Starting next week, OpenTable.com (a website that allows you to make restaurant reservations online) will be holding their yearly Appetite Stimulus Plan, in which Houston-area restaurants will be offering special three-course menus at a greatly reduced price. From November 17th through the 21st, the restaurants will be offering either lunch or dinner menus or -- in some cases -- both. The price for the lunch menus is $24, while the dinner menus are an......

Good morning, Houston. So you say you're a Dynamo fan, eh? Well, here's your chance to prove it: The back-to-back MLS champs are auctioning off a chance to get close to the team's two MLS cups — literally. If you win the auction, the cups will be dropped off at your house on Christmas Eve and picked up Dec. 26; in between, you can do whatever you want with 'em (within reason, of course).......

If you remember the last time we featured a house in Shelterporn — longer ago than it should have been, we know — you'll remember that we have a thing for modern houses. So, naturally, we were drawn to this Montrose contemporary, a three-year-old house designed by architect Scott Ballard. The defining feature is the barrel-vaulted roof, which not only gives the house a unique silhouette but also creates some pretty impressive interior spaces.......

When Yia Yia Mary's comes into conversation, we automatically are plagued by the overwhelming scent of Lysol and fall into the fetal position. Commercials involving cleaning solutions come to mind as we reminisce about the most disappointing dining experience in Houston so far. Too harsh? You be the judge. After months of hearing about Yia Yia Mary's, we finally stopped in for some mind boggling Greek food. Hummus has quickly climbed the list to become......

We have a confession to make. Merely two weeks into our low cholesterol diet, we've fallen off the low cholesterol wagon and dove into the chow wagon. But it wasn't our fault! We were tempted by an evil and sinister force: oysters. More specifically, Danton oysters. So, you understand, right? Right? Confession aside, let's get to the nitty gritty--these oysters are anything but gritty. We walked into the place with full intentions to abide by......

Meyerland's Carousel House came crashing down today - the property's new owner Marvin Granit decided to hurry up and get it over with, just a day before Thanksgiving. The house has been an interesting architectural fixture in Houston since it was built by Robert Cohen in 1964, and has had a resurgence of attention since the previous owner John O'Quinn put it on the market. We featured the endangered home in late August, the Chronicle's......

Spent all your cash on girlie drinks and shattered dreams again this weekend, didn't you? No worries - Thriftster gives you the lowdown on cheap stuff to do until Paycheck Friday. Thanksgiving Thriftsters are sexy. Happy Turkey Week! Monday: You're going to have a long week of family time, ambrosia salad and tryptophan sluggishness, so pace yourself with a free Monday night movie at Domy Bookstore (1709 Westheimer). While not completely seasonally appropriate (or is......

Houstonist doesn't get it. What's with all the hype surrounding Arcodoro? Why is this place getting such rave reviews from foodies we usually respect? Are we missing something here? Perhaps Houstonist readers can shed some light on our very dark Arcodoro experience. Houston's recent annual Restaurant Week was a great opportunity to sample a three course dinner from a variety of notable restaurants. After careful scrutiny, we chose Arcodoro, a restaurant we've heard a lot......

Good morning, Houston. We suppose Tex-Mex is finally official: The New York Times wrote about it yesterday in an article that looked at famed Mexican joints in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. "Neon signs flicker above pastel storefronts promising excellent Mexican food in virtually every block of the city," the Times' Joe Drape writes of Houston. "The trick is to figure out which places will deliver on that promise." Indeed. Drape visited El Jardin......

We freely admit that we would love to live in Woodland Heights. Sure, a mansion in Broadacres would be nice, and it would be cool to own a fantastic mid-century house in Memorial — but every time we go to Woodland Heights, we can't help but think about what a cool neighborhood it is. That said, it shouldn't be a surprise that we're featuring a beautiful 1910 Woodland Heights home this week. The house......

Mother Nature has been teasing us – toying with us even. Here it is, late October and nary a sweater touched, a wool sock adorned, a scarf wrapped. The hair is still frizzy and the a/c continues to crank. But, by golly, the optimist in us has gone into full-fledged autumn-mode: dining al fresco. Every year, about this time of year, Houstonist wills the weather to get cooler by changing our dining strategy to all-al-fresco-all-the-time.......

There are few among us who truly focus on the wining, dining and opining of the fair sex as a studied artform. Think Al Green, Barry White and now local ladies man of song You(genious). Picture a perpetually suited smooth crooner with champagne bottles, single stem red roses and lollipops in tow - just for the ladies. To get this sultry party started, a few H-Town questions with You(genious): Sexiest place in H-town? My......

Feel like it's time to give back? Someone did someone nice for you and you haven't paid it forward? You screwed someone over and now you've gotta get your good karma back? We've got the answer - treat yourself to a gourmet 3-course dinner! It's not often that eating out can be considered charity work. This week in Houston, your dining escapades can actually do some good for the world. Houston's annual Restaurant Week......

We have to begin this week's Shelterporn with a disclaimer: Manhattan, Randall Davis' odd residential concoction across the street from the Water Wall, doesn't really suit our taste. But we'll freely admit that, if someone came to us and offered the keys to this penthouse in the building, we'd find it hard to turn down. Just saying. Access to the eighth-floor unit is through a 38-foot gallery that's perfect for hanging your art collection......

Good morning, Houston. If you've ever thought that Halloween needed a little more, uh, spice, you might want to check out HauntXXX, "Houston's most titillating haunted house." The titillating part apparently has to do with nearly naked women wearing neon body paint — and as for the haunted part, well, we're not so sure (maybe these are some super-scary sexpots we're talking about). The haunted house isn't sitting well with some of its neighbors,......

Good morning, Houston. Did you hear the one about the high school teacher who might have appeared in a bunch of gay sex videos? Well, now you have. He's a faculty member at Clements High in Sugar Land, and Fort Bend ISD officials got a tip last week that he has appeared in dozens of sexually explicit videos under an assumed name. The district has removed the teacher from the classroom while it investigates......

Admit it: At one point or another, you've sat back and thought to yourself, "You know, I really wish I lived in an embassy." And sure, it would be fun, but who wants to deal with all those pesky diplomatic staffers? Well, we have good news: There's a pretty embassaic home available in River Oaks, and the only people who'll live there with you are the ones you invite. (Did we mention that we're looking......

It's about time we had another 1920s home to covet — and so we're happy to talk about this charmer in the Museum District. Sure, Victorian homes are cool and ultra-modern ones can be breathtaking, but a good, solid traditional house from the 1920s or '30s just looks comfortable. That's the case with this home, which has all the features you'd expect from a residence of its age — high ceilings, hardwood floors, fireplaces......

There are several good reasons why many of us at Houstonist shouldn't be drinking, and then there are several reasons why most of us are. When it's hot as Hades, you have to do what you can. If you've had your fill of beer, margeritas, and all combinations therein, we at Houstonist have a suggestion for you: the apéritif. Sounds foreign, hard to pronounce and hard to make, but you're wrong. Forget your misconceptions......

Westheimer Road is a long, thriving, paved snake of potholed infrastructure. It guides you into town from the Grand Parkway through Beltway 8 and Loop 610 until it brings you all the way into a cozy, little enclave of town we lovingly refer to as The Montrose. Not really the heart of Houston, because that would probably be the Medical Center, but more like the liver or one of the kidneys of Houston as......

Many is the time Houstonist has passed by Courtlandt Place and wished we had the wherewithal to live there. And we were reminded of that when we saw that one of the homes on the boulevard, the Jones-Hunt house, is up for sale. It's actually among our least favorite homes on the street. but hey, we can't afford to be that picky. The house was built in 1919 for Sarah Brashear Jones, the wife......

Houstonist was driving out 290 the other day and noticed a new Luby's under construction — it normally wouldn't attract our attention, but we could tell this Luby's was going to look different. And now we know why: According to the Chronicle, the new restaurant is the first of Luby's next-generation locations, designed to bring the venerable cafeteria chain into the 21st century. Outside, the new Luby's will be faced in stucco and limestone; inside,......

A reader e-mailed us because he was upset that we didn't have a shelterporn last week — more specifically because we missed the chance to feature the West Mansion, which was sold a few days ago to a real estate development firm that plans to preserve the historic house. And yes, we did drop the ball on that one, we suppose. But don't worry: Here's an even larger house for your consideration, and unlike......

Not too long after having a minor heart attack, Frank Piazza drove down Bissonett to eat some healthy food at Cleburne's, heeding the advice of the cardiologist who fixed him up. On his way there, at the intersection of Wakeforest, he eyed an available corner suite in a strip center that used to house a Philly Cheesesteak Connection. The space, with its prominent location, long profile, and spacious windows, immediately caught Frank's eye. Already......

Houstonist was looking forward to a lunch appointment at Teala’s because we’ve never been before. We pulled into Teala’s parking lot and instantly wanted to put the car in reverse and get the hell out. Mandatory valet parking! Grrrrrrr. Yea, yea, so it’s complimentary but there’s a freakin’ parking lot right in front of the restaurant! We tried not to let that taint our dining experience before we even stepped foot in the restaurant. Teala’s......

The local blog roundup may be a day late, but we can't be a dollar short if we're going to eat at Truluck's. Food in Houston reviewed the popular eatery this week and was not terribly impressed, although their wallets were. Truluck's offers swank without the risk, according to this post. Check out the full entry for a run-down of how Truluck's offers quality food and a fine-dining atmosphere while avoiding that snobby feel. No......

If you're going to live in the Museum District, why not live in a museum-quality home? A good choice: this brand-new contemporary home off Bissonnet, just blocks from Main Street. The house is designed around a private central courtyard with a variety of porches, covered decks and large windows to combine indoor and outdoor living. The ground floor has two entrances — one from the street and one from the driveway — with a......

We've said before that we're fans of the architecture of John Staub, the man who designed homes for many of Houston's rich and famous between the late 1920s and early '60s. Staub's 1930 house for Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hanszen (the same Harry Hanszen for whom a college at Rice University is named) is one of Staub's premier picturesque romantic designs — a rambling, Norman-style home based on a medieval chateau Staub had seen......

Houstonist has heard a lot of our fellow Houstonians saying, quite earnestly, that they live in "lofts." When we think of lofts, we think of old factories, warehouses or other commercial buildings that have been converted to open living spaces with exposed brick walls, old wood or concrete floors and high ceilings — like the 22nd Street Lofts in the Heights. But when many Houstonians say they live in a loft, they actually mean......

Sometimes, we wish we had a little extra room to spread out at home — and in terms of extra room, we think this custom-built River Oaks home would fit the bill. At just over 13,000 square feet, it's roughly the size of Rhode Island, though it's distinctly more Mediterranean. As you'd expect, the house has a lot of room for entertaining, including big formal living and dining rooms opening off a dramatic two-story......