California

Jordan, a California Chardonnay with Restraint

A few years ago, a holiday weekend drive to Palm Springs from my native San Diego delivered me at the doorstep of Chardonnay Hills, an upscale homeowners association in Temecula. In this day and age, it's not surprising that a community would name itself after a grape. After all, ampelonyms (that's ... More >>

A Crunchy, Low-Alcohol Wine for Thanksgiving from California Naturally

Of the California winemakers who thrill me the most, three of them are bottling fruit grown in California's El Dorado AVA in the Sierra Foothills -- the heart of historic Gold Rush country. They've been attracted to the area, they tell me, in part because they've found older vines (some in vineyard ... More >>

What Wine for a [California] Veggie Sandwich?

The first time I had a [California] veggie sandwich (in California, they just call it a "veggie sandwich"), it was at the legendary Source on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. By the time I got there (an undergrad at UCLA in the late '80s), founder Father Yod and the Source family were long gone (as ... More >>

Gothic Council: Was Christian Death's Rozz Williams an Overhyped Douchenozzle?

One of the functions of the Gothic Council is to rule on matters of Goth-point attribution. Think of us as professor McGonagall awarding or deducting points at Hogwarts... with that act mattering exactly as much to the real world as it did in the Harry Potter books. Recently, our own Batty posted ... More >>

Cowboy Broc Cresta RIP, Competed in Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Sad news today that professional team roper Broc Cresta was found dead in his living quarters Saturday while in Cheyenne, Wyoming, to compete in the annual Frontier Days rodeo there. The news was confirmed by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association on its Web site. Cresta was only 25 years old ... More >>

Fast Times: Pinewood Café at Hermann Park

When I grabbed a book and headed out to Hermann Park last week, I had no intention of eating, much less of writing a Fast Times review of the new Pinewood Café. My favorite reading spot is near the paddleboat rental, which is right next door to the café and its lovely, dog-friendly patio. The pat ... More >>

Fast Times: Burger King California WHOPPER®

Christina UticoneFlame broiled burgers? Now that's a whopper.​When I saw the commercial for the new Burger King California WHOPPER I thought: "Hey, I like guacamole! And hey, I think I used to like WHOPPERS, too!" And since my last experience at Burger King had been so surprisingly positive, I ... More >>

Houstonian Says His Gay Marriage Should Prevent Deportation

A marriage is a marriage, right?​KHOU has an interesting story about a gay Houstonian who is arguing that his marriage to a U.S. citizen should prevent his deportation. Normally a no-brainer, but in this case the marriage is between two guys who tied the knot in California. The man's name wa ... More >>

Bodard Bistro's Special Recipe Spring Rolls

Nem Nuong Cuon (Grilled pork meatball sausage spring rolls) with special recipe sauce​If you ask me where to go for Vietnamese food, my response will usually be: "What are you in the mood for?" Depending on whether you want rice, vermicelli, pho, banh mi, family style meals, etc., my answer wo ... More >>

Counter Culture

Belly up to the bar for a build-your-own-burger and a milkshake at this California import.

Wine of the Week: A Cool-Weather Cabernet Sauvignon from California

​When we think of "California Cabernet," the next two words that come to mind are invariably "Napa Valley" -- the AVA (American Viticultural Area) that changed the way the world perceived American winemaking back in the 1970s. Since that time, "Napa Valley Cab" (oh, how I wish people would st ... More >>

Why Shouldn't Mexicans Speak Proper Spanish?

And is Spanglish something to Celebrate?

Jamey Johnson

Wine of the Week: 2008 Sawbuck Malbec

​Oh, sweet nectar of the gods: Malbec. That once-forgotten varietal, making a comeback as a cheap red wine, with plenty of depth, that happens to be a pretty good deal in most cases, is the total package - the Angelina Jolie of the wine world, perhaps - minus all those adopted kids and the wei ... More >>

Comment of the Day

​Lauren Marmaduke reported this morning on the eastward move of California's famous In-N-Out Burger chain, where it's expected to open at least half a dozen of its burgers stands in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Houstonians weren't bothered by this "snub," to say the least. Take commenter ... More >>

SXSW: The Most Bitchingest Metal License Plate You Will Ever See (This Week)

​But why is it the most metal license plate ever?

The United States of Murder: A Map

Illustration by Monica FuentesClick here for larger version and more info​Serial killers and famous murderers have existed almost as long as mankind, we're sure. But as in so many things, the United States may just have perfected the thing. Each state has its own infamous episode, some very w ... More >>

Jeff Skilling's Son Found Dead

J.T. Skilling: No "obvious reason" for his death​KUHF is reporting that the 20-year-old son of Enron's Jeff Skilling was found dead in his California apartment. J.T. Skilling, a 2009 Episcopal graduate, was attending Chapman University in Orange, California. His body was discovered by friend ... More >>

Choking Game Claims Another Victim; Our Report On The Scary Phenomenon

Some kids put themselves on YouTube​Media outlets are reporting that a California teen who died entangled in a Bowfflex exercise machine had been playing "the choking game."In the two years since we reported in-depth on the crazy, dangerous, potentially heartbreaking phenomenon the is the choking ... More >>

Drive-By Shootings: Texas Is Second Only To California

Better than New York, for sure​For those of you who always get bummed when Texas gets the lowest spots on national rankings for mental health care, children's insurance, and other benchmarks of civilized society, here's a study that puts us at an impressive Number Two: Drive-by shootings.The gun-c ... More >>

Respect and Statistics

Spotlight On: Z Pizza

​On my way home from work I stopped into Z Pizza (4010 Bissonnet, 713-432-7219) to pick up a pie. Z's takes a healthy approach to pizzas by making them with organic, healthy ingredients. Obviously, these hippie pies started in California.

Special Regional Anti-Mexican Slur Edition

Man Vies to Be Sickest Child Molester of All

Also wanted to direct Pampers ads.

Houston Company Hit With Claim Its Fish Contain PCBs

​A Houston-based fish-oil manufacturer might be exposing consumers to a harmful carcinogen, according to a lawsuit filed by environmental activists earlier this month.Filed in a California Superior Court, the suit accuses Omega Protein and seven other fish-oil manufacturers of failing to warn cons ... More >>

It's Already Broughten -- California Trash Talk Over That Loose Bull At The Rodeo

​Earlier this week the big news out of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo was a bull who got loose.One of the cowboys competing in the rodeo roped him; unfortunately he headed home to California before the local media could talk to him (The cowboy, not the bull, that is.)But a Sacamento televi ... More >>

"Absolution: Photographs from Eastern Europe"

Roman Loran gives audiences a visual sanctuary

Lagunitas Brewing Co.'s Cappuccino Stout

​This week's historical justification for sampling a random beer is also a cheesy metaphor. One-hundred-sixty-two years ago this month, gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill near Coloma, California, kicking off a greedy rush West. Today, if you drive two-and-a-half hours toward the Pacific fr ... More >>

SPECIAL NAVIDAD GIFTS EDITION

The Uninsured and Language History

ACL 2009 Day Two: Braving the Rain to See !!!

Photos by Groovehouse​California dance band !!! must have found conditions at Emo's last night slightly more favorable than today's rainy conditions, but neither the rain nor the lack of climbable surfaces stopped them or the fans from enjoying the day.​More photos of the fun are below the cut.

The Worst Brisket I Ever Ate

Photos by Robb Walsh​Sampling the goods at shade-tree barbecue stands is one of my favorite pursuits. So when I saw a smoking barbecue trailer with a crowd around it in a parking lot on Fry Road just north of the Katy Freeway last Saturday, I pulled over and checked it out. The sign advertised ... More >>

Immigration... and What's In A Name

Wet Backs

Can water shortages be blamed on Mexicans?

MySpaced Out: Gram Rabbit Stirs in the High Desert

Gram Rabbit, "California Christmas" In case you're still in your holiday hangover mode like I am, here's one wonderful holiday YouTube video that our gallant Mr. Rocks Off left out of his holiday onslaught. Cute doesn't begin to describe this one. While we are on the subject, high desert California ... More >>

The Rally at City Hall to Protest Proposition 8

Hundreds of people gathered on the steps of Houston City Hall this afternoon to protest the passing of Proposition 8, California's constitutional amendment taking away the right to marry for same-sex couples. Along with the passing of other anti-gay measures across the nation, Prop. 8 made Novembe ... More >>

Mail Call

Lights Out

California Might Know How to Party, But Morgan Ensberg Ain't Gonna Find Good Mexican Food There

5 Wines That Will Blow Your Mind

Best (Big) Menu

The Cheesecake Factory

Resolution Relief

California Pizza Kitchen

Science Made Easy

How to avoid bacteria this summer? Don't eat shit.

Pure Gold

Kaneyama

Price Paradox

Speaking off the toque: Ronnie Berman

News of the Weird

News of the Weird

Wrap It Up

The Proposition

In Houston, illegal immigrants wait to see what hand California's Proposition 187 has dealt them