EaDo’s gotten lots of accolades in recent years, as the rest of Houston discovers why it’s a great place to live, work, and have a little fun, too. With plenty of new developments (and more on the way), it’s easy to forget how far we’ve come and how much the District has changed. Here’s a quick round-up of fun facts about our favorite part of the city:
- The area was once referred to as Houston’s Chinatown due to its role as a hub for Chinese immigrants in the late 30’s and early 40’s. More on that in this earlier post.
- Today, EaDo proper maintains its own boundaries, which are not to be confused with our neighbors, the East End District, second ward, and fifth ward. EaDo’s boundaries look a bit like a tilted triangle, with U.S. 59 on its western border, Interstate 45 on its southern edge, and Union-Pacific railroad tracks on the eastern end. Click here for a District boundary map.
- The management district (now known as the East Downtown Management District) was formed to reshape the neighborhood and guide it to live up to its potential as one of the best places in Houston. But it needed a new name and a fresh start, so a naming contest was born. Though some suggested “Saint E,” as a nod to St. Emanuel Street, “EaDo” was a popular suggestion, and the moniker stuck.
- EaDo is home to the largest temple in the U.S. dedicated to Chinese warrior god Guandi. Located at 2089 Milby Street, the temple was founded in 1999 by Charles Ngo, a Vietnamese immigrant who moved to the United States with his wife Carolyn from China in 1978. The idea for the temple occurred following a violent robbery to Ngo’s grocery store, when his life was spared following a prayer to Guandi. Read more about the Guandi temple here.
- The District offers some of the best pre- and post-entertainment for the city’s favorite sports teams. Bars like Pitch 25, 8th Wonder Brewery, Neil’s Bahr and Lucky’s Pub are all within walking distance of Minute Maid Park, the Toyota Center, and BBVA Compass Stadium (home of the Dynamo and Dash soccer teams). Wondering where to go? Search for places to celebrate in EaDo here.