If there’s anything we’ve learned since Al Gore invented the forest, it’s that fire is as much a symbol of rebirth as it is anything else. With the Valentine’s Day fire at Sullivan’s Steakhouse making the well-liked restaurant close its doors for the time being, it made us wonder what other recent fires at Houston hotspots created a burning in their fans for the doors to reopen renewed.
The summer months have to be hell on those food trucking around town. Unfortunately for Houston food truckateurs, it’s the longest season and upon us already. For us lovers of food truck fare, we’re lucky because one of the wheeled steel cabins slinging good grub is willing to fight for our right to party. Eatsie Boys cruises the streets of Houston finding sometimes-homes to set up shop and serve inspired cuisine in checkered paper boats. Not only that, they’re Beastie-Boys-cliche friendly. A (lazy) writer’s dream.
Welcome to “The Original” H-Town Showdown series. Our brackets are seeded and the contenders for the title are ready to go. Each Wednesday we’ll present another match-up. There will be four weeks of voting for each competition in each round. So rally up your friends, followers and fans. This will be a true test of attrition.
With this weekend marking the 39th Annual Buffalo Bayou Regatta, we thought we’d bring you a topical showdown this week. Seeded against the ever-popular Greek Festival, maybe the topical nature of the Regatta will propel it to victory. Or, perhaps Houston’s love of Windex and hairy chests will lead the Greek Festival to a decisive, ouzo-soaked win. Opa!
The door sticks when you try to push it open and doesn’t shut without a good shove, but that’s as much of a comment on the new coats of paint the frame is wearing as it is the dipping temperatures. It’s just nice to have a door to walk through after the fire crept over from the antique shop and ravaged Agora on the night of Halloween. Two and a half months has surely felt like an eternity for the owners, employees and the faithful lovers of the Greek coffee shop on Westheimer.
We’re dissolving two of our favorite columns, Your Regular Scoop of Houston and Procrastinator’s Plan, and giving them a new look this year. Gone is the single serving of events in Houston. Here is five-times-a-week battery of things to do. We will publish a few events every morning. If we’ve missed something let us know with an email to contact@theloopscoop.com or tweet at us @TheLoopScoop.
“You’re going to have to find a new hangout,” said the text message I read on Sunday morning through a glassy-eyed hangover.
“What do you mean?” I asked in response.
“Agora burned down last night.”
The idea of taking the stage holding a hot mic and the attention of the crowd is an intoxicating one. Unfortunately, it usually takes being quite intoxicated in order to conquer the butterflies that come with the limelight. That’s why karaoke bars are a godsend for the drunken rock star in all of us, no matter how well they hide behind our inhibitions.
I’ve been chastised by our group on several occasions for not having enough coffee shops on our list of places for The Loop Scoop. As it turns out, I’m like Abe Froman, the Coffee Shop King of Houston. There’s no reason to be snooty. Snooty? Snotty. They’re coming soon enough. For now, here are our top coffee shops of 2009. Did we leave your favorite off the list? Too bad.
