kylejack

Whaaat This is terrible news. I went to Frankel's this year for Halloween because it was closer, but I had no idea Arne's took damage and was closed. I used to go to Arne's several times a year. Status report on Party Boy, ASAP!

Dave Atell did an Insomniac episode in Houston. I've been looking everywhere for it.

How about Notsuoh?

They're probably more likely to bulldoze the park.

Suggesting that the city should shut down the private tunnels is ridiculous. Those tunnels are owned by the respective buildings, and its their business whether they continue to operate. There are hundreds of businesses in the tunnels and they succeed because its convenient for people to walk around during lunch without having to move their car or deal with crossing streets. As far as downtown losing its retail during the weekend, that has more to do with few people being downtown. If the demand was there it would be served. Its improving with things like Discovery Green and Pavilions. Those should help to increase demand.

Could you provide some more information on what you mean by that? I have no idea where the grain silo or rails were. Is this just barely east of Montrose? Also whatever happened to the Asian community center or somesuch that was going to be built around here?

I ride those trails all the time and frankly I don't see how this is all that necessary. There's a turn-around that puts you back on the other side of the trails at Shepherd, and its not as if its difficult to cross at Montrose, Waugh, or Sabine. It seems like there are some much better things that this could be spent on, like for example the unfinished bike/pedestrian bridge on MacGregor (Columbia Tap Rails-to-Trail project).

FYI, first and last Friday of every month 1820 (bar at 1820 Franklin, stone's throw from Minute Maid) opens up the neighboring pinball/arcade machine store so you can play games. Nice bar, fun arcade, GOOD TIMES.

Yeah I don't know all the details, but I do remember some action on panhandling when Bill White came in to office. Also, there were signs put up by the city and a radio campaign telling people not to give money to the homeless, and to give to aid organizations instead, something I fully support. The probability that you're supporting a substance abuse problem by giving money to homeless is just way too high. I've given food, though. Anyway, I just don't see it as that big of a problem, and frankly we absolutely do not have any jail capacity to spare for minor annoyances. Status quo seems good to me.

Don't forget about the Marfa, TX mystery lights.

Some of the stories seem a bit extreme. I live downtown and encounter bums all the time. Yes they ask for money, but they've always left me alone after I said no once. If one continues to harass you, sure, that's a problem. I'm just saying its not a very common occurrence. I don't even bother telling any of the lies (I don't have any change, I only have enough for bus fare). I just say No. But ultimately they're just people, and while it may be an unpleasant experience for you to see them sitting there at the corner shop at Main Street Square in the morning asking for money with all their worldly possessions beside them, try to imagine how much worse it must feel for them. You'll hop on the train and be a mile away in a few minutes, but they'll be sleeping on the front stoop of the downtown churches tonight, or at the YMCA if they can scrounge together enough money. And support the organizations that are providing support to them, like S.E.A.R.C.H. Really guys its not that big a deal.

Interesting. So what will happen to the Mia Bella spot once Mia bella moves in at Pavilions?

Yes, and I rarely do. Also the food is mediocre which just makes the price all the more offensive. With all the New York branding and etc. he's clearly trying to exploit the name imo, but if you disagree, well that's alright with me. You can get things to go, but its a real pain and takes too long, and certainly not deli-counter style as it should be. Uhh, I'm not smashing their windows or anything! I'm just wishing for them to fail. You realize this wishing has no actual effect, right?? The sooner the Taco Cabana closes the better, Texas Art Supply is awesome and gets a pass for being a chain imo. Now you're just being silly! Katz's sucks. Best part about Biba's is that crazy waiter, I think his name is John. That guy's got some real personality.

Well I'm not exactly picketing them every day or something! I do wish them ill, though. Get your chain restaurant out of my Montrose!

Well let's see, there is their faux-New York authenticity for an operation based out of Austin, there is the fact that they are ripping off the name of a famous (and the oldest, founded in 1888) New York-deli and hyping how they are New York-style (yeah okay, the owner's name is Marc Katz, but STILL, that's shady imo). There's the fact that they are overpriced, yes, even for a New York deli. The prices are about what you would expect to pay in New York for a sandwich, yet you are minus actually being in New York, as well as the fact that the sandwiches, while big, are still not the size of those served in the legendary New York delis that have earned the right to charge those prices. On top of that, they soak you on everything. Drinks, sides, everything. Katz's is an abomination on the Houston late-night scene, and the sooner Biba's, House of Pies, Late Night Pie, West Gray Cafe, Spanish Flowers and all the other late-night restaurants destroy them the better. What kind of New York deli doesn't have a deli counter where you can order the sandwich and go? No New York deli. You want a good deli? Go to Kahn's in Rice Village. Hell, even Kenny & Ziggy's is better than Katz's.

Gotta do what you gotta do, I guess, but I really like that old building. Interesting that the YMCA is dropping the housing units. Kinda makes you wonder where all those guys that stay there are going to go. Back on to the streets, I guess, because none of the other homeless facilities have capacity to cover that shortfall.

Yeah, its been a long long long time since I saw a mention of violent crime in downtown, and even that has been limited to some rowdy bars. I have a feeling most crimes are break ins of cars parked in the lots, probably just as many during the work day as there are at night. There's some panhandling in certain places, but most of it has been pretty low-key, imo.

I like their location on West Gray so it is kind of sad, but at the same time I have high hopes that they will torpedo all of Katz's business and send them to the bottom of the ocean. Get out of my city, Katz! Edit: And oh yeah, when the hurricane blew out the power for all of Montrose for a week, I snickered when driving past completely dark Katz's when I thought back to their terrible "I can't help it I gotta tell ya, KATZ'S NEVER CLOSES!" I bet they regret not installing locks on the door now!

I've personally dealt with that guy when my mother was looking for a place. He operates an office out of the Cotton Exchange building. Nice guy!

No kiddies in Midtown please, hip young single people only, thanks.

Correct, I've always felt very safe walking down Main Street at night, or really anywhere in downtown aside from the bus station (URGGGGGGHH I hate that area) and its a short walk to Sambuca from Pavilions.

Thanks for mentioning the Kroger at Polk and Cullen. I wasn't aware of it and it will make for a good alternative. Central Market is absolutely without a doubt a high-end grocery store.

Bulldoze a bunch of houses and run the rail line directly to Downing Street at Westheimer and Kirby, worry about the fallout later.

That's still tentative, construction has not begun.

Really? I need to check that out.