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The City and Its People
Annual events reflect the city's international flair, including the Fiestas Patrias (a week-long celebration of Mexican independence from Spain), Cinco de Mayo festivities, the annual Houston International Festival, and a colorful observance of the Chinese New Year. Houstonians also celebrate at the Italian Festival, Greek Festival, Oktoberfest, Czech Fest, Jewish Festival, and Slavic Heritage Days. African Americans have a rich history in Houston and organize a major Juneteenth Blues Festival every year. One can hear more than 60 languages being spoken in Houston. And don't expect heads to turn if you have a Midwestern or New England accent; Houston is distinguished by its citizens' diverse origins as well as by its Southern charm.
Business and Industry Today, Houston is a center for international business. Its core businesses are energy, shipping, education, medicine, aeronautics, and the arts. The Texas Medical Center, south of the city's downtown district and just across Main Street from Rice, is the largest concentration of hospitals, medical schools, and medical research facilities in the world. And NASA's Johnson Space Center is located a mere half-hour from downtown. The city also hosts a growing high-tech community and several colleges and universities, many of which participate in collaborative programs with Rice.
ClimateHouston's climate is pleasant during most of the school year and ideal for outdoor activities. Fall and spring are particularly enjoyable, and winters are mild, with the temperature often rising into the 70s. Though 90+ degree temperatures and high humidity are standard in the summer months, plentiful air-conditioning allows residents and visitors to enjoy the city's indoor attractions no matter what the weather outside, and Rice is completely air-conditioned. Houston experiences an occasional freeze in the winter, but snowfall is very rare.
Getting AroundHouston has two major airports: Hobby Airport, which is 20 minutes from Rice, and busier Bush Intercontinental, which is 40 minutes from campus (commute times are slightly longer during rush hour). f you don't have a car, an airport shuttle to the Texas Medical Center is more affordable than cab fare from the airport. While Houston is predominantly a driving city, neighborhoods such as the Rice Village and Montrose, which are both within walking or biking distance of the campus, are pedestrian-friendly. An efficient network of Metro buses takes the headache out of commuting downtown and makes the city accessible to the carless.
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Over four million people live in the Houston metropolitan area,
placing it fourth behind the populations of New York, Los Angeles,
and Chicago. Houston's mix of people and cultures has become increasingly
international and includes at least 100 nationalities, with the
strongest growth occurring among Hispanic and Asian groups. Asian
communities have established major commercial centers both downtown
and in Southwest Houston. Consular offices representing 69 nations
are located in the city. 
It's
widely known that Houston was one of the first oil-boom cities,
and not surprisingly, its citizens were among the first to buy automobiles
for personal travel. The city has been a trailblazer in the communications
arena as well, broadcasting the first commercial TV program and
founding the nation's first public TV station. Even the first word
spoken from the moon's surface was "Houston."
