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.