News

EaDo District Offers Variety, Diversity

January 28, 2012

East Downtown District Popular with Locals, Continues to Grow

This is the first in a series of articles in which we will highlight a featured Houston neighborhood in close proximity to the Halloween & Party Expo. With the vast majority of our buyers and exhibitors busy writing orders, networking and finalizing business deals, we understand the difficulty in locating the best dining and entertainment options for when the work day is over. The first location on our list is East Downtown, also known as EaDo.

Known as “The Art & Soul of the City,” EaDo is one of the nearest locations for attendees to visit, as the George R. Brown Convention Center (GRBCC) borders it to the northwest along I-59. Additionally, popular nearby pub Little Woodrow’s will play host to the Halloween & Party Expo Saturday Night Welcome Party, only two blocks from the GRBCC. Little Woodrow’s offers over 100 beers, 35 of which are available on tap, and is located on St. Emanuel Street near two other popular social gathering hubs: Lucky’s Pub and Cork Soakers Wine Bar.

A popular hangout with Astros fans before, during and after a game, Lucky’s Pub boasts a selection of over 250 beers, as well as the largest HDTV in Houston at more than 21 feet wide. For the wine lovers among us, the relative newcomer on the block is Cork Soakers Wine Bar. With an extensive list of wines from around the world, as well as a large selection of beer all in a cozy, sophisticated interior, Cork Soakers is another great option when visiting St. Emanuel Street.

Variety and diversity is the theme for dining options in EaDo. Family-run Huynh Restaurant offers homemade Vietnamese cooking with the freshest ingredients, also located on the ever popular St. Emanuel Street. For a taste from one of Texas’ neighbors, head to Calliope’s Po-Boys off Jefferson Street for their “Famous New Orleans Style Seafood” and sandwiches. This location, owned by native Louisianans displaced by Hurricane Katrina, was named by the Houston Press as the “#1 Place to Eat in EaDo.” And if Tex-Mex is more your thing, be sure to stop by the restaurant many believe popularized fajitas in the United States, The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation. This Houston favorite has been serving up the specialty on Navigation Street for nearly 40 years.

The “Art & Soul” title affectionately given to the neighborhood is also reflected in the number of art galleries and music venues throughout EaDo. Warehouse Live, located next door to Lucky’s Pub and across the street from Little Woodrow’s, plays host to a number of local names as well as bands such as Ghostland Observatory and M83. The Aerosol Warfare Gallery & Boutique is a full installation space, which allows artists the freedom to work with an entire environment rather than simply a canvas.

As the popularity of EaDo continues to increase, so do growth, beautification and development plans. Schematics and a proposal for EaDo Promenade have been drawn up, with the goal to create a friendly, main-street like promenade which will extend for six blocks towards the currently-under-construction Houston Dynamo soccer stadium. Sustainablity and community engagement are two recurring themes present as the plans for the EaDo Promenade continue to take shape.

With so many unique locations catering to a wealth of different tastes for travelling customers, the up-and-coming EaDo neighborhood of Houston offers great variety, and at a great location for Halloween & Party Expo attendees. Visit the links below for more information.

EaDo Homepage
Little Woodrow's Houston
Lucky's Pub
Cork Soakers
Huynh Restaurant
Calliope's Po-Boys
The Original Ninfa's on Navigation
Warehouse Live
Aerosol Warfare Gallery & Boutique