Northwest Houston and Cypress News

Bring your family and watch exciting quarter horse racing, eat tasty boiled crawfish, and listen to great live Cajun music on Saturday, May 8 at the 1st Annual Crawfish Festival, hosted by the Sam Houston Race Park and presented by 106.9 The Point.

A $15 package ticket includes two pounds of boiled crawfish with potatoes and corn, plus entry to the race park and the concert. The early part of the concert will be outdoors between the races, and the artists will include Mia Washington, The Texas Brass Band, and The Prince of Zydeco. After the races, Leroy Thomas & the Zydeco Roadrunners will hold a special Verizon Wireless concert on the Bud Light side stage.

It’s a fun day at the races, with music and great food! For more information, please see the Sam Houston Race Park’s website Shrp.com/.

Comment (0)

Lone Star College System is hosting a Spring Student Art Exhibition at the Bosque Gallery from Tuesday, April 27 through Thursday, May 6, 2010. The exhibition highlights selected LSCS-Cy Fair students art pieces created over the last two semesters, and includes work from local studying such as artist Jessica Rice. Rice is the mother of two children, under three years old, who loves the opportunity for expression through creativity available in collegiate art classes. That expression has become very exciting and rewarding for her, now including a self portrait selected for showing during the Art Exhibition.

The Bosque Gallery will host a Meet the Artist reception from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 29, and the normal hours of the exhibit are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. The gallery is located in the Center for the Arts building on the Barker Cypress campus at 9191 Barker Cypress http://www.lonestar.edu/cyfair.htm. Come on out!

For more information on the Bosque gallery hosting the student art exhibition, visit http://LoneStar.edu/bosquegallery or call 832.482.1038.

Comment (0)

On Saturday, May 15, Congressman Ted Poe will be hosting his first Youth Conference for local high school students from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. High schools in Cy Fair ISD - including Cy Ranch and Cy Woods - are invited! The event has been created to encourage high school students to consider and prepare for their future, and will include information booths, speakers such as NBA player Elvin Hayes, Lt. Colonel (Ret.) Anthony Landry, and an Astronaut. The speakers will focus their talks around their personal stories and explain how hard work, good decisions, and perseverance really can make dreams come true!

The event is free for students and parents and will be held at the Dayton Civic Center located at 801 South Cleveland Street in Dayton, Texas. Those interested in attending the conference should contact Congressman Poe’s staff at 281-446-0242 or 409-212-1997 to reserve their spot.

Comment (0) Read More...

Houston Premium Outlets has started construction on a major expansion that will add high-end clothier Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th to the successful retail center.

The outdoor center will grow in size by 27 percent — from 427,000 square feet to 541,000 square feet of leasable space. There will be room for 25 new stores, which will add an estimated 250 employees to the large regional center.

In addition to Saks Off 5th, retailers that have pre-leased space in Phase II include A/X Armani Exchange, Esprit, J.Crew, Joe’s Jeans, Lacoste, Talbots and Tumi. New stores will begin opening as soon as November.
All existing space in the two-year-old center is leased. Some of the 120 stores include Ann Taylor, BCBG Max Azria, Burberry, Coach, Michael Kors and Nike.

The 75-acre project is located on U.S. Highway 290 in Cypress, northwest of Houston. It’s part of Premium Outlets, a group of upscale outlet centers owned by Indianapolis, Ind.-based Simon Property Group Inc.
The move comes as shopping center executives are finally breathing a bit easier after a national survey reports improving sales and expectations during March.

Michele Rothstein, senior vice president of marketing for Premium Outlets, says the center is a destination for local, regional and out-of-town shoppers. The center has more stores than the average outlet center, she says, which helps draw more visitors. “People will travel farther,” Rothstein says. “That’s serious shopping.”

The troubled economic times may be contributing to the strength of the center, which offers discounts ranging from 25 percent to 65 percent on merchandise.

“We’re all living through tough times,” Rothstein says. “Outlets are getting a fresh look from people.”Paula Rosenblum, managing partner of RSR Research LLC, says fewer over-stocked, name-brand items are available at outlets because retailers have adopted leaner inventory habits, meaning they have less merchandise left over to pass along to the outlet. Plus, many outlet stores, like Saks Off 5th, buy merchandise geared toward the stores.

“Most of that is not excess merchandise from Saks,” she says. “Even if you buy a designer product there, it was often bought specifically for that outlet.”

Saks Off 5th will be the largest new store in Houston Premium Outlets, with nearly 29,000 square feet. The store will complement the Saks Fifth Avenue in the Galleria mall by selling value-priced designer clothes and accessories.

This is the third Saks Off 5th location in the Houston area. Others are in The Fountains on the Lake Center in Stafford and Katy Mills Mall, also owned by Simon Property Group.

The new store will be designed like a chain prototype that was launched two years ago.

TURNING POINT
Rosenblum, a retail consultant in Miami, was surprised to hear about the expansion at Houston Premium Outlets.

“I really thought outlet malls had peaked,” she says. “Obviously they found a place where there was a hole, and they’re filling it.”
The expansion of Houston Premium Outlets may be coming at a good time.

A survey of shopping center executives conducted monthly by the International Council of Shopping Centers recently posted its first gains in 32 months, with executives reporting an improvement in business during March.

The Shopping Center Executive Business Barometer increased by 4.5 percentage points to 52.6 percent. That’s the first time results have surpassed the 50 percent mark since July 2007. Results are based on sales growth, customer traffic, occupancy rates, rental rates, capitalization rates and executives’ expectations.

“March 2010 marked an important turning point for the U.S. shopping center industry,” notes Michael Niemira, chief economist and director of research for the International Council of Shopping Centers, in a prepared statement. “After nearly three years of contraction, shopping center executives are finally optimistic on the current state of industry conditions across all five performance measures.”

Source: Houston Business Journal

Comment (0)

Several fine colleges hold classes in or near Fairfield, and combined with the great public school system of CFISD; provide a full educational spectrum to the academic needs of the community.

Lone Star College – Cy Fair: LSC-CF, has is part of the Lone Star College system and has a great 200+ acre campuses at Barker Cypress Campus, 9191 Barker Cypress Road. The very convenient Barker-Cypress campus offers classes around the around technology, business, emergency services—all through the Center for the Arts, a Health Science Center, an Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Center, the Emergency Services Education Center, and more! For more information, visit the website above.

Comment (0) Read More...

Ever considered taking your pet to the local boarding house, but felt like you were paying Ritz Carlton prices just to find it’s nothing more than a flea motel?

One Houston local has created a crafty solution for you and in the process, discovered a lucrative business opportunity doing something she loves. D'Ann Gummelt, owner of Pet Sitters ‘N More, say’s her “love for animals and desire to create something of my own led me to start a pet sitting business.”

Pet Sitters ‘N More was founded in 1992 and serves as one of Houston's oldest and most trusted professional pet and house sitting businesses proudly serving local communities including the Cy-Fair area.

Comment (0) Read More...

Westin Homes has joined the builder team in Fairfield and is now offering its innovative home designs in two different programs – on 50-foot and 80-foot home sites.

Westin Homes designs on home sites that average 50 feet in width are priced from the $180,000s to the low $200,000s and range in size from more than 2,300 to more than 2,800 square feet.

Homes that are a part of the 80-foot home site program are priced from the $320,000s to the $370,000s and range in size from 3,754 to more than 4,400 square feet.

A Westin Homes model home and sales office is under construction and is planned to open soon.

For more information on Westin Homes in Fairfield, contact Patrick McHugh at 281-793-7354.

Comment (0)

Known for its award winning, innovative designs, Trendmaker Homes is featuring an impressive array of plans and a number available homes in various stages of construction in Fairfield, including many ready for immediate move-in.

One of the newest models in Houston by Trendmaker is also open in Fairfield, where home shoppers can preview a variety of one- and two-story designs on oversized home sites that average 70- and 80-feet in width.

A long list of included features, memorable appointments and thoughtful design detail enhance Trendmaker Homes’ beautiful designs in Fairfield, which range in price from the $320,000s to the $400,000s and sizes that span from 3,158 to nearly 4,500 square feet.

Home shoppers can select from Trendmaker Homes’ floor plan list, view homes under construction and walk through a number of homes that are complete and open for touring in both the 70-foot and 80-foot home site program.

Available Trendmaker Homes in Fairfield include:

• Plan D431A – A two-story home with 3,432 square feet, four bedrooms and 3 ½ baths. It is priced at $359,702
• Plan D431A – A two-story home with 3,432 square feet, four bedrooms and 3 ½ baths.  This home is on an oversized home site with a two-car garage with a 10-foot extension. It is priced at $365,789.
• Plan D441A – A two-story home with 3,550 square feet, four bedrooms and 3 ½ baths. It is priced at $368,144.
• Plan F523P – A two-story home with 3,335 square feet, four bedrooms, 3 ½ baths and a three-car garage. It is priced at $354,614.
• Plan A252B – A two-story home with 4,387 square feet, four bedrooms, 3 ½ baths, an auto court and porte cochere and a three-car garage. It is priced at $440,641.
• Plan M831N – A two-story home with four bedrooms, 3 ½ baths, a three-car garage and 3,451 square feet. It is priced at $367,706.
• Plan M841A – A two-story home with 3,711 square feet, four bedrooms, 3 ½ baths and a three-car garage. It is priced at $373,196.
• Plan M842N – A two-story home with 3,655 square feet, four bedrooms, 3 ½ baths and a three-car garage. It is priced at $369,607.

“This is a great time to visit Trendmaker in Fairfield, where we have more design selection than ever before,” said Thomas Serhus, New Home Sales Counselor for Trendmaker Homes in Fairfield. “Visitors will also be impressed with the wide variety of homes that are ready for move-in now or just in time for summer, enabling residents to take advantage of Fairfield’s full array of wonderful amenities.”

The Trendmaker Model home and sales office is open daily. For more information, email  Thomas Serhus at Thomas.Serhus@trendmaker.com.

Comment (0)

High school students in Fairfield have already started planning the details of their prom and their ideas are grand. But, amidst the economic stress many of their families, some students dreams would have been in jeopardy if not for one local organization, founded to making these dreams come true.

The Giving Gown Foundation is a non-profit organization collecting donations of new and “like-new” formal gowns and accessories to provide for free to high school girls who would otherwise be unable to attend their prom. Supported by generous donations from the community and a team of dedicated sponsors and volunteers, their job is to make dreams come true. Basically…Fairy Godmothers.

Co-Founder Adina Walker says the “foundation always needs volunteers for their big boutique day, especially seamstresses. She adds that in her experience, Giving Gown princesses are all very appreciative of their dresses and accessories. “They have all been thrilled and very thankful,” she says. “They cannot believe that it is all theirs to keep - for free!”

Comment (0) Read More...

March 20 & 21, 2010 - This weekend, Friendswood Development Company will host an open house even in three communities, offering visitors the opportunity to tour both new and resale homes.

Fairfield, Oakhurst at Kingwood and Graystone Hills in Conroe will have a variety of new homes open, with many ready for move-in, as well as resale homes open with Realtors on site to answer questions.

Residents, Realtors and shoppers have opportunities to tour new and resale homes and find out why many people are making these Friendswood Development Co. communities their home.

For years, the Open House weekend event has taken place in master-planned Fairfield and due to demand and response; the event now will be a regular occurrence in Oakhurst at Kingwood, offering direct access to U.S. 59; and in Graystone Hills, Conroe’s only master-planed community.
“This is a great way for home shoppers to really learn a lot about the community,” said Christine Draughn, marketing director for Friendswood Development Co.’s north Houston communities.

The Open House event in both communities is the weekend of Jan. 16-17. Visitors can tour new decorated model homes, inventory homes and resale homes.

New homes are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Resale homes are open from 1- p.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday.

In Fairfield, maps and information are available at the Fairfield Information Center, just past the main entrance of the community on Mason Road.Visitors to Oakhurst at Kingwood will find signage and a plexi box with information directing them to model homes and open houses available at central distribution points in the community. In Graystone Hills, maps and information will be available at the recreation center, which is located near the entrance of the community.

Fairfield, Graystone Hills and Oakhurst at Kingwood offer an impressive selection of homes that range from luxury courtyard and patio homes to elegant custom homes.

Comment (0)