Category Archives: houston

La Strada, Rain, Frog

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Had Sunday brunch at La Strada with friends. I haven’t been there since it burned and was rebuilt. We were on the patio upstairs and the weather was quite nice for a July 1st. We then went to Under the Volcano, the Gingerman, and Onion Creek, making a full day of it. And like most days in the past month, we saw more rain before it was over.

As we got out of the car and walked across the sidewalk there was a fat toad in the puddles. “Look, a toad,” I said, pointing. Then noticing, “and a worm right there, too.” At that moment there was a convulsion, the toad’s mouth opened, it’s tongue snapped forth, the worm disappeared instantly. Then a few more lurches as he got it into his stomach. Mmmm, dinner.

Touring the Resale Shops of Houston

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After the Battleground roller derby event last Sunday, TG decided I needed a “derby shirt”. One Wednesday we decided to hit some of the resale shops ITL to find a good starting point. It ended up being a tour of many stores we (mostly) hadn’t been to.

Many resale shops in Houston are run by volunteers for charities. As such, they’re only open when the volunteers are available, which seems to be 10am – 3pm. So, many of these stores you need to hit mid-day. We visited eight resale shops:

  1. Blue Bird Circle Resale Shop, 615 W. Alabama, 77006 – they had some furniture items that we liked but didn’t spend on, and I bought several hundred Magic the Gathering cards for $1, no shirts jumped off the shelves at us. Continue reading →

Europeans Like Houston’s Look

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I was twice riding my bicycle downtown in the past two weeks to experience several blocks of downtown closed to traffic. It was obvious it was a movie or TV shoot. I had an agenda, so I didn’t linger to find out.

photo Steve Campbell:Houston ChronicleI was almost right; it was a TV commercial shoot. For German cell phones.

There was an article about some of the reasons that Europeans and Asian like doing photo shoots in Houston. One of the reason was many reflective buildings that do a very good job of lighting automobiles.

So, apparently the Europeans like the “look” of Houston. They may not know it, but their marketeers do.

The whole story is worth reading:

Lights, Camera, Houston!

Producers of commercials say architecture is photogenic

By TINA MARIE MACIAS
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
June 4, 2007, 10:01AM

Around lunch hour, strolling down Travis Street, it’s fairly normal to see pedestrians slowing traffic as they cross the street, talk on their cell phones and move at a bovine pace.

But recently it was a little slower than usual at Travis and Rusk. Maybe it was the variation of He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands blasting on the corner. Or the screens covering the sidewalk, or the large video camera blocking pedestrians’ stride. Something strange was happening. Continue reading →

Rail Line Treasure Hunt

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2007 Scavenger HuntThe TMi page of the Star section of the Chron printed a 10 picture and clue scavenger hunt on Wednesday, all of which is along the light rail line. Of course I helped host, with Andrea Greer and Allen Hill, a scavenger hunt in January. The ending location and the cover of the CD which accompanied the hunt is one of the photos in the Chron’s hunt.

I have the time, I may play this one for the fun of it. I think I know 4 of them already.

Art Car Weekend 2007

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dancing queenArt Car weekend is always a great time, and there was no exception this year – the 20th Anniversary year. It started for me at the Art Car Ball which had moved to the Son’s of Hermann Hall on Heights/Yale. There was an “outlaw” ball this year at the Meridian, location of the ball the last few years. I suspect it was because planning had already begun on the Meridian’s part by the time the move was contemplated by the local artists.

There was a bit of rain (which is to say a massive torrential downpour replete with hail) that washed some of the attendees inside and definitely kept down numbers. It was still quite fun, though, and I met some people I didn’t previously know.

stripingFriday morning came early as I met with Big AL to drive one of his two cars in the Main Street Drag. This is a truly fun event that begins early in the morning at the zoo, as cars are divided up into packs of about 10 each and go on different routes visiting schools and hospitals. Two motorcycle police escort each team through town to keep the pack together.

Friday evening the symposium and all around gathering was held at the Art Car Museum with half of Heights Boulevard being blocked off. Several bands play outside. There’s some talks given inside. Some nice fire from cars which is not allowed in the parade. (Mark Bradford was driving/walking his cars around the citgo parking lot belching flames.) Continue reading →

Art Car Weekend

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George Clinton - Grand MarshallHere’s how the schedule goes, add what you will to your list:

Thursday 7-midnight, Art Car Ball, $15, Sons of Hermann, cheap beer, bring a flask (they sell “set ups” – which of course you don’t need *wink*) (flyer pdf) You don’t need to go to the “outlaw ball” at the Meridian, this is the one to be at!

Friday, 6-9pm, Shop Talk, Art Car Museum, free, The Art Guys lead the “symposium” which will be pure fun. Heights Blvd. will be closed, you’ll have to park and walk. There will be hats with fireworks in them.

Saturday, 10am-1pm, free, Art Car Tailgaiter, preview the art cars lining up on Allen Parkway. This is the best way to check out the cars and meet the artists.

Saturday, 1pm-3pm, free, Art Car Parade. It’s a must! Wear your walking shoe. Bring hydration – beer preferred. If you only do one thing, this is it. 100,o00+ other people will be there, too.

Saturday, 3pm-7pm, After Party, free, Last Concert Cafe. Very likely fun. (flyer pdf)

Sunday, 11am-3pm, free, Art Car Brunch and Awards Ceremony, Orange Show. Prove your hard core art car fan and come out and see how the judging went.