The Scene at Ruggle's Green, Part 1

I have a lot of information to disseminate about the new Ruggles Green going in at 11th St Cafe. I just don't have the time or my thoughts in order yet... In the meantime, I wanted to share the renderings with you:

Enjoy and next week I'll fill you in with the rest of the info.

Heights Snapshot: Thanks, Scott!

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Sometime before lunch

Proctor Park

Remember a couple of weeks ago when the weather "cooled" to the low 90s and we all let out a little sigh of relief and decided to go outside again? My family was so excited and ready to get in some good park time. We had been in a state of reverse hibernation, hiding from the intense heat instead of sleeping through the bitter cold. 

We loaded up our red wagon with all the necessary park supplies: blanket to relax on, small trucks and digging tools, a soccer ball, bug spray, sunblock, cold water, fruit and bunny crackers. Big Boy rode his bike, training wheels squeaking from lack of use. Wee One road in the wagon, the park supplies heaped on his lap. As we got close to the park, it was a real joy to see people. Kids on skateboards, parents counting to 10 as little guys scrambled to hide, games of catch and tag. The park was alive again.

Then we noticed what wasn't alive. The grass. The big, open area of Proctor was brown and dusty. The small, sandy area near home base (where the kids dig) had grown to a sand pit three times it usual size. And the trees.... So sad and droopy, some with brown leaves. It was a sad sight to see; it almost brought the excitement of just being there down to Neutral.

After about 30 minutes of hanging at Proctor, I saw a red car pull up. The driver got out and opened the hatch to reveal 2 large coolers and a 5 gallon bucket. The man filled the bucket, walked in to the park and dumped it out at the base of a small tree on the north side of the park. Repeat. Take the cooler out and dump the remaining water. Leave. Come back. Repeat. During my family's time at the park he made at least 3 round trips, bringing buckets of water to the smaller, needier trees.

I approached him. "Thank you so much for doing this," I said. He was worried about the condition of the trees. It wasn't a lot, he said, but he wanted to do something. He said he didn't think he could do enough for the big trees but that maybe he could do something for the small ones. I told him I was feeling the same way about the Norhill esplanade but hadn't realized how bad it got around the park. 

"I'm Scott."

"Hi, Scott. I'm Viula. Thanks again. Really."

Now that it's rained a bit, I am more optimistic for the trees of the Heights. I hope this week's Weather Underground predictions are better than our local news station's. They're saying possible rain daily. Local sources say rain today and sun the rest of the week. I never thought I would want rain so badly.

And who knows if this little bit of rain we've had will save the trees or not. We can hope so. We can also say "Thanks, Scott" for helping give them a fighting chance.

Heights Snapshot: Amen.

Feeder road construction. 11th St construction. Behind Someburger construction. Pro preservation. Anti preservation. Pro Walmart. Anti Walmart. A neighborhood divided. Name calling and general ugliness. Class sizes increasing. Schools closing. Parks closing. City redistricting. State redistricting. Sigh.

With all the bickering and insanity, Healing Waters Fellowship Church on 11th kept it in perspective. I want to thank them for reminding me...

Heights Snapshot: The Call of Duty

Thursday, February 10, 2011

9:00 AM

HFD Firestation 15

Click here for a brief history and some stats on Station 15

5306 N Main

Let me just start by saying as I type this, it's a gorgeous day. The past 3 days have been amazing and today is going to be at least 8 degrees warmer than the average temp for mid February. It's patio weather, to be sure!

However, that was not the case last Thursday as Andy Eckert (left) and Adam Marley were washing their engine at Station 15. Not yet above freezing that morning, it was hard for me to just stand and chat with these guys. Both were upbeat, though. Considering what they see and do in the line of duty every day, I'm sure truck washing is a welcome respite. Plus, it was Andy's 1st day on the job! Apparently, every "first" for a rookie includes a treat afterward. Post- truck washing, cookies and ice cream were waiting in the station.

Me: Wow, so on your 1st day they've got you outside in the freezing cold with a water hose, washing stuff. Life as a rookie?

Andy: Well, the Academy is pretty thorough. I washed a lot of stuff during my training there, too.

Adam: Ha- I've been here 3 years and I'm still washing trucks. What does that say?

As I hopped back in to my car, I wished them a "quiet, boring day." They laughed and gave me a wave. Great guys with a tough, tough job. I think we can all appreciate them being so close and so ready and willing to help when needed.

Heights Snapshot: Pop In for Pie

Sunday, January 23

2:00 PM

M Squared Gallery, 339 W 19th

It was National Pie Day during the Year of the Pie. From Noon until 3 pm, Heights residents and/or pie lovers were welcome to M2 for pie, beer and live music. When I rolled in with my Bog Boy (4 years old tomorrow. Unbelievable.) I thought this was an admission line formed under a giant piece of popcorn. I was wrong. This was the line for pie. I went outside where Oh My! Pocket Pies had their food trailer parked to see if I could procure a pocket pie that way. No, I was told. They were making pies for inside. They were out and new pies were going to take about 20 minutes. Oh my! Popular pies!

We weren't able to wait. 20 minutes is an eternity to an almost-four-year-old. I had to promise to bring Big Boy back some afternoon for a Smores pocket pie. You can find Oh My's trailer on 19th St, just off the sidewalk in the little alley next to M2, Wed/Th/Sat until 3 pm. They're good enough that all the people in that picture were willing to wait, but the wait at the trailer is rarely that long.

Heights Snapshot: Can't Touch This

Monday, Jan 10

9 AM

10th at Waverly

My-my-my music hits me so hard

Makes me say oh my Lord

Thank you for blessing me

with a mind to rhyme and two hyped feet

It feels good when you know you're down

A superdope homeboy from the H-town

And I'm known as such

And this is a beat, uh, you can't touch

Heights Snapshot: Parking Lot Dance Party

Sunday, September 26

Roughly 7 PM (AKA "almost bedtime")

Antidote Coffee

729 Studewood

Antidote regulars I Am Mesmer, who also play their White Linen Night event and other sporadic shows, had a couple members come out for a Sunday night performance and the kids were rocking. Cars parked back, leaving space for a makeshift dance floor. My sons were the only boys in a sea of princess dresses, but that didn't intimidate them. They know they're good dancers. Ha! It didn't take long for adults to get the hint and get their feet moving, too. From the day it opened its doors, Antidote has been a neighborhood favorite, offering a low key atmosphere that welcomes young, old, hipster, yuppie, workers and players alike. If you want a snapshot of who and what make up the Heights, simply swing by this coffee shop for a beverage and look around (oh, and if you don't know, they also have beer and wine).

A Heights Snapshot: Bowling for Yard Art

Monday, August 2, 2010

2:30 PM

Bayland at Michaux

Some times yard art is big and in your face. Other times, you'd hardly notice it. It took several drive bys before I realized this particular installation was a series of bowling balls planted neatly in gravel. Bayland is one of the "jewel of the Heights" type streets with it's large, original homes and canopy of Oak trees. But the thing about the Heights is no matter how fancy some parts of it may seem, this is a neighborhood of individuals. Long before million dollar Craftsmans were being built, artists and academics, "quirky" and crazy, fun and funky were the norm. The Heights welcomes all kinds of people, but that means all kinds of people have to accept those that were here before them. This can mean anything from bowling balls to a giant flaming ball. Welcome to life in the Heights.

Heights Snapshot: Gimme A Lift

Monday, July 12

3ish PM

19th Street Shopping District

Well, looky here! In the slim pocket of store front which once held jewelry maker Erica Del Gardo and, more recently, Stages home staging store, is a new shop called "The Lift." Most stores on 19th are closed on Monday (small town much, Heights?) but I stopped by anyway only to find they won't be open at all for a few more weeks. I was greeted at the door by a trio of handmade signs:

CLOSED

We will open our doors for the first time in a week or so. Please stop by!

OPENING SOON

THE LIFT

Books and other good things

and my personal favorite

Please knock for deliveries

Otherwise no peeking until we open!

Thanks, THE LIFT

No peeking. Haaa ha haha ha ha ha. Right. Of course I peeked. I didn't see enough to spoil anything- nice soft color on the walls, dark metal (I think) book cases, kind of industrial but comfortable. I am looking forward to this opening. I hope the "other good things" is lots of fun gifty items like what we used to be able to find at Tansu... I guess we'll find out in a week or so.

Heights Snapshot: Feed Me, Seymour

Tuesday, June 1

3 PM

Tulane at 10th

I was taking 10th from Shepherd to get to the Blvd. There was a car and truck stopped on 10th and I cut south rather than wait. Correction: This was before I turned and is at the intersection listed above. Anyway, I was blown away. I have never seen a Century plant this big. It reminded me right away, like most oversized plants do, of Little Shop of Horrors. It's 2 stories tall !

I don't know a lot about plants so I googled it, thinking the sheer size might mean it's very old. I was dismayed to find that the plant is probably on it's way out. According to one site "Century Plants bloom only once in their life, the blooming spike is so large and grows so fast that it saps all the resources of the plant, which then dies, leaving a tall wooden seed stalk. The plant is called the "century plant" because of this "once a century" bloom (actually the plant lives an average of 25 years). It was also an important plant to indigenous people, being used for medicines, fiber, needles, and food. "

I took this picture over 2 weeks ago. I wonder if this big guy has been sapped out yet?

A Heights Snapshot: Middle Earth in the middle of the Heights

Thursday, May 27

Roughly 8 AM

Norhill at Bayland

WARNING: I may hereby be exposing myself as a huge dork.

I was walking with my kids, actually taking the Big Boy to school, one morning bobbing and weaving through Woodland Heights. All of the sudden, Big Boy says "What's that, Mommy?" And when I looked up and saw the large tree with a carved face and hair made of chains, I naturally said "It's an Ent." Being 3, he had no idea what I was talking about and when I tried to explain what an Ent was rather than what the tree on the corner was, he corrected me. "Trees don't walk or talk, Mommy. That's silly. What is that on the tree?" I gave in and told him "Someone carved a face out of wood and put it on the tree to make it art." He accepted that explanation and I could only think "So much for the great imagination of children..."

A Heights Snapshot: MAMs and Moms

Sunday, May 9, 2010

3 PM

20th at Rutland, Home to MAMs House of Ice Snoballs

The Heights Life would like to wish MAM's a very Happy 1st Birthday!

My family remembers fondly when you were new and in walking distance from our home, parked in the Fiesta lot on Studewood. The move to 20th didn't make it that much harder to reach you, though. Now we just use bikes instead of feet! On Mother's Day, we had a great day in the Heights with brunch at Zelko Bistro, baby nap time and lunch at home. After lunch I wanted something cold and sweet. In other words, MAMs was calling. We wheeled up and headed out on the bike path. Apparently quite a few moms were in the same frame of mind!

A Heights Snapshot: A Portable Neighbor

Tuesday, May 4

Roughly 3 PM

6th and Yale

As a friend of mine said this morning via her FB status, " I love, love, love art car season." I love that people come from all over the country for our parade and together we celebrate the quirky side of a city better known for oil & gas (and Enron).

Driving Tuesday afternoon, I saw this crazy blue creation sitting in the parking lot of the 6th & Yale garage. Fortunately, I also saw someone fiddling around behind it. I stopped and met Michelle, AKA Gypsy Mermaid, and her 2 vehicles- Gypsy Caravan and Pirate Scooter. Michelle has been traveling via art car since 2001. A native Canadian, she has seen most of her country and of ours. She made it to Houston in November, living in the Caravan, and has stuck around at the urging of many art car friends. The crew at 6th & Yale recently replaced her engine for her and said it would be great if she wanted to hang out at their location for a while. Michelle is excited to be a part of this year's Art Car Parade and has been enjoying her time in Houston. I asked how long she thought she might stay. She's unsure but she has a "marriage proposal on the table" that could keep her here. Look for the Caravan and say "Hi!" She could soon be a permanent neighbor!

Heights Snapshot: Morning Music

Friday, April 2

10:30 AM

White Oak at Oxford

Many mornings you'll find John McKay sitting outside Montrose Skate Shop. After all, he is open 10 am - 10 pm every day. More often than not, John has several friends or lingering customers joining him at this table. This morning, it was just starting to get warm and John was out alone with his guitar. I stopped and chatted with him after I took this picture. He was telling me that he has still high hopes for the vacant space next to his shop. Since the whole Lonnie Allsbrooks situation,  the space has sat. John hopes someone will come along and put in a healthy eatery, maybe smoothies or a juice bar, that can cater to families using the bike path. I hope so, too, John!

Heights Snapshot: The Prettiest View

Sunday, March 28

3:30 PM

The view from the Taylor overpass at I-10

I love this view. In fact, I love the view from the whole stretch of I-10 from Taylor to Shepherd. This is my favorite part, though. I often imagine interstate travelers driving the length of I10, spanning the whole southern portion of our country. Driving, they see this park on a sunny Sunday and they think What a pretty neighborhood. On this day, they would see joggers and bike riders, a softball game, a birthday party, frolicking dogs and kids climbing all over a cool piece of outdoor art. As they head out of Houston, they'll see the same things you can see off any stretch of highway, in any other city. Costco. A mall. An outlet mall. And then the country and truck stops. I hope in the slice of our city these travelers see, they remember this picture. The prettiest view of Houston from Interstate 10. A picture of the Heights. 

Heights Snapshot: Sad

Yes, this is technically 2 pictures... I realize that.

Saturday, March 6

10:30 AM

Waverly at 8th

If you ever ride the Nicholson Bike Trail, you've probably seen this sad state of affairs: 2 rows of townhomes with only the street side units complete. I honestly don't have any idea how long the others have been sitting in that state, but I hope the whole back group meets the same fate as the one pictured in the second photo. The weekend after these were taken we were on the bike trail again and noticed the last unit on the street side was being dismantled. As you can see from the picture, at the start of the month it still had a sale sign in the yard. I can't imagine how. My heart really goes out to the people who bought the other units. Hopefully all the incomplete units can come down and these people can have a significantly improved view, even if it's of nothing.

Now it's actually 3 pictures. I just remembered I had a picture of the dismantling on my phone.

A Heights Snapshot: Stairs to Nowhere

Friday, February 25

1:30 PM

Somewhere around 16th and Rutland

I'm not sure where I was when I saw these stairs. Out walking with the baby somewhere around that intersection of 19th and Rutland, a couple blocks south. Maybe 16th? There is an old church (1960s old, that is) for sale and these were in the back. They really struck me as part of a time gone by in the Heights. The Heights has seen a lot of change since it was developed in the early 1900s. I don't know if these stairs were on the upside or downside of a change, but they represent change to me either way. If you know exactly where they are and anything about their story, please leave a comment.

Heights Snapshot: Wild Weather

Monday, February 22

5:30 PM

Heights Boulevard at 7th

Sunny and 60 degrees, yesterday's spring-like weather got many people out on the Blvd. Hard to believe they are predicting snow possible for today.

Heights Snapshot: Dog Date

Thursday, December 10

Roughly 2 PM

Gen's Antiques, 239 W 19th St

Gen of Gen's Antiques (Left) and Cooley of Carter & Cooley (Right) hanging out at Gen's shop, eagerly awaiting treats. Cooley takes regular walks down 19th Street to visit his friend. The two of them routinely devour a gallon ziplock full of treats each week.

Heights Snapshot: Neighborly

Saturday, December 5.

Roughly 5 pm.

W Temple at Norhill

Ray and his two sons are heading out for a bike ride to Antidote. On the corner, they are stopped by their neighbor Harry. Harry and his wife, Stephanie, have lived in in the same house on W Temple for over 45 years.