dbigtex56

Katz is one of the few places in Houston where one can find a decent borscht. Guess cold beet soup isn't everyone's favorite...

Local legand has it that someone fell/jumped/was pushed (fatally) from this bar sometime in the past (70s?). Can anyone confirm this?

See related Wilshire Village Apartments thread here.

See related Wilshire Village thread here.

"•Enhanced lighting and the addition of sidewalks along Alabama and Richmond under Spur 527" How come this isn't being done by TXDOT? They're the ones who tore out the exisiting sidewalks. And by the way, nice call in putting the overpass abutments so close to the street that sidewalks will remain permanantly narrow under Spur 527. And for putting the traffic light base for W. Alabama at Milam in the middle of the (future) sidewalk.

And I think I'll go with the gold...cream washes me out. "Oh my God Almighty! Someone has sent me a bowel movement!" (Divine, as Babs Johnson in Pink Flamingos)

10 minutes? If the light consistantly takes a long time to change, report it to 311.

John 11:35

Welcome to HAIF, Mr. Chenevert, and thanks for the info.

Now that's just plain sadistic... ra-FEW-zhee-oh? ref-EW-geo?

Tourism isn't only about attractions; it's also influenced by negative perceptions. Many outsiders (and some residents) view Houston as an ignorant, dirty, violent and corrupt city. These are not qualities which encourage tourism. (and before you tear me a new one, please reread what I've written - that these are perceptions of our city.)

So maybe you could take pity on this non-native: how is the town Buna pronounced? Is it "Bunn-ah"? or does it rhyme with tuna? Byooo-na? (you should have heard the laughter the first time I asked about Bexar County...)

So perhaps it's just a useful rumor for those seeking to move units at 2016 Main?

That was Topo Gigio...

um...Earth to Midtown Coog. Yes, the AG is appointed by the President. That's what my post said, dear. And no, Congress will not determine if a speical investigation is required. If you had clicked in the link I provided you would have learned: In 1999, following prosecutor Kenneth Starr 's confrontations with President Bill Clinton and the impeachment of the president, the law again expired and was not renewed. The attorney general now has sole responsibility for appointing outside prosecutors. For now, I feel my responsibility is to exercise my freedoms in the US - while we still have some.

Ah! As a resident of an old dump, I did not know that. Thanks for the info.

Another desirable amenity would be the use of sound-resistant materials. Hearing ones neighbors is a definate disadvantage of many muli-unit structures. In some, the walls are so thin that normal conversation, flushing toilets and other daily activities (use your imagination) can be overheard.

You mean, the Bush appointee AG? We don't need a neutered lap-dog to investigate the wiretaps. It's time to bring in an independent counsel (special prosecutor). Unfortunately, since Gonzalez has already determined that Bush is not guilty, and only he can appoint an IC, we're screwed.

I should have known, but had to look it up. OSB is an acronym for Oriented Strand Board: Providing improved uniformity, strength and versatility compared to other construction panels, Oriented Strand Board (OSB) evolved from waferboard in the late 1970s. Since its introduction, OSB has been widely accepted and has virtually replaced other building panels in new residential construction in many areas in North America. (quote from OSB Guide website)

Twenty-five years ago I used visit Toronto fairly frequently (I lived in Rochester, and it was the closest big city.) I agree with most of the above comments, except I thought that it was quite pedestrian friendly. They had great public transportation (conventional buses, electric buses powered by overhead lines, heavy rail/subway, trolleys), and heated indoor waiting areas at transit centers. And cars had to stop to allow pedestrians to cross streets. The people seemed both cold and extremely polite -civil and formal. It's the sort of city where one doesn't strike up a conversation - you wait until you've been introduced. They're fanatically clean - like Disneyworld without a theme. There's a story about how Toronto rid itself from slums back in the 70s. An ordinance was passed that owners had to bring their houses into compliance with city ordinances within thirty days of reported violations, or they would be demolished. And they were. People would get a knock on their door, and were told "You gotta leave now. We're tearing the place down, eh." Until the early 70s there was virtually no nightlife in Toronto - it was known as "The Sleeping Giant", and people would drive to Buffalo(!) to have a good time. They had weird drinking laws, too. In some bars, it was illegal to stand up while holding a beer. If you wanted to join friends at another table, the waiter would have to move the beer for you. Toronto and Houston are approximately the same size, but in nearly every other respect they couldn't be more different.

Darn tootin'. Last weekend a fellow HAIFer and I were talking with a demolition worker at the Penn Hotel. He asked where the closest place was to get a bite to eat (at 12:30am on a Sunday morning). And even though we're both chock full of HAIFiness, neither of us could come up with a good answer. (uh...House of Pies on Kirby?) Too bad the Deco Diner didn't live up to its original concept. You'd think that there would be a market for a all-night breakfast place in the heart of downtown - a lot of people come out of those nightclubs hungry.

Gee, maybe Fertitta will follow suit, and install white lights on the aquarium and Ferris wheel during full moons. And dye his white tigers blue during new moons...

That's correct. Richmont Square (aka 1400 Richmond, aka Vaseline Flats) is built on the site where a convent formerly stood. It was demolished in the 1970s. However, some of the homes which formerly stood at or near Hyde Park Crescent were owned by a religious or charitable institution - I'm not sure which one. No relation to the Richmont property that I know of.

Two favorites are 1500 Louisiana (Enron II) Cesar Pelli & Associates and Bank of America (formerly Republic Bank-NCNB Center) Philip Johnson/John Burgee Aside from being striking buildings in their own right, what especially impresses me is the way in which they relate to surrounding buildings. BOA is especially brilliant in its massing, as it permits views of Johnson/Burgee's earlier triumph (Pennzoil Place), while making the most of a difficult site (an exisiting building could not be demolished to build BOA, and is contained within it). 1500 Louisiana not only reflects (literally) the design of the rather banal original Enron building; it grants it some credibility. The sight lines from Louisiana and Smith Streets factor into the design - the 1963 Exxon Building harmonizes beautifully with its more modern neighbor. This is one of the few modern buildings in Houston which is enjoyable at street level as well as from a distance, in part due to the sweeping skywalk over Smith Street. These buildings are to be admired not only for their intrinsic beauty, but also because the architects considered the context in which they're seen.

Cheated