Going for the Gold in his Golden Years

He admits to not having played pool in 22 years, but that didn’t stop long time Traders Village vendor Stan Skoblick from taking the gold at the recent 2010 Texas State Senior Games held in Houston.

The Texas State Senior Games is two full weeks of events from swimming and track, to golf, Texas Hold ‘em poker and horseshoes, but upon looking at the menu of activities, Stan opted to do what he felt most familiar with . . . he picked up a cue stick.

Once an avid pool player, Stan says that he went back into “training” when he heard about the Senior Games coming to Houston this fall.  “I only played a little one-on-one and a few tournaments leading up to the Senior Games, but it all came back,” he said.

Competing in the 70 to 79 age category, the 78-year-old Skoblick went undefeated taking nine matches from all comers in his age group.  In the end he was awarded the Gold Medal for first place in the BCA (Billiard Congress of America) rule Billiards competition.

Stan has operated the Antique Stop on 5th Street and Avenue B at Houston's Traders Village for 13 years selling the market's largest selection of flashy slot machines and collectible neon signs.  But, what doesn't he sell?  "Anything related to pool!" said the Gold Medalist with a laugh . . .

Great Show Guys... See You Next Year

The tenth annual Village Art Car Show was held at Traders Village in Houston yesterday.

Rolling works of art filled the giant Gray Expo event building as the colorful vehicles were positioned side by side and the driver-artists staked out their turf for the afternoon.  Though a fun event in itself, the Village Art Car Show presented by the fun-loving Houston Art Car Klub is much more than it first appears. It's a gathering of like-minded friends with diverse backgrounds. It's a look into the creative minds of folks who may be mainstream for most of the time, but when showing their art break loose for a bit of fun in a whimsical setting.

Where else but at an art car social would you find a giant animatronic peacock on wheels nesting beside a flame-breathing dragon cycle, near a highway worthy chunk of beach complete with drivers compartment high atop the lifeguard's stand.  There was the old-style Cadillac hearse painted with colorful and sometimes abstract images of cats (a Cattielac if you will), a pick-up truck made completely of wood, and the little import named Mir-Mir all covered from bumper-to-bumper in shattered bits of mirror.

There was one van created to look as if being swallowed by an enormous angler fish called "Old Van and the Sea", and another painted and modeled into a sock monkey from our childhood.

The whipped cream and cherries on top of all this were added value bonuses such as the young banjo picker who played a tune or two for the asking, costumes and pink hair, caricature painted rocks and custom painted cowboy boots.  There were old propane tanks artistically cut and painted to look like Halloween Jack-o-lanterns and sculptures of tall purple birds standing on long thin purple legs.

The ladies of Houston Roller Derby were on-hand in black and pink sporting their piercings and tattoos.  As always they were awesome to admire and among the nicest, most friendly people that you'd ever meet. 

An art car event is something special.  It's a time for socializing and a time letting go of worries.  It's a time to let your mind wander and a time to be shared.  I have been lucky enough to befriend the artists of the Houston Art Car Klub and for that I am richer.  Great show guys . . . see you next year.

Welcome Back Beetle Buddies!

Today is the annual "Volks in the Village" VW Show at Houston's Traders Village.  This event, like so many others staged here, is more than a display of hardware or talent.  It's a gathering of friends.

Traders Village has hosted the North Houston Volkswagen Club for 12 years.  Some years the number of Bugs and Beetles on display has been massive, while in other years participation has been a disappointment. But, no matter what the final number, it has always been a treat to spend a few hours with long time friends and their classic buggies from my youth.

The "ragtops" are always a favorite among Traders Village guests, while kids seem to enjoy the iconic "Herbie" the Love Bug most of all.  My personal all time favorites have been the "Orange Crush" beach buggie surrounded by a sandy scene of  fake palms and beach chairs, and the VW "Thing" converted to look like a World War II German command car complete with uniformed driver and machine gun. 

Then there was the tricked out Karman Ghia with a drive-in food tray of sweet treats clipped on the driver's side window.  It's a flashback to the days before Sonic when roller-skating car hops took your post-prom order for a chocolate malt topped with real whipped cream and a cherry, and a side of onion rings.

New Bugs, old Bug, restored Bugs, clunker Bugs . . . they're all here along with one of the most interesting group of people that you would ever want to meet.  No one ever said that they are perfectly normal, but then who is?

I've never owned a VW, but over the years I've learned to respect the little car with the trunk in the front. Its drivers are a rare breed of fun-loving guys and gals who have chosen to share their passion for the Volkswagen with our shoppers if only for one Sunday afternoon a year. For that we say thanks and welcome back Beetle buddies! 

Corny Family Business Stirs Up 14-Years Of Fun

November 2010 will mark a 14th anniversary for Chris and Mandy Haman . . . not their 14th wedding anniversary, but 14 years of selling kettle corn from their sweet smelling concession stand on 7th Street and Avenue B at Houston's Traders Village.

Seeing kettle corn as their cornerstone money-maker in the early years, the young couple began selling the glazed popcorn treat exclusively, but later expanded their operation to include fried pork skins, cotton candy and other popular finger foods.  Toting the giant blackened corn kettle from event to event, the Hamans also have their own catering business that targets churches, schools and festivals with sweets and other state fair-style munchies.

Mandy says that after all these years their sales are still mainly kettle corn, but on Sundays with a higher number of Hispanic shoppers to serve, pork skins doused in hot sauce are now a real contender for the top spot. 

The money made each weekend is a great incentive for selling at Traders Village, but Chris and Mandy agree that they continue to work the market for other reasons - the festivals and live music, the family atmosphere, and their vendor friends and regular customers who come back week after week to chat and take home a bag or two of goodies.

For information about becoming a vendor at Traders Village, please call 281-890-5500 in Houston, 972-647-2331 in Grand Prairie, or 210-623-8383 in San Antonio, or visit tradersvillage.com.