jim1126

Add me to the list of those who miss Minerva. It's true that she lacked the polish you see on so many anchors nowadays, but she always seemed genuine and comforting. I basically watched 13 in the morning because of her.

The Chronicle article linked below hints that ratings may have had someting to do with her leaving; evidently 13's #1 lead in the morning isn't as commanding as it once was.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/4793199.html

I'd love to see someone put a good gym in the heights somewhere. Seems like we could definitely support one.

Fitness Exchange is moving from the Montrose area to Washington & Shepherd later this summer.

http://www.fitnessexchangehouston.com/default.htm

I agree - "good company."

That said, I went to high school with a guy with that last name, and his family pronouned it like gouda cheese (without the a).

Tony's Mexican Restaurant on Ella (and newer location in Katy). No, it isn't gourmet-Mex, but good ol' comfort Tex-Mex. And the margaritas are potent - I miss Maria, the former bartender, however.

Great news! I know lots of locals who default to Barnaby's and/or Baba Yega - both of which are delicious and have healthy menu items - who still wish there was a healthier alternative in the area.

Are their any mex restaraunts with salsa-bar? The ones with 10+ different salsas customers can go and help themselves. I knew couple of places like that in NorCal and really enjoyed these. I also remember very positive experience with some small taquerias where spanish was the first language on the menu. Not too pretty - but the food was so goooood. I am arond Med Center so if you know of any - let me know.

Taco Milagro at Kirby & Westheimer has a salsa bar like you're describing. They offer about six (maybe eight?) plus a selection of cilantro, jalapenos, and pickled carrots & onions which are addictive. The other Taco Milagros around suburban Houston are seated, table service places with a completely different menu so I don't know if they would have the salsa bar, but the original does.

I have always considered Washington Ave. it's own small area... between Montrose, The Heights and Memorial Park. It really is a booming area... I know my gym is moving from Montrose to a place right on Washington Ave. this summer.

I belong to the same gym but that space on Washington is going to need a LOT of work and buildout before any business can occupy there. Summer is awfully optimistic. Back on the topic, I also vote for Washington to have its own forum category. I've never considered it part of the Heights. And before this year I'd never even heard the term "Rice Military" - and I lived right in the middle of it!

I just got a mailing from TW yesterday with a channel lineup pamphlet effective May 15, 2007. Doesn't look like anything has changed to me.

the REAL meteorologists also repeat the forecast put out by the national weather service.

I had dinner tonight with one of our local TV meteorologists and I asked him about this, and he said that at his station each meteorologist does indeed present the forecast as he/she sees it, with NWS and colleague input of course.

North Shepherd from Tidwell up to I-45. Just one car repair garage after another. Man that stretch is an eyesore.

Oh ok... I thought the sign said "Roof" but maybe it said "Reef." Seafood restaurant in Midtown? Hmm....will be interesting to see how that does.

It does indeed say "Reef."

I second (or third) dharma cafe. The brunch buffet is ethereal.

Ordinarily something like this would be of minor interest to me, but when I saw that the Gap had closed its Highland Village store, I was overcome with curiosity as to what will move into that piece of prime retail space. There's a Variance Request sign up, which leads me to believe the space may be converted into a restaurant. Anyone have any scoop?

It's not that Mykonos is necessarily bad, but to me, it's just not very exciting either. Given the choice between it and Yia Yia Mary's, I'll pay a little more for Yia Yia's atmosphere (and their food is good, and you certainly get a lot of it).

I haven't been feeling the Niko Niko's love lately. The line moves pretty quickly, and I've never had much of a wait before finding a table, but the last couple of times I've been there it has taken forever for my name to be called and once it is, and I get my food back to my table, it's cold. But when it's good, it's very good - I LOVE their lamb kebob.

I, too, have heard good things about Alexander the Great, but have not tried it yet.

This is confusing - Rainbow Lodge is moving to the Ella address, but the original is reopening in December as The Lodge at Bayou Bend?

http://www.thelodgeatbayoubend.com/

"Houlihan's in Gunspoint was a cool place, I miss it."

Is the new Houlihan's that just opened across from the Galleria the same type of restaurant? I used to eat at the one in Dallas and I imagine it would be, but I haven't tried the new Houston location yet.

It reminds me of a sole proprietor version of Pei Wei, but that isn't a slam. The decor is nice, the food is good, the service is fine, and there is good parking. The prices are Pei Wei-ish as well.

The proximity to Jax Grill should help their lunchtime crowd.

A sole proprietor COPY of Pei Wei is more like it... with a bar. I agree, the food is actually excellent and the bar area is quite nice, but if PF Chang's ever decided to sue for concept infringement (if there is such a thing) I think they'd have a case.

Well the old La Tour D'Argent location is currently being refurbished so that must be it. Most of the trees that made La Tour such an inconspicuous location have come down, which is sad.

Doug does the midday news at 11

I think Casey Curry is just fine. I miss Doug Brown in the mornings, but I have no issue with the way Casey is handling the weather reports.

There was a pretty good sized Barney's near Neiman-Marcus in Galleria I several years ago. Somehow, Houstonians didn't take to it, so it closed. Bloomies would probably do quite well in The Galleria.

Well, a full-scale Barney's is returning to Dallas, imminently opening at NorthPark (where there was one before, which closed under circumstances similar to the Houston one). Maybe they will return to Houston as well, because the Co-Op we have in the Galleria now is the epitome of unimpressive.

Mexican Restaurants? Never heard of them until I linked the article... they certainly are bottom of the barrel aren't they? The concept of Mission Burritos may not change but the ingredient quality most certainly will.

River Oaks are where Houston's most wealthy and show-offy sociallites live.

Actually, Becca Cason Thrash, who is arguably the city's #1 in that regard, lives - gasp! - outside the loop (in the toniest part of Memorial, to be sure).

Here's my two cents for Owen Conflenti (KPRC - Noon) though he seems just a tad egotistical.

I believe this is actually a second location for Coco's Sushi, with the original located west of the Galleria at Richmond & Fountainview. That one is pretty decent, if basic, so the new Montrose location should be good... but then there's the parking issue, and Cabo didn't survive there either. We'll see.

Looks like we have Post Oak Grill, a bank, and a Starbucks (no surprise there).

http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/MainSite/Listi...1lww2t006a00001