See a “For Sale” sign in front of the house of your dreams? You’d better act fast — a new report says that Houston has one of the fastest housing markets in the United States.

The data comes from Seattle-based real estate firm Redfin, which hascoined the term ”Real Estate Flash Sales” for homes that go under contact within only hours of listing. Houston ranks No. 3 on the nationwide list, counting 188 flash sales within the past five months.

Dallas and Austin weren’t far behind, at Nos. 4 and 5 in the ranking, with 184 and 163 flash sales during the five-month time period.

Houston ranks No. 3 on the nationwide list, counting 188 flash sales within the past five months.

What’s more, although that half-a-million-dollar teardown in the Heights may seem a bit steep, another study has found Houston’s housing prices to be remarkably affordable.

ZipRealty, an online real estate broker, compared median home sale prices to median household income to determine that Texas metro areas are the best places to find a real estate bargain. Dallas-Fort Worth ranks No. 1 on its list of the Most Affordable Housing Markets of 2013, followed by Houston at No. 2 and Austin at No. 7.

In DFW, where the median household income is $47,418 and the median home price is $249,950, the ratio is 5.27; in Houston, it’s 5.43 (considering a $44,761 median income and a $243,000 median home price). Austin’s median household income is $48,950, and a median home price is $300,000, yielding a 6.13 ratio.

Original Source: Whitney Radley for CultureMap Houston

Few Houston neighborhoods have as unique a story as Houston Heights, most commonly known as simply “The Heights.” Located just four miles from downtown, The Heights manages to maintain an almost small-town charm with its tree-lined streets and local shops and restaurants.

RESIDENTIAL HISTORY

In the late 1800s, millionaire entrepreneur Oscar Martin Carter envisioned the community as a middle class suburb from which workers could easily commute to nearby downtown. At an elevation 23 feet higher than downtown, the aptly named Houston Heights provided lush vegetation, natural water sources, and reprieve from the flooding and yellow fever that afflicted the bustling city at the time. The Omaha and South Texas Land Company purchased the land and invested over a half million dollars into developing The Heights’ infrastructure, including utilities, roads, electric streetcars, schools, and parks. The iconic, 60-foot-wide Heights Boulevard esplanade was established as the signature grand avenue of the community and is still maintained today by the Houston Heights Association. Originally comprised largely of Victorian cottages, today the tree-canopied streets of The Heights are peppered with an array of bungalows, mansions, restored homes, and new-construction homes that reflect the transformation of the area over the past century.

SCHOOLS

The Heights is part of the Houston Independent School District, and also includes a number of private education institutions. HISD elementary schools include Crockett, Field, Harvard, Helms, Love, and Sinclair; middle schools include Hamilton and Hogg. Reagan High School is the only HISD high school to service Heights residents. The area also is home to two state charter schools: Houston Heights Learning Academy (a TEA Exemplary School), and Houston Heights High School, which offers the ability to earn college credit through Houston Community College.

DINING

The Heights offers some of the best and most varied dining in the city. Here, eateries reflect the area’s tendency to favor locally-owned, locally-supplied food fare and one-of-a-kind dining experiences. Jus’ Mac on Yale Street is jus’ that: an entire menu of that creamy comfort classic, macaroni and cheese. On a hot sunny day, locals flock to the Mam’s House of Ice truck for snowballs in not-your-mamma’s-flavors like king cake, pomegranate, dulce de leche, and – seriously – dill pickle. The area is also home to the Creek restaurants: Cedar Creek, Dry Creek, and Onion Creek, each offering different menus in their famously laid-back establishments. After a night out at one of the casual Heights watering holes, there’s nothing like a pick-me-up breakfast taco from Chiloso’s or a plate of diner classics at Lola. From Antidote Coffee to Zelko Bistro and everything in between, Houstonians know they can count on Heights-area restaurants to pack a unique punch.

RECREATION

In 1973, the Houston Heights Association was established by local residents and business owners to strengthen the community charm of The Heights by preserving its history and improving its outdoor spaces. With its plentiful trees, green spaces, and small-town charm, it should come as no surprise that The Heights is an area that encourages outdoor activity. Donovan Park, The Heights Boulevard Park, Proctor Plaza, Milroy Park, and Love Park are family-friendly recreation destinations. You can find bike trails, tennis and basketball courts, sports fields and playgrounds throughout the area. Local outdoor festivals, like Lights in The Heights during the holiday season or White Linen Night in The Heights in the summer, see hoards of Houstonians flock to the area to enjoy its local flavor. With its community-minded businesses and local flair, The Heights is truly one of Houston’s most unique neighborhoods.

Original Source: The Houston Chronicle

Houston’s real estate markets – both commercial and residential – have just finished an exceptionally strong year and conditions remain positive as we sail into 2013. The inventory of homes for sale is at a 12-year low and local home builders say there’s a shortage of lots to build on.

No matter who’s doing the leasing, rental rates are way up — in office towers, in apartments, warehouses and even for people who are leasing single-family homes.

Construction cranes are everywhere as new apartment towers and office buildings are erected in the most desirable parts of town. And what makes this construction boom different is that it all seems to be justified. Unlike years past, today’s developers aren’t just building new projects to get a tax write-off or to churn activity at a friendly S&L. What’s being built, is being leased. These are real deals, backed with solid fundamentals.

What makes this construction boom different is that it all seems to be justified. What’s being built, is being leased. These are real deals, backed with solid fundamentals.
Job growth is huge with corporations like Exxon Mobil and Chevron moving tons of people to Houston. Trulia, a major national real estate listing company, just ranked Houston as the healthiest realty market in the country. Investors from around the world are focused on the city, which has forever solidified its nickname of Energy Capital of the World.

Can the good times last forever? No. Nothing does. But how long can the good times roll? One year? As we roll into 2013, here are the top five predictions for real estate in the year ahead.

1. Houston home prices will rise as much as 5 percent in 2013

That’s according to the long-time guru of local home price stats, Evert Crawford of the University of Houston’s Institute for Regional Forecasting. Houston has a tiny four-month supply of homes for sale, the lowest since December 2000, the Houston Association of Realtors says.

It’s basic economics: supply is low and demand is high. Fasten your seat belt, home prices are taking off.

2. Food is foremost

In shopping center realty, grocery stores will dominate local retail construction in 2013, according to retail center developer Ed Wulfe. Aldi, a discount grocer with smaller stores and shelves full of Aldi-branded products, is entering the Houston market with 15 stores, Wulfe & Co. reports.

Other grocery outlets being built in Houston in 2013: two new HEB stores, two Kroger’s, one Whole Foods, one Trader Joe’s, four Fresh Markets and four Sprouts. For hoarder-types and big families, there’s more good news – two new Costcos and two Sam’s Club will be opening in 2013.

3. Mortgage rates will rise, but not much

At year-end, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged a low 3.35 percent, according to Freddie Mac. Mortgage interest rates are forecast to gradually rise and to average 4.0 percent in 2013, and 4.6 percent in 2014, the National Association of Realtors predicts.

Mortgage rates were at record lows in 2012. The 2012 annual average of 3.66 percent was the lowest annual average in at least 65 years, Freddie Mac reports. By comparison, the annual average mortgage rate was 4.45 percent in 2011 and —when inflation was at its worst — the average was 16.63 percent in 1981.

4. Apartments surge

The National Association of Realtors is forecasting a 4.6 percent gain in the nation’s rental rates in 2013 and Houston apartment renters should expect to face even higher rent increases. Construction is robust in the Inner Loop.

The multifamily market is being lifted partly by a fundamental change in the consumer mindset – the recent housing crash showed that home buying is not always a winning investment, says Mark Obrinsky, chief economist of the National Multi Housing Council. But it’s job growth that’s really fueling the apartment market and Houston is leading the nation in job creation.

5. Empty office space will get harder to find

Rental rates are going to go up “fairly dramatically” in 2013, having already surpassed $30 per square foot in the better buildings, according to Stream Realty. Vacancy rates are below 5 percent (all-time lows) in prime buildings in some of the hot areas like the Energy Corridor, Westchase and The Woodlands, Stream reports.

Office leasing expert Sanford Criner of the CBRE realty firm puts it this way: “Where will we be at the end of 2013? We will be the envy of virtually every city in the country and most of the rest of the world.

Original Source: Ralph Bivens for Culture Map Houston

These renderings show the proposed 30-story convention center hotel proposed for a site just north of Discovery Green.

The new project, for which the city approved $138 million worth of incentives last week, will be developed by Houston-based Rida Development Corp. and designed by Morris Architects.

It is slated to be a Marriott Marquis and include more than 1,000 rooms and 100,000 square feet of meeting space.

via Houston Chronicle

The supply of homes for sale in the Houston area has dropped to its lowest level in 12 years, the Houston Association of Realtors said Tuesday.

Sales of single-family homes shot up 27.3 percent in November, compared with the same month in 2011, the realty group said in its monthly market report.

Home sales have been rising for 18 straight months, as pent up demand, low interest rates and a growing population continue to fuel home buying activity.

Buyers closed on 4,978 homes in November, reducing inventory to 4.1 months. Supply has not been that low since December 2000.

“Homes are selling at an unusually hefty pace for this time of year, and that has left fewer properties on the market and driven up prices,” Wayne Stroman, the association’s chairman, said in a statement.

The single-family median price — the point at which half the homes sold for more and half sold for less — rose 8.1 percent to $167,000.

Those looking for good news in Brookings’ Global MetroMonitor, an annual report on the economic state of 300 cities worldwide, will find it — as long as they live in China.

With virtually every city in Europe still mired in a worsening recession and much of the United States still in a weak recovery mode, mainland China featured 34 of the top-performing metropolitan areas in 2011-2012, dominating the top quintile. Overall three-fourths of the fastest-growing economies in the world are in developing Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.

“Houston is the highest-ranked American city, in 40th place globally.”

However Houston was a rare bright spot in the American economic landscape. While only Dallas, Knoxville and Pittsburgh were declared to be “fully recovered,” from the recent major recession, Houston is the highest-ranked American city, in 40th place globally, based on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita and employment change.

Louisville, Salt Lake City and San Jose also ranked highly enough to be among the top 20 percent, but their three economies combined are still less than Houston’s $400 billion GDP.

The good news for the United States is that while only a trio of cities were categorized as fully recovered, most cities in America are partially recovered, not still in a partial recession. So it is getting better — and Houston is leading the way.

Good happy hours with deals on both drinks and food are hard to find, but we’ve got 10 hot new picks for you. Get your drink and food on with these specials.

Kiran’s
Happy hour at Kiran’s Restaurant & Bar near Highland Village runs Mondays through Fridays from 4 to 7 p.m. Small plates such as calamari and kebabs are $6 each.

Select beer goes for $3, select glasses of wine and cocktails like the Fresh Pineapple Martini are $6. With cooler temps here, grab a table on the veranda.

Eighteenth Bar
The fare on the happy hour menu at Eighteenth Bar near West University is ample enough that you won’t need dinner. Available Monday through Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. at this sexy speakeasy: chimichurri chicken panini and brie grilled cheese sandwiches for five bucks each, well drinks for $4, house wines and craft beers for $5 and domestic beers for $3.

From classics to creative, all cocktails are $7.

The Blue Fish
Both locations of The Blue Fish, Bayou Place downtown and Washington Avenue, offer discounted prices during happy hour. The deals are good at Bayou Place weekdays from 5 to 7 p.m. and at Washington Avenue every day from 5 to 7 p.m.

The menu is fairly large and with prices ranging from $2 to $5; you can eat, drink and be merry for cheap. At the $2 price point: vegetable tempura, crispy spring roll, Kirin Ichiban draft beer and house sake. For only a dollar more, order a spicy salmon roll, crab potstickers or house wines. For $5, order the spicy salmon tartar on crispy rice or braised short ribs.

Katsuya
Happy hour runs from 4 to 7 p.m. weekdays at the swank Katsuya at West Ave and also from 11:30 a.m. until close on Sundays. Grab a seat in the lounge and catch the Houston Texans game (many of the players actually like to hang out here during the week) on one of the flat screen televisions.

Featured bites include pork-belly sliders, spicy tuna rolls and honey chipotle shrimp for $9 and under. Save on libations, too, with $7 specialty cocktails and premium spirits, $5 select beers and $6 select wines.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar
Stop by one of Fleming’s three locations — Town & Country, The Woodlands and River Oaks — and check out the “5 For $6 ‘Til 7″ happy hour menu which includes five cocktails, five wines by the glass and five appetizers.

Each selection is priced at $6 and served at the bar from 5 to 7 p.m. Don’t miss out on the $6 prime burger with cheese and bacon.

Kung Fu Saloon
The 357 food happy hour menu at Kung Fu Saloon on Washington Avenue is available Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m., Saturday from 2 to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 6 to 10 p.m. On the $3 menu: Steak fries and onion rings. For $5: Lettuce wraps, cheese sticks and Asian Chicken Salad. For $7: Specialty sandwiches like the Chicken Teriyaki, Club and the Philly.

Happy hour drink specials — $4 wells, $3 domestics, $2 off everything else — are available Monday through Saturday from 4 to 9 p.m. and all day Sunday.

Cuchara
The newly opened Cuchara in Montrose has introduced a happy hour menu that offers charalitos (deep fried lake fish), chicharrones (crunchy pork rinds) and Mousse de aguacate (avocado mousse) for $5 apiece. Wines by the glass are $5.

The happy hour food selection changes every few weeks. Happy hour runs Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at the bar from 5 to 7 p.m.

Harvest Organic Grille
Located near Tanglewood, Harvest Organic Grille features drink and food specials Mondays through Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m. During that timeframe you can get an order of baked wings for $8.99, chicken tacos for $9.99 or ceviche for $10.99. There’s also a 1-2-3 drink deal with $1 off select beer, $2 off organic wines by the glass and $3 off handcrafted cocktails.

Frank’s Houston
Frank’s Chop House near River Oaks has changed management and names. Now officially Frank’s Americana (signage will change in early November), with the new moniker comes a new happy hour deal. Try the short rib sliders for $8, angus mini-burgers for $7 or crispy okra for $5. Beer is $3, house wines by the glass are $6 and cocktails are $5 to $7. Happy hour is weekdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Sullivan’s Steakhouse
Hit the bar at Sullivan’s Steakhouse in the Galleria Thursdays and Sundays (only) from 4:30 to 11 p.m  where for $7 you can enjoy the house-made blue cheese chips, ahi tuna tacos, select flatbreads, filet mignon tips and more. Signature drinks such as the Knockout Martini made with Svedka Clementine Vodka infused with fresh Hawaiian gold pineapples and the CEO Martini with Finlandia vodka with blue cheese stuffed olives are also included on the $7 menu — along with glasses of wine.

Let us know . . . what are some of your favorite happy spots?

According to Google, the most popular (or at least most interesting) foods to pair with fried chicken are waffles, sushi (um, what?) and champagne. But don’t tell that to Lee Ellis, one of the owners ofLiberty Kitchen, BRC Gastropub and Petite Sweets.

“There’s just nothing like having fried chicken and donuts,” Ellis says. That pairing is at the center of Ellis and partner Lance Fegen’s next concept, dubbed Lee’s Fried Chicken & Donuts.

 ”Chef Lenig brines his version for three days, giving it an incredible amount of moisture and flavor.”

There’s no opening date yet, but Lee’s will be located in the small structure behind Liberty on 11th Street, and replaces the original plan for that space, a coffeehouse called Joe Black’s. Ellis says the idea for the concept came from how popular the Dixie Fried Chicken special is at Liberty on Wednesdays.

Ellis says chef Travis Lenig brines his version for three days, giving it an incredible amount of moisture and flavor.

Lee’s will offer a drive-thru and limited seating (including a planned deck surrounding a large shade tree on the property), serving buckets of fried chicken, over a dozen biscuit sandwiches, sides like creamed corn, hush puppies and slaw and boxes of biscuits, although the recipe will be different from the biscuits served at BRC.

And, of course, donuts.

Come and join The Original Greek Festival, now in its 46th year, and be Greek for a day! Growing attendance over the years continues to create excitement as the word gets around, so bring your family, friends and co-workers to enjoy the festive atmosphere and our new expanded festival site. Facilities, children’s activities, Athenian playground & seating capacity have also been expanded. OPA!!

When
Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday – October 4 – 7, 2012.
Festival Hours and Food & Dance Program Times

Where
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral complex
Near downtown and the Museum District
3511 Yoakum Boulevard
Houston, Texas 77006
Maps and Directions

Free Parking & Free shuttle
Free shuttle from Lamar High School
West “Student” parking lot, 3325 Westheimer
(between Westheimer & West Alabama, and between Buffalo Speedway & Kirby).
Free parking is available for shuttle passengers.
A new “no parking” zone street map has been added to this page
Shuttle Times and Parking Information

Food
“Best Festival Food” honors for the authentic Greek food and pastries prepared by community parishioners from recipes handed down over the centuries.
Menu and prices

Program
View the 2011 Festival program here.
Program

Tickets
Admission at Gate
$5.00 (adults). Children 12 and under admitted free

Pre-sale Tickets
$20.00 – Includes admission and dinner plate with your choice of Souvlaki, Greek Salad,
or Pastry Box (note: Does not include Gyros).
Order Tickets

Highlights
• Cathedral Tours
• Religious Artifacts/Icons
• Greek Folk Dancing
• Authentic Greek Foods/Pastries
• Gift Shop
• T-shirts, Videos, CD’s, Tapes
• Agora Greek Food Store
• Annunciation Orthodox School Exhibit
• Athenian Playground (Children’s Activities)
Entertainment Schedules

Photos 
Don’t miss the photo gallery from the Original Greek Festival. Are you in there?
Photo Gallery

HISTORY

In 1917, a handful of Greek immigrants formed what is today one of the largest Greek Orthodox communities in the United States. The vision, foresight and dedication of those few faithful immigrants laid the groundwork for what exists today.

From its original location in downtown Houston (what is now Tranquility Park) to the sprawling grounds that border Yoakum Boulevard, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral has become a major force in the religious and social communities that comprise Houston today.

Proceeds from the Greek Festival have helped many people through donations to various charitable organizations, such as Children’s Assessment Center, S.E.A.R.C.H., Houston Area Women’s Center, Covenant House, Texas Emergency Aid Coalition (EAC), and the Star of Hope Mission. A complete list of this year’s donations is available here.

Name: Eliza
Challenge: Trouble Deciding on a Color
Color: Glidden Paint Sea Spray
Eliza wanted to keep her apartment sophisticated, and wanted to add color without adding a sense of clutter. She chose an airy, nuanced blue and painted two walls in her living room.

Before I took on this assignment, I really didn’t think that my fridge was that dirty. Well, let’s just say that I was wrong. In case you too have fallen victim to that somewhat subtle accumulation of of grit and grime, follow along for my step-to-step guide to getting rid of the mess.

Here’s a before photo just so you can grasp the full extent of this transformation. Also, to get this off my chest, I recently returned from a mini-vacation to Wisconsin that involved several brewery visits, so please ignore the disproportionate food-to-beer ratio. The name of the beer below pretty accurately sums up how I feel about revealing the contents of my fridge to you at this point:

Now, with all the disclaimers out of the way, let’s get to cleaning….

What You Need

A sponge

Dish soap

Dish towels

Glass cleaner and a paper towel or two

Plenty of counter space for organizing food

A trash can

An old toothbrush (optional)

If you have a stainless steel refrigerator:

Stainless steel cleaner, vinegar, or oil and a soft cloth

If you have an enameled steel refrigerator:

A multipurpose cleaner

Instructions

1 (optional) Unplug the fridge. If the interior needs serious scouring, you can do this to save some energy while you’re cleaning. I left mine plugged in because all the shelves were removable, the rest of the interior wasn’t that dirty, and I closed the doors in between steps. If you do decide to unplug your fridge, though, rest assured that this whole process won’t take long enough to harm any of your foods.

2 Take everything out of the doors and start using up that free counter space I mentioned. You could take everything out at once, but I found it was easier to do this in stages.

3 Get rid of expired products and consolidate doubles. I really didn’t need two jars of sambal oelek or that quarter bottle of cooking wine that had been in the fridge for two months. This is also a good time to group like with like. I had several beers hiding out in the door, and the rest were on the other shelves, so this was when I put them all together on the counter.

4 Repeat steps 2 and 3 with the rest of the fridge. Then repeat them with the freezer.

5 Remove all shelves and drawers.

6 Wash them with warm soapy water. I’m fortunate enough to live in a place with a large double sink and a retractable hose, but if you aren’t so lucky, then there’s no shame in dragging those bins and shelves to the bathtub. Even in my giant sink the produce drawers got pretty unwieldy.

Dry them with dish towels and set them aside. At this point, I also chose to use some Windex on the glass shelves to get them extra clean and streak-free.

7 Wipe down all the fridge’s interior spaces with a damp sponge or towel. For those of you looking for a really deep clean, if there are any shelf seams or rubber seals with buried bits of grime, an old toothbrush will get the job done. Put the shelves and drawers back in and admire the transformation.

8 Replace all your food, wiping down any sticky jars before putting them in your newly clean fridge. I found it helpful to keep all my items grouped by use, which is a task I completed as part of step 3. If you need help organizing the fridge, check outthese helpful tips. Stick in a new box of baking soda, and if you unplugged the fridge in step one, don’t forget to plug it back in.

9 You’re almost done! Now that you’ve cleaned the inside, be sure not to neglect the exterior of the fridge. If you use magnets, tidy up the items they’re holding and discard any outdated coupons, etc. Then give the exterior a quick wipe down with your product of choice. If you have a stainless steel fridge, use a stainless steel cleaner and wipe with the grain of the steel. Alternatively, you could use vinegar and a microfiber cloth or olive oil. For enameled steel fridges, a multipurpose cleaner will do the trick.

10 Admire your clean, happy fridge.

(Images: Carolyn Purnell)

via ApartmentTherapy.com

Sometimes you have to downsize, for one reason or another, to a kitchen with less storage and space, or maybe you’re a moving to a new home with a smaller kitchen, if that’s the case you should use Local Moving Companies Denver to help you with this. Once in your newer, smaller kitchen you realize that you shouldn’t look at another Williams-Sonoma catalog and get sucked in by all of the pretty seasonal gadgets, because you can cook just about anything with a basic set of tools. If you’re looking to sharpen your cooking skills with the best of the best, you’ve got to explore our selection of high-quality kitchen knives, choose your favourite kitchen knife from Vie Belles, their wide collection at https://viebelles.com/collections/santoku-knives.

Kitchens come in sizes big and small and often, kitchen size doesn’t always correlate with how large or small the rest of the house is. Here are some of the most important elements that every kitchen needs to keep organized and functional. If you want tip in how to keep it clean, let us recommend the best steam mop in the market.

Choose a few key appliances: Sometimes sacrifices need to be made, and being selective about your small electric appliances is a necessity. According to Retro Kitchen Appliances, you should think about those that you use most often and those that are the biggest time savers, and prioritize them. For me it is the espresso machine. food processor, and hand mixer that made the cut, although sometimes I regret giving up a toaster.

Edit your glassware and dishes: 
The more mismatched your dishes and glassware are, the more space that they will take up. Matching dishes and glassware have more stacking ability, which will maximize your storage. A basic set of white dishes might sound dull, but they can be dressed up for parties with the right tabletop decor and gorgeous food, which should always be the highlight of a table, and if you want to cook you can also get great recipes from sites like Kitchenbar.net to prepare in the kitchen. There’s never been a better time to design your home. Just five years ago, if you wanted to improve the look of your home, your options were subpar. You’d either have to do it yourself (DIY) or hire an interior design online services.

Invest in a few space-saving pieces: Modern technology has enabled companies like Joseph Joseph to design clever, multi-tasking kitchenware that is made for those with limited space, like this folding box grater. Nesting bowls are a must when downsizing on space, and several companies make them in various materials from stainless steel to melamine.

Add some wall hung storage: When all of the editing is complete and you are still short on storage space, take a look around your kitchen. If you have any open walls you can take advantage of the open shelving trend and add some stylish storage. Even if your open wall is very small, IKEA makes some great wall brackets for hanging kitchen utensils, which will clear up space in your kitchen drawers.

(Images: 1. Charley and Jessica’s ‘Patina Clean’, 2. Kitchenaid, 3. CB2, 4. Joseph Joseph, 5. Better Homes and Gardens)

via ApartmentTherapy.com

A GROUND-FLOOR plan of the Ballpark Apartments developer Marvy Finger is set to build on 2 downtown blocks beyond Minute Maid Park’s leftfield fence shows a couple of retail spacesare planned for the southern end of the 7-story complex. They’ll face Texas Ave. between La Branch and Crawford. The larger space, on the corner of Texas and Crawford, will take the place of what are now vacant retail spaces on the ground floor of the (long-vacant) Ben Milam Hotel. (It’s at the far bottom left of the Crawford St. rendering above.) A smaller space will take up the ground floor of land now occupied by the more recently shuttered Bells & Whistles Cafe, at the corner of Texas and La Branch. The plans, leaked to HAIF earlier this week, were prepared by Atlanta architects Niles Bolton Associates.

* * *

Last week, Houston’s city council approved a plan to sell the block of Prairie St. between La Branch and Crawford to Finger; it’ll be used for the 380-unit, dual-courtyard complex’s parking garage.

Photo by Katie Haugland

When you talk about getting educated on beer at college, I am going to assume that you mean learning about the finer points of keg tapping and Natty Light hauling. Because until recently, a real beer education was something that most universities didn’t teach. Wine appreciation classes? Sure. Beer? Forget it.

But beer is in bloom, thanks in large part to the craft beer movement, which is teaching Americans that there’s more to the world of beer than Bud and Miller. Last year at Appalachian State University, the chemistry department added an “intro to beer brewing” course. Closer to home, people like Professor Aaron Corsi — who also happen to be brewmaster at the upcoming 8th Wonder Brewery – are teaching classes on brewing science, viticulture, enology and distillation science at the University of Houston.

And now, Rice University‘s Glasscock School of Continuing Studies is offering a seminar of its very own: “Beer Beyond the Hedges.”

The course will be taught by Bev Blackwood II, a longtime beer writer and brewer who once brewed professionally for Saint Arnold. (In a funny aside, Blackwood’s last Twitter update – from 2009 — is a public unfollowing of the Saint Arnold account for Tweeting too much.) The class will focus on old guard brewery Saint Arnold and new guard Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company, both of which are helmed by Rice grads.

Says the full course description:

While the history of consuming beer within the hedges of Rice University may be quite long and storied, Rice has played a significant role in the brewing of beer for the larger community. Through visits to two of Houston’s craft breweries that have Rice connections – Saint Arnold Brewing Company and Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company - and one on-campus lecture and beer tasting, you will learn not only about the brewing process but also about the history of beer, how the various styles are created and how to appreciate what many consider to be the world’s most varied and versatile beverage.

The class starts on September 20 and wraps up on October 4, so you don’t have to commit to a full semester. You do have to commit some cash, though: It costs $109. There are only 61 seats available in the class, so sign up now.

via HoustonPress.com

A brisk walk or bicycle ride to work is invigorating; public transit commutes can be stress-free and amusing. For many, it doesn’t take much convincing that getting to work in an alternative way is better for the self and for the environment.

But the deal becomes even sweeter when there’s a tangible incentive to commute alternatively. That’s the motivation behind NuRide, a site that rewards commuters with coupons, gift cards and more for walking or biking to work, taking the bus or rail, ride sharing or even telecommuting.

“Anyone who takes a greener transportation option can sign up,” explained Jackie Lambert, business development coordinator for the Houston Downtown Management District. That organization paired up with NuRide and Macy’s for the program, which launched this week.

It takes only a few moments to create a free NuRide account, and commuters can immediately begin tracking and tallying trips, arranging carpools and ride shares, through the easy-to-use site.

It takes only a few moments to create a free NuRide account, and commuters can immediately begin tracking and tallying trips, arranging carpools and ride shares, through the easy-to-use site.

One way trips count for 100 points, round-trip excursions for 200. Rewards start for as little as 500 points, and something like a ticket to a downtown theater performance can be redeemed for 3,500 points.

For the first three months of the initiative, participants who work in downtown Houston will be entered in a drawing for $250 Macy’s gift certificates and for $200 in Macy’s Money. Lambert told CultureMap that the Downtown Management District is working to garner greater participation from local retailers.

On top of that, the Houston-Galveston Area Council has deemed August “Commute Solutions Month,” and the organization will be posting up at transit centers throughout the area, encouraging single-car commuters to try out alternative transportation — if only just once — and conducting outreach events to thank regular riders.

(Hint: Hang out near the METRO Texas Medical Center Transit Center for breakfast tacos on the morning of Aug. 29, or around Greenway Plaza between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sept. 13 for food, music and information on ride sharing.)

Nicholas Williams, senior air quality/commute solutions planner for the H-GAC, recommends that commuters and employers look to the organization’s Commute Solutions website as a resource for other alternative transit options.

“We want to get people out of their cars,” Williams said.

via Houston CultureMap

Activists would like to turn this recently built 21/2-block jogging path in the middle of Heights Boulevard into an Art Car Museum art park. Photo: Michael Paulsen / © 2012 Houston Chronicle

Rebecca Bass eased what used to be a Saturn station wagon up on the median in the middle of Heights Boulevard, careful that none of the bejeweled yogis fell off. The last time she’d driven “Earth, Wind, Fire (and Water),” a police officer at the Free Press Summerfest had hurried her over a curb – ad idea; art cars should never be hurried – and she’d lost one of the bead-covered Styrofoam figures carved by her art class at Davis High.

Furious, she jumped out, retrieved the yogi, and griped a little at the cop. Then she sped away – or, at least, as fast as she dared in a hallucinogenic vision that involves not just yogis that move up and down on robotic arms, but also a fire-spitting eagle, a fog machine and even a computerized water fountain programmed by a Davis robotics crew. “Earth Wind,” to say the least, wasn’t built for speed.

It was built, like all art cars, to be looked at – and like all art cars, it spends too much time hidden away from spectators, languishing in a garage or driveway, unable to flaunt its showy self. So that’s why, on this Friday evening, Bass was easing “Earth, Wind” onto the median in front of the Art Car Museum: to show how terrific a rotating exhibit of art cars on that median could look, to show how, for practically no money, great displays of public art would be possible for the whole city. The grassy middle-of-the-street nowhere could be a landmark. And the city’s best art cars would have a new, high-visibility spot to be seen as they’re meant to be seen: From the road.

Taking it slow, Bass parked “Earth, Wind” on the median; even the freshly reglued yogi stayed firm. And as the evening light glinted off the car-sculpture’s silvery skin, the idea of an art-car park in the median looked very fine indeed.

‘Jogging trail to nowhere’

It’s cruel fun to say the phrase “Ainbinder 380 agreement” in the Heights. People’s faces turn red or deep purple, and their jaws lock tight. Some make involuntary moans; others are struck speechless.

If the phrase means nothing to you – if you don’t automatically recall every gory detail of the controversial agreement between the city and the developer of the Walmart-anchored Washington Heights shopping complex near the Heights – then you’re probably also unaware that a tiny part of the $6 million deal involved the median in front of the Art Car Museum. In exchange for tax incentives, Ainbinder promised to make upgrades to its own property – the Walmart chunk west of Yale, as well as the strip-center bit facing Heights Boulevard – and the public land surrounding it. One of those upgrades was to add a $76,000 landscaped trail to the median on Heights Boulevard, between the Art Car Museum and Ainbinder’s strip-center-in-the-making.

The Stop the Heights Walmart forces argued that the public upgrades weren’t worth the public money, and that the 21/2-block path on the median was a “jogging trail to nowhere,” unconnected to the longer jogging trail north of White Oak Bayou and Interstate 10. And recently, when I walked the path with Jonathan C.C. Day, a Heights lawyer active in the protest, I had to admit that they were right. Even if the landscaping turns out to be marvelous, there’s no obvious reason for anyone to bother crossing the street to walk on that pedestrian path. Two and a half blocks isn’t long enough for a satisfying jog or walk. Funny little loops at either end of the path indicate that you’re supposed to turn around, repeating the path until you’ve tired yourself out. But who in their right mind would do that?

A call for public art

As it stands, the upgraded median makes sense not as a public, pedestrian amenity, but as the entrance to the new Ainbinder strip-center development across the street from the Art Car Museum – a landscape announcement that this brick strip mall is very classy indeed.

Day firmly believes that the city should squeeze more out of the developer, that in return for the tax rebate, the public should receive something highly visible, and of solid public value. Why not an art-car park? Why not make that trail to nowhere into something better and bigger than a strip-mall entrance?

Spurred by Day’s idea, the Art Car Museum and the city’s Public Works Department are now discussing a deal. Day, though, isn’t in on those discussions – presumably because of his insistence that, at this late date, Ainbinder pony up lots more money for the project.

But really, it doesn’t seem that lots more money or the developer’s involvement would be needed – just a tad to cover insurance, and to draft rules making sure that the cars, carlike objects and sculptures aren’t dangerous or obscene. Stuff like that can be worked out; I have high hopes.

Art car displays on the median won’t make the Heights any happier with the Walmart development; they’d be completely unrelated to it. But they would make that median a much better place. As Noah Edmundson, the Art Car Museum’s director, told me recently, “This city needs more public art. That’s all there is to it.”

lisa.gray@chron.com via chron.com

Photo by Katharine Shilcutt

The OKRA Charity Saloon preview party and fundraiser kicked off at 924 Congress St. on Friday afternoon.

The downtown crowd featured foodies and professional types all participating in what someone informed me was “National Duck Out of Work Day.”

OKRA, which stands for Organized Kooperative on Restaurant Affairs, is the new collective of independent Houston-based bars and restaurants.

It was founded by Anvil’s Bobby Heugel along with business partners Chris Shepherd, Kevin Floyd, Steve Flippo and Mike Burnett.

View the slide show at Houston CultureMap

It’s been a busy year in the commercial real estate market. The 1 million-square-foot Kinder Morgan building is the latest Houston skyscraper to go up for sale.

The 32-story building at 1001 Louisiana was the former headquarters of El Paso, which was acquired by Kinder Morgan this year. The property is now the new global headquarters for both the Kinder Morgan family of companies and the now-separate EP Energy,

which also leases space in the tower.

An asking price has not been set, but a recent report from Real Estate Alert said the tower could fetch as much as $400 million. The property was recently renovated to LEED Gold standards, according to an announcement from HFF, which is marketing the building with Studley. Kinder Morgan will be occupying its portion of the building under a long-term lease.

The Houston area has seen a spate of of buildings go on the market or sell in recent months for record prices. Click here and here for some high-profile examples.

Via Chron.com

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RENTER FRIENDLY DECORATING: WALL DECALS

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