White Linen Night is Aug. 4 in the Heights

“Local faces, local flavors and local fun” is the theme of Saturday’s White Linen Night.

The event will be 6-10 p.m. Aug. 4, with the majority of the action taking place on 19th, but there will be pockets of parties throughout the Heights.

Closed to vehicular traffic, 19th will feature two stages of entertainment. The headliner for the event is Runaway Sun, which will begin at 8:30 p.m. Other festivities include a fashion show, pop-up art galleries and shopping deals at the Heights’ many independent retailers.

Another hot spot for the evening will be 2904 White Oak, where Fresh Arts will host an evening of art including performances by the Mercury chamber orchestra, Suchu Dance Company and Kiki’s Sordid Sideshow.

Last year’s event drew tens of thousands of white-clad revelers.

NOH8 Campaign's photographic silent protest comes to Houston

Houston, in all its diversity, is finally getting its closeup.

The NOH8 "photographic silent protest" comes to town Oct. 18 at the University of Houston. The shoot is hosted by the UH Council of Ethnic Organizations, from 4-7 p.m. in the University Center.

NOH8 was created by celebrity photographer Adam Bouska and partner Jeff Parshley in response to Proposition 8 in California, which amended the state Constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

Photos feature subjects with duct tape over their mouths, symbolizing their voices being silenced by Prop 8 and similar legislation around the world, with "NOH8" painted on one cheek in protest. Bouska will take 5-10 frames of each person and retouch the final selection.

The event is first come, first served. You'll sign a release, receive a NOH8 temporary tattoo and listen for your number. The tattoo will be applied to your face, along with silver duct tape across your mouth.

Solo portraits are $40. Couple and group portraits are $25 per person. And please wear a white shirt. Photos will be available in about eight weeks via www.NOH8Campaign.com.

Funds raised by NOH8 will be used to promote and raise awareness for marriage equality and anti-discrimination through NOH8’s interactive media campaign. This includes bringing the campaign to other cities around the country, as well as compiling the images for a large-scale media campaign.

Celebrities that have posed include Pete Wentz, Kim Kardashian, Jane Lynch, Miley Cyrus, Leann Rimes, Darryl McDaniels of Run–D.M.C., Lindsay Lohan, Fran Drescher, Cher, Emmy Rossum, Kathy Griffin, Emma Roberts, Taye Diggs and Nicole Scherzinger.

Restaurant Weeks raises money for food bank

It sounds like a Houston foodie's dream come true: $20 lunches at Katsuya, Le Mistral or RDG + Bar Annie.
Or better yet: three-course $35 dinners at the likes of Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, Tony's, Triniti or Philippe.
It's not a dining fantasy, but Houston Restaurant Weeks.

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Lunch Food bites

here is another local resturant i have eaten at several times, the food is great and not very expensive. so if your get a chance stop by and enjoy lunch, also they are open 24/7:

Andy's Home Cafe

1115 E 11th St
Houston, TX 77009
Neighborhood: The Heights
(713) 861-9423

Mexican Restaurant, American Restaurant

Breakfast Food Bites

here is a little resturat that i have eaten breakfast more times then i can count, its worth the trip if you happen to be in houston. they have great breakfast taco's which at 2$ each is a good price for the size. i have treated several co-workers to them and they dont last very long:

Laredo Taqueria

Washington corridor
915 Snover St.
Houston, TX 77007 United States
713-861-7279

Hours

• Monday-Sunday: 6 a.m.-9 p.m.

Additional Details

Cuisine: Tex-Mex

Parking: Self parking

Smoking allowed: No

Meals served: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Alcohol: Beer

Noise: Moderate

Dress code: Casual

Handicap accessible: Yes

B&B's in the houston area

here is a link to B&B's in and around houston

Bed and Breakfast - Houston Area

hometown favorites

a list of Houston favorite resturants:

Amazon Grill
Americas
Amerigo's Grille
Antica Osteria
Aquarium
Baba Yega
Baby Barnaby's
Backstreet Cafe
Beaver's Ice House
Becks Prime
Bellaire Broiler Burger
Berryhill Baja Grill
Bistro Provence
Blake's BBQ
The Breakfast Klub
Bubba's Texas Burger Shack
Brenner's Steakhouse
Buffalo Grille
Cadillac Bar
Cafe Adobe
Cafe Benedicte
Café Rabelais
Capriccio Tapas
Carrabba's Italian Grill
Chez Nous
The Chocolate Bar
Christian's Totem
Christie's Steafood & Steak
Churrascos
Cullen's Upscale American Grill
Daily Review Cafe
Da Marco
Damian's
Dolce Vita
Dry Creek Cafe
El Rey
El Tiempo
Empire Cafe
Escalante's Mexican Grill
Feast
Floyd's Cajun Seafood
Frenchy's Chicken
Fuzzy's Pizza
Gigi's Asian Bistro
Gilhooley's
Glass Wall
Goode Co. Hamburgers & Taqueria
Goode Co. Barbecue
Goode Co. Seafood
Gumbo Bar
House of Pies
Hubcap Burger Grill
Indika
Irma’s
Jasper's
Kenny & Ziggy's New York Delicatessen
Kim Son
La Guadalupana Bakery and Café
Landry's Seafood
Lankford Grocery and Market
Laurenzo's Prime Rib
Little Big's
Mardi Gras Grill
Max's Wine Dive
Mi Luna
Molina's Cantina
Mytiburger
Ninfa’s on Navigation
Otto's
Pappas Barbecue
Pappasitos
Pink's Pizza
Ragin' Cajun
Rainbow Lodge
Raven Grill
Reef
Rio Ranch
Shade
Spanish Flowers
Star Pizza
Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen
Tacos A Go-Go
Taquerias Arandas
Tel-Wink Grill
Textile
Thai Spice
Thelma's
This Is It
Vic & Anthony's
Virgie's BBQ
Yao Restaurant & Bar

Houston's farmers markets

One of the charms of the modern farmers market is that you don’t have to be a cook to appreciate them. Most offer plenty of ready-made foods and confections and gift-ready products such as natural soaps and lotions and handmade pottery.
The markets are a nosher’s paradise. Nisha’s Quick N Ezee Indian Food is a regular at a half dozen farmers markets. Its representatives are always eager to offer tastings of chutneys and sauces. Ditto for cheese-makers such as Hammond Farm and Houston Dairymaids.
The greater Houston area has nearly two dozen weekly farmers markets. (Not to mention popular veggie markets and farm stands such as Canino’s on Airline and Froberg’s Farm in Alvin.)

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Monday

well this is a great way to start out the week, no water pressure so that means no bath. it looks like this may be a work from home day, will keep everyone updated on how things go......

Windows 8 Release Preview

for those of you that cant wait for the Official release of Windows 8 on 10.26.2012 , here is a link to download the release preview. so dont put it on your primary pc but maybe a old one, i have read several articles on major websites (cnn, nbc etc.) that it runs on equipment as old as 5 yrs. i have not had the chance to do this myself being i dont have any spare equipment to install it on so let me know how things go


W8 Preview Release

Windows 8-Ready Hardware from Microsoft

here are some pictures of new hardware from microsoft that are Windows 8 ready, its from their facebook page so enjoy:

Microsoft (Facebook)

Marvel Officially Announce New Slate Of Films And Titles

Well, the rumour mill has been spinning for months and finally we have confirmation that the secret Marvel movie scheduled for 1st August 2014 will be GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY. Marvel announced the news at Comic-Con, and also gave us full titles for the CAPTAIN AMERICA and THOR sequels. We will henceforth refer to those as CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER and THOR: THE DARK WORLD.

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Houston Weather

here is how the weather outlook is for the next 5 days in houston, going to be hot mostly sunny a typical texas summer

Houston ranked America's Coolest City

Houston is topping a new list from Forbes Magazine -- America's Coolest Cities to Live.

"Wow! Congratulations to us," Houstonian Reuben Lucas said.

The Bayou City may not be the first place you associate with being hip or trendy, but our city has something many other major cities don't -- jobs.

Read Full Article (Click2Houston)

Read Full Article (Forbes)

Kenny Chesney with Tim McGraw in Houston August 4th

Kenny Chesney with Tim McGraw

Saturday, August 4
4:30 pm

Reliant Stadium
Houston, TX

More Information

Exhibits at the Houston Museum of Natural Science

New Hall of Paleontology Now Open! Our world-class paleontology hall is now open! The length of a football field, it's one of the most dynamic paleo halls in the world. It's a whole new HMNS: 30,000 square feet of pure paleontological wonder. Learn More Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition On April 15, 1912, Titanic, the world's largest ship, sank after colliding with an iceberg, claiming more than 1,500 lives. 100 years later, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition showcases more than 300 artifacts retrieved from Titanic's debris field. Learn More Purchase Tickets Warriors, Tombs and Temples New Terra Cotta Warriors Exhibit Opens March 30, 2012! Exclusive exhibit features colorful new warriors & newly-discovered artifacts from royal tombs. Learn More Purchase Tickets Gemstone Carvings Transformed from a solid stone to an incredibly delicate work of art, the gemstone carvings of Harold Van Pelt have to be seen to be believed. Learn More Purchase Tickets

Texans Football Schedule

here is the link to the Texans Fooball Team Schedule for this season and other informtion for the Texans Football Fan in all of us:

Texans Schedule

Galveston Texas

if you happen to be in Galveston here is a link to some things to do while your visiting:

Moody Gardens

Galveston Website

Pleaseur Pier

29 Places to Eat and Dine in Houston

At these places, you'll find like-minded fans, reliable fare and plenty of adult beverages (to cheer the win or console a loss):

1. SRO
2. Big Woodrow's
3. Center Court Pizza & Brew
4. Becks Prime Sportatorium
5. Richmond Arms
6. Ragin' Cajun (off Westheimer at Gessner)
7. The Bull & Bear
8. Molina's Cantina (on Washington)
9. Coaches Sports Bar & Grill
10. Stadia Sports Grill
11. Bayou City Wings
12. Scott Gertner's Sports Bar
13. Wolfie's
14. 360 Sports Lounge
15. Watson's House of Ales
16. Fuzzy's Pizza (on Fondren)
17. The Grille at Cullen's
18. Saint Dane's
19. Stag's Head Pub
20. Cedar Creek Cafe
21. Sawyer Park
22. DJ's Restaurant & Sports Bar
23. Lucky's Pub
24. Christian's Tailgate
25. Cahill's on Durham
26. Sam's Boat (in Seabrook).
27. Trey’s Sports Bar and Grill
28. Wild Geese Tavern
29. The Yard House

Galveston’s Pleasure Pier

Galveston’s Pleasure Pier, which opened Memorial Day weekend, is finally complete with Friday’s opening of the Texas Star Flyer.
The Texas Star Flyer lifts riders 230 feet above the Gulf, where they swing in a 90-foot arc at speeds up to 43 miles per hour. (Or so says the Pleasure Pier folks. I’m not going up that tower.)

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Pleasure Pier Website

rediscovered 1940s comedy

A rare Houston production of Spanish Baroque playwright Pedro Calderon de la Barca’s masterpiece, “Life Is a Dream,” and “Love Goes to Press,” a rediscovered 1940s romantic comedy about women war correspondents that has won acclaim in its current off-Broadway revival, are among the noteworthy selections in Main Street Theater’s five-play 2012-13 subscription season.
The lineup assembled by MST artistic director Rebecca Greene Udden also includes Houston premieres of two recent off-Broadway plays, “Memory House” and “Close Up Space,” coincidentally, each centering upon a parent-versus-daughter conflict, and Shakespeare’s “Henry V,” a second co-production with the Prague Shakespeare Festival, following this spring’s “Richard III.”

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Arts and Crafts Marketplace

Sunday Aug 5, 2012 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Almeda Mall (court yard by Burlington Coat Factory)

12200 Gulf Freeway
Houston, TX77075

Map

Details

This event repeats monthly on the 1st Sunday for 12 times

Cost: Free -

Arts and Crafts - Gift Ideas, Holiday Items, Jewelry, Hand Made Leather Items, Collectibles, Utility Knives, Clothes and Much More!

Olympics Opening Ceremony (Photo Gallery)

Khou.com

Olympic Rings Tattoo (Photo Gallery)

Khou.com

Tequila Fest at El Pueblito

El Pueblito Patio 

Restaurants: Mexican

1423 Richmond Ave.
Houston, 77006 United States
713-520-6635

 

Web site

A quiet getaway in a modest building, where the margaritas were strong, the fish dishes were extremely good for the price and the service was friendly? Felt like the vaguely Latin-American home you never grew up in. Yeah, that's gone. The moment you put in a fancy patio with white curtains, the baby socialites stilleto in and ruin everything. Good for the restaurant that those socialites like margaritas, but bad for the restaurant's old regulars who aren't impressed with fancy patios. The food quality has declined, frozen margaritas sometimes arrive completely melted and service is harried.
Vibe: Party girls who turn their nose up at the very notion of sitting in the dining room, plus their entourages. Occasionally, you'll find casual Montrosians eating in the dining room.

Hours

• Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
• Friday: 11 a.m.-2 a.m.
• Saturday: 9 a.m. - 2 a.m.
• Sunday: 8 a.m.-11 p.m.

Happy Hour Specials: Monday-Wednesday: all day happy hour Thursday-Friday: 2 p.m.-6 p.m.

Price

    $10 to $20

 

yard work

just finished up with mowing and edging the front yard, nothing like the texas heat to wear a guy out. feel like i have be run over by a truck and dragged a few miles. even a cool shower hasing made me feel any better. still have the back yard to do but i will do it tomorrow morning before it gets hot.

Weekend Weather

this is how the weather looks for the next 5 days

TGIF

well friday is finally here and all i have to say is that its about time, this has been one of the most stressfull weeks at work. i have been on the go everyday as soon as i walked in the door till it was time to go home. there was no time to take a lunch due to the amount of work i had to do. was invited to a friends 40th birthday next month so that is now on the books for august 18th. before you know it the holidays will be here all over again. so that means prepping for thanksgiving and then my annual christmas party and the company picknick the first weekend of November.

will keep everyone posted on how my friday goes..

San Antonio River Walk

A handful of city officials and downtown leaders gathered along the River Walk on Wednesday night to view what the LED Christmas lights would look like hanging from the trees like the incandescents of old.
City officials will recommend to the City Council next month that the holiday lighting scheme return to hanging LEDs only, not the wrapped minibulbs introduced last season, said Jim Mery, the city's director of downtown operations.

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Tex-Mex love sending Chuy’s IPO higher

If you’ve been chowing down on Tex-Mex, you might think about purchasing some stock in Chuy’s.
The Austin-based Chuy’s, which has 36 restaurants across the Lone Star State and the Midwest (no joke), raised $76 million in its initial public offering, according to CNN Money.

Read Full Article

Chuy's Website

I plan on giving this place a try and will let you know if its as good as its reviews...so more to come

People are funny animals

Stopped to get smokes on the way into work this morning and just happened to look over at the car next to me in the parking lot. It was a nice car btw, noticed the guy in it was just wolfing down a breakfast sausage or it may have been a hotdog for all i know but thats beside the point, he was going to town like someone was going to take it from him. I couldnt help but laugh in side but then'People are funnny animals'.

Thursday

well today is thursday which means we are 1 day closer to the weekend. here is hoping that the weather is going to be nice and enjoyable. will have to check and see what to expect for the next few days and that will dictate what is going to happen. will keep everyone posted, so stay tuned....

Tech Tip

Why Restart regularly?

This tip is simple. Restart your PC at least once a week, especially if you use it a lot. Restarting a PC is a good way to clear out its memory and ensure that any errant processes and services that started running get shut down.

Restarting closes all the software running on your PC—not only the programs you see running on the taskbar, but also dozens of services that might have been started by various programs and never stopped. Restarting can fix mysterious performance problems when the exact cause is hard to pinpoint.

If you keep so many programs, e‑mail messages, and websites open that you think restarting is a hassle, that's probably a sign you should restart your PC. The more things you have open and the longer you keep them running, the greater the chances your PC will bog down and eventually run low on memory.

Texas State Parks

here is a link to the official website for the Texas State Parks. it let you search by Activity, City or name. just another tool for visitors to the great state of texas.

Texas State Parks

Alison Cook’s Top 100 Houston restaurants

During the months I labored on compiling this ranked list of my 100 top Houston restaurants, scarcely a day went by that I didn’t hear the inevitable objections echoing in my head. Gripes like “it’s arbitrary.” Or “it’s just one person’s opinion.” Or “why on earth did restaurant X not make the cut?”
Even, more pointedly, “How can she rate a food cart above a white-tablecloth restaurant with a brigade of trained chefs, a squad of polished servers and a crack sommelier?”

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The List:

1. Oxheart	2. Kata Robata	3. Tony’s
4. Hugo’s	5. Feast	6. Underbelly
7. Uchi	8. Hubcap Grill	9. Pondicheri
10. Pho Binh Trailer	11. Himalaya	12. Melange Creperie
13. Dolce Vita	14. Killen’s	15. Irma’s
16. Philippe	17. Giacomo’s	18. Reef
19. Great W’Kana	20. Da Marco	21. Pico’s
22. Gatlin’s	23. Huynh	24. Latin Bites
25. Crawfish & Noodles	26. Mala Sichuan	27. Shri Balaji Bhavan
28. Bernie’s Burger Bus	29. t’afia	30. Vic & Anthony’s
31. Vieng Thai	32. Branch Water Tavern	33. Brennan’s
34. Ninfa’s on Navigation	35. RDG	36. Indika
37. Samba Grille	38. Haven	39. Quattro
40. Que Huong	41. Goode Co. Seafood	42. Poscol
43. The Burger Guys	44. Sylvia’s	45. Queen Vic
46. La Guadalupana	47. The Breakfast Klub	48. Kasra
49. Plonk	50. Confucius	51. Cafe Pita +
52. El Tiempo	53. Virgie’s	54. Americas
55. Aura	56. Au Petit Paris	57. Rice Bowl Indonesian
58. Kris Bistro	59. Roost	60. Karancho’s
61. Cafe TH	62. Bijan Persian Grill	63. Good Dog Hot Dogs
64. Alpha Bakery	65. Frenchy’s	66. Villa Arcos
67. Gilhooley’s	68. Banana Leaf	69. Pizaro’s Pizza
70. Kenny & Ziggy’s	71. Mezzanotte	72. Soto’s Cantina
73. Tony Mandola’s	74. Asia Market	75. Revival Market
76. Radical Eats	77. Korean BBQ	78. Rioja
79 Ristorante Cavour	80. Romero’s Las Brazas	81. Istanbul Grill
82. Taqueria Laredo	83. Coppa	84. Fu Fu Cafe
85. Danton’s	86. Beaver’s Icehouse	87. Ibiza
88. La Vista	89. El Gran Malo	90. Teotihuacan
91. Angus Grill	92. Lemon Tree	93. Nidda Thai
94. Alicia’s Tex-Mex	95. Turquoise Grill	96. Rainbow Lodge
97. Yum Yum Cha	98. Tango & Malbec	99. Pappas Bros.
100. Spanish Village

New sushi restaurant gets rave review

Few things in life could induce me to languish on a hot summer sidewalk at 4:45 p.m., breathing automobile exhaust and waiting for the doors of a restaurant to swing open. One of those rarities is the Shigoku oyster I scored at Uchi Houston last week: a single West Coast bivalve nested in a deeply cupped, fluted shell. Glinting on top was a miniature snowdrift of yuzu-and-shallot ice; a tiny green bud (the tip of an onion scape) peeked out, shy as a crocus.

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Nordstrom possibly eyeing Woodlands Mall location

While there’s no confirmation from the retailer, our sources say Nordstrom is eyeing space at The Woodlands Mall for its second Houston store. Speculation is Nordstrom may go into the spot now occupied by Sears, which announced earlier this spring that it was selling its The Woodlands location to General Growth Properties, which owns the mall. Sears has said it plans to close about 120 stores and outlets.
Certainly, The Woodands’ residents would love having a Nordstrom nearby. The first Nordstrom, which opened in 2003, is at The Galleria.
Nordstrom spokesman Colin Johnson said the company is always looking for opportunities in Houston, as it does in other markets around the country. But, he said, at this time “We don’t have any information to announce.”
The Woodlands Mall is also the home to the new Victoria’s Secret PINK store, which is also the first one in Texas, and the celebrity frozen-yogurt fave Pinkberry, which opened last month.
BTW, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale continues through Aug. 5. This is the mega- sale offering great discounts on fall trends before the season.


Woodlands Mall (location and information)

My Audience

i would like to thank everyone that visits my blog on a daily basis. i dont just do this for myself but i do it for those that visit my blog on a daily basis. below is where my audience resides. once again i would like to thank everyone.

Rodeo Houston 2013

An article on the KHOU website for informatoin on Rodeo Houston 2013, has lots of link for information foe the 2012 Rodeo and other related links:

Rodeo Houston

Switching off from the 24-7 work ethic

Just as it's tough to ride 100 miles on my bike without a few good snack or stretch breaks along the way, today's 24-7 "always on" world of work makes "switching off" even more vital than ever to maintain productivity, focus, and energy at work -- and to preserve some form of a life with friends, pets, spouses -- and yourself.

The work marathons demanded by this challenging decade need programmatic, regular recharge respites if you're in it for the long haul.

Having flunked retirement twice, I'm addicted to my work, which I love -- even after 42 years of flat-out entrepreneurship, including these latest two exhausting and exhilarating years writing, publishing, and traveling to lecture about "Startup Owner's Manual," which I co-authored with customer development pioneer Steve Blank.

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QFest celebrates sweet 16

This year’s 16th GLBT-Q International Film Festival has no shortage of prestige and panache. Road film “Cloudburst” stars Oscar winners Olympia Dukakis and Brenda Fricker. Scrappy documentaries “Vito” and “Jobriath A.D.” explore the legacies of an activist and a rock star (respectively). And cult classics “The Wiz” and “Showgirls” amp up the camp factor

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Q Fest Houston

Celebrate National Tequila Day in Houston tonight

It’s National Tequila Day, or as we in Houston like to call it: Tuesday.
(Seriously, do people in other parts of the country really need an excuse to drink margaritas and eat tacos?)
That said, perhaps you’d like to take some time to truly appreciate the agave plant and the delicious elixir it provides us with. Here’s where we recommend:

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Sherman Hemsley Dies at 74

Sherman Hemsley, who played George Jefferson on The Jeffersons, has died at 74, according to police.

The actor, who first played the role of Jefferson in All in the Family, also played Deacon Ernest Frye on TV's Amen.

Hemsley died at his home in El Paso, Texas, police say.

Born in South Philadelphia, Hemsley dropped out of high school to join the Air Force. He returned to Philadelphia and worked for the U.S. Postal Service, while taking acting classes at night.

After performing with local groups in Philadelphia, Hemsley moved to New York to make his Broadway debut as Gitlow in Purlie.

While touring with the production, television writer and producer Norman Lear contacted Hemsley to play the role of Jefferson on his new sitcom, All in the Family. Hemsley hesitated to accept but Lear held the role open for him and two years later, Hemsley joined the cast.

Less than two years after Hemsley made his television debut, he and All in the Family costar Isabel Sanford were given their own spin-off in The Jeffersons. The series earned Hemsley Emmy and Golden Globe nominations in 1984 and 1985 respectively.

Sanford died in 2004 at age 86.

In 1986, Hemsley was cast as Deacon Ernest Frye in the NBC series, Amen. The role would last five seasons, ending in 1991.

He was also a professional singer and released a single on Sutra Record called "Ain't That a Kick in the Head" in 1989. In 1992, he released Dance, an R&B album.

Although he retired from television acting, Hemsley joined Sanford through the late '90s and early 2000's to reprise their roles as George and Louise "Weezy" Jefferson on guest spots. The duo appeared on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and in commercials for Old Navy, Gap and Denny's.

Hemsley had no wife or children

Grilling Central on Foodnetwork.com

here is a great section of the Food Network Website i ran across for grilling. i have to say that i love to grill myself during the summer. i have been know to plan gathersings with friends and grilled all kinda stuff, from chicken to shrimp. not only is grilling fun but its a lot healther then going out for a burgur and fries. So here is a link to the grilling section of the Food Network Website hope you enjoy:

Grilling Central

The rebirth of turn-based strategy games

As video game technology improves, games are getting quicker, deadlier and more reactive. This, in some cases, is requiring gamers to be faster on the draw, more reflexive in their actions and to be able to act with little time for a thought-out strategy.

One gaming genre, however, prefers to slow things down while still maintaining a high degree of action and planning. Turn-based strategy games harken back to the days of playing board games with dice and individualized pieces. But, now, they can use the latest tech to help make the games more immersive and interactive.

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First American woman in space, Sally Ride, dies at 61

The first American woman to go into space, Sally Ride, died Monday after a 17-month battle against pancreatic cancer, her company said.

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Victoria's Secret model helps unveil Texas' first PINK store

For teen girls and young women, Victoria's Secret PINK is a candy store for lingerie and lounge wear.
So when Texas' first free-standing PINK store opened this weekend at The Woodlands Mall, a young, eager crowd was there to snap up the PINK goods, well, like candy.

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Peek at a stunning 1925 rebuilt home

Edgemont home for sale at 1604 North Blvd

Located in Harris County's Edgemont subdivision, this estate was built in 1925 but has been significantly remodeled and expanded using antique architectural embellishments collected throughout Europe and Italy.

Read Full Article with Photos

Remembering the Colorado shooting victims

CNN.com

Upcoming Events in Houston

link to Khou website with list of current and upcoming events in the Houston area:

Upcoming Events in Houston

Explore Recipes: Appetizers & Snacks

Ran across this section of the HEB Website which is one of the local grocers in texas, has some really good recipes that are worth trying:

Recipes and Cooking

Weather Outlook

Restaurants

From Beaumont to Houston: a taste of my hometown

I apologize up front: you’ve just crossed into the maudlin zone. Five Houston spots have made me nostalgic for my hometown of Beaumont. This too shall pass, but for the next several inches, bear with me.

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Perrier's Aura to open in Sugar Land Town Square

Word travels fast in food circles. On a recent afternoon, Aura chef Frederic Perrier and his wife, Michelle, were standing outside the former Mongolian wok restaurant Shogi in Sugar Land Town Square, taking photos of the newly vacated site. That was at 2:30 p.m.
By 6:30 p..m, back in the Missouri City strip mall restaurant that the couple has made into a beacon of fine suburban dining — number 55 on my recent list of Houston Top 100 restaurants —the scuttlebutt had spread. "I heard a rumor you're going to open in Sugar Land!", said a longtime customer.

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BlackFinn American Grill

This Charlotte, N.C.-based chain offers distinct dining options, ranging from a very adult dining room to a sports bar to a dog-friendly patio. Chef John Turner’s menu includes Texas-size comfort dishes such as shrimp and grits, bacon-wrapped meatloaf and barbecue-chicken flatbread. The kitchen is open late, and brunch is served on the weekend. Football fans will want to check on the special Game Day menu available Saturdays-Mondays.

Price

$10 to $20

Additional details

Cuisine: American

Music played: Rock, Top 40

Standout item: Low Country Porkchop

Take out: Yes

Signature drink: BlackFinn Greyhound: Grey Goose and grapefruit juice

Parking: valet, paid in nearby garage and on the street

Group friendly: Yes

Happy hour: Monday-Friday: 4 p.m.-7 p.m., $6 appetizers and flatbreads; $3 house wine, wells and domestic drafts

Patio: Yes

Smoking allowed: On patio

Meals served: Lunch, Dinner

Alcohol: Beer, Wine, Liquor

Noise: Moderate

Dress code: casual to business casual

Average price: $10 to $20

Bathroom: large and spotless

Handicap accessible: Yes

BlackFinn Americal Grill

1910 Bagby
Houston, TX 77002 United States
713-651-9550

BlackFinn American Grill

Colorado Familys

lets all take a moment to wish all the familys and friends of the vicitms of the Colorado shootings to let them know that our heart felt prayers are with you in this time of need.

for additional informtion you can check the following news agencys for updates:

Cnn
NBCnews

Clear day

On a clear day you can see all of the downtown buildings

Search the Houston Area for things to do

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Houston 29-95 City Guide

The Official Visitor Guide to Houston

Explore Houston shops with these quick and easy guides

Houston leads the nation in retail job growth for the fourth consecutive year, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics. We're not surprised. No matter whether you're looking for a pair of bedazzled flip-flops or a Chanel boucle jacket, you can find it. We've explored the city's shops, from the Galleria to the Heights. Here are some of our favorites.

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Famous foodie faces to visit city as part of cooking show

The Houston Chronicle and the Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show will team up to bring MetroCooking Houston to Reliant Park Sept. 15 and 16. Last year's event, featuring celebrity chef Paula Deen as the headliner, drew 11,000 visitors. Deen will return this year, along with Giada De Laurentiis and Jacques Pépin and his daughter Claudine.

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World's largest Buc-ee's coming to Texas City

Drivers will soon be able to stop at a Buc-ee's on their way to Galveston. City council members recently approved a deal that would bring the world's largest Buc-ee's to Texas City. The soon-to-be Buc-ee's is expected to be 60,000 square feet. The new store will target customers heading to Galveston or nearby dog tracks and fishing hot spots. The location will be near the intersection of Holland Road and Interstate 45.

 

foodie events

Two foodie events: tailgate throwdown and AZUMApalooza

A Tailgate Throwdown noon-3 p.m. Saturday, July 21, at the Houston Texans Grille will benefit the Houston Food Bank and kick off Houston Restaurant Weeks.
Diners can pay $20 to sample the tailgate fare created by a dozen of the city’s best chefs. Among the participating restaurants are 024 Grille, Branch Water Tavern, the Hay Merchant, Monarch Bistro, The Original Ninfa’s, Pizzitola’s, the Tasting Room and Underbelly.
Chef will compete in several categories including most original dish, best classic dish and fan favorite.

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Tech Tip

Working securely from wireless hot spots part 2

1.    Disable file and printer sharing

File and printer sharing is a feature that enables other computers on a network to access resources on your computer. When you are using your mobile PC in a hot spot, it’s best to disable file and printer sharing, because, when it’s enabled, it leaves your computer vulnerable to hackers. Just don’t forget to turn this feature back on when you return to the office.

a.    Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

b.    Click Network and Internet, and then click Network and Sharing Center.

c.    Under Change your network settings, click Choose homegroup and sharing options.

d.    Under Other homegroup actions, click Change advanced sharing options.

e.    Under File and printer sharing, select Turn off file and printer sharing, and then click Save changes.

2.    Make your folders private

When the folders on your mobile PC are private, it’s more difficult for hackers to access your files.
Windows 7 not only makes folders private by default but also requires passwords for shared or public folders. As a result, you’re already covered with these tips and tricks! But if you want to double-check that a folder is not public, simply right-click the folder in question, and then click Share with to see whether it is private or public. If it is public, turn Public folder sharing off. Here’s how:

a.    Click Start, and then click Control Panel. In the search box, type network, click Network and Sharing Center, and then, in the left pane, click Change advanced sharing settings.

b.    Click the chevron to expand your current network profile.

c.    Under Public folder sharing, click Turn of Public folder sharing (people logged on to this computer can still access these folders).

d.    Click Save changes. If you’re prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Repeat the steps above for each folder that you want to make private.

3.    Encrypt your files

You can protect your files further by encrypting them, which requires a password to open or modify them. Because you must perform these tips and tricks on one file at a time, consider password-protecting only the files that you plan to use while working in a public place.

4.    Remove sensitive data from your portable computer

If you’re working with extremely sensitive data, consider completely removing it from your portable computer. Save it on a corporate network share or on a password-protected site, such as Windows Live SkyDrive instead, and access it only when necessary.

Windows 8 Update

It's now official Windows 8 will be released on October 26th 2012

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Windows 8 Upgrade Info

Another Way to see Texas

With fares as low as $1 to ride a double-decker bus to another Texas city, megabus.com is grabbing Houston riders' attention.
"I think the bus is absolutely fantastic," Wayne Porterfield said Tuesday as he waited to board the 10:15 a.m. coach to San Antonio. He and his 12-year-old son, Malcolm Porterfield, were among 15 to 20 people lined up for the bus that stops in a parking lot at Clay and Travis downtown.

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Megabus.com is a website that give bus trips for US, Canada and Europe, check out there website below and select the country you wish to explore

Megabus.com

Westminster champ to visit Houston dog show

When Malachy was crowned the king of canines earlier this year, the audience cheered. But some in the peanut gallery pointed and laughed.
Judges at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in February proclaimed the 11-pound Pekingese an outstanding specimen with spotless demeanor. Internet wags argued Malachy resembled the love child of a "Star Wars" Ewok and Chewbacca. Or he looked like a Furby, Gizmo from "Gremlins," Fizzgig from "The Dark Crystal," a tribble from "Star Trek" or Cousin Itt's pet.

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Reliant Dog Show Information

Humpday

well the week is half over and according to the weather report we are going to get more rain thru the end of the week. so i hope everyone has a good day and will see how my day turns out.

For the Comic Book Fan in us all

here is a blogg i ran across for the Marvel comics characters hope you enjoy:

The Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe

Houston has a new resident

"Six Million Dollar Man" Lee Majors, wife Faith move to Houston

Best known for his starring roles on "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "The Fall Guy," actor Lee Majors has had dozens of roles on TV and in movies since the 1960s. His original Space City connection came via his nine-year marriage to Farrah Fawcett (1973-82). More recently, Majors and his current wife, Faith, said "adios" to their 90210 life and "hello" to Houston.

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Weather Update

this is what happened outside the house when a the rain storm passed thru:

Must See Video about equal rights

a very heart warming story about a gay couple and what happens when one dies in a accident:

It Could Happen To You

Upper Kirby's going upscale with 'cool' factor

When Johnny Carrabba opened his Italian restaurant on Kirby Drive 25 years ago, he moved into a space formerly occupied by a 24-hour adult newsstand.

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Weekend

had a great time with the family this weekend. did some work on the house by replacing the wooden columns with metal one. only took 5 hours to remove the old ones and install the new ones. below is image after it was completed.

according to the weather we are to get more rain again this week, at this point i am ready to grow gills from all the rain.

Dinner Review

Goodson's Cafe is a great place to eat, will definatly go back again. for information and its location click on the link below:

Goodson's Cafe

Dinner

As seen on Dinners Drivein and Dives,

Tech Tip

Working securely from wireless hot spots part 1

With security being a main concern for users, tips and tricks is focusing on wireless hot spots. Also known as Wi-Fi, hot spots are changing the way a small or medium business works. These wireless local area networks (WLANs) provide high-speed Internet connections in public locations (and at home). You can access them via a wireless-ready mobile PC, such as a laptop, netbook, or smartphone.

Hot spots are everywhere, including coffee shops, restaurants, libraries, bookstores, airports, trains, and hotel lobbies. Many of these places will inform you that they have a hot spot for wireless Internet use, will tell you how to access it, and, sometimes, they will provide you with a password.

But are Wi-Fi hot spots safe?

Public hot spots all have one thing in common – they are open networks that are vulnerable to security breaches. Because they do not encrypt data, your passwords, email messages, and other information can be visible to hackers. That means it’s up to you to be aware of wireless hot spot security and to protect the data on your PC or mobile device. These Windows 7 tips and tricks make working on wireless networks in public locations more secure and eliminate potential harm to your data.

1.    Disable your Wi-Fi adapter

When you’re not at home or at work, it’s a good idea to turn off your laptop or netbook's Wi-Fi capability when you’re not using it. Otherwise your computer might connect to a malicious hot spot without you realizing it. Many laptops nowadays have a Wi-Fi hardware button you can use to disable your Wi-Fi adapter. Or use one of the quickest tips and tricks to disable your Wi-Fi adapter directly in Windows 7.

a.    Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Hardware and Sound.

b.    Under Devices and Printers, click Device Manager.

         c.    In the list, click Network adapters. Right-click your wireless card and then click Disable.
        d.    Follow the same steps to enable the adapter.

2.    Choose more secure connections

One effective way to protect your email messages in public is to select the https or other secure connection option in your email account settings (if your email provider supplies one). This option may be called “always use https”, “more secure connection”, or something similar. The address line of your browser displays whether the connection is secure (e.g. https://www…).

3.    Activate your firewall

A firewall helps protect your PC by preventing unauthorized users from gaining access to your computer through the Internet or a network. It acts as a barrier that checks all incoming information and then either blocks the information or allows it to come through.

4.    Decide where you connect

Chances are that there are multiple wireless networks anywhere you’re trying to connect. So how do you make sure you’re connecting to the right one? Simple – this is one of the built-in tips and tricks Windows 7 takes care of automatically. The operating system takes the guesswork out of connecting to hot spots because it automatically prompts you to approve new connections. In addition, after you approve a connection, you can assign a profile for future use to your connection.