We took a trip over to the Heights today at lunch to see how the historic neighborhood was faring five days after Hurricane Ike. The Heights, like many other older neighbohoods in Houston, was badly battered by the high winds and tornados that Ike produced. The incredible wealth of beautiful old live oak and pecan trees in the neighborhood only gave Ike additional fodder during its destructive rampage. Driving down I-10 towards the Heights, the......

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......

Good morning, Houston. Sure, you've heard a lot about Alamo defender Davy Crockett — but have you ever read his final letter? Soon you'll be able to see it in person: The Texas Historical Commission has bought the letter, which was discovered in a file folder last month, for $550,000. Crockett wrote the letter to his children Jan. 9, 1836, shortly after he arrived in Texas and less than two months before he died......

Located in the heart of Woodland Heights on Bayland Avenue (a.k.a. "The Street of Dreams" in the Heights), this 1904 Victorian home is a rare and stunning example of Houston’s history. Built by William A. Wilson (founder of the heights), this home has many original details that have been restored to their original form as well as updates that have been integrated into the original space. The main living rooms in the home include......

As we noted yesterday, the Doyle house on Heights Boulevard is no more — and Harry James, the man who had it demolished, is pissed off that anyone tried to save it. In an e-mail to the Chronicle, James said the house was beyond repair: "This house is not a historic mansion, as is being classified in the media by my opponents. It sat in disrepair for 35 years, without any occupants and with major......

The Doyle House was built in 1906 by William A. Wilson, an important person in the early growth of the Heights and who was the developer of Woodland Heights and Eastwood. The house is located at the southwest corner of Heights Blvd. and 10th St., and was recently acquired by local builder Harry James who has been constructing and rehabbing homes in inner Houston, with a recent concentration in the Heights. James plans on demolishing......

Ah, if only Houstonist had $819,000 lying around — we'd buy 819,000 Frosties. Uh, on second thought, we'd pick up this Woodland Heights beauty instead. It's more practical, and there's a lot less chance of brain freeze. William A. Wilson, the developer of Woodland Heights, built the house in 1905 on Bayland Avenue, the neighborhood's principal street. It was restored in 2003 and still has all the charm of an early 20th century home:......

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......

The Greater Houston Preservation Alliance continues its monthly walking tours this weekend in the historic Woodlands Heights. This year marks the neighborhood's 100th anniversary. When platted in 1907 by William A. Wilson, the neighborhood was a 20-minute streetcar ride north of downtown via Houston Avenue. Although originally designed as an independent streetcar suburb, it was eventually incorporated into the city of Houston and is now one of the closest residential neighborhoods to downtown. Nestled......

H-Town is seriously busy! This weekend brings Lights in the Heights, The Citrus Festival, the XMAS Tree Project, The Tree Lighting Downtown, The Houston Blues Society Holiday Ball, ensuring the homeless have plenty to eat, and shopping for either gifts, or that perfect ensemble to wear to Houstonist's Birthday Party. But wait, there really is more - and more, and more - 'tis the season, after all. If you are not imbibing on the company......

An annual tradition that Houstonist likes to enjoy is the Lights in the Heights. Walking around the street in the heart of Woodland Heights, with almost every bungalow decorated, carolers and musicians playing Christmas music, it’s the quickest way to get us in the holiday mood. Add the chilly weather to the mix, it makes the experience perfect. Each year, the Woodland Heights Association picks different streets to host the event. This year, the main......

So things are looking pretty good for the local real estate market: Last month, the average single-family home price in Houston topped $200,000 for the first time. The average price for a single-family house in May was $204,005, up 8.2 percent over last year's average, the Houston Association of Realtors reports. Meanwhile, the median home price in Houston also reached a record $152,000. (In case you're wondering, yes, that is much less than the national......

From Off the Kuff comes a heads-up on an I-45 design workshop scheduled for May 6. The purpose of the workshop is to let residents talk about what they'd like to see in the 45 redesign — landscaping, noise reduction, neighborhood access, double-decking — so the information can be presented to TxDOT during its public "Scoping Meetings." From an e-mail from the I-45 Coalition's Jim Weston: The workshop will be facilitated by transportation and development......

Like it or not, Thanksgiving has come and gone, so the holidays are officially upon us. Stressed? Us too. Fortunately, there are plenty of holiday distractions — here are a few of the old standbys. Do you know a holiday event Houstonist should note? Drop us a candygram. In the meantime, Merry Christmas/happy Hanukkah/happy Kwanzaa/super Winter Solstice! Sure, there are always a bunch of community theater productions of A Christmas Carol, but only in......