welcome to lime retreat!
I’m so excited for you to join us on Saturday, November 16th, for a day of connection, introspection and inspiration! This page will help you plan your visit, whether you’re local to Houston, or are coming in to our fair town to make a weekend of it. As we get closer to the date, Kim or I will share more details about the actual day itself via email to registered participants; this page, however, will get you ready to plan your weekend. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me (karen@chookooloonks.com) or Kim (kim@chookooloonks.com) — were happy to help.
the venue
ronin art house, 806 richey street, houston, texas 77002
Our venue for the day is located in downtown Houston, in the historic First Ward — the original business centre for the city, strategically located at the intersection of Buffalo Bayou and White Oak Bayou. Allen’s Landing, the spot where Buffalo Bayou and White Oak Bayou meet, got its name because this area is where John and Augustus Allen, the founders of Houston, first landed when they came to Texas in 1836. It is often referred to as Houston’s Plymouth Rock.
Nowadays, the area is known for its art studios and galleries, warehouse loft apartments, and the odd funky bar or two. Our venue is a warehouse studio space in the heart of it all, just south of Interstate 10 and west of US59/Interstate 69.
if you’re driving, here’s how to get to ronin art house:
From west of town, on I-10: Take I-10 East, toward downtown/Beaumont. Exit McKee Street, and turn right on McKee. Then turn right on Sterrett Street, the right on the second cross street to Richey Street. Venue will be on your right.
From east of town, on I-10: Take I-10 west, toward downtown. Take exit 769B toward San Jacinto Street/Main Street. Use the left lane to merge on to Providence Street. Use the left lane to turn left onto Jackson Street/San Jacinto Street. Turn left onto Rothwell street, and use the right lane to stay on Rothwell Street. Turn right onto Richey Street. Venue will be on your left.
From north of town, on I-69 /US 59: Take I-69/US 59 south. Take I-10 W toward San Antonio. Use the second from the right lane to take exit 769B toward San Jacinto Street/Main Street. Use the left lane to merge on to Providence Street. Use the left lane to turn left onto Jackson Street/San Jacinto Street. Turn left onto Rothwell street, and use the right lane to stay on Rothwell Street. Turn right onto Richey Street. Venue will be on your left.
From south of town, on I-69/US 59: Take I-69/US 59 north. Take I-10 W toward San Antonio. Use the second from the right lane to take exit 769B toward San Jacinto Street/Main Street. Use the left lane to merge on to Providence Street. Use the left lane to turn left onto Jackson Street/San Jacinto Street. Turn left onto Rothwell street, and use the right lane to stay on Rothwell Street. Turn right onto Richey Street. Venue will be on your left.
From north of town, on I-45: Take I-45 South, to I-10 East toward downtown/Beaumont. Exit McKee Street, and turn right on McKee. Then turn right on Sterrett Street, the right on the second cross street to Richey Street. Venue will be on your right.
From south of town on I-45: Take I-45 North, to I-69/US 59 north. From there, take I-10 W toward San Antonio. Use the second from the right lane to take exit 769B toward San Jacinto Street/Main Street. Use the left lane to merge on to Providence Street. Use the left lane to turn left onto Jackson Street/San Jacinto Street. Turn left onto Rothwell street, and use the right lane to stay on Rothwell Street. Turn right onto Richey Street. Venue will be on your left.
if you’re coming from out of town
I’m so honoured that you’re coming all this way to spend time with us! You’re coming at a great time of year, too: weather in Houston in November should be very comfortable. Average high temperatures should be around 70°F, and lows should be around 59°F (although honestly, it could vary within 10 degrees in either direction). The good news is that it shouldn’t be either sweltering or snowing! And Houston is a great city, so I hope you consider making a weekend of it.
If you’re flying in, we have two airports in Houston: George Bush Intercontinental Airport (airport code IAH) or Hobby International Airport (airport code HOU). Of the two, Hobby is closer to downtown (7 miles vs. 23 miles), but it’s also the smaller of the two airports. IAH will take you about 30 minutes to get downtown, and HOU will take you about 20 minutes, so time-wise, it’s not too much different.
hotels
There are tons of hotels downtown, including most of the major hotel chains, all within an easy drive of the venue — so if you have a favourite hotel, be sure to see if they have a downtown location. For your convenience, however, the following hotels are within a 5 minute Uber/Lyft ride to the Ronin Art House, and walking distance from some of the cool downtown Houston nightlife, arranged from least expensive to a bit more splurgy. (Also, they might have a shuttle service that can take you to and from the venue, so be sure to check.)
Le Méridien (4 stars, a Marriott property, ~US$ 165+/night). Amid restaurants and shops, this chic high-rise hotel is a 2-minute walk from a METRORail station (providing direct access to Houston’s famed Museum District). Amenities include a hip restaurant with a bar, a vibrant rooftop lounge with downtown views, as well as a coffee shop and a gym.
The Sam Houston Hotel (4 stars, a Hilton property, ~US$ 175+/night). Opened in 1924, this chic hotel is a 3-minute walk from the Preston light METRORail station (for direct Museum District access) and a 15-minute walk from the George R Brown Convention Center. Amenities include an upscale American restaurant and a cocktail bar.
Hotel Icon (4 stars, a Marriott property, ~US$ 250+/night). A former bank built in 1911, this elegant member of Marriott’s Autograph Collection retains many original details (including the vault) and is a block from METRORail and bus stops, and a 10-minute walk from downtown’s restaurants and shops. Amenities include a spa, a 24-hour fitness centre and complimentary car service to any downtown destination.
Marriott Marquis Houston (4 stars, a Marriott property, ~US$ 300+/night). Located at the George R. Brown Convention Center, this recently redesigned Marriott is located near Discovery Green, one of the prettier downtown urban parks. Amenities include several restaurants, a full-service spa, a modern fitness center, and the world’s largest Texas-shaped rooftop lazy river.
coffee, restaurants & bars
Houston is one of the best food cities in the country, and it’s not just me saying this — even Anthony Bourdain loved our fair burgh. As the most diverse city in the country, this isn’t that surprising. The truth is that amazing restaurants can be found all over this sprawling town, but there are a few choice ones downtown, a short distance from the hotels mentioned above. Here are a few of Kim’s and my favourites.
Boomtown Coffee. House-brewed beans, fancy espresso & cocktails are the draw at this New Orleans-inspired coffee shop & bar.
Caffé di Firenzi . Cozy shop serving organic hot, iced & frozen Italian coffees, brewed teas, pastries & paninis.
Conservatory Underground Beer Garden and Food Hall. A food hall featuring independent, local businesses that showcase the variety we have in Houston and a 60 tap beer garden featuring local, national and international beer, cider, mead and whiskey! Food offerings include pizza, BBQ, poke, pho and desserts -- all local!
Local Foods. Casual local chain, featuring super fresh food (one of Kim’s favourites!). The downtown location is at the METRORail Main/Prairie train stop. The renovated Art Deco building from 1930's features a seasonal menu with locally-sourced ingredients.
Hearsay Gastro Lounge. Upscale-casual pub & New American eatery serving innovative drinks in an 1880s brick building. (We hear they have a delicious Sunday brunch, too!)
Xochi. Located in the Marriott Marquis hotel, Xochi (so-chee) is the newest creative endeavor of award-winning Chef Hugo Ortega (winner of the James Beard award in 2017 for Best Chef: Southwest). Xochi celebrates the culinary and indigenous richness of Oaxaca, Mexico and its varied geographic regions and preservation of primitive customs with an unrivaled menu of Oaxaca-inspired food and drink. Reservations strongly recommended.
La Carafe Bar. This candlelit spot for sipping wine & ghost hunting is often touted as the oldest bar in Houston — while it might not be, it’s certainly been here since the 1800s. A Houston institution.
Okra Charity Saloon. A personal favourite. It’s a beautiful space, and the concept is simple: for each drink purchased, guests receive one vote that they may cast that night for one of four charities selected by OKRA’s members. The charities are all locally based. The charity with the most votes at the end of the month receives the next month’s proceeds. How cool is that?
things to do in houston
If you find yourself with some spare time either before or after Lime Retreat, and you’re looking for something to do in our fair city, we gotcha covered. The following are Houston favourites, all within a walk, METRORail ride or short drive from the hotels listed above.
Discovery Green. This 12-acre downtown park as a gem. Tree-shaded walks provide postcard views of downtown, and there are art installations, a jogging trail, a model boat pond, and everything from casual to fine dining right in the park. Really lovely.
Houston Museum District. This is, by far, my favourite area of Houston, and it’s a short METRORail ride from the hotels above. Don’t miss the world-renowned Museum of Fine Arts Houston, the Museum of Natural Science, and the Contemporary Arts Musuem, all right next to each other. You could spend a day there and not see everything.
Houston Theatre District. Did you know that the Houston Theatre District has more theatre seating than any other theatre district in the United States, outside of New York City? And we’ve got everything, too — plays, ballet, opera, symphony and all other kinds of music. And all within walking distance of the hotels listed above — it’s worth a look to see what’s playing.
Hermann Park. This park holds a special place in my heart: when I was a little girl, my dad took me here to feed the ducks. It’s a bit of tranquility in our bustling town, a short METRORail ride from the hotels above. If you go, don’t miss the Japanese garden — it’s lovely.