Small town in the Big city

I live in Montrose. That's in the middle of Houston, Texas, the 4th largest city in the U.S. of A.

The 'Trose is about a 2 square mile area just southwest of downtown. It's been known as the gay part of town since I can remember, which goes back to the late 60's. When I was 18 and wanted some action, I headed to Montrose to see how many guys were walking the sidewalks and who I could entice into the car. Along many residential streets, oral sex was the norm, sometimes in the front seat, sometimes in an alley or even a front yard.

Throughout the 70's and into the 80's Montrose got rather seamy, to say the least. Finally, enough neighbors and businesses had all they would take and The 'Trose began cleaning up. Traffic regulations made it more difficult cruise and police patrolled the area as never before. By the late 80's, property values began to increase, businesses flourished many ramshackle structures were torn down and replaced. Throughout the 1990's and continuing today, new condos and townhouses sprung up and homes built in the 1920's and 30's were remodeled. A home that sold for $100K in 1990 now goes for $300K.

There is just about any retail outlet you'd ever want to visit here. If it's not actually in Montrose, it is within a 10 minute drive, either downtown or in The Galleria. There's everybody's favorite supermarket, affectionately and appropriately known as Disco Kroger's. Starbuck's and Diedrich's are well represented as well as mom & pop coffee houses. Restaurants are all over the place with every type of food imaginable and some menus I've never heard of.

Most of Houston's gay bars are still here, all within walking distance of each other. Lads & lads and Lasses & lasses are commonly seen strolling hand-in-hand, trying not to look at the homeless bunch sleeping on the side of the street or making their drug deals. We've certainly got our share of crime, but what place doesn't?

Great place to live. Very eclectic. Sometimes I can go for weeks without ever leaving Montrose. But I haven't seen a guy getting a blow job in a front yard in years. Maybe I'm just getting old and don't stay out that late any more.