With a little bit of this...

First off, the ExxonMobile symphony series continues at Miller Outdoor tonight.  For any of you that have never seen a live symphony performance, you really should.  A live performance is so much better than listening to the radio or a recording.  I don't know why, but it really does...

Staying in the listening mode, I just have to reiterate that there are concerts and happenings going on all the time.  Discovered that the burb north of Houston called The Woodlands has a pavilion with an outstanding line up this summer.  They have everything from Big Time Rush to the Jonas Brothers to Black Sabbath playing this summer.  This is something to definitely check out.

I will also try to do another photo walk somewhere.  Not sure where yet, but I know I can find somewhere.  Also starting to get the itch for a new city.  Maybe Austin, maybe San Antonio...

What a weekend

There is something to be said about laying out in the grass watching a performance.  I have always enjoyed this type of venue, whether it be the Springfield Muni Opera, or the Muny in St. Louis or (especially) the wonderful Miller Outdoor Theater here in Houston.

It was especially appealing this weekend because the Houston Symphony was playing there this weekend.  It was their 100th birthday concert and the music was just simply beautiful.  Add on top of that the fact that the "large moon" thing is happening and it really made for a great evening.

My two rugrats have flown back to Indiana, so this old man is a bit down at the moment.  So this evening I will be heading over to 14 Pews for a movie entitled "Hey Bartender".  I think I know what the subject of the film is...

When the munchkins arrive...

Two of my favorite people showed up over the past weekend and will be here for a couple of weeks.  Since I have not stockpiled enough vacation time yet, these two will be heading off to camp during the day.

Note to parents:  there are more camps and daily activities to do in this city than you can shake a stick at...

My two are enrolled in the Main Street Theater summer camp.  This wonderful camp has the kids creating their own play complete with dialog and choreography.  And we are not talking a live improv at show time.  No, they will have lines to memorize, marks to hit, and scenes to fill.  Of course, the folks who run the camp are smart because the first day the kids learned stage fighting.  My ten year old daughter came running to the car and yelled "I learned how to fake slap someone in the face and kick them in the head!" That is my little princess...

Aside from the camp, we will be visiting the zoo (one of my favorite places), the Natural Science Museum and heading down to the beach in Galveston.  Since my kids live in Indiana, which to my surprise does not have an ocean or gulf to it's name, they will love to frolic in the salt water.

There are a number of other things that we will be doing such as enjoying a couple of performances at the Miller Outdoor Auditorium and listening to zydeco at the Juneteenth celebration.

Fun is to be had as always...

Dancing the night away...

...and then tipping back a few.

Houston Metropolitan Dance Company - Photo by Simon Gentry

The Houston Metropolitan Dance Company is performing tonight at the Miller Outdoor Theater.  I will admit that it took me a while to warm up to modern dance.  I credit the television show "So you think you can dance" with educating me in this realm.  Now, I have come to appreciate a lot of modern dance for the beauty that it displays.  The stories that can be told through dance are as wonderfully pleasing to watch as the sheer elegance of a Viennese waltz.

As I have stated on this blog repeatedly, this is one of the benefits of living in the fourth largest city in the United States.  I have seen the Houston Ballet, the Houston Grand Opera, and tonight, the Houston Met.  Life is really good.

Tomorrow is the Houston Beer Fest.  It is basically a showcase of different beers from around the world with musical acts playing near Hermann Park.  Where I grew up in Springfield, IL (hometown of Abraham Lincoln) we had a yearly festival called "Lincoln Fest", it was a street festival that became known as "Drinkin' Fest".  Wonder if this will be similar?

Almost forgot to mention that I went to Jones Hall to see the Blue Man Group on Tuesday night.  If you have not been to Jones Hall, I would really recommend attending an event there.  It is a beautiful theater.  From what I understand, Jones Hall is home to the Grand Opera and the Symphony.

Scheduling madness...

After a number of years wanting to go see them, I am finally pulling the trigger.  Tomorrow night, I am going to see Blue Man Group.  I am very excited.  But, there was a dilemma in choosing to attend this event.

There is just so much going on here...

For example, the same night as the Blue Man Group (which... keep in mind, is on a Tuesday night) is a professional production of "FlashDance, the Musical" at the Theater Under the Stars, an interview/discussion with Dr. Ruth Westheimer at the Museum of Fine Arts (which strangely seems appropriate), a "Last Chef Standing" tasting event, a Sherlock Holmes play at the Alley Theater... and more.

...on a Tuesday night!

Point being, there is always something going on and happening in this wonderful city.  To be perfectly frank, the major reason I pulled the trigger on going to see BMG is because I got a notice of half price tickets from Goldstar.  Now to see if they were worth the wait.