Help Find Lost Puppy

House was broken into this afternoon in Sunset Heights and the resident's 7 week old puppy is missing.

Female, smaller than average, white with brown markings. We would appreciate any information. Please call 713.805.5783.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS & HAPPY NEW YEAR

We hope you are all enjoying time with your family and friends. See you again in 2010!

Heights Happenings: Dec 23-30, 2009

Wednesday, Dec 23: Happy Festivus, Everyone

• Air Grievances and particpate in Feats of Strength all day long, wherever you are
• Miracles will happen!

Wednesday, December 23: Bliss on 19th and other shops holding special holiday shopping hours

• Remember Shop Local

Some Potential Good News

If you support preservation of historic structures, here is a small ray of sunshine for The Heights:

FROM: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6781728.html

Museum idea could save threatened Heights church
By ALLAN TURNER Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle

On-again, off-again plans to raze Houston Heights' historic but long unused Immanuel Lutheran Church may be in limbo again today as preservationists float a plan to convert the striking Gothic Revival sanctuary into a museum for Texas art.

Ken Bakenhus, president of the church's governing body, which overwhelmingly favors demolition, said the 1932-vintage building at 1448 Cortlandt St. likely will be torn down this summer unless feasible plans to save it are proposed.

Today's presentation will be made by Houston art gallery owner Gus Kopriva, who said he will propose obtaining a long-term lease and creating a nonprofit organization to raise money for renovation. Kopriva owns Redbud Gallery and recently oversaw renovation of West 19th Street's Heights Theater for use by the Gallery M Squared.

Aware of cost

“I wouldn't make the proposal if I didn't think I could do it,” Kopriva said Monday. “I've just done the Heights Theater and I know what these things cost.” Kopriva said the theater project cost less than $250,000.

Bakenhus, who once advocated saving the old church, said a 2001 estimate placed the cost of renovating the building at $600,000. Today, he believes the cost might approach $800,000 or more.

“It's been my long-term dream to create a Texas arts mecca,” Kopriva said. The museum, which he would call the Heights Arts Museum (HAM), would also house art archives, he said.
Backing Kopriva's proposal are the Houston Heights Association and the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance, both of which have struggled to save the church, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A ‘win-win situation'

The preservation alliance's David Bush called the proposal a “win-win situation.”
Neighborhood association president Chris Silkwood declined to discuss the plan before its presentation but stressed her group's support for saving the building, whose basement dates to 1918.

“It's a magnificent piece of architecture,” she said. “Our hope is that it's repurposed, that it becomes a place where the general public will be able to visit it.” The old church was replaced by a newer structure in the 1960s. Until the late 1970s or early 1980s, it was used for church classes. It since has been vacant.

Bakenhus said the church explored the cost of renovating the building, a process that would include upgrading plumbing, heating and air conditioning and electrical wiring, but were unable to raise the needed money. The church also had planned to level the sanctuary floor, which Bakenhus says is slanted like that of an auditorium.

Kopriva, a structural engineer, said basic repairs to the building “would cost a lot less” than the church's estimate. “I'd leave the floor sloped,” he said. “That makes no difference to me.”

Favoring demolition

Bakenhus said the church's governing body is “99 percent” in favor of demolishing the building — a process that would cost about $60,000.

In October, the Houston Archeological and Historical Commission rejected the church's plan to demolish the old building. But that rejection only delays demolition 90 days and the church has signed a contract to tear down the structure this summer.

But Bakenhus said the church can cancel the demolition contract if a workable renovation plan develops.

Today's presentation by Kopriva will constitute the neighborhood association's first report.
allan.turner@chron.com

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I really believe in projects like this. They do so much good. The maintain a piece of the past for the future, they add value to the neighborhood and they repurpose structures, saving a building's worth of rubbish from going to the landfill. And I have seen it work!

In my small, blue collar hometown in Western MA we have the nation's largest contemporary art museum, MassMOCA. It is housed in an old mill- a large, industrial structure from the 19th century that was as run down as anything you have ever seen. The main building is actually a part of a larger complex of 26 buildings which dominates the downtown of the small community of 12,000 residents. The building had been vacant since Sprague Electric Company left the town with no major employer in 1985. After life originally as a textile factory and then as an electric components plant, the buildings were used hard and underwent much more structural abuse than any church could. Still, they were worth saving and are now something very special. Immanuel Lutheran can (albeit on a much smaller scale) be that for The Heights as well.

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Additional coverage from our friends at Swamplot
http://swamplot.com/saved-by-a-ham-the-museum-plan-for-immanuel-lutheran-church/2009-12-22/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+swamplot+%28Swamplot%3A+Houston%27s+Real+Estate+Landscape%29&utm_content=Twitter
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Join the ongoing conversation on HAIF

http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/index.php?showtopic=22050&pid=352663&st=0&#entry352663

Peacefully Pampered

I often think of the Heights as "The Alternative" neighborhood. I don't mean alternative in the pop culture/music way; I mean it in the real definition way.

Per Merriam-Webster

Main Entry: 1al·ter·na·tive
Pronunciation: \ȯl-ˈtər-nə-tiv, al-\
Function: adjective
Date: 1540
1 : alternate 1

2 : offering or expressing a choice

3 : different from the usual or conventional: as a : existing or functioning outside the established cultural, social, or economic system

The Heights is this for many people: for young families, it can be the alternative to the suburbs; for young couples, it's a more neighborhoody alternative to midtown; for those who want to live 'outside the existing cultural system' of some parts of Houston, it's a more affordable alternative to Montrose.

Because of this position as an appealingly alternative neighborhood, we also get a lot of great businesses which offer an alternative to the standard version of the same. A Peaceful Pet is that kind of business. Yes, it's a dog grooming business, specializing in small dogs. But Sandy offers small dog (and cat) owners an alternative to what they get at the big box groomer or more conventional pet salons.

I might be tempted to say that Sandy is first and foremost an artist. That has more... of an alternative sound. However, she has been a professional dog groomer longer than she has been an artist and thinks of dog grooming as an alternative art form. An animal lover since childhood, Sandy actually used to tell her mother she wanted to "be a dog" when she grew up. Rather than actually becoming a dog, Sandy ended up showing Pugs growing up. Then, at the age of 23, she was between jobs and saw a pet shop that needed help. Right away she hit it off with the groomer, and a career was born.

A native Texan, Sandy lived in Houston since she was a teenager. During her early years, she lived in and loved The Montrose- it was "IT" for her, the only place to be. But time brings change, and Montrose was in a state of change. Sandy believes change is good, that it's needed and she decided as her hometown changed she could use a change as well. She made a big change, heading to Chicago. She wanted to be in a "diverse, urban environment" and thought Chicago could offer that along with the change she needed. She lived there for 7 years and had a dog salon, but like many native Texans, the tractor beam pulled her home to Houston. This time, however, she settled (now with a small family of animals she rescued while up North) in The Heights.

Baby Jake, a rescued Yorkie from West Texas, acts as "security"

Baila, another rescue, is the "super model" of the bunch. Yes, that is her crazy tongue sticking out the side of her mouth. It doesn't get much cuter!

Why The Heights? The sense of history and the charm, of course. Sandy isn't interested in "mono-culture." She says it's just not for her and feels the Heights offers a variety of people and culture while still having a strong "sense of neighborhood." Well, and anyone who lives here knows the Heights loves some dogs and cats!

Along the path of life, Sandy also got involved with meditation. She says that in the past an equation of artist + groomer + meditation was kind of a foreign concept. Over her 26 years as a groomer, Sandy has seen a lot of animals be very stressed and anxious about getting groomed. With A Peaceful Pet, she hopes to bring the art, the mediation and the dog pampering all together in a way that provides a softer alternative to the standard grooming experience- for both the pet and the pet parent.

Sandy and one of her mixed media art pieces featuring Frieda Pixel

Frieda Pixel in her preferred position- baby cradle hold. Spoiled ;)

As an alternative to the standard procedure, pet owners are welcome to stay at A Peaceful Pet while their animal is being groomed. Sandy has a welcoming stash of snacks and hot tea for you to enjoy while your pet enjoys being groomed in a relaxing atmosphere with natural, Earth and animal friendly products. As much as she can, Sandy uses local products, or made in the US at the least. She also seeks out the most environmentally friendly products available, like Tropiclean shampoos, which are 70% organic and bottled in a package that will even biodegrade in a landfill. This is important because, she notes, there are more pets than people in the US, and pet owners have a large footprint.

Human treats help pet owners relax and feel at home while their animals are groomed. You are welcome to stay and enjoy Sandy's hospitality or you can drop off your pet and mosey down to Onion Creek for a drink.

So, yeah yeah. It's all puppies and rainbows, right? But Sandy is more than a relaxing hand on your nervous pet. She is a certified National Certified Master Groomer. In most states, Texas included, there are no licensing requirements for groomers. By getting certified, Sandy is ensuring you a high level of quality. She holds specialty certificates for Terriers, Non Sporting and Sporting dogs. Sandy grooms cats as well, using an all natural foaming cat shampoo that requires no water. I'm sure the cats appreciate the alternative to going under. Ha! She has 9 cat hairstyles and does claw trimming as needed.

Sandy's grand opening is this weekend, Sunday, December 20 from Noon to 3 pm. Stop in. Like many places in the Heights, A Peaceful Pet is also a mini art gallery. Two of the artists Sandy is featuring will be at the opening. Of course, they specialize in pet art! She will be offering human and canine refreshments. 2726 White Oak Drive, just west of Fitzgerald's.

Some of the artwork on display and for sale at A Peaceful Pet

Heights Happenings: Dec 16-22, 2009

Saturday, December 19, 9 AM: Trails to Rails Ribbon Cutting

• For real this time: Celebrate the opening of the wonderful 5 mile long trail through the Heights. The trail runs along Nicholson from 26th Street south to 7th Street and from Shepherd east along 7th Street, to Spring Street and White Oak Bayou under I-45, where it connects to the proposed Heritage Corridor West Trail near downtown providing a connection to the University of Houston and other downtown bikeways and destinations.
• This is the 5th trail COH has opened in 2009 for an additional 15 miles of city bikeways.
• Ride your bike to this event, details and directions are provided on the flier
• Click Here: for MKT Rails to Trail Ribbon Cutting invitation (.PDF)
• For more information contact Dan Raine, Bicyclist Pedestrian Coordinator, Houston Bikeway Program, at daniel.raine@cityofhouston.net or call at (713) 837-0136

Sunday, December 20, Noon- 6 PM: Gift wrap-ternoon at Sew Crafty

• Actually enjoy wrapping your gifts this year! Join Sew Crafty for a Wrap-ternoon and get all your gifts wrapped in style.
• $20 gets you all you can wrap access for the whole afternoon! SC will provide all materials (craft paper, ribbon, stamps, tape) – just bring yourself and your gifts!
• No instruction is provided, but they do have plenty of tutorials to get your creativity going!

OUTSIDE THE HEIGHTS:

Thursday, December 17, 6:30 PM: Silver Blades on the Silver Screen: How The Grinch Stole Christmas

• See this fantastic holiday remake starring Jim Carrey while skating the rink downtown at Discovery Green. The 7,200 square-foot skating surface of Kinder Lake features skate, snack and gift shops, as well as the Snow Box—a special, toddler-friendly rink.
• Movie = Free. Skating = Fee

Saturday, January 9, 2010, 9 AM- 1 PM: COH Electronic Waste Neighborhood Collection Event

• Get rid of the broken stuff you replaced at Christmas in an environmentally friendly wayat HCC’s Northline Campus Parking Lot 8300 Block of Fulton (between Garrotsville and Deerfield ) Houston, TX 77022
• Items accepted include the following electronics ONLY: TVs, Computers, monitors, keyboards, cell phones, microwaves, CPUs, VCRs, etc.
• For more information call 832-393-3226 or 281-999-5879, visit the City of Houston website at: www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/esc-south.html

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.

Hayride Happenings

The quirkiness and downright quaintness of this neighborhood never cease to amaze.

On Friday night, my friend invited me to a party at her house and a "hayride". I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I went.

It turns out that the Heights has a resident--Paul Carr--who will come to your house, pick you up in his tractor pulling a trailer (with hay seats), and drive you around the neighborhood to marvel at the lights. For free.

Paul got the idea back in the 1980s. He offers this activity every Friday and Saturday night between December 1 and 22. My friend called and made a reservation for Friday, December 11, the night before Lights in the Heights.

We dressed nice and warmly due to the dropping temperatures (I thought we lived in the sub-tropics?), and grabbed our beverages. The trailer accommodates up to 30 people and is decorated with white Christmas lights that cast a warm glow.

Paul asks for a "designated rider" to be in charge of the whistle. This person blows the whistle whenever the group would like to stop. On our jaunt, we spotted the leg lamp (if you've seen the movie, you know exactly what I'm talking about). Although we didn't do any caroling, we did ooh and ahh at quite a few different houses.

I highly recommend this quirky and quaint experience. What a hoot! If you're interested, you can call Paul at 713.869.0505 or e-mail him at torturet@aol.com.

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.