...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.