Montrose1100

Here are a few shots from my trip. I took +700 photos so i'll narrow it to my favorites.

 

Pt.1 Cologne

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.timeout.com/london/clubs

 

This should have been your go-to guide.

 

That being said, in my view going to London for the nightlife is like coming to Houston for the skiing.

 

Sorry you didn't enjoy it. I think it's the greatest city in the world.

I did enjoy my time there and it's a great city, but was utterly shell-shocked at the nightlife. I had built my hopes up thinking it would blow Houston clear out of the water.

I go to London every year for work, and really love it. I do agree, though, that it is tough to figure out the nightlife there. I've been to a lot of not so great places paying the equivalent of $20 a drink and then yeah, you get out and realize the tubes are no longer running... The worst was when we were staying out of town and discovered Victoria station was closed, so they had buses running over to another station so we could catch a train back. That was at like 3 a.m., didn't get back til like 5

Anyway, I finally had a good time last year - went to a club at the W hotel, then hit another couple of decent spots. The secret, it seems, is to have a friend that's a local that actually lives in London and goes out frequently (and who is willing to go with you). Otherwise it's just a guessing game... I usually stay in Mayfair which seems pretty decently located for finding nightlife

I was wondering what that giant disco ball was facing the square!

haha, exactly my thoughts. its even lined up with BG Group on the same row of blocks, facing the same direction.. i dig it though. looks much better than the older renderings.

Agreed, looks 100x better then the previous proposals.

It's cute! It's a baby BG Group Place!

It seems your critique was mainly based on the nightlife. Would you recommend it otherwise or if that wasn't the main purpose of a trip?

Well that's all I really care about.

 

Other than the night life... It was nice. The sightseeing was great. The tube system is extremely easy to figure out if that's your preferred mode of transportation. As mentioned above, I didn't think the price to go to the Shard's observation deck was worth it. I can't imagine how much the London Eye costs.

 

As for food, we stuck to Thai, Italian, and Indian. We did find a gastro pub by the Tower Bridge that was really good. Although, if you don't like any particular item on a dish (i.e. mushrooms), it's easier to remove it yourself as you can totally cause great confusion with the server, manager, and chef. The bathrooms were tolerable at most of the restaurants during the day. After dark, most of them are underground and smell like main street circa 1990.

 

Most of the restaurants/eateries were fairly priced, and not generally too crowded. Piccadelly Circus & Oxford Street were crowded night and day. Avoid eating or having to go to the bathroom in those areas at all costs. Lots of street performers, souvenir shops (which I would recommend as the ones at Heathrow are more expensive). 

 

I would say also that about 60% of the people you encounter for help with directions, general questions, and advice are friendly and more than willing to help. 

 

It's a beautiful city with great architecture, but I can't imagine why anyone would stay for more than 2 or 3 nights (lesson learned). As I said before it was kind of a let down. 

 

One last thing, I forgot to mention I never felt unsafe at any point in time night or day. 

Pictures will follow soon.

I feel extremely let down from my recent trip. First of all, our hotel was one block from the Tower of London/Tower Bridge/Tower Hill Underground station (The day passes were extremely useful in getting around), but they stoped running at 11:50pm.

The area around our hotel was a few blocks from the cluster of high rises around the Swiss Re "gherkin". It was difficult to find a variety of resteraunts. Even harder was finding a bar or pub that didn't close at 10pm. We found one night club called Mary Janes that stayed open until 2am on Friday. The whole area was shut down at 8pm on Saturday! What's up with that?

So we ventured into SOHO and the area in between piccadelly circus. The bars/pubs were packed. Very tiny, and a common theme was the bartenders being drunk themselves, told us they didn't feel like making certain drinks or shots (including cocktails on their menus). Beer or wine it was. Also, their drinks are made with about 1/2oz of alcohol, and still cost about 13-15 £.

We also checked out a couple night clubs that were highly recommended by friends, google, and locals. Horrible. The night life in Abilene was more energetic. Not to mention the clubs are tiny. Like the size of my apartment.

I know it's one of the most expensive cities in the world but I seriously expected more out of a 24hour global city. The taxis' were fairly priced but the going out scene was horrible. I think we ended up spending most of the rest of our nights at our hotel bar which remained open until 4.

I hope I don't discourage anyone from going, and I know this is just my personal experience, but now that I've truly been once as an adult I don't think I'd ever I again. The sights and architecture are amazing. That's about it.

Also, one last delicate flower, the bathrooms in even the ritzy clubs were disgusting. They had attendants, so I don't understand why. It was worth it to travel back to the hotel to take a bathroom break, day or night.

End of rant.

Edit: it would have cost £98 for three of us to go to the top of the Shard. That's about $170.00. No thanks!

Their digital sign has been broken for a while

Looks like 1600 Smith (Continental Center I) without the crown. How old is this rendering?

More likely than not, the surroundings are just made up infill to keep the block's exact location confidential.

Thank you! Someone got it. Too lazy to post, waited for someone else. It's Continental Ceter 1.

Mercer hands down. I would take 10 Randall Davis projects over this eyesore easily.

I agree about the "pockets" mentioned above. Look at the Galleria Area, and then drive a few blocks south or west of the area. It's not a continuous flow of upscale places, it's a pocket. I think it has more to do with our lack of zoning, and how the upscale areas are scattered on random lots.

Of course I can dig gritty. Not all gritty neighborhoods and areas of town are necessarily bad in crime.

Once land prices in the loop sky rocket (eventually), forcing low and middle income families out, then we can have a nice continuous upscale flow from Downtown to Uptown. So that way we can finally impress our northern neighbors and the whole world.

The project isn't listed on the website anymore.

Pipe dream. It's a shame, something really unique and would have shed some light in the architecture community around the world. When's the last time Houston had any sliver if spot light? The 80's?

Haha I doubt it. That's the midtown project right? I can only see one rendering on their site when on my phone.. I thought that was from 2008 or so and other projects have since been built on this land?

That rendering has been out for a couple years.

I feel like that mall is just on the outside of a "good area." Just north of there is not that great.

It's amazing how the neighborhoods change so quickly immediately north.

 

Northwest mall is probably one of only 2 malls I've never been to (that and Northline). It's a huge piece of land, and I'm curious what will develop in the coming decade.

Provokes no emotion at all!

I dig this Sears. I pass by it everyday on 59. The fiesta sign at night really throws in the pizazz.

So essentially they created a huge pedestrian only alley with retail. Groundbreaking...

Snarky comments aside I do wish this project all the success it deserves and really hope for all the new residential units to help make that dream a reality.

That first shot is totally rad! Looks like a completely different city. I have a soft spot for super 80's buildings and the one on the left and 1801 really do it for me. Like the background of the second level of sonic on the original sega.

Sorry for that last part, it's a great shot, and we might not see that same angle for a really long time. Thank you for taking time to shoot it.

Maybe it's katyville (that rice company that's sellin their land)?

Edit: I'm speculating about the other project, not this one on Kirby

This article notes the project as one of the developments underway for the area.

 

http://blog.chron.com/urbanpolicy101/2014/01/scott-street-corridor-coalition-needs-to-be-restarted/

Good News! It's a cool looking project! I see the areas north, east, and south of Downtown will start developing in this matter. I give it 20 years and Houston will have a brand new core.

Is this where that big bench is located?

you all seem to forget this is a Randall Davis project; it will most likely turn out looking cheap.

Right... In... The stomach.

Actually the Cosmopolitian has grown on me. Absolutely hated it when it first came out. Once you pass by it everyday in the morning and late afternoon sunlight it's actually charming. I am hoping this project will do the same.

What apartments, shopping centers or office buildings do you think are most likely to be demo'd for redevelopment?

One that I think will make a huge impact and one that I'm looking forward to redevelopment is the Post Oak Center at the corner of Westheimer and Post Oak. When done, it will be humongous and the poshest in the city.

Actually, three of the four corners of that intersection could be redeveloped to make it the undeniable place to be in Houston. Imagine 3 BLVD Places there.

Realistically, those corners probably won't see action for 10-20 years.

Maybe a more realistic place is are the buildings between Mid Lane and W Lane Drive.

Do y'all have any predictions?

I wouldn't doubt it if the 3 Story green-roofed building on the western side of the intersection gets dozed eventually as well. Dream's Car Wash on San Felipe will probably see development. Maybe even the old Standford Financial Building. 

Here is a radical idea, park somewhere along the light rail and ride it for a stop or two. Hop off at Sunset, take the zoo train to your destination. an above ground parking structure would be a slap in the face to what the park stands for.

I think that the stars need to be rust colored and have a circle around them just touching the points. Otherwise, the cliche is incomplete.

Only if they're rusted...