Williams Tower

Shakedown: The HCAD Appraisal Game

HCAD fights owners of moderate housing for every single assessment penny. So why is it routinely handing out tax breaks worth several millions to big corporations?

Cover Story: HCAD Allegedly Running an "Enron Style" Scheme by Shifting the Property Tax Burden from the Rich to the Poor

In 2012, the Harris County Appraisal District valued Robert Mandala's modest Spring home at $59,500. The property-tax agent who represented Mandala said HCAD, while establishing a value, purposely ignored the lower priced homes in the neighborhood and grabbed sales numbers from the most expensive pr ... More >>

Health Department Roundup: Knuckleheads, Privilege and Some Other Places With Normal Names

The first thing my oldest friend ever said to his future wife was "Do I look like I have gonorrhea?" He was waiting for the results of an STD test and was a little nervous. (They're both successful, healthy lawyers now, which is sickening to us less successful people.) I'd never seriously compare a ... More >>

60 Years of Russian Photography

From Stalin to Putin

Fast Times: My Fit Foods

Photos by Christina UticoneLuis' Fit Migas​The results of a recent cholesterol check had me driving straight past the drive-thru and searching for fast food that wouldn't stop my heart. Enter My Fit Foods. It wasn't just my sky-high lipid levels; I also needed to reboot my New Year's "clean ea ... More >>

Dutch InvasiON

“Go West I”

Vintage Postcards and Ancient Ukrainian Art: Gallery Openings and Closings This Weekend

Courtesy HMNSAncient Ukrainian bracelet​The summer's coming to an end, which means this is one of the last weekends to catch the many exhibitions in town. In fact, this is the last weekend to see two of the Houston Museum of Natural Science's popular exhibits: "Ancient Ukraine" and "Texas! The ... More >>

On Beards and Becco: Coming Down from New York City

Photos by Katharine ShilcuttCrispy-skinned salmon atop cauliflower and ramps at Becco.​I first visited New York City 17 years ago, for one day. I saw Times Square, the United Nations building, stayed in a ratty hotel, ate at a TGI Friday's and had my pocket cut, my wallet and camera stolen fro ... More >>

Last Night: Devin The Dude At Warehouse Live

Photos by Rizoh​Devin the Dude Warehouse Live April 20, 2011 Rare is the artist that transcends his purpose as entertainment to become an essential ingredient in a fan's lifestyle. That list is a very short one, and Devin the Dude is on it. For weekend cleaning music, you go to RJD2. For coit ... More >>

Is A Hit Rap Song The Texans' Key To The Super Bowl?

​Want a worthy Super Bowl pick? In the words of Wesley Snipes in 1992's Passenger 57, "Always bet on black," ... and yellow. Don't thank Rocks Off for that profitable betting tip. Thank Wiz Khalifa, who is going to bring glory back to his frigid blue-collar hometown of Pittsburgh. It's only ... More >>

Capsule Art Reviews: "Alex Rubio: A New Journey," "The New Black: Contemporary Concepts in Color and Abstraction," "Quantumdada Phase 2," "William Betts: New Mirror Paintings"

Capsule Art Reviews: "Danny Rolph: Multiverse," "The New Black: Contemporary Concepts in Color and Abstraction," "Quantumdada Phase 2"

Capsule Art Reviews: "Kiki Smith," "The New Black: Contemporary Concepts in Color and Abstraction," "Quantumdada Phase 2"

Post KTRU/KUHF, Possible Houston Mergers & Acquisitions To Come

Photo illustrations by John Seaborn GrayGozer has designs on the Galleria.​Rice University and the University of Houston have reached a deal to convert KTRU into a 24-hour white-noise station to help our city's insomniacs. Fitzgerald's was just bought out by the guys who made Mango's a viable ... More >>

V-Zilla is Houston's Hip-Hop Monster on the Mike

​ "The reason I want to be alone, is I'm tired of all the things that went wrong that would've went right if I had did 'em on my own." - Nas That quote is perfect for this story because Victor Gurrola, Jr., aka V-Zilla, was once the best rapper the world had ever seen who wasn't known by his own c ... More >>

The Beatles: Rock Band Is In the House

Photos by Craig Hlavaty​ It's like Christmas morning here at Rocks Off today. We just got our copy of The Beatles: Rock Band and, like a car wreck or the Williams Tower waterwall, can't stop staring at it. (Must... look... away...) It looks like developer Harmonix spared no expense - and, at $250 ... More >>

Some Recession Survival Tips For Houstonians

Photo by AfroswedeRemember that Houston energy-industry buffer that some economists were talking about? The one that would protect us, at least for a while, from the free-falling economic recession the US (and most of the world) now finds itself in? Well, it's gone. The unemployment rate is risin ... More >>

The Water Wall -- Finally Out Of The Hands of the Kuwaiti Government

The Water Wall. Scene of countless wedding proposals and photos. Houston landmark. Who knew that up until recently, the majority of the Wall was owned by a group of Kuwaiti investors? Or, as John Breeding, the president of Uptown Houston District, tells Hair Balls, "Literally, the Kuwaiti government ... More >>

It's Freaking Hot -- So Watch Some Cold Movies

Capsule Art Reviews: "2008 Houston Area Exhibition," "Dave Darraugh & Hana Hillerova," "Designed by Architects: Metalwork from the Margo Grant Walsh Collection," "Dramas: Real and Imagined" The artists of "Dramas," "Sterne and Steinberg"

Capsule Art Reviews: "Dave Darraugh & Hana Hillerova," "Dramas: Real and Imagined," "The Old Weird America: Folk Themes in Contemporary Art," "Sterne and Steinberg: Critics Within"

Chinese Contemporary at FotoFest

Newer staged photos disappoint

Fotofest opening

Houston’s photography festival hangs 3,000 photos in 129 locations

Stage Capsule Reviews: Arsenic and Old Lace, Rough Night at the Remo Room, Rumors, Sleeping Beauty and A Streetcar Named Desire

The Sole of Houston

Hi. I'm John Lomax, and I'm a pedestrian. My friend, Uncle Tick, and I walked down 16-plus miles of Westheimer. This is our story.

Trees and Rocks

FotoFest takes on "The Earth"

Thug Life

Slim Thug has paid the cost to be the Dirty South boss

Grass Routes

Spread your blanket and relax at these eight picnic spots

Best View

Water Overdose

FotoFest 2004 will soak you to the bone

In Harm's Way

Texas women are no strangers to active military duty

It's My Party

Not everyone was celebrating Juneteenth in Harris County

Christmas Miracle

A media benefit helps a charity that's been questioned

How Do You Take It?

Our intrepid driving diner discovers the Bright & Early Coffee stand and why Houstonians like their brew weak

FotoFatigue

With 140 venues, FotoFest makes you suffer for your art

Insecurity Complex

FotoFest 2000 tries to cover up its deficiencies with sheer volume