Daniepwils

So having a "wanna-be Times Square" will energize downtown? Sorry but glitz and glamour will last as about as long as most of the "clubs" did in downtown. You need something more than flashy TV screens. I think the Pavilions is a start in the right direction if they keep it up. The Park shops failed (still funny that Crescent keeps raising the rent). It went from stores like The Gap and Oshmans to insurance companies and The Dress Barn. If it weren't for the performing art centers in downtown, Bayou Place would have failed. HP has a good start, but in my opinion they need more "popular" retail. Why is everyone so "gung ho" for Houston to be a tourist destination city? We are fine the way we are (other than lack of zoning).

There are two Marriott hotels on the same block (Marriott Courtyard and Residence Inn) as well as Humble Tower Apartments (80 units), all three of these are in "The Humble Tower Building". The Tower part is where the actual "residence" live. For the amount of money I pay to live downtown, I don't want to be kept up all night by neon tv screens.

There is no way I could ever eat at S. Warehouse when only a few blocks away is Mia Bella's.

why why why would anyone swim in that...I guess the parents don't have common sense to know that it is not a pool...

What do people think of Houston? I know from past encounters that alot of people think we all have boots and cowboy hats, and ride our horses into work.

I think you do have to get a permit to protest. If I recall correctly when the cleaning people were on strike last year in downtown the police could do nothing because they had a "permit" to gather or something to that extent. As long as they did not impede traffic they could protest (even on residential blocks... which to this today I still a little pissed about). Who really wants to come home and listen to that crap till 10-11pm at night.

It seems the protestors got to the park before the homeless did! Today people walked through the park protesting ARAMARK. As of right now they are still there with their band instruments and loudspeakers. So much for a park being peaceful!

All this week there have been people at the park at all times of the day. Of course lunch time is when it gets pretty crowded.

There was a Rockets game and Astro's game yesterday which made the crowds around that area even more so. Yesterday at 4pm after working out, I decided to not take my normal jogging route home, instead I jogged to the new park. WOW is all I have to say. I have never seen that many people in downtown other than the Super Bowl. I thought about doing a few laps around the park, but there were just to many people. I went this morning at 6am and not a soul to be found!

I am not sure if they are building a new Y or just renovating this one. My dad's company put in a bid for a renovation of the Downtown Y.

Did Houston (downtown buildings) even participate in this?

I meant renting RC boats not ones to actually paddle in. (I can just see a 200+ man in a paddle boat trying to paddle but not going anywhere because it is to shallow) Also, the entire lake will not be used for the RC boats, just a section (they actually have a bumper or something that is right under the water to make sure the boats don't go outside of the RC boat area) The other day it looked liked Buffalo Bayou. Some dirt fell off into the lake, and it was a bit ugly (lol).

There is water in the lake now (not full though). I think they will have boats you can rent to use, or something to that degree. The water "shoots" and mist tree have been working for awhile, I think they are just working out the kinks with the water "shoots".

Yes those are the staircases to the parking garage, there is one on each side.

Those stairwells are just, um, WOW. Looking at the park from high above, I can say those things really stick out.

They just landed a 5th one, that is weird. Maybe they are having a Helicopter show at the GRB. Edited, yes they are indeed having one. http://www.houstonconventionctr.com/meetin...s/calendar.html http://www.heliexpo.com/

This morning I noticed helicopters landing in the parking lot on the left hand side of the GRB, it looks as if they turned that parking lot into a Helipad (there is a BIG H painted on the lot). Three helicopters so far have landed, one of which is extremely huge. (They have gone behind the GRB so I am not sure where they are now, but they have not taken off into the air again). Kind of scary when they come in that fast and very close to my windows. This is the fourth one: Also here is a current picture of the "tent" on the new park:

LOL why am I not suprised! This is typical Houston... so backwards...build a park then put a tent on the park for a party...

It is either for the Democratic Debate this/next week or, yes the grand opening of the park. IMO though having a huge tent cover part of the Great Lawn of the park opening is kind of odd, why not just have it on the great lawn, after all it is a park! Also, They are going to start bulldozing another parking lot next to the new park. It will be another office building, right in front of 5 Houston Center facing east.

I have not been since the re-grand opening. I will have to try it. I too lived in the suburbs and have always liked Randall's but for some reason this one was always sub par. I will go take a look this week and check it out. (I hope they are as good as you say! I can stop going all the way to Wesleyan for groceries now)

Wayne needs a new job imo. The last few "investigative" reports he has done have turned up to be flops! I miss Marvin!!!!

I was just making sure, because from the view in my office it looks exactly the way it should. (Maybe the structures are taller than you expected, they certainly are taller than I expected)

How do you know that the restaurants are larger? Just curious if they posted anything about the parks dimensions.

I did notice that this Randall's is even more expensive than Randall's out in the burbs (The only thing I compared was canned items, as that is all I really buy here anymore) Specs and Rice Ep. have better produce than Randall's nowadays. I did get in the mail a coupon/flyer announcing the re-grand opening of Randall's.

That is where the lake is going to be