Montrose’s dancing rollerblader

 Montrose’s dancing rollerblader skates onto ‘America’s Got Talent’s’ big stage
 

After entertaining motorists on Allen Parkway with his rollerblading dance moves for some 15 years now, Montrose character and veritable Houston institution Juan Carlos the Dancing Rollerblader is sharing his shimmy with the rest of the country on America’s Got Talent. On a special Sunday episode of NBC’s talent show, Juan Carlos will attempt to dazzle judges Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, Mel B. and Howard Stern with the disco moves that have delighted countless Houstonians over the years.

Juan Carlos began his very public routine as a means to lose weight: ”I started roller-blade dancing 15 years ago because I was gaining a lot of weight and I thought this was the thing I really like to do to help me lose weight,” he explains in an interview. “I started to perform in Montrose as it’s near my house and it’s where people go to exercise. When I first started, I went by a car with six beautiful girls who saw me and they said ‘ooh look at him’ and so I started shaking it and I’ve never stopped!”
And people can’t seem to get enough of his dancing. A few years ago, a YouTube user uploaded a video of Juan Carlos doing his thing to Chris Brown’s “Look at Me Now.” As of today, the video has almost 800,000 views on Youtube

After being encouraged by various people over the years to audition for America’s Got Talent, Juan Carlos finally tried his luck at the Houston auditions this past winter. While he can’t reveal whether the judges moved him to the next round or not, he describes the audition experience as “one of the best of [his] life”: “I’m a freestyle performer so I just put on my red catsuit with red vinyl and turned to audition … The crowd were awesome – the stage was spectacular and you have to remember that AGT is an amazing production – it feels great to be on that stage. I could see some faces in the audience and I could see they knew a star had fallen on to the stage. Heidi Klum and Mel B. had their mouths open. They were astonished with my entrance and they were so gorgeous.”

If he wins the judges over with his performance, Juan Carlos will move one step closer to an act in Las Vegas and a $1 million prize. When asked what a Juan Carlos the Dancing Rollerblader show in Las Vegas would look like, the hair stylist/film-student refuses to think in such small terms: “[It would have] lots of sparkle and smiles all over the world. They say what happens to Vegas stays in Vegas, but in this case it’s totally different. I will be famous all over the world! I will be in Vegas but once people see me perform they will be talking about me all over the world.”

Juan Carlos’ audition will air on America’s Got Talent at 8 p.m. this Sunday on NBC.

You can join fellow Juan Carlos fans at MKT Bar at Phoenicia Specialty Foods Downtown  for an America’s Got Talent viewing party this Sunday from 6:30-9, and meet the famous Dancing Rollerblader in person. MKT Bar is downtown at 1001 Austin Street.


Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

H-E-B's new 'groceraunt' opens Friday in Stone Oak

H-E-B's new 'groceraunt' opens Friday in Stone Oak

H-E-B workers and construction crews scrambled Thursday to finish preparing the grocery chain's first full-service restaurant, Oaks Crossing, that opens Friday adjacent to the new Market at Stone Oak.

The hybrid "groceraunt" location occupies about 80,000 square feet at the corner of Hardy Oak and Wilderness Oak and expands on an in-store cafe concept that H-E-B debuted in Austin last year.
With a full-fledged kitchen staff, Oaks Crossing will welcome diners seven days a week and offer a seven-page menu featuring street tacos, by-the-pound barbecue, pizza, burgers and more.
Some of the signature entrees include a roasted Brussels sprouts pizza, a Tejas burger topped with guacamole and corn chips, brisket smoked for 13 hours and anchiote chicken tacos with roasted corn and black bean salsa.

Customers who enjoy the Oaks Crossing burger buns can even buy some of the bread from the bakery inside the Market at Stone Oak.

Oaks Crossing also boasts a full beer, wine and liquor license and will offer several mixed drinks, including a champagne margarita, avocado pineapple martini and "Carrot Top sangria."
Staring June 20, the Market at Stone Oak will be open from 6 a.m. to midnight every day. Oaks Crossing will be open Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to midnight.

The restaurant will serve Sunday brunch starting at 10 a.m.

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Ja’Nel Witt to join Corner Table as new exec chef

Ja’Nel Witt, winner of Season 11 of Fox’s “Hell’s Kitchen,” will be Corner Table’s new executive chef.

The news of Witt’s post came only days after Corner Table announced that it was parting ways with chef Bruce Molzan.

Witt, a Houstonian and native Texan who won “Hell’s Kitchen” last July, will be working with Corner Table to transform the menu over the coming weeks. Having worked locally at Tintos Spanish Restaurant in River Oaks, the Tasting Room in Uptown Park, and Kiran’s near Highland Village, Witt brings more than seven years of professional culinary experience to the job, specializing in international cuisine with a “flair for Thai, Indian, Spanish and Latin food,” according to Corner Table.

“We are thrilled to have Ja’Nel join our team,” Michelle Coopwood, co-owner of Corner Table stated. “Corner Table has had a tremendous first year, and with Ja’Nel’s help, we are confident the restaurant will be elevated to the next level and offer an even better experience to our customers.”

Witt’s “Hell’s Kitchen” win might have been sweet but it was short lived. Less than a month after winning “Hell’s Kitchen” with a prize of a $250,000 a year job at Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Witt parted ways with Ramsay. The show’s production company stated at the time: “Recent unforeseen personal circumstances will now unfortunately prevent her from accepting the position, which is a huge disappointment for Ja’Nel and all of us. She’s an incredible talent, and we all wish her much success with the next chapter of her career.”

Witt later Tweeted: “I would like to express my sincerest thanks to Hell’s Kitchen, Gordon Ramsay, Caesars Palace & my supportive fans for this amazing experience. Due to personal matters, I will not be joining the team in Las Vegas, but I wish them continued success. This has been an incredible journey. I am thankful for everyone who made it possible and I am looking forward to my next cooking chapter.”

Corner Table may be Witt’s next big chapter. She is a graduate of the University of Houston and received a culinary arts degree from Art Institute of Houston.

Witt will assume the executive chef position left vacant by Molzan, who opened Corner Table in December 2012. On Monday the restaurant announced it had amicably parted ways with Molzan. Yesterday restaurateur Neera Patidar, of the former Nosh Bistro, said she was planning a partnership with Molzan to open a new restaurant in the former Nosh Bistro location in Upper Kirby. That restaurant is expected to open mid-July.
Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Best quirky landmark?

Best quirky landmark?Big Tex is beating up the Beer Can House

• 

As if we needed it, Texas is getting some big-time national exposure with four items on USA Today's 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards for Best Quirky Landmark.

Big Tex in Dallas is leading the voting right now, with Carhenge in Nebraska in second place. Number 5 is Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo.

The Lone Star State's other two entries on the list of 20 nominees are Houston's own Beer Can House and the fake storefront Prada Marfa in Marfa.

You can vote every day until June 23, when voting ends. To cast your vote, go to the list of entries and click on the photo of the one you like best. I'm told that voting for Big Tex is encouraged.

The iconic figure at the entrance to the State Fair of Texas was destroyed by fire in October 2012 but was replaced almost a year later, on Sept. 26. At 55 feet, the new Big Tex is 3 feet taller than his predecessor and comes with fire-suppression features.

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Houston Restaurant Weeks

Brunch is on the menu for the 2014 edition of Houston Restaurant Weeks
Brunch is on the menu for the the highly anticipated annual food fest known as Houston Restaurant Weeks. The annual charity dine-around raised more than $1 million in 2013 for the Houston Food Bank.

As in year’s past, the 2014 edition — Aug. 1-Sept. 1 — will feature special two-, three- or four-course prix fixe menus at hundreds of Houston’s most popular restaurants. A portion of each meal’s cost will be designated for the food bank.

In years past, a handful of restaurants have offered a HRW brunch menu priced the same as the lunch option. This year, however, brunch has its own category and pricing.

And here is the 2014 pricing:
Dinners will be $35 or $45, depending on the menu, with $5 and $7, respectively, going to the food bank. Brunch will be $25 and provide a $4 gift to the food bank, while lunches will be priced at $20 with $3 going to charity.

Participating restaurants — and their menus — will be posted on the official HRW site on July 15.
Founded by radio and television personality Cleverley Stone, Houston Restaurant Weeks is the largest annual fundraiser for the Houston Food Bank. Since its start in 2003, HRW has raised more than $4.3 million, providing nearly 13 million meals for food-insecure Texans.


Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Quaker Steak & Lube drives a new theme home in Houston

Quaker Steak & Lube drives a new theme home in Houston

In my travels, there was hardly a week that went by when I didn’t encounter someone in a Hard Rock T-shirt. Often it would bear the name of some far-flung outpost such Sydney or Kuala Lumpur. I’d scratch my head and wonder “hmm, who goes to Australia and makes a bee line for Hard Rock?” It never ceases to amaze.

Despite the movement for locally sourced, chef-driven, farm-to-table, insert your favorite trendy phrase here, themed restaurants haven’t lost their luster. Spots such as Twin Peaks, Rainforest Cafe and Downtown Aquarium brim with customers.

I bring all this up because Quaker Steak & Lube opens its first Houston-area location at 2502 S. I-45 in in League City on June 18.

The restaurant, part of franchise chain that got its start in Pennsylvania, is known for its fun decor that pays tribute to old-school gas stations. Among its features are muscle cars displayed overhead on hydraulic grease racks, motorcycles and automotive memorabilia. The green-and-white exterior is eye-catching and the house wings have earned numerous accolades over the years.


Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

HBO tackles Lone Star State politics in 'God Save Texas'

HBO tackles Lone Star State politics in 'God Save Texas'


A new series coming to soon to HBO about the world of Texas politics will undoubtedly have no shortage of fodder, given our state's cast of characters in higher positions of power.

According to movie news site Deadline, veteran film and TV producer Lauren Shuler Donner and theater producer Margo Lion took a shine to author-playwright Lawrence Wright's 2005 play "Sonny's Last Shot," about an "idealistic cowboy who, looking to save his ranch and marriage, tries to get elected to the Texas Legislature, where he becomes the target of the powerful energy lobby and learns how to survive in the crazy, brutal world of Texas politics."
Donner's past production credits include all of the X-Men flicks and a host of other Hollywood hits. Her husband is legendary director Richard Donner ("Lethal Weapon" series, "Goonies").

The series, called "God Save Texas", been put into development by HBO, with Wright producing and writing.  According to Deadline, the show's pilot could begin production soon.

As of now there are few details about where the show will be shot, with the Austin Film Commission saying Tuesday that it hasn't heard of any production work scheduled for that city, which would be a logical locale.

No casting decisions have been made public as of yet. (Is that Matthew McConaughey guy busy?)
Deadline says that the first season of the "God Save Texas" is due to feature a storyline about the Texas drought.

“No other state is so stereotyped in the public imagination, so there’s plenty of opportunity to present this complex, intimate and often screwy world in a fresh and surprising manner. For better or worse, political ideas spill out of Texas and take an outsized place in the national conversation, as they certainly will in the next presidential election. Whether you love Texas or hate it, better to understand it, because here it comes again," Wright told Deadline.
Through a spokeswoman with this publisher, Wright said that he’s not doing interviews at the moment, as it is still early days yet on the project.

With folks like Rick Perry, Wendy Davis, Ted Cruz, Greg Abbot, and the like roaming the halls of power here in the Lone Star State, this HBO series should have plenty of ammunition for a dozen seasons of TV. We can probably all expect plenty of outlandish accents and barbecue lunches to be involved.

As Shuler Donner said herself, "You can't make up characters like this."
Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Hidden Cash promotion comes to Houston's Discovery Green

• 

Some lucky Houstonians became a few dollars richer Saturday when a national phenomenon made its way to the Bayou City.

Just after 10:30 a.m. Saturday, the Hidden Cash Twitter account, @HiddenCash, announced that there was free money to be claimed in white envelopes under benches and chairs at Discovery Green in downtown.

Jason Buzi with Hidden Cash says that a total of $1,500 was left in 15 envelopes at  near the playground and water area of the park for Houstonians who followed clues from the promotion's Twitter feed. 

The philanthropic Twitter promotion has hidden, no-strings-attached money around Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay for the past three weeks. This weekend they expanded to Houston, Las Vegas, Chicago, New York City and Mexico City.

New Yorkers in Central Park and Prospect were posting picutres of themselves holding white envelopes full of bills to Twitter, and Mexico City's Parque Chapultepec was hopping with Hidden Cash followers.
In Houston, some people found one envelope, while others found two or three. All told there were a few hundred people at the park looking for cash.

Nick Hall, who was at work across the street from Discovery Green, came over on break to find some cash. He did, snagging close to $100. He planned buying lunch for his co-workers, he said.

"I've got a new baby so this will help out a bit too," Hall said.

Dozens of cash-seekers worked the park over with a fine-tooth comb, scutinizing every bench, trash bin and chair.
Charlie Duhon and his young son found $40 in an envelope during their vacation from Shreveport, Louisiana.

"We're going to go to McDonald's and get some lunch," Duhon said. They had no clue that there was free money at the park until they began seeing other people search.
Susanne Theis, program director for Discovery Green, said Saturday afternoon that the park staff wasn't contacted before hand by Buzi or Hidden Cash representatives. She reported that everyone was good-natured and having fun with the contest.

"There was no panic or anything, and we had our usual staff of security and police that we always have on Saturdays," said Theis, as a man outside her window was checking the bottom of a light pole in the hopes of finding some loot.

"Beautiful of a light pole as it is, I have never seen such a thing," Theis said.
The whole affair reminded her of the annual Easter egg hunt that the park throws, albeit the stakes were a bit higher in this hunt.
"I wish we could have handed out some cloths to people to give the park a once over while they were searching," she joked. Even the weeds next to the park's paddle boat pond were being sifted through, just in case they held an envelope.
Those in the park who had no idea what was going on, like Stacey Myers, were a bit disappointed they weren't in on the search.

"We could all use a couple extra bucks," Myers said.
Buzi, who made his own fortune in the real estate business in San Francisco, said earlier this week that Hidden Cash is his way of paying forward on his good luck.
"It's my money that I made in real estate and I want to give it to people who can use it," says Buzi. He's not the only one who is behind Hidden Cash, he added, mentioning that other well-to-do friends are also contributing to the handouts.

The hard part about giving away thousands of dollars, Buzi says, is nailing down the logistics. He must find people in each city that he can trust and who will find good hiding spots for the money.

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Microsoft announces opening date for Woodlands Mall

Microsoft will open a retail store at The Woodlands Mall on June 26. at 11 a.m.

The store will sell products such as Windows 8.1 PCs, tablets, Windows phones, Xbox One and Microsoft Office 365.

Microsoft’s Galleria store, which was the first in Houston and Texas, opened in 2011. Its first store opened in Scottsdale, Ariz., two years earlier.

The Woodlands Mall location will be the fourth Microsoft store in Texas.

Microsoft now has more than 90 retail stores.

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Mansion dangles over cliff on Texas' Lake Whitney (UPDATE)

Mansion dangles over cliff on Texas' Lake Whitney (UPDATE)

• 

The owners of a crumbling house on a crumbling cliff have decided to pull the plug on their vacation home, the Waco Tribune reports.

At or around 10 a.m. Friday, officials will burn the mansion that is currently hovering over Lake Whitney. The decision to burn the home was not made by Hill County officials.

Once the home has been scorched, county officials and the Heart of Texas Demolition LLC will pull any debris back from the cliff's edge.

All of this is to prevent any environmental damage that could be caused by the $700,000 home. Had the homeowners simply left the mansion to tumble into the lake below, they would be on the hook for cleaning it up.

Randy Cephus, a spokesman for the Fort Worth District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, says the erosion, the weight of the home's leveling material and drought conditions have all contributed to the home's literal downfall.

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

10 Productivity Killers

10 Productivity Killers

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Two Texas cities among 20 most LGBT-friendly

 

Two Texas cities among 20 most LGBT-friendly

Seattle was recently crowned the LGBT-friendliest city in America by financial consumer site NerdWallet. Seattle beat out other famously gay-welcoming cities like San Francisco and New York.

Two Texas cities made the list, although Houston is not one of them but Dallas and Austin did. In November 2013, Houston began providing health benefits to partners in same-sex marriages performed in jurisdictions where such marriages are legal. The new benefits rules, however, were not enough to get Houston in the top 20 based on the following criteria:

Percent of households with same-sex partners (2012 Census);Laws and practices that protect gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people from discrimination (based on Human Rights Campaign's Municipality Equality Index); and Low rate of LGBT hate crimes per population.

So what makes Seattle so great for the LGBT community? And why did it beat out San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles?

Nerdwallet Article


Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Mansion dangles over cliff on Texas' Lake Whitney

• 

SAN ANTONIO — A mansion perched on a cliff overlooking Lake Whitney in North Texas began slowly collapsing into the water 75 feet below on Tuesday night.

The foundation of the 4,000-square foot home, which the owners vacated two weeks ago, began crumbling into the water at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, according to WFAA-TV.

The luxury home, which is dangling over the rocky shoreline of the lake located about 55 miles south of Fort Worth, was condemned about a year ago after a crack was noticed in the earth below. The residence was built in 2007 and is valued at more than $700,000, WFAA-TV reported.

Lake Whitney is 61 percent full as of Wednesday and one year ago the lake was 68 percent full, according to the Texas Water Development Board. The lake was 100 percent capacity or more for 154 days in 2007, when the home was built.

Another large piece of the home fell into the water at around 11 p.m. and authorities have said the home owners will be responsible for cleaning up the debris. The Hill County Sheriff's Office told WFAA that there is no way to predict when or if the rest of the home will collapse, but that the soil was shifting at a fast pace Tuesday night.

Officials said the collapsing home is not a public safety concern and the White Bluff Subdivision security has blocked access to visitors and reporters, according to CBS DFW.

Mark Wilson, chief deputy of the Hill County Sheriff's Office, told CBS DFW that members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are in the lake near the house blocking access from boaters.

Authorities were alerted to the collapse when two neighbors saw heard a loud crash Tuesday evening, WFAA-TV reported.

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Texas all woman car dealership is pulling in the customers

• 

The idea that women don't know anything about cars is a bad steterotype and one Texas dealership wants to put it to rest.

Victory Auto Smart opened in January on John Stockbauer Dr. and is now well and truly on the map, largely because of their unique approach which they say was a happy accident.

The dealership's entire crew is female.

"I don't think it was ever done on purpose ... I think it just worked," said Jessika Peinkofer, sales manager at Victory.  "We bring a more positive atmosphere.  Women, nine out of 10 times, are a little happier and more enthusiastic."

Admittedly, the staff is small, with just three ladies running the show but Peinkofer says the lack of men does cause a stir with new customers.

"Most of them are amazed.  They say, "Oh wow, all women?"  Or they come because of that and say they just wanted to see what it was all about," Peinkofer said.

The team includes Lorean Clauson, 23, and Laurynn Nichols, 21, the collections manager and sales consultant respectively.   The women admit they do have to work harder to convince male customers to trust them.

"They ask us questions to to trip us up a little bit, but then they realize that we do know what we're talking about," said Peinkofer.

Relationships are the key to sales, according to the trio, who put extra focus on building friendships with their customers so they trust them enough to recommend family and friends.

Fifty percent of sales are now attributed to referrals so their plan seems to be working, and it's not just women customers but men also.

Peinkofer says she prefers female sales people when she shops also.

"Over the weekend I bought a jet ski ... I would have loved to have a woman (salesperson).  I could have felt more open. I don't want to feel stupid, I can ask questions and not feel judged," she said.

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

New water park could be opening south of Houston in Brazoria

• 

The small town of Brazoria, about an hour south of Houston proper, is looking to bring a water park into their city limits in the hopes that it would invigorate the summers and economy of the town.

City manager Teresa Borders said Tuesday morning that they have been talking with Splash Kingdom Waterparks, which already operates two family-friendly destinations in Texas, about bringing a park to Brazoria for a handful of years now. They had originally looked into doing it themselves before Splash Kingdom became involved.

The Splash Kingdom brand waterparks prohibit alcohol on site and are known as a faith-based business. The company proudly displays biblical scripture on their websites and asks that no thongs or excessively revealing swimwear be worn at their parks. They currently operate parks in Canton and Hudson Oaks, Texas; and Shreveport, Louisiana. A fourth park opens in Greenville, Texas next year.
"We’re a very family friendly business. Our goal is to glorify God while providing a fun, safe recreational area for families,” said Johnny Blevins, president and CEO of Splash Kingdom Family Waterparks on Tuesday. Park staff mentioned that the Brazoria park might be sports-themed.

The total price tag on a Brazoria edition of Splash Kingdom would be about $6.5 million, according to Borders. A council meeting was scheduled for Tuesday night at Brazoria city hall to decide whether a bond issue will be put to a vote in the town's November election. That bond would call for close to $2 million to come from locals to fund part of the park.

"We are letting the citizens decide whether or not they want a park," said Borders. "The land was already donated by the Brazoria First Assembly church as parkland to the city about four or five years ago." The church donated a total of 35 acres for city use.

Borders said she is excited at the prospect of a park like this in Brazoria. Not only would it be good for the local economy, but she also says that kids in town need something to do during the hot summer months. The city's population is just a little over 3,000.

"Our older kids don't have places to work in the summer, so this would also give kids in high school somewhere to work," says Borders.

"It will be a good thing for the entire county. Some people out of Houston probably wouldn't mind coming down 288 to visit us either," she adds. It would also be a shot in the arm for Brazoria County and town's nearby, she says.

If the bond passes in November, Borders says that work would begin in early 2015 on the water park, with an opening date tentatively set for that summer or the next.

Borders says that increased development in the area would make building the park easier than before.

"We already have the (water) lines in place," she says.

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Schlitterbahn to open Corpus Christi park in July

Schlitterbahn to open Corpus Christi park in July


SAN ANTONIO — Summer vacationers can look forward to a new Schlitterbahn in Corpus Christi, opening July 15.

The park will contain a 2-mile-long torrent river, two to three uphill water coasters, three kids' areas, a Boogie Bahn, a heated pool with a swim up bar and Shoot the Chute, the company's first hard-park ride in any park. Shoot the Chute is modeled after a log ride, where the car takes riders up a hill and down into a splash zone.

Lodging also is incorporated with the park, and around 35 rooms will open July 15. Eventually, the park will have more than 80 rooms total. Rooms range from double queen to suites, but prices are not confirmed.

Attached to the lodging area is an event center with multiple rooms to hold concerts, weddings and parties. Also on-site is a Mexican restaurant, named Fajita, which will remain open yearlong.

Winter Prosapio, corporate director of communications and government relations at Schlitterbahn, said the park, located at 14353 Commodores Drive in North Padre Island, will have a Hill Country feel to it. She added the park will be decorated with handcrafted art to make the park feel warm, open, inviting and “at one with nature.”

“This one will really feel like elements of the Hill Country suddenly landed in beach country,” Prosapio said.

She said each Schlitterbahn park differs from one another. For example, the park in South Padre Island is beach oriented and Galveston's park has an urban feel.

“They all reflect their communities in one way or another,” she said.

The park is 61 acres and is one of the larger parks in terms of acreage, but is similar in content to the South Padre Island park, but ride designs are not the same.

“We don't make cookie-cutter parks,” Prosapio said.

A park was planned in Corpus Christi because Schlitterbahn's founder, Bob Henry, always wanted a park in that city, which attracts a lot of people in the summer, Prosapio said. Construction began Feb. 14, 2013.

Water park Hours are unconfirmed, but Prosapio said typical hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. everyday until Labor Day weekend. After Labor Day weekend, the park is only open on weekends.
Season passes and tickets have not gone on sale.

Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts, based in New Braunfels, also has a park in Kansas City, Kansas

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Landmark Montrose nightclub Numbers getting the mural treatment

If you’ve driven east on Westheimer lately you have probably noticed a few new faces popping up on the side of popular dance club and music venue Numbers in Montrose.

Artist Rene Fernandez is currently painting a mural on the west side of the club featuring the faces of some of the most popular punk, glam, and goth artists to ever come pulsing from the sound system at the club. Some of the artists even graced the stage of the venue on their way up the ladder of fame.

We had just repainted the whole building a few weeks back and a local artist and patron of the club approached us about a couple of projects that he wanted to do for the club and this was one of them,” said Wes Wallace, who has been with the club since 1986 when owner Robert “Robot” Burtenshaw hired him on.

Burtenshaw died late last summer and his loss is still felt in the goth community in Houston. Wallace says that the club has plans for a permanent mural inside Numbers to honor the late owner.

Right now the mural features The Cure’s Robert Smith, Siouxsie of Siouxsie and the Banshees, Morrissey, late Joy Division singer Ian Curtis , the Depeche Mode flower logo, “Aladdin Sane”-era David Bowie, Joey Ramone, Debbie Harry, Al Jourgenson of Ministry, and Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor.

There are a few more to come, says Wallace.

How did the Numbers team decide on the artists that Fernandez would include?

“That was a tough one, as there is limited room. Rene brought us some sketches, and the final decision was his, but as the mural progressed, it changed a bit to fit the wall and best represent the history of Numbers and the alternative music scene in general,” Wallace says.

The mural is just a smattering of the artists that some people probably discovered at the club over its storied history.

The Cure, Nine Inch Nails, and Ministry all played the club on their way to worldwide fame and arena shows. The venue has kept a substantial list of all of the acts that have played its stage since 1979. Wallace was there for all of those historic shows too.

Wallace saw NIN, The Cure, and Ministry all at the club over his 28 years on staff. “I saw all of them but Siouxsie in 1980; I missed that one,” he says.

Right now there looks to be only room for two more faces on the mural wall.

“There are many more that could go on there but the wall is just not big enough. We all have personal favorites that did not make it on there,” Wallace says.

Friday nights at Numbers is still a must-do for anyone looking to get the full Montrose experience. Dancing to New Order, Public Image Ltd., and The Normal (“Warm Leatherette”) is a rite of passage for anyone claiming to be a true Montrosian. And braving those strong Long Island Iced Teas.

The mural should be completed within the next week or two, says Wallace. As for the future of the club, Wallace says it is wide open.

“We are continuing to upgrade and improve the building inside and out. We plan to be open as long as the community will support us,” he says. “We’ve been open for 36 great years and we’re hoping for many, many more.”

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Hurricane Info

Hurricane Info




Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Hurricane Checklist

Ultimate hurricane checklist

- Aluminum foil
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and an NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
- Bleach and medicine dropper (Nine parts water to one part bleach can be used as a disinfectant.)
- Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children
- Cash or traveler's checks and change
- Carbon monoxide detector (while using generator)
- Cellphone with chargers, inverter or solar charger
- Change of clothing including a long-sleeve shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes
- Coolers
- Duct tape
- Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
- Emergency reference material, such as a first aid book
- Extension cord (for generators)
- Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
- Financial documents
- Fire extinguisher
- First aid kit
- Fix-a-flat
- At least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Frozen gel packs
- Gas cans
- Generator
- Infant formula and diapers
- Local maps
- Manual can opener for food
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Paper and pencil
- Paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils
- Pet food and extra water for your pet
- Plastic bucket with tight lid
- Prescription medications and glasses
- Rain gear and rubber boots
- Sandbags (for flooding)
- Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
- Toilet paper
- Trash bags
- Utility knife
- Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
- Whistle to signal for help
- Work gloves

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Giant alien fish hauled out of the Gulf

Giant alien fish hauled out of the Gulf by Houston fisherman

A Houston fisherman's latest catch is going viral after after photos came out of a massive Warsaw Grouper he caught off the Louisiana coast.

Cullen Greer caught the huge 267-pound fish at the end of May and is looking to get into the state record books.  His 6' 6" long giant would be the fifth largest ever caught in this species.

KETK report that Greer hopes the ugly grouper will also rank as the third largest caught on a hand crank.
The current record with the Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association stands at 359.10 pounds caught in November 2008.

Warsaw groupers are the only grouper with 10 dorsal spines according to Texas A&M at Galveston.  They live in deep waters in the Gulf and on rocky ledges or sea mounts.  The Texas state record is listed with Texas Parks and Wildlife as a 302.7 pound fish caught in October 2006.

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

The 10 Habits of Highly Unflabby People

So you want to keep an eye on the old waistline, but you hate diets. Join the club. Rather than give you recipes for “yummy” quinoa-kelp granola, we suggest following these simple rules, rituals, and metabolic sleights of hand. You'll eat better, eat less, and burn calories all day long, even while checking your e-mail

Your Eating Habits

1. Grease your pans with olive-oil cooking spray. This is twenty-nine calories less than a pat of butter. One time, no big deal. But if you cook ten times a week…
Calories saved per week: 290
2. Use small plates. Better, use blue ones. Small plates trick your brain into thinking you're eating more—and studies have shown that blue objects suppress appetite, which is why you don't see a lot of blue foods.
Calories saved per week: 500
3. Drink a glass of water before every meal. This initiates a complex metabolic reaction that dietitians call “filling up your stomach so you don't eat as much.” For real: Drinking water throughout the day means you ingest up to 9 percent less calories.
Calories saved per week: 1,358
4. Cook with spices instead of sauces. Sauces contain tons of calories (a tablespoon of mayo: 90); spices don't. Plus, hot spices and peppers help speed your metabolism and make you eat slower, due to your mouth being on fire.
Calories saved per week: 500

Your Drinking Habits

5. Don't even make eye contact with us until you cut out soda. One can of Dr Pepper is 150 calories. And for what? It doesn't even lower your inhibitions!
Calories saved per week: 1,350
6. Pour your coffee creamer down the drain. Black coffee has almost zero calories. Drop the syrups and creamers and even milk, which is made for calves that need to gain like a thousand pounds.
Calories saved from ten cups per week: 360
7. Treat your beer like it's scotch. The heavier the brew, the higher its calories. So when you're just chilling and want something beery, drink a single light one. Savor the hoppier stuff in small doses to celebrate special occasions, such as birthdays and successful parole hearings.
Calories saved per week: 288

Your Work Habits

8. Work standing up. Sitting all the time makes you fat, ruins your posture, and (spoiler alert!) murders you slowly. According to science, after sitting for an hour, your body slows production of fat-burning enzymes by as much as 90 percent. People who sit for at least half their day have shown a 54 percent greater chance of keeling over from a heart attack. Get a standing desk. Some HR departments will hook you up for free.
Calories saved per week: 828
9. Do your own chores. You'll save money, improve your home, and get exercise without all that pesky “working out.” Mowing the lawn burns 449 calories per hour. Raking leaves burns 351. Painting your house burns 368, somehow.
Calories burned altogether: 1,168

Your Walking Habits

10. The single best thing you can do for your body is easy enough for a toddler to learn. Walking helps avert diabetes and strokes and boosts your sex drive and brain function—and you're probably pretty good at it by now. Buy a pedometer and aim for 10,000 steps a day. While you're at it, adopt a dog. In an actual study by the University of Missouri, people who walked their dogs twenty minutes a day dropped an average of fourteen pounds in a year. “The people who walked with another person did not receive the same benefits,” study author Rebecca Johnson tells us, “because the person could discourage them from walking.” See, when was the last time a dog talked you out of anything?
Calories burned per week: 3,500

Total Weekly Calories Avoided: 10,142 

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

DPS balks at complaints about Guadalupe River patrols

• 

SAN ANTONIO — River outfitters upset with beefed-up state police presence on the Guadalupe River have asked county officials to reduce the amount police on the popular River Road in New Braunfels because it discourages customers.

However, the Texas Department of Public Safety said “public safety is the priority” and will continue to patrol areas on “a case-by-case basis”, said Sgt. Jason Reyes of the DPS' San Antonio office.

At least two River Road outfitters complained to the Comal County Commissioners Court on Thursday, calling the DPS presence on the two-lane road that follows the Guadalupe and is lined with campgrounds “overkill” on Memorial Day Weekend, which typically is the unofficial start of tubing season.

“We were inundated by state police,” said Paul Rich of Mountain Breeze Campground, according to the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. “Obviously, it was a bad thing. It scared a lot of people away. It was overkill on state police.”

Reyes declined to provide the number of troopers who patrolled the area during Memorial Day Weekend, but said the troopers were spread throughout Comal County, not just on the Guadalupe River.

“I would think that with our presence being out there it would encourage individuals to feel safe,” Reyes said.
Reyes said the agency also has heard compliments and that the DPS will continue to make public safety a priority.

“It makes sense for us to put out extra patrols” during high traffic weekends, said Reyes. “We brought in additional units from surrounding counties and made 19 DWI arrests, a couple of drug arrests and served two warrants.”
Each of the two river outfitters who complained to county commissioners, including Rich and Johnnie Bezdek of Bezdek's Rentals, did not immediately return calls for comment.

Comal County Sheriff Bob Holder and Comal County Judge Sherman Krause did not immediately return calls for comment.

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Downtown hotel to become part of new Hilton brand

Downtown hotel to become part of new Hilton brand





Downtown’s Sam Houston Hotel is planning to join a new brand of independent hotels launched by Hilton Worldwide that will include unique four- and five-star properties around the world.
The owner of the historic hotel has signed a letter of intent to become part of the new brand, called Curio. Hilton announced the brand Monday, along with four other properties that will be included in the launch:

Just as the word “curio” can refer to something of interest, unique or even rare, each Curio hotel will be different from the next, with individuality being a common thread, along with the quiet reassurance of the Hilton name behind every location.
Letters of intent have been signed for the following properties: SLS Las Vegas Hotel & Casino; The Sam Houston Hotel in Houston, Texas; Hotel Alex Johnson in Rapid City, S.D.; The Franklin Hotel in Chapel Hill, N.C.; and a soon to be named hotel development in downtown Portland, Ore.

“With Curio, we can help owners leverage our scale, scope and expertise while keeping intact each hotel’s individual character,” Jim Holthouser, executive vice president of global brands for Hilton Worldwide, said in the announcement.

The Sam Houston Hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. American Liberty Hospitality will continue to manage the hotel when it joins the Curio brand later this year, according to Hilton.

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Take a gander

A friend of mine has opened up a new internet wholesale site for Minerals, fossils and the like. So stop by and take a look ya never know you may see something ya like.

Reulet Wholesale


Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Roam outside of Houston for fun day trips

 

Roam outside of Houston for fun day trips

Galveston

Once one of the richest cities in the United States, Galveston was devastated by the Great Storm of 1900 that killed more than 6,000 of its residents. The city rebuilt and, today, thanks to its abundance of cultural and architectural treasures, is one of the state's most popular tourist destinations.
Strand Historical District: 25th at Strand streets, galveston.com

•  Pleasure Pier: 2501 Seawall, 409-766-4950, pleasurepier.com
•  Schlitterbahn: 2026 Lockheed, 409-770-9283, schlitterbahn.com
•  Bishop's Palace: 1402 Broadway, 409-762-2475, galvestonhistory.org 
• Galveston State Park: 14901 FM 3005, 409-737-1222, tpwd.state.tx.us
• Moody Gardens: One Hope Blvd., 800-582-4673, moodygardens.org

San Antonio

 

This culturally rich city is home to the Alamo, the state's most recognizable icon. Welcoming more tourists than any other Texas city, San Antonio boasts a vivid downtown scene with its popular Riverwalk, two theme parks and more than 25 museums.
The Alamo: 300 Alamo Plaza, 866-204-0520, thealamo.org

• Six Flags Fiesta: 17000 I-10 W., 210-687-5050, sixflags.com
• Sea World: 10500 SeaWorld, 800-700-7786, seaworldparks.com

Hill Country

 

Its rolling hills, roiling waters, gift-and-gallery-filled towns and abundance of quaint bed and breakfasts make the Hill Country a popular weekend escape for urban dwellers.

• Winery tours: texaswinetrail.com
• Schlitterbahn: 400 N. Liberty in New Braunfels, 830-625-2351, schlitterbahn.com
• Enchanted Rock: 16710 Ranch in Fredericksburg, 830-685-3636, tpwd.state.tx.us
• LBJ National Historical Park: Ladybird Lane at Avenue G in Johnson City, 830-868-7128, www.nps.gov/lyjo
• Bandera: The cowboy capital of the world, 800-364-3833, banderacowboycapital.com

Austin

Texas' capital is home to the University of Texas, a vibrant live-music scene and a populace that clings to its reputation for quirkiness and an eco-friendly lifestyle.

• Texas State Capitol: 112 E. 11th, 512-305-8400, tspb.state.tx.us
• Texas History Museum: 1800 N. Congress, 512-936-8746, thestoryoftexas.com
• Sixth Street: 6street.com
• Barton Springs: 2101 Barton Springs Road, 512-476-9044, austintexas.gov
• Congress Avenue Bat Colony: Congress Avenue Bridge at Barton Springs Road
• Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum: 2313 Red River, 512-721-0200, www.lbjlibrary.org

College Station

• Home to Texas A&M University and the George H.W. Bush's library, College Station is a an easy day trip away from Houston.
• George Bush Presidential Library and Museum: 1000 George Bush Drive W., 979-691-4000, bushlibrary.tamu.edu
• Texas A&M: 979-845-3211, www.tamu.edu
• Downtown Bryan: Dining, shopping and nightlife, downtownbryan.com

Southeast Texas

 

This is the birthplace of Texas' oil business - both boom and bust. Its food and culture is greatly influenced by its neighbors, the Cajuns of southwestern Louisiana.

• Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge: 4017 FM 563 in Anahuac, 409-267-6681, fws.gov
• Stark Museum of Art: 712 Green in Orange, 409-886-2787, starkculturalvenues.org
• Village Creek State Park: 8854 Park Road in Lumberton, 409-755-7322, tpwd.state.tx.us
• Texas Energy Museum: 600 Main in Beaumont, 409-833-5100, texasenergymuseum.org
• Museum of the Gulf Coast: 700 Procter in Port Arthur, 409-982-7000, museumofthegulfcoast.org

Southwest Louisiana

 

The gateway to Cajun Country draws many Houstonians with its gators, gaming and crawfish-filled fare.

 

• Creole Nature Trail: 1205 N. Lakeshore in Lake Charles, La., 800-456-7952, creolenaturetrail.org
• Bayou Vermilion District: 300 Fisher in Lafayette, La., 337-233-4077,
• bayouvermiliondistrict.org
• L'Auberge Casino Resort: 777 Avenue L'Auberge in Lake Charles, La., 337-395-7777, mylauberge.com
• Isle of Capri Casino: 100 Westlake in Westlake, La., 337-430-2400, isleofcapricasinos.com
• Delta Downs Racetrack Casino: 2717 Delta Downs in Vinton, La., 337-589-7441, deltadowns.com
• Coushatta Casino Resort: 777 Coushatta in Kinder, La., 800-584-7263, coushattacasinoresort.com

 Corpus Christi and the Central Texas Coast

Outdoors enthusiasts, anglers and fun lovers are drawn to the beaches, the bird-watching bogs and the boating possibilities in this sun-drenched region.

• Mustang Island State Park: 17047 State Highway 361 near Port Aransas, 361-749-5246, tpwd.state.tx.us
• Lighthouse Lakes Paddling Trail in Aransas Pass: 361-758-3111, aransaspass.org
• Goose Island State Park: 202 S. Palmetto in Rockport, 361-729-2858, tpwd.state.tx.us
• King Ranch: 2205 W. Highway 141 in Kingsville, 361-592-8055, king-ranch.com
• Selena Museum: 5410 Leopard in Corpus Christi, 361-289-9013, q-productions.com
• Texas State Aquarium: 2710 N. Shoreline in Corpus Christi, 361-881-1200, texasstateaquarium.org
• USS Lexington: 2914 N. Shoreline in Corpus Christi, 361-888-4873, usslexington.com
• The Columbus Ships: 1900 N. Chaparral in Corpus Christi, 361-826-4667, ccmuseum.com

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Houston deli lands on national 'best' list

Kenny & Ziggy’s lands on Food & Wine mag’s list of “Americas Best Delis”

The editors (or, more likely, online sprites) at Food & Wine magazine have put together a list of America’s Best Delis.

And, surprise, there’s a Houston diner on the list: Kenny & Ziggy’s. The restaurant, located on Post Oak near the Galleria, is known for its huge portions and tasty pickles.
It’s No. 13 in a slide show (of course, it’s a slide show!) of 23. Since the restaurants aren’t in alphabetical order, we must assume that the order is ranked. (Whomever put the list/slide show together also offered no criteria for inclusion.)

The editor (or aggregating bot) writes of Kenny & Ziggy’s:

“Of course the smoked-meat experts in Texas are going to know their way around some pastrami. Partner Ziggy Gruber also ran delis on both coasts before heading to Houston, so in addition to great beef, the deli also offers fantastic chicken soup and textbook-perfect pickles.”

The Houston restaurant was the only Texas deli to make the list


Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Wooded retreat for sale near Memorial

Wooded retreat for sale near Memorial
Escape the hustle and bustle of Houston with this beautiful home perfectly located along Memorial Drive.

Located at 201 Shasta, this serenely wooded property feels like a vacation getaway. The home has 5 bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms, 6,257 square feet of living space, and features stunning floor-to-ceiling windows, a hidden office, and hardwood floors.

This is also the perfect house for entertaining, thanks to the catering kitchen, domed main kitchen, glass wine room, butler's pantry, and outdoor patio.

If you'd like to make this cool property your escape from the city life, it will cost you a hefty $2,645,000.

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Houston's Ragin' Cajun marks its 40th anniversary

Houston's Ragin' Cajun marks its 40th anniversary

Inside the 610 loop of Houston, TX, in 1974 a small, poboy only restaurant named “Ray Hay’s Cajun Poboys” opened up at 4302 Richmond Ave. to young owners Luke Mandola Sr., Frankie B Mandola, and Ray Hay. Ray Hay’s Cajun Poboys brought Houstonians authentic poboy sandwiches straight from the bayou country. With the oil boom of the 1980’s more and more Louisiana descendants migrated to Houston. Homesick for Cajun flavors and wanting to connect with their roots, Ray Hay’s Cajun Poboys was “A hit from the time the doors opened.”- Luke Mandola Sr.

In 1976 the trio introduced Houston to crawfish boils in the parking lot. These crawfish boils created a springtime tradition for friends and family. The boils were such a success, Ray Hay’s Cajun Poboys started serving Fresh Louisiana Boiled Crawfish right out of the little restaurant, becoming the first in Houston to do so.

Ragin' Cajun

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Coffee recommendations in Houston

Coffee recommendations in Houston

• 

Cajeta Latte from Black Hole Coffee House (4504 Graustark St.)

Specialty drinks from Fioza (9002 Chimney Rock Road)

Lattes and coffee from Antidote Coffee (729 Studewood St.)

Mocha coffee from Buc-ee's (multiple locations, visit buc-ees.com to find the one nearest you.)

Vanilla latte from Blacksmith (1018 Westheimer Road)

Americano from Minuti Coffee (909 Texas Ave)

Americano from Minuti Coffee (909 Texas Ave)

Flat White from Revival Market (550 Heights Blvd)

Any coffee from the Sweet Tooth Shoppe in Fulshear (8503 FM 359 Road S.)

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Summer Fest makes Saturday crowds dance

Free Press Summer Festival fans were none too happy with the temporary evacuation that shuttered the grounds early Saturday afternoon. The tweets came fast, furiously, frantically and from under freeways — all chastising organizers for a lack of emergency planning.

“We want refunds!” “It’s not even that bad!” “What happened to rain or shine!”

But by the time of-the-moment DJ and producer Zedd took the curiously small Saturn Stage later that night, all seemed to be forgiven. There was dancing. There were glowsticks. There was that infectious sense of exuberance that only comes with EDM (electronic dance music) acts.

Zedd powered through a set that included all his pop crossover hits, accessorized with an impressive light show. Hands were high in the air from beginning to end. He could have easily gone on twice as long. His gift is capturing the essence of electronic music and making it accessible for mainstream audiences.

Dancing was frequent throughout the day, starting with strong sets from locals BLSHS and Wild Moccasins. BLSHS showcased dreamy synth-pop songs led by vocalist Michelle Mears. And it was great to see Wild Moccasins on the big Mars Stage. Singer Zahira Gutierrez, in a multicolored bodysuit, strutted back and forth like some sort of glorious, indie-pop peacock. She’s a superstar waiting to happen.

The Tontons ran through a quick soundcheck on the Mars Stage before being halted by the evacuation order. Vocalist Asli Omar sounded terrific in those brief minutes.

Original Article


Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/