My first creative inspirations came from one of the most laid back people I’ve met, my college freshman sculpture teacher, Dean Ruck. He was calm, intelligent, kind, and extremely down to earth. Intro to Sculpture at The University of Houston to this day is the class that I most learned and grew from. It sent me off to the rest of my college years with a big boom.

I was so happy when I found out that Dean was involved in the Tunnel House Project. I remember driving by it and thinking WOW!! It really did look like it was out of this world! I did some research and found out that Dan Havel and Dean Ruck had teamed up for creating a public art piece using an old house that was very soon to be demolished. Here’s Dean talking about his approach. This is what they came up with.

There’s an antique outdoor market that takes place the first Saturday of every month in the Houston Heights. This month it took place on Mother’s Day and a perfect occasion to be outside with mom! Spent the morning walking around with hats and sunglasses, looking at unique finds and enjoying the sun shining, the sound of birds chirping, and the smell of grass.

Retro objects and vintage posters.

People walking around on the grass.

Morrocan clay tajin plates with covers.

Antique oriental door.

The Art Car Parade took place in Houston along Allen Parkway this weekend and boy was it a blast! It’s always an inspiration and a delight to see what Houstonians come up with for the parade. Here are just a few of the things that caught my eye:

We Heart Art Cars!!

Rolling Rococco Running Shoes.

Slider.

Art Attack.

Cabernet Cab Ladies.

Miss Dick Chicks Homecoming.

Opera To Go.

The forecast for the weekend was rain, but just after lunch the clouds cleared up and the sun came out. The Houstonpress insisted that we head out to the crawfish festival, as it only happens once a year for just two weekends. The Crawfest in Spring is full of that small-town Texas charm!

Kids just outside the Face Paint Stand.

Boy riding the mean mechanical bull.

Charming cowgirl selling Texas Salsa.

Three pounds of cajun crawfish, corn potatoes, fries, budweiser select and cajun sausage…all in the tummy!

Texas Koozies.

Hair Paint???

Open air live music.

Went to see the Museum of Fine Arts Houston Pompeii Exhibition last Thursday. Being away made me really appreciate how awesome Houston museums are and how friendly and cultured people are here. The timing of the exhibition itself was perfect for us, as we’ve just finished watching two seasons of “Rome” HBO series just before we left Riyadh. That period was a very interesting time in history.

The catastrophe of the volcano is quite tragic and sad, but the preservation of the culture buried underneath the ashes is incredible. We are able to see how people lived in Italy during this time…their behaviors, lifestyles, and day-to-day way of life. They had everything from art, frescos, jewelry, kitchen utensils, tools, sculptures, coins, and even body molds on display. I enjoyed seeing this piece of history and feel very inspired!

The Pompeii Sign outside the MFAh Building.

Me wearing my Thursday museum sticker.

The Pompeii was closed off upstairs…no photography allowed…poo.

Houston weather this time of year is best described as glorious!! Really, it’s been perfect weather…sunny, breezy, not too warm, not too cold, and perfect for a trip to the zoo. Paul and I had been a few years ago, but I was very impressed this time. The entire zoo was impeccably clean, beautiful signage, great selection of animals, all looking very happy and well-fed, lush landscaping…trees, flowers, birds, ducks, and fountains, and filled with curious little people walking around with mom and dad. There are a few restaurants with outdoor seating areas packed with moms chatting and dads bonding. I loved the houston zoo and if I have kids I would really want them to have this experience.

Here are some of the things we saw:

Zoo Signage., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Map., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Chamillion., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Orangutan.., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Snake., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Baboon., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Warthog., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Albino Alligator., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Monkey., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Kimodo., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Lion., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Kid at the zoo., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Kids at the zoo., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Spent the day not too far from Space Center Houston on the Gulf of Mexico in a small coast town called Kemah…boats, seagulls, seafood restaurants, a cool summer breeze, and some great relaxing…as American as can be!

Kemah, Texas., originally uploaded by Carcura.

My favorite stand on the boardwalk was the snowcone booth.

Kemah, Texas., originally uploaded by Carcura.

The sailboats passing by created postcard worthy landscapes.

Kemah, Texas., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Love this retro sign. How cool would that be in an industrial loft space?

Kemah, Texas., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Little restaurants and cafees all along the water.

InTransit is in America! Just got the internet going here…yeay to At&t!

Have I mentioned that I’ve spent most of my life in transit? Well last week I was in Riyadh and now here I am in “Space City” Houston! After spending the past six months in the gulf, my point of view of America should be interesting. So far the shopping is far too gratifying for anything else to matter.

Hotel Derek, Galleria, Houston., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Address: 2525 West Loop South, Houston, TX 77027
Architect: Mitchell Carlson Stone, Inc., Houston
Interior: Powerstrip; Hollywood, Calif.
Art: Arthur Meyerson’s original photos of Houston throughout the hotel

Hotel Derek, Galleria, Houston.
Originally uploaded by Carcura

Since opening in January 2002, Hotel Derek has become known as the Texas hotel that is tailor-made for today’s demanding business traveler. The first contemporary hotel in Houston, Hotel Derek brought modern conveniences and upgraded luxuries to business and leisure travelers — complimentary high-speed Internet access, two-line cordless phones, firm and pillow-top mattresses, goose-down duvets — all presented in a crisp, calming, stylish atmosphere.

Hotel Derek, Galleria, Houston.
Originally uploaded by Carcura

Restaurant: A modern French bistro, bistro moderne, opened in December 2004. The restaurant includes a forty-seat café with a bar, featuring a custom-formed pewter bar top, aged mirrors, custom cement tile floor, classic dark wood banquettes and chairs as well as white marble in-laid tabletops. Example bar and café menu items include classics such as Hangar Steak and the best French fries in Houston.

Saint Paul’s Methodist Church, Houston., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Designed by: Alfred C. Finn
Construction Completed: 1930
Location: 5501 Main
Area: Museum District
Post Code: 77004
City: Houston, Texas

Saint Paul’s Methodist Church, Houston.
Originally uploaded by Carcura

In the first years, worship services were held in a small frame building in the Ross’s yard, known as Good Fellowship Chapel. St. Paul’s opened its first building on Milam and McGowen on January 31, 1909 – The architecture was Grecian, with a dome in Byzantine style. The membership had reached 600. The building was finally dedicated in 1918, when the building debt was paid.

Saint Paul’s Methodist Church, Houston.
Originally uploaded by Carcura

In 1927, the architect chosen was Jess Jones’ protégé Alfred C. Finn, who would gain fame as the designer of the San Jacinto Monument, the Gulf Building, the Cullen Building at the University of Houston, and the Coliseum and Music Hall. Groundbreaking took place in April 1929.

Saint Paul’s Methodist Church, Houston.
Originally uploaded by Carcura

The first worship service was held in the new English Gothic style building on November 2, 1930. Membership in those years had reached almost 1,700.