trymahjong

got this email From: Ziggys Bar and Grill <ziggyshealthygrill@yahoo.com> Subject: *EMCA* In case you were wondering about all of the TV crews Date: Friday, September 23, 2011, 8:12 PM Today some TV crews were at Ziggy's Montrose to do a story. For some time now we've been working with Paws On Patios to get the city to change the rule to allow dogs on restaurant and bar patios. Yesterday the rule was changed and we were the first to apply and receive our permit. Apparently the local media that it was an interesting enough story to come out and talk to us. With so much negative news, maybe it was time for some happier news. Mayor Parker and City Council Member Ed Gonzalez will likely be here for lunch on Monday so more press will be around. But the real story is that all of you dog lovers, and there are a lot in the neighborhood, can now bring your well behaved pooch on a leash to dine with you outside, just in time for fall. K

School Board Forum Tuesday, Sept. 27 from 6 - 8pm Lamar High School (3325 Westheimer). Children at Risk and the Texas Education Center will host a School Board Forum. The goal of the Forum is to give Houston ISD school board candidates a chance to state his/her beliefs and opinions about education issues that are pivotal to student success. An expert panel of non-profit leaders will question the candidates on pressing issues in education policy, including early education, charter school cooperation, and teacher evaluation. This event in no way constitutes an endorsement of any HISD school board candidate and every candidate is invited to participate. __._,_.___

Houston Public Library Online Customer Survey begins Monday, September 12 Let us hear from you! From Monday, September 12 through Saturday, September 24, 2011, Houston Public Library (HPL) will be conducting an online survey to find out how our customers use our computers and internet connection and how this has made a difference in their lives. This information will help HPL improve its technology services. The survey is anonymous, available in English and Spanish, and takes 10-15 minutes to complete. Please support HPL and help us improve our services. Go to http://impactsurvey.org/libselect/index.php?fscs=TX0099 to fill out the survey, or access it from one of the library's public access computers. This survey is coordinated by the University of Washington with generous support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. For more information about the Houston Public Library see http://www.houstonlibrary.org/.

sorry it didn't work out okay--i'm lucky enough to live close enough to walk---usually there are enough spaces in the valet--the menu gets "tweaked" from time to time--maybe try again:) i'm still wondering what was on this property originally --

SAVE THE DATE - Register Now! City of Houston Department of Planning and Development hosts Community U: Lessons in Neighborhood Organizing Saturday, October 15, 2011 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. United Way of Greater Houston 50 Waugh Drive Houston, TX 77007 Cost: $5/person (Free parking) The City of Houston Planning and Development Department is hosting its 7th community conference. Spend time with your fellow community leaders and learn all about the latest tools and techniques to make your neighborhood a better place for all. This half-day conference will provide Houstonians with training, resources and solutions through a combination of workshops, presentations and networking opportunities. Learn about positive changes taking place in neighborhoods throughout Houston. See how your area can benefit from what other communities have done and discover existing resources your neighborhood may not be taking advantage of right now. This year's conference is shaping up to be one of our best. Some of the conference highlights will include a visit by Mayor Annise Parker, information booths from local service providers and lots of door prizes for attendees! Advance registration is required and payment MUST accompany the registration form to attend this half day event. To download the conference brochure and registration form see http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/Neighborhood/community_u.html For more information, contact CommunityU@houstontx.gov or 713.837.7803. If you love your community, this is one event you can't miss!

Go and try it ---it is as good as everyone says. The Houston Press map shows it appeared in 2001 but I remember the middle of 2006 when it opened on 514 Westheimer it was out in the boonies before. I'm curious as to what was in business in the house that was torn down to make room for the new structure.

Whenever one of the buildings that met something in my life are torn down, I feel feel depressed.

a friend sent this to me---- i've been watching since 2005---i wish i would have gone to chez georges. . . . . . . . . . . http://www.houstonpress.com/slideshow/the-restaurant-gentrification-of-lower-westheimer-1997-to-2012-34770204/

I hope they keep it--It was a nice location to people watch.

Think the worse is over. The winds gusted to 50+ mph in Inwood park-----There were branches of trees the width of my arm that broke off. That seems to be only damage. Inwood is greenspace that goes up to the Ft. Tryon, many of the trees lost branches. We didn't lose power in Inwood, but 20,000 in Queens, 16,000 in Staten Island lost power. Most of Coney Island seems flooded. There are flooded out underpasses all over the city, where no traffic can get through. The Mayor reported, crime went down significantly in last 24 hours. How Irene measures up to Katrina or Ike, I don't know. I spent both Katrina and Rita in my house in Montrose. During Ike I was in Las Vegas. but it's hard to compare these things. I appreciated the proactive measures the city took. I think mostly NYC got lucky as far as Irene's damage potential is concerned----and I'm so relieved.

I am close to Inwood Park-- the tides are high enough from Harlem River to breech park paths. It is raining hard but wind seems minimal. There is tree refuse on sidewalks. We still have power. The other 4 boroughs not so lucky. 6000 in Bronx lost power. No one is on the streets. NY! shows Rockaway pier broken in 2 places and the stairs around battery park towards the river flooded.

I am in Manhattan watching NY1. The mayor is taking the hurricane preparedness seriously--- All street repairs were halted yesterday, all subways, buses, ferries- closed 12 pm today---all tolls are waived. Beaches and cultural institutions are closed. Broadway is dark. The mayor ordered evac low lying areas of zone 1 by 5pm. He says they are prepared to shelter 70,000. On the streets, long lines at grocery and drug stores.everyone seems to have cans soup, a crate of bottled water and a12 pack of beer.

HOUSTON'S 175th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION Join Mayor Annise Parker to kick off Houston's 175th Birthday Celebrations 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Sunday, August 28, 2011 Historic Market Square Park 301 Milam Houston 77002 Enjoy these family-friendly activities at the site of Houston's original City Hall: 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. FREE Photo booth, caricatures, balloon artist, $1.75 birthday cupcakes and $1.75 gyros 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. Live music with Houston School for the Performing and Visual Arts 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. Mayor Parker and Guests 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. InterActive Theater presents Texas our Texas: The Story of the Bayou City Houston's 175th Birthday Bash is supported by the City of Houston, local-listener supporter radio stations KUHF and KUHA, Niko Niko's, Frosted Betty, Angie's Cake, Cupcakes a GoGo and Downtown District. For more information, see www.houston175.org, www.houstontx.gov and/or www.marketsquarepark.com. There will be additional events taking place later in the fall.

Will they also try to open the adjoining cafe?

Gulf Coast Reads: On The Same Page "One Book, One City" Reading Initiative Kick Off Kick Off Event Saturday, August 27, 2011 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Houston Public Library Central Library 500 McKinney , Houston , 77002 832.393.1313 You are invited for a special day of entertaining activities to officially launch the Houston area's new reading and programming series, Gulf Coast Reads: On the Same Page. The program will begin with a book discussion of "One Amazing Thing," followed by the official opening featuring special guests and an interactive presentation from "One Amazing Thing" author Chitra Divakaruni. The afternoon will be filled with fun ongoing crafts, presentations and cultural entertainment, all related to the theme of the book. Activities: 11 a.m.: Book Discussion, featuring special guest, Connie Lewis from Houston Great Books Council Noon: Official Opening and Author Presentation 2 p.m.: Ongoing Activities This educational and fun citywide reading initiative is being presented in partnership by the Houston Public Library, Fort Bend County Libraries, Harris County Public Library, and Montgomery County Memorial Library. The goal of Gulf Coast Reads: On the Same Page is to cultivate a culture of reading in Houston by encouraging people to come together in libraries, bookstores, community centers, homes, places of worship, schools and parks to discuss the book. This program will take place Saturday, August 27 through Friday, September 30, 2011. For more details visit www.gulfcoastreads.org. More information will become available on events, book discussions and author visits. Please revisit for the most up-to-date information. Houston Public Library - Phone: 832.393.1313 http://www.houstonlibrary.org/

from the citizensnet email The City of Houston welcomed its newest department, the Department of Neighborhoods (DON), on August 10, 2011 with approval from City Council. The DON accomplishes an efficient and effective reorganization of many divisions that were previously dispersed throughout the City organization, with the end result being a "one-stop-shop" for accessing City services and resolving neighborhood issues. Currently, the DON consists of the following divisions: City of Houston Inspection & Public Services (CHIPS) - formerly Neighborhood Protection Corps Mayor's Anti-Gang Office Mayor's Citizens' Assistance Office (CAO) Mayor's Office of Education Initiatives Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities Mayor's Office of Immigration & Refugee Affairs (MOIRA) Mayor's Volunteer Initiatives Program (VIP) The Department of Neighborhoods is here to serve you - together we can work toward improved quality of life in Houston's neighborhoods. For further information about DON, see http://www.houstontx.gov/neighborhoods/.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/08/22/2011-08-22_redlight_cameras_throughout_nyc_are_bringing_in_52_million_major_cash_from_speed.html after reading that article I understood why the HPD chief kept lecturing the monthly PIP participants that the severity of the HPD budget crisis was the result of voting down Redlight camera proposal. With these kinds of revenues for NYC I wonder what the potential revenue will be for Houston. . . . . . . . . . and perhaps explain why the Red light cameras will continue.

The New York Post offers it's advice. . . . . http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/gop_big_pushes_giuliani_for_vice_QYDqzc0zOIxkT1eX7Ds4JO

Ben Stein offers economic lesson to Rick Perry http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/08/21/sunday/main20095127.shtml

The New York Times has an opinion in today's paper. . . . http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/20/us/politics/20repubs.html

sorry I was confused :/ thought the discussion was still about strip next to "uchi" I would also like to see improvements made to the strip with the old blockbuster was----I looked up the other thread that sort of dealt with this and found the graphic from Urban Land Institute when they did that charette thing. the rendering is looking east down Westheimer toward Midtown and the round thing is a traffic circle at Montrose and Westheimer--There were all sorts of people who attended the charette and all kinds of notes were of everyone's input and this is what they came up with. . . . . . . hmmmmmmmmmm

got an interesting email from city councilman costello-- Greetings! I would like to share with you an editorial that appeared in the Chronicle yesterday about the need for more grocery stores in under-served areas. This is a project I am very passionate about and look forward to continuing my work on. Carrots for carrots Let's build grocery stores where they're needed HOUSTON CHRONICLE, Editorial All cities try to steer developers to build things that'll be good for the public and not just for the developer's bottom line. Most cities use a carrot-and-stick approach that's heavy on the stick: They rely on rules that prescribe what developers can and cannot do. But Houston - unzoned and less-regulated - is a carrot-y place. Our City Council prefers using incentives to encourage goodness. A developer who gives the city something it wants can reap rewards such as sales-tax rebates; reimbursements for installing infrastructure; and even the use of city-owned land. Of course, even in the best of times, a city can afford only so many carrots. That's why we're pleased that At-Large Council member Stephen Costello wants to make sure those carrots are used thoughtfully. Instead of waiting for developers to propose economic-development deals, Costello is more strategic: He's beginning with a solid public goal in mind. Costello aims to eliminate "food deserts," parts of town that lack serious grocery stores, vegetable-deprived barrens where it's easier to buy french fries than a raw potato. It's a serious problem in Houston. According to the Food Trust, just to meet the national average - one supermarket for every 8,600 people - we'd have to add 185 stores. This may seem surprising if you live west of downtown. Houston's wealthier neighborhoods have great stores. But the eastern side of the city - east of I-45 on the north side, and east of Highway 288 on the south - is a different story. There, supermarkets' absence is a serious problem. Fresh vegetables aren't just good for your health; their sale is good for your neighborhood economy. Supermarkets create jobs, both directly and indirectly: As strip-center anchors, they generate traffic that allows stores around them to flourish. A good supermarket raises the value of nearby homes. And all that economic activity feeds the city's tax base. Recently, City Council turned down Costello's proposal to give economic-development priority to steering supermarkets where they're needed. But Costello continues to make those projects his own priority. And we're glad: It's smart to use financial-incentive carrots in a way that makes it possible to buy actual ones - the orange kind that are full of vitamin A. Click here to read the original story (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/7698696.html) Sincerely, Stephen C. Costello

They must want to lease it out. . . . . there have been improvements inside and all of the patio/entrance has been redone. Ali from Aladin's next door says that Uchi didn't lease the old cafe den space nor the old Prive--only the el felix. still wondering if the Old El Felix sign will be moved and saved. . . . . . . . . . . it sort of screams to be saved by a restaurant like REAL.