My Bellaire Blog

We’ve occasionally seen opossums and raccoons strolling in our yards or – posthumously- crushed by vehicles on our neighborhood streets.  But would you have presumed the presence of coyotes and bobcats inside Loop 610?  That is what I learned thiis week when my child attended the Predators camp at the Houston Arboretum in Memorial Park.  As you enter the Visitor Center, there is a stuffed coyote on display as dead proof of their sure appearance in the park a few years ago!  Same for the bobcat.  I guess the freeway noise doesn’t bother them a bit.  The Arboretum offers hiking trails through a portion of the park so one can venture to look for all sorts of creatures… No need to go out of state or even out of the city to be with nature:  It is right here in our midst!  Talking about Predators, do panhandlers across from the Arboretum on Woodway qualify as such?

For the second year in a row, I drove my daughter every day of last week to Opera Camp downtown in the Wortham Theater.  It is such a pleasure to know there is something like this available in our beautiful city!  This year, there were a lot more boys, maybe a third of the 43 participants.  The last day of camp, we are treated to a wonderful performance by the group, including some solos, duets and quartets.  It is so amazing to see what the kids  can learn and memorize in four days!! During the day they work in small groups with the help of high school or college level counselors.  They play musical games and even do some theory!  Tons of fun… We’ll return again next year. 

Last week I decided to use my free one-week trial for Curves on Bellaire Blvd and Bissonnet, an offer that Patricia, the amazingly fit and friendly owner handed me so nicely at the Bellaire Arts and Crafts festival in April.  Exercising is not a priority on a busy Realtor schedule, so I thought I would start first thing on Monday.  Patricia was there to guide me on my first day and I did the circuit twice.  All the machines are in a circle, so you are always face to face with the other ladies that are working out and you can chat while you are moving your body parts!!!  What a genius concept for ladies!  Double duty right there. What’s more important to women than their curves? Talking, making friends and listening to the latest tips or grapevine tales!  And it’s all in 30 minutes.  You change stations every 30 seconds or so, without even having to time yourself because you are directed by a soft recorded voice. I came back for more, so much so that I was really sore by the end of the week.  

I was able to go to the open house for realtors put out by the builders participating in the Bellaire New Homes Showcase.  Six beautiful homes, however the house on Whipple was closed that evening, so I cannot comment on it.  Although I loved the two-story paneled study in Tommy Cashiola’s home on Holt that reminded me of a writer’s Ivory Tower, I totally fell for the hominess of the Levitt & Robbins home on Bolivar.  Althought the exterior appeal was subdued, it all changes once you step inside!  The first surprise is that as you walk-in, you are directed to make a right turn: such an unusual and fresh floor plan!  The library-living-room transports you to the comfort of an old manor, with the greatest proportions (high ceilings and paneling) around a wooden fireplace. You just want to sit there with a book and a cup of Earl Grey.  The next surprise is the kitchen: light and open, it invites you to use it and even to make a mess in it.  Should I mention the outdoor living room with fireplace, the pool, the playground and still enough grass for several dogs to play? Or the workout room off the master with its balcony to cool off? 

At the Northwest corner of Bellaire and South Rice, we’ve said goodbye to the gas station.  The torn down empty lot looks as if it was resting after a long busy life.  It lends itself to imagine the possibilities of what might emerge there… Although it has been public knowledge that another bank has bought the property (making downtown Bellaire the financial center of Southwest Houston), it does not hurt anyone to dream of an ideal addition to our little town…  Please let’s hear your voices of what would have been attractive to you, your families or your business!!