Houston Zoning (on a lighter note - whorehouses)

When we lived in Houston from 1981-1986, we lived in Montrose. Montrose was the close-in place to be. Cooltown. Hiptown. Gaytown. And SIN-TOWN!

Restaurants, close grocery markets, art museums, and many other wild attractions. There were also the ubiquitous brothels, mixed into residential areas .. and a few whorehouses next to churches.

There was "Golden Girls" on Alabama, near Pasternak's Grocery and Alabama Jack's Liquor (when you didn't want to go to Spec's Liquor - the greatest liquor store in the whole wide world, where the clerks wore roller-skates and there was always the oder of a big vodka spill in the air).

"College Coeds" was a block from our condo, on Westheimer. Near the Chicken Coop (a TV bar - and I don't mean television, Vern). "Mandy's Girls" was behind "Mary's." Mary's on Westheimer was a gay biker bar.

Pacifica Radio (90.1 FM) was just north of Westheimer, across from the Chicken Coop. Radio Free Houston.

"College Girls," was next to the University of St. Thomas (one block down Montrose Blvd from our condo). Specifically, it was almost next door to the Rothko Chapel. Whores galore. Suicide black chapel, adjacent. Take your pick. Or, pick both.

Some of the whorehouses were next to "storefront" churches. I always wondered if there was a back door to enhance commerce - in both directions. Lordy! Padre!

But, all I know about whorehouses, I learned from the Kingston Trio's "Ain't it Hard." Seems that there is one in every town.