Wednesday Night Photo Post: Super Chicken

Super Chicken And Rice - Houston, TX 3, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

It was overcast and yet the sun was in front of me. Made for a less-than-ideal photo op, but this is the shot. I love the chicken and was happy to see it on a random drive.

Stay Classy, 1953

Wait 'Til 3-D Gets These!, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Rolling With Sig: Driving "Old" Houston

One of my latest ventures has been reading the columns of Houston Press writer Sigman Byrd. Over fifty years ago, he was walking parts of the city that many would avoid if they could. He made a point of getting to know the people and places that would never make history but made for interesting tales. It was in "The Stroller" that he would recount the misfortunes and good news, the sadness and small victories of people that had the deck stacked against them.

With a map of some of the places mentioned in his columns, I drove parts of the city that I never have need to visit. And it was great. A combination of lovely evening weather, only slightly rude drivers and new neighborhoods put me in a great mood.

One thing I felt closer to was why Sig wrote about a city that was so hard on so many people. I drove unfamiliar roads, and would get to a big intersection and see the towers of Downtown. The skyline was a familiar landmark that would appear in the wide streets only to be hidden by passing trees, run down cottages, abandoned storefronts, taco trucks, churches, factories, etc. Around 7pm, the golden hour took hold, and gave the city some extra warmth. I took the one good picture of the evening, and that was good enough for me. It was the cycle of getting lost and finding a familiar and comforting sight that put me a positive spin on my often terrible sense of direction. While I won't be going through a pair of shoes every couple of months, I hope to put some miles on the car getting acquainted with neighborhoods Sig strolled.

"The King Midas of Smith St." - The Stroller - Houston Press, Pg. 10 - Friday, Sept. 18, 1953, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

"The House That Screamed at Night" - The Stroller - Houston Press, Pg. 11 - Monday, July 20, 1953, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

"Four Underlings of the Tradewinds" - The Stroller - Houston Press, Pg. 11 - Tuesday, May 12, 1953, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

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Also see: Facebook | Sig Byrd's Houston

Wednesday Night Photo Post: Melton Steel

Melton Steel - Houston, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Cult Cuisine in West Houston

Found on Metafilter, this Houston Press post about dining in a cult-owned restaurant had me smile at the oddness of modern life in general and my city in particular.  It also made me hungry.

Houston, Home to Museums of the Odd

I do like this city, it fosters strangeness. And has for sometime. There was the
Hyde Park Miniature Museum, which was in the news in 1947 (St. Petersburg Times), 1974 (Texas Monthly), and 2002 (New York Times). David David (yup, twice) Smiley had a lovely collection of small things and put them on display in his house. NarrowLarry has a nice collection of pix, and his Facebook post was the catalyst for this blog entry.

I've been thinking about some lesser -known museums in Houston, like the Houston Maritime Museum, the newly relocated Police Museum, and the Gulf Coast Museum of Electronics. But the long-gone Hyde Park Miniature Museum definitely looks like a place I would have truly appreciated.

Thursday Afternoon Photo Post: The Artery & Scrap Daddy Studio

I love Houston's randomness and its ability to foster strange environments. As we hunt for a house, we have found such places is some of the city's more residential area's. Between W. Belfort and Willowbend, there's a stretch of undeveloped greenland where high-voltage power-lines run. And grazing in that area are horses. The juxtaposition is great (and in need of a photograph.)

Like the electric horseland, random driving around Houston found me stumbling across the Scrap Daddy studios. The mix of industrial and residential made it less surprising, but still totally enjoyable. Lastly, I was directed by a colleague to search out The Artery. This is a hidden little eden, looking much like an abandoned property. Its not, and will be worth another visit.

The Artery - Houston, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

The Artery - Houston, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Outside of the Scrap Daddy Studio - Houston, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Outside of the Scrap Daddy Studio - Houston, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Outside of the Scrap Daddy Studio - Houston, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Upcoming Apple Store Visit: Do I Have To?!

Soon I will be in the presence of the iPad (runs on rainbows and unicorn tears, cures cancer, etc...) when I visit the Apple store next.  A laptop problem meant dropping the computer off to Apple last week.  With the iPads debut on the weekend, that might explain why the repair is taking on the long side of the estimate.  I'll be curious to get my mitts on one, to see how the hype stands up.  SketchBook Pro is now on it, and I'll be curious when something like Garageband/Logic (MIDI music creation software) arrives.  A lack of funds will still keep me from getting one, but still... to dream.

But if the insanity is still running strong, I may enter the store only to be swallowed up by it.  If that's the case, I send love to wife and daughter safe in the knowledge that I will be in a better (and nicely designed) place.

And if I do get out alive, I'll be going to second-best store in the Galleria Mall.

Zoe and Buc-ee with Lego Storm Trooper - Lego Store @ The Galleria - Houston, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

An iPad In Houston: New Tech in Town

I know who's house I'm going to break into. (I kid!)

Dr. Mac: Apple's iPad is better than expected | TechBlog | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Wednesday Night Photo Post: Winter PIcture of a Houston Oddity

No. 7: Scene after Snow-storm  , originally uploaded by CAR Julia.

I love this place.  And I love CAR Julia's picture of the abandoned Chong Hua Sheng Mu Holy Palace.

Endangered Attraction: Austin's Cathedral of Junk (Part 2 - Photos)

The following photos are from a selection from the latest trip. Here are all my 2010 and 2009 Cathedral of Junk photos.

A Bad Sign, Cathedral of Junk - Austin, TX - 2010, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

No More Shed, Cathedral of Junk - Austin, TX - 2010, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Cathedral of Junk - Austin, TX - 2010, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

That's Me in the Picture, Cathedral of Junk - Austin, TX - 2010, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Vince's Truck, Cathedral of Junk - Austin, TX - 2010 2, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Cathedral of Junk - Austin, TX - 2010, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Endangered Attraction: Austin's Cathedral of Junk (Part 1 - No Photos)

Austin's Cathedral of Junk has survived decades of Texas weather to only be possibly done in by a single complaint.  The city received a recent complaint purportedly from a visitor stating that they felt unsafe after going through the cathedral.  My personal first thought was that it's someone with an ax to grind, but granted the structure feels precarious and does not evoke feelings of safety.  So, don't go!  The place was found in violation (no surprise, codes weren't intended with an attraction such as this in mind) and Vince Hannemann has until the end of March to bring the Cathedral up to code or demo the whole place.

I found this out on Thursday, the first day of a three day trip spent in Austin.  So, I had to visit the CoJ on Friday.  It had already undergone some transformation since my March 2009 visit, gone was access to the upper tiers and demolished was the visitor's center shed.

I have no hopes about this surviving without the intervention of higher ups.  When I was there, Vince was heading out to a meeting with the mayor (and/or the mayor's office.)  I wished him well, knowing it was all I could do.  

I'll be posting a Part 2 to this post, Flickr has been cranky with online editing.  Once those pix are looking right, they'll be here on the blog.

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News coverage (with video):

Cathedral of Junk in peril due to code violations - News 8

Volunteers hope to save Cathedral of Junk - News 8

Wednesday Night Photo Post: Art Overhead at Rice

Rice Mosaic, originally uploaded by Tom Haymes.

Wednesday Night Photo Post: Tet Fest & Chua Linh Son Temple

Tet_bw1, originally uploaded by hoanghuymanh images.

Tet_bw5, originally uploaded by hoanghuymanh images.

Tet Festival in Black and White, and more at Manh and Lieu Photography.

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Also, from Flickr user mlsnp, a gorgeous set of the Chua Linh Son Temple.