Fun in the Sun--Houston Style

A longtime, dear friend of mine Susan A--YES another Susan!) had a birthday on October 25. As is our custom, we try to do something different and fun to celebrate. Susan A. has a flair for outdoor decorating. Below is a shot of her front door. http://bigsticksblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/funky-and-fun-trees.html You can also tell by these pictures she has a green thumb...actually, she's a certified master gardener!

She lost her precious 14 year old tuxedo cat, Lily this year and made a shine of sorts! RIP Lily....

So now onward to the celebrating.....Susan opted for several close friends to join her at a relatively new venue in Downtown Houston. It's called Discovery Green. http://www.discoverygreen.com/art/ They took raggedy old parking lots and buildings and turned the space into something beautiful and fun for Houstonians. There was a Recycled Globe exhibit and it was fun to walk around and see different artists interpretations.

That big building in the background is the George R. Brown Convention Center. Discovery Green is situated in front of the Convention Center, so when the weather is good the convention go-ers, craft fair lookers, quilt show peeps, etc. can overflow into the park and enjoy the almost year round outdoor weather Houston has to offer.

The Mist Tree is a 15-foot-high-by-22-foot-wide stainless steel structure that is sited to attract people to the park. Visible from beyond the park’s boundaries, the rain curtain and mist streams generated by the tree will entice children and adults to refresh themselves in its delightful shower.

"Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet." The public art exhibit features 50 super-sized Cool Globes that each convey a different message about what ordinary citizens can do to combat global warming. The five-foot diameter, seven-foot-tall globes were decorated by local, national and international artists.

RE-USE, RECYCLE, ETC........a theme that most of my blogging friends understand....we re-style, re-purposed, re-paint,.....so we are the ULTIMATE GREEN PEOPLE!

In honor of The King of Pop AND Halloween, locals were asked to come out early and learn Michael Jackson's dance routine in "Thriller". We were there mid afternoon and over and over again, throngs of people (Some dresses in character---Zombies!) practiced Thriller. It was a great people watching place. Later in the evening, Houston would be linked up via live satellite to "perform" thriller with other cities around the globe. Thus breaking the record of the MOST people simultaneously dancing Thriller! Pretty Cool, huh?!!??

These two pooches were enjoying all the dancing and crazy people watching!

Nationally acclaimed artist Margo Sawyer’s installation graces both exits of the underground garage, with accents interspersed through the "Green". The 151 panels hold 1,500 aluminum boxes in 65 colors. The paint on these boxes is also used in under water applications for oil rigs and was gifted by International Paint.

So, ends our wonderful birthday celebration--girl's day out! The weather could not have BEEN any better. And as we took one last look around, here's a sight we haven't see as much of in Houston, as in years past. In the BOOM time of Houston, everywhere you looked a new building was going up. It's good to see that we are building again...which mean....dare I say....maybe the economy is getting a little better. And Happy Birthday, dear Susan......I'm looking forward to spending many, many more fun girl days together!