trymahjong

Noticed a lot of repainting-- wonder what is going in at 322 Westheimer?

Wasn't it the old LULAC building?

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2012/11/30/feast-a-best-new-restaurant-to.html I liked this place. Now I worry that Restaurants on this part of Westheimer have a harder time staying in business-- first Don Julio's and now them :/ I wonder if L'Oliviers will make it?

Final Inner West Loop Mobility Study Public Meeting Tuesday, December 11, 2012 The City of Houston invites you to the final public meeting to discuss the Inner West Loop Mobility Study results and recommendations. The purpose of the mobility study is to seek ways to capitalize on current transportation infrastructure emphasizing the use of many modes of transportation including bike, bus, rail etc. as well as system improvements. Recommendations include short-term and long-term solutions to improve mobility in the area. Tuesday, December 11, 2012 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Presentation - 6 p.m. Metropolitan Multi-Service Center 1475 West Gray Activity Room #2 Houston 77019 Visit http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/DevelopRegs/mobility/InnerWestLoop.html for more information or contact Amar Mohite at amar.mohite@houstontx.gov or 713.837.7950.

Have you ever been inside the Morrow chapel at this church? One whole wall is a stained glass window by Kim Rentaria and there is a huge painting by Kermit Oliver over ther alter.

Thanks for posting this--- This is a lovely church.

The discussion at the meeting shared these views, till it was brought up that the architect was still living and perhaps a small bit of respect should be considered. Okay-- I can understand that. What's harder to understand is the incorrect information on the plaque. Midtown and Montrose might "meet" there but it's a bit of a stretch to include the Museum district. Maybe the elephant in the room during that discussion of the "fabulous signage" (a sign will be erected there) to make the public aware (branding) of Who the Montrose Management District is . . . . The M sign seems to send a message of its own.

http://www.29-95.com/restaurants/story/iconic-felix-sign-sale-ebay?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter I have loved that sign since I first saw it in 1978. I hope it stays in Houston and ends up someplace where the public can enjoy it.

The MMD also talked about their intention to place "signage" at a dozen or so of the 36 entrances (street thoroughfares) that lead into the district. When signage was mentioned the "M" statue at Elgin and Bagby was discussed----------not much love for that statue in that room :{

Heard Bill Calderon speak at Neartown meeting tonite. The MMD has arranged for Christmas decorations to be placed in the median across from Niko-Nikos. Also MMD has taken steps to get the 7 bridges over I59/SW freeway relighted! ---at least getting the lightening on the bridges renewed, anyway. New technology will allow state of the art colors, patterns, etcetcetc ---------probably will take 2 years.

I was reading the "Letter to Editor" in today's Chronicle. I agree with Kate Pogue that a Shakespeare garden would be a great addition to improvements at Herman gardens. Yes, It would blend nicely with the current Shakespeare festival. Central Park in NYC is almost 4 acres and a great tourist draw. While I was living in New York-- I visited recreated gardens inspired by Mark Twain, Emily Dickenson and Monet. There seems to be a trend for these gardens. I wonder if the idea of gardens of this type were actually discussed by Herman Park planners?

Don't know how many Hostel organizations there are but wonder if the property at 411 Lovett might be considered? I guess it's still for sale? Or maybe a Bed and Breakfast. . . . . . . wonder what is in store for this property.

You've listed this topic under Montrose but Super Neighborhood 22 might disagree http://www.houstontx.gov/superneighborhoods/profiles/SN_22.htm I heard their representative speak at a Neartown (SN24) meeting over 2 years ago. She described their area a a long corridor roughly between Buffalo Bayou and White Oak Bayou, Downtown and 610. At that time SN22 had developed a master plan for the Washinton Avenue corridor that included (among other things) a median with trees, improved sidewalks, and a bike lane--- The graphics were great! I was impressed with the entire presentation. All of the proposed improvements (both then and now) would be a terrific gain for all of Houston.

Houston Public Library PresentsHouston Grand Opera, History Book Fair & Symposium and Community Cinema Julia Ideson Building 550 McKinney, Houston 77002 <img align="left" alt="Library Logo" height="155" hspace="10" width="125" />Houston Grand Opera "From My Mother's Mother" Wednesday, November 7, 2012, 6 p.m. The Houston Public Library (HPL) welcomes the Houston Grand Opera (HGO) for a presentation of its new chamber opera "From My Mother's Mother." The chamber opera is part of HGO's Song of Houston East + West series of new chamber operas celebrating Houston as a crossroads of Eastern and Western cultures. For the music, HGO engaged New York-based, Korean American composer Jeeyoung Kim, and for the libretto Janine Joseph, a doctoral candidate in the creative writing program at the University of Houston. The performance lasts about 30 minutes and is complemented by a brief presentation with the performers and people in Houston's Korean community who inspired it. Third Annual Houston History Book Fair & Symposium Saturday, November 10, 2012, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. HPL, Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Arts and Media and Story Sloane's Gallery host the Third Annual Houston History Book Fair and Symposium. The event is the only free, comprehensive symposium event dedicated solely to the history of Southeast Texas. Door prizes will be awarded throughout the day. Community Cinema "Solar Mamas" Thursday, November 15, 2012, 6 p.m. HPL in partnership with Houston's Public Broadcasting System (PBS) Community Cinema Series and the Independent Television Service (ITVS), presents a sneak preview screening of "Solar Mamas." The film focuses on women from Burkina Faso, Columbia, Guatemala and Kenya leaving their villages for the first time in their lives to participate in Barefoot College and learn to become solar-energy engineers. Community Cinema is presented locally by CultureMap, Documentary Alliance and Houston PBS/Channel 8, in collaboration with Independent Lens and ITVS. All of the events will take place at the Julia Ideson Building, 550 McKinney, Houston 77002 and are free and open to the public. For more information visit http://www.houstonlibrary.org/ or call 832.393.1313.

Tell Us About Your Community's Needs! Public Hearing Thursday, November 8 The City of Houston Housing and Community Development Department (HCDD) is seeking your input to guide the allocation of millions of dollars in Federal Entitlement Grants for the 2013 Annual Action Plan. The 2013 Action Plan prioritizes the funding of activities that serve low- and moderate-income Houstonians with affordable housing, single-family home repair, economic development, neighborhood facility improvements, homelessness and programs serving people with special needs. There will be a Public Hearing on Thursday, November 8, 2012, 6 p.m., City Hall Annex, 900 Bagby, Houston 77002, where HCDD will be using new and innovative technology to conduct an interactive survey to determine your community's greatest needs. You may also communicate your community's needs by presenting comments on the record at the hearing. If you are unable to attend the hearing, you are encouraged to send a letter to HCDD, 601 Sawyer, 4th Floor, Houston, TX 77007, Attention: Andrea Jones, Public Hearing Coordinator. You may also email your comments to andrea.jones@houstontx.gov. Your letter or email must be received no later than Monday, November 12, 2012. For questions, more information or to request special accommodations, contact Andrea Jones at andrea.jones@houstontx.gov or 713.868.8300. To learn more about HCDD, visit www.houstontx.gov/housing.

I don't think the age of the building is the problem. Lamar seems to be doing a fairly good job in the education department within it's historical building. It has the largest IB (International Baccalaureate) in the world! hmmmmmmmmmm having the largest IB = a good thing might be a different question-- still Lamar does a commendable job with this endeavor. Lamar racks up as just about as many National Merit Scholars as any other HISD High School.Schools. My kid graduated in 2008-- I volunteered at the school weekly. The building didn't seem to be a huge problem but overcrowding was. The principal at Lamar tried to get the magnet program moved out of Lamar to help with overcrowding----all the parents with kids in that program refused to have that even considered. Personally I liked the idea floated around in 2006 to make the old HSPVA a 9th grade center for Lamar when HSPVA built their new school at Grey & Taft. Neither of those things happened. Overcrowding continues. It worries me that Lamar has 3200 student currently and the proposed building will be built to have 3100. I'm not sure enrollment in Lamar will decrease by 2020.

Take a Survey to Help Plan Houston's Regional Growth The Houston-Galveston Area Council forecasts the population of the Houston region to increase by 3.5 million people by 2040. A group of regional partners, including the City of Houston, is working on a Regional Plan for Sustainable Development to help local governments prepare for this growth. Help us with these efforts by taking a 10-minute survey about four possible future scenarios: Current Course, Less Time on the Road, Greener Region and Competitive Workforce. We want to hear what you think about these alternatives and the tradeoffs involved with each of them. To learn more about the scenarios and make your voice heard, take the survey at http://ourregion.org/alternatives-surveylanding.html by November 16, 2012. For more information on the regional plan, visit http://www.ourregion.org. For information about transportation planning, contact Anna Sedillo at anna.sedillo@houstontx.gov or 713.837.7778. To learn more about planning in the City of Houston, visit www.houstonplanning.com.

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm maybe I was in a fog the entire meeting but it really sounded as if the spokesperson said the words-- only the facade will remain and the rest will be new----the blog may say one thing but Veselka came out of retirement to be the spokesperson to answer questions like those posed at this community meeting-- when he (Veselka) said only the facade will remain-- It caught my attention. It caught the attention of the people at my table, who spoke about their disapointment that only the facade will be saved. The foyer of the Auditorium is unique (the inside is charming also--Yes it needs updating but not demolition) reflecting the period it was built in--I like it and think it should be saved-- So I was listening for reassurances-- He didn't point out the entire building would be saved. Plus I was troubled by his lack of enthusiam ( as HISD spokesperson) concerning retaining the right type of architect to get the type of results like those at Reagan and Carnegie Vanguard. I attended all of the meetings when Lamar was developing it's MasterPlan and was part of the Charette it held. I got to hear what the surrounding community wanted for Lamar. I'm not sure that was reflected in what HISD has planned for Lamar.

Veselka said it would cost $700 per square foot for this project-----it that the going price? The total cost of these bonds makes my head spin. Really though I'm not sure the part that really rubs me the wrong way is abandoning the current location after meeting with the local residents and assuring them that that property was being improved to help with the overall improvement of that neighborhood.

No one asked---for me I guess my head was spinning that 38 schools would be demolished or renovated by 2020 with a payback cost (term bond) of 3.7 billion. I hope someone might have some insight----- One of my kids went to Lamar (grad 2008) All the buildings are pretty cool---especially the auditorium that has begun renovations through private funds.

At the meeting problems with Parking, Traffic& Public Transportation were brought up. Then a huge discussion about elevators and high School students as well as what a schlep it was to the other performing venues---plus a long discussion about why the HSPVA is being moved when millions are being spent right now on the current building. I have to admit I find it hard to believe no one at HISD has any idea what will happen to current building on Stanford.

Ronnie Veselka HISD spokeman at Neartown Community meeting this morning. He said HISD will tear down all of Lamar High School except the relief sculpture over the auditorium and build a whole new building. Lamar was built in 1937 to accommodate 2200 students but has enrollment of 3200----the new building will be built to accommodate 3100 students. Interestingly, the Carnegie Van Guard and Reagan High School were offered as examples of building and renovating by HISD and how well they turned out. But when It was brought up that the same architect was used for both, community input was sought etcetcetc and would HISD be willing to go through similar steps with Lamar High and the other High Schools slated for demolition------he said the most important factor was getting everything built by 2020 PERIOD!

Sorry if this has been posted somewhere else. I attended the Neartown Montrose Community meeting this morning on HISD bond proposals and heard Ronnie Veselka (HISD) speak. He wanted us to know that all the proposals of building and renovating would be finished by 2020. He said 1300 Capitol street will be the new location of HSPVA campus because of it's location to performing arts venues. Really?!? Plus after several questions over what would become of the building on Stanford where the HSPVA is now--answer-No one at HISD has any idea what will become of this building. There is a huge sign outside of HSPVA that speaks to the remodeling being down right now. Peter Brown spoke against the 1300 Capitol location and said land along the Washington corridor had been offered--even proposed/ donated to keep HSPVA being located on Capitol street. What's going on?

I saw Charlie Rose ordering pizza at MKT market today at lunch------------- is there a big news item going on?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/06/nyregion/healthier-school-lunches-face-student-rejection.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0 hmmmmmmmmmmm?