Woodlake-Briar Meadow - Houston, TX

James E. Lyon developed Woodlake-Briar Meadow in the 1950s. After the post-WWII population boom, houses sprang up in rural areas to account for diverse new settlers. Apartments came later to accommodate students studying at the University of Houston 11 miles east.

Two major streets — Westheimer Road and Richmond Avenue — divide Woodlake-Briar Meadow, drawing traffic to and from the bustling business center downtown. Despite being less than 20 minutes from the heart of the city, these five square miles of subdivisions have managed to remain family and education oriented as evidenced by the well-maintained campus of BriarMeadow Charter School.

Fitness enthusiasts fit right into Woodlake-Briar Meadow. The annual Buffalo Bayou Regatta, a 15-mile kayak race held in early March, provides an exciting way to exercise. Community parks and pools promote healthy, active lifestyles for families, and history fanatics frequent the 19 museums open to the public downtown.

Garson’s hefty Mediterranean menu doesn’t distract from the airy ambience. If the gorgeous marble bar and red Persian rugs that decorate the spacious dining area are too decadent for your tastes, ask to be seated at a table on the outdoor terrace and take in the views from Hillcroft Avenue. Order the quail appetizer or get traditional with the Garson Special — kabobs of grilled chicken or steak with tomatoes, green peppers and onions served with a side of white or dill rice. The meals are big enough to share and the prices are reasonable, and one bite of any this dining establishment's unique dishes ensure you'll be back for more.

It doesn't get more authentic than Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant. Routinely nominated as one of the best places for ethnic cuisine in Houston, this family-owned restaurant’s warm orange walls and natural wood give the place a homey feel, while the white tablecloths in the formal dining hall make for an upscale atmosphere. The food is, in a word, authentic. The injera bread comes made the same way it would be in Africa, with turmeric, herbs and teff flour — an Ethiopian grain with 17 times the calcium found in wheat or barley. The menu lists the ingredients used in each dish, but questions can be directed toward the helpful servers. Nothing pairs better with Ethiopian food than Ethiopian beer or wine. But if Jack Daniels is more your thing, Blue Nile has you covered as well.

If you're searching for an impressive place to celebrate promotions, birthdays and special occasions, look no further than Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse on Westheimer Road. While there, eat your fill of impeccably prepared meat carved at your table or crowd the salad bar in between sips of wine. As with most Brazilian steakhouses, Fogo de Chao patrons use a card — red on one side, green on the other — to indicate when they’d like servers to bring more food. Come in for lunch and beat the dinner rush and get the same great meal for a cheaper price — $30 per person rather than $50 per person. Be sure to take advantage of the complementary valet parking, and reserve a table online to get escorted directly to your seat as soon as you arrive. Children under six eat free.

It wouldn't be Texas without a good ol’ down-home country bar. Wild West, open Wednesday through Sunday, takes two-stepping to a new level by breaking all the conventions of a typical country bar. The clientele are as young and hip as the bartenders, and the events are constantly evolving. The best part of the Wild West experience has to be the price — bottled beers range from $1.50 to $4 and on Thursday nights, the cover charge for women drops as low as $1. The younger crowd filters through on Wednesdays when girls 18 years and older are welcome to dance, mingle and order a few (non-alcoholic) drinks.

The major streets of the Woodlake-Briar Meadow neighborhood are wide and driver-friendly. Strip malls and shopping centers mean parking spots are generally easy to come by. Bikers stick to residential streets like Pagewood and Fairdale Lane. Though Fountain View Drive has a dedicated bike lane, hiking, jogging and biking can also be done on the 160 acres of paved trail following Buffalo Bayou.

The closer you get to downtown Houston, the easier it gets to hail a cab off the street. Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are very popular as Houston was the first city in Texas to approve those sort of cab alternatives. Westpark Tollway requires drivers to pay for use, but Interstate 69 allows for free access to the city. Daily commuters and University of Houston students take the MetroBus or Houston’s MetroRail, an electric train that gives locals a comfortable way to travel downtown for a nominal fee. Both services give discounted fares for students, seniors and disabled riders.

Houston residents benefit from close proximity to a number of community parks. Briar Meadow Park, recently re-opened, features an updated multipurpose field, granite walking trail and tennis court. Blossom Heights Park has a covered basketball, soccer field and playground. Tanglewilde Park may be small, but it has everything a community park needs — a concrete pavilion, a jogging trail, a playground and outlets that can be used as power sources.

Briarbend Park was donated to the city in the 1970s. Before that, the tiny park on the banks of Buffalo Bayou was privately owned by the neighborhood. Located on the north-eastern tip of the boundary, Briarbend Park comes complete with a gazebo and playground equipment specifically designed for the little ones.

The average rental rate for a single-bedroom apartment in Woodlake-Briar Meadow teeters around $875 per month, and the cost of living is nominally higher than that of Houston, mostly due to housing costs. Gas prices in the neighborhood remain about 52 cents under the national average. Expect to pay $1.50 for a beer, $3 for a coffee and $1.25 for a one-way MetroRail ride.

Large retail stores are very common in suburban spaces, and the neighborhood of Woodlake-Briar Meadow is no exception. An eight-minute drive down Westheimer Road takes you past a Kroger, Big Lots, Barnes & Noble and Toys R Us. Alongside the many recognizable national retailers are side streets dotted with artisanal food, jewelry, clothing and home-goods boutiques.

Katia's team of super stylists are a big part of why women come into the boutique with an idea for a look and leave with a full outfit, jewelry, shoes and a bag to match. The selection of chic, effortlessly cool designer clothing certainly helps. With white chaise lounge chairs and low-hanging lights, the interior of the boutique fits the elegant and edgy style of the clothing and accessories. Make an appointment online so the staff can properly cater to your needs.

At Festari, an uptown boutique for men's casual and formal apparel, all you have to do is stop in and let the highly trained salespeople work their magic. They size you, style you and point you in the direction of shoes and ties. If you don't see something you like on the rack, Festari's creative design team can take your measurements and create the perfect suit just for you at prices that won't break the bank.

Rice Epicurean Market, Houston's oldest family-owned grocery store, is more than a place for gourmet food. It's a winery, a bakery, a cheese shop, a florist and a culinary school. Nestled in the Three Fountains Shopping Center, Rice Epicurean Market serves the community with a collection of both common and out-of-this-world household items. The prices may be higher than at stores like H-E-B, but so is the quality and service. If you can't make the drive out or are too busy to browse the shelves, you can shop at the store's website and have your groceries delivered. You can also sign up for cooking classes through the website and get hands-on instruction on how to incorporate the store's products into your own everyday meals.

Urban Harvest, open every Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon, is a wildly popular farmers market on Richmond Avenue where Houston area residents purchase freshly picked and prepared foods from local vendors. A mere 10-minute drive from the Woodlake-Briar Meadow neighborhood, Urban Harvest offers something for everyone – from duck eggs and raw honey to fruit trees for planting. The farmer's market organizers also host classes on the importance of going green and spend time building community gardens. Arrive early, because parking fills up fast.