john Lopez

Thank you very much.

Anyone remember the name of the Creole restaurant on Richmond at about Stanford, just East of Montrose? It was on the south side of the street and in a house, I think. I ate there in late sixties, early seventies.

One basement club was Poor Willie's Pub, overlooking Buffalo Bayou. My band played there for a while. La Bastille was downstairs also..

We used to eat there at least once a week and at Mrs.Me's. They were the first Thai and Vietnamese places in town, I believe. Yes, the Tiger Cries were on our plate at each visit.

Unfortunately, WS suffered from a common malady in the Seventies, (in Houston,) white flight. As a few people of color began to buy in Westbury, there was a mass exodus to move further out. This was (and maybe still is?)a weird ritual in Houston. You can find many neighborhoods and subdivisions that suffered from this. I never quite understood the panic mentality but I was very aware of it's existence.

I hung out there a lot. I played in a few rock bands that played around market square, The Cellar, poor Willies Pub, etc. I almost got arrested for falling asleep in Love Street, "sleeping in a public place" violation. It was a cool place to hang in the sixties/seventies.

El Rancho on Canal?

I don't remember the side enter thing. I ate there until it closed, maybe early 70's. Was my favorite Tex Mex joint for a long time.

Every year, in the 50's & early 60's, Playland Park had "back to School" party. Houston Press had 1 coupon each day during summer, & was good for 1 free ride. We would collect coupons from anyone that would give to us, ride bus from Near North Side to Playland, & ride Roller Coaster 30 or 40 times. Used to see the Houston Wrestlers of Paul Bosch at the party every year. There was also a Huge public swimming pool near there. Gateway Swim? Had a big bubble at bottom of deep end you could swim down to and actually breathe inside the bubble.... can't quite remember how that worked... hummmmm

I was student at hallie Pritchard in 50's. I was on Don mahoney/Jeana Claire many times. I was a goofy kid but I had a blast there..

The place on Canal was El Rancho. My family used to go there ofter in 50's & 60's.