Sun, Nov 22, 2009
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Name:
xavixavi
Comment: SPRAWL, is an understatement.
Eerything was too dang far.
Some of the recommended hotels were GARBAGE. The artists didn't seem up to snuff, and people in general just seemed tired. In New Orleans, you can go back to your room after a tiring day, take a 1 or 2 hour power nap, and be ready for the concert. My friends and I have done that EVERY year of the essence fest except for this one.
Asking floor ticket holders to use NASTY porta potties, or go tot he promenade level to use the bathroom or for snacks is ridiculous. That's like a 2 block walk to pay too much for food or to relieve yourself -- CRAZY..
It was horrible!!! They need better stars before I even THINK of going next year. I may have to sit it out till N.O. gets back on it's feet.
Oh, and yeah there were only TWO superlounges instead of FOUR. Maybe that's why I only wanted to go up there twice. Usually I'm confused as to which one to go to, lounge or main stage, because there is sooooo much to choose from -- NOT THIS YEAR. Boring!!!!
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Name:
bigchassie
Comment: xaxaiv>i'm sorry sweetie you had a bad time this year at the E fest. that's bad. maybe they need to reconsider having it in another place, like Miami or how about Chicago. don't bring it to The ATL. you talk about bad traffic in Htown, YOU DONT WANT TO BRING IT TO THE ATL. TRAFFIC IS JUST AS WORSE.
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Name:
Mishe
Comment: Xavixavi, sorry you had a bad time. I see I didn't miss a thing! Normally, I travel to N.O. to attend the E-Fest but this year I had NO desire to go to Houston. It appears I made the right decision and saved money to boot. Last year I had floor seats and really enjoyed Destiny's Child and Teena Marie. I even met Beyonce at the airport early the next morning and she was cool. They really do need to consider changing the location for next year before I consider attending again.
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Name:
prettieyez
Comment: This is the main reason me and my girl friends didn't want to go. We went to Miami instead and had a ball!!! Houston for the Essence Festival just didn't sound right we were not up to going there. Hopefully Essence will decide to change it to another city next year if New Orleans still isn't ready. They should condider Miami, Chicago, NY or why not Vegas!!!
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Name:
TJthemilitant
Comment: Maybe New Orleans will be ready in time for the Fest next year..Hopefully..There is just so much more to do and see there..
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Name:
DJFlyy
Comment: RE: the new editorial director for Ebony/Jet - Bryan Monroe. I'm hoping he can bring back the magazine to it's excellence of the 60's and 70's. As a child I used to learn so much about Black history, and civil rights through Ebony - now, it's nothing more than a sorry Black version of People magazine!
My parents subscribed to Ebony for close to 50 years (waaay before I was born); I kept up the subscription after they passed, but I'm about to kick it to the curb.
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Name:
RMP7772000
Comment: DJFLYY, I agree with you. My mom was a member of all the black magazines. But since her death, I just look through them in the stores(oops)may be I should'nt have said that! I'm hoping also that they get back to talking about our black history. I keep asking for some one to talk about my favorite female singer/actress with my same birthday June 30th-Lena Horn to do a story about her struggles and achievements while she is still living! Some of you youngsters are saying Lena who? And that's why we need Ebony/Jet to get back to our roots soon as possibel! All stay blessed!!!!!
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Name:
bigchassie
Comment: DJFLYY>i know that is right. that was when Ebony magazine was BIG! i mean BIG in size! i have an old Ebony magazine from back in the day i think it was 1972-september issue. talk about some crazykick fashions. hunny we was stylin. and the articles were great! it was happenin!
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Name:
lovelace
Comment: Essence should NEVER again host their festival in Houston! Everything is too far apart and the cab fares will kill you! We had to pay $50.00 - $59.00 for a cab from the airport to the hotel. Then we had to pay $20.00 - $22.00 for a cab each time we went to the convention center and/or stadium for the shows! We asked around and was told by people from Houston that this was actually the first time they had concerts at the stadium b/c they normally had them at the SuperDome (where all the New Orleans evacuees stayed.) You could barely understand what Monique, Steve Harvey or Cedric the Entertainer were saying, so you can imagine how the performers sounded. It was terrible!
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Name:
MOTHERSHIP
Comment: RMP, Lena Horne was 89 years old on June 30. Spoke with her once years back. One hella lady. Yes, Jet has become watered down as of late. I hope Linda will be able to step up the game with Jet, put fire under dude's behind, something. Chassie, I still have some of those big Ebonies.
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Name:
Stephanie
Comment: xavixavi, you are a 1,000% correct. It was horrible! I vowed to never go to another Essence Fest again. The sound system at the concerts was absolutely terrible. The vendors were very few and and extremely expensive. I don't even want to go there about the food vendors. We literally ate one meal a day. $3.50 for a small cup of soda. Not too mention $5.00 for 3 boney chicken wings and a stale roll. I thought the seminars on Monday were pretty good with the exception of that wigger host and that panel. She was so clueless. I loved Magic Johnson, Michael Dyson and Min. Farrakhan though and that was it. We caught the metro and got stuck downtown and it smelled so bad. I loved all the people in Houston, they were very nice. Never again though and a lot of people said this was nothing compared to New Orleans.
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Name:
Stephanie
Comment: Lovelace, that was another problem for us too. We spent at least $250 alone in cab fare. We were double charged for the airport shuttle. The hotel we stayed in, the Sheraton at Brookhollow was not accomodating at all. It really sucked!
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Name:
Smokie_001
Comment: That's bullshit.
I'm from Houston, and the traffic down here was WAY better for the Essence than it ever was in New Orleans.
Pure BULLSHIT!!
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Name:
chocolattechile
Comment: I didn't go to the E.F this year either because it being in Houston just didn't seem right! The Essence Festsival just ain't the Essence festival if it's not in NOLA. I hope that NOLA will be ready in time for E.F. 2007!
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Name:
bigchassie
Comment: STEPHANIE> SAY WHAT?? YALL SPENT 250.OO IN CAB FARE??? aww heyell naww! that's dayum price gouging!! aww man, i'm terribly sorry yall went through that. sheyatt! that made me mad and i didn't even go to the thing (always wanted to go though) and the food??? man, that was a rip off!! uh-uh!! ESSENCE got to make up for that. that's downwright awful!
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Name:
aishabryant
Comment: My sister went every year that it was in N.O. The fact that it was in Houston turned her off. I HOPE AND PRAY that N.O. is put together enough for the E-fest next year because I would love to go. Having never been, the fact that it was in Houston this year, did nothing but make me make other plans. Why HOUSTON!? It's a big city, but it ain't that big considering half of it is taken up by highway and construction. They may as well have had it here in Austin!! LOL! I feel for those that had to suffer through three days of "hecticness."
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Name:
bigchassie
Comment: STEPHANIE> i had to read again what you said. YALL WERE DOUBLE CHARGED FOR AIRPORT SHUTTLE?? OOH, OOH! THAT %*$!ES ME OFF. NOW YOU KNOW SUMPTHIN, I BET IF THIS WAS THE LILLITH FARE OR SUMPTHING YT, THERE WOULD BE NO PRICE GOUGING LIKE THAT! THAT IS PURE BULLSHEATT!! ESSENCE IS GONNA HEAR ABOUT THIS!!!
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Name:
bigchassie
Comment: CHOCOLATECHILE> ooh gurl i know that's right. when it goes back to N.O. i'm gonna go this time. this really hurts cause the E fest is one of the most antisipated black events of the summer. i just wish they would televise it. maybe when N.O. get back on it's feet, they could consider televising it. but HOUSTON AGAIN? HEYELL NO!
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Name:
JamerDelta
Comment: I'm sorry it was so bad, but that's precisely the reason we didn't go this year. New Orleans was great because you could walk to a lot of the events or take the little trolley to the French Market and Convention center etc. One other major reason we went was because of the food. You can't beat the food in NO. It really was my favorite city in the U.S and I do hope that the Festival can be back there again soon. Actually, the only time we would take a cab was to go to the concerts, but then we would just walk back to the hotel--that was a fun experience in and of itself. We'd make sure we brought flats or sneaks to walk back in and stop at all the street vendors outside. Oh, I miss it!
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Name:
Mishe
Comment: I am not surprised that the cabs, shuttles, etc. were trying to rip you off. I guess they expect us not to know better. Last year I stayed at the Hotel Intercontinental in N.O. and the hotel tried to get over on us too. They were charging money for us to have visitors in our room! How crazy is that? They even gave the guests of the hotel wristbands and if we brought someone in with us they had to pay to ENTER the hotel. Well of course we were outraged and before you know it the local news was out front covering that foolishness! Mayor Nagin even commented on it at one of the concerts and he stepped in and put a stop to it. We had several celebs staying at that hotel too so you know word got around.
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Name:
Priceless
Comment: wow I didn't know that each festival netted over $100 million in revenue for a city ... that ain't no chump change, but the Essence Festival was just a staple in NO summer entertainment ... it won't feel the same in any other place either
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Name:
bigchassie
Comment: JAMERDELTA>see that's what i'm talking about.i know yall had a good time when it was in N.O. i tell you, i only went to N.O. once and fell in love with the place. it's a unique and fun place and i just love the french market and sitting outside eating benyes (i know i spelled that wrong) and hot cocoa. i pray that it gets back on it's feet and welcome the E-Fest again. that is where it belongs!
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Name:
bigchassie
Comment: MISHE> SAY WHAT?? GURL NAWWW! aww heyell naww!! that's so wrong. let me ask you this out of curiosity...the manager/owners of the hotel, were they Arab?? just curious because i remember something like this happening when florida had to evacuate because of the hurricane several years ago and the owners of a major hotel chain, i think it was days inn or embassy suites price gauged the customers and the press and offical got wind of it and made them stop.
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Name:
bigchassie
Comment: PRICELESS> i know that's right. the E-fest belongs to N.O. only! when something is right, why change it. i just hope and pray that N.O. be up and running next year in time for the fest.
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Name:
Victornator
Comment: Wow, it is great to here that people want New Orleans back not because the people can return home, but because they can have somewhere to party. He He.
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Name:
Priceless
Comment: Victomator, well this article is about the festival not the recovery effort
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Name:
Strill1
Comment: Smokie... I'm glad somebody from the H stood up and said something... I never went to the Essence in the NO because I heard too many horror stories about it there... Especially about women getting beat up because somebody grabbed their azz and they caught a severe beat down for saying something about it... That ain't my idea of fun... Thats cool take it somewhere else... nigs are going to complain regardless... all the folks from NO were complaining but they won't be there next year because they live in Houston now and aint trying to go back home...
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Name:
Mishe
Comment: BIGCHASSIE> Well the only manager that I spoke to was white and the Intercontinental isn't a shabby hotel nor is it cheap so we were really taken aback by their treatment. On the morning I checked out, I was standing next to Dr. Cornell West who was also checking out and he struck up a convo about his issues with the hotel.
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Name:
Stephanie
Comment: BigChas, I'm telling you it was extremely expensive and nothing was worth it. The concerts sucked. I was so disappointed but I have to give the people of Houston mad props because they were very humble and nice. All I could think of was all the good food we were going to eat and shyt I lost weight.
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Name:
nubianstylez
Comment: Puhleeze. The traffic in Houston didn't skip a beat. I barely knew the festival was even here. a city of 2.5 million can easily absorb 150,000 visitors. i went to the seminars and had a great time. i suggest to essence they take their party elsewhere next year however. good luck justifying the economics for Miami, Orlando, or wherever they decide. the 7 months they gave Houston was not enough time to properly plan for the event, the location they chose was weak (should have been downtown), and the organizers need to do a better job working with city management before they decide to bad mouth their efforts. that whole thing about bridges and burning and all that. essence doesn't want to be back in an ecletic, diverse and well-rounded city like houston? good. don't need ya.
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Name:
iclaudius
Comment: As a New Orleanian, I am proud to say that I had perfect attendance at Essence Festivals up until this year! I was a bit disturbed that the promoters moved the Essence Festival to Houston. Many of you know the economic impact that the Festival has on the New Orleans. If the Festival were held in New Orleans (Post-Katrina), this would have been opportune time for black folk to help in the rebuilding of New Orleans. The economic impact generated from all these tourist dollars would have helped the city greatly. Some of the tourist would have gotten a chance to see the devastated black neighborhoods first hand. Many of them remain untouched after the hurricane. The Superdome is scheduled to re-open this month and I am sure that the city could've had it ready for the July 4th weekend if the festival was held there. I am hoping that promoters realize that Houston should not be a permanent home to the Essence Festival. The Essence Festival should return to its original home...New Orleans!
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Name:
xavixavi
Comment: 1) The cab fare wasn't cab drivers gouging. It's just that Houston is a very big city. In N.O. mostly everything is in walking distance.
2) The food is the same price only difference is in NOLA, you can eat good on Bourbon and the side streets for real cheap.
3) I didn't see any major traffic except w/in 1/2 a mile of the stadium
4) The venue had horrible acoustics, and amenities were really shoddy. That portapottie thing really p@ssed me off! Whenever I had to go to the bathroom, it was time for me to go home.
5) I've been to a lot of venues, and they usually cater to the people who spend big money on seats. This venue has you going up to the promenade for eats, and a decent bathroom
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Name:
xavixavi
Comment: With all of the above, I don't think that houston is a bad city I just think that NOLA works better when you want to enjoy something on a budget.
I think that a lot of stars didn't come this time either.
I'm not sure that Houston could plan any better than they did. It's size was the biggest problem.
In NOLA there are soo many clubs around, that even if you don't go to the concerts, you can see someone just as good in one of the clubs around.
It just didn't work
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Name:
iclaudius
Comment: Strill1, where have you gotten your infro from? Women getting beat up and grabbin' a.s.s.e.s and what?... Huh? Stop reading those YT magazines. "We don't need no hateration holleration in this dancery"
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Name:
Strill1
Comment: iclaudius,
I'm not making this up... it came straight from several women who had the same experience... Dudes be acting ignorant there... plus the streets smell like pizz and vomit in the summer time... Especially Bourbon street... The last time I was there it was enough to make me nautious... but hey to each his own...
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Name:
Strill1
Comment: I must admit though the port-a-pottie thing was wack... they could have done better than that...
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Name:
iclaudius
Comment: Strill1, Bourbon Street is a little odorous in the summertime. Of course its from 10,000 drunk people who come that street just to do one thing...drink, get drunk and have uninhibited fun. The smell is from all the wasted alcohol on the street. But the entire city is not reflective of that one street. Hopefully you know that there's more. I hope you got a chance to visit other streets and do other things while you were there
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Name:
Strill1
Comment: Actually I did... I had a good time checking out some of the shops and the artist that show their work on the street... and the outdoor market place was cool... Lots of culture... But unfortunately, I was staying right off of Bourbon so my hang over from the night before was made worst when I had to face the next day and walk around. Almost lost my lunch... NO was a cool town before the storm... hopefully the city can rebuild and bring back some of the magic that made NO NO... then we won't be having these discussions.
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Name:
cinnamonqueen
Comment: The problem was with the venue. Nothing of interest is near it. In NO you can eat and sleep near the event. They should've had it downtown, but obviously couldn't get that venue. The food is good in Houston just as good as in NO. The event just wasn't convenient. I can't see NO being ready in next year or 2. Not just the venue, but the things surrounding the venue need to be tight, so people can just walk to clubs and restaraunts. I know they want to keep it near NO. They could've had it in Dallas. Plenty of eats downtown and 3 venues they could've used that are downtown and trolley to get around etc. I dont think they are going to stray far from NO. I had heard before Katrina they were trying to move the essence event from there anyway. Don't know how true it is. Some people won't be satisified no matter where you have it though.
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Name:
MSHELICIA
Comment: man ya'll just pizzing all over my hometown . houston may not be new orleans , but dang at least they had somewhere to have the essence festival.
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Name:
Strill1
Comment: Thank you MSHELICIA... thats all I'm trying to say... I read the EUR daily and all the comments are usually negative no matter what the subject matter is... I usually don't write in until the subject is about my city... then I got to throw in the flag so the refs can review the tape... under the circumstance I think Houston was a gracious host to the festival.
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Name:
Angel
Comment: Strill1 - Bourbon Street does smell like pizz, vomit and liquor. Every morning they should use a fleet of those street cleaning trucks to douse it in Clorox. LOL
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Name:
Southernbelle
Comment: As a New Orleanian I appreciate the fact that Houston stepped up and hosted the event. Many displaced New Orleanians are residing there. They appreciated the fact that they could still attend the event. Many had some of the complaints listed here. I didn't attend but my husband did. But, New Orleans has had years to improve the event. I never heard anyone say anything negative about Houston. They thought that the event planners could have done a better job. Maybe even taken some pointers from New Orleans tourism staff members. Essence will decide next years venue and yes New Orleans is more that capable of hosting the event. The area surrounding the Superdome and Convention Center has bee up and running for months. This includes the hotels and nightclubs. Strill1 don't believe the hype you see on television. Everyone in New Orleans is not criminals. The Essence fesitval is visited be thousands of tourists anyone could have tapped those women you know on the bottom. Or are you suggesting that every indiscretion committed had to be done by a New Orleanian?
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Name:
cinnamonqueen
Comment: There's going to be criminal activity no matter where you have the event. Cause people are crazy 4 real! No matter where it's held some people will be mad or happy. I was in HOuston last weekend, i didn't go to event , but friend i rode there with went sunday and monday. he seems to have enjoyed himself seminars and concert mon night, but you can't go wrong with Maze. He didn't like fact everything was far apart to get to stuff in city, , but can't have everything, would've been better had they had it downtown, but they obviously couldn't. i'm sure majority of people had a good time, but you always have people trying to get over, no matter where you are. It's not about the city, but the event. the peole that comem to the event, i hope people don't give up on it because place is different. it brings a lot of money.
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Name:
iclaudius
Comment: Strill1, I agree with you. And I know that we are working to bring it back better that eva!
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Name:
iclaudius
Comment: Southernbelle, spoken like a true native! I appreciate you! Your point is crystal clear. What part of the city are you from?
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Name:
Strill1
Comment: Southernbelle...
I'm not going there... you are right they could have been from anywhere... and I'm sure there were some incidents here... I just hate to see folks come down so hard on Houston when we are more than accomodating to every major and minor event that comes to town. We love vistors and we are proud of our city... Obviously, the vibe was off for Essence... but that would have been the case if it was held anywhere else besides NO because that is where it set its standard and what people have come to expect. Houston will never be NO and vice versa and I think everybody is cool with that... but hell give us credit for the effort.
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Name:
letmein
Comment: I know I'm late...but as a faithful Essence Festival attender, I couldn't see being anywhere else other than N'awlins....I'm glad I didn't go. And, I don't know where someone got the info about fighting women and thangs, but out of the 10 years (yes, I attended them all) not once, did I see anything of the sort!
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Name:
letmein
Comment: Oh yeah, and one more thing...they get over in hotel prices in New Orleans, too. We made it a point to book our rooms the Nov. or Dec. before. Then we would watch the prices sky rocket before the festival.
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Name:
Southernbelle
Comment: iclaudius>N.O. east. Much love Strill1. Houston is a great city and if, by some slight chance ;-), they host Essence next year I'm sure it will be greatly improved. The event itself is more important than who hosts it. Besides the music performers there are several workshops and seminars there are beneficial to the African American community.
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Name:
Southernbelle
Comment: letmein>Well book your hotel room now b/c Essence is coming home in 07!!!
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Name:
iclaudius
Comment: Southernbelle>I am from the 7th ward near St. Bernard and Filmore Aves.
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Name:
Strill1
Comment: Peace and prosperity... I'm out...
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Name:
purposeinlife
Comment: Being realistic - I don't believe NO will be ready for Essence 07 - maybe not even Essence 08. So my suggestion is to take it to Las Vegas. It will be the closet to the conveniences of NO you will get. It is easy to get around in Vegas (therefore a car is not necessary. You can walk or take a cab and because things are close together, cabfare is reasonable), overall the food is good and reasonable and last but not least, there are SO many options of things to do for cheap or free. I know you all don't want to come out west but try it for one year. I guarantee most will enjoy.
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Name:
gingerg
Comment: Everybody is talking about the sound system and how Houston wasn't this or that.
What about the seminars? Did anyone come away enlightened about the pressing issues in our community?
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Name:
texnyqueen
Comment: We've hosted the Superbowl and NBA all-star game without much trouble.
Now, we host the ungrateful and rude Essence Fest - I still want my money back for such a boring snooze fest.
It's not difficult to get from Reliant to the Galleria to spend all your money because both locations are only 7 miles from each other, but visitors should get a map - they were free at the Fest and are always free at the visitor center. I didn't see an issue with traffic other than the normal bottle neck at Westheimer and 610. Highway construction was at minimum. Heck, people were parking in the shopping center parking lot for FREE and weren't even towed - count yourselves lucky.
The city is fairly easy to navigate, even a friend from LA who was here for the fest said it was easy. Once you figure out that 610 is one big loop - visitors should have been able to navigate the highway without any trouble.
So to say we didn't accomodate the fest is a lie. No this is not a walking city and yes, you have to drive everywhere. However, we have been accomodating New Orleans since that act of God, the least organizers could have said was "Thank you".
No, Houston is not New Orleans and for that I am thankful. New Orleans can have their festival back along with their residents.
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