Results tagged “texas”

::Texas Country Open Mic Night @ Blanco's::

108. We're not talking about a Nolan Ryan fastball or Mario Williams jetting down Interstate 40; we're talking about heat, Houston.

HoustonPBS Community Cinema presents a free preview screening of a documentary film based on the massive drug bust that took place in the small Texas town of Tulia in 1999. In the panhandle town of 5,000 people, at least 46 were arrested during the drug raids by an embattled narcotics officer named Thomas Coleman. Residents were outraged when they discovered that 39 of the 46 arrested were black, and that Coleman himself was wanted in a nearby county for theft. The screening of Tulia, Texas is a sneak preview for the documentary, which will air on PBS's Emmy-winning series. After the film there will be a discussion with a panel including a lawyer familiar with drug laws, a former undercover narcotics officer, and Dean Becker, host of the talk radio show Drug War News. Tulia, Texas Preview Screening
Admission: Free
Date and Time: 7:00 p.m. tonight
Location: Rice University Media Center, 6100 Main Street, MS-549 Photo of filmmakers Kelly Whalen and Cassandra Herrman with arrestee Freddie Brookins Jr. courtesy of Flickr user PBS Press Tour

Photos courtesy of Flickr users slightclutter and hcraighall.

  173 years ago, George C. Childress hurriedly composed a document at Washington-on-the-Brazos while only 150 miles away, the Alamo was under a brutal and ultimately fatal attack by the Mexican army. The document, which was written overnight at a hastily formed convention of Texas leaders, accused the Mexican goverment of ceasing to protect the lives, liberty, and property of the people of Texas.  It became the Texas Declaration of Independence. 

…the people of Texas do now constitute a free, Sovereign, and independent republic, and are fully invested with all the rights and attributes which properly belong to independent nations; and, conscious of the rectitude of our intentions, we fearlessly and confidently commit the issue to the decision of the Supreme arbiter of the destinies of nations.

And with those words, the people of the Republic of Texas declared independence from Mexico on this day, March 2, 1836. The Texas War of Independence had begun half a year earlier, on October 5, 1835, with the defeat of the Mexican army at the Battle of Gonzales by armed Texians who refused to surrender a cannon — the famous “Come and Take It” cannon — to the Mexican government, as it was their only means of protection against Indian attacks on the settlement. General Antonio López de Santa Anna, the recently-elected president of Mexico, had just the year before abolished the Constitution of 1824 — which very loosely governed Mexican territories, including Texas — and enacted a harsh, anti-federalist constitution in its place.  The new constitution took away liberties to which most Texian settlers had become accustomed, required that they convert to Catholicism, tithe 10% of their earnings to the Roman Catholic church and created the state of Coahuila y Tejas out of the former territory, with its new capital hundreds of miles away from the former capital of San Antonio.  Texian settlers were furious.

Rock The Cradle For Johnny Romano was held on Sunday, November 9, 2008 at the Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark near downtown. The contest was a World Cup Invitational event and skaters from all over the world, including Brazil and Denmark, came out to support The Johnny Romano Foundation. Three contests were held including biggest air, biggest cradle ride and best trick.

It's been a rough week, Houston.

Not too far from Houston is the town of Lumberton. It's a small and friendly community where everyone knows each other. It's also the hometown of Crystal. Of all the thousands and thousands of beautiful women who entered Maxim's Hometown Hottie Contest, Crystal was one of the elite few who made it to the semi-finals. Houstonist had a chance to talk with this Texas beauty last week on her new found fame.

>> Wintry mix blasts Panhandle, North Texas with sleet, snow: They came from the north and helped freeze your tootsies. Yep, those darn north winds are to blame for the uber chill around town today writes Meteorologist Tim Heller on the Houston Weather Blog. The same system that blanketed North Texas with nine inches of snow and caused Dallas-Ft. Worth airport to cancel 200 flights will share its chill with Houston. "This type of storm system is very typical of the end of winter and early spring, and the same storm may cause different impacts on different places," said Ron McQueen, an NWS meteorologist. Houstonist says bring on the spring. Of course we'll likely be regretting that statement as August rolls around.

Each week Houstonist checks out the Missed Connections on Craiglist. Here's a few that we found interesting.

Good morning, Houston. Sure, the national economy may be going to hell in a handbasket, but look on the bright side: Houston's housing market is remaining pretty strong, so at least you homeowners have something of value! According to a new report, the median home value in Houston fell just $500 between the end of the third quarter 2007 and the end of the year, to $119,300 from $119,800 — still a gain of more than $4,000 over the 2006 year-end average of $115,700. Oh, one other thing: People from more expensive markets are apparently discovering that things are cheaper here. "Areas in Texas, which we have long characterized as undervalued, are now attracting significant migration at the expense of much higher-cost metros of California or Florida," the report said. Oh, .

Yesterday was the second of the Super Tuesdays for this Presidential Election year and included primary elections in Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas and Vermont. Houstonist could careless about who wins. We're just excited to see the record turnout at the polls. We all win when that happens. Congratulations, Houston, and all you Texans that don't live in our kickass town.

Some newer acts include Australia’s Liam Finn, the New York experimental band Yeasayer, Texas indie-rock band This Will Destroy You, U.K.’s Lightspeed Champion, Atlanta female singer/songwriter Kaki King.

From local Houston headlines, we bring you these weekend news bits...

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Houstonist.

Happy bissextile day, Houston. If you're reading this from jail — we're actually not even sure if you can use the Internet in jail — well, don't feel alone: According to a new report from the Pew Center on the States, 1 of every 100 American adults are behind bars today. The good news: Texas is one of the states that has tried to slow the growth of its inmate population through community supervision of low-risk offenders and alternative punishments for some former prisoners who violate parole and probation rules. Inmate populations increased in 36 states and the federal prison system last year, the report says.

As the Astros start their Spring Training schedule today in Osceola County, the college baseball season has been underway for a couple of weeks now. The annual Houston College Classic returns to Minute Maid Park this weekend as one of the premier regional showcases of top-level NCAA baseball.

Hola, Houston. It's rodeo time. Everyone get happy. Throw ya hands in the air if you love Hannah Montana! Musical acts like Montana, rather the lack of Tejano acts on the rodeo bill, are just what have folks around Houston up in arms. Former State Senator Gonzalo Barrientos is calling for "friends across the whole great state of Texas not to attend the Houston livestock show, period." According to the ABC13.com story, the issue is a lack of main stage Tejano acts on Go Tejano Day, which "celebrates Houston’s rich Hispanic heritage...features premier entertainment, plus a mariachi competition, and other activities..." Rodeo officials blame the lack of main stage performances on feedback from last years ticket holders citing that 3% of the poll group said it was due to the Tejano star booked for the event. Perhaps interest would increase if bigger name act was booked. Sounds like there should be a Tejano Idol show in the works.

After a brief hiatus to undergo a lengthy bout of detox due to excessive margarita consumption, we’re back and better than ever! The next stop on the road to unearth Houston’s best margarita was Canyon Café, positioned in a strip mall near the corner of Post Oak Lane and Westheimer.

Good morning, Houston. When it comes to politics, we suppose there's a lot to be said for the shock factor — which is why Brian Klock, a candidate for Congressional District 22, is getting some attention. Klock, one of 10 people vying for the Republican nomination for CD 22, has put up a billboard showing downtown Houston being destroyed by a huge explosion. "The Threat Is Real," the billboard reads. "Ask Brian Klock." And Klock's campaign does seem to center on being prepared to fight terrorism: According to his website, he wants to track foreign cargo entering Houston, keep a fighter squadron at Ellington Field and demand more federal anti-terrorism funding for the city. We can't wait for Shelley Sekula Gibbs' response billboard — except instead of an explosion, it'll be her glorious yellow hair lighting the skies over downtown. Ah, politics.

West Texas, specifically Marfa, may be No Country for Old Men, but it certainly seems to be the place for making Academy Award winning films. Speaking of winning, one lucky Houston Fiesta shopper hit it big in the Texas Lotto.

Yeah, yeah, we know — Shelterporn has slacked off, and in recent weeks you've had to look for your own dream real estate listings. We're awfully sorry to have put such a burden on you and are making a Chinese New Year's resolution to be more regular. We'll do better at keeping up with Shelterporn, too.

>> Two Houston Area Offshore Drilling Companies Win Big: The oil and money are flowing freely for two drilling companies based in Houston. A report in the Houston Business Journal, lists 2007 revenue for mammoth behemoth, Transocean closed out at $3.1 billion. The company also announced a $586 million contract extension with client Anadarko, another Houston company. The HBJ also reports that The Rowan Companies also inked a three year deal. The Rowan deal is valued at $201 million for services provided to Saudi Aramco. The Houston-based company manufactures and operates deep water drilling platforms that operate around the globe.

Good morning, Houston. Remember the city's smoking ban, which went into effect in September? Well, so does KPRC. The station checked around and found something that will shock you to your very core: Houstonians are still smoking in bars and restaurants! No, . One of the bars Channel 2 visited was Henry Hudson's Pub on the west side, where reporters found customers and the bartender smoking — and "we even bought a pack of cigarettes out of a machine inside the pub," according to reports. We're just as surprised as you are — and as City Councilwoman Carol Alvarado is. "To be breaking the law so blatantly, obviously these people have no concern, no care, no sensitivity," she said. And no Nicorette, it would seem. KPRC reports that two city smoking inspectors have followed up on 228 complaints since the ban went into effect, which have resulted in more than 60 warnings and four citations.

>> City offers $15.5M for possible stadium site: The Chronicle reports that the city has said it'll pay more than $15.5 million for five downtown blocks that could become the site of a stadium for the Dynamo. The parcel is bounded by Texas and Walker on the north and south and Dowling and Hutchins on the east and west; it's just east of the Lofts at the Ballpark and immediately south of a vast Minute Maid Park parking lot. The city's offer assumes the land is worth $49 a square foot, which is less than an outside assessor's estimate of $50 to $55 but way, more than Harris County's appraisal of $12.50 a square foot. The offer doesn't mean a stadium on the site is a done deal, though: Andy Icken, the city's deputy director for public works and engineering, said a stadium will only be built if the city can reach an acceptable agreement with the Dynamo owners.

From local Houston headlines, we bring you these weekend news bits...

Did we miss something? Let us know. Here’s the full week line-up. Local bands are noted by an asterisk (*):

How difficult is the Western Conference? Well, your hometown Houston Rockets just defeated the Portland Trailblazers tonight to notch their 11th victory in 12 games. With a 31-20 record to their name, the Rockets nevertheless continue to find themselves battling it out with the Golden State Warriors for the eighth and final playoff spot.