Houston View

Museum of Printing History

Cathy Stucker — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:33:47 +0000

Everything you ever wanted to know about printing, from ancient books, to early printing presses, on through the first Xerox machines! There are vintage printing presses that are used to demonstrate historical printing techniques, such as how documents were printed in colonial times. The Museum offers classes on printing, papermaking and bookbinding, too.

There are traveling and rotating exhibitions of fine art prints, rare books and manuscripts, and artifacts. One of my favorites of the permanent exhibits is the miniature book collection. True miniature books do not exceed three inches in length, and the detail and beauty of these small wonders must be seen to be appreciated. There are also colorful illuminated manuscripts from the Middle Ages and much more.

The Museum will customize tours for groups, or just come and explore on your own.

The Museum features artifacts such as:

Mesopotamian Cylinder Seals
Ancient Papyrus Fragments
Asian Movable Type & early Asian Printing
Illuminated Manuscripts
1450 Gutenberg Press Replica
Old Master Etchings & Engravings
Ben Franklin’s “Pennsylvania Gazette”
Historical Newspapers
Documents printed by Samuel Bangs, first printer in Texas, with one of his presses
1830 Star-wheel Oak Lithography Press
Letterpress & Type Collection
Antique Bookbinding Equipment

Museum of Printing History
1324 W. Clay at Waugh, Houston, Texas
713-522-4652
Open Tues.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m
Admission: Free. Guided tours are available for $4 (Adults) and $2 (Students and Seniors). Call to schedule tours.
http://www.printingmuseum.org

From the intersection of Westheimer and Montrose, go west on Westheimer to Waugh. Turn right on Waugh, past West Gray, to West Clay. Turn right on West Clay. There is free parking in the lot next to the museum, in the lot across the street and on the street.

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Goode Company Texas BBQ

Mike Riccetti — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:01:17 +0000

The overwhelming popularity of the informal, attractive Goode Co. Barbecue restaurants is exceedingly well deserved. These are the best overall barbecue restaurants in the area.

The brisket, which in Texas is barbecue, is fantastic. Only strict barbecue purists would find any significant point for which to quibble. The brisket is green-mesquite smoked for eighteen hours and exceedingly moist, tender, and delicious. As with any excellent brisket, knives are rarely required to cut it, and sauce is not really required. In addition to brisket, the house-made Czech and Jalapeno Pork Sausages, the spicy pork, and the turkey are especially flavorful. They also serve beef ribs, chicken and duck.

In addition to the plates, the sandwiches are also a great choice. The high quality, fresh bun makes for the best brisket sandwich around. Sandwiches are also available with their wonderful jalapeno cheese bread, and in the slightly larger po boy size that also features a bun freshly made for the task. The sauce, slightly spicy with a medium consistency, though a fine complement, can probably stand a slight improvement. It’s probably the only real demerit, and a minor one at that. The meats are exemplary, especially given the broad range that are cooked.

Another difference between Goode Co. and all of the other quality barbecue joints around is the very high quality of their side dishes. These are definitely not the scooped-from-the-can beans and potato salad that you typically find at other barbecue places. There are terrific Austin Baked Beans (baked beans cooked with chunks of apple for a slightly sweet taste); excellent potato salad; flavorful jambalaya; and the aforementioned house-made jalapeno cheese bread. And for dessert, there is their legendary pecan pie.

The quality of the food is undeniable. The service is cafeteria-style. The lines are usually long during the long lunch and dinner peak times, but the proficient staff makes sure things move very quickly. This is another hallmark of the Goode Co. restaurants, professional and prompt service. These are places to grab a longneck and enjoy the best in barbecue.

Goode Co. Barbecue has three Houston locations:
5109 Kirby (between Bissonnet and Westpark), Houston, Texas 77098, (713) 522-2530
8911 Katy Freeway (east of Campbell, south side of 1-10), Houston, Texas 77024, (713) 464-1901
20102 Northwest Freeway (south of Hwy 6/FM-1960), Houston, Texas 77065, (832) 678-3562
www.goodecompany.com

Copyright Mike Riccetti. Adapted from Houston Dining on the Cheap, and used with permission.

Image credit: Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau (photographer: Michael Stencel)

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Houston Fire Museum

Cathy Stucker — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:25:52 +0000

The museum is housed in the former fire station No. 7, opened in 1899 as the first paid fire station for the City of Houston. Inside, you’ll see everything from fire fighter uniforms and helmets to fire fighting vehicles (including a 1912 water tower). Antique equipment on display at the Houston Fire Museum includes a 1937 Chevrolet pumper, an 1895 Ahrens Fox horse-drawn steamer, a 19th century hand powered pumper, as well as a 1938 REO fire truck. Also of interest is the old dispatch board, where dispatchers kept track of which units were active and where they were working.

Members of the Houston Fire Department provide guided tours, lasting about one hour, to groups. Call the museum for reservations and information.

The museum is also available for birthday parties and events. Check the website or call the museum for more information.

Houston Fire Museum, 2403 Milam, Houston, Texas
713-524-2526
Open Tues.-Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Admission: $3 Adults, $2 Seniors and Children
http://www.houstonfiremuseum.org

To reach the museum, take Milam (one way street) from downtown. The museum is on your left, at the corner of Milam and McIlhenny. Parking is available on the street.

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Kenneally’s Irish Pub

Mike Riccetti — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:05:15 +0000

It should be well known by now that Kenneally’s serves some of the best pizza in the area, though this might be surprising to the uninitiated, given the setting.

The quality of the pizza begins with the crust, which is thin, crisp and tasty. The cheese and toppings are of high quality, and are not overdone, as these are often so at other pizza places. The toppings include the usual suspects, with at least one twist that is found on the most popular pizza, the Shamrock Special. This is topped with mushrooms, onions, bell peppers and corned beef. As different as it sounds, it works very well. This is the most popular pizza at Kenneally’s.

The hamburgers are excellent. A few souls even believe that these are the real stars of the kitchen. The burgers made with a hand-crafted patty that remains juicy underneath the outer crust, it’s then beautifully assembled. The well-made cold sandwiches include a club, honey baked ham that is baked in-house, turkey, corned beef and a Reuben with corned beef and sauerkraut. The house-made potato chips are also excellent. These are served very fresh, hot, crunchy and with enough grease to be noticeable in the Ship Channel. The potato chips are a nice complement to the burgers and sandwiches and even just a cold Harp lager.

Unusual for most eateries, the fries at Kenneally’s are not pre-cut and frozen, but made on-site. The difference is noticeable, as the fries are quite tasty. The food is very good all around. By the way, the bar is a worthy stop even if you are not planning to stay for dinner, even if the drinks are on the small side. Kenneally’s is representative of two things that the city could use in a greater quantity: excellent pizza and good neighborhood bars (even if the pours could be heartier here).

Kenneally’s Irish Pub is located at 2111 S. Shepherd (between Westheimer and Fairview), Houston, Texas 77019.
(713) 630-0486
http://www.irishpubkenneallys.com/

Copyright Mike Riccetti. Adapted from Houston Dining on the Cheap, and used with permission.

Goode Company Texas BBQ The overwhelming popularity of the informal, attractive Goode Co. Barbecue...

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Houston Farmers’ Market

Cathy Stucker — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:11:48 +0000

Houston farmers’ markets give city folk a place to buy fresh, locally-grown produce. There are several farmers’ markets located around Houston, so there is probably one not too far from you. However, even if there is not one in your neighborhood, these markets are worth driving to.

Canino’s Produce
2520 Airline Dr., Houston TX, 77009
713-862-4027
http://www.caninoproduce.com
Open 6am to 8pm daily, except Thanksgiving, December 25th & December 26th

Canino Produce Co. has been Houston’s farmers’ market since June 1958. Over the years the size of the market has increased, and it now covers more than 20,000 square feet.

You will find lots of local and Texas fruit and vegetables at Canino, but they also bring in produce from across the U.S. and around the world. Because they are open daily, many local restaurants pick up their fresh produce here.

Urban Harvest Farmers’ Market
3000 Richmond, Houston TX, 77246
713-880-5540
http://www.urbanharvest.org/
Open Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon, rain or shine

Urban Harvest is a nonprofit organization supporting a network of urban gardens, farms and orchards that grow food in the city. Urban Harvest’s Farmers’ Market offers locally-produced vegetables, fruits and farm products once a week. Vendors include local small-scale growers and family farms. Even backyard gardeners can sell what they grow. To learn how you can sell your produce at the market, check the website. While you are shopping for fresh fruits and vegetables, you can enjoy events including live music and culinary demonstrations in which market products are used.

Midtown Farmers’ Market
3701 Travis St., Houston TX, 77002 (in the parking lot of the restaurant t’afia)
713-524-6922
Fax: 713-524-9728
http://www.tafia.com/mfm.html
Open Saturday, 8 a.m. – noon, rain or shine

The website says the Midtown Farmers’ Market is a “foodie paradise.” In addition to a selection of locally-grown fruits, herbs and vegetables, market vendors offer handcrafted prepared foods (such as sauces, dips, heat and eat meals, etc.), fresh baked breads and sweets, coffee, meats, eggs and Texas cheeses. You can even enjoy a hot breakfast and a delicious Mimosa while you shop.

This Houston farmers’ market is in the parking lot of local celebrity chef Monica Pope’s t’afia restaurant. Some vendors are located inside the restaurant. There is lots of parking available, and the nearest Metro Rail stop is the HCC/Ensemble stop.

Farmers’ Market at Clear Lake Shores
FM 2094 just west of the intersection with Clear Lake Road.
1020 Marina Bay Drive, Clear Lake Shores, TX 77565
http://sites.google.com/site/farmersmarketatcls/
Open the first and third Saturdays of each month from 8 AM to 12 PM – Rain or shine!

The Farmers Market at Clear Lake Shores is a non-profit outlet for locally-grown fruit, vegetables and other foods. The Market is operated by volunteers.

Houston Farmers’ Market
http://www.houstonfarmersmarket.com
Rice University Campus
Located at 2100 University Blvd. in the Visitors West Lot off University Blvd. (University and Stockton, 2100 University Blvd.) ENTER AT STOCKTON OFF UNIVERSITY BLVD., MAKE FIRST LEFT. OR TAKE ENTRANCE 9 AND MAKE RIGHT TURN. Parking in West Lot is free to market visitors.
Open Tuesdays from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm (winter hours), rain or shine

Open Saturdays at University & Greenbriar from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine
The Saturday Market is located at the corner of University and Greenbriar. Entrances are located on both Greenbriar and University Blvd.

The Houston Farmers’ Market was Houston’s first Texas State Certified Farmers Market. Everything sold at the market is produced within 200 miles of the city of Houston.

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Chuy’s Tex Mex Restaurants

Mike Riccetti — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:09:37 +0000

Though it doesn’t feel like a chain, Chuy’s began in Austin in the early 1980s, and it’s been a very popular part of the Houston dining landscape for quite a while. In a time where it has become fashionable to proclaim authentic or regional quality of the Mexican dishes, the food is unabashedly and stylishly kitchy Tex-Mex. And it is consistently satisfying. The ingredients are always fresh and top-notch, the cooking is well-executed, the flavors are expectedly and properly robust and the dishes are always pleasing, and large.

In addition to the well-known quality of the food, Chuy’s is very popular for being a fun and lively place in which enjoy yourself whether or not you are planning to eat. The restaurants are well crafted, intentionally tacky shrines to Elvis Presley. It helps make for a fun, and not so serious, often boisterous atmosphere.

Chuy’s provides one of the best dining values around. Most entrées, which are almost always enough food for a hungry adult, average around $10. The offerings are all of the Tex-Mex favorites. The appetizing fat-laden starters Include chile con queso, nachos, and quesadillas, and there are tacos, enchiladas, chile rellenos, and combination plates, Tex-Mex salads and fajitas, of course. The burritos advertised “Big as Your Face”, are nearly that and filled with a choice of just bean and cheese, ground beef or grilled chicken, and topped with a variety of sauces. The deep-fried version, the Chuychanga gives even more fat grams, and probably taste, for the money.

But, the enchiladas are possibly the best of the entrées at Chuy’s. The Deluxe Chicken, made with grilled chicken and the Deluxe Tomatillo sauce, might be the best of the enchilada dishes. The creamy slightly piquant Deluxe Tomatillo sauce is made with tomatillos and sour cream, and can be addictive, and it works well as a sauce for the chips. The 9-1-1 Hot Plate consists of enchiladas made with blue corn tortillas, filled with grilled chicken and topped with melted cheese and a very spicy green salsa. The Southwestern Enchiladas are stuffed with grilled chicken, green chile sauce and topped with a fried egg. In addition to the enchiladas the chile rellenos can be excellent. These consist of a large, breaded deep-fried poblano pepper cooked the familiar Tex-Mex fashion. The best of the fillings is the Shrimp and Cheese, topped, again, with Deluxe Tomatillo Sauce.

Chuy’s has several locations around Houston, as well as Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Waco and Nashville (TN).

Copyright Mike Riccetti. Adapted from Houston Dining on the Cheap, and used with permission.

Image credit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/loridstone/ / CC BY-ND 2.0

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Project Row Houses

Cathy Stucker — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 02:59:57 +0000

Project Row Houses renovated 22 shotgun houses in the Third Ward and created programs to serve the community. The Project has since grown to 40 properties from the original 22, including twelve artist exhibition and/or residency spaces, seven houses for young mothers, artist residencies, office spaces, a community gallery, a park, low-income residential and commercial spaces.

Project Row Houses has also renovated the historic Eldorado Ballroom, and holds concerts and other events at the location, known as a hot spot to see great African-American entertainers during the days of segregation. Great Houston-born musicians such as Sam “Lightning” Hopkins and Johnny “Guitar” Watson got their start at the Eldorado. The ballroom is at 2310 Elgin at Dowling, near the Project Row Houses.

Project Row Houses
2521 Holman St. Houston, Texas
713-526-7662
Open Wed.-Sun. Noon-5 p.m.
No admission charge. Donations accepted.
http://www.projectrowhouses.org

From Richmond and Montrose, go east on Richmond (which becomes Wheeler), and turn left on Dowling. Go about nine blocks, and turn right on Holman.

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Rosenberg Railroad Museum

Cathy Stucker — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:03:39 +0000

Along the railroad tracks in downtown Rosenberg (about 35 miles southwest of downtown Houston) you will find the Rosenberg Railroad Museum. Even the outside of the museum is interesting: it is a corrugated steel building painted to look like the Union Depot which was formerly located nearby.

You can walk around the grounds and view the 1879 Victorian Era Business Car, a red caboose, and Tower 17, from which towermen controlled the train traffic at the crossing of the Gulf Colorado & Santa Railroad (Santa Fe) and the Galveston Harrisburg & San Antonio Railway Company (Southern Pacific).

Inside, you’ll find exhibits including artifacts from each of the eight railroads that traversed Fort Bend County, a model railroad layout, railroad signaling artifacts, early photographs, maps, and brochures, and railroad advertising. The museum also owns a business railcar built in 1879 which is open for viewing. Guided tours are available.

Rosenberg Railroad Museum
1921 Ave F, Rosenberg, Texas
281-633-2846
http://www.rosenbergrrmuseum.org/

From southwest Houston, take the Southwest Freeway (US 59) south to Rosenberg. Exit at Highway 36 and go north about 1 mile to Avenue I. Turn right on Avenue I and go two blocks to Third Street. Turn left, go two blocks and turn left on Avenue F, just before the railroad tracks. The museum is on the corner of Avenue F and Third Street.

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McGonigel’s Mucky Duck

Mike Riccetti — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:20:39 +0000

McGonigel’s Mucky Duck, or simply the Mucky Duck, is first and foremost an excellent small showcase club for live music. It is an intimate spot to catch top regional and national acts such as Jack Ingram, Okkervill River, Kelly Willis, and the legendary Texas troubadour Alejandro Escovedo, who long ago bummed a ride on the rock ‘n’ roller coaster. But, the adept kitchen makes the Mucky Duck a worthy stop even when there are no performers. The food is far better than it has to be. The kitchen does a great job with food well-suited for the setting and the liquid offerings. This is pub fare of the quality that would be difficult to find in the less food-friendly cities on the other side of the Atlantic.

The generally hearty offerings are divided among Irish and British specialties and basic American dishes such as hamburgers, hot sandwiches and soups and salads. The Fish & Chips, made with beer-battered cod, and served with fries and cole slaw is very good, and always worth ordering, as is the similar Fish & Mash (with mashed potatoes). Another traditional pub dish that’s well prepared here is the waistline-expanding Shepherd’s Pie, ground beef and mushrooms that are topped with mashed potatoes and sprinkled with shredded cheddar cheese then baked.

If traditional pub fare does not entice, there are salads and very good Sandwiches. One of the best sandwiches is The Mark Portugal, sliced turkey with avocado slices and topped with melted Muenster cheese and a large strip of bacon on a crusty French roll that is served warm. It’s named after the former beer-loving Astros pitcher who was a regular at the Mucky Duck while he pitched here in the 1990s.

The Mucky Duck works well for lunch, dinner, or just a drink, before or after a show in the evening. There are nearly 30 beers on tap (served in proper 20-ounce Imperial pint glasses), plus a good selection in bottles, and an interesting, well-chosen, and well-explained small wine list.

McGonigel’s Mucky Duck is located at 2425 Norfolk, Houston, Texas 77098. Phone: 713-528-5999. Website: http://www.mcgonigels.com/

Copyright Mike Riccetti. Adapted from Houston Dining on the Cheap, and used with permission.

Image credit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fossilmike/ / CC BY 2.0

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David Adickes Presidential Sculptures

Cathy Stucker — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:25:11 +0000

Sculptor David Adickes is well known for several larger-than-life statues, including the giant statue of Sam Houston on I-45 in Huntsville. He has created busts of all of the presidents and they are on display in two Presidents Parks, one in Williamsburg, VA and the other in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

A third installation is planned in Pearland, Texas, near Highway 288 and the Sam Houston Tollway. Currently, there are six presidential busts on display: George H. W. Bush, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy.

To see the presidents, from the intersection of the Beltway (Sam Houston Tollway) and 288, go south on the 288 feeder road. You can’t miss the presidents.

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