I want to address some conversation this is causing, since I think I botched this. https://twitter.com/ae_rosenthal/status/1276229663153586176

Firstly, this truly was inspired by concrete freeways and my surroundings in my area. It reminded me of my home before Austin, and that’s what made it feel familiar while moving at a less than ideal time.

I’ve been visiting Houston my entire life and have always loved it. The vastness, the diversity, the culture, the people, and yes, all the concrete.

A huge reason I was ready to leave Austin was because of how willingly white it is and how it seems committed to being an exclusive “ideal” of Texas. I don’t believe it is.

My point was that yes, Houston may not be the prettiest place (I was truly thinking about concrete and strip malls), but I love it for that and its unapologetic authenticity and I’m ready to experience the beautiful diverse place it is.

(Re: food — I’ve been trying to experience some piece of Houston and the community via restaurants/take out/etc. while staying at home. I know Houston is way more than the food, but it felt like a good place to start while being a transplant at a weird time.)

At the end of the day, I wish I had written this at a different time and had given it more time and room to elaborate. I would never wish Houston was more like Austin — I’m glad it’s nothing like it. And I’m thankful for the people who gave thoughtful and correct criticism. https://twitter.com/stephgomezhtx/status/1276528775468122114