Daniepwils Posted September 11, 2007 Share Posted September 11, 2007 Now if they could get rid of the few that sleep on the tables near the Cookie place across from The Flying Saucer... lol, its always the same three or four.There is one guy that has been down on main for the past 6 years. He is usually around CVS now. He is african american, usually wearing a cape and wind pants. The only words I have ever hear him say is "spare and change" "spare any change" "spare any change". Every since I had a homeless guy lunge at me for my orange, I haven't given them anything off the street. Safer anyways to give through other means. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted September 11, 2007 Share Posted September 11, 2007 Downtown Houston night life is dead or rather moving to other areas, as clubs always do! (Now The Flying Saucer and a few other "spots" are still packed every evening --but not the clubs) I am scared though about some restarurants that I hear have closed in the past two weeks. Mia Bella hang in there!that is the key - these clubs are transient, and the crowd fickle.the mainstays are the few bars and restaurants that have been around for years, and newer ones that have a solid clientele and good business practice. i hope that the recent restaurant issue is a lone occurrence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted September 11, 2007 Share Posted September 11, 2007 On another positive note, the last 3 times I visited downtown, I did not get harassed by a single bum!(Yesterday at 6, last saturday night, and the saturday night before that).unfortunately i did at a place that has never happened before, paulie's on westheimer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted September 11, 2007 Share Posted September 11, 2007 Now if they could get rid of the few that sleep on the tables near the Cookie place across from The Flying Saucer... lol, its always the same three or four.There is one guy that has been down on main for the past 6 years. He is usually around CVS now. He is african american, usually wearing a cape and wind pants. The only words I have ever hear him say is "spare and change" "spare any change" "spare any change". Every since I had a homeless guy lunge at me for my orange, I haven't given them anything off the street. Safer anyways to give through other means.Haha yesterday I saw a guy cleaning those tables with some sort of mop like scrubbing device. Maybe that's the reason he had to clean them so thoroughly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigo58 Posted September 11, 2007 Share Posted September 11, 2007 (edited) I'll never forget the one poor guy that was a dead ringer for old Saint Nick. He would mill about talking to himself and suddenly drop his drawers in front of all the pedestrian traffic. We would all be at a table eating and here he comes and flashes everyone. It wasn't that easy trying to improvise or keep moving along while dining. I have mixed emotions when Christmas comes around now. Edited September 11, 2007 by Vertigo58 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WesternGulf Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 DT LA may not have your Starbucks, Sephora, Coldwater Creek, and Williams Sonoma type retail but the experience that is found on Broadway is overwhelming. There are a lot of historic buildings that need to be rennovated that house a lot of flea market type retail offerings that brings out the folks of East LA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 Wow, great photos. Those streets are sure crowded compared to downtown Houston! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
713 To 214 Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 Wow, great photos. Those streets are sure crowded compared to downtown Houston!Because people LIVE down there and there's tons of retail! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 Downtown Houston last Saturday at 10 pm. Sorry for the quality - I was shooting at night with no tripod and ISO 1600. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 Wow, great photos. Those streets are sure crowded compared to downtown Houston!I can't help but imagine what HAIF posters would say if they saw THAT downtown. With the number of people that go into full panic mode if a panhandler asks for some spare change, and the screams that Main Street went ghetto because club-goers are Black, a scene like those pictured above would cause a caucasian calamity. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
713 To 214 Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 Where's all of the traffic and throngs of people I've been reading about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MetroMogul Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 I can't help but imagine what HAIF posters would say if they saw THAT downtown. With the number of people that go into full panic mode if a panhandler asks for some spare change, and the screams that Main Street went ghetto because club-goers are Black, a scene like those pictured above would cause a caucasian calamity.LMAO. Ah, so true. And looking at the pics of LA's downtown comapred to Houston's is so embarrassing. That's like 1/10th of the traffic on a good night back in 2004. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 Where's all of the traffic and throngs of people I've been reading about?They moved on a couple of years ago. In 2004...the heyday...the sidewalks AND street would be jammed from Preston to Texas. It would be a mild crowd until 10 pm, then, all at once the crowds would descend on Main from everywhere. I owned a restaurant on Prairie back then, and would walk around to look at it. Traffic would be bumper to bumper on Texas and Prairie east and west, and San Jacinto and Fannin north and south. It was impressive.I was downtown a couple of Fridays ago, and though there were crowds, the crushing crowds and traffic were long gone. Frankly, I liked it better without the mob scene. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
713 To 214 Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 They moved on a couple of years ago. In 2004...the heyday...the sidewalks AND street would be jammed from Preston to Texas. It would be a mild crowd until 10 pm, then, all at once the crowds would descend on Main from everywhere. I owned a restaurant on Prairie back then, and would walk around to look at it. Traffic would be bumper to bumper on Texas and Prairie east and west, and San Jacinto and Fannin north and south. It was impressive.I was downtown a couple of Fridays ago, and though there were crowds, the crushing crowds and traffic were long gone. Frankly, I liked it better without the mob scene. I knew that, already. However, a few members of this forum, including you, have attempted to pass DT of as some sort of entertainment mecca for Houston. I'm just glad that the truth has finally been acknowledged. Now, an honest debate can begin about where we want to see DT Houston go, and how to get there. It's like an alcoholic who refuses to admit he/she has a problem. . .you can't help him/her unless/until (s)he does. Red, you're one of the most intelligent members of this forum, and many others follow your lead. I only hope you lead them in the right direction...for the overall betterment of Houston! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 There may not be throngs of people, but name one part of Houston where you see more people out walking (day or night)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MetroMogul Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 I knew that, already. However, a few members of this forum, including you, have attempted to pass DT of as some sort of entertainment mecca for Houston. I'm just glad that the truth has finally been acknowledged. Now, an honest debate can begin about where we want to see DT Houston go, and how to get there. It's like an alcoholic who refuses to admit he/she has a problem. . .you can't help him/her unless/until (s)he does. Red, you're one of the most intelligent members of this forum, and many others follow your lead. I only hope you lead them in the right direction...for the overall betterment of Houston! I think some sort of clubbing district should be opened on Westpark in advance of the University line, kind of like how alot of the clubs opened up in anticipation of the Red Line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalparadise Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 I can't help but imagine what HAIF posters would say if they saw THAT downtown. With the number of people that go into full panic mode if a panhandler asks for some spare change, and the screams that Main Street went ghetto because club-goers are Black, a scene like those pictured above would cause a caucasian calamity.Actually, minus probably 3/4 the people on the street and half the "retail", those photos look like Main St. Houston about twelve years ago. I believe I remember your saying how terrible that was in another thread.No caucasian calamity here. I don't find those pictures particularly appealing, though. The streetscape is similar to North Main, just across the bayou from Downtown, or maybe Harrisburg Blvd. -- both areas similar, proportionally and logistically speaking -- to the area of LA pictured. Yeah, it's sort of Downtown, but it isn't really what you go to for the "Downtown experience". It also isn't the Downtown people are really talking about when they think about building in new residential and retail. Whether it should be or not, is probably another discussion. LA doesn't currently have an area central to Downtown that's like Houston's...holy crap, now I'm starting to sound like those Dallas posters... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 Actually, I was never one that was overly impressed with the one-sided niteclub scene downtown. Niteclubs are what they are. They only appeal to the under-30 crowd. I was always rooting for something with more staying power...restaurants, bars and lounges. I am not the least bit upset to see the club scene die downtown. They'll be replaced with something that will better serve the downtown clientele of business people, (a few) residents and sports fans. That is not to say that a club district is not useful, only that I would rather it be somewhere other than Main Street. But, then again, I passed my clubbing age a couple of years back. This is my selfish wish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalparadise Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 Actually, I was never one that was overly impressed with the one-sided niteclub scene downtown. Niteclubs are what they are. They only appeal to the under-30 crowd. I was always rooting for something with more staying power...restaurants, bars and lounges. I am not the least bit upset to see the club scene die downtown. They'll be replaced with something that will better serve the downtown clientele of business people, (a few) residents and sports fans.That is not to say that a club district is not useful, only that I would rather it be somewhere other than Main Street. But, then again, I passed my clubbing age a couple of years back. This is my selfish wish. Yes, on all these points we are in complete agreement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 Are you comparing that photo of downtown LA to "North Main, just across the bayou from Downtown" ???? Seriously? I had to go to a place near North Main and Hogan once. There were very few people around and no tall buildings and no urban style street retail. All I saw was a mexican grocery store with a huge parking lot called "El Guero" and a hamburger place with picnic table seating out front and another big parking lot. In that photo of LA, the buildings are packed together with no space in between and they all seem to have retail on the ground and apartments above. They also seem to be 5-10 stories, and there are no parking lots. The streetscape of North Main is nothing like downtown LA in that photo! Anybody got any photos of North Main to compare? This is the closest I've got (taken about one block from North Main and Hogan). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToolMan Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 They moved on a couple of years ago. In 2004...the heyday...the sidewalks AND street would be jammed from Preston to Texas. It would be a mild crowd until 10 pm, then, all at once the crowds would descend on Main from everywhere. I owned a restaurant on Prairie back then, and would walk around to look at it. Traffic would be bumper to bumper on Texas and Prairie east and west, and San Jacinto and Fannin north and south. It was impressive.I miss the Firehouse Philly and Limelite days... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalparadise Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 Are you comparing that photo of downtown LA to "North Main, just across the bayou from Downtown" ???? Seriously? I had to go to a place near North Main and Hogan once. There were very few people around and no tall buildings and no urban style street retail. All I saw was a mexican grocery store with a huge parking lot called "El Guero" and a hamburger place with picnic table seating out front and another big parking lot. In that photo of LA, the buildings are packed together with no space in between and they all seem to have retail on the ground and apartments above. They also seem to be 5-10 stories, and there are no parking lots.The streetscape of North Main is nothing like downtown LA in that photo! Anybody got any photos of North Main to compare? This is the closest I've got (taken about one block from North Main and Hogan). Yeah, Harrisburg is probably much closer, but North Main just past the tunnel is what I was talking about. Not far up, where that photo is taken. I agree that it isn't really all that comparable -- proportionally it seems like a comparison, though. LA is about 3 times larger than Houston. Those shots seem about 3 times more built up than the areas I was talking about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 There may not be throngs of people, but name one part of Houston where you see more people out walking (day or night)...med center Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 Yeah, in the day there are people directly around Dryden station, but not as many people and not in the rest of the med center.. The night crowds downtown extend more than one block. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 Actually, I was never one that was overly impressed with the one-sided niteclub scene downtown. Niteclubs are what they are. They only appeal to the under-30 crowd. I was always rooting for something with more staying power...restaurants, bars and lounges. I am not the least bit upset to see the club scene die downtown. They'll be replaced with something that will better serve the downtown clientele of business people, (a few) residents and sports fans.That is not to say that a club district is not useful, only that I would rather it be somewhere other than Main Street. But, then again, I passed my clubbing age a couple of years back. This is my selfish wish. Ditto. Also, it was insane to have the club district around the backbone of the rail system (the Red Line), requiring them to actually shut down the rail line at times of high use of the club district. That was just not sustainable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 They actually shut down the metro because of the clubs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MetroMogul Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 They actually shut down the metro because of the clubs?I only remember that happening during the Superbowl. Ahhhh, the heady days of 2004. We thought Houston had finally made it as a clubbing and nitelife city. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 They actually shut down the metro because of the clubs?Yes, it happened more than once. And on other occasions, the trains had to slow to a crawl to get through that area. Insanity to intentionally promote street parties and clubs on the street where the backbone of your rail system runs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkultra25 Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 I can't help but imagine what HAIF posters would say if they saw THAT downtown. With the number of people that go into full panic mode if a panhandler asks for some spare change, and the screams that Main Street went ghetto because club-goers are Black, a scene like those pictured above would cause a caucasian calamity. Last time I was in LA a few years ago, I walked a fair portion of the area in those pics, although it wasn't quite as crowded the day I was there. The Los Angeles Conservancy sponsors walking tours of LA's Broadway Theater District on a weekly basis, and I'd highly recommend those tours to any HAIFers who happen to be in the area. There's an amazing concentration of old theaters within an area of a few square blocks; you can see several of the marquees in the pictures. Although we weren't able to go inside all the theaters on the tour (some, like the gorgeous Los Angeles, are open only for special events), most of them were accessible. Los Angeles Conservancy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 the cuban place was already closed. pete's had a sign labor day saying they were closed for 3 days.....employees weren't told a thing.....they went back....and well....it isn't reopening. it was one of maybe two restuarnts that was still open since the rail.....mia bella hang in there!!!!!!!EDIT: i biked downttown tonight....VERY ghetto.The latin place I was talking about (used to be called Bossa I think, and I'm not so sure it was Cuban) has re-opened as a martini bar / steak house. That was a pretty quick turnaround. I walked around downtown tonight, not ghetto at all, very active and lots of people around. Most places around main and market square seemed pretty packed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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