Standeck

That's an interesting article in the Times. I drove by a few weeks ago wondering what was being built and noticed the extra security (fencing, off duty police standing guard) and thought they were just really worried about scrap metal thieves. Perhaps they are concerned about someone getting the impression that a SCARY ISLAMIC MADRASSA is being built in Katy. Which it isn't. Read the article.

^{Consensus seems to be KTRU should maintain an online web stream and a 5,000 watt local transmitter that could be heard throughout the Rice campus and Village area. Having a 50,000 watt license is not economically efficient for a station that only appeals to college students, the terminally hip and other misfits ("Get offa my lawn" ™)}

If you're hearing sirens at night (or any other time) it's most likely to be ambulances. Medical to fire calls run at least 4 to 1, and what drives medic calls are assisted senior living facilities, not apartments.

Mmmmm. . . Royal Red Robin Burger. Mayo, cheese, three strips of bacon and a fried egg on top!

Turns out they have a website, and over 65 friends on facebook ! Says they're opening middle of September (i.e., Real Soon Now)!

Over the past few days I've noticed activity inside the old A&O space. Some minor changes to the seating area to add a separator wall etc. Today a lighted sign of individual letters is going up on the outside of the building, "The P _ _ _ _ _". Heh, I'll go back later to see what it ends up being called, but a neighborhood watering hole where I can sip a pint and read a book would be really welcome.

Huh, wouldn't let me edit; Anyway the new pub is (appropriately) "The Public House". Here's hoping it lasts.

Over the past few days I've noticed activity inside the old A&O space. Some minor changes to the seating area to add a separator wall etc. Today a lighted sign of individual letters is going up on the outside of the building, "The P _ _ _ _ _". Heh, I'll go back later to see what it ends up being called, but a neighborhood watering hole where I can sip a pint and read a book would be really welcome.

From the look of things, (Wednesday, July 1st at 2:00 PM), Fry Road will soon have one long skinny median all the way from 99 to the next traffic light at Seven Meadows Parkway with extended left turn lane(s). Anyone traveling east on Fry towards 99 will still be able to turn right into either of the two existing Fry Rd entrances, but as exits they will be right turn only (solid median prevents left turns) so if you want to go west on Fry you'll have to exit by Hobby Lobby onto SM Pkwy and go to the light. If you're traveling west on Fry, you'll have to go to the next light and turn left (or 'U', not sure) to enter the HEB center from SM Pkwy. For the Home Depot, it's essentially the opposite - right turn exiting or go to the light to turn left (east) on Fry.

It's probably not going to be that much of an inconvenience time-wise (depending on how the lights are set) and it looks like it will unsnarl the clusterfrak that's there now.

Natural stone coping looks nice, but can be rough getting in and out of the water. I recommend "safety coping", the pre-cast raised round edge stuff. Even if you're not looking down when walking around the pool, you'll know when you're close to the edge plus it's easier to grab onto when you're in the water.

Be aware of setbacks and easements on your property. If you're on the edge of a development they can be as much as fourteen feet! We had to buy part of our own yard back from CenterPoint.

Frak! I have got to stop getting emotionally invested in these businesses; I get so ticked when they don't make it!

The sign in the window is a three day notice dated the 8th so technically they've got one more day to pay back rents, maintenance fees etc. I spoke to Brett the other day about the crowds for the Thursday evening 'Party on the Plaza' events that Villagio is doing throughout the summer. He said it was pulling some business away from the outer ring of restaurants and he was down a couple of thousand dollars on those nights. I don't have any idea what the business plan for one of these restaurants looks like, but I wonder if the Villagio hasn't set their rents too high to keep people in business. Seems like if you're grossing a few thousand a night . . . anyway, like I said, I have no idea what the other expenses are like. I know it costs a lot to keep a kitchen open.

We need a "sad" emoticon!

As the transportation infrastructure around Katy improves criminals will travel to where the money is and crimes of opportunity will occur near on-ramps to the Westpark, 99 and IH-10. I generally avoid gas stations and convenience stores hard by any of those major arteries. You might see some opportunity driven residential burglaries in Cinco or Grand Lakes but lots of people are home during the day, few people leave their garage doors up and most homes have alarm systems as standard equipment. Statistically it's pretty safe here, but be aware of your surroundings, stay in condition yellow, always carry your handgun and when you have to shoot a carjacker always remember to say to the police, "I was in fear for my life, I wish to press charges (makes you the aggrieved party) and Lawyer!" Repeat that last as necessary. Cheers!

Villagio had their first (of several) Party on the Plaza events this past Thursday evening. Pretty good turnout on a near perfect evening. A band set up near the parking garage and all the restaurants set up tables outside on the plaza, almost like a town square surrounded by sidewalk cafes. All they need are bigger trees, better lighting and some railings so they can serve alcohol outside (like Berryhill). The new 3 Olives is open and were serving both inside and out, full menu plus custom pasta stir-frys. Food was terrific and is more value priced than Azzarelli's was.

Also, Frederico late of the Cafesito is opening a small imported gourmet food store attached to the 3 Olives.

I've had good luck taking our three dogs to Dr. Chang at the Grand Westheimer Animal Hospital. It's in a standalone building on Westheimer just east of 99; very convenient to Cinco neighborhoods.

I read this in the latest b4-u-eat.com newsletter

I am guessing that the "one just closed near the Grand Parkway" may refer to Azzarelli's in Villagio. And that the phoenix may be Rocco's or Pulcinella's. Any other ideas who the "beloved Italian restaurant" may be?

Serendipitously, I had lunch at Stadia at the Villagio today and walked around afterwards. There's a sign in the window at the former Azzarelli's (a moving van was taking away kitchen equipment including the pizza oven last week) that a "3 Olives" would be opening soon in that space. If that's a beloved Italian restaurant, I've never heard of it, maybe someone else has.

Also, Sneaker Lab has moved out and asks you to visit their Galleria location (hip-hop sneakers were not a good match in Cinco), Ana's Accessories is in the process of packing up shop. In the food category however, Berryhill was busy. The Greek place was doing good business for lunch and the new Mercury Bar is in final trim and paint. The A&O have changed their lunch hours and are only doing lunch from Thursdays through the weekends; they're still busy in the evenings.

The retail/food mix seems to be drifting in the eating direction right now.

The Rialta development has been scrapped.

Interesting. Guess it's going to be weeds for a while.

Regarding noise, the owner is installing noise curtains behind the stage and booking mostly acoustic acts which won't play past 10 PM. They're having a "Rally in the Alley" on the 14th, building up to St. Patrick's Day with food and beer outside in the parking area. Should be fun.

Apparently there have been some noise complaints from nearby neighbors in South Lake Village about the A&O; anyone live close enough to comment first hand? Can you hear the music?

On the latest entertainment bulletin I note that this week's schedule trends towards the acoustic end of the spectrum (i.e., no Blaggards) so perhaps the owners are responding like good neighbors and trying to keep the noise down. Eventually (could be quite a while) when the Rialta Center is built there will be another set of mid-rise buildings between the A&O and the nearest houses to block any hilarity.

Boxty is definitely how it's pronounced, they've got that in parenthesis on the menu, but the actual name is spelled differently in Gaelic. Regardless, it's delicious! Also, my wife had a Poinsettia which is a mimosa made with cranberry instead of orange juice and very good. I had beer of course; it isn't just for breakfast anymore!

The upper window coverings will be stained glass representations of UK and vicinity flags (England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland etc.) - sounds cool.

Also the A&O is serving breakfast / brunch which is something the area has really been needing. The only other local breakfast option is IHOP, the mini-Denny's or going way over to old Katy to Snappy's. I tried the Bachstai (sp?) pancakes which are thin like crepes and made with potato and herbs - delicious!

Even in this slower economy, things seem to be picking up at Villagio. Ate dinner at the Tokyo Steak and Sushi last night and they had a decent crowd for a chilly Thursday night. Walked around afterwards and Stadia was about half full, there was a good crowd at the Angel & Ox too, they say last weekend was bigger than their opening weekend - a good sign. Santorini's looked a little bare, but I think that once someone moves back into the Lord Byron's and Azzarelli's spaces, it will pull more people into the courtyard zone.

Agree about the interior. Right now it's all tables and chairs plus the bar. Some booths would be nice, perhaps those are planned. Not much you can do about all the windows since it is a (upscale) strip mall after all, they've got solar screens up so it's not showroom bright in there. They're planning on building a patio on the side of the building (going back and forth with Cinco's planning commission). If they can open up the doors to the outside, that would make an interesting cross-breed between a Texas Ice House and an Irish Pub.

Aesthetics aside, the beer selection is good. The food is good (Shepard's Pie is made with lamb, not ground beef), decent burger, I'll try the Fish & Chips today and let you know. They seem to be doing okay and pulled some business/curiosity seekers away from Baker St. whose owners dropped by to check them out.

With more food places going in to the Villagio, maybe they can get to critical mass and become a destination.

Update: Fish & Chips are decent, Tennants is Scottish Budweiser! i.e., a nice light summertime beer!

Wow, looks like he drank the customer owned contents of the wine lockers that are still sequestered in the Villagio location before typing that!

The Angel and The Ox had their grand opening this evening and the place was jammed when I went by around 7 PM. They'll be having live bands on weekends; upcoming The Blaggards.

Hibachi or Teppanyaki? Hibachi is where the patrons cook on a grill in the center of the table and I don't believe there is one in Katy (or Houston for that matter). Teppanyaki is the Benihana style steel griddle where a chef does the cooking and food stunts. They all seem to have the same schtick lately (onion volcanoes, egg juggling etc.). Tokyo Steak and Sushi in the Villagio is pretty good.

FWIW, Shell currently has office space in One Shell Plaza, Two Shell Plaza, Heritage Plaza (one floor, leaving soon), Two Houston Center and Pennzoil North Tower.

I think the Villagio suffers from a lack of visibility. It's a couple of blocks away from 99 so it doesn't get the drive by traffic that La Centerra does and it's nicely landscaped which hides the stores a bit (no good deed goes unpunished)! Also, they don't do a lot of promotions that would draw from a wider area, it's almost a neighborhood thing which is nice if you live nearby, but it's going to be tough for the businesses to achieve critical mass.

Regarding Azzarelli's, I was one of their biggest fans and ate there at least once a week. Rumor has it that Bistro 829 is interested in the space.