Mailbag - December 2014

Do you remember these places?

Loved the article [Restaurant Memories: A look back at Houston’s dining past, by Russell Weil, November 2014]. Do you remember Los Troncos? With the tree house booths and paella ordered 24 hours in advance? My favorite was Tokyo Gardens. The tatami mats, the koi fish clumping near the bridge, over the river filled with coins. The fish ate from your hands. The authentic kimono dancers and the Japanese music? Also removing your shoes and rice candies after shrimp tempura with chopsticks? Also Vargo’s lush gardens and settings with elegant silver platters? Remember orange butter at Sonny Look’s and the homemade bread loaves? Lantern Inn on Memorial had amazing fried shrimp. And the original Hobbit Cafe. The original Antone’s had lines around the block on Voss Road. Keep up the great work!

Lindsay Freireich

About the chair in that photo

I married Sonny Look’s daughter, Elizabeth. We were both excited to see that you included him in your recent article about restaurant memories. I think my mother-in-law Carole has a chair that matches the seat you all are sitting on in the picture. It makes you feel like a king when you sit on it. It was a treat to see your article and the picture.

Andrew P. Biar

Sonny’s sport coats

Great job. Loved this. Wonderful memories. Sonny [Look] had quite a wardrobe of sport coats, and he could be seen on any given night wearing several of them (but not at the same time of course).

Lynton Ellisor

Brookwood gives her hope

I was delighted to see the wonderful article on The Brookwood Community [Brookwood Community: Where there’s opportunity for all, by Cheryl Ursin, November 2014]. My sister is developmentally disabled, and it is difficult to find a good program in which she can thrive. The structure of Brookwood’s program is very successful. My sister is happier whenever she has a purpose, whether it is helping set the dining room table for Thanksgiving or unloading the dishwasher. What Yvonne Streit has built has helped individuals and their families and will continue to do so for many years to come.

Barbara Vilutis

Thank you from Brookwood

I am writing for many folks who are so appreciative of your Buzz article focusing on Brookwood! It was wonderful. What a blessing. Our citizens were ecstatic when the magazines came out. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Buzz, and so do our friends and neighbors.

Yvonne Streit and all Brookwoodians

From Alex’s dad

Thank you, Michelle [Casas Groogan, Buzz writer]. Thursday, June 19, 2014, was the saddest day of my life. On that day, the Johnson County medical examiner told me my son, Alexander Meyerson, had passed away. That moment changed my life forever. The first few months I was in shock, angry and asking myself over and over: Why? Later, I found out Alexander had been diagnosed as being bipolar a few weeks earlier. He refused to take his meds. If a person does not take his meds when diagnosed with a mental illness the chances of passing away are greatly increased. I look back now and realize there were signs Alexander needed help. There were times the mood swings caught me by surprise. Joni [Hoffman, Buzz editor], I remember when you called to ask if The Buzz could do a story about Alexander and bipolar illness. I agreed, as long as the article focused on Alexander, bipolar illness and not about me and my broken heart. Michelle Groogan talked to me several times before she wrote the article [Bipolar Disorder: How we lost Alex, October 2014]. I commend her for sharing information that I hope and pray may help at least one family. I have only one message to share: Hug your kids and your friends too.

Jerry Meyerson   

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