After reading Katia’s entry about naming the Saint Arnold’s fermentor, I had to share this picture with you! This sign was found in the kitchen at the brewery.

I’m about 7 months pregnant right now and one of the things I miss most is BEER. Beer is so good, and that non-alcoholic stuff they try to pacify me with is just not doing it for me. Anyway, it hasn’t been too bad on the social scene since becoming preggo. I thought I would have to give up all adult fun things to avoid smoke, etc. Usually I love smoking (socially of course), but I can’t be around it because of baby in my belly. I know that some are inconvenienced by the semi-new no-smoking ordinance but for me it has been good because it has allowed me to go out to places that would have been off limits before. Like, watching the game at KC’s bar and grill on 18th Street. Or watching the El Orbits play at Sambuca. Or even watching the Flying Fish Sailors play at Hickory Hollow.

So, basically, eating good food is one of the only pleasures I have right now. Thank goodness for ice cream and cookies. There are some things they don’t tell you until you’re knocked up and it’s too late. Like, I can’t eat sushi or soft cheeses. So, no baked brie plate from Cafe Brazil on Westheimer; no tuna tekka don from Zake; no panini with fresh mozzarella from Paulies; no blue cheese burger from Pappas Burgers. I think the first week after I have this baby is going to be a gorge fest.

The Houston Auto Show is back in town..

I decided to go check out the show yesterday. Surprisingly, it was busy considering that it was pouring rain. Having attended almost every year for as long as I can remember, I was mostly interested in viewing new concept vehicles and cars that are not sold in high quantities in the U.S. With that in mind, cars like the Toyota Camry or Mercedes C-Class weren’t exactly on my priority list. If you were to take time to view and sit in every single car, you could spend all day at the show.

Overall, I was impressed with the show. One of the vehicles that captured many people’s attention was the Ford Super Chief, a concept truck that features the first engine that will run on any of three fuels (gas, hydrogen, and E85). In fact, out of the domestic car makers I would have to say that Ford had the best display. It’s somewhat ironic, considering that they’re in the process of laying off workers and shutting down plants.

If you’re even remotely interested in cars, I’d highly recommend that you go to the show. Many of the cars you can sit in (not the concepts or really expensive vehicles, of course), and the event should make for a good afternoon. I spent about two and a half hours there, and I didn’t even bother with the regular cars.

Parking is $8. Admission is $10. Children 12 and under are free. The show runs until February 5.

Although I know that T-Mobile isn’t the only wireless provider in Houston, I’ve always been a very loyal customer. Recently,, however, I’ve come to question whether or not I should stay with them.

Over the past couple of days, when I try to make calls during times that could be considered “peak” hours (rush hour, etc.), I keep on getting the message “Call Failed: Network Busy”. I’m eventually able to place the call, but it is starting to get a bit annoying.

I remember reading somewhere that in the Houston area, Verizon actually offers the best coverage/service. I would never switch to Verizon though, as I don’t like the limit in phone choices (they don’t use GSM), and I also think their calling plans are a bit more expensive. With that in mind, I guess the only company I’d consider switching to is Cingular. Since the number portability law is now in effect, switching wouldn’t be that difficult; I could keep my existing phone and number – all that would change is the SIM card.

Has anyone else been having similar problems with T-Mobile? Or do other networks have this problem as well?

An avid iPod lover and podcast fan, I really love the concept of museums developing podcasts for visitors to download and walk around with on their tour of exhibits. Sure beats paying to wear someone else’s headphones.

A specific example I noticed today in Houston:

The Houston Museum of Natural Science has an audio tour for their mummy exhibit and will do the same for their upcoming ‘The Royal Tombs of Ur: Ancient Treasures from Modern Iraq’ exhibition in February.

Other museums in states non-Texan go so far as to give discounts for visitors who bring their mp3 players loaded with the audio tours (like SF’s MOMA, who also is holding an ‘Artcast’ competition).

BUT!! What I like even more is the idea of average-joe-schmoe-gallery visitors making their own recordings for fellow visitors/art-appreciators. (read some info on ‘art mobs’ here) Nothing fancy or piercingly educated, just general commentary on the art galleries around us from people with opinions and an open-mind.

Anyone interested in tackling the Basquiat exhibition??

Anyone know of what’s going on around our city for Chinese New Year? Please post in the comments section because I’m trying to find something to check out.

BTW: I was born in the year of the COCK. How about you?

Am I the only one in the city that didn’t know that the Urban Outfitters in Rice Village was no longer open? What happened?!

Someone told me it burned down…whatever the case, when I passed by it today there were plenty of workers in and around the building doing work to get it back up and going..

I have always depended on Urban Outfitters for quirky gifts and odd things that you can get people – needless to say, for those of you that are lost without your Urban Outfitters, there’s always the Galleria location…

Does anyone know of other places that offer similar items? Share in the comments..

Houston area podcasters are holding their first organizational meetup. All Houston area podcasters are welcome as well as listens and those interested in podcasting. That includes the whole Houston Metblogs family – come out and share in our audio fun as well!

Date: Thursday, January 26th
Time: 7:00PM
Location: Stag’s Head Pub

2128 Portsmouth St.
Houston, Texas 77098
Free WIFI available

Call For Directions
(713) 533-1199

Contact: Chris Doelle for details/changes cdoelle@gmail.com

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via This Week in Houston

The largest RV show in Texas is coming to Reliant Center
Houston RV Show

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via This Week in Houston

So I went to MFAH to check out a movie called Killing Mad Dogs (also called “Sagkoshi”) and stumbled into Tony Sanchez’s son’s wedding. Tony may have been a conservative democrat, but he sure knows how to bankroll a party! At least three Rolls Royce’s were parked out front (none of them were rental and none of them were mine) and the decorations inside the main museum area were incredibly gorgeous. The flower arrangements were MASSIVE, only dwarfed by the live band plus small orchestra set up in the room.

I wandered around for a few seconds and was promptly approached by a security guard and two MFAH security people. I had to act stooped (very easy for me) and pretend I didn’t know where the MFAH movie theater was located. After which, I was verbally booted out of the upstairs area and directed downstairs to the basement. When it comes to causing problems, I have no self-control.

The movie was awesome. No, wait… it was awesome! Much better than that Sanchez/Jacobs wedding that was going on upstairs. I was so engrossed in the film, that I didn’t realize that the people sitting in front of me had left the movie early.

The film was shown as part of MFAH’s 13th annual Iranian Film Festival… which makes for an interesting paradox considering Iran’s current nuclear standoff with the rest of the world.

About the movie:
After a break of almost ten years, veteran director Bahram Beyzaie returns with a riveting suspense thriller.

The story is set just after the Iran-Iraq War and is about a woman named Golrokh (Mojdeh Shamsai), whose writing is banned in Iran and (thus) receives royalties for NOT writing, struggling to get her unfaithful husband out of prison.

After a lengthy stay in the country-side, Golrokh returns to Tehran, where her husband – whom she had left because she suspected infidelity – needs her help. His business partner has run off with a large sum of money and left him to take the blame. The only way to get her husband out of jail is to “buy back” the debt, a task that Golrokh takes on as her own.

What ensues is a journey that takes her to remote barns, dark cellars and misty building sites, where her quick wit and nerves of steel become her greatest assets.

About my post-movie food consumption:
After the movie, I stopped at House of Pies for waffles. No big story here… just thought I would mention the excellent waffles at House of Pies.

Houstonians respond to Chronicle poll
Houston Chronicle

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via This Week in Houston