The Eyesore : Mary Jane’s Fat Cat by Caleb Butler

4216 Washington Ave
Houston, Texas

January 2004–In two hours this empty, dusty room will be filled with sweaty kids screaming lyrics that they love at the top of their lungs. No one will be concentrating on the peeling paint that’s seems to reach toward the ceiling like green fingers or the missing floor tiles that reveal the concrete slab underneath. No one will be concerned with the dust that is caked on every surface inside the building, or the two hundred-pound speakers hanging from the ceiling held by a single chain just waiting for a opportunity to fall on some unsuspecting show-goer. No one will care that this building is has a legal occupancy limit of half the number of people in the building. It is not so much the physical aspects of Mary Jane’s Fat Cat that make it a special place, it is what happens inside night after night.

Mary Jane’s is the only venue in Houston that regularly allows hardcore shows, it is because of them that hardcore has had a outlet to expand and to draw new kids to a genre of music that has been over looked by the mainstream since the early 80’s. Two times a month this club is filled with hardcore kids looking for a release from every hindrance of the real world, a chance to experience a catharsis, to let go of everything. When the music starts they forget about their jerk off boss, they forget about their homework load and they forget about any family problems they may have, they forget about everything. To people on the outside hardcore is seen as just another kind of music or noise, but to the kids who live for it, it is their salvation what they live for and what some are even willing to die for.

Hardcore holds a special place in the hearts of the few who have experienced it, and it is not embarrassing, ten years after a kid stops going to hardcore shows he will never look back on his experiences in hardcore with shame, the great times he had and all the friends that he made will remain dear to him and he will think of hardcore as his badge of honor. Everyone changes and when they look back on past phases or experiences most people chuckle or make a face of disgust , but that does not happen with the hardcore kids because hardcore goes beyond music, it actually gives back to the people that put time into it. Hardcore kids are forever proud of what they have been involved in, because the feelings brought on by it are so strong that they cannot be denied, the benefits are so strong that they are impossible to refuse. What other kind of music can a person listen to and take away life lessons that pertain to everyone, not just abused children, not just kids raised by one parent but everyone, including the rich kids? There is absolutely no other music like that, because there is no music that raw. Some might try to compare gangsta rap to hardcore, by saying it is just as real, but how can a middle class white kid relate to songs about police abuse and gang violence? They can’t. There are certain things that all people deal with in life one of them is betrayal, if you haven’t ever felt betrayed than you are most likely devoid of feelings. Maybe the point is that the central themes and emotions within hardcore are generic and that makes easy to relate to.

There is a amazing sense of brotherhood within the so-called hardcore “scene”, it is where people meet their best friends or spouse. Hardcore is a genre of music, or a lifestyle for those that see purpose, for those that are concerned with making the best out of what you are given, and taking what you have to in order to get where you want. Hardcore is for the kids who want substance and purpose, the ones that are not concerned with a uneducated person in clothes that are 10 sizes to big rapping about how much “ice” or “bling” he has. Hardcore is for the real people, the ones with heart and without Mary Jane’s it would not be able to flourish.

Sometimes it is not the place that is special but the feelings you get when you are there, because without hardcore and friends Mary Jane’s would just be four walls, a dingy building with horrible plumbing and peeling paint. To you it is a eyesore in the ghetto crammed in-between a liquor store and a used car lot, but to the two hundred people that show up twice a month it is more than that it is where they get their salvation, a church for the kids that are lost , confused or jaded by the “real world”. The bands speak volumes to the kids involved in this scene, to most they are more than just a untouchable being on a stage that tower above the crowd, to most they are friends and even deeper than that they are their friends.

One of the most sincere bands in hardcore today is Will To Live, they originated in 1997 in Houston, Texas. Robert Galdamez or Rob To Live as some call him is an amazing person with passion for what he does that cant be matched by anyone. Fortunately for me Rob is more than the singer for will to live, he is my friend and my boss. I work at Best Buy under Rob selling appliances and the reason I have my job is because of Robert, because he does not have a superiority complex, because he is a normal person. Would the singer from Three Doors Down give you a job if you needed it, would he put money in your pocket? No, he would host a contest on VH1 to give you a chance to meet him, and watch his band play. He would act as if he were god, as if his presence and time was so valuable that you had to compete for it. I love to listen to kids on the radio or TV say “Yeah I met so and so and they were so nice and so genuine”, to that I always have the same response. Did you shake their hand and ask for a autograph or did you sit down with them and discuss politics, religion or the meaning of life. I can almost guarantee that you will get the same answer from everyone who has met these “rock and roll heroes”, they’d say “well he shook my hand and signed my 35 dollar t shirt for free”.

The one thing if nothing else, which sets hardcore apart from the mainstream, is the relationship between the bands and the audience. In hardcore they are on the same plane there is absolutely no need to label one group as the audience and the other group as the band because in hardcore they are viewed as people, one is no better than another is. Hardcore is a brotherhood, our scene is built on honesty and friendship, in the hardcore community if you do not have integrity you will not last, we will run you out. If you are to participate in this your word has to be worth your signature in blood. No frauds in our scene, that’s not to say that we havent had them in the past or that we don’t have any now but their flaws eventually come out because they cant hide behind a façade for too long, and when they come out they are run out.

The bands that make up our scene, the Houston scene, are among the best around, but first let me offer a brief history of hardcore music in general. The actual beginning of hardcore has been disputed for a long time, some say it started on the west coast with punk rock bands in the early eighties, but others will say that hardcore developed in the north east, in New York in CBGB’s to be exact. I cannot say that I know exactly where hardcore started because I wasn’t around in 1980 during the infancy of hardcore, but I do know that to me hardcore belongs to the NYC. In the mid- eighties there was an explosion of hardcore bands like Sick of it All and droves of positive youth hardcore bands. The so-called posi hardcore bands were bands that advocated a lifestyle in which alcohol, drugs and promiscuity were not involved. The whole idea of being “posi” was do keep your mind clear of any worldly distractions and make choices in your best interest. It was the mid to late 80s “posi” scene that really spread the gospel of straight edge, and in some cases even veganism or vegetarianism. In the late eighties and early nineties we saw the “posi” scene start to kind of die out while militant straight edge bands were gaining popularity. A lot of the bands of the late eighties and early nineties had more of a social commentary aspect to their lyrics, than the bands of the previous eras. The late eighties also saw the beginning of the “metalcore” sub genre with a band called Integrity.

In 1988 Integrity released their first 7” record, “In Contrast of Sin” on Chicago based Victory Records, from that point on hardcore was never the same. Integrity introduced metal into the primarily punk influenced scene, and coupled that with some of the most disturbing, yet poet lyrics in hardcore to date thus creating “metalcore”. Throughout the nineties more metal was added into the mix and hardcore became the perfect mix of punk rock and metal it was kind like metal but with a DIY punk rock attitude and hints of early eighties punk rock sound. Throughout the years hardcore bands were forced to tour relentlessly without the help from major labels because of their painfully real and raw sound. This relentless touring is what created a sort of brotherhood within the scene, because bands spent so much time on the road kids in different cities got to know the bands and started booking shows on their own.

The touring aspect of hardcore is world apart from that of major label bands, or even your typical indie band. A typical hardcore tour is set up without any help from people outside of the band, band members spend hours on the phone with kids they have met through playing out of town shows trying to get contacts for other kids out of town. Hardcore bands have to create a web of contacts to book a tour. Normally it will take calls to 200 different people to set up twenty shows for tour. The web kinds of works like this: I call my friend Loy in San Antonio and say “Loy we need a show in Boston do you know anyone from there?” and he says “No, but I know a kid who might know someone, his name is Steve, he lives in Jersey here is his number”. So then you call Steve and he says “I don’t book shows there but I have a ex girlfriend in Boston who may be able to help you out”. So then you call his Ex Girlfriend and she says “My current boyfriend plays in a band out here and he knows a kid who books shows out here.” So of course you call her boyfriend and then he tells you “I don’t know the kids name, but our drummer does”. Then you call the drummer and get the number to the guy who books shows in Boston. After you get his number you call him give him about 3 different dates that you can play and he will tell you if he can set up a show for your band on one of those dates.

As a rule you should expect about twenty percent of all your shows to fall through. The shows that do happen you play and you tell the kids watching you that you are on tour and you need a place to crash. Hopefully you will find someone who has extra space, if you do then you go sleep at a complete stranger house but you have a new friend when all is said and done. If you are playing to a bunch of weird kids and you cant find a place then you have to drive to the next city over night and sleep in the van. Touring in a hardcore band is difficult because as a whole the scene is very poor so you cant charge more than eight dollars for a show, and you cant ask for a high guarantee to play. All your money comes from CD’s and t-shirts. Its tough, but that tough lifestyle is my dream. Hardcore is more than just music, it is salvation.

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HATETANK

Inexpensive but Never Cheap: Theatre Southwest by Rachel McKeehan

8944-A Clarkcrest
Houston, TX 77063
713-661-9505

April 2004–As a Theatre Major, I am bound by the laws of physics (and aggressive theatre professors) to see plays every so often. I attend a variety of sorts at the high school, college, and professional level. But the amount of professional productions I get to see is limited due to the loan I need to take out just to look at a ticket to places like The Alley Theatre. So a few months ago I went on a search for the theatres to go to while keeping the majority of the net worth of my being. Enter Theatre Southwest. This is the littlest place I’ve never heard of, but I don’t know it was little when I heard of it. So I call and get some cheap student tickets to As Bees In Honey Drown. I know the title sounds corny, but I needed to see the play to write a paper. The day of the show I looked up directions on Mapquest.com (which I now know sucks, by the way) and got all ready to go. Since my taller, but younger, sisters are interested in theatre as much as I am, I tell them I’ll take them to shows one at a time. Tonight was Olivia’s turn. My mom drives us because I’d get lost if I drove, and Map Quest had us going downtown in a not-so-nice neighborhood.

On the way I decide to call the theater again because Map Quest was getting confusing. The box-office man tells me in his 007 voice that the theatre is in fact not downtown, but off Fondren. I get a little mad and have the 50-year-old box-office man who thinks he’s charming direct my mom there. He does it perfectly.

We drive into this ratty looking strip center and wonder if we did it right. Then we notice the windows of the particularly clean part of the strip center. They are painted with drama faces and big black letters that read, “THEATRE SOUTHWEST.” This is the only evidence that this place is in fact a theatre. I get out of the car and notice odors of a garbage bin that must be near by. There were also a few weird guys down the strip center giving Olivia and me funny faces. Like we would give them the green light with our Mom clearly saying, “I love you Honey, be careful! Call me when the show’s over!”…Nice place right?

Olivia and I wave our goodbyes to my mom as she drives off. We enter the building through glass doors covered on the inside by red curtains, and receive yet another funny smell. An old building smell. To top if off, it turns out the living room of my house is bigger than this lobby, if it can be called that. I notice the ceiling looks as if it will fall in. We walk up to the kind-faced lady at a small desk and request two student tickets. It all costs about half of what on Alley ticket would have cost me. I then walk to another part of “The Lobby” and sit in a sticky chair. After a few mean-spirited words, I end up leaving my stubborn sister to stand next to where I sit because she doesn’t want the chair across and a little left of me. I look around and find an assortment of ages in this place, all of them waiting politely and patiently. Most of these people came in pairs or groups of three. All the faces I see are those of older senior citizens or the younger high school and/or college generation. About fifty of us here in only sixty square feet of space. The lower-than-it-should-be-ceiling adds to the tight, squashed feeling.

A man in a colorful disco shirt comes out and, with the help of various gesticulations, says we can be seated now. (Hmm, wonder if he’s straight.) As we go into the theatre, I realize that the stage is as small as the lobby, maybe smaller. It is a tiny four-sided stage surrounded on all sides by tiny seats. According to the AACT website glossary, this is what you would call a theatre-in-the-round, or an arena stage. It looks only big enough to seat about a hundred people.

My sister and I get seated in the second of three rows. The seats look as if they used to be a reddish color. They are small and padded and my sister soon complains how there is not enough room for her freakishly long legs. The friggin’ giant, serves her right.

The seats full up after about twenty minutes and we begin the show. It is about a con-woman and this poor, beginning writer she cons. He’s kind of cute and her haircut reminds me of Velma Kelly from the musical movie Chicago . I agree with Jay Reiner from The Hollywood Reporter when he says that the con-woman sounds like “Bette Davis on speed.” The actress who plays the con-woman seemed a bit weaker than the other actors because she relied completely on her accent to pull her character through. I was glad her accent appeared less in the second act, because I was going to get irritated if it didn’t. After the first act and half of the second, the innocent writer is dumped. Took her long enough. However, all this leads to his loss of innocence and his shock into the real artistic world. He finds the need to get her back, and, in doing so, meets all the people from her past. All in all, it is a decent play. A bit weird, but good. And that is really all I can ask for from freakishly cheap tickets and a kind ticket lady, despite the weirdo on the phone.

After the show they were going to have a “talk to the cast and crew” session. But Olivia and I needed to go. However, I found it kind of cool that they would consider doing that. After looking at the website and speaking to the people who run it, I know they do care about their audience. They really need to, considering their theatre and location. They do all this, not for fame, not for glory, not for money, but for the love of the Theatre.

A true Thespian will do what they do for the living for free. That’s our problem. That’s why most actors get paid squat. But this theatre doesn’t care. They are known as an amateur theatre (thank you, expensive college theatre class books like The Theatre Experience) but I always find that term to be belittling. I find its connotation means they don’t know what they are doing and they really serve no purpose. But my professor and I share an alternative view on this theatre and other amateur theatre groups: they do it for the love of it, thus they are more dedicated than we who expect to be paid. And this is what I think is the spirit of Houston : they’re constantly striving to fulfill their dreams while building a community with their accessible shows.

It’s not like they don’t know what they are doing. Quite the contrary. The lighting designer for the show I saw, according to the ticket lady, has a resume that can fill a 1 inch binder. He has worked in just about every theatre in Houston , plus many in other parts of the USA and London . The director also was responsible for stage managing and directing plenty of plays in the Greater Houston Area. The story was the same for most of the rest of the cast and crew.

But these people are not snobbish in their experience and do not exclude newer members of theatre to try their hand. The leading lady with the Velma Kelly haircut had never gotten a major role in anything before then. From her bio in the program, she was so very excited to be given the chance to be a part of such a show. I’ve also heard from some of my friends from the UH School of Theatre that they pay about $20 for tech workers. It’s not much, but it gives an inexperienced set or lighting techie the chance to get their feet wet.

Later, under their consent, I looked at Theatre Southwest Online for dates and times for auditions to upcoming shows. To my surprise, they actually encouraged new, never-before-seen actors to audition for these shows. The auditions are set for times that have the ability to fit nicely into a working person’s schedule. Perfect for a student who spends most of their day at school. I also learned from the extremely helpful Theatre Southwest Online that they have been providing “quality theatre since 1957.” 1957!?! This place should now have a historical marker! To be a non-profit theatre company and be able to stay in business for that long, they must be doing something right. Such a small place, such nice people, such good shows… this kind of phenomenon is not seen to much now-a-days.

This is why I believe Theatre Southwest represents Houston: Good people and good places exist that are never heard of before. They also have the ability and drive to offer so much to the community; good, affordable shows, open-minds to new talent despite the theatre’s age, and extraordinary experienced people in accessible areas to be learned from. What else can someone ask for from an amateur theatre group? They love their work, and they love their audience. They must for them to find the nerve and the will to continue their promise: “quality theatre.” I hope you will find out the unheard-of greatness that is Theatre Southwest for yourself. Then tell me that you would rather see a play for the indifferent people from Theatre Under The Stars or the expensive people from The Alley. Don’t get me wrong, they do nice work, but I like my money where it is.

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Hope and Sanctuary: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center by Katherine M. Clark

The University of Texas
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

April 2004–Following Bill’s family through the maze of a hospital into our waiting room in the Rose Zone, I realize that M.D. Anderson is like its own city. You could easily get lost without a proper escort, like Bill’s grandmother. Not really paying attention to where she is taking us, I notice that though it is confusing to me, the hospital is very organized, It is broken down into different colors, sections, and numbers. I realize that each color corresponding to a particular ward of the care center. After a few moments, we find our way through the maze of passageways inside of the hospital and come to the waiting room that we are told to wait in. It is easy for me to associate a sense of care as I look at the colors on the walls. A subtle beige and tan color provide a moot feeling, and the hospital is kept cool, quiet and clean. The only smell that can be described is a heavy air of medicine. Those who are waiting in the waiting room to see various other patients are quiet, out of respect for those who are being treated there. Most of these people must be experienced at the hospital visit, as they appear to be dressed for a long stay; comfortable clothes, the latest daily paper, and a cup of coffee. The first time visitors must be those that are dressed nicely and playing with their clothes seeing as they seem to be very bored.

I am here with my boyfriend Bill and his dad. We are here to visit Bill’s mom, who has come from four hours outside of Houston. Bill’s mom has cancer in numerous places and lithium poisoning and is going to be put into the hospice, where people are put once it is deemed there is no hope of living for them. It all started with lung cancer, which is hard to treat, that came as a result of her smoking. There is a new vaccine that destroys lung cancer in some patients, but Bill’s mom is too far gone. Before we entered the hospital, Bill’s dad lit up a cigarette and I watch him smoke in amazement.

How could he smoke, when his ex-wife’s cancer started in the lungs from smoking? This is the same man who fought cancer once himself. We have seen horrible things happen to him and his ex-wife and he still stood there and smoked, right outside the hospital doors. I think about all this as we walked through the entrance to the waiting room.

As most people who come here, we quickly grow tired of waiting for the hospital to allow us to visit, so we found entertainment through various magazines. Bill and I chose a puzzle and we began to work on it. Most people around us are talking loud enough that we can’t help but overhear, it is funny how their conversations were mostly about things unrelated to the reason that they are there. The only time they bring up their reasons, they keep it short and to the point.

Also, judging by the visitors, the patients are mostly ones from Texas, but some are from outside the state. They come for many different reasons and are dealing with a variety of cancer types. Most of the people here at this hospital, especially in the zone that we are in, are very sick. The hospital makes the patients as comfortable as possible. In fact, M.D. Anderson is considering providing online services to patients in their rooms.

After building up quite an appetite from just sitting and waiting, so we head for the cafeteria, which is the only place in the hospital that makes you feel like you’re not in the hospital anymore. When you’re eating in the cafeteria, you’re sitting with doctors, nurses, other staff members, patients, and visitors. It is a time out from the real world and back into the commercialized world with overpriced food, which surprisingly is comforting. The food tastes like it does everwhere else there is a Pizza Hut or a Chick-Fil-A.

Bill‘s grandmother, who stayed in the waiting room, has come down to inform us that Bill’s mom has been placed in a room and that we can go see her. Walking to the room is where we actually see other patients. We see them walking around the area where the rooms are and through the open doors of their own rooms. Although the majority of people’s time is spent in the patient’s room. Bill’s mom looks bad, almost unbearable to look at. We spend a good amount of time with her and then we leave, back through the maze of hospital.

The patients look lonely when they are by themselves and that is when they look sick to me. But when people are visiting them they look happy and alive. It is very important that patients are visited by their family and loved ones. Looking at my boyfriend’s mom made everyone want to bust out crying, but when you’re there you realize that you have to stay strong for them and the rest of the visitors. So you act as normal as possible and try to make them fel as if it is just another day. Smiling helps a lot. Since I am not a relative I felt that it was my duty to keep smiling and holding their hands in order to keep them from falling apart.

I have lived in Houston, Texas all my life and have been familiarized with the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, through numerous visits to see Bill’s mom. It is the most valuable possession we have and the nation’s top cancer hospital. Anyone who lives in or around Houston should visit and contribute to it, so that it can prosper, so that we can prosper. It is a symbol of life to many people fighting cancer. The hardworking doctors and nurses are caring and dedicated. It is blind to race, gender, and age. It will be there for you no matter who you are. Ultimately, we are all here in this world striving to stay alive and no one is working harder to help us out than M.D. Anderson.

The visits I make to the hospital have changed my life. I used to be afraid of hospitals because all the sick people overwhelmed me with sadness. But now I see hospitals in a new light. I see people helping other people out and I realize where they would be without this. The work they have done has shown greatly and has passed with flying colors in the hearts of everyone.

It is important for the hospital to have support and you can support the hospital and their patients even if you do not have a loved one there. Besides giving money, you could give them your time with volunteer work or even join their team of professionals to better the lives of the cancer patients. Out of all the places in Houston, M.D. Anderson shines the most; it is the heart of our city. It is the only place that you can go where all the set backs and digressions in life are brought down to size and where people work together to keep and better life for all.

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Houston Guide

Silence: The Wheeler Bus by Brittany Ray

On Wheeler Street, between
Cullen and Calhoun

(713) 635-4000

January 2004–Walking down the long sidewalk, I focused on each individual rectangle of concrete to keep my mind off of the scorching afternoon sun, pounding down on my back. With each step I took, I felt the ball of sweat dropa little farther down the side of my face. I was pushed to the side by each individual car as it passed by and stirred the air on the two-lane street called Wheeler.

As I approached the grungy bus stop, that looked almost identical to every other one in town, I realized I still had about a twenty-minute wait. There was a bench. No, itwas a poor excuse for a bench. Just two two-by-fours lying across metal bars, to sit on, and another of the same size to lean against. I sat down. I was alone at the moment, but I knew that my fellow bus-riders would join me soon.

Glass walls surrounded the bench. All the different names of the people who had previously sat on this bench were scratched into the glass, and fingerprintspranced across the windows at about the height that a bored child would stand, starring anxiously out the windows at the people passing. And next to that were the remains of a used Band-Aid, stuck on the glass, despite the existence of a trashcan, located less than a foot away. I look around to realize that there was a lot of trash thrown around the trashcan. An empty soda bottle, about thirty cigarette butts, a Styrofoam cup with a bite out of the rim, and an empty mayonnaise packet, flattened by the many people who had stepped on it polluted the healthy green grass. An older man on a bicycle rode by me, and as he passed he turned back and smiled at me.

I heard the deep, rhythmic pounding of a car’s bass growing closer to me. I waited intently, wondering which kind of car would match this music. A few seconds later, my curiosity was lifted by the old, blue Cadillac, that proved to be closer to the ground than most when it scraped along the pavement as it crested the bumpy intersection.

A white wooden house stood across the street. The overgrown bushes, which concealed unclean windows made the run down house look abandoned. Shingles from the roof littered the patches of dead grass around the house, and a porch swing with one chain missing creaked back and forth in the dry wind. I could imagine an older woman swinging in it, surrounded by her many cats who were more like companions to her. Despite the run-down impression the porch gave, the house was still very comforting and inviting. The paint on the house had chipped in many places, and a light brown color was showing through. Tarnished and off centered, a metal plaque displayed the house number on one of the house’s unsteady pillars. I determined that the house was probably built in the 1960’s. On the street in front of the house there were five large construction cones. A few of the cones were knocked down and it looks like they were just left behind from an old construction job because there was no sign of ongoing work.

A teenage boy in a red t-shirt and black pants that were about two sizes too big walked by quickly, obviously in a hurry to get somewhere. I turned and looked behind me to see a small, steep hill leading down to a parking lot. It was the kind of hill that I would have rolled down when I was seven. The grass was very green and healthy, and I suddenly got the urge to roll down it at eighteen years old as well. But there was a police officer writing a ticket for a car that was parked in the wrong area, and I didn’t want to attract attention from him. I turned forward again to see the same teenage boy, walking much slower in the opposite direction, but this time carrying a 16 oz. bottle of Coca Cola.

Down the block there was a ragged, older man walking intently towards the bus stop. As he approached he nodded in my direction. Every move his lanky body made was slow and belabored. His long, dingy jeans creased as he lowered himself onto the other end of the bench. Without starring directly at him, I tried to estimate his age by examining his wrinkles. I guessed 38, but who knows what life troubles he has been through that had shown up as lines. He turned and I could feel his eyes on me, “D’ya have any spare change?”

Startled by his address to me I stumbled over my reply: “I dunno, let me check.” Knowing my pockets were empty, I leaned back on the bench so I could reach into both pockets at once. The bench creaked as I returned to my normal position as I shook my head and mumbled, “Sorry.”

Pondering whether to continue the conversation, my thoughts were interrupted when he inquired, “Where ya headed?”

“I’m just going to the store”, I replied, not wanting to give this stranger too many details. I started fumbling through my purse, not sure what I was looking for. I wasn’t used to making conversation with people at the bus stop. When I found some chap stick, I smeared it across my lips a few times, and then held it in my hand with the lid still off for a little before I re-applied it, trying to keep busy to avoid conversation with this man. I wonder why I feel so uncomfortable talking to strangers, especially when they are obviously of no threat.

A young girl who I recognized sat down between the old man and me, relieving the awkwardness. I thought I had met her before at an event in my dorm. She glanced in my direction and smiled as she realized that I was familiar as well.

“Hi, I’m Brittany. I think that we are in the same dorm,” I said, hoping that I wouldn’t have to continue conversation with the man on her other side.

She smiled again, “Yeah, I live on the floor above you, I always see you get off the elevator before me. Where are you going?” Why did talking to her feel different?

Feeling more comfortable in this situation I said, “I am running to the grocery store to get some things. I am completely out of everything.” I offer this information without hesitation, even though I was so reluctant to before.

She responded with a simple, “Oh”, not caring where I was going.

I leaned back, not having much more to say to the people sitting with me. Some squirrels caught my attention. One was chasing the other up the trunk of a nearby tree before they both stopped suddenly. They looked like they had heard something that I wasn’t aware of and were stopping to observe the noise. They looked so happy and playful and seemed to have no worries as they played in the shade.

As I grabbed the rim of the bench to rest for a little, my hand landed in someone’s previously chewed gum. It was fresh, sticky and unpleasant. The whistle of the buses brakes as it pulled to a stop ended my search for something to wipe my contaminated hands on. Grabbing all my things, I waited as the door shook as it slowly opened. The sign on the front of the bus said in all capital letters “WHEELER”. After climbing each steep stair, I sat down in the first seat. There were only three other passengers, all sitting separately. The girl that I had recognized came in after me and threw all of her belongings into a seat a few behind mine. The old man, who walked past both of us and went to the farthest seat in the back of the bus, followed her. I wondered why everyone sits alone on a bus unless it is crowded and they have no other choice. The chairs were blue and had some red and orange stripes on them. They reminded me of tacky carpet you would see in a cheap motel.

I leaned back into the seat and started to relax, enjoying the cool air blowing on my face before I remembered that I still had someone’s carelessly placed gum all over my fingers. I rummaged through my crowded purse again, but this time for a reason. I was unsuccessful in finding something to clean my hands on so I guiltily put the gum onto the bottom of another seat before I once again leaned back to relax and wait to arrive at my destination.

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Chocolate Paradise: The Chocolate Bar by Mark Hurtado

The Chocolate Bar
1835West Alabama
Houston TX

November 2010. From the time you breeze in till the time you walk slowly out with your belly full of goodies. Your senses will be engulfed in a huge variety of color, smell, taste, and sound. The smell of homemade chocolate is overwhelming, and the taste is so rich it explodes you’re taste buds and leaves you craving for more and more. Visually exciting, The Chocolate Bar tempts your taste buds with colors through a display of numerous chocolate shapes. From the blending of milkshakes to the grinding of espressos you’ll always hear upbeat sounds, music, laughter, and conversation among customers. My favorite part of visiting the Chocolate Bar is the first few seconds when I walk through the double doors and see all the different assortments of chocolates and dessert and taking a deep breath in of the sweet smell that overcomes you. It is my favorite place among many other Houstonians to go when you have a sweet tooth. They offer everything from truffles to chocolate-dipped fresh fruit, cheesecake, homemade ice cream and even chocolate novelties, which also make great gifts. You can also find unusual items covered in chocolate like Pringles, Twinkies and Lucky Charms cereal to name a few. But what really caught my eye were these massive four layer chocolate cakes on display. One of the unique things about this store is it has something for everyone including your dog. With a small choice of carob and peanut butter covered bones with elaborate edible designs for your pet. In short words it’s a chocolate lovers dream! Located in the Montrose area, the Chocolate Bar offers a great location. It’s location in one of Houston’s most cultural rich neighborhoods offers visitors both local and from out of town the chance to see one of this city’s many treasures.

I first moved to Houston when I was nineteen in the Sugarland area, the city was so vast I couldn’t contemplate ever knowing my way around it. There were few places I visited which were only the typical local restaurants, malls, and stores in my general area. It wasn’t until one summer afternoon my family and I had to go into the city to run some errands and we happened to come across The Chocolate Bar. Out of plain curiosity we stopped and we have been hooked ever since. Shortly after that I joined the Air Force, and left Houston for four years. During my four years away from home I would come home to visit my family here. The Chocolate Bar was a must stop visit for me at least once every visit. I was stationed at Laughlin Air Force Base right outside of Del Rio, TX a small border town in west Texas. There wasn’t anything comparable in that town to Houston. So with that, this was an awesome place I loved to visit when I came home to visit my family and friends. If offered something out of the norm that I wasn’t used to seeing back in Del Rio. It offered delicious sights and smells and above all a friendly place where everyone has a smile on. You are always greeted with a sweet smell of chocolate as you walk in along with a friendly hello or welcome from a staff member behind the counter covered in chocolate cover fruits and nuts. Walking in and taking a look around is my favorite part of the experience, it allows you to walk around and look at the many variety of chocolate moldings. There are chocolate pizzas to dog treats, and bells to dollar bills. Then I like to make it over to the ice cream area where they have roughly twenty flavors, all with a chocolate theme to it. When you sit down with your dessert of choice after debating over and over what flavor of this or that should I get, you get a feeling of warmth and excitement as if you were a little kid again trying a delicious desert for the first time.

My most memorable experience there was for my twenty third birthday back in February. I went there after enjoying a nice dinner with my family and close friends. It was the first time that I was going to trying one of their amazing chocolate cakes. They have many different styles of cake and all have their own names to them. I got a huge slice of Aunt Etta’s which is four layers of extremely moist dark chocolate cake with toffee and bittersweet chocolate bits between each layer. This slice of heaven will cost you around $10, not exactly cheap, but worth it. They’re also conscious of the diabetic population offering the best sugar free chocolate treats in town. It was a dark evening which usually means there’s some playing soft live music. One side of the shop actually does sort of resemble a bar. In fact, on Tuesday evenings, you can enjoy listening to a live band while indulging in your favorite chocolate treat.

A creative man by the name of Gilbert Johnson had a childhood passion for making chocolate. He dreamed of a shop serving all ages with smiles and sweet treats, where chocolate could become a complete entertainment experience. To make his dream reality, Gilbert enlisted Eric Shamban and Tino Ramirez as founding fathers and on October 10, 2000, The Chocolate Bar was born. Today, Gilbert’s dream is thriving in two locations thanks to loyal customers and exceptional service from enthusiastic and friendly employees.

One of my favorite times to go is when I have my six year old niece Isabella with me, it’s nice to see her young eyes open when we walk into the store and have her ask me “ Uncle Mark, can I have anything I want?” With such excitement in her voice it only leaves me with one answer every time, “Yes of course!” We always end up choosing their ice cream which again has any flavor to please any chocolate lovers taste. My dessert of choice I a rich chocolate ice cream with nuts and small pieces of brownies. Although on the prices side this place is truly worth every penny of it. So if you’re looking for a nice atmosphere, good people, and conversation, and above all a delicious variety of dessert then The Chocolate Bar is the place for you

MAP

LINKS
The Chocolate Bar
Houston Dining/Desserts
Montrose

Author Bio

Mark Hurtado is a first year student at the University of Houston Downtown, who is thinking of majoring in Political Science. He grew up in Corpus Christi, TX where he graduated from Richard King High School in 2005. After high school he went on to serve in the United States Air Force for four years, at Laughlin AFB, TX.

3RD WARD HIGH BY:Adrian R. Richard

Jack Yates High School
3703 Sampson

‘’She said ‘Moe-Yo I didn’t know that you rap, I remember you singing way back at the Jack Yates’’
-Big Moe 

November 2010-When people hear the name Jack Yates first thing that comes to mind is the basketball team. “Those boys are raw,” one of the fans said. Now that Yates has been all over the news because the principal is under investigation a lot of people talk down on Yates and feel that Yates should close down. Until you actually walk the halls of Yates you find out that this school has much to offer students, some will actually be surprised at how talented and gifted these students are.
The second black high school in the city, Yates Colored High School was established on February 8, 1926. The school was located where James D. Ryan Middle School is now at 2610 Elgin. The school was named after a highly respected minister, considered to be “The Founder of Freedom’s Town” the late Reverend Jack Yates. He was the first black pastor of some of the first black churches originated in Fourth Ward in Texas. Reverend John ‘Jack’ Yates changed the history of the freed slaves in so many ways and was well respected by everyone in the community.
The school opened with seventeen teachers and six-hundred students with James D. Ryan as the first principal and remained so until his death in 1941; William S. Holland followed after him. Some schools in the Third Ward area were named after the former principals of Jack Yates High School. In September of 1958, due to overcrowded conditions Jack Yates Senior High school later moved to its present location 3703 Sampson Street.
“Oooo Ahh Third Ward High,” scream the cheering fans and alumni at the basketball championship game. Yates gets plenty of recognition because of the national state champ’s basketball team, but once you look pass all of that and get a closer look, Yates has a one of a kind communications program. The Magnet School Of Communications has opened so many doors for students in the magnet program. Some students even have the opportunity to work at the Houston Chronicle their senior year, interview celebrities or take a trip to Washington D.C and get a closer look at the president and or the White House.
The Magnet School of Communications which some would call a school within a school focuses on three areas Media Technology, Photography, and Journalism. This Magnet program was established in 1978. This program has let the students have the privileged to take pictures around third ward and showcase them in the Museum of Fine Arts every year, take a closer look behind the camera or in front of the camera. This Program has helped students know what they want to do in life and give them the tools to go far. Some students even have the opportunity to get a job as a newscaster or at least be an intern. Roland Martin, a newscaster for CNN went to Yates and still today he gives back to his alma mater.
For the past ten years, the photography teacher and his students walk through Third Ward and take pictures. MFAH and Yates partnered up and have given the students an opportunity to show their work in the museum. Eye on Third Ward is what they call the exhibition; this project began in 1995 and is still going strong today. These students have so much talent in their work. This project has been ranked as one of the museum’s most admired and successful educational initiatives.
Every time I walk the halls of Jack Yates it takes me back to my freshman year there. I can remember it like it was yesterday, before attending yates I made the Varsity cheerleading team and was ecstatic to say that ‘I go to Jack Yates High’. All I heard when I told everybody that I was going there was “Why Yates?” “You would be better off at Lamar or Bellaire.” I couldn’t believe that everybody was against Yates like that and made me feel that I was going to the worse school ever. What people don’t know until they go to Yates is that this school gives students so many opportunities to go far in life, all the students have to do is want it and try to get it.
Many well-known actress or celebrities went to Yates and are proud alumni’s. Debbie Allen a professional actress, Phylicia Rashard, some know as Claire on The Bill Cosby Show went to Yates. Just to name a few more Monica Lamb, former WNBA star and the late Johnny Bailey, former NFL football player for the Chicago Bears, Arizona Cardinals and St. Louis Rams also went to Yates. These people have proved Yates students are talented and can be whatever they want to be.
My freshman year I couldn’t wait until football season because I loved my school and has so much school spirit. I was nervous when I walked down by the football field and found out how big the stadium was and how many people loved Yates.
“We are the lions” yelled the captain of our squad. “Ready? J-Y”
“Oh you better know this cheer and can do it in your sleep because this is our home cheer and the alumni’s will know if you mess up.” Oh great that puts more pressure on me that I already have at the time of cheering my first game. I couldn’t wait until the band started to play ‘NECK!’ so I could calm down just a little bit.
While other schools have homecoming king and queen, Yates has a Mr. and Miss Jack Yates pageant. The students Junior year, get to run for Mr. and Miss Jack Yates and show the student body why they should vote for them and show them their talent that no one knew they had. This campaign runs for at least two weeks and following the campaign is the pageant. This pageant has been a tradition of Yates for many years and the students enjoy doing this every year. After selecting Mr. and Miss Jack Yates of the next school year, doing homecoming week all the students dress up in their formal wear and go to the coronation where Mr. and Miss Jack Yates is crowned.
The news media has been all on Yates this year especially when the basketball team scored 170 against Lee. This little issue turned into a big mess all on TV. Also the news media had been on Yates with the big fight that broke out this school year. As an alumnus of Jack Yates I am displeased as how everyone is treating my alma mater. Yates is not a bad school whatsoever as outside people would think it is. It’s the students that go to the school that makes up what it is but the school as a whole is not bad. You can go to Bellaire or Lamar or even Westfield and you can see that they have the same problems that Yates does but the difference between them is that people just don’t talk about it or you don’t see every news media rushing to that school to get the inside story. No matter how many times the basketball team wins a state championship or how many times the photography class showcases their wonderful work at the Museum, people still have something bad to say about this school.
As alumni of Jack Yates I feel that nothing should change about the school. People shouldn’t judge Yates as a whole or think of Yates as a bad school because what they heard from other people or what they saw on the news. Every school has problems but it seems like the media is always targeting these majority African American Schools all around Houston.
For 83 years strong Yates has been a major force in the Third Ward. Jack Yates is a historical marker in third ward and deserves the recognition. So many people doubted Yates and are fighting today to close Yates, but what people don’t know is that Yates has very strong alumni since the beginning that will not let that happen. “If you cut me right now I will surely bleed crimson and gold.”

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Jack Yates High School

 

 

 

 

100% Taquito: Authentic Mexican Food by Yesica Silva

3245 Southwest Freeway @ Buffalo Speedway
Houston, TX
(713) 665-2900

November 2010–Mmmm…. Just hearing this extraordinary phrase “100% Taquito” reminds me of the delicious taste of taquitos in Mexico . Located between Southwest Freeway and Buffalo Speedway in front of the Compaq Center, 100% Taquito has the most authentic Mexican taquitos in Houston . You may think that it is a common Mexican restaurant in the Hispanic populated area, but it does not have any comparison.

One day my friends Wendy and Sylvia called me to go celebrate the end of the semester. We had a stressful week and it was time to take a little break and relax. I had not seen Sylvia for a long time and she wanted me to be there. They introduced me to this extraordinary restaurant “100% Taquito” Since I was always criticizing the kind of taquitos that are made in other places, we had not returned for more. Sylvia told me that her friend invited her and that she thought that I would also like it because I’m a taquito lover.

As you begin to walk towards the entrance of the restaurant, there are some pictures of how the restaurant was founded. Also, you can see how it looked before. When I visited 100% Taquito I never imagined that the taquitos could taste so great! Eventually, I became addicted to the tacos, but especially my all time favorite “Tacos al Pastor” are the best. Each time I visit my hometown, Mexico City , the first thing that I like to eat are these delicious tacos and 100 % Taquito has the authentic and same exact taste. When I look at the menu my first eye contact is always at the Tacos al Pastor. Immediately without thinking of anything else, I order them accompanied with a Mexican soda called Jarrito. I suggested Wendy to order the same thing and to share with me an order of sopes which she agreed to do. Also, we have our favorite dessert; their famous “Tres Leches” has made this traditional cake the most enjoyable part of the dinner. What a complete combination! Delicious tacos, a great dessert, and the company of my closest friends is what makes it an enjoyable meal.

100% Taquito began as a school project of Marko and Karla Garcia at the University of Houston . Together, with their parents Manuel and Susana Garcia, they tasted the market for authentic Mexican food with a concession trailer. They began with a taco stand at the parking lot of Super K’mart on Westheimer. Their purpose was to bring the real Mexican food out to the public. Overwhelmed by the results, the Garcia family embarked in the second phase of 100% Taquito: a place that recreates the heart of Mexico in Houston .

The Garcia family came from Mexico City which consists of over 20 million inhabitants or 40 million if you count its suburbs. It is the largest city in the world and the heart of Mexico . In its streets the cuisine from every region of Mexico merges in a festival of flavor. Served from trailers, holes in the walls, and restaurants on tiny stands; tacos reign as king. Oddly enough these tacos are nothing like the American interpretation. They are small as three fingers put together, made with fresh corn tortillas, and are never covered in lettuce and sour cream. The original taco is served with onion and cilantro with the small corn tortillas. There are a great variety of salsas such as green, red, and pico de gallo which are made with the original chiles and lemon. These salsas make the flavor of the tacos a wonderful taste. 100% Taquito brings the true flavor of Mexico to Houston . Imagine walking into a restaurant that fools you into believing that you are back in Mexico City . The serving area is disguised to look like a trailer and the rest of the restaurant is constructed and painted to look like Mexico City . 100% Taquito is the only place in Houston where you can truly experience authentic Mexican food. As soon as you take your first step into the restaurant, you can smell the aroma of the meat that is being cooked, and feel the enjoyment of other customers enjoying their food.

The critics believe that 100% Taquito is the best authentic restaurant around. Many newspaper articles and websites have supported this fact by reporting many stories on our local newspapers. This has given this restaurant great prestige among the Hispanic small business. They are very successful and well recognized. For example, Alan Truex from Houston Chronicle wrote an article explaining that “The food is all good at 100% Taquito.” Alison Cook from sidewalk.com wrote “Nothing less than the Best…It’s all top-flight.” These articles and commentaries about the restaurant helped them keep a great reputation. Also, the Daily Cougar staff wrote another article, “UH entrepreneur aims to please, 100% Mexican style” thanking a senior of the UH for bringing the authentic Mexican food to Houstonians.

100% Taquito is open all week. Personally, I like to eat there at night, which is one of the Mexican traditions. The menu consists of a great variety of Mexican food not just tacos, quesadillas, sopes, tortas, molletes, ensaladas, Mexican bottled drinks, fresh fruit drinks, frozen slush, and desserts. For the people that don’t know how each of the plates on the menu is done, there is a broad statement for each of them, “not Tex-Mex” style for those that are looking for the real stuff.

What a complete combination, great tacos, and a mouth watering dessert. The puzzling thing about this restaurant like many others is that there are no waitresses. Just like the restaurants in Mexico , 100% Taquito is what we call “self served”. So the cashier took our order and gave us a little flashing electronic square and when our order was ready, it automatically vibrated until we pick up our food. The tray was full of tacos, the exquisite smell of the meat made me hungrier. The cashier area simulates a trailer with two tires in the front painted with a bright orange color.

Inside the restaurant there is a beautiful decoration of important and significant places in Mexico City . At one of the corners there is a painting of one of the most outstanding avenues, called Paseo de la Reforma, which shows the main monument, the Diana fountain. Wendy and Sylvia have never been in Mexico City , and I was telling them some stories from the paintings. In the other side corner there is another painting, this monument is called the Independence Angel and is located on an enormous avenue in Mexico City . This place has great significance to the Mexican people; it serves as a gathering place when we have something special to celebrate. For example after a soccer game, where the Mexican National Soccer Team wins a match people usually go out and meet at the Angel and celebrate their victory. This special place, is widely known in all the rest of the country, and is well taken care of by the national authorities.

To fully feel complete, once you’re having your dinner, and eating your mouth-watering tacos, the only thing you need is a good song. The music that they play is only Latin pop music and sometimes Folkloric or Mexican music. When we were there, they played the “Jarabe Tapatio” a popular music from Jalisco Mexico and we were dancing and singing. This atmosphere, suddenly takes you back to that small stand where we used to have our tacos in our greatly missed Mexico . One of the most original attractions from this restaurant is also the fact that they have a car inside the restaurant, so you can easily sense the feeling of being in the streets of Mexico . It’s a classic taxi with plates of Mexico City , with a driver and many decorations that most of the Taxis from Mexico have. For example, many cars in Mexico have a Mexican Flag hanging, also important significant items like a baby’s shoe, and a picture of the Virgen of Guadalupe.

The restaurant also has a small second floor, which portrays the ceiling of a common Mexican house. They have what we call “ Tendederos” which are lines of metal wire, which are used to hang clothes to let dry. They also have shirts of different soccer teams, which one more time takes you to the fact that we take our sports very seriously.

They have many different types of chairs, and tables, and spaces for you to sit. If you really want to go back to Mexico you can eat your tacos standing up, or at the tables that they have outside, which makes your dinner more authentic than anything. Once you leave this place, it is almost like if you have to travel back to Houston . The realism of this magnificent place, really takes you back, and make you keep wanting some more. That’s when the addiction comes takes place. Some people think that Mexican food is high in calories, and it is, but when you have this great food in your own city there is nothing much that you can do. You can become addicted in a second.

This restaurant has recently been remodeled and has added some more space to its location. The fact that day-by-day this restaurant attracts more and more people has left them no other choice, but to extend the location. I would not be surprise if in the near future we would see a big restaurant chain, providing people the great taste of the authentic Mexican tacos. This is definitely a good place to have some real Mexican food, and I know what I’m talking about, as I am a Mexican myself. If you ever feel like having the best tacos in Mexico City , remember that you don’t have to get on a plane and fly to Mexico , City you can find the best Tacos, and Desserts here in your own city.

MAP:

LINKS:

UH Article about 100% Taquito

Mexico City

The Mexican Kitchen

Houston Texas Cuisine

Mexican Restaurants in Houston

 

A Night Out In Town : Angelika Film Center by Paul Vo

510 Texas Avenue
Houston, TX 77002
713-333-FILM
angelikahouston@angelikafilmcenter.com

November 2010–“Let’s go catch a movie,” my friend shouted.

“Where?” I asked. “Angelika Film Center on Texas Avenue downtown, man.”

“Why don’t we just go to AMC or Tinsletown?”

That’s what may often happen when friends are trying to figure out where to go on any given night. Many people may believe that AMC or Tinsletown Theatres are the only good theatres around Houston because those are the most popular ones. You could go to Tinsletown…but no wait, that’s a little too unclassy. Then, you have AMC 24/32… no hold on; they look just like Tinsletown. Is there any other place? Yep, Angelika Film Center located at 510 Texas Avenue at Smith, which is operated by Citadel Cinemas; an entertainment company branched off from Citadel Holding Corporation. The Angelika Film Center opened at the end of 1997.

My friends and I arrive at Angelika around 9 PM. Upon arrival, you might want to find parking at the Theatre District Parking Garage. Various entrances are chosen depending on which way you are coming from. For instance, from I-10 heading east, you go to Entrance #4. Heading I-45 South, you take Entrance #1. There are many entrances for easy access. Handicapped? No worry, you can also park in the Theatre District Parking Garage. And if you’re in a hurry and don’t want to find parking, the theatre also has valet parking for $10.00. The only bad thing about parking underground is that you have to get a ticket. Parking fee costs around 5 dollars there, not too shabby. I was outraged as no other movie theatres made you pay for parking, but I’ll get to that later. I guess it’s because the lot was really nice. The walls had beautiful, glossy paint that portrayed the ‘80s type surrounding. One of the walls had a Jazz musician playing the magnificent brass Saxophone. I found parking near the elevator as I didn’t want to walk too far to get up a level to the theatres. The outside walls of the elevator as you were waiting were painted bright purple with multiple black figures of musicians, actors, directors, and all sorts of entertainment ideals. If I remember correctly, there are 2 elevators on each side with shiny metal doors. Inside the elevator was quite cramped as we had about 8 people stuffed in there. What happened next you wouldn’t believe; we got stuck in the elevator! The girls that were with us were screaming and shouting as if we didn’t know we got stuck. My friends that were with us were telling the girls to calm down as they kept punching the white elevator floor buttons with an orange glow. After about 5 minutes of continuing ramming of the buttons, we finally got the elevator moving upstairs.

As we start to exit off the elevator walk make a trip down some stairs because we accidentally went to the wrong floor. As we reach the Office Box to Angelika Film Center, the line was pretty long with a diverse crowd as we were getting close. It was pretty cool outside that day and was dark, I might add. I stood behind a group of females and males as they were talking about how they think “The Eye” will be a great scary movie. I let out a little smirk as they didn’t know what they were in for. I chose to go up to them and ask them if they have heard anything about the movie. They told me that they were trying to find scary movies on DVD and they stumbled upon “The Eye” while searching eBay. The male in the group then told me that there was a link in the description that showed him showings of the movie in different states. He said that it showed Texas on the location and it said that it would be showing today at 9. One of the girls told me that this was supposedly the scariest movie to come out of Japan. I was shocked that I didn’t know what I was in for. After that, I just quietly ended the conversation and start to walk back to my group of friends and told them that this movie will be one heck of a movie.

“The Eye” is about an Asian American girl who is blind but lucky when a donor set of eyes are suddenly given to her. The eyes have a twist though; they were the eyes of a girl who could see bad things before they happen and things that had already happened. For instance the girl who got the donor eyes could see a village burning and being destroyed before it happened. She would go tell people that the village was in danger and then everyone thought she was a witch. Eventually the village people gathered together and went on the hunt for the girl and killed her.

Waiting 10 minutes in line before you actually got to the ticket booth to purchase your tickets is when the African American male that worked in the Office Box asked everyone for their ID as the movie was Rated-R. Tickets for the movie cost $8.00 but if you have your student ID, it only cost $6.00. My friend got his ticket but the guy started to say something that made me think he did something wrong. I was thinking to myself, “What are they talking about?” As my turn approaches, he asked if I had the parking permit with me, I said, “No.” He then proceeded to tell me that he could stamp my parking permit which would mean that the parking would be free. For the slow people, Angelika would pay for the parking. At this time, I was frustrated as I had to go back to my car to grab the red permit and bring it back up there and wait in line again for him to stamp it. But I couldn’t complain that much, parking would be free. You might say, well, AMC is free too, but does AMC have the limited movies that you can only watch here at Angelika? I used the stairs to get to my car because I did not want to get stuck in that elevator especially because I didn’t have a cell phone with me.

After about 15 minutes, we finally got to the entrance this wonderful place in downtown. As we enter the theatre, I notice the gigantic chandelier hanging from the 40-50 something feet ceiling. It was a beautiful sight as it was night time and the chandelier shined with an extraordinary glow of light like the sun. A little bit in front of the door, you can see single and double brown leather couches and light tan wooden chairs for you to sit in as you wait for the movie to start or just want to sit back and relax. To your left coming through the entrance, is the Angelika Café & Bar. The area was pretty classy looking because of the nice tables and chairs that they had for you. The wooden tables were a light tan in color and so were the chairs. For the back support, they had aluminum as the seat and legs. The feeling you had when you sat down is like you were in a steak house since the environment is quiet and dark.

I didn’t decide to buy anything food from the Café & Bar as I already had a meal before I left my house. The Café & Bar serves all sorts of foods as they combine the specialties of France and the delicacies of Asia to make a new Millennium menu. Some items are soups & salads, pizza, sandwiches, pastas, burgers, New Orleans crab cakes, spicy chicken satay, French club, and many more selections. Prices for such foods can range from $5.00 appetizers to $20.00 meals. As the hour of our movie was at almost at hand, we decided we would start heading into the theatre for seats. Our movie was way down the hall all the way in the back. It was a nice walk though; the walls had portraits of old movies and new limited movies that were going to show or already showed. That hallway gives you that feeling like your walking through the hall of fame for movies. I think I saw a portrait of the man himself, Elvis Presley. You know, that picture of him holding that old school microphone with his hand in the air while tilting the stand that holds the microphone. Yea, that one.

To our surprise upon entering the theatre, it was empty as if the theatre was haunted. I guess nobody wanted to watch a scary movie that would make their skin crawl and their bones shiver. It was great though, more room for us to sit without worrying about someone getting mad at us being too loud from whispering. We chose to sit near the middle of the theatre so that we could have the best view. The size of theatre was about the size of the AMC theatres in the back and the seats were about the same quality as AMC but had more leg room. Seats inside the Angelika Film Center were comfortable as sitting on a fluffy leather couch and the arm rest had plenty of padding compared to AMC’s, as they feel like one layer of cloth over the plastic arm rests. The walls were painted black so you could have the dark environment while viewing the movie. You could say that the theatre was about the same as other theatres but with more leg room, much more leg room.

The movie was minutes away from starting when people actually started to walk in. I knew people wanted to come see this movie besides the group of friends I had along with me! It wasn’t a big group, but at least we weren’t in the theatre by ourselves. They decided to sit behind us and that made me feel a little bit more comfortable. I’m not good when it comes to really scary movies. I thought the people behind us were going to talk a lot since they were teenage females. Girls usually have something to say about anything whether it’s good or bad. To my amazement when the movie started, it was so quiet like people were forbidden to talk. There wasn’t even a single murmur from anyone. Our group didn’t sit all in one row so about 4 of us were in one row while the other 4 was in the row in front of us. I had a great a time because as the movie ended, we scared our friends in front of us by making ghostly noises and they screamed like when someone taps your shoulder when no one else is in the room.

The movie ended around 11 PM, we decided it was time to head home to get some rest. My overall experience was fantastic as I had friends close to me enjoy the wonderful night.

“Did you guys enjoy the movie?” the ushers asked when we were leaving.

“Yes, we had a good time.” I replied.

“That’s great, come back soon.” He responded.

“You can count on it.” I answered.

While leaving, I got the chance to talk to one of the workers about working here.

“Oh hey, how’s working here for you?” I asked.

“It’s wonderful; the environment is very relaxing and comfortable.” One of the ushers replied.

“I enjoy working here because the staff and faculty here treat me with much respect as if we were childhood friends.” Another usher answered.

They were very hospitable and nice. I could hear from behind us as we were leaving that other people had enjoyed it also. A girl was talking about how she wanted to come back here as soon as possible when there was another scary movie coming out. Her friend next to her was saying that she really likes the different environment Angelika Theatres gave her and that she would definitely be coming back.

So if you’re planning on taking your girlfriend or boyfriend to a classy theatre, try Angelika Film Center. They have “Cheap Date” every Monday that costs $5.50 per ticket, which includes a FREE large popcorn & FREE large soda, and free valet parking upon presentation of valid student ID at the Box Office. If you’re a parent and want to take your children to the film center, Angelika offers “Cry Baby Matinee” each Friday and Saturday morning at 11:45 AM and the cost is regular for the adults and children under 5 is free. For your needs, the theatre will dim the lights, turn down the volume, and keep the movies rolling. It won’t have the usual movies that are playing nationwide, but the limited movies that other talented directors our there make that you don’t get to see on the “big screen”. What I mean by limited movies is that, the movies that are not released nationwide, but are released independently. It’s a great experience because you get a break from the usual famous directors such as Stephen Spielberg or Peter Jackson. For a great night in town, give Angelika Film Center a little visit.

MAP:

LINK:

*Now* showing at Angelika

Director Stephen Spielberg

Monday

Aluminum

Elevators

 

All Aboard: The Engine Room by Patrice Fields

1515 Pease St
Houston, TX

November  2010–If you ever find yourself in downtown Houston there is one place guaranteed to be a good time surrounded by people who feel the music just as much as you. At 1515 Pease St. you are sure to find a live show that will blow you away. The energy of the atmosphere is electric. The Engine Room is a wonderful venue for live music of many different types. From emo to metal, to every type of rock you could imagine. If you have a love for live music the Engine Room is the place to be.
Coming out of San Antonio where the music scene has been hibernating for quite some time, it was refreshing to know that I was headed to a city with no shortage of fans or concerts to attend. This being said it was only fitting that the first place I visited in Houston was the Engine Room. The date: September 14, 2003, the time: somewhere around 8:00 p.m., the event: the Drive-Thru Invasion Tour. Two of my favorite bands at that time were signed to this label and the other bands weren’t too bad either so it seemed like a win-win situation except for one thing; no transportation.

Being that the school year had just started, I had yet to find friends who shared my taste in music and the one friend I did have didn’t have a car, so I was on my own. Because I knew one of the guys in the band I got a VIP pass and to not go just seemed unacceptable. So I decided to do two things I had never done before; go alone and take a cab. But once I got there it was all worth it. As I walked into the black hole of a door it was as if I had been swept away to a place where nothing mattered except the music. So many different types of people were there, each enjoying the sound coming from the stage. It was my oasis, my place to let everything go and be happy. The smell of sweat surrounded me as kids were jumping about and singing along as though they were a part of the band. And they were. With every word sang they claimed ownership.

The floor wet with the night’s spilled drinks was hardly a deterrent to the bouncing souls that filled the dimly lit room. However, not all were partaking in the dance floor activities. To my left was a wall lined with booths holding exhausted kids and cuddling couples. To my right was the bar with tons of depleted teens frantically begging for water to quench their thirsts. You can imagine what hard work it is to keep in constant motion for hours. On the wall directly behind the bar were shelves lined with various bottles of liquor.

One bottle in particular caught my eye. It was a tall slender bottle with a beautiful winter scene depicted on it. It seemed odd to see that image while in the midst of such disheveled kids. Something so soft and elegant surrounded by such expression of raw emotion, perfection discovered in an unpolished stone. The unspoken quality that each band possesses. Not in the mastering of the instruments but the feeling behind each stroke of the guitar, each beat of the drum.

This is my paradise. The only time I can be worry free. No rules, no stress, just pure bliss. For someone without similar feelings toward music this may not be comprehendible, but it is my reality. And places like the Engine Room help me nurture this love. It’s not about the size of the room, or the look of it. It’s about the coming together of music lovers to take part in an event totally unique to their hearts.

To find all of this where I did is a miracle in itself. The Engine Room isn’t exactly located in the nicest area. The surrounding streets are littered with trash and constantly swarming with the less fortunate who have made their home there. In the building right next to it a gathering of poorly dressed people occurs on some nights. Most of them are men with beaten down looks and eyes that serve as windows to their weary souls. Alcoholics Anonymous would be my guess, but the truth could only be discovered if you take part in their nightly discussions. The smell is a mixture of garbage, exhaust, and alcohol. Not the most alluring of scents, but perfect for the events that I attend.

To look upon this site during the day you would never guess how alive it becomes during the night. With the light of day, Pease St looks like a ghost town scene in some old western. A layout of monotonous, gray buildings surrounded by the dirt and trash left from the previous night. A mere skeleton of the person it was before, lifeless and dead. No cars are parked in front of the Engine Room, no tour busses or vans. No trace of life can be found. It is far from the hustle and bustle of kids crowding the sidewalks after a show, desperate to meet their favorite band members and get autographs and pictures.

This is another aspect of the Engine Room and almost any smaller live music venue that is so appealing. Not only do you get to go hear great music; you get to meet your favorite bands in person without the hassle of backstage passes and security. It’s a completely different feel from the mega arena concerts where you’re doomed to the nosebleeds and are essentially watching it on television because all you can view is the jumbo-tron. At the Engine Room, the entire concert is playing out right in front of you. You can see the stage, and depending on how rowdy the show is you may even end up on it.

The Engine Room takes music to another level. When you attend a show it’s more than just the music. It’s the release of every bit of tension, stress and pressure that’s been piling up to that point. A workout of the soul you would not believe. You meet so many different types of people all united by the love of the sound. No matter what your status in society or your station in life, you still receive the same treatment at these shows. There is no division in ticket prices, no upper or lower level seats, just you in a crowd of others enjoying the experience.

Nothing can describe the experience when they pull back the curtain and all of a sudden the music blares and instantaneous motion ensues. Even the shiest person in the world can just let go and lose control on the dance floor. I know this because that is who I become at every show I attend. You don’t have to be embarrassed because odds are there is at least a few kids doing the same. It’s instant acceptance on a common ground. Just through attending shows I have met many people, who I call regulars, that are guaranteed to be at every show just like I will. We compare stories, discuss new bands and old favorites, even share food if there is a long wait. All of these things would have been lost to me if I never took part in these shows. Not to say I’m a better person for having participated, but I definitely have a more eclectic view on things.

While all of this is wonderful, you also have to keep in mind your surroundings. The more pop-like the music is the less likely that there will be major rowdy behavior. You should see a lot of bouncing and jumping up and down, even though mosh pits are always encouraged. But the heavier and darker the music gets the crazier the scene at the show. Don’t get me wrong I still go, but attending is not without it’s consequences. Because I tend to be front row at all of the shows I go to, the feet of crowd surfing teens is always a hazard. But hopefully you and whomever you go with will watch out for each other and make sure everyone is ok. A lot of pushing is always a possibility, but the bands usually do a good job of making sure no one gets crushed or pinned against the stage. And depending on the temperature there is always someone giving out water. The whole idea is to have fun and lose it, but make sure everyone leaves the show in one piece.

So as you can see live music and venues like the Engine Room are great sources of fun, entertainment, and release. No matter what your preference there is bound to be something there that you will enjoy. Just be sure to take into account all of the aspects that go along with going to a show and you’ll be sure to have a great time. Just remember it’s all about the music.

MAP:

LINKS:

The Engine Room

Javajazz Coffeehouse

The Early November

Drive Thru Records

Fitzgerald’s

Lets Play Ball: The Astrodome by Juana L. Pereira

8400 Kirby Drive
Houston, Texas 77504
832-667-1400

November 2010–My dad came home one night with four tickets to an Astros game for the following week. For days that was the only thing that I looked forward to. Just thinking about being in the crowd made me excited. As the day approached, I was getting more anxious to attend my first baseball game. The Astros were playing the New York Yankees. I did not know what to wear to a baseball game, but I decided that shorts and a t-shirt would have to do. The day finally arrived and I was ready to see a baseball game live. On our way to the Astrodome, I saw the dome. I was unable to take my eyes off this massive building. Once you catch a glimpse of it, it is very hard to take your eyes off it. Not only that, but I was finally about to witness my first baseball game. It was the game of the season and everyone in my town wanted to be a part of it.

The stadium itself was initially named the Harris County Dome Stadium, but was later renamed the Astrodome because of its astronomical size. The Astrodome was the world’s first large indoor venue for any Major League field sport and was considered the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” The Astrodome was the home of the Houston Astros, once called the Colt .45s. The main reason the Colt .45s changed their name was for the building of the Astrodome. Judge Roy Hofheinz, the owner of the Houston Astros came up with the idea of building a gigantic dome. The architects who designed the Astrodome were Hermon Lloyd, W.B. Morgan and Wilson. Roy believed that the City of Houston was too hot to play or watch a baseball game, so he wanted to have an air-conditioned stadium where everybody would feel comfortable. A stadium large enough to cover a baseball field and could seat about fifty thousand people. The Astrodome was the first sports stadium that had a roof over the playing field and cushioned seats, sky boxes, and a two million dollar scoreboard. The dome has a 660-foot wide circular roof and is 710 feet in diameter, with a playing field that is twenty-five feet below the ground, and a parking lot that had to have thirty thousand parking spaces. An eighteen-story building could fit inside of it.

I remember running down the ramps of the Astrodome, which as a little girl was very exciting. Fighting through the crowds and looking for our seats was a memorable thing on the first visit to the Astrodome. As a big fan of the Astros, I would get to the baseball games early in order to receive the free items they were giving to the first hundred people. The loud noise of the fans reminded me that I really was at a baseball game, of course, not all the games were successful, but being in the Astrodome was good enough.

Many stadiums only focus on one sport or event, not the Astrodome. Baseball games are not the only events; they also have football and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The Rodeo is held once a year and is full of excitement. The part of the Rodeo that I most look forward to is the concert that is held at the end of the Rodeo. The only times that I step foot in the dome is when a baseball game or the Rodeo is going on. Those are two main events that I always looked forward to, and still do, even though the Astrodome is no longer the home of the Astros. The Astrodome has a great history behind it.

April 9, 1965, marked the first baseball game to be played at the Astrodome; it was the Astros versus the Yankees. The field was made of natural grass; in order for the grass to grow there were 4,796 clear plastic roof panes. The sunlight going through the roof panes would blind many outfielders who were trying to catch the ball. Many changes were made to accommodate the baseball players, but the grass was dying. A nylon grass called the “Astroturf” was installed in order to make the grass look beautiful. The Astrodome was the first stadium in the country that used separate Astroturf for baseball and football. The Astroturf was later replaced with magic carpet. The Astrodome was also the home of two football teams, the University of Houston and the Houston Oilers. The stadium needed to increase their capacity, a sixty million expansion project enlarged seating capacity. Sixty six new sky boxes were added on the club level. Two external pedestrian ramps and the dirt floor were replaced with concrete. The Astrodome scoreboard and home run spectacular were replaced by two Diamond Vision screens, a large matrix board, two auxiliary matrix boards and a game in progress board. Two manually operated, out of town scoreboards giving inning by inning scores of games in progress, were incorporated into the outfield wall. By the mid 1990’s the Astros wanted a new stadium. The hitters complain that the ball did not seem to carry well at all, and the visibility was poor, which in turn gave them trouble picking up the rotation of the baseball once it was released from the pitcher’s hand. The generally high number of strike-outs supported the statement that was made. The last Astros game at the Astrodome was on October 9, 1999. A year later, the team moved into Minute Maid Park in downtown Houston.

One of the main purposes to the dome was to attract attention not only for baseball but for the city. The stadium will not be popular if it is not distinguished by a small detail; the shape is not a small detail. Is the shape the only thing that attracts us to the Astrodome? I think the shape is the first thing that we look at, but the size is also incredible. The stadium cannot be replicated because it has many details. The Astrodome reminds me of outer space because of the word “Astros,” in which I imagine the dome as a plate that is floating in space. The Astrodome was the place to play ball.

The Astrodome will always be the first stadium that I set a foot in. I had many memorable moments at the Astrodome. I always had a fun time at the Astrodome no matter what event was going on. I really enjoyed sitting in those cushioned seats eating nachos and peanuts while watching a baseball game which most people do when they attend a baseball game. A game should be full of excitement unless your team is losing. An exception should be made because you are under the dome. A new modern stadium like Minute Maid Park can never be compared to the Astrodome. The Astrodome will always remain in people lives and will always be remembered.

MAP:

LINKS:

The Astrodome

Ballparks

Judge Roy Hofheinz

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Houston Astros