Press Picks

Modern Preservations: Back to the Future Preservations? Landmarks? Hey, this is Houston; we tear everything down. Had to demolish the early 20th-century buildings to make way for the post-war boom, tearing down everything to make way for the modern '50s architecture and movie theaters with refrigerated air; then knock those down for space city '60s structures; raze various outlying communities to lay out acres of Brady Bunch tract houses in the '70s; and then in the '80s mow down more for planned communities and impressive po-mo architecture. Sad but true, pretty much. However, a few landmarks still stand. Tonight's program from the Rice Design Alliance focuses on pre-war buildings and sites, and what might be done to preserve them. This symposium is the first event in a series that includes other lectures and tours. 7:30 p.m. Jones Auditorium, University of St. Thomas, 3910 Yoakum. For tickets, call 524-6297. $5, free for students.