HarrisCountyEx

Yes, and the shadow of the skater and people standing on the side of the whatever that pool thing is called he's skating in. The original Dogtown movie by Sean Penn is a cool flick.

I remember seeing it when it came out (I was just a baby). I remember the highlight was when the local news reporter Chris Chandler was punched out. Everyone anticipated that part the most. I believe he was with channel 2 but I could be wrong. Now, after working with drilling companies, I can really appreciate the hard work and danger these men go through and the brainwork (Red Adair) put into figuring out how to successfully fight oilwell blowouts.

Got to searching and found this site of Elvis' concert and appearances dates: http://oldies.about.com/od/elvis/a/elvis1955_2.htm How did this guy play a gig every day in so many different cities? He was all over the place. I don't think musicians do that today.

Interesting, I grew up in the area but I had never heard that those musicians had played there. My parents didn't drink (or dance, or smoke), so it was considered "off limits" for us kids as I remember it being referred to as a beer joint. I had no idea it was north of Hwy 90 though, I thought it was out on the river east going toward Baytown. Thanks for stirring the cobwebs though, I haven't heard that name in years.

"Fall Into The Gap". I think I recall the jingle and the ads on TV had a picture of an unzipped pair of pants and the suggestion to fall into that gap? I do know that my mother was not going to go there because of the provocative sounding ads.

Whatever sport it was, they must have been good at it - look at that trophy!

Yes, I remember Banana Republic Khaki! I always felt like I should go on a safari. Two stores that have gone through COMPLETE makeovers - BR and A & F. A & F was like LL Bean and Orvis at one time.

Why can't they build schools like that anymore? Well, maybe not exactly like that but at least have a little more pride in the architecture. Seems like schools from the '50's onward are just stark and institutional. The ones from the olden days seemed to say "hey, this is your school, glad you're here".

Ok, I'm ready to kick in here after some thought. My sister worked at U.S. Testing in the early '70's. That was the place that conducted the surveys. One time when I was spending a day with her there, Sandy Duncan came by and chatted with us. I actually liked El Felix or Fenix Mexican restaurant although I remember service being slow. Close by was a Corrigan's Jewelry store. On the second level, there was Margo's La Mode. I loved that store. There was an optical store named Lugene's. I think there was a Merry Go Round. I remember a leather store too. Later on in the early - mid '80's Banana Republic came in but I can't remember if it was I or II. I loved Marshall Fields. There was a store in II that was owned by Olivia Newton John I think it was Blue Kangaroo? In the eighty's I did some temp work for an oil company in the Galleria II building, but I cannot remember the name of it. I do remember they had the first Wang Word Processor I had ever used. It may still be there, but the hotel had a Zuchinnis restaurant that you could enter from the third level. (I'm really dating myself here.) I have alot of very fond memories from the Galleria.

Bingo! Windsor Plaza. Now I'm going to have to hunt for pics to prove hubby wrong. I remember the Chili's being on Fountainview and standing in long line to get a seat at lunch time. They had the best tacos - the meat had corn and they put guacamole on top. I'm still curious about the empanada shop. I checked Marini's website and it made no mention about being in the Windsor Plaza area.

In the mid '80's, there was an empanada place on Richmond in a strip center around Sage and the loop. There was also, in what I believe to be in the same center, a great pizza place that I thought was Barry's, but husband says no, Barry's has always been further down (or up) on Richmond. The pizzas would sit atop a pedestal thingy at the table. It seems it had a single name to it like Barry's, Mike's, John's, etc. Neither of these places as well as the strip center exist as I found out recently. I went to Marines (sp.?) on Hillcroft and Richmond hoping for the same cream cheese and caramel empanada, but it wasn't. Also, early '90's, somewhere close to downtown was an ice cream/smoothie shop called Hawaii Kai (sp?). Always ordered chocolate ice cream with cream cheese mixed in - Heaven!

Oh I'm not a big people watcher, but I am a big food eater.....more food establishments please!

What's the big draw to Discovery Green? I've only seen it in passing going to and from GRBCC. I know there are a couple of fine dining (?) restaurants. Anything else?

I too remember the Tommie Vaughn commercials. Funny how something sticks in your head after so many years. I also remember Richardson Chevrolet....."Richardson.....Chevrolet. Southwest Freeway at Hillcroft". There was also another car ad that was somewhat annoying that had a little boy dressed in a devil's costume dancing on top of a car. I can't remember the dealership, but they sang "hot, hot, red hot deals, hottest deals in town". I'm losing it.

27 years ago, I remember making the trek from a cheap parking lot to my office at the Esperson building. The stench embedded in the damp concrete would cause me to have to hold my breath or cover my face. I could only imagine what had gone on the night before. I have to add that I was pregnant and in high heels! To this day, I don't care to walk the streets of downtown cities. I don't know what the answer to this problem is. I guess homeless shelters are a good idea, but not all homeless want to stay there. I read once that this didn't exist as much 50-100 years ago due to the fact that mental hospitals were home to these people. They were also called Hobos and rode railcars to different cities. My aunt and uncle lived close to the RR tracks in Katy years ago and used to talk about Hobos coming up to their house asking for money or food. I do know this - they have become younger and more brazen than those I encountered in DT Houston 27 years ago. Once in DT San Francisco, after refusing someone asking for money (don't know if he was homeless), my husband was verbally abused until we turned the corner on the street. Just remember this is not a new problem or exclusive to Houston.

I saw a few pages back someone mentioned Neisner's (sp.?). Does anyone remember if there were others besides the one I knew in North Shore? The center also had a Grant's Dept. Store and a drug store. Either Neisner's or Grants had a soda fountain and we would get malts and burgers there. The drug store (can't remember the name) also had a fountain. I think there was a Buster Brown shoe store or a shoe store that sold Buster Brown shoes.