albertnurick

Yep. Landry's bought the Grotto, and ruined it. It's gone from excellent to truly mediocre. But there's good news on the horizon. Tony and his son Jeff are opening a new upscale casual Italian spot on West Grey and Shepherd next year.

Hi, Ceilene - This was shortly after I moved in, probably in 2005. At the time they had an office on Research Forest. As far as I know, it's gone now. - Albert P.S. If anyone has run across Treehouse plans, please PM me or e-mail me at albert@nurick.com . Thanks!

When I moved into Trace Creek in 2004, I began a quest to get plans for my home. I called Life Forms - they were no help, saying they didn't keep plans for homes built over 10 years ago. I then called the Woodlands Associations, to see if the plans were on file, as they're supposed to be. Nope. So I hit a dead end. If anyone has plans for a circa 1989 Treehouse, the largest plan with the upstairs office, please drop me a note.

I tried the 1960 location soon after it opened. It was not a good burger. It wasn't even a good weird burger, a la White Castle.

Bellaire HS class of '81 here -- I frequented Meyerland most in the 70's and early 80's. Brown's was actually in the Maplewood center, down Beechnut from Meyerland Plaza at the intersection of Hillcroft. Brown's was actually a five and dime store, with (as you walked in) toys ahead and to the right, and sundries to the left. Maplewood was a classic 50's and 60's strip center, with an air conditioned public space in front of all the stores. Brown's was near the middle of the center, near Dr. Wishnow's optometry shop and near the fountain that later was drained and finally removed. Maplewood went downhill after Braeswood Square opened a mile or so away, but it was still there as of a year ago. It's been redone a couple of times.

nm5k: Yep, that's the place. I remember all the kitchy stuff on the walls, and the link looks like the right spot. Now that you mention it, I remember my parents saying something about a fire. Bunny Meyer. Yes, that was him. Weird how you instantly remember things you've not heard for 25 years.

Near the train tracks; anyone remember this place? (I'm not 100% sure about the name; it could have just been "Mel's". My parents referred to the place as "Mel & Bunny's"; I think Bunny was Mel's partner or perhaps his cook. Mel's Bar B-Q At 4113 Willowbend Blvd. Edit:

Right across Beechnut from Meyerland Center, at the end of the strip center, across the parking lot from the carwash. Great place. "Zappo's _andwich Land", IIRC, the S was missing for a long time. I think my parents got tired of my wanting to go there; Schlotzky's is a pale imitation, of the Zappo sandwich.

I think most of these criticisms come from urbanites who object to the Woodlands on principle. When we're out in the neighborhood in the evening, we invariably run into neighbors, and end up talking for an hour or two.

IMO the Chronicle is a perfect example of why newspapers in America are failing. Any bozo with a web site can republish AP stories these days. If the Chron doesn't do original reporting, it's worthless. We're in the fourth largest city in the country, and the heart of the world petrochemical industry. Why can't we have a first-class newsroom? The "neighborhood" sections are pretty good, and allow someone to get truly local news. That's a plus. The reader blogs make me cringe. They range from fair to dreadful. If you find a journalist with a Houston bent in the blogosphere, hire him and put him on staff. Without a good editor, what's the advantage over a generic web site? (I base my comments on the chron.com web site. Does anyone actually read the dead tree edition?) P.S. I am really tired of the weekly litter that appears in my driveway, tossed from their van. I don't ask for it, and I don't want it.

We went to this place all the time when I was a kid. Great fried shrimp. Oddly, I heard recently that this wasn't associated with the "real" Christie's.

Great game last night (we had wonderful seats, right by third base, four rows back). We were loving the offense -- it's been forever since I've watched an Astros team that could hit the ball. And the baserunning was excellent as well; they took risks that payed off, which is another thing I don't remember seeing in the past. Looks like 2008 may be a fun year. I like what I'm seeing so far.

I went to Pier 21 with my parents regularly; it was "their" seafood place. Jackie was our waitress. The Polynesian doesn't ring a bell, although we did frequent Albert Gee's PolyAsian on S. Main.

We live in Trace Creek, and love the neighborhood. Safe, quiet streets, lots of kids in the age group you mentioned. I really love Lifeforms; a pity they went out of business. Treehouse is what Lifeforms called the homes with the primary living areas upstairs. Our house has the living room, dining room, kitchen, breakfast room, office, master suite, and sunroom upstairs. Downstairs is the den and the other three bedrooms.

This saddens me; it's my absolute favorite house in Houston. I grew up in Meyerland, and my parents knew the folks who built the house; they attended several parties there. They always referred to it as "The House of Formica"; I guess in the 60's Formica was a space-age product. I remember going through the house once as a child, and being amazed by the huge round room. What a truly unique space. (I actually looked into purchasing the house before I moved to the Woodlands, but the $700K+ asking price seemed more than a little absurd.)