Stargaze

Montrose is similar to gay neighborhoods in many cities. They are becoming more upscale and diverse (straight people) while gay people are finding acceptance across the city in many other areas. Good progress overall, but kinda sorry to see the tight-knit community dispersed.

Montrose is the envy of gay men and women in cities where there is no one neighborhood community predominantly identified as gay oriented. There is a strength that comes from not having to run every individual through a social strainer just to find out who is out there with whom we can relate to and interact. The self discovery of an entire community with which we can identify harkens back to the collective coming out of the closet that occurred in our country post-World War II (see the documentary Before Stonewall). Of course self-preservation is important as well. Sometimes it's not just gay people who are aware of a publicly identified gay neighborhood. Unfortunately, it can make one an easier target when gays are not the only individuals who find it easy to find others of the same persuasion. Being targeted is not a new concept and will happen on some levels whether or not there is a gay-identified community. Back in the 50's (again, see the documentary Before Stonewall) small groups would unite to form a type of defense against would be harassers.

What's amazing is the influence and notoriety Montrose holds despite its tiny area and population.

According to Wolfram Alpha Knowledge Engine, the 77006 population is only 18,875 (based on 2000 census), and barely over 2 square miles.

It can be argued that the 'Montrose Area' spills over into adjacent zip codes, but regardless...

I agree. The number of older, established and architecturally notable properties add a richness that's hard to ignore. In the time period during which many of these properties were constructed, I would venture that they may have been considered small mansions. Today's sale prices seems to support that notion to some extent.

An evening out with the gang can sometimes be filled with scandalous drama. It may sound like fiction, but true to the story, it's the basis of eye popping camp and party lore. If you have awoken to find your garter around someone else's leg, only to ask the question - who is this sleeping in my bed, then please Goldilocks, by all means, delight us with some of your best diary snapshots.

Think of this little chat as a visit to Carlos, your favorite hair dresser, and you're reliving the unforgettable experience. It's your story, as you remember it.

An evening out with the gang is usually filled with scandalous drama. It may sound like fiction, but true to the story, it's the basis of eye popping camp and party lore. If you have awoken to find your garter around someone else's leg, only to ask the question - who is this sleeping in my bed, then please Goldilocks, by all means, humor us with your best diary snapshots. Was he really a big, bad wolf?

Think of this little chat as a visit to Carlos, your favorite hair dresser, and you're reliving the unforgettable experience. Everyone has a story to tell. This is a chance to share yours, as you remember it.

and another:

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2010/09/openings_closings_4.php

Just depends. Does that come with an egg roll and fortune cookie . . . and then . . . and then . . . and then . . .

From an outsider perspective (grew in NW part of the county and live in Galleria area now) the overall view has changed for the area. It's still considered gay friendly and open-minded but the community has spread out more. It seems that the new residential hot spot is East End (since my straight friend invites me and my wife to their parties) but the clubs have remaimed in this original area.

Growing up I remember going to part of town to get help with my parent's immigration process, it was a pain but the non-profit groups were a big help.

How are you defining "East End" in terms of streets bordering it? There are multiple subset areas which collectively comprise the East side. Please describe.

I think you have Montrose confused with Uptown. Montrose in to me seems more anti-yuppie in spirit, despite all the townhouse yuppies who've moved into the area.

Do you think if you make them feel uncomfortable and out of place that they might take the hint and move on to some place more yuppie-appropriate. Perhaps overwhelm them with more intense servings of the traditional gay Montrose ambiance and fare? They might either move out or become gay yuppies, either of which might not be so bad. Hmmmmm . . . .

I always described it as "Mayberry on acid". In the early 80's there were still residents who had lived in their houses since they were built in the twenties and thirties, and would still sit on front porches and say hello to passersby.

A walk down Westheimer might be: Oriental Modeling Studio, little old lady's house, antique shop, gay bar, dessert restaurant, clothing store, little old lady's house, tattoo parlor, head shop, adult book store, etc.

That's pretty much the way I remember it too. It's was like the perfect neighborhood not because of any one ingredient, but because it had just the right combination and proportions. Sadly, I think perhaps the adjustments that have been made to the ingredients, their arrangements and combinations may have noticeably altered the end result. I don't know if we'll ever be able to bake that cake again.

Everything was overpriced?

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Seriously, though, today Montrose reminds me a bit of a yuppie neighborhood. It includes:

- Liberal and gay-friendly

- Whole Foods Market (of course)

- Independent coffee shops (also of course)

- Expensive yet modest-looking homes

- Art galleries and museums (Menil Collection being one of them, very nice)

- Well-maintained and aesthetically pleasing (mostly)

- Nice "inner-city feeling" without skyscrapers

I appreciate that description, and you're right, it does pretty much paint a picture of yuppiehood. What things that made the area uniquely Montrose back in the 70's through the 90's do you think are missing now? And what things unique to the area still give it that oh so special gay flavor that can be found nowhere else in the city?

I think "Pride" is now more of a neighborhood/community event that's for everybody. Baby strollers, drag queens, old folks - you name it. The majority of gay bars are in Montrose, so these continue to be meeting places for those living outside of the area. There are still events going on that've been held for years. For example, Bunnies on the Bayou for Easter and Christmas in July, etc.

I thought I read somewhere that Pride is now held at nighttime. The elderly and baby strollers come out in noticeable numbers after dark? Not that there's anything wrong with that, it just surprises me a little. And hasn't Pride always been a community event, you know, all inclusive. I was just wondering if the big gay events bring all of the gay family back to these events in the same numbers and intensity as when everyone could afford to live in Montrose. Don't you just hate supply and demand sometimes?

I lived in Montrose at about the same period as Looney. I was a student at The Univesity of St. Thomas starting with my junior year in 1975-1976. I lived in the dormitory on Graustark St. The students were somewhat insulated from the hippies, and gays, but there was tolerance. There were homosexuals in the dorm of course, and we all knew who they were. They kept to themselves and we didn't ask too many questions, as with most college campuses, everyone just did their own thing.

There were several gay bars nearby, that we all knew to stay out of. "Mary's" of course being the most obvious. A bunch of us guys went in there as a group one night, drunk of course. We were quickly run out, by the bar staff and a fewpatrons. They knew we were just goofing around.

There was another gay bar "Old Plantation" (or something like that) located in the old DePelchin building that the girls liked to go to because if was a good dance bar. We went along, but stayed pretty close to our dates. It was still too soon to be considered "cool" to be seen at a gay bar. Remember, this was 1975.

After graduation, I moved into a set of apartments down the street on Graustark (Castle Court I think). The manager did not want to rent to me at first. She said that they had "no vacancies at this time", until I said how dissapointed I was because I had dated a girl that used to live there, and that I had really liked the complex. This changed her tune and she suddenly had one vacancy coming up that very day. She obviously was not thrilled about renting to single men, unless they appeared striaght. I laugh about that now.

A few years later, around 1981, I was living in Montrose again (on W. Alabama at Stanford this time). My fiance never liked my apartment, so we moved out the the burbs and have been their ever since.

Thanks Plumber2. It's nice to hear about the Montrose 70's experience from the straight perspective. It helps to have a well rounded big picture view.

What about those of you who are family (as in gay family). My original question was as follows.

A question for anyone on this perspective. As we get ready to begin the 20 teens (as in 2011, 2012. . .), where do we stand in terms of the greater Houston perception of Montrose? Is it still considered a gay mecca by the straight and gay communities (sorry, that's actually two questions in one)? Do you think the community gets props for making it through the 80's, 90's and 2000's? For those gay family members who have spread out to the inner loop, does the community still come together as one for major events like Pride in the same numbers and enthusiasm as when everyone lived as a close knit neighborhood?

It is said that history usually or often repeats itself. For the sake of Numbers and the general flavor of Montrose, I certainly hope so. Those were awesome times in the 80's and beyond: the good, the bad and the uglyall the rest. It was nine kinds of hot, maybe a little like a habanero pepper, o.k. maybe not that hot. But it was great. Wouldn't it be insane if there was really a way to transform the good old days into the great new days? One can only hope and think positive. If you know a couple of endowed investers, that doesn't hurt either. That's what Montrose needs: a gay party infrastructure endowment. Keep your ears to the ground for leads and ideas.

How'd they come up with the "couples" percentages? What about singles? I demand to be counted!

I'm right there with you on being counted rsb320. Without gay singles there would be no gay couples, right?

A question for anyone on this perspective. As we get ready to begin the 20 teens (as in 2011, 2012. . .), where do we stand in terms of the greater Houston perception of Montrose? Is it still considered a gay mecca by the straight and gay communities (sorry, that's actually two questions in one)? Do you think the community gets props for making it through the 80's, 90's and 2000's? For those gay family members who have spread out to the inner loop, does the community still come together as one for major events like Pride in the same numbers and enthusiasm as when everyone lived as a close knit neighborhood?

Trends and numbers can be sometimes fairly instructive. Does anyone reading have a handle on the numeric history as far as percentage of Montrose community who are gay for the 70's, 80's, 90's and 2000's? What about absolute and actual numbers. At one point I heard a figure of 250,000 community members who were family. Admittedly, that number was pre-1985. It seems like there are more gay people now than ever. I just don't know if they are starting to gravitate back to the Montrose area, or if the Houston gay population is still pushing towards blending throughout the city.

Montrose is still gay, gay-friendly, intellectual, artistic, funky and weird. It's not like the Heights where new people move in and then complain about a bar next door that's been there for years. New people moving into Montrose know full well what they're moving to and you better not mind it or not move here.

To me, it feels like a small town in bohemia-land.

Thanks for that response. Austin is similar - the generalization in Austin is often found on bumper stickers and t-shirts: "Keep Austin Weird." The interest in maintaining the weirdness and funkiness barometer tend to create an overall gay friendly atmosphere.

What about your perspective on the other part of my question relating the treatment of older gays in Montrose by the younger? Any thoughts there?

P.S. what you mentioned about feedback from the old timers is consistent with the dvd called "Before Stonewall."

I'm told by the old timers that the cops used to go to suspected homo establishments and log the license plates of the cars in the lots. Then, that information would be printed in the newspaper in order to shame those people. Back then, they gathered primarily at private venues and residences, etc. (I'm guessing this would be the 1050's & early 60's.)

The area has always had hustlers. That's why they put up those "No Turn" signs at night to cut down on the cruising-for-sex traffic. Enter stage - The Guardian Angels. Then, Covenant House opened, where the residents had a curfew. Then, AIDS and the bashers followed. Then, crack & meth came along. Guess that's where we are now...

A friend who lived in Montrose for many years and still isn't far away, said that the latest problem with the hustlers/homeless young people is that they tend to hang out in a sort of pack, I think he said in the area of the former Tower Theatre. If that's accurate, how much of a problem are they to the community these days? Back in the 80's it usually wasn't too hard to spot them because there was an obviously non-gay street dirtiness/roughness about them. I would imagine that problem is about the same.

My time living in Montrose was late 60's early 70's. Back then it wasn't gay bashing but hippie bashing. If you had long hair you were subject to it not only by local rednecks but frequently by the police.  

I have a couple of questions Fringe. Was the percentage of gay family members as high during that time as it was in the 80's and 90's? Any historical info about the time period of Montrose's transition from straight to predominantly gay took place? The beginnings? Midpoint? Effectively complete? I heard the percentage back in the 80's and 90's was around 99 percent. How are we doing now that Montrose has become fashionable again for some of the straights to start moving back in? Is this the point where we say ?. . . "there goes the neighborhood." I certainly hope not.

I asked him that same question after the second one. I think they prey on the ones walking alone and drunk. But I wouldn't be surprised if he had repeat customersm

I think I recall a period that may have been either in the late 80's or sometime in the 90's when bashing was out of control. Do I have my time period correct? How is that problem in Montrose these days? The straights were always very cowardly about their nighttime attacks. They didn't have the balls to drive into Montrose by themself. It was usually a pick up truck load.

I guess maybe the hate filled straights weren't as fearless as they would have liked to have been. Sneaky, spineless bastards actually. Too bad the community did not have any organized strategy for counter terrorism. Or maybe there was and I just never heard about it. Please educate me if you have some insight on this.

IIRC in the 80s it was DANGEROUS after dark down there. My sense is it's better now.

You're right, there was sometimes drama - both good and bad. But as long as you were careful and tried to use good judgment, it generally seemed to throw a spark of added excitement and adrenalin into the nighttime air. I mean, there was no telling what might happen or who you might meet. It was anything but boring. Do you think there is still that kind of overall excitement in the Montrose nightlife, with just the smallest dash of danger to spice things up? You know, scary, but mostly like a thriller music video by Michael Jackson.

I got my first apartment in Montrose and lived there from the early to mid 80's. I've lived in two other places since then, but always within the loop. Ironically, I moved back to the same old street a year and a half ago. Even though much has changed, much has remained the same.

Sure, the rope swings over the dance floor (Loading Dock) or the treehouse out back (Different Drum) and the naughty back rooms are gone, but we do have men in the shower, on stage (Meteor).

Disco Kroger is still going strong 24/7 and the funky shops and tattoo parlors are still around. Also, many of the best restaurants in town are still in close vacinity.

Remember the T-shirts? "77006 - It's not a zip code, it's a lifestyle". I think that phrase still rings true today.

Hey rsb320,

I really enjoyed hearing about your before and after description of Montrose. What is it they say - "you can take the people out of Montrose, but you can't take the Montrose out of the fabulous peeps.

I do have one question, however. My memories of Montose 1980's style is that it was true to the gay culture of that time period in the sense that it heavily focused on celebrating the 20 somethings. Those of who were around back then, have added a year or two to our resumes.

Is there a place (figuratively speaking) of belonging these days in a culture and part of Houston that, at least in the past, has been known for being progressive, sometimes leaving some of us behind? I mean, noone wants to be treated like a third wheel. Or worse yet, dissed and disrespected. Just like in elementary school, sometimes the kids can be kind of cruel. What's your impression of treatment in Montrose in general? Has the age and demographics of the 80's changed very much?

Where's that?

Why that would be Houston, silly. I am currently an Austinite. Austin is a great place to live but it's all kind of empty if all of your childhood and early adulthood memories are attached to one and only one city: Houston. Co-workers have gag reflexes when I mention Houston but the best home in the world is the one that means the most. Others see a "concrete jungle." Not me - I could write volumes and volumes, maybe even small libraries about the fantastic life memories of Houston. If my career was not so deeply rooted in Austin, I would jump at the chance to return back home. Oh well, I guess I can at least dream for now - but someday !

Quite true.

Unfortunately Houston planning guidelines seem almost designed to prevent that kind of streetscape from ever happening again. Setback rules, minimum parking requirements and a focus on moving automobiles before all else make it almost impossible to create a dense, intimately scaled, pedestrian-oriented streetscape.

"Cruising" lower Westheimer back then was almost a misnomer, since at nights traffic would just about grind to a halt.

I see what you mean.

Although the Houston planning committee probably never set out to make Montrose homogenous with other more generic and less interesting parts of the city, it's a shame that the governed do not have more influence and a stronger voice in their governance. I doubt that the controling powers would seriously consider imposing their guidelines and will on the River Oaks community for fear of going up against such a powerful political block (pardon the pun).

Of course, I realize that River Oaks is a very special part of Houston, but then, so is Montrose.

If you look at pictures of lower Westheimer from back in the day it was packed with businesses, many utilising those old Victorian houses. Over time they went out of business and the houses were knocked down or burned leaving large gaps in the streetscape. It was worsened when a large strip center was built with parking in front. I think it will be hard for Montrose to return to its glory days without somehow returning a true urban streetscape to serve as sort of a Main Street for the neighborhood.

I think you are absolutely right. At least part of the specialness of that era was the combination of the traditional Victorian architectural physicality and a group of guys and gals who wanted to get physical on their own terms irrespective of tradition. Ecclecticism at its best. The great news is that no matter what happens, those of us who were around during that time will always remember what it was like to come of age in a truly great era, and enjoy the experience at least for a period of time.

I moved to Houston - that is, Montrose - in 1981, because of its reputation as a free-wheeling, fun, affordable and stimulating place.

Especially appealing was the prevalence of gay bars - nearly 30 at that time. It was a magnet that rivaled San Francisco. The optimism was palpable. Jobs were plentiful. People started businesses in the spare rooms of rented bungalows - resale, hairdressing, antiques - all the cliches'. They lived out their dreams. We had a sympathetic mayor; raids on gay bars ceased. All was good.

Then came a double-whammy; an economic downturn, and the devastation that AIDS brought. Young men went from healthy one month to sickly the next, to dead a few weeks later. It was horrible. Radio DJs made unpardonable jokes about Montrose. Did you know that realtors used to be obligated to tell potential buyers if the previous owners of a house had died from AIDS? Houses sat vacant for months on the market. There were even HUD houses on the auction block.

Yet, Montrose persisted. Drag queens bravely plied the streets; artists painted and played. There was a new comraderie. We were staunch.

In the mid-90's Montrose changed. A plethora of townhomes suddenly appeared. Fast food franchises moved in, gourmet restaurants opened and rents increased. Montrose went from a funky, lovable yet disreputable neighborhood to fashionable, seemly overnight.

Which is where we find ourselves now. But yeah. Montrose is still worthwhile.

Thanks for the perspective. The part about the radio dj's just goes to show that we can never over estimate the ability of people to behave badly and inappropriately. And I can certainly believe the part about the real estate disclosure requirements because the histeria back then was pretty bad. I hated to hear about some of the grand old Victorian homes being leveled for new brick, mortar and sheetrock - what an unnecessary added tragedy. I glad there is still enough optimism and courage to keep moving forward. I think Houston is lucky to have a part of town largely identified with the gay community because most cities do not share this wonderful amenity. I hope that one day Montrose will return to the glory of its former roots.