Get it. Got it. Good.

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

Beastie Boys - Hot Sauce Committiee Pt.2

Cinco favoritas

My five favorite Mexican-things.

>Tissue decor...all kinds<
But especially papel picado (those banners you see hanging in Mexican restaurants). I love the colors and the layers of detail. I had always seen custom ones in magazines and on other blogs, but in person they are much better!  My family had some made for my brother and his wife for their rehearsal dinner. 

My recommendation is to use a lady (Yreina Flores Ortiz) out of California...her listing is on Etsy.

Here is some more of her work I am in-lust with:

>Margaritas<
Best place to drink em on Cinco de Mayo in Houston is at El Pueblito. The atmosphere is perfect. They have all kinds of dancers, kids selling "chicle! chicle!" in the restrooms, cabanas, and fun/delicious drinks. Their margaritas come in coconuts and pina coladas come in pineapples!

>Chips & Salsa<

NUFF SAID.

>Mi Tierra<
So far this is my top "Mexican" experience in the states, as far as atmosphere and amusement.  Mi Tierra is decorated floor to ceiling, has a wonderful bakery (panaderia) and is in the Market Square (another must visit).

You will forget you are in the USA!

>Pinatas<
I probably buy 3 a year! I love everything about em...the blindfold, the element of surprise, the colors and shapes.  Recently I found  a gold-mine...Confetti System...AMAZING stuff here.  I have seen their work in Bergdorf Goodman adds and most recently in a wedding.

Above is a photo from a wedding I attended...not a pinata, but looks like work by Confetti System.

I am not certain this is Confetti System's work...but it sure does look like it.

Below IS some of CS's work *sigh*

The Owl gets some friends...

Earlier today I was a part of a meeting that was not only exciting for the company I work for, but it enlightened me on the development of a particular section of Houston.
This section is at Kirby between Richmond and West Alabama.
It is about to get inundated with new bars/restaurants.
Some specific locations are:
The old Kopf Funeral Home
The old Chase Bank
The strip center that contains Cafe Express on its eastern side (where The Owl aka the old Mugsy's is).

I do not have specifics on what exactly is going in at the Funeral Home...rumors are that it is going to be a multi club complex (possibly backed by the same investors as Red Room and Armando's).  This is a bit humorous and intriguing to me...wonder what their names will  be? I've heard the following:
-Twist Cafe Bar
-Fountain Bar
-Club ROak
-Club Rush

Hendricks will be opening at 3320 Kirby. 
Hendricks is brought to you by the same people as TAPS on Washington, NOX on Nett and Kobain (former owners of Whiskey Creek and Escobar).

OTC Bar & Grill will be opening in the old Chase Bank Drive through and will have an outdoor patio, bar, games, and grill.

Dorsia will be opening around June/July in the west end of the Cafe Express strip center (farthest away from Kirby). The name Dorsia comes from the movie American Psycho...it is a mythological high class restaurant in the movie.  Dorsia will contain private wine rooms, food, bar, and lounge.

We shall see what actually comes to fruition...neighbors are not pleased!

ByeBye Catalan

Chris Shepherd's last night at Catalan was last night...it was bittersweet.
Catalan was my first commercial project. It will always be remembered by me as a huge contribution to not only me, but Collaborative Projects, and Washington Ave.
Here are some photos of it five years ago:

What is in store for the space now? Read this to find out.



On to the next...

Funny signs

Catching a typo that spells something inappropriate or just coming across someone with good humor provides me with unlimited giggles and entertainment.

Recently it was brought to my attention that there may be a prankster on the loose in Houston

Check out this section of Chron.com for some more related humor.

Eye Witness Photographer

I grew up watching this guy and always chuckled when my family (in unison) would quote his catch-phrase.
I knew he was an icon, I knew he was a journalist, but I never knew about his photography.

Not until the other day when a contact of mine shared this brochure with me:


Story goes...  
John Gonzales, a copy editor at the Chronicle and writer of the Bayou City History blog, stumbled across one of Marvin's photos while researching for a post. After a bit more digging, he realized that Marvin had quite the collection of photos of crime suspects, robbery victims, socialites, juveniles, and domestic violence victims portrayed in raw detail. These photos provided a look at the seedier side of Houston (circa 19050's).  Back then, the city was known as the murder capital of the nation!

Gonzales decided that these photos needed to be shared with the public. From March 24 - August 13, the Houston Museum of Printing History will feature a collection of Zindler's "crime photography" in an installation called "Bayou City Noir" from when he actually worked as a freelancer for the Houston Press. Not the Houston Press that exists today, but a paper that closed after the Houston Chronicle bought it in the 1960s.

Approximately 50 photos comprise the exhibition, one of which is shown below

{Here he recognized a pretty woman's ability to spice up a story. In "Torrid Toni Goes to Jail," his lens lingered on a stripper ("she calls it artiste," he wrote) who'd been arrested for running a dice game. He caught her coyly looking to her side, toward the floor, a position that improbably thrust her cone-shaped breasts up and out, toward the policeman at her side. Zindler's caption declared that the good officer's name was B.B. Schallert}

(above excerpt taken from Chron.com article)





 

iCade

I have yet to get an iPad, but this seems like a perk ;)



Currently on backorder here.