713 To 214

No other city realistically had a shot going up against NY after 9/11. The "sympathy factor" was too strong.

didn't they break ground on the One Victory Place office building already?

I think it's funny that the last mayor's name was Lee Brown, and the current mayor's name is Bill White. Who's next. . . Joe Black?

I guess in the same way(s) the city of Houston benefits from having more people than the City of Dallas. Somehow, I doubt that anyone would try to stop you either.

Do you mean "bash" as in the way you bash: 1. the english language 2. the truth?

Yes, LOL

^ try reading the thread first, before you comment.

Too bad I have to be the one who breaks it to you, but. . . ahem. . . not only did Fogo De Chao open its 1st North American Restaurant in Dallas, the company is based in Dallas. Check the website: http://www.fogodechao.com/flash_index.php huh?

Unfortunately rantanamo, when people don't have anything to say, they make things up!

Does anyone knw when the expected date of completion is for the interchange?

Does anyone have renderings of this project that he/she can post?

^see

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WTC Events Didn't Cloud Skyscraper Construction By ADA LOUISE HUXTABLE http://www.realestatejournal.com/pr...7-huxtable.html The conventional wisdom has it that the desire to build tall received a serious setback from the World Trade Center disaster. As usual, the conventional wisdom has it wrong. The reality is that we are building higher than ever, with buildings in construction, or on the boards, that dwarf everything we know now. Superskyscrapers are proposed or rising in London, Paris, Vienna, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Beijing and Mexico City; they already exist in Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai and Taipei. While the earthbound argue about fear and safety, Asia has outstripped the West, using the most advanced structural technology and safety features for buildings already completed and occupied; Malaysia's twin Petronas towers became the world's tallest in 1998 at 1,483 feet, and the 101-story, 1,667-foot Taipei 101 tower broke that record when it opened in Taiwan this year. There is no turning back. This is the way it will be in the 21st century. These dramatic additions to the international skyline are being designed by the familiar high-wire performers -- Frank Gehry, Rem Koolhaas, Norman Foster, Richard Rogers, Renzo Piano and Santiago Calatrava are all represented, while seasoned skyscraper pros like Henry Cobb, Cesar Pelli and William Pederson have been quietly producing the first generation of superbuildings. They are all working with structural engineers who have so radically transformed the possibilities that the name "skyscraper" has become old-fashioned. At least, that is the judgment of Terence Riley, the Philip Johnson chief curator of architecture and design at the Museum of Modern Art, and Guy Nordenson, a structural engineer and Princeton professor, the co-organizers of the exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art. They prefer to call it "Tall Buildings," because they find the word skyscraper a romantic throwback to an earlier age when one considers the conceptual possibilities and structural innovations of today's enormous towers. The 25 examples being shown in models, sections and elevations are on display at MoMA's temporary outpost in Queens, where they will remain until Sept. 27, after which the museum returns to Manhattan and its own new tall building at its old site on West 53rd Street. They range from a modest 187 feet for an office building in Santiago, Chile, chosen for its ingenious engineering, to a proposal for Chicago at 2,000 feet and 108 stories that would have been the world's tallest building if it had been constructed -- a title as fleeting as the clouds above. All have been designed within the past 10 years, although only six have been built, with another half-dozen under construction; the rest were conceived as projects or for competitions. Three were finalists for the World Trade Center site: a pair of "kissing" towers by Norman Foster that meet as they rise and are a marvel of suavely expressed technology; a forest of connected leaning towers by an international consortium of Dutch, British and American architects that say come with me to the precipice and leap into the arms of tomorrow; and a matched set of minimalist towers joined with orthogonal precision by a prestigious New York team that included Richard Meier, Charles Gwathmey, Peter Eisenman and Steven Holl. It is safe to say that as long as architects are possessed by a timeless obsession to build tall -- a universal ambition that can make even the most modest fancy themselves masters of the universe -- and developers pursue ways to wring every ounce of profit out of expensive land, the race for height will continue, limited only by how high practicality and this alliance will take them. And that is discounting symbolism, hubris and dreams. There is, however, a significant difference between the tall buildings of the past and those of this new Skyscraper Age. Radical changes in architecture are the result of radical advances in technology. High-speed computer calculation and modeling of structural systems has changed the rules of the game. Surreal and sculptural shapes now rival more traditional towers of increasing decorative complexity. The romance of great height is still there, whether in Calatrava's futuristic twisting Turning Torso, or Petronas's fairy-tale fruitcakes piercing the sky. The M

Yeah, I saw that the other day. I think it needs some work though.

Ha Ha HA HA HA HA semipro, you just can't let the whole 'we got more people than you got' thing go. . .can you? You're begining to make me think that you know nothing else about Houston to brag about. As a matter of fact, I bet I know more about Houston than you do. You know, you really are not qualified to be the spokesperson on behalf of your fellow Houstonians. Do yourself a favor. . . find something else to say other than Houston has more people than Dallas. . .because no one disputes that. You obviously think that fact makes Houston better. . .so please articulate to me why it does in your mind. Otherwise, do us all a favor and stop regurgitating the same thing over, and over, and over, and over again. You might want to look at post "121" for guidance.

greystone, thanks for rethinking your position. btw, what would be comparable things in Houston to do? Please spare me the hanging out at the restaurants thing though (i.e. Cabbos, Pappadeaux, etc.). That's really not my thing. By the way, DART rail doesn't go through Deep Ellum yet. Maybe you went through the Cedars Area which is immediately south of Downtown and at the Cedars Station stop, there is the brand new Gilley's (a la Pasadena). Did you happen to see that? Sounds like you probably came down for the Grambling vs. Prairie View game. Was that the Friday and Saturday you were speaking of? And as for the Galleria. . .Yeah, Houston's is the original, and the best. However, as I stated earlier, Dallas' just underwent a major expansion/renovation from top to bottom, and added a Grand Lux Cafe (Cheesecake Factory's upscale cousin) (only two others in the U.S. - L.A. & Chicago). All of that said, Houston's Galleria is still the best. . .especially with the new phase 3. By the way, if you enjoy eating at restaurants, as opposed to just hanging around the bar, well, Dallas has 1 of 2 Il Mulino's (NYC has the other), 1 of 5 Oceanaires (Seattle, DC, Minneapolis and Indianapolis the others), and now one of 4 Nobu's (NYC, Miami, Las Vegas being the ones I know about). That makes a pretty big statement, especially with other peer cities like Houston and Atlanta.

Does anyone know where I can obtain a list of the rest of Houston's consulate offices?

You pose an interesting question. One to which there is an answer. . .POLITICS!! As a matter of fact, this is being discussed, in part, in the "Delay Lied To Us About METRO?" Thread. Let me say that any top 15 city (population) needs mass transit. The reason Dallas' rail system is bigger and better is because Dallas didn't have as much resistance from its political leaders as Houston did to the idea of mass transit. As a matter of fact North Texas' political leaders really got behind DART and pushed for the federal funding to make it happen. I would have to say they were more forward thinking. Additionally the citizens of DART area cities voted for bonds to speed up expansion. (maybe citizens of Noth Texas are more forward thinking b/c we have a lot of people move here from other cities w/ rail. Houston, on the other hand, has the likes of Tom Delay to deal with. His staunch support of anything anti-rail is a HUGE reason why METRO's rail line is paultry, and will continue to lag behind Dallas in terms of expansion. Simply put, Delay and others discretely make sure that the feds don't send the money to Houston for such projects, because all Mr Delay wants is roads, roads, and more roads. He views METRORAIL as a system that will only service a sliver of the Greater Houston population (mostly poor people). . .and unfortunately, if he gets his way, that's just what's going to happen (very few will be served b/c the system won't expand very much, and when it does, it will be at a slow pace, and Houstonians will become frustrated with the expansion's failure to keep up with Houston's growth ). As a matter of fact, Houston wouldn't even have its starter line if METRO didn't pay for it ouf of its own coffers. . .which led to other problems (less funding = poor design = an all at-grade line = multiple stops at traffic intersections = too much intermingling with cars = Houston being the light rail/car crash capital of the world) You're right, Houston needs Rail more than Dallas because Houston is soooo spread out. However, Dallas needs it too, and it may be part of the reason why you don't see as much traffic in Dallas, because DART is taking a lot of people out of their cars and onto light rail. But, then again, if you haven't been to Dallas since the 80's then your perception is waaaay off anyway.

ssullivan, thanks for doing your part. Do you think that Houstonians will hold these other representatives' feet to the fire since the referendum did pass?

greystone08 (no doubt, your name is inspired by the apartments next to TSU's campus, and located across the street from Frenchy's) while I appreciate your comments, it appears to me that when you visited Dallas, you didn't have the right tour guide. Dallas is much more than the JFK Memorial, Reunion Tower, etc. It appears that your travels within Dallas were pretty limited, and being an educated college student you know that you can't make wholesale judgements based upon a limited perspective. Say I came to Houston to visit a friend in 3rd Ward, but he/she never took me past I45 or 288 or 610? My impression would be that Houston is all about what I would see on MLK, Cullen, Scott, Elgin, etc. . . You get where I'm comming from? (I know many other parts of Houston b/c I used to live there for years, and my business takes me there about every other week. However, I used the 3rd Ward area as an example b/c I figured that you could relate better to that example) The bottom line is that you need more exposure to Dallas than just 1 visit before you can formulate an educated opinion. Next time you come to town, try to get out and see more things, ride the DART Rail to Cityplace Station (only subway station in the southwest), West Villiage and Mockingbird Station, Ride Dallas' McKinney Avenue Trolley in its Uptown District. Experience nightlife in Downtown at places like Jeroboam, Club BLUE, Purgatory, Manhattan Bar & Grill, Tpheze's. Experience the Deep Ellum district (similar to Montrose, but I think much more lively at night). Visit Dallas' Arts district with the World Renowned Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas Museum of Art, Crowe Exhibit of Asian Art. Go shopping at Northpark Center and the Dallas Galleria (just underwent major renovation, however Houston's is still better). Take the Trinity Railway Express (Dallas' & Ft. Worth's Commuter Rail line) to Fort Worth and visit Sundance Square, Kimball Art Museum (internationally recognized), and Fort Worth Zoo (great place). I could go on, and on, and on. . .but you get the idea.

You sound like my son when he doesn't get his way. . . sounds sort of like: "If I can't win, then I'm going to take my ball and go home" Yes. Chocolate Chip please. Huh? You're not?. . Could have fooled me. You obviously don't have a clue. . . do you? Larger stadiums (no matter what sport) with more seats and luxury suites = more money for team owners. . .and yes, Tagliabue has already said the Superbowl WILL be in Dallas in 2011. Except in Football!

Gasp . . .oh no. . . not that. . .whatever shall we do? Well we can still call ourselves the space city . . .right?

1st of all. . .You should let other grown men speak for themselves. secondarily. . . I never said that I am an authority on the subject. However, having lived in Houston, Dallas, New York, and D.C., I felt that I could offer a unique/educated perspective to the discussion. Can you say the same?

Now it's time for a serious question. I hope that I can get some serious answers. 1. What does living in the most (#1) populated city in Texas mean to you? 2. How do you think living in the most (#1) populated city in Texas affects your quality of life? 3. Why do you think Houston is the most (#1) populated city in Texas?