METALHOUSTON

When I was at Rock The Bayou (RTB), I was told they had the land for the next few years. If not "Astroworld" I'd much rather have the land for fun concerts than what I'm seeing here. I was also told they were going to try and eventually have 3 or 4 RTBs a year. A rock/Metal one, a country one, a hipity hopity one and maybe a Blues or Modern Rock one.

What is goin' on with this place? I went to that carnival yesterday and was kinda shocked to see all the open parking space. I ased a few of the carnies what was goin' on and was told somethin' about a parking lot sold to someone and a few other details I can't remember. After leaving the carnival, I went in the mall to ask. No one would say anything but from what I wasn't told, I could tell that somethin's goin' on that they don't wanna or can't talk about.

When I 1st saw this thread and read "70's and 80's mall stores" I had all kinds of memories goin' through my head of ALL the places in the mall I liked to go to but "places you loved to buy your clothes as a teen?" narrowed it down a bit. Hell, the only "Contempo" I remember goin' to was at Astroworld and.....well, it was hard to find places in malls for clothes I liked. I had to go to places like Texas Tapes N Records on Spencer HWY. (I think it was 1615 Spencer? I'll have to look at my Houston Headbangers membership card....yep 1615 highway, South Houston, TX 77587.) Well, there was a place called Dream Merchant in Sharpstown mall where I would by some clothes. That was in the early and mid 80s before it moved to a church at 1658 Westheimer. It was still a cool place at the new location but it was never as good as it used to be. And I think I mighta bought a couple of shits from Sheer Insanity when it was in the Galleria. I miss all that man! What is there today to buy cool clothes at in the malls? Yeah, there's that wannabe Goth store "Hot Topic" but it ain't as cool as TT&R and Dream Merchant were. Oh and there's still a couple of Spencer's Gifts around too. TT&R was where the Fiesta is now and Jeff (the guy who ran TT&R) has a smaller place across the street called "Puff N' Stuff" at 1418 Spencer Hwy where I still buy some shirts but it AIN'T the same. Oh well, they weren't in a mall anyway.

So, no one has any info on how big the Galeria location will be or if more will be added?

Does anyone have any info on the Rain Forest Caf

I was told a Chase Bank

Well, howdy! You asked so I'll answer. Ahh - I miss those days in Videocity, the Blue Room, hangin' out at the tables at Coney Island Hot Dogs, Shanghai Grill (yes - some interesting things were done in there. lol), Spanky's Pizza, Airena Theater, Showcase Theater, Big Red Barn, "The Great Texas Longhorn Revue" in Crystal Palace, backstage at the Bugs Bunny Wonder Circus, Las Banderas, Chat & Chew and so much more! Man, Astroworld was so much fun for me and why I went daily for so many years!I have VERY fond memories of Videocity, Airena Theater and Spanky's Pizza (became Pinuzzo's Italian Kitchen)I don't know what happened to or where Phsyco is, I've recntly found Reaper but haven't heard back from him, don't ask about Mongoose, you don't wanna know what he's been doin', and I am Flowechild. Peace Ya said "Met my best friends, who are still my best friends to this day" so I wanna ask ya who they are......as well as you?I never really lost contact with Hollywood, I met up with Malachai at a W.A.S.P. concert 5 or so years ago and met up with, David and Jimbo. And recently, Bridget found me on MySpace and I've gotten back in touch with Bruce, Dave TV, Rachelle, Slash, Scott, Howie, Maniac, and others.I'm still lookin' for Cindy, big Wendy, "little" Wendy, big Shane, "little" Shane, Killer, Ducky, Daina, Melissa, Amy, Christie, Angie, Alisha, Pervert, Militia, Jay, Rainbow, Demon, Rikki (Cindy), "<i>Lita</i>" (at least that's what she called herself), Mandy, Trent (looked like Tom Petty), Midnight, Kathy, Linda, Tracy (skinhead dude), Kimberly, Laura, Beth, Mercedes, Tempest, Lita, Ace, Snake, mondo (I used to see him from time to time but I loose contact info), Diamond, Rebel ( Billy Idol look-a-like), Damon, Renee Wolfe (last I head, she was in Branson, Missouri), Rick (Dated Renee), Chuck (lots of tattoos and 2 front teeth missing), Michelle, Nicky, Vamp, etc. etc. etc.DANG! There were a lot of us at Astroworld!.I know this ain't a place for reunions or anything but when I came accross this post, I HAD to reply, as Astroworld was such a big part of my life and so much fun! Peace

I'd like to see a Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour, ShowBiz Pizza (Chuck E. Cheese ain't the same), and a TT&R (Texas Tapes and Records)/Dream Merchant type place open up there.

Speakin' of Greg, his band Rok Brigade Rok Brigade used to play at the club across Spencer from Gilley's. I would also see Helstar there and I ain't sure but.....I think i might have seen the Judy's there? I wish Corners was back.

Mainly because everything on Virgina between Westheimer and Alabama looks old and with all the newer houses in that area bein built, 2727 Kirby, West Ave, Belle Meade and what ever else that might be going up - it just seems the older places (like Brownstone) would look out of place. I'm not in anyway saying that I want those places to come down - I'm the kind that wants as much as possible to stay (like the River Oaks theatre) and I was upset when they tore the old Hard Rock Cafe down (ain't that where 2727 Kirby is goin' up at?) and made in into a bank or what ever it became. So I can't help but wonder what's gonna become of anything in the area that's not new or modern looking.

West Avenue takes up the whole area between Wetheimer and Kipling and Kirby and Virginia except for where Regency House is at 2701 Westheimer. Are there any plans for the destruction of Regency House or is it gonna stay and be a part of West Ave?Another question is about Brownstone, Casa Blanca Floral Services, More Than You Can Imagine and all that on Westheimer between Ferndale and Virginia. That just looks outta place between the Belle Meade and West Avenue so does anyone know of any plans for any of that?I keep reading about Phase 1 of West Ave. opening in February of 09 - so where or what is phase 2 going to be?

My wife remembers that place! She also misses Strawberry Patch, Old San Francisco Steak House, Circus (she thinks that's the name), some "treehouse" restaurant, and also eating at "Romano's" cafeteria, before it changed into Luby's. She's a native Houstonian and has lived in Houston all her life (44 years). Her brother took her to Farrell's in the Galleria for their birthday (she was born on his 10th birthday). And a Harlow's on Fondren; her boyfriend (when she was 18) took her there on Halloween night. One of the waiters was dressed as a giant roll of toilet paper...she thought that was hilarious. There also used to be a lot more Pizza Inn's and Pizza Huts. My wife used to work at a Taco Bueno and Danvers when she was a teenager. She also worked as a waitress at Champs (on Gessner at 59) for a whopping two weeks - LOL. There's also Sizzler and Bonanza that I remember. Man, way too many restaraunts have gone away.

Oh yes - Institutionalized - one of the 1st songs I heard from Suicidal Tendencies "We decided!? My best interest?! How can you know what my best interest is?" lol I've seen them live a few times. And the Plasmatics...I saw them with KISS in 1983 at the 83 Coliseum. That was a fun show. I used to see "the Judy's" (I wish they would do another reunion show) "the Hates" (still doin' shows) and and a few others but I was always more in to Metal. Sure I went to NRG, Numbers, Xcess and I can't forget Videocity but that was mainly for the chicks. My main hangouts (before Xcess or Energ) when I wasn't at Astroworld, Rocky Horror or hangin' out on Westheimer were Cardis at 5901 Westheimer and Corners at....I think it was 4321 Spencer Hwy? I saw "Metallica" "Helstar" "Pantera (Glamtera)", "Anthrax" "Velvet Hamer" "Metal Church" "Anthrax" "Rok Brigade" "Misery" "Naked Zoo" "Testament" "Helloween" "The Judy's" "Twisting The Farm" "Fearless Leader" "Mercyful fate/King Diamond" "Filthy Rich" "W.A.S.P." "Oz Knozz" "Wurx" "Deadhorse" "Slayer" and yeah, I know not all of them are Metal. Oh and speaking of Slayer, my wife and I can be found on the floor at the up-coming "Slayer/Marilyn Hanson" show at the Astro Arena. my wife would love this thread, as she is a lot more in to "Punk" than I am. We both like it - not the Greenday and Offspring stuff but Ramones, New York Dolls, Sex Pistols, Joan Jett/Runaways (okay so that's bublegum Punk) Iggy and the Stooges, etc and she likes Wendy O a lot too. Yeah, a Punk thread might be cool but I'd also like to see a thread on past/present venues as well as past "Houston/Houston erea" bands - Rock, Punk, Metal, Country, Blues, Jazz - I like it all!

Thanx man.I drove by there in the mornin' and saw that (couldn't read it when I 1st noticed it at night) but for some reason, I thought the "Belle Meade" was goin' up somewhere else.Thanx again

Can anyone tell me what's goin' up there? For the 1st 3 years of my life I lived at 2719 Kipling and there were tennis courts across the street. When my mother and I moved, my Godmother moved into our apartment until the complex was torn down and rebuilt in 1998. as far as I know the tennis courts were never used again (if they were, I at least know they haven't been used in the last few years) and I've been wondering what was gonna become of them. Well, finally it looks like they'll - or that area will be part of West Avenue. Is that area between Sacket and Ferndale gonna be a part of it too or somethin' else?

Shakey's Pizza at 6340 Westheimer, The Pot Pie Pizzeria at 1525 Westheimer, Vallone's at 2811 Kirby, The Pacesetter in the Galleria (where Bennigans is now), El Chico at 7707 South Main, Romano's cafeteria at 1725 Post Oak Blvd (It's now a Luby's), Spanky's Pizza in Astroworld, Shamrock Hilton (6900 South Main), Showbiz pizza Place at 5535 Weslayan, Sizzler 3909 Spencer Hwy and I could go on and on!

My Mother was in Kindergarten at Poe or actually in the bathrrom when that happened.

I so wish Farrell's was back in the Galleria insted of all the restaurants that are where it used to be. Every Saterday, I used to go eat at the Paysetter (sp?) where Bennigan's is now. Then spend the next few hours ice skating, goin' to the Fun Shop, Mr. Music and Farrell's. There is a big place in the Galleria called "The Candy Bar" but it just ain't the same.

An old friend and I were talkin' about things we used to do and places on Westheimer we used to go when were were teens and.....well, how easy it was back then to get in places we weren't supposed to be like tattoo places (Black Dragon, Shaw's, Custom Design, etc),venues/clubs like Cardi's and others we can't remember the name of (there were others like Corners on Spencer Hwy, The Unicorn, Angora Ballroom, etc but those weren't on Westheimer) and some strip clubs - all in the Montrose area. Okay, the strip clubs is the main reason I'm starting this thread. Michael and I were tryin' to remember the names and location of all these places and other than Cardi's (5901 Westheimer) and 2 of the topless clubs, we can't remember them. Well, we remember The Boobyrock and though we don't remember the name of it, we remember one being where the "Young Adult Club" eventually opened. He thought there was one more we used to sneak in to but I seem to remember 2 or 3 more but we can't remember anything about 'em other than - well.... other than not all the female dancers were all female. Can anyone here help us with the names and/or locations of any of the Montrose area strip clubs from the early 80s other than The Booby Rock as well as any of the Westheimer Rock venues other than the old Cardi's and Numbers?