Vertigo58

The only bus service in Katy is Park and Ride. For now, if you want to live in Katy, you pretty much have to have a car.

It's funny how they don't start mass-building apartments until the community is filled with homebuyers. If they did it the other way around, well, I don't think Cinco Ranch, Seven Meadows, Grand Lakes and the others would have gotten off the ground.

I have a relative that still lives off Cook Road & Beechnut and she says that anytime the word got out that apts were going to be built nearby they all protested and won....that was 10 years ago.

Fast forward to now, the area has gone to pot, apts and low rent habitation abounds, the rest you see on the news like every other night. This is another kind of storm brewing. Oy vey.

Sounds absolutely bizarre! I wonder if you get flashbacks decades later?

Seriously though, get word out and it will spread like wildfire.

Timothy Leary is up there smiling somewhere.

Interesting I wish I could remember whom told me this but the lady (I think she was a realtor) about 2 or 3 years ago said that there would be an apartment explosion in all areas of Katy. They were expecting it and she said so many would be built it would alter things in this area dramatically and not for the better.

Seems the process has started.

With all the entry level and other types of jobs that will come with all the hospitals, etc the people that are willing to take those jobs will need some place to live nearby. That is the element that will probably rub many people the wrong way in this area.

To be honest I don't want to see them mainly because every city area I have ever lived in where mass apartments came things went down within a matter of years. So I don't hold any illusions that the same might not happen in Katy but guess only time will tell if the HOA, etc make these complexs keep there standards up.

Hell with the housing market like it is right now and possibly in the future there may be a lot of people in houses that will need to move to apartments with them being mortgaged beyond recovery.

B

All true (best comment of the month award you get).

In fact when the news of a new Walmart goes out, everyone freaks out and not in a good way either.

Want to sue developer for not notifying them in advance, etc. Not sure if there are many city bus lines out in Katy, but once that starts...whoah Nellie...run for the hills!

Anyone brews their beer on this board? How do you guys do it in summer month. My house is 76-80 which is probably too hight for most ales. Any tips to deal with that? Or do you brew some varieties that are Ok with high temperature for fermentation?

and we can make this topic to discuss other homebrewing issues...

I often wonder what or if this tastes as good as a real beer? When I used to travel to wine country in N California most of our clients made their own. They were mostly farm folks though.

Its sold in a kit right? Can you cop a buzz on it?

That was Frank douche bag Billingsley's quote.

I know, it was just two off the cuff silly statements.

Which reminds me what became of that dog/mascot Billingsley used to hunker down with on national television?

I just couldn't resist. Here are two awesome looks at the past of one of our largest cities. The first one captures the street cars of the 1950's in LA. (Be sure to check out the background buildings, cars, people). Then a 1937 new line inaguaration by Ms S Temple.

The 3rd is of one of the most famous hotels and night clubs ever known in old Hollywood. The Ambassador and the Coconut Grove Night Club.

All now just memories and recreated in recent films. Just can't get enough!

http://www.pcdon.com/bus-streetcar-icon.jpg

Ew...

oh, and Transtar is a little more specific now:

Where's "Hunker Down"?

Scarier than the storm itself, is that Neil Frank has been resurrected from retirement. Noooooo!

This new bridge should have been created decades ago. That intersection becomes jammed during peak hours. Now traffic can head forward instead of being forced to turn left or right onto Holcombe, etc.

This specific intersection becomes quite dark at night. Check it out. However, the good part is this should all be a thing of the past (me hopes). Hopefully all of that unkept brush will be replaced with color ie; Oleander, azaleas, etc.

Isn't everyone just dying to see what the final appearance of this bridge will be?

I think I'd rather take my chances dining on whatever the storm washes up into the yard.

Exactly! Havent tasted that crud in eons.

Your lucky since all that delicious barbecue links and slice beef is at your door! We are all coming over to eat at your place.

Aww, too bad I'm in Scotland right now. I would love a Hurricane Party! (any excuse to drink with these folks!)

It's such a drag when you miss all of the excitment. I was in SoCal when Alicia hit in 83? had to see in papers & news, blah. Wonder what they call these storms where you are? Best hold down that kilty when those gusts start to blowing.

and your right EESusan, is it too soon to start stocking up on Spam? Ja!

I think I will hide out with Sandy Squirrel & Sponge Bob down in Bikini Bottom till it all blows over!

So...what is the family's plan? Are they sitting on the property...or plan to sell or lease? Could the current structure be remodeled, or do the improvements required prove uneconomical? It looks per HCAD that they own the eastern half of the block.

Here's a depressing thought but very realistic. Don't be surprised if you go by and it's already been bulldozed.

Houston new ICON/MASCOT should be a bulldozer. We keep plowing down all of our history.

There is interest, I just didn't see this until now. Thanks for posting w/pic! What a porch & entryway. Nice to know there are still some left, and being cared for. I remember some of these types of homes being in the East End, most have been torn down now.

Nena,

We created about Past structures of East End where several old palaces once stood. Try to remember one really beautiful two or three story big house that was right where the Lawndale Post Office is now.

Only remnant are the 2 -3 big palms.

The house next door to this one above is equally as mysterious I think. The balcony on top with the torn awning makes you think of a Scarlett O'Hara type southern belle waving her scarf from above. (what imagination) but really it evokes such images.

In the 1950's a hurricane killed 81 people in Toronto. Nobody is safe from Mother Nature.

Very true.

Ever notice when a storn is brewing out there far away, that inland it's clear, sunny and extremely hot. A real false sense of security.

I'm glad I have some plywood ready for boarding up all I need to do is stock pile on the brewskies. Not jumping on no freeway and getting stuck in a major traffic jam.

At least when they pull me out of the rubble (home) they will know who I am. Imagine being out of gas in the middle of nowhere and the storm is right behind you? We are still not prepared for a major evacuation. Nope, nope no sirree.

This is real good pic. See the concrete stair case? Years ago there used to be concrete car ramps to drive drive down onto the beach. There were several of them along the seawall. I commented on another topic of Galveston about them. It was really scary for us kids when our car would start the incline down and even scarier going up. Felt like we would tip over!

Not sure why they removed them I guess to finally stop cars from being on the beach or in those areas anyway? Cars were alway getting stuck mom said we had to be towed one time. Ugh.

I do wish they would at least install permanent railing all along the seawall, there have been serious falls and deaths on roller skates, tourist bikes, etc.

I always thought the "original" entranceway to Astroworld was beautiful, especially at night. It had that world globe, a fountain, and colored lighting. The multi-colored lamppost bulbs were replaced with boring white ones in later years. There were also orange advertisement signs placed around town. The remnants of one sign can still be seen at Almeda & 610 South (southeast side, x from Texaco).

Just for the sake of nostalgia, here is a 1980 commercial.

2nd video has good close ups of the rides in it more recent final days.

I can just hear him shout "Your fired!" from within the walls.

I couldn't agree more about the entry, it IS stunning. I've often imagined what it would have been like to sit on that porch on a hot summer day or in the evening and watch the street activity. That wrapped porch is so deep and sheltered, you could practically live on it. The glass in the front door looks original to me and I'd love to see where the stairs are. I wonder if it's a simple staircase or a sweeping, more dramatic staircase that leads upstairs. And I've had the same mental images of early 1900's Houston society arriving there for a party or event. I understand the house was rented out for a number of years before the current owners bought it in the 80s.

I was in the area yesterday and went ahead and had to take another glance. I always have to see the left side where the porte-cochere can be seen. As I noted in a seperate topic, these were very common back in the day. Also known as a carriage porch, guests would stop and get off then horse would continue to the back, just like a car.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porte-cochere

Yep, Houston is so far behind in theme parks. We would have more tourists with families staying longer or at least having something for the kiddies. Cal is so far ahead of us... as always. Its true.

http://www.themeparkcity.com/USA_CA.htm

Kind of interesting how the guy in the middle has a book opened. This city has numerous such similar items (such as this) sprinkled all over and in the most unsuspecting parts of Houston. Places people would never imagine.

I agree. All we have to do is use the same ideas of a monorail. Nothing unsightly about this. We just need monorail to hell with it. Houston, city of the future!

Amongst the many problems with this film, the biggest Hollywood fabrication is the OCD angle in his youth. Hughes behavioral issues didn't really begin until his Hollywood plane crash in 1946(40 years old). He was going 155 miles per hour when he crashed...his body was never the same and his major drug use for pain relief began at that time. The parade of starlets wouldn't have been attracted to Hughes if he were a paranoid spaz when he was young. Terry Moore didn't even meet Hughes until he was 43. She said he didn't become strange until his 50's.

By the way, Hughes only came back to Houston a few times after leaving for California in 1925.

I was just glad that there finally was a film made about him period and by one of my all time fav directors Marty Scorcese. Buy the soundtrack you will not be disappointed and if you can believe, Hughes is on the last singing a very bizarre tune. He must have gone over the edge by then and why they placed there is another mystery to me. IMDB has some good conversations that answer many of our questions about this legend.

I really need to take pictures of the souvenirs we stock piled on over the years. Still have:

1. A complete minature tea pot set of Astroworld tea set I got for mom one time, has all of those original rides and charaters engraved in color on them.

2. A tall beer mug in shape of that German style village with Astroword pictures on it.

3. A tall 7 Up very long and streched in a warped shape they sold at that glass blower shop they had. You walked in a this dude was making all kind of shapes and junk out of various soft drink glass bottles. I think it was in the Swiss Village?

Does anyone remember the name of the 2 separate car riding location? One was a Model T old fashioned car ride on those metal tracks.

2nd was a sports car (like Speed Racer) type of ride. They had those guys yelling not to bumo into each other but you did it anyway. Imagine whiplash as a kid. Ja! The names of these two rides fail me. What really gets me is they should have auctioned them off or something what became of all of those model T's and race cars?!

Remember how spooky the Swamp Buggy was? You had to wait in very long, long tines sometimes. Once strapped in it went straight up in the darkness of what was supposed to be a old tree trunk and once on top it tilted out at and freaking angle as if to tip you over but it stayed at that angle as it careened down around and around and around and you could see all of Houston or dowtown skyline for short glimpses as you either got sick or screamed you brains out. It was always hilarious hearing all the Marsha Brady look-a-likes screaming around you. As normal we staggered out of the little buggy one it was over.

The Bamboo Shoot was always one to look forward to in summer. At the very end we always yelled everyone lean forward! So more water would cover us! Nice cool off!

Someone sent me the story because I used to get somewhat upset at all the sugar/HFCS that was added to every imaginable food in America - bread, ketchup, salad dressing etc etc. If you check the labels you will be amazed at the amount of HFCS out there.

Its nausiating I know. Lets not even get started on SALT! That crap is everywhere too.

The American Heart Association normally divulges and details good long list of the common junk we put into ourselves. High blood pressure is another result of too much sugar.

http://my.americanheart.org/jiveforum/thre...messageID=61386

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4471

I am terrified of sugar!

If I use in tea or coffee, I only use about 1/3 of the little bag and chunk the rest. I see some people put 2 full bags! Suicide in slow motion. No thanks!

Hi Vertigo! I think you nailed it when you said "worship." I fall into that category. There is a sense of history I cannot describe, a feeling that comes over me when I drive by that home. It's the architecture, the horse ties, the front door, the columns with the pineapple tops (a symbol of affluence back then), the yards, everything about it is so compelling to me. Sometimes my husband and I just park across the street along the curb and stare at it imagining what life was like back then. At night, the attic room is always lit, sometimes with a jack-o-lantern in the window....I'd LOVE to see what (or who?) is up there! I think it would be amazing to see the interior, the room layouts, fireplaces, kitchen and baths, EVERYTHING!

I have been told that the pool was used in some indie movie back in the 80s (My Best Friend is a Vampire), but when I watched the movie (which was awful) the pool and mansion scenes looked nothing like Westmoreland and more like a movie set, so I doubt it was used.

That w i d e front entry way is what starts the drama and allure of the house. I see Edwardian society getting out of horse drawn carriages then onto these steps stopping & chatting or commenting on the flowered gardens then going in for tea. There was once a time in our city.

Imagine a child having a recital and the sounds of the upright piano echoing out into the porch and ladies fanning themselves on a cool brisk evening. A formal garden party with local notables mingling.

The beautiful kitty in your avatar should be resting right in the center of the doorway.

Glad to hear this news.

The party is over.