Todd Lakey:

Houstonian’s new Food Network series debuts Oct. 9

2015-10-12T05:19:00.001-05:00

Houstonian’s new Food Network series debuts Oct. 9

If you were rooting for Houstonian Eddie Jackson during his road to winning "Food Network Star," you don't have long to wait for his promised Food Network series.

"BBQ Blitz," the show that fitness trainer Jackson got for winning Season 11 of the Food Network competition, premieres Oct. 9 at 9:30 p.m. In the six-episode series, Jackson hits a new city in each episode, including Miami and Charlotte, NC, where he played professional football. The series also visits Dallas, his childhood hometown; Little Rock, Ark., from his college days; Montgomery, Ala., where his extended family lives; and barbecue mecca Kansas City.

Food Network describes "BBQ Blitz" like this:

Eddie hits a new city in each episode and welcomes three of the best local grillers, smokers and fire-roasters to an outdoor cook-off for a grand prize of $5,000 and BBQ bragging rights. The action happens in front of a crowd of cheering spectators, and kicks off with Eddie challenging each competitor to transform their signature grilled masterpiece into a completely different dish for two hungry judges. After an elimination, he chooses one special ingredient that the remaining two must turn into the BBQ dish of their lives. The judges then determine who cooked the best bite, and the $5,000 grand-prize winner is named in front of fans with stadium-style hoopla. Each judging panel mixes culinary experts including Ingrid Hoffman and Kent Rathbun with Eddie's food-obsessed pals like former NFL players Anthony Lucas and Ken Hamlin.

Jackson owns a private gym in Cypress and operates the Caribbean Grill by Fit Chef food truck. He said he will continue to operate the truck at special events. In college, the Richardson, Texas, native played for the Arkansas Razorbacks and later played professionally for the Carolina Panthers (2004), Miami Dolphins (2005-2006) and New England Patriots (2007).

For more on "BBQ Blitz" and episode guide, see here.
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Halloween on the Bayou - Thrills and Chills for All

2015-10-04T06:45:00.000-05:00

Halloween on the Bayou - Thrills and Chills for All

Not a fan of the ghosts and the ghouls? Check out Houston's family friendly attractions and events that are fun for the whole family.

Kemah Oktoberfest
Oct. 9-11
The iconic fall celebration of the culture, food and drink of the Germanic peoples who helped settle Texas brings its unique and lively spirit to the bay. Kemah's Oktoberfest will feature all the wonderful cuisine, music and dances of the German, Czech, Polish and Dutch people. Vendors will create a German "Marktplatz" featuring beautiful crafts, clothing, pottery, wood carving and more.

Boo on the Boardwalk
Oct. 9-31
For the entire month of October, Kemah is hosting Boo on the Boardwalk where families can enjoy an array of Halloween themed activities. For the braver souls, face the dungeon of doom while the kids enjoy the Little Boo Haunted Fun house. Other attractions include pumpkin decorating, live entertainment and costume contests.

Wake The Dead Horror Paracon
Oct. 9-Oct.11
Dash Beardsley's Wake the Dead Horror Paracon is the event you have anxiously been waiting for!! The creator of Ghost Tours of Galveston Island, Dash Beardsley, has decided to get his friends together for a day that will not soon be forgotten. See actors from Hocus Pocus, The Walking Dead, American Horror Story, and much more!

Monsters' Museum of Houston
Oct. 14-Oct.29
Monstrous mayhem will be unleashed when the Children's Museum of Houston is transmogrified into the Monsters' Museum of Houston for three weeks of Halloween. From Oct. 10 to 31, 2015, we dare you to witness how monsters have rummaged, scoured, combed and turned the Museum upside down to make room for their monster lairs.

Halloween at Sheldon Lake State Park
Oct. 17
Make sure to add this day to your calendar! We will have bat watching, moth black lighting, live snakes, crafts, and the spooky trail. You won't want to miss this annual event that is free and fun for all ages!

Hocus Pocus Pops
Oct. 23
For a delightful "exfearience," join the Houston Symphony for a Halloween event full of tricks, treats and enchanting music. The orchestra casts a spell on the audience with chilling music and spooky sounds that are guaranteed to scare your socks off. Daddies, mummies and all the little ghosts and goblins are invited to dress up in their favorite Halloween costume for a chance to walk on stage during the concert.
Zoo Boo
Oct. 16-Nov. 1
The last three weekends in October, Zoo Boo at the Houston Zoo turns in to a Halloween party. Explore the pumpkin patch, go "trunk"-or-treating, and participate in a costume parade while seeing the animals.
Tricks & Treats Among the Trees
Oct. 24
Kids and the young at heart are invited to a free trick-or-treat nature trail and Halloween fun with crafts, live creepy critters, games, hayrides, a critter storybook trail, and more. Costumed trick-or-treaters are encouraged! Proceeds from carnival-inspired games benefit Jones Park.

Halloween Car Show
October 24
8th Annual Halloween Car Show One day only! Come out and see more than 100 cars from classic to contemporary, from motorized to hoof, while helping to support local charities. Enjoy the fall festival atmosphere from 10 am - 3 pm on Saturday, October 25 with face painting and arts and crafts for the kids, great food including BBQ and cupcakes from local vendors, a live DJ, silent auction and more.

Dia de los Muertos at Lawndale Art Center
Oct. 20-Nov. 8
LawndaleArt Center is pleased to present its 28th Annual Día de los Muertos events, a celebration of the art, music and folklife of Mexico. For morethan 20 years Lawndale has presented an annual open call, non-juried exhibition that celebrates the Mexican tradition of Día de los Muertos in a contemporary context.

ArBOOretum
Oct. 24
Head out to the Houston Arboretum for the annual Halloween event. Walk a forest trail with scattered trick-or-treat locations, activities and opportunities to learn about wildlife. Activities include hay rides, a petting zoo, pony rides, a cake walk, carnival games, face painting and pumpkin decorating.

Howl-O-Ween Fest
Oct. 24
Tails are already wagging as Bridgeland embarks on a Fido favorite event - Howl-O-Ween Fest! Benefiting local dog rescue groups, the event includes on-stage entertainment, the Houston Canine Frisbee Disc Club, the "Splash Dogs" dock-diving contest, a pooch fashion show and costume contest, carnival games, a farmers' market with pumpkin patch, several rounds of bingo with prizes awarded, pet vendors and street performers.

Saengerfest Mini Monster Bash
Oct. 31
Halloween fun awaits you at The 4th annual Saengerfest Mini Monster Bash taking place on Saturday, October 31, 2015 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m at Saengerfest Park. This free, spook-tacular festival will include assorted games and prizes, trick-or-treating at participating downtown businesses, face painting and a costume contest for children.

Moody Gardens Ghostly Gardens
Oct. 25
Drive out to Moody Garden's Halloween celebration for some free fun! Trick-or-treat throughout the complex, make creepy crafts and participate in a costume contest for a prize.

Traders Village Boo Fest
Oct. 31
Throw on your best Halloween costume and get ready to do the Monster Mash as Traders Village presents the annual Boo Bash, the biggest free spooktacular for kids in Houston. Boo Bash 2015 will present continuous live musical entertainment and activities, and monster-sized Trick-or-Treating.

Scream on the Green
Oct. 30
Discovery Green hosts Scream on the Green from 6-10 p.m. Enjoy live music, face painting, fortune tellers and dancing, and of course this year's feature film, Book of Life.

Zoo Boo at the Houston Zoo

9th Annual Bayou City Outdoors Haunted Hike & Pizza Party
October 31
Get your spooky with BCO as we hike and slither our way through Memorial Park with our closest pals on Halloween! We will nourish ourselves afterwards with pizza and beverages, for those who make it out of the forest. Tap into your inner wolf or go all vampy on us, or come as a traditional ghoul (or, hey, wear your office attire- that could be scary enough!) Leave the bars to the zombies and join us in the woods for some quality and creepy exercise and socializing at Memorial Park.

Aliens and Asteroids
Oct. 31
This is not your average creepy crawlies, jack-o-lanterns, and black cats Halloween fun. Enjoy a day of slightly spooky, space adventures! As part of The Next Giant Leap 2015-16 season of exhibits and educational events, this full day of family fun will inspire your family to the thrills of exploration.

Ghostbusters & Ghouls
Oct. 31
It's Halloween, and there's no better place to be than at the Houston Symphony. The Symphony's spooky celebration includes music from Ghostbusters and Michael Jackson's epic hit "Thriller."
Day of the Dead/Dia de los Celebration
Oct. 31-Nov. 2Visit the National Museum of Funeral History on November 1 and 2 to learn more about the Latin customs surrounding the Day of the Dead / Dia de los Muertos and celebrations held for deceased loved ones.

Dia de los Muertos at MECA
Oct. 12-Nov. 20
MulticulturalEducation and Counseling through the Arts (MECA) presents this Dia de los Muertos celebration featuring traditions from throughout Latin America, with an altar exhibit competition, foods from the Americas, vendors selling authentic Latin American Dia de los Muertos arts and crafts, and a Calavera Fashion Show.

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Halloween on the Bayou - Ghost Travels

2015-10-04T06:42:00.000-05:00

Halloween on the Bayou - Ghost Travels

Not only does Houston have haunted houses, there are also trails, tours, parties and even real haunts!

Houston Ghost Tour
Ongoing
Houston Ghost Tour gives a great tour in the urban Hermann Park that recalls the history of the civil war cemetery that once laid underneath the park. Or the story of an Opera singer who died in Miller Outdoor Theater. There is an all ages and R-rated tour offered as well as a tour in Old Town Spring - north of downtown.

Paranormal Pub Tour
Ongoing
On this paranormal tour, you'll hear two ghost stories at the Spaghetti Warehouse, then walk with your guide to two more bars in historic buildings and end your pub tour at the Houston Watch Company Bar with happy-hour prices and the story of Houston's first double hanging in 1838. Some of you may even feel the presence of the two men who were hanged haunting the area.

Ghost Tours of TexasOngoingStep through the shadows, gather your courage and discover the chilling and ghastly tales of murder, revenge, passion, heartache and breath-taking history! The exciting Ghost Tour in Galveston takes you on a fascinating walking tour through the historic and haunted Silk Stocking district starting by the famous Broadway mansion, Ashton Villa. Private tours of at least 5 are also offered in the Heights historic district (Houston).

Dash Beardsley's Ghost Tours of Galveston
Ongoing
For nearly 15 years, Dash Beardsley ("the Ghost Man of Galveston") has used his knowledge of the coastal community to take guests on one of six different tours of Galveston Island, including the original two-hour walking tour and Restless Spirits Tour to the Secret Society Cemetery Tour and others.

Hellusions Haunted Houston
Oct. 16-Oct. 31
Hellusions is a haunted house located inside West Oaks Mall. The haunted house is open every Saturday and Sunday during the month of October from 12 pm-5 pm. Most haunted to houses charge $30 per person, Hellusions is only $10 per person.

Haunted Trails
Oct. 2-Oct. 31
Walk the trails of Houston's most thrilling outdoor attraction. The Haunted Trails' features include detailed sets, zombies, clowns and other creeps—body parts, creepy crawlers and more. Find out what lurks beyond the trees every weekend in October.

Hotel Galvez Ghost Tour & Dinner
Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays Oct. 2-31
Hotel Galvez & Spa opens its ghost tour, typically reserved for guests, to the public as part of a dinner package on Wednesdays and Thursdays in October as well as Sundays as part of an overnight package. During the tour, staff guides participants through theghostly past of the hotel which is then followed by dinner in the Galvez Bar& Grill.

Spirits & Skeletons
Oct. 31
Have a totally rad Halloween at Spirits & Skeletons. Be boss on the dance floor, indulge in some serious sweets and dare to try some creepy crawly concoctions, courtesy of the Houston Museum of Natural Science's Bug Chef. After that, abracadabra your way over to the master magician, as he astonishes even the most skeptical with his mysterious magic.

Wicked Woods Party
October 31
Get ready for a wicked good time at Houston's most unique Halloween activity for adults, the Houston Arboretum's Wicked Woods Party - a spectacular night in the woods! Participants will be regaled with a delectable three course meal, libations, and spooky fun under the crescent moon and the shimmering stars.

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Halloween - The Fantasy and Folklore of All Hallows

2015-10-04T06:38:00.002-05:00

Halloween

The Fantasy and Folklore of All Hallows

Halloween had its beginnings in an ancient, pre-Christian Celtic festival of the dead. The Celtic peoples, who were once found all over Europe, divided the year by four major holidays. According to their calendar, the year began on a day corresponding to November 1st on our present calendar. The date marked the beginning of winter. Since they were pastoral people, it was a time when cattle and sheep had to be moved to closer pastures and all livestock had to be secured for the winter months. Crops were harvested and stored. The date marked both an ending and a beginning in an eternal cycle.

The festival observed at this time was called Samhain (pronounced Sah-ween). It was the biggest and most significant holiday of the Celtic year. The Celts believed that at the time of Samhain, more so than any other time of the year, the ghosts of the dead were able to mingle with the living, because at Samhain the souls of those who had died during the year traveled into the otherworld. People gathered to sacrifice animals, fruits, and vegetables. They also lit bonfires in honor of the dead, to aid them on their journey, and to keep them away from the living. On that day all manner of beings were abroad: ghosts, fairies, and demons--all part of the dark and dread.

Samhain became the Halloween we are familiar with when Christian missionaries attempted to change the religious practices of the Celtic people. In the early centuries of the first millennium A.D., before missionaries such as St. Patrick and St. Columcille converted them to Christianity, the Celts practiced an elaborate religion through their priestly caste, the Druids, who were priests, poets, scientists and scholars all at once. As religious leaders, ritual specialists, and bearers of learning, the Druids were not unlike the very missionaries and monks who were to Christianize their people and brand them evil devil worshippers.

As a result of their efforts to wipe out "pagan" holidays, such as Samhain, the Christians succeeded in effecting major transformations in it. In 601 A.D. Pope Gregory the First issued a now famous edict to his missionaries concerning the native beliefs and customs of the peoples he hoped to convert. Rather than try to obliterate native peoples' customs and beliefs, the pope instructed his missionaries to use them: if a group of people worshipped a tree, rather than cut it down, he advised them to consecrate it to Christ and allow its continued worship.

In terms of spreading Christianity, this was a brilliant concept and it became a basic approach used in Catholic missionary work. Church holy days were purposely set to coincide with native holy days. Christmas, for instance, was assigned the arbitrary date of December 25th because it corresponded with the mid-winter celebration of many peoples. Likewise, St. John's Day was set on the summer solstice.

Samhain, with its emphasis on the supernatural, was decidedly pagan. While missionaries identified their holy days with those observed by the Celts, they branded the earlier religion's supernatural deities as evil, and associated them with the devil. As representatives of the rival religion, Druids were considered evil worshippers of devilish or demonic gods and spirits. The Celtic underworld inevitably became identified with the Christian Hell.

The effects of this policy were to diminish but not totally eradicate the beliefs in the traditional gods. Celtic belief in supernatural creatures persisted, while the church made deliberate attempts to define them as being not merely dangerous, but malicious. Followers of the old religion went into hiding and were branded as witches.

The Christian feast of All Saints was assigned to November 1st. The day honored every Christian saint, especially those that did not otherwise have a special day devoted to them. This feast day was meant to substitute for Samhain, to draw the devotion of the Celtic peoples, and, finally, to replace it forever. That did not happen, but the traditional Celtic deities diminished in status, becoming fairies or leprechauns of more recent traditions.

The old beliefs associated with Samhain never died out entirely. The powerful symbolism of the traveling dead was too strong, and perhaps too basic to the human psyche, to be satisfied with the new, more abstract Catholic feast honoring saints. Recognizing that something that would subsume the original energy of Samhain was necessary, the church tried again to supplant it with a Christian feast day in the 9th century. This time it established November 2nd as All Souls Day--a day when the living prayed for the souls of all the dead. But, once again, the practice of retaining traditional customs while attempting to redefine them had a sustaining effect: the traditional beliefs and customs lived on, in new guises.

All Saints Day, otherwise known as All Hallows (hallowed means sanctified or holy), continued the ancient Celtic traditions. The evening prior to the day was the time of the most intense activity, both human and supernatural. People continued to celebrate All Hallows Eve as a time of the wandering dead, but the supernatural beings were now thought to be evil. The folk continued to propitiate those spirits (and their masked impersonators) by setting out gifts of food and drink. Subsequently, All Hallows Eve became Hallow Evening, which became Hallowe'en--an ancient Celtic, pre-Christian New Year's Day in contemporary dress.

Many supernatural creatures became associated with All Hallows. In Ireland fairies were numbered among the legendary creatures who roamed on Halloween. An old folk ballad called "Allison Gross" tells the story of how the fairy queen saved a man from a witch's spell on Halloween.

O Allison Gross, that lives in yon tower
the ugliest witch int he North Country...
She's turned me into an ugly worm
and gard me toddle around a tree...

But as it fell out last Hallow even
When the seely [fairy] court was riding by,
the Queen lighted down on a gowany bank
Not far from the tree where I wont to lie...
She's change me again to my own proper shape
And I no more toddle about the tree.

In old England cakes were made for the wandering souls, and people went "a' soulin'" for these "soul cakes." Halloween, a time of magic, also became a day of divination, with a host of magical beliefs: for instance, if persons hold a mirror on Halloween and walk backwards down the stairs to the basement, the face that appears in the mirror will be their next lover.

Virtually all present Halloween traditions can be traced to the ancient Celtic day of the dead. Halloween is a holiday of many mysterious customs, but each one has a history, or at least a story behind it. The wearing of costumes, for instance, and roaming from door to door demanding treats can be traced to the Celtic period and the first few centuries of the Christian era, when it was thought that the souls of the dead were out and around, along with fairies, witches, and demons. Offerings of food and drink were left out to placate them. As the centuries wore on, people began dressing like these dreadful creatures, performing antics in exchange for food and drink. This practice is called mumming, from which the practice of trick-or-treating evolved. To this day, witches, ghosts, and skeleton figures of the dead are among the favorite disguises. Halloween also retains some features that harken back to the original harvest holiday of Samhain, such as the customs of bobbing for apples and carving vegetables, as well as the fruits, nuts, and spices cider associated with the day.

Today Halloween is becoming once again an adult holiday or masquerade, like mardi Gras. Men and women in every disguise imaginable are taking to the streets of big American cities and parading past grinningly carved, candlelit jack o'lanterns, re- enacting customs with a lengthy pedigree. Their masked antics challenge, mock, tease, and appease the dread forces of the night, of the soul, and of the otherworld that becomes our world on this night of reversible possibilities, inverted roles, and transcendency. In so doing, they are reaffirming death and its place as a part of life in an exhilarating celebration of a holy and magic evening.

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6 rules for a better Halloween

2015-10-03T22:12:00.001-05:00

6 rules for a better Halloween

Trick-or-treating and dressing in costume have been Halloween traditions for a good long time now, but it seems we're still struggling to get it right.

So here are a few Halloween PSAs, six not-so-gentle reminders of how to keep in the holiday spirit alive and sugared up. Read them, memorize them, share them and have your happiest Halloween yet.

Give goodies to any child who shows up at the door

Halloween night is not the time to quibble over the quality of trick-or-treaters' costumes or whether some kids are too old to ask for free candy. And don't even bother questioning whether they're from your neighborhood, as if visitors don't deserve your Snickers.

Too cool for a costume? Don't go to a costume party.

You don't have to like Halloween. You don't have to welcome trick-or-treaters. You don't have to pretend to enjoy parties where the main courses are caramel apples and candy corn.

If you truly can't be bothered and can't wait till plainclothes parties return next weekend, at least keep the snark to a minimum. Everyone is just trying to have a little fun.

It's a culture, not a costume

No blackface, no whiteface, no religious symbols, no American Indian garb ... shall we go on? Every year on Halloween, an insensitive or ignorant few fail miserably in their attempts to be edgy or clever or funny.

Costumes don't have to be sexy

Halloween can be the perfect time for adults to show off a little something saucy. If that's your aim, go ahead. But don't do it because it seems easy or like it's the only option. After all, showing up as a barely clothed version of a not-even-kind-of-sexy thing isn't hot. It's ... awkward and, at this point, not surprising -- all the supposedly sexy gerbils, crayons and Girl Scouts of Halloweens past beat you to it.

On this dark and stormy night, look for the light

It's a very simple bit of Halloween communication, more powerful than all the trick-or-treating apps and maps out there: the porch light.

Spooky decor expires on November 1

Unless you're committing to a haunted look all year long, there's a clear expiration date on your Halloween decorations: November 1.

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Krispy Kreme opening four Houston-area stores

2015-09-19T06:54:00.000-05:00

According to the Houston Business Journal, fans of Krispy Kreme shouldn’t have to wait too much longer to get their fix in Houston.

But of course those Krispy Kreme devotees have heard that before, but it appears that this is not a drill.

Guillermo Perales, the Krispy Kreme franchisee who has the rights to open locations in Houston and Dallas, confirmed that they didn’t forget about Houstonians but they did want to get things right before slinging dough daily.

A Krispy Kreme location is coming to 8611 Westheimer Road, inhabiting a former Arby's location. A location at 5611 Highway 6 is also looming. Both, he told the outlet, should be open by mid-October.

A location near NRG Stadium (hello tailgaters) and another in Pasadena will open in November and December respectively, he added.

Krispy Kreme closed all of its Houston locations eight years ago, citing a disagreement with franchisees and the company itself.

“Everything we sell is made in each shop every single morning. We produce a flour mixture at our warehouse that is distributed to the stores. They add water at the store level,” says Stacey Michel, spokesperson for the Houston-based chain.

“Our employees start their day at 2:30 a.m. to start mixing dough to have enough time to let it rise, then cut donuts, then let the donuts proof to be ready to open by 5 a.m.”

Let the great Houston doughnut wars begin.

Krispy Kreme enters a hotly-contested doughnut market in the Houston area where Shipley Do-Nuts, Dunkin' Donuts, and a slew of independent shops like Pena's Donut Heaven in Pearland, Christy's Donuts in Montrose, and Hugs & Donuts in the Heights reign supreme in our arteries.

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Castle-like house under construction

2015-09-02T17:47:00.002-05:00

Castle-like house under construction

Construction crews are working on a Riverside Terrace house with an unusual, castle-like design that has drawn a lot of attention in its neighborhood.

HAR data show the 4,861-square-foot house at 2309 Wichita sold in April 2014 for between $250,000 and $285,000.

The strange-looking Riverside Terrace home has five bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms, 2 turrets, and a separate garage apartment on the property all on a plot nearly 4,900 square feet in size.

Yes, turrets. Plus there is a great view of Downtown Houston from its highest peak. Heck, it’s got a great view of the whole city.

You can easily see from SH-288 as you drive into the downtown area. It’s the tallest house in the area.

Looking like something out of a Tim Burton movie, it attracted plenty of visitors and a handful of vandals who wanted to get a closer look inside.

According to the Houston Area Realty site’s sale report available online, the house sold for between $250,000 and $285,000, but neither the realtor nor (real estate developer Nick) Ugarov would disclose the exact sale price.

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Marvel Studio News

2015-09-01T14:48:00.001-05:00

Since Marvel Studios first started making movies, President Kevin Feige had to report to Marvel Entertainment CEO Isaac "Ike" Perlmutter. This is something that he had to do even after Disney bought Marvel. But that has all changed now. According to THR, Feige will now only have to report to Disney studio chief Alan Horn, which is a good thing for Feige, Marvel, and the movies they make.

A Disney spokesperson told the site:

"Marvel Studios is taking the next logical step in its integration with The Walt Disney Studios, joining Pixar and Lucasfilm in centralizing many of its film-related functions in Burbank, with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and co-president Louis D’Esposito continuing to lead the Marvel Studios team reporting to Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn."

This is going to make Feige's life so much easier. Perlmutter is described as a "low-profile billionaire who has contributed to Marvel's reputation in Hollywood for frugality and secrecy (as THR reported in a 2014 feature, he attended the premiere of Iron Man in a disguise to go undetected and once complained that journalists at a press junket were allowed two sodas instead of one)."
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Starbucks set to serve beer, wine at some stores in The Woodlands

2015-08-30T18:25:00.002-05:00

Starbucks set to serve beer, wine at some stores in The Woodlands

This fall, the popular spot for getting that morning caffeine fix may also become the place to go after work to wind down with a beer or glass of wine.

With its latest business initiative, Starbucks Coffee Co. is introducing Starbucks Evenings - where it will serve craft beer, wine and small plates - and three Woodlands area locations will be among the stores launching the new service this fall.

The Starbucks on Grogan's Mill Road at Sawdust Road, the one at Woodlands Parkway near FM 2978 and the one at Kuykendahl Road and Louetta Road in Spring will be included in one of the first waves of stores to feature Starbucks Evenings, as the company gradually rolls out the concept to its thousands of U.S. locations. Other area stores expect to incorporate the evening menu next year.

As part of the evening menu, the stores will offer an assortment of wines that was developed by the company's in-house sommelier, craft beers selected by regional popularity and small plates, such as bacon-wrapped dates, truffle mac and cheese and chicken sausage and mushroom flatbreads.

The evening menu will start at 4 p.m. and will range from $6 to $14.

Full Article

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UT removes Jefferson Davis statue

2015-08-30T18:23:00.003-05:00

AUSTIN - The University of Texas at Austin on Sunday morning removed a statue of Jefferson Davis from its main mall, over the objections and amid ongoing legal action by Confederate groups.

Students and others cheered as the larger-than-life sized bronze statue came down, just as the campus' historic clock tower stuck 10:15 a.m. Some even sang a few bars from fictitious band Steam's "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye."

The move was made just days after state District Judge Karin Crump shot down an attempt by the Sons of Confederate Veterans to block the statues' removal. The removal took about an hour and a half; the statue will be refurbished and relocated to the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, also on UT's campus.

Full Article

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Morgan Hotel in San Antonio

2015-08-28T16:09:00.000-05:00

Things to know about the Emily Morgan Hotel in San Antonio

The lobby was once a morgue. The top floor, a crematorium. And that cozy, romantic fireplace — well, it's lit by a pilot light that once fueled the crematorium. The fabled ghost stories haunting the Emily Morgan Hotel are all inspired by its history as a Medical Arts Building.

Long before San Antonio's iconic Gothic tower on Alamo Plaza had five-star nobility as the "official hotel of the Alamo," it was an office building for doctors and dentists, built on a site that was once a marble rock yard.

Long before it became “the official hotel of the Alamo,” the Emily Morgan Hotel was established as the Medical Arts Building.
The Gothic-revival skyscraper, the tallest in San Antonio when it was first erected.
In the Gothic style, gargoyles cut along the building are contorted to portray a medical affliction.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Alamo Plaza Historic District in 1977. This photo was taken in 1928.
The hotel takes its name from an enchanting woman whom legend has it kept General Santa Ana distracted during the Battle of San Jacinto — inspiring the story of the Yellow Rose of Texas.
The champagne bathtub overlooking downtown San Antonio is one of the luxury perks of this five-star hotel. A more posh take on the hot tub, this one fills the water with tiny, champagne-like bubbles

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12 ghost towns to visit in Texas

2015-08-28T16:00:00.002-05:00

Ghost towns to visit in Texas

Looking for something frightful this Halloween? With their rich history and eerie remains, these Texas ghost towns are sure to send chills up your spine.
Although no ghost towns in Texas made the cut for the Smithsonian's coolest ghost town list, dozens remain across the state.

Ghost Towns of Texas

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Guided tours in Houston

2015-08-09T18:58:00.002-05:00

When it comes to guided tours in Houston there is no shortage of options. You can tour Minute Maid Park, the Toyota Center, NASA's Johnson Space Center in Clear Lake, and even the Mrs. Baird’s bakery off Rosslyn.

Tours like these are a great way to pull kids off the computer and out of the house during the summer, and they can also help acquaint lifelong and brand-new residents with parts of the city they had little knowledge of. Remember to call ahead or check the tour's website to confirm your plans.

Houston Tours full article

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Hail Storm 2015

2015-04-19T20:35:00.001-05:00

Had a nice hail storm pass thru, the only damage done was to my tree in the front yard

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Comicpalooza 2015

2015-04-02T06:25:00.003-05:00

Comicpalooza Houston

Comicpalooza is the largest annual, multi-genre, comic book, science fiction, anime, gaming, and pop culture convention in Houston, Texas. The event is organized by Startling Events, LLC.^[1] The event hosts the annual Comicpalooza Fandom Awards.^[2]

Comicpalooza 2015 will be held on May 22–25, 2015 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston and will be featured as a four-day event on Memorial Day weekend.

Comicpalooza

Registration and Membership

Some of the guest for Comicpalooza 2015:

Linda Blair, Stan Lee, George Takei

Full guest list (updated regularly)

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Festival Time for Houston

2015-04-02T06:17:00.003-05:00

Springtime means festival time for Houston

Whether you like crawfish or art cars (or both), there are many great festivals around town that are worth slathering on the sunscreen and braving the heat to enjoy.

Read Full Article with Gallery of Houston Festivals

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LEGO Shield Helicarrier

2015-03-07T05:46:00.001-06:00

Avengers, assemble! We’re going to need your help building the new S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier set from Lego. It’s been the rumored for months, and now it’s finally been revealed.

The Helicarrier is positively enormous. It measures nearly three feet long, 17 inches wide, and is almost a foot high at its highest point. Even though that already makes it one of the most massive Lego sets ever released, they managed to make it look even larger than it really is.

Tiny Quinjets, fighter jets, forklifts and a slew of microfigs — including Nick Fury, Captain America, Iron Man, and Hawkeye — help complete the illusion. Not that the Helicarrier needs any help. The 2,996 piece set will likely dwarf any other Lego sets you have in your collection.

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AMC & Regal have a Marvel Plan

2015-03-05T04:41:00.000-06:00

Marvel released the third trailer for Avengers: Age of Ultron this morning, and if you haven't seen it yet, get on that immediately because it is magnificent. May 1st still seems so far away, but the theater owners at AMC and Regal are planning something special to take the sting out of the long wait for Marvel fans. ComingSoon reports that the theater chains are planning The Ultimate Marvel Movie Marathon leading up to the release of Age of Ultron, and there are so many Marvel Studios movies now that this event will last longer than a day - the whole thing will span more than 27 hours.
The event begins on April 29th, 2015, and concludes on April 30th with a screening of Avengers: Age of Ultron. Here's the full breakdown:

6:00pm IRON MAN

8:25pm THE INCREDIBLE HULK

10:35pm IRON MAN 2

1:00am THOR

3:10am CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER

5:30am THE AVENGERS

8:48am IRON MAN 3

11:15am THOR: THE DARK WORLD

1:45pm CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER

4:20pm GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

7:00pm AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON (RealD® 3D)

I imagine my brain would start to melt somewhere around the time Thor: The Dark World started, so that would be prime nap time for me if I participate in this madness. Tickets are available through AMC and Regal's websites, and if you aren't feeling up to the challenge of watching all eleven movies in a row, AMC, Regal, and Cinemark will have the option to just watch The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron back-to-back.

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Vision Revealed in Age of Ultron Trailer

2015-03-04T18:18:00.000-06:00

Marvel decided to give fans the final trailer for Avengers: Age of Ultron today, after initially announcing that it would debut during the series premiere of American Crime tomorrow night. Included in this slew of new footage was our first official look at Vision, played by Paul Bettany. Granted, it was just a brief glimpse of the character, but at least we finally get to see him.

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Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron - Trailer 3

2015-03-04T13:21:00.002-06:00

Its here, Trailer # 3 for Avengers: Age of Ultron

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Lego Dalek

2015-02-27T21:08:00.002-06:00

As a big fan of Dr Who i was totally blown away by the Lego Dalek

YouTube Video of the build

All i can say is Awesome

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What if Hulk....

2015-02-24T19:48:00.001-06:00

Ran across this on youtube an all i have to say is OMG....i bout fell off my chair....

What if Hulk Ripped His Pants

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

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Power/Rangers Fan Film

2015-02-24T19:18:00.002-06:00

Titled Power/Rangers, the short takes place in a world in which the Power Rangers have lost and the evil Machine Empire (from the show’s Zeo season) has taken over. It stars Battlestar Galactica's Katee Sackhoff as former Pink Ranger Kimberly Hart and Dawson's Creek's James Van Der Beek as former Red Ranger. (Not to be confused, this is different from the Lionsgate film reboot that has a cast that may include Donald Glover, Malese Jow, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Dyland O'Brien, and if it's to be believed, Shailene Woodley.)

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Houston Barbecue Festival

2015-02-12T04:54:00.001-06:00

Tickets to go on sale for third edition of Houston Barbecue Festival

Featuring a who's who of local pitmasters, the third annual Houston Barbecue Festival will be April 26 at NRG Park.

The event includes four barbecue joints featured in Alison Cook's Top 100 Restaurants. Among them: Brooks' Place, CorkScrew, Gatlin's and Killen's.

Other confirmed participants include Blake's BBQ, the Brisket House, El Burro & the Bull, Fainmous, Feges BBQ, Gerardo's, Lenox, Oak Leaf Smokehouse, Pappa Charlie's, Pizzitola's, Ray's BBQ Shack, Roegels Barbecue Co., Spring Creek and The Wooden Spoke.

Read Full Article

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Marvel Movies Release Dates Updated

2015-02-12T03:16:00.001-06:00

Following the news that Spider-Man has officially joined the MCU, here’s the release date breakdown as it NOW stands:

Phase 2

May 1, 2015 – The Avengers: Age of Ultron
July 17, 2015 – Ant-Man

Phase 3

2016

May 6, 2016 – Captain America: Civil War
November 4, 2016 – Doctor Strange

2017

May 5, 2017 – Guardians of the Galaxy 2
July 27, 2017 – Spider-Man
November 3, 2017 – Thor: Ragnarok

2018

May 4, 2018 – The Avengers: Infinity War – Part 1
July 6, 2018 - Black Panther
November 2, 2018 – Captain Marvel

2019

May 3, 2019 – The Avengers: Infinity War – Part 2
July 12, 2019 – Inhumans

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