Email Author J.W. Crooker

2003 Stories by J.W. Crooker

• Vodka Venue

  published August 28, 2003

  THU 8/28 If you don't know Lenin from Lennon, you're in luck. Red Star Night Club and Martini Lounge, the Russian-themed Midtown joint... More >>

• Rock 'n' Roll

  published August 21, 2003

  Let's say you're out on the southwest side of town. You wanna find a place where you can hang out and sip martinis with friends, but you also ... More >>

• Moddening Crowds

  published August 7, 2003

  TUE 8/12 For a while there, relocated East Coast DJ Mod Scott (also known as Scott Mesorana) couldn't find a spot in town where he... More >>

• Chili Weather

  published April 17, 2003

  4-19 As Houston's spring temperatures soar into the 80s, there's only one type of food to cool you down: hot, spicy Texas chili. The... More >>

• Rules of the Game

  published April 3, 2003

  To make megabucks in the music business, it's a good idea to have your fingers in more than one pie. Rap artists design clothes; rock stars buy... More >>

• College Throwback

  published February 27, 2003

  "You don't exactly strike me as the kind of guy to order a salty dog," said the bartender at the Ocean Grill (2227 Seawall Boulevard, Galveston,... More >>

• Night Owls

  published February 20, 2003

  It was late afternoon when I stumbled into the Proletariat (905 Richmond, 713-525-4499), and let's just say happy hour was not in full swing... More >>

• Suburban Escape

  published February 13, 2003

  I was tired of the downtown scene, where big-haired, jobless 27-year-olds wearing skintight jeans were about the best you could hope for in terms... More >>

• Guilty Pleasure

  published February 6, 2003

  Bored with my usual hangouts, I pulled up a barstool at Marfreless (2006 Peden, 713-528-0083) and asked for something peculiar. The barman offered... More >>

• Daydream Believer

  published January 30, 2003

  My friend was vacationing in Mexico, and I imagined him passing the hot, sultry days sitting on a barstool submerged in some fancy hotel pool and... More >>

• Sensory Overload

  published January 23, 2003

  As the sun sank slowly in the west, a sharp wind howled down the Westheimer corridor, blowing dust and construction debris into my eyes. A beat-up... More >>

• Sea Legs

  published January 16, 2003

  It was a quiet Friday night on FM 1960. Perhaps everyone was still hungover from New Year's Eve, or perhaps the stars -- which you can see out... More >>

• Hangover W(h)ine

  published January 9, 2003

  "No liquor, no limes," said the bartender at the downtown wine bar La Carafe (813 Congress, 713-229-9399). The joint has always been one of my... More >>

• Ultimate Demise

  published January 2, 2003

  The bender had lasted nearly three days. Hanging out with thirsty country singers from Austin will eventually be my demise. At the end, we found... More >>