19
LOCAL BUSINESSES WE SUPPORT
MSC/360 Favorites
If you missed our Holiday Newsletter, we sent out a list of our favorite local business we do business with. Houston is a great city with we think it is important to consider about how fortunate we are to live in the best major city in the world. Not just because our economy has been spared the worst of the current recession, but because of the people who make our community great. Houston has a long history of individuals as well as businesses working together to make our city a great place to live and work.
We decided that it would be a good idea for the Christmas issue to tell you about some of our favorite Houston businesses and business people. These companies / individuals have no idea we’re doing this. We simply wanted you to know about them. Try out their businesses for 2011, we think you might include them in your list of favorites! Keep your spending local and let’s help each other prosper this new year!
Favorite Houston Restaurants
Pizzitola’s These guys are regularly chosen as the best BBQ joint in town. You never know who you’ll see eating lunch here. The ribs are outstanding and the chicken will make you crave another bite, but even more important are the people that work there. Owner, Jerry Pizzitola, is in the restaurant making sure that the service and quality never fall below his very high standard. The wait staff is great and the food is delicious. Be sure and try the banana pudding made by Jerry’s mom!
Clay’s Restaurant This is the perfect venue for kid’s birthday parties, sports parties, food and fun. One of the things that makes this a very unique location, is that both kids and parents can have fun and eat food they’ll enjoy. If your looking for a place to have a fantastic chicken fried steak, burger, or just a couple of beers – Clay’s is a best spot for that too. They have party rooms, a petting zoo and plenty of room outdoors. You can sit on the patio and enjoy dinner while your kids have a good time. Next time you are looking for a place to have to have dinner with the kids, or planning an event for the little ones consider this Houston favorite. I can promise your kids will be ready for bed when you get home.
Rosie Carabbas Located on Voss this hot spot is always a family favorite. We love restaurants where the owners are running things and there is no question about who runs Rosie’s. The waiters are great and the atmosphere is all about family. Rosie makes sure all of her customers are happy and that the staff is on the ball. Friday and Saturday nights are always busy so get there early, or make reservations. This is Paul White’s favorite restaurant. You may see him there and if you do he’ll definitely be eating the Ribeye, or the Pollo Gratella. Tell Rosie Paul White sent you! 713-468-0868
Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen Sylvia’s has two locations, the original restaurant located at ?12637 Westheimer Rd and 6401 Woodway. If you enjoy South Texas style Tex-Mex this is your new place. As the name implies the enchiladas are off the hook! As with all great restaurants, you will find the owner present and working the floor on a regular basis. We often eat at the Woodway location and it has a great family feel and efficient service. Silvia’s is real a stand out. Give it a try this holiday season!
Ciao Bello This Italian pleasure is a Tanglewood area favorite for lunch and dinner, but my family loves the Sunday brunch and dinner. Sunday brunch is a great time to get together with friends and family and Ciao Bello is a warm and friendly place to have brunch. Sit on the covered patio and enjoy a blood orange bellini , or a cappuccino while you check out the menu. Sunday is all about relaxing and no one will be pushing you here. ?The Eggs Florentine are great and you have to try the Chicken and Waffles. ?Dinner on Sundays is laid back, your family can unwind and enjoy a nice Italian meal, or Tony’s fried chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans. The chicken will take you back. It is the best I have had since Grandma cooked Sunday dinner. You may see Tony and Donna Vallone having dinner with friends and you’ll probably see Tony’s right hand man and GM, Scott Sulma ensuring the Vallone standard never waivers.
Favorite Gourmet Restaurant
Tony’s There is only one place I would consider in this category, Tony’s! If you are looking to impress a business associate from out-of-town, have a great event, or you want to enjoy a romantic evening, this is it. The maestro of Houston’s dining scene, Tony Vallone, has been the undisputed king of local gourmet restaurateurs for forty-five years. Impeccable service does not begin to describe the level of attentiveness that is standard at this restaurant. All the Italian and Continental cuisine you can handle that will blow your mind. Order any pasta they’re serving, and you won’t find better this side of the finest restaurants in Italy. They only serve the freshest seafood available, finest steaks and veal, seasonal delights, desserts beyond belief and soufflé in more flavors than you can process. This elegant restaurant and it’s professional staff make every experience memerable. I know this because despite his numerous business achievements and accolades Mr. Vallone and his lovely wife Donna are working daily to ensure that every meal is one to remember. You just can’t beat these people, or this place!
Favorites in the Car Business
Looking for a new luxury car? For these two the car business runs in the blood. Our Favorite Car Dealer, Walter Weibel is the general manager of Mercedes-Benz of Houston North. Walter is the car guy you enjoy doing business with because he understands that service is what keeps customers coming back. He doesn’t just focus on the bottom line, he focuses on your needs and the things that keep you coming back to him year after year. If you are looking for a great car buying experience go see Walter. He’s a great guy and you’ll want to start stopping by the dealership just to say hello. Mercedes-Benz North
Favorite Car Dealer Michael Weibel is Walter’s son and new competition. Mike was born into the luxury car business. He is more knowledgeable about the luxury car market and how models, packages, brands, etc. compare than any salesperson I have ever dealt with. Mike is a great young man who will go above and beyond to make sure your car buying experience is a great one. He sells new and used vehicles and Mercedes-Benz Houston Greenway. Give him a call if you’re looking for a new or used luxury vehicle. He won’t disappoint. You can Email Mike at, or 713-986-6400
Favorite School
Holy Spirit Episcopal School provides exceptional education opportunities grounded in Christian values to a diverse group of children in West Houston. HSES is one of the best kept secrets in the Houston education arena. The sense of community and family involvement along with the unbeatable teachers make this private Lower and Middle School one of the best in Houston. Holy Spirit also offers a Child Enrichment Center for children six weeks through three years, and an Early Childhood program for Pre-K3, Pre-K4 and Bridge. Children graduating from Middle School at HSES go on to excel at many of Houston’s top-tier preparatory y High Schools. Holy Spirit is what a Houston School should be; it is staffed by local teachers who are there for the kids and backed up by a great group of parents volunteering to make the school better very year. The community of staff and parents make this a warm and fun place to educate your children.
Favorite Talk Radio
KSEV AM 700 There are a lot of great talk radio stations that have national shows, but if you want to keep up with what’s going on from a Houston perspective you need to tune in to 700 KSEV. We could spend our advertising dollars anywhere, but we choose to support a local company. Dan Patrick and his crew over at KSEV are committed to Houston and making it a better place to live, work and raise a family. They are great people to work with and support the things we believe in. If you are looking for effective advertising and a company you can trust, KSEV is the place to go.
Sam Malone is widely known for his days on FM radio, but he is becoming known more and more for his morning show on 700 KSEV. The show is informative and entertaining. Sam brings his unique style and since of humor to a medium that really needed something different. I don’t think it will be long before radio stations around the country will be banging down his door. If you like politics and current events, but want some humor mixed in Sam’s show is going to become your regular drive time thing. Ladies, if you think you don’t like talk radio, I think you should give Sam a shot. He has more female callers than any talk show I have listened to before. I think it’s the mustache! The show is on Monday – Friday 6:00am to 9:00pm.
Favorite Gas Station
Jack John Varcados Shell A full service gas station? Yes indeed, you can fill it up yourself, or go full service at Jack John Varcados Shell located at 8602 Memorial Drive. Remember when you were a kid and you mom’s car needed some work? She would drop the car off at the gas station and they would give you a ride home, or they would show up at the house to give your care a jump if the battery was dead? Well, if you go to Varcados Shell station and live in the area, the owner will give you a ride home while they fix your car. In an era of chain stores and gas stations it sure is nice to have a place that will check your car out while you get your tank filled up. Stop by Varcados before you hit the road to grandma’s house this Christmas and let them check the tires and everything under the hood while they fill your car with gas. It’ll make the trip a lot safer.
Favorite in Advertising and Marketing
If you are in the commercial real estate business and want to get the word out about your project, or company you need to get in touch with Kim Schell at the Houston Business Journal. A rare find in the advertising business Kim’s combination of organizational skills, work ethic and dedication to her clients make her a real gem. If you want the Houston business community to know who you are when you walking into your next meeting, contact Kim Schell at HBJ and let her make it happen.
So you want to build an image for your company, event, or anything else you can think of, there is one place you can go to help you do it all. PWL Studio is a Houston based full service creative firm owned and operated by Fulton Davenport. Fulton is an extremely talented photographer / artist who excels in all things creative. Whether you are in need of a new web site, photography, video, branding, or event planning the team at PWL can make it happen for you and your company. Check them out on line at the PWL Studio Website
Best Spa Services
These come strait from my better half, based upon expenditures; I believe that she could be considered a world leading expert in the field of spa service enjoyment! Seriously guys if you are looking to make the ladies in your life very happy take note of the recommendations below. Magdalena Charles at the Trellis Spa is revered as the best deep tissue massage therapist in the city. She is consistently booked, so reserve ahead, but she is definitely worth the wait. Trellis Spa 713-685-6790
Another therapist who is constantly in demand is Liliana Betiu at Chrysalis. Liliana is one of the cities most sought after estheticians; I am told that that means she is an expert at facials. Houston’s best go to her to keep their skin looking young. Once again, book early because Liliana has a devoted following who schedule regular visits. Chrysalis Spa 713-522-2111.
19
LOCAL BUSINESSES WE SUPPORT
MSC/360 Favorites
If you missed our Holiday Newsletter, we sent out a list of our favorite local business we do business with. Houston is a great city with we think it is important to consider about how fortunate we are to live in the best major city in the world. Not just because our economy has been spared the worst of the current recession, but because of the people who make our community great. Houston has a long history of individuals as well as businesses working together to make our city a great place to live and work.
We decided that it would be a good idea for the Christmas issue to tell you about some of our favorite Houston businesses and business people. These companies / individuals have no idea we’re doing this. We simply wanted you to know about them. Try out their businesses for 2011, we think you might include them in your list of favorites! Keep your spending local and let’s help each other prosper this new year!
Favorite Houston Restaurants
Pizzitola’s These guys are regularly chosen as the best BBQ joint in town. You never know who you’ll see eating lunch here. The ribs are outstanding and the chicken will make you crave another bite, but even more important are the people that work there. Owner, Jerry Pizzitola, is in the restaurant making sure that the service and quality never fall below his very high standard. The wait staff is great and the food is delicious. Be sure and try the banana pudding made by Jerry’s mom!
Clay’s Restaurant This is the perfect venue for kid’s birthday parties, sports parties, food and fun. One of the things that makes this a very unique location, is that both kids and parents can have fun and eat food they’ll enjoy. If your looking for a place to have a fantastic chicken fried steak, burger, or just a couple of beers – Clay’s is a best spot for that too. They have party rooms, a petting zoo and plenty of room outdoors. You can sit on the patio and enjoy dinner while your kids have a good time. Next time you are looking for a place to have to have dinner with the kids, or planning an event for the little ones consider this Houston favorite. I can promise your kids will be ready for bed when you get home.
Rosie Carabbas Located on Voss this hot spot is always a family favorite. We love restaurants where the owners are running things and there is no question about who runs Rosie’s. The waiters are great and the atmosphere is all about family. Rosie makes sure all of her customers are happy and that the staff is on the ball. Friday and Saturday nights are always busy so get there early, or make reservations. This is Paul White’s favorite restaurant. You may see him there and if you do he’ll definitely be eating the Ribeye, or the Pollo Gratella. Tell Rosie Paul White sent you! 713-468-0868
Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen Sylvia’s has two locations, the original restaurant located at ?12637 Westheimer Rd and 6401 Woodway. If you enjoy South Texas style Tex-Mex this is your new place. As the name implies the enchiladas are off the hook! As with all great restaurants, you will find the owner present and working the floor on a regular basis. We often eat at the Woodway location and it has a great family feel and efficient service. Silvia’s is real a stand out. Give it a try this holiday season!
Ciao Bello This Italian pleasure is a Tanglewood area favorite for lunch and dinner, but my family loves the Sunday brunch and dinner. Sunday brunch is a great time to get together with friends and family and Ciao Bello is a warm and friendly place to have brunch. Sit on the covered patio and enjoy a blood orange bellini , or a cappuccino while you check out the menu. Sunday is all about relaxing and no one will be pushing you here. ?The Eggs Florentine are great and you have to try the Chicken and Waffles. ?Dinner on Sundays is laid back, your family can unwind and enjoy a nice Italian meal, or Tony’s fried chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans. The chicken will take you back. It is the best I have had since Grandma cooked Sunday dinner. You may see Tony and Donna Vallone having dinner with friends and you’ll probably see Tony’s right hand man and GM, Scott Sulma ensuring the Vallone standard never waivers.
Favorite Gourmet Restaurant
Tony’s There is only one place I would consider in this category, Tony’s! If you are looking to impress a business associate from out-of-town, have a great event, or you want to enjoy a romantic evening, this is it. The maestro of Houston’s dining scene, Tony Vallone, has been the undisputed king of local gourmet restaurateurs for forty-five years. Impeccable service does not begin to describe the level of attentiveness that is standard at this restaurant. All the Italian and Continental cuisine you can handle that will blow your mind. Order any pasta they’re serving, and you won’t find better this side of the finest restaurants in Italy. They only serve the freshest seafood available, finest steaks and veal, seasonal delights, desserts beyond belief and soufflé in more flavors than you can process. This elegant restaurant and it’s professional staff make every experience memerable. I know this because despite his numerous business achievements and accolades Mr. Vallone and his lovely wife Donna are working daily to ensure that every meal is one to remember. You just can’t beat these people, or this place!
Favorites in the Car Business
Looking for a new luxury car? For these two the car business runs in the blood. Our Favorite Car Dealer, Walter Weibel is the general manager of Mercedes-Benz of Houston North. Walter is the car guy you enjoy doing business with because he understands that service is what keeps customers coming back. He doesn’t just focus on the bottom line, he focuses on your needs and the things that keep you coming back to him year after year. If you are looking for a great car buying experience go see Walter. He’s a great guy and you’ll want to start stopping by the dealership just to say hello. Mercedes-Benz North
Favorite Car Dealer Michael Weibel is Walter’s son and new competition. Mike was born into the luxury car business. He is more knowledgeable about the luxury car market and how models, packages, brands, etc. compare than any salesperson I have ever dealt with. Mike is a great young man who will go above and beyond to make sure your car buying experience is a great one. He sells new and used vehicles and Mercedes-Benz Houston Greenway. Give him a call if you’re looking for a new or used luxury vehicle. He won’t disappoint. You can Email Mike at, or 713-986-6400
Favorite School
Holy Spirit Episcopal School provides exceptional education opportunities grounded in Christian values to a diverse group of children in West Houston. HSES is one of the best kept secrets in the Houston education arena. The sense of community and family involvement along with the unbeatable teachers make this private Lower and Middle School one of the best in Houston. Holy Spirit also offers a Child Enrichment Center for children six weeks through three years, and an Early Childhood program for Pre-K3, Pre-K4 and Bridge. Children graduating from Middle School at HSES go on to excel at many of Houston’s top-tier preparatory y High Schools. Holy Spirit is what a Houston School should be; it is staffed by local teachers who are there for the kids and backed up by a great group of parents volunteering to make the school better very year. The community of staff and parents make this a warm and fun place to educate your children.
Favorite Talk Radio
KSEV AM 700 There are a lot of great talk radio stations that have national shows, but if you want to keep up with what’s going on from a Houston perspective you need to tune in to 700 KSEV. We could spend our advertising dollars anywhere, but we choose to support a local company. Dan Patrick and his crew over at KSEV are committed to Houston and making it a better place to live, work and raise a family. They are great people to work with and support the things we believe in. If you are looking for effective advertising and a company you can trust, KSEV is the place to go.
Sam Malone is widely known for his days on FM radio, but he is becoming known more and more for his morning show on 700 KSEV. The show is informative and entertaining. Sam brings his unique style and since of humor to a medium that really needed something different. I don’t think it will be long before radio stations around the country will be banging down his door. If you like politics and current events, but want some humor mixed in Sam’s show is going to become your regular drive time thing. Ladies, if you think you don’t like talk radio, I think you should give Sam a shot. He has more female callers than any talk show I have listened to before. I think it’s the mustache! The show is on Monday – Friday 6:00am to 9:00pm.
Favorite Gas Station
Jack John Varcados Shell A full service gas station? Yes indeed, you can fill it up yourself, or go full service at Jack John Varcados Shell located at 8602 Memorial Drive. Remember when you were a kid and you mom’s car needed some work? She would drop the car off at the gas station and they would give you a ride home, or they would show up at the house to give your care a jump if the battery was dead? Well, if you go to Varcados Shell station and live in the area, the owner will give you a ride home while they fix your car. In an era of chain stores and gas stations it sure is nice to have a place that will check your car out while you get your tank filled up. Stop by Varcados before you hit the road to grandma’s house this Christmas and let them check the tires and everything under the hood while they fill your car with gas. It’ll make the trip a lot safer.
Favorite in Advertising and Marketing
If you are in the commercial real estate business and want to get the word out about your project, or company you need to get in touch with Kim Schell at the Houston Business Journal. A rare find in the advertising business Kim’s combination of organizational skills, work ethic and dedication to her clients make her a real gem. If you want the Houston business community to know who you are when you walking into your next meeting, contact Kim Schell at HBJ and let her make it happen.
So you want to build an image for your company, event, or anything else you can think of, there is one place you can go to help you do it all. PWL Studio is a Houston based full service creative firm owned and operated by Fulton Davenport. Fulton is an extremely talented photographer / artist who excels in all things creative. Whether you are in need of a new web site, photography, video, branding, or event planning the team at PWL can make it happen for you and your company. Check them out on line at the PWL Studio Website
Best Spa Services
These come strait from my better half, based upon expenditures; I believe that she could be considered a world leading expert in the field of spa service enjoyment! Seriously guys if you are looking to make the ladies in your life very happy take note of the recommendations below. Magdalena Charles at the Trellis Spa is revered as the best deep tissue massage therapist in the city. She is consistently booked, so reserve ahead, but she is definitely worth the wait. Trellis Spa 713-685-6790
Another therapist who is constantly in demand is Liliana Betiu at Chrysalis. Liliana is one of the cities most sought after estheticians; I am told that that means she is an expert at facials. Houston’s best go to her to keep their skin looking young. Once again, book early because Liliana has a devoted following who schedule regular visits. Chrysalis Spa 713-522-2111.