Changes in the economy:: How restaurants have changed… October 6, 2009
Posted by Marie Ferguson in Food, Lifestyle, Restaurants.Tags: Del Frisco, economy, Restaurants
add a comment
Maybe living downtown presents a microcosm of our city, or maybe it does not cut all the way across it and I just notice it more because things appear to have changed more for my friends and family than for others…
Not long ago we ate out probably five nights a week. Each weekend we’d look at the social calendar for the next week before deciding what groceries were really needed and what we still had not eaten from the week before that was still safe to eat. Now we generally stay home at least five nights because business is not what it was a few weeks ago, a few months ago and certainly not a few years ago!
Immediate seating in restaurants still depends on where you go and what time you get there, but moreover I have noticed that their younger clientele are still eating, drinking and having the party, while many of us whose children are old enough to be required to present their ID to the waitress are dwindling. I don’t mean to say any of us are old…um… or even older…. It’s like last week when my son said, “Mom, I don’t think of you as old…” and I winked, saying, “You mean ‘yet,’ don’t you?”
Some of us have noticed trends which help to explain this — the first is that I was expecting to return to the classroom this fall, yet it seems that the economy has caused far more new teachers than in the past. (I’ve been told that some districts had over 150 applicants for each open position.) New teachers are not paid as much as those with years in the school system, so hiring a new teacher saves funding for principals. I’ve heard that the trend is not to hire people who are over 30 just now… there are plenty of younger ones who have less experience. So those who are less experienced now have the jobs, and are out at the restaurants spending their pay —- the pay I am not getting, in other words .
Another thing I have noticed over the years is the increasing noise in restaurants. Once the noise level in a public place told a story about the type of place it was —- classy versus brassy. The higher priced restaurants downtown, for example Del Frisco, are just as noisy as any other these days. Chances are that means it is society which has changed. People are not taught manners as they were once —- even your grandmother said so, remember? Now it is not the number of decibels that tend to offend patrons, but the high-pitched cackling of feminine laughter, the older child who climbs half onto the table to drink their soft drink from the straw without picking up their glass, the thong straps hugging the cheeks of patrons’ above low-rise jeans as they sit with their backs to you. But mostly, it’s the cackle. That high-pitched, incessant cackle which pervades so many public places, especially at mealtime. It comes from various age groups, from all around the room.
Maybe it’s not such a bad thing not to be able to eat out so often…
Assimilating life as an urbanite June 3, 2009
Posted by Marie Ferguson in Lifestyle, The Tower, travel.Tags: DFW Airport, Molly the Trolley, shuttle bus service, summer vacation, Trinity Railway Express (TRE), urbanites
add a comment
“If we are going to live downtown, we need to start acting more like urbanites”…
Travel can be expensive…. not just the trip itself, but the trip to the airport. After spending the past three years trading out rides to DFW Airport with friends and family, we decided to bite the bullet: we were going to try to get there the cheapest way possible without depending on another human’s assistance to get there on time. It takes some patience and planning ahead, so in preparing for our upcoming summer vacation we have been working all the angles to get the bugs out and solve all issues before we leave.
For years, before we moved downtown, our extended family frequently travelled together, so we would call a “shuttle bus service” to pick up six or more of us. Now, our family is grown, the in-laws don’t travel with us as much, and we decided that was too expensive for just two people with lots of options. So, instead of the more expensive shuttle or taxi we decided to check out the TRE — Trinity Railway Express. A month ago we rode from downtown Fort Worth to downtown Dallas just to try it out and have lunch one Saturday. The cost from end to end is about $5 per person round trip, so it is certainly affordable. There were not too many people aboard on the trip to Dallas, but the trip back to Fort Worth in the late afternoon was pretty well packed.
Next, we decided to test the waters with a minimum amount of luggage, and walked the several blocks from the Tower to the Intermodal Station. We caught the first TRE available (7:03 a.m.) to ensure we made our flight for a cost of about $1.50 per person round trip (buy the tickets ahead of time or from the kiosk at each station). We knew that there is a shuttle bus which travels from the Centreport Station to the South Remote Parking Area, leaving every 15 minutes according to the schedule. On this trip we decided to call a taxi for the 10-minute ride from the TRE station to our terminal. At a cost of $20+ ($25+ on the return trip because the taxi driver had no idea where the TRE station was located), we determined that we would definitely take the free shuttle bus instead. Organization is the key to success in any new venture. We decided to skip the taxi from now on. The free bus came by three times while we waited for the arrival of the TRE on our return trip.
As our summer vacation grows closer we have eliminated another question — how about Molly the Trolley? Would it be possible to avoid walking several blocks with luggage to get to the station? Perhaps Molly the Trolley could take us there! We decided to investigate. Molly’s service began May 27th, and according to their website should arrive at 15 minute intervals around the various route it follows, depending on the day of the week. We went to the closest point of pick up. We waited. No Molly. It was Sunday —- the first Sunday of service. We called the number listed on the banner advertising the newest way around downtown. After several minutes on the phone with the nice lady at the other end, waiting until she called her supervisor, the realization was that the route on the website and the route given the trolley driver did not match. They would make a correction. Later that afternoon, we made a second try at checking out Molly, this time going to a nearby hotel to catch it. It’s fine for getting around town unburdened, but with lots of luggage it would be a chore, especially since it only goes to the Intermodal on Saturdays. The rest of the week we would have a three-block walk from the nearest hotel to the TRE station.
In the end, we determined that the best choice on a trip where we are not easily mobile due to the amount of luggage we have to carry that we should take the luggage the few blocks to the station in the car, have one person wait with the luggage while the other returns the car to our garage and walks back over. We can then spend the $2.50 for the TRE ride to the terminal near the airport, take the shuttle bus to the south remote parking area where we catch the shuttle that takes you to your specific terminal…..thus avoiding the $80+ charge for the alternative methods.
Time consuming? Maybe —- but we like the challenge!
To see more about living downtown, follow this link: Ladies at the Tower volunteer
Party at the Tower May 7, 2009
Posted by Marie Ferguson in Downtown Living, Lifestyle.Tags: makeover, makeup, sexy legs party, Tower parties
add a comment
For the ladies at the Tower, life here provides more to do when we get together than just have dinner with our girlfriends once a month. It’s not a very wild party, as parties go, but we do have fun together, playing in the makeup like when we were kids. It’s great to be able to try out new colors (and laugh with your friends when it’s not right), make jokes, and just enjoy the great company. We need to have more parties like that! We could invite more people each time and change the pace a bit — maybe have a sexy legs party! Or would that make the men want to come, too? Well, that’s okay, they can reap the benefits after the fact. It is just a girlie party, after all. But it sure is fun…. we could invite the friends we haven’t seen for a while to show them where we live now…. ready to have some more fun? Just click here for more information!
Marie Ferguson
‘This Just In’ from the Tower September 23, 2008
Posted by Marie Ferguson in Living, The Tower.Tags: Carnegie building, downtown Fort Worth parking, parking fee, Standard Parking, Sundance Square parking, Tower parking
add a comment
The “freshest” news from the Tower is this… when your friends and family come to visit you, they will no longer be able to park in the Tower garage (except on weekends and after 7 p.m.).
Our parking garage, Standard Parking, which has for decades been a place for public parking as well as monthly contractual parking, has a new “system”. Tower residents have two floors of gated parking — the spaces are purchased as part of your property when you buy a condo. A couple of months ago, in preparation for the upcoming opening of the Carnegie Building, a large number of spaces were coned off and painted “RESERVED” for use by Carnegie’s tenants, severely limiting the number of spaces left for people who have always parked there. It was apparent this morning that there were even more “RESERVED” spaces and more cones than ever before. When I came back from an appointment today, the 4th street entrance was blocked off, so I went around the block to the 5th street entrance. A garage employee was standing at the entrance, stopping anyone who tried to enter the garage. Only residents and people who pay the $120/month parking fee for a contract (e.g., those who have a parking card to scan at the gate) will be allowed into the garage from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday. There will no longer be an option to have friends or family park in this garage to meet you before 7 p.m. for dinner. Not only that, but many of the parking areas downtown are being utilized by various restaurant valet parking services from early afternoon on, so that further limits where guests can park when they come to the Sundance area.
So, sorry kids! When you come home from college for the weekend or to have dinner with the family, you’ll have to wait until after they raise the gate. So, Standard Parking… what do you plan to do about the weekend guests who park here when the gate is up and don’t leave until after 7 a.m. on Monday? They typically have a while to wait until someone sees them sitting there, waiting to pay the parking fee. Oh, so I guess the news is not so fresh after all, in fact it pretty much stinks!
Tower Sales in Past six Months vs Listed Price/sf August 27, 2008
Posted by Marie Ferguson in Lifestyle, Real Estate, The Tower.Tags: 76102 price/sf, downtown Fort Worth price/sf, real estate market value, Tower sales
add a comment
Tower Sales in Past Six Months
vs.
Listed Prices per Square Foot
August 27, 2008
Active Listings:
Unit B 1179 sf: 8 active listings at average price/sf $304.16 – number of days on market range from 2 to 543 days with an average of 289 listed so far
Unit F 1556 sf: 5 active listings at average price/sf $318.81 – number of days on market range from 74 to 539 days with an average of 281 listed so far
All Active Tower Listings: average price/sf $294.49 with 35 properties listed, with number of days on market ranging from 2 to 596 days, with an average of 244 before selling.
Under Active Option Period: 1 property listed at $242.19/sf
Pending Sale: 3 properties listed at an average price/sf $286.45
Sold in past 6 months:
10 Tower properties: all 1179 sf or smaller, at $234.49/sf average, with number of days on market ranging from 6 to 242 days, with an average of 91 days
All properties sold in 76102: 28 properties sold which range in size from 637 sf to 2305 sf, at $202.36/sf average, with number of days on market ranging from 6 to 648 days, with an average of 140 days on market before selling
This information suggests that properties in the Tower which are listed for no more than 5% of market value ($234.49/sf + 5% = $246.22/sf) are more likely to be successful, which in turn suggests that units priced above that point are not likely to sell soon. Presently, there is one property listed just under the market value, and four others which are within the range of 5% above market. The other 30 properties are not considered within buying range for most buyers who consider buying here, especially when the average price per sf in 76102 is $202.36.
It will be interesting in the next six to twelve months to watch as new properties come into the arena. Contact me for individualized information!
Hot News from the Fort Worth Club July 30, 2008
Posted by Marie Ferguson in Food, Lifestyle, Restaurants, The Tower.Tags: ballroom dancing, Fort Worth Club, Fort Worth dancing, Trey and the Tri-tones
add a comment
There are quite a few Tower residents who are members of the Fort Worth Club; actually, some of us joined because there are so many of our friends who kept inviting us to have dinner there with them, and we wanted to be part of the original “102″ Club within a Club. That idea has been expanded to include residents who live near the downtown area, so the next new thing is something we hope will further expand our circle of friends, bring new members, and create a win-win for everyone involved. Although the details have not officially been announced yet, I am very excited to hear that they are going to have a weekly special dinner and dance for members and their guests — something they have traditionally only held on Valentines’ Day — so for dancers of all ages, pull out your favorite pair of “dancing boots” (ok, or “dancing shoes” if you are too young to recognize the lyrics to a famous song) and come hear one of the all-around best dance bands who have ever graced the halls of the Fort Worth Club: Trey and the Tri-tones will appear several months during this special trial dancing period, so we hope it sticks around!
Just the tip of the iceberg… June 2, 2008
Posted by Marie Ferguson in Downtown Living, Lifestyle, The Tower, Trinity River Vision.Tags: J.D. Granger, Omni Residences, Representative Kay Granger, Sundance Square, The Fort Worth Club, The Tower, Trinity Bluffs, Trinity River Vision
add a comment
Representative Kay Granger and J.D. Granger spoke to the Society of Commercial Realtors today during a luncheon at the Fort Worth Club about the developing Trinity River Vision Project, its progress and what it means to the future of the downtown area. Especially after receiving the comments from “Tom at Trinity Bluffs” last week, I feel it is imperative to follow-up on an earlier posting, “Location, Location, Location.” Tom had commented that ‘it is a long, hot four minute walk to Sundance Square’ and included a snippet accusing Tower residents of snobbery.
We all need to look to the future of our area and realize that our present downtown residences are just the beginning, and may not be quite so close to the action in a few more years. As the Omni Residences come on board in the near future, the focus of location will change somewhat, not to mention how fortunate we are that the prices at the Omni help to keep the investment of present residents where we like to see them, and that does not matter which downtown property you call home.
Over the next few decades our center city will see enormous growth —- from the residents’ point-of-view, we will expand our numbers by ten thousand units — in commercial and residential properties, recreational and park areas related to Trinity River expansion, which will bring $1.2 billion in additional revenue to the city. Built into the plan is an escape from the potential feeling of population density.
Considering all the expansion, I hope Tom won’t worry too much about his location. Maybe he will be closer to the many pathways, bikeways, equestrian trails, boating facilities and retail locations along the river and not feel like he has to walk four minutes in the heat. Say, I wonder if the project has considered doing anything about the Texas heat…..?!?
www.PrudentialTexas.com/MarieFerguson
The return from Hawaii… May 28, 2008
Posted by Marie Ferguson in Living, Restaurants, travel.Tags: Grand Wailea Resort, Hawaii, Maui, travel
1 comment so far
Ahhh…. it’s not easy coming back to face reality after experiencing paradise… well, almost paradise. Maui was exquisite, except for the drought which has diminished the ‘green’ effect. It barely sprinkled on the road to Hana. Have you ever travelled with a family of over-achievers? I’m still trying to figure out what time zone I left my body in…. Still, here are some of the highlights, and the not-so-highlights, of the trip.
Biking Haleakala – The Maui Downhill has changed a bit in the past few years. Five years ago my sons were finally old enough to do the downhill, so we embarked on the sunrise tour at 1:30 a.m. The van picked us up then at our hotel and we rode from the summit of Haleakala at 10,023 ft., through the state park, to sea level. (Actually, that time I didn’t get to ride down because the bike they offered me was too tall.) This trip we started riding below the state park and stopped before reaching the beach due to safety issues involving construction, etc. It was fun (and I did get to ride this time), but not the same experience as the longer version.
Hiking Maui – While the hike was great, it was the personality and experience of our tour guide that made this an excellent event for me. Randy, our tour guide, was a historian, linguist, guide, protector and comedian all rolled into one. We ate fruits from the trees on our hike, jumped from a 15-foot tall rope swing, forged up streams, over fallen tree trunks, scaled tree roots to get up-then-back-down tall inclines, swam in natural pools and cooled off under waterfalls. All the while, Randy taught us Hawaiian words and told us stories of the ancient mythology.
Slack Key Guitar Masters Concert - There is a weekly concert in Kapalua at the Napili Kai Hotel which enriched our understanding of the way Hawaiians live — it is easy to see how music is so much a part of their lives, and many tourists miss out on the concept of becoming engrossed in the culture because they are stick with the music they listen to at home instead of seeking out traditional Hawaiian and modern Hawaiian themes. This concert melded the old and some of the newer tunes using ‘generational therapy’.
Road to Hana – Is dryer than usual, but the Hasegawa General Store still has everything from A-Z, but it costs more now (like everything else). The fresh pineapple we bought here was the tastiest of the trip, and Charles Lindburgh’s grave is still a moving sight, even with a single American flag instead of scores on July 4th.
Sunset Dinner Cruise – The Pride of Maui (see www.prideofmaui.com), a catamaran capable of carrying about 140 passengers, is touted online as the elite of dinner cruises. In reality, it was the antithesis of the highlight of our trip. The emailed instructions placed the ‘sunset dinner cruise’ from 4:30 – 7 p.m. (which is before sunset this time of year). We arrived for check-in at 4:30 and were promptly greeted by an employee who said she ‘really needs to tell her boss to change that email..’ and we were finally allowed to board the boat at 5:30. While the meal was not really bad, it was the worst we had on the trip, and that was with a $300 price tag for a family of four. This was the event I had chosen, and it did not meet my expectations.
Restaurants on Maui – We returned to several of our ‘must do’ restaurants, most notably Mama’s Fish House, well known as the best on the island; the Plantation House in Kapalua; Nick’s Fish Market in Wailea; and Humuhumunukunukuapua’a at the Grand Wailea (which gets its name from the state fish); Cheeseburger in Paradise in Lahaina; the Makawao Steakhouse in upcountry; and others we which were in the town of Kehei where locals live. You can’t eat fish every night in Maui — or so we keep trying to convince some of our family, though we learned of some new types of local fish which were excellent.
There were a few things noticably missing this trip — passion fruit, for example. It was Randy, Hike Maui tour guide, who revealed that it is not yet in season. Ok, we had wondered if it was now too expensive to produce for the masses of tourists. Out of season I can handle.
Hotels – Our usual home away from home in past years has been the Hyatt Regency on Ka’anapali, but our efforts to book a room there 13 months out were not successful. It now seems that we might have changed the date of the trip, but instead booked the other side of the island at the Grand Wailea Resort, known for its kid-friendly water slides and river pool…. and its high prices. Renovations are being made to several of the older hotels, so we revisited several to see what changes had taken place for future reference. Sure enough, the Hyatt Regency had several changes completed and was still in update mode. We have long thought that as our family got older we would eventually stay in the cooler breezes in Kapalua, so we checked out the Ritz-Carlton and found that it was not only nicer, but somewhat less expensive than the Grand Wailea.
Now that our kids are in college it is more difficult to get the whole family together for a vacation, and I know the years we have left for travel with them may be limited. I guess that is partly why I agreed to so much more ‘sporting’ activity on this trip, but it was the most fun (well, except for the food, maybe!) we had.
Visit my website!
The Tower ‘Snobbery’… May 31, 2008
Posted by Marie Ferguson in Lifestyle, The Tower, Tower Forum.Tags: blog comments, The Tower Blog, Tower-bashing, Trinity Bluffs Tom
add a comment
I received a comment from “Trinity Bluffs Tom“, who lives far enough away from Sundance to have quite a walk to get here when he wants to come. His comment said my blog is only perpetuating Tower snobbery. It is only the people who don’t live here who think people at the Tower are snobs…. if you knew us personally you would not feel that way, I’m sure…. The Tower Blog was created to give residents of the Tower an easy way to communicate online, and while others in the community can read and comment, I’d prefer to see our own residents commenting instead of the Tower-bashing comments which have all come from this one person (only one is posted). Tower residents: Please join in and send comments which may or may not appear online.
Visit my website!