Does anyone know anything about Port Arthur, Tx.?

[haf216]

I have to spent the next 10 days there for a store opening.

[Rosco T.]

1. Small Town Texas.

90 minutes or so out of Houston.

[kedrys]

2. Be glad it's not summer

More mosquitos per cubic foot than any other place I've ever been. :scared:

[LeftyMom]

3. It was Janis Joplin's hometown. nt

[haf216]

5. I did not know that.

I live about 2 1/2 hours away, but have never been there and was just wondering if there was anything to do there. I bet there is some kind of Janis Joplin tour. Thanks for the info.

[crispini]

4. It's either on the beach or damn close, IIRC.

But I believe it is also very near Beaumont, i.e. LOTS and LOTS of refineries.

Hope you have a car-- most ALL of Texas has bupkis for public transport.

[XemaSab]

12. Most cities with "port" in the title

are near water. :D

[JVS]

6. Didn't that town blow up back in the 1950's?

[Lisa0825]

8. Are you thinking of the Texas City Disaster of 1947?

That's my town....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_City_disaster

[JVS]

9. Yeah! That sure must have been something

[Lisa0825]

10. Everyone in TC still knows someone....

who was here then or a close relative who was... I heard the horror stories about the people looking for survivors... the stories are comparable to 9/11 except for the magnitude of rubble from the high rises.

[BikeWriter]

21. Hello, Home Girl. :-)

[Lisa0825]

7. Small city, "suburb" of Beaumont... it has good points and bad....

It's mostly union (as I recall) due to the refineries and chemical plants.... but it is also pretty redneck, and not far enough away from Vidor for comfort... Vidor is serioulsy a racist mecca.

On the bright side, Port Arthur is only about 90 miles from Houston, and we have LOTS of great dems and active DUers in the greater Houston area, so if you are interested in meeting up, post in the Texas forum!

[haf216]

13. I would love to meet everyone from Tx,

But I will be working ten days straight to "open" the new store, so I will not be able to get away. I live in Southern Louisiana and don't think there are many DUers in my area, so next time there is a meet up in Tx. I may to travel that way.

[Lisa0825]

14. Considering it is less that a 2 hr drive.....

If you will have any free time on a weekend evening, maybe me and a friend or two can make it, depending on our schedules. WestHoustonDem and I are usually up for a drive for a good cause:-) We always like to meet up with DUers. Let me know what you think and when you will be there.

We meet up pretty regularly for various events, not necessaily a big meetup. But we would be more than happy to plan something for anytime you might be in town

:pals:

[haf216]

16. I will try to let you know,

the only problem is I don't know how much Internet assess I will have. I will be at hotel and i do not have a laptop. I am having major withdraws already, so we will see if I can make it 10 days with out the internets. :rofl:

I will try to watch for any future meet ups, that are close to Louisiana. I did live in Temple, Tx. for about 8 years, so I would not be totally out of the loop.

[mike_c]

11. chevron chem plants and a weird town....

I spent some time there about 10 years ago, mostly camped out in a state park to the south of town. I don't remember the name of the park but it was on the gulf. The beach was kept relatively clean near the campground but just a few minutes walk brought you to tar ball hell-- nasty petroleum all over the sand.

The town itself was a sprawling mess. Some nice parts, some not so nice parts. Best Texas BBQ I've ever eaten at a little roadside stand. Bleak Newark sort of feeling otherwise. The SO and I had a massive argument driving around Port Arthur looking for a movie theater to relieve the bleakness.

It's not a town I'd want to live in, but the gulf to the south has some pretty charming spots. Also mosquitoes that will carry away your children.

[Lisa0825]

15. LMAO

"mosquitoes that will carry away your children"

YUP, that's my good ol' gulf coast home! :rofl:

[BrotherBuzz]

17. My Sis was a transportation planner there many years ago...

I visited and was blown away by the stink on the petrochemical plants all over the place. My Sis, like Janis Joplin, bolted at the first chance.

[haf216]

18. Not making me look forward to the next ten days. LOL nt

[BrotherBuzz]

19. On the up side....

We visited a cool restaurant just few short miles away in a Louisiana swamp. Food was great local stuff, and I feed the alligators hush puppies while I ate the rest of my meal.

:)

[haf216]

20. I live in Louisiana,

and one of the best things is the local food. Most of the time we at local places, because the food is always better and you get that family feel.

Edit: I really have to go to bed, I'm just not make sense the first time I type something. LOL