WHAT'S NEW THIS WEEK?

After a lovely overnight stay recently at Steve Zimmerman's La Colombe d'Or, housed in the former Fondren family mansion, I got curious about other historic homes that were used for Houston businesses. Looking around and asking friends and preservationists, I was able to discover several interesting homes that dot our landscape. I'm thrilled that business owners see the value of saving these homes and adaptively (and creatively) re-using them for public purposes so that we can all enjoy them. It's fun to wonder what the Fondren parties must have been like in their spacious home -- or what life was really like in the Link-Lee Mansion that is home to the administrative offices of the University of St. Thomas. A great way to start your adventure with these homes is to have your family first evaluate your own home or apartment and neighborhood for their historic properties. Have them draw your home and then imagine what its future could be. Before exploring historic home-based businesses, I suggest you head to the Heritage Society, where your family can tour several historic homes that were saved from destruction years ago, including the Kellum-Noble House (1847), the Old Place (a log cabin from 1823), the Nichols-Rice-Cherry House (c. 1850), the San Felipe House (1868), the Pillot House (1868), the Staiti House (1905), the Yates House (1870), and a Fourth Ward Cottage (c. 1858 or earlier). It's an amazing historic neighborhood!

So, here's my extremely partial list of historic homes that now house businesses; while you're tootling around Houston, I'll bet you can find many more! Lawyers have enjoyed the Kirby Mansion at 2006 Smith Street (the law offices of David W. Bergquist) and a bungalow at 1148 Heights (Joellen Snow's office). The newly re-opened Oceans Restaurant is in a 1930s home at 819 W. Alabama (which was just saved from the wrecking ball by the new owners); Backstreet Café is also in a 1930s home at 1103 S. Shepherd; Patrenella's Restaurant (813 Jackson Hill) is in the renovated childhood home of the owner and Crappito's is in a converted farmhouse at 2400 Mid Lane (if you can imagine, that entire area around Mid Lane/Westheimer was farmland over a hundred years ago!). Montrose takes the prize for having so many businesses in historic and reconverted homes including KPFT-FM (419 Lovett Street), its neighbor Alliance Française at 427 Lovett Street -- as well as Foelber Gallery (706 Richmond Avenue) and Key Maps (1411 W. Alabama), among others.

It's said that "Home is where the heart is" and for me, these saved historic homes are the heart of our community and I applaud their owners for keeping them standing. Want to learn more about Houston preservation? Log onto www.houstonpreservation.org for a citizens' guide to preservation. And if you live in a historic neighborhood, try to attend one of the Mayor's upcoming community meetings on proposed changes to our 1995 Historic Preservation Ordinance.

THIS BEAUTY LOVES HER BEAST

The Company OnStage is wrapping up its run of their children’s theater production of “Beauty and the Beast” this weekend. You know the story: it’s the good, the bad, and the ugly – in this case, involving a good witch and a bad witch who make a bet which transforms a handsome Prince into an ugly beast. Beauty must break the spell with her powerful love, which is a great lesson for kids to learn anytime.

Company OnStage (COS) is a small theater company with a big heart located in Meyerland. It was founded in 1978 with the goal of offering professional quality performances of contemporary and classic theater for children and adults in an intimate setting at affordable prices. COS provides the opportunity for everyone in the community to participate in theater by attending performances, taking classes, or volunteering for all phases of production. I know entire families that participate in COS events – in fact, my web designer, Kristine Brashears, and her family do this.

Tickets are $8/each and remaining performances are this Saturday, July 31 at 11am and 3pm. I recommend the children’s theater for kids 10 and under.

ENGLAND COMES TO HOUSTON

At long last, our city fathers and mothers have agreed to build our professional soccer team, the Houston Dynamo, their very own stadium and soccer in Houston just keeps getting better and better. We’re hosting the July 28 match at Reliant Stadium featuring the MLS All-Stars against Manchester United – buy your tickets now as the game is already expected to set an MLS attendance record for a stand-alone All-Star Game! The roster of MLS All-Stars to face Manchester United was announced on Monday and included hometown heroes Brian Ching and Brad Davis of the Houston Dynamo, joining such recognizable league stars as Landon Donovan, Juan Pablo Angel, and former Houston player Dwayne De Rosario. Manchester United’s roster for the match includes such internationally recognized players as midfielders Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, and Mexican forward Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez.

The Houston Dynamo is a Major League Soccer club that has won two MLS Cup championships in its first four seasons and represented the United States in international competition in four consecutive years. The season continues through the end of October; all Dynamo home games are at Robertson Stadium.

Tickets are $25-$90 and game start time is 7:30pm at Reliant Stadium.

THIS WEEK'S ATTRACTION...THE WOODLANDS WATERWAY SQUARE. For more attractions, go to www.gishcreative.com/attractions.htm.

There are a lot of events planned for The Woodlands’ Waterway Square, the centerpiece of which is a 120-foot long, 10-foot high water wall that contains a synchronized colored light fountain dancing to songs such as “Louie, Louie,” “National Emblem,” “Rhapsody In Blue,” “America the Beautiful,” “Yani,” and “Big Splendor.” The Waterway is said to be longer than the famous San Antonio Riverwalk attraction with much wider, more accessible pedestrian pathways. In addition to the walkway and fountain, there is a seating area under a grove of shade trees for outdoor dining and people watching and a children’s interactive fountain with fanciful mosaic artwork designed by renowned local artist Dixie Friend Gay. The Park was designed by Sasaki Associates of Watertown, MA, designers of the 2008 Olympic Green in Beijing, China and other notable projects. Plans for the near future include the addition of an outdoor amphitheater in the plaza.

The Woodlands hosts movies at Waterway Square May, June, October and November and live music in September. During the summer, on Fridays from 6-8pm, they host “Waterway Nights,” featuring free activities for families. This Friday, July 30, there will be a caricature artist, mime, and balloon artist.

Sarah Gish
Gish Creative
1940-A Fountainview, PMB 116
Houston, Texas 77057
phone/fax: 713.482.7065

email: sarah@gishcreative.com
web: www.gishcreative.com
and: www.thesummerbook.com
and: www.saveourlandmarks.org

© 2010 Sarah Gish

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