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    Astrodome Shocker

    Astrodome shocker: Houston sends a strong message that it doesn't care about its past — again

    Clifford Pugh
    Nov 6, 2013 | 6:00 am

    Most cities care about their past. But Houston doesn't.

    That's the message I got from Tuesday's election, where voters decisively turned down a proposal to issue $217 million in bonds to refurbish the neglected "Eight Wonder of the World" into a multi-purpose event center.

    Supporters of Proposition 2 ran a miserable campaign. City and county leaders offered lukewarm support. No one gave the undecideds a reason to support the Dome. In a low turnout election where voters were in a sour mood — heck, even football-crazy Katy residents turned down a Taj Mahal high school stadium — that's a recipe for disaster.

    The best case for saving the Dome I've heard lately came from, of all places, the Los Angeles Times, where architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne wrote an impassioned plea that was published the day of the election. The column started like this:

    Forget Monticello or the Chrysler building: There may be no piece of architecture more quintessentially American than the Astrodome. Widely copied after it opened in 1965, it perfectly embodies postwar U.S. culture in its brash combination of Space Age glamour, broad-shouldered scale and total climate control. It also offers a key case study in how modern architecture treated the natural world — and how radically the balance of power in that relationship has shifted over the last half-century."

    He's not the only outsider who sees beauty in the Dome. When I interviewed race car driver Charlie Kimball last month before the Shell Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston, he said the highlight would be racing around the Astrodome. He reverently recalled the history of the building, including the famous "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, in a way that I've never heard any Houstonian mention.

    Even Rand Paul's favorite source of information, Wikipedia, heaps praise on the Dome. It notes that in a poll of "America's Favorite Architecture" commissioned by the American Institute of Architects in 2007, the Astrodome was ranked among the top 150 architecture projects in America.

    Instead, Houstonians see it as a resting place for feral cats and broken dreams.

    In a city that likes to tear down anything with memories — from the grand old movies palaces and Foley's store in downtown to the Shamrock Hilton and the Prudential Building in the Medical Center — to build architecturally inferior buildings or nothing at all, it shouldn't come as a great surprise that so few people see the value of the stadium.

    But I see it as the embodiment of all that Houston represents: It was a crazy idea built on a swamp by a man with a vision. An indoor stadium with fake grass was just about the most improbable thing imaginable in 1965, but Judge Roy Hofheinz made it so special that even the President and Lady Bird attended the opening. And the world took note.

    As a kid on vacation in Houston for the first time, not long thereafter, I bought into Hofheinz's vision. The Astrodome was just about the coolest thing ever. I still recall the rainbow-colored seats — we sat in the nosebleed section — and the magic scoreboard that featured a full minute of snorting bulls and fireworks when someone from the hometown Astros hit a home run.

    That, and the swimming pool at the Shamrock that was so large a water ski boat could fit in it, convinced me that Houston was a magical place.

    Now it's just like everywhere else.

    Just the other night, when the Texans lost a heartbreaker to the Indianapolis Colts on national TV, I was reminded how special the Astrodome is. NBC went wild with overhead blimp shots of Reliant Stadium after every commercial break. But even it is half-darkened state, the Dome, sitting next door, look far more mysterious and interesting than the nondescript (i.e, boring) open-roof stadium.

    We had a chance to make the Astrodome a place to remember — again. But we blew it.

    With the Super Bowl approaching in 2017, I'm sure county officials can't wait to tear it down and put up another parking lot.

    That's just what Houston needs.

    The Astrodome's days appear numbered.

    Astrodome line drawing sketch
      
    Courtesy photo
    The Astrodome's days appear numbered.
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    Houston's best summer party

    White Linen Night in the Heights rolls out new VIP section for 2025

    Eric Sandler
    May 19, 2025 | 5:33 pm
    White Linen Night in the Heights
    Photo courtesy of White Linen Night in the Heights
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    One of Houston’s favorite summer parties aspires to be even better in 2025. White Linen Night aims to build on the success of the 2024 event with faster admission, more amenities, and a dedicated VIP section.

    Held annually on the first Saturday in August — this year that’s Saturday, August 2 — White Linen Night came to Houston from New Orleans. Although it now takes place throughout the neighborhood, its roots have always been on 19th Street, where the nonprofit 19th Street Merchants Association established the event after Hurricane Katrina. As part of the evening, the street is closed off to vehicular traffic which allows people to walk freely among their friends and neighbors. The overwhelming majority of attendees dress in the spirit of the event’s name by wearing white (it’s also cooling in the summer heat).

    Last year, for the first time ever, the merchants association charged those attending the 19th Street party a $10 admission fee. The money paid for better security, a deep clean both before and after the event, and festive Christmas decorations for the association’s members. Given its success, the fee is back at the same $10 price for 2025 ($15 after July 31).

    “We learned that people are still incredibly eager to support our local businesses and artisans, even when there is a small fee to attend,” Coryne Rich, secretary of the 19th Street Merchants Association, tells CultureMap. “It was inspiring to see the community come out in droves, especially during what is traditionally a slower time of year. Charging for entry also gave us the opportunity to enhance the event in meaningful ways, adding value for both attendees and merchants.”

    For 2025, the association is installing a dedicated wifi network to improve the entry process. More notably, attendees have a new VIP ticket option. Priced at $60, it comes with access to a VIP section with seating, dedicated restrooms, a cooling station, and two bars.

    “We added a VIP section this year to expand on the offerings of White Linen Night and to provide a more exclusive experience for those looking to enjoy the event in a different way,” Rich explains. “[It will be] a perfect space for guests to relax and immerse themselves in the atmosphere while also supporting the local businesses in the Heights.”

    Other elements of the evening remained unchanged. The street’s merchants will open their doors to the community. Area restaurants will offer food and drink specials. Local musicians will perform throughout the evening.

    To be clear, White Linen Night events held in other parts of the Heights, such as on White Oak, are not connected to the 19th Street Merchants Association. They may or may not charge fees of their own.

    “While organizing White Linen Night takes a lot of work, the reward of seeing people in their white attire, enjoying an evening of community celebration, and supporting small businesses is always the best part,” Rich adds. “It’s a time for all of us to celebrate the unique culture of the Heights, and we can’t wait to experience it all over again this year.”

    For tickets and more information, visit the White Linen Night on 19th Street website at wlnon19th.com.

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