Gulfgate-Pine Valley - Houston, TX

If you are into quirky, this neighborhood has something for you. The Orange Show/ TOS, is one of Houston's most notable attractions, and it is located in the heart of this community. Jefferson McKissack, a Houston postal worker, built the Orange Show single handedly. The project took him from 1956 to 1979, when he opened it to the public. He would die a year later, two days after his 78th birthday. The outdoor maze-like design stretches over 3,000 sq. ft. and includes a stage, a museum, a wishing-well, a pond and an oasis. It's made mostly from found objects, such as gears, tiles, wagon wheels and mannequins.

Marilyn Oshman founded the Orange Show Center & Visionary Art in the 1980s by recruiting 21 notable Houstonians, including members of ZZ Top, to help purchase and restore this landmark. It has become the center for folk art by purchasing the Beer-Can House, building Smither Park and sponsoring the Houston Art-Car Parade.

The central hub for dining options is located in the South-Eastern quadrant of Gulfgate/Pine Valley at the intersection of the 610 Loop and I-45. In this small area you can find a diverse selection of local eateries that are sure to satisfy your every craving, from Pappa's Texas-style Bar-b-que to Taquerias Mexico.

Go with the classics at the down-to-earth, Tel-Wink Grill. This unpretentious dinner serves up all the famous American staples, such as made-from-scratch waffles, pancakes and biscuits with gravy or juicy hamburgers, country fried steak and homemade soups. All are made fresh daily from quality ingredients and the price can't be beat. The dinner may not be much to look at, but the delicious comfort food and loyal customers speak for themselves. Order breakfast or lunch anytime after 6 a.m., but come early, because it closes at 2:30 p.m. sharp.

Break out the chopsticks as you dig into the community's go-to spot for amazing Asian cuisine, at 888 Chinese Restaurant. This restaurant has all the dishes you would expect to find such as General Tso's chicken and kung pao beef, as well as some you wouldn't like a whole red snapper, grilled and served on a bed of shrimp fried rice and a side of steamed broccoli.

If you get hungry while shopping at the Gulfgate Center Mall, then stop in at Boudreaux's Cajun Kitchen. Start with some, boudin balls, a breaded and fried boudin stuffing served with fries and a honey creole remoulade. Then go for some cajun comfort food like their shrimp and grits, which is fried, smoked-gouda grits topped with shrimp in a rich cream sauce or their classic seafood gumbo and po boys. Just make sure to find space to enjoy some of the made-from-scratch, whipped, pecan-pie-cheesecake.

There are plenty of small, hole-in-the-wall-type pubs where you can go to grab a drink with your pals after a day at the office, like the tavern and cocktail lounges. Also, The Den, a campus hangout and sports bar for the Houston University Students, is located just outside the northern quadrant of Gulfgate/Pine Valley. If you are looking for more notable hangouts, Downtown, Houston is only a 10-minute drive away.

With being so close to the heart of Houston comes the added blessing of public transportation. Buses stop at nearly every corner, and for less than a couple dollars you could be in Downtown Houston in minutes. Though there are plenty of cab services in the hub of Houston and Uber is an option, the closest cab service is DRT Transportation, and it is a short distance outside the Gulfgate/Pine Valley area.

The area has direct access to the South 610 Loop as well as I-45. Also, several of the streets are biker-friendly, including Griggs Road, South Wayside Drive and Winkler Drive. Unfortunately, though there are sidewalks, without many hike and bike trails, the area is not super walker friendly.

There are four, free, public parks within Gulfgate/Pine Valley including Brookine Park, Gragg Park, Fonde Park and Smither Park. Gragg Park boast large fields for playing soccer, baseball and other sports as well as shady lawns and picnic areas. Brookline also has a full, outdoor basketball court that is popular by the youths, as well as the standard kid-friendly playground equipment. Fonde Park and recreation center has an exercise room complete with free-weights dumbbells, bicycles, and treadmills. Fonde organizes activities for both adolescent and seniors, including aerobics classes, badminton, volleyball, and the local favorite, basketball. The parks are dog friendly, though they should be leashed at all times.

Smither Park, a park of artistic monuments, can be found on a half acre-lot adjacent to the Orange Show. Designed by Dan Phillips, the park is inspired by the vibrancy and creativity of the Orange Show and in memory of John H. Smither, the former board member of the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. Though a different sort of park, the Orange Show itself, along with the Beer Can House, are available to the public and cost only $5 per person.

The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art is also responsible for organizing and hosting many of the events within Gulfgate/Pine Valley from concerts and festivals to the notorious, annual, Houston Art Car Parade. The full schedule and events are listed on their website.

The cost of living within the Gulfgate/Pine Valley is nearly 4 percent lower than the city average and 14 percent lower than the national average. Rent in this area averages about $700 for a one-bedroom, and a quick hop to Houston costs around $2. Gas costs 5 percent below the national average, and expect to pay an average of $9 for a pint.

Most of the shopping is centralized in the most Southern region of the Gulfgate/Pine View area. The focal point of the shopping would be the Gulfgate Center Mall. Icing is an affordable store within the mall which specializes in fashion accessories. There is also a Houston Habitat for Humanity ReStore within the Gulfgate area. Houston has nice weather year round, if you are in the market to get a motorcycle visit Stubbs Cycles. The shop services the Gulfgate area and with both new and used motorcycles and ATVs. H-E-B is the main grocery to service this area. However, there are a few local varieties that help service the communities needs. Coosemans Houston Inc., that is located on Produce Row, is a company that has been offering seasonal and specialty produce for the last 30 years. Sellers Bros. is another staple for residents of the Gulfgate/Pine Valley area, providing trusted brands, and quality meat and produce at affordable prices. Also, the Rice University Farmers Market, held every Tuesday afternoon at Rice University is just a short drive west of Gulfgate.