Colonial Car Wash 12810 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77077

Colonial Car Wash 12810 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77077  

Colonial car wash adjoining construction site 

Ground preparation work for commercial development
between Colonial Car Wash and Clear Channel Outdoor facility 

12836 Westheimer new office park construction site
and Colonial Car Wash 12810 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77077

Zoom CarWash - 12455 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77077

Zoom Carwash 

12455 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77077 Zoom CarWash

$5 car wash 

Ritter's on Dairy Ashford 3005 S Dairy Ashford Rd, Houston, TX 77082

Ritter's Custards and Ice Cream - new store on Dairy Ashford
between Richmond Ave and Westheimer 

Ritter's 3005 S Dairy Ashford Rd, Houston, TX 77082

Sylvia's new look

The Original Enchilada Kitchen with new awnings and  bright red signage
looks much better.  

Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen - Original location on Westheimer Rd near Dairy Ashford 

Spruced up exterior with new signage 

12637 Westheimer Rd #140 Houston, TX 77077 Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen 

Citibank branch now BB&T - Corner location on Westheimer at S Dairy Ashford

 

 One of many branch location acquired by BB&T Bank from Citibank 

BB&T 12591 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77077

BB&T Logo 

Dairy Ashford at Westheimer - BB&T Bank branch
in SE corner (no longer Citibank) 

Below: Archival photos of citibank branch at this location (2011 photo) 

Icebox - Taqueria Toda Madre - Texaco 12968 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77077

ICE BOX and TAQUERIA TODA MADRE at TEXACO Gas Station
(previously a STRIPES store at this convenience store location)  

Texaco Houston 

12968 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77077 Texaco Houston

BELOW: ARCHIVAL PHOTO OF TEXACO GAS STATION
 WITH STRIPES-BRANDED CONVENIENCE STORE

12968 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77077 (2011 photo of gas station)

Elite AutoHaus 12970 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77077

Elite AutoHaus 12970 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77077 

Unique Sensations Hair & Beauty Supply

12970 Westheimer Road #170 Houston, TX 77077 

Office Park coming next to Car Wash at 12836 Westheimer Rd. (2015-07-26 pics of development site)

Heavy backhoe deployed for site preparation 

Greenberg & Company (sign posted on construction site) 

 Office Park construction site
12836 Westheimer Rd Houston TX 77077 

Adjoining to the East: Colonial Car Wash 

Balfour Beatty Office Tower Construction in the Energy Corridor

Trammel Crow Company's Office Tower Development Project in the Energy Corridor (Energy Center IV)

Energy Center IV under construction (7/7/2015 photo)

Trammel Crow Company Flag on project site 

Energy Center IV site (7/7/2015) with Trammel Crow Co. Banner 

Hyde Park at Enclave

This apartment property on the corner of Briar Forest and Enclave Parkway has been re-branded a couple of times in past few years, which is not unusual in this segment of the real estate/rental market. Interestingly, the name designation "HYDE PARK" already has been in existence inside the Loop for more than a century, however, -- in the Montrose area. Will it cause confusion?

Hyde Park At Enclave (new signage) 

12951 Briar Forest Dr, Houston, TX 77077

THE OTHER HYDE PARK: 

Historic  "Hyde Park" neighborhood in Montrose

Alligator warning signs in George Bush Park more visible than the critters themselves - For an American Alligator photo safari, head farther South to Brazos Bend State Park

Can you find the alligator in the pic below? 

Click on photo to enlarge the view. 

The truth is that the alligator warning signs are more abundant, or at least visible at all times in George Bush Park, while the alligators themselves are not. That said, there is a reason for the warning signs. Alligators have been spotted there, but they are not exactly all over the place. The large birds and the deer are much more plentiful.

A better location to observe alligators in their natural habitat is Brazos Bend State Park. But as reported by the Houston Chronicle in its weekend edition, that park is currently closed due to flooding, which appears to have caused some damages. But it will only be a matter of time until things are back to normal conditions. There are far in excess of a hundred alligators resident there all year round, and the wildlife enthusiast is virtually assured to get to see at least a few of them one a single visit, even on the least demanding trails. Sometimes they even block the trail.

Unlike the warning signs in George Bush Park, those posted at Brazos Bend State Park also give instructions on "alligator etiquette", i.e. doos-and-donts of staying safe around alligators. --> Alligator safety 

Some of the trails are also great for biking, and overnight camping is an option also. Fishing is allowed, but no swimming. For obvious reasons! Pets to be kept on a short leash. Alligators may deem them prey. Don't fight alligators for your catch when you fish (there are piers and platforms), and don't ever feed them, lest they take a liking to you and fellow humans.

Birding is also great the Brazos Bend. The birds are much more abundant than they are in George Bush Park, and the make-up of the avian population (in terms of species and their numerical share) varies around the year, reflecting seasonal migration patterns. 

Brazos Bend State Park can be reached from the Energy Corridor area by heading down Highway 6 to U.S. 59, now also known as Interstate 69, and then exit at the sign for George Ranch and Brazos Bend State Park. The Grand Parkway is another option: 

Park address: 21901 FM 762 Rd, Needville, TX 77461

According to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department's website (status of parks page), the park will re-open July 8, 2015, but some trail/areas will probably remain closed. 

Alligator floating in the water in one of the lakes at Brazos Bend State Park 

 AMERICAN ALLIGATORS IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT 

AT BRAZOS BEND STATE PARK