midtown paper_4Q13 by QuantumSUR

midtown

what’s inside

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in & about list of happenings in midtown

Sebastien "MrD" Boileau, Urban Jungle

mark your calendar midtown meetings and events

vive midtown! a lasting contribution to midtown’s vibrant cultural diversity

strike up the band! 2014 MLK grande parade the art of framing more than a tip... helping hands in midtown

who do i call

what’s for brunch? • brennan’s • mr. peeples • blackfinn • cyclone anaya’s • gloria’s restaurants • sparrow bar + cookshop • the breakfast klub • natachee’s supper ‘n punch

Wu Tsang, Bliss (working title)

arts calendar a list of midtown art events

amy lynch kolflat charles washington

lookinside

midtownmap

Definitions with midtown meanings...

in•for•ma•tion

facts provided or learned about something or someone... access new information at houston midtown. com or find it in your free, weekly e-News delivered to your Inbox or in your quarterly midtown paper.

ki•osk

a small structure that provides information... like the new one on the SW corner of Bagby & Gray. Find your way around with a Midtown Map or see what's happening next!

sign•age

signs used to show information... there's a new one on Bagby, just south of Gray, that guides newcomers to the redesigned Midtown Park and District Information.

A PUBLICATION OF MIDTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT • houstonmidtown.com 4th qtr 2013

Certified Silver T Bagby Street Reconstruction Project awarded Silver Rating by Greenroads Foundation

PAPER

he Greenroads Foundation recently announced that the • Cool pavement materials with recycled content made from fly ash Bagby Street Reconstruction Project has become the first • Native and adapted vegetation that provides additional shading for project to receive Greenroads Certification in the State of sidewalks, and Texas, receiving a Silver Rating for its design and construc• Locally-sourced construction materials. tion sustainability. The Greenwoods Rating System is a collection of sustainable “Midtown Redevelopoment Authority strives to be a leader in the roadway design and construction best practices that address water, Houston community and environment, access, Greenroads certification community impact, conprovided us the opportustruction practices and nity to display our commaterials. The Bagby mitment to leadership in Street Reconstruction sustainable development Project is currently the and increase awareness of highest scoring project sustainability efforts in the that has been certified by region,” said Midtown’s the Greenroads Project Executive Director Matt Rating Program, and is Thibodeaux. the 8th project in the Bagby is a one-way world to earn certificamajor collector located in tion. the heart of Houston, and Midtown is already is one of the main corriplanning a strategy dors in Midtown. A key for the certification of project goal of the Bagby Bagby’s sister street in Street Reconstruction the two-way couple, Project was to establish Brazos Street, to pera vibrant corridor that (l to r) Midtown’s Exec. Dir. Matt Thibodeaux, Mayor Annise Parker and Greenroads Exec. Dir. Jeralee Anderson. form even better. accommodates traffic “Greenroads has proneeds while improving vided many new ideas pedestrian and bicycle which will allow our team accessibility. It is one of to make more informed Houston’s first projects design and construction that exemplifies the goals decisions regarding susof their new Complete tainability. In addition to Streets policy, which was the many environmenrecently signed as an tal benefits, Midtown’s Executive Order by Mayor Annise Parker. investment in sustainable roadway projects contributes to long term The project team included the Project Owner, Midtown cost savings for operation and maintenance,” said Marlon Marshall, Redevelopment Authority and their design and construction team: Manager of Capital Projects for Midtown Redevelopment Authority. Walter P Moore, Design Workshop, SER Construction and ESPA Established in 2010, Greenroads Foundation is an independent Corp. The completed project has transformed the Midtown landscape 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation, which advances sustainability eduinto a vibrant, aesthetically unique pedestrian corridor, providing safer cation and initiatives for transportation infrastructure. As the develaccess and connectivity to local businesses and Midtown's cultural arts oper of the Greenroad Rating System, the Foundation manages the and entertainment district. certification process for sustainable roadway and bridge construction projects in the U.S. and internationally. For more information, visit Environmentally-friendly features include: www.greenroads.org. • The installation of rain gardens that treat and capture 33% of the storm water that falls within the right-of-way. A special thanks to Greenroads Executive Director, Jeralee Anderson, • LED street lighting for use of copy.

then&now

2300 Fannin

five-sentence description greets visitors just inside the lobby of one of Midtown’s history-making buildings. According to the anonymous typewritten note, the Gibraltar Building in 1958 was “The first all-glass façade multi-story structure to be built anywhere.” According to Stephen Fox’s Houston Architectural Guide, ”The Gibraltar Building was the first building in Houston to have walls faced entirely in heat absorbing, solar gray glass.” In 1959, Texas Society of Architects awarded the work of architects Greacen and Brogniez and that of J. Victor Neuhaus III,

2300 Fannin Street.

Associate Architect. Today, 56-years later, the multi-story building at 2300 Fannin St. can proudly claim 100% occupancy, according to building manager Tricia Easter, housing such prestigous tenants as Bank of America, University of Houston Small Business Development Center, Houston Community College and others.

are you forget Mongoose versus Cobra’s Half-Priced Texas Draught Mondays, Imperial Andy's Historical Cocktail Tuesdays, and Corey and Acuna's Buck Wild Whiskey Wednesdays. And don’t forget every Sunday features fivedollar cask ales. Refresh your memory at 1011 McGowen.

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rtist Amy Blakemore’s beautiful food-grade porcelain glazed with obsessive dots and other quirky patterns are available for purchase at Inman Gallery’s gallery store. Prices range from $40 - $100. Inman Gallery is located in the historic Isabella Court Building, 3901 Main Street.

idtown’s Simply Pho made Urbanspoon’s list of America’s Top New Restaurants of 2013.Simply Pho shared the list with six other restaurants, Houston’s grand total of seven, the most of any Texas city to make the national ranking.

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ouston Acupuncture and Wellness is holding a Winter Weight Loss Special, offering a free consultation, acupuncture specials and discounts on herbs for weight loss. A perfect compliment to your New Year's goals! Visit HOUacu.com.

elebrate Valentine's Day together with a one-hour Couples Massage at Massage Heights—Midtown Houston. Reap the benefits with their introductory rate of $49.99. Did you know that evidence shows that massage therapy is effective in treating a number of conditions, including high blood pressure, insomnia, migraine headaches, allergies – even diabetes and restless leg syndrome? Massage Heights also offer facials featuring Dermalogica products, all at an introductory rate, as well, of $59.99. Stop by 2625 Louisiana, Suite H—you'll be sooo glad you did!

dvance tickets for shows at Continental Club are available at sigslagoon.com AND get you 10% off your meal at Natachee's the same day of the show. Take your pick from Natachee’s chunky list of made fresh-to-order burgers—try Rene’s Red Hot with chopped jalapenos and mushrooms. Mmm! Smoked turkey and avocado, and super Supper Plates—Homestyle “not too sweet” meat loaf and, of course, dessert! It all happens at Mid-Main, 3400—3700 Main Street.

ouston Arts Alliance and Houston Museum of African American Culture (HMAAC) produced the first-ever official Houston SLAB Parade + Family Festival, held in MacGregor Park. Approximately 4,500 people attended the family-friendly event in celebration of SLABs, a vehicle art form that originated in the African-American neighborhoods of southeast Houston. Pictured LR: HMAAC CEO John Guess, City Council Member Wanda Adams (District D); HAA Director of Folklife + Traditional Arts Pat Jasper. Photo: Marc Newsome, courtesy of Houston Arts Alliance.

ileen J. Morris’ love for the theatre is always in the forefront. "Every story that is told on stage transports us to a different space and time where one magical moment can bring us to a deeper understanding of ourselves and our world,” says The Ensemble Theatre’s Artistic Director who also serves as chairperson for Midtown Management District’s (MMD) Cultural Arts & Entertainment District Committee. Great seats are still available for The Ensemble’s 2013-2014 season.

nowing your home is safe and secure makes the best vacation even better. Access a Vacation Watch request at Harris County Constable Precinct 7’s website, harriscountytx.gov/conpct7 at least one week in advance

anta came early and in multiples for Christmas 2013. The Midtown Santa Crawl (a.k.a. young professionals dressed in Santa suits, making their organized way along a pub crawl) helped raised money Midtown’s Santa Crawl included a stop at for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. the SuperBlock. Each Santa paid $60 to wear the iconic red suit. Midtown’s Celtic Gardens, Pub Fiction, Dogwood, Midtown Drinkery and Little Woodrow’s provided the “cheer”.

id-Main’s First Thursday. If you’re not there, look what you’re missing… The Continental Club, Shoeshine Charley’s Big Top,Tacos A Go-Go, Sig’s Lagoon, My Flaming Heart, The Tinderbox, Double Trouble, Big Kats, Kat’s Meow, Old Crow Parlor, the Alley Kat, The Place Upstairs and Natachee’s. They’re all waiting for you along the 3400 – 3700 blocks of Main Street. midmain.com and facebook.com/midmainhouston.

ake sure to check out Houston Center for Contemporary Craft resident-artist alum Clark Kellogg’s website, kelloggfurniture.com. The wood worker and furniture maker has just re-launched the site, which includes an online store and numerous photos of his amazing work.

reas devastated by weather need help long after the news drops from the headlines. Asia Society Texas answers the call “How can I help the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan?” with a list of charities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that have already responded to the disaster. For more information, please go to asiasociety.org/blog/asia/ how-you-can-help-philippines-after-typhoon-haiyan.

idtown is making plans for Superblock Park. Part of the plan includes YOU. We need to know what you think. Go to superblockpark.metroquest. com and take the 5-10 minute online survey or access the survey via the Midtown eNews and on Facebook. You’re not getting the weekly Midtown eNews? It’s free and easy to access. Register at houstonmidtown.com.

lat footed or fabulous—Houston Metropolitan Dance Center has opportunities for everyone. Check out their six-week intro to dance—Ballet, Jazz, Modern and Hip Hop. Or perhaps you’re ready to audition? Learn the requirements at their website (houstonmetdance.org) under “Company”. You can even buy a square foot of their new space at 2808 Caroline. Your tax deductible contribution helps support a world class contemporary dance company in Houston—right in the heart of Midtown!

ongratulations on your new home, Houston Press! The popular Houston mainstay has relocated from its Milam Street location to 2603 LaBranch at McGowen. “The energy in Midtown is young, exciting and dynamic,” said Stuart Folb, publisher of the Houston Press. “The decision to move here was an easy one.” The Houston Press is a part of the Voice Media Group, publisher of 11 online and print publications across the United States.

enovations at Midtown Park are almost complete. Planned improvements include a 13’ X 25’ performance area, 65’ X 110’ of lawn space, an 85’ X 65 dog park and a 45’ X 22 water feature. There’s a food kiosk, too.

omething new is always arriving at Em&Lee Midtown, the ever so fashionable boutique on Gray Street. Women love the limited quantities, knowing they won’t find a sea of look-alikes when they step out to dinner or the dance floor. Match their black gold tulle sequin dress ($75) with a black quilt leather jacket ($69). Stop by 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., Monday thru Wednesday; 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Thursday thru Saturday, and Sundays 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Don’t forget the black front weave shoes and their black crocodile clutch!)

yeful Art’s Sebastien “Mr. D” Boileau was commissioned by international contemporary art gallery Lelia Mordoch to Urban Jungle, Sebastien "MrD" Boileau, for Lelia Mordoch paint the outside of Gallery, collaboration with Liquitex USA their Miami gallery for Miami Art Basel 2013 this past December. Art Basel is the largest art gathering market in North America.

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hrough their weekly DWOW series, DiverseWorks presented more than 100 free performances, lectures, workshops, panel discussions, screenings and happenings to a growing and diverse audience.

ouston Community College Central’s parking garage is only able to allow cars in and out of the Winburn Street side, due to construction and road closures on La Branch. The one-way in and out will likely continue through early February. Remember: Patience is a virtue.

ondays aren’t so bad if you’re at the Continental Club. Glover Gill takes the stage every Monday night at 8. Make your way back on Thursdays for Nick Gaitan & The Umbrella Man at the Big Top at 10 p.m. Seen the new collection of cool vintage and oddities shops upstairs? They’re open in the evenings; entrance on the front of the building between Tacos a Go-go and Big Top.

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Midtown welcome to Elizabeth Kozlowski as she joins Houston Center for Contemporary Craft as the new curator beginning January 2014.

andalls and Crime Stoppers—two Midtown stakeholders working together. Link your Randalls Remarkable Card to Crime Stoppers of Houston (Good Neighbor Number 729) and Randalls will donate a percentage back to the organization to help continue the mission of solving and preventing crime in the Houston area. Learn more about Crime Stoppers in this issue’s Helping Hands in Midtown feature, Page 5.

nvite Luigi’s Pizzeria Midtown to your next party. Their large pan lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs or veggie alfredo trays feed 15-20. Add a large caprese salad, breadsticks and a 7 lb. bucket of artisan Italian gelato and make your taste buds happy! (Don’t forget the Tiramisu cake!) Call 281-793-3333 to order or stop by 3700 Almeda. Free delivery for orders over $20.

otal Nutrition’s Fitness Blog includes smart comparatives for your midday hunger pangs. Lunch Picks tells you which fast food salad is the best bet and whose wrap is calorie laden. Read more at totalnutrition.com or stop by the Midtown location, 2625 Louisiana, Suite D.

ook for new and exciting changes at Metro Midtown Apartments in 2014, including an expansive new fitness center. New look, new logo, new amenities! Call 713-529-5333 to learn more or stop by and take a tour, 2350 Bagby.

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Elizabeth Kozlowski

in&about

of your trip. Precinct 7 has a population of more than 400,000 people, located in Harris County—the third largest county in the United States.

Bonna Kol

sia Society Texas Center announces the appointment of Bonna Kol as Executive Director, concluding an international search conducted by Russell Reynolds Associates. Her appointment was unanimously approved by the organization’s full board of directors. Welcome to Midtown, Bonna!

he ingredients are best in class, including real Hellman’s Mayo,Grey Poupon Mustard and genuine French and 7-grain baked fresh breads. The turkey is real turkey. The roast beef is real roast beef. We must be talking about Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches, opening January 2014 in Midtown at 2505 Bagby.

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nvite family and friends to enjoy Chef Johann Schuster’s creative menu. Charivari offers catering as well as hosting onsite parties. Whether it’s a business party, private party or family gathering, the fine dining restaurant will work with you to make the occasion exactly what you envisioned. For more information, call 713521-7231 or email charivari@charivarires.com. age Lounge says “Expect the unexpected” as they prepare for their arrival in Midtown early 2014. They’ll fill the space at 2600 Travis, Suite 104.

apital Improvement Projects updates By Marlon Marshall

unless noted, at Midtown Management District Offices, 410 Pierce @ Bagby , 3rd floor Conference Room. Metered street parking is available as well as the BlackFinn parking garage. Please call ahead (713-526-7577) to confirm time and dates or visit: houstonmidtown.com Cultural Arts & Entertainment District Committee Cultural Arts Focus Group. Tuesday, January 14, 5:30. -7 p.m. (The Ensemble Theatre, 3535 Main Street), Tuesday, February 18, 9 a.m., (Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, 4848 Main), Tuesday, March 11, 9 a.m. (Art Supply on Main, 2711 Main) Midtown Management District Board Meeting First Wednesday of the month. January 8, February 5 @ 11 a.m.; March 5 @ 6 p.m. Midtown Redevelopment Authority Board Meeting Last Thursday of the month @ 12:30 p.m. January 30, February 27*, March 27

sia Society Texas Center’s stylish Leo Bar features a special tasting series created by Guest Chef Rishi Singh of Boheme Cafe & Wine Bar, signature cocktails from the cash bar and the opportunity to network with new and former friends, surrounded by amazing art and architecture.The quarterly connection, courtesy of Asia Society Young Professionals, happens each quarter at 1370 Southmore, home of Asia Society Texas Center. Add February 6 and May 8, from 6-8 p.m., to your calendar for the next tasty gathering. For more information, contact Margaret McHattie, 713-496-9905 or MMcHattie@AsiaSociety.org.

Urban Planning Committee Third Thursday of each month @ 4 p.m. January 16, February 20, March 20 Services and Maintenance Committee As needed. Please check online. Baldwin Square Homeowners Association (HOA) Second Wednesday of each month @ 4 p.m. January 8, February 12, March 12

meetings offsite

HPD – Positive Interaction Program (PIP) East side of Louisiana 3rd Tuesday of each month @ 7 p.m. January 21, February 18, March 18 Held @ HPD South Central Division, 2202 St. Emanuel @ Hwy 288 Officer J. Sanchez. 713-238-2282 West side of Louisiana 1st Tuesday of each month @ 7 p.m. January 7, February 4, March 4 Held @ HPD Central Division, 1602 State St. Officer Wayne Pate. 713-284-8604

n 2014, Dr. Brian Martinez and Smiles of Midtown will be celebrating 30 years of bringing quality smiles to Midtown. As a way of saying “thank you”, they will be offering a new special every 30 days. Check their website (SmilesofMidtown.com) and Facebook often for the newest promotions. January brings $30 off all preventive care. Call 713-523-6848 and celebrate with a savings! .

Midtown meetings are held,

Marketing Committee Third Tuesday of the month @ 4 p.m. January 21, February 18, March 18 (locations TBA)

calendar mark your

with the seventh day of each week devoted to active rest. Each week builds on the lessons of the one preceding. Learn more at yogaonehouston.com.

Baldwin Park and Glover Park. The improvements at Baldwin Park and Glover Park are substantially complete, and the Midtown community can now enjoy the many new amenities offered in these parks. Baldwin Park improvements include upgrades to lighting, the jogging trail, playground equipment, and landscaping. New amenities at Glover Park, located at the intersection of Elgin Street and Austin Street, include a dog run, landscaping with lawn space, seating, an exercise platform, and cultural exhibits. The Midtown Redevelopment Authority received the Parks and Natural Areas Award from the Houston-Galveston Area Council for the renovations at the parks. Midtown Park. The renovation of Midtown Park, located at Bagby and Gray Street, is well underway and many of the new park elements have been completed. The performance stage including iconic “midtown” signage has been installed, and the food kiosk construction is in the final stages. Landscaping is being added, and the new water feature and dog run are beginning to take shape. When completed, these amenities will bring a new level of liveliness to this signature intersection in Midtown.

Public Safety Committee Third Tuesday of the month @ 11:30 a.m. January 21, February 18, March 18

E V E R Y T H I N G

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he popular Mongoose versus Cobra Reading Series continues every second Monday at 8 p.m. with Bridget Lowe set for January 13 and Phong Nguyen for February 10. Bridget’s poems have appeared in American Poetry Review, Ploughshares, Best American Poetry, Boston Review, The New Republic, Beloit Poetry Journal and Denver Quarterly, among other publications. She is a graduate of Syracuse University’s MFA program. Phong is Associate Professor of English at the University of Central Missouri, where he edits the journal Pleiades and the Unsung Masters book series, for which he edited the volume Nancy Hale: On the Life & Work of a Lost American Master. (And don’t forget ½ priced Texas draughts all day Monday!)

id you know the 3rd largest parade in the U.S., following The Rose Parade and The Macy’s Day Parade, happens in Midtown? The 20th Annual MLK Grande Parade—Houston is set for January 20, complete with 15 parade floats and 30 marching bands. Read more and find a parade route in this issue’s Strike Up The Band! on Page 4.

AVE THE DATE Lawndale Art Center’s preeminent hair-raising event returns January 25, bigger and taller than ever! Lawndale’s infamous fundraiser, Hair Ball. has been named one of The Best Parties in America by People magazine, featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and Good Morning America, in InStyle magazine and The Los Angeles Times. The Ball returns with food, drink, music and, of course, partygoers “tressed up” in colossal coifs and hair sculptures. For ticket info, please go to lawndaleartcenter.org.

he Texas Yoga Conference (TYC) returns for its fifth year, January 31—February 2, at the Winter and Spring Street Studios. YogaOne Studios (3030 Travis) will be participating. Did you know YogaOne Studios offers babysitting on Saturdays and Mondays at its Midtown location? And don’t forget to sign up for their Free 40 Days to Personal Revolution, January 12—February 20. The program is divided into six weeks,

omantic couples choose Sparrow Bar + Cookshop for Brunch. (See “who” in the eatsdrinks feature on page 6) but you can also opt for a special dinner on Valentine’s Day. The four-course prix fixe menu is priced at $150 couple, with wine pairings available for $30/person.

sia Society Texas Center celebrates Japan with one of the city’s best-loved social events, the annual Tiger Ball. Mark your calendar for Thursday, February 27 to enjoy a beautiful seated dinner, dessert and dancing. His Excellence Kenichiro Sasae, Japanese Ambassador to the United States, will serve as Honorary Chair of the event. Last year’s event drew more than 500 guests, many in national dress, raising $650,000 to support programs, exhibitions, educational activities and operations of the Texas Center. For ticketing, please go to asiasociety.org/texas.

arch 1, 2014 is the application deadline for artists interested in three, six, nine or twelvemonth residencies at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. Free studio space with 24-hour access, access to wide variety of professional opportunities and resources, a stipend and modest housing allowance, as well as ongoing professional development. Five to ten residencies will be awarded. Wood, glass, metal, fiber, clay and mixed media artists can learn more and apply at crafthouston.org/artists/residents.

s there an artist deep within you crying to escape? Art Supply’s annual Art Expo, March 7-8, will set you free! Demonstrations, workshops and manufacturers representatives will entice you to take the next step. Special pricing, too, on merchandise. Learn more at artsupplyonmain.com.

wenty museums, four zones, four events. It’s all part of the Museum Experience that happens the last Saturday of January, April, July and September. Each quarterly event will showcase a group of 19 institutions complete with special programming, pedicabs and food trucks. Midtown will be highlighted in the walkable Zone 2 on April 26 that includes Holocaust Museum Houston, Asia Society Texas Center, Weather Museum, Czech Center Museum Houston, Lawndale Art Center, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston Museum of African American Culture, Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, and DiverseWorks.. Normal museum business hours will be standard with some ticketed museums charging admission fees. (Money Tip 101: Check everyday times on the museum websites as many have a “free” day once a week or once a month.)

Don’t forget to check out Midtown on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube.

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stories&+

vive

midtown!

A lasting contribution to midtown’s vibrant cultural diversity

n international arts project, two years in the making, chose to premier in Houston with Midtown Park becoming one of 19 prime locations to exhibit. A partnership of the Texan French Alliance for the Arts (TFAA) and the Paris art collective 9eme Concept, the OPEN THE DOOR project reminds us that art and its message has no boundaries, geographically or dimensionally. OPEN THE DOOR stems from the idea that every new experience we encounter – be it a new phase of life, learning about a new culture or meeting new people – can be represented in the image of a door. Each day, we choose to step across the threshold or leave the door unopened. As part of this project, twelve professional artists from France and Texas have collaborated to paint what will become 60 unique doors. It is fitting, with its recent designation by the Texas Commission on the Arts as a Cultural Arts and Entertainment District and growing recognition internationally, that Midtown would be chosen to exhibit multiple doors Rahul Mitra’s collaboration with French artist Mambo

strike up

for this public art project. Educational, cultural and community organizations, as well as Texas Children’s Cancer Center’s patients and relatives, helped create the individual concepts. Each door is made weather resistant with a special coating that will withstand the outdoor and human elements. In conjunction with the exhibition, Texan French Alliance for the Arts & Harambee Gallery organized a Jazz & Blues Day on November 16, 2013 for the unveiling of a door at Emancipation Park. Included was a Jazz and Blues Symposium at the S.H.A.P.E. Community Center on the history of the genres in Houston, followed by a one-of-a-kind Jazz and Blues Concert in Midtown that featured the well-known sounds of Woody Witt, Jewel Brown, Milton Hopkins and Joe Carmouche as well as two outstanding French musicians, Benjamin Sanz and Aymeric Avice. Seven themes have been curated by TFAA for OPEN THE DOOR, “The People” being the theme for the door that will reside at redesigned Midtown Park at 416 Gray Street, between Bagby and Brazos. Follow Midtown on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay upto-date for the Midtown installation date and corresponding special events.

Texan artist Robert Hodge’s collaboration with French artist Stephane Carricondo

the band!

MLK Grande parade returns to midtown — Monday, January 20, 2014 — starting at 10:00 a.m.

he Annual MLK Grande Parade - Midtown returns for its 20th anniversary on Monday, January 20 starting at 10:00 a.m. With a slightly amended route, the Parade begins on San Jacinto at Elgin, proceeds north on San Jacinto and concludes on San Jacinto at Webster. KSBJ Radio’s Johnny Bravo and 713News Cyndi Garcia will serve as announcers for the one-mile Parade, estimated to bring 350,000+ spectators. The 2014 MLK Grande Parade will also air and be shown to a National and International TV Viewing Audience in Spanish and Chinese through Broadcast Partnerships with NTD TV-New York and UNIVISION TV, bringing Midtown to a viewing audience of more than 4,000,000 individuals. The MLK Grande parade is one of the largest single day multicultural celebrations in the U.S. that commemorates the MLK national holiday observance. Music and dance are front and center for these multi-day, Midtown and citywide events: • 4th Annual MLK Auxiliary & Step Show Competition at University of Houston-Campus UCLA Marching Band Recreation and Wellness Center (4500 University) begins at 7 p.m. on January 17. • 8th Annual MLK Youth Parade originates in Midtown at San Jacinto and Elgin, traveling northbound on San Jacinto to Webster, beginning at 12 p.m. on January 18. Over 300 culturally diverse performing groups will be on hand including 36 nationally acclaimed marching bands from across the U.S. • 13th Annual Battle of the Bands Competition takes place on January 18 at Joe Kelly Butler Stadium, 13755 South Main, at 4 p.m. More than 30 award-winning high school show bands from across the nation will compete for awards and scholarship opportunities. Learn more at mlkgrandeparade.org or call 713-953-1633.

The OPEN THE DOOR project is funded by a grant from the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. To download a Cultural Trail Map, please go to texanfrenchalliance.org

midtown MAP

RESTAURANTS / BARS A1. 13 celsius 713-529-VINO (8466) A2. Bar Münich 713-523-1008 A3. Brennan’s 713-522-9711 A4. Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar 713-650-0002 A5. Crave Sushi 713-527-8744 A7. Gloria’s Restaurants 832-360-1710 A8. Luigi’s Pizzeria 281-793-3333 A9. Mongoose Versus Cobra 713-650-6872 A11. Potbelly Sandwich Shop 281-660-2864 A12. Pub Fiction 713-400-8400

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F9 B10 F8

H14 F8

SERVICES / RETAIL B1. Advantage BMW 713-289-1216 B2. Art Supply on Main 713-652-5028 H1 B3. Barbara King Dance 713-667-3890 B4. BCP Veterinary Pharmacy B12 713-771-1144 B5. Brian Martinez, DDS – Smiles of Midtown 713-523-6848 B6. Dunn, Neal & Gerger, LLP 713-403-7400 B7. Houston Acupucture & Wellness 832-477-7887 B8. iBuy Realty 1.888.870.4289 B9. Massage Heights Midtown Houston 832-706-4241 B10. Midtown Management District 713-526-7577 B11. Mid-Town Surgical Center 713-691-6000 B12. Mixed Emotions Fine Art & Framing 713- 861-9666 B13. Randalls Food & Pharmacy 713-331-1042 B 14. Rossonian Cleaners 713-524-3134 B15. Spec’s Wine, Spirits & Finer Foods 713-526-8787 B16. Stewart Cadillac 713-874-0900 B17. Susan’s Secret Resale Shop 832-360-0051 B18. Tiff’s Treats 713-343-1400 B19. TSO Museum District 713-523-5109 B20. Urban Oasis Day Spa 713-521-9990 B21. YogaOne Studios 713-522-0876 B22. Zebra Girl – Amy Lynch Kolflat (iBuy Realty) 713-239-8985

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B16

B15

B18

D1 F3

F3 H2

B1 A7

A11

G4 B7

G6 H9

H8 B13 E1

A5 A3

B20 F10 B8 B22

H12 A1 F5 E8 H11

H4 E3

P3 P1 H3

H7 G1

H10

F11

B17

C6 F7

G5 B14

= METRORail stops C4

= B-Cycle Stations

B19 H13 C5

MIDTOWN historic markers 1. H H2. H3. H4.

newest annexation by TIRZ #2

B11

B21

Financial Institutions D1. Central Bank 832-485-2360

CULTURAL ARTS C1. Asia Society Texas Center 713-496-9901 C2. Community Artists' Collective 713-523-1616 C3. Eyeful Art Murals and Designs 817-707-4278 C4. Houston Center for Contemporary Craft 713-529-4848 C5. Lawndale Art Center 713-528-5858 C6. Station Museum of Contemporary Art 713-529-6900 C7. The Ensemble Theatre 713-520-0055

PARKS / PUBLIC SPACES P1. Elizabeth Baldwin Park P2. Elizabeth Glover Park P3. Houston Fire Station No. 7 P4. Midtown Park P5. Peggy’s Point Plaza Park

HOUSES OF WORSHIP / NONPROFITS E1. Career & Recovery Resources Inc. 713-754-7000 E2. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston 713-526-4611 E3. Holy Rosary Parish 713-529-4854 E4. South Main Baptist Church 713-529-4167 E5. St. John's Downtown / Bread of Life 713-659-3237 E6. San Jose Clinic 713-228-9411 E7. SEARCH Homeless Services 713-739-7752 E8. Trinity Episcopal Church 713-528-4100 E9. The Salvation Army Family Residence 713-650-6530 –– CORE Church Midtown 832-492-7791 (multiple locations)

Midtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #2 4Q13 (TIRZ #2)

H5. H6. H7. H8. H9.

DePelchin Faith Home Houston Fire Museum First Evangelical Lutheran Church Holy Rosary Church

C. L. House Building Houston Light Guard Armory Temple Beth Israel The Sheridan Apartments Benjamin Apartments

H10. Isabella Court H11. Trinity Episcopal Church H12. 13 celsius H13. Lawndale Art Center H14. Kirby Mansion

MIDTOWN LIVING OPTIONS F1. 2016 Main 713-659-1801 F2. Camden City Centre 713-651-0350 F3. Camden Midtown 713-652-9944 F4. Camden Travis Street 713-521-0620 F5. Chenevert Commons 832-356-6645 F6. Midtown Arbor Place 713-874-1313 F7. Midtown Grove 713-590-0615 F8. Post Midtown Square 713-739-7678 F9. RISE Lofts 713-523-5700 F10. The Calais at Courtlandt Square 713-520-8300 F11. Ventana at Midtown 713-550-9600 EDUCATION / Technology G1. Houston Academy for International Studies (HAIS) 713-942-1430 G2. Houston Technology Center 713-658-1750 G3. Houston Community College – Central 713-718-6000 G4. Precious Jewels Alpha Learning Center 713-529-4651 G5. The International Day School 713-533-0480 G6. UH Small Business Development Center 713-752-8444 lodging / bed & breakfast I1. La Maison in Midtown 713-529-3600

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832.706.4241 massageheights.com/midtown

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*Introductory rate valid for Members and first-time Guests only. Actual massage and facial time is 50-Minutes hands-on. Additional local taxes and fees may apply. See Retreat for details. Each Massage Heights Retreat is independently owned and operated. Franchise opportunities available. ©2013 Massage Heights, LLC.

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Mission Statement Midtown strives to provide an economically vibrant urban destination where ar ts and culture thrive alongside businesses and residents in a safe, active, diverse neighborhood. Don’t forget to check out Midtown on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube.

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Distributed every Thursday, excluding holidays, it provides you with valuable District information

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302 Gray Street Houston, TX 77002

713.739.7678

Studios, 1- and 2-Bedroom Luxury Apartments Fine Finishes • Beautiful Amenities On-site Retail & Conveniences

Midtown meetings

are held, unless noted, at Midtown Management District Offices, 410 Pierce @ Bagby, 3rd floor Conference Room. Metered street parking and the BlackFinn garage. Call ahead 713-526-7577 to confirm time and dates.

stories&+

the art of framing over 100,000 linear feet of moulding in midtown

ixed Emotions Fine Art & Framing is the “all inclusive” source for custom framing, art and accessories.Their professional approach is creative and meticulously executed; best of all, the process (at least for the customer!) is worry free. Customers have access to many of the same resources, products and services accessible to interior designers and galleries. If you’re indecisive, fine art framer and conservator Mary Boone, CPF, and principals Paula Siegel and Gary Wasserberg will help you with your selection from their in house original artwork—both paper and canvas, as well as limited edition prints and posters—all electronically and visually organized by category. (You’re also welcome to bring your personal art, from grandma’s lace to post modern originals!) Decorative accessories such as mirrors are also plentiful and can be customized to accommodate your size and style. From 24K gold to basic black, pastels to neons—Mixed Emotions Fine Art & Framing carries over 100,000 linear feet of moulding in stock plus samples of moulding that can be ordered from all parts of the globe. With their expertise, they can also recreate or repair antique framing. “Good art, well framed, can look good in any room with any

design style,” adds Boone. Mary Boone and Paula Siegel’s experience and knowledge of art history gives them the ability to offer suggestions from both past and present trends. On a recent visit, Boone shared one of her own framed works of art created with a technique called sgraffito—a painstaking art form that dates back to the 1700s. Siegel offered her view on conservation framing and the use of traditional Museum Glass® or the new Optium Museum Acrylic®, the advanced acrylic beneficial for valuable artwork and those needing glare-free clarity. Mixed Emotions Fine Art & Framing’s eclectic showroom also can double as a great backdrop for private parties, charitable events and art exhibits, where the stainless steel work table by day converts to an after hours buffet. Best advice from the two women? Look for a Certified Picture Framer ® (CPF ®) for your cherished artwork. If you’ve spent the time selecting your art, finish the process with a CPF who has the framing know-how to make it complete. And if you choose to compare prices, make sure you’re comparing “apples to apples,” both in quality and workmanship. Mixed Emotions Fine Art & Framing 95 Tuam, 77006 • 713-861-9666 • mixedemotions.com

more than a tip... helping hands in midtown

n addition to law enforcement, Crime Stoppers may very well be your next best friend. Since 1981, they have helped build safer communities, promoted safer schools and assisted law enforcement in preventing crime in the city. I sat down with Rania Mankarios and Ryan Sullivan, the executive director and director of communications and public affairs, respectively, and learned about the life-changing work Crime Stoppers does to protect us.

Midtown Paper: How does Crime Stoppers help the public? Rania: We’re much more than a tip line. Our mission at Crime Stoppers is to solve and prevent serious crime in the greater Houston area and all of Harris County in partnership with citizens, media and the criminal justice system. We are Houston’s leading 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization dedicated to serving and protecting law enforcement through educating the public and creating a coalition of concerned citizens. MP: What types of safety programs does Crime Stoppers offer to the public? Rania: We have many programs under the organizational structure. For example, our Safe School Program began in 1997 and is a huge success. Over one million middle and high school students have been trained in campus and public safety, thousands of school cases solved, and hundreds of weapons removed. Ryan: This year we began an aggressive first-ever elementary school program that answers questions such as How do I know something is wrong? and Who is a trusted adult? Rania: We also just formed Mothers Against Crime. Mothers attend seminars and discuss topics relevant to women, mothers, and families, and support us by civic engagement. MP: People are familiar with the cash reward of up to $5,000 for

who do i call?

Emergency calls: 9-1-1 Non-Emergency Houston Service Help Line: (Traffic signals & signs, potholes, broken curbs, water leaks, etc.) Be sure to request a reference number. 3-1-1 or 713-837-0311 Midtown Management District 713-526-7577 City of Houston – Animal Control 713-229-7300 City of Houston – Public Works City of Houston – Public Utilities City of Houston – Solid Waste City of Houston – Curbs & Ditch City of Houston – Code Violations/ Neighborhood Protection City of Houston – Fire Marshall Enforcement 3-1-1 or 713-837-0311 www.houstontx.gov City of Houston Environmental Investigations 713-525-2728

CenterPoint (gas) 713-659-2111

By Elizabeth C. Searcy

anonymous tips that lead to apprehending criminals.Tell us more. Rania: When ordinary people call in a tip to 713-222-TIPS, a police officer answers the telephone, not a clerk. There is no Caller ID or tracking. Even if someone accidently gives their name, the officer instructs them to call back. Undocumented workers never have to be afraid to give us a tip—we do not ask names or question their immigration status. They may have crucial clues about a crime and can earn the reward. The entire process, even receiving the reward, is totally confidential. The deserving tipster is given a code and instructions where to receive the cash reward—they pick up the money—no questions asked. MP: Recently, a female Stafford police officer made a routine traffic stop and was shot. How was Crime Stoppers involved? Ryan & Rania: The officer, Ann Carrizales, is recovering well. She was shot in the face and in the chest, and still got in her car, pursuing the criminal in a heroic chase. The Fallen Hero Project had a tremendous impact. When a criminal injures or kills a peace officer or firefighter in the line of duty as a result of a felonious crime, the $5,000 reward from Crime Stoppers is doubled to $10,000, thanks to a new agreement with The 100 Club. A brave, ordinary citizen called in a tip, and the criminals were arrested within 24 hours. A civilian is the newest form of intelligence and an increasingly important asset to law enforcement. We’re a lean, mean, fighting machine, creating a shield over the city and working every day to keep you safe! Crime Stoppers 3001 Main Street, 77002 713-521-4600 • TIPLINE: 713-222-TIPS crime-stoppers.org

Reliant Energy (electric) 713-207-7777 Non-working street light. Provide the 6-digit pole number (6-7 ft high on the pole)

AT&T (telephone) 1-800-464-7928 (new service) 1-800-246-8464 (repair) Comcast 713-462-9000 METRO Light Rail/Bus Schedules & Routing 713-635-4000 Police Dispatch (concerns along the rail/bus stops & HOV) 713-224-COPS (2677) Houston Police Department (HPD) (Non-Emergency) 713-884-3131 HPD Central Station 713-247-4400 HPD South Central Station 832-394-0200

Harris County Sheriff’s Dispatch 713-221-6000 Harris County Precinct 7 Dispatch 713-643-6602 Crime Stoppers 713-222-8477 Texas Poison Center Network 1-800-222-1222

Mayor’s Citizens’ Assistance Office 713-527-4002 mayor@cityofhouston.net Ellen Cohen, City Council District C 832-393-3004 districtc@houstonTX.gov Wanda Adams, City Council District D 832-393-3001 districtd@houstonTX.gov

eatsdrinks food & drinks to enjoy in midtown

what’s for brunch?

(or should we say breakfast?)

runch—a combination of breakfast and lunch eaten usually in the late morning but can extend to as late as 3 p.m. on Sundays—is available in many fine restaurants in Midtown. Here you can find tasty options to start your day.

Brennan’s

Brunch includes Appetizer, Entrée and Dessert - $32 Try the Texas Creole Brunch—Turtle Soup Au Sherry or The Chopped Salad —Eggs Benedict, Eggs Sardout or Eggs Brennan—Bread Pudding Souffle or Bananas Foster.

Or choose from Brennan’s other Brunch Package options such as… Smoked Shrimp & Okra Gumbo —tasted garlic “jazzmen” rice & chef’s blend of filé... Texas Pecan Crusted Fish— crushed corn maque choux, French beans, spiced pecans and creole meuniere sauce... Double Chocolate Texicana Mousse Cake—white & dark chocolate layers flavored with Patron XO cafe liqueur and chipotle sea salt. Brennan’s Dress Code is Business Casual. No shorts, flip-flops, torn jeans, beachwear or athletic wear.

Brennan’s Sat 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Sun 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 3300 Smith St. • 713-522-9711

Mr. Peeples

Choose from a delicious Brunch Menu of Starters (Campechano, Warm Goat Cheese Salad, ...) Plates

(Jumbo Lump Crab Omelet, Captain Crunch French Toast, ...) Companions (Maple Glazed Potatoes, Mushrooms, Bacon...) and Thirst Quenchers (Blood Orange Mimosas, Bellinis, ...) Mr. Peeples Gentlemen’s Dress Code is business attire or dressy casual: jackets (optional) or dressy jeans. No sneakers, caps, sportswear, shorts or sandals.

Mr. Peeples Sun 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 1911 Bagby • 713-652-0711 mrpeeples.com

sausage, beef or chicken fajita (Migas) plus rice, beans and seasonal fruit or maybe you’d like pancakes served with real maple syrup, applewood smoked bacon and seasonal fruit—just two of the many Brunch choices at Cyclone Anaya’s. Beverages like Mimosas and Poinsettias, Rock & Roll Bloody Marys and Cyclone’s own Hibiscus Sangria round out the meal.

Cyclone Anaya’s Mexican Kitchen Sat 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sun 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. 309 Gray @ Bagby • 713-520-6969

BlackFinn

Choose from 11 tasty Brunch menu items, then add sausage, ham or bacon for just a few dollars more! Choices such as

...Shrimp and Crab Omelet ($14.99)— shrimp, crab, scallions, mozzarella, breakfast potatoes and an English muffin... Huevos Rancheros ($10.99)—corn tortillas, black beans, blend of cheeses, two eggs sunny side up, ranchero sauce. Drinks? How about BlackFinn’s fresh squeezed juices or The BlackFinn Greyhouse (Grey Goose and grapefruit tall) or the popular Fresh Squeezed Lemon Drop Martini (Grey Goose citron, lemonade, Cointreau shaken and up). BlackFinn has a Just for Kids menu, too. Make Brunch a family affair!

BlackFinn Sat & Sun 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 1910 Bagby • 713-651-9550

Cyclone Anaya’s Mexican Kitchen

Mmmm! Two large eggs scrambled with tortilla strips and your choice of Mexican

Gloria’s Restaurants

cuits with a choice of sorghum, maple, butter or honey.

Sparrow Bar + Cookshop Sat Breakfast/Brunch 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 3701 Travis St. • 713-524-6922

the breakfast klub

Breakfast plates, signature dishes, breakfast sandwiches and 3 egg omelettes— it’s all yours, all day long, at the breakfast klub. Try their pork chops & eggs... 2 pork chops (fried or grilled) and 2 eggs served with potatoes or grits and choice of toast or biskit. Or maybe a golden Belgian waffle surrounded by 6 wing pieces and topped with powdered sugar and 1 fresh strawberry (waffle may be substituted with pankakes or French toast).

Award winning Salvadorian, Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine. Omelet varieties

And don’t forget fun for the whole family with Kids 1st Saturday every first Saturday of the month at the breakfast klub for a day of fun, music and aktivities. include Veggie, Mexican, Campesino, Cowboy and Chicken Fajita. Add to that Gloria’s Mexican and Tex-Mex Breakfast choices —Sopes, Huevos con Papas, Huevos Chorizo, Breakfast Tacos and more! Try Huevos con Platano—Two eggs over easy, served with fried sweet plantains, black beans and sour cream ($10.99) Gloria’s dress code is neat, business casual, fitted attire.

Gloria’s Restaurants Sat & Sun 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 2616 Louisiana St., #101 • 832-360-1710

Sparrow Bar + Cookshop

the breakfast klub Mon–Fri 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat & Sun 8 a.m.-2 p.m. 3711 Travis at Alabama • 713-528-8561

Natachee’s Supper ‘n Punch

Fridgerator Omelet ($7.99) – Three eggs loaded with your choice of three ingredients. Chose from bacon, ham, tomato, spinach, mushrooms, peppers, jalapeños, onion and cheese. Finish it off with hash browns or grits and toast or biscuit. Whew! Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs ($10.99), Short

Jay Z and Beyoncé love the challah French toast with maple

and butter. Other popular items include the chilaquiles plus the warm buttermilk bis-

Stack ($3.49) and more. $3 Mimosas on Saturday, $3 Bloody Mary’s on Sundays.

Natachee’s Supper ‘n Punch “Breakfast” starts at 8 a.m. and is served all day! • 3622 Main (MidMain) • 713-524-7203

calendar arts

exhibitions | theatre | orchestra | dance

Tara Locklear, Unbridled Royalty Necklace. Dettritus. HCCC. Photo by Tara Locklear.

ONGOING

hru January 19. SPRAWL. Co-curated by former HCCC Curatorial Fellow, Susie J. Silbert and former HCCC Curator, Anna Walker, SPRAWL features 16 emerging and mid-career artists whose works deal with the urban landscape. Houston Center for Contemporary Craft Center.

hru January 19. The Maker’s Archive: Works by Tybre Newcomer. Featuring large sculptural work and intimate wall pieces, Newcomer’s ceramic installation captures the transcendental relationship between craftsmen and their tools, transforming HCCC’s front gallery into both archive and pilgrimages. Houston Center for Contemporary Craft.

hru January 26. Detritus. Artists Kat Cole, Laritza Garcia, Tara Locklear and Chesley Williams have constructed objects of adornment that employ found elements, remnants of industrial products, and other alternative non-precious materials that carry meaning and hint at a purpose. Houston Center for Contemporary Craft.

T T

hru January. Skywriting. Daniel Anguilu and Aaron Parazette. This project is the third phase of the rotating mural on Lawndale Art Center’s north exterior wall. hru February 9. Weavers’ Stories from Island Southeast Asia, organized by the Fowler Museum at UCLA and Between History and New Horizons: Photographs of Women, Work and Community in Laos, co-organized by the Texas Center and the

Christine Nofchissey McHorse, Spine, 2010. HCCC, Collection of Barbara and Bill Weldon. Photo by Addison Doty Photography.

Chesley Williams, Untitled, Detritus. HCCC. Photo by Wu Tsang, Bliss (working title) DiverseWorks. Photo courtesy the artist and Meghan Nicole. DiverseWorks

Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre, Luang Prabang, provide a look at the evolution of making textiles with words and photos capturing women’s daily struggles and achievements. The exhibitions run concurrently. Asia Society Texas Center.

january

11 11

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Whiskey Sisters. sigslagoon.com for advance tickets. Continental Club.

–March 1. SonicWorks. A multiplatform exhibition that explores the expanding field of experimental sound art and practice. Focusing on international contemporary artists who utilize a variety of materials from the conventional to the absurd, SonicWorks features discrete sound works, sculptural interventions, multi-media installations and live performances. In addition to surveying current sound works, the exhibition also considers how DiverseWorks, an early and active commissioner of sonic ideas, has influenced the creation and reception of experimental sound in Houston and the region. Opening reception: Friday, January 10, 7 – 9 p.m. DiverseWorks.

their mutual respect, the two men debate their varying approaches to the same grave social problems, both prepared to die for their beliefs but neither aware of how soon their assassins' bullets would await them. Previews January 25, 26 and 29. Opening Night and Media Reception: January 30. The Ensemble Theatre.

ship between self, identity, and the narratives that construct them. Evoking "amateur sci-fi" stories, his new project takes as a point of departure the question of underground/ sub-cultures within a trans-national context. Opening reception: Friday, March 14, 7 – 9 p.m. DiverseWorks.

Rosie Flores and Patricia Vonne. sigslagoon.com for advance tickets. Continental Club.

FEBRUARY

____

–May 11. Dark Light: The Micaceous Ceramics of Christine Nofchissey McHorse. The Navajo artist’s first traveling exhibition. An amalgam of Puebloan, Navajo and contemporary influences, each sculpture possesses a cultural splendor that is as fertile as the Northern New Mexico riverbeds where McHorse harvests her clay. Artist’s talk: February 7, 6 p.m. Houston Center for Contemporary Craft.

–March 1. Recent Works. New Works. Jason Salavon. Inman Gallery.

–May 11. Adrian Esparza: Spectra. Through his transformation of lowcost mass-produced products, such as T-shirts, serapes and posters, Esparza combines traditional Mexican-American craftbased practices with the universal language of geometric abstraction. His deconstructed serape installation brings Mexican-American identity to the forefront by calling into question the serape’s function as Mexican icon. Artist’s talk: February 7: 5:30 p.m. Houston Center for Contemporary Craft.

The Blasters. sigslagoon.com for advance tickets. Continental Club.

march

17 17 24 25

Flametrick Subs Sean Reefer and The Resin Valley Boys. sigslagoon.com for advance tickets. Continental Club.

–February 23. The Meeting. Playwright Jeff Stetson highlights an engaging encounter between civil rights icons Malcolm X and Martin Luther King. Differing in their philosophies, but alike in

____

–May 10. Wu Tsang. DiverseWorks has commissioned Los Angelesbased artist Wu Tsang to create a multi-media installation and performance that inhabits a space between fiction and documentary. Tsang is an award-winning filmmaker and performer, who explores the relation-

–April 13. By The Way, Meet Vera Stark. With the help of Pulitzer Prizewinning playwright Lynn Nottage, this regional premiere takes a comedic look at racial stereotypes against the glamorous 1930s Golden Age of Hollywood. Directed by Eileen J. Morris. Previews March 15, 16 and 19. Opening night and Media Reception: March 20. The Ensemble Theatre.

april

____

Midtown art in the park. Houston’s popular fine art festival returns to Elizabeth Baldwin Park with local and regional artists in a variety of mediums and price points. Live entertainment and popular food trucks add to the mix. Give METRORail a try (McGowen stop) or try Houston’s B-Share Bike Program with a bright red b-cycle, plenty of stops throughout Midtown. For more info, houstonmidtown.com.

The 15th Annual Midtown Visions  Cultural Art Tour returns April 12. For more information and a detailed tour map of Midtown galleries, complexes and collectives, please visit  midtownvisions.com.

–27. Third Annual Houston Improv Festival. Midtown Art Center (3414 LaBranch) hosts 15 improvised acts from around the country. The festival includes a variety of workshops designed to accommodate all levels of improvisers. Showtime is 8 p.m. with April 25 and 26 including an additional show at 10 p.m.

Saturday, April 12, 2014 | Elizabeth Baldwin Park

artists&+

amy lynch kolflat charles washington

an accomplished midtown artist...

or months, you’ve searched MLS, drove miles through unchartered neighborhoods, searched stats on crime and school attendance. Finally, you find your perfect home and ready yourself to meet the agent. If you’re lucky, you’ll get Midtown’s Amy Lynch Kolflat, a.k.a. Art Car Parade’s award-winning Zebra Girl, complete with her Z-bra Mobile decked with fur lined seats, flashing lights, air horns, a rooftop “dance floor”, a stuffed toy zebra and of course, a bevy of black stripes. “My real estate clients love having the Zebra Girl represent them!” admits Kolflat. “It brings a kind of childhood whimsy and innocence to people. My car is a canvas for my own personal expressions and when people look into the stripes and see the silhouettes and faces in the camouflage, that’s what makes my day, providing the unexpected hidden within. I love it that now I can show people that it is o.k. to be different AND help them through the largest transaction of their lives with ease.” Kolflat will soon celebrate her 14th year bringing smiles to Houston streets with the city’s annual Art Car Parade along with multi tasking as an iBuy Realty real estate agent. iBuy Realty, located in Midtown, rewards clients with easy transactions and revitalizes home ownership in America. “Midtown is geographically perfect!” says the Zebra Girl. “It is in the center of everything! It has the feel of a small community that has everything to offer, all within a big city that has even more to offer!” You’ll find Kolflat and her 1989 Z-Bra mobile (200K miles and counting!) at Midtown’s art in the park, nursing home visits, car shows, Discovery Green, private parties, neighborhood parades and maybe, at your next stoplight!

harles Washington’s “canvas” was a recycled door long before the Texan French Alliance for the Arts’ premiered OPEN THE DOOR. The accomplished artist will be the first to tell you— “When you have the ability to think, you have energy, it’s who you are.Your job is to use it. I want to be the person who’s pulling it all together.” The Midtown artist’s What’s in a Door series was part of an East Coast Tour in 2011, spreading the word on environmental awareness and building on the concept of the door as a metaphor—the opportunity to reach out and give back, who’s going in and who’s going out. Washington has hand-painted 300+ repurposed doors with donated mismatched paint rendering thought provoking art pieces. His doors were an integral part of Round 35 Project Row Houses (PRH). This year, the Houston Symphony featured a door painted by Washington that integrated sheet music for a special event on the banks of Buffalo Bayou. Washington’s “environmental art” carries what he calls “a responsibility to be creative... to create or make a statement of my era.” He smiles proudly as he reminisces of his meeting with then Senator Barack Obama and the historymaking impact the now U.S. President has made. In his early years as an artist in Houston, Washington found his grounding on the basketball court at Fonde, the iconic Houston public gym where a long list of NBA favorites broke in their shoes. For Washington, working out on the Fonde basketball court wasn’t about age but more about discipline, to “mentally get a grip on what’s going on” and then reflect that in his art. Two years ago, Washington opened Harambee Art Gallery in the S.H.A.P.E. Community Center on Almeda to make a difference in the lives of others, particularly the youth. “Even at your lowest low, you have an opportunity to get out of it... especially if you are goal oriented and focused,” said Washington who knows the plight of homelessness first hand. “If you can bring everything to the forefront, you can make something happen.”

Charles Washington with young artist, Eugene

almost 14 years bringing smiles to Houston streets

Congratulations, Midtown! The Midtown Redevelopment Authority received the Parks and Natural Areas Award from the Houston-Galveston Area Council for the renovations at Midtown parks.

Midtown Management District 410 Pierce Street, Ste. 355 Houston, TX 77002

MIDTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

William R. Franks Chairman of the Board

Matt Thibodeaux

Executive Director for Midtown Management District & Midtown Redevelopment Authority (TIRZ #2) mattt@houstonmidtown.com

Cynthia Alvarado

Managing Director cynthiaa@houstonmidtown.com

Elizabeth Powell

credits Send Information to:

Design & Production: Quantum/SUR 12818 Willow Centre Drive, Suite B Houston, Texas 77066 281-955-2449 www.quantumsur.com Editor Mary Chavoustie, mary@quantumsur.com

District Coordinator epowell@houstonmidtown.com

Publisher/Art Director Leonel E. Mejía, leo@quantumsur.com

MIDTOWN redevelopment authority and tax increment reinvestment zone #2 ( TIRZ #2)

Contributing Writers Cynthia Alvarado Marlon Marshall Elizabeth C. Searcy

Robert Sellingsloh Chairman of the Board

Kandi Schramm

Accounting Manager Marta M. Mejía, marta@quantumsur.com

Marlon Marshall

The Midtown Management District (MMD) and Quantum/Sur do not knowingly accept false or misleading information or editorial, nor do they assume responsibility should such material appear in the paper. Views expressed in the midtown paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor, publisher, or the MMD. Every effort has been made to ensure accurate information at the time of publication, however, this cannot be guaranteed. Publishing of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of any product or service offered. All submissions of editorial or photography are only accepted without risk to the publisher or the MMD for loss or damage.