New Structures, New Restaurants

Along with the highway changes along the I-10 West and Energy Corridor, have come a change of the scenery along our local streets. On Eldridge, just north of I-10, Foster Wheeler (Engineering) has placed their name on a modern new highrise just across the street from Conoco Phillips. Also on Eldridge, 1/4 mile south of I-10 are new apartments (The Broadstone) that have a modern look and feel, yet have the curb appeal of an ultra-luxury "flat" as some of our British coworkers might say.

Oh, and speaking of the British, did I mention that BP's parking garages and new trading center are shaping up well at the WestLake campus. By the way, I do miss all my coworkers there. It's been hard leaving a group of friends after 13 years of comraderie. It's a pleasure when I bump into you guys in my ramblings about the city, especially at Federal jury duty this past week.

Along Memorial between Dairy Ashford and Eldridge, we've had a new "Burger Shack" open up, apparently a favorite to the local Stratford High School teens. And south on Eldridge, about 1/2 mile past the Buffalo Bayou bridge near Terry Hershey Park, cafe type restaurants are offering nouveau, niche, market type fare. Examples include Poblanos Mexican Restaurant, one or two Japenese sushi places and my still all-time favorite Cafe Red Onion, which serves the best seafood enchildas you'd ever want to honor your tastebuds with.

We're getting there, West Houston. Oh, and how I still love this neighborhood almost 20 years later!

BP MS 150 a Success, In More Ways Than One!

About 12,000 avid cyclists turned out this weekend for the BP MS 150, a 180 mile charity bicycle ride that supports multiple sclerosis. Sources include today's Houston Chronicle, in addition to personal accounts by family members who diligently attempted to drive safely through the throng of riders, while seeking BBQ and a burger in Fayetteville, Texas.

In Friday's Chronicle, there was mention that the ride is the most successful of its type in the U.S. and raised more than $1.8 million last year.

Since I don't want to plagarize from the Chronicle, click below to read a heart-warmer about how this charity event impacts people's lives for the better. We need a happy story to start the week, don't ya think?

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4738433.html

Volunteer! April 21-22 BP MS 150

Folks, I don't think it's too late to sign up to be a volunteer for the BP MS 150. There are lots of jobs to do, anything from deliverying bicycles to handing out food and water.

If you like a road trip with a purpose, this one's for you. Opportunities abound from the starting point at Tully Stadium located at I-10 and Dairy Ashford in West Houston; and, up along the route through some beautiful heritage German and Czech communities along the route of Industry, Fayetteville and LaGrange. On Day 2, the trip routes up to and ends in Austin.

For more information, follow the link:

http://www.ms150.org/ms150/volunteering/index.cfm

Thanks for volunteering and supporting a great cause!