::Art Car Parade Volunteer Orientation:: We know, we know. You've been sooo busy the last few weeks lounging about in the beautiful weather that you missed the first Volunteer Orientation for this year's Art Car Parade. No worries, we gotcha covered. For all you last minute joiners, (no judgement!) stop by Capital One in Midtown tonight for one of the last Volunteer Orientations. You know it wouldn't be the Orange Show without some hoopla, though,......

>> Wintry mix blasts Panhandle, North Texas with sleet, snow: They came from the north and helped freeze your tootsies. Yep, those darn north winds are to blame for the uber chill around town today writes Meteorologist Tim Heller on the Houston Weather Blog. The same system that blanketed North Texas with nine inches of snow and caused Dallas-Ft. Worth airport to cancel 200 flights will share its chill with Houston. "This type of......

If you missed out on the Beer Can Opener last Friday (because you were embroiled in the LRPC - any other excuse will not be accepted, unless accompanied by a note from your Dr.), you have a second chance to attend a special event. Join Mayor Bill White as he honors and officially opens the Beer Can House to the public, along with the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. This Thursday, March 6th at......

The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art is hosting The Beer Can Opener this Friday from 7 p.m. until Midnight! Officially, the Beer Can House opens to the general public on March 1st, however, you can participate in the special preview party, which will be resplendent with zydeco & honky tonk music, barbecue and beer! Shuttling you to and fro are, ART CARS, of course (and, how cool, we might add) - the "to" part......

::The Orange Show Concert Series presents Charalambides & Alasdair Roberts:: Bring on the folk artists! What we've come to know and love from the The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, tonight continues to bring musical artists with unique creative visions to the intimate amphitheater of its namesake folk art environment. Austin-based favorites Charalambides return to their former hometown of Houston to play fan favorites from their nearly two dozen albums and new works from......

Filled up on turkey and dressing? Here's some event stuffing fer youse. add event to your Google Calendar view all events on the Houstonist Google Calendar [26 MONDAY]Double Feature: Monday Movies at MFA and Domy BooksMemories of Irving Berlin (last Monday)Bayou City Concert Musicals | doors at 7pm, ensemble Theatre ($20) [27 TUESDAY]Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison: book signing and discussion | 3pm, Barnes & Noble Town & Country (free)Rice Humanities Lecture: An Ordinary, Everyday......

So, normally here at Houstonist, we try to promote events--arts and otherwise--that are open and (ahem) FREE to the public. Every now and again, though, something costing cash-o-la is so cool, so fun, SO important, that we simply MUST promote it. In this case, well, there's a lot of cash-o-la involved. But it's for such a good cause!!! We are not necessarily flush with cash today...or, well, any other day. But YOU, dear Houstonist......

::Howe Gelb At The Orange Show::Called one of the most "resilient and consistently inventive American artists of the last two decades," Howe Gelb has served as the frontman for Giant Sand, been a member of of OP8 and become owner of his own record label, "all the while entertaining, confounding and influencing fans and critics alike." Howe's music travels the spectrum from bluesy piano and rollicking guitar riffs to haunting melodies and spare strummings as......

No, it's not Mardi Gras. And not THOSE oranges. Our friends at the Orange Show need your juice this weekend. (Mind. gutter. pick it up.) The Orange Show is looking for Volunteers to help with the Bayou City Art Festival Downtown this coming Saturday & Sunday, October 13th & 14 th. Volunteers ages 16 and older are needed to man the Orange Show booth featuring a Mini Art Car Workshop for kids and to help......

::The Orange Show for Visionary Arts Concert Series:: We told you about this event in this week's Thriftster, but decided it was waaaaaay to cool not to be reminded of again. I mean, would you seriously know what to do if we didn't tell you these things? Don't answer that. Unless the answer is "No." This new concert series, co-sponsored by SugarHill Studios, is dedicated to showcasing musicians as original as the Orange Show......

Spent all your cash on girlie drinks and shattered dreams again this weekend, didn't you? No worries - Thriftster gives you the lowdown on cheap stuff to do until Paycheck Friday. Monday: Soothe the remnants of your weekend hangover with the (free) strains of a Rice University music faculty concert from 8-9:30pm at Alice Brown Pratt Hall. Suck it up - if Mozart and Brahms aren't usually your homeboys, you can always make up for......

The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art is kicking off its Fall with a fantastic afternoon for families, children, artists and all very cool persons who enjoy art cars! Saturday, September 29th from 1-4pm, head on over to Munger Street, home of The Orange Show Monument, for food, drinks and the return of the 2006 winner of the Mayor's Cup - Atomic Dog, created by Waltrip High School. Those of you who hit the Art......

Bayou City Arts Festival: Call for Entries The Bayou City Art Festival Downtown (not to be confused with the Sping Festival in Memorial Park) has announced the call for entries for its third annual “Art on Water” floating art competition on the City Hall Reflection Pool at Hermann Square. This year’s theme is “Water in Motion.” "We’re asking local artists to express movement through artwork either stationary or through kinetic nature of sculpture or installation,”......

The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art will soon be conducting a nationwide search for a new Executive Director, as Susanne Theis will be leaving August 31st to become the new Programming Director of Discovery Green, which opens in early 2008. Susanne has been with The Orange Show for more than 20 years. Under her guidance, The Orange Show has garnered international recognition for the world's largest and oldest Art Car Parade and each of......

As you get ready to head out for your July 4th holiday, we thought you might like to have some tunes to play on the way. Houstonist contributors have put together a collection of songs that are currently on the most played list on our iPod. There is a variety, so you should find something you like (and if you're open-minded musically, you'll probably like them all). This month, we have a couple of Houston......

VIEWER'S CHOICE EDITION So tell us what you want, what you really, really want. Since the announcement that England's favorite fabulous five will be reuniting, we've been unable to concentrate on our weekend plans. With so much drama in the HOU, it's kinda hard figuring out what we should do. So we need your help. (in so many ways). Leave your comment as to what YOU think WE should do tonight. Here are our top......

Tomorrow night at The World Famous Orange Show, for the low, low price of $10 - you can hear four brands of new folk music. QuadroFolkia will be headlined by Jana Hunter - backed by a full band! Now, we know we told you there was a burgling incident - however, we have been assured that the show will go on! If there is a merchandise table, you really should pick up her new CD......

Folk Legend Bert Jansch, who has influenced artists from many genres, including Neil Young (who refers to him as the acoustical version of Jimi Hendrix), Devendra Banhart, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Johnny Marr (The Smiths), Nick Drake, Beth Orton, Noel Gallagher (Oasis) and Mike Oldfield, will make a rare live appearance at the Orange Show. Infused with American folk, blues and Traditional British Isles music, his style is singularly unique and his song-writing very affecting.......

Here are some recently announced concerts. Tickets will go on sale this weekend: The Format (7/18 @ Meridian) Marilyn Manson/Slayer (8/31 @ Reliant Arena) The Killers (9/15 @ Reliant Arena) – win tickets from us in advance! This week, we think the show to see is The Hold Steady at Walter’s on Thursday night. Sure, their new stuff resembles some of early Springsteen’s best work, but it’s damn good. Legendary Scottish folk singer (you......

Saturday marks the "piece de resistance" of Art Car Weekend - The Art Car Parade! Houstonist is singing "I Love a Parade" in our very best Ethel Merman voice in celebration of this event (normally, we stick to "There's No Business Like Show Business"). The world's largest and oldest parade of its kind makes its way into downtown on Allen Parkway for the 20th year to an anticipated crowd of over 200,000 people. This year's......

The Orange Show is looking for volunteer photographers to shoot the 20th Annual Houston Art Car Parade this weekend! The parade starts at 1pm Saturday on Allen Parkway, but photographers are needed throughout the weekend, from Shop Talk at the Art Car Museum on Friday night to the Awards Ceremony and Brunch at The Orange Show on Sunday Afternoon. Volunteers get an Art Car t-shirt, food & drinks, and the chance to see their......

Looking for something to do with all that spare time? We know, we don't exactly have much spare time, either. However, there are some great volunteer opportunities available for those of you who are so inclined. First, we'd like to tell you about a long term, or ongoing commitment where there is a need to fill that serves the community by assisting those less privileged. The Christian Community Service Center's Emergency Services Program needs some......

Bill Callahan Performs at The Orange Show On the heels of releasing his latest CD, Woke on a Whaleheart, crooner Bill Callahan performs tonight at the Orange Show Monument. With a voice that recalls Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen, this maverick songwriter returns to the Orange Show for an encore performance. Callahan's darkly personal, yet dry and witty lyrics have made him a favorite with Houston audiences. Callahan, also known as Smog and (Smog),......

Ah ... Spring is in the air. With spring comes festival season! The International Festival begins its two-weekend stint on Saturday, bringing a wide range of musicians. This weekend, George Clinton headlines, but you can also catch Ruthie Foster, Grupo Fantasma, and more. Another annual tradition (well, a 14 year tradition) is Buzzfest sponsored by 94.5 KTBZ. This year's line-up for the rock station (notice that we didn't say "alternative?" -- there's a reason......

Today’s Photo of the Day comes from flickr user and Houstonist photo contributor Randy. This is a detail shot of Houston's own Beer Can House. It even has an entry in the RoadsideAmerica.com website. The house was originally owned by John Milkovisch, a retired railroad worker. He adorned his property with beer cans, pull tabs and various other items to create this amazing folk art living space. When John and his wife, Mary, both......

The Art Car Parade requires about 400 volunteers, in order to go off without a hitch. The parade is Saturday, May 12th, and the volunteer recruiting is getting off with a bang tomorrow with a Kick-Off Party at the Whole Foods in West University, located at 4004 Bellaire Boulevard @ Weslayan. Essentially, there will be a big parking lot party from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. with food, music, schwag giveaways and some art cars......

So, Houstonist has forewarned you about a couple of events this weekend, The Orange Show Extravaganza whch is occuring Saturday afternoon (props to reader BShirley - we were remiss) and the AIDS Walk 2007 on Sunday. The Orange Show is typically looking for helpers at it's events - even if it's free, it's still gotta go off without a hitch. Call them at 713.926.6368 to see if you can be more than a participant this......

Here is a big, big Houstonist "heads up". The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art will re-open this weekend with some fantastic fanfare and events. This event is from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. this Saturday, it is FREE to attend and beer and wine will be available with proper I.D. (have we got your undivided attention, yet?). This marks a re-opening celebration of the Orange Show - plus (so proud of our Orange Show!!!)......

Just a quick note from your friends at Houstonist to let you know that the Beer Can House Happy Hour Workshop is back (sporadically) by popular demand. You may have head about "the house that beer built", but it's just not fun until you take part in rebuilding it. We've been, and think you should go too. If you are interested, visit the Orange Show website to sign up. --- When: Thurs. February 8th......

Did you know that Houston has more than 500 cultural, visual, and performing arts organizations? Neither did we. We did however suspect that something strange was going on when we heard Houston had the second largest Theater District in the nation. Houstonist feels like our artsy professor step dad just bench pressed 2,000lbs. The Orange Show for Visionary Arts is just one little guy in the multitude of Houston’s arts organizations, but Houstonist thinks if......