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Sorry guys, but I gotta respectfully disagree with you here. I thought On the Border was a great concept, the food was very innovative, not the same old cheese enchiladas/taco/queso puff plate stuff. I had eaten there several times and never thought the service lagged in any way. The servers were very knowledgeable, attentive and energetic. The decor was nice, the cleanliness seemed to be fine to me, I didn't do any kitchen tours. I thought the prices were very reasonable, and liked that anytime I went there, I seemed to see folks that I knew from the area. I liked the mojitas and the double-stacked quesadillas and especially liked the salsa verde. I heard that the reason they left was that they just couldn't make enough profits off the basically dinner-only crowd. Most restaurants need to have good lunch crowds as well as dinner crowds and this location was just too residential. I'll miss OTB, and guess I'll be heading back to my other local area favorite just down the road a bit. I understand that the former tenant was a Mexican restaurant and that the next tenant is projected to be also.

Texas Education Agency Here's a good website for you to use as a resource in your search for a "good" school. Picking a "good school" is more than just "demographics". It's a combination of many different things, some more important than others, and only you can decide where to put more weight on thing such as: 1. How far will I be living from where I will be working? 2. How much do I want to spend on a home? 3. What are the crime statistics for different areas? 4. What are the school ratings for different districts? 5. How far away are the services I will be needing, i.e. doctor, dentist, grocery stores, etc. I wish you luck in your search for that elusive "good school". One more thing you might want to look into is how much parent participation is at each school you're looking at. We have extremely high parent participation at all three of our schools, as do most of the schools in The Woodlands, which seems to help the schools a lot. I can't speak for other school districts as their levels of parent participation, but if you're visiting elementary schools, and you see a lot of parents there in the school; reading in the library, helping out in the workrooms, helping out in the classrooms, that's a good sign.

I remember reading about this "Vintage" project. Lynn Smith, now with the Friends of the Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve group, once led a group to protest the buying of this land from HP, and having it turned into more of the same type of projects out here. Her group wanted to preserve the land, not have it built upon. Nicely written PR article today about how it eventually turned out for her group. Almost makes Vince & Walter sounds like kind-hearted philanthropists just interested in helping out their communities, instead of what they really are.

Is Larry Lipton connected in any way to this proposed legislation?

Sent as a mass e-mail from Klein ISD today: On January 13, the Klein ISD Board of Trustees approved a revision of the timetable for construction of facilities that are a part of the $646.9 million bond package approved by voters in May, 2008. The revisions were presented to the board after careful consideration of the current economic conditions, enrollment actuals and projections, as well as the financial ramifications to the district related to modifying the current construction schedules. In consideration of the unknowns about student population growth which is lower than projected for 2008-2009, the bond rate, and declining property values, the KISD administration requested a delay of a year on the affected projects. The delay will affect the construction of High School #5, Blackshear Elementary School, an early childhood- pre-kindergarten campus, Elementary School #28, Intermediate School #10, and the Klein High School renovation. Among the projects that will be delayed, only High School #5 is under contract at this time with an architect and construction manager, but termination provisions exist in the construction manager's contract that can be executed without penalty to the district. Projects that will continue on schedule are as follows: Mueller Elementary School that will open for the 2009- 2010 school year, Ulrich Intermediate School scheduled for completion in the summer of 2010, the classroom additions to Klein Oak and Klein Collins, the south transportation center to be completed in the summer of 2009, the renovation of the Annex to be completed in 2011, the agriculture/staff development multipurpose building to be completed in 2010, and the addition to the Klein Instructional Center scheduled for completion in 2011.

So, you're saying that Azzarelli's did not pay their rent for three months and refused to work with the Marcel Group? What are the names of the other two concepts that failed?

I'm sure you're right. I just checked the Marcel, Inc. website and see that instead of a "Villagio" type project for The Woodlands, Marcel, Inc. went with a strip shopping center next to the Branch Crossing YMCA at Ashlane and Woodlands Parkway. Marcel Crossing II in The Woodlands In Austin, there's still a stoneyard that just received another load in two days ago. If the stoneyard is still operating, I don't see Villagio in Austin happening anytime soon, certainly not meeting their posted on the website groundbreaking for Spring 2008. Villagio at Austin Bman- Since you definitely seem to be "in the know", how many tenants have been locked out at the Villagio in Cinco Ranch? There is a rumor on the street is that Marcel, Inc. / Marcel Group / Marcel Development / TMG is going into foreclosure, not that the tenants of the Villagio in Cinco Ranch are going bankrupt. Which is it?

related story to Villagio Not looking good for Marcel, Inc., developer of Villagio. They locked out some of the tenants already in the Cinco Ranch Villagio. They never cleared land for either the Villagio in Austin or in The Woodlands.

story from the Houston Chronicle regarding fire at Sizzler About a week before it burned down, at least on the inside, you can't tell from the outside, Sizzler called it quits, supposedly never meeting their profit quotas, and just never "catching fire" with the dining out crowd in this area. I never went there, so I can't speak as to the quality of food, nor do I know anyone around here who ever went there to try them out. As to the surrounding restaurants in this immediate area, Chili's is always busy, Chik-fil-A always has a line of cars in the drive-through, Panda Express did well when it first opened and now is hardly ever busy, Taco Bell is another one that always has a line of cars at the drive-through, Shogun seems to doing well, Buffalo Wild Wings does very well, Quizno's is barely hanging on, Grazi's is hanging in there, Sonic's usually pretty busy, Wendy's has steady business, so does Starbucks while the Coffee Guy is long gone. Can't remember the name of the Mexican place near Kroger's, we always call it "The Hut", is decently priced, tasty and always busy. I look forward to Spring Creek BBQ, as I've heard good things about them.

Is it true that no Christian churches are allowed to be built within the city of Mecca? I don't know much about Muslims, Islam or Mecca for that matter, but I wonder what Aga Khan's response would be to the question I posed above. If Muslims build Islamic mosques, why no churches in Mecca, I wonder? Anyone here know?

story about global warming making lawyers rich Peter Roderick, director of the Climate Justice programme, said the most likely route for seeking damages would be tort cases, which deal with civil wrongs. Several have been attempted by US states against power and car companies only to be rejected by the courts. Roderick said developing countries such as Nepal could also sue for compensation over damage caused by global warming. "As the issue of damages gets worse and worse, the chances of this happening will get greater and greater," he said. "I hope it happens." Oh brother! You can almost hear the giddiness in Peter's voice, can't you? -sigh-

Ah, my old stompin' grounds! Parker Elementary, Johnston Junior High, and Westbury High. I wonder what these schools are like nowadays? Beautiful house though, flipper! I haven't seen tile done like that before in a shower with the big slab tiles, and I really liked it. Do you find that a pretty good number of homes in the Westbury area have foundation problems?

looks like the New York Times may not survive after all interesting website mapping all the lay-offs and the buy-outs in the newspaper industry

more about the restoration of 205 Bayland

I think it's drop-dead gorgeous! I wonder who their interior designer was? Does the Heights do a Christmas walking tour through some of these homes, and any chance that this one is on the list; I'd love to get a chance to walk around inside.

Thanks so much, TJ! I just called and spoke to Lisa. Here's what they have left to sell: Chocolate Coconut Lemon Banana Butter Pecan Strawberry Banana Pumpkin Chocolate Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Chocolate Strawberry Chocolate Cherry Apple Cinnamon Cherry Banana Orange Pineapple Blueberry Banana Georgia Peanut Butter All cream pies, all $14.00 each, all delivered to your door, what a deal! Now if I can just decide...

TJ- Do you have their number? I need to pick up some pies on my way into Austin tomorrow!

Skipping the big family get-together this year in Spring. Like Red, I also have five brothers and sisters, and we truly put the fun in dysfunctional when we all get together in one house! But, this year, my daughter is a freshman at U.T. and we will be driving up to see her, and to go watch the Longhorns beat up on the poor Aggies in DKR Stadium. That should be a fun day! On Saturday, my local favorites, the Klein Oak Panthers are entering the third round of high school football play-offs in the Division 2, 5A tournament against Lake Highlands at "The Palace" in Round Rock, another great day of football! I'll be praying for good driving weather and two wins this weekend for the Longhorns and the Panthers! Hope everyone here at the HAIF has a nice time too this weekend and everyone stays safe. Thanks, Editor, one more time, for this forum. You have provided an immeasurable service to the Houston area and for that, I am forever indebted to you.

Alison Cook dishes about H&H and Chocolata in The Woodlands

story from chron.com From the article:

Hubbell and Hudson kinda reminds me of Eatzi's in the Post Oak area. I hope it fares better than Eatzi's did. Also, when did Chocolata close down? Is that where Crush is going to go in?

Yes! That IS good news, ENGcons! Keep us informed as to what the board decides to do, please!

play-off brackets by Texas Prep Insider The brackets are now set! Let the Texas high school football play-offs begin! My home team, the Klein Oak Panthers, will be taking on Oak Ridge high school at "The Bank", Friday night @ 7:30 p.m. OAK 'EM!! This season, we've had someone with the Klein Oak football program putting together some Video Highlights that are really very well done, and if you get a minute, check them out on the left-hand side of the Klein Oak football website. Anyone else on HAIF attending any of the play-off games next weekend?

Loved this statement! Thanks, Editor!

Highway department to discuss changes to F-2 segment Nov. 4, 2008, 10:46AM The Texas Department of Transportation will discuss minor design modifications to the Grand Parkway during an open house meeting 6-8 p.m. Nov. 12 at Klein Oak High School, 22603 Northcrest Drive. The modifications involve a 2-mile stretch between Kuykendahl Road and FM 2920 near the subdivisions of Willow Trace and Lakes of Avalon Village. For details, call 713-802-5072.