Tagged : houston 
There are currently 39 blog entries matching this tag.
Montrose - One Funky Neighborhood in Houston Texas
Sunday, August 7th, 2011 at 1:42pm. 4092 Views, 4 Comments.
Look at an early picture of Montrose Blvd., circa 1911, and you'll see a grand avenue complete with wide, treed esplanade and sidewalks, freshly carved out of Houston dairy farmland. You'll also see echoes, however faint, of the Montrose we know and (mostly) love today.
When the area we now call Montrose was still being grazed by cows, in the late 19th century, suburbs were starting to come into favor in other cities around the country. New York City, in fact, had had commuters traveling to and from Brooklyn by ferry since the 1850s. But for a young, inland city like Houston - bayous and ship channels notwithstanding - it would take an entirely different mode of transportation to make the suburbs take off. And that happened in 1891, when the electric…
The Montrose Area Whole Foods in Houston Texas - Built to Suit
Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011 at 11:06pm. 4044 Views, 0 Comments.
Judging by all the press the new Whole Foods at 701 Waugh has received, you’d think that the natural and organic foods store has revolutionized grocery shopping. The store not only offers its standard wholesome selections of foods, but its building design and functionality sets it apart from all of its utilitarian carbon-copy counterparts.
Whole Foods broke ground April 2010. After three years of various construction and placement changes, the Austin-based company celebrated with the grand opening of its sixth Houston location on June 22, 2011.
Stone Soup 6 Architecture, which has partnered with Whole Foods on many projects, was the architect. Cleveland Construction, headquartered in Ohio, was the general contractor for the project.
Many green features have…
Texas Cyclone, Greased Lightning, Snow, and Fresh-Baked Bread: Astroworld USA in Houston Texas
Sunday, June 26th, 2011 at 10:48am. 4048 Views, 3 Comments.
For almost 40 years, summer in Houston meant two things: air conditioning and Astroworld. Our own private Disneyland, the Astroworld theme park was a requisite childhood destination, someplace everybody went at least once and a repeat trip for many. And like so many Houston landmarks, it was the brainchild of an exceptional person.
That person was Roy Hofheinz, a Rice University-educated lawyer, who served as Harris County judge (thus securing his most enduring title, "Judge Roy") and later as Houston mayor. After presiding over two contentious terms, during which he was impeached and had four city council members arrested for boycotting a special meeting he'd called, he returned to private law practice and business ventures.
Part of that business was the…
Hurricanes, Fires and Floods - Review Home Insurance Before an Emergency Hits
Friday, June 24th, 2011 at 10:15am. 3332 Views, 2 Comments.
Hurricanes, Fires and Floods ...OMG!
This stuff happens in Houston, Texas. Get an Insurance Check-up Before an Emergency Hits.
When was the last time you looked at your homeowners’ insurance policy? Was it, say, around the time you purchased your home? If so, you’re not alone. Many homeowners take a “buy it and forget it” attitude when it comes to their insurance, and for good reason - it’s not fun to think about all the calamities that could befall your home.
But, as the recent outbreak of floods, tornadoes and wildfires across the country reminds us, disasters can strike whether we’re ready or not. And in the middle of a crisis is not the time to find out whether your policy will fully take care of any damage to your home.
So, below are several steps…
Rice, Oil and Mudbugs. The Cajun Journey from Canada to the Houston Bayou
Wednesday, April 27th, 2011 at 2:50pm. 3495 Views, 2 Comments.
Aiyeee, y'all! Eh?
One look at your grocer’s seafood counter will tell you - it’s officially mudbug season in Houston (that’s crawfish for you recent transplants). This is the time of year when we break out the boilin’ pots and get ready to do some serious stompin’ to Cajun tunes - all thanks to our neighbors to the east.
Just as having Mexico to our south has given us an excuse to celebrate Cinco de Mayo and our beloved Tex-Mex, our proximity to Louisiana has brought Cajun culture to our doorstep. In fact, so many Cajuns have settled just to our east - near Orange, Port Arthur and Beaumont - the area is sometimes called “Lapland,” where Cajun and Texas cultures overlap. With our bayou buddies so linked to our own culture here, it’s easy to forget…
Eight Secrets to Getting your House SOLD this Summer in the Houston Real Estate Market
Thursday, April 7th, 2011 at 2:21pm. 3195 Views, 3 Comments.
We’ve all heard the basic rules of staging your home for sale: Declutter your tschotchkes, pack up personal photos and artifacts, etc. But what are the secret tricks home stagers use, that they don’t want you to know about? Home Staging expert Beth DeLozier-Hayes reveals her money saving strategies to getting your home all dressed up for the ball without it costing you an arm and a leg.
The Sniff Test
Let’s face it, life is smelly. Between pets, exotic dinners, and smoking addiction, we have multiple aromas to throw off homebuyers. The best thing for pets is to send them to stay with the in-laws while the house is on the market. If that's not possible, clean up after them like a maniac. Swiffer up fur, Febreeze linens, stow pet beds, and hide that stinky…
The Long and Winding Road ~ A History of Houston Freeways
Thursday, March 17th, 2011 at 1:46am. 3093 Views, 0 Comments.
As the last section of the Sam Houston Tollway opened last month, nearly 23 years after its first section opened, it seems an apt time to take a look back at how Houston’s freeways came into being.
At once a salvation and the bane of our existence, these concrete roadways define our daily lives. Their names, such as I-45 or the Gulf Freeway, Hwy 59N or the Eastex Freeway, I-10W or the Katy Freeway (amongst many many other numbers and names) are part of a Houstonian's vernacular, as well as a source of convenience, commerce, traffic congestion, and constant conversation.
There was a time, of course, when Houston didn’t have freeways. In fact, it barely had a system of roads. After the Allen brothers diligently laid out a downtown grid that lives on today,…
Houston Real Estate Could Be Bright Spot in the Housing Market Sluggish Recovery
Monday, February 28th, 2011 at 11:23pm. 1344 Views, 1 Comments.
It’s not news that Texas, and Houston in particular, have fared better than most of the nation during the economic turmoil of the last few years. While Texas home prices appreciated at a healthy pace in the 2000’s, none of it approached the huge increases seen in some of the “bubble” markets around the country. Of course, it hasn’t been pain-free, as anyone trying to sell a home in Houston can attest. But, several reports released in recent weeks on Houston’s housing market and economic outlook are continuing to paint a rosy - alebeit cautious - picture.
Clear Capital, a provider of real estate valuations and data, said in its Home Data Market Index Report last month that it expects the Houston-Sugarland-Baytown area to see 3.6% growth in home prices,…
Feng Shui Your Way To a Happy Home
Friday, November 19th, 2010 at 4:37pm. 1863 Views, 1 Comments.
There are certain homes that just radiate good energy. You walk in a front door and say “Ahh.” These listings immediately make you feel “at home.” These are the properties that tend to be purchased the quickest. You may be unaware, but many times these homes are harboring an ancient Chinese secret—Feng Shui.
Feng Shui is a method for creating balance and tranquility in a person’s life through techniques that bring positive energy to living spaces. The effectiveness of Feng Shui has not gone unnoticed by the Houston real estate community and many Houston area realtors incorporate Feng Shui principles to help their listings sell faster. House hunters can also use Feng Shui to find their perfect home by searching for houses that match its principles.
There are…
Houston has a Bull Market ... in Burritos
Monday, November 15th, 2010 at 12:41am. 1625 Views, 1 Comments.
The Lonestar State is known for many things. The Alamo, cowboys, and farmland as far as the eye can see. Houston residents also know that Texas is famous for something much smaller and more delicious: Texas-style burritos. In a recent article by Ralph Bivins, he discusses an interesting dietary phenomenon that oddly enough is directly reflective of Houston real estate trends.
Burrito War Gets Heated
The “burrito wars” are beginning to heat up as outlets across the city of Houston are vying for prime real estate in Houston’s burrito market. Chipotle is a contender as is Freebird’s, Mission Burritos, and newcomer Bullritos. Texans sure love their burritos, but what’s even more important to them in this economy is good taste on a budget.
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