Tag: Sponsored Posts

Our sponsor again today: Preservation Houston, letting you know about its annual Good Brick Tour, which takes place this weekend. Thanks for supporting Swamplot!

On the 2017 Good Brick Tour, you’ll get an inside look at award-winning historic homes and buildings. Preservation Houston welcomes visitors with guided tours of 5 privately owned historic properties from noon to 5 pm on both Saturday, April 29, and Sunday, April 30.

Locations on this year’s tour are:

• The Dentler Building, 1809 Summer St., High First Ward Historic District: Visionary owners transformed a derelict apartment building (1923) into a modern family home.
• 2219 Kane St., Old Sixth Ward Historic District: Innovative design elements give new life and new uses to a traditional Victorian house (c. 1905).
• Isabella Court, 1005 Isabella Ave. at Main St., Midtown: one of the few survivors (1929) of Main St.’s 1920s Mediterranean era. Three apartments and the semi-tropical courtyard will be open for the tour.
• Fire Station No. 2, 317 Sampson St., East End: An early 20th century fire station (1910) has been adapted as a contemporary home with its historic character intact.
• 309 Sampson St., East End: A classic Victorian home (c. 1895) was rescued and revived with its historic ornamentation preserved inside and out.

The Good Brick Awards are Preservation Houston’s program for recognizing excellence in historic preservation. All the properties on this tour are Good Brick Award winners.

Your last chance to buy tickets online at the special advance rate of $25 per person is midnight on Thursday, April 27. (After that time, tickets will be available for $30 per person at any tour location during the weekend.) Tickets are valid both days of the tour and provide 1 admission to each location.

How about after you buy tix for the tour, you come back to Swamplot and sign up your business to be a Sponsor of the Day? Click here to learn more about the program.

Preservation Houston’s 2017 Good Brick Tour takes place this weekend. And it’s our sponsor again today — thanks for supporting this site!

Built to protect the East End when horses still pulled fire wagons, Fire Station No. 2 (1910) is the centerpiece of a private preservation and revitalization project. The building has been adapted as a contemporary family home, but its original purpose is still evident in its arched doorways, brass fire poles, and remnants of the fire alarm indicator.

Fire Station No. 2, at 317 Sampson St., is one of 5 award-winning historic houses and buildings that will be welcoming visitors for guided tours from noon to 5 pm on both Saturday, April 29, and Sunday, April 30.

This week is the last chance to buy advance tickets online for $25 per person. This special advance rate is good through midnight on Thursday, April 27. Tickets will be available for $30 per person at any tour location during the weekend. Tickets are valid both days of the tour and provide 1 admission to each location.

Preservation Houston has recognized all the properties on the tour with Good Brick Awards for excellence in historic preservation. The other tour locations are:

• 309 Sampson St., East End: This rescued and restored Queen Anne-style house (c. 1895) showcases intact Victorian detailing and the contemporary works of Houston artists.
• Isabella Court, 1005 Isabella Ave. at Main St., Midtown: A Mediterranean-inspired courtyard and surprising split-level apartments distinguish this unique landmark (1929).
• 2219 Kane St., Old Sixth Ward Historic District: Inventive design has provided new life and new uses for this Victorian cottage (c. 1900) while preserving the house’s classic character.
• The Dentler Building, 1809 Summer St., High First Ward Historic District: Potato chip manufacturer George Dentler’s office and residence (1923) has found new life as a modern family home.

Important events deserve to be highlighted on Swamplot. Find out more about our Sponsor of the Day program.

Our thanks today go to Houston’s own Central Bank. The bank is Swamplot’s Sponsor of the Day!

Central Bank has 4 (central) Houston branches available to meet your business or personal needs: in Midtown, the Heights, West Houston, and Post Oak Place.

Central Bank believes that change is essential to its success; the company actively pursues the latest in service, technology, and products. Central Bank aims to know its customers personally and to be their primary business and personal financial resource. The bank’s staff values relationships and strives to be available when you need them.

To learn more about how Central Bank can meet your banking needs, please call any of the following Senior Vice Presidents: Kenny Beard, at 832.485.2376; Bonnie Purvis, at 832.485.2354; Gary Noble, at 832.485.2366; or Ryan Tillman, at 832.485.2307. You can also find out more on the bank’s website.

Standout Houston business support Swamplot. Is it time for your business to become a Sponsor of the Day? 

For the last couple of weeks we’ve been learning a lot about the properties on the 2017 Good Brick Tour taking place later this month. Thanks to Preservation Houston for sponsoring us again today!

The classic Victorian home (c. 1895) now at 309 Sampson St. is one of 6 historic houses moved to this East End neighborhood in 2014 to save them from demolition — for townhomes. A comprehensive renovation preserved the home’s remarkably intact detailing inside and out and breathed new life into the house and its neighborhood.

This East End home is one of 5 award-winning historic houses and buildings welcoming visitors with guided tours from noon to 5 pm on both Saturday, April 29, and Sunday, April 30 — as part of Preservation Houston’s 2017 Good Brick Tour.

Purchase advance tickets online for $25 per person through Thursday, April 27. Tickets will be available for $30 per person at any tour location during the weekend. Tickets are valid both days of the tour and provide 1 admission to each location.

All the properties on the tour are award winners — Preservation Houston has bestowed Good Brick Awards for excellence in historic preservation on each of them. The other tour locations are:

• Fire Station No. 2, 317 Sampson St., East End: Up-to-date interior design transformed a turn-of-the-century fire station (1910) into a private home with brass fire poles intact.
• Isabella Court, 1005 Isabella Ave. at Main St., Midtown. A spectacular courtyard and unique apartments distinguish this one-of-kind Spanish Colonial Revival-style building (1929).
• 2219 Kane St., Old Sixth Ward Historic District: A quaint Folk Victorian cottage (c. 1900) preserved as an architect’s office and guest house.
• The Dentler Building, 1809 Summer St., High First Ward Historic District: A crumbling 2-story apartment house (1923) that found new life as a contemporary single-family home.

Swamplot appreciates its sponsors! Find out here how to become one.

Today on Swamplot we’re talking about the 4-bedroom home at 8042 Glenforest Ct. in Glenbrook Valley. It’s our Sponsor of the Day. Thanks for supporting this site!

This is how they did it in 1959: There’s Roman brick all around this 2,846-sq.-ft. U-shaped Ranch-style home. It’s set back from both street sides of its 18,400-sq.-ft. corner lot. The home was designed by Bill Hoff, once the business partner of architect William Jenkins and later the founder of Hoff Architects.

There have been only 2 owners. The home has received a number of structural and system updates and repairs, but still includes original midcentury features — including leaded glass windows in the front living room, a wraparound flagstone fireplace with mod-shaped cutouts (seen in the den photo above), pegged hardwoods in the den, a few cove lighting installations, and some brightly tiled bathrooms (2 full, and 2 half). And it’s in a northern portion of Glenbrook Valley, Houston’s only historic district that features midcentury modern and Ranch-style homes.

Sliding doors off the den, at the center of the home, lead out to a paved, southwest-facing patio tucked between the floor plan’s 2 legs. Beyond it is the back lawn. The kitchen has newer granite countertops and Viking brand stainless-steel appliances; it looks onto a breakfast room.

If this home sounds or looks intriguing to you, you’ll want to check out the photos and more extensive description on the property website. The property at the corner of Glenforest Ct. and Dover St. is listed for sale by Robert Searcy of Robert Searcy Homes.

Got a swank spread of your own to spread word about? Contact us about becoming a Swamplot sponsor of the day.

Our thanks today go to Preservation Houston, which is continuing this series to introduce the properties that will appear on the 2017 Good Brick Tour later this month. Swamplot appreciates the support!

It takes a certain kind of person to look at a derelict apartment house and see in it a potential family home. Fortunately, the Dentler Building found visionary new owners who rescued the crumbling brick building. It had been constructed in 1923 by food manufacturer George H. Dentler, best known for his Dentler Maid Potato Chips.

The painstaking rehabilitation of this building took a year and a half. What had been a termite-riddled eyesore is now an asset to the High First Ward Historic District; it also demonstrates how a historic building can serve a modern household.

The Dentler Building at 1809 Summer St. is one of 5 award-winning historic houses and buildings that will welcome visitors with guided tours from noon to 5 pm on both Saturday, April 29, and Sunday, April 30.

Purchase advance tickets to the 2017 Good Brick Tour online for $25 per person through Thursday, April 27. Tickets will be available for $30 per person at any tour location during the weekend. Tickets are valid both days of the tour and provide 1 admission to each location.

Preservation Houston has recognized all the properties on tour with Good Brick Awards for excellence in historic preservation. The other tour locations are:

• 309 Sampson St., East End: A classic Victorian house (c. 1895) that shines with remarkably intact detailing and original art.
• Fire Station No. 2, 317 Sampson St., East End: Up-to-date interior design transformed a turn-of-the-century fire station (1910) into a private home with brass fire poles intact.
• Isabella Court, 1005 Isabella Ave. at Main St., Midtown. A spectacular courtyard and unique apartments distinguish this one-of-kind Spanish Colonial Revival-style building (1929). Three apartments and Isabella Court’s namesake courtyard will be open to visitors.
• 2219 Kane St., Old Sixth Ward Historic District: A quaint Folk Victorian cottage (c. 1900) preserved as an architect’s office and guest house.

Show off your remodels — or models. Become a Swamplot Sponsor of the Day.

Our sponsor today is the home at 4110 Stanford St. in Montrose pictured here, offered for sale by Nan and Company Properties. Thanks for supporting Swamplot!

If this 3-bedroom brick home catches your eye, take a look inside! It’s located 2 blocks east of Montrose Blvd. and 2 blocks north of Richmond Ave., in a neighborhood called First Montrose Commons. Built in 2012, it includes several features geared toward energy efficiency: 16 SEER AC, a tankless water heater, and low-e glass windows, allowing for better insulation.

The formal dining room is at the front of the 3,158-sq.-ft. home — on your left as you enter — with 3 windows facing the front yard and a fourth looking onto the entry porch. Directly across the entry hall is a small study facing the porch. You can see a bit of the butler’s pantry, lined with storage, leading from the dining room to the kitchen at right in the photo above.

The living area and the kitchen form a continuous space at the back of the home; triple windows and a set of French doors link them to the back patio. The entertainment area includes a stone fireplace surrounded by built-in cabinetry and 2 high windows facing the side yard. In the kitchen you’ll find granite countertops, 2 full ovens, Thermador appliances, and seating for 5 at the island breakfast bar.

Each of the home’s 3 bedrooms includes an en suite bathroom and a walk-in closet; there’s an additional half-bath downstairs. You’ll find hardwood floors throughout the home — even in the bedrooms. The master bedroom includes crown molding and built-ins; its bathroom includes a jetted tub, dual sinks, and a separate vanity.

The back patio has a covered section and includes flagstone landscaping and a slate walkway. A set of stairs past it leads directly to a 589-sq.-ft. garage apartment. The apartment has a full kitchen with granite countertops, a bathroom tiled in slate, and a walk-in closet.

More information and more photos are available on the property website. If you’re interested in this home, please call Walter Aymen of Nan and Company Properties at 713.714.6454 — or email him at walter.aymen@nanproperties.com.

Take Swamplot readers on a tour of what your company has to offer: Become a Sponsor of the Day! 

Today on Swamplot our sponsor is PORTERS, a new restaurant planned for College Station that’s raising investment funds on the NextSeed crowdfunding platform. Thanks for the support!

PORTERS is now under construction at the focal point of Century Square, a 55-acre mixed-use development by Midway just across University Dr. from the main campus of Texas A&M University. PORTERS will sit on the ground floor of The George (a luxury boutique hotel from the Valencia Group), adjacent to a 9,000 sq.-ft. green that will anchor the development (at the center of the site plan, above). If this configuration reminds you somewhat of CityCentre in Houston, there’s a reason for that: CityCentre was developed by Midway, and it’s serving as a model for Century Square.

PORTERS is backed by Midway executives and the Chill Restaurant Group — general manager Charles Criswell and executive chef Bill Greenwood. They describe the restaurant as an “approachable, contemporary, and upscale eatery,” centered around a “wood-centric” grill and a craft butcher providing handcut steaks and chops to order. (That’s a rendering of the entry and butcher area at top.) The 6,000-sq.-ft. facility will include two 50-seat dining areas, a smaller private dining room, an outdoor patio, and additional seating in a bar area. You can find a whole lot more detail about the plans for this restaurant here.

If opening a restaurant like this in Bryan—College Station strikes you as an interesting idea, you’ll want to look into the PORTERS offering on NextSeed. NextSeed is a national crowdfunding platform that makes it easy to invest funds in local businesses and potentially see financial returns with monthly payments. PORTERS is just one of the offerings currently available to investors on NextSeed. Between its Texas affiliate and its newer national platform, NextSeed has facilitated more than $3 million in small business investments.

The minimum investment in a NextSeed offering is $100 (yes, you read that right) — and anyone can invest. Recent changes in the law now make it possible for people of all income levels to join entrepreneurs in creating new concepts for their cities (or the cities of their alma mater). NextSeed carefully reviews every deal before presenting an opportunity to investors on its website. On NextSeed, Houstonians are empowered to invest in local bars, restaurants, salons, and other places they’re excited about.

Got a deal Houston should know about? Swamplot’s Sponsor of the Day program is an effective way to spread the word.

Preservation Houston’s 2017 Good Brick Tour is our sponsor again today, with another bit of detail on one of the properties in the tour later this month. Thanks for the support!

This quaint Folk Victorian cottage had been vacant and neglected when new owners purchased the dilapidated house and moved it to a prominent intersection in the Old Sixth Ward Historic District. The missing front porch was reconstructed with salvaged columns, and historic doors, windows, and hardware were preserved throughout. A clever use of space transformed the cottage into a light-filled office and guest house while preserving its historic character.

The house at 2219 Kane Street is one of 5 award-winning historic homes and buildings welcoming visitors with guided tours from noon to 5 pm on both Saturday, April 29, and Sunday, April 30.

Purchase advance tickets online for $25 per person through Thursday, April 27. Tickets will be available for $30 per person at any tour location during the weekend. Tickets are valid both days of the tour and provide one admission to each location.

Preservation Houston has recognized all the properties on tour with Good Brick Awards for excellence in historic preservation. The other tour locations are:

• The Dentler Building, 1809 Summer St., High First Ward Historic District: A once-derelict 2-story apartment house (1923) that found new life as a contemporary single-family home.
• 309 Sampson St., East End: A classic Victorian house (c. 1895) that shines with remarkably intact detailing and original art.
• Fire Station No. 2, 317 Sampson St., East End: Up-to-date interior design transformed a turn-of-the-century fire station (1910) into a private home with brass fire poles intact.
• Isabella Court, 1005 Isabella Ave. at Main, Midtown. A spectacular courtyard and unique apartments distinguish this one-of-kind Spanish Colonial Revival—style building (1929).

Give Swamplot readers a tour of your business: Become a Sponsor of the Day.

You already know today’s Swamplot sponsor: It’s ASCOT — also known as the Alcohol Servers Counsel of Texas. Thanks for supporting this site!

If you work in a restaurant, or in any kind of food-service or food-prep operation, you’re probably already familiar with state requirements for training in food-handling safety. And if you work in a bar or for an alcohol distributor, you probably already know why it’s so important that everyone who has anything to do with selling, dispensing, or delivering any kind of alcoholic beverage complete state-certified training in alcohol safety.

Since 1988, ASCOT has been licensed by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to provide TABC-certified alcohol-server training programs. That makes ASCOT one of the oldest and most established food and beverage certification programs in the country — as well as Texas’s longest-running provider of training in this important field. And ASCOT has been a preferred source for training in food handling in Houston since 2004.

If you’re responsible for making sure new employees are trained promptly and well in these particular areas, you can be sure they’re getting the exact program they need — in the most helpful format possible — by sending them to ASCOT. ASCOT offers its training courses both in a classroom setting and online, in both English and Spanish.

Use the discount code ASCOT on the alcoholservers.com website and the online alcohol-server training course works out to just $9.89 per class. The food-handling class costs just $7.00 — no discount code is needed.

ASCOT’s server-training program is certified by the TABC, and its food-handler program is ANSI Accredited as meeting the ASTM E2659-09 standard. For more details, or to sign up, head over to the ASCOT website — alcoholservers.com — or call 713.922.1223.

How to get noticed in Houston: Become a Swamplot Sponsor of the Day.

Preservation Houston’s 2017 Good Brick Tour is coming up later this month. And it’s our sponsor today. Thanks for supporting Swamplot!

Isabella Court is the lone survivor of the many Spanish Colonial Revival—style buildings that lined blocks of Main St. beginning in the 1920s. Local developer Pierre Michael hired architect William D. Bordeaux of Miami to design this 3-story structure, which contains 2 residential levels above ground-floor commercial spaces.

Sixteen apartments open onto a roofed, open-air courtyard, distinguished by elegant iron balconies, railings, and gates as well as a faux wishing well trimmed with delicate ironwork. Each unit is unique, with some apartments featuring split-level floor plans. Ornate light fixtures and Taos-style fireplaces contribute to the flats’ distinctive appearance. Even the small pass-through cabinets where milk was delivered are still in place.

Isabella Court is one of 5 award-winning historic homes and buildings welcoming visitors with guided tours from noon to 5 pm on both Saturday, April 29, and Sunday, April 30. Three apartments and Isabella Court’s namesake courtyard will be open during the 2017 Good Brick Tour.

Purchase advance tickets online for $25 per person through Thursday, April 27. Tickets will be available for $30 per person at any tour location during the weekend. Tickets are valid both days of the tour and provide 1 admission to each location.

Preservation Houston has recognized all the properties on tour with Good Brick Awards for excellence in historic preservation. The other properties on the tour are:

• The Dentler Building, 1809 Summer Street, High First Ward Historic District: A once-derelict 2-story apartment house (1923) that found new life as a contemporary single-family home.
• 2219 Kane St., Old Sixth Ward Historic District: A quaint Folk Victorian cottage (c. 1885) preserved as an architect’s office and guest house.
• 309 Sampson St., East End: A classic Victorian house (c. 1895) that shines with remarkably intact detailing and original art.
• Fire Station No. 2, 317 Sampson St., East End: Up-to-date interior design transformed a turn-of-the-century fire station (1910) into a private home with brass fire poles intact.

Thinking of another important upcoming event that deserves attention? Let readers know about it through Swamplot’s Sponsor of the Day program!

Who’s sponsoring Swamplot today? Houston’s own Central Bank. Thanks for the continuing support!

Central Bank has 4 (central) Houston branches available to meet your business or personal needs: in Midtown, the Heights, West Houston, and Post Oak Place.

Central Bank believes that change is essential to its success; the company actively pursues the latest in service, technology, and products. Central Bank aims to know its customers personally and to be their primary business and personal financial resource. The bank’s staff values relationships and strives to be available when you need them.

To learn more about how Central Bank can meet your banking needs, please call any of the following Senior Vice Presidents: Kenny Beard, at 832.485.2376; Bonnie Purvis, at 832.485.2354; Gary Noble, at 832.485.2366; or Ryan Tillman, at 832.485.2307. You can also find out more on the bank’s website.

Help Swamplot and help your business! Become a Sponsor of the Day. 

Today’s sponsor is Plan Downtown, a project of the Downtown District. Thanks for supporting Swamplot!

Downtown Houston is looking at you! Here’s why:

Plan Downtown, a 20-year vision that will outline recommendations for planning, development, and design within and around Downtown Houston, has a goal of positioning the area for a competitive and enriched future.

For the process to be successful, it’s imperative that people from all walks of life have an opportunity to give feedback on the many aspects of the plan. Consider this your personal invitation to participate in activities and inform stakeholders. Workshops are scheduled for April and July.

The first of these free public workshops — set for Wednesday, April 12, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm and from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Crystal Ballroom at The Rice — will give you a chance to learn about Plan Downtown, to examine the challenges and opportunities facing Downtown today, and to provide input for Downtown’s future. The event will include a short presentation and activity stations that will allow the public to engage with staff, the leadership team, and consultants.

What’s up for discussion?

Lots of questions. For a little background, the vision of the plan is built around 4 pillars to guide thought and conversation. It’s about making Downtown Houston

• the greatest place to be;
• the premier business location;
• the standard for urban livability; and
• Houston’s leading multi-modal center.

Over the next few months, the project group will be exploring these topics more in-depth, in an effort to guide the plan toward achieving these goals and objectives.

In the meantime, Downtown Houston is encouraging members of the community to think about:

• What are Downtown’s competitive advantages, and how do we build on those in the future?
• How can Downtown better connect to adjacent neighborhoods?
• How can we make a Downtown walk a more pleasant, safe, and engaging experience?
• How will Downtown attract its future workforce?
• What housing needs will Downtown and its adjacent neighborhoods have in the future?

Do you think you might have some answers?

Join Downtown Houston on April 12, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm and from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Crystal Ballroom at The Rice, 909 Texas Ave. For more information on Plan Downtown, visit the Plan Downtown website.

Sponsoring Swamplot is a great way to reach people who pay attention to the city. Find out more here.

Today’s Swamplot sponsor: Mosaic Clinic Dermatology. Thanks for supporting this site!

Who says it’s difficult to get an appointment with a dermatologist? Mosaic Clinic Dermatology has 2 locations with easy freeway access: in Upper Kirby at 2211 Norfolk St. Suite 405 (pictured above) and in the Tanglewood area (convenient to the Galleria) at 5757 Woodway Dr. Suite 185a. (Plus there’s a third office with easy access from Midtown and Montrose, at 902 Fairview St. Suite 1.) At Mosaic Clinic Dermatology, same-day, next-day, and Saturday appointments are available.

Mosaic Clinic Dermatology is an award-winning, highly rated general dermatology practice that also offers several specialized treatments for skin conditions — such as acne and eczema — as well as a range of cosmetic procedures and products. It’s also convenient for skin cancer screenings. Mosaic Clinic dermatologists will even see you for acne emergencies before big events; poison ivy; and other urgent skin rashes that itch, bleed, or spread. Both male and female doctors are available for appointments.

To find out more, check out the Mosaic Clinic Dermatology website, where you can also learn about a number of the treatments available at the clinic. You can make an appointment at any of the 3 locations from this page — or call (281) 941-5556 for immediate assistance.

Get some skin in the game! Become a Swamplot Sponsor of the Day.

Who’s Swamplot’s sponsor today? Personal coach Cricket Buchler. Thanks for the support!

If you’re looking to make some changes in your life, or just searching for a creative spark for a jump-start, consider a 90-minute personal coaching session with coach Cricket Buchler. An experienced corporate trainer who has helped top executives, Hollywood celebrities, and employees in a range of industries address personal and professional development issues, Cricket also works one-on-one, guiding clients to explore and unlock possibilities and design plans to realize change, and coaching them through their journey toward an intentional life.

A coaching session can also be an inspiring gift for anyone who is looking to take the next step forward in life, work, or relationships, but feels a bit stuck as to what next steps might look like. You’ll find a sampling of testimonials from Cricket’s clients on her website, along with more information about coaching sessions.

Take your turn as a Swamplot sponsor! It’s easy if you follow the directions here.