houstonmacbro

What suburbanites say should have very little value if any at all.

Houston State U has a nice ring to it.

Are we just like an invisible ring of citizenry only good for taxes and barbs?

Guess which name they will come up with? One of those suggested by HAIFers.

I really don't fancy Lone Star College. There are too many lone star business around here for a college system to take up same name. Why can't students and alumni vote on a new name?

Lone Star College was not the name of choice by many residents, staff, faculty and students. Many staffers couldn't believe that name was chosen.

And I know they paid a consulting firm a LOT of money to help them come up with that name.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5985207.html

Continental announced that it will begin charging for the first checked bag in October.

So, why don't we show the airline how silly this decision is by writing letters.

If that fails and October comes, do not check any bags for any reason on the airline. I would prefer that the airline raises ticket costs as opposed to tacking a fee on the passengers.

I've heard this practice is common on airlines in Europe. Can anyone verify this?

(Personally, I think it stinks and would rather have a slightly higher ticket price as well. I mean, pretty soon they'll be charging us extra fees for wanting an actual seat!).

Yeah could be worse, it could be all big box stores and parking lots...

Maple Leaf is cool - especially since i grew up in Canada! They even have a Canadian album on the juke box by the Tragically Hip!

I love The Tragically Hip! They lent their music to one of the Mac podcasts (Powerpage I think).

I remember back when Greenspoint Mall was a very busy mall. At christmas time they were so congested that they had to have police directing traffic. And every Independence Day there would be a huge fireworks show. Those days are gone now. I still go there every once in a blue moon and it's not as bad as some people claim as far as crime etc. Since it's mostly black and hispanic patrons, some people have a problem with that. I read somewhere that they were supposed to remodel/revitalize the mall and was wondering when the construction would start. I've always said that all those low income apartments in that area is what brought that mall down. Hopefully after the remodeling it will pick back up because it would be such a waste.

I live and work in the area and have been hearing buzz about a lot of changes to the mall and the area, but I have yet to see anything concrete happening.

I think this is a good time to wish safety and well-being on everyone as we head into the maelstrom.

Turn that sucker into a red-light district. Make it the red-light district to end them all and force all the seedy nightclubs, t*tty bars, and bookstores/head-shops to relocate there.

Pros

It would be self-contained

Has a metro-rail right to its doors

Is self-contained ... oh, I said that already

Cons

None I can think of

I live in North Houston about 7 miles from the mall. I went by this past weekend to just see what all the hulabaloo is about and I was pleasantly surprised. It is not a mall of gangsters and thieves as so many people make it out to be, but it does have a young, urban element of mainly Hispanic and African American teens --many of them dressed hip-hoppish (is that a term?).

I understand the stories in the papers about its violence, but they seemed to have a LOT of security (this was a Saturday afternoon) and everything seemed peaceful and in order, if not just extremely busy (back-to-school shopping).

I am not saying it is the Galleria, but I think a lot of people condemn it because of its predominant demographics, which, let's face it, a lot of folks are uncomfortable with.

Nice. I am really looking forward to this tower gracing our skyline.

I was walking by there today and it looks like the white concrete spaces could be opened up to street level retail. Can someone confirm if that is correct?

Could be, as in it's construction going on towards that end? Or wishful thinking could be?

Okay, my partner and I just got back from lunch at The Shops downtown. I had been hearing about this place on the food court that has dumplings. Asian dumplings. At Doozo's you can get 10 for like $5 and they come with this vinegary hot sauce. When I was on jury duty and ate there, the line was out the door, so I decided I would come back when I had more times.

Well, the people didn't lie. The dumplings were wonderful. I split mine so had 5 veggie and 5 pork. They are big, moist, hot and fresh! The sauce is hot, but not so much and it is kind of a blend between vinegar, sugar, a little salty and spicy. Not too spicy though. Was there another sauce I should have gotten? Probably.

Was it worth a trip to The Shops? Not sure, but it was a nice day, a nice trip into town, and I was also able to hit the Borders' Discount books for a few late birthday gifts.

You mean you're not in line yet!??!

Leaving in a few minutes. Forgot I needed to do a Powerpoint to accompany this damned paper!

In the immortal words of Florence Evans (Good Times)

Damn! Damn! Damn!

Not to mention I am starving!

At the Rice Hotel. Doozo is good, but driving here just for them... you must love food.

Well, because it's my last Friday off for some while, I am almost finished with my paper, and everyone else is raving about how wonderful they are.

They're right about the line. The Chipotle downstairs here takes twice as long, and their line looks shorter than the Doozo line.

I didn't know there was a Chipotle there. Okay, I am not gonna get derailed with thoughts of their delicious pork burrito.

And I certainly am not gonna drive downtown for THEM!

Oh yeah. Ask for spicy. Hurry!

Um ... it's still only 7:00 a.m. I have a few hours yet before I am gonna be fiending for hot spicy foods.

... if you're some kind of a communist, or a yankee. Go pork. Pork! Pork! Pork!

I think I am gonna do half and half. Do they have some sort of sauce?

With the older buildings you run into a very high monthly maintenance fee. I think Four Leaf runs over 40 cents a sq ft. The best ones in my opinion without money being an option -- The Huntingdon hands down. The monthlies are awful though.

Other than that anything by Interfin or Randall Davis. Four Leaf, Villa d Este, Montebello, Manhattan, Empire, or the Cosmopolitan.

Also been a sucker for the Houstonian. All the luxuries of the hotel at your finger tips and included in the fee.

Looking to save green go to the Campton at Post Oak. Great units and cheaper per month.

Other than this I have been to the Bristol and it is great. A lot of foreclosures in there though. You wonder if the maintenance fee will be hit because of no one paying it. Maybe theyll fire the valet.

Ah, yes .. the four leaf. Thanks for that run down.

It's not like I can afford any of them at this moment ... but it's nice to dream.

Okay, here the excerpt from the article I remember reading in HoustonPress.com (May 2006) -- I can't believe I still haven't made it there:

But it's clear the longest line belongs to Doozo Dumpling and Noodle.

The menu is simple: Steamed dumplings, ten for $5, pork or veggie, spicy or mild. Perhaps you'd like a half-order. That's available too, as are two noodle dishes and two kinds of sushi roll.

In line are several men in khaki pants and women in pantsuits, all waiting patiently, holding their money and talking about work.

Behind the counter is a middle-aged Asian woman in a bright orange sweater, stacks of Styrofoam containers piled behind her, directing a fleet of employees dressed in yellow T-shirts.

"Ten spicy pork!" she yells. "Pepsi!" she demands. "Five mild veg!" she calls back to her hive of yellow-clad bees.

Doozo's "dumpling nazi" is nothing short of a food-slinging maestro. She has to be. Being located in the food court next to downtown's corporations is both a blessing and a curse. Built-in business, to be sure, but not exactly a place folks are seeking for anything more than a quick fix. No, Doozo has two and a half lunchtime hours (11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) to maximize profits and move asses through the line.

Because of this, each move she makes is precise, each uttered word audible. Her employees listen for her cues, not making a move until given instruction. An indecisive customer costs her money. If she's frank, it's because of this fact.

Full text here: http://www.houstonpress.com/2006-05-04/new...-s-food-nazis/2

Don't be daunted!! Stop it! The line moves fast because it's "soup-nazi" style: have your money ready, speak your order clearly, move to the right, and nobody gets hurt. Get the spicy pork.

Okay, I'm convinced. I'm off tomorrow (my next-to-the-last last Friday off for the summer) and am going to hit The Shops for lunch if I finish my homework tonight and tomorrow morning.

Is there like old money and new money in the condo markets? I am specifically thinking about the older buildings further north (the twin towers with the reddish, pyramidal tops and even the other building further up by the horse stables).

Do they kinda resent the newer developments further south, or are they happy to co-exist with them?

When i go to TOPZ it costs like $8! I think i get the 2nd size burger. I always go to the one on travis though.

It IS a great foodcourt, not by design but because of the vendors. Doozo is freaking crack, that line is ALWAYS crazy long but it moves fast enough to prevent long wait times. Potbelly and Drubi are also really good. Can't say i like Otto's, but the other three i mentioned are fantastic... especially doozo. mmmmmmm

Topz was running a special for the month I believe. As for Doozo, I've heard about it, but not been there yet. The line (both days I visited The Shops) seemed ... daunting.

I will have to try them out though because you are like the 3rd or 4th person (not just on this list) to tell me about them. Was this the one that was started by a little old lady? I think I read something about them in a HoustonPress article.

This place looks pretty good and the website says "New Willowbrook Location coming soon". I think its near the movie theater somewhere rather than the mall - here's the address - 17505 Highway 249.

I called the Katy location to see if the Willowbrook location was open and they said it would be open in about 2 weeks...

http://www.guayabagrill.com/gg_WhatsGuayaba.aspx

Looking forward to this!

Perfect synopsis!

Been to several business mixers here and loved it. Grandioso atmosfera.

Trust me, you will go back!

Yes. Maybe next year.

I was downtown on jury duty last week and ventured to The Shops. It is not as bad as everyone says. I enjoyed lunch one day at Topz Burgers (they claim they are better for you because of their lower fat content and aero fries ... and it was tasty ... hamburger, fries and a coke for $5.83 couldn't be beat).

They also have free Wifi but I couldn't get it to work, so ... that is a minus in my book!