houstonfella

This shopping thing is the only thread that makes me yawn. Good grief. Every large city has some pretty good shopping. Dallas has excellent shopping. No mountains. No bays. No beaches. No lots of things ... so they shop. Give them an A in shopping and move on. Houston has so much more than shopping, so let's not even compete in that arena. However, Galleria Houston is in the top 5 of the best of the best in America. Dallas doesn't have one in that arena. But they have awesome shopping... ? whatever.

Good for DFW to get that rain. Months without (or even weeks and weeks) without rain sucks. The grass gets brown and trees look stressed. But in Houston, we have been blessed this summer with lots of rain and when I got in from Shreveport (where they still need more rain), I knew I was on the Gulf Coast because it looked a lot like Ireland. Anyhow, cheers to Sprall in Houston and Fall in the rest of the states.

Yes, tourists can be picky. But we can't compete with San Francisco or New York on this one. They have years and years and, of course, natural landscapes we don't have. But we can bring more conventions here and something as unique as a great skate park will help give people that bring their families something extra. I say make our zoo the best in the nation. That'd be a draw. Hermann Park is really awesome with the Natural Science Museum and Miller Outdoor, but Houston could put lots (millions) of money into creating a San Diego like zoo and that would be a draw. Zoo is already on the Red Line. Think: Reliant Park with the new hotel and convention facilities, Texas Med Ctr, Hermann Park and (great) Zoo, the museums are already there, and then downtown over to the Pavilions for fun and shopping. We are knocking on the tourist dollar door here, but we must follow through. Aren't we?

I am more of an optimist on this Astrodome hotel idea. Half a billion dollars. Gotta be something interesting in it. You have a large convention. Folks are happy in here. The convention is going on a few steps away and then you can tour Reliant Stadium, America's 1st retractable roof stadium. Then you can catch the train to Hermann Park, museums, zoo, downtown .... this will work. Tell me in five years if I am wrong.

I totally agree that we don't need a carbon copy of Kemah in Galveston. However, The Strand ain't all that and a bag of chips right now anyhow. So, somebody with some money needs to come in and figure out how to make a fantastic entertainment district on the water. If it ain't Tilman, where is George Mitchell when you need him? I'd like to see something very cool there, personally. What Tilman has done in Kemah is wonderful. Some people may not think so, but I remember what was there before. Please! This is about money and power. God save the po man.

I definitely agree the younger generation needs a skate park. I am looking forward to Houston having one. But as for things to do, well, you gotta be flexible here. We are not San Francisco with the Pacific lapping at the door and the Bay a few miles away. But with imagination and the desire to do things, there are lots of things that can be done in Houston. I didn't mention sports, theater, bars, bowling, volleyball, hike and bike trails or the zoo etc. either. Howard, your friends sure are picky. They need to move to Chicago where the winter is so fun that you have all kinds of outside things you can do.

Personally I think Galveston is just a little bit jealous of Kemah. I love Kemah. People love Kemah. If you have a boat there, it is magnificent. If you don't, sitting outside at sunset watching those boats come and go is breathtaking. But wait, there's more, Seabrook is getting ready to get a piece of the action as well. Now, when it is all said and done, Galveston will be more than happy to see something of this magnitude come its way.

Recommend to your out of town guests who can't find anything to do: Water ski Lake Houston, Lake Conroe, numerous venues Sail out of Clear Lake into Galveston Bay Jet ski on Clear Lake Windsurf on Galveston Island Go deep sea fishing in the Gulf of Mexico .... I haven't even begun. Thanks.

Now I am getting excited about Pavilions. Thanks for all the info you guys. Cool!!!!!

And we will have months and months and months of Sprall!!!!! Kim HAIFER defined this season for me. I called it Falling. But Sprall fits. No winter, just Sprall.

Question: If you don't like a city that gives you complete access to everything from the comfort of your automobile (like driving in this morning with the top down on a gorgeous 70 deg. low humidity morning) and would rather be scurrying around like they do in NY, walking, walking, bumping into each other, then perhaps you should move from Houston. That's what I'd do. For me, though, I love my town. Warts and all.

Thank goodness for this "cold" front Anyhow, low humidity and lower temps are so welcomed in the Lone Star in August. Ed Brandon (sniff sniff .... my bad) says Labor Day probably will be the best Labor Day weekend we have had in years. Happy Labor Day to all HAIFers. Texas Proud

Yeah, remember the Baptist joke: Why don't Baptists screw standing up? Cuz people will think they are dancing. Strange thing is, one day at a casino in Lake Charles, I saw one of the deacons of the local Baptist church in my area of town (which I don't frequent but know the fella cause I live next to him) ... see .... they do things, but only when they think they are being secretive. But, hey, Baptists have to be Baptists I guess. Yuck. Call me lots of things, but not a Baptist. P.S. Why can't we have casino gambling in Texas? We can ease down to the dog track and waste money gambling; ease up to the horse track and do the same; walk over to the convenience store and pick up lottery tickets .... isn't this gambling??? Something ain't right in Texas. I'll blame it on the Baptists.

I say let the folks who come up with all that money to finance this venture, build it out and let's see. We might all be totally surprised and delighted with the outcome.

Hey, Kim, since you discovered Sprall as one of our main seasons, the other being Summer, perhaps we could call it Sunshine Park?

They show us these great photos and we chat about Pavilions, but it seems like it is taking so long. OK; I'll be patient, because it it turns out like what they say, it will be worth the wait.

JASON, it appears you will be happy re: today's weather. Big D gets some rain and low temps from mother nature. We got a few clouds, but the heat index is up there and it is sticky. Sigh. August. Hurry up October.

Why in heaven's sake does gambling have to be on a boat? What's up with that type of legislation? Seems dumb to me. A slot machine works in Vegas, hey, it can work in College Station as well. I think Babtists [sic] have something to do with Texas not being able to gamble in their own state.

You are absolutely correct that there are lots and lots of conventions. Houston simply needs to find the best marketing folks and nab them. The rail is there from Reliant to downtown. And when everyone gets done fighting over the university line, that will be a huge help in attracting out of towners. Folks like easy access to a train (or bus) and other options rather than renting automobiles. Wow a 40 percent increase at NAPE's convention. That is pretty awesome.

I do see that on the surface we have dueling convention sites. But the thing that would make this work is getting more conventions booked into both sites. Rodeo, football, OTC already command lots of dates and hotel rooms. Adding to the mix could be some of the bigger conventions like HP, Microsoft, Medical conventions etc. This could make Houston very important in being a serious convention city host rivaling Chicago, Dallas, Vegas, etc. Then again, things may work out in a less than rosy perspective. I am optimistic on this though.

Hey, we can all move to Dallas and fry. Whatever.... I'll just take my chances ont the bays and beaches of Southeast Tx. I love the sound of the waves beating the shoreline. Got that in Dallas? No way, Jose.

> This is happening and H-town will be the biggest (as usual) and baddest downtown in all of Texas.

Moose, I think you live near me - I live in Woodforest. Let me know. Hey, we could meet at Red's and have a couple of beers and toast you to the greatest nation in the world. Thanks for coming. It is people like you who make America great!!!!

You crack me up this time. too funny.......... I might stop laughing by tomorrow.

Spades, growing up in Shreveport area of Louisiana (same latitude or longitude or sumpin like Dallas) and i in the winter had to feed the cows. That howling wind, gray sky and temps in the 20s .... I decided I'd find a warmer clime after that. So, old college boy headed for Houston as soon as he could and I couldn't be happier. My mom, like you, LOVES cold weather. I don't know about you guys and that cold weather, but that's what makes the world go round and round. And, yes, dry heat is a little more comfortable. But balmy evenings can be very romantic. Holding hands. Wearing shorts and T-shirts and well, I won't go into the romantic part.