The Great Hizzy!

This is already a great picture but imagine when this tower is finished.

Some people you just have to learn to scroll past. They have some odd emotional issues that make them react poorly to certain topics. No big deal.

As for clubs and restruants. Clubs come and go thats the biz.

HII nailed this one but I would add that this is even more true of night clubs. You're talking about a trend/fad-dominated industry. Just because a club is hot today doesn't mean it'll be hot tomorrow or next year. For example, a lot of Hip-Hop (and the clubs that feature it) in Houston is dominated by "Screw" but it probably won't last, and the type of club that would play that type of music will either change with the times or close shop.

The good news is that it seems many of the clubs downtown have developed regenerative qualities in that if one closes at a particular location, someone else eventually arrives at the same location to try a different theme with different little touches. That said, there are still quite a few reliable spots that seem to be oblivious to the so-called fickled nature of night clubs such as the Mercury Room, Boaka Bar and M Bar. It's good to have a core of longstanding establishments, even within the club scene.

However, as far as DT nightlife overall, what I'd like to see, and which has been expressed by others, is the continued emergence of mature establishments that are more of the bar & grill variety, with less emphasis on hip and trendy cliches and more emphasis on the age old desire of just hanging out and having a good meal.

I think HP has a chance to be the southern anchor for this type of activity on Main Street. We shall see.

Oh, and yes there's a Randall's about two blocks south of the Pierce (I-45) Elevated. Fairly brand new with an upstairs patio and some other nice touches. The selection of goods is a bit disappointing, IMO, but the deli isn't bad and they're doing a pretty good job of keeping it clean--even the bus stop on Louisiana next to it seems to be less afflicted by litter than say a year or so ago.

Reliant Stadium's capacity is no longer 69,500. It is now 71,200. Following the 2004 Superbowl, standing room only areas were retained, boosting capacity by over 1,500.

but Houston is the laughing stock of the football world right now because of their draft day mistake(s). If you don't believe me, turn your HDTV to ESPN, Fox Sports, or even your local 6:00 news to verify what I'm stating.

I don't doubt that at all. Not one person has said that Mario Williams will be a bust or a bad player. THey're saying, uncategorically, that the Texans should've taken Bush, regardless of need. Just take him because he has such great talent. Taking Reggie Bush made about as much sense for the Texans immediate development as taking Vince Young. Neither is a need position. Neither.

The same group of "outraged" Texans bashers also said that USC would be the hell out of Texas in the Rose Bowl.

So it goes.

The pure fact is that the NFL Draft has historically proven to be a crapshoot. Tony Mandarich of Michigan State was thought by all to potentially be the greatest OL in history because of his pure size and strength. He turned out to be a mediocre journeyman OL who ended up leaving the NFL six years (and two teams) after he was drafted by the Packers. The media, the same media who is going on and on and on about this, was right there with NFL GMs talking about Mandarich's obvious greateness. They were embarrassingly wrong, which is wont to happen with drafting young men making the change from amateur to pro.

If the Texans needed a RB (and even if they didn't), I can see drafting Reggie Bush, but it's still far from the main ingredient in them winning. You win championships in football with strong lines on both sides of the ball. The Texans had(have) neither.

I don't, however, understand why the Texans couldn't work a deal to trade down. I agree with you there. I would've been happy with Ferguson, Williams or Hawk, assuming that the Texans ended up trading down with the Jets or Packers.

I also don't understand the Saints not being able to work a trade. Their picking Bush makes less sense than the Texans picking him.

Oh well. Not my money. At least, not directly.

I don't expect many here to understand that, though. . .In my opinion (strictly my opinion) Dallas is a sports town with franchises that strive for championship status. Houston is a town satisfied with hosting other cities' championship franchises. [ many HAIF2 forumer's blood boils right about now]

You sound awfully goofy, given the fact neither the Mavs nor the Rangers have even so much as played for a championship in their history. The Cowboys are an epic franchise, granted, and the Stars have their one championship a year or so after moving from Minneapolis. Still, this hardly makes you the grand puba of championship trophees.

Astros history > Rangers history

Rockets history > Mavericks history

Cowboys history > Oilers/Texans history

Stars history > N/A

Aeros history > N/A

Comets history > N/A

None of this, however, has anything to do with the Bush/Williams pick. The Saints are to be congratulated for picking up such a prominent, talented and identifiable player. By adding Bush, they now have three running backs, whom they'll be paying a combined $50 million or so to over the next few years unless they cut Deuce McCallister (a pro bowl back).

Meanwhile, their secondary and linebacking corp is still a trainwreck, the OL lacks depth (as well as any forseeable pro bowlers) and they're left to hope that their signing of a couple of FAs will help.

Bush is an excellent back and, barring injury or just plain goofiness by the coaching staff, should do tremendously. However, you don't win championships with "Gale Sayers" by himself. You need a championship caliber team in the trenches (that is, the OL and DL).

Bush seems like a no-brainer because of his open field ability but you don't get into the open field if you don't have quality blocking. And you don't win many games if you can't stop anyone. The Texans made a significant step in improving their pass rush as well as their OL. They'll need to continue to address it next season as well.

Time Warner sucks at times but not as bad as Adelphi, apparently. My friends and family in Florida are at constant odds with them.

Long live Astroworld. Long live Dome Dogs.

It looks like we gained a couple. Weren't we at 21 last year? I'll admit that I don't remember and don't keep really good track of this stuff.

No one opinion is bad. I don't have any real use for carousels but they don't offend me either.

If the park is designed for people of all ages, then Kimberly may have a valid point. Parents like having things like carousels available to share with their kids.

I doubt that add one, though. Space seems limited and a carousel probably isn't a priority, especially if they want to make the park a draw for urbanists who would presumably consider living in residential structures built near the park.

I think buses are old fashioned and not as convienient as rail.

Actually, buses are typically more convenient in any city not named New York because they offer the commuter a greater chance of being dropped off "right at the door" of his/her destination of choice. Rail transit typically drops you off in the general vicinity.

But I agree with your other points. Rail cars are more spacious, more comfortable, quieter and travel from station to station at greater average speeds than do local buses from point A to point B, especially a busy bus route like the 2 Bellaire or 82 Westheimer.

Sure we are. Remember, we're ten years behind.

And, dog METRO all you want (not Tierwestah but to anyone who speaks of METRO's "incompetence") but every inch of rail we DO have was built without the help of the feds. METRO may have its issues, but they showed balls in defying Heir Delay, Heir Culberson and Heir Lanier by building a rail line anyway. And, although it's not a 100-mile network, it gets great ridership and the best bang-for-the-buck of any other rail line.

Minneapolis, which has a line that's a smidge smaller, gets just over half the ridership METRO gets. RTD, which is slighter more extensive, gets the same ridership per day. Our friends at DART, despite having six times the amount of rail, gets only about 56% more ridership.

So give METRO just a bit of a break.

What they need downtown is a Ripley's/Wax museum

I've said for a while that the building just to the north of the Aquarium would be a good site for that type of thing. Obviously, no one has seriously persued it.

I like the idea of Lucky Strike. I have a cousin who lived in Denver until recently and he says the one there is cool.

The more important thing in this is that the Pavillions continues to pick up tenants and makes getting it off the ground that much more likely.

It's all in the branding. Although, as I understand it, they're supposed to build some sort of gathering area, a plaza if you will, though I don't know how this will be handled.

You can still cut down on irresponsible land use and still serve an auto based clientele.

So true.

And I've made a point to NOT comment on the entire project until it's actually completed and I can Monday morning QB.

42 stories suggests a tower around 450-plus feet. That would look good next to Transco!

I agree, KinkaidAlum. Reading these forums is a perfect cure for anybody who is too positive or optimistic about life. The pessimism and bitterness out here is unbelievable!

Heh. It's like a truth syrum.

Actually, DT Atlanta has more Class A office space than DT Los Angeles, but I understand what you mean. Uptown's a big mofo.

Buckhead is indeed smaller than Uptown but it's no small fry either. Kind of dull at times but it has size.

And I'd agree that HY would probably be more like Atlantic Station, if you were to make a comparison between trendy nouveau-urban developments.

Say what you want about Gulfgate, but it has been a boon to the area. How much of an impact do you all think it will have longterm on the area's demographics? I could see a higher income demographic moving in over time (and this demographic need not be white, black or what have you but still of higher average income).

Then another question: why isn't there a similar development in an area like Riverside Terrace? Crime concerns? The income is certainly there.

Which I've wanted to do for awhile...

Where are cheap Kayak/Canoe rentals? Are there any actually on the bayou somewhere ?

Also, since you've done it before.. whats the best way to go about it...

Park downstream at Allans, paddle upstream and float back

or

Start way upstream, and have someone else meet you downstream with your truck?

Start upstream near Waugh or thereabouts and head back west. Most people will tell you to start downtown at Allen's Landing, which is indeed cool, but navigating your kayak on foot through that area of downtown and down to the Bayou can be a little oft-putting.

Sadly, I don't really know of any place to rent Kayaks. I know there are places in the Kemah area but that's out of the way, obviously.

Also, if you're going to do it, do it now or in April before the mosquitoes really have a chance to get going. "Off" is nice and all but even that loses it's affectiveness after a while.

Not to worry. It's not as chic or as urban as East Point or College Park.

Semipro is kind of right. Overall, Gaffney wasn't out of line... what he said was true, and it is frustrating to any athlete (remember, you have fans blaming Gaffney and the other receivers for not racking up big yardage when half the time Carr is running for his life before they can even finish their route). However, the "better organization" part kind of slipped out of his mouth without thought. If he had it to do over again, and with some advising, he wouldn't have added the comment.

Plus, Gaffney's a fellow Gator. Gotta give him the benefit of the doubt.

Best hidden treasure: kayaking on Buffalo Bayou through Bayou Bend and Memorial Park.

FWIW, there is a bit of new housing construction going on west of North Main and north of the proposed Hardy Yard project. Even better is that some of the existing housing stock in that area is being renovated and resold as upgraded housing.

It's kind of like the First Ward affect is moving north and east to a smaller degree.

In this, maybe the market is indeed shifting towards accomodating such a project.

LOL