JFC

Houston passed a partial smoking ban in restaurants and covered bus shelters which went in to affect in September 2005. Restaurants can still permit smoking in bar areas, but it must be seperate from the dining area correct?

I was at a sports bar/restaurant last weekend, and they had an ash tray at every table and people were smoking. I've noticed this at a lot of restaurants. Is the new law being enforced?

Just b/c a place serves food does classify it as a restaurant. Smoking is permitted if a majority of the sales is from alcohol.

Are you talking about the warehouse across from Spec's parking lot?

When it was for lease, it said restaurant/nightclub space available.

I think used to have printing company in the building....I am talking directly across from the new walgreens on smith street

Probably another CVS Pharmacy. Oh World

Maybe a Riteaid or Eckerds....

Any ideas what the plans are at McGowen and Smith? I see the building across the street from the new Walgreens is in the process of being demolished.

Anyone recommend a good happy hour to go to in Midtown?

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Pub Fiction has really good happy hour specials. You can check them out @ www.pubfiction.com. Just click on the specials tab on the homepage. Also, there is almost always a crowd there.

One place that will always be on the Richmond stip is Sam's Boat.  I believe they have been open since the late 70's.

I went to Pub Fiction on a Friday night.  I liked it but it wasn't a place where I could sit down and enjoy a drink because to was too busy.  There we a lot of good looking girls, a live acoustic band (not too loud), a lot of TV screens, and a little pub in the back.  Pub Fiction kind of has an identity crisis - it doesn't know what it wants to be.  Am I a sports bar? Swanky lounge?  Pub?  However, it may be different during the week.  Happy hours could be interesting because of the cheap drinks.

For Midtown, I can always rely on the good ole Dog House for a nice relaxing drink at the bar.  It will last for a while along with Little Woodrows.

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I went to Pub Fiction last night. They had a great crowd for Happy Hour and for the rest of the night. It was Flashback Thursdays (80's night). They had a band playing called The Lost Boys. We all had a blast!

This is kind of of Subject but whatever happened to Pangea on Main an Club Go I think it was by MinuteMaid Park are they still open?

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Pangea closed last Sept.....they opened Joia at the old Timberwolves on Bissonet.

I think it all depends on the owners of the bars keeping a good environment and not selling out for the quick buck.

Has anyone been to Pub Fiction? If so, what do you think of the place?

Where is a good place to grab a few drinks with friends before a concert at the Toyota Center?  I don't go downtown a lot unless it's for a Stros game.

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I don't know of a lot around Toyota Center. Jet Lounge closed. Another idea is always go to somewhere in Midtown and catch a cab over to Toyota center for a few bucks. It will probably be the same as parking around there anyway.

The real action's downtown these days anyway.

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Downtown is dead compared other parts of town. I went last night. It is a very nice place. It is attracting the Fickle 500 people.

As a fyi the dress code is actually relaxed on saturday nights too.

Just stay away from BSA. We had a horrible time with them. The design dimensions were not right several times, the Plumbing plans were totally wrong and against code. I could go on, but I hope you get my point.

Just wanted to let you all know that Pub Fiction has some great Happy Hour Specials. You can check out the specials at www.pubfiction.com. The website is worth checking out, they did a great job!

Juliet seems pretty high end I would say, I dont know anyone personally who lives in one.

Where are you looking?

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I was just looking to see if they build a good quality product and are a stand up company.

Has anyone had any experience with Juliet Homes?

I drove by Pub Fiction today. It looks like they are getting close. The new patio and parking lot are done. Also, that horrible fence around the lot is gone, so it looks a lot more open. In an e-mail from them last week they said they are waiting for the "CO" from the city. It looks like it will be a good addition to Midtown.

My friends were visiting me from Dallas. At the start of the tour, it was clear they werent expecting much from Houston and thought of it as an inferior town. I believe their opinion took a 180 degree turn by the end of the tour.

I have driven through 6th street in Austin as well and found its night life to be pretty similar to what I found on the Main street and so I wonder why 6th street has so much more fame.

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Been Around longer, College Town, Better Scene in general

kzseattle, from where were your friends visiting?

Yeah, Downtown Houston's weekend nightlife is one of those little known secrets about our fair city. I like to think of it as a upcoming cross between 6th Street in Austin and Downtown Ft. Worth.

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It has a long way to go.

I went to Deco.

Yeah that's it!

Cool.  So can you get me and some friends in there opening night?

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Go to www.pubfiction.com and sign up for the opening weekend party.

I am friends with Blini's cousin. It is at 2303 Smith.

Am I mistaken?  I seriously read an article in the Houston Business Journal written by Nancy Sarnoff.  She said they were going to call it "Long Island House of Tacos"

Down the road it may become "hip" to merely call it "LIHT"

But I don't know...we'll see...

If you get the Enchilada plate, it comes with refritos and a Long Island Iced Tea or margarita.  Kinda strange.  But I think it will work in the location  (since we're a 'land-locked' island).

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Except you don't want to become known as LIHT when Light Bar and Lounge is opening two blocks away. It's nickname is THE CACTUS.

It is going to be an upscale neighborhood pub. No dancing on bars or free beer happy hours. The club days are over for those guys.

Casa Manhatthan changed owners last week. I don't know if anyone has stopped by, but it is now called the Thristy Cactus. I believe it is owned by one of the guys from Mercury Room.