Houston Newswire

George Takei is best known for his role as Commander Sulu on Star Trek. Though the original series only lasted three years in the late 1960s, it became a cult classic in syndication and spawned numerous other series and feature films--several that included Takei.

The actor and longtime activist continues to have a strong fan base--one that has followed him into a uniquely 21st Century realm, Facebook. He made headlines in 2005 when he publicly announced he was gay and introduced his longtime partner, Brad Altman. Takei will be one of the celebrity guests at Comicpalooza this Memorial Day Weekend in Houston. We talked to him about Star Trek, his traumatic childhood and his latest project--a musical.

VisitHouston: First things first, you beat up on William Shatner at his Comedy Central Roast for screwing up the pronunciation of your name for decades. How do you say it?
George Takei: Ta-kay. Vowels in Japanese are pronounced in the same way as Mediterranean languages but the tendency in English is to give it the Germanic pronunciation, Ta-kigh. There actually is a Japanese word pronounced ta-kigh which translated into English means expensive. I've told producers before, "I'll be very happy to accommodate if you insist."

VH: You recently celebrated your 75th birthday. How old do you feel?
GT: I feel like me. I felt like this was when I was 55 and 65. It's a matter of staying healthy... I eat properly, sleep properly, keep my mind alert and engaged. But at the same time you recognize the passage of time. I used to run marathons, but after a running accident a while back and a surgery that didn't fix the problem, I haven't been able to run since.

VH: Anything you can do not to look like Shatner, right?
GT: Oh yes, he's a roly poly. I tell him he's a really BIG actor now.

VH: Have you been to Houston before? What did you think?
GT: Many times before but not in the past decade. It's been much too long. One thing that really stuck out at me. You know I was still running then and runners are dedicated to it no matter where they are. And I remember these Houston runners running in the mid-day heat in summer. And I thought I can't do that. But it's the same in other places. In Boston I remember seeing these guys running along the Charles River in this bone-chilling, frigid weather in their running shorts and really pink legs. I had my long johns on.

VH: Be honest, do you sometimes just hate trekkies?
GT: What do you mean? They're the ones that gave me my career. I believe in loyalty and they supported Star Trek during thick and thin. It's important to remember we were cellar dwellers (in the ratings). Worse than the Klingons were those NBC TV execs who wanted to cancel us three years into our "five year mission." But it was the dedication and support of our fans that kept us on and led Paramount to decide to do a feature film. Now we're in the 21st Century and the second of the J.J. Abrams Star Trek films just wrapped and will be released in 2013. And in 2016, Star Trek will celebrate its 50th anniversary. Gene Roddenberry created this, we acted in it, but it was the fans that made it the phenomenon that it became.

VH: How did you feel as a young actor walking into Gene Roddenberry's creation, this Star Trek universe which we all know now was a metaphor for Earth and all that comes with that.
GT: Precisely because of that it was exciting for me. I was a struggling young actor going from one TV guest shot to another. I had a couple small roles under my belt. I recognized immediately that the character Sulu could be a breakthrough role for me as an actor. But also more broadly for Asian actors, who up to that point were mainly playing stereotypical roles, such as waiters. The larger vision that Gene had, I saw the importance of that and I desperately wanted to be cast. Hollywood likes to play up the drama and tension, so there was a long, cruel wait to find out whether I had gotten it or not. And when I did, I was very excited.

 

VH: You've been with your husband Brad for many years but it wasn't until 2005 that you came out publicly. What have you experienced in Hollywood since then?
GT: Yes we've been together for 25 years, four of those married (the two wed in California in 2008). It's been a sea change in Hollywood. So many other people have come out. And it's not just actors but directors and producers. Writers now can be comfortably out. The landscape has changed for most people now, although for some of the big leading men it's still an uncomfortable situation. There are people that still feel to maintain their commercial viability they have to remain in the closet.

George Takei

VH: I read that as a child during World War II, you were one of the many thousands of Japanese Americans interred in American detention camps. How did that experience shape you?
GT: As you said, the experience itself happened when I was a child. My family was imprisoned from the time I was 5 to 8 years old. After camp, I remember being referred to as the Jap boy by teachers in school. And you know by the way they say it that it's a bad thing. But you think, maybe I deserve it. Our parents had incredible difficulties after camp. We ended up on skid row in Los Angeles, living in horrible conditions. It was very scary for my family. Then as a teenager, I started reading civics books in school, going through all those glorious chapters and realizing that isn't jiving with my experience. I discussed this with my father and with other Japanese Americans who were adults at the time of interment. Of course no one is more arrogant or idealistic than a teenager, and I remember saying to my father and others "how could you have allowed this? I would have organized my friends and gone downtown and protested." Of course my father had my mother and my sister and me to think about. It wasn't that easy. And I regret the things I said to him then. Now, as an adult I have a different impression and an understanding.

But what stuck with me was my father telling me that both the strength and weakness of Democracy is that it's only as good as the actions of its people. Good people have to be involved in the Democratic process. My father was an Adlai Stevenson supporter and he volunteered me to help out with his campaign. That led me to work on other campaigns and become an activist. That continued on, and eventually I was part of the campaign to get redress for the Japanese Americans who were interred, which President Reagan signed in 1988.

VH: It's that interment experience that's prompted your newest project, a musical.
GT: Yes, Allegiance will have its world premiere in San Diego later this summer at the old Globe Theater and will move on to Broadway by winter 2013. We're very excited about it.

VH: You've developed quite a following on your Facebook page. And you come up with some really funny yet poignant things. Do you see social media as the newest form of activism?
GT: It really is. Technology has given us a wonderful tool. It's really an extension of not just activism but fun and sharing. The base of my audience on Facebook is Star Trek fans, then more generally sci-fi fans, then issues-oriented fans and then a little broader humor oriented fans. Humor is a universal language.

For more information about Takei's appearance in Houston, visit Comicpalooza.com.

 

A major new attraction is coming to Space Center Houston that's expected to draw many more visitors to one of the city's most visited places.

A full-size replica of the Space Shuttle Orbiter is set to arrive on June 1, kicking off what Space Center is calling "Shuttlebration Weekend."

The orbiter replica is traveling from Kennedy Space Center in Florida by boat. When it arrives in Texas it will take a couple days to get it from the dock in nearby Galveston Bay to its new home in front of Space Center Houston. 

Center officials say the replica will be visible from the start, but will not be accessible to the public until work is completed on the new $3 million exhibit this fall.  Once it is fully installed and prepared for visitors, the public will be able to go inside the full-size replica as part of a behind-the-scenes look at life inside the Space Shuttle, an experience that will only be available at Space Center Houston.

On average 750,000 people visit Space Center annually, making it the most-visited local attraction, according to the state tourism office. Officials at the center expect the new shuttle replica will draw more visitors, though they have not offered a concrete projection.

"NASA's Space Shuttle changed the way we all think about space, making it more accessible, understandable and useful," says Richard Allen, president of Space Center Houston. "It is our intent to continue that legacy with this exciting new attraction, which will offer a one-of-a-kind visitor experience that will engage, educate and inspire the next generation of explorers."

"Shuttlebration Weekend" begins on the afternoon of Friday, June 1, when the replica will arrive by barge at the Johnson Space Center NASA Road 1 dock on Clear Lake near the Nassau Bay Hilton hotel. This will be the largest item to arrive at the dock since the Saturn V arrived for display in 1977.

The public is invited to a free street party between the dock and the hotel to witness and celebrate the historic arrival. The street party will include exhibits and static displays of new technologies and space vehicles that are being developed for the future of exploration, as well as local marching bands, food and entertainment.

On Saturday, June 2, the Space Shuttle replica will be loaded onto a mobile transfer vehicle for transport to Space Center Houston. The lakeside load-out will take a full day to complete. No public events are planned.

Early in the morning on Sunday, June 3, the replica will make a three-hour trek down NASA Parkway from the Hilton to its permanent home at Space Center Houston. It will receive a futuristic VIP escort from JSC's prototype planetary rovers for future solar system exploration. Upon the replica's arrival, Space Center Houston, along with the Johnson Space Center, will host a free public celebration in its parking lot from 9 a.m. to noon. The family-oriented event will include more opportunities to see the Shuttle attraction up close, and to get a look at the latest ongoing developments in space exploration taking place at JSC.

Since it opened to the public in 1992, Space Center Houston has welcomed more than 14 million visitors from around the world and generated more than $300 million in revenue.

 

Travelers to Houston are raving about what this city has to offer.

A new survey from travel website TripAdvisor shows that Houston is one of the top 25 most popular destinations in the U.S. among its users.

Houston ranks 18th on the list, ahead of cities such as Philadelphia, Austin and Charleston, S.C. The rankings are determined based on the popularity of destinations, taking into account travelers' favorites and most highly rated places.

In Houston, top rated hotels on TripAdvisor include the Best Western Westchase and the Magnolia Hotel. Top rated things to do include the Houston Museum District and the Houston Symphony. And on the restaurant front, the new Uchi as well as Brennan's of Houston and Pappas Bros. Steakhouse took the top spots.

"For travelers planning their big annual vacation or just a weekend getaway, these awards highlight awe-inspiring travel locations of all varieties around the globe," says Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor.

 

Thirsty Houston?

You're in luck. Two new lounges from folks behind popular Austin concepts are set to open soon in Houston.

J. Black's (pictured), an upscale lounge that debuted on Austin's West Sixth Street in 2007, is opening at 110 Heights Blvd. The spot on the corner of Washington Avenue was built for, and briefly held, Phil's Texas BBQ. In Austin J. Black's is known for its above-par bites (items like lamb lollipops and crab cakes with remoulade sauce) and extensive wine menu, in addition to creative cocktails. Expect a similar treatment when the newest outpost opens in H-Town.

Over in Midtown, another group from Austin is working on The Dogwood, slated for the 2400 block of Bagby St. The interesting part about this? A shuttered former office building currently sits on the spot, so this is likely to be ground-up construction-right next door to the Midtown Drinkery that could take a little time. If the concept is at all similar to The Dogwood in Austin (4,000-square-foot patio, extensive landscaping, nice fixtures) it will be a nice addition to the already bustling Midtown scene.

Another fun tidbit: The group behind The Dogwood is Carmack Concepts, which runs a number of successful bars in Austin's Market District including Molotov and the Dizzy Rooster. The Womack brothers run Carmack-including Brad Womack, one of the Bachelor's from the ABC series. Just an FYI ladies.

 

Houston First Corp. says it's received 11 responses to a request for qualifications (RFQ) for a developer to build a second convention center hotel near the George R. Brown Convention Center.

The deadline for the RFQ was April 20. The development-design teams that met the deadline include:

• Discovery Central Development Team
• Hines
• Houston Now
• Matthews Southwest
• Mortenson
• Parkway Service Group, LLC
• Product Marketing International
• Rida Development
• Trammell Crow
• TRT Holdings/Omni Hotel
• White Lodging

Houston First, which manages the GRB and owns the Hilton Americas-Houston, the original convention headquarters hotel, wants a privately financed hotel with limited public participation. The hotel would be within a two-block radius of the GRB with at least 1,000 rooms, a climate-controlled connection to the convention center and 800 parking spaces. Houston First says it will review the qualifications of each team and expects to recommend one development team to the corporation's board this summer.

"We are ready to roll up our sleeves and begin the review of these development teams," said Ric Campo, who chairs the board. "Undertaking a project of this magnitude requires a team with a proven track record of success, financial strength and a vision of Houston's future.

The development team chosen by Houston First will also be asked to propose commercial and residential space as part of the hotel project. That's part of a new master plan for the Convention District that was unveiled earlier this year.

Increasing the number of Downtown hotel rooms is the most immediate objective of the master plan, which calls for an expanded Convention District with more retail and residential development to attract more conventions to Houston by 2025. According to the plan, Houston needs at least 2,000 hotel rooms in the area surrounding the George R. Brown. Houston currently has 2,955 hotel rooms within a 10-minute walk of the downtown convention center, far fewer than most of its competitor cities.

The plan also envisions the eventual expansion of the George R. Brown on its south end and a new garage on the building's north side. The plan also contemplates that, ultimately, a hotel would sit near each of the convention center's four corners, including the Hilton Americas-Houston, which opened in 2003.

 

A few weeks ago, my colleague, AJ Mistretta, and I had the opportunity to tour Battleship Texas, which is located along the Houston Ship Channel, in La Porte. If you haven’t been before, you are truly missing out.

Visitors are able to explore the ship and get a glimpse at crew life during World War I and World War II. During the self-guided tours guests can venture all over the landmark—climbing high on the bridge, controlling the turrets on the main deck and going below, into the ship’s underground city.  

We had so much fun climbing the ladders and wandering around the nearly 100-year-old vessel. I was really impressed with the experience and can’t wait to bring friends to check it out, too. Note: While you’re there, check out the San Jacinto Monument, which is set within walking distance of Battleship Texas.

Children 17 years of age and younger must be accompanied by an adult on board Battleship Texas.

Admission:

- Adults (age 13 and above) - $12
- Children 12 and under are free (When accompanied by a parent.)

Group discounts are available. Contact the park for details.

For more information, click here.

 

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A pilot program set to launch May 2 will introduce bike sharing to Houston's city center.

H-Town is one of only 15 U.S. cities to develop such a program, which will be known as Houston B-cycle. To prove the concept, the program will start with just 18 bikes at three stations including City Hall, the George R. Brown Convention Center and Market Square Park.

Here's how it works. Houston B-cycle will be a membership-driven program, with individual memberships available by the day, week or year. Members have unlimited access to the bikes from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. The first 90 minutes of each usage are free and members can check out the bikes at the various stations and return them to the same station or one of the other two.

Houston's program will be managed and operated by the nonprofit Houston Bike Share. For more information, visit Houston B-cycle. P.S. riders are encouraged to wear their own helmets. Don't forget! 

 

 

Have you heard? We don't have much time left.

According to the ancient Mayan calendar, the world is going to end on December 21, 2012. So that got us thinking: If we really did only have a few months left to experience all there is, what would we do in our favorite city, Houston, Texas?

Think about it. Have you ever wanted to kayak down Buffalo Bayou? Or watch a Texans game from the sidelines? Go shopping with designer Chloe Dao? Or perhaps skydive over Southeast Texas?

Houston is a place where just about anything is possible. And now's the time to create your Houston Bucket List, exploring all the things you've always wanted to try in H-Town. Some things might be simple, experiences you just haven't gotten around to. Others might be more extreme or unlikely.

But Houston is about dreaming big. So you tell us, what things make H-Town unique? What's on your Houston Bucket List?

Leave your Bucket List items as a comment below and help spread the word about the Houston Bucket List Project. Before it's too late! #HouBList

 

 

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The Houston Texans will be prepping for prime time next season.

The NFL franchise will play five games on national TV, the most the team a team can have in a single season.

The national TV schedule for 2012 NFL games was released April 17. It has the Texans playing two Sunday night football games - Oct. 14 at home vs. the Green Bay Packers and Nov. 11 at Chicago.

The Texans will also have a Thanksgiving Day game against Detroit and two Monday night football games - vs. the New York Jets on Oct. 8 and Dec. 10 against the New England Patriots.

See the full 2012 Texans schedule. 

 

It’s been a little more than six months since the Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS) began issuing permits allowing pups on the patios of qualifying Houston restaurants.

The initiative required a year of dedicated advocacy by the local grassroots organization, Paws on Patios, but today the movement continues to grow with nearly two-dozen HDHHS approved patios currently making room for Houstonian’s four-legged friends.

To see the current list of Houston's dog-friendly dining destinations, click here.

For information on how to apply for a permit, visit the HDHHS website here.

Tell us, what restaurants and bars would you like to see added to the current list?

 

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