Houstonian in Iraq

Not sure what this is meant to imply, but I'm guessing you're pointing out that the Houston Zoo is smaller in area than many other zoos in the country.

Yeah, it's not the biggest zoo - but it is efficient and has a large assortment of animals. And, it's well-visited. Is larger better? I'm not sure...

I always liked the idea of the Zoo taking over the golf course. Maybe leave the edges as a part of Herman Park.

I'm not a golfer so I really don't care for the course much.

Thank God...the location they moved to in some former kid's clothing store was a depressing excuse for a Disney store...glad they're making this change

I was looking to buy something for my niece so I figured that the Disney store in the Galleria would have it. When I got there I looked around, but couldn't find anything good so I asked "You don't have much, is there a bigger store here?", the people who worked there seemed a little embarrassed, kind of like they had heard it before. "yeah we know"

Kickass looking bridge. Would really like to see more projects like this. Passed by the other day and saw some work being done, thought maybe that the bayou was being widened. Thanks for the posts

That was great. I remember growing up my mom telling me she watched the Lunar landing at the Foley's Downtown back in '69. I believe she was already here in the States by '66. I'm going to show this to her, thanks for posting it.

Construction of a new movie theater at Greenspoint Mall has begun. Original plans called for the addition of a 20-screen movie theater at the site of the vacant JCPenny store. Demolition crews began tearing down part of the building this morning. Mall management has confirmed that Premiere Cinema has started construction. The new theater was to be part of a $32-million face-lift that would also include a plaza and new restaurants and stores. We’ll keep you posted when we learn more.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?pid=5326951&id=279231934047

Having a flashback of Magic theater at Northline Mall back in '97. Hope nobody gets killed this time and that the theater doesn't die a slow painful death like Magic did.

I have been looking for a place to have a Shawarma in Houston since I first had one in Dubai in January. I am glad this new place has them, but since you know where are other places I can get one? I doubt it, but are there any on the north or near west side of town?

Yeah, Shawarmas are awesome, IF you can find a good place. The best I ever had was in Kuwait City back in ’02. Tried Shawarma King on Hillcroft and couple other places, I have given up trying to find a place here.

I’ve been to Phoenicia Foods on Westhiemer (haven’t tried their shawarmas) I liked it. Great variety of foods, I can see them being really successful there. I’m excited

I went to check it out during the Night at Market Square last night, and they had menus available. It looks promising!

www.byrdsmarket.com

Thanks for the link. It indeed does look promising. I hope it does well, I for one will check it out.

They are in bankruptcy, it had nothing to do with 24 Fitness Midtown.

Also, members with single gym memberships were grandfathered into nationwide memberships.

The Ballys at Sawdust "the Woodlands one" is closing down aswell. The employees got word on Monday. They have already shorten their hours.

I joined Bally's back in 99 and stuck with them mainly because I was getting a pretty good deal and there was usually one nearby. The one at Sawdust is really outdated. Rust on their machines, free weights weren't labled so you had to calculate or guess how much you were lifting. So I'm not surprised.

HnI, I only remeber Ms. Ruth really. She wasn't even my teacher, but all the boys had a crush on her. She was young and hot. Was Mr. Lindsey the principal ?

Mr Lindsey was the 3rd and 4th grade science teacher. He was very goofy(always had sound effects for everything), he would put on clown make up and dress up for events and parties.

Mr Van Clarke was the principal at the time

What year did it turn into a Magnet School. I am almost 100% sure it wasn't when I went there, so I was wondering about that also.

I'm not sure when it became a magnet school. It was one of the first. The magnet program was for 3rd-5th grades. The sibs and I were all bussed in from 1st Ward(what is now "Harker Heights")we would have to wake up at 5 or 6 in the morning. Besides the modules at I think 7 in the morning it was just like any other school. The first two days of my 3rd grade year I didn't even know I was in the magnet program. They asked me when I got off the bus if I was, I told them no ,so they stuck me in the cafeteria until everyone else started school. My eldest brother is eight years older than me and he went, just don't know if he started in his 4th or 5th grade, I'll ask.

I loved the camping trip to either camp Olympia or Camp Colon. My class only went to camp Olympia our 4th and 5th grades. I remember we had a week at the zoo from the time we got to the school we would get on another bus then be at the zoo until it was time to go home. I remembered I answered the question that won my team the question/answer game and bragging rights of course.

Remember Ms Bryan or Mr Lindsey, Ms Thomas, Ms Barnett?

I am looking for anyone who may have gone to Wainwright Elem. on Milwee dr. just off 290 over by Scarborough Highschool. Especially interested if you went there in the late 70's or early 80's. Hoping for some of your memories of this great school.

I will start with remembering they always had the best Halloween Carnivals, and the Talent Show every year. Thanks in advance.

My two older brothers, sis and I all attended the magnet program there. I was there from '86-'89. I enjoyed my time there, kick ass teachers. I loved the modules we had every morning, learned so much. I don't remember the Halloween carnivals too much, the talent shows were always entertaining.

Now that the wife and kids are moving to the US from the UK, I'm debating about sending my sons there. There are "better ranked" schools around I know, I guess I will see. They're only two and four so we have time.

I think this is going to be really neat.

November 27th through January 19th

Discovery Green Ice Skating

I stopped by the park yesterday and they were either doing regular maintenance (draining and cleaning) the part of the lake closest to the building right behind the stage or they were prepping it for the rink. Seems a little early to be prepping it, but then again I don't know how long it would take.

I cant wait to take the wife and kids to this

"High Street" is a British thing.

Yep

Asked the wife about that. She said just about every town has an "High Street"

It's kind of like our Main street.

Usually trendy shopping on High Street

I have been lurking for the last few months and finally decided to introduce myself. I am a native and homesick Houstonian in the Hill Country (Kerrville).

Feel free to take a look at my flickr page http://www.flickr.com/photos/30090334@N05/

Anyway, I will be coming home this weekend for the first time since Ike. My folks live on the west end of Galveston, so I will be helping them with some clean-up. I am also bringing my friend from California who has never been to Texas. I wanted to show her the sky lobby at Chase Tower but I am assuming it is still out of commission. Are the windows still boarded up? I haven't seen any recent pictures of "post-ike Houston." If the JPM tower is out, is the Wells Fargo observation deck open?

Any insight would be appreciated.

Welcome to HAIF. I just got back into Houston last week. This is my first week back since the Hurricane. I had to step out of the country but was able to watch the coverage on Fox and CNN. A buddy of mine works at Chase tower and said he thinks the sky lobby is open. I have tomorrow off and one of my soldiers is in town from San Antonio, I was thinking about showing him the sky lobbies and tunnels.

This may be deserve it's own thread since it looks like they've kinda started. Through the netting, the lights inside were a bit easier to see since I guess the windows on those floors have been removed. Here's a photo from this afternoon.

Yeah looks like something is going down here, we might just need to start a new thread here.

The building's got potential, residential would be ideal. We shall see.

They had the water flowing at the "interactive fountain". Looked really nice. I didn't have my camera on me so sorry no pics.

Let me get this straight. This is in addition to 6 Houston tower,right?

I think I remember hearing about some sort of cheerleader competion at GRB(saw some walking around)

Construction is underway! Some photos of the work site are located here: http://www.hpbinc.org/downtown_skatepark.htm

That's great Push. I jog that trail every now and then. I just haven't been down that way in a while. I might just go down there and check it out for myself. Thanks for the update

The bathroom attendant at the Houston Club told me it's a sure thing. Work will begin soon.

LOL

This looks really nice. I like it

Plans call for the building to be completed by late 2010.

seems so far away...better than never

The new project, to be called MainPlace

someone might want to change the name of this thread

...is one of four being planned for downtown

I'm excited about the other buildings, hope they get built

An upscale collectible sneaker store is opening in the historic Humble building on July 16

July 16, is that right? Havn't seen any work being done. About a week ago only saw the old AA posters and a bunch of cars.

July 16, is that right? Havn't seen any work being done. About a week ago only saw the old AA posters and a bunch of cars.

Unless it's the spot right across the street from HP where Marriot Courtyard is at.

Note: Just answered my own question. I was thinking of the Sakawitz building

Well, the St. Louis zoo is world famous and much larger with great exhibits, (90 acres). I can't remember when it wasn't nice and it is clean too. St. Louis is a very small city and the city charter will not allow it to grow. Most of the growth in that area is in the county. Chicago's Lincoln Park zoo is small but very good and extremely walkable. The little red squirrels follow you everywhere, lol. It is a true urban zoo. The problem with the Houston zoo, is the small size (55 acres), you can only do so much. Houston should keep this as an urban zoo and then build a world class zoo where they have more land. Also, Harris County could potentially support a larger zoo.

I was looking at google earth. If the zoo could only take over the golf course right next door we would then have a zoo more than three times it's current size. I'm sure golfer's wouldn't be too happy about that. I think it would be worth it.

No, ricco, I like the planned plaza shown above. They are talking of demolishing the Family Courts Building across the street, and making another plaza. I don't think they need two of them.

Two plazas across from each other is over doing it.

I wouldn't mind seeing a new Federal courthouse being built there. Then raze the old one in the "theater district"and add some sort of entertainment venue in it's place.

Isiah Carey has a story about this and some pictures of the construction:

http://carey2.blogspot.com/2007/06/can-the...-mall-area.html

Is the Magic Johnson Theater still open?

Nope