brunsonpark08

Does anyone know of a pizza place near the loop that has red, white and black checkered pizza boxes? A weird request I know. Thanks

I’m thinking studio movie grill or a boutique Cinemark like the woodlands market street. A six screen or so playing a mix of hits and art house. Praying to the heavens it’s an Alamo Drafthouse.

Toys r Us is opening two concept stores this fall. One at the Galleria and the other at a mall in New Jersey. Why do you think they chose Houston? Does anyone know in which wing the store will open? I hope it succeeds but I have doubts. 

For as long as I can remember Williams Brothers Construction has been around ripping up Houston. What is their story? I would assume construction projects in the city would constantly go up for bid. However that WB logo is commonplace and it seems so for decades. Are they very good or is it like the mafia and the mayor might end up with a horse head in his bed?

The Alamo Drafthouse in Katy at Lacenterra is screening Brewster Mccloud on Tuesday 3/5 at 7:30. Seats available 

What’s the status of the river oaks theatre? I kind of remember that socialite lady having a rally to save it when weingarden wanted it closed. I know money talks and sadly everything has a price. I wouldn’t be surprised to see landmark try to sell it. They chose not to renew the lease of the awesome greenway 3. I was there the last night and snagged some signage. With Netflix and amazon buying indies, it makes  me worried about how much time it has left.

How is the audience at ipic and does the experience justify the cost? In my opinion, I think regal has done a good job with the marque and greenway. They have added a rumble seat auditorium and curved screen one called screen x if you are into that.  The customer service has been great.  It’s a shame about Sundance. Studio 30 is a mess

Forgot to add, parking is $4 now for the greenway garage.

I visited the regal marque two Saturdays ago in the evening around 8 and it was empty.  I went to the regal greenway on Saturday evening and the same story, empty.  I think both regal theaters do a good job with upkeep. Someone told me the drafthouse will not open itl because it would be difficult to turn a profit. Has it always been a struggle for inside the loop theaters? Thanks

Travis Scott titled his new album "Astroworld".  Has anyone given it a listen? If so, could you spill the references? I see where he was raised in Missouri City and his father in law is Caitlyn Jenner.

Visit report. I found myself in the area on Wednesday and thought I would stop by the greenspoint mall for nostalgia (42 years young this week I think). Like others, I was a frequent visitor to this mall in its prime and witnessed its sad decline. I arrived around noon and there was nothing going on. Shady jewelry stores (why would anyone want gold teeth), mom and pop clothing stores (one was called boujee, which made me laugh), a clearance palis royal, champs, foot locker, and a school uniform store that seemed to be getting the most business. There was only a roman delight pizza, Chinese restaurant, and a thirstys for nourishment. The retro video game store was neat but everything was ebay prices if you know what I mean. There was a toy store that sold knock offs and marked up legit items. The visible changes by the food court is now a barber shop. African imports is a cool store. I just glanced over at the movie theatre. Man, how I wish those old school general cinemas were around. Loved them. The interior of the mall is in bad shape. I found myself tripping over broken floor tiles on a few occasions. The stores seemed to not be getting decent air flow. They were warm to say the least.  The landscaping and parking lot are just not maintained. I basically spent an hour walking around and remembering where former stores and restaurants were located. Now for the question portion of the post:

1. Someone earlier recalled the chick fil a being two stories as do I. Anyone ever witness this design in a 70s era mall before?

2. I heard the food court was the last to fall once all the businesses in the area left? Is this true?

3. Why will the owner of the mall not offer dirt cheap rent, to say the gap or old navy, so they are at least guaranteed to make a profit and fill vacant space? I think gangsters enjoy khakis.  The owner would need to fix up the mall of course and provide security.

4. Wasn't there an announcement last year that the mall would be closed and all tenants evicted? I'm guessing this does not happen for legal reasons.

Is this the village theatre in question at 1:33

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LSVHpX1CDN8

I just finished reading "Evel" a biography by Leigh Montville and I highly recommend giving it a go. Does anyone have any memories of Evel's jump in the Dome?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRvIIus3rcs

Opens today at the River Oaks Theatre.

Wiki summary on Puncture:

Based on a true story, Mike Weiss (Chris Evans) is a young Houston lawyer and a drug addict. Paul Danziger (co-director Mark Kassen), is his longtime friend and straight-laced law partner. Their personal injury law firm is getting by, but things really get interesting when they decide to take on a case involving Vicky (Vinessa Shaw), a local ER nurse, who is pricked by a contaminated needle. As Weiss and Danziger dig deeper into the case, a health care and pharmaceutical conspiracy teeters on exposure and heavyweight attorneys move in on the defense. Out of their league but invested in their own gain, the mounting pressure of the case pushes the two underdog lawyers and their business to the breaking point

I think Numbers closing, come on we all know it is closing, is due on part to how the music industry sees Houston. Booking agents are skipping Houston and scheduling acts in San Antonio and Austin instead. Numbers needs live shows to survive and it is just not happening. The alternative rock/punk scene is in a state of flux as well. I am sure a wine bar or sushi hut will replace Houston music history.

That was my point about the Galleria. People flock to that place more than anywhere else in Houston. It is also filled with international shoppers and tourist. A 6 screen theatre would be perfect because you can have 1 screen for blockbusters to bring in the casual filmgoer and then devote the other 5 to indie films. Downtown just does not work as a destination spot. I am shocked the Aquarium has survived this long. My wife and I were at the House of Blues last Saturday for lunch and it was just us and another couple. Books a Million was dead.

How was attendance at the Plitt theaters (the one on West Gray where Marshall's is now and the one on Augusta)? I would support the Alamo Drafthouse moving inside the loop as most of their special programming takes place on weeknights. What about that spot of land on Westheimer where the AD Players have promised to build a new theatre for about 5 years now? Has anyone heard of Gold Class Cinemas? They are an upscale version of the Drafthouse with locations in Austin and Dallas.

http://www.goldclasscinemas.com/

I honestly feel the only place where an art house would work in Houston is in the Galleria mall. I heard the General Cinema there thrived for years. I think there is enough distance between the Edwards Greenway and it would not even matter if they are playing exclusive titles. A six screen theatre would be perfect in the Galleria wing where Fox Sports Grill once stood. Show one blockbuster on a screen to bring in traffic and devote the other to indie/foreign offerings. I am not an architect so I do not know if this would even be possible. I think the Angelika brass is just blowing smoke saying they are looking for other locations and I doubt another theatre will move into Bayou Place.

The clock is now ticking on the River Oaks Theatre. Mark my words, Weingarden will find some loophole and the River Oaks will be shut down in the dead of night. This just blows big time. I would probably see a film at the Angelika maybe ever other weekend. I appreciated their committment to independent/foreign offerings as well as the occasional Hollywood blockbuster. It was so awesome to go see a film and not be surrounded by teenagers and texters. Why do you have to turn on your cell phone during a movie? I knew the Angelika was in trouble (a/c problems, worn out facilities, restaurant) but I did not expect this to happen so soon. I hope the AMC 30, Edwards Greenway, and Marquee will pick up some of the films that are now in limbo. The MFAH's programing has become a joke. It just angers me how it is better to tear down a place that to keep it going. Astroworld is now a vacant lot and the Greenway 3 is covered by plywood. I cannot see a foreign film in this town but there is a wine bar/hipster restaurant popping up on every corner.

I seem to recall hearing about a dance club in the mid to late 80's called Dexters. They ran ads on 104 KRBE. I do not know why I thought of this today. Can anyone provide information/memories?

I drove by there last Saturday around 9am (world cup?) and there were quite a few women standing around in cocktail dresses and high heels.

I have just finished reading "The Bad Guys Won" by Jeff Pearlman about the 1986 New York Mets. There is a chapter devoted to the incident at Cooter's where 4 Met players were arrested. The Met players claim they were beaten and harassed by the Houston Police. They were celebrating due to 1 of the 4 becomming a new dad. Police say the 4 players were drunk, loud, and refused to leave. Cooter's let all athletes/celebrities drink for free and was known to be hangout for hootchies looking to snag a meal ticket. The Mets stayed at the Westin Galleria, so I am assuming Cooter's was near by. The book states the bar closed in 1991. Cooters began selling shirts stating (Houston Police 4, Mets 0) If this already has a tread, I apologize. I just wanted to know more about Cooters.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_v20/ai_4570990/

I truly miss the Greenspoint Mall. It was the best up until the early 90s. Premier Cinemas has a history of setting up theatres in ghetto areas (Baytown and Sharpstown). I am sure this is an untapped market who frequent the movies. However, will they serve bullet proof vests at the concessions or glasses that will let you see the screen from the audience texting on their cell phones? Manners are just totally absent when it comes to movie going. If it is not the youth with their cell phones, it's the elderly as they narriate what is happening on the screen.

A student at SSQQ informed me the studio is either moving from their current location in Bellaire or opening a second studio in the Heights. The proposed location is next to Restaurant Depot where the old KMART rested at 1431 West 20th Street.

The Edwards Theatre in Greenway Plaza is now charging $10.25 per adult ticket. This is a .75 increase. They also increased the price of concessions. Personally, I have no problem with the increase if it somehow funds a way to disable cell phone use in the theaters. The River Oaks still charges $9 a ticket and they have exclusive titles.

The Houston Press is reporting the Laff Stop is now closed. The Laff Stop was the premire comedy club in Houston, which used to be located on West Gray and moved to Waugh a few years ago. I had the fortune of catching Mitch Hedberg there a few times.

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2009/12/laff_stop_houston_closed.php#more