What's New in Houston - April 2008April 29, 2008
Contact Information: DISCOVERY GREEN, HOUSTON'S NEW URBAN PARK, IS NOW OPEN Discovery Green, a 12-acre park located in downtown Houston, officially opened to the public on April 13, 2008. The long-awaited destination fulfills a commitment from Mayor Bill White and major private Houston foundations to create and preserve green space within Houston’s central city. With its proximity to the George R. Brown Convention Center, Minute Maid Park and Toyota Center, Discovery Green is an ideal location for the city’s newest attraction. Emulating the model of great urban parks around the country, Discovery Green is designed as an engaging and active place with programming to serve all ages and backgrounds, as well as workers, residents and visitors alike. Driven by a passionate commitment to sustainable design and operation, the Conservancy is pursuing a “Gold Level” Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification. LEED credits are earned based on site sustainability, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources used in construction, indoor environmental quality and innovation in the design process. This will continue to be a priority as the Discovery Green Conservancy operates the park. Major Park Features Prominent features visitors can enjoy include a one-acre lake, children’s playground, interactive water features, amphitheater stage and slope, small and large dog runs, public art works, HPL (Houston Public Library) Express, open lawns and great restaurants (The Grove and The Lake House) operated by Schiller Del Grande Restaurant Group. ANDREA AND BILL WHITE PROMENADE This walkway forms the heart of the park and offers a 360-degree view of Houston’s skyline. KINDER LAKE Kinder Lake, encompassing more than an acre of the park, features water gardens and a model boat area, a shallow pool specifically designed to accommodate remote-controlled watercraft operated by park goers of all ages. THE GROVE AND TREEHOUSE Overlooking the park’s live oaks, Schiller Del Grande’s destination restaurant and rooftop bar offer patrons exceptional food, service and views of the park. THE LAKE HOUSE The Lake House offers fast, casual, family-friendly food, with views of Kinder Lake and the Jones Lawn. ANHEUSER-BUSCH STAGE AND FONDREN FOUNDATION PERFORMANCE SPACE This amphitheater hosts a variety of performances, including music, theater, film and dance, and is oriented toward a sloped lawn for audience seating. When the platform is not in use, it is open to all park goers, either as space to work, lounge or dine near The Lake House café. JONES LAWN The Jones Lawn is the park’s largest green space, providing ample area for major events or pick-up sports. BROWN FOUNDATION PROMENADE The Brown Foundation Promenade is shaded by 100-year-old oak trees, the largest of which is the Nancy G. Kinder Oak near Avenida de las Americas, one of four large live oaks moved to the park. JOHN P. MCGOVERN CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND The playground is carved into an existing, tree-shaded hill, which shields youngsters from the surrounding streets and integrates the theme of the major migratory bird flyway over Houston. Individual species are represented in the play sets, and accompanying signage educates visitors. THE ALKEK BUILDING Overlooking the Gateway Fountain and John P. McGovern Children’s Playground, this building is where the park’s staff, information center and public restrooms are located. GATEWAY FOUNTAIN The fountain offers a visual gateway to the park for visitors approaching from McKinney Street and is an extension of the playground area. Two systems of jets create a myriad of water activity atop a gently sloping granite surface, with 14-foot high arcing jets serving as gateway landmarks and smaller jets cycling on and off to invite park visitors for a closer look or some fun in the spray. PUBLIC ART AT DISCOVERY GREEN Discovery Green features new works by artists Margo Sawyer and Doug Hollis. Great care was taken to ensure the art installations would be visually prominent, yet at home, in the park’s environs. In addition, Jean Dubuffet’s Monument Au Fantome, an iconic sculpture by this world-renowned artist, has been relocated to the park. Programming at Discovery Green Discovery Green is more than a beautiful green space: it is an experience waiting to be enjoyed. The park comes to life with active programming during its Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter seasons. Regularly scheduled music, dance, film and theater, as well as exercise classes, children’s events and an urban market, comprise the backbone of park programming. Park spaces also may be reserved for private and public events. **************************************************************************************************** $1.2 BILLION IN IMPROVEMENTS FOR HOUSTON'S GEORGE BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT On April 7, the Houston Airport System (HAS) in partnership with Continental Airlines, announced details of a $1.2 billion renovation project at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), which will result in the expansion of the airport's Terminal B to 1.7 million square feet including the construction of a new Federal Inspections Services facility to handle the increasing number of international travelers. George Bush Intercontinental Airport serves as the largest hub for Continental Airlines in the world. Terminal B is one of the airport's two original terminals and has been in service since 1969. Elements of this modernization plan include: . Expansion of the Automated People Mover (APM) to include Terminal A. . Refurbishment or rebuilding of the central Terminal B lobby and baggage claim areas (to be executed in phases that will allow the continued use of the facility during the renovation period.) . A New South Concourse dedicated to domestic regional jet operations. . A new international capable North Concourse for mainline and regional jet flights . New Terminal B Federal Inspections Services (FIS) facility . North/South Ramp Replacement . Parking Structure Expansion . Infrastructure improvements (which include improvements to existing roadway, signage, utilities and fuel storage systems) The project, which is expected to begin later this year, represents a major economic commitment by the City of Houston and Continental Airlines. The multi-phased construction and renovation is scheduled to be completed over the next seven to 10 years and will increase the size of IAH's Terminal B from 360,000 square feet to 1.7 million square feet, and will make it larger than the size of Houston's state-of-the-art baseball stadium, Minute Maid Park. **************************************************************************************************** QATAR AIRWAYS ANNOUNCES HISTORIC NEW NONSTOP INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER SERVICE BETWEEN HOUSTON AND DOHA Middle Eastern carrier, Qatar Airways announced March 5 it will begin operating three weekly nonstop flights between Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Qatar’s Doha International Airport (DOH) starting on Monday, Nov. 10, 2008—with plans for daily service in December of 2008. This new service will make Qatar Airways the second Middle Eastern carrier to offer nonstop passenger flights to Houston. Qatar is home to the world’s third largest gas reserves and is the world’s leading exporter of liquefied natural gas. The airline will link these two energy industry hubs for the first time in history. “This is our third premium airline for Houston in the past six months,” notes Richard Vacar, director of the Houston Airport System. “Qatar Airways is a world-class air carrier that will certainly strengthen the economic and business ties between the Middle East’s energy centers and the energy capital of the world—Houston. In addition, this new service makes yet another statement about how important George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Houston are as a global gateway for air travel and trade, and we are very pleased to welcome Qatar Airways to our growing family of international carriers.” Houston becomes only the third United States destination served by Qatar Airways. Departing from IAH, the Monday, Wednesday and Friday flights will be operated using the carrier’s new Boeing 777-200LR aircraft. The aircraft will offer a two-class configuration with 42 Business Class and 217 Economy Class seats – it will also feature the carrier’s next generation in-flight entertainment system, which offers more than 700 audio and video entertainment options. More than a dozen international carriers offer service from IAH, with access to 70 international destinations. Other recent carriers to launch Houston service include Emirates Airlines, which now flies seven days a week to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and Singapore Airlines, which will launch four times a week passenger service to Moscow, Russia and Singapore beginning on March 20, 2008. **************************************************************************************************** EMIRATES BOOSTS SERVICE AT GEORGE BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT TO DAILY FLIGHTS Just two months after inaugurating historical new service from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Emirates Airlines began operating today the first of four additional weekly flights. As of Feb. 1, 2008, the carrier now offers daily nonstop service to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Fueling this rapid and considerable growth was the international airline’s impressive performance to date. The Middle Eastern carrier reports that over 70 percent of their passengers are members of the city’s international oil and gas industry. In addition, Emirates is handling approximately 16 tons of air cargo out of Houston and bringing in roughly 10 tons, on each flight. Houston is only the second destination in the United States served by the airline. The new daily service is expected to generate up to $300 million in positive economic impact for the local region. **************************************************************************************************** SINGAPORE AIRLINES ANNOUNCES HISTORIC NEW INTERNATIONAL AIR SERVICES TO HOUSTON As of March 20, 2008, Singapore Airlines is now offering four weekly nonstop flights to Moscow, Russia from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) with continuing service to Singapore, adding two new destinations to the nearly 70 international destinations already served from IAH. These historic new services mark the first scheduled passenger flights from Houston to Singapore and Moscow. The national airline of Singapore will use Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to operate this new route. The arriving and departing flights will stop first in Moscow before continuing on to either Houston or Singapore. Last year, air cargo trade between Houston and Singapore was valued at more than $140 million, while air cargo trade with Russia totaled more than $84 million. The aircraft's configuration offers eight first class seats, 42 business class seats and 228 economy class seats; and will feature luxury first class amenities such as 35-inch wide seats that convert to 180-degree flat beds, turndown service featuring oversized down duvets, pillows and tailored sleep suits from Givenchy, noise-cancelling headphones, 23-inch digital monitors that give travelers access to more than 1,000 on-demand entertainment options, as well as the largest business class seats in aviation history. **************************************************************************************************** $35 MILLION TRANSFORMATION UNDERWAY AT HYATT REGENCY HOUSTON Hyatt Regency Houston, a prominent landmark in the downtown Houston skyline since 1972, has announced plans for a comprehensive, $35-million revitalization project to include the transformation of all 960 guestrooms, the addition of new, high-tech meeting space and a Shula’s fine-dining steakhouse. Starwood Capital Group LLC is responsible for the multi-million project, which is expected to be completed in late-October 2008. At the center of the transformation are new guestrooms designed with rich hues of chocolate, silver, and beige. All rooms are fitted with the signature Hyatt Grand Bed complete with a pillow-top mattress and three-part Comfort Support System. Long, sleek work desks have been added with wall-mounted, plug-n-play consoles for Internet connectivity. Dark wood furnishings, contemporary lighting and 32-inch high-definition, flat panel televisions complete the new room style. Guestroom baths include a spacious, walk-in shower, a glamorous, black marble-top vanity and matching black marble flooring. The project also calls for the expansion of the hotel’s meeting space. Specifically, 30 guestrooms on the hotel’s sixth floor will be transformed into nine meeting rooms and three high-tech boardrooms. Additionally, Shula’s America’s Steakhouse will replace the hotel’s two existing lobby level restaurants. The first of its kind in Texas, Shula’s will feature upscale, steakhouse fare and is themed after the 1972 Miami Dolphins’ “Perfect Season” - the only team in NFL history to finish a season undefeated. Spindletop, Houston’s only revolving rooftop restaurant framing the downtown skyline, will continue to serve New American cuisine. Originally opened in 1972, Hyatt Regency Houston was the city’s first atrium-style hotel. Its long history includes hosting the Republican National Convention, the Economic Summit and the World Energy Congress as well as the hotel’s signature event, it’s annual New Year’s Eve celebration with balloon cascade at midnight. **************************************************************************************************** ALDEN-HOUSTON'S *17 ANNOUNCES NEW CHEF Alden-Houston’s award-winning restaurant, *17, announced today that Chef Wesley Morton, whose culinary background includes experience at leading fine-dining restaurants in Northern California and Washington, DC, will now serve as executive chef. Morton comes to *17 by way of Half Moon Bay, CA, where he served as executive sous chef for NAVIO Restaurant at the Ritz Carlton, a Mobil AAA Five Diamond restaurant. Prior to that, he worked at a handful of Washington, DC’s most prestigious restaurants, including Circle Bistro, Cityzen and Citronelle, the latter two each Mobil Four Diamond restaurants. He is a native of Abbeville, LA and a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute. **************************************************************************************************** HOTEL GRANDUCA ANNOUNCES PET-FRIENDLY SERVICES Hotel Granduca, Houston’s only member of The Leading Hotels of the World®, officially welcomes pets. Now your four-legged family member can enjoy the same luxurious amenities they experience at home. Upon arrival, each furry guest, required to be 30 pounds or less, has their favorite treat waiting for them in their suite. Pet owners can be reassured that their beloved family member will enjoy the most luxurious stay in Houston with spa and grooming days available and complimentary Hotel Granduca transportation. And for those who enjoy a daily brisk walk, Hotel Granduca offers one complimentary walk each day of every pet’s stay. Pets also receive the star treatment when it comes to meal time with fine specially made gourmet food. **************************************************************************************************** RARE MONKEY BORN AT HOUSTON ZOO The Houston Zoo is proud to announce the birth of a rare monkey at Wortham World of Primates. The arrival of the Schmidt’s red tailed guenon baby marks the first birth of the species at the Zoo in 29 years. “The new arrival is a boy and his name is Matani,” said primate supervisor Dena Strange. “Matani (Pron: muh-TAN-ee) means ‘strength’ in Swahili and the baby is living up to his name. He’s very strong and healthy. His mother, Malaika is being a great mom,” added Strange. The baby’s father, Kabili arrived at the Zoo in 2006 with several other monkeys recovered from the bushmeat and illegal pet trade in Africa. “This is and important birth for the Houston Zoo and the species,” said Strange. “We haven’t had a guenon birth at the Zoo in 29 years and this is Kabili’s first offspring. That’s important for the population since there are only 37 of these monkeys living in 10 zoos in this country,” added Strange. While the Schmidt’s red tailed guenon is not critically endangered, the species is protected by an international agreement. Found in the Central African Republic, Kenya, and Uganda, Schmidt’s red-tailed guenons have white noses and long red tails. Their tails provide balance as they move through trees looking for their favorite foods – fruits, leaves, and insects. In the wild they live in small groups in swamp forests and forests surrounding rivers. They are considered a threatened species due to habitat destruction from deforestation. **************************************************************************************************** HOUSTON ASTROS LAUNCH "ASTROS PLAY GREEN" CAMPAIGN The Houston Astros launched an Astros Play Green campaign on April 22, Earth Day. The campaign, building off a club initiative that began last summer, strives to create awareness regarding environmental initiatives in the City of Houston. The Astros were the first sports team in the City of Houston to launch a recycling campaign that was interactive and encouraged its fan base to take steps to aid the environment. Brad Ausmus and Mark Loretta will be the club’s spokesmen for the Astros Play Green campaign. Loretta joined the Astros front office staff and Waste Management in a recycling campaign that was announced last July. The campaign, still in effect today, included elements such as recycling grease that would later become fuel; using “green” fluorescent bulbs in all possible light fixtures, and the presence of 125 recycle bins throughout the ballpark. Recycle bins were placed in the Astros front office for employees to recycle paper, plastic, aluminum and cardboard. Additionally, the Astros groundskeepers use only eco-friendly safe chemicals on the field, including seaweed based fertilizer. All printer toner cartridges in the ballpark are recycled. The Astros recycle an average of three tons of cardboard, plastic and aluminum per game. The Astros Play Green campaign will include several environmental initiatives for the Astros and Minute Maid Park in 2008 and they include: • The club will compost ballpark infield and outfield grass cuttings to use as fertilizer. • Sales collateral and other paper products such as season-ticket brochures, mini-plan brochures, group sales brochures, suite rental postcards, napkins, paper towels and pocket schedules will be printed on partial post-consumer recycled materials. • All light bulbs used in the ballpark will be recycled. • Organic vegetables and ingredients at salad concept stands. • The Astros are changing the manual paper towel dispensers in restrooms to automatic paper towel dispensers in order to save on the amount of paper used. Houston Astros AT&T Conference Center at Minute Maid Park is also contributing to the campaign. The Conference Center hosts hundreds of events and more than 1,500 groups and companies during each calendar year. The Center provides each event and meeting with menu options that source meats and produce from local Texas farms and ranches. Clients also use post-consumer recyclable or reusable service ware in all meal services. The popular “lunch box items” that meeting clients receive will be served in reusable totes for consumers. In striving for sustainability, the Astros and ARAMARK have created special services that utilize local resources for products as often as possible. All waste generated in the Conference Center facility is monitored and evaluated. **************************************************************************************************** NEW RETAILERS AT THE GALLERIA The Galleria is a buzz this Spring with two new retailers new to the market and a new remodel. New retailers M Missoni and Tory Burch will both be located in Galleria I, Street Level. M Missoni's 1124 sq. ft. boutique will open March 30 and is located near Fendi and Neiman Marcus. Tory Burch's 1350 sq.ft. store will open May 1 and is near Carolina Herrera. Remodeling news includes Zales who just re-opened after an extensive remodel almost doubling the store in size. They are still in Galleria II, second level, on the corner near Jessica McClintock and French Connection. The new store features sleek glass exteriors, lighting changes, white elements with new counters. Set to open in May is the highly acclaimed bra boutique, {intimacy}. Known as America's supreme bra fit stylists, {intimacy} offers a one-of-a-kind approach to service when it comes to bra fit and fashion. Each woman experiences a personalized body makeover in a free 30-minute consultation while being educated on how their figure can be dramatically improved resulting in newfound confidence. **************************************************************************************************** HOUSTON PREMIUM OUTLETS OPENS Houston Premium Outlets® opened on March 27, 2008. Located in northwest Houston off of U.S. Highway 290 between Mason Road and Fairfield Drive in Cypress, the new center features 120 designer and name-brand outlet stores, offering savings of 25 to 65 percent every day. This will be the fourth Premium Outlet Center® in Texas, along with Round Rock Premium Outlets, near Austin, Allen Premium Outlets near Dallas, and Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets in Mercedes. Houston Premium Outlets is the latest project of Chelsea Property Group, a wholly-owned division of Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE: SPG). Houston Premium Outlets will offer upscale outlet shopping, with stores including Adidas, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic Factory Store, Bebe, Calvin Klein, Coach, Cole Haan, Crocs, Elie Tahari, Gap Outlet, Guess, Juicy Couture, Kate Spade, Kenneth Cole, Michael Kors, Nike Factory Store, Nine West, Tommy Hilfiger, True Religion, Under Armour, Waterford Wedgwood, and more. Houston Premium Outlets is conveniently located off of U.S. Highway 290 between Mason Road and Fairfield Place in Cypress, TX. The center covers 427,000 square feet of GLA and sits on 75 acres. Information about Houston Premium Outlets is available online at www.premiumoutlets.com/houston. LANDRY'S OPENS NEW RESTAURANT AT KEMAH BOARDWALK Landry’s Restaurants, Inc. opened Red Sushi at Kemah Boardwalk on Monday, March 17. Kemah’s Red Sushi is the second location for the brand, along with another location at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas. Kemah Boardwalk’s Red Sushi features traditional Japanese cuisine in a chic and modern setting adorned with fiery hues of red. With a fantastic view overlooking Clear Creek Channel and the Gulf of Mexico, the restaurant offers the finest, hand-crafted sushi and sashimi, specialty rolls, fresh fish, steaks, tempura, traditional and flavor-infused sake selections and more. The bar is the perfect happy hour hangout, featuring a trendy selection of beverages, including an array of exotic, specialty cocktails, specially designed for the Red Sushi concept. Specialty drinks include the Kumquat Mojito, the Samurai Sunset and the Kimono Kiwi. Whether you’re visiting the ultra modern, stylish bar for a cocktail, or coming for the full waterfront sushi experience, Red Sushi is THE new hot spot in town. Kemah Boardwalk, a magnificent 40-acre entertainment complex, was developed by Tilman Fertitta, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Landry's Restaurants, Inc. This spectacular waterfront destination offers themed restaurants, Boardwalk Inn hotel, amusement rides, dancing fountains, a water garden, mid-way games and retail shops. Kemah Boardwalk’s two newest attractions include The Boardwalk Bullet, a 96-ft. tall wooden rollercoaster, and a 4-D Theater ride featuring SpongeBob SquarePants’ adventure through Bikini Bottom. Restaurants include Landry's Seafood House, Saltgrass Steak House, Chart House, The Flying Dutchman, Babin’s Seafood House, the original Joe’s Crab Shack, Cadillac Bar and Aquarium Restaurant – an underwater dining adventure featuring a 50,000-gallon tank filled with more than 100 species of colorful fish. **************************************************************************************************** NEW RIDE FOR SPLASHTOWN SplashTown waterpark proudly announces the arrival of RipQurl, an all-new wet and wild extreme tube slide. As the park's newest addition to an impressive arsenal of awesome water rides and slides, RipQurl is the only water slide of its kind in town. This intense water adventure offers a new form of excitement for the entire family. RipQurl begins the excitement by launching up to two riders through a dark tunnel where they will travel up to 26 feet per second before accelerating around steep, arcing turn into the 40-foot bowl of the ride. As the riders fly into the bowl while comfortably seated on their tube, speed and centrifugal force keep them glued to the outer wall. Riders experience multiple breathtaking spins around the outer wall of the bowl before decelerating and moving to the center where the journey ends with a refreshing splash into a pool below. The award-winning ProSlide Technology, Inc. manufactured RipQurl. The ride is one of the most popular and successful “bowl” slides in the world, offering great performance and incredible family entertainment value. Preparing for its 22nd season of non-stop fun, Houston’s SplashTown, located just minutes north of Houston in Spring, features 14 rides and attractions with a combined slide total of 31. An impressive line up of rides includes: The Tornado, the ultimate storm; Texas Free Fall, a five-story freefall slide; the Zoom Flume slide complex with one tandem-tubing slide and two semi-enclosed body slides; Space Rapids’ three different enclosed tubes; tube twisting and turning Thunder Run; Big Spin cyclonic spinning ride; and, 30-foot Shotgun Falls parallel racing slides. For families, Houston’s SplashTown offers: Wild Wave Pool; Blue Lagoon Activity Pool with swings, geysers, water cannons, a diving rock, water stairs and waterfall; three-story Treehouse Island with ladders, slides, water cannons and a 1,000 gallon soaking bucket; Guadalupe River Adventure, a tree-lined lazy river; interactive Crocodile Isle children’s play area; and, Leaky Pipes children’s activity center. **************************************************************************************************** $50 MILLION TRANSFORMATION AND EXPANSION PLANNED FOR THE WOODLANDS RESORT & CONFERENCE CENTER The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center has announced it will embark on a comprehensive, $50 million transformation and expansion project to include the build out of 158 new guestrooms, the addition of a winding, lazy river as well as a new, dramatic entrance and a fine-dining steakhouse. Construction began in early 2008 with an estimated completion date in late 2009. The new guestrooms will be located in Fairway Pines III, a four-story structure to be located adjacent to the property’s Fairway Pines I and II guestroom buildings. The new guestroom design features soothing earth tones, textures and patterns to reflect the resort’s natural surroundings. Weathered leather furnishings and flat panel televisions complete the new room style. Guestroom baths include a spacious, doorless glass shower, millwork vanity and slate flooring. The property’s transformation includes the relocation of its lobby, registration area and Concierge Desk to the front of the Forest Oasis Waterscape™, between all three of the Fairway Pines buildings. To enhance the arrival experience, the new lobby will include a Grand Living Room with a soaring ceiling, double-sided stone fireplace and warm, inviting furnishings. A light-filled solarium and adjoining Library will be ideal meeting places for personal conversation. The property’s existing lobby will be used as a satellite check-in area for conference attendees. Additionally, a four-level garage with 620 parking spaces will replace the existing Fairway Pines parking lot. A new fine-dining steakhouse, complete with its own private wine vault, also will be added. Guests can dine indoors or enjoy the restaurant’s outdoor patio overlooking the 18th green of Panther Trail™, one of the Resort’s two championship golf courses. The transformation includes the addition of a lazy river, winding over 1,000 feet through the surrounding forest, to complement the resort’s signature Forest Oasis Waterscape. A family favorite, the Waterscape offers underwater music and marine murals, double-helix waterslides, computer-activated pop fountains and soothing waterfalls. Plans also call for the renovation of The Woodlands Dining Room, The Glass Menagerie restaurant, and the property’s 60,000 square feet of meeting space, certified by the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC). With the addition of the new Fairway Pines III and the transformation of the lodge rooms into a new residential project, The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center will consist of 380 guestrooms instead of 440 rooms. The Resort will continue to offer over 60,000 square feet of conference space and two championship golf courses. ### |
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