Houston Downtown Artwork

Houston

Originally uploaded by susanrudat

Absolute stunning piece or artwork by susanrudat on Flickr. This really captures the beauty of the city perfectly!

You should check out her other stuff at susanrudat.blogspot.com

Boots in Houston

Boot Houston

Originally uploaded by Shoot Houston

Boot artwork for the 2007 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo with the Houston skyline in the background.

The Top 4 Days Out in Houston

Looking for that something special to do when you take a trip to Houston – well here we are going to preview four of the top rated attractions for a family day out which will help you plan your trip and show you what is on offer.

Houston Space Center

The Houston Space Center is repeatedly ranked as the top tourist and visitor attraction in Houston.  The Center allows visitors to get to grips with what it is really like to become an astronaut and where else are you likely to get firsthand knowledge and advice from a real live astronaut?

The exhibits are usually interactive and hands-on and will appeal to all ages but children in particular are going to be engaged all day in what is a very interesting and highly educational learning experience.  You can learn about the very early origins of rocket development, the NASA Space Program which first put men into space and then on the Moon and is now a key component of the International Space Station.  You can also see what tomorrow has in store with the preparations and training for manned missions to Mars.

The Battle of San Jacinto Battleground and Museum

Texas was not always a part of the United States, it actually belonged to Mexico who sought to reassert their rights against settlers in what had become known as the Runaway Scrape territory in what is now modern Texas.  Santa Anna invaded the territory and sought to remove settlers and impose Mexican direct rule on the territory but a revolutionary army of Texans was formed under General Sam Houston who eventually defeated the Mexican army decisively at the Battle of San Jacinto resulting in the capture of Santa Anna and the annexation of Texas by the United States and paving the way for westward expansion of the US to the Pacific shores.

The battlefield site also includes the Battleship Texas floating museum which is formed by the last of the dreadnoughts, The Texas and is also the very first floating museum made from a decommissioned US military warship.

The Houston Museum District

Houston is a vibrant and very fast growing metropolis and has been since it was first formed as a planned city in 1837.  With the abundant wealth that has been produced and the multi-cultural population that has been attracted to this great city has come a huge interest in the arts, history and appreciation of culture generally with the patrons to support the activities.  Houston is one of the world’s global cities precisely because of its standing in cultural terms and has an international reputation for art and natural sciences and not just oil and cowboys.

There are 18 museums comprising the district and more than 11 are completely free the entire year.

American Cowboy Museum

The American Cowboy Museum is based on a ranch at Alameda on the outskirts of Houston and here you can spend a day or longer learning the ropes as a cowboy.  There are plenty of activities to get involved with and all of the family can enjoy a thoroughly enjoyable (and tiring) day out in the open countryside exploring the rich heritage and traditions of Texan cowboys.

a splash of red

a splash of red

Originally uploaded by slight clutter

Photo by slight clutter on Flickr at Hermann Park.

It looks like a painting, beuatiful vibrant colors.

Green at Menil

Green

Originally uploaded by laanba

Taken by laanba on Flickr at Menil.

The Menil Collection is a museum dedicated to exhibiting and preserving the art collection of Houston philanthropists John and Dominique de Menil.

Houston: City of Culture

Houston may be better known as a thriving metropolis with a deep water port and huge oil industry but the image of longhorns and cowboy boots is a misnomer.  Houston boasts one of the most culturally diverse and active communities in the United States and the world – in fact, Houston is one of the few places west of the Mississippi which has permanent, year round resident companies in all of the major performing arts!

The wealth that has been created by oil, shipping and more latterly, aerospace and biotechnology industries has not simply been allowed to build a bold city of the future.  Culture and art has long played a part in the life of Houston from its very earliest days and many foreign performers vie to come to Houston to join one of the several internationally renowned performing arts companies that make their home here.

Museums abound in Houston dealing with fine art, natural science, printing, oil, shipping and history but Houston is world famous for its performing arts and here we shall be taking a brief look at what this great city has got to offer.

Houston Symphony

The Houston Symphony was founded in 1913 and is one of the oldest performing symphonies in the United States with an enviable reputation worldwide.  Currently, the Houston Symphony is led by internationally acclaimed conductor, Hans Graf and who is the latest in a long line of musical directors who have developed the Houston Symphony into a world renowned performing organization including Sir John Barbirolli and Andre Previn..

The Houston Symphony puts on more than 170 concerts in a very busy season but is also to be found playing around the world and at home in Houston as part of its outreach program to bring music to the people.

The Houston Ballet

The Houston Ballet came into being in the 1950′s and has experienced a resurgence in the last ten years with a revitalized company and under the leadership of Stanton Welch, the Artistic Director for the company.

The Houston Ballet has established a very busy season at home which is complemented by a heavy worldwide touring schedule including performances at the Bolshoi in Moscow and the Royal Ballet in London.  The current season is focused upon the worldwide premiere of Marie, a ballet covering the life and times of Marie Antoinette in keeping with the company’s reputation for daring and intrepid new works, largely in conjunction with the American Ballet Theater.

The Houston Grand Opera

The Houston Grand Opera or HGO, is one of the most renowned American opera companies today with an international reputation that is second to none.  HGO has long been regarded as an innovative and adventurous house with productions including Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess, Adam’s Nixon in China and Joplin’s Treemonisha.  There is a wide variety of skill and virtuosity at work with in the HGO and the cast generally as well as individual performers are in demand around the world.

The season is very well attended and you are highly advised to book your tickets well in advance of your trip to Houston if you are to avoid disappointment.

The Society for the Performing Arts

The Society for Performing Arts in Houston is the largest non-profit organization of its kind in the entire Southwest and brings to Houston players and arts from around the world to complement the significant resident performing arts companies who call Houston home.

Jones Hall is the primary venue for SPA performances and was created thanks to the generosity of Jesse Jones, a notable Houston philanthropist and patron of the arts.  This is one of the most spectacular grand opera houses to have been opened in the 20^th Century anywhere in the world and is the centerpiece for virtually every artistic performance in Houston.  One of the main venues which forms the heart of Houston’s socialite community, Jones Hall and the SPA have worked together for decades in order to further the audience for the performing arts within the wider community and many of the programs for community outreach have been initiated by the SPA and managed by their team.

Though Houston boasts Symphony, Opera and Ballet companies they enjoy a very hectic schedule which includes touring internationally and there were initially many nights when Jones Hall was simply going to be empty.  The SPA’s mission was to fill many of these nights with a schedule which brings the very best in the performing arts to Houston from all across the globe.

You are likely to find recitals by acclaimed musicians from Europe, the Far East and elsewhere in the world and the United States as well as world famous ballets and orchestras regularly filling the Jones Hall program but home grown artists are not neglected either with performances from indigenous talent from across the United States included.

Located in downtown Houston, you will find ample and easy parking available while there are plenty of other attractions and amenities on hand.  Numerous restaurants and hotels are to be found in the district with excellent bars and opportunities for pre- and post-show diversions.  If you do not wish to venture outside you can enjoy fine dining within the venue as part of a complete package of an evening’s entertainment.

Tickets for events are usually in high demand and you should check with the venue management and the SPA website for availability and any changes in the schedule as many surprise guests are added to the venue’s scheduling at short notice.

The forthcoming year (2008-2009 season) includes performances by Houston’s own Symphony Orchestra who call Jones Hall home and performances of Handel’s Messiah will compete alongside the likes of China’s Divine Performing Arts Touring Company, The Batsheva Dance Company from Israel, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, France and many others.  It isn’t all highbrow performances as you can also enjoy an evening of standup comedy with Bill Cosby or enjoy James Galway, the Irish flautist who has attracted international popular acclaim.

The SPA is a role model for many of performing arts organizations in the country and relies on donations for its work throughout Houston.  Many performances are used to support the work of local artists and performers in order to keep alive and enhance the cultural traditions that have take root in Houston since it’s founding in the 1830′s.

The Best Museums in Houston

Houston is one of the largest metropolis’ in the United States and has a long cultural history given its huge wealth and multicultural diversity.  Many people fail to understand just what a culturally diverse city Houston truly is until they discover the reality for themselves and here we are going to take a look at some of the best museums in Houston providing one of the very best and interesting days out for you and your family when you come to visit.

Houston Children’s Museum

The Children’s Museum is a playground for the mind with the young and young at heart firmly set as its focus.  The Children’s Museum provides a very wide range of interactive exhibits for children to actually touch and play with as they go through one of the most interesting and educational experiences Houston has to offer.

The itinerary changes as the museum adapts its exhibits to the changing seasons and you should always check well in advance of your trip for events that are being held as they tend to be sold out and latecomers sorely disappointed.

Museum of Fine Art

The Museum of Fine Art also is home to the Glassell School of Art and is home to one of the largest fine art collections in the world.  There is a varied program of events and educational activities held throughout the year and you should consult with the museum well in advance of your visit to avoid missing out on their high in demand events.  The museum plays host to tremendously important collections of early Native American art as well as housing one of the most important collections of European art outside Europe or within the United States.

The garden also provides a focus for visitors and there are numerous evening and social events planned around the museum calendar.

The Health Museum

Houston is one of the world’s leading centers for medical research and the Health Museum forms part of the world renowned Texas Medical Center.  Here you can explore the medical advances which have taken place allowing us to live longer and healthier lives than ever before while looking at the research that is being carried out to find cures for illnesses that still plague mankind.

Children and families can enjoy what is a thoroughly interesting day out which includes many interactive exhibits as well as organized play sessions for younger visitors.

Houston Museum of Natural Science

The Houston Museum of Natural Science is home to one of the greatest collections of exhibits featuring the natural world, archaeology and continuing research in the world.  Currently the world famous Bodyworks exhibition is being featured and a visit to the Houston Museum of Natural Science is a real family treat with a day of enjoying fascinating exhibitions from around the world rounded off with an evening at the IMAX theater which has a busy schedule of films for all the family.

Again you are advised to make sure you check with the museum regarding the special events that are planned throughout the year and which are frequently fully booked; do not be disappointed by arriving in Houston only to find you cannot get a ticket to an event – the museum is extremely popular both with visitors and residents alike and has a very heavy school visitor program.