Small Luxuries: Breaking News in Bed

Research

Reading the paper in bed is one of those luxuries I can’t even afford myself on the weekend anymore: the dog needs walking, the dishes need washing, and the laundry continues to refuse to fold itself, no matter how much I beg.  So when we take a vacation I want to start each day in bed with a cup of hot coffee, an open laptop, and a pile of papers at my feet.  At check-in I always ask the concierge to send up the local papers in the morning.  If there is no concierge service at the hotel, I’ll collect papers and magazines from street boxes, restaurants, and hotel lobbies so I’m all set to go in the morning.   My husband and I order breakfast (or sometimes, dig into the previous night’s leftovers) and get to know our new, temporary home.  When you get to Houston ask for one of these fine publications with your room service, but make sure to keep your laptop open to PlanetEye Traveler.

Houston Chronicle

The largest daily newspaper in the state of Texas, I prefer the Chronicle‘s hefty Sunday Edition to the daily paper.

Favorite Feature: Their online gardening section, Houston Grows – the photographs are excellent.  It’s an urban girl’s way of living vicariously through people with access to plants, and land in which to place them.

Houston Press

The Press is Houston’s alt-newspaper, produced weekly and distributed every Thursday.  The Press is slightly more offbeat than its traditional counterpart, the Houston Chronicle.

Favorite Feature: Stirred & Shaken – appealing to my inner bartender, as I am always on the hunt for a fabulous new cocktail recipe.

002 Houston Magazine

I love to grab this “hip.current.coolguide” to Houston for inspiration, both literary and photographic. I cross-reference various events calendars with the 002 calendar to see what’s “trending” in the city at any given time.

Favorite Feature: Museum District - because it’s in my neck of the concrete jungle, with lots of wonderful spots for writing.

Photo Credit: Christina Uticone