Random

Aren't most of the blue lights actually energy saving LED lights?

‘University Line' rail project closes in on federal funding

Just got back from La Carafe. According to them, they are working with architects to find ways around the alley issue. Such a shame.

This is going to be a multi-tenant building, so there is a good possibility it will be

This may have been discussed, but as there ever been talk of doing express bus service 24/7 so people can go to a from major business centers any time of the day or night?

Looks like work is being done to repair the restaurant that sits atop the Hyatt downtown. Anyone know if it is actually going to reopen?

I know this seems like I'm going off topic quickly, but I wouldn't mind seeing a halt in new construction if it meant we would see some of the abandoned building downtown put to good use. I'm still shocked to see the Texaco building sitting vacant.

where are the others?

Per the attached article a new grocery store/cafe is opening downtown. Here's hoping they have a good business model. I'd hate to see it turn out like that grocery store that was at the bottom of Post Midtown. http://blogs.chron.com/primeproperty/2009/10/downtown_getting_grocer_1.html

Looking at the newer Savoy it's amazing to me the manner in which these buildings were abandoned. Electronic equipment, paperwork, etc, all left behind. It's as if they thought they'd be coming back or worse yet, they were trying to make a getaway.

I just saw a sign saying that an Aveda store was moving into one of the smaller spaces.

Construction cam does a good job.

I call bull. The only people using Wal-Mart to make a statement are people like yourself - either trying to prove you're above their corporate philosophy or trying to prove you're somehow better than those who can't afford to shop elsewhere.

I really hope you're joking, because, no, I don't see Wal-Mart customers doing that. I have yet to meet a wal mart customer who shops there because it makes some sort of statement about them and their values.

A truck for the following company was parked in the now vacant lot. http://www.proemdesign.com/knowledge-center/index.html

I once heard the president of UTB refer to the valley (in private) as the land of low expectations. But as far as McAllen and big city amenities goes, there is much more to do compared to Brownsville. Even something as basic as the Art Walk, or a small music scene is a vast improvement of what Brownsville has.

The Brownsville/McAllen question is a tossup. You could easily argue that the Brownsville area has more character, though you do miss out on some basic big city amenities, which McAllen has many more of. But it was a unique experience and I wouldn't trade it. But If the area really wants to take off, it needs to work on doing more to educate its population. This is one way in which McAllen is light years ahead of Brownsville. I think there are also cultural aspects holding Brownsville and the rest of the Valley back. It always struck me as though relocation or leaving home was discouraged. It's also not at all uncommon for a gainfully employed 25 year old to live at home. Many don't leave until they're married. Some stay at home afterwards.

In just about every city I've ever lived in, you come across those that don't "mesh" with the city. And that's fine - and that's to be expected. In fact, as much as I like Houston, I can understand how Houston more so than most cities would not agree with a lot of people. What I don't get are those that say, "If it wasn't for a job I wouldn't stay." Now, assuming those aren't just greedy assholes working a job for love of the greenback but rather to support their families, that ought to be one BIG plus for the city. And evidently by your decision to stay it would appear that would be the most important thing in your life. If it isn't, then leave. And not for my benefit, or the the benefit of the "love it or leave it crowd" but for yourself. Don't force yourself to be in a city where you are unhappy. If you can't find a job to support your lifestyle in a city of your choosing, then think about thanking Houston for what it has given you. I lived in Brownsville, TX for a number of years and would never move back. But during my time there I learned to appreciate what made the area special and shut up about the things I didn't like. Because let's be hoenst, it's just my opinion and those things I didn't "get" suit other people just fine. I mean, what made my opinion right and other people wrong? And arguing those points just made me look like a stubborn, uptight asshole. And BryanS - as far as retiring in Houston, I could easily see myself doing that for the reasons I state above. Big city living at affordable prices. Your "poor souls" and "world is so much bigger than this place" comments just reek of elitism. To me, a poor soul would be someone living in a place where they're unhappy just to make a buck. Those living in a place they enjoy strike me as being very fortunate.

Moved here with my wife after college. Neither of us are from the Houston area. Like most we came here for a job. We stay because we have yet to encounter another city that makes big city living as accessible as Houston does. We get the diversity, the arts, the restaurants, etc all at an affordable price. And this is quite honestly the most live and let live city I've ever lived in. Are there dumb rednecks? Sure? But it's pretty easy to avoid them if you try.

The comments on his blog were tame - not at all like the typical chron.com drivel. I consider myself somewhat conservative and chron.com commentors strike me as ignorant right wing reactionaries that border on racist.

Chron.com commentor might be the lowest form of human life.

The question that first needs to be answered is whether there is a need for this kind of studio. Filmmaking has become much more common in Austin for a variety of reasons, but pirmarily because of the high concentration of creative types with experience and skills necessary for filmmaking. For this idea to be successful it would have to be as an extension of the Austin film industry. If the established parties there see value in a large studio, then this could work. But I don't know how they view it.

Even when it was the bears, I knew it was the immigrants.

Is the sushi restaurant dead? I haven't seen any activity lately.

Studios will film anywhere that makes sense 1) within the context of the story and 2) where it makes financial sense to do so. I'm not saying this Astrodome plan is a guaranteed success - far from it. However, if Houston can find a way to work with the current film incentive money offered by the state and with the established film industry in Austin, then there is a chance this could be feasible. Film making is a business and no business every came to Houston for scenery, weather or history. They came to make money.