Well...it IS Texas, after all...

It is Rodeo Time!  Or should I say Rodeo Up or Cowboy Up... I have no idea.  I am after all, a rather simple Illinois boy.

Evidently the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (www.rodeohouston.com) is a yearly event and is the largest rodeo in the country.  It is a three week event with some rather major country/western stars performing.  There is a national BBQ cook off (invitation only - no, I didn't get one), livestock show, horse show and, of course, the rodeo.  I am going to try to visit Reliant stadium (where the NFL Houston Texans play) to check it out.

Now, I have to admit that my father rode the rodeo circuit for a time in the mid-fifties and from the time I was a little widget I was on horseback.  My dad had a job as a ranch hand setting up the rodeos, handling the animals and such.  The way it worked was a lot like the circus, they entered a town and the locals would sign up to compete in the various events for cash prizes.  If there were not enough participants, the ranch hands would be allowed to compete.  My father rode bulls.  I asked him why in god's name he would ride the bulls instead of the horses and his answer was very simple.  Bulls go round and round, horses go round and round AND up and down.  Made sense to me...

My father regaled us with stories of some of the stars that used to travel with them and perform at the events.  Harpo Marx was as funny as advertised and when he wasn't performing, he was playing cards with the ranch hands.  There were a number of movie stars and old vaudevillians that he got to meet and talk to... I am still jealous.

I also still love horses.  I just love to ride...been too long since I have.

Black tie and tails...

I am excited!  I am going to see Man of LaMancha.  I do love that show.  There is a series called Theatre Under the Stars (www.tuts.com) and it is a wonderful season.  I am going to see "How 2 Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" at The Woodlands this weekend (www.classactproductions.org/).  The Houston Ballet is performing "La Bayadere (The temple dancer)".  The Houston Symphony is wonderfully attended (I will be there), there is Shakespeare in the park (I will be there), numerous smaller, independent theaters.  Movie houses that show independent films.  The list goes on and on...

This is one of the greatest benefits of living in a large city.  Alongside the culinary choices are the wonderful breadth of artistic endeavors.  Just like you could find any restaurant to fit your particular mood at any given moment, you can find culture to fit your mood and tastes.

I am just having a ball...

Walking photos...

Had a very pleasant weekend.  Well...actually, I had a very pleasant Sunday.  Saturday was spent cleaning the apartment.

But on Sunday I drove out to Spring, Texas (actually, they call it Old Town Spring) for something called a photo walk.  Now I have always been a sucker for kitsch and touristy places, and this place was a good example of what I like.  Everything from a shop that sells bathtub rubber duckies, to artisan shops, to very patriotic wares.

The shops were all very colorfully painted and inviting.  Next to the Loose Caboose (a railway car turned into a restaurant) there was a wonderful band playing 70s and 80s music.  A guitar and a bass player was all that was needed.  Sitting and listening for a couple of hours...  Life is good.

The Brits and the Woods...

Did a northern exploration this past weekend.  Discovered a place called The Woodlands (yes, the word 'The' is a part of the title of the burg).  It is a rather... um...pretty suburb north of Houston.  What I mean by my hesitancy is that it also seemed very sterile.  One of those places that has been built to be hip.  It was perfectly nice.  There is a man-made stream/creek/river that is lit wonderfully and the restaurants and bars are nicely placed for easy access.  I ended up eating at Bar Louie and had a nice burger (I think)... and I guess that is the issue I had with the area, everything was very pleasant but as my friend (who lives there) told me... "Welcome to Stepford".  That is the perfect way to describe the place.

The next evening I finally found a wonderful British Pub called the Baker Street Pub and Grill.  Enjoyed a shepherd's pie and a rather interesting peach cider.  The place was absolutely marvelously decorated and laid out.  But the most interesting thing about the whole evening was the employees.  One word - young.  It got to be funny how our waitress would just appear seemingly out of nowhere, interrupt the conversation and ask how we were doing.  It almost got to be a game with us trying to guess when she would appear again.

That is one of the best things about living in a large city.  Variety.  Nothing is predictable and that is quite frankly, the spice of life.  Viva le Difference...

Looking for a twang...

Now I know that I have not been here in the Bayou City for very long.  I will admit that I have not put a concentrated effort into this, but I have not seen the music scene.  Please, please... I understand that I need to put a little effort into it... but the few times I have actually wandered around or walked from a restaurant to my car, there has been a surprising lack of tunes floating in the air.

You can walk around downtown Chicago or LA and hear the bands (both for good or for ill) playing in the bars to the appreciative patrons.  I have not discovered it here yet.  Now I cannot believe that it does not exist.  The fourth largest city in the country has to have a stable of musicians.  Especially in a southern city where the weather is absolutely ideal from September through June.

I know that we have a very good symphony.  I know that we have a very active musical theatre scene.  I was just hoping to see that smoky jazz or blues club that serves a shot and a beer for a couple of bucks.  Or perhaps that piano bar that is over-crowded and everyone is tipsy and singing at the top of their lungs.  Even the honky-tonk with dirty beer steins and everyone wearing cowboy boots and an ugly plaid shirt...   I know that they are here... they just have to be.

Theatre, the Zoo, and a walk...

I went out for a walk around Hermann Park on Sunday.  Saw my boss at the zoo with her daughter, and got to talk theatre with a volunteer costumer from some place called the Woodlands (evidently it is a suburb).  It was a beautiful 75 degrees and life is good.

The Museum district here in Houston is really a wonderful area.  I love the idea that all of the major museums are in one area of the city and it is even better that Hermann Park is right there.  A museum (in my mind) is all about discovery and exploration.  Whether it be art, history, animals, medical devices (at the museum of medical something or other), we all visit these places to discover or awaken a part of ourselves.  What better time than this to go for a walk..?

Now I will admit to being a bit disappointed at the size of the Houston Zoo.  For a city this size, I was expecting some thing much bigger.  I grew up going to the St. Louis Zoo so my expectations may be a bit unfair.  Having said that, the Houston Zoo is a beautiful place.  The layout and design of the place is really nice and relaxing.  The highlight of the visit (aside from the company), was the orangutan that had a small blanket covering his head that made him look like Yenta from "Fiddle on the Roof".  I love animals...

Later I got shorn at a Sports Clips...you know, every six months whether I need it or not... then fell asleep watching the Super Bowl.  A great weekend.

All about the food...

I went to eat at a wonderful Italian restaurant last night.  The service at Mancuso's Italian Table was simply wonderful and the lobster ravioli was fabulous.  The house wine was close to the edge, but acceptable.  Now, this column is not going to be a restaurant review (although if the fantastic people at Mancuso's read this and want to give me a free meal...).  I want to use my experience last night as an example of the wide variety of offerings in my new city.  Now, bear with me...

In my six weeks here in Houston, I have dined at two Italian, one Vietnamese, two Greek, one cajun, one middle eastern, one Japanese, three Mexican/Tex-Mex and two Chinese restaurants.  Now here is the kicker...all but one of them were within walking distance to my apartment and the other one was with a ten minute drive.  This also does not count the national chains (McDonalds, Subway, Sonic, Bennigans, Chipolte, Pot Belly's, etc..) that I will reluctantly admit to visiting.  Being the person that I am... it is really great to be here.  I am so enamored with the diversity of offerings that this city has to present.

Now I have only scratched the surface in my food journey.  As I have said previously, this is a vibrant, exciting city of over two million people and growing (yes, growing).  Now, I may end up weighing over three hundred pounds by the time I am finished sampling and enjoying everything but that is a risk I am willing to take...

...I have GOT to try that Fondue restaurant.  I just love the thought of that.