mwest

I love the first house, but the current owner seriously did not know what to do with it. I could have helped.

Interesting chat in this thread a while back. It seems all apartment dwellers are undesirables. I would like to point out that a lot of working class people live in the places they can afford to live in, which in Houston, are dwindling down. I lived in a "multi-family" development and had to move home because of the cost of an education and a running vehicle along with ever-increasing rents became too much. And this was no swank "Gables" property, either. I work full time at the same place for several years, have benefits, but take-home pay does not leave a lot of wiggle-room in the budget. I did maintain my little place well and did not throw up gang signs, but did grow a few flowers on the patio. The nastiness came from neighbors who smoked like chimneys and stank up my unit, camped out all day in lawn chairs on the entry area to my building, and set fire to their balconies because they were barbecuing illegally on them. All these yahoos were young white guys, for anyone who's tracking the demographics, btw. I also have two African-American apartment-dwelling friends who are each working two jobs. One, an older gent, works two full-time jobs, is a Viet Nam vet, a church-going man and is a connoisseur of classic rock. The other is a 30-something single, no children, trying to keep up with the bills and pay down some debt that she took on because she was in a traffic accident--the other driver hit her--and insurance doesn't pay everything. And for what it's worth, I know a few Hispanic immigrants who work harder than some of you ever will, unless you, too, are working 12-hour days, seven days a week. Or are also doing the two-job shuffle. And these ain't cushy desk jobs, either. Apartments aren't going away, people. One day, single-family homes will be beyond the reach of most of us, especially as more people come to Houston and more people are born in Houston. It's that or say goodbye to the countryside forever, because, from what I've seen, most developers don't care about your green spaces, only greenbacks. And I'd hate to see that--it takes forever to get out of Houston as it is!

Man, I miss those days.

Does anyone remember the original Corral Cafe in Madisonville? We used to stop there for lunch on the way to my grandmother's house in Mart, Texas. They had a neat Texas souvenir area next to the main dining room. I see the present location is for sale--hope it'll still be a Corral.

I'll always remember Globe for the swimming pool my parents bought us in '68, plus the parking lot carnivals in summer, plus all the 67 cent 45's I bought in the record department at the front. Does anyone remember a miniature golf course behind the Sage on the Gulf Frwy and College? I could be confused--I ain't no spring chicken.

I remember walking along that beach that night, eating a hot dog.

Man, I sure miss Wyatt's cafecteria and their strawberry shortcake.

The Nesadel Club!

Yes, Mr. Gatti's was across the street from Parkview. I used to work there. A Weingarten's was on the same side. At Parkview, I remember sitting through the original "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" TWICE because I loved it so much! "Come with me and you'll be in a world of pure imagination...."

Man, I didn't know there was anything left of WS. My best memories are of the candle shop, the basket store, the jewelry store and the best; Village Inn when Freddie Powers and the Powerhouse were playing there. (He worked with Willie Nelson later, if I recall.) The place was packed on the weekends. Here's a picture I found of the Square in the good days:

My dad used to play piano at the one on FM 1960, he and a friend of his named Lefty who played banjo, if I recall. They may have played in Town and Country, I don't remember. Dad also played with Paul Buskirk many times throughout the 60's and 70's--I remember he sort of had jowls that shook when he played! I went with Dad to a mobile home that either Paul or Marianne lived in, and watched them rehearse a little.

OMG, you remember Wink's?! I don't know if there were more than one, but we used to go to Wink's on Richey in Pasadena for the best barbecue sandwiches ever! This building was pink, and I recall walking past a pool table with my dad and brothers to pick up the sandwiches. The place seemed fairly dark inside. Sage was around at least til the mid70's cos I remember shopping there with Mom and Dad in '74 at the one in South Houston. (There was also a nicely shaded putt-putt golf place behind it, IIRC.) And I remember getting some cute summer tops at Fedmart in 1979. I bought lots of 45's at Globe in Pasadena in the early-mid 70's; some still have the sticker on them (67 cents.) On the fourth of July 1968, we bought a swimming pool there. And I remember the parking lot carnivals there every year. Don't mind me, I'm just rambling!

Not quite, 667, I think! "Missed it by THAT MUCH!" Thank you NenaE! Glad someone remembers Vicky's AND "Dark Shadows!"

I'll bet none of you remembers Vicky's Drive-In on Old Galveston Road. It was a classic '50's drive-in with a giant Martian on the roof. Next to the drive-in was the La Fonda Motel, which Vicky and her husband also owned. (Don't know their last name.) I wish I could find a picture of the drive-in, cos that Martian was a sight to see! They had another location in Pasadena next to a Shakey's where my dad used to play with his buddies. (Shakey's was a pizza restaurant that had "family" entertainment thru the '70's.) When the family went there with him, we would go next door to Vicky's to get me a hamburger, cos I didn't like pizza when I was little!