Parrothead

Oh I've been "hassled" too......and it had absolutely nothing to do with looking or not looking at them. I was by myself one night at Westheimer and the feeder of 610, and a scurvy-esque looking gent came up to my car with a bucket of liquid and a squeegee, ready to clean my windshield, and I actually had to smack my windshield to get him to stop. It scared the crap out of me.

They're now all at I-10 and the Beltway it seems. I wish that the city would put the same signs they have at the Beltway and 288 making it a law that you cannot loiter or solicit under the freeways. It's dangerous for everyone.

But as for that guy, why in the world would he have run across the street between the truck and its trailer?! UGH!! That's just stupidity!!

Uh......sorry to burst your bubble.......check the link and the Chronicle article in my signature.

Texasdago, who owns the website about Memorial Bend, can verify it. The first residents were my father and his first wife.

Quotes from article:

"Mr. & Mrs. Gregory, the first residents, were presented with a club membership by developer Puig and builder Long."

"First couple to occupy a home in Memorial Bend was Mr & Mrs. Robert E. Gregory."

I didn't think Traviata had any houses in 1955?

Hotel "ZaZa"?!?! That is the pukey-ist thing I have ever heard. They should keep the heritage of the Warwick and DO IT RIGHT this time.

How depressing.

Since I'm at the hospital twice a week I am always checking to see what is going on. They have closed the gas station there on the corner and they are about to tear it up. They've been leveling and filling the land a lot more, but still nothing new as to what the heck is going in there first. I can't believe they are going to put what is in that drawing on that little 8-acre site. It looks like it's way too big for it.

From Modern Real Estate Practices in Texas:

Ch. 23 Control of Land Use:

A variance may be sought by a property owner when strict enforcement of a zoning ordinance would cause an undue hardship to the property owner because of special circumstances and through no fault of the owner. For example, if an owner's lot is level next to the road but slopes steeply 30 feet away from the road, the ZBA (Zoning Board of Adjustment) may be willing to allow a variance so the owner can build closer to the road than normally would be allowed. However, the board might refuse to allow a change if there were another possible building site on the same parcel and the only hardship that would result from using the alternate site was a longer driveway that would cost more money. Variances are not used to help owners cut development costs.

Thank God!! That place is a cesspool.

The best part about this season so far? The Mets are 0-4.

Neiman's will be leaving in the fall. There is no word yet what will be in its place.

Here is a link to Midway Companies' plans for T&C:

http://www.midwaycompanies.com/Projects/_/town_country.asp

Personally, I'm not looking for 1st place, I just enjoy the games!! It's nice when they win though, I love that!

Hey Heights2, would you believe my mother gave away a set of 8 Colt .45 glasses from the 60's? They were my dad's, and when he died she just gave 'em to someone. They were vintage and never taken out of the box. I thought I was going to have to beat her silly.

Willy T. looks very promising!!

We did GREAT last year!! I am so excited about this season. I want to get a t-shirt made with an arrow pointing to my big pregnant belly that says, "Roger Clemens' love child" or "Future Astro Fanatic" or something cute like that!! We have big plans for this little one to enjoy the games at Minute Maid Park! Can't wait!!

Big date night, good excuse to break out the blue hair...

omg I just saw that

I gotcha--this is FOR her. I thought it was for you. Sorry 'bout that!!

Hey pineda--great link! I love Trader Joe's. They have great stuff! It's kind of a fun place to go.

I'm not even sure why sprawl is an issue. This is Memorial City reinventing what's already there. There IS no sprawl!

I don't know why anyone would be surprised about this news or, further, be that upset about it. Houston has a pattern of doing this, it's kinda what makes us so "atypical" from any other major city.

Memorial City and the Town & Country area have been establishing/re-inventing themselves for a long time in order to be ready for this kind of growth. I don't think Houston is ever going to have the "City Center" that most metropolitan areas do, for the simple reason that it never has before; and people here, for the most part, have been okay with that. Granted, it would be nice to see Downtown and Midtown get the credit they deserve and really begin to hop. I think it is happening but it is just really super slow.

A recent Urban Land Institute study indicated a resurgence in higher-density urban living provided certain amenities are addressed for the consumer. These include:

Growing popularity of an urban lifestyle for both the empty nester AND the young professional.

A saturation of no-personality, homogenous retail in the suburbs.

The growing appeal of pedestrian-friendly, street-front retail among consumers.

A decline in city crime.

A desire to have varied amenities clustered in a tight, architecturally controlled project that answer consumers

Amen! I am so excited about this.

A "unique grocery component," possibly multilevel with structured parking, will eventually be added, Hays said.

Ooooh. Any takers on which one?

Yay Lowbrow!!

I am seriously considering asking hubby to take me on a date to Berryhill's tonight

Hunter, there are two wonderful places for you--the archives at University of Houston and Rice University. They are veritable treasure troves of photos, original documents, etc...I was in UH's about 6 years ago and thought it was the coolest thing ever!!

All I can tell you guys is Berryhill's pork tamales are the best I have ever had. I have never had sauce put on them, but I think they give it to you on the side. Lord, I never had anything quite that tasty and savory. Very addictive.

Just because there are no Mexicans eating there doesn't mean much. The history of Berryhill will be enough to tell you the recipes are authentic. A lot of their food (like the baja fish tacos, omg! so good) is not Tex-Mex but more Cal-Mex/Pacifica kind of stuff.

It's darned good, and I highly recommend it. I believe their tamales have been rated the best in Houston at one time or another by the Press. Their fish tacos were rated "The Best EVER" by Zagat, so I guess they can't be too bad...

A brief history:

Since 1928, Walter Berryhill made and sold tamales from a recipe he borrowed from a neighbor. For 40 years he sold them on his bicycle right here in Houston. He retired in 1960. In 1993 a friend bought the recipe, cart, and press, and opened the original taqueria on Revere Street in Walter's honor.

Yeah, uh......genius answer.

You can't find a chimichanga in Houston? I see them everywhere. I love 'em but they are soooo bad for ya. But then...what isn't?

Just do a google search for "Chimichanga Houston" and you'll see tons of stuff. Even Berryhill, which I forgot to add to my original list for best tamales anywhere, serves them. YUM!!

Who cares? Well, gee, Houstonsemipro, I guess I do.

I thought they were going to stay? Good grief.....

This is very upsetting!!!!!

Houston Business Journal - 12:28 PM CST Thursday

Neiman Marcus to close Town & Country store

The Neiman Marcus Group Inc. is closing its 142,000-square-foot Neiman Marcus store located in the Town & Country Mall.

 

The store, which opened in 1983, will be closed by mid-September. The Dallas-based luxury retailer added that its 160 employees will be offered transfer opportunities to other stores or will receive severance packages.

"The decision to close this store was very difficult as we value the customer relationships we have established in this market," said Burton Tansky, president and CEO of Neiman Marcus Group. "However, this store did not meet our long term operational goals."

Neiman Marcus has had a presence in the Houston community for more than 35 years with its store located at the Galleria. That store will continue to stay in operation.

The company said Wednesday it is considering putting itself up for sale as it explores ways to boost shareholder value. Neiman (NYSE: NMG) added that it will not disclose developments until its board has approved a transaction. The company has hired Goldman Sachs & Co. as its financial adviser.

To me, the best fajitas are from Ninfa's (original or Mama Ninfa's). They are about the only place I can get fresh corn tortillas. Most every other restaurant are pre-made, pre-packaged.

But as far as overall quality for Tex-Mex, I absolutely LOVE La Mexicana on Fairview and Montrose. I've been eating their Chicken Taco de Fajitas for years. It's like comfort food to me now.

On the cheap, I love Los Tios, the one on Kirkwood and Memorial. The crispy beef tacos are really awesome. When I was three, I lost my pet pillbug Freddie there. I never did get over that. My mother never did either. Always wondering why in the he*l I brought a bug with me to a restaurant.

I also really love Escalante's and Guadalajara. They both have delicious queso, and sometimes that's all I really want, just chips and queso and a big fat margarita.

I know I am leaving a restaurant out....durn it all.......well, I'll think of it later I am sure!!