27 June 2008
Sudden acceleration update!
Car Slams Into Shipley's Again (KPRC-2 News)
On Friday morning, a woman was trying to park at Shipley Do-Nuts, 8802 Stella Link Road, when she hit the gas instead of the brake, sending her Volvo through the front windows, officials said.
The doughnut shop was closed at the time and no one was injured.
The crash broke brand new glass because on Monday, a man's car would not stop at the same location, causing him to also plow through the front of the store.
That driver was injured. His condition was not released.
Today's driver should have claimed Sudden Acceleration Syndrome!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 06/27/08 22:43 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (0)
25 June 2008
Danger Train collision downtown (06/25/08)
Metro Light Rail involved in crash with car (KHOU-11 News)
A Metro Light Rail train was involved in an accident with a car Wednesday morning.
The train was heading south on Main at Leland when a woman in a car ran a red light.
The train struck the car, and the woman and her passenger were taken to St. Joseph’s with non-life threatening injuries.
Metrorail collision in downtown Houston injures two (Dale Lezon, Houston Chronicle)
Two women were injured this morning when a car collided with a Metrorail train at Main and Leeland in downtown Houston.
Police were not sure about the severity of the women's injuries, but said both were conscious before being taken to nearby St. Joseph Medical Center.
No occupants of the train were reported to have been injured.
The accident was reported about 8:50 a.m.
Cars and trains sharing busy streets makes so much sense. We should (and are planning to) build more of the same!
It's always good for a laugh when friends from actual world-class cities with rail that is segregated from cars look at the thing and ask me what the hell Houston was thinking, and I tell them this is what transit planners in town consider "world-class."
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 06/25/08 13:35 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (1)
22 June 2008
Ten Second Review: Russo's New York Coal-Fired Pizzeria
Last week, we took a break from the healthy grilling to trip up to Russo's New York Coal-Fired Pizzeria in northwest Houston.
We were quickly seated by a pleasant hostess, who walked us by the impressive coal-fired oven.
A super-nice waitress took our drink order -- and had to get Callie to order a different beer, as they were out of Corona light. No biggie. I had a house Merlot, and it was fine (a very generous pour, I should note). The waitress checked on us frequently.
We ordered a Mulberry Special, with the bottom charred, New York style.
In a matter of minutes, the pizza arrived. PERFECTION! The slightly charred crust was the best I've had in Houston, to be sure, and one of the best I've had period. The toppings were fresh and yummy.
In fact, the diet suffered badly, because even though we were stuffed, we found it hard to stop until the whole damn thing was gone. This is not a pizza you want to box up and take anywhere, even leftovers. Better just to be a pig!
Adrian Hembree, the franchise owner, wandered by and visited with us for a while about the oven, and the slight char, and other things. We asked him about a dish another table was having (some sort of pizza crust with artichoke dip... thing... hard to describe), and he told us that was just something he threw together for those guys (off menu), and that if we asked for him next time we're in, he'd be happy to make one for us.
The food and service at Russo's were outstanding. Even though it's a decent trip, we'll definitely be hitting this place again.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 06/22/08 19:11 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (3)
16 June 2008
Must try this pizza
Ken Hoffman turned me on to Lombardi's in New York, which was damn good pizza.
Apparently, the secret is the ridiculously hot coal-fired oven.
Now, Hoffman is touting Russo's, in NW Houston.
They apparently have the only coal-fired oven in town.
Robb Walsh concedes the place turns out an outstanding pie, although he questions whether it's a 900-degree oven.
Whatever -- if both Hoffman and Walsh are carrying on about this pizza, I must trek up that way to try it.
If it's even close to Lombardi's, it'll be a damn fine meal.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 06/16/08 22:20 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (0)
14 June 2008
Ten Second Review: Fuegovivo Churrascaria
Wednesday night, I took a break from the recent health insanity and went out to try a new churrascaria (I was motivated by a buy-one-get-one-free-coupon, but the main motivation was a new restaurant specializing in beef and wine).
There is no coupon that could me me return to Fuegovivo Churrascaria in West Houston.
The service was awful.
The meats were mediocre (at best).
The salad bar was poor (even though nobody really goes to a place like this for the salad bar, it's still nice if it isn't awful -- and if the plate one picks up isn't DIRTY. Not impressive).
It is hard to imagine that this place will be in business a year from now.
The standard for this sort of thing in Houston (and in West Houston) remains Fogo de Chao, although I'm actually partial to Nelore on Montrose.
In any case, AVOID Fuegovivo. Even if they offer you a coupon.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 06/14/08 21:02 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (3)
04 June 2008
There is still a WNBA?
Comets radio broadcasts move to KNTH-AM (Greg Barr, HBJ)
The Houston Comets have signed a deal with Salem Radio Houston to broadcast home and away games during the 2008 season.
The games will air on News Talk 1070 KNTH-AM.
The Women's National Basketball Association team signed a one-year agreement with KNTH after declining to renew a one-year contract in 2007 with Sports 610.
"(Sports 610) just wasn't quite the right fit for our audience," said team spokeswoman Djacarda Richard.
What audience?
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 06/04/08 21:30 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (1)
04 April 2008
Houston drivers are not the best (cont'd)
U-Haul Falls Off HOV Lane (KPRC-2 News)
HOUSTON -- Three people were hurt when a U-Haul fell off an HOV lane and crashed onto a freeway, KPRC Local 2 reported.
METRO police said the driver mistook an entrance ramp for an exit ramp on the North Freeway HOV lane near West Road at about 7 p.m. Thursday.
Investigators said the driver overcorrected and the U-Haul tipped over onto the freeway below.
The truck landed on the southbound lanes of the freeway, but did not hit any cars. Most of the lanes were closed while police sorted out the mess.
Houston drivers can be impressive.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 04/04/08 21:52 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (1)
10 March 2008
Restless leg syndrome?
Driver injured after slamming into tree (KTRK-13 News)
A driver says restless leg syndrome caused him to smash his pick-up truck into a tree.
Last night, the man was travelling on the beltway in northeast Harris County. He told investigators his legs went numb as he went around a curve. His pick-up truck went off the roadway and into a tree.
"He pulled himself out of the vehicle, after the vehicle caught fire," said Deputy Paul Begley with the Harris County Sheriff's Office. "It was later determined has some form of leg disease. He says his legs went numb on him which caused the accident."
Or, he could have deficient-brain syndrome.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/10/08 21:57 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (0)
16 February 2008
All I know is their lamb kebabs are the best in town...
A party gone awry (Mary Vuong, Houston Chronicle)
Luanne Novak says her daughter and 16 teenage friends went to Mary'z Mediterranean Cuisine to celebrate her daughter's 18th birthday.
A party gone awry
"After placing their orders, the waitress came back and told them that, because it was such a large group, each person had to order at least $10 worth of food," Novak says. "They were not told this when they made reservations (or) when they first ordered. At this point, with everyone there and having ordered, and it being a Saturday night, they didn't want to leave and try to find some other place, so they ordered more food, and ended up with much more than they needed or wanted."
Manager Jimy Fakhoury remembers the incident. He wouldn't have minded had it been a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, he says, but the large group took up six tables — about half of his downstairs dining room — on one of the busiest nights of the week. Some just ordered drinks, he adds.
Fakhoury says he felt it would have been rude to discuss the minimum charge over the phone. He also hadn't realized not everyone planned to order food.
"I think it's fair," Fakhoury says. "I can't keep people waiting for three to four hours, making $80 from six tables."
Novak says her family has been dining at Mary'z, 5825 Richmond, almost since it opened.
"We have always been treated well and love the food, and were pleased that the ghost of Sammy's (the previous restaurant) seemed to be thriving. Now, they have lost us forever as customers, not to mention the families of the other 16 guests at the party."
Most of the commenters on Chron.com rip Luanne Novak a new one, while sympathizing with Mary'z.
Undoubtedly, it would have been best if the restaurant had made it clear to the group up front that there would be a minimum per-person charge. But given the fact that many of the partygoers were underage (and thus not drinking alcoholic beverages), I can't blame Mary'z for expecting people occupying valuable dining space on a Saturday night to buy something other than iced tea or soda.
I go to Mary'z all the time. Their lunch menu is full of bargains, and their lamb kebabs are the best I've had in town. Plus the staff actually acts like they are pleased to have me there (and I like to reward businesses that act like they give a damn).
I tend to agree with the Chron.com commenters (scary!) -- if the tea and soda drinkers don't return to Mary'z for future parties, I'm not gonna be missing 'em!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/16/08 15:58 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (5)
28 January 2008
A bad transportation day
Continental Express jet makes emergency landing at Bush IAH (KHOU-11 News)
There were some tense moments at Bush Intercontinental Airport late Monday.
A Continental Express jet carrying 50 people reportedly hit flap problems.
The jet landed safely and no one was hurt.
Several emergency vehicles stood by as a precaution.
No other details have been released.
Ugh. I HATEHATEHATE those damn regional Embraer jets.
Big rig carrying wine wrecks on North Freeway (KHOU-11 News)
An 18-wheeler carrying wine jackknifed early Monday morning, tying up traffic on the North Freeway for about two-and-a-half hours.
The truck was headed north when two tires blew out, sending the big rig into the guardrail.
No one was hurt. Investigators are trying to determine what caused the blowouts. They said tickets could be issued if it's determined that neglect was to blame.
Umm, KHOU people -- we don't care what caused the blowouts. We care about what happened to the important cargo!
Geez, talk about burying omitting the lede.
UPDATE: Here's one more bad transportation day story.
Party Boat Slams Into Kemah Boardwalk (KPRC-2 News)
A party boat slammed into the Kemah Boardwalk on Sunday, KPRC Local 2 reported.
United States Coast Guard officials said the 65-passenger boat crashed into the Boardwalk near Joe's Crab Shack at about 5 p.m.
Several people onboard suffered minor injuries but refused to be taken to a hospital. A passenger said about 60 people were onboard at the time of the crash.
A few boards were knocked loose, but there was no significant damage.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Hmm, we're thinking "party boat" may offer a clue!:)
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 01/28/08 19:41 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (1)
06 January 2008
Ten Second Review: Istanbul Grill
Callie and I tried the Istanbul Grill (in the Village) tonight.
It's one of those places we've meant to try forever, and just haven't for whatever reason.
For entrees, Callie had the Doner (Gyro) kebab. I had the beef kebab. Both were excellent -- very similar to their Greek counterparts.
We started with a Shepherd Salad with Feta added (very similar to the Greek salads we had on the islands -- no lettuce!), and some hummus. Both were tasty.
I didn't try dessert, although the baklava seemed to meet with Callie's approval. No Turkish coffee, as a workout awaits later (next time).
We got that feast for about 30 bucks, and enjoyed familiar bouzouki-heavy music out on the lovely garden patio (in January -- gotta love Houston during the "winter").
The experience gets a big thumbs up!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 01/06/08 20:10 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (4)
28 December 2007
Great day for a bowl game!
It's a beautiful day for a bowl game in Houston.
UH and TCU kick off the Texas Bowl at 7pm tonight.
Before heading down on the Danger Train, margaritas and grub at Cabo would seem to be in order.
I hope the people at Reliant have the roof open for the game this evening.
UPDATE: Despite it being a great day for a bowl game, a great bowl game did not transpire. Boy, that was some suck.
I am so ready for the Kevlar era of UH football to get underway, now that the high school coaching era has officially ended. Good effing riddance.
Oh, and the roof wasn't open at Reliant. Retarded. Why did we spend the extra money building a retractable roof stadium when the roof is NEVER open. Nice.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 12/28/07 15:22 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (0)
13 December 2007
Comets, WNBA are circling the drain
The spin coming from the Houston Comets on their upcoming move is amusing:
The Comets will leave Toyota Center and play their 2008 home games at the smaller but cozy Reliant Arena.
Comets owner Hilton Koch signed a contract with Reliant earlier this week.
"We are very excited that Reliant Arena will be the new home for the (Comets)," Koch said. "As an organization, our goal is to provide Comets fans with a phenomenal in-arena experience while at the same time maximizing the team's long-term growth potential.
"Reliant Arena's smaller venue (capacity 5,800) will be a great setting for our boisterous fans and will help create a powerful home-court advantage."
That's the press-release perspective.
Reality is this: The Comets and the WNBA are an inferior product that few people want to watch, and they are moving from a top-notch NBA arena (an attraction in itself, really) to what is effectively a rat trap in an undesirable part of town.
How much longer will the league or the franchise survive?
Crossposted to Bad Sports, and appropriately so, because this is truly about some Bad Sports
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 12/13/07 22:02 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (4)
11 December 2007
Andre and Erin
Ethan passes along this bit of hilarity at the expense of former Coog and current broadcaster Andre Ware.
Too damn funny.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 12/11/07 23:50 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (0)
13 November 2007
What would Jesus drive?
While listening to the Richard Justice show on KGOW-1560 earlier, I heard the crew talking about how one of them had seen a celebrity dropped off by a huge Hummer at the big Hannah Montana show.
It was none other than Joel O$teen, so they said.
I guess that answers the question, What would Jesus drive?
Or maybe it just answers the question, What does Victoria insist upon?
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/13/07 13:01 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (9)
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