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imagoman

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  1. imagoman
  2. imagoman
    An established, homegrown Spa business moving from Uptown Part into the 2nd floor of the "restaurant building' on Bettis Drive, on the northern part of ROD. http://www.chron.com/business/retail/article/Bella-Rinova-Salon-moves-to-River-Oaks-District-6888724.php
  3. imagoman
    I'm really frustrated waiting for these restaurants to open. Seems like their contractors are as slow as molasses. Toulouse and Le Colonial look to be the closest, and I'm guessing June. Really mouth watering thinking about each of the 6 or more they've signed up for ROD. :-(
  4. imagoman
    It seems to me (and I'd love to hear others' impressions) that the construction on all these restaurants (except the Viet place, La Colonial, and perhaps the steak house) is proceeding at a snail's pace, ie most might be lucky to open by the end of Summer. Am I imagining this? Most of them will be located in that stand-alone 2 story building in the middle of the District, fronting on on Bettis Street. Wow! When I checked out this newly announced restaurant's website, I notice two things (neither of which I like):I can't stand "fusion" food (Mexican / Asian?) restaurants, and I've tried a bunch as the kids have been opening them right and left for the past decade. Unfortunately I always experience them as excuses for 'I'm a jack of all trades, and master of none" when it comes to all the great food traditions/cuisines of the world; and, secondly NO prices posted on their menus. I wish them success, but either of these are for me a 'strike 3...you are out.' I say this considering the dozens and dozens of great restaurants within 5 miles of this location that don't have these situations. I hear the gym is average age 26, and definitely a place to be seen, to pose, and get frustrated by plumbing that still doesn't work properly. Wow! And all for 1000% more in monthly dues than 24 Hour Fitness' national chain.
  5. imagoman
    I believe Phase III will depend ONLY on the Houston market for upscale, multiuse projects in a few years, and this will be dependent in part on the energy market outlook. Target is a VERY savvy company with excellent management, and assuming that is still the case in 2017-2020, then they will negotiate very well (hard) with whomever wants to buy their property. OliverMcMillan might have "more than a few" competitors for the Target property, if & when Target is willing to even consider a sale, with its many considerations for their shareholders, and this is also assuming OM still likes this area submarket a lot, enough to roll the dice again after digesting already 16 acres. A large piece of land again, and an investment of megabucks over several years of planning and building. And I'm guessing Target would want a very nice multistory urban prototype store with a very nice, favorable lease....all in addition to a very fat check. All of this is just IMHO. OM might be a big believer in diversification. Perhaps they might even move their chips from Uptown to Downtown in a few years. I might have to move from Afton Oaks to Montrose. :-) Happy Holidays to all!
  6. imagoman
    Anyone familiar with the restaurant, The Porch? Seems peculiar to me given OM's penchant for marketing their tenants that the only place you can find info about the ROD restaurants on the ROD website is limited to the site map.
  7. imagoman
    Just spoke with a friend who joined. She worked out today, and there was no hot water in the showers after the first 2 minutes. And she ABSOLUTELY HATES cold showers! She sounded like she is still one wet hen. "For $160 a month, you would think the freakin' water would be hot!" lol She also said, "It is very pretty, though they are really pushing the Personal Training services. I was told they set a company record in sales with over 1900 members under contract as of yesterday." I'd rather go to 24 Hours for $25 a month. At least I can swim there. And there a jillion clubs all over the country I can use. But that is just me.
  8. imagoman
    Hey, Monarch, I admire a person (especially of our male persuasion) who can express his feelings openly. And I understand your love for ROD. I too am infatuated. Thanks for all the cool pics you provide for us. Wondering if Santa Claus is now going to appear at ROD?!! Looking forward to seeing StarWars at iPic in a couple of weeks, and hoping Le Colonial (or one of the restaurants!) opens soooon, so that I can finally dine at ROD (other than the Tuck Room, which is ok).
  9. imagoman
    Something really weird I've noticed with ROD in the first month of business. It has a unique, state-of-the-art parking garage --- very easy to drive up and down, in and out, with nice, ample elevators (and escalators). Yet people park on Bettis street in the back, or even pay for parking meters, including in the cold drizzly weather. Amazing how different folks thing so differently, and yet watching the recent pbs series, The Brain, I can understand. I believe that when Phase II is completed, and the luxe hotel is open, that ROD is going to attract a ton of foreigners in particular to stay in the new hotel. The Galleria will always be a place for them and all shoppers to visit, but the traffic is just nuts, including pedestrian traffic. I'd rather walk to shop at ROD most of the time, and occasionally taxi / uber over to the Galleria. just imho
  10. imagoman
    Equinox costs somewhere in the area of $150 per month, plus membership fee although it was waived for most of the summer (haven't checked in a long time). I was going to join in July but wanted to negotiate some extra free guest passes first, for my adult kids who visit 3-4 weekends each year. I made an appointment with the Manager (sales, and the entire facility), Christopher Grys for 9 am one day. I arrived a few minutes early, and the young salesperson was polite and offered water. About 10 minutes later, he said "let me phone Mr. Grys...and find out where he is," and I thanked him. He is speaking to Grys, and conveying Grys' "my sincere apologies, this is not my MO, and please leave your office address with my guy, and I'll phone you to set up a meeting at your office." I said thank you. I have never heard from him. And I never heard from him despite returning a week later to confront him (he wasn't in), and telling two young sales women what had happened. They just looked at me with looks going from blank stare to 'oh, I'm sorry." I sent a certified letter to the owner, and never heard anything, not even "we're very sorry," much less "and how can we make it up to you." My friends in LA say that during their time as members in Equinox, it was just a meat market with poor customer service, although some serious pro athletes and actors frequented their club. Sounds like a great place for a boy or a girl, but I won't be joining. I'll keep my membership at a gym that (they all have some personnel issues occasionally) is very fine although I'll drive a bit further. More of the mature folks, men and women, that are there for fitness and health vs. the trust fund babies, TV "personalities," and other boys and girls that Equinox attracts. I saw Spectre yesterday...wow, as good a Bond film as ever, and the upper Tuck has a magnificent outdoor view of ROD. Check it out. I also found a ROD employee handing out brochures with a site map, showing all the stores and restaurant locations. Enjoy, amigos (and amigas)!
  11. imagoman
    Re: "The Coffee Shop" This is a temporary coffee bar, opened the 1st week of November, tucked beneath the escalator to the Garage next to Hermes. A full list of coffees of all kinds, I was told by the barrista (nice youngster who came from The Nook at UH), that coffees are free to visitors for 2 months (ie, through the holidays) courtesy of Oliver McMillan. The little space will then become headquarters for the valet parking personnel. Blue Planet appeared hours or days from opening, and also the first restaurant is also getting very close (the Viet-French one beneath Equinox near the front. I was told by a rep that most of the very high end restaurants will have Westheimer frontage, while the more reasonable will be along Bettis and nearer to the iPic. The garage entrance off Westheimer now has a 'scoreboard' type thing to give visitors a heads up as to which floors have open parking spaces. And landscaping along Bettis is moving slowly toward completion. Wow! ROD is amazing!
  12. imagoman
    Thanks to all for sharing. My galpal and I saw Wizard of Oz last night, and I dined at the bar the night before. Wiz is eternal. Loved it for the 1002nd time probably. I'm with swatra on the non-premium. Altho we were in the premium seats, and it was a very nice experience with a waiter, buzzer to get them, GREAT reclining seat with such soft pillow and blanky, and overall viewing experience, we also checked out the non-premium seats after the film ended. 2nd row is aok, but not the 1st row (stiff neck). If I want to save $10, not have the amenities of just a few rows above me, want to walk a few blocks vs. driving down to Sundance, and it's not a film I am nuts about experientially, then iPic non-premium works for me. Note that the last row of premium seats someone referred to, which are in a row of 4 without the 'pods,' are for disabled patrons only. By last night when we were there, the first floor and bathrooms were cleaned up a lot more than the night before or yesterday during the day (when crews were working). The entire ROD is continuing in terms of construction to be a work in progress, and not just the iPic theatre. ROD and the theatre are very nice as is now, and will be 'perfect' very soon. The apartments will be delivering units to their tenants beginning around Christmas and into Jan-Feb according to security. Several more retail stores (including my personal fave, Hermes) will be opening tomorrow or Saturday. Be there or be square. :-) Also last night, after the movie, we enjoyed a party on the 'common square' in the middle, a gorgeously landscaped with furniture area, given by The Wilshire which is 40%+ sold out according to the developer, whom I've know for over 30 years. This area is freaking exploding, with The Gables highrise beginning construction next year with ROD Phase II. Let's hope Monarch's heart holds out given all the exciting times coming on top of what is finished already.
  13. imagoman
    Monarch, my main man, I'm confused. You post all this breaking news and wonderful photos for your Houston tribe. And for some reason, I have it in my head that you are working in the middles east for an oil co. Do you have a very fashionable little blue and red outfit with a big 'S' and a dash of yellow in your closet? Are am I confused for some other reason? At any rate, thank you for the update. I drove through almost every day since the opening, but clearly, missing the past 2 days and I've missed 2 openings. Anyone know the date of iPic opening? Security said they're moving fast, hiring, training, etc.
  14. imagoman
    I'm saddened by the disappearance of the live earthcam shot at olivermcmillan.com Its absence began about 2 weeks ago, and I'm guessing it's gone for good. All that is left is an old archive and panoramic from 2 weeks ago. :-(
  15. imagoman
    Confused. Hermes is opening in BLVD Place's new Whole Foods building shortly, and is listed on the Building Directory / Map. And, it has been widely announced as opening a store in ROD, too. Two stores within a mile of each other? Thx for any verified knowledge.
  16. imagoman
    The "old Westcreek" apartments by Hauck & Swain were fairly well built, and the development grew in rental income in part because of that over the many years. I am impressed with the quality of the Sky highrise apts, and especially Oliver/McMillan's, among all the new development in terms of architecture and construction. Even Pelican's architecture is usually pretty good. And let's hope the Mid Lane project(s) are similar like the Weslayan/Alabama projects seem to be. All are immensely better than the youngsters who built High Street. "High" must stand for 'if the market is strong, then cut corners and build ugly to maximize profits,' because the back end of High Street is very poor/low... El Cheapo looking. These developers who I was told also do their own construction might be the ONLY one of the area developers who are failing to put the power and cable utilities underground! The absence of high-quality development planning/ protections / management for its own residents has some 'special' ones parking along driveways instead of in the garage or clearly appropriate parking spaces. Place is looking more ghetto than Uptown. I'm sure they are good folks, but I heard the Dinersteins are quite young, with mentoring that likes to undercut rents in areas of high-quality projects. I understand the business model, but admire developers who seem to care more about community, legacy, and the long term. River Oaks District will really be something in terms of multi-use upon completion, and with multifamily replacing the high quality of Messrs. Hauck and Swain...great developers back in the day.
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