RustyB

Our civic club forwarded an email from Steve Parker, President of Super Neighborhood 64 & 88, Greater Eastwood, Lawndale and Wayside stating that on Saturday, 2-20 (tomorrow), there will be a Dynamo Stadium Rally........PART AS FOLLOWS

"Join the Dynamo Supporters' Alliance to show your support for economic growth in the East End

Saturday, February 20, 2010

1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Rusk & Dowling

If you are on Facebook, join the Alliance and this event!" .......

Just thought I'd pass this along, if I didn't already have other plans, I'd try to get by there myself.

Hey, I probably saw you there!

I was the goofy guy with the mean look on his face, wearing combat boots and cargo shorts, taking pictures.

I also learned something new...so it was a constructive visit:

http://www.amigoenergy.com/web/page.aspx?pg=company_news&ch=company_news_2

Rusty, you seem to be mixing the Chronicle article and the email. I have not received the email, and would certainly agree that if they are threatening a jail if a stadium is not built, then it is a scare tactic. While Parker is correct that the City is looking to build a joint inmate processing facility, she is merely showing her lack of knowledge on the subject when she says that they are looking for a site. They already have a preferred site. They are simply lacking funds.

I believe a stadium in that area would generally be a positive for the area. Moving it to the Galleria, however, will not bring a jail. Feel free to tell the email sender to stuff it. They are jumping wildly to wrong conclusions.

I didn't mean to mix the two, but when a couple of others posted above about a jail being built on the site, they were referring to an email from a person that apparently DID turn that obscure, one line from the Chron article into a threat which I felt was BS. I went back and read the Chron article twice...I still can't find a line that says anything about putting a jail on the site if we don't get the stadium. But the email worked...it really seems to have lit a fire under some people to push for the stadium to get built here. I don't like that.

And it was BS after all. The same person that turned the one small quote in the Chron article into a scary email, sent out another email saying that Garcia says the County has NO plans on building a "JAIL" or inmate processing facility on the site.

I really do hope that it does bring good things to EaDo. I'm just being selfish because I don't want to live right next door to a stadium...I don't care if it's soccer, baseball, or basketball. We'll probably just move to another neighborhood if it turns out to be a problem. I was just hoping the immediate area would go in a different direction. That area of EaDo already has a big enough problem with loitering, litter, traffic, crime, surface lots, late night/early morning noise, etc. I can't imagine anyone would want a stadium built right next door to their home out in Katy.

But my girlfriend and I are apparently the only ones here who don't want it. So like they say, if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. And if everyone in the area is so passionate about getting it, then maybe I shouldn't fight it. Considering how excited some people are about it, I'm afraid if I speak up about it too much, they'll cut the brake lines on my car.

Red is right-on dude! Reading comprehension: F

Apparently!

You know, if you had simply read the 2 posts before yours, you MIGHT have found the source of the rumor. Here, let me spell it out for you. First, let's link to the Chronicle article on the possible new location for the stadium...

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/soc/6837680.html

Now, let's open the article to see if there are any quotes from Mayor Parker. Ahh, here it is...

WHOA! Mystery solved! The source of the rumor is a quote in the city's largest newspaper!

As for your belief that an inmate processing facility would fly under the radar, is a $245 million facility that has been discussed by the City and County and in the media for the last 10 years, AND had its very own bond referendum (which the voters rejected) in 2007 not enough publicity for you?

Harris County Capital Improvements June 2007

November 2007 Bond Election

Believe me, I read the article a long time ago. Mystery NOT solved for me. I guess it's just over my head.

The article simply says:

“The public is aware that we're looking at potential sites for an independent crime lab operation. We're looking for potential sites for a joint city-county (inmate) processing facility,”

The "alarming email" I received, essentially says:if you don't fight to get a soccer stadium built next door to your home in EaDo you'll get a JAIL and vagrants and crime and economic collapse.

The email might be 100% true, but I personally think it is complete BS and was written as a political scare tactic. But that's simply my opinion...for what little it is worth.

And as for BRINGING vagrants, crime, and economic collapse, I take it this person has never actually been to EaDo. (just kidding...well...not really)

I have the same question. I've heard rumors and internet noise, amd now the alarmist email, but no source. The idea of a jail

removed from the court complex, and within walking distance of two sports facilities, the convention center, and Discovery

Green is seems a little difficult to believe, especially when it only seems to come up in connection with the Dynamo stadium.

It does seem a little strange...I'd almost believe that it's just a rumor started by people in EaDo who are trying to scare the other few residents into WANTING the Dynamo stadium to be built here in EaDo. But I guess an inmate processing facility is not something we'd hear too much about until construction starts...we'd just wake up and it'd be there one morning. EaDo has enough problematic places that need to be dealt with...a "jail" doesn't need to be added to the list.

But I could see the logic...as close as EaDo is to places like Discovery Green, the area is somewhat cut off from Downtown because of the GRB...Chinatown is pretty much dead, for example. But I think this creates an opportunity for EaDo to become a nice residential/mixed use area. That's why I'm personally VERY much against the stadium being built in EaDo. I'm going to fight it all the way.

But many of my friends here think it will be a magic bullet that will inject a huge amount of economic prosperity into the area over night. That could be true, but I think it's ignorant. And if they build it here, I pray that I'm proved wrong. Funny, because these are the same people trying to get Club Next booted out of the neighborhood. I just don't get it??? Boot out Club Next, and bring in a Soccer stadium???? Maybe we can have our cake and eat it too...keep Club Next, build a Soccer stadium, AND build an Inmate Processing Facility next door...people will be flocking to the area to live and spend their money!!!

Oh yeah, and for the person who asked "who is Garcia" and for those wondering about the/an "alarmist email"...Sylvia Garcia is the Precint 2 County Commissioner, and according to an attorney working in the interest of getting the stadium built in EaDo, Sylvia was completely unaware that residents of EaDo actually WANTED the stadium built here. But as far as I know (and I know very little) this attorney may be the person who started the rumor of a "jail" being built here IF the stadium isn't built...sounds like complete BS to me. Stadium OR jail???

FYI, to whom it may concern (from an "alarmist email"):

http://www.co.harris.tx.us/agenda/2010/02-09-10ag.pdf

"Notice is hereby given that a meeting of the Commissioners Court of Harris County,

Texas, will be held on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. in the Courtroom of the

Commissioners Court of Harris County, Texas, on the ninth floor of the Harris County

Administration Building, 1001 Preston Avenue, Houston, Texas, for the purpose of considering

and taking action on matters brought before the Court."

To request an appearence before the court: http://www.co.harris.tx.us/agenda/requestForm/index.asp

I personally think EaDo is going to just fine on its own, without any of this garbage. For example, the owner of the Kim Hung grocery marketwants to spend 1 Million bucks to re-model his store, and says the stadium will make this possible. I think he'll do just fine without it...I see more and more people going there every day...and he's been making changes lately to make it nicer. He's a great guy, and I want him to be successful. He's brought back Budweiser in 18-packs...so maybe I can finance his re-model personally after all?

I think things are moving FORWARD in EaDo finally, not backwards, and we don't need a soccer stadium to make it happen overnight.

Not in my backyard. From what I hear, the Dynamo's have it pretty good where they're at. I think they're just jealous they don't have their own MMP, Reliant, or Toyota Center. Sorry, but the truth is, although it's impressive to hear that pro soccer has 17,000 fans at their games and all of these tailgaters that might buy a 99 cent bag of ice at the gas station before the game, I don't personally know a single person in the United States that's actually watched a pro soccer game in person or on TV...let alone anyone that wants to live or do business next to a soccer stadium. My high school football stadium in Texas City held over 10,000 people. Maybe they should get their own stadium next to downtown Houston, and it will bring an economic boom to the area due to snowcone sales?

Sorry...too much coffee this morning.

Yeah it was loud as hell and woke me up at 7 30 this Sunday morning.

I just now rolled out the bed at 8:00am/Sunday, and can hear it over here on the other side of the GRB! I took the pic about 3:30pm on Saturday...I hope the pilot is drinking plenty of coffee.

I know this might not be all that exciting, but I think these helicopters are cool.

Pardon the crappy picture...I took it while I was driving down Dallas coming back from Krogers...and I'm one of those that can't talk on the phone while driving...so I'm surprised I didn't blow a tire on the curb (or another car) trying to take this picture while going 30mph....

Why again has Astrodome been completely over looked? I know there is most likely a different thread for what its demise will eventually be but from what I remember, we are still paying for it via taxes... Why not use it for something? Hell its already Dynamo colors and there is already a ton of parking there... Its a 20 minute ride to downtown on the rail... What am I missing?

That would make too much sense.

Heck, I'm not sure what's wrong with them just using an open field and everyone just bringing lawn chairs and ice chests. j/k I went to an indoor women's soccer game once several years ago where my friend was playing. I think I was the only one in the stands.

It's only hard to get to if one is not familiar with the area. Believe me there are plenty of people around here who think that Greenway plaza is downtown. Ugh. Downtown is a much better location for this.

People really do seem to get in/get out for the Toyota Center/MM games pretty easily. (It's those stragglers that go cruising around downtown that get annoying when you're trying to get home. )

I think the soccer stadium would have been a good way to fill up some of that dumpy no-man's-land in the SouthEast corner of Downtown...kinda between the hospitals and the Toyota Center garage, and between 59 and around LaBranch. That area sucks.

While I can't say this for a fact, but if the stadium isn't built there, then it might wind up being a residential area with only enough shopping to satisfy the area population.

I will have to hunt down the east end plans, but I don't remember if a station will be in the area, but if it is, then it will turn what I mentioned above as a DENSE neighborhood.

No major shopping area will go there unless there is enough people to support it.

Chinatown died because after GRB was built, 59 turned into some sort of psychological barrier..

I think that would be cool...even if it's a long ways out. Right now, if I want just a couple of items from the grocery, I have to drive to Kombat Krogers. Kim Hung market is fun to visit and buy questionable items, but they don't have Bud by the case (or beer brewed this century and not covered in filth), or Kroger brand toilet paper. And the only decent food options are Huynh's, a pizza from Lucky's, and the Oh My! Pocket Pies truck for lunch...or a bike ride down to Thiem Hung's for some really good stuff.

I just don't think a stadium would bring anything to the party when it comes to development...in EaDo OR Downtown...other than maybe ANOTHER B.U.S. bar. No way soccer fans are going to be going downtown to eat or spend any money before/after a game. People don't really even do that for MM or Toyota Center games either...they come...park...watch the game...leave...in masses. Look at the Toyota Center...it's still just the lonely China Garden sitting next to it...and even it is pretty much walled out by the massive parking garage.

And I didn't believe it until I moved from Downtown to EaDo...but the GRB might as well be the Great Wall of Chinatown. I've been here several months now, and I think we've returned to downtown to eat like three times (Little Napoli's, Byrd's, Cabo's)...and DROVE all three times. We're not really any further that we used to be from those places...but they might as well be in Katy or something. Too bad they didn't build the GRB OVER the streets/sidewalks, to still allow pedestrian and auto traffic to pass through. But at least the neighborhood is quiet and there's no traffic. At least, until 2:00am, and it looks like a scene from Apocalypse Now on the streets around Club Next.

I was happy to see the news today...I've been hoping they'd keep the stadium out of EaDo. I'd like to see EaDo go a different direction...more residential and maybe some new shopping areas/restaurants like in the better days of old Chinatown. We've already got ugly sprawling surface lots for Minute Maid Park, and the people that come in to Warehouse Live and Club Next that treat our street like a toilet (literally). A soccer stadium across the street? No thanks. I'd probably move as soon as construction started.

Great video! Thanks for posting.

You represented downtown very well, if only we could get rid of some of those parking lots though.

BTW is this on YouTube? Because if it is not then consider posting it will be on my favorits.

Thanks!

Good suggestion to put on YouTube....I think I average about 1 YouTube video every 2 years. So I went ahead and got it uploaded...it only took me SIX tries and two days to finally get it to work. I need to start using YouTube more often!

It's uploaded here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R335dBt805c

Don't bother with Sukos Burger. I don't know how they stay in business, honestly.

I kinda figured the name said it all. I guess that's why I want to go...just so I can Yelp about it...good or bad. Then again...I'm a po' bastid and a connoisseur of cheap food from questionable establishments. My favorite restaurant in the whole world (or my little world) is Kim Tai's. Even the Taco Keto stand makes my mouth water thinking about it.

Another cool little adventure in pictures! Awesome!

Ironically, Sukos burger and Kozy Kitchen are on my list of places to try out this week...just waiting for that next paycheck!

Im posting this in from a minute into the video because its taking a while to load/buffer, so its not Hollywood material, its still great, and very clear. Good shots despite the not-so-great weather.

When you said shaky, i was expecting "cloverfield", and i thought you would be taking it while you were actually riding!

All in all, good job.

Thanks! Yeah, I didn't want to make a big production out of it...I bought the little P&S camera EXACTLY for this reason...for making home videos and taking pictures discretely in restaurants to post on Yelp. I do video/photo for a living...and the SLIGHTEST shake in a video isn't acceptable to me for paid work. With my new little camera, I had a blast taking it home, downloading the video, doing NO editing except for the music and a color filter...and just burning it. NO days of tedious editing! It's nice to just have fun with a camera for a change!

Oh yeah...and I almost DID take some video while riding...even attached a "gorilla pod" to the handlebars. lol But then I knew I'd have to "edit" it when I got home...so I thought,"heck no!" I'd rather drink Bud on my time off this month!

Thanks for watching!

I was riding my bike around Downtown yesterday, and took my little P&S camera, put it in video mode, and shot this little video.

It's horrible handheld/shakey video, but it was just for fun...and I rode for hours! I was bored!

http://www.faithpoison.com/2010/01/january-19-2010-downtown-houston-bike.html

"Whoops! Rut-roh. 15 points off walkability score."

LMAO....my favorite pic!

more information and some renderings on/of market square park:

downtown district

culture map

Aw, man...that's very disappointing. At least the current crappy Market Square is not totally useless, in the fact that you can see clear across it.

But I guess all those dog owners that live around Market Square will like the fact now their dogs have a place to "walk".

This would be really cool...if it were in 1986 San Leon.

Absinthe (whatever brand we can get our hands on) for breakfast.

Bud after lunch.

Most other beverages are just not worth mentioning.

FWIW - Last week there was some dudes taking measurements in the little lot next to la Carafe.

Thanks, Rusty. Sounds awesome. But _raw_ sausage? Really?

I hear ya! I wondered about that as well...but it's how I saw them making it in some Chicago place on TV...so I gave it a shot.

Surprisingly, the sausage was almost OVER-cooked when I finally got brave enough to take it out of the oven.

Rusty, recipe please!

Doh! Sorry!

I think it was this one I copied onto my computer: http://www.pizzamaking.com/deepdish.php

I used a couple of Chicago Metallic 9" pizza pie pans my GF picked up at Bed Bath & Beyond, and tried to make them like I'd seen on some pizza show on TV. A bottom layer of sliced mozzarella cheese, a whole layer of raw italian sausaged pressed flat, vegetables, tomatoes, and some parmesan on top.

On my second attempt with the deep dish pans, I drained most of the liquid off the San Marzano style tomatoes, and added canned spaghetti sauce to fill the pies up to the top. I also added pepperoni and Canadian bacon to a layer. They must have weighed 30 pounds each.

The stand mixer makes pizza production stupid-easy. You can make pizza dough in it faster than you can order a pitcher of beer at a pizza joint.

I made some thin-crust pizza as well...they came out especially ugly...but tasted awesome. Plus, my GF won't eat thin crust...so I keep it all to myself. http://www.faithpoison.com/2009/11/hip-to-be-square.html

My girlfriend is a big fan of Chicago and ever since I've known her all she talks about is finding some place in Houston that has pizza like she had in Chicago.

Star ain't it...wasn't anything "Chicago Deep Dish" about it.

We tried Candelari's, but nobody was even in the place...finally an employee came out and pointed to a little buffet with a bunch of old regular pizza on it and said "seat yourselves" then left. We walked out.

Barry's has a nice thick crust pizza...not Chicago style...just a thick crust. Good, but I don't really like thick crust. I like crust thin...even on a deep dish. (I prefer a flat NY style pizza, however...flatter the better.)

We got one at Chicago's Pizza before they closed. Not bad at all. Probably (I've never been to the city of Chicago...so I wouldn't know) the closest I've had to authentic. But, while good...it wasn't great. That whole place was wierd anyways.

So for my b-day this year, the girlfriend gave me a nice stand mixer. My first project....make some Chicago pizza dough. I found a recipe on the internet that was supposed to be like Uno's pizza, and used that for my basis.

Maybe it wasn't authentic Chicago pizza...maybe not even close. But it was a lot of fun to make, and she abosutely loves it. 2 months later and I've found she's still hoarding pieces of it in her freezer.

Here's some pics from my blog post: Rusty's Deep Dish Pizza

Try Hyunh's a new (5-month-old) Vietnamese restaurant in the corner of St. Emmanuel and Walker. It's a family-owned place, with good food and great prices (I think the most expensive thing on the menu is the Duck salad for $9.00! ) They also have some special stuff for breakfast on Saturdays. They have very good Vietnamese coffee (tastes chocolatish) Unimpressed by the desserts though.

There's a mall across the street On St. Emmanuel that has an Asian supermarket. Has anyone tried the Vietnamese restaurant inside that mall?

We walked over to Hyunh's last Saturday for lunch, and finally tried it. Food was not bad. Service was VERY excellent...more like a big restaurant than a mom-n-pop place. They kept our ice tea glasses filled, which is a big plus for me when eating Vietnamese food...since I'm usually burning myself up with peppers and hot sauce. Prices seemed a little more than the smaller Vietnamese places, but I guess paying for more of a "restaurant" style atmosphere was understandable.

We didn't try the desserts....my girlfriend wanted a dessert from Thiem Hung's afterwards. Thiem Hung is going through some changes...same people, but I think ownership has gone to the younger kids there, Minh & Kim...SUPER nice couple! I could eat there every day if I had the time and money...I LOVE that place! Cheap, too!!

Oddly enough, I still haven't tried the Vietnamese restaurant inside the mall....I'm always late getting out for lunch, and feel weird about eating in there when I'm the only customer in the entire building. I usually just go into the market and buy beer. There's also a food stand inside the market, which I intend to try. There's a sign on the store's beer coolers that says,"please pay for beer before drinking"....so I guess I'll buy some beer...buy some food from the stand, and hang out with the old guys always lounging about at the tables next to the beer coolers while I eat.

depends on what you get. Crab, oyster and crawfish is higher than shrimp and roast beef. I had a regular (second size up) shrimp and I think it was around $9. Does not include fries. Even then I couldn't finish it.

Funny all these posts about Calliope's...I drove past there a couple of times and kept meaning to go eat there...but kept forgetting! So wednesday I made a point to pull over in front of the place, and write myself a reminder to stick on my desk to go eat there soon.

I just hope the location doesn't kill their business...seems like one of those places you just find by accident...and probably never find if you just work downtown and would never turn down that street...or take a second look at that old strip center.

I'm looking forward to checking it out...it seems we eat Vietnamese food 3 out of 4 times that we go out with all of the great places in the area...and shrimp or roast beef on french bread will be a nice change of pace from chargrilled pork and pate!