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This section provides links and information about the community of Houston--help getting around the city's multiple-named streets and highways, a list of Medical Center churches and synagogues, banks, and so on.
The following banking facilities are located within or near the TMC:
Bank of America Texas, 1020 Holcombe, 713-790-1000
Bank One, 6900 Fannin, 713-790-1411
Communicators Federal Credit Union, 7000 Fannin, Suite M125 (lower mezzanine), 713-526-9284
Chase Bank, 6560 Fannin (in Scurlock Tower), 713-795-7320
UT-Houston Bookstore, John Freeman Building, 713-792-4718
Follett's #206 Baylor Medical Bookstore, 1 Baylor Plaza, Cullen Building,
713-798-4824
Medical books and supplies. New and used books.
Brazos Bookstore, 2421 Bissonnet, 713-523-0701
Houston's literary bookstore.
Brown Book Shop, 1517 San Jacinto, 713-652-3937
New books; specializes in professional and technical publications.
Half-Price Bookstore, 2437 University Blvd., 713-524-6635
2410 Waugh Dr., 520-1084
Buys and sells new and used books; general selection.
Majors Scientific Books, Inc., 7205 Fannin, 713-799-9922
New medical, scientific, and technical books.
Rice Campus Stores, Rice Memorial Center, Rice University, 713-527-4052
New and used text books and trade books.
Texas Woman's University Bookstore, 1130 M.D. Anderson, 713-794-2338
Text books, gifts, food items, supplies.
University of Houston Bookstore, UH Main Campus, 713-748-0923
New and used textbooks, general books, school supplies, clothing, novelties.
The Houston "yellow pages" list 17 pages of churches. The following is a list of chapels, churches, and student outreach organizations in the Texas Medical Center area. Call for the schedule of services and activities.
Chapels in the TMC
Ben Taub Hospital
Memorial Chapel, 1504 Taub Loop, 713-793-2480
Hermann Hospital
Dunn Interfaith Chapel, 713-704-4160
The Methodist Hospital
Wiess Memorial Chapel, adjacent to Dunn Tower Lobby, 713-790-2381
Islamic Prayer Services, Room 1, Dunn Tower, 713-790-2381
St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital/Texas Children's Hospital,
Chapel located in the Bertner lobby entrance, 713-791-3258
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Freeman-Dunn All Faiths Chapel, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., 713-792-7184
Veteran's Affairs Medical Center
All Faiths Chapel, 2002 Holcombe Blvd., 713-794-7125
Churches and Synagogues in the TMC Area
Beth Yeshurun, 4525 Beechnut, 713-666-1881
Chabad House-Lubavitch, 1955 University Blvd., 713-522-2004
Christ the King Lutheran Church, 2353 Rice Blvd., 713-523-2864
Congregation Emanu El, 1500 Sunset Blvd., 713-529-5771
First Christian Church, 1601 Sunset Blvd., 713-526-2561
First Presbyterian Church, 5300 Main Street, 713-526-2525
First Unitarian, 5210 Fannin, 713-526-5200
Fourth Church of Christ Scientist, 4910 Montrose Blvd., 713-524-5508
Greater Faith Baptist Church, 2327 Naomi, 713-796-9430, independent
Bissonnet Baptist Church, 5539 Pine St., 713-697-5764, Southern Baptist
Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church, 6221 Main Street, 713-529-6196
Rice Temple Baptist Church, 6409 Greenbriar, 713-666-2875
South Main Baptist Church, 4100 Main Street, 713-529-4167
Southwest Central Church of Christ, 4011 West Bellfort, 713-667-9417
Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, 1111 Pierce, 713-659-1561, Catholic with Vietnamese mass
St. Luke's Presbyterian Church, 8915 Timberside, 713-667-6531
St. Matthews Lutheran Church, 5315 Main, 713-526-5731
St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 5501 South Main, 713-528-0527
St. Vincent De Paul, 6800 Buffalo Speedway, 713-667-9111, Catholic with a Spanish mass
Trinity Episcopal Church, 3403 Main, 713-528-4109
Vietnamese Buddhist Pagoda Phat-Quang, 701 Arizona, 713-946-5490
Autry House, 6265 S. Main, 713-524-3168
Autry House is the center for Episcopal outreach to the TMC and Rice University. A communion service is held each Sunday evening at 5 p.m. during the school year. Pastoral counseling is available as are various 12-step programs such as Al-Anon, AA, and OA. Private meeting rooms for 15, 30, and 100 are available on request. An inexpensive, home-style lunch is served to the public on weekdays.
Baptist Student Union, 6530 Fannin, 713-790-0279
The Baptist Student Center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. during the school year for students to study, play the piano, play games, and relax. All students in the TMC are invited to a luncheon each Monday from 12-1 p.m. The cost is always $1, and there is generally a speaker. On Friday evenings from 6-8:30 p.m., there is a pot-luck dinner and Bible study. During the spring semester, the union sponsors a medical mission to the Rio Grande Valley. Conversational English classes for international students are held three times a week during the school year. Pastoral counseling and professional Christian counseling are available.
B'nai Brith Hillel Foundation of Greater Houston, 713-743-JEWS
The B'nai Brith Hillel serves college students throughout Houston. Within the organization, the Houston University Graduate Students (HUGS) serves graduate students. Phone to get on the mailing list for a schedule of activities including high holy day services at the University of Houston chapel, city-wide services held in individual homes and on the Rice University campus, Torah studies, lectures, luncheons, and group trips. Counseling is available.
Catholic Student Center & Chapel, 1703 Bolsover Road, 713-526-3809
Masses are held in the chapel on Sunday at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and on Tuesday and Thursday at 12:15 p.m. The 5 p.m. Sunday mass is followed by a supper. Once a month, the center hosts a brown bag lunch with a speaker. The center also offers short courses, Bible studies, retreats, and counseling.
HUCCLC (Houston United Campus Christian Life Committee), 713-741-5840
Several churches sponsor this organization, including Presbyterian, USA; Disciples of Christ; and United Church of Christ. A full-time director is housed at University of Houston who also serves the students of the TMC. Programs include a fall barbecue, an annual ski trip in January, and weekly luncheons with theologians. Phone for more information.
Lutheran Campus Ministry, 2353 Rice Blvd., 713-523-2864
Christ the King Lutheran church is the base for ministry to Rice University and TMC students. The organization sponsors a Sunday night student supper (free), a Tuesday night coffee break at 9 p.m. in the Ley Student Center on the Rice Campus, and monthly book breakfasts every third Thursday at 7 a.m. at Sammy's in the Ley Student Center. TMC students are invited to events on the Rice campus. Services are held at the church on Sundays at 8 and 10:50 a.m.; Sunday school is at 9:30 a.m. Phone the number above to receive a monthly calendar of student activities.
United Methodist Campus Ministries/Wesley Foundation, St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 5501 S. Main, 713-528-0527
The organization is based at St. Paul's United Methodist Church and serves students in the TMC. Activities include a weekly luncheon at Autry House for TMC students; monthly suppers, usually on the first Sunday of the month; and an annual retreat. Student loans for United Methodists are available as is individual counseling. Phone to get on the mailing list for a newsletter describing monthly activities.
Getting Around Town
The City of Houston extends over 579 square miles and has hundreds of miles of tollways and freeways that have been constructed in the past 10 years to improve mobility.
Freeway names can be confusing, especially when listening to traffic reports on the radio, because sections of the same freeway have different names. The major freeways and their "common names" are listed below:
The 610 Loop makes a complete circle within the Houston area. When people say something is "inside the loop," they mean it's located within the 610 Loop.
The Sam Houston Tollway and the Hardy Tollway were completed on the west, north, and east sides of town in the early 1990s and make up what is known as "the tollway" or "the beltway." These tollways combined make an unfinished loop (Nearly completed. Current construction will finish the new loop between I-45 South and I-59 North) around Houston outside the 610 Loop.
Other confusing geography in Houston relates to street names; several of the streets close to the Texas Medical Center area change names:
Houston Real Time Traffic report
Driver's License
Out-of-state residents do not need a Texas driver's license if they are students. A non-student needs to have a Texas license within 30 days after moving to the state. If you have a valid driver's license from another state and wish to obtain a Texas license, you must take the written and vision tests, but not the driving test. You must show proof of age. The license costs $10 and is valid for four years. There is a $10 charge for an address change or duplicate license. Call the Texas Department of Public Safety at 681-6187 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for information and the location nearest you.
Insurance
All drivers living in Texas must carry proof of automobile liability insurance in their cars.
Auto Registration
The State of Texas does not require that out-of-state students register their vehicles in Texas or obtain Texas license plates. Vehicles of non-students must be registered within 30 days of the owner establishing residency. Phone the Harris County Tax Assessor Collector at 224-1919 for the list of items you will need to register your vehicle. Note that registration fees must be paid in cash.
Seat Belt Law
All automobile and truck front-seat passengers are required by law to wear seat belts. Front-seat passengers are subject to a fine if not in compliance with the law. Children under four years of age must sit in child-restraint seats; children under 15 must wear seat belts at all times or drivers are subject to a fine.
The legal age for buying or ordering liquor is 21 years. Restaurants and bars may serve alcohol until midnight Monday through Friday and on Sunday, and until 1 a.m. on Saturday. Specially licensed establishments may serve liquor until 2 a.m. No liquor may be consumed after 2:15 a.m. in public places. In addition, alcohol may not be purchased after midnight, and may not be purchased before noon on Sundays.
Driving laws prohibit drinking alcoholic beverages while operating an automobile, and restrict having an open container of alcohol in a vehicle (open container law). Violating the DUI (driving under the influence [of alcohol]) laws can mean jail time, even for first-time offenders.
Gulf Coast Legal Foundation, 2626 South Loop West, 713-660-0077
Legal service to low-income residents relating to housing and consumer problems, family cases, social security, and private attorney involvement (PAI). No criminal or traffic cases.
Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association, 405 Main, suite 303, 713-227-2404 or 713-244-4864
This professional association of criminal defense attorneys provides information and referral regarding criminal cases. Names of criminal lawyers are provided. All work is on a fee basis.
Harris County Domestic Relations, 49 San Jacinto, 713-755-6757
Establishes and enforces court orders relating to child support; establishes paternity; enforces court orders for visitation. Petitioners must be Harris County residents. $25 fee for attorney consultations relating to child support.
Lawyer Referral Service, 1001 Fannin, 713-237-9429
Provides referrals to attorneys in private practice who will charge $20 for 30 minutes of consultation. No legal advice is provided over the phone.
University of Houston Law Center Legal Aid Clinic, Inc., University of Houston, Main Campus, 713-743-2094
Handles cases involving family, social security, consumer interests, housing, individual rights, employment. No fees charged but clients pay for filing fees and court costs. No walk-ins; must be referred by a court, public agency, or other attorney.
Students may purchase stamps from the UT-Houston Bookstore (John Freeman Building).
Students may not use the UT-Houston mail services to send or to receive personal mail. U.S. Postal Service boxes are located throughout the TMC. Students may rent mail boxes from the Quick Copy on the first floor of the Medical School Building. A drop box is located at the Quick Copy center.
The following U.S. Post Offices are close to the Texas Medical Center:
Astrodome Station; 8205 Braesmain, 713-665-1141 Medical Center Station; 7205 Almeda Road, 713-741-5537
The Houston Chronicle provides daily and Sunday editions by subscription and on newsstands. Phone The Houston Chronicle at 220-7171.
For editorials on local controversies and a good arts and entertainment calendar, read The Houston Press, a free newspaper in tabloid format. Various other free papers provide news of geographic areas or special interests. Distributed in restaurants, grocery stores, and lobbies.
Texas Medical Center News and Information is published monthly and contains much information on what's happening in the TMC. Pick it up free throughout the TMC.
The Greensheet is published weekly and contains classified ads for apartments, used cars, furniture, and more. Various editions are published for specific areas of Houston.
Unrestrained dogs and cats in Houston may be impounded at the City Pound.
Cats and dogs must be vaccinated for rabies and licensed annually. Contact the Animal Control Center of the City of Houston Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care (547-9410) for more information.
Airports
Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH), located 22 miles north of downtown Houston
Houston Airport Express provides transportation to and from the TMC to Intercontinental Airport every 30 minutes. The charge is $17 for adults. Allow one hour for travel. The Texas Medical Center location is adjacent to the Crown Plaza Hotel at 6701 Main Street. Call 713-671-0991 for other locations and schedule information.
William P. Hobby Airport, 15 miles south of downtown Houston, provides a complement of airline options to IAH.
Houston Airport Express also provides transportation to and from the TMC to Hobby Airport every 30 minutes. The charge is $12 for adults. Call 713-671-0991 for scheduling information.
Buses
The Metropolitan Transit System (METRO) provides public bus service throughout Houston. Call 635-4000 for routes, schedules, and fares.
METRO offers a park-and-ride service with many locations in Houston and the surrounding area. Passengers leave their cars in designated parking lots and ride a METRO bus to downtown, the Galleria area, Greenway Plaza, and the Texas Medical Center, among other locations.
The Texas Shuttle is actually three buses operating in the Medical Center from 4:30 a.m. to midnight. The service is free of charge. Phone Texas Medical Center Metro Service (790-1164) for a schedule and the locations of bus stops, which are throughout the TMC, or pick up a shuttle map in the lobby of most TMC buildings.
The UT-Houston shuttle service, a commuter and circulator shuttle operation, began service September 1, 1993. Available to all persons holding a valid UT-Houston identification card, the shuttle operates every 15 minutes each morning and evening from university housing and the Fannin-Braeswood parking lot to university-owned or -leased buildings within the TMC. After rush hour, the shuttle runs every 30 minutes, and OCB, HCPC, and the Rec Center are added to the route. The Rec Center remains on the route during the evening commuter hours. Schedules are posted around campus and may be obtained from the executive director of auxiliary student services at 794-1331.
Bus lines connect Houston to other cities in the United States and Mexico: Phone 1-800-231-2222 for fare and schedule information for Greyhound Buslines, Valley Transit Company, and Kerrville Bus Company.
To register to vote in Houston, phone Harris County Voter Registration (713-224-1919, Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.) and request an application. Fill out the application and return it. The voter registration department will send you your registration card. You must begin the application process at least 30 days before you plan to vote in an election.
Questions or comments: Betty
Vaughan.
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Jarvis.