...And Then There Were Four

Huge, huge HUGE sporting weekend coming our way. Starting today, the PGA tour’s Shell Houston Open begins at the Tournament Course of Redstone Golf Club with several of the world’s top golfers participating. Also… As you can see in today’s photo, the NCAA’s Final Four are in town, which will cumulate in the Men’s Basketball Championship Game at Reliant Stadium on Monday. Also… The hometown Houston Rockets are fighting for their NBA playoff lives as they have games here in Toyota Center on Friday and Sunday. Also… While not playing any home games, Major League Baseball begins their season with our Houston Astros playing in Philadelphia. I’m tired just reading about it.

Wildflowers in the City...

Need to get out of town to see spring wildflowers? Not anymore!! What is slowly becoming an annual tradition; volunteers spend an autumn weekend sowing wildflower seeds in various esplanades and roadsides throughout town. This… is the fruit of that labor.

Sky High

The 75-storied JPMorgan Chase Tower is not only the tallest building in Houston, but also the tallest five-sided building in the world. Designed by noted architects I.M. Pei & Partners it was completed in 1981 and also has an observation deck on its 60th floor. Accessible during normal working hours, you can actually see the noticeably taller windows of the observation level in this photo.

A Rift between us...

This is one of the three "earth sculptures by Michael Heizer. "Rift" is on display in the lawn outside the Menil Collection.

Woof!

One of stencil artist, Coolidge's street pieces on a wall near Washington Ave.

Ride in Peace

Ghost Bikes are a phenomenon that have popped up all over the world. They serve as constant reminders of a life lost and as a statement towards bicycle safety. This monument to Leigh Boone is located near the very busy intersection of Dunleavy and Westheimer.

Details of her life and this incident can be read HERE.

La Luz del Mundo

Rising prominently amongst the lesser businesses and homes of the area along US 59 North, just past Loop 610 is a rather large building that seems to be a combination of mosque and Greek temple.

Known as La Luz del Mundo, or The Light of the World Church, it seems to be a Pentecostal-like denomination with its headquarters located in Guadalajara, Mexico

Regardless of its affiliation, it IS one of the more intriguing structures in that part of the city.

Feeling Boxed In?

This bronzed piece is Richard McDermott Miller's "Sandy in Defined Space". She resides (almost appropriately) just outside the Science and Research Building on the campus of the University of Houston.

This reminds me… I need to book an appointment with my chiropractor.

In Trouble...

...and not a lot of places to hide. This extra large chess board is located just outside The Black Labrador Pub. I suspect now that spring is here it will probably get a lot of attention.

My game was always a bit better after a few pints.

Art Deco at Night

As first mentioned HERE, the JPMorgan Chase Building (originally the Gulf Building) has been a mainstay of the downtown skyline since 1929. Larger more modern buildings now dominate downtown, but its art deco architecture really shines, especially at night.

Hazard Street Bridge

Nothing fancy today, just and end view of the Hazard Street Bridge as it crosses over U.S. 59 just west of downtown.

What It's All About...

Located in Carruth Plaza within Reliant Park, this is the bronze sculpture “Texas Legacy” by artist Robert Summers. The Rodeo is winding down and this piece seems to capture what it originally was all about.

Cowboys… earning a hard living, bringing in a heard of Texas Longhorns.

Griff's

Opened in 1965 by original owner, Michael Griffin, Griff’s has set claim to the title of the oldest surviving sports bar, as well as, the largest St. Patrick’s Day Festival in Houston.

Located in the Montrose area of town it is truly a neighborhood bar with a great local feel. Plus… it’s where I go for the occasional Thursday night trivia contest.

Turning Your World Upside Down

What better way to settle your stomach after an afternoon of culinary delights than to hop on a carnival ride that will spin, flip and hurl your body about. Whatever happened to the simple pleasure of a merry go-round??

Zagat Survey Says…

It’s not fine dining, but carnival dining CAN be interesting, as you can see in these images of some of the more… “unusal” offerings.

on the midway... EVERYthing is better on a stick. Even pizza.

If You Grill It… They Will Eat

Midway fare at the carnival during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo offers patrons all sorts of food options. From mainstream restaurants in huge tents to these more typical pairings.

The smoked turkey leg is one of the most calorically intense options you can fine at the midway. Surprisingly, it weighs in at 1150 calories. Let’s not talk about what I weighed in at after a day at the midway.

Win Me!!! Win Me!!!

The carnival midway at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a popular way to spend some time… and money. You, too can spend your hard earned cash to possibly win the always popular very large stuffed animals.

Side By Side

Reliant Stadium and its predecessor, the Astrodome reside in what is now called Reliant Park. Highlighted by the world’s very first domed stadium and the world’s first retractable roof, natural grass football stadium, it is shown here hosting the events of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, including its carnival midway.

Texas Longhorn

Part of the Livestock Show is an area with an example of each of the cattle breeds. The Texas Longhorn has been a part of Texas culture for centuries with its ability to adapt and, of course, their up to 7 ft. wide set of horns.

They survived as a primitive animal on the most primitive of ranges prior to becoming the foundation stock of that region's great cattle industry. Shaped by a combination of natural selection and adaptation to the environment, the Texas Longhorn is the only cattle breed in America which - without aid from man - is truly adapted to America.

Houston Union Station

What once was the largest railroad passenger terminal in the Southwest is now the main entrance and lobby to Minute Maid Park, home stadium of MLB’s Houston Astros. The station’s Great Hall was completely renovated when the ballpark was built in 1999 as false ceilings and office walls completely robbed us of its former glory. Now… its arched roof and fluted columns stand as a testament to Houston’s past and also a functional part of its present.

To the Winners...

Go the spoils, or so they say.

These are the award banners all ready to be issued in one of the Junior Swine Competitions.

The junior exhibitors come for all across the state and beyond, and must personally groom and raise their animals under the supervision of agricultural science teachers or a county extension agent. Typically they are members of a Texas 4-H or FFA group, but they must be at least in the third grade and from 8 years old to 19 years old to enter.

Here Comes the Judge!!

Cattle and rabbits and pigs... Oh my!!

The Livestock Show portion of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is in full swing. It is the world’s largest livestock show with over 27,000 entries and highlights world-class livestock and exhibitors competing in several divisions of cattle, swine, sheep, goat, and rabbit shows.

Spring Is In the Air

Well... according to the redbud trees, which are in full bloom.

Can the azaleas be far behind?

Cattle Call

These three bovine beauties are yet another work seen at the Eclectic Menagerie Park.

See the other photos here and here.

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