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A Trio of Texas Authors Take on the Many Myths of the Alamo

By Bob Ruggiero

Jun 8, 2021

It is, likely, the most cherished and entrenched story in Texas history. How in late February/early March of 1836, heroic Texas defenders including marquee names like Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, and William Barret Travis fought a pitched but losing battle inside an old Spanish mission against a bloodthirsty and overwhelming...

The Weird Building Quirks in the River Oaks Theatre

By Jef Rouner

Mar 31, 2021

The sad fact is that we may not have the River Oaks Theatre as it stands for much longer Landmark is due to be completely vacated this week, and who knows if the next tenant will preserve the space as a cinema. As Craig Hlavaty put it, maybe its next...

Houston By the Neighborhood: Woodland Heights

By Susie Tommaney

Dec 17, 2019

You either "get" Clark Griswold or you don't, but we think the world is a better place because of twinkly, festive and colorful Christmas lights. Granted Chevy Chase's character had more than his share of bad luck in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, but there's one neighborhood here in Houston where...

Houston By the Neighborhood: Memorial Villages

By Susie Tommaney

Dec 10, 2019

It's hard to think of the word "village" when it comes to a city the size of Houston, but nestled in the west part of town are six residential communities known as the Memorial Villages. These upscale enclaves are served by their own police and fire departments and are known...

Deck the Halls With Historic and Bright Holiday Home Tours

By Susie Tommaney

Dec 3, 2019

Gingerbread takes on new meaning this time of year. Sure, we're fans of the sweet and spicy cookies iced with buttons and smiles, but this season also includes open houses for Victorian era stunners. With holiday home tours in Houston, Galveston, Round Top, Chappell Hill, Bastrop and Woodville, 'tis the...

Houston By the Neighborhood: Post Oak Boulevard in Urban Uptown

By Susie Tommaney

Nov 26, 2019

It is such a strange sensation to drive along Post Oak Boulevard between Loop 610 and San Felipe; it feels like entering a canyon of steel and glass monoliths. Out of all the pockets within Houston this one seems to have changed the most dramatically. No longer home to the...

Venture Outside Houston to Find Your Luxe Weekend Retreat

By Susie Tommaney

Nov 12, 2019

All work and no play makes Jack — or just about anybody — a dull boy. The adage reminds us that it's important to take time away from work not only to maintain healthy relationships, but also to recharge our batteries before returning to the daily grind. All that R&R...

Houston By the Neighborhood: Rivercrest Estates, a Hidden Oasis

By Susie Tommaney

Nov 5, 2019

"Horses, peacocks and wonderful things," are just a few of the possibilities that come with living in prestigious Rivercrest Estates, according to Susan Boss, broker associate with Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty, who has a trio of listings in the secluded, exurban-style neighborhood. It offers a country-manor lifestyle in the city,...

Preservation Houston Lets Us Revisit Houston's Past During Good Brick Tour

By Susie Tommaney

Oct 29, 2019

For each Magic Island or Astrodome that has been saved from the wrecking ball, there are dozens of other iconic Houston properties that live on only through photos and memories. Preservation Houston, our city's non-profit historic preservation advocacy and education group, understands the value in saving older structures. Its annual...

Historic Eppes House Back On Market, Ready to Enter Its Second Century

By Susie Tommaney

Oct 22, 2019

Those in search of a new estate home will instantly become part of Houston's history with the Italian Renaissance Villa at 5322 Institute Lane. The Eppes House is named for its original owner, concrete pioneer Ned Alwin Eppes, and the home is one of our city's first residences made from...

Explore Custom Abodes for Families of All Sizes on AIA Houston Home Tour

By Susie Tommaney

Oct 15, 2019

There are two pathways to home ownership. For some it means working with a Realtor or agent to find the best fit from available listings, and then deciding which elements are most important (because you can never have it all): school district, location, square footage, commute, upgrades, amenities or architecture...

Galveston Island: Where Things Go Bump in the Night

By Susie Tommaney

Oct 14, 2019

When Johnny Kowalski moved to Galveston he expected to find a sleepy party town. But what he found instead was a rich cultural history and whispers of the paranormal, so he decided to dig deeper. With an encyclopedic brain and a thirst for facts, Kowalski started looking at all of the...

Houston By the Neighborhood: Historic Washington East/Sabine Market Area

By Susie Tommaney

Oct 8, 2019

If you can plead guilty to binge-watching more than a few episodes of Fixer Upper, Property Brothers, or This Old House, then the Washington East/Sabine market area just might be the neighborhood for you. The area includes the Old Sixth Ward Historic District, which has the largest concentration of Victorian...

Houston By the Neighborhood: Cross Creek Ranch in Fulshear

By Susie Tommaney

Oct 1, 2019

While Texas still has its fair share of wide open spaces, it's rare to find a 3,200-acre tract in the Houston metropolitan area. But Johnson development Corporation found just that with Cross Creek Ranch, a master-planned community in Fulshear, minutes west of the Grand Parkway. The parcel of land spans...

Creativity and Joy Shine Through at the 2019 Weird Homes Tour Houston

By Susie Tommaney

Sep 24, 2019

Within the hallowed halls of a museum, it's nice to appreciate a single object, think about its composition and theme, and move on to the next painting in the gallery space. But there's also something incredibly exciting about viewing collections of art in jumbled abundance, layered and interacting in such...

Tour Sleek and Sophisticated Abodes on the MA+DS Modern Home Tour

By Susie Tommaney

Sep 17, 2019

What's your personal architectural style? We expect there will be a few more converts to the clean lines of modern architecture after this weekend's Ninth Annual Houston Modern Home Tour. Presented by the Modern Architecture + Design Society, the event attracts those who are thinking about building new, as well as...

Is Your Home, Garden or Studio Funky Enough for the Weird Homes Tour?

By Susie Tommaney

Jul 15, 2019

Where others see a mattress frame, do you envision a support for your climbing plants? Does everybody know that zebra collectibles are what you want for all gifting occasions? Did your artist's canvas spill over until you realized you'd covered every wall, floor and ceiling with your unique style? If...

5 Best Bets This Weekend in Houston: Boat Parade and Gingerbread Houses

By Susie Tommaney

Dec 7, 2018

Gingerbread works quite well if you're a cackling witch trying to fatten up lost, unsuspecting children. But it also seems to be a sturdy construction material. This spiced baked good turns up in both Rec Room's Hansel and Gretel and the Annual Gingerbread Build Off. The weekend also includes holiday cheer...

Explore the New Menil Drawing Institute, at the Intersection of Zen and Cool

By Susie Tommaney

Nov 2, 2018

The late philanthropist and art collector Dominique de Menil had very strong opinions, and wasn't afraid to share them. But were she here to see the unveiling of the new Menil Drawing Institute — the fifth art building on the 30-acre campus — our bets are that she would declare...

5 Best Bets This Weekend in Houston: TexRenFest, Lawn Jazz and Art Fair Fever

By Susie Tommaney

Oct 5, 2018

It's shaping up to be a perfect weekend in the Houston area, with a nice mix of refined and lowbrow entertainment — some outdoors and others inside (just in case it rains) — with a healthy dose of culture added in. There's a fantasy costume contest that will bring out...

Architecture

Jones Hall Construction Sounds Overture To The Future

One of the Most Insane Houses in Houston is for Sale

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