KatieDidIt

there's something odd about becca cason thrash - i guess she's the type of person people hate to love - or love to love, i guess...

i mean, she's a filthy rich, designer-only clothes-wearing princess, co-founder of paper city who loves throwing over-the-top parties but giving ALL proceeds to charity (even most of the food is donated, so the enormous entry fee doesn't go toward any overhead). she is married to what seems like her polar opposite, and forces him to make appearances and stand around at all the parties...

from texas monthly: Becca came striding down a hallway toward the foyer, wearing a white Marc Bouwer gown so clingy it made the curves of her body look like a Putt-Putt course. Her hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail and a glass of chilled vodka was in her hand, which she waved around like an orchestra conductor's baton as she greeted her guests. "Sweetie, you're here!" she exclaimed to one woman. "If you hadn't been able to come, I would have slit my wrists with a dull razor blade!" She let out a whoop of laughter.

putt-putt? prima donna? drama queen? it's almost endearing!

the weird part is that i know enough to write all this about her

She really works it doesn't she? BCT is rather a parody of herself.

PA, you do know that The Woodlands consists mainly of a large middle class and upper middle class population. They far out number the upper class...and the crazy,insane wealth of the inner loop, or near inner loop, is only here in a handful. 90% of the population is comfortable this is true, but most of them can't pop over to Amerigos or Flemings to do lunch with the gals every week.

PS-You like Bohemian? Well, upper crusters aren't known for being very bohemian........Upper middle isn't really know for it either......except maybe their teenage kids

I don't know here name, but she is old like Carolyn.

shops at Nieman Marcus and Saks Fifth Ave at least 3 times a week.

has jet black hair, (colored) and usually in a tight bun.

porcelin white skin.

like to wear animal patterns and gold colored clothing.

high heels and skirts that show off the bottom of her legs.

skinny framed and seems pretty fit

soft spoken

like I mentioned, i don't know her name, but she is always spending $$$ and I see he in those PAPER CITY fund raisers all the time.

Sounds a little like Martha Turner.......cept the gold clothing part.

I think Kenyon died of some sort of sudden heart problem.

I wouldn't call Mrs. Bush a socialite. She is more of a Houston Landmark and a do-gooder.

Mary Elizabeth Meacham Hahnfield.

M.E. would be one of this generation's foremost socialites..in Houston that is.

Of course, Gigi (Hunan) thinks she's one too.

PS- How old is that picture of Carolyn Farb? <gonna hide now>

I have always found the Woodlands mall very depressing and never go. It reminds me of the small town malls in NC. I have no problems with the teens hanging out there, being posers, preps or otherwise. This is their time in life to figure things out. And its much better that that's being done inside the mall rather than running around in an outside mall late at night.

As to Woodlanders not using Market Street and the mall, in my experience you are right. Most of the people I know drive into the Galleria to do any major shopping.......I mean who wouldn't? Its a blast of reality and a show all at once. Otherwise most of the "necessity" shopping is done online these days anyway. Its such a hike to get around these parts that most people find it easier to get the size and style, or product, they want right of the net and delivered to their door. Since there are no "multiples" of the same stores up here, you will often spin your wheels trying to find a certain item.

A large portion of the concrete block has been tranformed so maybe that will continue. I really don't care either way, I don't spend time up there, except at the "Central Market" that really isn't.

Now when Churascos opens, that will pull me up there a few times a year.

Well its now a junior high that is 58% hispanic in a 100% white neighborhood. The TAKS scores are horrible, they average in the low 70s. Kids are coming in from more rough and tumble neighborhoods.

Now, if they could only fix Grady middle school....

Actually rezoning all those apartments has more to do with the fact that Briargrove was using over flow buildings at the Post Oak YMCA in order to educate all the kids zoned to the school. With the rezoning The School at Post Oak will close and all will go to Briargrove.

A majority of the non-apartment neighborhood families go into private or move to SBISD for 6th grade and up. IF they rezoned Grady, they might stay.

Riverside Terrace is a section of River Oaks........

Hey Bach, have any figures come out on how Market Street stores are doing finacially?

I noticed that unlike Highland Village, Uptown Park and like fabricated centers, Market Street is completely dead on weekdays.... even on weekend afternoons we really haven't seen much activity. It would be interesting how all those stores are doing in comparison to their other locations. However, I kinda like that lack of activity because I can get a spot anywhere and be in and out of a shop quickly.

PS- That Pot Belly sandwich shop is pretty good and cute, don't know about the entertainment though.

That screwy 1964 map of mine lists the road now located at West Mt. Houston and I-45 as Westbrook.

I guess West Mount Houston was named as an extension of Mount Houston road.

Great info. But, who was Huffsmith? Almost every road in our area seems to have his name in it.

We went into the Orvis up here a few weeks ago, my husband is a Texan and an avid hunter. They certainly did there research and are catering to the Woodlands demographic, no custom guns or deluxe hunting accesories...just clothing, dog beds and preppy women's clothing. There was some fishing gear....

The Orvis on Augusta and Westheimer is certainly more "Texan."

Its crazy where customs homes start at in 2006, compaired to 5 years ago. Even companies like Village and Horton have gone off the the deep end in my opinion. What's amazing is the land value in the newer sections is only about 75k, your value is in the house..........that's rather a scary thought for a Houstonian. Your house better be a good one, and I guess that's what was the hardest thing for those Life Form owners when the stucco hit the fan.

But this sharp upswing is good for The Woodlands I guess. But I am very skeptical about those Brownstones going for 800 up in Eastshore. That's almost as much or more than an intown garden home,with a strip of grass. I can't understand how the apraissals are going through, the land is worth so little.

As to Beckonvale, I think its a really cute neighborhood and many of the houses have that Craftsman feel. We looked at a few with the idea that we would upgrade some of the standard materials. In the end, we thought with the reputation Life Forms had and the lack of land value up here, they weren't worth the price and resale was risky. Plus, I have to agree with a previous post, these particular homes were cute on the outside but the bedroom areas were like a rabbit warren. BUT, those Life Forms are now selling for 100k more that when we were looking...so there ya go.

that's a no-brainer. if i were going to spend upwards of 800k on a george weaver custom home, lifeforms wouldn't be on my radar. lifeform homes are about more house on a budget. i don't think anyone in the 150k price range would be considering a george weaver home as an option.

Bach, there are many Life Forms in an area called Beckonvale that are larger and were built in the past few years.. And Weaver homes didn't hit that crazy level until recently, in fact three years ago they weren't much more than those Life Forms they are/were building. I was speaking of companies, not price ranges.

But more to my point, realtors continue to dog the company, maybe unfairly. If the problems were fixed and resolved, I would think fair practices would let the issue go.

Spring, that's too bad! Many of them have just that, wood paneling, wood floors. I am sorry you did not get a chance to see them!

I wouldn't call their houses poorly-built. I understand they had issues as noted above, but also noted was that it affected a particular group of houses in a particular neighborhood that used a particular stucco. I particularly like the word "particular".

Did you end up moving to a Jerry Kirkpatrick home? I am not familiar with him. Are they like Life Forms?

Real Estate Agents really rag on Life Forms, even the newer ones, to this day. We went with George Weaver. Great family and company.

Wilchester is booming like crazy now, like it did in the early 80's. It sure would be nice to see Westchester High School open again and give that area more choices. Friend's parents that still live there say not only have house prices doubled in the past three years, but our generation in buying them up like crazy and gutting. True Memorial has gotten way too expensive for most of the 30-40 year old set, so they are having to move back into West Memorial to get into Spring Branch Schools. I don't know if Stratford can handle to population load of this "rebirth."

i don't think town center would be a great place for any sort of aerial tram.

Agreed Bach. Town Center/Market Street is only a few city blocks. If you can't walk that, then you are just lazy.

Miami has the Monorail, and it took 15 years for anyone to ride it. Its more of a 100 million dollar novelty.

As reported in the Chronicle: (link)

It seems excessive, but then I feared this would happen when I watched all the customers head to HEB.

Eegads, I can't stand HEB. Its all generic brands and I've had 4 rotten meat experiences there. I have no sense of smell, so one incident sent me to the ER. Fortunately the other 3 times people were there to smell it.

Strange they can't carry the same quality meats and produce as their Central MArket locations.

Kroger is ok, but the produce is awful.

I shop the Randalls up here. There really isn't much choice for me, pay a little more or puke.

Well, they're just a little too slow with introducing those "upscale products" 'cause when they took over, I never saw them! The old Randall's was run RIGHT and is what made them #1 in this market--the fact that Safeway bought them and they dropped to #4 should have told them something a long time ago.

A bit like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. The old model worked....the Onstead family should have held on a little longer. I bet HEB would have bought them.

Are they closing the one at Voss and Woodway? The employees really made that store. They all stayed after the buyout.

Come home! We'll leave the light on for ya.

Well, we started at ten years til we come back...now its 9. Tick Tock.

Off course, if we win the lotto and can buy a brand spanking new home in Piney Point or Hedwig, we'll be home the next day!

Ohhh, all this talk about this area makes me soooo homesick!!!!

Woodlands goes online with Houston Chronicle's help

Wow! Thanks for that. Now we will actually know whats going on up here versus getting glossed over reports from the Association. They never update their "watch" area.

dearest haif foodies,

i'm thinking of spending a weekend revisiting old haunts this weekend or next at restaurants i love and miss. is there anything i should try that's not on my list (that is to follow)?

my friends and i have a couple places we cannot stand to be away from:

backstreet cafe

van loc

mia bella

mark's

americas

la strada (ok, if the sundays are still as rowdy as they used to be, otherwise, i'm over it. haven't been there for awhile)

cafe japon

zimm's

mo mong

the teahouse on shepherd at randall's

with that said..........is there anywhere that we might try for a birthday dinner? we have two birthdays in october and usually spend a day or afternoon restaurant/bar/lounge hopping. the weather can be great and we like to schedule a couple of designated drivers and bounce around the inner loop area.

your suggestions are welcome.

Cafe Annie. I have never been disappointed by the food or service.

McCullough campus is now 7th and 8th only

Branch Crossing became 9th only

TWHS is now 10-12.

I just can't see myself shopping at that fake looking place.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I avoid it. If I need to shop and have a great lunch, I go to Uptown. If I want a good dinner without the 2 hour wait, I got to Uptown.

But you know, without the market street, there really would be nothing up here. So I'm glad they have it I guess.

This is really good news! The first time I went down Westhimer and saw that place I knew that it looked out of place, and I imagined it with some urban developments, and now its coming true.

I totally agree. That is valuable property over there and the dealership has become out of place with the area.