Got Texas Pride?

This shop does.

Yes... a very simple post for today.

We Be Jammin'

From one eclectic performance venue to another.

"Fifth Ward Jam" is a combination of architectural art and public stage. Located on Lyons St. in the Fifth Ward, this work by Houston artists Dean Ruck and Dan Havel will have its grand opening on October 1 with a celebration of music and tales of this historic part of our city.

Be Happy

Located in the Eastwood neighborhood east of downtown is the eclectic menagerie that is Super Happy Fun Land. With a tiny capacity of only 290, it is a catch-all venue that features experimental electronic music, underground jazz and outsider art.

Use It or Lose It

In front of one of the small boutiques in Old Town Spring is this rusting reminder of that very fact.

Blast From the Past

Old Town Spring was once a historic railroad stop just north of Houston. Now it is a collection of turn of century buildings converted into antique shops, eateries, art galleries and boutiques. Not only does Old Town Spring call several festivals home, it was also the sight of a Bonnie and Clyde heist. Check out the old bank building to see the proof.

Lay of the Land

This is the fountain near the entrance to the Museum of Natural Science. The irregular bits are meant to depict the Texas Gulf Coast.

Let It Flow, Let It Flow, Let It Flow...

A unique piece of public art, Matthew Geller’s “Open Channel Flow” is inspired by the public works piping of the adjacent Sabine St. Pump Station. Located just outside the Jamail Skate Park and near the jogging trails of Buffalo Bayou Park, it also serves a practical purpose as the hand pump activated “shower” cools off joggers and skaters alike.

Practical art… what a concept!!

Don't Fence Me In

Driving about through the greater Fifth Ward area can provide a different perspective.

I just really enjoy the different feel of images like this.

See Them NOW...

Before they all dry up!!

With our 19th consecutive day of 100-degree temperatures, and under the grips of drought, The City of Houston has instituted Stage 2 mandatory water restrictions. Seventeen of the cities twenty-five fountains will be shut off.

This is the LeRoy Melcher, Jr. Memorial Fountain located in front of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in the Texas Medical Center. Since it is a private fountain, it very well might be forced to shut down until we get some much needed rain.

Giving Back

Project Row Houses is a neighborhood based non-profit organization based in the Third Ward. In 1993, Rick Lowe saw the abandoned 22 shotgun-style houses and turned them into a community, celebrating art, African American history and culture. These houses contain art spaces/studios and provide a location for arts education and a young mothers’ support program.

Staying Humble

Built in 1963 the Exxon-Mobil building (formally the Humble Building) is the Houston office of the large oil company and also the home of the Houston Petroleum Club which occupies the top two floors. The tallest building west of the Mississippi when it first opened, its most distinctive features are the seven foot cantilevered shelves that shade each floor from the sun.

Sailing Away

Funded through a grant from the Wortham Foundation, Sail Park adorns the front of the Texas Children’s Hospital on the corner of Holcombe and Fannin.

Best seen when windy.

Bayou City

Just a simple skyline capture from the walkways of the Buffalo Bayou Art Park.

Arches

No... I'm not on holiday, but these arches do give us a bit of a European feel.

The Portafino Shopping Center near The Woodlands is the location of today's image, giving us the illusion we are spending our money in a more exotic place.

Before You Know It...

As summer draws to a close, soon campuses will be teeming with students. This spot near the Jamail Plaza on the campus of Rice University will no doubt have visitors looking for a spot to escape the scholarly grind.

Fonde Recreation Center

Opened in 1960 as a fully functional recreation center for the nearby sixth ward community, it was the indoor air-conditioned gym that brought it fame. Better known as just Fonde Rec it became THE mecca for Houston pick-up basketball.

Flash back to the early 1980s when in its hey day, future NBA Hall of Famers Moses Malone and Hakeem Olajuwan (or as he was known then, Akeem) battled away on its courts. The legend of playing at Fonde brought scores of players through its doors and allowed them to develop their skills and go on to achieve fame in the NCAA and the NBA.

…and since you asked, Yes… I actually HAVE played there.

YEARS ago.

Is It Fall Yet?

Located within the Bloch Cancer Survivors' Plaza in Hermann Park is this wonderful gazebo that allows a brief break from the almost unbearable sun.

One Town... One Paper

We are the fourth largest city in the nation and yet, we only have one daily newspaper source.

This is the downtown office building for the Houston Chronicle which has been in business since 1901.

Heat Wave

August has started with 5 consecutive days over 100 degrees, with a prediction today to make it 6.

Time to cool off with another glimpse of the Gus Wortham Fountain in Buffalo Bayou Park

It's Going To Be a LONG Year...

2011 hasn't been nice to the Houston Astros. They have officially began the rebuilding process and now have a lineup sprinkled with players recently promoted from AA.

This is outside of Minute Maid Park and that one shaded baseball seems to say it all.

Things That Go Boom in the Night

Well... not anymore.

Hopefully.

Today’s photo is of one of the remaining bunkers that made up the San Jacinto Ordnance Depot. Located on almost 5000 acres near the Houston Ship Channel about 15 miles east of downtown, the depot received, inspected and stored all sorts of explosives used during World War II and the Korean War. Since it was decommissioned in 1959, most of the bunkers are located on private propery, but a few are accessable to the public, and serve as a reminder of an era long past.

RUN AWAY!!!

Today's Public Service Announcement is: Diseases are bad. They have sharp, pointy teeth, and one should run away from them in panic.

or something like that.

This brought to you by one of the art deco friezes located in the front of the Baylor College of Medicine in the Texas Medical Center.

August Theme Day – Postcard Worthy

This month's theme for the City Daily Photo community is Postcard Worthy.

Local sculptor, David Adickes has been featured throughout my blog on more than one occasion. Check some of them out HERE and HERE. This one still sits at his SculpturWorx Studio and from what I’ve read, will soon reside on a highly visible piece of interstate road frontage leading into downtown. It’ll be our own smaller version of the iconic “Hollywood Sign”. Only time will tell if it becomes as postcard worthy as the original.




Click here to view thumbnails for all participants