09 December 2004
Planned River Oaks high rise irks some residents
The Brazosport News is up and running again after proprietor "Banjo Jones" left the Lone Star State for a time.
Today, the News reports that some River Oaks residents are none too pleased about a new, 37-story high-rise development that will overlook the ritzy neighborhood.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 12/09/04 11:39 PM |
Food and drink roundup (12-09-2004 edition)
Houston's food and drink writers seem to have had an off week this time around.
Alison Cook heads out of town again, this time "just northwest of Sealy," to review Carol's at Cat Spring. It seems like the Houston Chronicle's food reviewer sure doesn't spend much time reviewing Houston restaurants.
But who needs to hear about Houston restaurants, when there are lemons and hot dogs in town. Dai Huynh gives us the scoop on Meyer lemon time, and also visits The Hot Dog Stand.
Lance Scott Walker reports on the dance scene at the Gatsby Social Club in the Village.
Last (and certainly least), Robb Walsh pans the Wolfgang Puck Express in west Houston.
This is the rare occasion that Walsh stumbles badly. Had he bothered to contact the fine folks at the Express, he might have gotten a little help with his facts -- and then he might have known that Puck has been to his Houston restaurant twice (not once as asserted), that he really likes Houston, and that he's taken quite an interest indeed in the Express concept (the concept being, producing relatively cheap, high quality food in an express setting with actual chefs who perform live, in an open kitchen).
Apparently, the Chef Boyardee comparison was much too good to let the facts intrude. It's a strange comparison, though, given the degree to which Walsh gushed just last week over Cafe Annie's Robert Del Grande -- the same Robert Del Grande who oversees Cafe Express. So if Wolfgang Puck is Chef Boyardee because Puck's Express isn't Spago, then what to say about Robert Del Grande in light of the fact that the underwhelming Cafe Express isn't exactly Cafe Annie? In Walsh's case, he gushes.
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the information above comes courtesy of Ken Linehan, executive chef at the Express in west Houston and hubby of one Anne Linehan, who's certainly familiar to readers here. But it's information that all sorts of media types in town have been able to get through either Linehan or the restaurant's publicity people simply by asking. Except Robb Walsh, who didn't bother.
Even the great ones occasionally stumble, and we still love the big guy. But this was an uncharacteristically weak effort. Indeed, it seems to have been an off week for all the reviewers.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 12/09/04 11:27 PM |
08 December 2004
KTRK picks up sleeping Metro cop story
It's an interesting case of citizen activism and the internet driving the news.
Who knows, maybe the Chronicle will even get around to reporting on it. But since it's Lucas Wall's transportation beat, it may take a month or so.
KTRK has an interesting quote from Metro police chief Tom Lambert, who has been conspicuously silent since someone on Mayor White's staff figured out Lambert's screaming "What part of safety don't we understand?!" at taxpayers wasn't the best way to handle light rail collision PR:
"We are very upfront that we have a very professional police organization," stressed Chief Lambert. "It embarrasses all the professionals within our organization when we don't always hit the mark. And sometimes we don't always hit the mark. So we were not totally pleased with that as well."In fact, Chief Lambert says before the photos even made it on the Internet, the day it happened other alert officers also saw Officer Ramsey in her car. They alerted METRO supervisors and that is why she was already disciplined. She remains on the force.
Sure they did, Chief. And then they went off to wrap gifts for Pancho Claus to deliver!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 12/08/04 10:58 PM |
06 December 2004
Food and drink roundup (12-06-2004 edition)
We're still a little behind on the food and drink articles from the last week, which was another fairly busy one for the city's various reviewers and writers.
Robb Walsh did double duty, with a feature on Cafe Annie's Robert Del Grande and a quick tour of several of Houston's fine Vietnamese noodle establishments.
Alison Cook, who seems to spend about half her time outside the beltway, headed to Pearland to the Santa Barbara Italian Cafe.
Mona Shoup posted various recommendations from readers.
And Gracie Ochoa visited the Tasting Room, a wine bar and retail shop.
We'll try to get back on our more usual Thursday schedule for these things this week.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 12/06/04 09:33 PM |
05 December 2004
Downtown traffic signals still suffer from neglect
Chronicle transportation columnist Lucas Wall notes that the city is still having problems maintaining its downtown traffic/pedestrian signals:
The public works department, citing Houston's financial woes, still doesn't have a comprehensive system for maintaining traffic and pedestrian signals, officials said. Instead, it relies on citizen reports to the city's 311 complaint center and reports by city employees who notice signal outages.
"We want all drivers and pedestrians to be able to safely drive and walk the streets in Houston," Johnson said.
Mayor Bill White's administration has been discussing ways to improve maintenance of numerous items, Johnson said, but solutions require a budget that could allow for the hiring of more electricians and other technicians.
"It's still a work in progress," he said.
White has made improved transportation a major issue during his first year in office, including a implementing popular project to synchronize traffic signals on many of Houston's major thoroughfares. Through a spokesman, White declined to comment on the maintenance of pedestrian signals, saying public works officials will handle the matter.
Mayor White is probably too busy enriching the local developers providing the land for his downtown park to be bothered with such trifling matters as downtown traffic signals or HPD's manpower shortages.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 12/05/04 11:16 PM |
03 December 2004
HEB holds off Wal-Mart in Houston grocery battle
According to a Wall Street Journal article reprinted in the Austin American-Statesman, Houston is ground zero in an escalating grocery business battle between longtime Texas grocer HEB and retail giant Wal-Mart:
Although H-E-B is relatively unknown among consumers outside of Texas, it's providing a blueprint for competing successfully against Wal-Mart that's being closely watched by the grocery industry.
Even as Wal-Mart has spread throughout the state, with 213 supercenters, H-E-B has held on to market share above 60 percent in key cities, including Austin and San Antonio.
Now, both retailers have set their sights on Houston, the nation's fourth-largest city and one of its toughest grocery markets because of an eclectic immigrant population and cutthroat competition. Since 2000, H-E-B and Wal-Mart have opened stores and grabbed market share from local competitors. Houston is the greatest test yet of H-E-B's strategy of thriving in Wal-Mart's shadow by paying attention to local tastes.
The whole article is available here. It's some good journalism.
It's a shame that the Chronicle rarely produces anything comparable.
(Update) A reader passes along this link, which does not require registration for viewing.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 12/03/04 10:09 PM |
A quick music roundup (12-03-2004 edition)
David Cobb posts his excellent weekly roundup of live rock music here.
Unfortunately, this is kind of a slow weekend for live Texas/alt-country/Americana acts around town.
Here are a few shows that caught my eye:
Friday, December 3
Honeybrowne (F-Co opens), Firehouse Saloon
Moe Hansum Band, Dan Electro's
Jon Dee Graham, Continental Club
Davin James, Blanco's
Delbert McClinton/Jesse Dayton, Verizon Wireless Theater
Saturday, December 4
Eric Taylor, Anderson Fair
Cooder Graw, Firehouse Saloon
Mike Barfield, Continental Club
This information is compiled from a variety of sources and can change. Always check with the venue before heading out!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 12/03/04 06:14 PM |
30 November 2004
Odd police priorities for White/Hurtt
KHOU-11's Jeremy Rogalski has done some excellent reporting on more funding problems within HPD, raising serious questions about the training and equipment in traffic accident investigation:
"It's just terrible," said Sam, one recent HPD accident investigator, who wished to remain anonymous. "If we ask for equipment they say well you didn't have it last year, why do you need it this year?"
And so Sam says officers are forced to dip into their own pockets to buy cameras, measuring wheels, even laptop computers that work because the city-issued gear often doesn't.
"We're just not in a position right now to buy everything that we need," said Police Chief Harold Hurtt, who took the job in March.
When asked if he sees a problem in assigning someone to do a job and not giving him the basic tools to do that job?
"Well, I don't know if we're not giving them the basic tools to do that job," said Hurtt.
But HPD, at one point, investigators tell us, wouldn't even buy spray paint to mark up a scene -- spray paint that costs just a few bucks a can.
And that's not all.
"Some officers are spenindg thousands of dollars to get their own training," said Sam. "It's been the norm for several, several years."
And frustrated cops have put it in writing, like a blistering letter to the police chief and others in which an officer wrote, "I'm appalled that our department is not willing to equip or train officers in the Traffic Division ... proper fatality investigations should be one of the top priorities."
Chief Hurtt has managed to convince City Council to spend $5 million on Tasers, and Mayor White's priorities include spending millions on a downtown park.
Meanwhile, one of the most basic functions of any municipality -- police protection -- continues to suffer from underfunding and misplaced priorities from the dynamic duo of Hurtt and White.
Rogalski's full interview with Chief Hurtt is located here. Note that the police chief is still uniformless. Perhaps passing a test so he can wear the HPD uniform isn't a priority of our chief. Who knows, maybe he's not planning on staying in Houston much longer.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/30/04 07:28 PM |
29 November 2004
Food and drink roundup (11-29-2004 edition)
The usual food and drink roundup that we normally post on Thursday is making a belated appearance today, as it just didn't seem worth posting while everyone was enjoying (or not enjoying) turkey leftovers.
Now that we're sick of those leftovers, here's the usual roundup.
It's a double shot from Robb Walsh this week, who says fajitas are the way to go at Herrera's Mexicatessen. Whether you go with bacon or not is a purely personal decision, he notes. Walsh also checks in on La Tour d'Argent, reopened under the direction of chef Cedric Guerin, who is hopeful the boycotts that wrecked the local French culinary scene for a while are well behind us.
Alison Cook pays a visit to Arcodoro, where it's imported fall truffle time. For those after less sophisticated -- or at least expensive -- fare, I might recommend the pizza at Arcodoro, which I've greatly enjoyed in the past. Then again, if pizza's what you're after, you might just as well head to Kenneally's, which serves a fine pizza in a relaxed Irish pub atmosphere.
If you're just in the mood for a sandwich, Ken Hoffman has the lowdown on the Subway Toasted Meatball Marinara sub, which is not, with its 126 grams of carbs, for followers of the late Dr. Atkins.
Finally, Dai Huynh visits west Houston's Java Coffee & Tea Co., while Lance Walker checks out the Six Degrees Lounge downtown.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/29/04 04:51 PM |
24 November 2004
Kicking off the holiday season
There are quite a few goings-on this Thanksgiving weekend, besides the parade Thursday morning.
The Uptown Holiday Lighting will take place Thursday, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., on Post Oak Blvd., between San Felipe and Westheimer.
On Friday, Galveston's Harbor Parade of Lights will take place at 6 p.m., along Pier 21; and the Holiday Lights in Hermann Park kicks off at 6 p.m. at the Molly Ann Smith Plaza. That will be followed by a Houston Symphony Holiday Concert performed at Miller Outdoor Theatre at 7:00 p.m.
On Saturday, Market Street in The Woodlands hosts a Lighted Carriage Parade at 6 p.m.; and Galveston holds its official tree lighting ceremony from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the San Luis Resort.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 11/24/04 05:16 PM |
21 November 2004
Collective Soul at Jones Plaza
We normally leave Houston's live rock scene to David Cobb, linking over to his great blog when appropriate.
However, when a big band like Collective Soul comes to town to put on a free show, it's definitely worth a mention here.
They'll be playing Jones Plaza downtown as part of a Texans pre-game party that appears to be sponsored by Clear Channel, Ford and Subway (among others). Apparently, a giant screen will be available for tailgaters to watch the game downtown. The festivities are set to begin around 5 pm, according to the various Clear Channel websites.
The Texans, of course, have to deal with Green Bay and the great Brett Favre tonight at Reliant, so a free Collective Soul concert may well be the highlight of the day for Texans fans.
Now if we could just do something about this rain...
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/21/04 08:54 AM |
20 November 2004
Food and drink roundup (11-20-2004 edition)
We're running a few days behind on the food and drink update, as life has intruded on the blogging lately -- that, and the Houston Press web redesign was so extensive that the link to Robb Walsh's column was broken for a while. It's just not a food and drink roundup without that guy.
Empanadas are a favorite in Houston, and this week Robb Walsh checks out Marine's Empanadas:
In the course of writing this review, a strange coincidence came to light. A restaurant called Original Marini's Empanada House (3522 South Mason Road) has recently opened in Katy's Cinco Ranch neighborhood. It is owned by none other than Sergio "Alex" Marini, the son of the old Westheimer Marini's founders, Leonilda and Marcello Marini, who also are helping out at the new spot. The new restaurant reportedly features the same monkey juice and Viva Zapata empanadas that were originally concocted at the Westheimer location in the 1970s.
No doubt there are lots of other menu similarities between Marine's Empanadas at Richmond and Hillcroft and the freshly resurrected Original Marini's Empanada House in Katy. That's because the two restaurants share a much-beloved common ancestor. And both are helping to keep the fond memories alive.
blogHOUSTON readers will, of course, recall that Alison Cook visited the Original Marini's in Katy a few weeks ago.
This week, Cook stays in Houston (!) to pay a visit to Monica Pope's T'afia:
The beauty of T'afia is that it presents you with food worth thinking about. Now I'm less reluctant to mix and match (b3r beef filet with a crystalline, seasoned sea salt? yum), then pick one of the enticing $5 side dishes that include Pope's famous vegetables, many of them organic.
Here's where her longtime passion for sustainable agriculture and local growers really shines: In farmer Lola Daniel's glorious shell beans, perhaps bathed in a sherried vinaigrette; in glossy baby spinach leaves that seem to be five minutes from the garden; in a milky gratin of potato and the haunting, underutilized gem known as celery root. These are the kinds of dishes that make me happy to be alive.
Most of all, though, I'm happy that chef Pope and her partner, Andrea Lazar, have finally created a world from scratch. Goodbye, landlords, pint-size kitchens, immutable buildings and decor. With T'afia's pristine brick rectangle gutted and a huge kitchen built on, the pair are free to indulge their taste for modern design and local artists.
So T'afia is all of a piece, from its enormous paper lanterns in the garden room to the alluring Ratafia Royale cocktails. Coriander and lemon verbena never tasted so good as they do melded with vodka, white wine and a dash of sugar, then fizzed with inexpensive champagne. This is inspired cooking in a flute goblet, an evocative way to begin -- or end -- a meal.
Foodies have always loved Pope, and from the sounds of it, this restaurant will be an even bigger hit with them than her Boulevard Bistro, my favorite brunch joint in its heyday.
Dai Huynh interviews Robert Gadsby, who is overseeing the opening of Houston's rendition of his Noé restaurant (at the Omni Hotel). He's spending big money and making big promises:
Noé-Houston is the springboard to produce the style of cuisine I really like to do -- the recipes where Robert Gadsby can strut.
Strut away.
Finally, Ken Hoffman ponders IHOP's obscene caramel combos. Breakfast, dessert, who really knows? General Mills started us in this direction with Cookie Crisp. It's only a matter of time before chocolate cake is just another breakfast food.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/20/04 11:52 PM |
18 November 2004
Live music roundup (11-18-2004 edition)
As usual, David Cobb has posted his weekly rock-oriented live music roundup.
The following are notable live alt-country/Americana/Texas country music shows around town this weekend.
Thursday, November 18
Micky and the Motorcars, Blanco's
Friday, November 19
Texas High Life (F-Co opens), Firehouse Saloon
The Clumsy Lovers, Mucky Duck
Big Sandy and his Fly Rite Boys & Sean Reefer, Continental Club
Stephanie Urbina Jones, Anderson Fair
Saturday, November 20
Jesse Dayton, Continental Club
Deryl Dodd, Firehouse Saloon
Patrice Pike, Mucky Duck
Texas High Life, Sidecar Pub
Shake Russell and Mike Hearne, Anderson Fair
Peach Truck Republic, Last Concert Cafe
Sunday, November 21
Ian Moore, Rudyard's
Be sure and check with the venue before heading out to any of the shows. Schedules do change, and you can't always trust a bunch of yahoos with a weblog, after all!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/18/04 10:27 PM |
17 November 2004
All hail Houston's busybody brigade
The Chronicle's Robert Crowe can't heap enough praise on the Houstonians who are writing parking tickets as part of the Municipal Volunteer Parking Program.
While we certainly appreciate the city's concern for making sure ineligible drivers aren't occupying handicapped parking spaces, we can't help but wonder why the city has to rely on "volunteers" to take care of city services like traffic/parking enforcement.
A city that has millions of dollars to spend on Tasers shouldn't have to depend on mostly unaccountable busybodies plucked off the street and given four hours of training for what should be basic city services.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/17/04 08:42 PM |
12 November 2004
Gotta use the facility for something
I'm sure this is an important program. I have no qualms with any of this. Gotta start somewhere, right? But...is this a clue that we shouldn't expect a new police academy cadet class any time soon?
In conjunction with the Holocaust Museum and the local branch of the Anti-Defamation League, the Houston Police Department's Blue Bridge Program could begin unloading buses of students for the one-day course at the police training academy soon after the first of the year, said Karen Krinsky Collman, a program cofounder.
Posted by Callie Markantonis @ 11/12/04 09:06 PM |
Food and drink (11-12-2004 edition)
Houston's food and drink reviewers have been busy again this week. Here's the roundup for all you hungry and thirsty Houstonians.
Brian McManus likes the New American cuisine being turned out by Jeff Armstrong in the Sam Houston's Hotel's 17 restaurant:
[Q]uibbles about 17 are hard to come by. To bring such wildly different flavors together in peace is quite a feat. Armstrong is one of Houston's most exciting new chefs, and certainly its best new diplomat.
Alison Cook heads out of town again, this time to Pearland, where she enjoyed her trip to Lemond New World Cuisine. Good for her and good for Pearland, but maybe Houston's newspaper could review some Houston restaurants every once in a while? Just a suggestion (for the second week in a row).
TP pays a brunch visit to a forgotten (and neglected) favorite of mine, The Raven Grill, and gives the experience four out of five rolls:
[T]he Raven Grill does very well what it does, and in this reviewer's opinion, it need not do any more.
I didn't even realize they serve brunch, so that could well be a destination of at least two blogHOUSTONians this weekend.
Dai Huynh comments on the opening of the new Fox Sports Grill in the Galleria, as well as other food news (the most notable being the closing of Chef G's). I'm not sure how the location is going to work out for Fox (it's on the far east end, near the Sage entrance), but it's going to work out great for me, as it's right across the street from where I work. Yum!
Robb Walsh notes that Anthony Bourdain will be in town promoting his cookbook. Sadly, the blogHOUSTON crew did not see Walsh at the Wolfgang Puck promotion.
Finally, Gracie Ochoa checks out the R Bar, which is apparently next door to an easily viewed motorcycle shop. That's different, but kind of appealing.
That's it for this week. Enjoy!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/12/04 04:07 PM |
RIP KLOL
Modern rock station 101 KLOL has changed music formats. For this lifelong Houstonian, this is sad news indeed. This was one of the radio stations of my childhood.
I guess Houston needs another Latino radio station?
Popular morning show hosts Walton and Johnson had this to say on their website:
As of Friday morning 11/11/04 our current flagship station KLOL FM in Houston will become yet another spanish station for Houston and W&J have emphatically not been offered a Clear Channel alternative. You will no doubt hear or read corporate spin as to how the show just did not work out in Houston. Don't you buy it. In the lastest morning ratings W&J were the top ranked (non-ethnic) morning show in Houston in our target 25-54 demographic. We had great trepidation early on about associating the show with CC Radio since they had a well documented history of hiring away successful shows that they could not beat in other markets and then icing them when they thought it safe to do so. But we accepted the risk because the lure of putting our beloved show on the air in our own hometown seemed to outweigh the risk of this type of competition elimination. In this case we think they were confounded by our success in spite of a complete lack of support in marketing, advertising, and PR by CC Radio for the Walton and Johnson Show. Since we have now built a large and loyal listener base that exceeded the performance of the base radio station on a regular basis we do not intend to throw it away and leave Houston. This is our home and we will not be disposed of so easily. Houston listeners keep checking this website and we will let you know where to find us.
We'll post any updates if they happen.
(Update from Kevin) Well, the Walton and Johnson snippet above has now disappeared from their website. Maybe the Clear Channel suits suggested they take it down (we'll email 'W&J and ask what happened). Whatever the case, it was there earlier, and we cut and pasted it.
(11-13-2004 Update from Kevin) Walton and Johnson have posted the following on their website:
I know many of you are confused and looking for answers as to what's going on with the W&J show right now. Don't worry, plans are in the works and as soon as we have some news to give, you'll get it here on waltonandjohnson.com first.
Check back for news updates, and a re-worked website in the coming weeks.
We'll put any further useful updates up as a new entry, if relevant to Houston radio.
Posted by Callie Markantonis @ 11/12/04 12:05 PM |
Live music roundup (11-12-2004 edition)
David Cobb posts his useful, rock-oriented live music roundup again this week.
I'm running a day behind the usual Thursday posting, but here's our usual supplement of live alt-country/Americana/Texas country music picks for the weekend (better late than never):
Friday, November 12
Beaver Nelson, Anderson Fair
Two Tons of Steel, Continental Club
Gary P. Nunn, Firehouse Saloon
Robby Fulks, Mucky Duck
Guy Forsyth, Rhythm Room
Stoney Larue, Sidecar Pub
Saturday, November 13
Opie Hendrix, Dan Electro's
Wade Bowen, Firehouse Saloon (Eli Young opens)
Hayes Carll, Mucky Duck
Sunday, November 14
Drive By Truckers, Meridian
As always, be sure to check with the venue before heading out to any show. Schedules can change, and we can make mistakes. :)
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/12/04 09:11 AM |
10 November 2004
Tough luck for Astros/Rockets fans without cable
David Barron reports that the Astros and Rockets have reached a deal with Fox Sports Southwest that will make them more competitive in some ways, but that may come at a cost to some fans:
The Astros and Rockets will abandon plans to launch their Houston-based regional sports network and have signed new broadcast agreements with FSN Southwest that could produce nearly $600 million for the teams over the next decade and beyond.
The agreement, which was finalized over the weekend and announced Monday, will end the 20-month legal battle between the teams and the network and ensures that Houston's two oldest big-league sports franchises will air on the cable channel that helped launch the era of regional sports networks 20 years ago.
"We've reached a very good agreement — certainly better than either team could have done by itself," said Rockets president George Postolos. "It's like the Humphrey Bogart and Claude Rains characters in Casablanca — the beginning of a beautiful relationship."
The most immediate impact on Rockets fans will be the return of virtually all Rockets games to cable, beginning with tonight's game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Toyota Center. FSN Southwest has the right to produce the remaining 68 games not scheduled as part of the national network television packages, and FSN said virtually all of those games will air on cable.
Rockets games have aired for the last two seasons on KNWS (Channel 51). Channel 51's schedule, however, will be reduced to include only games that cannot air on FSN Southwest because of other commitments.
For Astros fans, the new deal means more games on television — a minimum of 130, up from 120 a year in recent seasons. Again, officials said, the "vast majority" will air on FSN Southwest, leaving only a few games on Channel 51 or another over-the-air carrier.
The increased emphasis on cable will be a hardship for some fans in Greater Houston, where only 54.5 percent of TV households have cable and the combined cable/satellite penetration rate of 73.4 percent is well below the national average of 85.1 percent.
Longer term, one can't help but wonder if this won't hurt the fan base of both teams because of Houston's cable/satellite penetration. Short term, however, one hopes that the enhanced revenue situation will help the Astros in securing the services of one Carlos Beltran.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/10/04 10:40 PM |
06 November 2004
The "hideout" returns to Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
KTRK-13 reports that the secondary music venue "The Hideout" will return to next year's rodeo:
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is bringing back an old favorite for music fans this year.
The Hideout, which took a break last year, is returning. It will be set up inside the Reliant Astrodome. The Coca-Cola Texas stage will be set up along Fannin in the food court area, with more picnic tables and places for people to sit, eat, and enjoy the music.
Those readers who enjoy our Thursday Americana/alt-country/Texas live music updates should particularly welcome this news. The Hideout has been the place for rodeo fans to see some of the best in that genre of music, especially Texas artists -- as opposed to the Nashville hat acts regularly featured on the big stage.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/06/04 10:58 AM |
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