downtownian

That is surprising. I can't even go to some of my favorite spots on a Friday / Saturday night because there are lines to get in (Bad News Bar) or it is too packed and takes forever to get a drink (OKRA).

I've only lived in Houston and downtown for two years and I am amazed by the amount of change that has occurred on the restaurant / bar scene. When I moved here, OKRA was not even open / even hinted at. Since then there has been a number of successful openings and it's hard to keep up with the pace of change. I've also been very pleased with the quality of each opening - these establishments are nothing like the typical Midtown / Wash Ave bars where the bartenders do not even know what Campari is. Here are recent openings in no particular order: Prohibition (1008 Prairie). A burlesque event space in back (A beautifully restored theater. You would have no idea that it is in this building. Drop in and ask to take a look) but the front restaurant serves excellent lunch and dinner. Pricey with some entrees > $50. Absolutely worth checking out for the smoked fried chicken alone. Chef Ben McPherson.http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2014/06/27/foodie-friday-whos-cooking-up-restaurant-news-in.html?page=allMain Kitchen (806 Main). In the new JW Marriott. It's been discussed in the JW thread a lot so won't rehash it here. Chef Erin Smith.https://www.facebook.com/MainKitchen806Bombay Indian Grill (806 Main). Indian lunch buffet.http://bombaygrillhouston.com/Honeymoon Cafe (300 Main). Serves upscale sandwiches for lunch. Downtown's only good independent coffee shop. Always packed for lunch and surprisingly packed for Sunday brunch.http://thehoneymoonhtx.com/Springbok (711 Main). South African restaurant and sports bar serving lunch and dinner.http://www.springbokhouston.com/Nightingale Room (308 Main). Bar and live music space. I visited and the cocktails are high quality. Part of the Anvil mafia.https://www.facebook.com/NightingaleRoomPublic Services Wine and Whiskey (202 Travis). Run by the former Oxheart sommelier with interesting wines and whiskeys. It's in the restored / renovated Cotton Exchange building.http://publicservicesbar.com/New Hearsay Location (1516 Dallas) Also, looks like a formerly empty location on Main Street is taped over with the business named "Beef and Barley" and District 7 Grill is taking over an empty space that spans half a block at Main and Texas. There is some sports bar opening on Main as well. As MAB noted in another thread, a new BBQ restaurant set to open by Brian Caswell (Reef), Bill Floyd and Greg Gatlin (Gatlin's BBQ) is set to open in Q1 2015 on Jackson and Congress near Minute Maid Park. There is now a liquor store downtown called Posh Liquors (http://poshliquors.com/). Based on the name, I'm assuming they are trying for an upscale clientele base. All these join the first wave of restaurants (El Big Bad, Batanga, Fusion Taco) and first wave of bars (Captain Foxheart's Bad News Bar and Spirit Lounge, OKRA, Pastry War, Clutch City Squire, Little Dipper, Dean's Credit Clothing re-opening). Yes it would be nice to get a full service grocery, a Target and some retail downtown but I am so grateful for everything that has happened to downtown recently, that I have no absolutely no complaints. I also have nothing but optimism for further development as more residential opens.

That may be right; I may have missed that point.

The Downtown District seemed downbeat on retail during their presentation. Said they were working on it but not as much progress as other areas. They quickly went through things like the Dallas Street widening and other improvements - not sure that project is even funded.

Notes from meeting today in order of importance to me: 1) 4,199 units under the Downtown Living Initiative have been publicly approved. Two more are proposed and would bring the total to 4,750 leaving only 250 units to go under the 5,000 unit cap 2) No plans or discussion to bring a major grocer to downtown. They expect this to come after residential base is built. Prior year discussions included an urban Target with a grocery component 3) Bob Eury, the Downtown District Executive Director, is flying to New York tonight and may bring back "big news" 4) 2015 downtown district budget is $15mm 5) There is $4.2bn of investment underway or proposed in downtown 6) New branding - Downtown: Something Big is Up 7) They have put in 3 (?) porta potties to aid sanitation efforts

I would never set up shop at the Central Library when the gorgeous Julia Ideson Library is across the street and open to the public. The indoor and outdoor loggia and reading rooms are historic, quiet and elegant. http://www.ideson.org/photos.php

It sounds like the expanded Downtown Living Initiative (DLI) is reaching its limit. If Camden Phase II qualified under the DLI, I'm very disappointed. The most recent Development Map shows a Q1 2017 start date for Phase II and completion by Q2 2019. It seems that the city is just providing Camden with a free call option on downtown residential - if development works out and rents are attractive, Camden builds Phase II and pockets the subsidy, if it doesn't work out, then they don't build Phase II.

The sign is up (iPhone night quality is poor): Also, I am eternally grateful to the JW for improving the view from my loft: 806 Main before pic from HAIF:

Hard to tell but it looks like the ground floor is parking garage. I'm curious if the project will try to qualify for the Downtown Living Initiative subsidies.

Here's an article in Houstonia about the various design elements of the hotel. The community table at Main Kitchen was done by New Living (the Heights pocket park people): http://www.houstoniamag.com/fashion-and-shopping/shop-talk/articles/local-design-leads-at-downtowns-new-jw-marriott-november-2014

Nothing new in the article but glad to see ground has officially broke: http://www.multihousingnews.com/news/work-begins-on-downtown-houston-apartments/1004110159.html

Went to main kitchen on Monday. They had the football game on the TVs and there were a number of people cheering loudly. Strange atmosphere to enjoy a $50 entree. I wish the coffee was a little cheaper - last time I went, a medium to-go cup was $6.50.

http://www.downtownhouston.org/site_media/uploads/attachments/2010-04-07/Block_Numbering.pdf

Main Kitchen soft opens this Wednesday (Sept 24) http://blog.chron.com/foodchronicles/2014/09/main-kitchen-at-jw-marriott-downtown-to-open-sept-24/ CultureMap is having their 5th anniversary party at the hotel on October 10 - I really hope this hotel becomes the center of upscale events and galas in Houston. Would be great for downtown and Main Street. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/culturemap-fifth-birthday-bash-tickets-12979503043 As this building nears completion, I become even more disappointed in Metro for not having a signature Main Street light rail station.

I wish the Hogan-Allnoch building next door would be renovated but I think all the new development just makes it more likely to be torn down.

Here's an interesting article with the lead Gensler architect discussing design and construction: http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2014/06/what-the-brooklyn-bridge-and-new-downtown-jw.html

Aloft is no longer listed on the Downtown Development Map. Still listed on Starwood's website however. http://www.downtownhouston.org/site_media/uploads/attachments/2014-05-08/140505_Downtown_Houston_Development_Map_11x17.pdf

New residential planned for south downtown near the two planned Camden blocks + the Orion block 5-story 220-unit residential building Developer: Leon Capital Group Est. construction start 4Q 2014 Est. completion 2Q 2016 http://www.downtownhouston.org/site_media/uploads/attachments/2014-05-08/140505_Downtown_Houston_Development_Map_11x17.pdf

Near Minute Maid Park and adjacent to the 28-story Marquette building: 6-story, 267-unit residential building Developer: Trammell Crow Residential Est. construction start 3Q 2014 Est. completion 1Q 2017 http://www.downtownhouston.org/site_media/uploads/attachments/2014-05-08/140505_Downtown_Houston_Development_Map_11x17.pdf

More great news on the dining team: Plinio Sandalio to join JW Marriott Houston Downtownhttp://blog.chron.com/foodchronicles/2014/04/plinio-sandalio-to-join-jw-marriott-houston-downtown/ Erin Smith was previously confirmed as the executive chef so it sounds like they are creating a serious restaurant and lounge.

The entire north side of the building is almost completely covered in the faux brick:

Let there be stick-a-brick:

Close to completing that floor:

That's the Gulf Building (now the JP Morgan Chase Bank Building). It was constructed in 1929 and designed by Alfred Finn, Kenneth Franzheim and J.E.R. Carpenter. Jesse H. Jones served as developer. It is 36 stories, 450-feet tall and was tallest building in Houston from 1929-1963. Source: AIA Houston Architectural Guide, third edition

Also, Texas Monthly named four Market Square bars to its list of the top ten best new bars in Texas. http://www.texasmonthly.com/eat-my-words/list-where-eat-and-drink-2014