Bacchus

It's either a crawler backhoe or hydraulic excavator.

I would like to buy some large photos and/or prints that I would like to frame that capture images from historic Houston. Specifically, I'm looking for downtown shots of Houston near the beginning of its history, the Astrodome during construction, old photos of Rice University, and possibly some photos of oil derricks from the turn of the century. Does anyone know of a place that might have something like this? The thought would be to frame them and put them up on my walls at home.

I drove by the Warwick/Zaza today and I'd be very surprised if they met the Feb 19th opening date. There remains quite a bit of exterior work to be done. I really like this property and am glad it's being restored to its status as a premier entertainment/hospitality destination with a high amount of character. I'm hoping Givens & crew do things which aren't too tacky and gaudy. This one could be a real homerun for Houston.

Is this referring to the southwest corner of the Brazos/Webster intersection? I saw a parking lot being dug up there today. A sign says retail/retaurant in the lot, but what site doesn't have that sign in Midtown these days? I'd love to know what the plans are for the site.

I'm surprised no one posted this article from today's Wall Street Journal (or did they?). Houston Project Invests in Downtown Retailing By THADDEUS HERRICK Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL January 25, 2006; Page B8 HOUSTON -- For the past decade, as this city has invested heavily in its downtown, one element has been missing: retail. Now a $200 million project spearheaded by two veteran developers promises to transform three city blocks into an open-air shopping-and-entertainment mall, complete with offices and condominiums. When it opens in 2007, economic-development officials say, the project could draw enough of a critical mass to reinvigorate downtown. Houston Pavilions LP, a joint venture led by Geoffrey Jones and William Denton, is expected today to announce House of Blues Entertainment Inc. as its first major tenant. The roots-based live music outfit, which operates in a handful of other U.S. cities, will feature a performance hall, restaurant and retail shop, totaling 43,000 square feet. Mr. Jones and Mr. Denton have yet to name other retail tenants for the nearly 700,000-square-foot project, about half of which will be retail space. They say they are securing financing for construction but have an adequate number of agreements with retail clients to move ahead. The Pavilions project underscores a growing push by developers into heartland downtowns, many of which are seeing a sort of renaissance after being rendered nearly lifeless for decades by the automobile, highways and cheap suburban land. In Houston, the oil crash of the 1980s exacerbated the demise of the city's downtown. Houston Pavilions boasts an enviable location, between the newly revitalized Main Street on one side and the George R. Brown Convention Center on the other. It would also occupy a space near Foley's, a downtown department store, and a mall of about 200,000 square feet called The Shops at Houston Center, creating something of a retail district. In addition to the retail space, plans include a 134,000-square-foot condominium tower and 200,000 square feet of loft-office space. The project isn't without risks. Mr. Jones and Mr. Denton are betting they can attract Houstonians who already have an array of shopping and entertainment options, most notably in the Galleria area west of downtown. Perhaps more significantly, they are counting on locals to choose an outdoor urban experience instead of the indoor suburban sort. "The question is whether Houstonians will come downtown," says Bob Eury, president of Central Houston Inc., an urban-planning and economic-development group, who nonetheless calls the project a "turning point for the evolution of downtown." The Houston project is particularly noteworthy because, in a city that is among the most automobile-dependent in the country, it is being built alongside a light-rail line. "Cities are changing," says Mr. Denton. "It's a great backdrop for this development." Using a similar playbook, Mr. Denton developed Denver Pavilions, an outdoor mall that opened in 1998 in downtown Denver. Officials there say the project has been a considerable success. While the Houston project is expected to attract locals from around the city and conventioneers, development officials say Houston Pavilions could also tap into the downtown residential market. In fact, they see retail development as a way to boost the number of people who live downtown from 3,700 to 10,000, a number they contend could launch a self-propelling economy. Still, Messrs. Jones and Denton face challenges. They are adding more office and residential space at a time when Houston is still recovering from a crash in its energy-trading industry. Downtown office occupancy is at only 80%, and some of the city's newly renovated downtown residential lofts are struggling to find takers. But the developers intend to capitalize on $4 billion of investment in downtown Houston in the past decade, during which the city has added a baseball stadium for the Major League Baseball Astros and an arena for its National Basketball Association Rockets as well as the $324 million 7.5-mile light-rail line. Houston Pavilions bought the downtown land late last year for $21 million from Central Parking Corp. of Nashville, Tenn. Investment partners include BlackRock Realty Tower Fund and Houston Catalyst LP. Mr. Denton, chief executive of Entertainment Development Group Inc., and Mr. Jones, chief executive of the Texas Real Estate Fund, have developed a number of Houston-area residential and commercial projects. For the Pavilions, they won considerable concessions from Houston and Harris County, including an $8.8 million development grant from the city and $4.4 million from the county. Local officials also redrew the boundaries of a tax increment reinvestment zone to include the project.

I used to eat at the Pret on Broad Street in NY when I worked in the Financial District. It would do very well serving the professional crowd in downtown Houston for lunch. I know that too many of us get sick of eating Ninfa's and Treebeards twice a week. Dont get me wrong, I love both restaurants, but Pret is just a teeeeny bit healthier.

Where exactly is this complex going to sit? When I type 300 St Joseph Parkway into the map, it is directly underneath the Pierce Elevated. Is this going to be on a triangular piece of land just west of the Pierce, or will it be on the East side of the Pierce Elevated? How will they control noise from the freeway? Not sure I'd want to plunk down hundreds of thousands of dollars for a place that is eye level with that hideous concrete neighborhood destroyer that we call the Pierce Elevated.

I'm wondering how the bar will fare at that location. It's in the old Copa Room building, which is directly behind the Red Door. I always envisioned that complex to be more 'nightlife' as opposed to happy hour/relaxed bar, but we'll see how it does. I've always considered that area a bit more dressy/late night/stylish as opposed to a pub. Maybe because it doesn't have great visibility. There is empty space behind the Tipsy Clover that would make an excellent location for a third bar in that complex. I forgot the name of the restaurant in between Tipsy Clover and Red Door (used to be Casa Manhattan), but they don't do much of a business from what I've seen. The Tipsy Clover's front door actually faces the backdoor of the Doghouse Tavern, which I believe to be a very similar bar -- atleast in terms of clientele. There is no question that that area is the hot spot right now for Midtown nightlife -- and has been for a few years. The Red Door has baffled everyone as to how they have managed to stay so hot for so long. Pub Fiction, Hue, and some smaller places (Light Houston, Bond, Escobar, Licor Lounge) have put a little pressure on them, but not much. With a big apartment complex going in at 300 McGowan, as well as The Edge and anything Camden finally builds, the influx of new residents will only improve their business. It's definitely a good time to be a single bar-goer in Midtown these days.