bachanon

there will always be homeless people. there will always be poor people. there will always be alcoholics and the mentally impaired. that being said, who are you (am i) when someone in need approaches you. it is not my moral issue what one does with their money. you do what you feel morally inclined to do when the opportunity arises. if i feel the need to give a hand out, it is because i want to do good. if the person recieving the hand out buys a rock with it that would be their moral choice. not that i would give someone money specifically for a rock of crack, but each time i do hand someone my change or a fiver, it gives that person an "opportunity" to do a better thing. what they do with it is their issue. that being said, i don't want to be harassed (as i have been) coming out of jones hall with a date and then being insulted because i didn't hand out some dough. whether it's a person living under a nearby bridge or a girl scout, stay out of my personal space.

i agree, somewhat, redscare. it is like calling disneyworld in florida "urban". however, living within walking distance of the woodlands' town center....is SUPER FUN! concerts, fireworks on the fourth, free houston symphony, good restaurants, all within walking distance is hella fun. it may lack the homeless and gritty urban ambiance, but i love it. it is laid back and tons of things going on every weekend. wine week, concerts at north shore park (free....with good bands), performances at the mall's new lifestyle center, smooth jazz on thurs. nights at market street, the pavilion's line up, antique shows, art exhibits, a children's museum, living statues, etc. (the list goes on) is more activity than any one concentrated area of houston. it may not be "urban" in a socio-economic, historic, sense, but it is amazing. besides, since when is the word "urban" owned by any one community? it's all about perception.

gehry, calatrava, hadid, piano, lake, flato, moneo, graves, etc. (in fact, lake/flato might be a promising start. they are region-specific and might be more inclined to give us the time of day.....) doesn't really have to be a starchitect. local and successful architects would be fun. the more centered the focus of HAIF and glass, steel and stone becomes around the culture of architecture is a win win situation.

that was fun. thanks editor. can we look forward to more "ten question" features featuring prominent figures?

this statement is incomplete. there are many homeless who are mentally impaired, some from extreme abuse. being homeless does not equal alcoholic.

anyone remember a mayor named "lee p. brown"? anyone know any african-american, hispanic, asian owned businesses benefitting from these improvements? anyone know any african-american, hispanic, asian, etc. city council members? come on, redscare. "white people"?

ninfa's original location most likely influences the thought that the best mexican food is on the east side. i've heard of a taco stand off of navigation that is good, but i can't vouch for that. try a few taquerias. it's an adventure, and there is usually something good on the menu. i usually ask the wait staff if they have a specialty. most of the time ( and this works in most ethnic restaurants i'm not familiar with the menu) i am pleasantly surprised.

wow, i had my first taste of indian food at raja sweets. i was with a photographer friend after a shoot and she suggested the place. thank goodness we have sitar in the woodlands or i'd have to drive all the way to hillcroft for curry chicken. now, if i could just get my employer to allow me to wear a churidar kurta during the summer........hmmmmm.

i wrote the chronicle with the same suggestion subdude. maybe we should keep sending them a note every now and then?

that wulfe & co. what will they come up with next? i love those guys!! (darn, i can't get this brown stuff off my nose)

welcome to the forum rhf123. i noticed that you asked "For example, I saw one listed at $160 on their website, what would the land cost in Sugar Land push that up to?". an advertised home price by a builder like pulte will most likely include the lot. i'm not sure what kind of food varieties you have in green bay, but when you move, if you choose sugarland, you will be in close proximity to wonderful indian, vietnamese, south american and japanese restaurants (and many more). please take the opportunity to experience these amazing foods (if you haven't already). one aspect of getting to know houston is getting to know it's diversity, and food is a great place to start. welcome to houston!

Enjoy Summer Concerts-in-the-Park, revised listing The annual, free, summer concert series, sponsored by the Community Associations of The Woodlands and Gullo Dealerships, got off to a swinging start on June 5 with the Swing Kings, and continues for eight more weeks. Miss Leslie & Her Juke Jointers are a recent addition, replacing the Williams and Clark Expedition, on June 26. Miss Leslie and her Juke-Jointers describe their music as

note: not copywritten material Construction of 21 Waterway Ave. Underway by The Woodlands Development Company A groundbreaking and ceremonial

besides, venting is necessary (and can be hilarious). online forums are great for this exercise. vent away 2112.

ft. worth is great! the museums, the people, the hills, downtown. love it. has anyone seen the trinity river master plan for ft. worth featured in texas architect magazine some months ago? truly visionary.

considering our past as a city (the way we were founded, the wonder that is the ship channel, surviving the early eighties etc) i would think that houston would simply recreate itself into a 21st century venice thereby continuing to surpass dallas in population, class, etc. i'm sure our freeways would stay intact but our neighborhood streets would become canals. we would create enormous parking garage/boat docks at each freeway exit where our non-motorized paddle boats and canoes would be housed while we use the freeway system.

The Houston Symphony Soars to New Heights with

YIPPIE! Inaugural Wine Week in The Woodlands June 14

that sounds like another type of magnolia tree with early spring purple/white blooms. i don't remember the correct name? my mom called them "tulip trees". now that i think of it, there is a smaller version of the giant magnolias i described earlier. i digress. what was the subject of this thread? oh yeah, north main.

cypress trees have light green short needles with wavy trunks. they are shaped somewhat like a christmas tree. magnolia trees (houston area variety) have large, somewhat oval leaves which are dark green and waxy in appearance. the magnolia's have a sweet smelling large white/ivory bloom. these trees can be several stories high with a very wide canopy.

north main at i-45 should be a "gateway" to downtown and the main street district. when and if the hardy rail yard project gets underway, the funding for infrastructure in this area will increase (this may already be in the works). people coming in to houston from out of town or passing through should have easy, identifiable access to the main street corridor.

i have to second the original ninfa's location, van loc and goode company. three of my favorites. one more interesting twist on houston eateries is south american influenced cuisine. try cafe red onion off of kirby, right next door to madras indian restaurant and miyako. yummy.

i needed that, thanks.

Is there a chasm between collegiate architectural curriculum and the actual practice of architecture? If so, what recommendations would you give a student to prepare them for the profession? Is the need and/or desire for licensed architects on the rise or decline? What segments (residential, commercial, government, education, religious, etc) of development/building are seeing an increase or decrease? Why? Contrast and compare European, Asian and US perception of architecture, as well as what is being built in these regions and why. Are the differences economical, social, philosophical? Is Frank Lloyd Wright overrated? Is our lack of zoning (in Houston) a factor in the banal structures we see popping up everywhere? Is no zoning a good thing? What is your favorite book? What are you reading now, if any? If you enjoy music, what is in your CD/mp3 player presently? What inspired you to study/practice architecture? Have you ever made a pilgrimage to visit a specific structure? Is there any structure that you've been in that it was difficult to leave?