May 2010

 

 

As summer approaches (never mind that spring has hardly arrived) and school nears an end, don’t forget to make time to enjoy the nice weather.  You also won't want to miss: the 10th Annual Dragon Boat Festival, the annual Galveston History Homes Tour, the many Cinco de Mayo events going on around town and then of course, we all need to remember our favorite moms on their special day.  Hobby Center will be showing Jane Eyre and later in the month, Young Frankenstein.  The Houston Symphony will be presenting Handel’s Water Music.  The Houston Ballet’s Pecos and the Grand Opera’s Xerxes will both be popular events this month. And then on a lighter note, there is the wildly popular Art Car Parade, the new Hubble 3D at the Museum of Natural Science and a long list of events featuring Argentine chefs and winemakers on the Central Market Cooking School list.  No matter what your interests, there is something for everyone this month in Houston!

  

Holidays

May 5th:         Cinco de Mayo

May 9th:         Mother’s Day

May 15th:       Armed Forces Day

May 31st:       Memorial Day

         

Dance/Music/Theatre

Alley Theatre   (615 Texas Avenue)

Thru May 9th:  Harvey – Affable Elwood P. Dowd has a kind word for everyone he meets. He lives a quiet life with his social-climbing sister and her daughter and is devoted to his loyal and trustworthy friend and constant companion, Harvey. The fact that Harvey happens to be a six-foot invisible rabbit doesn’t seem to bother Elwood but is an ongoing embarrassment to his family who decides to have him committed. In this Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy, the medical establishment is turned topsy-turvy as Elwood and Harvey cause pandemonium. 

May 26th – June 20th:  Intelligence-Slave – Kenneth Lin’s new play, Intelligence-Slave, tells the story of Curt Herzstark, a concentration camp prisoner who was kept alive by the Nazis because he was rumored to have invented the world's first hand-held four function calculator – a great prize if it could be re-created. Caught between the thrill of technological discovery and the fear of rendering himself obsolete if he produces a working device, Curt's survival plan takes a turn when the Nazis introduce him to a wunderkind member of the Hitler Youth with a soul that might be salvageable. Recommended for mature audiences due to language and subject matter.

May 3rd:  Imprint: Oscar Casares and Gwendolyn Zepeda – Oscar Casares was raised in Brownsville and is a life-long resident of Texas, where his collection of short stories, Brownsville: Stories and now his first novel, Amigoland, are set.   Marilynne Robinson describes Casares’ fiction as “clear-eyed and fresh, full of sweet gravity and pensive humor.” Publishers Weekly says that Casares’ stories, “probing underneath the surface of Tex-Mex culture, with their wisecracking, temperamental, obsessive middle-aged men and their dramas straight from neighborhood gossip, are in the direct line of descent from Mark Twain and Ring Lardner.”  Casares is the recipient of a 2006 National Endowment for the Arts fellowship and now teaches creative writing at the University of Texas in Austin, where he lives with his wife and young son. Gwendolyn Zepeda, a native Houstonian, is the author of the story collection, To the Last Man I Slept with and All the Jerks Just Like Him, and the debut novel, Houston, We Have a Problema, as well as the popular blog, gwenworld.com. The San Antonio Current says of Zepeda’s story collection that it is a “brutally candid, laugh-out-loud, feminist, barrio manifesto that sometimes reads like suggestive science fiction cross-pollinated with Tess of the d’Urbervilles.” Booklist says of her most recent work, “the vibrant Houston setting and the novel’s emphasis on Tex-Mex culture, art, and folklore add unusual and alluring touches to this debut novel.” Zepeda will read from her new novel, Lone Star Legend, also set in Texas, which follows aspiring journalist Sandy Saavedra in her efforts to combat Latino stereotypes. Zepeda also writes children’s books for Arte Público Press.

June 9th – 27th:  Boeing-Boeing – The high-flying, Tony award-winning comedy that had London and Broadway audiences airborne with laughter, is taking off on the Alley’s Hubbard Stage.  Bernard, a successful American architect living in a posh Paris apartment, has been deftly juggling three fiancées, who are all flight attendants.  It’s easy, with good timing and a bit of assistance from his reluctant housekeeper, who plays romantic air-traffic controller.  But this supersonic lifestyle hits turbulence when his old college friend visits and each of his three fiancées chance their flight schedule.  Boeing-Boeing is called “the funniest play to hit Broadway in ages” (Wall Street Journal).  Fasten your seat belt for a roaring ride that will take you up, up and away.

for more information, see www.alleytheatre.org or call (713) 228-8421

 

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion   (The Woodlands)

Surrounded by a lush forest, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is an outdoor amphitheater that provides the Greater Houston region with an array of performing arts and contemporary entertainment in a setting of unparalleled beauty.

May 1st:        Van Morrison   8:00 p.m.

May 2nd:       Buzzfest XXIV   Noon

May 14th:      Houston Symphony Force of Nature   8:00 p.m.

May 15th:      Styx, Foreigner & Kansas   7:00 p.m.

May 16th:      Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers with Joe Cocker   7:30 p.m.

May 20th:      Jimmy Buffet   8:00 p.m.

May 27th:      Houston Symphony Cirque de la Symphonie   8:00 p.m.       

May 29th:      Boni’s on Broadway Dance Recital   6:00 p.m. 

May 30th:      Boni’s on Broadway Dance Recital   6:00 p.m. 

June 10th:     Houston Symphony European Adventure   8:00 p.m. 

June 11th:     Iron Maiden   7:30 p.m.

June 13th:     Lynyrd Skynyrd  7:00 p.m.

June 18th:     Texas Music Festival Orchestra   8:00 p.m.        

June 25th:     Sting   8:00 p.m.

June 26th:     Chicago & The Doobie Brothers  7:30 p.m.

July 3rd:         Houston Symphony’s Star-Spangled Salute  8:00 p.m.

July 24th:       Robert Plant & The Band of Joy  8:00 p.m.

August 18th: Jack Johnson  7:30 p.m.

August 20th: Houston Symphony’s Broadway Showstoppers  8:00 p.m.

Sept. 8th:      Paramore  6:30 p.m.

Sept. 10th:    David Matthews Band  7:00 p.m.

for more information, see http://pavilion.woodlandscenter.org 

 

Hobby Center for the Performing Arts   (800 Bagby @ Walker)

Thru May 2nd:  Meet Me in St. Louis – Second Baptist School is performing this treasure in musical theatre. A warmhearted story of a happy family’s life as they anticipate the wonders of the 1904 World’s Fair.

May 6th – 8th:  Mixed Rep – Dominic Walsh Dance Theater is performing its spring mixed repertoire program offers an escape to Europe without leaving the city. Czech choreographer Vaclav Kunes will make the U.S. premier of his Small Hour, along with revivals of Italian choreographer Mauro Bigonzetti’s provocative Pression and Walsh’s mysterious yet whimsical I Napoletani which will leave you smiling and craving pizza!

May 9th:  Roman Holiday – Ars Lyrica presents a revival of Clori, Tirsi e Fileno, Handel’s joyous romp through the most thoroughly Roman of Baroque musical genres, the dramatic cantata. This “final stop” of the season features mezzo-soprano Sonja Bruzauskas, soprano Melissa Givens and counter-tenor Gerrod Pagenkopf in the title roles.

Thru May 9th:  Little House on the Prairie – This work has remained one of the most popular and beloved celebrations of early Americana since the appearance of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s popular classic book series 70 years ago. Now the inspirational stories take on a brand new frontier in an uplifting new musical. Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura for 10 years in the much loved television series, continues her legacy by starring as Ma. Families will continue to fall in love with these life affirming stories about the Ingalls’ struggles and triumphs through the celebration of the pioneering spirit and the core values on which this country was founded — a spirit that resonates within each of us today.

May 14th – 23rd:  Jane Eyre – The elegant and beautiful story of the governess whose faith, will and perseverance overcomes all of her earthly faults and failings and instills in her a quiet courage that makes her brave enough for love returns to Masquerade in a new and improved fashion - allowing us to stage the Houston Premiere of Jane Eyre for the second time! Enjoy again the timeless story of plain Jane Eyre's growth from orphaned student at the Lowood School to governess for the ward of the enigmatic and passionate Edward Fairfax Rochester, and the all-consuming love that grows like a fire between the two.

May 25th – June 6th: Young Frankenstein – The classic Mel Brooks movie is ALIVE...and it's headed here! You'll have a monstrously good time at this spectacular new production, winner of the 2008 Outer Critics Circle Award. Don't miss the sensational cast delivering all your favorite moments from the classic film, plus brand-new show-stopping numbers for the stage, including "Transylvania Mania," "He Vas My Boyfriend" and “Puttin' on the Ritz." This wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Frankenstein legend follows bright young Dr. Frankenstein (that's Fronkensteen) as he attempts to create a monster--but not without scary and hilarious complications. The brains behind the laughter is mad genius and three- time Tony winner Mel Brooks himself--who wrote the music and lyrics and co-wrote the book- along with his record-breaking team from The Producers: five-time Tony-winning director and choreographer Susan Stroman and three-time Tony-winning writer, Thomas Meehan.

May 28th – 29th:  The Curt Miller Magic & Comedy Show – Magic, comedy, Las Vegas illusions. Don’t miss The Curt Miller Magic & Comedy Show, the biggest magic show to hit Houston since David Copperfield way back in 1998. You’ll see people floating, sawed in half, and even vanished right before your eyes. Curt blends dazzling magic with great clean comedy in a theatrical show that will leave you amazed, amused, and most of all, entertained. You might even get chosen to be a part of the show.

June 15th – June 27th:  Menopause, The Musical – Four women at a lingerie sale with nothing in common but a black lace bra and memory loss, hot flashes, night sweats, not enough sex, too much sex and more!  This joyful musical parody set to 25 classic baby-boomer songs from “Puff, My God I’m Draggin” to the disco favorite “Stayin’ Awake, Stayin’ Awake”, will have you cheering and dancing in the aisles!  It’s definitely not “The Silent Passage” anymore!

June 30th – July 25th:  Wicked – Back in Houston by popular demand, Wicked, the winner of 35 major awards, including a Grammy and three Tony awards.  Long before that girl from Kansas arrives in Munchkin land, two girls meet in the land of Oz.  One – born with emerald green skin – is smart, fiery and misunderstood.  The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular.  How these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda, the Good Witch, makes for “the most complete and completely satisfying new musical in a long time” (USA Today).

July 22nd – August 1st:  Rent – The Broadway smash hit finally comes to Hobby and already, the crowds are cheering for the show that turned the theatre world upside down.  Follow a year in the life of eight friends living in the dying post-Bohemia of New York City’s East Village at the end of the millennium, and learning to cope with themselves adrift in the chaos of modern life and the ties that bind them all together – young lovers Roger and Mimi reeling from the shadow of AIDS and the fear of betrayal and loss; street performer Angel and the studious, life-affirming Tom Collins, coming together in spite of the disease raving their bodies; with her chronic infidelity through performance art and her partner Joanne wondering if their love can survive; and Mark, the aspiring filmmaker, observing life through his camera without every playing a part.  Songs such as “One Song Glory”, “La Vie Boheme”, “Seasons of Love” and “I’ll Cover You” will rock your soul and shake your heart with laughter and tears – by the end of the show, you will come to understand that when it comes to living, there is truly “no day but today”.

for more information, see www.thehobbycenter.org or call (713) 315-2525

 

Houston Symphony   (Jones Hall – 615 Louisiana)

May 1st:  Carnival of Animals – The Houston Symphony celebrates the underdog of the animal kingdom: the Chicken!  From Mussorgsky’s Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks to the Funky Chicken Dance, children will learn new respect for our fine feathered friend.  Other creatures will join the party in Saint-Saëns classic Carnival of Animals.

Thru May 2nd:  Pink Martini Pink Martini returns to delight you with their refreshing blend of classical jazz, Latin and Parisian cabaret music. Always fun and fresh, they will perform a new set of songs you are sure to love.

May 7th – 9th:  Handel’s Water Music – When Handel’s Water Music premiered in 1717, legend has it that King George I loved the music so much that he had the musicians play it three times from start to finish. Consisting of three suites, Handel’s Water Music will amaze you as it goes from vibrant dance to intimate reflection and back again. Come hear the music that enchanted even kings.

May 13th – 16th:  Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony – Lively and grand, Mozart’s Jupiter symphony is in constant motion from start to finish. At the time of the symphony’s composition, Mozart had become enamored of the work of J.S. Bach. This admiration can be seen in the Jupiter Symphony’s glorious final fugue, which pays homage to Bach. Come delight in this kinetic masterwork.

May 21st – 23rd:  Rite of Spring and “Rach 3” – Upon its debut in 1913, Igor Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring” was so innovative and unique, that it started a riot. Though we hope your reactions will be more civilized, come listen to Stravinsky’s hypnotic, sometimes jarring, but always compelling, masterwork. Let the rhythmic dissonance envelop you as you enjoy one of the seminal works of the 20th century.

May 28th – 30th:  Cirque de la Symphonie – Bigger and better than ever, and with new performers! Experience this exhilarating marriage of symphonic music to artistry, balance and strength. The Houston Symphony breathes musical life into every move of soaring aerial artists, unbelievable strongmen, a hand balancer - and the Spanish Web!

2010-2011 Season begins in September.

for more information, see www.houstonsymphony.com or call (713) 224-7575

 

Jones Hall   (615 Louisiana)

2010-2011 Season begins in September.

for more information, see www.spahouston.org  

 

Toyota Center   (1510 Polk Street)

May 25th – 26th:      Taylor Swift   7:00 p.m.

May 28th:                   Los TR3S Tour  8:00 p.m.

June 9th:                   Maxwell & Jill Scott  7:30 p.m.

July 3rd:                     A. R. Rahman  8:30 p.m.

July 16th:                   Michael Bublé   8:00 p.m.

July 25th – 26th:       Lady Gaga  8:00 p.m.

for more information, visit www.houstontoyotacenter.com or call (866) 4HOUTIX

 

Wortham Center – Houston Ballet   (Texas & Smith)

May 27th – June 6th:  Pecos – Created by the legendary George Balanchine for New York City Ballet in 1978, Ballo della Regina is a virtuoso set of variations, comparable to the bel canto style of opera, set to ballet music that was cut from the original production of Verdi's Don Carlos. Set to a specially commissioned score by Matthew Pierce, Stanton Welch’s vibrantly theatrical Pecos Bill dramatizes the poignant romance between the legendary Texas hero Pecos Bill and the gutsy tomboy Sluefoot Sue. Modern dance legend Mark Morris’s Sandpaper Ballet contains the hallmarks of his work: wit, humor, and dazzlingly inventive movement, along with whimsical green and white costumes by noted fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi.

June 10th – 20th:  La Fille Mal Gardée (The Wayward Daughter) – A glorious romantic comedy full of color and laughter, this ballet is set in the countryside in eighteenth century France.  The ballet tells the story of Lise, a young maiden who must choose between the handsome, penniless farmer Colas and the wealthy, simpleton Alain, whom her meddling mama wishes her to marry.  In La Fille Mal Gardée, folk dance and classical ballet meet in a joyous celebration of love and life that is perfect for the entire family.

2010 – 2011 Season begins in September.

for more information, see www.houstonballet.org or call (713) 227-ARTS

 

Wortham Center – Houston Grand Opera   (Texas & Smith)

Thru May 1st:  The Queen of Spades – One man’s obsession with a lucky card trick turns the fates of three in Tchaikovsky’s vibrant melodrama. Russian tenor Vladimir Galouzine returns to HGO as the tormented Hermann, internationally renowned soprano Tatiana Monogarova makes her HGO debut as his beloved Lisa, and Vasily Ladyuk is the dashing Prince Yeletsky. Canadian mezzo-soprano Judith Forst is the keeper of the fated secret. This award-winning production is a visual treat with imaginative puppets and mixed-period costumes. Italian maestro Carlo Rizzi conducts.

Thru May 14th:  Xerxes – One of Handel’s most popular operas, Xerxes is a feast for the ears, and the eyes in this classic eighteenth-century production. A mad entanglement of love stories, the opera follows the tyrannical and flamboyant Xerxes in his quest for Romilda, who is beloved by his very own brother Arsamene. The award-winning production is set in an English pleasure garden—the perfect place for an elaborate lovers’ chase!

2010-2011 Season begins in October.

for more information, see www.houstongrandopera.org or call (713) 228-6737

 

DaCamera of Houston (as noted below)

May 1st:  The Twilight of Romanticism – DaCamera welcomes back the brilliant Orion String Quartet and proudly presents soprano Kelley Nassief in her DaCamera debut for an evening of works on the cusp between Romantic and modern. The seminal compositions of Richard Wagner and Johannes Brahms, viewed as musical opposites in their own time, each provided irreplaceable inspiration for the young Arnold Schoenberg. Both influences are heard in the passionate and fiery Chamber Symphony, for which pianist Sarah Rothenberg joins the quartet.

2010-2011 Season begins in October.

for more information, see www.dacamera.com    

 

Miller Outdoor Theatre   (Hermann Park)

Located on nearly eight acres in the heart of Hermann Park, Miller Outdoor Theatre is the only free open-air theatre of its kind in the United States. It is a home away from home for some of Houston's most dynamic arts organizations such as HITS Unicorn Theater, Houston Grand Opera, the Houston Ebony Opera Guild, Festival Chicano, Houston Symphony, Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) and a host of other multi-cultural groups and theater companies.  Performances take place from March through November.

May 1st:  East Meets West VIII – Dance of Asian America will collaborate with Mitsi Dancing School, Revolve Dance Company, Ad Deum Dance Company, and Barbara King Dance Company to bring you all new and exciting high caliber dances from the East and the West.  8:15 p.m.

May 2nd:  Cinco de Mayo Festival – The Cinco de Mayo event at the Miller Outdoor Theatre has become tradition for the Hispanic community in Houston. Every year we strive to give our community a taste and experience of our culture. Like each year, we bring local talent such as dancers, singers, performers, musicians and more!  6:00 p.m.

May 3rd – 6th:  A Way Home: Opera to Go! – Houston Grand Opera presents the world premiere performances of Las Mariposas (The Butterflies): A 3,000 mile journey begins following a magical transformation. How does a butterfly find the home it has never seen, but that its ancestors have inhabited for thousands of years?  11:00 a.m.

May 7th – 9th:  Mixed Repertory Program – Houston Ballet’s program will feature three diverse works by three of today’s most sought-after choreographers; Stanton Welch’s Falling, Nacho Duato’s, Jardi Tancat, and Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room. Falling, choreographed in 2005, is a playful pure dance work set to Mozart’s “Salzburg Symphonies.” Jardi Tancat, created in 1983 by famed Spanish choreographer Nacho Duato and set to a collection of chilling Catalonian folk songs is the poignant story of a people working in their barren land. In the Upper Room, clearly showcases Twyla Tharp’s success as a contemporary dance maker who seamlessly melds the worlds of modern dance and Ballet.   8:00 a.m.

May 12th:  Swing, Jive and Pop! Into Dance – Watch dance of all styles and eras explode onto stage to engage, entertain and enlighten students of all ages. Swing in to the 30s, tap to “Singin’ in the Rain,” Hand Jive through the 50s and Electric Slide into today! Students participate in an energy filled hour of dance, music, costumes and learn fun historical tidbits of information on fashion, games, and toys. Program begins at 11:00 a.m. and is presented by the Houston Metropolitan Dance Company.  11:00 a.m.

May 14th:  Ritmo Latino – Society for the Performing Arts presents Ritmo Latino! Featuring the Grammy award winning Pablo Ziegler Quintet for New Tango, joined by special guest Claudia Acuña combines the sultry tango rhythms with the energetic spontaneity of jazz. Join us for the most successful blend of modern jazz and tango you’ll ever hear. 8:00 p.m.

May 15th:  Folk Dances of India – There are many types of dances in India, from the classical Indian dance forms, which are deeply religious in content to the lively and mirthful folk dances of India, which are danced on more trivial and happy occasions. The skilful swirling of the feet, gracefully moving the bodies to the rhythm of the highly focused soulful music, transports one to the beautiful realm of relaxing solitude! Indian dance forms are beautiful expression of the moods, celebration and gaiety of the people. 8:00 p.m.

May 21st – 22nd:  Tosca – Houston Grand Opera presents Puccini's timeless drama Tosca. The spurned Baron Scarpia will stop at nothing to destroy Cavaradossi, the object of Tosca's affections. Based on HGO's new production originated by acclaimed British director, John Caird, Tosca features classic set and costume designs by Bunny Christie. Louisa Miller directs these performances at Miller Outdoor Theatre. Tosca features Cynthia Clayton as the title role, Hector Vasquez as Scarpia, and Alex Dolgov as Cavaradossi. Members of the acclaimed HGO studio complete the cast. HGO Assistant Conductor Eric Melear leads the cast and HGO Orchestra, Chorus and Children's stories.  8:00 p.m.

May 27th – 30th:  Dancin’ in the Street Motown and More Review – This electrifying and soulful revue features many of Houston’s most talented vocalists and dancers accompanied by the 23-piece soulful BASEMENT orchestra. Dancin’ in the Street…Motown and More Revue features soul music from its inception in the 1950s through contemporary times. The BACE company recreates the music of legendary soul music greats as recorded by Motown, STAX, Atlantic, Philadelphia International, Duke and Peacock and other labels. 8:15 p.m.

June 4th:  Sizzling Summer Dance – Enjoy an evening of sizzling summer dance guaranteed to please everyone!  The Houston Metropolitan Dance Company will explode onto stage in a performance of color, movement, music, diversity and dance.  8:30 p.m.

June 5th:  Accordion Kings and Queens – The is the 21st annual performance of the Accordion Kings and Queens.  From Czech-German polka, cumbia to conjunto, Cajun, zydeco and more, you will hear the best of the Texas squeezebox.  This year there will be an outstanding lineup of headliners and competition finalists, so come early and wear your dancing shoes!  Presented by Texas Folklife Resources.  6:30 p.m.

June 7th:  Hear Ye! Hear Ye! – Musicians are chosen from over 350 applicants.  In order to be a Houston Young Artist, the featured musicians compete against the best young artists in the Houston area.  They will captivate your heart with their passion for their instruments.  Audience members will have an opportunity to participate in the performance.  Presented by Houston Young Artist’s Concert Series.  11:00 a.m.

June 9th – 11th:  Disney’s My Son Pinocchio Jr. – the classic tale of an aging toymaker and his puppet, Pinocchio, takes on timely issues in this production.  Grammy Award winner and master melodist Stephen Schwartz adds a compelling score of original songs to the beloved classics “When You Wish Upon a Star” and “I’ve Got No Strings”.  Join the Blue Fairy, Stromboli and a lively cast of characters as Geppetto journeys beyond the Toy Shop to discover what makes the “perfect child”.  This family friendly musical is appropriate for all audiences and is a magical mix of heartwarming fairytale and action-packed adventure.  Audiences will love following Pinocchio’s journey from an awkward wooden puppet to a real, live boy and will be charmed by Geppetto’s transformation from demanding creator to a real, live father. Presented by TUTs Humphreys School.  11:00 a.m. 

June 11th:  Miller Classic Films: Swingtime – Classic Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers feel-good film of the Depression-era, considered the dancing duo’s greatest collaboration.  8:30 p.m.

June 12th:  The Lee Boys – One of America’s finest African-American sacred steel ensembles, this family group of three brothers and their three nephews deliver an inspired, unique form of gospel music with a hard-driving, blues-based beat.  8:30 p.m.

June 17th – 18th:  Summer Symphony Nights – This traditional summer concert series will feature a broad range of outstanding artists.  8:30 p.m.

June 19th:  A Gulf Coast Juneteenth – A Gulf Coast Juneteenth celebrates the rich African-American musical traditions of Texas and the Gulf Coast, including blues, zydeco, jazz and gospel.  The celebration is centered around the historic event of Juneteenth, the commemoration of June 19, 1865, when slaves learned of their freedom.  7:00 p.m.

June 20th:  A Juneteenth Gospel Celebration – This production will feature African-American gospel traditions of Houston and the Gulf Coast region as a celebration of Juneteenth, including a small music combo, a choir and a featured gospel artist.    Presented by Houston Institute for Culture.  6:00 p.m.

June 21st:  Hear Ye! Hear Ye! – Experience the artists of tomorrow – young geniuses, aged 4-18, perform for your entertainment.  Musicians are chosen from over 350 applicants.  In order to be a Houston Young Artist, the featured musicians compete against the best young artists in the Houston area.  They will captivate your heart with their passion for their instruments.  Audience members will have an opportunity to participate in the performance.  Presented by Houston Young Artist’s Concert Series.  11:00 a.m.

June 22nd:  Sounds Like Fun – the Houston Symphony’s Sounds Like Fun concerts return to Miller Outdoor Theater with musical magic that will captivate audiences young and old.  11:00 a.m.

June 25th – 26th:  Summer Symphony Nights - This traditional summer concert series will feature a broad range of outstanding artists.  8:30 p.m.

July 1st:  Starlight Movie Night – Forbidden Planet – Since the 1956 science fiction classic “Forbidden Planet”, which introduced Robby the Robot and inspired Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and countless space explorers of the past and present.  8:30 p.m.

July 2nd:  Starlight Movie Night – Apollo 13 – View free NASA exhibits on the history and future of human space flight and touch a moon rock (6:00 – 8:00 p.m.).  Then at 8:30 p.m., see Apollo 12, the inspiring true story of the women and men of NASA mission control who heard “Houston, we have a problem”, and replied “Failure is not an option”.

July 4th:  Summer Symphony Nights: Independence Day – the Houston Symphony, led by Principle Pops Conductor, Michael Krajewski, presents a rousing musical salute to Independence Day.  Tchaikovsky’s stirring 1812 Overture and a selection of American favorites, followed by a fantastic fireworks display.  8:30 p.m.

July 13th – 18th:  Little Shop of Horrors – Little Shop of Horrors tells the story of Seymour, a timid and nerdy sales clerk at the seedy Mushnik’s Skid Row Florists, barely in business in lower Manhattan.  He achieves fame and fortune after he discovers an exotic plant named Audrey II, a giant man-eating plant who demands to be fed.  A Greek chorus of hip soul singers narrates the thriller with a score in the 1960s style of rock and roll, doo-wop and Motown.  Audrey’s appetite grows to gigantic proportions as the cast rapidly diminishes.  This show promises to be an audience favorite!  Produced by TUTS.  8:15 p.m.

July 20th:  Colombian Bicentennial Celebration Concert – This concert features the Symphonic Student Band of Neira, Columbia, who will be playing traditional Colombian music, as well as popular tunes.  Colombians throughout the world will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of their independence, and Colombians and friends of Colombia Houston will be joining in by attending this concert.  The symphony is composed of students between the ages of 6 and 17 years, who are from an area in Colombia that has been highly marginalized and has served as a center of recruitment and insurgent activity for armed groups.  Rather than engage in unlawful activity, they have chosen music as an alternative.  Presented by the Consulate General of Colombia.

July 20th:  Children’s Hilltop Festival: Freedom Train – An inspiring tale of a family’s journey to freedom along the Underground Railroad through Texas into Mexico.  This story of bravery and determination tells a bit of little known Texas history.  A celebration of freedom set to rhythmic music.  An Express classic written by Celeste Bedford Walker and directed by Shirley Marks Whitmore.  Produced by Express Children’s Theatre.  11:00 a.m.

July 21st:  The True Story of the Tortoise and the Hare – A roving reporter just happens to be in the forest looking for a breaking story when she stumbles upon what appears to be the true story of the Tortoise and the Hare.  Young Henrietta Hare is looking for someone to race and Grandpa G, the Tortoise is happy to oblige.  An original musical adaptation by Kevin M. Reece, directed by Vincent Victoria.  Produced by Express Children’s Theatre.  11:00 a.m.

July 22nd:  The Three Little Pigs – A bilingual (Spanish/English) show about three brothers, one messy, one a daydreamer, and the last, who always has a plan for the future.  They are Pig Scouts, the pride of youthful swinedom, and they must set up camp to earn their merit badges.  Now, who is that unfamiliar scout master who will be judging their work?  It’s the Wolf, Big Bad, to be specific.  That’s who!  Presented by Express Children’s Theatre.  11:00 a.m.

July 23rd:  Jack and the Beanstalk – Enter an enchanted world of dancing cows, hysterical chickens, a singing harp, magical beans and a Giant, who lives in a castle in the sky.  Poor Jack can’t seem to do anything right.  He sells the cow for beans, climbs the beanstalk, gets caught trying to steal the Giant’s Golden Goose, and has trouble finding his way back home.  By the end of this special tale, the cow is returned, the chicken learns how to lay golden eggs and the silly Giant teaches Jack a valuable lesson about dealing with others.  A new musical adaptation, written and directed by Harold J. Haynes.  Produced by Express Children’s Theatre.  11:00 a.m.

July 30th:  A Midsummer Night’s Dream – One of Shakespeare’s most popular and frequently produced plays.  There is a strong belief that Shakespeare wrote Midsummer for a wedding feast.  But its mixture of fairies and mortals with some of Shakespeare’s most memorable verse makes this classic a universal favorite.  Produced by Houston Shakespeare Festival.  8:30 p.m.

July 31st:  Much Ado About Nothing – Perhaps Shakespeare’s sunniest comedy, audiences continue to be dazzled by the verbal dexterity of Benedick and Beatrice as they battle and charm each other and finally discover their mutual love.  Produced by Houston Shakespeare Festival.  8:30 p.m.

August 1st, 3rd, 5th & 7th:  A Midsummer Night’s Dream – One of Shakespeare’s most popular and frequently produced plays.  There is a strong belief that Shakespeare wrote Midsummer for a wedding feast.  But its mixture of fairies and mortals with some of Shakespeare’s most memorable verse makes this classic a universal favorite.  Produced by Houston Shakespeare Festival.  8:30 p.m.

August 4th, 6th & 8th:  Much Ado About Nothing – Perhaps Shakespeare’s sunniest comedy, audiences continue to be dazzled by the verbal dexterity of Benedick and Beatrice as they battle and charm each other and finally discover their mutual love.  Produced by Houston Shakespeare Festival.  8:30 p.m.

for more information, see www.milleroutdoortheatre.org  

 

A.D. Players   (2710 West Alabama)

Thru May 30th:  The Little Foxes (large stage) – The story of a family divided by ruthlessness and personal quests for power and wealth. This award-winning play by Lillian Jellman offers a drama of love, hate, betrayal and even the consideration of murder amid the customs and manners of early 20th century society.

Thru May 22nd:  Alice Now! (Children’s Theater) – Alive Now! takes us on a topsy-turvy journey through her adventures in Wonderland. Favorites such as the White Rabbit, Queen of Hearts, the Mad Hatter and March Hare also join the fun.

July 9th – August 29th:  Leaving Iowa (large stage) – A story for everyone who has ever revisited memories of youth, Leaving Iowa, follows Don, a middle-aged man who returns home to Iowa in search of a final resting place for his father’s ashes.  As he travels across the state searching for the perfect place to scatter the ashes, memories of childhood road trips with his father resurface, and he is finally able to come to peace with his past and present.

2010 – 2011 Season begins in September.

for more information, see www.adplayers.org   

 

Main Street Theatre   (2540 Times Blvd.)

Thru May 21st: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Young Theater) – Oompa – Loompas, Golden tickets, and candy bars!  Ronald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a magical fantasy where dreams really do come true. Travel through the wacky (and top secret, shhh!) world of jelly bean stalks, chocolate rivers and hair toffee. Join Charlie, Willy Wonka and all the others in their dazzling adventures through the Chocolate Factory, a journey which celebrates the endless possibilities in life.

May 8th – June 6th:  Arcadia (main stage) – “it’s the best possible time to be alive, when everything you thought you knew is wrong”.  In Tom Stoppard’s time-traveling masterpiece Arcadia, the time is 1809, as the Coverly gardens are being transformed to the Gothic picturesque and the young genius Thomasina is forming a startling scientific theory while the adults around her are preoccupied with illicit passions and professional rivalries.  The time is also two hundred years later, as academic adversaries Hannah and Bernard piece together puzzling clues from 1809 in their search for an increasingly elusive truth about Lord Byron and his connection to the Coverlys.  Both worlds intersect and even collide as the quests for knowledge and passion run their courses, and everyone is forced to confront the reality of the attraction Newton left out.  Please note that some material may be inappropriate for younger children.

2010 – 2011 Season begins in October.

for more information, see www.mainstreettheater.com or call (713) 524-6706

 

Opera in the Heights   (1703 Heights Blvd.)

2010 – 2011 Season begins in September.

for more information, see www.operaintheheights.org or call (713) 861-5303

 

Playhouse 1960   (6814 Grant Road)

Thru May 15th: Mixed Feelings – The show revolves around Vernon who is very miserable in his chosen profession of an accountant, lives a rather mundane and boring life to and from his office every day which accounts for most of his life. His wife, Jan is surprised one day when Vernon, without any notice, mysteriously and suddenly disappears from their home in suburban Surrey in England. She is just as shocked when, six months later, Vernon, just as suddenly, re-appears again in their home’s dining room, all without any kind of explanation for, or contact during, his absence. The reason for his leaving and return unfold with surprise and funny explanations and dramatic situations throughout the performance. Twists and turns, misunderstandings, frustrations, exasperations and disbelief that all contribute to this household chaos, further complicated by friends and work colleagues trying to help. Never a dull moment for Vernon as adjusts to his new life where he is leered at by taxi drivers, pursued by his best friend and jealous mistress. But his real concern is, will his wife and daughter, Zoe, understand him! 

June 11th – July 3rd:  Bye Bye Birdie

July 23rd – August 14th:  Inherit the Wind

 for more information, see www.playhouse1960.com or call (281) 587-8243

 

Radio Music Theatre   (2623 Colquitt)

Thru May 8th:  Birthday from Hell – It has been a year since Ned's passing, and it's Bridgette's birthday.  Unfortunately, in memorializing the anniversary of Ned's death, no one remembers Bridgette's birthday, including her husband, Lou.  And the Widow Mildred is now being courted by Ned's twin brother Gebble.

May 13th – August 28th:  Fear of Ducks – Back again to the shaded oasis of Precious Trees (Houston’s most planned, planned community) – where the water is a perfect shade of blue and the skies are not cloudy all day.  Houston satire reigns as RMT pokes a little fun at our glorious city.

for more information, see www.radiomusictheatre.com or call (713) 522-7722

 

Stages Repertory Theatre   (3201 Allen Parkway)

Thru May 16th: Man From Nebraska – Ken Carpenter is a good husband and father who awakens one night to realize he no longer believes in God. As  his family grapples with this shock to their orderly lives, Ken follows his pastor’s advice and strikes out on a quest for his faith that leads him through the wild world of London counterculture and ultimately to a new beginning. A masterpiece of subtlety and grace by Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Letts, this moving, funny play reveals yearning and deep emotion beneath the surface of seemingly tranquil lives.

Thru May 23rd:  Til Death Do Us Part: Late Nite Catechism 3 – This is the latest class to be unveiled in this sinfully funny series.  After teaching countless students all about the saints, venial sins, guilt, limbo and more, Sister is now offering up hilarious lessons on the Sacraments of Marriage and Last Rites, including her own wacky version of the Newlywed Game.  Classroom participation is a must, so bring along your sweetie and your sense of humor for a session with the country’s feistiest couples counselor.

June 2nd – 27th:  The Complete History of America (abridged) – 600 years of history in 6000 seconds!  From Washington to Watergate, yea verily from the Bering Strait to Baghdad, from New World to New World Order, three clownish cultural guerillas will take you on a rollercoaster ride through the glorious quagmire that is American History.  We’ll tackle such controversial questions as: Who really discovered America?  How many Democrats does it take to screw in a light bulb? And what the hell is the difference between North and South Dakota anyway?  They say history is written by the winners . . now it’s our turn.

2010 – 2011 Season begins in September.

for more information, see www.stagestheatre.com or call (713) 527-0123

 

Wortham Center   (Texas & Smith)

May 1st:  The Twilight of Romanticism – DaCamera welcomes back the brilliant Orion String Quartet and proudly presents soprano Kelley Nassief in her DaCamera debut for an evening of works on the cusp between Romantic and modern. The seminal compositions of Richard Wagner and Johannes Brahms, viewed as musical opposites in their own time, each provided irreplaceable inspiration for the young Arnold Schoenberg. Both influences are heard in the passionate and fiery Chamber Symphony, for which pianist Sarah Rothenberg joins the quartet.

May 5th:  A Little Day Music – This concert, to be held in the Grand Foyer, is provided by DaCamera, whose mission is to develop the audience for chamber music and jazz, by making it accessible to everyone and a part of everyday life.  Downtown workers, schools, seniors and day care centers are among the many, who enjoy DaCamera’s free lunchtime concerts on the first Wednesday of each month (October through May).  Bring our lunch and enjoy the wide variety of artists and ensembles presented.  The May concert features the DaCamera of Houston Young Artists. 

May 15th:  Classical in the Raw For the season finale, Mercury Baroque broadens into the classical repertoire with a refreshing take on Mozart’s 40th Symphony and Beethoven’s 1st Symphony. These symphonies represent the peak of an era –the finale of Mozart’s career and the brilliant beginning of Beethoven’s. They are the perfect finale to an exciting season. Hear the symphonies as they were meant to be performed with period correct instruments and with the crispness and energy that they were intended to have.

May 15th:  Celebration of Unity The season finale celebrates 10 years of unity in Texas Medical Center Orchestra. To make beautiful music together, in harmony, requires a unity of purpose and a union of souls, with every member of the orchestra committed to that goal Carmina Burana demands the orchestra merge with a multi generation, interdisciplinary synergy of souls from the adult and children’s choirs to dueling pianos and vocal soloists bringing together four generations of musicians, in a celebration of unity in music making.

for more information, see www.houstontx.gov/worthamcenter/boxoffice.htm

 

Live Music Venues

House of Blues Houston   (1204 Caroline Street)

May 1st:         The Dead Weather   9:00 p.m.

May 1st:         Smile Smile   9:30 p.m.

May 2nd:        Toots & The Maytals   8:00 p.m.

May 5th:         MiniKiss   9:00 p.m.

May 7th:         An Evening with Gipsy Kings   9:00 p.m.

May 8th:         Houston Heart & Soul Blues Benefit, featuring an appearance by Dan Aykroyd  7:00 p.m.

May 8th:         Ben Folds and a Piano   9:00 p.m.

May 9th:         Gilberto Santa Rosa and Oscar D’Leon   8:00 p.m.

May 13th:       Easton Corbin   8:00 p.m.

May 14th:       Minus the Bear   8:00 p.m.

May 14th:       Paul Thorn   9:00 p.m.

May 15th:       Toad the Wet Sprocket   9:00 p.m.

May 17th:       Jordan Sparks with Kate Voegele   8:00 p.m.

May 18th:       Angels and Airwaves with Say Anything   8:00 p.m.

May 21st:       Steel Panther   8:30 p.m.

May 22nd:     Raspberry Criminal: Michael Jacson vs. Prince  9:00 p.m.

May 28th:       Mint Condition   8:30 p.m.

May 29th:       Robert Cray Band   8:30 p.m.

May 30th:       La Roux   8:00 p.m.

June 4th:       Loudes 68 presents Eric Nelson, Black Reign, J-cost & P. Blades   9:00 p.m.

June 5th:       Nelo  9:00 p.m.

June 5th:       Fab Four – A Tribute to the Beatles  8:30 p.m.

June 7th:       MGMT   8:30 p.m.

June 8th:       Truth and Salvage Company in the Bronze Peacock Room   8:00 p.m.

June 9th:       Wonder Girls with special guest 2PM   8:00 p.m.

June 12th:     PJ Morton Band   9:00 p.m.

June 16th:     Li(f)e on the Road   8:00 p.m.

June 17th:     Josh Golden   7:30 p.m.

June 18th:     Sounds of Seattle Tour   8:00 p.m.

June 18th:     Mingo Fishtrap   9:00 p.m.

June 19th:     Emory Quinn   8:00 p.m.

July 3rd:         Nevermind – A Tribute to Nirvana   9:00 p.m.

July 4th:         Miyavi: Neo Tokyo Samurai Black World Tour   8:30 p.m.

July 10th:       Monsters of Rock Tribute Night   8:00 p.m.

July 30th:       Aziz Ansari: Dangerously Delicious Tour   7:30 p.m.

July 31st:       Ottmar Lieber & Luna Negra   8:00 p.m.

for more information, see www.livenation.com or call (713) 230-1600

 

Verizon Wireless Theatre  (520 Texas Avenue)

May 1st:         Trans Siberian Orchestra   8:00 p.m.

May 2nd:        An Intimate Evening with Keith Emerson and Greg Lake   8:00 p.m.

May 5th:         Norah Jones   8:00 p.m.

May 7th:         Straight-No Chaser   8:00 p.m.

May 11th – 16th:      Angela Barrow-Dunlap’s Church Girl   various

May 19th:       Roberto Carlos   8:00 p.m.

May 20th:       Drake   8:00 p.m.

May 21st:       The Mix 96-5 Hullabaloo: Train   7:00 p.m.

May 22nd:     TNA Wrestling   7:30 p.m.

May 28th:       The Bamboozle Roadshow   3:30 p.m.

May 30th:       Jagermeister Music Tour: Korn’s Ballroom Blitz   7:30 p.m.

June 5th:       Too Fast for Love Tour: 30H!3 and Cobra Starship   7:00 p.m.

June 8th:       Imogen Heap   8:00 p.m.

for more information, see www.livenation.com or call (713) 230-1600

 

Warehouse Live  (813 St. Emanuel Street)

May 2nd:        Dr. Dog   9:00 p.m.

May 3rd:         Alexisonfire   7:30 p.m.

May 4th:         Pap Roach + Hellyeah   7:00 p.m.

May 7th:         The Standard   9:00 p.m.

May 8th:         Stiletto Jam   9:00 p.m.

May 8th:         Civil Twilight   7:30 p.m.

May 11th:       Cypress Hill   9:00 p.m.

May 12th:       Local Licks   9:00 p.m.

May 12th:       Talib Kweli   9:00 p.m.

May 13th:       A Day to Remember   7:00 p.m.

May 15th:       Caribou   9:00 p.m.

May 18th:       Shelby Lynne   8:30 p.m.

May 21st:       Laura Marling   8:00 p.m.

May 26th:       The Classic Crime with Madina Lake   7:30 p.m.

May 28th:       Scale the Summit   8:30 p.m.

May 31st:       The James Reese Band   9:30 p.m.

June 4th:       The Standard   9:00 p.m.

June 7th:       The Melvins   9:00 p.m.

June 8th:       Nas & Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley   8:30 p.m.

June 9th:       The Reverend Horton Heat + Cracker   8:30 p.m.

June 17th:     Passion Pit   8:00 p.m.

June 19th:     Monster Metal Showcase   7:00 p.m.

June 28th:     The James Reese Band   9:30 p.m.

July 2nd:        Psychedelic Furs with She Wants Revenge   8:30 p.m.

for more information, see www.warehouselive.com 

 

Museums

Blaffer Gallery  (University of Houston campus, entrance 16 off Cullen Boulevard)

May 14th – August 7th: Tomas Saraceno: Lighter than Air –This summer, Blaffer Gallery presents Tomás Saraceno: Lighter than Air. Organized by the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis and showcasing Saraceno’s installations, sculptures, and photographs made since 2003, the touring exhibition is the artist’s first large-scale museum presentation in the United States. By reexamining the conventions of art and architecture, Saraceno suggests imaginative solutions to complex questions about how we populate and coexist in the world. His architectural proposals use the interdependencies of systems to ponder ecological questions that go beyond the natural world. Specifically, the artist contrives environments that anticipate new socio-cultural platforms for experiencing and interacting with our surroundings.

May 14th – August 7th: First Take: Jacco Olivier – Fusing painting and filmmaking, Jacco Olivier continually reworks his canvases, photographing each iteration and brushstroke, and finally combining the various stages with their liquid color into films.

for more information, see www.hfac.uh.edu/blaffer or call (713) 743-9530

 

Children’s Museum of Houston  (1500 Binz)

The Children’s Museum of Houston offers a wonderful array of ongoing exhibits, created to inspire children’s imaginations and help them to learn through curiosity and hands-on activities and experimentation.

Exhibits:

The Invention Convention – Step into a workshop of gadgets and gizmos, where kids create, concoct and construct contraptions and use their imagination to become inventors!  Dream up and design in a workshop filled with half-finished contraptions, bins of spare parts, project tables, schematics and various instruments from floor to ceiling.  Experiment with LEGO bricks, propellers, magnets, batteries, switches and buzzers through facilitated, hands-on experiments and mini-workshops.

Kidtropolis – This exhibit marks a brand new spot on the map, as a real-life kid metropolis, complete with a skyline, city government, occupations and the systems that make a city work.  It’s where kids choose to be whatever they want to be.  They will participate in a sophisticated, simulated economy, where they can spend money on items and experiences throughout the city.  But, like in real life, they will have to get jobs to earn money and that’s where the KidCard comes in handy!  This ATM card has a stipend of 40 Kidtropolis dollars on it.  With it, kids can go on a shopping spree of tantalizing items, special art workshops and other cool stuff.  They can deposit their paychecks into a kids savings or checking account or hit the town for a day out!

Cyberchase – The Chase is On! – Based on Cyberchase, the Emmy award-winning PBS Kids Go! math mystery cartoon, Cyberchase – The Chase is On! Presents math in a fun, kid-friendly environment, allowing children to make use of their critical thinking skills and approach math with an investigative, positive attitude.  In the exhibit, children will enter Cyberspace through a special portal to explore favorite cyber sites, including the Control Central, the Grim Wreaker and Poddleville and be greeted by Motherboard, the peace-loving leader of Cyberspace.  They will help the CyberSquad protect the virtual universe from the evil Hacker, while exploring math concepts such as place value, algebra, geometry, fractions and probability.

Matter Factory – This exhibition offers a glimpse into the concepts of materials science, including properties of matter and potential uses for different substances and smart materials.  With 1,350 square feet of exhibit space, explore how matter matters in our daily lives.  Experiment with different properties of matter, test and sort materials based on their properties, and examine unique properties of emerging materials recently developed by scientists. 

Flow Works – Dive into the forces and properties of water through waves, vortices and rapids, exploring the fascinating concept of hydropower.  This interactive exhibit, which requires kids to “dip” their hands into it to make it work.  An 18 feet tall Cauldron stands in the middle of it all!  The more you play, the more it gets filled up with water.  Once it’s full, water comes crashing down, making an unstoppable wave of fun and allowing other exhibit components to break their course!  Feel the rush of waters through a simulated Flood Plain, stream through an Aquaduct Maze, or serve as the mastermind behind a Hydro Switchboard.  Navigate ways in which water’s energy can be stored, released and manipulated and harness the power!

Power Play – Push your limits and discover how your body reacts to a variety of physical challenges in Power Play!  This monumental, three story installation lets you leap up and down different levels as you discover new ways to get active.  Take it to the next level tracking your heart rate and strength, rating your experience and comparing your performance like a real fitness athlete.

Thru May 23rd:  Building Brainstorm – Explore what it’s like to be an architect, designer and engineer in this exhibit.  Plan a dream home or a dog house, build a skyscraper model, find the best arrangement of an apartment model’s rooms and furniture, construct a structure you can crawl through and much more in this bilingual design studio.  This exhibit introduces you to the design process, including collaborative problem-solving, planning, revisions and execution.  Step inside and you’ll find a kid-friendly studio environment inspired by the philosophy and aesthetic of mid-century designers Charles and Ray Eames.

May 1st:  Las Américas Ballet Folklórico – Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Mexico’s traditional dances.  2:00 p.m.

May 4th:  Still Life – Use watercolors to create a realistic or abstract image of everyday objects and things.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Thru May 5th:  Cinco de Mayo Wonderweek – The 5th of May commemorates Mexico’s victory at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 and it is thus a celebration of Mexican culture around the world.

Las Americas Ballet Folklorico – Watch this dance troupe perform traditional Mexican dances. Thursday and Saturday.

Celebration of Sound – Most celebrations involve music and Cinco de Mayo certainly does. Dance over the Science Station and explore sound waves with tuning forks, rian sticks and other instruments.

Cinco do Mayo Crafts – Make taco magnets, chili pepper decorations and your very own sombrero.

Storytelling Through Animation – Every culture has stories to tell. Design and create your own animated stories using stop motion, flipbooks and zoetrope.

May 7th:  Migration Mania – Discover the migratory patterns of birds and design your own guide.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

May 8th:  FETCH! Challenge Lab – Check out the new challenges PBS/Channel 8’s Ruff Ruffman has whipped up for you.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

May 11th:  Crawly Creatures – Dig crawly creatures out of the sand, find all food a caterpillar eats in the story, name all insects you find in the books and more.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

May 12th:  Time Travels When You’re Having Fun! – Measure time as it speeds away while you are doing a variety of fun activities.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

May 13th:  Healthy Habits: Power Science Lab – Play doctor, prepare healthy meals and identify healthier food choices.  10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

May 14th:  The Science of Culture – Experiment with fun science activities based on Asian cultural traditions.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

May 15th:  Natural Cycles – Draw a frog life cycle, design a wheel based on the life cycle of a seed and put insect models in order, based on their life cycle stages.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

May 16th:  Let’s Go Fly a Kite – Make your own kite like the ones in Asia.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

May 19th:  Inventive Origami – Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding.  Using simple, geometric folds, discover how an ordinary sheet of paper can be transformed into a large variety of objects.  Doing more than just origami, be inspired by many of the projects we have and try your hand at inventing your own artistic paper crafts.  10:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

May 20th:  Pinball Machines – Use physics to create contraptions to send the pinball racing, bouncing, spins, shooting and so on.  10:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.

May 21st:  Inventions Inspired by Nature – Learn how stickaburrs inspired Velcro, make helicopter seeds out of paper and play a matching game based on inventions inspired by nature.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

May 22nd:  Young Inventors Showcase Competition – The thrilling competition which gives children a chance to patent an idea for free is back!  Children will compete to show off their creativity for judges from the fields of engineering and inventing.  10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

May 23rd:  The Fan Garden – Build a fan to add to the garden and give it a whirl, all while learning the scientific principles behind the simple device.  Noon – 6:00 p.m.

May 25th – May 31st:  Kinetic Art – Design your own Alexander “Sandy” Calder inspired Kinetic Art, using a variety of materials.  10:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

May 26th:  Simple Machine Discovery – Explore how simple machines have created some of the most complicated inventions of our time.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

May 28th:  Beach Animals – Observe oyster shells, build sea creatures with strange adaptations and learn how to whistle like a dolphin.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

May 29th:  Beach Ball Bash – Play beach volleyball and learn how many calories you burn while getting outside.  Make a healthy picnic to take to the beach.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

May 30th:  Face Shade – Make a cool summer visor to keep the sun off of your face.  Noon – 6:00 p.m.

June 2nd:  KT Diner Special – Pizza Supreme – Be a chef, a customer or a waiter in the Kidtropolis Diner – just a few roles you can take on in our city run by kids.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

June 3rd:  Secrets of Nature’s Circles – Search for circles in nature, explore the shapes of seeds, and create your own tree cookie, based on your life.  10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

June 4th:  Science of Circles – Experiment with pendulums, gyroscopes, super spinners, the Inertia Ring, and other circles of science.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

June 6th:  Moving in Circles – Get moving with Twister Hopscotch, Heartbeat Circles, and Hula Hoop Hop.  Noon – 6:00 p.m.

June 7th:  Circle Games – Race to make circles out of fraction parts, then challenge an opponent to Circle Nim.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

June 8th:  What’s the Pointillism?  - Use bingo markers to make a larger image.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

June 9th:  Water Play – Scoop and pour the water in the water table.  Play with boats, animals, colors and more.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

June 10th:  Maximum Building – What can you come up with when you mix LEGOs, Zob, KNEX, and Straw Engineering?  10:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:30, 4:30 & 6:30 p.m.

June 11th:  Hide and Seek Champions – Use color, fabrics and more to uncover the secrets of camouflage.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

June 12th:  Extreme Sport Science – Celebrate summer fun with interactive experiments that explore the science of sports like skydiving, baseball and scuba.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

June 13th:  Trading Cards – Make a sports trading card featuring yourself.  Noon – 6:00 p.m.

June 14th:  Sport Science – Play with slinkies to see how surfers ride the waves, learn why tennis balls are fuzzy and more.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

June 15th:  Race to the Top – Test your probability skills as you guess which number will reach the top first.  Does it depend on the spinner?  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

June 16th:  Sculpture Studio – Knead, carve and mold dough to create one-of-a-kind sculptures.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

June 17th:  Build It High – Dads love to build, and so do kids!  Create structures with a variety of materials and learn the physics behind them.  10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

June 19th:  Celebrate Juneteenth – Commemorate the abolition of slavery in Texas in 1865 with special activities celebrating African American heritage.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

June 20th:  Daddies in Nature – Read about animal life cycles and create a family tree with leaf rubbings, stencils and stamps.  Noon – 6:00 p.m.

June 21st:  Aerodynamic Designs – Design and construct your own paper gliders.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

June 22nd:  Pass or Roll – Collect the most counters to win this game of chance.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

June 24th:  Superhero Yoga – Try superhero yoga poses, like The Superman and Wonder Woman.  10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

June 24th:  Eco Avenger – Be a superhero for the planet!  Make a superpower, match villains to their pollution sources, and find all the power sources sucking up the Earth’s energy.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

June 26th:  Animate Your Story – Got a superhero story to tell?  Design your own animation suing stop motion.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

June 27th:  Superheroic Symbol – Design a superhero symbol to let the world know your superpowers.  Noon – 6:00 p.m.

June 28th:  Guess My Rule – Trick your opponents by picking items that have a lot of characteristics in common.  What’s your rule?  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

June 29th:  Optical Illusions – Are your eyes playing tricks on you?  Experiment with visual illusions as you learn how your brain and eyes work together.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

June 30th:  Watercolor Painting – Create a masterpiece by mixing colors and water.  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

for more information, see www.cmhouston.org or call (713) 522-1138

   

Contemporary Arts Museum  (5216 Montrose)

Thru May 2nd: Perspectives 169: Odili Donald Odita – Widely recognized for his pulsating hues and meticulously painted wall and canvas works, Odili Donald Odita creates paintings that often function as narratives. Although devoid of any discernable figurative marks, the works tell of the nomadic journey of our ever-shifting global society: shapes and intersecting lines become metaphors for time and place while color evokes mood and impulse. This exhibition features a site-specific environment created from a new body of paintings that echo the unique architectural features of the Museum’s lower gallery space, The Zilkha Gallery. The result is a familiar, yet fantastical immersive landscape. While Odita’s wall works often find corollary references to those of Sol LeWitt, his angular pulsating color fields immediately hint at the artist’s cultural roots—he was born in Enugu, Nigeria and raised in Columbus, Ohio. Odita’s abstract paintings suggest the fractal nature of his own experience as an African émigré and the interweaving of his past and present selves.

May 7th – July 11th: Perspectives 170: Cruz Ortiz – San Antonio-based artist Cruz Ortiz employs a broad range of media—prints, paintings, sculptures, video, installation, and performance—to talk about life, love, and the struggle for equality. Through his alter ego the Spaztek, a post-punk, post-Chicano holy fool who continually throws himself into quixotic quests for romance and self-realization, Ortiz uses humor and heart to call for companionship and community. For his first in-depth museum exhibition, Ortiz will present a selection of the Spaztek’s work, including a hybrid siege tower and performance platform on the CAMH front lawn, a tent city in the gallery, and launch a guerilla art campaign in Houston’s neighborhoods. Born in Houston in 1972, Ortiz received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in printmaking from the University of Texas at San Antonio

May 15th – July 25th:  Hand + Made: The Performative Impulse in Art and Craft – This exhibition features twenty artists who innovatively expand the traditions of art and craft through the incorporation of performance. The exhibition features a series of on- and offsite performance events, including crochet nights at the Museum in which visitors are invited to crochet works from an installation created by Sheila Pepe, a performance of Anne Wilson’s Wind-Up: Walking the Warp, and a series of public events around the city in which Gabriel Craig creates small articles of jewelry for those he encounters. A complete schedule of dates and locations will be available on the Museum’s website. Participating artists include B Team, Conrad Bakker, Nick Cave, Cat Chow, Gabriel Craig, Lauri Faggioni, Theaster Gates, Cynthia Giachetti, T. Ryan Gothrup, Sabrina Gschwandtner, Lauren Kalman, Christy Matson, James Melchert, Yuka Otani, Sheila Pepe, Michael Rea, Anne Wilson, Saya Woolfalk, and Bohyun Yoon.

 for more information, see www.camh.org or call (713) 284-8250

 

The Heritage Society  (1100 Bagby)

Thru July 3rd: A Tejano Son of Texas – This traveling exhibit tells the life story of legendary Texas Tejano Jose Policarpio “Polly” Rodriguez. The display begins at the start of his new life in the State of Coahuila y Texas, Mexico and continues through Polly’s experiences as a young boy, gunsmith and surveyor as well as addressing his military and Texas Ranger service and his ranching and public office records. The exhibit concludes with a description of his years as a Methodist minister.

May 20th:  The Rebirth of Stringfellow Orchards and Home (circa 1884) – Hill/Finger Lecture Series – National Trust for Historic Preservation Advisor, Samuel L. Collins III, will discuss the re-birth of Stringfellow Orchards and home.  This once forgotten and abandoned property has new life again.  Henry Martyn Sringfellow was a former confederate soldier and world renowned horticulturist.  Stringfellow was the first to plant Satsuma oranges from Japan n the gulf coast.  Stringfellow made many contributions to horticulture and the Galveston county community.  Stringfellow’s property in Hitchcock was once considered “The Showplace of the Gulf Coast”.  Noon – 1:00 p.m.

May 23rd:  Heritage Family Day – Customs & Cultures – The Texas Tejano  1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

July 13th – October 3rd:  Greetings from Houston: Postcards from the Heritage Society Collections

for more information, visit www.heritagesociety.org

 

Holocaust Museum Houston  (5401 Caroline)

Permanent Exhibit

Bearing Witness: A Community Remembers:  Authentic film footage, artifacts, photographs and documents show life in pre-war Europe, the Nazi move toward the “Final Solution” and life after the Holocaust.  The exhibit includes a 1942 Holocaust era railcar and 1942 Danish rescue boat, which both teach the lessons of individual responsibility and how two different populations dealt with evil and injustice.

May 3rd:  Lyndon Baines Johnson Moral Courage Award Dinner – Join the Holocaust Museum Houston’s biggest event of the year, the presentation of the 2010 Lyndon Baines Johnson Moral Courage Award, to be presented to author and activist, John Prendergast.  Prendergast is the co-founder of the Enough Project, an initiative to end genocide and crimes against humanity.  His humanitarian missions have taken him to such war-torn regions as Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, Chad and the Congo in an effort to remind the world of the core lesson of the Holocaust – genocide cannot be allowed to happen on our watch!  Reception 6:00 p.m.  Dinner 7:00 p.m.

May 6th:  First Thursday with Artist Hans Molzberger – Join Hans Molzberger, artist-affiliate at Houston Baptist University and artist featured in the Museum’s current changing exhibition “Never Let it Rest”, for a special guided tour fo the exhibition.  This is a documentary art project, relating to the small town of Salzwedel in the Saxony-Anhalt region of Germany, during the time of Nazi control.  A concentration camp for women was erected in Salzwedel in 1944 as a satellite to Neuengamme.  As many as 1,550 women, most Jews from Hungary, were imprisoned there.  The program is a part of “Legacies and Lessons”, quarterly educational sessions about the Holocaust, genocide and Museum events.  The Museum will be open late from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

May 17th:  International Museum Day – Save the date for International Museum Day, “Museums for Social Harmony”, featuring free docent led tours of the museum, exclusively for members of the Houston Consular Corps, their staffs and their families.  This year’s theme is a concept significant for both humanity and for representing Eastern cultures - social harmony.  The basis of social harmony lies in dialogue, tolerance, co-existence and development, based on pluralism, difference, competition and creativity.  Fundamentally, social harmony is “to agree but to stand out, to look for common ground, but to keep the difference.” 

May 26th:  Ceremonies of Remembrance: The Holocaust Art of Samuel Bak” – Over the past 20 years, artist Samuel Bak has created a body of work designed to express in visual terms, the impact of the Holocaust – and by extension, subsequent atrocities – on modern consciousness and the intellectual and spiritual values it has cherished through the ages.  His canvases, some of them of monumental size, challenge the imagination to confront a new vulnerability in human experience, dramatizing through their fractured images, the dilemma of how to “repair”, in memory, if not in fact, what can never be reclaimed.  Throughout his career as a scholar and author, Lawrence L. Langer, professor of English emeritus at Simmons College in Boston, has consistently urged his audiences and readers to consider the difficulties of confronting the history, memory, literature and art of the Holocaust and will discuss Bak’s work in this free public lecture.  Seating is limited and advance registration is required.

May 27th:  Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust – Shortly after V-E day in 1945, Dwight D. Eisenhower, commander of Allied forces in Europe in World War II and future president of the United States, flew a dozen Hollywood moguls to Germany to see Nazi atrocities for themselves.  “They saw the ovens”, says the film director, Vincent Sherman, in “Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust”.  “They saw the piles of dead, which had not been buried.”  The idea, says Neal Gabler, the cultural historian, was that “they should bear witness” through their films.  But, as this documentary points out, it was only in 1964, almost two decades later, that a major American film even tried to recreate the horrors of the camps.  Join the museum for this free screening of “Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust”, followed by a discussion with Dr. Michael Berenbaum, a writer, lecturer and teacher, consulting in the conceptual development of museums and the development of historical films.  He is director of the Sigi Ziering Institute: Exploring the Ethical and Religious Implications of the Holocaust at the American Jewish University, where he is also a professor of Jewish studies.  Seating is limited and advance registration is required.

June 3rd:  First Thursday – The Bielitz Collection – Join the museum for a behind the scenes look at the recently donated Levenback family collection.  Charles Levenback will discuss the collection, which chronicles the history of several members of an Austrian-Jewish family throughout the 20th century.  Included in the collection are correspondence, personal possessions and documents as they fled Nazi Germany, seeking refuge from Shanghai to England to the United States.  Also highlighted is documentation related to post-war restitution.  This free program is part of “Legacies and Lessons”, quarterly educational sessions about the Holocaust, genocide and museum events.  The museum will be open late from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Thru October 3rd: Never Let it Rest! An Art Project by Hans Molzberger – Never Let It Rest!" is a documentary art project by contemporary German artist Hans Molzberger relating to the small town of Salzwedel in the Saxony-Anhalt region of Germany during the time of Nazi control.  A concentration camp for women was erected in Salzwedel in 1944, as a satellite to Neuengamme.  Up to 1,550 women, most of them Jews from Hungary, were imprisoned there.  Included in the exhibit is historical documentation of events of the time and an art installation created to address specific issues of persecution, war propaganda and the concentration camps.  The exhibit also includes oral testimonies from some of the women who were in the camp and now live in the United States and Israel.

for more information, see www.hmh.org or call (713) 942-8000

 

Houston Museum of Natural Science (One Hermann Circle Drive – Hermann Park)

May 17th:  Will the Real Fabergé Please Stand Up?  - This lecture will be given by Peter L. Schaffer, who will offer an entertaining and charming look into the world of Fabergé.  Peter is co-owner and 4th generation of a multi-generational family firm, A La Vieille Russie, founded in 1851 in Kiev, Russia.  This lecture will explore the intricate works of art by Carl Fabergé, imperial Court Jeweler to the last Tsars of Russia, as well as the fakes, which can be found in today’s market, with accompanying slides of pieces from the world’s largest collection of Fabergé.  6:30 p.m.

May 26th:  Ice Planet: Earth – Mark Fahnstock, glaciologist at the University of New Hampshire, is an expert on the behavior of land-based ice.  His laboratories are Greenland and the Antarctic.  Looking for causes and effects, as he measure the gradual and dramatic changes in Earth’s ice cover, Dr. Fahnstock documents changes in the ice sheets over a year, a decade, a century and even a millennia.  There has been much discussion and confusion about global climate change.  Dr. Fahnstock will explain what he has observed and can document about real changes on the dynamic ice sheets of planet Earth.  Dr. Fahnstock has been a leader in ice research projects for the International Polar Year and will summarize what we know is happening and what should cause us concern.  6:30 p.m.

June 21st:  Archimedes, Atoms and Archaeopteryx – This lecture will be provided by Peter L. Larson, a paleontologist and geologist, who is a founder and the president of Black Hills Institute of Geological Research in Hill City, South Dakota.  Larson is on the research team investigating Archaeopteryx and other fossils at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center.  The lecture will discuss how the Thermopolis specimen of Archaeopteryx has been examined by a team of scientists at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center in Menlo Park, California.  Some of the equipment which has been used to complete this analysis was developed specifically to study a palimpsest originally authored by Archimedes over two thousand years ago.  A palimpsest is an animal hide parchment that was scrapped of the original text to reuse the parchment for a new manuscript.  Exploring new methods of study was essential for this palimpsest, because the original document was erased and written over twice, all but obliterating the original Archimedes text and drawings.  In this investigation, the team utilized high energy x-rays to unlock the original and secondary chemistry of this 145 million year old specimen of Archaeopteryx to map the distribution of certain elements over the surface of the fossil and its enclosing matrix.  This technique makes it possible to unwind the series of events that leads to the preservation of fossils, and helps us to understand what really remains of the original organism.  This technique also yields spectacular images, revealing a world that until now has remained hidden.

Thru July 25th:  Faberge: Imperial Jeweler to the Tsars – Discover the spectacular designs of Carl Faberge, a master goldsmith and legendary jeweler who is still celebrated for his inventive design and meticulous craftsmanship.  Perhaps best known for the Imperial Easter Eggs created for the Russian Royal family, the House of Faberge also fashioned jewelry and luxurious gifts for many ruling families of Europe as well as other wealthy patrons.  Marvel at exquisite objects produced by the Fabergé workshop at its peak, including personal gifts to the Tsar and Tsarina, an extravagant tiara, magnificent "fire-screen" picture frame, and the famed Nobel Ice Egg, a stunning piece that is one of the few Imperial-styled eggs in private hands. From elegantly simple to breathtakingly ornate, the jewelry, clocks, picture frames, boxes and eggs in this collection were thoughtfully selected to exemplify extraordinary materials and workmanship.  In recent years, the McFerrin Collection has become one of the world’s most important private collections of Fabergé. While many of the pieces in this collection have been featured individually in other exhibitions and publications over the past 60 years, this event marks the first time that the McFerrin Collection has been presented for public display. Highlights of the exhibition include: Empress Josephine’s tiara, the Nobel Ice Egg, Fire Screen Picture Frame, Nicholas II Presentation Snuff Box, The Wedding Clock, and the personal cigarette case of Nicholas II.

Thru September 6th:  Archaeopteryx: Icon of Evolution – Most scientists believe that birds evolved from small therapod dinosaurs. The key step was the development of feathers, turning animals that could walk or climb into animals that could fly. The first fossil discovered with feathers was found in 1861, just two years before Charles Darwin published his theory of evolution. This fossil is known as archaeopteryx and is the earliest bird known to science. Archaeopteryx, which lived over 150 million years ago, is a classic example of an evolutionary link between two groups of animals. As of today, there are only seven known specimens of archaeopteryx. This premier exhibition will present some of the finest known fossils from the late Jurassic period showing life at the time of these first birds. Fossils from the world renowned quarries of Solenhofen, Germany will be featured.

Thru September 6th:  Magic: The Science of Wonder – Magic – Illusory feats of wonder that dazzle the eye and confound expectations – has fascinated humanity for centuries. Mesmerized by the masters of illusion who perform this mysterious craft, we’re drawn to the spectacle, curious to discover “how did he do that?” Though their methods are enshrouded in secrecy, magicians combine the art of performance with a variety of scientific disciplines, including math, physics and psychology, to create their dazzling effects and fascinating illusions. With a touch of hocus-pocus and a dash of abracadabra, the Houston Museum of Natural Science pulls a spectacular new exhibition out of its hat—Magic: The Science of Wonder, opening Friday, February 26, 2010. The extraordinary show examines how science and magic are intertwined, tapping into our universal desire to know "How does that work?" Magic is the perfect subject to inspire people of all ages—especially kids—to learn about the science behind the magic, and the world around them. Presenting an array of artifacts connected with legendary performers of the past and present, the exhibition will also feature film and video clips of famous magicians, as well as guest illusionists performing live. At the "University of Magic" inside the exhibition, visitors will have the opportunity to learn a magic trick of their own. Among the many intriguing artifacts to be featured are torches for fire eating; magic lanterns and automatons; Harry Houdini's trademark milk can and water escape trunk; Harry Blackstone's "Zig Zag Girl" prop; Mike Caveney’s linking coat hangers; and items from the acts of Doug Henning, Penn & Teller, and other superstars of magic.

Planetarium Showings:

Impact Earth In 2006, the Museum unearthed a piece of an asteroid that crashed into the North American prairie long ago.  The story takes us from the birth of our solar system, to the catastrophe that tore this asteroid apart, to the surface of Mars, and to a future asteroid mining colony.

Dawn of the Space Age An epic, full dome experience recreates the great moments in human spaceflight, including the Gemini, Apollo, Space Shuttle and International Space Station programs.  You are there each step of the way, sharing the adventure, immersed in each great event.

Night of the Titanic - A great tragedy unfolds in the icy North Atlantic.  Weather, ice, the sun, and human error all contribute to the sinking of this unsinkable ship. Experience the Titanic's last day to find out what went terribly wrong and discover how changing Arctic ice can prepare us for tomorrow.

Starry Night Express - Audiences can practice finding constellations, planets, the moon, meteor showers and the Milky Way band.  Then the show will drop into a star party led by Laurence Fishburne.  From his country setting, the show takes audiences through the solar system and into the Universe.  Breathtaking images from the Hubble Space Telescope hover and combine to show the life cycle of stars.  Audiences experience the eventual collision of our Milky Way Galaxy with the neighboring Andromeda Galaxy as visualized by the Space Telescope Science Institute.  Then visitors plunge down and sweep through the gigantic Valles Marineris canyon, simulated by the Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing at Swinburne University of Technology, using the latest data from the Mars Global Surveyor. 

Black Holes - The attraction of Black Holes is more than just gravitational.  These mysterious graveyards of dead stars have fascinated generations.  The Planetarium's new feature explores the history, physics and mystery of black holes.  Narrated by actor John de Lancie, this space adventure features rich, expansive panoramas and incorporates several of the latest scientific theories about how black holes are formed and where they are hiding now.  Witness the bending of light, the skewing of perception, and the dizzying descent into a black hole.  This show incorporates some of the most visually stunning three dimensional effects ever created for the planetarium.  Add to that, a sound effects track and 5.1 surround sound mix by George Lucas' Skywalker Sound Studios, and you have an incredible sensory experience.

Earth’s Wild Ride A grandfather and granddaughter watch a solar eclipse from scenic cliffs overlooking their moon colony.  Conversation leads to contrasts between the moon, the only home the granddaughter knows, and the Earth, where the grandfather has spent most of his life.  Through his stories, the grandfather takes audiences on a wild canyon ride, to an ice age winter with a woolly mammoth, and to the time when the dinosaurs lived and died.  Each experience begins with a telescope view of the dynamic Earth in stark contrast with the unchanging lunar landscape.  Earth’s Wild Ride is like many tales shared by grandparents over the centuries, except “the old country” is really another planet – always visible from the moon base, but totally unlike the granddaughter’s world.  Adventure and appreciation for home fill this 20-minute journey back to the Earth.

Life in the Universe Where is it hiding? 2010 marks the 50th anniversary of the first experiment to search for extraterrestrial intelligence. In 1960, astronomer Frank Drake used a radio telescope in Green Bank, West Virginia to listen to two nearby stars. He heard nothing interesting, but the idea of searching for life beyond Earth was born. Fifty years of searching for signals and occasional broadcasting of messages has not detected any transmissions that require intelligent alien authors. Either intelligent life is much more rare or short-lived than we expected or we are not looking in the right places with the right tools. Life in the Universe takes a fresh look at this fifty-year-old question, looking forward from the big bang, in search of those special places that might harbor life, including all of the planets in our solar system. It’s a beautiful scenic tour of our universe through the eyes of astronomers looking for clues about the origin of life and the development of intelligence. The vistas are breathtaking from stellar birth clouds like the Orion and Trifid Nebulas to the death throes of Eta Carinae and the mysterious surfaces of nearby planets, their moons and rings. Join the search and enjoy the adventure. Life in the Universe is partially funded though a NASA public outreach grant directed by Dr. George Fox, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston.

IMAX Theatre Showings:

Hubble 3D – Experience the gripping story – full of hope, crushing disappointment, dazzling ingenuity, bravery and triumph – in Hubble 3D, the seventh awe-inspiring film from the award winning IMAX space team.  Vividly captured in IMAX 3D, Hubble 3D recounts the amazing journey of the most important scientific instrument since Galileo’s original telescope and the greatest success in space since the Moon Landing – the Hubble Space Telescope.  Audiences will accompany the space walking astronauts as they attempt some of the most difficult tasks ever undertaken in NASA’s history, and will experience up close the awesome power of the launches, the heartbreaking set-backs, and the dramatic rescues of this most powerful story.  This film also reveals the cosmos as never before, allowing viewers of all ages to explore the grandeur of the nebulae and galaxies, the birth and death of stars, and some of the greatest mysteries of our celestial surroundings.

Dolphins and Whales 3D – Dive into a new immersive and highly emotional adventure with  Jean-Michel Cousteau’s new film.  Narrated by Daryl Hannah, this awe-inspiring and entertaining film takes you from the dazzling coral reefs of the Bahamas to the warm depths of the waters of the exotic Kingdom of Tonga, for a close encounter with the surviving tribes of the ocean.  Through the powerful theatre medium and stunning images captured for the very first time in 3D, view their lives and habitats as never before.  Come so close to wild dolphins and belugas that you will virtually touch them.  Witness the profound love of a Humpback mother for her newborn calf, and come eye-to-eye with singing Humpback males.  Meet an orca, the mighty King of the ocean, and enjoy a wonderful moment with the gentle manatee.  Explore many little known aspects of these fascinating and fragile creatures capable of sophisticated communication and social interaction.

Bugs 3DBugs 3D! follows the life cycles of a mantis and a butterfly, from their birth to their inevitable encounter in the rainforests of Southeast Asia, where predator meets its prey. Bugs 3D! stars Papilio, a butterfly, and Hierodula, a praying mantis, who live in an abandoned hut by a river, surrounded by lush tropical foliage and a supporting cast of other intriguing and extraordinary insects. Meet Papilio, a caterpillar that undergoes one of nature’s miraculous transformations in her short life span of eight weeks, and Hierodula, a praying mantis who embarks on an extraordinary hunting journey through the rainforest. Along the way, meet a host of other fascinating insects: Leaf Cutter Ants, Rhino Beetles, an aggressive Spiny Katydid, an Orchid Mantis, and the aptly-named Thorn Bug, in addition to scorpions, tarantulas, frogs, lizards and a colony of 3 million bats which consume two and half tons of bugs every night! Along the way, we meet a host of other insects, which, in various deceptive guises, which also inhabit the rich, green and humid world: Leaf Cutter Ants that consume 20% of the rainforest’s leaves; Rhino Beetles battling for the attention of a female; the Trilobite Beetle hiding his tiny head under amour plating; a Scale Bug disguised as a ball of fluff; an aggressive Spiny Katydid; an Orchid Mantis which resembles the flower and the Thorn Bug, identical to a thorn. In addition, scorpions, tarantulas, frogs, lizards and a colony of three-million bats which consume two and half tons of bugs every night, skitter across the screen, some magnified 250,000 times their normal size.

for more information, see www.hmns.org or call (713) 639-4629

 

Menil Collection   (1515 Sul Ross)

Thru July 25th: Steve Wolfe on Paper – Steve Wolfe was born in Pisa, Italy in 1955 and lives and works in San Francisco, California. For the last twenty years, Wolfe has created objects and drawings of astounding craft and visual presence that investigate intersections among material culture, intellectual history, and personal and collective memory. Wolfe’s art represent objects of cultural mass dissemination—books and records. Rather than the ordinary depiction of books on canvas or another two-dimensional framing device, Wolfe’s painted objects employ the tradition of trompe l’oeil, the trick of the eye. Tattered books and worn album covers are meticulously produced to convey the mark of time and handling, and often literally fool the eye on first inspection. The tears, creases, and basic wear point to human contact and become metaphors of enlightenment and culture. Indebted to Pop Art, Wolfe’s optical strategy manifests an updated approach to craft. But while the patina of time is crucial to Wolfe’s art, perhaps what is most interesting about the collection is its sense of autobiography. Wolfe’s work is conceived and made with both personal history and personal touch, and suggests an almost erotic representation of the fact that one can fall in love with that which is ephemeral (ideas, music). For Wolfe, it is not just any book that necessitates scrupulous handmade reproduction with wood, ink, paper, lithography and paint. His carefully considered subjects include reproductions of books by Gertude Stein, Pablo Picasso, Raymond Chandler, Frank O’Hara, Marcel Duchamp, and James Joyce, thus creating a portrait of the artist as a perpetual student. This exhibition will focus on the artist’s works on paper, some of which are purely drawn, but most of which combine aspects of drawing, collage and printmaking. The artist’s transformation of common objects requires the viewer to re-think what they mean as such, placing emphasis on craft and the handmade to transform the common into the uncanny and the sublime.

Thru August 8th:  Leaps into the Void: Documents of Nouveau Realist Performances – Pyrotechnics, exploding pigment, blowtorches, lacerated décollage, and found materials, define the radical gestures of the avant-garde movement, Nouveau Réalisme. Translated as “New Realism,” it was founded by art critic Pierre Restany and artist Yves Klein in Paris in 1960. The circle of artists formally and informally associated with the movement included Niki de Saint Phalle, Jean Tinguely, Martial Raysse, Christo, Mimmo Rotella and Arman, among others. They believed direct and aggressive physical explorations, characterized by a paradoxical emphasis on notions of deconstruction and accumulation, and the use of discarded materials from everyday life in the tradition of Dada, achieved a more truthful understanding of modern society in a moment of rising consumerism. As proclaimed in the First Manifesto of Nouveau Réalisme, “if one succeeds at reintegrating oneself with the real, one achieves transcendence, which is emotion, sentiment, and finally, poetry.” Leaps into the Void draws from the Menil’s strong holdings of work and material from the archives and collection that document through film, photographs and works of art, the movement’s ephemeral and performance-based projects, perhaps most famously epitomized by Yves Klein’s “Leap into the Void.” The photograph by Harry Shunk, capturing the artist hurling himself from a Parisian rooftop, will be exhibited alongside other documents of the jump, including Klein’s publication emulating the Sunday edition of a daily newspaper, which he inserted into newsstands as a guerrilla intervention on the streets of Paris. Archival photo documentation of Jean Tinguely’s self-destructing sculpture that went up in flames in a square in Milan, to commemorate the ten-year anniversary of the founding of Nouveau Réalisme, will also be on display, alongside a 1966 film by Francois de Menil of the construction and deconstruction of HON, a monumental sculpture installed at the Moderna Museet in Stockholm by Niki de Saint Phalle, Jean Tinguely, and Per Olof Ultvedt.

Thru August 15th:  Maurizio Cattelan – Contemporary Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan is known for his witty embrace of semantic shifts that result from imaginative plays with materials, objects, and actions. In his work, contradictions in the space between what the artist describes as softness and perversity wage a sarcastic critique on political power structures, from notions of nationalism or the authorities of organized religion to the conceit of the museum and art history. Like the traditions established by Dada and Surrealism, his uncanny juxtapositions uproot stable understandings of the world around us. For Cattelan even the banal is absurd. The exhibition at The Menil Collection, organized by Franklin Sirmans, curator of modern and contemporary art, will be the artist’s first solo show in Texas. The exhibition will focus on recent large-scale works that premiered in Europe in 2007 and will feature sculptures that range in tone from the melancholic and politically contentious to the decidedly irreverent. Cattelan will also realize additional works for the exhibition in response to site visits to The Menil Collection campus and the museum’s world-famous collection of Surrealist works. Significantly, these pieces will also mark the artist’s return to sculpture-based practice. For the last five years his work has largely centered on publishing and curating.

for more details, see www.menil.org  or call (713) 284-8250

 

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston   (Caroline Weiss Law Bldg. @ 1001 Bissonnet and the adjacent Audrey Jones Beck Bldg., 5601 Main)

Thru May 9th:  Prendergast in Italy – This exhibition brings together for the first time the unparalleled bodies of work that American impressionist Maurice Prendergast produced during two trips to Italy in 1898 and 1911.

Thru May 9th: Ruptures and Continuities: Photography Made after 1960 – As part of the Fotofest 2010 Biennial, nearly 200 photographs from the MFAH collection examine the course of post-`960 photography across the globe.

Thru May 23rd:  Sargent and the Sea – American expatriate artist John Singer Sargent is famous for his glamorous society portraits, but this exhibition is the first to examine the little explored maritime paintings and drawings that Sargent produced in various locales during the first five years of his career. In a complimentary exhibit Houston’s Sargent, 30 works drawn from local private collections and the museum’s own art will offer a look at Sargent’s entire career.

Thru May 23rd:  Feathers, Fins and Fur: Natural history Illustration of the 19th Century – Artists and naturalists such as John James Audubon produced an unprecedented record of the natural world in the 19th century. Art, science, and technology converged in a multitude of printed images that fed a growing public interest in the amazing diversity of living creatures.

Thru May 23rd:  Eye on the Third Ward: Jack Yates High School Photography – In one of the museum’s most admired and successful education initiatives, photography students from Jack Yates High School document the cultural fabric of Houston’s historic Third Ward community.  Remarkable artistic talents emerge as these teenagers walk through the neighborhoods capturing candid images of day-to-day life. 

Thru June 13th: Alice Neel: Painted Truths – One of the greatest American painters of the 20th century, Alice Neel is best known for her psychologically accurate portraits. Having consciously set out to chronicle the zeitgeist of her time, Neel painted friends and family, as well as the celebrated artists and writers of her day such as Andy Warhol, Frank O’Hara and Meyer Shapiro.

Thru July 8th: Liquid Lines: Exploring the Language of Contemporary Metal – This exhibit surveys the innovative and diverse range of metal in the MFAH collection.

for more information, see www.mfah.org or call (713) 639-7300

 

Museum of Health & Medical Science  (1515 Hermann Drive)

Thru May 9th:  Backyard Monsters – The 6,000 square foot exhibit is a tour through what you’ve been stepping on in your own backyard. It’s where you are the size of the bug and the bugs are enormous! The giant animatronic insects move and make the chirping, clicking noises bugs make. The 8-foot tall robotic insects include a tarantula, ants, a wasp, caterpillar and a big, beautiful monarch butterfly. But don’t worry, they don’t bite! Visitors will also experience insect specimens and education stations. In the education stations, visitors can drive a robotic bug and learn to eat like a bug too! Find out what it’s like to see through the eyes of a bug. Learn how antennae work and why crickets chirp. And hundreds of insect samples from around the world will also be on display!

May 29th – September 6th:  Animation – Explore how art, math, science and technology come together in the exciting world of animation.  In Animation’s stimulating and fun environment, visitors will explore the process of animation from concept to finished product – from storyboarding, character design and drawing techniques to movement, timing, filming and sound.  Larger than life graphics of popular Cartoon Network characters provide a colorful backdrop to the exhibit, which also explores the history of animation and features a screening room and a cartoon museum.  Animation was developed by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in collaboration with Cartoon Network.

OngoingYou: The Exhibit - The Health Museum is proud to announce the first new permanent exhibition since its opening in 1996 - You: The Exhibit.  This unique gallery immerses visitors of all ages in The World of Tomorrow – reminiscent of the 1939 World’s Fair.  Join your fellow museum visitors in a learning environment that allows investigation into the who, what, where, when, and how of YOU. Using the latest multi-media and special effects technology, The Health Museum has created an experience that will take the museum visitor on a journey to explore their physical selves, mental selves and their future selves. The sophisticated media nature of the exhibition encourages group interaction and participation in the exhibition, and visitors are able to leave something of themselves behind to change the experience over time.

Ongoing:  The Amazing Body Pavilion – Take a larger than life tour of the human body and learn all about how your organs and bone work.  Sit on a giant tooth, ride a bicycle with a skeleton, walk through a giant brain and more.

OngoingMcGovern 4D Theater:  Take a journey into the alien landscape of your own skin with Planet You 3D, the latest 3D movie now showing at the McGovern Theater.  Find out all about the creepy, crawly things that live on your body.

Ongoing Surviving: The Body of Evidence – This seasonal exhibit will help you to learn more about the adaptations species make to survive their environments and find out how humans have evolved over millions of years. 

for more information see www.mhms.org or call (713) 942-7054

 

Space Center Houston   (1601 NASA Parkway)

RISK! – This new exhibit gives you a playful and informative look at risk in a way that could change how you view risk in your own life.  RISK! Presents some extraordinary, eye-opening situations that emphasize our perception or misperception of risk.  On the Beam Walk, imagine crossing a 7” wide steel beam 17 stories above the ground.  Sound a little risky?  Now add wind, blaring construction noises and a noisy flock of flying birds.  On the Bed of Nails, you can discover that lying on thousands of nails may not be the sticky situation you expected!  Will you escape harm or be punctured like a pin cushion?  The Extreme Gallery focuses on the response of science, technology and engineering to risk through objects developed in response to particular types of risk.  These activities and many more make RISKj! An exciting “crash course” lesson on how we approach life changing decisions.

Blast Off Theater:  Visit the only place in the world where you can personally experience the thrill of launching into space like a real astronaut.  It’s not just a movie; it’s the thrill of personally feeling the launch into space – from the rocket boosters to the billowing exhaust.  What have visitors said about their trips?  “It’s like IMAX in 10D!”.  After docking at the International Space Station, guests enter the theatre for an update on current shuttle missions, as well as details on the exploration of Mars.  The space program truly comes alive in the Mission Status Center, where Mission Briefing Officers provide live updates on current space flights and astronaut training activities.

Astronaut Gallery:  The Astronaut Gallery is an unparalleled exhibit outside Northrop Grumman Theater featuring the world's best collection of spacesuits. Astronaut John Young's ejection suit and Judy Resnik's T-38 flight suit are two of the many spacesuits on display. The walls of the Astronaut Gallery also contain crew photos of every U.S. astronaut who has flown in space.

Space Center Theater.  The challenge of President John F. Kennedy, to put a man on the moon by the end of the 60's, had its beginning several decades before the formation of NASA.  As the guests have seen in other parts of Space Center Houston, the equipment and the technology have been developing since Robert Goddard's time.  This attraction shows the excitement, the commitment and the risks taken by the people who fly in space.  Here we can see the evolution of the equipment and the training of the men and women who dreamed to be astronauts.  Nearly 300 people have flown in space since the first Mercury rocket took off in May 1961 with astronaut Alan Sheppard, Jr. on board.  That first flight lasted only 15 minutes.  Contrast that with the May 1992 flight of the Space Shuttle Endeavor, which was 9 days with 7 crew members on board. 

Starship Gallery.  The journey into space begins with the film “On Human Destiny”.  Artifacts and hardware on display in the Starship Gallery trace the progression of America’s Manned Space Flight.  This incredible collection includes: an original model of the Goddard Rocket; the actual Mercury Atlas 9 “Faith 7” capsule flown by Gordon Cooper; the Gemini V Spacecraft piloted by Pete Conrad and Gordon Cooper; a Lunar Roving Vehicle Trainer, the Apollo 17 Command Module, the giant Skylab Trainer, and the Apollo-Soyuz Trainer.

The Feel of Space.  The Living in Space module simulates what life is like for astronauts aboard the space station.  A Mission Briefing Officer gives a live presentation on how astronauts live in space.  The presentation uses humor to show how the smallest tasks like showering and eating are complicated by a microgravity environment.  A volunteer from the audience helps to prove the point. Beyond the Living in Space Module are 24 part task trainers that use sophisticated computer technology to provide visitors with the experience of landing the orbiter, retrieving a satellite or exploring shuttle systems.

for more information, see www.spacecenter.org or call (281) 244-2148

 

Sports

Houston Dynamo – Major League Soccer   (Robertson Stadium - University of Houston)

May 1st:         Houston Dynamo vs. Kansas City Wizards  7:30 p.m.

May 5th:         Houston Dynamo vs. FC Dallas  8:00 p.m.

May 8th:         Houston Dynamo vs. Chivas USA @  Los Angeles   9:30 p.m.

May 13th:       Houston Dynamo vs. Real Salt Lake @ Salt Lake  8:00 p.m.

May 22nd:      Houston Dynamo vs. D.C. United  7:00 p.m.

May 29th:       Houston Dynamo vs. Philadelphia Union  7:30 p.m.

June 2nd:       Houston Dynamo vs. New York Red Bulls @ New York    6:30 p.m.

June 5th:        Houston Dynamo vs. L. A. Galaxy @ Los Angeles   7:00 p.m.

June 26th:      Houston Dynamo vs. Colorado Rapids  7:30 p.m.

July 1st:          Houston Dynamo vs. Toronto FC @ Toronto  6:00 p.m.

July 10th:        Houston Dynamo vs. Columbus Crew  7:30 p.m.

July 24th:        Houston Dynamo vs. Columbus Crew @ Columbus  6:30 p.m.

July 31st:        Houston Dynamo vs. New York Red Bulls  7:30 p.m.

August 8th:    Houston Dynamo vs. Seattle Sounders @ Seattle  10:00 p.m.

August 14th:  Houston Dynamo vs. New England Revolution @ Foxborough   7:00 p.m.

August 21st:  Houston Dynamo vs. Chicago Fire  7:30 p.m.

August 28th:  Houston Dynamo vs. Colorado Rapids @ Colorado  8:30 p.m.

for more information, see www.houstondynamo.com

 

Houston Aeros – American Hockey League (West Division)       (Toyota Center, 1510 Polk)

Season is complete.

for more information, see www.aeros.com or call (713) 974-7825

 

Houston Rockets National Basketball Association   (Toyota Center, 1510 Polk)

Season is complete.

for more information, see www.rockets.com or call (713) 758-7200

  

Houston Texans Football  (Reliant Stadium)

Season is complete.

for more information, visit www.houstontexans.com or call 713-629-3700

 

Houston Astros  (Minute Maid Park, 501 Crawford)

May 1st:         Houston Astros vs. Atlanta Braves @ Atlanta  2:10 p.m.

May 2nd:        Houston Astros vs. Atlanta Braves @ Atlanta  12:35 p.m.

May 3rd:         Houston Astros vs. Arizona Diamondbacks  7:05 p.m.

May 4th:         Houston Astros vs. Arizona Diamondbacks  7:05 p.m.

May 5th:         Houston Astros vs. Arizona Diamondbacks  7:05 p.m.

May 6th:         Houston Astros vs. Arizona Diamondbacks  7:05 p.m.

May 7th:         Houston Astros vs. San Diego Padres  7:05 p.m.

May 8th:         Houston Astros vs. San Diego Padres  6:05 p.m.

May 9th:         Houston Astros vs. San Diego Padres  1:05 p.m.

May 11th:       Houston Astros vs. St. Louis Cardinals @ St. Louis  7:15 p.m.

May 12th:       Houston Astros vs. St. Louis Cardinals @ St. Louis  7:15 p.m.

May 13th:       Houston Astros vs. St. Louis Cardinals @ St. Louis  12:40 p.m.

May 14th:       Houston Astros vs. San Francisco Giants @ San Francisco  9:15 p.m.

May 15th:       Houston Astros vs. San Francisco Giants @ San Francisco  3:10 p.m.

May 16th:       Houston Astros vs. San Francisco Giants @ San Francisco  3:05 p.m.

May 17th:       Houston Astros vs. L. A. Dodgers @ Los Angeles  9:10 p.m.

May 18th:       Houston Astros vs. L.A. Dodgers @ Los Angeles  9:10 p.m.

May 19th:       Houston Astros vs. Colorado Rockies  7:05 p.m.

May 20th:       Houston Astros vs. Colorado Rockies  7:05 p.m.

May 21st:       Houston Astros vs. Tampa Bay Rays  7:05 p.m.

May 22nd:      Houston Astros vs. Tampa Bay Rays  6:05 p.m.

May 23rd:       Houston Astros vs. Tampa Bay Rays  1:05 p.m.

May 25th:       Houston Astros vs. Milwaukee Brewers @ Milwaukee  7:10 p.m.

May 26th:       Houston Astros vs. Milwaukee Brewers @ Milwaukee  7:10 p.m.

May 27th:       Houston Astros vs. Milwaukee Brewers @ Milwaukee  12:10 p.m.

May 28th:       Houston Astros vs. Cincinnati Reds @ Cincinnati  6:10 p.m.

May 29th:       Houston Astros vs. Cincinnati Reds @ Cincinnati  6:10 p.m.

May 30th:       Houston Astros vs. Cincinnati Reds @ Cincinnati  12:10 p.m.

May 31st:       Houston Astros vs. Washington Nationals  1:05 p.m.

June 1st:        Houston Astros vs. Washington Nationals  7:05 p.m.

June 2nd:       Houston Astros vs. Washington Nationals  7:05 p.m.

June 3rd:       Houston Astros vs. Washington Nationals  1:05 p.m.

June 4th:       Houston Astros vs. Chicago Cubs  7:05 p.m.

June 5th:       Houston Astros vs. Chicago Cubs  6:05 p.m.

June 6th:       Houston Astros vs. Chicago Cubs  1:05 p.m.

June 7th:       Houston Astros vs. Colorado Rockies @ Colorado  7:40 p.m.

June 8th:       Houston Astros vs. Colorado Rockies @ Colorado  7:40 p.m.

June 9th:       Houston Astros vs. Colorado Rockies @ Colorado  7:40 p.m.

June 10th:     Houston Astros vs. Colorado Rockies @ Colorado  2:10 p.m.

June 11th:     Houston Astros vs. N.Y. Yankees @ New York  6:05 p.m.

June 12th:     Houston Astros vs. N.Y. Yankees @ New York  12:05 p.m.

June 13th:     Houston Astros vs. N.Y. Yankees @ New York  12:05 p.m.

June 15th:     Houston Astros vs. Kansas City Royals @ Kansas City  7:10 p.m.

June 16th:     Houston Astros vs. Kansas City Royals @ Kansas City  7:10 p.m.

June 17th:     Houston Astros vs. Kansas City Royals @ Kansas City  7:10 p.m.

June 18th:     Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers  7:05 p.m.

June 19th:     Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers  6:05 p.m.

June 20th:     Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers  1:05 p.m.

June 22nd:    Houston Astros vs. San Francisco Giants  7:05 p.m.

June 23rd:     Houston Astros vs. San Francisco Giants  7:05 p.m.

June 24th:     Houston Astros vs. San Francisco Giants  1:05 p.m.

June 25th:     Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers @ Arlington  7:05 p.m.

June 26th:     Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers @ Arlington  2:05 p.m.

June 27th:     Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers @ Arlington  7:05 p.m.

June 28th:     Houston Astros vs. Milwaukee Brewers @ Milwaukee  7:10 p.m.

June 29th:     Houston Astros vs. Milwaukee Brewers @ Milwaukee  7:10 p.m.

June 30th:     Houston Astros vs. Milwaukee Brewers @ Milwaukee  1:10 p.m.

July 1st:         Houston Astros vs. San Diego Padres @ San Diego  9:05 p.m.

July 2nd:        Houston Astros vs. San Diego Padres @ San Diego  9:05 p.m.

July 3rd:         Houston Astros vs. San Diego Padres @ San Diego  7:35 p.m.

July 4th:         Houston Astros vs. San Diego Padres @ San Diego  3:05 p.m.

July 6th:         Houston Astros vs. Pittsburgh Pirates  7:05 p.m.

July 7th:         Houston Astros vs. Pittsburgh Pirates  7:05 p.m.

July 8th:         Houston Astros vs. Pittsburgh Pirates  1:05 p.m.

July 9th:         Houston Astros vs. St. Louis Cardinals  7:05 p.m.

July 10th:       Houston Astros vs. St. Louis Cardinals  6:05 p.m.

July 11th:       Houston Astros vs. St. Louis Cardinals  1:05 p.m.

July 16th:       Houston Astros vs. Pittsburgh Pirates @ Pittsburgh  6:05 p.m.

July 17th:       Houston Astros vs. Pittsburgh Pirates @ Pittsburgh  6:05 p.m.

July 18th:       Houston Astros vs. Pittsburgh Pirates @ Pittsburgh  12:35 p.m.

July 19th:       Houston Astros vs. Chicago Cubs @ Chicago  7:05 p.m.

July 20th:       Houston Astros vs. Chicago Cubs @ Chicago  7:05 p.m.

July 21st:       Houston Astros vs. Chicago Cubs @ Chicago  1:20 p.m.

July 23rd:       Houston Astros vs. Cincinnati Reds  7:05 p.m.

July 24th:       Houston Astros vs. Cincinnati Reds  6:05 p.m.

July 25th:       Houston Astros vs. Cincinnati Reds  1:05 p.m.

July 26th:       Houston Astros vs. Chicago Cubs  7:05 p.m.

July 27th:       Houston Astros vs. Chicago Cubs  7:05 p.m.

July 28th:       Houston Astros vs. Chicago Cubs  1:05 p.m.

July 30th:       Houston Astros vs. Milwaukee Brewers  7:05 p.m.

July 31st:       Houston Astros vs. Milwaukee Brewers  6:05 p.m.

August 1st:    Houston Astros vs. Milwaukee Brewers  1:05 p.m.

for more information, see http://houston.astros.mlb.com

 

College Sports

Rice University – Baseball

May 5th:         Rice vs. Texas Southern   6:30 p.m.

May 7th:         Rice vs. Marshall @ Charleston   1:05 p.m.

May 8th:         Rice vs. Marshall @ Charleston   1:05 p.m.

May 9th:         Rice vs. Marshall @ Charleston   9:35 p.m.

May 11th:       Rice vs. Oklahoma State @ Stillwater   6:30 p.m.

May 14th:       Rice vs. Southern Miss   7:00 p.m.

May 15th:       Rice vs. Southern Miss   2:00 p.m.

May 16th:       Rice vs. Southern Miss   1:00 p.m.

May 18th:       Rice vs. Houston @ Cougars   6:30 p.m.

May 20th:       Rice vs. UAB   6:30 p.m.

May 21st:       Rice vs. UAB   6:30 p.m.

May 22nd:      Rice vs. UAB   1:00 p.m.

May 26th:       Rice vs. TBA   TBA Conference USA Championship

May 27th:       Rice vs. TBA   TBA Conference USA Championship

May 28th:       Rice vs. TBA   TBA Conference USA Championship

May 29th:       Rice vs. TBA   TBA Conference USA Championship

for more information, see http://riceowls.cstv.com/sports  

 

University of Houston – Baseball

May 1st:         U of H vs. UAB @ Birmingham   6:30 p.m.

May 2nd:        U of H vs. UAB @ Birmingham   11:00 a.m.

May 7th:         U of H vs. Tulane   6:30 p.m.

May 8th:         U of H vs. Tulane   6:30 p.m.

May 9th:         U of H vs. Tulane   1:00 p.m.

May 11th:       U of H vs. Texas A&M   6:30 p.m.

May 14th:       U of H vs. Marshall   6:30 p.m.

May 15th:       U of H vs. Marshall   6:30 p.m.

May 16th:       U of H vs. Marshall   11:00 a.m.

May 18th:       U of H vs. Rice   6:30 p.m.

May 20th:       U of H vs. East Carolina @ Greenville   6:00 p.m.

May 21st:       U of H vs. East Carolina @ Greenville   6:00 p.m.

May 22nd:      U of H vs. East Carolina @ Greenville   12:00 p.m.

May 26th:       U of H vs. TBA   TBA Conference USA Championship

May 27th:       U of H vs. TBA   TBA Conference USA Championship

May 28th:       U of H vs. TBA   TBA Conference USA Championship

May 30th:       U of H vs. TBA   TBA Conference USA Championship

for more information, see http://uhcougars.cstv.com/sports   

 

Parks

Houston Arboretum  (4501 Woodway)

Wednesdays – May 5th, 12th, 19th & 26th:  Introductory Tai Chi - The Arboretum provides a serene, natural backdrop for this graceful, meditative form of exercise.  Class is held outside except when weather conditions are prohibitive. Cost is $45 per month or $15 per session. 5:45 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.

Thursdays – May 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th:  Yoga on the Way Home - Why fight the traffic?  Slow down and relax in the peaceful beauty of the Arboretum during a one-hour yoga session in the Arboretum's classroom overlooking the forest.  Cost is $15 per session or $10 a session when registering for the month.  Registration is required. 5:45 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.

May 1st:  Tadpole Troopers: Weird Amphibians (ages 3-5 with an adult) Tadpole Troopers is a nature class for 3, 4 and 5 year olds with an adult.  Come feel the cold slimy wet skin of an amphibian. Students will have a great time exploring a frog’s slimy skin, suction cup like toes and other wacky characteristic of amphibians.  $13 for members/ $26 for non-members. 9:00 – 10:15 a.m. & 10:45 a.m. – Noon. Pre-registration required.

May 1st:   Naturalist Explorers: Worm Your Way into Composting – Composting is nature’s way of recycling.  Discover how worms help to recycle food waste into rich soil and take home your own compost starter kit.  $15 for members/$30 for non-members.  9:00 – 11:00 a.m. or 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

May 1st:  EcoTrackers: Composting – A Great Way to Rot (ages 9-12) EcoTracker classes inspire young naturalists with hands-on, engaging activities about a nature topic each month.  Composting is a great way to recycle food scraps.  Learn what it takes to make composting successful.  Students will take home their own compost starter.  Cost: $15 for members/$30 for non-members. Pre-registration required by noon on Friday prior to class.  9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

May 14th:  Tadpole Troopers: Weird Amphibians (ages 3-5 with an adult) Tadpole Troopers is a nature class for 3, 4 and 5 year olds with an adult.  Come feel the cold slimy wet skin of an amphibian. Students will have a great time exploring a frog’s slimy skin, suction cup like toes and other wacky characteristic of amphibians.  $13 for members/ $26 for non-members. 10:30 – 11:45 a.m.  Pre-registration required.

May 15th:  Tadpole Troopers: Weird Amphibians (ages 3-5 with an adult) Tadpole Troopers is a nature class for 3, 4 and 5 year olds with an adult.  Come feel the cold slimy wet skin of an amphibian. Students will have a great time exploring a frog’s slimy skin, suction cup like toes and other wacky characteristic of amphibians.  $13 for members/ $26 for non-members. 9:00 – 10:15 a.m. & 10:45 a.m. – Noon. Pre-registration required.

May 21st:  Home School Programs – Fabulous Frogs – Come and learn all about frogs and toads.  We will learn frog calls and imitate them by using everyday objects and learn about their habitat needs by creating take home habitats for tadpole.  Groups of 10 or more.

May 22nd:  Backcountry First Aid – This course will teach participants to provide first aid for common outdoor injuries and accidents.  The course will be divided between lectures and hands-on practice of the content through short practical scenarios.  The topics will include environmental injuries (hypothermia, dehydration, sunburn, submersion injuries, snake bites and stings) and patient assessment (fractures, dislocations, sprains, strains and splinting).  $65 for members/$75 for non-members.  1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

May 23rd:  Edible Wild Plants – The Real Organic Food – From acorns to wild violets, the Texas landscape is filled with an abundance of wild edibles.  Ancient foodstuff can be found everywhere from outside your front door to the depths of the piney woods.  Learn where to find, how to identify and proper preparation of the fruits, shoots, roots and salad greens growing all around you.  Whether you are learning to survive in the woods or just want to cut your food bills, this class is for you.  Topics will include hands-on plant identification; responsible harvesting techniques; preparation of foods; dangerous mimics and poisonous plants; and edible landscaping.  Bring comfortable walking shoes, water, a sack lunch and bug repellent.   A pen or pencil and a camera are also recommended.  A guide sheet will be provided.

Thursdays – June 3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th:  Yoga on the Way Home - Why fight the traffic?  Slow down and relax in the peaceful beauty of the Arboretum during a one-hour yoga session in the Arboretum's classroom overlooking the forest.  Cost is $15 per session or $10 a session when registering for the month.  Registration is required. 5:45 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.

for more information, see www.houstonarboretum.org or call (713) 681-8433

 

Houston Zoo  (1513 North McGregor)

Founded in 1922, the ever-evolving Houston Zoo is an exciting recreational destination and a unique educational resource serving 1.4 million guests annually.  Set in a lush 55-acre landscape, the Zoo is home to more than 3,100 exotic animals representing more than 500 species.  The first Saturday of every month, Houston Zoo Members are invited to enjoy the Zoo an hour earlier and see keepers, grounds crew, and other staff preparing to open the Zoo for the day, including releasing animals from their night holds into their habitats. Members can experience the Zoo before the crowds on these select mornings and start the day off right with a trip to the Zoo.  Please note that the Wildlife Carousel, and concessions stands, and cafes will open at 9:00 a.m. The Gift Shop, Aquarium and Natural Encounters will open at 8:00 a.m.  

May 1st:  Early Bird Day – Gates open at 7:30 a.m. with continental breakfast included.  The Houston Zoo’s famed bird collection is one of the largest in U.S. zoos with approximately 250 species and 800 specimens, ranging from South American Guira Cuckoos to Caribbean-bred St. Vincent Parrots to New Guinea’s own Cassowary – the most dangerous bird on the planet.  Join Hannah Bailey, the Zoo’s Curator of Birds and the bird team for a “bird watching tour” through our extensive bird exhibits, including Duck Lake, the Fischer Bird Gardens and our Birds of the World outside exhibits – all beautifully landscaped and flush with a wide array of colorful avian species.  Time permitting, we may even get to show you some of our off-exhibit species, waiting for their chance to shine in the spotlight.  The morning will end in the Tropical Bird House with breakfast for our guests and for our birds as well!  $25 for members/$30 for non-members.

May 1st:  Horticulture Tour – Gates open at 7:30 a.m. with continental breakfast included.  The Houston Zoo is home to a lush and diverse array of tropical and native plants, flowers, trees and various ground coverings.  A hidden oasis in the middle of bustling metropolis.  A shaded, yet vibrant retreat for animals and people alike.  Various palms, cycads and bamboos abound, along with flowers of every color, shape and size.  Join Joe Williams, Manager of Horticulture at the Zoo, as he leads an intimate stroll across the Zoo grounds, highlighting the many species of plant life flourishing in our 55 acres and outlining details, history and maintenance requirements.  The zoo’s team of over a dozen horticulture professionals spends over 20,000 hours each year planting, pruning and working tirelessly to keep the landscape healthy, vibrant and colorful for our animals and guests.  Don’t miss the chance to appreciate the results.  $25 for members/ $30 for non-members.

May 1st:  Member’s First Saturday – The Houston Zoo is open at 8:00 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month for a Member’s Only early entrance.  Don’t forget to bring your membership card and photo i.d.

May 8th:  Photo Day at the Houston Zoo – Due to enthusiastic demand, The Zoo has taken our Wildly popular Photo Days and expanded them into a year-long series of 6 photo outings scheduled throughout 2010.  On May 8th, at 7:00 a.m. you can come to the Zoo and capture images of the Zoo’s animals and lush landscaping 2 hours before our normal opening time.  Take advantage of the morning lighting and cooler weather and get memorable shots of some of the Zoo’s early risers as they start their day by getting fed and bathed.  Ticket holders will be treated to a continental breakfast, scheduled animal photo ops and a professional photography presentation.  Adult member $30/child member $20.  Adult non-member $40/child non-member $30.

May 8th:  Member Morning – Howler Monkeys – Member mornings offer a chance to hear from one of the Zoo’s experts and gain professional insight about a select animal resident or area of the Zoo.  Learn from the best in the field about what it really takes to care for the diverse animals that call the Zoo home.  Plus, you can enjoy the Zoo before it gets crowded.  Programs begins promptly at 9:15 a.m. and last for approximately 45 minutes.

May 9th:  Breakfast with the Animals – Sea Lions – Breakfast is going wild on Mother’s Day!  It will be a wild morning when you start your day with the sea lions.  Swim on over and you will have the opportunity to watch the feeding habits and enrichment activities of our sea lions, and enjoy breakfast too.  This unique experience is designed to provide you with interesting educational messages while stimulating healthy natural-like behaviors in our animal ambassadors.  $65 per person.   7:15 – 9:00 a.m. – reservations required.

May 22nd:  Breakfast with the Animals – Birds – Don’t miss the chance to have breakfast with the birds.  Fly on over into Fisher Bird Garden and you will have the opportunity to watch the feeding habits and enrichment activities of our birds, and enjoy breakfast too.  $60 per person.  7:15 – 9:00 a.m. – reservations required.

for more information, see www.houstonzoo.org or call (713) 533-6500

 

Food & Wine Related Events

Wine Dinner with Beringer Vineyards – Ouisie’s Table  (3939 San Felipe)

May 3rd: Join the team at Ouisie’s Table for a special evening with Ed Sbragia, one of California’s most talented and respected winemakers.  Private Reserve wines from Beringer Vineyards and selections from Sbragia Family Vineyards will be served with a perfectly paired 5 course meal.  $75 per person (plus tax and gratuity).  6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

for more information, call (713) 528-2264

 

Churrascos Westchase Wine Dinner  (9705 Westheimer)

May 3rd:  Five-course dinner featuring Argento wines from Argentina.  $59 per person (plus tax and gratuity).  Open seating. 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.

for more information, call (713) 952-1988

 

Pegau Wine Dinner – Brasserie Max & Julie  (4315 Montrose Blvd.)

May 4th: Don’t miss this wonderful five course meal, paired with wines from the Domaine du Pegau estate of southern France.  Brasserie Max and Julie welcomes Laurence Feraud, proprietor and winemaker, who will be attending the dinner event.  $92 per person (plus tax and gratuity).  7:00 – 10:00 p.m. 

for more information, call (713) 524-0070

 

The Art of Wine at Hotel Sorella with Photographer Jim Olive (800 W. Sam Houston Pkwy. North)

May 5th: Hotel Sorella and Sculptures by Design gallery present a new monthly series, “The Art of Wine”, which will be held in the hotel’s second lobby lounge.  Each month at this open to the public event, attendees will be invited to challenge both their taste in art and their taste buds.  May’s event will feature pieces by famed oil and gas photographer Jim Olive and wine will be provided by BevCo International.  Guests will enjoy a complimentary wine sampling and overview of the vineyard, while mingling with Jim Olive amongst his photographs.  No charge.  5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

 for more information, call (713) 524-2800

 

Churrascos River Oaks Wine Dinner   (2055 Westheimer)

May 10th:  Five-course dinner featuring wines from the Pacific Northwest.  $59 per person.  Open seating.  5:00 – 9:00 p.m.

for more information, call (713) 527-8300

 

A Culinary Evening with Domaine de la Garenne Bandol – Bistro Don Camillo  (6510 Del Monte)

May 11th: This dinner, created by the bistro’s owners Jean Phillippe and Genevieve Guy, will include four courses, paired with four Bandol wines, especially chosen for the event.  The final pouring of the eveing will be Domaine de la Gareene Bandol Rouge 2007, a wine that will not be available for purchase in the Houston area until fall.  $58 per person (plus tax and gratuity).  7:00 – 10:30 p.m. 

for more information, call (713) 782-3011

 

Lassegue Wine Dinner – The Capital Grille  (5365 Westheimer)

May 11th: Don’t miss this evening of great food and wine, featuring the culinary creations of Executive Chef, Ricardo Vargas and winemaker, Pierre Seillan from Verite.  Cocktails and Hors d’oeuvres at 7:00, with dinner at 7:30 p.m.  $125 per person (plus tax and gratuity).  7:00 – 9:30 p.m. 

for more information, call (713) 623-4600

 

Galleria Singles Progressive Dinner – Arcodoro/Ruggles/Grand Lux Cafe  (5000 Westheimer)

May 14th: This group will be visiting three of Houston’s hottest spots, representing cuisine as diverse as the city’s population.  Beginning at Arcodoro, you’ll find upscale Italian with a romantic flare.  Next, Ruggles, with a new American fusion menu and an eclectic setting to match.  Finally, it is off to a grand finale at Grand Lux Café – their desserts will be the perfect end to the evening.  $60 per person (plus tax and gratuity).  6:00 – 10:00 p.m. 

for more information, call (281) 870-0827

 

Seghesio Wine Tasting – Pappas Grill  (12000 Highway 59 South)

May 14th: The Seghesio Family Vineyards has been in operation since Edoardo and Angela Seghesio planted the first vines in 1895.  The winery is now run by 4th generation Seghesio family members and boast estate wines that are still being passionately produced.  Join us as we proudly showcase the rich history from this outstanding winery.  $35 per person (plus gratuity).  6:00 – 7:00 p.m. 

for more information, call (281) 277-9292

 

Passport to the Rhone Wine Tasting – Pappas Bros. Steakhouse  (5839 Westheimer)

May 14th: The sun-kissed Rhone Valley in southeastern France has produced wine for nearly two thousand years.  Characterized by widely dissimilar climates and soils, it is no wonder that the grape varieties and blending techniques of the area have been emulated in regions across the globe.  This is your passport to explore the diversity of this stellar region.    $65 per person (plus gratuity).  5:30 – 7:00 p.m. 

for more information, call (713) 780-7352

 

Wine Tasting sponsored by University of Houston College of Business - Artista Restaurant  (800 Bagby – Hobby Center)

May 16th:  This event will feature Robin Goldstein, the founder and editor in chief of the Fearless Critic series, as well as David Cordua, Executive Chef of Cordua Restaurants. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Bauer Alumni Scholarships Fund.  $100 per person.  Open seating. 6:30 p.m.

for more information, call (713) 743-4716

 

Texas Beer Dinner – Pappas Bros. Steakhouse  (5839 Westheimer)

May 21st: Beer has proudly been produced in Texas since the 1800’s.  German and British immigrants brought their brewing traditions and started crafting beer that became unique to the Lone Star State. This dinner showcases the talent and diversity of beer from the great State of Texas.  $65 per person (plus tax and gratuity).  7:00 – 10:00 p.m. 

for more information, call (713) 780-7352

 

Americas – Post Oak – Wine Dinner   (1800 Post Oak Blvd.)

May 24th:  Five-course dinner featuring Pascual Toso wines from Mendoza, Argentina.  $65 per person.  Open seating.  5:00 – 9:00 p.m.

for more information, call (713) 961-1492

 

Americas – The Woodlands – Wine Dinner   (21 Waterway Avenue, The Woodlands)

May 24th:  Five-course dinner featuring Pascual Toso wines from Mendoza, Argentina.  $65 per person.  Open seating.  5:00 – 9:00 p.m.

for more information, call (281) 367-1492

 

ZD Wine Dinner – Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse (1510 Texas Avenue)

May 27th: Don’t miss this four course dinner, paired with selections from ZD Vineyards.  $150 per person (plus tax and gratuity).  7:00 – 9:00 p.m. 

for more information, call (713) 228-1111

 

Wine & Food Week – Wine Walk at Market Street  (9595 Six Pines Drive, The Woodlands)

June 17th: This event will have more than 40 wine-serving stations set up among the retail stores and galleries in the European styled shopping and entertainment center.  Guests can enjoy cooking and chef demonstrations, as well as live music, along with the wine. $50per person (plus tax and gratuity).  5:30 – 8:30 p.m. 

for more information, call (713) 557-5732

 

Wine & Food Week – Sips, Suds & Sliders – CityCentre Life Time Athletic - Poolside  (815 Town & Country Lane)

June 18th: Mix and mingle and enjoy Sips, Suds & Sliders, a exploration of specialty beers, Texas wines and a gourmet slider competition, where culinary experts vie for the Shining Slider award.  This is a fun and casual environment, perfect for friends out on the town.  Live Texas music serenades guests enjoying the Texas Two Step & the Texas Two Sip or Suds with their sliders.  $20 per person.  5:30 – 8:30 p.m. 

for more information, call (713) 557-5732

 

Wine & Food Week – Wine Rendezvous Grand Tasting – Texas Monthly Chef Showcase  (The Woodlands Waterway Marriott – 1601 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands)

June 19th: Chef’s representing over 50 restaurants from around Texas, as well as beyond, will fly in to showcase their culinary talents and compete for Wine & Food Week’s Waterford Crystal Chef of Chefs award.  As the first destination culinary and wine event in the country to go “green”, chefs will prepare their selections focusing on sustainable products that are certain to tantalize the taste buds of participants.  Enjoy their talents first hand with presentations on the Texas Monthly Stage, where one chef will win top honors and a $5,000+ prize package.  $98 per person (plus tax and gratuity).  7:00 – 10:00 p.m. 

for more information, call (713) 557-5732

 

For additional information on wine tasting events at local wine shops around town, see: www.localwineevents.com

 

Central Market Cooking School   (Westheimer @ Weslayan)

May 1st:         6:30 p.m.  California Grilling – Jacquelyn Buchanan, Culinary Instructor – Laura’s Chenel’s Chévre

May 5th:         6:30 p.m.  Sushi – Chris Nemoto, Exeuctive Chef – Zushi Japanese Cuisine

May 6th:         6:30 p.m.  Texas Trailblazers – Paula Lambert – The Mozzarella Company & Susan Auler – Fall Creek Vineyards

May 7th:         6:30 p.m.  Couples Cook: Southwest Meets Spain (Tapas) – hands-on class – Kathy Tauber, Avid Foodie, Chef & Owner of EZ*Eatz!

May 8th:         2:00 p.m.  Tea for Two: Your Mother & You – hands-on class – Marian  Tindall, Culinary Instructor

May 11th:       6:30 p.m.  Celebrating Spring The Thai Way – hands-on class – Nicole Routhier, Chef & Author

May 12th:       10:30 a.m.  Empanadas Mendocinas – hands-on class – Central Market Cooking School Staff

May 12th:       6:30 p.m.  Couples Cook: Steaks on the Grill – hands-on class – Central Market Cooking School Staff

May 13th:       2:00 p.m.  Tea Time: Yerba Mate with Torta Frita – Central Market Cooking School Staff

May 13th:       6:30 p.m.  Winemaker Dinner with Susana Balbo – Susana Balbo, Crios, Argentina

May 14th:       10:00 a.m.  Spice Up Your Meals: Argentine Sauces – hands-on class – Central Market Cooking School Staff

May 14th:       6:30 p.m.  Winemaker Dinner with Laura Catena – Laura Catena, winemaker, Argentina

May 15th:       10:30 a.m.  Parent & Child: Panqueques with Dulce de Leche – Central Market Cooking School Staff

May 15th:       6:30 p.m.  Wines and Food of Mendoza – Chef Diego Coll Benegas

May 16th:       12:00 p.m.  Empanadas de Atun y Morrones – Central Market Cooking School Staff

May 16th:       3:00 p.m.  Tea Time: Yerba Mate with Torta Frita – Central Market Cooking School Staff

May 16th:       6:00 p.m.  Skirt Steak with Rosti Potatoes – hands-on class – Central Market Cooking School Staff

May 17th:       10:30 a.m.      Panqueques with Dulce de Leche –hands-on class – Central Market Cooking School Staff

May 17th:       1:00 p.m.  Argentine Olive Oil Tasting – Central Market Cooking School Staff

May 17th:       6:30 p.m.  Picada with Robert Pepi – Robert Pepi, winemaker – Bianchi Winery, Mendoza & Central Market Cooking School Staff

May 18th:       10:30 a.m.  Sweet & Savory Piononos – hands-on class – Central Market Cooking School Staff

May 18th:       2:00 p.m.  Tea Time: Yerba Mate with Bunuelos de Batata – Central Market Cooking School Staff

May 18th:       6:30 p.m.  Steaks on the Grill – hands-on class – Central Market Cooking School Staff

May 19th:       10:30 a.m.  Spice Up Your Meals – hands-on class – Central Market Cooking School Staff

May 19th:       6:30 p.m.  Picada with Krim Mussi – Karim Mussi – Altocedro Winery, Argentina & Central Market Cooking School Staff

May 20th:       6:00 p.m.  An Evening with Francis Mallmann – Francis Mallmann, Chef, Argentina

May 21st:       10:30 a.m.  Savory, Scrumptious Sandwiches – hands-on class – Central Market Cooking School Staff

May 21st:       6:30 p.m.  Winemaker Dinner with Sebastian Zuccardi – Sebastian Zuccardi, Zuccardi Wines

May 22nd:     12:00 p.m.  Lunch with Roberto Luka, Finca Sophenia – Roberto Luka – Finca Sophenia, Argentina & Central Market Cooking School Staff

May 22nd:      6:30 p.m.  Narda Lepes Presents Argentine Tranditions – Narda Lepes, Host of El Gourmet, Argentina

May 23rd:       12:00 p.m.  An Assortment of Argentine Breads – Central Market Cooking School Staff

May 23rd