travelguy_73

Looks like it is working as designed on my IE8 at home. I can see Pittsburgh, and can move the location around. It's fan-freakin-tastic!

eta: I tried to add a map to the thread "why is the Heights so popular" just now. It looked like it was going to work, but then got hung up on the refresh page. I finally had to go back to the site fresh, and then find the thread myself. It added the map, but it wasn't the location I chose. So, sort of working, but sort of not.

Is it me or have entries been dwindling the last several years?

We stopped going a couple of years ago because the number of entries was getting out of hand, and it went on way too long. Quality, not quantity, please! I know every organization wants to have an entry, and few have a large budget, but some are pretty bad.

I'm using IE7, and cannot see the map, just a blank space. if I click on "Change?", then I can see Pittsburgh, but on another page. It's a great feature!

I can see the map link now, and tried to create a map. It located, but then seemed to get hung up on the "Click here if you are into clicking things" page. Just sat there refreshing every few seconds. I clicked the link, but nothing happened.

Im digging the new Buick Lacrosse - I never thought I would ever say that about a Buick !!

http://www.leftlanenews.com/buick-lacrosse.html

They definitely have the look and value-for-the-dollar going on, similar to the Lincoln MKS. Not sure if it will lower their average buyer age by much, but it is a step in the right direction.

Very cool idea...but where exactly is the map button supposed to be? I use IE8 and don't see anything.

I grabbed this from the Washington Corridor website, which shows the proposed quiet zones: http://washingtonquietzone.com/QuietZones.pdf. As with anything like this, it is all wishlist until funding is secured...

From the website: The map at the link below (PDF format) from the City of Houston shows all Quiet Zones and their rankings. The Zones denoted by letters are Zones that are funded by developers or other funding sources, and the zones labeled 1 through 6 are the zones that received Fiscal Year 2009 priority.

The B4-U-Eat newsletter said they closed.

oops, I was wrong. The municipal code, section 45-203 states:

An "abandoned motor vehicle," within the meaning of this article, shall be any motor vehicle standing, parked or remaining unattended on the public streets, alleys, sidewalks and public ways of the city for 48 or more continuous hours.

I knew I looked it up at some point, we've got a technically abandoned car on our street, except that I know whose it is and I don't want to be the jerk who calls and gets it towed. It's not harming anyone.

From what I have observed, they will ticket the car and then tow after a certain number of days. I like this because it gives a warning to the owner and allows them to move the car first.

This house appears to be a flip, as the owner is not registered to the address in HCAD. No need to cry over this one. Hopefully, this will serve as a wake up call to others.

Actually they have lived in the house since at least 2005, and purchased it (I think) from the estate of the original owner. It was in clean, but original shape and looks great now and fits in very well with the other homes on the street.

Have you ever found a wonderful house but in a not so good location?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/18/garden/1...no_interstitial

I think many of us on this board have done this, found ourselves in a transitional area in order to find the perfect house. If my house was double the price in Norhill, I doubt I would look at it as favorably, LOL, especially when something goes wrong.

Perhaps OT, but for any of you who know trains: I live two blocks from the single track that runs along Harrisburg, behind Eastwood Park. The train traffic is down dramatically. Is it the routes? Overall economy suckage?

Same on our side of Eastwood (the Cullen/Leeland tracks). There are many evening and nights where I won't hear a single horn. The only time we are stopped by the train arms these days is when they malfunction!

eta: My parents are in SA, and Dad says the train traffic near them is down as well. Quite interesting as I have heard that trains are more cost-effective than other forms of goods transit. Guess that means air freight is way down as well.

Is it "normal" to get an inspection before or after an appraisal?

My experience has been that the appraisal usually comes through days before closing, i.e., very late in the process. OTOH, the inspection happens during the option period while you can still get out and only lose your option money.

I heard that the second buyer's appraisal worked out and the deal is going forward, close to list price.

They are in bankruptcy, it had nothing to do with 24 Fitness Midtown.

Also, members with single gym memberships were grandfathered into nationwide memberships.

Unless there were other circumstances (like an expiring lease or major capital improvement required that there was no money for), I would think that other gyms siphoning off members due to superior facilities would certainly play a part in Bally's decision on which locations to shutter.

I believe it has already closed...no notice...at least that is from friends who go there.

Very timely article. That particular house is a bloock over from my old one, which I sold in 2005 for just a bit less than this guy's 2009 appraisal, and this guy

s house is larger and more updated. Did we really lose that many years of appreciation?

When we went to refinance our current place earlier this spring, we were shocked at the low appraisal, it was almost embarrasing given the updates we have made. That was a BofA appraiser who seemed well-versed in the area, but it didn't seem to matter.

eta: And as usual, the Chron comments crack me up.

I test drove the BMW 5 series but went with the Audi in the end. I just liked it better, especially on Houston's terrible streets.

Has anyone else seen Volvo's C30 (I think that's what it is?). I love that thing. It's a cool little bubble. Might want to check that out too.

Love the C30, but the hatch area looks very compromised by the straight-back glass. Fun to look, and I bet enjoyable to drive, but a GTI would be a better alternative.

Great info in this thread, thanks!

I'm thinking about retiring my faithful 1995 Subaru wagon and moving up to an Audi. Specifically an A3. I love the look and functionality of the hatchback, and I want a fun-driving, good-looking car to tool around in. Anyone on here have an A3 experience they'd like to share?

We already own an older Lexus LX 450. It's a beast - though I adore it, I'd like something a bit smaller and more fuel-efficient.

I do like the A3, but also consider the GTI or new Jetta Sportwagon (think they have the same engine as the A3). Another would be the BMW 328i wagon. I saw a new black 328i wagon with the sport package the other day and decided it must go on my car list. They are sufficiently rare as well, which is a plus for me.

Exactly. The Audi will be more fun and engaging to drive and I personally think they look better. But Audi's are not the most reliable cars and repairs are expensive. On the other hand, while they are reliable, Lexus focuses on providing a serene Buick-like drive that isolates you rather than engages you. It's great if that's what you want, it's just that it's not very exciting.

I think you are spot on. It's all about what type of driving experience you are looking for. Audi=engaging, Lexus=isolating. Both excel at what they are designed for, it just depends on the driver to know what they want out of a vehicle.

As far as service, every person I know with a Lexus raves about their service. I don't hear the same from Audi owners, but a lot of that is due to Momentum and VW/Audi not maintaining strong dealer quality control like Toyota does. Sonic/Momentum has inner loopers by the cajones and they know it. It is unfortunate because I have had to strike Audi off my list for my next car purchase because I have had such crappy service from Momentum (VW and Volvo). I had mediocre service at my Honda dealer as well, but I never had to visit it, so I really didn't care. LOL.

With all that said, there are other makes out there that might strike a good balance (sex appeal of the Audi, better reliability like a Lexus). Have you considered anything else?

I have always enjoyed Mandola's Deli, but it's an institution that everyone knows about. So here is something y'all may not know: The Mandola's purchased the yellow house-turned-day-labor property next door to the deli on Leeland, and are mulling over what to do with it. So if all goes as planned, we may have another place to try.

I'll start small and doable: Spend some money on that horrible 311 online complaint form. It's truly an amateur job. And while they are at it, add a way to find out the status of your complaint without having to call 311 and bother them about it.

If you don't mind though, when I was doing some research, there seemed to be a bit of an "anomaly" last fall on the 4200 block. It had me hugely concerned when I was looking, as there seemed to be a series of incidents and I couldn't find out any more info. I guess it doesn't matter at this point, as I'm no longer looking, but if you wouldn't mind illuminating me via pm, that would be great for curing my curiosity.

Thanks,

!c

You mean like criminal activity or something? The 4200 block I guess technically exists, but AFAIK it is the water department's property with Jefferson as a cut-through.

We go to the Westpark/West University one. It isn't too far away, though it would be terrific to have one closer! Recycling rates in the east end generally bite, and I would love to see more emphasis placed on it in our area.

I have heard that Pfister can be difficult to schedule, but our experience this past spring was the opposite. He and his son were out within days of my call and, if the weather would have permitted, work would have begun within a week of the estimate. Unless you are under a deadline, he is definitely worth waiting for.

I belong to the midtown 24hr, and it has pretty much everything except spa services (and if they could figure out how to squeeze that in, I'm sure they would).