Houston Weekend: Downtown Houston

If you want a Houston Weekend with lots of bang for your bucks? Head to downtown Houston. The weekend is an ideal time to pay a visit to some of the city's best shops, parks and other venues. Most of all, it's not nearly as crowded then. And you'll find lots of cool,fun things to do every Saturday and Sunday in the Houston's Downtown District.

Discovery Green

This huge greenspace sits smack dab in the front door of the George R Brown Convention Center, one of the busiest convention centers in the state. It's lake, restaurant and sound stages are places where you'll find friendly locals kicking back and enjoying the tranquil ambiance, oblivious to the traffic snarls in plain view.

The park offers plenty things to do on the weekends. It could be something as useful as a bike repair workshop, yoga in the park or the incredible edibles for sale at the Farmers market on Sunday mornings.

Shops At Houston Center

When you go into the heart of any city's downtown a visit to the specialty shops is a necessity. You got to pay a homage to the merchants who work in the comfortable shops at Houston Center.

You can travel by escalator, tunnel or access the businesses from street level by entering on McKinney St. The Houston Center houses plenty of places to spread the wealth. There is a tailor shop, several jewelers and ample places where you can grab a quick sub, a helping of Tex-Mex or eat more chickun at Chick-Fil-A.

Bayou Place

One, must see point in downtown Houston, are the attractions, diversions and activities at Bayou Place. There are enough things to do in this dynamic urban entertainment hub to capture everyone's fancy. During the day you can beat the heat by walking through the Aquarium, catching a movie or enjoying one of the many great dinning options.

The Aquarium is not just a mega fish tank, it includes a restaurant and amusement park rolled into one. It has activities for the whole family to enjoy. You can spend a few hours watching the fish, or a whole day at their Sea Safari camp.

They offer a Zoologist for a day program, or if you just can't pull yourself away from all of the excitement, an overnight adventure.

You can pack a ton of fun into a Houston weekend if you spend it downtown. That's not to say that you can't get your groove on all over the city. I'm just saying, the Downtown District is a great place to hunt and fish.

Hunt for bargains and eat some of the freshest fish in town, that is.

Books

Art/Theater

Attractions

Parks

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Do You Need Cash For Spring Break in Houston

photos from Google images

Would you like to shop during spring break, but you’re short on cash? I know a way you can overcome the no cash flow blues, that may be useful for anyone with leftover gift cards, or if you can’t find anything you want to purchase with those store gift cards in your pocket?

Have you thought about buying, selling, or swapping gift cards? There is a website that you should visit Swapagift.com.

They offer cash and card exchange programs where you can turn those gift cards in and pay bills or exchange gift cards you don’t use. Oh yeah, for the thrifty shoppers, you can even buy gift cards at a discount. Visit the Swapagift.com website

Herman Park

If you want to spend time having fun in the sun, take a trip to Herman Park. It’s South of Midtown Houston and close to the Houston Zoo and the Museum District. You can spend all day at the park without a dull moment. It’s one of Houston’s best places to have a picnic. There is lots of outdoor equipment to occupy any kid in your crowd. They can even cool off at the park’s splash pad.

I recommend taking a leisure stroll through the Chinese Garden during your visit to Herman Park.

Feel free to take a ride on the miniature train that travels through the park or in the paddle boats, just remember those service aren’t provided by the Houston Parks and will cost you a small fee.


[Where:Herman Park 100 Concert Drive,Houston] near the Museum of Natural Science and the Houston Garden Center.

Shops at Houston Center


Once you’ve gotten that cash flowing, remember Houston has a mall or store that can satisfy even the most refined shoppers. One popular shopping area is the “Shops at Houston Center” located, a Metrorail ride from Midtown Houston. If you’re looking for more exclusive lines of clothing, try Rice Village or visit the Galleria. These eclectic urban shopping areas allow you to shop, stroll or dine an enjoy their casual Texas atmospheres.

Alternative Media Submissions

Emerging film and video makers have until March 31, 2008 to complete their submissions for the Southwest Alternative Media Project fellowship program. SWAMP issued a call to Texas film and video makers for proposals for its 2008 program.

This year the theme will be: Migration (as a process of social, geographical, and cultural displacement). A blue-ribbon panel of film/video professionals will choose 5 to 7 filmmakers to be a part of the fellowship program.

The artists will be chosen on the strength of their proposal and on the promise of the artist’s future. Each artist will receive financial assistance to fund their production costs, ranging from $3,000 to $5,000. Here is more information about the SWAMP fellowship.

Community Artists’ Collective

Quilters, beginners and experienced, are encouraged to bring their quilts and allow them to be photographed and become part of an archive of the African American historical/cultural community.

Quilts and Quilt Stories" meets every Thursday and Saturday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. through March 29. Share stories, memories, skills and values of this traditional art. The sessions are free and open to the public. The ladies also offer advice and other assistance to repair and finish family treasures or help create the quilt of your dreams.

The program is a collective effort of the Married Ladies Social, Art and Charity Club of America, the Community Artists’ Collective (located in Midtown) and the Jubilee Quilt Circle of Houston.
Need to know more about this event here is some contact information.

Married Ladies Club
[Where:1814 Southmore, Houston, TX]

Michelle Barnes-Executive Director
Community Artists Collective
713.523.1616

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