On Google!

Today is an awesome day! I had a productive day at work, hung out with good friends, and came home to see that this blog is now listed on Google! I still haven't found what page it is on when you search for 'CityCentre,' but I know it is above page 20! I'll keep working at moving this blog up to page 1, but I don't have the traffic to do it right now. Of course, I'm working on it and I'm trying to find more interesting things to blog about. Regardless, I'm still excited that I finally got on Google! One small step... Take a look!

What's Going On?

Okay, someone tell me what is going on at CityCentre Sunday nights. I would absolutely LOVE to join everyone, but I have to work on Mondays! Is it RA Sushi? It can't be Straits because DJ Steve isn't there on Sunday, right? Someone tell me where the party is at and maybe next time I'll dress up and join you! Actually, Monnalisa gets pretty wild most nights that I've been there. It gets so packed that people end up standing around and drinking. Is it bad that I'm writing off Yard House? I've been there many times and it just doesn't seem like the kind of place to party at on a Sunday night. Come on, let me in on the secret!

How Not to Fly a Banner

If you're going to use the "clothesline" method for hanging a banner between two buildings, I would think you need to weigh down the bottom of the banner and include lots of big holes in the banner. I am not a expert on these matters, but that makes sense right? You want some weight so it takes a bigger breeze to flip it all the way around. You want holes in the banner so the wind can travel through it and not carry it.


I have seen maybe 3 different banners up in this location. At least you can see that this one is for The Lofts, but if you want to call you are out of luck. By the way, the number is 713.463.4663.

O RLY?

Please tell me I'm not the only one that gets crazily confused in the parking garages here. I have been mulling over whether or not to do an informational blog on these constructs of enigma. The posted signs tell you one thing while the arrows on the ground tell you another story. I actually found a place where the arrows themselves contradict each other. I've found myself head to head with another vehicle plenty of times when I shouldn't have.




Pay close attention to the images. They are, indeed, sequential from one end of the garage to the other. I don't think I've ever seen this [-> <-> <-] arrangement before!

The Great Escape

A friend of mine took an interesting picture in Parking Garage 3 the other week. Apparently, someone was speeding through the garage and was spotted by an off duty police officer.


When the officer tried to stop the car, the driver freaked out and got themselves stuck between the parking garage and the Domain at CityCentre on the other side.

I took some pictures after they were handcuffed and hauled away in the back of a police car. The car had to be towed out because it was stuck in mud.


I don't know if the driver was just spooked by the officer and ended up stuck or if they were actually trying to escape because they were going insanely fast in the parking garage. Either way, they weren't paying much attention to where they were going! I was lucky enough to capture some proof of the car being towed out. I love how it has been over a week and no one has thought about cleaning the mud tracks off.


Let's see how long the mud tracks stay there. Take a look next time you visit CityCentre and leave a comment about whether it is still there or not.

"RA"ckin Roll!

The food business revolves around its customers and I am impressed by RA Sushi's commitment to actually listening to customer comments. First, some background information. I used to go to the CityCentre RA for lunch all the time, sometimes multiple times a week. I would drag some coworkers along because no one likes to eat out alone! I must have filled up their "Nooner" card at least twice in about a few months. More on that card in a future post.


A few months ago, they took my favorite dish off their menu! I tried the replacement dish, but it was disgusting and I stopped going to the CityCentre RA at lunchtime. I am keeping the dish a secret for now, but if you ask around the restaurant, you will be able to figure it out because I've recently caused a bit of a stir over it. I recently voiced my concern over this and received a reply from the Senior Director of Operations on the matter. I have left names out to respect the privacy of the involved parties.

"...I am sorry that we have disappointed you by removing the...from our menu. It is one of the sushi chef favorites. They were always making them for lunch and we decided to try them on the menu. Unfortunately they were not a hit with our guests. We had to pull the item off the menu.
I have spoken to...the GM of the CityCentre location. It would be his pleasure to bring that product back into the restaurant for you. Just promise that you will keep coming back. I will ask him to send you an email to let you know when he is ready. Give him a week or two. I can’t guarantee that it will always be in stock but we will do our best.

Hopefully this will get you back in for lunch to enjoy one of the...They are great.

Take care. Happy Holidays!"

This is textbook customer appreciation right here folks. I will be writing a follow up post after they e-mail me and I will disclose the dish at that time. I want the dish to be popular so that it will always be available! This simple gesture will definitely get me back into the restaurant at lunch. Now they just need to follow through and send me an e-mail! In the meantime I will continue going to CityCentre RA for Sunday Reverse Happy Hour for "RA"ckin Shrimp, Viva Las Vegas rolls and Sake Bombs!

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Okay, so this post isn't about the snow that fell a few weeks ago and shut down half of Houston. Christmas lights are now up in CityCentre and the color choice this year is white. There are white snowflakes on the buildings and white lights on the trees imitating snow. Let me share some pictures of CityCentre in all it's night-time glory! Guys, this is one of those places to take your significant other for a romantic stroll. Spend some time next to the outdoor torches and let the heat wrap around you. I hope you enjoy the pictures and make a trip out to the area to see for yourselves.

"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire"

"From the Mayor's perch above the city"

"The path to inebriation"

"Deck the trees with flashly lights"

Remember, you can click the pictures to see a bigger version.

Tetris...Fail

One of the first things I noticed about this development was how awkward some of the entrances were located in relation to previously existing roads. Here is a quick tip before we start. Most images can be clicked on for larger versions.

SOUTHERN ENTRANCE

The entrance off of Queensbury Lane almost lines up with the previously existing Town and Country Boulevard.

"The roadway equivalent of a b!*@# seat"

Maybe everything is, as we say in the design business, working as intended. Maybe the designers were attempting to disprove the Pauli Exclusion Principle. Unfortunately for them, two vehicles cannot occupy the same space at the same time, no matter how hard you try. I stood at that intersection and watched 10 cars drive in. Eight of those cars entered from the left turn lane and 2 entered from the middle lane. I challenge each and every one of you to follow the traffic rules and enter from the middle lane. Lets band together and change that intersection for the better!

"Hard to enter, easy to exit (that's what she said)"

GARAGE ONE NORTH ENTRANCE

The entrance to Garage One at the bend in the road where Town and Country Way turns into Town and Country Boulevard is blocked off from traffic driving West on Town and Country Way.

"Working as intended, hop the curb, win a prize"

The only way to access Garage One while driving West on Town and Country Way is to veer left at the bend and drive towards oncoming traffic. I have seen countless vehicles take this option, and luckily, have not seen any accidents.

RANDOM MUSINGS: I am leaving a copy of Tetris with Midway Companies, the developer of CityCentre, for Christmas in hopes that they work on their spatial awareness.

CityCentre Houston Directions

CityCentre Houston is an elegant, 37-acre mixed-use development located where the former Town and Country Mall used to stand. The development offers a combination of luxurious hospitality, exquisite dining, upscale entertainment, stylish retail, efficient office spaces, and luscious living. I have had the opportunity to submerse myself in the lifestyle provided by CityCentre Houston and it is quite addicting. This blog will provide insight into the restaurants and exciting nightlife in this area. This is the place to be if you want to impress that special someone by knowing exactly where to go and what to do in CityCentre Houston.

LOCATION AND ACCESS

The general location is easy to find on the map at the Southeast corner of Interstate 10 and Beltway 8, West of downtown Houston. The entrances to CityCentre Houston, on the other hand, are tough to find and require a keen eye. If you own a GPS device, then enter:

800 West Sam Houston Parkway North
Houston, TX 77024

The directions below are taken straight from the CityCentre Houston website, but I feel compelled to add some clarification to help you get there and so I will in red.

FROM NORTH (WOODLANDS/DALLAS)

• Take Interstate 45 South
• Go West on North Beltway 8 (Sam Houston Tollway)
• Exit Westview / Memorial
• Go under Interstate 10 West (Katy Freeway)
• Turn left under Beltway 8
If you take the outer left turn lane under Interstate 10, then you will be able to turn onto the right lane under Beltway 8 and the merging below will not be necessary.
• Quickly merge to your right
“Quickly” isn’t the right word to use here as I would use the word “Immediately.” Be wary of the other merging traffic in this area.
• Take the FIRST right onto Town & Country Blvd
The street signs are difficult to read so keep your eyes peeled. The street is the first real street you can turn right onto and is before some office buildings.
• Stay straight on Town & Country Blvd;
• CITYCENTRE is straight ahead
You have the option of turning right into Parking Garage 1 at the entrance.

FROM EAST (GALLERIA/DOWNTOWN)

• Take Interstate 10 West (Katy Freeway)
• Exit Beltway 8 Frontage Road (Exit 756A)
• Make a u-turn under I-10W / Katy Freeway
• Quickly merge to your right
Again, “quickly” isn’t the right word to use here as I would use the word “Immediately.” Be wary of the other merging traffic in this area.
• Take the FIRST right onto Town & Country Blvd
Again, the street signs are difficult to read so keep your eyes peeled. The street is the first real street you can turn right onto and is before some office buildings.
• Stay straight on Town & Country Blvd;
• CITYCENTRE is straight ahead
Again, you have the option of turning right into Parking Garage 1 at the entrance.

FROM SOUTH (PEARLAND/FREEPORT)

• Take West Beltway 8 North (Sam Houston Tollway)
• Take the Memorial/Town and Country Exit
• Stay straight on the feeder road past Memorial Drive
• Turn right onto Queensbury Lane
Yet again, the street signs are difficult to read so keep your eyes peeled. The street is after AT&T on the right.
• Turn left on Town & Country Blvd
The street is after Eddie V’s on the left at the first stop sign.
• CITYCENTRE is straight ahead
You have the option of continuing on Queensbury Lane and turning left into Parking Garage 2.

FROM WEST (KATY/SAN ANTONIO)

• Take Interstate 10 East (Katy Freeway)
• Exit Wilcrest/Beltway 8 Frontage Road
• Go under Beltway 8 and keep to the right
• Take the FIRST right onto Town & Country Blvd
One more time, the street signs are difficult to read so keep your eyes peeled. The street is the first real street you can turn right onto and is before some office buildings.
• Stay straight on Town & Country Blvd;
• CITYCENTRE is straight ahead
Yet again, you have the option of turning right into Parking Garage 1 at the entrance.

PARKING

There are three parking garages on the premises with Parking Garage 1 being the largest. The best garage to park in depends on where you want to go. There is valet parking available in the evenings along CityCentre Way. If you are lucky, you can find parking along Town and Country Boulevard.

RANDOM MUSINGS: The entrances to CityCentre Houston do not line up well with the existing roads in the area. Be very careful about using your turn signals to let people know where you are trying to go. Also, be very careful of the security guards directing traffic and of the pedestrians walking around. If you are visiting late at night, please be courteous to the residents and keep loud noises to a minimum. Also, feel free to bookmark this page if you don't have a Google account, or become a Follower by clicking the link on the right hand side of this page.