tomv

Anybody who was single in Houston during the 70's and 80's should remember Lance McFaddin. Sadly, he passed away last week.  He and  his partners developed Todd's, elan, Confetti, Cowboy, RnR, Studebaker's, and the Ocean Club…"just to name a few." I spent a lot of time in those places, and had a blast!

Lance McFaddin obituary

Great pictures! I had completely forgotten about those buildings on Main. The most distinctive thing to me was that weird one story connector building (Picture 2) in between the tower and the pavilion. It definitely stood out as you were driving past. I think there was some kind of retail in there at some point, can't remember what, though.          

Will Clayton will get grade separated main lanes much like JFK does into the airport--one day. It's been a part of the master plan. Much of it will also be shifted further south with terminal reconstruction--one day. Check out the master plan for IAH at www.fly2houston.com .

That's pretty interesting. Makes sense that they would have all kinds of long range plans as the Houston area grows and air traffic increases. I definitely like the idea of putting an overpass at JFK and Greens Rd, and direct connectors at 59/69 and Will Clayton. And that Humble Parkway stretching all the way from Greens Rd to 1960 and beyond would provide another way in and out of the area. 

Interesting. He wasn't in any hurry to get through that explanation.

 

 

Yes, interesting. Obviously, we have all gotten much smarter and more aware, at least in terms of business and marketing concepts, since then.      

Good topic! Here is mine...

You're right. Roy Hofheinz's story would make a great movie, but I don't trust Hollywood to make it.

 

H'wood would portray Roy as a typical rich, conservative and racist Texas huckster. And the rest of Texas would be portrayed as a land of racist rubes. To get some idea of what I mean, check out how Robert Altman showed Houston in the god-awful Brewster McCloud back in the 70s. Or how we were portrayed in The Right Stuff, which except for its Houston scenes, was a very good movie.

 

I would pay to see a Hofheinz movie made by someone who respects him for what he did, and respects us Texans.

Excellent point. Unfortunately, you are probably right. I could picture "that" kind of movie, just as I was reading your post, the stereotypes are so strong. Maybe, just maybe, there is a producer who could envision a different type of film.

Nah, probably not. $$$ rules, as it should I guess. Hollywood just gives people what they want to see. Now if people were to change....another topic   

I wonder is anyone has ever considering making a movie of his life. There are so many fun and intriguing elements.

The Dome, the eccentric private suites out in right field, bringing baseball to Houston, Astroworld, buying the Ringling Brothers Circus, the Celestial Suites, his controversial stint as mayor of Houston in the '50's, his whimsical home on Galveston Bay ("Huckster House"), larger than life personality, the split with R.E. Bob Smith, his financial collapse and health problems, final moment in the spotlight when he came out in his wheelchair to be honored at the Dome, etc...

I may be biased being a Houstonian, but I think there's a great movie there.

This is a good article on the Shamrock from Houston History Magazine 

Sanders-Shamrock.pdf

Is it possible (or advisable) to change the name of a topic? It seems to me that this one, "Lack Of Restaurant Diversity In The Heights," (now over 8 years old), is a bit out of date. Surely there is some diversity by now! Just a thought.

Foley's (now Macy's) had a very nice book department inside their stores at one time. They also sold music; records and cassettes, etc...You often went to a department store to get things like that. There weren't as many specialty stores.   

props, as per sharing!  here's to wishing much success to the new YULMAN STADIUM in new orleans.

 

Thanks!

And now we're back! After a year of being in different football conferences, UH and Tulane are together again in the AAC. The Cougars were probably trying to get away from playing smaller schools like Tulane and Tulsa, but you can't get rid of us! At least you get a trip to NOLA every other year.

I am looking forward to checking out the new UH stadium on November 8, when the Green Wave visit. Might be fun to take the light rail, if it is up and running by then. 

Beautiful stadium. I'm not a coog but it's exciting all that's going on over there. Three new light rail stops with easy connection to Downtown and other parts of town. And the new fine arts "grove" looks like it's going to be very nice. Now it's time to replace Hofheinz Pavilion!

By the way, my school (Tulane) is also building a new on campus stadium that will open this year. In our case though we are moving from playing inside the New Orleans Superdome to playing outside. I guess I am in the minority but I would rather watch a game inside rather than deal with the potential heat, humidity, rain, cold, and glare of the sun just to be "on campus." But apparently, the game day atmosphere inside the Superdome had become dull and lifeless. 

Yulman Stadium, New Orleans:

I'm not sure when this was taken, and it was copied from a book thus the poor quality, but it shows how much progress has been made Downtown getting rid of those nasty surface lots. Union Station is in the lower right hand corner. 

They have already made one modification. They removed the smaller "At Memorial City" signs underneath the "Sheraton Four Points" signs on the building. I always thought that was kind of strange since the hotel is next to City Centre and Memorial City is a couple of miles away. 

The history and competition between Memorial City and Town and Country Center/ Town and Country Mall/ now City Centre is fascinating.  Just one exit apart on I-10, the developments have each had periods of boom and bust, and now it looks like both are thriving.          

Regarding the Sheraton, I haven't been in any of the rooms, but the lobby is very nice. The hotel sure is close to the freeway ramps, though. Somebody that stayed there told me you can still hear the traffic even in the rooms on the non-freeway side.

What's really weird is that little park next to the hotel. I've never seen anybody use it. There's a nice gazebo there, if you don't mind having a picnic underneath the freeway. .  

That's where CityCentre 5 will be built.

Thanks. I guess I should have read the article. I didn't think that space was big enough for an eight story office buiilding.

The Luby's on Town and Country Way, behind the Tasting Room, has closed. It will be interesting to see what the developers do with that property.

According to B4-u-eat.com, Scott Gertner's has closed. Wonder what happened? It wasn't there for long. 

This is not 100% realiable, but one of the workers at the Memorial City Mall location told me that the "suits" thought there was too much competition built there already. They get plenty of visits at the mall and they don't want to have one in the mall and one so close outside the mall too.

I see the reasoning. Chick Fil A has kind of a cult following, like White Castle. I'll drive out of my way for a White Castle if it's about 5 miles away...I'll also cross the freeway and go in the mall if I REALLY want Chick Fil A. And if the mall is PACKED like it is on the weekends, I'll go all the way to the Westheimer location.

BTW, anyone try Sushi Pop on Bunker Hill @ I-10? I think I might hit that tonight.

Thanks for the info. Makes sense, but I think the area could support both a mall location and a freestanding store. I love Chick Fil A!

Does anyone know what happened to the Chick Fil A that was supposed to be built in the area? I thought there was going to be one at Bunker Hill and I10.

I finally got to check this out and I was impressed, except of course for all the vacant space.

I entered off Main and walked the three blocks east.

When you come out the other end, there's the Park Shops mall, the Hilton, and the Toyota Center, all right in front of you. What a great idea!

The corridors are very appealing. The fact that you are right in the middle of Downtown gives the place an air of excitement that just wouldn't be there if you were almost anywhere else.

The bookstore has a great selection and is very appealing. It's a nice thing to have Downtown, though there weren't many people there at about 7pm on a Saturday night. The Forever 21 next door was busier and it looked like people were actually buying things as opposed to hanging out...

This project is a winner I think and a great addition to the city!

I hope they can get more space leased out to retailers. If so, adding that to the Macy's and the Park Shops might make Downtown a shopping destination.

"Bells and Whistles Cafe" is a terrible name for a restaurant. It's not surprising they failed.

Maybe Aga Khan should build a sensitivity training camp for gays there.

You're right about that Muslim organization. They have a good reputation.

nothing will make a difference until you address the "people" that "bez chillin der"....until that is cleaned up no one will want to come near there for anything

This is only my opinion, but I do not think putting quotation marks around the word people is necessary or helpful.

I realize there are problems with the mall and with a few of the people who hang out there. However, There's a well known quote that says you can't solve the problem at the level of the problem.....

That being said, I guess I am showing my age by remembering that when the mall was built in the 60's, it actually had two sets of restrooms, one set for "regular" folks, and a second set for "colored" folks.

Now we have a black president. We've come a long way in a short time.

Always take the high road.

Oh good lord.

Well, he (Huckabee) is a minister...