houstonartstudent

So I was curious if anyone knows what's going on at the former location of 702 on the corner of West Dallas and Heiner Street (Right next to 45 bordering downtown). I thought maybe they were making it into another club but now it looks like the might have converted it into a strip mall

I could be wrong, but I thought downtown couldn't have logo's on the buildings.

I believe hotels are exempt...look at the Hilton right next door as an example

It looks like they're keeping the cell phone tower in the middle of the block - I think they should dress it up to look like a mini crown to bring a little bit of Memorial City flare to the area

Ask and you shall receive.

http://houston.bizjo...ry6.html?page=1

The article is now available to everyone - even us cheapskates. It sounds like the EarthQuest Institute Fundraiser was a big hit. They raised over 3 times as much money as they were anticipating. People want this thing to happen.

Thank you!!! I really hope this comes to fruition - and it will be great to see the shovels come out later this year!

With the plethora of surface lots in downtown, Ive often pondered the same thing myself.

My assumption has always been that, knowing Houstons history of demolishing historic structures, several of those lots probably used to be old circa 20's or 30's buildings. Im pretty sure there has to be some sort of map or grid of downtown that shows what old buildings used to be up on what lots, maybe even with pictures. If anyone knew where to find out it would probably be a poster/s on this site.

go to www.historicaerials.com - they have aerial shots as far back as 1957 - it's definitely changed a lot but that's probably the best place to see about any block in particular that you want to see.

EarthQuest theme park backers still digging up funding (subscription only)

http://houston.bizjo...6.html?ana=e_ph

Can somebody that has a subscription please post this?!?

Thank you!

Anybody know what is meant by "luxury" apartments? Where would they rank with Post, Metro Midtown, Smith St., etc? Also, with 180 units, how would that rank in size compared to the other apartments in the area? Thanks.

Apparently having a grocery store, small neighborhood gym or other beneficial retail underneath you isn't considered a luxury in Houston Of course it's better than an empty lot but why is it a requirement to have a parking lot in front of every store in Houston? - OK I'll step off my soap box

Also, did anyone else notice the hair cut store across the street from 3 Forks in the parking garage? I noticed it there about a month ago but I wasn't sure if it had been there before... It would be awesome if the three other store fronts in that garage open up too so they can play off the pavilions for customers...

So does anyone know if this hair cut store was open after Houston Pavilions starting taking off or it has been there for some time? I am really hoping some more retail will open up in this garage...

Are you referring to the "Beauty News" salon? I think that's been there for quite a while, at least since I started working downtown two years ago.

I (obviously) wondered the same thing myself. It was just a strange situation all around. She didn't even show her face after the manger came over.

I would have liked to ask her who exactly said what because we were nothing but nice to this lady the whole night.

I read your critique and was a little nervous about going Friday during the lunch time. At first, the service was pretty bad. The waiter wasn't very attentive and would only stop by our seats about every 15 minutes. They seem to have had plenty of staff but they need to better organize who works at the lanes and who works around the bar. After a 45-minute wait for some lanes (During Lunch!...luckily we have half-days on Friday) - we were lucky to be placed in the "Luxe" area as the main lanes were full. Once over there, our new waitress was pretty decent...even brought us complimentary root beer floats as we had to change lanes due to ours needing maintenance (It didn't seem like a big deal but hey, why complain?). The remainder of our afternoon was a lot of fun, and I definitely have to recommend the Alley Cat Cosmo to anyone that goes.

Saw them on Sunday night. Looked pretty cool.

Got this picture yesterday evening from the Hobby Lobby/Home Depot parking lot

that seems to be some really good news. this is definitely a project ive been waiting a long time for

I love how they credit the entire project to Handel Architects when they only designed the one tower and not the countless other buildings...

make that two bus shelters under the already-covered area!...what is this world coming to?!?

So has anyone seen the cool new bus shelter they installed off of Fannin at the Pavilions? It should really help protect people waiting for the bus from the weather...too bad they placed it under the covered part of the circular walkway that already served that purpose I'll be sure to take a picture soon so you know where Metro's money is going rather than the light rail

Hello, I just went there because I am considering moving there. The hallways have this retro-chic look and cold lighting, but other than that the lobby and apartments looked so cool and they already have residents! They did not cut corners with the flooring, very nice wood floors. In my opinion. The person said all the shops will be ready in October!! So soon!!

That probably means the storefronts may be ready by October...but it could be like the Pavilions for a little while...

Any reason they're imploding it?...I haven't heard of anything that's supposed to replace it

http://www.memorialparkconservancy.org/ind...?menuitemid=229

here's pictures of what it's supposed to look like....should be pretty cool

NOOOO!

I love that Fiesta, it's so convenient. It would be a shame to see it leave. It seems to do a good business, too.

Isn't that the fiesta that is so nondescript you have to kinda know where it is to be going there? I think it could stand to use a minor facelift...at least add some windows

The higher maintenance figure is correct, however, it includes more than the things that you have listed. It also includes insurance, capital repairs (e.g. roof, plumbing, elevators), a reserve fund, and perhaps a doorman. It's a lot of money, but owning a single family home carries a number of hidden monthly costs as well.

Let's ask Suze Orman what she thinks would be the better deal...

I think they should put in some night clubs. I would like that, It would be like Club Poetry in Las Vegas, it in that expensive mall/Casino, I forgot the name, but it looks like your outside because the ceiling is like a sky and gets dark at night.

half the "mall/casinos" in Vegas have a painted/lit sky

Opening next month:

Cork Wine Bar

The Board Room (bar)

Opening in next 2 months:

Andalucias Tapas

Mia Bella

Yao Restaurant

July:

III Forks (steakhouse)

Closing in 3 months:

BCBG Max

Books-A-Million

etc. etc.

Just kidding of course...I really am hoping for the best, we're just lucky the Pavilions altogether was built rather than being postponed and scraped completely. I predict the restaurants won't be a huge hit right now...but they'll more than likely survive...and in 1-2 years the retail will follow and this place will get exciting again!

For now let's do our part and dine at the places we want to keep

Well I have a little bit of bad news(well a lot of terrible news really)...walked around this evening with some friends and workers were boarding up the "previous" Lids store...and then we walked past Journeys and saw they had tons of boxes of inventory, but upon further look it turns out they're mailing product out to other stores...so it looks like they'll be boarding that one up pretty soon. I really hope the restaurants can weather out this recession and hopefully we won't see any more stores close before this topic moves out of the "Going Up" category

Will someone please show pictures of the progress?! Thanks!

is anyone else having trouble getting reception on the digital PBS station(supposedly channel 9 but I've tried that and 8-1)...I live just west of downtown so I don't see why I shouldn't be able to receive a signal(I know the signal towers are somewhere else but geeze)...I sure hope I can find out what to do so I don't miss my EastEnders on Sunday night(don't google what that is, you'll be sorry)

Found this tonight...check out the video on 11 news

http://www.khou.com/news/local/stories/kho...80ed6b.html?npc

Tell me if I'm wrong in these thoughts... and they're just random thoughts I'm throwing out there, like em or hate em... I'm not going to go on the defensive hardcore for a few brainstorms, with that said, here they are...

1. There's too much surface parking, currently and on the new plan. Too strip center-ish even as it is now. Maybe a redesign of the garage, with more security and multiple fast elevators will make the garage parking more attractive, and free up space for more stores... that is if they could be successful by adding more places. More places to go creates more reason to come here, right? The economy wont be down forever.

2. In addition to #1, maybe some of that former parking space could be green space, used like a park... or something semi-similar to Discovery Green?

3. On a site like this I'd expect a 24 hour Starbucks. I know, do we really need another Starbucks?! But, still, on a site like this I would expect some sort of "Coffee House".

4. Edwards is probably the biggest money maker and attraction to this site. Perfect dinner and a movie site for whatever your dining tastes happen to be that night. One thing Edwards could do to potentially increase profits is more IMAX screens. Just one more for now. It's the only IMAX in the city that isn't part of another establishment which show films other than mainstream movies (HMNS, Moody Gardens, to name a few), and I think it could benifit from more big opening nights where the IMAX ticket brings in more $$ and people whom want that experience. It's been a while since I saw an IMAX movie I'll admit, but last time I was there it was packed... but that was for Batman Begins... dunno if the IMAX is doing as well in recent months.

And I'm gonna miss this place not having a Cold Stone (or was it Marble Slab?) a Hot Topic, and The Putting Edge. So many times I wanted to go to Putting Edge in the past 2 years but it was always closed cause the owner didn't pay up their lease. I enjoyed their overpriced glow in the dark putt-putt where there was always someone behind you playing too fast forcing you to hurry up, and always someone in front of you playing slow as hell, forcing you to have to wait after rushing. Oh good times.

I agree with the 24hour starbucks and the park idea sounds good, but there's a high probability of it becoming run-down like the rest of the center if they were skimpy on the maintenance budget.

As for The Putting Edge, I went one time and I thought it was so boring. I'm a fan of moving obstacles or "looping tracks" and stuff like that, this one only had glow in the dark walls ok ok the skee-ball final hole was good but more of the holes should have been like that.