What's the Buzzzzzz

No... this isn't a hornets nest, but rather one of the many works located in the Cullen Sculpture Garden, adjacent to the Museum of Fine Arts – Houston.

This painted bronze sculpture is Joseph Havel’s “Exhaling Pearls”, who just so happens to also be the director of the neighboring Glassell School of Art.

All's Clear...

Well... I hope so anyway. This is the Air Traffic Control Tower at Bush International Airport.

I wonder how many stairs it is to the top.

Happy Dodransbicentennial, Texas!!

THAT was a mouthful...

It was 175 years ago, on March 2, as fighting was ongoing at the Alamo, that 59 delegates worked overnight to write the Texas Declaration of Independence officially declaring its independence from Mexico.

Bearing the state’s name, The USS Texas was commissioned in 1914 and is only one of six remaining ships to have seen duty in both World War I and II. Her home is now at the docks along San Jacinto State Park, where she sits as a permanent memorial and museum.

March Theme Day – Favorite Part of Town

This month’s City Daily Photo Community theme is “Your Favorite Part of Town”.

Easy! The Heights. As the oldest planned community in Houston, this one time “street car community” is where I call home. As you can see in the photo, you can still have a bit of small town feel within the big city.

It’s eclectic and functional and only three miles from my downtown office. It has art galleries and studios, funky shops and antique dealers, highly regarded restaurants and icehouses. I get my hair cut in a barbershop that has been in a movie and I can even get my player piano repaired here (If I had one, that is). It has oak tree lined streets and the occasional century old Victorian house.

Sure… it has its dodgy bits, but it has character and history and it seems I discover something new about it as I wander about.


Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Not Your Typical Cowboys

This morning, local law enforcement bomb squad members detonated a “suspicious package” located on the steps of City Hall. It turned out to be a false alarm as all that was in the duffle bag was a toy, but that allows me to post a close-up bit of our City Hall.

Above the main entrance is this frieze depicting two men taming a wild horse, which is meant to symbolize a community coming together to form a government to tame the world around them.

It's All About the Angles

A clear almost spring-like day gave me the opportunity to capture a somewhat different view of the Contemporary Art Museum. Located (oddly enough) in the Museum District near Hermann Park it provides the opportunity for the presentation, interpretation, and advancement of contemporary art.

Smoking Definitely Allowed

The World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest or more simply, the Cook-Off ends its three day run tonight with the final judging. Over 250 teams participate and crowds of over 200,000 will attend one of the best meat fests around and always kicks off the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo run of festivities.

I didn’t attend this year, but that doesn’t stop me from appreciating all things BBQ. This is my pit (Yes… that’s the state of Texas on the wheel), and just last week I filtered my neighborhood with the smell of hickory smoked beef brisket. None of my neighbors seemed to mind.

All Trails Lead To…

Memorial Park.

At least today they do as over 3000 riders on 13 separate trail rides complete their journey by joining together tonight before being the bulk of tomorrow’s Houston Rodeo Parade.

These next few images are of the Salt Grass Trail Ride as they head towards town after their seven day journey. Started in 1953, this trail ride is the original and oldest ride that promotes the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo through fellowship and their love of riding.

Welcome home.

THAT Time of YEAR

Tomorrow Reliant Stadium and surrounding facilities will begin to host the events leading to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. It is… the world’s largest livestock exhibition, as well as, the richest PRCA rodeo event in the country.

Last year over 22,000 volunteers worked the 20 day long event that saw over 2.2 MILLION people attend the various events. Seems like two is the magic number… sorry, I digress.

Beginning with “Go Texan” Day tomorrow, there will be the World Championship BBQ Cook-off, the 5K Rodeo Fun Run and a downtown parade BEFORE the rodeo even kicks off.

I’m not a big fan of needing a reason to “Go Texan”, I mean… I’m one every day of my life, right?? But the bottom line is… since its beginning in 1932, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has committed more than $265 million to scholarships and other endowments to a various educational and youth programs.

THAT is worth it all.

Born With a Silver Spoon

As promised, here is a bit of a close-up from yesterday's image.

Almost hidden in the work is a suspended silver spoon in this mosaic.

Stringed instrument... Rooster... Silver Spoon. All makes perfect sense. Right? Sorta?

Regardless... that bit of quirkiness is actually what I liked best.

Adding Color to Your Day

This small plaza near the intersection of Blodgett St. and Almeda is quick example of recent initiatives to add bits of public art to areas all over town. Mosaics on elementary schools, murals on fire stations and this type of addition bring color to an otherwise drab day-to-day existence.

Tomorrow… I’ll show a close-up of this neat little oasis.

Perfect Spot

This shady getaway is located just outside the always busy Texas Medical Center in the Gus & Lyndall Wortham Park.

I'm all for taking as many breaks as possible, especially if it's within close proximity to HERE.

Bring Out Your Dead

Well.... bring out your Day of the Day art car.

Well... art TRUCK.

Houston is art car (truck) crazy which will come to its peak on Sunday May 22 with the Art Car Parade. Until that time several locals will still drive their vehicles about adding to the flair that make Houston what it is.

Recycling At Its Finest

Built in 1968 and constructed of Corinthian-style limestone columns from the original Miller Theatre, the Mecom-Rockwell Fountain and Colonnade in Hermann Park is a popular destination for portrait photography.

Read THIS

Affectionately known as Willy, the William Marsh Rice statue sits proudly in the Academic Quad of Rice University. Formally known as Founder’s Memorial, it is actually also a tomb as the ashes of the university founder are deposited in its base.

It was also the focal point of one of the school’s most legendary pranks. In April of 1988, eleven students were able to lift and rotate the 2000lb statue leaving him facing in the opposite direction. All without the use of a crane.

On the 20th anniversary of their prank, the group of clever pranksters relived the task and announced the establishment of the Willy Revolution Engineering Undergraduate Innovation and Excellence Fund, which was started with their combined contributions of $138,000 going towards supporting the George R. Brown School of Engineering.