Groundbreaking of Senior Living Village

Bridgewood Property Co. has recently broken ground on new senior citizen community, The Village at The Woodlands Waterway.

The Woodlands-based property which will be eight stories high at 2323 Lake Robbins Dr., will span 240,000 square feet. The planned 207 rental units will consist of 28 memory-care units, 63 assisted living units and 116 independent living units.

Spring 2011 is when the opening has been planned for the village. Along with Harrison Real Estate Capital, Bridgewood is developing the project in a joint venture.

The project was designed by Ambrose, Munoz + Albin Architects and House Architects. Construction handling is being taken care of by Construction Supervisors.

Source: Houston Chronicle

New Waterway Square Programs For Fall 2009

Located on The Woodlands Waterway in The Woodlands and one block south from Lake Robbins Drive, Waterway Square, will be crowded with activity this fall. This astonishing Woodlands attraction will be the site of numerous new and fun programs, most of which will take place exclusively at Waterway Square, including:

Summer Nights, Waterway Lights: Through September 19, 6 to 8 p.m., take a walk by Waterway Square on Friday and Saturday nights, and take pleasure in entertainers, including jugglers, face painters, mimes, caricature artists and more. Check out the exquisite scenery of The Fountains at Waterway Square. It is free to all ages, with no pre-registration required.

Half-Pint Hullabaloo: On Wednesday, September 2, from 9 to 10 a.m., get the kids together and bring them to the Half-Pint Hullabaloo. Children can have a great time with themed, age-appropriate games and crafts. Johnny Appleseed is the theme for September. It is for ages 2 - 5, with a fee of $7 per child and $5 for each additional sibling.

Drop & Shop: On Thursday, September 10, from 4 to 6 p.m., drop off the kids for fun and games while parents shop and dine in The Woodlands Waterway area. Children will enjoy crafts, have relays and have a lot of fun. It is for ages 6 - 12, with a fee of $15 per child and $10 for each additional sibling.

String Me Along Parties: On Saturday, September 12, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., make a chic necklace and earring set made with fashionable stones and beads. This program must have four participants pre-enrolled minimum to admit drop-ins on site. It is for ages 6 - 14, with a fee of $20 per person and $15 for each additional sibling.

Geocaching Adventure: With a high-tech treasure hunt played by using GPS devices, geocaching, gear up for outdoor fun and adventures. On Saturday, September 12, at 1 p.m., locate hidden treasures along The Woodlands Waterway. This program must have four participants pre-enrolled minimum to admit drop-ins on site. It is for all ages, with a fee of $10 per pseron.

Digital Scavenger Hunt: Every team or person will get a list of items to locate. The first team or person to discover and take a picture (with a digital camera) of all of the items will win a prize. On Saturday, September 12, at 4 p.m., the hunt will take place. It is for ages 13 - 17, with a fee of $10 per person.

Totally Tie Dye: On Thursday, September 24, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., watch as your shirt magically changes colors. T-shirts are included in this particular activity. It is for ages 3 - 5, with a fee of $10 per child.

10th Anniversary for The Ice Rink in The Woodlands

The Woodlands, Texas celebrates the 10th Anniversary of the Ice Rink located in The Woodlands Town Center. The Ice Rink in The Woodlands has moved to Six Pines and The Woodlands Waterway, it is exactly behind the Town Center Garage at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.

The Town Center Garage will hold the parking for The Ice Rink. This great entertainment was previously located at Lake Robbins Drive and Six Pines Drive but has moved because of the new parking lot at this location.

Donoho's Jewellers Winter Wonderland TM has also moved and will display its lovely lighting which will be seen from The Woodlands Waterway and Six Pines Drive.

The Woodlands is a wonderful place to live with all its new life and magic. The Woodlands Texas is becoming a major visiting and residing place for national and international visitors. The Ice Rink will be opening on Saturday, November 22 of 2008.

The openings of this years 26th Annual Lighting of the Doves TM, The Ice Rink at The Woodlands Town Center, Donoho's Jewellers Winter Wonderland and the International Winter On The Waterway TM will all take place on November 22. There will also be other events taking place in The Woodlands TX such as the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony at Market Street on November 20 and the Lighted horse and Carriage Parade at Market Street on December 7.

The Woodlands Mall will also open at 6 a.m. on November 28, the day after Thanksgiving so that all shoppers can start their gift buying early.

Source: www.thewoodlands.net

20 Waterway Avenue home to new Crush Wine Bar in The Woodlands

A new lounge and retail store, Crush Wine Bar, will be opening in the new 20 Waterway Avenue building on The Woodlands Waterway around early spring of 2009. It will be located on the upper level of the north building and will include a rooftop terrace which overlooks the Waterway Square in The Woodlands, Tx.

The owner, Blake Boyd, stated that Crush will offer and serve affordable and unique wine selections in the store. It will also offer a gourmet appetizer menu with an option to order meals from neighboring restaurants which will be served in-house.

Crush will accommodate 250 people and feature mesmerizing views of the Fountains at Waterway Square. There will also be three VIP cabanas which will offer a more intimate party for up to 15 guests. A Cellar Room within Crush will also feature private parties up to 30 people. It is encouraged to book your events in advance for the best availability.

Source: www.thewoodlands.net

The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival

The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival will showcase more than 200 national and regional artists on April 12 and 13. This wonderful event will take place at the Waterway in The Woodlands starting at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, along The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion and ending at Town Green Park.

There will be a water taxi and a trolley service througout the festival. There will also be great international artists from Mexico who will be presenting their work. Some of the highlights of this festival will include master scratchboard artist Sally Maxwell, "Healing Arts", live entertainment on two stages, and "artopoly".

A new addition to this impressive festival will be the Floating Art Parade that will reflect this year's theme "Water Creatures". For this parade individuals, organizations and area businesses will be invited to design and build floats. They will start at 10:30 am on April 12. Participants in this Parade must submit their application along with a rendering and a brief description of their entry. The application's deadline will be on Monday March 24th. For more information you can visit http://www.woodlandsartsfestival.com/

Source: www.thewoodlands.net

Floating art down the Waterway

The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival announces a unique addition to kick off the 2008 festival. The Floating Art Parade invites participants to create floating art pieces that will float down the Waterway April 12 at 10:30 a.m. in conjunction with the opening of the festival.

Interested participants can design and create a floating art piece that reflects this year's chosen theme, "Water Creatures." Twenty pieces will be chosen to participate in the Floating Art Parade. The best entry receives The Waterway Cup, a unique piece of art designed by one of the festival artists. Festival jurors will vote for the best entry. After the judging and awarding of The Waterway Cup, the floats will be anchored and displayed throughout the festival weekend.

"This is a great opportunity for local businesses and organizations to gain recognition in the community by participating in this unique competition," said Brenda Gottlieb, festival director. "It's going to be colorful and lots of fun. We think the floating art parade could become one of the most popular spring events in the area and the Waterway is a fantastic venue for this type of event."

Participants must submit an application along with a rendering and brief description of their entry. The deadline for the application and rendering is March 14.

The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival features more than 200 national and regional artists of various mediums selling their original creations. The two-day festival takes place along The Woodlands Waterway from The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center alongside The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion and culminating at Town Green Park.

Festival hours are 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10 for adults. Children 12 and under are admitted free of charge.

Source: The Villager by Villager Staff

Waterway Marriott Hotel Receives High Rating

The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center has earned the AAA Four Diamond Award. AAA, best known for its automobile work but also known to rate hotels and restaurants, bases its nomination on exterior grounds, public areas, room decor, ambiance, guest room amenities, bathrooms, housekeeping, management and guest services.

The award was presented at a recent luncheon at the hotel. Sandy Schoenbeck, Marriott director of sales and marketing, said the award is the result of the Marriott's "quality of product and outstanding service." Schoenbeck said the four diamond rating distinguishes the Marriott as a top rated hotel for business, leisure travelers and meeting planners.

The hotel has 341 rooms and 70,000 square feet of meeting space. Amenities include catering, a full-service restaurant, swimming pool, seven suites, a whirlpool and a fitness center. The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center is located at 1601 Lake Robbins Drive.

For more information, call 281-367-9797 or visit http://www.marriott.com/

Source: The Villager by Lauren Hodges

Support The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival As A Festival Presenter

The Woodlands Development Company has pledged its support to The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival as a $25,000 festival presenter, according to Alex Sutton and Tim Welbes, co-presidents of The Woodlands Development Company.

The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival will hold its third annual event on Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, April 13, 2008. The festival is a juried fine arts show featuring 200 national and regional artists of various mediums selling their original creations. "In just three years, The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival has grown to be one of the most well-attended and appreciated events in our community," said Sutton and Welbes. "It adds to the social and cultural ambiance of The Woodlands Waterway and Town Center and attracts thousands of visitors each spring. We are pleased to continue our support of this wonderful new tradition." "We are very grateful for the continued support of The Woodlands Development Company," said David Gottlieb, chairman of the board of The Woodlands Waterway Arts Council. "Their generosity will enable us to expand the performing arts entertainment and other popular activities at the festival."

Festival hours are 10 am - 8 pm on Saturday and 10 am - 6 pm on Sunday. Admission is $10 for adults. Children 12 and under are admitted free of charge. Proceeds from the festival benefit local arts-related organizations. The event takes place along The Woodlands Waterway from The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center alongside The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, culminating at Town Green Park. The beautifully landscaped site features ample parking, water taxi and trolley service along the entire length of the festival, concessions within the festival site, and an array of restaurants and shops within walking distance of the festival.

New this year will be a Floating Art Parade, featuring international artists from Mexico. The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival Board of Directors is working with the Mexican consulate to select five artists, in a variety of mediums, whose art will be featured at the event. Area businesses, organizations and individuals are invited to design and build a float that will glide down The Waterway at 10 am on April 12, the first day of the festival. Each float will be judged and the winner will be given The Woodlands Waterway Cup.

Following the parade, the art floats will be anchored and displayed throughout the festival weekend.

For more information about The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival, visit http://www.woodlandsartsfestival.com/ or call 281-222-6820.

Source: TheWoodlands.net by The Woodlands Development Company

Woodforest National Bank & Woodforest Financial Services Debut A Private Banking / Financial Services Branch At The Woodlands Waterway

In a forward thinking response to the thriving development of The Woodlands' urban downtown area, Woodforest National Bank and Woodforest Financial Services, Inc. have officially debuted a new Private Banking / Financial Services branch located at The Woodlands Waterway.

Celebrating the new addition, representatives of the companies recently hosted a Grand Opening Reception to introduce customers, guests and community leaders to its latest concept.

"We are delighted to unveil our new private banking branch to The Woodlands community here at the exciting Woodlands Waterway," explained Judy Larson, Senior Vice President of Woodforest National Bank. "Private banking offers many benefits by comprehensively offering customized banking services that result in an effortless banking experience for every Woodforest customer. I encourage the community to stop by and check out our comfortable, living room atmosphere and meet our responsive and accessible staff."

Texas State Senator Tommy Williams, President of Woodforest Financial Services, Inc., said, "This new location is ideal as we now have an enhanced presence within the business district of The Woodlands. Bank customers can simply walk upstairs and take care of their investment needs. We are excited to provide such hi-tech, high-touch financial services within one key location." Robert Marling, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of Woodforest National Bank, said, "The private banking sector has been a natural progression of our continual strive for excellence in service quality and product offerings to our customers. While we have been offering private banking for many years, we are proud to dedicate a new branch that is customized and centered among serving the sophisticated needs of this customer niche."

Woodforest National Bank Vice Chairman Michael Richmond added, "We selected Judy to develop our Private Banking concept into the robust service line that it has become today, giving us the ability to access all of our customers needs. The fact that this unique branch is located here in our bank's 'home' of South Montgomery County underscores our commitment to maintaining our position as the dominant community bank within The Woodlands marketplace and beyond. Strategically, we are set to accommodate the financial needs of individuals and corporations living and/or working in the ever-developing downtown-core of The Woodlands."

Larson said the visibility of the Waterway location certainly reinforces the bank's presence throughout Montgomery and Harris counties. In addition to Texas, Woodforest National Bank has branches located in Alabama Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Celebrating 27 years of service and ranked among the top earning banks in the United States, Woodforest has assets in excess of $2.4 billion and services more than 450,000 customers at more than 425 traditional and in-store branches.

Source: TheWoodlands.net by The Woodlands Development Company

Waterway Square opening set for February 2008

Officials with The Woodlands Township are looking forward to the opening of Waterway Square, a center for corporate, retail and leisure travel in the community.

"It is a focal point," said TWT Chairwoman Nelda Luce Blair. "It is not only the center for stopping and shopping, it is the focal point for business." The wet-and-wild amenity features a 120-foot-long water wall bordered by cascading waterfalls to the west and an oval water well to the east. The well contains 80 jets encircling a main jet that shoots water 60 feet in the air.

Alex Sutton, co-president of The Woodlands Development Company, said the company has tentatively penciled in Feb. 28 as the grand opening date. As workers wrap up construction on 24 Waterway, a 13-story commercial structure adjacent to Waterway Square, the developer is announcing plans for the third piece of the complex, 20 Waterway, to be located south of 24 Waterway and west of Waterway Square. The 27,000-square-foot structure will include four high-end restaurants.

The Woodlands Township will change the route for its trolley service to include the Waterway Square area, said TWT President Frank Robinson. "It (Waterway Square) is going to be a great entertainment venue for the community," Robinson said. Waterway Square will enhance the quality of life in Town Center, attracting more businesses to the area, Robinson said. Township officials are looking forward to more businesses relocating to The Woodlands.

Cultural arts: Vicki Richmond, chair of the Cultural Arts Task Force, said a report will be ready for review by the township board detailing the feasibility of building a permanent site for a branch of the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Officials hired PKF Consulting to study the financial and environmental aspects of the possible addition.

Development details:

• 24 Waterway Avenue


• 13 stories


• 308,206 square feet


• Early 2008 completion


• Waterway Square1-acre plaza


• Signature fountain features 120-foot long, 10-foot high water wall, 60-foot jets and children's interactive fountain

Source: The Villager by Tiffany Williams