Agora Fire

News of the Agora coffeeshop fire was over the Halloween weekend was so sad to hear. We were just there with our good friend Costa Kaldis on Saturday. We all shared about how great the place was to hang out in, it's Costa's favorite place. The upstairs seating area was especially cool. The broken cheap Greek sculptures fit right into the scene behind the palm tree- it felt like we were on a European vacation.
I remember when they first built the place, I used to get my hair done across the street. We watched the owners and workers plug away on the fixing up the coffee shop just the way they wanted it. It seemed like it took months maybe a year or more for them to finish the place, and in one day it's gone.
I sure hope those charming Greek owners had insurance because we just can't lose another cool independent business like The Agora. Houston has lost Cactus Records, The Angelica, so many video stores are gone for good and now The Agora. Are we all now forced to drive through Starbucks as we contemplate what movie we have in our queue on Netflix? I sure hope not...

after fire photos 

St. Agnes Reunion

I made this little slide show for my Mom's 50th High School Reunion. It was fun to see all the hairstyles and outfits- and hmm for a catholic an all girls school they sure seemed to have a lot of boys and booze around...

click on the link below to see the slide show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrfMHL8aS3o

Frost Town Houston

Dimitri and I took a trip downtown last weekend to honor our good friend Kirk Farris and all his hard work in the past and future restoring James Bute Park/Frost Town Historic Site. What a treat to see so many local historians, celebrities and artists visit the place that was once a six block subdivision called Frost Town, circa 1891, for the dedication of a Texas Historical Marker.

Kelley Gale Amen contributed a beautiful park bench made of Texas Fossil Stone, and there were many special speakers including Robert S. Frost, an actual descendant of Frost town, and Sylvia Garcia. It turned out to be a very special day commemorating this unique historical Houston destination. Pictures from the event are linked in the title Frost Town Houston above.

I never heard Kirk say this before but on this day he mentioned that he would like to see the park include a historical home or homes like the Heritage Society Park Downtown Houston which I think is a fabulous idea. Even if it started with one home that was treated like a museum showing the history of Frost town, this would be a great start. 

Congratulations to Kirk in helping us remember and acknowledge this special historic site. If it wasn’t for Kirk’s interest and passion to revisit this area, none of us would know this neighborhood ever existed. 

Tangley

I grew up on the 2100 block of Tangley. We played outside in the neighborhood and ran around in and out of each other’s houses all the time. Nobody locked their doors, we looked out for each other, everyone knew each other and we all felt safe. Sadly, things aren’t the same today- leaving doors unlocked nowaday's is unheard of.

Tangley is one of the nicest streets in Southampton and Southampton is one of the best neighborhoods in Houston. What we didn’t realize in the old days and often forget now is that anything can happen behind closed doors even if we are in a nice neighborhood and our houses are locked and securely bolted up.

The recent turn of events I link in the "Tangley" title above remind me no matter how nice our neighborhoods are, domestic violence can lurk within our homes and our enemy might be sitting right next to us. I am sad for the loss of Janet McAfee and Ken's injuries, but the two remind me the importance of nurturing friends and family because this is what matters most for all of us.

Floyd Newsum Spotting on Ferndale

Over the weekend, Dimitri and I were driving home on Ferndale as we passed by two guys walking across the street with a very familiar piece of art. I said “Wait a minute, back up- I know this work!” So Dimitri backed up for me to ask “Hey is that a “Floyd Newsum?” They happily confirmed yes- this was sure enough a Floyd Newsum piece of art. It was such a coincidence because I have been working on some promotional photos/collages of Floyd and there he is again right in front of me on my very own street.

All I had was my I Phone but at least I was able to document it somehow. I made the guys pose for me but the piece was so huge I didn’t want to delay them any more to ask them where they were off to and what they were doing.

Maybe these guys were neighbors exchanging art, maybe they were moving across the street, maybe I’ll never know. All I know is this was the first time and probably the only time I will ever stumble upon and recognize artist’s work while driving down my own street!

Election Day

My cousin called me in last week to reframe this photograph for her but how ironic it was ironic to revisit this photograph now that we approach our local elections. My mother captured this photograph of Bob Eckhardt at the Heritage Society Gazebo Downtown back in 1976 and all I can say is I can relate to the little girl with her hands over her ears...