lemonade.
IRMA’S SOUTHWEST GRIL
1314 Texas at Austin
tel 713 247 9651
http://www.irmassouthwest.com

GOODE COMPANY BARVECUE
Loosen your belt and take your appetite to dine at Houston’s finest barbecue joint. The mouth-watering barbecue is best enjoyed outside at one of the restaurant’s many picnic tables with country music playing in the background. Dinner options include beef brisket, Czech sausage, jalapeño pork sausage, pork ribs, chicken, sweet water duck and other meats — all served with a tasty side of homemade jalapeño bread. Don’t forget a slice of pecan pie for dessert. The restaurant advises its customers to “give some serious thought to thanking your lucky stars that you’re in Texas,” and a meal at Goode will do just that. $
GOODE COMPANY BARVECUE
5109 Kirby Drive
tel 713 522 2530
http://www.goodecompany.com

DIVERSIONS

Project Row Houses

(2500 Holman, tel 713 526 7662, http://www.projectrowhouses.org) is an art and cultural community of 22 abandoned shotgun houses that seeks to preserve the history and significance of the city’s 3rd Ward. Art, photography and literary projects that explore issues relevant to the African-American community are displayed in 10 of the 22 renovated houses.

The heart of Houston’s art community is its world-class Museum District (http://www.houstonmuseumdistrict.org), which includes 18 institutions. Museum District Day is Sept. 20, when 16 of the museums waive admission fees to encourage the community to explore the district. In addition, 11 museums offer year-round complimentary admission. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (1001 Bissonet St., tel 713 639 7300,  http://www.mfah.org) is the state’s oldest museum and the largest museum in the Southwest. The Menil Collection (1515 Sul Ross St., tel 713 525 9400, http://www.menil.org) houses the art collection of John and Dominique de Menil and is considered one of the most important private art collections. Visitors to the Menil will also want to stop at the Rothko Chapel (1409 Sul Ross Road, tel 713 524 9839, http://www.rothkochapel.org)

Commissioned by the de Menils, the chapel is a crossroads where religion, art and architecture converge.

Art comes alive in Houston’s downtown Theater District, with permanent professional companies in opera, ballet, theater and music. Theatre Under the Stars (800 Bagby, tel 713 558 8887, http://www.tuts.org) presents musical theatre at the impressive Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. Founded in 1913, the Houston Symphony (615 Louisiana St., tel 713 224 7575, http://www.houston symphony.org) is the city’s oldest performing arts organization, offering a variety of musical performances throughout the year.

At Home with Greg Ortale
President and CEO of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau

Global Traveler: What makes Houston unique?
Greg Ortale: It may sound trite or cliché, but it really is a can-do spirit. There is nothing that is so daunting that Houstonians are reluctant to take it on. In fact, if it is a challenge, then they gravitate toward it. I think it may be in our genes from digging the ship channel. We weren’t a port, so how do you [become] a port? Well, you make a port. The way you make a port is to dig a ship channel.

GT: Why is Houston a good city for doing business?
GO: The spirit that I just talked about is pervasive. Houstonians approach a business deal on the basis of “how do we make this work.” Let’s make it work for me and let’s make it work for you. There is an open-mindedness. The city is hugely diverse, and it is extremely diverse in business. Our reputation internationally, in some instances, is better than it is domestically. The people who are coming here understand that Houstonians will sit down and talk.

GT: How does Houston’s diversity contribute to its success?
GO: From the Allen brothers all the way on, we are truly a microcosm of the United States. and a true city of immigrants. We’ve all had to do business with each other, and I think that’s made the difference.

GT: What are the new business trends in the city?
GO: The diversification of the definition of “energy capital of the world” is something that is certainly a trend. This spring we hosted the American Wind Energy Association. A major wind energy company is relocating to Houston. There are solar initiatives. Alternative energy is one thing.

GT: Tell us a little about new developments in the city.
GO: Discovery Green is a very important development. It has given perspective and scale to that end of the city. Previously, you would walk from the Four Seasons to the George R. Brown Convention Center through block after block of asphalt parking lot. The city took the initiative to buy up those lots and turn them into a park. That has shrunk the distance and has given [the convention center] more of a sense of belonging to the city — and being connected to it. Houston Pavilions is a strong effort to bring retail and entertainment to the core of the city. It is going to have some unique facilities, like the House of Blues, and some retail. I think having that upscale is going to be an advantage, and hope we can grow that. One of the things we haven’t done well in Houston is to require or convince big office tower developers to put retail on the ground floor rather than a gargantuan lobby — a lobby isn’t going to necessarily produce a lot of revenue.

INFO TO GO

In 2007, more than 52 million passengers passed through George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), the city’s two major airports. IAH is the city’s largest airport with more than 700 daily departures to more than 180 U.S. and international destinations. Just seven miles south of downtown, Hobby has nonstop or direct service to more than 30 domestic destinations. For airport information, visit http://www.fly2houston.com Once .you arrive, taxi service is your best bet for reaching your hotel quickly and easily. Taxi fare from IAH to downtown is about $45 and to the Medical Center/Galleria/Greenway Plaza is $51. Fare from Hobby to downtown is about $22. The city has authorized a flat $6 taxi fare for destinations within the Central Business District. However, a rental car is a better option for those traveling to many destinations throughout the sprawling city. If staying along the Main Street Corridor, the MetroRail is a transportation option. The 7.5-mile light rail connects downtown, Midtown and the Texas Medical Center. A rail ticket costs $1. For information about visiting Houston, visit http://www.visithoustontexas.com