soifan

Okay, here's where our similar backgrounds come into play again. LOL I definitely remember hanging out at these theatres, but am not sure I remember exactly where the Woodlake 3 was. Was this down on Westheimer near present day Melting Pot, House of Pies, Sun and Ski, etc? If so, I remember seeing Vacation there with my family - my 1st R-rated movie -LOL. Do you remember the putt-putt that used to be across the street where Toys R Us is now? I remember seeing Annie in 82 at Westchase 5 after a LONG wait to get tickets. This was only weeks/ months after waiting 2+ hours in line to see E.T. at the small theatre in the rear corner on the ice level at the Galleria. I remember the line wrapping around the rink just to get into E.T. I also remember watching movies for 50 cents on Wednesday nights at the 2 T&C theatres while my mom went to choir practice at our church. She would drop us (w/ my siblings) off to watch a movie once we were old enough that she felt safe with it. I have many memories of those theatres as a child/ young teen. In high school we often frequented the T&C 10 that now is a part of HCC north of I-10. Do you remember the grand old style theatre at Memorial city Mall? My parents aid it burned down when I was young, but I do have several vivid memories of it. I remember the wide, grand staircases of red "velvet" carpet leading up to the theatre (s). I remember it being "fancy", but that could just be the kid eyes I remember it through. My mom remembers it being between the food court area and what used to be the fountains/ present day playarea. Did you/ anybody ever go there?

Hey, that's too funny -lol. I graduated in 1992 so I'm a few years younger. We were at 2nd at the same time though as I was there from 2-4th grade. I had Mrs. Hutchinson, Mrs. Parrish, and Miss Sullivan. Do any of those ring a bell? I doubt you would know me as people don't usually know people 3 years younger unless you have a younger sibling. I might know you though as kids tend to remember/ look up to older kids -lol. You've got me curious now - are there private message capabilities on here? We moved to Katy for my 5th grade year. It was the mid 80's -poor economy and my parents couldn't afford to keep us all in private school anymore. They didn't want us in HISD (Sorry if I offended anyone ) so we moved to Katy for the good schools. They also were concerned about the effect of all the building right by our house (since we were one block off Westheimer). When we left they had just built that Kaleidscope Center and were working on the tollway. I still love that area of town though. A few years ago I parked at the Kaleidscope center and took a walk along my old stomping grounds. I also love to drive through Lakeside Estates (the part near the bayou) where several of my friends lived. Funny story (okay, after reading this I realized it's probably only amusing to me as we lived it, but it's already typed so I decided to leave it in- )- if you ever frequent that Wendy's right there at the entrance to WB, you'll see a little piece of my mom's mark on westchase -lol. As you come out of the drive thru and turn right to enter the street (WB), you will see where they concreted in a part of the grass near the inner curb there. (I'm sure that doesn't make sense to you,but not sure how else to explain it.) Before there was concrete there, my mom took the turn too quick/ sharp, went over the curb, and got REALLY stuck in that area as the grass/dirt was low there (in those big 80's style stationwagons). We were blocking the drive-thru line and as kids were really embarrassed of course -lol. They had to call someone to tow us out. They said it had happened before, but not that bad. After that, they concreted it in. Every time I see it, I just chuckle to myself about that day. Anyway, you've got me curious too. I still have my 2nd Baptist yearbooks, so I may have to go look at the pics for your grade . Have a great day!

I think we had already moved to Katy before it was complete, but I remember hearing that people did this. I drove through WB the other day and past my old house (on Wickersham), past friends houses on other streets, and by the pool where I spent many a day. I was shocked to see WB Elementary gone - it looked so weird. I never attended WB as we went to private school when we lived there, but drove by it all the time. I'm assuming they are going to rebuild.? I had friends in Brairgrove Park too and spent much time over there. Since I attended private school back then (2nd Baptist) and church off Memorial, I had friends all over that area of town. I still love that area of town, but love our home here too and will stay here. It's fun to visit and spend time in that part of town though. After college we lived off Westheimer near DA for a few years and I loved being back in the area on a daily basis. Have a great weekend!

Fame City was a very nice place to go the first few years it was open. I grew up in Katy and we often frequented Fame City in the mid to late 80's. (I definitely remember being there in late '86, but not sure how long before that it was opened.) People from all over went there the first few years and it was a clean, fun safe place for at least the first few years. It was always crowded when I was there in the 80's - don't know much after that. We went back in the mid 90's and it was a completely different place - run-down, dirty, shops closed, etc... I know it still functions some as some high schools still hold their Project Graduations there. In its heyday, I remember the following things: -a large bowling alley -3 movie screens showing 1st run movies -a roller rink -bumper car basketball -2 really nice indoor putt-putt courses -laser tag -a huge 2 story playscape with climbing towers, ball pits, slides, etc... (think fast food indoor playgrounds on a much bigger scale -recording studio - those that were everywhere in the 80's where you sing along to a favorite song and get a copy to keep -teen dance club on weekends -lots of video games/ air hockey/ small child rides/etc -restaurants/ food vendors/ a few small shops As you can see, there was alot to do and it was a really fun place for kids to go (this was when I was in junior high mainly). We went for birthday parties alot and for long days in the summer when it was too hot to be outside. We didn't go much in high school (don't really remember why - probably too far for a Friday night trip/ other interests then/ spent more time at Astroworld instead), so it was a long time before I went back. By then (1996-7 ish), it was run down and only had the main stuff open - roller rink, putt-putt, and bowling alley. The movie theatre then showed foreign films instead (think Bollywood) and it was all run down. We haven't been back since. Fame City Water Works/ Adventure Bay was a nice little water park for a 4-5 hour visit back in the day. I always had a good time, but haven't been there in probably 12 years or more. The clientele at both went way down over the years and I didn't always feel safe there anymore. It's a shame b/c I have great memories of hanging out there with friends. Kids these days are different - it's all about personal video game systems, computers, etc... They don't get out and play (in the truest sense of the word) these days. It saddens me when I see another amusement place close (RIP...Astroworld, Malibu Castle Golf and Games, Waterworld/ Adventure Bay, Games People Play, Mountasia, etc...). I think kids are missing out on some great memories and lots of fun with friends. We were always on the go... dollar movies, sand volleyball games, poker nights, putt-putt, bowling, amusement parks, zoo, beach, Malibu grand prix, etc... The kids I know now spend much of their time playing video games at home, IM, on My Space, etc.... I know they hang out, but it's so different. I hope when our son is older the cycle has changed and his friends enjoy being outside and being kids. I'm sorry I got off topic at the end, but it feels good to rant and let it out -lol. Have a great weekend all!

Deja Vu - funny thing it is and happens to me alot these days -lol. I grew up in Walnut Bend until we moved to Katy for my Jr and Sr High years in 1984. I have many memories of getting meds at Kay Floy Pharmacy (thanks for the correct name) and then ice cream at that DQ. I also remember that there was a Chinese Restaurant right there -on the Kay Floy side. My only real memory of Circus is the time we went when my dad tried to get one of us girls to try escargot. When we wouldn't do it, he bribed us with a dollar. My youngest sister put it in her mouth, grabbed the dollar, and then spit it out on the floor -lol. She was probably all of 4 or 5 years old at the time. Why this sticks in my head so well, I don't know - but it was at Circus -lol. I loved Strawberry Patch and last ate there in 1994 when home from college. Toyko Gardens was a neat place too. I actually went to a 2nd grade BD party there (LOL) and remember the little bridge, water features, taking off my shoes to eat, and sitting on pillows -all very strange for a 7 year old and very memorable too. Yes, it was that location. I don't think there were any others. Do you remember the big fireworks show they did every year on Flag Day with the extremely intricate designs -esp. for that time? I think they launched them from fields along Westheimer between Blue Willow and Beltway 8. I remember people would line up all over Westheimer at that area to watch -esp. by the church with the bells on top. We could watch from our backyard and the reflections from the fireworks on the office buildings right there were very beautiful too. Did you grow up near there too? It's been fun reminiscing. I'm sure I'll think of 10 more things once I log off -lol.

We have a friend who is a manager w/ Olive Garden and he says that it is in the plans, but probably at least a year away. Nothing definite yet. I also heard that a La Madeline was going in near JC Penney's and Cinemark, but time will tell. My mom is a frequent diner there and was told this when she inquired of the manager at either the T&C or Westheimer/ Gessner location.

There was a nice pharmacy and gift shop at Beltway 8 and Westheimer called KayT Floyd or something similar that I remember going to as a child. It was next to the Jumbo grocery store, kitty-corner to a DQ. As far as restaurants, does anyone remember Circus? I have faint memories of going there as a child. My mom says she thinks it was on Westheimer near Chimney Rock. Do you remember Strawberry Patch and Toyko Gardens? What about Farrell's in the Galleria?

Thanks for sharing the link to the Chronicle article. I've been wondering who bought that site (and for 1/2 of what Six Flags said it was worth ). I am one who is still very saddened by the loss of Astroworld. As a native Houstonian, I have a lifetime of memories at this park. I'm so glad that I got to go a few times in the last few years -including this past October. I was looking forward to taking my young child there someday - to experience that together. Now I will never get the chance . Even though it will never be the same, I hope we get another park in the not so distant future. Some of the other trees were donated to a house that was built by Extreme Makeover Home Edition near the Texas/ LA border (during their hurricane rebuild special series). I'm so glad that another small part of Astroworld lives on.