I remember when Mrs. Hollenbach told me that I could chew gum unless I had brought enough for everybody, but that was in the second grade!  Now that I’ve grown up, I just assumed everyone was responsible for providing their own gum.  Am I charged with providing gum to my seatmate or should I follow elementary school logic and bought enough gum for everyone .

The only other similar product would be cigarettes and though I don’t smoke, I know people who do and I’ve been around them when complete strangers have bummed cigarettes.  The difference between cigarettes and gum is that there’s a camaraderie amongst smokers, like a clandestine little club, all members of an outlaw group of society.  Everyone chews gum.  Sure some chew more than others, but have you ever known anyone to turn you down when you offer them a piece of gum?  No.  If you offer a piece, everyone always accepts.

Granted, gum has come a long way.  Flavor crystals, taste that lasts forever, and  gums that cleanse your mouth have upped the ante, but show hesitation at giving in to someone’s supplication and the common refrain is “it’s just a piece of gum.”  It might not have been a huge deal when a pack of gum was 25 cents, but with packs costing a few dollars, you realize that the inflation rate on “just a piece of gum” is astronomical.  My stance is that if you wanted a piece bad enough, then you can go out and buy your own pack!  If that makes me a bad person, then so be it.

Check out the rest of ic-db’s photostream:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22814080@N04/

[Submit your photos to our group on Flickr: The Loop Scoop Photogs.]

All Hands on Deck
The best thing to do after a hard week of work is to go out and get a massage, or at least that’s what I’m told. I’ve got a thing about strangers putting there hands all over my body. I prefer to rub myself… er… oh never mind. If you’re cool with someone else putting their hands all over you, definitely head out to one of the many spas that offer full body rub downs and let them ease the stress away. One of the best in Houston is the Heights Massage and Day Spa. With a wide array of offerings from Deep Tissue Massage (in a room full of kleenex?) to Sports Massage (being rubbed while watching sports?) to Pregnancy Massage (a rubdown that leaves you expecting?), they’ll rub you any way you like.

Hey Booboo
Another popular way to relax that I’ve never really taken to is Yoga. As you can tell, I’m old school when it comes to rest and relaxation, preferring to drink myself black out drunk, so that I have no choice but to fall into an inebriated sleep, otherwise known as passing out. You’d be surprised at how rested you feel after the hangover wears off. If you’re more into the spiritual and rejuvenating affects that Yoga offers, seek out the nearest Yogi and follow him. Just not to the picnic basket. Check out the Yoga Institute where their classes have been designed to inspire, strengthen and empower you. That sure sounds refreshing.

Sitting by the Dock of the… Creek?
If you are like me and you prefer your relaxation to come in a long neck bottle, Cedar Creek is the place to go. Like a Hill Country Oasis nestled in the middle of Houston, it’s the perfect place to gather with friends and lazily watch a weekend afternoon fade into the inky black of night. Okay, so it probably wont get dark enough to see stars, but you can pretend, dammit! The other option is to run head first into a wall, but I wouldn’t suggest that. With a good selection of draft beers, the Creek offers seating outside (sorry, no hammocks) that overlook the small creek that runs by the bar. If you prefer to sit inside, take up residence on one of the couches and you’ll feel like you’re in your living room, only cooler and hopefully, with pants on.

Phoenicia, a Night in and a Movie
Sometimes weekends are good for staying. After all of the rain this week, it seems some week nights would have been perfect for such a thing as well. Before the will to leave your home, well, leaves you, head down to Phoenicia Foods, with this recipe and take advantage of the 5500 square feet of international ingredients and products. After this part of your mission has been accomplished, head to Red Box, Blockbuster (before they disappear because of bankruptcy), your Netflix Instant Queue, and rent a a flick called Ghost Town or something else, no offense will be taken here if you’re not a Ricky Gervais fan.

Put on Your Boots
Nothing like ending your week with a little two-stepping, beer, and friends. Two great shows this weekend at the Firehouse Saloon with Jason Boland playing Friday night and Brandon Rhyder taking the stage on Saturday. Both shows start at 9:15pm with the headline acts going on at 11:15pm. Grab a date, put on your boots, and take in some great Texas acts!

Here’s how it will work:

1) Send an email to contact@theloopscoop.com
2) Include your story of 100 words about Lone Star Beer.
3) Include your name and address (or if you want to pick them up in person).
4) Wait for it. Wait for it. Seriously, just wait for Tuesday to see you win.

Stories can be about:

- Your first time. Drinking Lone Star, of course… even though that story might coincide with your “first time” story, we don’t want those.
- Why you love the National Beer of Texas.
- Your favorite place to drink Lone Star in Houston.
- Or, just use your imagination. We’re pro-creative (see what I did there?) around here.

By the way, there was no winner last week. NO WINNER LAST WEEK! Go back by and check it out to sneak a guess.

Here are the rules:
1) View the image.
2) Try to figure out where the photo was taken.
3) Brag in the comments that you know Where’s Pauldo.
4) Win a t-shirt.

Winners, if you don’t have your t-shirts by this weekend send me an email. We’ve slowly gotten them out this week. I know you’re excited, but probably not as excited as I am to have that monkey off my back.

We’re going to have a second give away today. Stay tuned. Many, many tickets to the Lone Star Brewery Bash will be available for your winning pleasure.

Flooding in Houston has always been somewhat of an issue due to the bayou system, but it has been compounded by the growth of the city and the lack of upkeep on certain roads. Already I can hear the yelling, “but Stephan, city growth is a good thing!” Yes, growth certainly is a good thing, but it requires responsible planning and foresight.

In the early days of bayou modifications the goal was to get the water to drain faster from the watershed area and out to sea. This meant the use of concrete to channel the bayous and move the water along in a somewhat controlled manner. You see this today still, and it would be fine except for the fact that with increased growth in the far reaches of the city there is increased runoff. With more water in the bayous it becomes more difficult for water to drain from the streets at a rate consistent with rainfall.

The bayous are not the only problem though, the city is partially to blame as well as the we, the residents. There are numerous areas where the drainage system is either backed up or is not big enough to handle the large amounts of water. I-45 at Tidwell is one of the first that comes to mind. That area seems to be flooded any time there is more than an inch of rain. I-10 at Wayside also has issues with drainage but the city seems to have caught on and updated it slightly. And major intersections aren’t the only flooding prone areas, just look at Montrose and Allen Parkway or good chunks of Westheimer near Lamar High School or even North Main north of Cavalcade.

The city seems to take these flooded areas seriously, but only while they’re flooded. After the water is gone a collective amnesia comes over the public works folks and nothing is done until the next heavy rain event. I give the city workers credit though, I saw them out unclogging drainage grates yesterday and they were working as quickly as possible. Without full responsibility resting on the city workers we have to look for another culprit to share the blame.

This is where we, the inhabitants of our city come in. Throw your trash away. Pick up trash that you see on your street. Pick up yard clippings and debris. All of this contributes to street flooding by clogging the drainage grates on neighborhood streets and in some cases freeways. At I-10 and Lockwood yesterday there was a lot of high water. The city workers came out and used long steel poles to unclog the drain and within five minutes there was no water on the roadway. Maybe we just need that Star Wars thing – not the Rancor nor the burger that carries its name – that lived in the giant garbage compactor sitting in the drain pipes, fixing all of our problems.

There are a lot of culprits in the high water times of Houston and of course we can do our part, but should we be pushing the city to do more to fix these issues? Maybe a visit to a council meeting is the next step. I mean, some find it entertaining to watch the news at night and see people pushing their cars through four feet of water at a busy intersection, me, I just see it as unnecessary. Sure, those people should know better than to drive through that much water, but there shouldn’t be that much water on the road in the first place, especially not during what most would consider a “normal” rain event.

Maybe I’m just worried about bull sharks swimming up our bayous and devouring me, but I think the street flooding is something the city could certainly take a serious look at and consider fixing.

Contender #1: Sugarcane
From the guts of Corkscrew springs life eternal and a new kid on the artisanal block. Sugarcane is chasing eco-friendly trends as they carefully craft organic cocktails with a menagerie of funky juice and ingredient combinations. And they do so with artsy gusto; the pieces on the walls are for sale, naturally, but Sugarcane comes full circle by pumping profits into the artists’ favorite charities. If sustainability is the name of the game for a new generation, Sugarcane is playing for keeps.

Contender #2: Anvil Bar & Refuge
After being on the scene for more than a year now, it’s difficult to continue to refer to Anvil Bar & Refuge as a plucky upstart. What started out as a niche for premium cocktails has turned into a burgeoning market. Anvil is at the head of this growing Leviathan. They take just as much care in each cocktail served as they did the space they renovated and the obsession they continue to cultivate. Pre-prohibition cocktails couldn’t have asked for a better Houston hero.

The Final Jabs
- With success comes entirely too crowded weekends at Anvil.
- Local beer (Sugarcane) or exotic micro brews (Anvil): Who ya got?
- Sugarcane is still just Corkscrew, albeit new drink-type and new paint.
- Parking your own car at Sugarcane avoids the annoyance of Anvil’s valet.
- Obscure indie tunes at Anvil for the win.
- Lack of seating at Anvil for the loss.
- Montrose… ick!
- Washington… ugh!
- Sure Sugarcane is organic, but are the cocktails actually good?
- What gives first because of the throngs at Anvil: quality cocktails or personable bartenders?

“Where should we go?” I am not one to turn down a free meal with such fine company.

“Paul’s always talking about Jenni’s Noodle House. We may as well check it out and cross it off the list. It has appeared in The Week That Was a time or two.” The decision is made. Getting in the car, we cruise the familiar streets making our way to 20th St. and head east to Jenni’s.

The parking lot sits half empty at 6:00 p.m., a pleasant surprise as I was under the impression that the AARP dinner rush would hinder our haste to sweet noodle consumption. We are lucky this time, but I will always be careful of treading on the walker-wielders’ turf especially when it comes to early dinners.

We enter through the glass door into a rush of cool air and bright, neon colors shouting from the walls. The only thing toning these hues down are the large, elegant, black and white images hung throughout the dining area. We hesitantly walk to the small shelf not ten feet in front of the cash register, where to-go menus, eating-in menus, and even a picture book menu rest.

“How are you folks doing?” asks the genuinely friendly lady behind the counter.

“Dandy!”

“Is this your first time at Jenni’s?”

“It certainly is.” I wonder if I look that doe-eyed; not ready to accept the cashier’s observation.

As she greets the other bewildered couple next to us we comb through the menu. My wife casually flips through the picture book that inconveniently makes everything look more than delicious. Vietnamese Egg Rolls, Disco Dumplings, Dream Rolls and Suhm Spring Rolls… Uh, yes, please! Okay, so we don’t require starters, but if we did, I would order the heck out of those. I’m tempted to make my meal out of appetizers.

We both put on our game faces and move into the serious decision making process. With names like Super Logan, Big Jim’s Cup-O Pho and Teddy’s Not Gay Noodles, I figure ordering based on title is a safe, if not encouraged, practice. Teddy’s Not Gay Noodles it is! My wife takes the more logical approach after evaluating her selection on paper and in picture, even taking the time to ask the cashier about her preference. Stir Me Crazy catapults up the charts as my wife’s choice. We add two lime-aids, grab our number and pay.

Upon sitting down near the window so that no people may go unwatched, we wait hungrily for our food, sipping fresh lime-aid heavy with additional, fresh lime slices. Not eight minutes go by before our food is brought out in two large bowls by one of the friendly red-shirted staff. He smiles broadly just as excited about the food as we are. He asks if we need anything else and retreats to the kitchen to bring out a bowl for the next customer.

We begin eating our food with what it was intended – chopsticks… and a lack of coordination. My blind choice of Teddy’s Not Gay Noodles turns out to be a good one. Tofu, buckwheat vermicelli, lettuce, sprouts, cucumbers, pickled carrots and roasted peanuts with a side of jalapeno soy sauce. It easily purchases a plot in the vegetarian side of my heart, fenced off from predominantly barbecue real estate.

My wife’s Stir Me Crazy is also delicious. With rice noodles, shiitake, bamboo, snow peas, sprouts, and chicken with fish sauce, there is no room for disappointment even though both the lady that took our order and the gentleman that brought us our food come by to ask us how the food tastes. We’re hardly able to answer not wanting to take time between bites.

With appetites sated and thirsts quenched, we agree that we made the right choice for our impromptu outing. Relishing the aftertaste, I look to the walls. My eyes dart from one large black and white photo to another, admiring the scenes of a Vietnamese life so foreign to me, much like the food we’ve just inhaled.

Jenni’s Noodle House is a welcome change up from the usual pizza, Mexican or burger steadfasts we commonly turn to. I realize at this point I’ve zoned out. My eyes stare vaguely at a family across the room. It’s their curious annoyed look and pause from eating that alert me out of my creepiness. My embarrassment is reason enough for us to leave.

——————————————————————————————————————————–

Where – 3111 Shepherd Dr. at Alabama, 2027 Post Oak Blvd. at Westheimer, or 602 East 20th St. at Oxford St. (View Maps)
What – Vietnamese creations that may or may not consist of scrumptious noodles
Wear – Just about anything
How Much – Affordable
When – (Shepherd Location: Monday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Sundays 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.) (Post Oak Location: Monday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sundays 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.) (East 20th Location: Monday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sundays 11:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.)
Web – Website, Twitter, and Facebook

[Something we missed? Tell us in the comments or become a contributor.]

Brennan’s of Houston to Host First Annual Ex-Crab-Aganza

–
Tuesday, September 7, 2010 through September 21, 2010 Lunch: Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Brunch: Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Dinner: Monday through Sunday from 5:45 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (You’ll most likely want to make a reservation. Call 713.522.9711., to do so)
–
Brennan’s of Houston [3300 Smith St.]
Where: Montrose
How much? $39.00 per person. Wine pairings are available.
Can I eat there? Yes, it’s blue crab season, which gets the folks over at Brennan’s all fired up. Three courses of delicious cuisine gets us fired up!
Can I drink there? Yes.
From where did we Scoop this event? Here.

Rahul Mitra’s Dialogues of Disparate Worlds at UH Clear Lake

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Tuesday, September 7, 2010 through October 8, 2010 or Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Friday, 9:00 a.m. till Noon
–
University of Houston – Clear Lake Bayou Building, Atrium I, Second Level [2700 Bay Area Blvd.]
Where: Clear Lake
How much? Free
Can I eat there? No, the art being displayed here is far more fascinating than the food in the vending machines. Eat ahead of time if your hunger is persistent, here or here. Sure those locations are not immediately close, but you might as well try one while you’re down there, no?
Can I drink there? No.
From where did we Scoop this event? Here.

Bernar Venet’s Monumental Sculpture Exhibit

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Tuesday, September 7, 2010 through September 25, 2010
–
Hermann Park [6201-A Hermann Park Dr.]
Where: The Medical Center
How much? Free
Can I eat there? No, view these larger than life sculptures, join in an experience that only a handful of other cities in the world have been a part of. Peruse this collection of “action sculpture in slow motion” or check out our impression on the Hermann Park Conservancy Photo Essay.
Can I drink there? No.
From where did we Scoop this event? Here.

Houston’s Farmer’s Market at Rice University

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Tuesday, September 7, 2010 from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
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Rice University [1600 Main Street]
Where: West University
How much? Price varies upon quantity purchased. Expect to pay a few dollars more per item than you would at Kroger.
Can I eat there? You’ll be picking up food for your weekly meals. You can wait.
Can I drink there? Drink it all in.
From where did we Scoop this event? Here.

“Nobody Needs to Know the Price of your Saab” Works by Gabriel Kuri

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Wednesday, September 8, 2010 through November 13, 2010, Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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Blaffer Gallery, The Art Museum of the University of Houston 1200 Fine Arts Building
Where: University of Houston Main Campus
How much? Free
Can I eat there? No, this is about consumerism. So, consume the consumerist conscious art.
Can I drink there? No.
From where did we Scoop this event? Here.

The Russian Cultural Center Hosts “Beyond the Frames,” Works by Vladimir Frumin

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Thursday, September 9, 2010 through September 30, 2010 or Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
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Russian Cultural Center Our Texas [2337 Bissonnet Houston, TX 77005]
Where: Downtown
How much? Free
Can I eat there? No, “but the provocative series of images which takes a classical subject, the women’s figure, and treats it in a sculptural manner that applies Renaissance principals of lighting and shade,” should take the kick out of your hunger.
Can I drink there? Yes, wine.
From where did we Scoop this event? Here (Facebook).

Dolls Now at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft

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Thursday, September 9, 2010 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
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Houston Center for Contemporary Craft [4848 Main Street]
Where: The Museum District
How much? Free, totally free. No admission charge!
Can I eat there? No, instead allow Afrodet to fill you in on what you’ll be consuming, “It’s an exhibition of imaginative art dolls handcrafted by members of the Texas Association of Original Doll Artists.”
Can I drink there? No.
From where did we Scoop this event? Loopster, Afrodet, told us.

Saint Boniface’s Last Days: Works by Peat Duggen

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Friday, September 10, 2010,Opening Reception from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and an Artist Talk on Saturday, September 11, 2010, at 2:00 p.m.
–
Lawndale Art Center [3913 Main St.]
Where: The Museum District
How much? Free
Can I eat there? No. Instead, peruse the sculptures and installations presented to you.
Can I drink there? Yes.
From where did we Scoop this event? Here.

University of Houston Football vs. University of Texas – El Paso

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Friday, September 10, 2010 at 9:00 p.m.
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Robertson Stadium – the University of Houston – Main Campus [3875 Holman St.]
Where: The University of Houston – Main Campus
How much? $25.00 to $90.00
Can I eat there? Yes, concessions will be available, but you’re better off tailgating. Who knows, you might run into one of us?
Can I drink there? Yes, peas and carrots here, folks.
From where did we Scoop this event? Here.

Exhibitions at Lawndale Art Center

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Friday, September 10, 2010 through September 25, 2010, or Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
–
Lawndale Art Center [4912 Main Street]
Where: The Museum District
How much? Free
Can I eat there? No, you’ve got the art of Boozefox in the M. O’Quinn Gallery, Robert Jackson Harrington transforming the Mezzanine Gallery, Tobiah Mundt with whimsical creatures in the Grace R. Cavnar Gallery, Logan Sebastian Beck documenting an incredible adventure in the Project Space, and the work of Nancy Douthey can be seen in the Snack Project gallery. Food just won’t matter during all of these experiences.
Can I drink there? Yes.
From where did we Scoop this event? Here (Facebook).

Dante Marioni: Recent Glass Works

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Friday, September 10, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
–
Wade Wilson Art Gallery [Montrose, Suite 200b]
Where: The Museum District
How much? Free
Can I eat there? No, the glass works of Dante Marioni ought to dash those hunger pains while inside the gallery.
Can I drink there? Yes.
From where did we Scoop this event? Here.

A5: The Annual Affordable Australian Aboriginal Art Fair (Two Weeks Left)

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Friday, September 10, 2010 through September 11, 2010, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or Wednesday through Saturday, and by appointment.
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The Booker Lowe Gallery [4623 Feagan St.]
Where: The Heights
How much? Free
Can I eat there? No, there’s much more to see here than food.
Can I drink there? No.
From where did we Scoop this event? Here.

Houston Athletic Rugby Club vs. Baton Rouge Rugby Club

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Saturday, September 11, 2010 from 1:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
–
Westland Family YMCA [10402 Fondren Rd.]
Where: Greater Fondren Area, South West Houston, Worth the Drive
How much? Free,
Can I eat there? Yes, you’ll need to bring your own picnic. Perhaps in that same basket you also bring your knowledge of the terms scrum, ruck and maul. It’s part of a well balanced diet.
Can I drink there? Yes, the peas and carrots referred to earlier with college football and tailgating, applies here as well.
From where did we Scoop this event? Here.

Rockefeller’s – A Visual History

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Saturday, September 11, 2010, Artist’s Reception 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Open to the Public.
–
Cactus Music & Record Ranch [2110 Portsmouth St.]
Where: Shepherd and Farnham
How much? Free
Can I eat there? No, with images of Jimmie Vaughan, Richard Thompson, Warren Zevon, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, ZZ Top, Kris Kristofferson, Joe Ely, Albert King and many more all on display, food will be an afterthought.
Can I drink there? Yes, courtesy of Saint Arnolds. However if you’ve still not quenched that thirst after the clock strikes 10, you might venture to McElroy’s or the Stag’s Head.
From where did we Scoop this event? Here.

Fahrenheit 9/11 Fashion Show and Art Show

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Saturday, September 11, 2010, from 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
–
War’Hous Visual Studios [4715 Main St.]
Where: The Museum District
How much? Free
Can I eat there? No. They will however be featuring Danny Nguyen’s couture line, as well as the work of some up and coming local artists.
Can I drink there? Yes.
From where did we Scoop this event? Here.

Thanks to Afrodet for her contribution on this week’s Scoop.

Mom’s serving roasted chicken… and peas. Meatloaf? Peas were right there with it. Chicken pot pie? Peas waiting to surprise you. Steak? Mashed potatoes and PEAS! Even on special spaghetti nights those little green pieces of hell sneaked in to the meal. Carbonara almost ended up on my hated list, which would have been a travesty.

It would be easy to point at the frequency of peas recurring in my meal as the reason for my malice against the vegetable. Not so. Every time we had peas we also had corn. Give me some corn and I’m a happy man. Green peas have a special place in my black, cold, loathsome heart.

What did peas ever do to me? Oh, nothing at all except arrive on my plate with their “strength in numbers” approach, looking smug and unattainable. “You’ll never get us on your fork,” they scowl up at me with their slightly shriveled faces. “I didn’t want you on my fork anyway, you pompous pieces of…” Where was I?

Besides tasting like ladybugs, the number one issue with eating peas is their obnoxious spherical shape. Do you expect me to bust out the spoon just so that I can eat my side dish? When a steak rests triumphant in front of you it demands only two things (if you’re not eating it with your hands as is the way God intended): a fork and a knife. Spoons are for soup, ice cream and scooping the still beating heart out of your foe. I’ll let the shrimp have their own fork, but there is no way peas are getting a spoon all to themselves.

So there I was, a child faced with a dilemma. Don’t eat the peas and you won’t be getting dessert. Try to eat the peas and they’ll roll off the grooves in your fork like carpet bombs over Dresden, wreaking havoc on your mashed potato volcano. When peas are involved everyone’s a loser.

Over the years I’ve learned to love my vegetables. Who knows, I might even make a move to vegetarianism one day. (HA! Not likely!) One thing for certain, I will always have an anti-peas stance. “No peas on earth.” Loopsters, are you with me?