Ghost Stories of El Paso

I purchased Volume 1 of the Ghost Stories of El Paso and I absolutely loved it.  One of the creepiest photographs that they show is the El Paso High School class photo with a girl whose face/body is there but is blurry.  They asked the people who were around her in the picture if they remember someone being there and all of them said no….weird!

The padre up the Franklin Mountains is really intriguing to me…anyone up for a trek to go find that secret mine shaft where the gold is hidden??

I highly recommend this DVD to anybody who wants to learn more about El Paso’s ghost stories.  Volume 2 is also out and I plan on purchasing that DVD too.    Here is a preview of both volumes and link to the El Paso Gold website.

For those who are still reading, I will share with you a ghost story of my own.  Back when I was living in San Antonio, I was out late with my friend Jacob.  We were driving back home in a rain storm late at night on a road where there weren’t any cars.  As we were headed down the road we saw a person walking on the side of it.  We looked over at him and saw a really pale man with long black hair and dressed in all black, probably in his twenties.

He didn’t look back at us and after we passed him we look at one another and thought it was weird to see a guy walking down the side of a road late at night, in the middle of a rain storm, and no umbrella.  We continued on for a couple of miles before we turned left off of Blanco onto Bitters.  As we made our way up the hill our conversation stopped.  To our right was the same man we had passed a couple miles ago…still walking, long black hair and clothes, pale skin.  However, this time when we looked over, he looked back at us….worst chills I have ever felt in my life.

We turned to each other and immediately yelled “Did you see that!  That was the same guy…how could he…did we really see that…let’s get out of here!”  Was it real or just two guys playing a joke…who knows but I will always remember it and the feeling I felt when he looked over at us.
My name is David and I am living El Paso.

El Paso Center for Performing Arts in our Future?

Yes, I bring up these topics like this one multiple times a year.  I do this because I believe they are important in creating a successful path towards a more prosperous, exciting, culturally rich El Paso.  We have a magnificent theatre in the Plaza downtown and the Abraham Chavez…but that area could be so much more….maybe a performing arts district? 

With such a strong Mexican/American culture here, there is no reason why we shouldn’t be the epicenter for Mexican/American performing arts.  I’m not saying we have to copy other cities in what they are doing, but I do think we should capitalize on our strengths and look to other towns to see how they are building the arts in their community. 

There is a possibility of a bond in 2011…would be a great time to make a community investment in the arts for El Paso and really, this West Texas region.  Let us not let an opportunity to better our community pass us by. 

San Antonio’s move to make Performing Arts important.  http://www.bexarperformingarts.org/

Even Odessa is in the mix with UTPB’s new place  http://www.utpb.edu/administration/wnpac/

The following video highlights the new  Dallas Center for Performing Arts

Dream big and see what the future brings!!

My name is David and I am living El Paso.

Check out a Killers song that I enjoy

Morgan’s Wonderland

Morgan’s Wonderland is a park designed specifically for special needs children.  Being built in San Antonio, this park is not for just children in San Antonio but for special needs kids all around the world.  The reason I wanted to share this with El Paso was to let those with children/adults with special needs who have trouble finding a place that everyone can enjoy is that there is a place being built specifically for them.  I think this project is truly great and maybe some day there will be a time when a park like this can be built in El Paso.

Click this link for more info on the park and here for a news story about it.

The following video also gives you a good overview of what Morgan’s Wonderland is meant for.

 

My name is David and I am living El Paso.

A Streetcar named…El Paso??

Wouldn’t you love to have a street car line running from UTEP to downtown…I would.  My  mom sent me an article from the San Antonio Express News and they are now seriously looking at getting streetcars up and running there in the next 2-3 years.  The project has all the major political and private big shots supporting it and after the study is completed, it will just be a matter of funding it.  Which leads me to my next question.

Should El Paso seriously consider a street car line and if it were to happen, where would you place it? 

from the collection of Joseph Testagrose

If I had my way, I would create a street car line that goes up and down Mesa from downtown up to around UTEP or maybe even Executive.  I know this idea isn’t revolutionary here and has definitely been thrown around recently, but I always like to bring up topics that are important to me and I seriously want your opinion.  Would a street car line spur rapid development along its corridors?

Does mass transportation really have a future here in El Paso?  I haven’t ridden on the BRT yet, but I probably should…only problem is that I have to drive there to jump on it…or I guess I could take the city bus and then transfer.

So next time you think of Marlon Brando yelling for Stella, think of a Streetcar named El Paso.

 

My name is David and I am living El Paso.

A model to learn from

I frequent skyscraper forums to keep up on San Antonio development.  I came across a thread about a new downtown urban high-rise in SA called the Vistana.  I remember seeing the early concepts and being really excited.    Check out this video by Alan Weinkrantz that takes you inside the new urban apartments.  If any of you El Paso developers are watching this, Ed Cross is a great person to learn from and knows how to build a project the right way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My name is David and I am living El Paso.

Been in San Antonio since Sunday

Sorry for the absence of posts lately…again.  I have been in San Antonio this week attending the Century 21 International Convention.  It has been a lot of fun and I have learned a lot! 

I hope all is well and see you all on Monday.

 

My name is David and I am living El Paso.

btw:  I hope Baylor and UTEP can win their respective conference tournaments so they can go to the Big  Dance!!

Springtime festivals in El Paso

Spring is pretty much here, and as this is my first one in the Sun City, I was wondering if there are any large festivals that take place.  No better place to experience an outdoor/indoor festival than El Paso.  One of my favorite festivals that was started last year by Mayor Hardberger in San Antonio is called Luminaria.  It is a day and night dedicated to the arts in San Antonio.  I will be in San Antonio next week and am hoping to get to stay through Saturday so that I can attend the event. 

With such a strong/unique arts scene in El Paso, I think a festival like Luminaria could do well here.

My name is David and I am living El Paso.

San Antonio/Austin, Solar capital of TEXAS?

I still read the SA Express news everyday and last night, I came across an article entitled SA, Austin leaders want solar firms.  As of right now, it is still just an idea.  However, knowing how these two cities operate, it won’t be an idea for too long.  What they have proposed is to combine the purchasing power of both of their public utilities (two largest in the country)  to lure solar companies to the area. The article goes on to mention the solar plant that is currently being built in Albuquerque and will employ as many as 600 people.

I think it is great that two cities in Texas are trying to become the leaders in alternative energy, but if I were El Paso, I would feel behind the curve.  Politically speaking, those two cities will have a lot of pull when it comes to getting state and federal funds and if El Paso comes lagging behind, the money might not be there.

Since I moved here, I have wondered why this city hasn’t aggressively gone after solar firms to relocate here.  I love San Antonio and Austin, but those cities have a lot more cloudy days than El Paso.  El Paso can be the model city for leading the alternative energy push.  I will be very disappointed if our city, state, and federal leaders drop the ball.  Let”s not get left behind again for lack of a vision, something I think this city sorely needs.  I want all cities in Texas to succeed, but I want El Paso to get its share of the pie.  Maybe El Paso, Austin, and San Antonio should all work together.  Every city has their own strengths and if we were to make this is statewide issue, Texas could rival Germany as one of the top leaders of alternative energy in the World and everyone would benefit. 

What are your thoughts?

Also, thank you for all the suggestions so far that came from yesterday’s post, we will go through them in the next few days.

My name is David and I am living El Paso.

Just landed in San Antonio for the contest

To all who visit El Paso or are thinking about moving here, this place can get windy.  My flight out of EP was BUMPY!!  I have been through bumps, but this flight trumped them all.  If you are out driving today, be mindful of high profile vehicles next to you, as they might veer into your lane because of strong wind pushing them. 

After clearing West Texas, the flight was fine and we arrived safely in San Antonio.  Also, I just want to thank Ivan (commentor on this site)  who took me up on my recommendation to eat at Crave.   I am happy you enjoyed it and thank you for the kind comment. 

For those who like to bake, I am currently prepping for a cookie baking contest against my sisters and cousin.  I am definitely an underdog today.    Any

He will be the cookie judge tonight

suggestions on a great cookie that I should make? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 My name is David and I am living El Paso.

In Waco but thinking El Paso

I have been in San Antonio/Waco since Monday.  I came to San Antonio to support my dad’s re-election and to Waco to enjoy Baylor Homecoming. About an hour ago, I made my way over to Barnes and Noble to see if there was anything I wanted to purchase.  As I was sitting on one of their fine chairs, I began to think.  In the past five days I have gotten a chance to see all the places that I call/called home.

Flying in to San Antonio, I was overloaded with green.  After living in El Paso, one gets used to living in a more brown environment.  It was great to be there and see all the familiar landmarks and witness the rapid development taking place.

Waco was a totally different feeling.  The drive up 35 was unfortunately familiar.  I don’t think traffic will ever get better on that stretch of road.  However, once I hit Waco, I was happy to be there.  Many great memories were created there.  Waco is an ever changing city.  They are pretty progressive and are on a push to revitalize their downtown.   Here is an article in the WacoTrib that highlights current objectives.

I will be returning to El Paso on Wednesday, but keep reading because I will still be writing Monday & Tuesday.

My name is David and I am living El Paso/San Antonio/Waco