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hokieone

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Everything posted by hokieone

  1. hokieone
    Gatti's for sure is still around I know in Clear Lake. Also still in Rice near the stadium last I saw.
  2. hokieone
    I wonder why a Foley's, if Federated is supposedly going to just either shut them down or re-brand them all as Macy's.
  3. hokieone
    I'm still undecided on the building, I like that it is different, but not sure if I truly say i like the design, if that makes sense. What was there before? Was it an abandoned building or empty land? The building that bothers me off of Allen Parkway is I think the abandoned one where AP intersects with Montrose. I think someone has mentioned there might be plans for that building, but for right now its an eyesore when you get off the parkway to see that building.
  4. hokieone
    I know as much as you in terms of being "in the know", but I think there is no way in hell Drayton trades Clemens. If the team were in last place, I still don't think he would do it. This city remembers too well the loss of Nolan Ryan, and as much as the city is 50/50 on Drayton, it would move to complete hatred of him, even if it was in Roger's best interest. Especially now that the team is 5 games out of the wild card, between Oswalt, Clemens, and Pettite (assuming he can stay healthy) they have the pitching to get them there. The question is the hitting, but that hasn't held them too far back in this past month. I would like to see one more bat in the lineup, this will be GM Purpura's toughest test of the season, keeping the chemistry, not giving up too much in the farm system, but providing one more offensive player. Should be interesting to see how it pans out.
  5. hokieone
    Looks like Midtown is getting some more retail, and even better in an existing building. Even if it is furniture, retail is retail and it sounds like it will be nicely renovated and large when done. Chron Article
  6. hokieone
    Despite the merger, and I understand why they would shut down Foley's first, I actually have felt that there was room for a Floey's and a Macy's in the same mall. Much in the same way there are malls with Macy's and Bloomingdale's in the same mall. Its a different shopper for each. Foley's sells some similar items as Macy's, but macy's is slightly more high end. From a personal perspective, I would rather have Macy's and Bloomingdale's and put Macy's where Foley's is and Bloomingdale's where Macy's is now. The reason being that Macy's has obviously not been enough of a draw to make that wing grow beyond what it is. I would assume a new big name like Bloomingdale's make that wing do better. I have kind of enjoyed the easy access to Macy's parking lot all these years though.
  7. hokieone
    Has anyone heard anything regarding what will replace Lord and Taylor in the Galleria? I haven't seen any movement over there nor read anything in the papers.
  8. hokieone
    I don't know if I would say major dump (seeing as I work in the building), the elevator banks do suck, but they've actually been replacing them and the lobby was redone recently. From the exterior, I would agree its nothing fancy nor is the inside super luxurious, but its a serviceable, standard office building. I was in the Pennzoil Building this last week, and yes the lobby area is nice, as is the well documented exterior, but the rest of the floors were nothing special.
  9. hokieone
    Yeah that's the very same Maharishi that the Beatles once went to study with in India. Kind of interesting, I guess he opened up some place of worship and study there.
  10. hokieone
    Red Scare, I get your point, and I realize that there is a greater "issue" at hand in terms of the sociological methods used to control homeless people. I realize kicking them out from one place to another is not a long term solution to ever helping these people move on from their current depleted status. However, as someone else noted, it is illegal to camp under overpasses. Whether or not they are doing something wrong or not. Do you want to wait until they do something wrong to enforce it? Imagine if you get a flat one night over there trying to get on 59, are you going to get out and give them all quarters? Also, I don't think there is anything wrong with people, white or another race, not wanting bums filling up their local parks. Yes people do move in for a more urban environment, but not at the cost of a drunk homeless person sleeping on the benches where they go to read or relax, or even take their kids during the day. Also, I just don't think that allowing an entire homeless congregation to gather every single day in one location can be good for anyone, the people camping there included. You mention the issue of no alcohol, drugs, and fighting in the shelters, this is essentially the very same shelter with no rules. I admire the fact you took little steps to aid the homeless. Its more than I do. I'll be honest, I admit I look at the situation and wish they would all just go somewhere else. I admit my perspective is selfish because it doesn't look to help other fellow humans. I don't have the answer to fixing the situation. And I agree I'm looking from the perspective who wants downtown to be a great place to live and visit without all the eyesores and issues it currently has. However, allowing them to camp in one large location such as the 59 overpass is not a long term solution either. What the answer is, I'm as open to anyone to hearing better ideas. But you are then talking about a much larger issue, one that no city I know of has really managed to tackle.
  11. hokieone
    I remember when I was looking at townhomes near Baldwin Park, the sales woman told me they had recently passed what was effectively a "no panhandling/ bum" law for the park. Thought it was pretty funny, but also good, that park is going to be a nice gathering area in Midtown one day. What I am still curious on is when the camping ban is going to eventually hit the heartland of bum camping, Chenevert near Minute maid. Literally, it looks like a refugee camp over there, and some of those abandoned buildings there are basically porches for bums to sleep under. I hate driving down Chenevert just because of it, but I'm still surprised its been allowed to exist with minute maid right there. If I was with someone from out of town, I would never go by there. I know if you go by early in the morning, it looks like an entire boy scout troop has made a trip there, except add about 30 years of age, and I don't think boy scouts collect cans in shopping carts.
  12. hokieone
    Not a big fan of Corner bakery, more than likely a lunch time spot that closes at night. Still, as we all say, better than another empty spot in a building. Its too bad the name implies something local and cozy, but is in fact a typical chain. Basically an american version of La Madeleine. I'm not exactly holding my breath for P Diddy or Emeril to open up restaurants here. Yes it would be great for name recognition, but the quality of restaurants already here would far surpass what either of those two hacks can produce. Wulfgang Puck Express is a prime example of a way to attach your name to anything that can be mass produced. As the Houston Press said, Chef Boyardee was probably once a respected chef.
  13. hokieone
    Well I would agree on the compactness of New Orleans. But the others are just as spread out. Jacksonville was a disaster apparently. No high class hotels or dining, I forget what they said is the square miles there, but it is enormous as well, despite the fact the population is so low. As for Miami, Pro Player stadium isn't really even in Miami and is far, far from South Beach. Its just the fact South Beach is around there that makes it attractive and the weather I think is more reliable. Its basically like saying Galveston is really just next door to Reliant. Except of course that South Beach is more than a little wilder than Galveston. Tampa, I'm not so sure about, so can't say anything there. But compactness is not entirely the issue, I think it was the "we just had one there" factor and the bid not being anything of a step up from last time. Atlanta just won't ever be able to live down the 2 Super Bowls where they had freak weather both times.
  14. hokieone
    Yeah even worse was they said when it actually came to a vote, it was between Tampa Bay and Atlanta. I think it hurt the fact that Houston went first in the presentations, and maybe we didn't "promise" anything new. Sounds like Atlanta was promising all those renovations and Tampa was promoting some new downtown features, a party at Busch Gardens for the owners and invitees and then their "weather", which I actually think wasn't supposed to have been that good the last time they had it there, but short term memory of course. Still, I'm glad we didn't go the route of promising something we couldn't deliver, but maybe the "if it isn't broke" routine wasn't enough.
  15. hokieone
    Its Tampa Bay. That came out of nowhere, it was supposed to be either Houston or Atlanta. Guess the presentations made a big difference.
  16. hokieone
    I also disagree that the impact is low. I'm not going to say all the development over the past few years was solely for the 2004 Super Bowl, but it did give a timeline and goal for having stuff done to show off the city. Anytime the light rail was mentioned, it was "will be done in time for Super Bowl." Also, a lot of post SB feedback was good on being able to "surprise" people with the restaurants and what not. I know we shouldn't really care what people outside of Houston think if we like it, but at the same time, it would give people another goal to work to, which yes is probably the wrong motivation, but whatever it takes for progress to happen, so be it.
  17. hokieone
    Went to Deco last night. Cool interior, great bartenders. Kind of early when I went, so not that full, at least inside, didn't see the patio. More a of laid back lounge atmosphere. Two nice plasmas on the wall (standard now I guess), nice bar stool area, and then a few couches and a patio. I guess Thursday was the big opening party, and now they are waiting on word of mouth to spread. Crowd was mixed. Definitely a nice addition to the Midtown scene. Hopefully it will work out.
  18. hokieone
    Yeah i don't know about wetting my pants per se, but I agree this is really cool news. I have been to their store in Brooklyn and like their gear. If that building can start with American Apparel and then fill out with other different stores, it is huge for downtown. Someone was asking me why they wouldn't just put it in the Galleria and I said that is because DT is exactly where it needs to be for city purposes. People aren't going to go downtown for a store they can go to in their own backyard. Example number 1, that Foley's there and most of what is in the Park Shops. But if it is only in one location and has that cool factor around it, it will be enough to get people to go down there. That article mentions a lot around "soft goods retail" and this is a great start to getting other stores down there. Not sure the high end major names like Diesel and such are going to be next up, but hopefully there is something else similar, or some of the many boutique stores spread all over the city like Wish, Todd's Place, or Edin might consider moving down there.
  19. hokieone
    I for one would love to see the city return to how it was when the Rockets won in 94-95. Probably two of the most fun years for the fans here, I'll always remember watchin Olajuwon in his prime. For some people, it was watching people like Mantle, or Montana, or Magic, but for me it will always be the Dream. The city got pretty energized obviously, and I just remember playing the Knicks and having the spats between the NY and Houston newspapers about the quality of Houston. Still, before we get too far ahead of ourselves, I think it would be a big step to get past the first round. We have the talent, its an execution thing for them and consistency. If the perimeter shooters make their shots, this team can be pretty hard to stop.
  20. hokieone
    I fully agree with this, not too sound too snotty but there are plenty of other malls for those stores to go to. I'm not sure if there are any other large high end ones left. Most big department stores are either May or Federated. I know May had a Strawbridge's store, which I think was slightly higher than Foley's. Basically Lord and Taylor. Still, looking at Mall of Americas and King of Prussia malls, both had a Sears in them. Maybe an Alamo Drafthouse type Movie theatre?
  21. hokieone
    Yeah I have seen some of the other large east coast malls, and if they do decide to ever expand, its pretty key they don't make any sort of outdoor walkway to get to a new section or use the name for an entirely different complex. The Tyson's Corner Galleria in DC/ Northern VA is basically two different Galleria's, not really in walking distance, one with the more high end (Sak's, Neiman, Macy's), and the other with more mainstream plus Bloomingdale's. Needless to say, the setup is idiotic. Some of the stores like banana republic would have to repeat between the two just in case someone only went to one. Not to mention we complain about the traffic around the Galleria/ Uptown area, but Tyson's Corner is a joke. My sister works by there still and drives for 30-45 minutes to go 8 miles. Ridiculously dumb. Also, I think King of Prussia in the Philly area is bigger than our Galleria, but also is split into two areas by an outdoor walkway. Again, it makes for a hassle because not everyone knows where the walkway is, weather, inconvenience factor. I would like to see more built into the Galleria, because there still are some stores we don't have yet (H&M, Diesel, Bloomingdale's etc.) but I think that they are probably concentrating on getting Galleria 3 to stop sucking first. Even without that, I still like the Galleria more than any east coast mall I ever went to. Even if some were high end and had some different stores, I think our Galleria is a very pretty mall.
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