brian0123

I don't think she's ever rented it for a weekend, but we have gone as far as Brehnam on day trips.

How big is your family is the question? Looks like you went up in a Cessna 172 which is one of the most common planes out there. As you saw, they have passenger # and comfort limitations. They also have serious passenger weight limitations which decreases greatly depending on how much fuel you need.

This is for one specific model of Cessna 172, but it's pretty typical of small planes.

After a full load of fuel, you have about 550 lbs for people and luggage. 3 avg 180 lb guys would be stretching it on a full tank. Plus., this isn't driving a car, you can't stretch stopping at a gas station till the last 16th of a tank.. you have to calculate reserve fuel in case you get lost. Based on my limited experience, my gut tells me a family vacation in a plane that small is not going to happen and that even if it were just you flying that far and you had favorable winds, you'd still be stopping at least once to refuel that approx 50 gallon tank.

Ground speeds arent that great either.. with a head wind you might be as low as 45 mph ground speed , with a good head wind, up to 90 mph ground speed.. in favorable conditions you might get a few hundred miles with just you flying.

I'm basing this all off a back and forth email with my mom..

I appreciate the info! This is just what I was trying to figure out. Family is only wife and I (with baby on the way)... so no crazy passenger requirements right now. You are correct that we were in a 172 (I know I'd need something larger down the road if we ever were to travel by plane). I had no clue that the ground speed was like that though. 45mph is very discouraging.

She has the license, she rents, and goes up maybe once a week now. I wanna say it costs under 200 each time she goes up. She loves it. I love going up too, but only as a passenger. She got her license 30+ years ago.. between flight schools and gas prices, I'm guessing its a lot more expensive to get your license today. It's something I'd think about doing if I had several thousand dollars burning a hole in my pocket.

Nice photos.. looks like you picked a pretty clear day to go up.

Yeah, cost is the one thing I wasn't pleased about. They told me it would be about $5100 to get the license, but once you have it you have it. Did she fly a lot over the years... or is it something she just started to pick up again? I figured I'd at least start on the path because I want to do it more and might as well start logging my hours w/ an instructor. Also, does she ever rent it for a weekend (and if so, what does that normally cost if you want to go somewhere like Austin)? I'm trying to figure out if the economics of it and if it makes sense at all. My wife has family in Texarkana and I was thinking a pilot's license might make the trip a lot better than the long drive on the highway.

Original link broke... Fixed now, so reposting.

I had the chance to take a flight lesson over the weekend and added a couple pics of the downtown approach to InnerLooped http://innerlooped.com/410/downtown-houston-at-1100ft/ So it you (or your mom) that has the pilots license? I am thinking about going for mine after the experience and was wondering if you (or she) enjoys it. I'm also curious about if you own or rent a plane.

Awesome design. What's there now? Empty lot?

Empty lot.

The owner of Pub Fiction brought renderings of the building to a Midtown Planning meeting awhile back. If plans haven't changed since then... the building is going to be awesome w/ a nice entrance on the corner w/ columns. It will be multi story (I think 2 or 3) with a roof bar thing w/ parking in the back. It will be built to the sidewalk (I think he's going to even widen the sidewalk some and add lighting) so it will fit in perfectly with the neighborhood.

Finally found one of the renderings I was talking about w/ more info on the project... http://innerlooped.com/368/pub-fiction-v2-0-coming-soon/

Good news, first Carnegie Vanguard High School and now this...

"To update you on the plans for the creation of The Marthannie School:

A Public Hearing was held on Wednesday, January 19th at 6:30 PM at the First Presbyterian Church, 5300 Main Street, Museum District, Room FH 259, Houston, Texas, to discuss plans for a proposed Charter School in the Houston area for grades kindergarten through 12. The school will offer a curriculum that focuses on creative approaches to teaching and learning.

The founding group and those who support the school envision students who are leaders in the 21st century, who dare to imagine the impossible and who set out to accomplish it.

This college preparatory school will venture into realms of education previously unavailable to students in Texas. The Marthannie School addresses parents’ requests for pre-collegiate academic preparation of the highest quality in math, the sciences, history, literature and foreign language, as well as the simultaneous accomplishment of superb visual and performing arts education for their children. We will be meeting the needs of students who may not under ordinary circumstances have the accessibility or opportunity for these benefits.

The first year will commence with Grades K-1 and each successive year, we’ll add at least one higher grade until all twelve grades become a reality. With this strategy, we will prove our strength and ability to produce pre-collegiate students who are equipped for success in the 21st century. We will also inspire the Marthannie student to develop a life philosophy that includes a humanitarian spirit, productive habits, higher aspirations, the excitement of a lifelong insatiable curiosity, and respect and enthusiasm for a challenge. These traits will define the Marthannie graduate.

Our plan is to locate in close proximity to the theater district in order to ensure accessibility for students, teachers, and our performing arts organization partners. The school site will be one that inspires the children and the community we serve and lures the world’s finest academic scholars, artists, and musicians to our city and to our campus. We have determined that our charter application will name Midtown as the chosen location for the school. This decision was based on the interest shown by the Midtown residents and the proximity of the area to the resources we need to support the school, i.e. rail system, museum district, theater district, etc. We are presently looking at options to either lease or purchase property. Perkins + Will Architectural Firm are working with us on facility acquisition."

I saw this and thought about going to the meeting. It's awesome news. I'd love to know what properties they are looking at.

Have lived in Midtown 3 years, and in that time my opinions on homelessness have changed. I donate to organizations that help the homeless... but never give to individuals anymore. About a year ago Midtown had a public meeting where they had reps from various orgs talk about how to help the homeless. They also had a former homeless man speak about how to help with the homeless. His rules were:

1. Never give money to an individual. It only enables them. They WILL use it for alcohol or drugs.

2. Never hire homeless to work in your garden/wash the car/etc. (this surprised me). This only enables them further. They believe that this is a way to make a living and thus refuse treatment and job placement help from organizations that are there to help them establish a true path out of homelessness.

3. Only give money to organizations that are setup to help the homeless. When asked for money from a homeless person, politely say "I'm sorry, but there are some wonderful organizations down the street like Search who are there for you."

While a dollar given to a church that just provides feeding equals a dollar, a dollar given to an organization like Search is more powerful because they have the power/size/and structure to leverage that dollar and turn it into more than just a dollar. In other words, orgs like Search give you more bang for your buck (and have proven track records for pulling people out of homelessness).

While 1stWardDude is pretty callous and incorrect about the homeless impact on Downtown... he is correct about the feedings that take place. We have problems where these feedings are used by criminals to find out who has a VA or a social security check coming... and thus the feedings become places for criminals to find their next victim. The feedings also feed some of the homeless that are there to prey on the others who are receiving help from Search, etc. The orgs also fail to clean up their trash and trespass on private property. The real eye opener for me has been the many times I've had homeless guys approach me and try to sell me their brand new donated jackets, sleeping bags, and pants for money.

The homeless will always be around, but just handing food out on the side of the road isn't a solution. Housing First programs (like mentioned earlier), and orgs like Search are the right ways to go.

...We are really starting to see a critical mass of residential, retail and commercial buildings that will make this part of Midtown truly sustainable.

I already view the area as sustainable. Just wait until the economy rebounds... Midtown is going to explode.

Is the parking garage going to have ground level retail? Some places say it will and others just say a 7-story parking garage with no mention of retail...

Everything that I've read says there will be ground level retail with parking above it. Based on the culture map article and list of prospective tenants... I don't see how they'd all be able to fit in the Boy Scouts building along with Landmark's planned office spaces.

It was rainy and gross, but I added a couple of snapped pics of the work on InnerLooped. This is going to be huge for Midtown and can't wait to see it completed!

I just hope that midtown doesnt become like the areas east of downtown and west of downtown with all the suburban styled apartment buildings and then those ugly tin box buildings that seem to be popping up everywhere. I hope it is mostly all developments like this in the future.

I actually love those metal town-homes! I don't worry too much about Midtown btw. Our neighborhood already has a diverse selection of apartments (and it seems each one has to out-do the next in looks and features). Even the older apartment buildings in Midtown are nice and in good shape. My main hope for Midtown is that the middle area (east side of Main by Nouveaux) gets some condos and more retail in the next 10 years.

Barcadia is expanding into the open retail space behind their current location... it will include bowling and more games. Should be pretty good. They are also going to start serving brunch there as well.

Glad to hear this. I've been to Barcadia last weekend and last night... each time I wondered why they didn't expand into the adjoining space w/ more games. The place is really cool.

I emailed their site and got a response saying it was a study done about four years ago, but the 2008 downturn killed the project. Stupid 2008

I'm trying to track down some info for my blog on a sign I saw the other day on La Branch. The sign said "La Branch Street Flats coming soon" and it is on the empty lot to the right of the Midtown Art Center. Unfortunately, the number on the sign (when called) says it has been disconnected. This would make me believe that the project is dead, but I've been past this block a lot and never noticed the sign... and it looked pretty new. Does anyone have any other info on this?

Went by Midtown Grove today and added progress pictures to InnerLooped. Here's the rendering of Midtown Grove...

Just got back from the Pavilions and was blown away by how much space NRG now occupies. They are not just in the tower, but are also on the ground floor and a big chunk of the second floor. You can literally walk up to their offices and be creepy by staring at employees working at their desks... or stand in at their board room. Just added pics of it on InnerLooped. The offices are really cool looking btw.

I found a rendering for a potential building acorss from Starbucks on Gray from HAR. This might be completely dead but if someone has some info, please pass it along.

When I lookup 610 Gray on street view it shows me the Starbucks building. I wonder if this is just an old rendering of the Starbucks building that they are trying to lease out?

Good luck with your blog. I have it book marked and will look forward to checking in.

Thanks!

I saw a new sign for a Magnicat House events center on the other side of the fire station from the White House. Could this be casting doubt on the success of a restaurant in this area? Hope not. I realize charities are good, but was hoping for something more supplemental to the town home community at that lot. Anyone have an update on the White House?

Finally made it over to the lot and put a pic of the Magnificat rendering on my new blog: Rendering I actually like the look of it a lot. It would be nice if a multi-story had made it to Elgin... but this looks fairly decent at least.

I went to 360 Sports Lounge tonight with a couple of friends to watch some football. Parked in the parking garage behind the 3 story building. The first floor is bar and restaurants, with office space above. The building sits about 15 feet from Washington Ave. As I stood outside enjoying a smoke and looking down Washington at all of the new and renovated buildings, I was struck by how utterly ignorant those who call Washington "suburban" must be. The street literally pulses with activity, the veritable definition of an urban area. The only people who could possibly believe the myth that Washington is suburban are those who have never been there. And frankly, who cares what they think.

I'm by no means calling Washington suburban... but I'm also not calling it truly urban either. To me, it feels like a place sort of stuck in between. There are parts of Washington I really like... other parts I don't. The pulsing street you are marveling at right now consists of people coming to Washington because it's the "scene" right now. Once the scene moves on, the question is what will Washington look like?

In my opinion, there will be a lot more strip malls... but with tenants that don't attract the "bar-hop place to place to pay $ for a drink/meal really worth $ type". The strip malls will have tenants like dentist offices, pet shops, Dominoes, Little Caesars, Taco Cabana, golf shops, frame stores, comic book shops, etc. The north part of the neighborhood will be lined with Walmart, Target, Chili's, etc. People currently putting up with living next to train tracks (for the sake of being close to the party) move to the next party. The street will be lined with lots of establishments that attract a lot of people... but people who drive to the establishments (you don't bar-hop from a dentist office to Little Ceasars). It will be a decent neighborhood in an urban area... but there will be a lot of cars. It will be urban because it's in the city... but with suburban type retailers with lots of cars, very few parks, and will be hard to bike/walk around. It's going to be like a Pearland Town Center (or mini 1960) stretched out along a long road.

If Washington Avenue was never urban to begin with, since it has always been one long street, then neither Walmart, nor any of the developments built along it, have changed it whatsoever. You and s3mh have taken to blaming all of the development for suburbanizing Washington Avenue, when in fact you admit that it has always been what it is. What is even more strange is that you and s3mh are complaining of the effects of DENSIFICATION! If you do not like density, and it's resulting traffic, quit crying that we need more urban spaces! Washington Avenue is exactly what happens when a locale becomes more urban. More people live there, shop there, and visit there.

I have to say that I am amused at your claim to almost being run over on Washington, when you ended up in Midtown which has at least 4 major thoroughfare that can cause the same result.

I love density (that's why I moved to Midtown). I'm just saying Washington Avenue will only be able to handle so much before it pops like 1960 did and people will be sitting in a long line of cars down the street. I moved to Midtown because I believe Downtown/Midtown are better suited for handling density. Yes, we have major thoroughfares running through the neighborhood... but lights are timed, crosswalks have good signals, we have decent sidewalks, the streets are very wide and one way, streets are also in nicely connected grid instead of dumping onto one main street, and I can hop on the light rail instead of getting in my car. To me, it's night and day from when I lived on Washington.

I mean I guess at some point there will be (GASP!) more chains and things moving into centers, but it would take a hell of an apocalypse to change Washington Ave into something other than what anyone would describe as "urban" at this point.

To be clear, when I say 1960ish I don't mean exactly like 1960... I mean a scaled down version. In fact, I don't view Washington as very "urban". It already has a ton of small strip malls w/ parking lots fronting them. You can't really walk anywhere because everything is so spread out up and down the avenue (hence the reason for the "Wave"). Also, it is one main road (Washington) that everything branches from. When I lived along Washington... I had to drive everywhere, and the only place I could really walk to was the corner drug store. Even then, I was almost run over each time I crossed the road.

The FM 1960-ification is starting at Walmart and will proceed along the new feeder road on both sides of I-10. There are large chunks of land that will become prime targets for big boxes and strip centers on both sides of I-10 (where White Oak bayou isn't in the way). This FM-1960-ification will also proceed down the major thoroughfares. Studemont has a big tract by I-10 (just north of Arnies) that is going to be big boxed very soon.

I predicted this about a year or two ago on this site and was shouted down by several people (I think Niche and I got into it for awhile ). This Walmart development further proves my point. I moved away from Washington and into Midtown three years ago in order to avoid another FM 1960 setting (I grew up along 1960... so I recognized the signs along Washington). Three years since I moved, traffic is far worse along Washington, more shopping centers have sprung up, a Walmart is moving in (as well as other retailers not yet mentioned), and the entire avenue is stuffed with cars and crowds that the infrastructure will never be able to handle. I think in the next five years, you'll see more shopping centers spring up, some "fancy" restaurants will be replaced by more generic chain restaurants, traffic will get worse, and other retailers will move in while the "scene" moves elsewhere. I wouldn't be surprised if an American Eagle or something like that opened up as well. Some people will love the new look of the street, others will hate that the place is so suburban.

Is Pub's place going in on Louisiana next to Howl at the Moon and do you have any details about the place?

The owner of Pub Fiction brought renderings of the building to a Midtown Planning meeting awhile back. If plans haven't changed since then... the building is going to be awesome w/ a nice entrance on the corner w/ columns. It will be multi story (I think 2 or 3) with a roof bar thing w/ parking in the back. It will be built to the sidewalk (I think he's going to even widen the sidewalk some and add lighting) so it will fit in perfectly with the neighborhood.

I got wind of a new club coming to Midtown.

My Google alert recently sent me info about a new club opening next to Ruby Tequila's called Bar Munich. I think it's supposed to be more of a sports bar though.

I saw a new sign for a Magnicat House events center on the other side of the fire station from the White House. Could this be casting doubt on the success of a restaurant in this area? Hope not. I realize charities are good, but was hoping for something more supplemental to the town home community at that lot. Anyone have an update on the White House?

I noticed this too, but I think it will be good for the area. It looks like a nice office/admin building. They've owned the land forever, and considering they own almost every house on the street across from the White House already (used for housing even, not an office/admin), I don't see why it would have any impact on the project. They also own the most incredible old white house mansion one block down as well. Last I heard (when eating at Hearsay) is that the project is just slower because they are figuring out a way to do construction on the White House w/out tearing up the historical insides too much.