houstonmacbro

Okay, here's an update...

We arrived at 6:00 p.m. and were promptly seated in a private dining room with wine racks in the walls. We could see out onto Westheimer. The place is very nice (like a big ocean-liner in look) and the waiters and other attendants are attentive. They bring out sour dough breads and this cold platter of fresh veggies, pickled herring (never had it but it was good), water and such.

The waiter chose several appetizers for us including shrimp and grits (awesome), calamari (nice sweetness to the crunchy batter), oysters Rockefeller (okay, but not my favorite), and crab cakes (very good).

We ordered dinner and between us we had several surf and turf plates, a fried fish plate, lobster thermador ... I had a stuffed flounder, etc. All in all, the meal was excellent. We had a few sides including hash browned potatoes (very good but VERY rich) and spinach sides. The meals are ample in size even for my big appetite, and yes, every thing is a la carte.

After dinner, the birthday girl got a chance to meet the chef who came out to light her complimentary cake and ice cream (baked Alaska?) and mingled with us for a few minutes.

Let me say, I was expecting a gigantic bill and wasn't disappointed. It topped out a little under $600 for 9 people (and only one bottle of wine).

The experience was stellar, the food was superb, but it is a little too rich (for me) for all but the rarest of special occasions.

I've only been to the one in DC when the firm was paying. Everything was really good and extremely large portions. If you have enough people, you should try the hashbrowns a la Occeanaire. One desert is big enough for at least 2-3 people, maybe more if you're not huge eaters.

And yes, it is extremely expensive. My firm no longer allows people to go there for luches anymore because the bills get so high.

Okay, looking forward to it, even if my extremely thin wallet is not.

Thanks for the heads-up.

Can someone give me the heads up on Oceanaire. I am headed there for dinner for a family member's birthday.

Ever review I have read is either love it or hate it ... and they all talk about how expensive it is.

This wouldn't have been my first choice for dinner, but it wasn't my decision to make.

Thoughts?

There was another tip over of a large crane somewhere in Texas yesterday, thought for sure someone would post on here.

This could become another craze like tipping over cows right?

Could it be terrorism?

Sorry, and I know a good HAIF buddy of mine uses Cricket. . . please forgive me

But Cricket is basically the same thing as an AT&T Go phone, Boost Mobile, or Amp'd Mobile. It is a pay as you go or non credit check type carrier. Correct me if I am wrong.

This carrier appeals to the "bad credit" market. I dunno, I don't see it as a benefit to the Marq*E redevelopment.

I'm on Cricket. Love it!

Unlimited everything. $45 a month.

What's not to love?

I just have a dislike for malls.

And snobs.

Sorry, HOUSTONMACBRO...didn't mean to come off sounding like a snob. Just posting my thoughts on how much Willowbrook and the area has changed for me.

No biggie. In the past 24 hours on this board I've had my street cred questioned over what I like on my chili.

Guess it wasn't 'hood enough.

LOL

Don't feel too bad. Some white guys look scary too:

He wasn't a thug. He was hot.

Just ask Joanie.

/\ I agree. I shop at Willowbrook and took drivers ed there at Sears. Not once has there been really any criminal activity going on. You never hear about it on the news, and there really aren't that many "thugs" who shop there. Well there are some, but all they are doing is walking around. Not breaking into stores and holding them up.

It's funny. As a non-threatening black male I often get pegged as sary too ... I see it all the time. Women clutch their purses and men look at me warily.

Funny. I am a professional who works everyday (all my adult life), has NEVER been in trouble with the law, has a house in the 'burbs, but I can still be pegged as 'scary' to some.

Mmmmm...I remember when the only thing opened at Willowbrook Mall was a Montgomery Wards store and IT WAS NICE!!! That was back around 1982/83?

I no longer shop at Willowbrook though, it's too full of crime and thugish looking people. It'd be nice if they stepped it up but I don't think putting more posh stores are going to change the clientele that lives in the surrounding area around Bltwy 8.

I just have a dislike for malls.

And snobs.

This is kind of interesting...

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/levi...D&dist=hppr

Gosh I must be getting old. Never heard of this 'star'.

I was at Marq*E this weekend to catch The Dark Knight and was floored by the near-complete lack of tenants. I hadn't been there in a while, I guess, since last time I was at the complex there was a Coldstone Creamery, a cute little French coffeeshop (Vietnamese-owned), an EB Games, a Hot Topic, the A&W restaurant, another gaming store (selling D&D type stuff) and a few others. Yesterday? Nothing between Claire's and Cafe Adobe. The whole place looked like a ghost town. Even Dave & Buster's looks weary and tattered.

What is going on here? And can someone please explain to me why they're building pad sites when they can't even keep tenants in the main complex?

Maybe, just maybe, they're expecting a rush of customers once I-10 is finished.

I always thought it had a lot of potential, but outside of office workers and maybe now because of the park, there isn't much interest in this as a destination.

Del Taco expanded too fast and almost went bankrupt. They are coming back but at a slower rate.

Coming back where? Here in the Houston area?

Yay!

I work in that building and at first I thought it was ugly, but if you really take a look at the design and the materials, it is a really high end building with a lot of thought put into the materials and workmanship. The interior finishes are beautiful--matched pieces of limestone on the walls, granite all over the lobby, including the exterior plaza, beautiful gardens with japanese maples and azaleas. Most of the office interior walls are made of metal and they provide you with magnetic hooks to hang pictures, coats, etc. No holes in the office walls. It's a classic.

It's not bad. I've certainly see worse (like that monstrous desert cactus looking building across the street from it).

Now you've really done it. They're gonna have to redesign the whole thing now... Or maybe that is what they were going for: Christianity over Islam? ... Hmmm...

So kinda like a new crusade?

That's an interesting statement, good sir. I have to ask then, what makes you better than a homeless bum using his trousers as a toilet and a sidewalk as a bed? I mean, you most likely have a cookie cutter McJob, which provides a cookie cutter life for you and your family (if you have one). With the right training and skills (not even college), I'm quite certain the homeless bum you are turning your nose up at can do your job just as well as you, if not better. I mean, think about it; if you didn't exist there'd be some other stiff in your position, some other man pleasing your girl/wife/male partner and your parents would just love someone else. With that said, what exactly are you contributing to this society that is so worthwhile? This society doesn't need you or your meager contribtutions to function. If you were dead, this world and civilization would continue to operate without skipping a beat. Now, isn't that amazing? You're no more useful to this society than a homeless person as you and your skillset are wholly replaceable and interchangeable with someone else. The only real difference between you and a bum is that the bum does not have the means to vocally express and display anger at your worthlessness.

And they certainly don't have the means or the ability to defend themselves here.

Dude, that is deep (and downright sobering). Do you come up with these gems while riding the metro, or are you just naturally gifted at seeing through the fluff and BS that is modern day America and arriving at the essence of life? I've been baiting the homeless haters for awhile (my first full=blown HAIF rant was on a homeless thread 3 years ago), but none cut straight to the chase like this.

Hat tip to ya.

Amen. So many people seem like they are so much better than everyone else because of their income or neighborhood. It is a common thread that runs through many of these threads.

I noticed that yesterday in an article about FM1960. The three main reasons for the decline where Katrina "people," Metro, and apartment complexes. These reasons are pretty um, "Canadian" if you get my drift. I found them blaming Metro for the decay of any previously well kept neighborhood hilarious because Metro can barely seem to tie its on shoes at times, let alone orchestrate the decline of a sleepy suburb. Average A. White that posts on that board seems to believe that Metro runs a line out somewhere and decay develops around it instead of Metro running a line into an already decaying area to take advantage of it. To do otherwise would mean Metro is on the cutting edge of providing regional transportation, which it is not.

And I have also learned that you can blame Katrina People for anything whatsoever. Property values decline; Katrina people. Crime rates go up; Katrina people. Schools go broke; Katrina people. Gas prices high; Katrina people. Foreclosures, credit crunch, and near recession, yes, Katrina people. They might as wll just say the N-word though and be done with it. We know what you really mean.

Yeah, and honestly I think that being anonymous emboldens a lot of people.

Who agreed that a 150 foot cross represents good?

Or even God. As I understand crucifying people was pretty common back in those days and I don't remember any parables or stories of Jesus wearing a cross for all the thousands of other people that were crucified before him, or God telling people to wear a cross.

That is a TOTALLY man-made phenomenon.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Some of these guys are homeless and some are people who make little money and get the free food given at various places to stetch thie money. There is a vegeterian feed four nights a week downtown and a few of the ones there are students.

Can't some students be down on their luck too ... I know when I was in undergrad I was always hungry.

Scoping out a free meal was the name of the game.

I agree. A giant cross won't make anyone repent. Unfortunately, the church leadership is on the wrong mission.

I cant say the leadership is wrong or right. I've never been to their church.

But in all honesty, it's prolly a pissin' match between him and Olsteen. To see who's (you fill in the blanks here) is bigger.

But Olsteen already won that battle. He's the big bagd dog on the block (with the world's largest church, a huge local congregation, and a big a** church home) and none of these upstarts are gonna topple he or Victoria anytime soon.

Clansmen will drool at the sight of these things.

Does Houston really need anymore of an image problem?

I immediately think KKK too when I see big white crosses.

It's not a warm fuzzy symbol for me.

Just turn it off ... I am in agreement. I mean, what's so important when you are supposed to be relaxing and having a good time, that it cant wait 1.5 - 2 hours until the movie is over?

There's no end to what idiots will believe. Hopefully a hurricane will knock those things over. I don't think God wanted idols, either.

LOL

But still ... that is a bit harsh to call them idiots.

How about ... plain ole weird?

Why am I not surprised this money isn't going towards feeding the poor or helping the needy.... you know, things "jesus" could do.

Well, because the verdict's still out on whether God really wants sincere folks doing good deeds or whether He wants huge congregations that feel good (as if I'm one to talk .. I attend Lakewood ).

That said, I have never tuned into this minister's show, but will take a look at his video podcasts. I see the sign often enough when I drive up TW.

And ... for the record ... not sure if I am weirded out by the size of the cross or the fact that it is 'marking the city for God' ... what, God doesn't know where all the sinners in Houston are already?

I can text without looking son. I have talent.

Okay that's scary.