Today In Urban Hellhole News

Historic preservationists like myself were weary of Weingarten Realty's plans to build a big-ass Barnes & Noble in the River Oaks Shopping Center because we were worried it would be the beginning of the end of the historic Alabama Theater down the street on Shepherd Drive, which housed another Barnes & Noble. As of right now that's thankfully not the case as the Alabama Theater will house the upcoming Cinema Arts Festival Houston. The festival will just occupy the theater temporarily, but hopefully it can serve to attract a new permanent tenant.

I've always thought building could be put to better use than a bookstore. I would prefer it were turned back into a movie theater, or perhaps a venue for plays and concerts.