Crash

unless I'm mistaken, the orphanage was located further west - near Bayland and Julian not Bayland and Houston. I believe one of the buildings that is a photography studio now used to be a pharmacy.

Does anyone know what's happening to the place on the corner of Houston Avenue and White Oak Drive (used to be Farmers wine / coffee shop)? It looks like they're doing some serious renovation to the building, it would certainly be nice to have another place to drink / dine in the area.

Nope, unfortunately the stage is gone. But the place has undergone some serious renovation and looks great. The back porch hasn't been rebuilt yet though --

Yep, that place is called Citizen..... it seems to be suffering from a split personality disorder. It wants to be a club and a lounge at the same time.... kind of ends up failing at both. It is a bit generic and a somewhat cheesy. But it is certainly amusing, although probably not intentionally so. Not really my kind of place - but I'm sure it will prove popular for a short while and then bottom out and change owners. I wish Pearl Bar would open back up.

I flew into LA yesterday --- the fires looked absolutely insane from the air...

Pearl Bar was named Best New Bar and Brad was named Best Bartender by the Houston press in their Best of Houston 2007 Poll. Unfortunately, the bar is temporarily closed down now until November while they push through the renovations. I'm going to be very intrested to see how this place turns out..

Apparently the Acres Homes residents are getting tired of finding dead bodies on their streets - amongst other issues..... go figure..... from the Chronicle: ...And, lately, the bodies of dead women, seven since January 2006, have been dumped much like trash along roadways and fields in this northwest Houston neighborhood. At least three were slain, their killers still at large. The cause of death for the remaining women has yet to be determined. The latest possible victim was found Saturday. A passer-by spotted the naked body of 18-year-old Willie Bianca Jones near a ditch in the 1100 block of Bland. Houston Police are treating her case, along with the three other unclassified deaths, as a possible homicide. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5166618.html

Well you've got to include the infamous Newlywed Game Blooper...... When answering the question of Where is the weirdest place that you have ever gotten the urge to make whoopee...... link to video... for years in interviews the host of the show denied this ever happened

No question that the bar is still quite rough around the edges, but it

Yep, it's a very solid bar - in the building that used to house Mary Janes. It still is kind of a work in progress -- but it's got a great low key vibe to it. I think just the outside bar is open right now but I think the interior should be open for business soon. It's not quite an icehouse - but it has a similar feel. The owners were incredibly nice as well.

From the James Beard Foundation website... Andrea Lazar and partner Monica Pope (T

You're not thinking of the old Garden in the Heights on Feagan are you?

Soul On the Bayeaux on Dowling St.

From what I've read it's going to be a seafood restaurant on the first floor. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/busine...ff/4578633.html

Thank you both for the suggestions -- very much appreciated.

Out of curiosity has anyone been to Santiago, Chile or Chile in general? It's one of the few places I haven't been in South / Central America and I will be heading there for a couple of weeks. If anyone has a few suggestions of must see places or unique experiences there - would definitely like to hear about them.

Chatters is located in the building that was previously occupied by Star Pizza (before they moved to their Washington Avenue location)

I saw an advertisement in the press that said Dragon Bowl is opening next week.... It's taken so damn long they really should have renamed it Dragging Ass

Was there a couple of weeks ago and sat outside. It's definitely a decent little deck. Kind of disappointed in the salsa and the food was ok. Worth checking it out though and I might even go back again -- but it won't be a regular stop.

worth checking Blanco's out as well

I'd prefer to eat at a mom and pop place over a chain any day (if they were of equal caliber). I rarely if ever eat at the chains. I don't have anything against chains I'm just not particularly impressed by the taste of the food or creativity of the kitchen in most of them. But I'm not going to frequent a mom and pop restaurant that I'm not impressed by either. There are too many choices for restaurants in Houston to return to one that doesn't impress you. Restaurants likes and dislikes are very subjective. Glad you like Jenny's - I don't care for it. I also didn't rank any chains as mediocre in my list -- because quite frankly there are very few that I would consider anything other than mediocre.

Houstonist is another good one

I forgot about Jenni's -- that place is way overrated... good call. Not exactly bad food -- it just really doesn't live up to all the raving people do about it.

I definitely agree with all on the original list - especially Julia's and Mai's. If I had to add three additional - they would probably be: 1. Kubo's (actually I have yet to find GREAT sushi in Houston -- although there is plenty of good sushi) 2. Zula 3. Cyclone Anaya's

There were some posts up on Craig's List looking for staff for the glass wall. I happened by the restaurant yesterday as well -- it looks just about ready to open for business. Can't wait to have a new restaurant in the Heights. Hopefully the ongoing street work on Studewood won't be an issue. Not sure how the parking situation is going to work out for them either.