JW Marriott At 806 Main St. & Expansion Into Battlestein’s - 812 Main St.

[monarch]

i mean, i just don't know what else to say!

i'm talking true love.  complete, and utter devotion.

i am at a complete loss.  this is one of my favorite projects in this city, and each day, it becomes more enhanced.

once they place the JW MARRIOT atop the porte cochere, and light it up... i think that i shall lose it!

such a grand a beautiful edifice.  wonderful and perfect illustrations.

this is indeed a good day....

[Texasota]

This is a handsome building. I hope it ages well

 

Everything above the third floor is fake, so it probably won't.

 

I think I'd like this building a lot more if it weren't such a poor imitation of what it originally looked like.

I am looking forward to checking out the interior though.

[downtownian]

Main Kitchen soft opens this Wednesday (Sept 24)

http://blog.chron.com/foodchronicles/2014/09/main-kitchen-at-jw-marriott-downtown-to-open-sept-24/

 

CultureMap is having their 5th anniversary party at the hotel on October 10 - I really hope this hotel becomes the center of upscale events and galas in Houston. Would be great for downtown and Main Street. 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/culturemap-fifth-birthday-bash-tickets-12979503043

 

As this building nears completion, I become even more disappointed in Metro for not having a signature Main Street light rail station.

[monarch]

Main Kitchen soft opens this Wednesday (Sept 24)

http://blog.chron.com/foodchronicles/2014/09/main-kitchen-at-jw-marriott-downtown-to-open-sept-24/

 

CultureMap is having their 5th anniversary party at the hotel on October 10 - I really hope this hotel becomes the center of upscale events and galas in Houston. Would be great for downtown and Main Street. 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/culturemap-fifth-birthday-bash-tickets-12979503043

 

As this building nears completion, I become even more disappointed in Metro for not having a signature Main Street light rail station.

i absolutely concur!  as i have duly stated beforehand, this place shall indeed become the essential.

[mollusk]

I just wandered around over there.  All of the barrier tape is down in the tunnel level.  The tunnel connection from 801 Travis to the Main @ Walker Garage (and on to BG Place) is openish - the doors to the segment under or behind the old Battelstein's are closed, but not locked, and it still isn't finished out.

 

I came back via the sidewalk; for the record, I did not feel that the griffon wings were any hazard to my head (or any other body parts)... though granted, I am descended from peasant stock and therefore low to the ground.  Iss bedter for pickink potatoes.

[tigereye]

Took a tour with Andre ...hotel apparently opens at 3pm but is essentially open now.

This art piece faces Main and is their marquee piece, made in Germany, the only lighted 3D art piece in the Northern Hemisphere. Both spheres and bricks light up in patterns and will be viewable from the street.

The Monet meeting room (street level)

The Picasso Room (Tunnel Level)

[UtterlyUrban]

Hmmmmm

I think I need to book some dinner reservations......

[monarch]

please forgive me HAIF.  as per this constant barrage of the "keep calm" campaign.

for those of you that are not familiar with this particular campaign, it derived upon 1939 through the british government, as a motivational tool in preparation for the second world war.

i have been delighted to share this campaign's many poster variations, as a means to motivate as well as say thanks, to our many gracious vs generous HAIF stalwarts, that are hereby

constantly getting out in this massive houston heat, to showcase through their many illustrations, pic, photos, you name it... to keep us all abreast of it's ongoing progress.

 

as i have very often stated as per this particular thread, this JW MARRIOTT project is currently my number two best project directly behind the RIVER OAKS DISTRICT currently under construction.

my position as a government contractor, has hereby afforded me the opportunity to travel basically throughout this world.  therefore, i have had the foremost opportunity to lodge at some of the

most beautiful vs prominent hospitality edifices upon this planet.  HOTEL KEMPINSKI, DUBAI - ST. REGIS, BALI - THE ADDRESS HOTEL, DUBAI - HOTEL KEMPINSKI, QATAR - RITZ CARLTON, LONDON

just to name a very distinct few.  nonetheless, i am sure that you now get it HAIF, i have been there, and have definitely done that.

therefore, this is ultimately the reason that i was hereby so very excited about this particular hotel coming to downtown houston.  i was very reluctant to believe that

they would really add just what a true luxury JW MARRIOTT deserves.  you see, it's all about the attention to every minute detail.  a true and experienced "eye" just cannot be denied.

 

as the construction upon this hotel property commenced, i soon realized that this was for real.  they hereby took and old rancid, dilapidated office tower, and hereby

turned it into a showplace of pure unadulterated luxury.  HOTEL ZAZA is beautiful, ST. REGIS HOUSTON, is indeed very elegant, but this particular hotel, is all true glamour.

the likes, that houston may have never experienced.  please HAIF, let us now take a moment to recall that we are now in TEXAS.  now please focus upon those wonderful new 

illustrations provided for us via "tigereye".... do you see anything remotely folksy?  upon my view, each one of those illustrations could very easily be paris, london, new york, or dubai.

upon this particular project, money, obviously was no object.  the property owners are hereby very serious, and are leaving no stoned left unturned.  when i first read about the 13ft gryphon, with it's

wings protruding as per the building itself... i was simply stunned.  when i referenced the illustrations, i then new that i was hereby correct about this particular project.  

JW MARRIOTT downtown houston, shall become the new essential.  take a really good look at the art now being displayed as per the lobby... have we ever seen anything like this?

 

please trust me HAIF, upon a few month's from now, please look for the FOUR SEASONS DOWNTOWN HOUSTON, to announce a serious upgrade.  heck, if they aim to survive they will.

this particular property is now raising the luxury bar so very high... that all else, shall now feel obsolete.  look for hotel upgrades everywhere upon this vicinity.

real downtown houston luxury hospitality, has finally arrived HAIF.  i shall make no further apologies as per my excitement.  make your reservations, book your new suites,

arrive for dinner on time.  and most of all.... please, keep calm.

  

Edited September 25, 2014 by monarch

[Naviguessor]

Hu-hu. Monarch said "abreast".

[mollusk]

As per Bevis... 

[Howard Huge]

And we are open for business...

The valet parkers are outside, and the bellhops are waiting next to the luggage carts.

[cloud713]

Nice! Did they ever put the letters on the over hang?

[Howard Huge]

No, that's something I really noticed, is that there is no visible signage, people who don't browse haif, and people from out of town have absolutely no idea what this place is.

However, I think this is just some sort of "soft opening", with a clientele of invitee's.

[monarch]

Nice! Did they ever put the letters on the over hang?

judging from howard's illustration, no overhead porte cochere signage thus far.  not to mention, once that wonderful signage goes upward... there shall be no question.  according to the rendering, it is designed to "showcase" vibrantly.  whereby illuminating the immediate vicinity with light.  once it is up, we shall know without a doubt.  thank you howard, as per your wonderful illustration.  

[Howard Huge]

I particularly enjoy the classy sconces lining the sidewalks.

Very Gothic looking, very "Old NYC"

[Texasota]

The lighting works really well at night. The sconces are great.

 

The gryphon looks particularly strange at night though because you can see a huge gap between the part of the wing inside the building and the part outside.

[UtterlyUrban]

Walked by on our way home from a drink at Springbok last night. I asked if the hotel was open for business. a terrific young manager outside said, "Yes" and escorted me inside to help me book a dinner reservation.

I booked dinner there this weekend.... We will see how this talented chef team is doing out of the gate......

[Naviguessor]

Walked in and manager offered to escort us on a tour. Beautiful place. Didn't realize that it is not just the building that we've been watching and the small building just west of it but much of the building (Black Glass) to west of that. Much more than what I was expecting. Manager said that they but $90 million into the place. It shows.

[monarch]

has anyone propositioned the hotel's management regarding the time frame as per the completion of the front porte cochere?  the large JW MARRIOT lettering on top, official grand opening... anything related?  would like to get a time frame as per all related completion.  THANKS IN ADVANCE!  as per anyone, that stop's in to acquire answer to these queries.  as soon as i arrive back to houston, you had best believe that i shall be there to gather as much related information as possible.

[BigFootsSocks]

Monarch this is an unrelated question but do you talk irl like you do on haif? Please say yes...please say yes...

[Howard Huge]

Monarch this is an unrelated question but do you talk irl like you do on haif? Please say yes...please say yes...

I'm pretty sure he's foreign, but I too really really hope the answer is yes

[monarch]

Monarch this is an unrelated question but do you talk irl like you do on haif? Please say yes...please say yes...

love the query my pal bigfootssocks.  you may never believe just how often i get presented with this particular query.  however, i am no foreigner by a long shot.  born in lafayette, la,.  raised in beaumont, tx. moved to houston, 1983.  i am almost certain, that i acquired my current articulation, all the while working upper management projects, as per the USA military throughout the country of afghanistan for so many years.

 

gents, you may never believe just how military upper command can be so very aristocratic to some degree.  although, i have never, ever been a member of the USA military.... i have really loved working for them through KBR, HALLIBURTON, as well as with the FLUOR CORPORATION.  additionally, working, doing business, and vacationing abroad for so very long throughout these years... tends to steer me away from the charming and yet comforting articulation of southeast texas. 

[Avossos]

Main kitchen was good. The Menu was small but focused. Some really tasty stuff. I thought the lobby was well done. I think they still have some tweaks to make / adding some stuff.

Overall I was impressed.

[UtterlyUrban]

Main kitchen was good. The Menu was small but focused. Some really tasty stuff. I thought the lobby was well done. I think they still have some tweaks to make / adding some stuff.

Overall I was impressed.

Going there tonight.

Does it feel like you are sitting in the lobby eating or does it feel like a dining experience?

[Avossos]

Going there tonight.

Does it feel like you are sitting in the lobby eating or does it feel like a dining experience?

Depending on where your sitting... I think it's removed enough to feel like a dining experience. The lighting was maybe a little too bright however

[monarch]

Going there tonight.

Does it feel like you are sitting in the lobby eating or does it feel like a dining experience?

utterlyurban, hey pal.  may you please try and get in a few queries upon entering the hotel itself.  when are they going to complete the porte cochere and add in the lighted JW MARRIOTT lettering?  what is the official date of their grand opening?  are they currently experiencing their "soft opening" at this time?  you know, stuff like this that we are just dying to know.  thanks in advance!

[UtterlyUrban]

utterlyurban, hey pal. may you please try and get in a few queries upon entering the hotel itself. when are they going to complete the porte cochere and add in the lighted JW MARRIOTT lettering? what is the official date of their grand opening? are they currently experiencing their "soft opening" at this time? you know, stuff like this that we are just dying to know. thanks in advance!

I'm sorry, I just saw this now.....

I did not ask these questions but.....

The hotel is fully open now. According to terrific waitstaff, The rooms are open, the spa can be booked and the fitness center is open. Restaurant and bar are fully functioning. I was further told by waitstaff that last week, the bar was hopping as several local businesses had employees come over.

As for the restaurant itself, the atmosphere is only marginal.... i don't like the fact that it is part of the lobby bar/lounge. To me, that is a mistake. Lighting is hard: Casts deep shadows on your partner's face. TVs playing football over the bar are a distraction. Tables are close together. Window tables seat two but the actual table looks like a 24" round.... Too small, IMO for 2 plates. Big upholstered chairs flanking small table round. Fun to look at but likely Poor choice to dine at..... Fine for one person though.

However, the food was excellent. Inventive. Inspired. Really quite excellent and the service, given that we were the only diners in the place, was similarly terrific. Pricing was "high" but not outlandishly so. As expected. Certainly priced as expected.

My take away: EXCELLENT food and service but they are trying to do too much (lobby lounge, Bar, TVs for sports, dining, open kitchen) in too small/open of a space. I loved the food but, The Chefs deserve better space.

[Nate99]

Tons of folks in the restaurant at lunch today.

 

Here's a shot of the 801 Travis side of the tunnels:

 

[Nate99]

And looking toward the sairs to the lobby...

 

[monarch]

wonderful pics nate99.  marriott, shall probably need to proceed with a glossier / polishing detailing for their expensive flooring.  the flooring look's to dry already....