West University

Report Card for All HISD Schools

5th Annual Guaranty Bank Tour de Houston

Web deck: See the city from the seat of your bike

TEA Releases Ratings, Houston ISD Has Some Hits, Some Misses

Web deck: See the city from the seat of your bike

No Smoking Ban In West U Bar (Note Single, Not Plural)

Web deck: See the city from the seat of your bike

This Week's Day-by-Day Picks

Web deck: See the city from the seat of your bike

Marital Bliss, Monkish Miss

Web deck: See the city from the seat of your bike

West U Doesn't Want Its Rec Center To Attract Outsiders, Maybe

West University is building a new recreation center on Bellaire Boulevard. And according to this West U Examiner article, the crappy economy sure is working out for those can't-catch-a-break West U residents, bringing in plenty of low construction bids. Turns out, though, that the new rec center won ... More >>

HISD Actually Gets Some Good Grades On A Statewide Report

Some good news for the Houston school district -- it is kicking the asses of other urban districts in the state when it comes to meeting the high standards of the National Center for Educational Accountability.NCEA, though its Just For Kids organization, has released its annual study of schools who ... More >>

What Went Wrong at the Rice School?

The Rice School/La Escuela Rice was a much-touted experiment by HISDand Rice University. So far, the results haven't been encouraging.

Letters

The Rice School/La Escuela Rice was a much-touted experiment by HISDand Rice University. So far, the results haven't been encouraging.

Letters

The Rice School/La Escuela Rice was a much-touted experiment by HISDand Rice University. So far, the results haven't been encouraging.

Bevin Bering

The photographer’s “Houston Series” sheds new light on familiar places

Liquid Lunch

A weekday afternoon in Westbury's Cozy Corner

Risky Business

A weekday afternoon in Westbury's Cozy Corner

Changes in Attitude

When voters elected Martha Wong, they thought they were sending a moderate Republican to Austin. Critics say once there, she took a right turn. Now her district is rethinking its representation.

Best Community Newspaper

When voters elected Martha Wong, they thought they were sending a moderate Republican to Austin. Critics say once there, she took a right turn. Now her district is rethinking its representation.

Mystery Bopping

Racket searches for the hoppingest grocery store in town

The End Game

A widow just wanted her home. But that was asking too much.

Best Manicure

Mai's Nail Perfection

Best Republican

Political consultant Allen Blakemore

We Know You Like to Watch!

An Internet fishing expedition titillates City Hall

Blueprint

The sky's the limit for Montrose town homes

The Buzz

Chic, minimal decor. Healthy food. An urban attitude. And it's where?

Stolen and Forged

The check is in the mail takes on a whole new meaning in West University Place

A Delicious Recipe for Success

Photos by Katharine ShilcuttGracie Cavnar and Monica PopeIt was a gorgeous summer night in the gardens of a stately West University mansion, and Monica Pope was serving a most unlikely dish to the well-to-do types at the table: scrapple. A dozen enraptured guests had their first taste of the dish - ... More >>

Smashburger Expands

Smashburger, the self-proclaimed "fast casual" burger import from Denver, has done well enough since its debut in Houston last December that three more restaurants are opening here. Smashburgers are "one hundred percent Angus." They're "smashed on the grill to sear the meat and seal in the flavor." ... More >>

New Smashburger to Make Food Bank Donations

​The burger import from Denver, Smashburger, opened its new location in West University this week. The 2,150 square foot restaurant at 5520 Buffalo Speedway seats a maximum of 96 diners. To celebrate this latest bit of good fortune for the company that cooks its 100 percent fresh not fr ... More >>

Warfare in Early China and the Pottery Army of the Qin

Web exclusive

OMG 4 Rlz, No Texting While Driving In Bellaire Or West U

​Feel free to re-tweet while you're running over slow grandmas crossing the Bellaire Triangle, because next month you won't be able to do so -- the cities of Bellaire and West U have banned texting and web browsing while driving.In a double-header of government activity unmatched since Germany and ... More >>

Houston 101: The End Of Gaslight Video Spells The Final Demise Of The West U. Tenderloin

​With the recent verdict against Eugene Etheridge and the permanent closure of his infamous Gaslight Video on Bellaire Boulevard in the West University area, an era has drawn to a close. No longer can the 3500 block of Bellaire be accurately described as the Red Light District of West University P ... More >>

Coyotes And Bobcats Invade Area Yuppie Enclaves

​Back in 2004, we covered the battle of man vs. coyote in League City. Now it appears the wily canines have moved the battlefront closer to town.WestUInstantNews picks up the, um, tail: Coyotes and bobcats have recently been spotted prowling the border of Bellaire and West University Place, prom ... More >>

You Won't Be Waiting Long If You Vote Today

​This item is by Chris Vogel, Craig Malisow and Blake Whitaker.It's 11 a.m. at the Third Ward Multi-Service Center. The expansive, modern facility is spotless, the voting computers are shiny new, and poll workers are lined up behind a rectangular table, organized and ready for action.Only thing is ... More >>

Buffalo Grille Migrating; Has H-E-B Become The New Bad Guy?

​As reported earlier this week by the West University Examiner and Swamplot, the Buffalo Grille will be leaving its longtime location at 3116 Bissonnet. The popular restaurant has been a staple in the West University community for more than 26 years, serving simple American fare and excellent ... More >>

Crave Cupcakes Debuts New Flavors, New Store

Photos by Margaret DowningThe new flavors: Dulce de Leche, Italian Cream and German Chocolate.​Crave Cupcakes had three new flavors and a new store to promote (at 5600 Kirby in West University), so they dropped off a six-pack at our office today around lunchtime. A group of employees was scie ... More >>

Gallant Knight Closing, Or Switching Hands, In Landlord Dispute

Marc Brubaker​Citing a landlord dispute, management of the Gallant Knight announced this morning that the club will be closing Dec. 31. However, according to a report circulating on Culturemap.com this afternoon, it appears that Vintage Lounge owner Amir Ansari will be taking over the premises ... More >>

Sick of Turkey? Order a Pizza: Our Top 5 Pizza Places

Photo courtesy of luna715Look at you, eating your Star Pizza off a real dinner plate. Oh, you fancy, huh?​Not all of us are like the Old Man in A Christmas Story; we aren't all turkey fiends. Some of us are happy to have it once a year and then forget the bland white meat even exists. So while ... More >>

Sleek Chic

West U's Hudson Lounge is a down-home sort of ­upscale club.

Corner Bakery Coming Back Home to Texas

Photo by Amanda Yepiz​Oddly, the only two times I've ever eaten at a Corner Bakery in my life have been on the two trips I took to Chicago. The place was close to the hotel on both visits, good for early morning breakfast runs before heading back to O'Hare. I say "oddly" because Corner Bakery ... More >>

Happy Hour Scene: Marquis II

Photo by Paul Knight​The Place: Marquis II2631 Bissonnet St. 713-522-2090The Deals: Most drinks are $1 cheaper than normal. Cans of Pearl Light and PBR are $2.50. Also nightly drink specials. The Hours: Monday through Friday 5-9 p.m.The Scene: A man to our left at the bar at Marquis II, the popula ... More >>

HISD Trustee Harvin Moore Wants the State to Man Up

Harvin Moore: Not happy, despite the smile​Houston ISD trustee Harvin Moore has come out guns blazing against the probable hefty cut in state funding for education to local public school districts, saying that legislators aren't honoring their constitutional duty to support education in Texas. ... More >>

Comment of the Day: West U Tuba Player Edition

​We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it's time we paid some damn attention to them. So we'll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning, from the previous day's work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous scientific formula involv ... More >>

Eating Out on Easter Sunday

​Ahhh Easter, a pastel-colored day filled with stale marshmallow candy, uncomfortable clothing, hard-boiled eggs and magical hares. And when the Easter Bunny comes to town, many of us go out to eat. So many, in fact, that Easter Sunday is currently the second most popular day for dining out (M ... More >>

Sherwood Oaks Eyesore: Owners Aren't Talking

Welcome to Sherwood Oaks​We were intrigued by reporter Emily Akin's story on a long-vacant Sherwood Oaks strip mall that residents say is an unwelcome hangout for vandals and crackheads -- intrigued mostly because her story stated that "it's unclear who owns the property since the owner on rec ... More >>

Members Only

Is Simone on Sunset the best bar in West U...already?

Comment of the Day: Penis Envy

​We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it's time we paid some damn attention to them. So we'll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning, from the previous day's work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous scientific formula involv ... More >>

Trader Joe's Has Its Eye on Alabama: Alabama Theater to Be Reborn as Grocery Store

​The Chronicle's real estate reporter Nancy Sarnoff got the scoop today that grocery chain Trader Joe's -- after much speculation -- has its sights set on redeveloping the old Alabama Theater on West Alabama near Shepherd. The currently vacant building would be the first Trader Joe's in Housto ... More >>

FBI Releases Photo of Bank Robbers Leaving Kroger

Think they used their Kroger Plus Card? You can get discounts on gas at Shell with that thing.​It takes a lot of chutzpah to rob a bank. Doing it in the middle of Thursday afternoon near a well-to-do neighborhood is even more bold. But choosing a bank that is inside a Kroger is damn brazen. O ... More >>

Tea Time at the New Marquis II

Photo by Paul KnightThe unchanged Long Island, sitting on the pre-renovation bar​Seeing people smoking outside of the newly renovated Marquis II is strange enough to distract you from the other changes, like the exterior coat of dark paint and the windows that make the place seem less like the ... More >>

H-E-B's New Montrose Market Opens Today; Take a Sneak Peek and Avoid the Crowds

An outdoor eating area off the Cafe on the Run is shaded by one of the remaining oak trees.​I stood inside the vestibule to the new H-E-B Montrose Market (1701 W. Alabama) yesterday afternoon, awaiting the beginning of a media tour through the San Antonio grocer's latest Houston store -- all 7 ... More >>

The Rest of the Best: Houston's Top 10 Neighborhood Bars

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows you have a drinking problem and doesn't constantly tell you that you need to go to therapy and/or church.​For the next 20 weeks, we'll be rounding up the runners-up to our 2011 Best of Houston® winners. In many categories, picking each year's win ... More >>