05 April 2005
The Bubba's charm endures
The Chronicle's David Kaplan has written a nice piece on Bubba's, the nearly famous Westpark buffalo burger shack/icehouse that now sits in the shadow of the Westpark Tollway.
Kaplan doesn't mention the crime issues that plagued the joint last summer.
Somehow, the place just endures. It's really amazing that it made it through the tollway construction intact.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 04/05/05 10:33 PM |
25 March 2005
Food and drink roundup (03-25-2005 edition)
Houston's food and drink reviewers get us ready for this Easter weekend.
Robb Walsh turns in a classic Walsh review, visiting Segari's on Shepherd (really!) this week.
Alison Cook visits Sugar Land's Cupcake Cafe, which she thinks would be right at home in Montrose.
Dai Huynh reviews Polonia, "Houston's hub of Polish cuisine."
Finally, Joey Guerra checks out Club Ice & Mantra Lounge.
Happy eating and drinking!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/25/05 11:27 PM |
Buying groceries online in Houston
While some notable dotcoms weren't able to make a go of online grocery shopping, there are still some internet options available to Houston grocery shoppers.
KTRK-13's Michael McGuff posts an interesting report on online grocery shopping here in town.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/25/05 12:01 AM |
21 March 2005
Houston gets world class DMN treatment
The Pegasus crew calls our attention to the weekend travel section of the Dallas Morning News, which featured a story on our own light rail train, a story on Houston museums and their architects, and a very exciting Pocket Guide to Houston by rail (pdf file).
One can just imagine Lee Brown filing a copy of this Dallas Morning News issue on the "World Class" shelf of the Endowed Dumpster.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/21/05 10:40 PM |
17 March 2005
Food and drink roundup (03-17-2005 edition)
Houston's food and drink writers go for variety this week.
Robb Walsh writes that Thai Sticks is serving "some of the best modern Asia fare in Montrose."
Alison Cook reviews the Sushi King in the Upper Kirby area.
Gracie Ochoa visits Paparruchos Bar Parrilla Mexicana in the Galleria area.
Last but not least, Ken Hoffman checks in with a review of the Baskin Robbins Bold Breezes dessert drink.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/17/05 10:24 PM |
Grant to fund beer can house rehab
The Associated Press reports that Houston's quirky "beer can house" will be getting some needed rehabilitation:
Beer-lover John Milkovisch attached the cans to his house over a 20-year period as an alternative to more traditional home repair. He also made beer-can fences and garlands to hang from his roof.
The home was becoming a nationally celebrated folk-art site when the Southern Pacific upholsterer died in 1988 at 75. Since then, it has suffered years of decline.
Now, a $125,000 grant from Houston Endowment grant to the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art will help restore the home.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/17/05 10:02 PM |
10 March 2005
Food and drink roundup (03-10-2005 edition)
There's no restaurant review from Alison Cook this week, but it's an otherwise informative week from Houston's food and drink reviewers.
Robb Walsh finally abandons the French obsession with a review of Himalaya Restaurant, and a feature on chef-inspired cocktail drinks.
Dai Huynh returns with her restaurant news after an absense of a few weeks.
Ken Hoffman checks out the version of Hooters chicken wings now available in the freezer section of some grocers.
And Gracie Ochoa visits the Mezzanine Lounge.
Happy eating and drinking this weekend!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/10/05 11:17 PM |
03 March 2005
Food and drink roundup (03-03-2005 edition)
Sadly, a recent obsession with French cuisine intensifies this week.
Robb Walsh's ongoing commentary on food and politics French continues with La Tour d'Argent as this week's vehicle.
Alison Cook at least pens an interesting review of the Derek Hotel's Bistro Moderne (commented on by Walsh last week), sticking to foodie-style comments. Imagine that from a food critic!
Cook also has a column on Houston's deluxe steakhouses that ran in the food rather than the dining section last week.
Ken Hoffman tries out KFC's Crispy Snacker sandwich.
And Joey Guerra checks out the 19th Hole Grill and Bar in the Woodlands.
That's all for this week. Happy eating and drinking!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/03/05 11:17 PM |
26 February 2005
Press tackles "evil Republican" developer
This week, the Houston Press passed up an opportunity to do some balanced, interesting journalism on the massive redevelopment going on inside the loop.
Instead, Josh Harkinson took the easy, predictable, boring approach:
Few businessmen provoke sharper differences of opinion among Houstonians than Bob Perry. The founder of Perry Homes is the largest private political donor to Republican causes in the nation. Writing checks from his modest home in Nassau Bay, he gives voice to conservative suburbia and inspires nightmares among the left-of-center politicos in the city's urban core.
And he's no less controversial within the camps of his own industry. University of Houston architecture professor Tom Diehl speaks for many in his profession when he describes the 72-year-old former schoolteacher as, simply, "the enemy."
Standing with Diehl in the lounge of the Gerald D. Hines School of Architecture, Celeste Williams giggles. A native of Manhattan who teaches courses on the history of design, she grapples for her own words to describe Perry's town houses. "I can't even call them plain vanilla," she says, "because I love vanilla so much."
Williams climbs into her blue Audi and drives through the Third Ward. The architect has agreed to tour several Perry developments and apply an informal "good neighbor test" -- a measure of how the town houses interact with their surroundings. She comes to a stop at Baldwin Park, where old oaks are hemmed in by a young wall of identical brick facades.
Walking out of the park and into the street, Williams catches simultaneous views of two sides of a new Perry town house. "It looks like two different buildings," she says. The bricks on the front of the house peter out halfway along the side, in favor of siding. Windows are scarce, and their sills don't line up with those fronting the park. It's a classic example of squandering a valuable corner lot: "If you're facing the corner, you have an incredible opportunity to gather both streets to you," she says as a car whizzes by, "and as you can see, that's pretty much lost."
The explanation for the disjointed corner house is simple: Perry has surrounded the park with tract homes. "They're just stamping and then they're just building," Williams says. "It has no site-sensitivity."
Part of what we like to do with this blog is offer some balance to the formulaic approach of this town's tired legacy media (yes, the days when the Press should be considered substantively alternative journalistically have long passed).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/26/05 03:39 PM |
25 February 2005
Food and drink roundup (02-25-2005 edition)
The output from Houston's food and drink reviewers was hit and miss this week.
Alison Cook visits Miguelito's, a small Venezuelan restaurant that seems to be quite a little find.
Robb Walsh plays political commentator and food critic, and his review of Bistro Moderne suffers as a result. Unfortunately, too many of Walsh's columns lately seem to reflect the general decline at the Press.
Ken Hoffman says Quaker Rice Cakes aren't as bad as they once were.
The best bet might be to use the things as coasters at Bluto's Sports Bar, reviewed by Gracie Ochoa.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/25/05 11:57 PM |
23 February 2005
Anti-Semitic crimes strike Houston
Various media outlets are reporting that Houston experienced a rash of anti-Semitic vandalism towards the end of last year, including the painting of swastikas on the large red balls along the artsy bridges that cross the Southwest Freeway near the Montrose/Rice/Museum areas (KPRC-2, KHOU-11, Houston Chronicle).
Anyone with information on the crimes is encouraged to contact Houston Crime Stoppers, 713-222-TIPS.
The Chronicle coverage points out the last reported incident took place on December 30. The blogHOUSTON crew can't recall much coverage of these ugly criminal acts when they took place. Here's hoping the coverage now will help put an end to them.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/23/05 05:06 PM |
18 February 2005
Food and drink roundup (02-18-2005 edition)
Heading into a three-day weekend for some, Houston's food and drink reviewers have several articles for your consideration.
Alison Cook finds the atmosphere at Smith and Wollensky to be impressive, but the food is another story:
[T]the food at our Houston branch — while it has its impressive peaks — can disappoint more than is seemly at these breathtaking prices.
Nearly a year ago, Robb Walsh had a similarly mixed review for the place.
This week, Walsh visits Bistro Calais, which Cook hit last week.
Dai Huynh posts her roundup of restaurant happenings, including the notable news that Felix, which many people contend has the best enchiladas in town, will remain open.
Ken Hoffman has the lowdown on the Red Robin Roast Burger, which he contends isn't a burger at all.
And Sara Cress checks out Reno's in Webster, apparently the bar for pool and karaoke along a desolate stretch of road.
Happy eating and drinking!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/18/05 05:53 PM |
17 February 2005
Things that make Houston great
Alex Whitlock has posted a list, "Ten Things I Believe Makes Houston Great."
What about it, folks? Agree? Disagree? Your own additions?
Feel free to add to Alex's comments and/or to discuss on our message board.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/17/05 10:48 AM |
15 February 2005
Will Onstead put the Randall back in Randalls?
The Chronicle's David Kaplan reports that rumors are swirling that Safeway, which purchased the Randalls grocery chain in 1999, is furiously trying to unload the stores following consistently declining performance.
Tom Kirkendall welcomes that bit of news:
Having the Onstead Family reacquire the Randall's chain would be a welcome relief to Safeway's mismanagement of the stores.
I couldn't agree more.
As a personal aside, I used to be a regular shopper at the Randalls on Shepherd in Montrose. It was once such a busy store that parking could get difficult. It hasn't been difficult for several years now. The place seems more like an abandoned warehouse than the old grocery store. Indeed, I skipped into the place on Monday to pick up some steaks to grill and roses for Valentine's Day. There was not even a line for roses. I made my selection, paid for it, and was out of there. While that was certainly convenient, I can't imagine Safeway can keep the place open much longer if the floral department is empty on one of the busiest days of the year.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/15/05 10:12 PM |
14 February 2005
KTRK jumps on HPD manpower shortages
Following the lead of the Chronicle, which buried the news in its Saturday edition, KTRK-13 devoted a news segment tonight to HPD's looming manpower shortage.
This isn't exactly a new issue, as we've been pounding on it about as long as we've been in existence, and other people have been discussing it somewhat longer, but good for KTRK for giving it some coverage in a week when Mayor White and his council are concentrating on banning smoking.
The coverage sort of blows away a recent contention of one self-styled media watcher that local media outlets bury stories broken by their competition all the time. If anything, they all fall over themselves to report the same news. Unfortunately, they're all a little late to this party, but we welcome them just the same.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/14/05 09:28 PM |
A new revenue stream possibility?
KHOU-11's Doug Miller reports that Mayor White and council will take up the apparently pressing issue of smoking in restaurants later this week.
Dermatologist-Councilwoman Gibbs has led the charge on this matter, calling for an outright ban.
We think Mayor White could reclaim this issue, and give it his signature touch. That's right -- why not turn it into a possibility for a new revenue stream?
Ban smoking outright for now. Allow restaurants that meet certain specifications to allow smoking in designated parts of their restaurants. Create a new "Smoking Establishment Permit" and accompanying bureaucracy for the thing! There you go -- a new revenue stream AND cleaner air!
Mayor White's thinking small on this one. In a city that has a sign inspector and that requires delivery trucks to pay for loading zone permits, surely our creative mayor can figure out a way to squeeze restaurants that would like to allow patrons to smoke.
Lest anyone think I'm serious, I don't support any such move. But would it shock anyone at this point?
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/14/05 09:12 PM |
10 February 2005
Food and drink roundup (02-10-2005 edition)
Houston's food and drink reviewers head off the beaten path a bit this week.
Robb Walsh likes Sabor for lunch and breakfast, but advises thinking twice about dinner.
Alison Cook visits French Bistro Calais.
Ken Hoffman says to ignore Jared and enjoy Subway's Chipotle Chicken & Bacon Double Cheese Melt.
Mona Shoup has reader recommendations for romantic restaurants, which is quite timely with Valentine's Day approaching.
And Gracie Ochoa reviews the Joia Lounge.
Happy eating and drinking everyone!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/10/05 11:27 PM |
08 February 2005
Homeland security or Lee Brown's consultancy at work?
One of the Houston Metrobloggers had an interesting experience downtown a few days ago:
I was downtown the other day when I spotted a little hidden-away park I had never seen. Being the opportunist, I circled the block - found an open parking meter - grabbed my camera - and headed to take some shots.
While waiting for the light to change so I could cross the street to the park, I decided to check the settings on my camera. I did this by taking a shot of a nearby building and then adjusting the settings. Well, I had just snapped my second picture and was changing the settings when a non-descript black SUV cut across three lanes of traffic and pulled in front of me. The tinted window slid down smoothly to reveal a man holding a badge in my direction asking, "Can I talk to you for a minute?" Well, with a pretty high pucker factor, I said, "Sure."
It sounds like the homeland security people are keeping an eye on things downtown.
Or, perhaps former Mayor Brown's consulting company has been contracted for covert, "neighborhood-oriented" bandit sign prevention.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/08/05 11:05 PM |
06 February 2005
Houston food and drink roundup (02-06-2005 edition)
Normally, this little roundup of weekly food and drink columns goes up on Thursday, but Thursday of course was when our hosting service decided to give us all sorts of problems, so here it is a few days late.
Robb Walsh visits upscale west Houston Indian restaurant Ashiana, which seems to miss more than it hits given the expense (my conclusion from Walsh's column, not his).
Alison Cook is high on her experiences at Thai Siam.
Ken Hoffman's got the scoop on the new Wendy's Fruit Cup.
Lance Scott Walker checks out downtown bar Clark's Recording Studio (yes, there is a recording studio, upstairs).
And finally, Griff's, a Montrose institution, grabs the #8 spot from Sports Illustrated in recent Super Bowl coverage highlighting their 25 Best Sports Bars in America.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/06/05 12:58 PM |
31 January 2005
Our MSM blogger can kick your MSM blogger's @#$%
Over the weekend, we called out Washington Post blogger Joel Achenbach for disrespecting Houston.
Today, the Chronicle's blogger Kyrie O'Connor storms into the middle of the fray:
Look, it's not my job to defend Houston. More to the point, I am defending open eyes. Your first editor at your first job should have explained to you how important it is to go into a situation with your senses poised and your mind alert. You can go in with a hypothesis, as my friend David Fink used to say, as long as you're willing to have your hypothesis overturned. I'm on the side of reporting, not on the side of Houston. You took the "easy figure" with your talk of Houston as an undifferentiated cell. It's just lazy, and if you worked for me, you'd be covering the sewer board meetings in the Virginia 'burbs for a while until you recalled why you got into this line of work in the first place -- to be the eyes and ears of the reader, not the spouter of preconceived notions.
Ouch! Bigtime brawl in MSM blogland! Round, O'Connor. Easily.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 01/31/05 08:51 PM |
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