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txtiger

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  1. txtiger
    I bumped my own photos by a follow-up post... See the bottom of page 6 for a bunch of current renderings of the Zoo's new, consolidated Office building, the upcoming Jack's Cafe and Event space, and the forthcoming 'Birds of the World' exhibit (post-'Galapagos' exhibit). The Zoo was not all that spectacular until the opening of the African Forest exhibit, around 2015. That particular development of property was the most initially monumental, and really kicked things off. Improvements to the Elephant yards, the Bug House came after that, and now these additional big, themed experiences. Just for fun, see here the original promo for that, from years ago:
  2. txtiger
    ^'Jack's Cafe' will break ground once 'Galapagos Islands' opens (so the sea lions can move). 'Birds of the World' seems like it will be comprised of three aviaries, and will also follow the opening of 'Galapagos Islands.' Per the bit of site plan visible above, BOTW will be sandwiched between 'Galapagos' and 'South America's Pantanal.'
  3. txtiger
    Attended a Continuing Education presentation/walking tour at the Zoo yesterday evening (12/30) - Some images re: the forthcoming exhibits and substantial office building, here:
  4. txtiger
    To editorialize a little bit: Damages to the tune of $800,000 for the amount of work listed in the above legal doc seems way low for the scope. Programming and budget issues clearly seem to've really plagued this development. Strange to've settled on a "Wizard of Oz" theme, stirred in with Pirates and a train ride... All after the promising original vision of a Downtown Disney-style attraction. See again: A cohesive Wizard of Oz-themed attraction could've been achieved to the tune of something like $500,000, through an entity like LSI: Watkins Regional Park | Wizard of Oz Themed Playground (playlsi.com)
  5. txtiger
    General updates on the seemingly-dormant amusement park site, south of Tanger Outlets: Article: Adventure Pointe Theme Park owners claim contractor failed to complete project | Southeast Texas Record (setexasrecord.com) Legal doc: documentfragment_14703725.pdf This overview on YouTube is already 2-years-old...:
  6. txtiger
    This site in development by NewQuest is much needed south Harris Co. and Pearland residents: Pearland_Development.pdf (newquest.com) This July '22 article from Chron is also interesting: Pearland ponders $53 million sports facility (houstonchronicle.com)
  7. txtiger
    I live right there in City Oaks, and have followed these sites a good bit. Components of The Market at City Park are slooooowly materializing: City-Park-Brochure_02.pdf (read-king.com) An AutoZone is just now going vertically, and a Starbucks is planned for the east side of 288, north of W. Orem - Bid Documents available at Higbie Plans : www.higbieplans.com This link to a loopnet.com listing has another general overview: PowerPoint Presentation (loopnet.com)
  8. txtiger
    Welch Hall of Chemistry progress @ RootLab: rootlab: HMNS Matter & Motion Chemistry Hall (Overview)
  9. txtiger
    The renovated John P. McGovern Hall of the Americas ('We the Peoples, Here and Now') opens to the general public on September 24: John P. McGovern Hall of The Americas | Houston Museum Of Natural Science (hmns.org) The new Welch Hall of Chemistry (to flank the Foucault Pendulum at Ground Level) is also now slated to open next Summer: Welch Hall of Chemistry | Houston Museum Of Natural Science (hmns.org)
  10. txtiger
    Oh, wow - Based on the ramps and stairs in the rendering, looks like this is the structure which will take the place of the current sea lion pool. Should tie in decently w/ the similar aesthetic of the canopy introduced as part of the renovated front entrance...
  11. txtiger
    Houston Zoo Galapagos Exhibit, Houston Zoo - American Sealants. Inc (amsealinc.com)
  12. txtiger
    I experienced Meow Wolf's Santa Fe location in late 2019, and the Las Vegas location summer of last year. Very cool, and noticeably steps-up from our own Seismique (though I enjoyed Seismique as well). My husband and I got as far as "overthrowing" the front-of-house at Omega Mart, before heading out to see other attractions, but probably had a few hours of effort ahead of us to get to the bottom of the whole thing.
  13. txtiger
    The 2020 'Theme and Museum Index' report from AECOM is now available. HMNS retains it's no. 11 spot amongst US-wide museum attendance (albeit simply because previous rankings from 2019 are held, due to the pandemic). Interesting, and not surprising, to see the attendance drops. The .pdf of the report, here: TEA_408_342874_210923.pdf (teaconnect.org) (Local waterparks also hold at nos. 9, 14, and 15 across those in the States.)
  14. txtiger
    This exact roller coaster attraction, on display at IAAPA's 2021 Expo in Orlando, is to be called 'Rolling Thunder' at Big Rivers Waterpark and Adventures' upcoming 'Fairgrounds' expansion: After the expo, this will be broken-down and shipped to New Caney.
  15. txtiger
    Some Galapagos Islands exhibit progress - per views available to visitors - as of 11/15/21:
  16. txtiger
    I still think the last street section of Avenida should be demoed, and the whole, extended block be developed into something like St. Louis' Union Station: https://www.stlouisunionstation.com/explore A monumental observation wheel like that in Munich could be centered on the Avenida, but w/ the long part of the wheel footprint oriented due-north. Surround the wheel w/ family-friendly diversions, including something like a Legoland Discovery Center. This would give Houston the 3rd-largest observation wheel in the States, after those in Las Vegas and Orlando, and a collection of family-friendly attractions beyond Downtown Aquarium.
  17. txtiger
    Per the Online Visitor Guide, looks like the Hall of the Americas exhibit is closed all the way until September of next year (2022) - Online_Visitor_Guide.pdf (hmns.org) Also, a neat overview/walkthrough of the forthcoming Welch Hall: Matter & Motion: https://vimeo.com/448644590
  18. txtiger
    I mean...:
  19. txtiger
    Hate to gripe about anything, but who approved this play equipment...: https://www.chron.com/houston/article/Discovery-Green-renovated-playground-16047416.php?IPID=Chron-HP-CP-Spotlight ...when these equip aesthetics exist: https://www.playlsi.com/en/commercial-playground-equipment/playgrounds/pioneer-park/#playgroundstory https://www.playlsi.com/en/commercial-playground-equipment/playgrounds/signal-butte-park/ (DG's new play features have a terrible color palate for the location, and the equipment is way too standard-fare.)
  20. txtiger
    Would be very cool if this is what’s slated for the lot...: https://www.usthrillrides.com/gallery?pgid=jg23t492-ddf3c54d-556a-4bf5-a312-1a609afa5d12 but, alas... likely not.
  21. txtiger
    While the Green's new playground equipment is certainly fine-and-good, I kinda wish more modern and/or imposing equipment had been installed. Something like the new 'Hedra Tower' system from LSI, Inc. would've been cool: https://www.playlsi.com/en/commercial-playground-equipment/playgrounds/signal-butte-park/ ...or an overall plan similar to LSI's/Mesa, AZ's Pioneer Park: https://www.playlsi.com/en/commercial-playground-equipment/playgrounds/pioneer-park/#playgroundstory
  22. txtiger
    Flagship retail would certainly be great... I'd still love to see a City Target put in, right along the curved edge of Discovery Green: https://www.bostonherald.com/2015/07/21/opening-day-is-right-on-target/ Back over on Dallas St.: A monumental Lego Store, w/ a Legoland Discovery Center (on the 2nd level of mixed-use, would stretch above other ground-level retail). https://dallasfw.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/whats-inside/a-visit-to-the-ultimate-indoor-lego-playground/ An M&Ms store: https://www.mms.com/en-us/experience-mms/mms-world-stores And maybe even a Crayola Experience (maybe the 2nd level of mixed-use on the other development block): https://www.crayolaexperience.com/plano _____ Other urban diversion centers: Chicago - https://navypier.org/ St. Louis - https://www.stlouisunionstation.com/ Seattle - https://visitseattle.org/neighborhoods/waterfront/ San Francisco - https://www.pier39.com/ San Antonio - http://www.shoprivercenter.com/shops/?genre=fun ^Loaded with observation wheels, flying theaters, Lego experiences, aquariums, mirror mazes, miniature golf, etc... _____
  23. txtiger
    If I were Skanska, I'd try to bring back some of the spirit of the originally-proposed Nau Center for Texas Cultural Heritage, and get some tourism-related attractions in, there along the edge of Discovery Green: I'd put in a heavily-Texas-themed Flying Theater: https://www.super78.com/flying-theaters http://dynamicattractions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Dynamic-Flying-Theater.pdf (See also Seattle's "Wings Over Washington:" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaMiqp3Y9kc ) And a put in a large/exploratory, adventure Mirror Maze, showcasing Houston's history: http://mirrormazesint.com/mirror-mazes-international-floor-plans/#infinit1200 (or even better, something more largely experiential like "Nat Geo's Encounter: Ocean Odyssey" in NYC: https://natgeoencounter.com/experience )
  24. txtiger
    Loads of info. in the following Dropbox links, as provided on a Grand Texas Development .pdf, which I found on LinkedIn: Grand Texas - General https://www.dropbox.com/sh/09mhlgabeuu0k7s/AAD4VgIO3aQXlWFL0BgaH59Na?dl=0 Big Rivers Waterpark https://www.dropbox.com/sh/eyomug9a1ry189r/AAASUo5qhCFvGny6HS7lv957a?dl=0 Grove Factory Outlets https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4ol0latnncd3he6/AAC-_Cebt8CXPM1Dn69zpD7ua?dl=0 Grand Texas Theme Park Development https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2m1uf5ii4snalpy/AAABLPQ1j1qsGBX5MDZcRsFHa?dl=0
  25. txtiger
    I'd still kill for a destination observation experience of some kind downtown, and something with real kinetics would be the kicker. I'd demo Avenida de las Americas between Capitol and Texas (at the old, proposed Nau Center lot), and center a tower or wheel attraction on the pedestrian Avenida. Dopey me would group it with a flying theater attraction ( a la "Wings over Washington": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTVVuin0VTw&list=PLZ4DzRrHWnmIzJZvn4MEUY2myD9LzMNwO&index=4 ), and a large, adventure mirror maze showcasing Houston history ( http://mirrormazesint.com/ ). I'd otherwise love for Houston to get the first SkySpire: http://www.usthrillrides.com/products/skyspire/. (or, via ThrillCorp, whose Thrillocity is intriguing: http://www.thrillcorp.com/products/ ) Years back, a sorta-French Quarter-themed one was proposed for New Orleans: https://www.cladglobal.com/CLADnews/architecture-design/Skyspire-and-Conrad-Hotel-touted-for-New-Orleans-World-Trade-Center-redevelopment/314620?source=grid And not surprisingly, a developer has been trying to get a "Skyplex" going in Orlando: https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2017/12/14/skyplex-developer-look-to-2018-for-lots-of.html .
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