Jesse Jones

Cover Story: Houston Babylon, a Collection of Houston's Creepiest Tales

After my editor assigned me to write up a collection of some of Houston's creepiest tales for this week's cover story Houston Babylon, I took to Facebook for some group-sourcing of ideas and leads. That thread ballooned into an 158-post beast. Far too many good stories came in for me to include them ... More >>

Houston Scores Big-Time In Latest Edition Of Encyclopedia Of Country Music: Part 4

Our fourth installment of Houston-area country-music pioneers honored with inclusion in the second edition of The Encyclopedia of Country Music details the last of an amazing group of local musicians from the '30s, '40s, and '50s who left their brand on the people's music. While the Appalachian and ... More >>

Showcase Showdown

Great moments in HPMA history

Houston 101: A Convention Center Built In 64 Days

​In 1928, Jesse Jones -- grand poobah of Houston, Lord of Suite 8-F -- was determined to bring national glory to his town by hosting the 1928 Democratic convention. Cleveland, San Francisco and Detroit also wanted the prize, but Jones took a $200,000 check to the bidding committee and got the nod. ... More >>

Houston 101: Where Kingmakers Reigned And Plotted

For decades, vital issues affecting the U.S. and Texas were hashed out in Suite 8-F of the Lamar Hotel in downtown Houston.The suite had only two rooms and a kitchenette and it was decorated in whatever the relevant time period's definition of "tacky" was, but it became the Unofficial Capital of Tex ... More >>

David Byrne Mystified by Houston's Sprawl, Loves Jones Hall

Craig HlavatyYesterday one of our readers (thanks, Mimi!) posted a comment with a link to David Byrne's blog about the white-haired world-pop eminence's thoughts and experiences while on tour. Apparently Byrne got to spend quite a bit of time in Houston, because the entry surrounding ... More >>

David Byrne Bikes Houston

Photo by Craig HlavatyFormer Talking Head David Byrne (we're nor sure, but we're guessing he hates that description) was in town recently for a show at Jones Hall.Byrne has become a biking fanatic these days; he's also an occasional diarist about his tour.His piece on Houston has him complaining abo ... More >>

Aftermath: David Byrne at Jones Hall

Photos by Craig Hlavaty David Byrne knows about living in the moment. The white-haired former Talking Heads frontman and unofficial U.S. ambassador for Third World pop, whose hair was as white as his (and his band's) wardrobe, was a genial host at Jones Hall Monday night. "It's nice to be in Mr. Jes ... More >>

Hit Hermann

In time for summer, the park's had a facelift.

Some Further Thoughts on iFest, and Festivals

Photos by Chris Gray Skyscrapers - something you won't see at Austin City Limits. Western Swing maidens the Quebe Sisters performed in the shadow of the Jesse H. Jones Library.Previously, Rocks Off's idea about what a "festival" should look like, and what to expect, came from his exper ... More >>

R.I.P. Jerry J. Moore, In The Obscurity He Hated

A Houston businessman who makes the Forbes 400 list of richest people twelve times, who gained fame for his large and luxurious car collection....a guy like that dies, you kinda expect the Houston Chronicle to notice.But apparently not.Jerry J. Moore died November 23 and, as best we can determine, t ... More >>

Last Night: The Houston Press Music Awards Showcase

Remembering Molly

She was always more than what she seemed

Ready for Some Football?

The Houston Symphony sure is

Eaten Alive

Rent-to-own stores, pawnshops, payday lenders -- it's hope for sale, with interest

Best Book About Houston

Pride of Place

Scenes from the 15th annual Houston Press Music Awards Showcase

Dry-Aged Discrimination

What grade of beef are the steaks at The Capital Grille?

Get Your Kicks

A Texas filmmaker looks at small-town life through a windshield

Sidebar

Herding Cats in District 5

An effort to sort out black council candidates backfires

King Kinder

Rich Kinder has made a cool billion dollars since leaving Enron. Now he’s ready to take over the world, or at least the nearest pipeline.

Best Lobby

JP Morgan Chase Bank Building

A Fixer-Upper

Jones High needs a lot of renovation -- and not just the buildings. At least HISD can't pretend it doesn't know it has a problem. Its own task force told it so.

The Great Divide

Principal Lawrence Allen is a role model to some, an inept bumbler to others. Jones High School is split: Magnet-program parents versus the local community. It's up to Superintendent Kaye Stripling to make it right. Lucky her.

Choking the Critic

Why is the Chronicle so sour on hiring a full-time restaurant reviewer?

Texas Gothic

A timber baron's descendants head into courts and crypts in their decades-old effort to reclaim their birthright and big bucks from an arch-nemesis: his secretive third wife

Overblown and Underrated

So you know Houston's goats, heroes and high points? Think again.

Letters 09-21-2000

Listen to the Music, Still Fuming, Building Bonds

Best Place to Smoke

The State Bar and Lounge

Can the Band Play On?

The Houston Symphony opens its new season without a music director, an executive director or a clear vision for the future. Only one thing appears certain: The post-Eschenbach era is going to look a lot different.

From PACman to Port Chairman

After a career serving kingmakers, can Jim Edmonds really be his own leader?

The Good, the Bad, the Imprisoned

Houston's best politicos were not always the ones elected -- or the ones who stayed in office

Houstowne, Texas

Shrouded by mists and unrecovered documents, the history of Houston is still worth a probe

Letters

Brother, Can You Spare a Vanity Video?

Houston Endowment paid, so they had to come

Letters

Castles for Welfare Kings

Come 2023, Rice Hotel redevelopers can own their federally assisted project for a cool $1,000

Do Not Go Gentle

Former Lieutenant Governor Bill Hobby fights on for better, more diverse education in Texas

The Insider

The SAs a girl, she tried to break the color barrier in Houston schools. As an adult, she worked in the African liberation movement and against apartheid.

Now, back in Houston, she's in the fight of her life. Struggles of Beneva Williams Nyamu

Post Mortem

Though not unexpected, the death of the Houston Post was still a surprise. Even more surprising was how little truth got out about how and why the paper perished.

Old Boys at Play

Gay society steps out at the Houston Club

All About Elyse

After years of making Mayor Bob presentable, Houston's First Lady is ready to get serious. Seriously.

It's Joe B.'s World

In the Kingdom of Bob, lawyer Joe B. Allen is the prime minister of vested interests

Little Big Crony

Bob Lanier's buddy Billy Burge wants to play the power game the way it was played in the old days. . . . . . But the rules have changed.