tmariar

On today's demolitions list over at Swamplot:

301 E. 16th St. HAR listing.

I got a letter in the mail the other day from TABC saying that someone was applying for a liquor liscence within 500 feet (or maybe yards I dont really recall) from my home. Sounds like the "lot" is going to be the place. Joy, more people in the streets.

Well, at least it's not "Busty LaRue's"...

I did look at the info given to see if there was any obvious connection between the Lot application and Pearl Bar, but didn't see any. Just picturing it in my head, but I guess if 4212 is not the little side Pearl parking lot, it's that lot just to the east where people sometimes park. There's some sort of structure there.

Is The Usual just beer?

Checked the TABC listings again and saw that there is an application pending for a mixed beverages license for 5110 Washington. Trade name "Busty LaRue's".

Looks like the most recent license granted on Washington is for The Usual. But then right before that is one for something with the trade name "The Lot on Washington" at 4212 Washington. Which is what, right next to Pearl Bar (4216)?

The club line last night was full of a mix of people, the doorman let us wait for 15 min and let in alot of his friends first, once inside it was good but it was quickly too crowded, we are used to a nice mix but later on the crowd became very spanish and the music changed as well, we left around 130ish.

The Spanish do love their Mallorcan trance dub anthems. With Catalan just down the street, I guess it's only a matter of time before we're calling Washington Avenue "Little Iberia". Watch for the paella trucks scoping out locations...

i shop at all those supermarkets, depending on the day/time and my needs. another one here who has never been approached by any beggar or vagrant on 11th street. and i definitely don't look scary. i'm pregnant as all get out and i would imagine i look like a pretty easy target...

I don't look scary, either, and have never had a problem at 11th St. Kroger, which is my primary grocery store. I think in some cases, being female and/or otherwise "not scary looking" can be a shield against guys who are just out scamming for money.

As for frozen food being in a bag together - I'd never really thought about the benefit of its keeping everything cold. I guess that's a good reason to bag it that way. I've always liked it being in one bag so I can toss it all in the freezer together. Seems like they usually get that right at Kroger, but I probably haven't been paying as much attention as I would if I'd had lessons!

Yes - great book, and a great website.

Based on the information provided in an earlier post about the former Burroughs property, I did some digging on the Texas Secretary of State website. I wanted to make the information available in case it leads to more details about any proposed projects along White Oak. DC Heights LP reportedly bought the property. The LP was formed in July 2008. It is located at 1330 Post Oak Blvd, Suite 2190, Houston, Texas 77056. The entity's general partner is Nav-Realestate LLC, which shares the same address with DC Heights. Bryan J. Danna is the registered agent for both entities. Coincidentially, Mr. Danna's address is in the Heights - 827 Nashua St., Houston, Texas 77008. It looks like Mr. Danna works for a company called Venture Commerical. His email is bdanna@venturehtx.com. Does anyone happen to be neighbors or friends with Mr. Danna?

Thanks for the information regarding the Burroughs property. Venture Commercial bio page.

Venture Commercial appears to own other Heights-area properties as well. On their "for lease" list are the following:

- The remodeled retail center at Yale and 11th (odd there's not a newer picture included - it looks very nice now)

- A site at I-10 and Shepherd

- A proposed retail center at 34th and Shepherd

- A redeveloped shopping center at 43rd and Oak Forest

Assuming the Swamplot article linked above is talking about the same house, this house is the Perry-Swilley House.

As Krol noted, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. (The listing says it was built in 1901.)

Here is a poor (but mostly readable) copy of the application for approval of a certificate of appropriateness for the move. (The application says it was built circa 1910.)

It was fun! Good to see y'all! Thanks for the snacks, M - they ended up being my dinner.

First time I went early enough to see the parade, which was fun. Though I think we may have missed some of the entertainment when we walked the route after the parade went by because some groups didn't start up right after the parade (which I'm not faulting - just saying our timing may not have been ideal). Thanks to those involved in the planning!

Based on what I heard at the happy hour last night, I may be totally wrong about it being illegal to walk around with an open container of alcohol. I'm not saying it's legal - someone last night just said they thought it might be and I realized I'd been assuming it wasn't but didn't actually know one way or the other.

Should be nice weather tonight. I don't think last year was too bad, but I can recall at least two very cold LITH nights in the past few years. Hope everyone has fun!

Can't think of any shop downtown that might have house numbers. Seems like the only places I've seen those are hardware stores.

I've been careful to schedule around the HH, but am pretty booked right up to it. I'll see y'all at 6 or soon thereafter.

Sev, if you still have my number, feel free to text me before heading over.

I hope people are discreet with their alcohol. There will be police officers there, and walking around with an open container of alcohol is just as illegal in the wet parts of the Heights as the dry.

Plus, if this event starts getting billed or treated as an open-containers-free-for-all, not only will it lose its family-friendliness (which would be sad), but there will be pressure put on the city to crack down on alcohol consumption, and nobody will be allowed to drink outside the private parties, even discreetly (which would be very sad).

Like Unitarians, or like Baha'i, or something like that?

My very superficial understanding is that the Aga Khan Foundation is a Nizari group, that Nizaris make up the majority of Ismailis, who in turn account for the majority of Shia Muslims. (So, not all Shia Muslims are Ismaili, and not all Ismailis are Nizari.) I'll leave the summarization of their religious beliefs to Wikipedia - which also has stuff to say about the title Aga Khan and about the current Aga Khan - but I think it would be stretching things to say Nizaris are to Islam what Unitarians are to Christianity.

Someone above mentioned the "call to prayer" - Nizari Jamatkhanas (their places of worship, like the building in Sugarland) don't have minarets or announce the call to prayer. I'm assuming that means that their Ismaili Centers would not, either.

With regard to Aga Khan IV and architecture, the last linked wiki notes:

"In 1977, the Aga Khan established the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, an award recognizing excellence in architecture that encompasses contemporary design and social, historical, and environmental considerations. It is the largest architectural award in the world and is granted triennially. The award grew out of the Aga Khan's desire to revitalize creativity in Islamic societies and acknowledge creative solutions to needs for buildings and public spaces. The recipient is selected by an independent master jury convened for each cycle. In 1979, [Harvard and MIT] both established the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture (AKPIA), which is supported by an endowment from the Aga Khan. These programs provide degree courses, public lectures, and conferences for the study of Islamic architecture and urbanism. Understanding contemporary conditions and developmental issues are key components of the academic program."

I had looked some of this up when I first heard about the Aga Khan Foundation and its plans for the Allen Pkwy property, but learned even more today. Interesting stuff.

The topic here is the building. Discussion of religion really belongs in the religious section.

For which reason I will note from this "Speech by His Highness the Aga Khan at the Inauguration of the Ismaili Jamatkhana and Center" in Sugarland in 2002 only how much thought apparently went into that building's architecture. I never studied architecture but, if I had, the issues given consideration there/then seem like the kind of issues that would have been especially interesting to me. Based on what I've read regarding other building projects connected with the Aga Khan Foundation, I could see them seriously aiming for "architectural wonder" in this case, and putting some significant time, thought, and money into the project - and don't see the foundation not giving serious thought to the location in making its plans.

I really hope they do, as I was a little disappointed at how the Federal Reserve building (down the street, replacing Jefferson Davis Hospital #2) turned out. Not as bad as it could have been, but also not something I'd go out of my way to show people. If we're going to tear down cool historic buildings that have become local landmarks, let's at least put cool new landmarks in their place.

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Update: Here is a more recent (2008) speech, at a dinner given by Governor Perry, that gives some insight into the relationship of the building planned in Houston to that in Sugarland. To sum it up, the new building will be much more important. Sounds like it will be the first and only Ismaili Center in the United States (it sounds like the majority of Ismailis in the U.S. live in Houston, or at least Texas). The other Islmaili Centers in the world are in London, Vancouver, Lisbon, Dubai, Dushanbe, and Toronto.

Regarding whether the architecture of the Houston center will take into consideration its location, see also this article about about the Aga Khan's winning the U.S. National Building Museum's Vicent Scully Prize (recognizing scholarship, criticism, or exemplary practice in historic preservation, planning, or urban design).

Sounds like Musicman may bring something to eat, too. So, first-timers, you shall know us by our snacks.

I'll try to bring a snack of some sort. Think we're going to be about 5 in number? 10? 15?

If any first-timers are considering coming, please do. It might be a little awkward at first identifying the group (if in doubt, ask a bartender) but, once you've done that, it's smooth sailing. Everyone I've met from HAIF is friendly, and you've got many obvious conversation starters: what's your screen name, what posts of yours might I remember, what's your favorite thread, etc.

I've only talked to one person who moved a bungalow. She moved it to her ranch. Sounds consistent with what some others have said above.

I love Lights in the Heights! Wouldn't miss it. All the LITH parties are great.

Thanks, Sev! The website just has this info:

"The year 1939 is generally considered to be Hollywood's true golden year. Four new theatres opened that year, all during the month of November, making the pre-Christmas season a busy one for moviegoers. Interstate's Alabama Theatre, was the first and largest out of the gate, and the only one that was not an independently owned house. This was followed by the Stude Theatre in the Heights, the Navaway, and the River Oaks Theatre."

"When it opened in 1939, the Alabama was Interstate's tenth theatre in the Houston area, the others being the Metropolitan, Majestic, Kirby, Delman, Eastwood, North Main, Tower, Bluebonnet, and the Yale. In addition, it was the first and largest of four November openings, with the independent Stude, Navaway, and River Oaks theatres following."

But I was also able to find this short piece from Boxoffice magazine, July 10, 1948:

"R.Z. Glass is now sole owner of the Stude Theatre. Glass, who has always owned half of the Stude, recently completed arrangements for the purchase of the other half from the Interstate circuit. He also owns the State, another suburban theatre in Houston. No changes in personnel are planned at the present. D.L. Murray will remain as general manager of both theatres, with F.A. Ross as treasurer. A parking lot next to the Stude accommodates 800 cars and further improvements are planned, including the installation of new seats. There will be no changes in policy or admission price. Before he built the Stude in 1939, Glass owned and operated three neighborhood houses in Dallas. He built the State in 1941. Prominent in aviation, Glass has been a pilot for 17 years. He does all his traveling by his own plane which he flies himself. He has won second and third places in two air races, the first in Miami in 1936 and the other in St. Louis in 1937."

Does anyone know if the Resurrection Life Fellowship building at 730 E. 11th - not too far west of the instersection of 11th and Studewood - was once a movie theater? And, if so, what it was called?

I'll post this in the Heights subforum for now, but if a moderator wants to move it to Historic Houston, that's fine by me.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/3087129975_5dc65e5c09_b.jpg

The Google Images/Life magazine collection also has some color photos of the monorail available for viewing.

Oh yeah! Found them with a "source:life houston monorail" Google Images search.

I didn't realize that there were old Houston photos in the Life Magazine collection that were undated. I probably missed some good ones in that other thread because I just did search after search of "source:life houston 19xx".

You have just been uninvited to my Big RedScare Christmas Hoedown and Hannukah Celebration.

Boo! If you make your peace with Warren's, Red, I'll treat you to a couple rums and coke.

If you need advice beyond what others are able to give you here, you might try calling HBA's Legal Lines on December 17:

"The HBA's regular LegalLine program will be held on Wednesday, December 17, with attorneys answering calls from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The public may call 713-759-1133 to speak to a volunteer attorney who will assist in answering their legal questions."

I don't know how helpful it would be, but it might be worth a shot.