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Celebrate Holiday On 19th Street This Friday!

Yesterday, I announced that Mistletoe Madness would be descending on the historic Heights this weekend, but today I ask, "Why wait until Saturday to get the celebration underway?"

When it comes to holiday cheer, I say "The more, the merrier!"  And it seems that I'm not the only one who is ready to get this party started!

Holiday on 19th Street is ringing in the season this Friday, December 5 from 6-10pm. 

Merchants and shop owners all along 19th Street, from Shepherd to Yale, will be open late sharing and spreading the holiday joy. 

Art, food, music and more will make the festivities all the more festive as families gather to celebrate a new holiday season like only the Historic Heights can.

Come and join us as we make our season bright!

Mistletoe Madness Kicks Off Holidays In The Heights

Mistletoe Madness is coming to the Heights. 

Sponsored and organized by the same folks who bring White Linen Night to the Heights each summer, Mistletoe Madness is the holiday version of the street festival that annually revs up the holiday season in the historic Heights.

"Set for Saturday, December 5, from 12-6 p.m., Mistletoe Madness faithfully showcases the Heights - profiling the people, the shop owners, the artists and the businesses that make the Heights a classy, progressive, and ultimate destination not to be missed," the event website proclaims.

Art, shopping, eating and live entertainment will highlight the days festivities which will also include a caroling contest!  Revelers will sample the wares and fares of artists, merchants and restaurants from throughout the Heights while soaking in the holiday decorations and festive atmosphere.

Organizers describe the event as "just the right mix of 'Eat, Drink, Shop & Be Merry.'"  And promise that  "Heights Mistletoe Madness 2009 is geared up to make this year's event the best yet."

Hope to see you there!

Loving Chantal

I love to cook.  If you have been a reader of this blog then you know how much I enjoy the process of cooking and how I feel it helps me connect with the other cooks in my family who have gone before me.  I find it both relaxing and rewarding to spend time in the kitchen creating things from recipes old and new.

I am not a chef.  And truthfully, the vast majority of my culinary experience has come to me vicariously through my family and the chefs with whom I have worked.  I have very little direct training, but I have been watching in kitchens, both at home and at work, all my life so I guess I have gleaned a thing or two.

In my growth as a cook I have come to the same understanding that all artisans know to be true.  That the quality of your work is greatly impacted by the quality of your materials and tools.  As my father, a master carpenter, used to say "The right tool makes a hard job easy.  The wrong tool makes an easy job hard."  The same holds true in the kitchen.

Chantal is the right tool.  Chantal cookware was founded in 1979 by Heida Thurlow, who has received 26 international patents for her line of kitchen tools.  Chantal cookware combines high-quality with dramatic color and state-of-the-art science to form a line of environmentally friendly cookware that is second-to-none.  

My first piece was a 4 Quart Dutch Oven that my Mother-In-Law gave me last year.  I had never really used a Dutch Oven, but it didn't take long for me to fall in love with it.  I have used it more than any other piece of cookware that I own.  As you can tell from the baked on stains.  (I like to think of them scars of love.)   I have made everything from roasts to soups and even bread.  From this fantastic recipe I found on the Amateur Gourmet.

With that in mind it is easy to understand the excitement I felt when I got the invitation to the Private Previewing Party at the Chantal Warehouse here in Houston.  The preview party was Thursday, November 4 and it featured everything from the new collections to a clearinghouse of odd and discontinued pieces.  I was like a kid in a candy store.

We picked up an enameled cast iron skillet from the Talavera Collection  for $29!  An 8-quart Talavera Dutch Oven for $69!  A set of Pure mixing bowls for $9!  Plus, we got a few Christmas gift, as well.

The party continues all through November as the Outlet Store opens Fridays through Sundays to the public.  The line of products available at the Outlet Sale includes the new Cast Iron Talavera Collection not yet available in most stores or online!  Plus, the discounts are up to 70% off retail prices and far, far below the Le Creuset collection featured at places like Sur La Table.  (Their 7.25 qt Dutch Oven goes for $270.)

If you have never used Chantal cookware you owe it to yourself to try it out.  It is quite simply the best cookware at the best price you will find.  I usually don't pimp products with such enthusiasm, especially for free, but in this case I am making an exception.  After all, I love my Chantal. 

And my Mother-In-Law got me hooked.

Art Festival Favorites

The Bayou City Art Festival was held downtown October 10 and 11. Artists from all over the country gathered to showcase and sell their works at this "sister" festival to the Bayou City Art Festival that is held each year in Memorial Park in the spring (March 26-28, 2010).

If you didn't get a chance to attend the festival, you should definitely try to get out in the spring.  The art is fantastic and there is always something for everyone - from jewelry to sculpture, from photography to oil painting.

Some of the artists are at both festivals, but there is always something new to see.  Below are a few of my favorites from this fall's event.

Larry Stephenson - Stephenson's art is both whimsical and nostalgic mining in me memories of my childhood and a yearning for a piece of yesterday.  You might recognize Mr. Stephenson's work from the billboards for 2009 Memorial Park festival.

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The Spoon Mill - Christopher Fry of Denham, Louisiana sculpts beautiful serving pieces from wood,     accentuating the natural flow of the wood rather than planing it out.

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JDH Art - J.D. Hillberry works miracles with pencil and ink.   I am simply in awe of the work done by Mr. Hillberry.  From portraits to still life images, the detail is amazing.

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Jay Long Studio - Prolific artist and native Houstonian Jay Long works out of Austin and produces truly stunning images.  I am not an art scholar but something speaks to me in Mr. Long's art.  Judging by his many awards and accolades, I am not alone.

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ArtAvodah - Critically acclaimed artist, Solomon Kane mixes the mundane and the surreal in this "football fish" sculpture, Spike.  Working in both two and three dimensions, Kane's work evokes in this observer thoughts of Peter Max.

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Gabor Koryani - Hungarian born artist Gabor Koryani's simple yet complex images flow with a silky fluidity.

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Smith Map Studio - Christopher Smith blends his three passions - art, geography and maps - into incredible hand-crafted maps using the painstaking and brilliant stipple technique.

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Iona Handcrafted Books - Using the same techniques as ancient Venetian monks, the owners of Iona hand-make each book from rugged leather and archival papers produced of recycled fabrics.  In fact, they make them at the festival before your very eyes.  Simply holding the books in your hands gives you a sense of the care and quality that goes into each one.

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There's a glimpse of my favorites from the downtown festival.  With hundreds of artists and artisans showcasing their wares at the Bayou City Arts Festival, I could easily go on and on about the wonders I took in while visiting.  Instead, I suggest you mark you calendar and visit for yourself when the festival returns in the spring.

Pie In The Sky Coming To 19th Street

 
When I first moved to the Heights a few years ago it seemed that a great local dining scene was just a "pie in the sky" notion.  But, slowly and surely that distant hope is coming closer to fruition.  The addition of Marlene Stubler's Pie In the Sky Restaurant to the addresses on 19th St. will certainly help bring the dream even closer to reality.

The phrase pie in the sky was originally coined as a lyric in a song by Joe Hill and over time has come to be "used figuratively to refer to any prospect of future happiness which was unlikely ever to be realized." 

Much like the dream of having a successful restaurant. 

But, for Ms. Stubler that prospect has been realized.  And then some.  Her first store in Conroe has been a big success and now she is bringing her talents to the Heights.  "One of my slogan's is 'What's your pie in the sky?'  This was one of mine, a pie shack in the Heights," she says.

Ms. Stubler got her start baking pies in her father's gas station, believe it or not.  "We had the best smelling gas station in the world.  My first flavor of pie to sell was cherry.  Cherry lattice pies are so pretty and tempting right out of the oven." 

In the fall of 2004, when her father decided to retire and close the station, Marlene and her father agreed to use a half-acre of land to build the first Pie In The Sky.  She and her sister opened in October 2005 and they have never looked back, baking over 40,000 pies since then.  Today, their pies are available at all Rice Epicurean Markets and the restaurant menu now features much more than just pies.  In fact, the original Pie In The Sky now offers cakes and casseroles and even helps with event planning and fund-raising.

Opening in mid-November, Pie In The Sky 2 will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner daily and will feature the same menu as the original store dishing up everything from fresh pies and pastries to burgers and fried bologna sandwiches. 

Marlene and her husband, a builder in the Heights, bought a home and moved their family here a few years back.  "I love the Heights.  The sense of community is so great.  The phrase 'sit long, talk much and laugh often.' (from her website) rings true here."

"I have been looking for a place for about two years.  Finally, I found the perfect [one]," she beams.  "I will enjoy riding my bike to work in the mornings."

The Dying Art Of Customer Service

 

Customer service is a dying art. 

I suppose this really isn't news to most people.  The death knell began tolling long ago.  The slow and painful demise of service has been dragging out in America for a generation and a half.  So, maybe I am stating the obvious here.  But like an addict coming to terms with his addiction, it is not easy to admit.  And the reality seems so much more painful when I say it out loud.

I imagine it was inevitable that we would get here.  From the installation of the first self-service gas pumps to the ubiquitous self-checkout stands and the automated ticket kiosks at the cinema, anywhere and everywhere labor-saving machines have replaced people as efficiency and profitability have been prioritized over service and the human encounter.

Sadly, it seems the disease afflicting commerce has spread to the remaining human populations in the retail world as the attitude and concern of most service people now echoes that of the impersonal machines.  Aside from the obligatory "Hello" and the perfunctory "Goodbye", today you are most unlikely to have any meaningful interaction while shopping or dining in many American businesses. 

From floor personnel to the few human cashiers left, it appears in many retail establishments as if the customer is treated more and more as a distraction or burden rather than as the focus.  On the sales floor, you usually have to track someone down for any assistance and when you do you will be greeted as if you are interrupting them.  At checkout, you often will not be spoken to at all, as employees ramble on with their own personal discussions.

It is the customer who pays the bills, but that seems lost on so many of today's workers.

Recently while shopping at Target, I asked a saleswoman in the electronics department if she could help me find a cashier.  To which she simply responded "No" and then walked away.  I was stunned and infuriated.  When I relayed my experience to someone I was met with disbelief rather than an apology.

At a local Heights eatery last week, my wife and I waited seven long minutes before being greeted by our waiter.  When he finally arrived, his first words were not "Hello" or "Welcome", but "You will have to hurry and order because I am really busy."  Why we stayed, I am not sure.

The current disposition of many employees makes you wonder how they keep their jobs, or how they ever found work in the first place.  As a service manager myself, I simply cannot fathom allowing these interactions to occur between my staff and my guests. 

Lamentably for consumers, the demeanor of the staff is a reflection of the mindset of management.  Just as a child is a mirror of his parents.

The conventional wisdom among HR types is that you hire for attitude and train for skill.  (You can't coach a smile, after all.)   Beyond good hiring, employee development and accountability are tools employers use to uphold the standards of good service and a quality customer experience.  But those seem to be forgotten concepts.  

Which begs the unfortunate question: Is customer service a dying art or a lost cause?

Jukebox Hero

Since moving to the Heights a couple of years ago, I have learned that the best things about being here are the shops and the neighbors.  Often, I have found that they are one and the same.

Shopping in The Historic Heights is an experience that is unlike anywhere in the city.  As opposed to the large chains that dominate the suburban landscape, the stores in The Heights are mostly small, privately owned places - from the antique shops to the furniture stores to the art galleries. 

They are spots where most likely the person behind the counter is not just another employee, but the owner himself and usually, a local to boot.  The very heart and soul of the parlor working day in and day out, living their passion and trying to make ends meet at the same time.  A neighbor, fully invested in the work he does and the neighborhood in which he lives.  And if you spend a moment or two talking to these folks, you are likely to hear tales that tell the rich history of our town.

I met one such fellow recently.  More than a neighbor and local entrepreneur, he's a lifetime resident, local historian and, as it turns out, a jukebox genius.

Tom Patronella - cousin to the Judge - is the owner and man behind The Trading Post on Fourteenth Street across from Reagan High School.  (In fact, Tom graduated from Reagan himself, some three-plus decades ago.)   The Trading Post specializes in the sale, trade and restoration of American nostalgia.  Street lamps, old pay phones, antique radios, clocks, vintage ad signs, Coke machines and more line the shop that seems more like a museum than a place of commerce.   

At a spry 56, Tom has had his shop in the very same place for some 37 years.  If you stop by The Trading Post you are likely to find him - and his pal Dixon - sitting inside keeping watch of the old neighborhood.  And, if you ask, he can tell you just about everything that has happened on the streets north of downtown in the last half century.  With old photos and faded news clippings to chart the way.

In addition to the history he holds in his head, Tom has another wonderful tale to tell.  His own. 

Tom is truly The Jukebox Hero.  An absolute expert on the coin-op machines of days past.  Boasting a collection of 38 fully-reconditioned jukeboxes, Tom calls it a "sickness" rather than an expertise.  "I just can't help myself," he says when asked how he assembled such a large collection. 

These are the dazzling machines that brought life to the diners and cafes of yesterday.  Relics of a simpler time before computers and lasers ruled the musical world.  Seeburgs, Wurlitzers, Rock-Olas.  All are represented in this astounding array of musical memories.  These beautiful behemoths, with lights aglow, all turn vinyl.  The 45 singles that today are as rare as the machines themselves.  And Tom has them all spinning happily thanks to his careful hand.

The assemblage is easily one of the most amazing I have seen.  Tom is just as intriguing.

When I inquired if he sells these beauties, he simply said "No."  Once restored, he doesn't part with them.  He keeps them home.   It is a "sickness," after all. 

But if that is so, it's an ailment I certainly admire.

White Linen Night - Redux

White Linen Night was a blast.  It was my first time to actually participate, but it seems as if it was the biggest White Linen Night in the history of The Heights.  People flowed through the streets and filed in and out of the shops.  Some places had lines literally streaming out the door.  Live music was rockin' in the road and vendors of all kinds were happily hawking their wares.

As the Heights continues its rebirth as a neighborhood filled with active young couples and families, the sky, it seems, is the limit.  

But is the crowd too much for this normally quiet neighborhood to handle?  In addition to the people, trash lined the streets and we saw our cozy hometown slowly turn into a garbage dump as the night wore on.

I have a few suggestions that might make future events more manageable and, possibly, more successful.

1. Close The Streets - Close 19th Street.  Close Heights Boulevard.  Close Yale and shut down Studewood, as well.  Take a hint from the many downtown festivals and close the streets to traffic.  Allow vendors, performers and craft booths to fill the streets and the medians.  Let revelers wander freely back and forth across the streets and enjoy themselves without having to crisscross the roads amid a stream of stop-and-go traffic.  There are plenty of alternate routes in and around The Heights to accommodate this and not hinder travel.  And it would be much safer. 
   
   
    
   
   
2. Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler - Let the good times roll and extend the hours of the festival to 11:00 PM or midnight. Four hours is hardly enough time to visit half of the places that were celebrating.  The party is just getting started at 10:00 PM, the official end to the festivities.  I understand that White Linen Night has, in past years, started earlier, but I believe it would be more fun for everyone if the extension in hours came at the end of the night.
    
3. Sell Beer - It instantly sounds like a sacrilege to many long-time residents.  But what is worse: having an accountable, experienced  company like Budweiser (a member of the neighborhood to the near-West) set up a booth or two and sell beer to party-goers or, having shop owners (folks not versed in the TABC laws for responsible service) give away refreshments to anyone who comes through the line at the back of their shop? 
   
   It would be better for everyone if the ban on alcohol sales was lifted for this yearly occasion. 
    
   A).  Youths are served as no one is "carding" the people coming through the lines.  The shop owners aren't trained to serve alcohol according to the law.  How can they possibly be expected to do so on this night?
   B).  As unfortunate as it is, some people were entering shops strictly to get the freebies to be had, without any regard for the property or the staff.  As the night wore on, I noticed drink cups leaving water marks on antique furniture and, in several cases, the crash of breakage could be heard as people streamed through these fine shops on their way for another round.  I can't believe it wouldn't benefit the shops (and the merchants) to have the alcohol stand somewhere other than in their stores. 
   C).  It seems that people were left to "do their own thing" when it came to drinking in the streets.  Some folks went so far as to set up lawn furniture on the corners and had coolers on hand, well-stocked with beer and wine.  Not exactly responsible and far from the norm in the Bayou City.  Shouldn't the city take charge of alcohol sales, police the action a bit and, in the process, get the proceeds from a huge profit center like alcohol sales?
   
   
4. More Police - Seriously.  A larger presence in blue would be beneficial.  I am not saying that there were no police on duty.  There were.  But, our little city-within-a-city was not set up for the crowd this year's function drew.  Next year could be even bigger.  With more people, more problems are inevitable.  A more visible police representation makes the party safer and deters problems before they start.
   
   
5. More Shuttles - It would have been great if there were more shuttles and if the stops were more obvious.  Yes, the shuttles were donated. (Thanks goes out to Carey Shuttle and Limo.)  And, yes, there is a limit to what donations may be expected.  But alcohol sales would generate more than enough income to help fund an expanded travel set-up.  White Linen Night is not just one party, it is many.  It is as if there are three festivals in one, as there are different festivities on 19th Street, on Yale Street and Heights Blvd and then on Studewood, with other places scattered here and there in between.  The shuttles are the safest way to travel.   Routes could easily be established through the Heights that would not require travel on the closed streets and done so with minimal inconvenience to the revelers or the neighborhood. Incidentally, closing the main streets would also aid the pedi-cabs attempting to navigate through the sea of people.
   
   
6. More Trash Cans - People don't want to litter, but it seems they did.  The mess will only get bigger as White Linen Night grows.

I had a ball at White Linen Night.  We residents of The Historic Heights like to think of ourselves as citizens of a smaller neighborhood.   And that mentality usually serves us well by creating a closer-knit community.  But, once a year, we should think bigger.  White Linen Night, like The Heights, is booming.  Why not channel that energy rather than stand in its way?

White Linen Night Is Here!

The much-anticipated night is here.  White Linen Night hits The Heights tonight. 

It's a full-scale showcase of life in the Heights!  Shopping, dining and getting to know your neighbors are the focus of this once-a-year festival that goes on after hours in The Heights.

Nearly 100 local shops, restaurants and area businesses keep their doors open late to welcome the public.  Many of the venues, normally closed on weekends, will be open this evening especially for the event!  Not to mention great pre- and post-parties extending the fun from 4pm til midnight!

Plush Carey of Houston Shuttles will operate FREE air-conditioned shuttles which cruise the circuit all evening.  Other transportation options will be available as well, so you can leave the car at home and relax.

If there is a spot you've been meaning to check out or you just want to get out and see the sleepy neighborhood stay up late, tonight is the night! 

See you there!

The Chocolate Block 2007

It seems appropriate that I found the fantastic wine The Chocolate Block (2007) by Boekenhoutskloof of South Africa at the new Block7 wine store.  Although, in truth, the wine and the store are related only by commerce - the commonality of the names is mere chance - I am always tickled by the insignificant congruities in the world.

To be fair, I must admit that I did not so much find this wine as it was recommended by Block7's resident wine guru, Eric Hastings.  I asked for a big, fruity red under $30 and he did not hesitate to pull The Chocolate Block out of the rack.  

It was a lucky strike because left to do my own shopping, I would have most likely made the unfortunate mistake of passing over this bottle.  My limited tastings of South African juice have been rather, well, uninspiring.  This was certainly not.

The Chocolate Block is a captivating combination of Syrah(55%), Grenache Noir(20%), Cab(16%), Cinsault(5%) and Viognier(4%).  Winemaker Marc Carter Kent displays a magician's touch in the blending resulting in a remarkably perfect marriage of varietals.

Rich and ripe berry flavors at once flood the tongue.  Hints of currant and dark chocolate tickle the palate.  A generous mouth-feel, medium weight and soft tannins add beautiful complexity to the finish.  Round and soft, this wine dazzles.  Though it is ready to drink as soon as it is uncorked, it easily has the structure to be rested for several years.

Produced in a lot of just 586 barrels near The Cape Of Good Hope, this is easily my favorite South African wine and has sparked a desire to explore the terroir of the continent more fully.

The Chocolate Block can be had at Block7 for under $30.  It can also be purchased through several on-line shops or through the vineyard, itself.  But, beware - the price varies quite a bit.

The Chocolate Block is a simple bottle of complex wonders, reaffirming once again, the layman's rule of thumb with regard to wine: The simpler the label, the better the juice.

Penzey's Is The Spice Of Life In The Heights

In The Old World, spices were traded as commodities often as precious as gold.  Considered a luxury to the rich, the valuable spices brought a high price and were shipped round the globe from The New World back to Europe and from East to West. 

Today you can find that same reverence in a foodie treasure land called Penzey's Spices.

Penzey's Spices, located at 516 W. 19th Street (corner of Nicholson), even feels a bit like the hold of a cargo ship.  As you walk in, you see the spices cradled in wooden packing crates stacked on the floor and stored in simple glass jars.

But make no mistake.  Penzey's in the Heights, one of 42 locations nationwide, is no common spice shop.  The herbs and spices are truly showcased, usually in both whole and ground form, and the aroma of freshness is powerful and pleasantly intoxicating. (Herbs, by the way, are the leafy part of the plant, often dried but also fresh. Spices are the seeds, roots, fruits, bark or other vegetative plant substances harvested for the unique flavors they hold within.)

Walking around the store you can open lock-jars and inhale the true fragrances of the bounty within that are often lost or ruined in the versions sitting, sometimes for weeks, on the grocery store shelves.  I found myself giggling at the soft, supple, unexpectedly friendly nose of the whole cumin seed.  A spice I've often found to be overpowering in the store-bought ground variety.  The fennel, light and playful, reminded me of the black licorice my father used to eat, and the crystallized ginger smelled of sweet candy.  If you have ever tasted the difference between store-bought and fresh-ground pepper, I need say no more.

Founder Bill Penzey, an obvious foodie himself, has, with the help of a fine and very friendly local staff, built a playground for food lovers right in the Heights.  Not only does the store offer nearly every herb and spice conceivable at prices that are lower than your local grocer, but also an array of simple cookbooks, gift boxes, spice mixes and other tools and toys to tantalize the imagination of any gourmand.

I have lived in the Heights nearly two years and just today found myself venturing in for the first time.  Clearly it won't be the last.  Penzey's is a real chef's resource and a fun adventure for anyone who fancies themselves a devoted foodie.  Treat yourself to a visit.

(Of course, if you can't make it to the Heights to shop there is an on-line store available to satisfy your culinary and gifting needs.  Aromas not included.)

Block7

The new kid on the wine block is Block7WineCompany, but with all it has to offer I am confident Block7 will be the Big Kid on the block in very short order.  

"When it comes to wine, I tell people to throw away the vintage charts and invest in a corkscrew.  The best way to learn about wine is the drinking." 

This Alexis Lichine quote featured on the Block7 website is perhaps the best summary of what's happening inside the building at 720 Shepherd.

Recently, I was lucky enough to be given a sneak preview of the facility by Amber Roussel, Director of Marketing And Events.  Believe me when I tell you it is an impressive venture of quality and artistic style.

Located just south of Washington Avenue, Block7 has converted the old Western Appliance building into a true wine lover's mecca.  With 8,000 square feet of space, Block7 will offer Houstonians a place to buy, learn and enjoy.

Nearly 3,000 feet of space are devoted to a climate-controlled walk-in wine warehouse featuring 500 hand-selected wines from around the globe.  The wines, Amber boasts, will be retail priced as competitively as anywhere in the city, "even Spec's."  The bottle price is the same whether you enjoy it on premise or take it home.  And never a corking fee!

Additionally, Block7 offers a place to learn and taste.  Adjacent to the warehouse is a 35-foot stainless steel bar and tasting area for people to gather and sip on featured wines and enjoy complimentary aperitivo snacks.  Plus, look forward to free tastings on Saturdays, as well as educational classes scheduled regularly to help bridge the gap between what we know and what we taste. 

Beyond the casual space are tables for full-service dining surrounded by the modern stylings of some of Houston's best artists found through a collaboration with the non-profit spacetaker.org.  The first artist featured is Matt Messenger whose collection will run through August.  Live music featuring homegrown musicians like Peekaboo Theory and Come See My Dead Person add to the eclectic feel. 

Further still, there is a very large private event space nestled behind the kitchen that boasts availability for upwards of 150 guests.  Reservations for fall and winter events are available now.

Wow!

In converting the space, the crew at Block7 focused on maintaining the historical integrity and warehouse feel of the building by utilizing nearly everything that was left behind.  Old file cabinets are used as  checkout stands in the retail space.  The team uncovered some wonderful photos of Old Houston that they have had restored and will feature throughout the space along with pieces of modern sculpture from Houston area artists that enhance the industrial mood.  The stainless steel wine racks were custom designed by Alberto Bonomi,  who is also responsible for the design of the impressive tasting bar.

Sommelier, Eric Hastings, most recently from Denver has come aboard and along with Loren Root will lead the highly trained wine service team.  The focus is on knowing the wines on hand.  "Each and every wine has a story," as Amber states, "and the team will know them."  That is why they will have 500 wines as opposed to 2,000.  But, rest assured, if you want something specific, Block7 will be able to find it for you.

Wine tours and travel are also a big part of the picture at Block7 with Michael Housewright leading the way. In fact, Block7 is Texas' first and only full-service wine tour operator.  The first trip is scheduled to launch this fall with an expertly guided six-day trip through the Wine Country of Italy.

At the helm in the kitchen is Miguel Hernandez, formerly of Rainbow Lodge.  The emphasis here is on the "slow" food philosophy and regional fare from the Texas Gulf Coast and Texas' own farms.  Fresh seafood and local ingredients will highlight, but the All-Star of the menu promises to be the Block7 Burger made from 21-day dry-aged beef.  The best in town, I am told, but priced like a burger, not a T-bone steak! 

The vision is grand at Block7.  The philosophy is sound and the investment in quality and education are obvious from the moment you speak to the people inside. 

A soft opening is planned and people have already begun wandering in to take a peek.  If you are passing by, stop in and see for yourself what is new on the Block.

Another Reason To Hate Plastic Bags

While I am not the first to champion the banning of plastic bags at retail stores, (in fact, the idea is gaining some serious traction according to this National Geographic article) I can't help but "pile on" and share another frustration with the "eco"-clogging trash we call plastic bags.

They promote waste.  They themselves promote their own overuse and waste.  They are so convenient that they are always the sacker's first option and they are so unreliable that they encourage the sacker to load only a few items into each one.  So the grocer uses them more often and uses more and more in each use.  This is the exact opposite of the brown paper sack of yesterday whose packing was nearly an art, with competition among sackers to see who could get the most stuff into the smallest space.  (Ask David Letterman if you don't believe me)

In our home, most often, we use the "re-usable" bag that we take with us to the grocery time and again, but, recently I visited my favorite Kroger on Shepherd and was in a bit of a hurry.  By the time I got my cart unloaded onto the conveyor, the sacker was fast at work.  Not even offering paper or plastic, simply taking the easy route by using plastic.  I did not stop her, but I should have because I was simply astounded to realize when I got home that my 28 purchased items were sacked into 13 separate bags.  That's barely two items per bag.  That shows a complete lack of concern and a lack of effort by the sacker. With as much as our household does to help the environment, I was truly angered by the waste.

Another Waste Note - Not dissimilar to this is the recent mailing I received from Chase regarding the transition from WaMu.  I held three accounts at WaMu and received a separate mailing for each account.  Each mailing weighed was about 4 ounces of paper and only one page in each was account specific.  Couldn't a bank, with ALL OF MY PRIVATE DATA on hand, figure out that all three accounts were held by the same individual and send just one comprehensive mailing?  What a waste.

Follow Up!! - On my next two visits to my favorite Kroger Signature I skipped the re-usable bags (for the sake of science) and made sure to insist on paper.  On the first visit I had 28 items in 2 bags and on the second I purchased 78 items which fit into a measly 7 bags (sodas not included in the totals).  Further proof in my mind that not only is paper more environmentally efficient, it is practicaly more efficient, as well!

Town And Country Launches CityCentre

If you live West of the Galleria in the Memorial or Town and Country area you might have been wondering what in the world they've been working on for the past couple years there nestled behind the Mall along the East side of Beltway 8. 

The answer: A little bit of everything!

Houston CityCentre is shaping up to be the residential/retail/entertainment/hospitality mecca of the near West side.  (The website is full of photos and great information.)  Restaurants and businesses are actively hiring and the targeted opening date is sometime in August or September.  Whatever the final go date is this place promises the world.

Tucked in the Southeast corner of the Beltway 8 and I-10 Interchange, CityCentre is located in Texas' wealthiest zip code boasting a median household income over $200k per year.  And this new venture promises to give them just the place to spend it.  CityCentre could seriously rival the Galleria in terms of accessibility and sheer entertainment opportunities.  Class A office space, hotels, convention centers,  brownstones, lofts, penthouse apartments, upscale shopping, entertainment and dining, there just isn't much left out.

The list of committed ventures is impressive including Hotel Sorella (a 244 room luxury hotel by Valencia) The Norris Conference Center, Life Time Athletic and Amegy Bank.  Also included is a fine venue for sophisticated shopping at retailers such as Sur La Table, Anthropologie and Bailey Banks and Biddle as well as restaurants including Straits, Yard House, Eddie V's, The Wine Loft, Brio and a Studio Movie Grill (for those of you who just can't make time for dinner AND a movie).

This is very exciting.  Not just because it is a new place for me to explore.  This is very exciting for just about anyone who lives West of Downtown and North of 59.  Shopping and fun while headed WEST!  It will be fun to watch this develop.  Stay tuned for updates.

Upgrade!

Although this is not breaking news, I was sure happy when I found out, so I wanted to pass it along to you.  Grocery shopping in the Houston Heights is about to get a major upgrade.  The Signature Kroger on North Shepherd at 11th Street is scheduled for a total face lift.  I, for one, cannot wait.

If you live in the Heights then you know what a struggle grocery shopping can be.  Especially if you are selective about what you eat or where you shop.  Many of the grocery stores in the area are older and smaller and lack the choices and comfort that affluent shoppers have come to expect and demand.  That leaves many diet-smart consumers no choice but to look somewhere other than home for their grocery needs.  Although I have shopped at this Kroger since moving to the Heights in '07 (I've always been a Kroger guy, you know), I know people who have lived in the Heights for years who continue to drive to River Oaks or Westheimer for their groceries.

Fortunately for all, that will no longer be necessary.  

Kroger has acquired the old bank next door and the Exxon station on the corner (already gone) and plans to double their square footage inside and add a Kroger Gas Station on the corner!

According to Rosendo, the Customer Service Manager, there will be an invigorated focus on fresh products as well as healthy and organic brands.  A plan designed to woo the "foodie" and health-conscious shoppers now driving all the way to Whole Foods or Central Market.

The new space will allow for expansion of all the fresh food departments.  It will also make space for a "hot food" bar, a salad bar, a sushi bar and, of course, a Starbucks.  A larger selection of fine wine and beer will also be included, filling a painful whole in the in the "dry" Heights marketplace.

The plan, I'm told, is to build and renovate the store within the next 8-10 months and the pumping station could be ready as early as June!

Heights residents are intelligent and demanding shoppers who make informed, healthy choices when spending their grocery dollars.  It is about time the Heights got a grocery store equal to the varied and complex palate of it's residents.

Although, honestly, the produce selection will be hard pressed to rival local mainstay, Canino's Market, at least my weekly shopping trek will be down to just two stops.