trymahjong

i was on the other side of KATZ at crocker-- i can vouch that no whistles were used--just yelling but everyone was yelling so it all just blended in-- the lady that spoke on TV was also who i quoted previously-- i saw her interviewing and noticed the TV didn't use the part where she describes how the horses were agitated before the parade started and how K was knocked down-- she didn't fall and none of the officers asked if K was all right----i understand time constraints of TV but thought that info was important to the story. that's the strange part-the mounted patrol not acting upon the lady's injury-i think some civilian called 911 not the police I guess i'm wondering why the police didn't pull the "agitated" horse off the line and not continue to to use it for crowd control--and why the mounted police didn't walkie-talkie over a foot policeman to see about K

I've met this woman and she didn't strike me as the drunk/oblivious type so i thought there must be more info on what happened-- this was on the EMCA yahoo as the chron article was being discussed-- I'm pretty angry about the whole thing. Being an eye witness, besides the sheer horror of what "K" went through, I have to say much of what the cops are quoted as saying in the paper is pure lies... -the horses were NOT "moving slowly" -they did NOT use whistles -no one could hear the "verbal commands" -there was no time to get out of the way -people were NOT "pouring into the streets" -K was the only one "not obeying" ??? The fact is, the horses are HUGE, and they came so quickly, and moved so irradically, no one had a chance to get out of the way. Several people were buffeted by the horses, and K is the one who happened to be knocked down and then under the horse. -Once they knocked her down, the horses started moving in circles and backing up - classic "crowd control" maneuvers. That's why she got stomped over and over again. -The officers didn't even know they had knocked down and trampled a human being until the crowd started yelling at them to STOP! -Furthermore, at least one of the horses was already in an agitated state, as early as 9:00pm - his police officer told me so when I walked over and he wouldn't let me pet it. -They're using carefully chosen words to cover for one another. IMO.

I watched them renovate this place--The orginal huge wooden plank walls were left exposed--the stained glass windows were still intact--both fireplaces were original-- all from 1910-- it's amazing to think that the Link-Lee mansion wasn't built until 1915--the whole place was very appealing but didn't get as much business as the owners were hoping-- I walked out of the brunch at Sorentos today and saw a car stop and knock at the door of the cafe--the Open sign must be confusing--I think the lawyers next door are moving out of that old house also-- so i guess there is a potential to buy and turn all three buildings into something? I agree that tearing the B&B down would be a shame. There are rumors that a new B&B is being rehabed on Avondale blvd next to the old Montrose Guest house-- which has sold recently- the back yard of that place is totally torn up and i guess parking will be provided in the back yard to avoid the terrible mess of permit parking on that particular block of Avondale blvd -- I am going to miss this little business also.

maybe Eclessia is moving after all--is there another thread on Eclessia? A friend sent me this: did you catch this HAIF post by 'RS' on 4/8/09? Not the first time to hear this. Stats (if accurate) are interesting. Posting: Somewhere up the thread, The Meridian was mentioned. I've got several friends who work at a church/coffeeshop/art gallery at Taft & Welch (Montrose/Midtown) called Ecclesia. It is, for lack of a better description, a "hip/artsy" church. In late 2007, as a favor (I'm not affiliated with them formally), I ran a statistical analysis on their attendance. 80% of the congregation was under 35, and lived in Montrose or Midtown. They have three services on Sunday -- maybe 200 people showed up to each then; my guess is that's increased since. The rumor mill tells me that Ecclesia has bought The Meridian and plans to vacate their current space on Taft (I used to live nearby, and parking and noise had become major problems for their neighbors) and move in to The Meridian. My guess is, also, that the Ecclesia management has a pretty clear hypothesis on where "20-something hip people" are migrating in the next 5-10 years or so. --

I'm wondering if the HPD hesitency might have something to do with the "church" label? HPD might not want the PR nightmare of "going after those churchgoers--- my $.02 most of the people incharge at eclessia including chris seay the head guy seem very friendly and positive-- but they also refused to obey the firemarshall's ban on meeting at the venue because there were too many people for that venue--eclessia just removed the firemarshalls proclaimation paper from the door and held services as usual----and when councilwomen adams office investigated the "no permit" thing-- eclessia onl offered up their permits for the coffee shop and gallery--both of these don't require as much parking to be available. most of the EMCA residents are very good and tolerate people also--many have been residents BEFORE Eclessia -I know many avenues have been explored to resolve this---but no resolution has been found so far-- there are rumors now that the church is moving---maybe that's best--the whole parking/traffic and big-amp-sunday service has made me avoid the whole place anyway-- so i don't get to enjoy the co-op or coffee anymore-- it's a shame-- i love my neighborhood and can't understand why eclessia can't find a way to be a GOOD neighbor

There is a historic house at Rosalie and Bagby (grey house-- 3012 Bagby on googlemap it was moved there from corner of westheimer and bagby before strip shopping was built)-- thought it was going to be a lawyers office but now im told a a liquor license permit is posted? Anyone know what is going on?

What will happen to the brick house presently on the lot?

Thanks for the information-- it's funny i never realized that it was hard to find nuts in the shell until i really started looking-- seems like xmas time they're everywhere--as a kid exotic nuts in the shell and small oranges were the expected treat in stockings

I am also hooked on mahjong--- the owners of House of Te--apparently wrote a book on chinese rules and regularly host games at their restaurant--they have a special folding table and mahjong sets to "borrow"-- most games sunday afternoon back on topic-- the Avondale Association is hosting a spokesperson of blueprint houston tonite at their regular residents meetings and she might have more information on what is to be expected of the taco cabana location-- since blueprint houston is hosting the charette on the intersection of montrose and westheimer--

i am the proud handmaiden of 2 rescued african gray parrots from the National parrot rescue foundation-- i've been trying to locate nuts still in the shell that have no salt or pesticide--not peanuts but hard shelled nuts, walnuts, almonds, pecans--i don't want to go online to buy a kazillion pounds of each--any advice on where to buy them in smaller packages?

diedrich changed the name on the sign to dirk? taco cabana closed?

mike bell (owner) is saying they will reopen soon http://swamplot.com/?s=late+nite+pie

there is bit of an area south of I59 montrose to binz to grustark other wise it's over to shepherd west and dallas is the northern boundary--

last oct-- Neartown-- along with other organizations gathered for a "community forum" on what should/could/would be possible for montrose---along the lines of a "master plan" there was lots of conversation about "doing" something to the intersection of montrose and westheimer-- on april 23 a meeting is to be held at st stephans to give the results of "input" gathered from residents,business, developers, civic, charities, community advocates etcetcetc ---blue print houston is heading up the info gathering plus Houston Endowment,gulfcoast institute as well as Urban Land institute are participating, along with city council, metro etcetcetc-- i know there is a thread similar to this and thought it might be good to revisit it--

there is a monthly cooking class at indika 516 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77006 (713) 524-2170 it's a hundred bucks or so

Dean's is a green and cream buiding that is having the interior second story torn out for a high ceiling main floor and building a roof top bar--with a pretty good view of downtown-- they've gotten their liquor permits and signed "good neighbor" papers with the residents assoc-- how soon will they open? hmmmmmmm haven't heard--but a lot of the gossip at the green market was about BABY BARNABY'S moving into the vacated market on taft and fairview---any info on that?

with late night pie not too far away-- ziggy's and boheme's across the street and Dean's credit clothing next to boheme--can another restaurant really make it?

I was at that PIP meeting-- been going since 2005---this was a huge turnout--maybe 60 people? It's hard to get a straight answer at these things and lots of the talk is antedotal about past problems and how they were handled in a positive way and not too much specific about the poroblem that everyone showed up over----- still from i could glean from the comments-- one of the "robbers" walked into a house that had left it's door unlocked-- another house answered a door late at night--there will be a sketch of one of the suspects in tomorows news-- here's what I suggest

CENTRAL CITY CO-OP brings organic produce and other organic "stuff" to taft street coffee house 2115 taft on wednesdays (9am-6pm) on saturdays try the green market in the back parking lot of La strada--

i thought the market didn't use it's space very well either--and REALLY wondered why they didn't try to "niche" themselves and do something like maccains in the heights or at the least-- the NY thing where you lure customers in with green produce/flowers out front-- and since there is a weekly green market down at Taft street coffee--how hard would it have been-- i wonder if this place wouldn't have closed sooner but ziggy's lack of a liquor license last year kept folks walking over to buy wine and beer for the BYOB at ziggy's--still i'm wondering in this economic time-- who can open a restaurant and have a chance of keeping it open?

wondering if anyone knew what restaurant will move into the market's space-- I'm told this is their last full week of business-

i went to the donut shop in this strip shopping center and the lady said she, so vino and osaka restaurant were leaving? she thought it was because the rent was raised and no one can afford it-- 2 othere business have tried to make it there and failed-- if it goes empty--then what? is it too new to tear down and build apartment building like the ones being finished on LOvett blvd?

an interesting side note-- From 1922 to 1928, 603 Avondale was the home of J. Robert & Marion Neal. J. Robert was the VP/Asst Manager of the Cheek-Neal Coffee Company, at the time called "The world's Mightiest coffee Firm". John W Neal, his Father and the founder of tbe company, lived just down the street at 301Avondale! You may not recognize the company name, Cheek-Neill but in 1928 GeneralFoods purchased Cheek-Neil and viola---Maxwell House Coffee! This info was part of the Historic Avondale Architecture Tour that celebrated the areas 100th birthday---

Neartown (check out their website for details) is hosting a meeting to decide a "master plan" for the Neartown area Oct 18 at Annunciation Greek Church on Yoakum--perhaps that is the opportunity to voice all these great ideas?

The adult DVD has been closed down and the new owner states that the building will be repainted and a "different" type business will open there----the vacant lot on Helena across from the Hollywood convenience store should be a two story steak house--these are the things told to the residents association--