Urban Houstonian Essentials: The Key to the City
By urbanhoustonian at August 12, 2006 | 8:52 PM | Print
The Key to the City is an award that is given to individuals, whether they be visitors or local residents, that have proven to be worthy of honor. The recipient is given a symbolic key to the city that is little more than a trinket to adorn your office wall.
I thought it appropriate to use it as an analogy for the first post in this new blog. Being an Urban Houstonian takes some work, but it is something that anyone can accomplish. The only difference between an Urban New Yorker and an Urban Houstonian, is the amount of work it takes to make it happen; Houston requiring a larger amount of dedication.
Regardless if you agree or not, there is one simple solitary fact to city life that anyone in any city around the world must adhere to: become a subsciber to your local newspaper. The local newspaper is the single greatest asset to the urbanite wishing to know, life and learn about a city.
Here are a few facts about Houston’s local newspaper, the Houston Chronicle.
- First Issue – October 14, 1901
- Founded by Marcellus Foster with $30; roughly a weeks worth of wages from his work with the Houston Post while covering Spindletop.
- Ranked in the Top 10 Newspapers in the United States.
- Largest daily newspaper run by the Hearst Corporation.
The Chronicle, like any good local newspaper, is going to be your best outlet for learning about what is going on in the city of Houston. I get it seven days a week. I know some may think, I don’t have time for the newspaper every morning. Well, neither do I. However, it takes me roughly 5-10 minutes to get through it. Now I do not read it cover to cover, but I take in the front pages of every section to see what the headlines are. Stories that pique my interest get a longer look, but it’s not that hard to churn through the paper in little to no time. Stick with the Front Page, City & State and Business sections. The Star section, formerly Houston, is your typical lifestyle section that you’re sure to enjoy, but in which you will not get a good portion of your Houston news. And, unless you follow sports, the Sports section is not going to be much of an issue for you anyway.
As we discuss other UH Essentials, you will find you can make time for further perusal throughout the week. For now, just know that it doesn’t take a long time to get what you need from the paper, and it’s relatively cheap to keep yourself up to speed.
Click here to subscribe. The going rate is $51 for six months; less than .30 a day. This is part of a half-off promotion that have going right now. I do not believe it is in danger of expiring, but I would subscribe now to get a great deal.
If you’re wondering what is going on in Houston, the Chronicle is going to be the best way to find out. Well, unless you religiously read this blog! 
-mc-
