Alto started driving in Houston in late 2020, and it has quickly become a favorite way to get around. The experience is unparalleled. Think luxury SUVs with leather captain chairs, thoughtful amenities like complimentary water and umbrellas, and even curated playlists to choose from in the Alto app. Those who have ridden know that Alto is more than a ride from point A to B, but a journey to be enjoyed — because the recap of every dish on the ride home should be just as good as the dinner.
Community is at the heart of Alto. Rather than hiring independent contractors, Alto has hired W-2 employee drivers who are trained and supported by a local Houston team. The service also offers a Membership that unlocks Alto benefits as well as unique offers from Houston partners. Those who join Alto’s exclusive Membership gain full access to the Alto fleet during the busiest "Members Only" hours, savings on every ride, and Alto’s prescheduling feature for booking rides in advance (Pro tip: Lock in your ride when you lock in your dinner reservation!). Join a community of adventurous, in-the-know Houstonians, at only $12.95 a month.
Alto shared the top pick-up and drop-offs that make up their Members most recommended spots — and also happen to be celebrating Houston Restaurant Week! — so you can plan the perfect night out.
Trattoria Sofia A top drop-off among Alto Members, we recommend Trattoria Sofia for authentic Italian with the perfect atmosphere.
The Annie Cafe Another frequent destination, The Annie Cafe and Bar serves classics, totally reimagined.
MAD Houston A spot as innovative as your Alto. Book a ride to MAD for a night of tapas with a twist that are sure to be a new adventure.
Ouzo Bay The Alto team’s go-to modern Mediterranean spot for a perfect night out.
B&B Butchers and Restaurant This upscale steakhouse and traditional butcher shop is a classic Alto favorite.
FLORA A must try this month — FLORA is a culinary journey through the small towns of Mexico with a Texas touch.
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Jacob Hilton, a.k.a. Travid Halton, at home in his kitchen, where he enjoys cooking as a form of therapy.
Nevertheless, Hilton’s brand-new Obsessions is a low-key though no less powerful contribution to the concept-album genre. Across 10 tracks, Hilton shares his experiences with childhood trauma and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
He’s joined by several H-Town luminaries, including Geoffrey Muller (bassist for The Suffers and Robert Ellis); Will Van Horn (pedal steel player for Khruangbin and Leon Bridges); Matt Serice (trumpet player for Bayou City Funk and Free Radicals); and Ellen Story (violinist for Slow Meadow and The Broken Spokes). For his part, Hilton is heard playing resonator guitar, dobro, steel-string acoustic guitar, banjo, and piano.
Throughout Obsessions, Hilton sings with a quiet urgency and a range of expression perhaps reminiscent of Jakob Dylan or Iron and Wine, but with a voice that is uniquely his own.
Hilton describes the album’s first two tracks as two halves of a whole: “Little Bayou Boy,” a bucolic homage to childhood, and “Blossom,” about his mother, Tracy Hall, in the throes of a psychotic episode. Hall, who died in 2010, was diagnosed with schizophrenia as a child. In 2016, Hilton went to a screening of a documentary about schizophrenia, and was then inspired to finish “Blossom,” which he began at age 15 to express his conflicting feelings about his mother. “The next day, I sat with my guitar and strummed the first few chords of the song, and the first few lines of lyrics just came out effortlessly.”
Hilton has come to manage the debilitating symptoms of OCD with therapy, sessions with a licensed psychologist, and sticking to a daily routine that includes regular exercise and healthy eating.
While Hilton, who is indeed an archaeologist by day, doesn’t have immediate plans to perform Obsessions live, he can imagine eventually playing it at a house concert, with all of the musicians on the album as special guests. In the meantime, his next four-song EP drops early 2025.
