April 10, 2008 Mayor Bill White invites you to discover Discovery Green Mayor Bill White invites you to come discover Discovery Green, a unique new park in downtown Houston. Discovery Green officially opens this Sunday, April 13. With everything from events like the upcoming live re-creation of the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," to film festivals, to regular activities like the children's discovery series, yoga classes and "Pilates in the Park," there will be many attractions -- most of them free -- to interest almost everyone. The 12-acre urban park includes: green lawns; a one-acre lake; the children's playground; an interactive fountain; the cooling mist tree; a performance stage with lawn seating; small and large dog runs; beautiful art works; signature dining at The Grove restaurant, fast fun food available water-side at The Lakehouse; sunset cocktails in The Treehouse; majestic oak trees, exquisite gardens, and more! Plenty of parking surrounds Discovery Green, including the new underground parking garage (entry on Avenida de las Americas, across from the George R. Brown Convention Center), and the park is just a couple of blocks from the Main Street Metro rail. Mayor White hopes all Houstonians will take the opportunity to visit Houston's new front yard over the next few weeks. Below is Discovery Green's 2008 SPRING/SUMMER PROGRAMMING SEASON GUIDE. For more information, you can visit www.discoverygreen.com Spring / Summer 2008 Programming Season What's your taste in outdoor activities? Discovery Green's programs offer something for everyone. Bring your family, meet some old friends or make new ones and choose from a variety of events, classes, performances and happenings. Houston's reputation as a world-class fine arts destination extends to the Discovery Green Art Series with a full slate of visual, literary and performing arts events. Local performers are featured at Discovery Green's Entertainment Series, offering dance classes as well as evening and lunchtime concerts, including Blues and More and Sundays in the Park. If you prefer an active role in your outdoor pursuits, Healthy Living in the Park is the series for you. Opportunities include an organic urban market and yoga and pilates classes. Children can explore their creative skills with hands-on activities such as the Children's Writing Workshops. Still hungry? Read on.a whole world of fun awaits you. All series programs are FREE and open to the public, unless otherwise noted. For more information and program updates visit www.discoverygreen.com The schedule is subject to change. Most events must be rescheduled or cancelled in the event of rain. For last minute weather updates, visit our website at or call 713.400.7336. SPECIAL EVENTS A Little Help from my Friends: A Live Recreation of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Saturday, April 26 7:30 p.m. Free Admission Anheuser-Busch Stage and Fondren Performance Space Beatle enthusiasts David Blassingame and Steve Candelari hand-picked 40 Houston musicians to pay tribute to the Fab 4 with this live performance of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Featuring Tabla, Sitar, Tanpura and Dilbruba, violins, cellos and more. Co-sponsored with Musicians Benevolent Society in memory of 2008 Honorary Chair Rory Miggins. Art Car Party on the Green Saturday, May 10 3 to 6:30 p.m. Free admission Anheuser-Busch Stage, White Promenade, Saberioon Plaza and McKinney St. Art Cars invade Discovery Green, Houston's amazing new downtown park, for an artists' party featuring live music comedy and more just after the world famous Art Car Parade. The 2008 Parade winners will be announced. The Party on the Green caps off Orange Show Art Car Weekend by allowing the public to share in the art car experience up close and personal. Co-sponsored by the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art and the Convention and Entertainment Facilities Department. DockDogs Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 27-29 Noon to 8 p.m. Free admission Jones Lawn Presented for the first time in Houston, this Big Air Dogs competition is a dynamic canine sport measuring leaps and bounds. Televised on the Outdoor Channel, DockDogs competition consists of dogs jumping into water from a designated dock with the largest or highest leap earning that canine a victory. Dogs and owners travel to Houston to compete, and the competition will be open to local dogs too. Houston Juneteenth Multicultural Health Festival Saturday, June 21, 2008 12 noon - 6 pm Sponsored by Families Under Urban and Social Attack (FUUSA), this health fair features health screenings and preventative health literature. product samples and a "Real Men Cook" cookoff. DISCOVERY GREEN ART SERIES Fresh Fridays April 18, 6 pm May 16, 7 pm June 20, 6 pm Free Admission Anheuser-Busch Stage and Fondren Performance Space Fresh Arts Coalition presents a monthly series of exciting art performances. April 18 -- Dominic Walsh Dance Theater performs a section from Walsh's E_Merging II premiere followed by Musiqa featuring The Scirocco Winds and a screening by SWAMP, the Southwest Alternate Media Project . May 16 -- University of Houston Center for Choreography affiliate Travesty Dance Group followed by Aurora Picture Show screening of the award-winning documentary dance short film, The Cost of Living. June 20 -- Opera in the Heights followed DJ Dunnock and Stages Theater. Houston Arts Alliance Monthly Series Wednesday, April 23, May 21 and June 18 Time: 6:30 p.m. Free Admission Anheuser-Busch Stage and Fondren Performance Space Presented by the Houston Arts Alliance, this series features the excellence and diversity of Houston's performing arts community. On April 23, Space City Gamelan takes over the stage with amazing Indonesian gamelan drums followed by Angel Lane Brass Band. Wednesday June 11 6:30 p.m. Free Admission Saberioon Plaza and the Anheuser Busch Amphitheater Stage Inprint, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization connecting and nurturing readers and writers in Houston, organizes readings by writers at Discovery Green. Music by DJ Ceeplus Bad Knives, Houston Press Best of Houston, followed by Mat Johnson reading from his new graphic novel, Inconegro . Writers' Workshop on the Green Wednesdays, May 27 to June 25 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Green Room in the LakeHouse Inprint, a nationally-recognized nonprofit organization connecting and nurturing readers and writers in Houston, offers a non-credit writing workshop open to anyone interested in expanding their writing skills. The spring workshop is focused on poetry and is led by Darin Ciccotelli. The cost is $200 for eight weeks. Please register at www.inprinthouston.org Houston Ballet II at Discovery Green Wednesday, May 14 6:30 p.m. Free Admission Anheuser-Busch Stage and Fondren Performance Space Dances for Two: Houston Ballet II performs pas de deux's from traditional and contemporary ballets. An excerpt from Stanton Welch's Fingerprints, Marius Petipa's Black Swan , Vasily Vainonen's Flames of Paris and August Bournonville's Flower Festival. Best of Extremely Shorts: Audience Choice film festival with Aurora Picture Show Friday, June 27 8:30 p.m. Free Admission Anheuser-Busch Stage and Fondren Performance Space Aurora Picture Show's most popular program and celebration of its 10 th anniversary MFAH Films at Discovery Green Wednesdays May 7, May 28, June 4, June 28 8:30 p.m. Free Admission Anheuser-Busch Stage and Fondren Performance Space MFAH Films presents screenings at a grand new outdoor film venue.. May 7 - Mr. Hulot's Holiday, 1954 French comedy starring the one and only Jacques Tati May 28 - The Gates , HBO's new documentary about Christo and Jean-Claude's monumental art installation in Central Park. June 4 - Rare Films from the Baseball Hall of Fame . Film curator Dave Filipi with new selections of vintage baseball films just for Discovery Green and MFAH Films. Thanks to Ben Harry, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. June 28 - Red Balloon/ White Mane, Follow a small boy and a red balloon through the streets of Paris or a horse through the south of France. Timeless, almost wordless, classic films. ENTERTAINMENT SERIES Blues and More - Discovery Green Music Thursdays Thursdays, May 1-June 26 6 to 8:30 p.m. Free Admission Anheuser-Busch Stage and Fondren Performance Space Happy Hour Concerts in the park featuring the best in local and regional live music. April 17 - Battle of the Brass Bands featuring New Birth Brass Band , considered one of New Orleans best brass bands and Voodoo ! April 24 - Tighten up with Houston music legend Archie Bell and Allen Oldies Band May 1 - Rudy Rincon & Grupo Ka-Che - sultry salsa sounds May 8 - Katie Stuckey and the Handsomes - Three-time Consecutive Winners of the Houston Press Music Awards "Best Pop-Rock Band" (2004-06), The Handsomes' live show is charismatic, packed with personality, and a magnet for the hundreds of fans attending their shows. May 22 - Dysfunkshun Junkshun - out of Austin with a unique blend of high energy R&B, Hip Hop, Motown, DFJ is one of the best show bands in the southwest. May 29 - The Gourds "a good-time, honky tonkin' band with enough quirk and underground appeal to more than earn the "alternative" in "alternative country-rock band." Part of Austin's vibrant scene. (All Music Guide) June 5 - Mango Punch - one of Houston's top-drawing tropical dance bands June 12 - The Chromatics and Picture Book - No ordinary cover band, Chromatics present a complete "totally awesome" stage show complete with DEVO Energy Domes and all things plastic. June 19 - Grady Gaines headlines the Downhome Blues Festival featuring Roy Gaines, Clifford Jean Burkes, Milton Hopkins and Johnny Perry. This super-group has played with Quincy Jones, Sam Cook and B. B. King. Presented in conjunction with the National Emancipation Association. Sundays in the Park presented by the Four Seasons Hotel Houston Sundays 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Free Admission Anheuser-Busch Stage and Saberioon Plaza Lunchtime concerts and entertainment surprises for an idyllic Sunday in the Park. Garden Tours and Four Seasons Hotel Spa Tapas! May 4 - Da Camera Jazz Ensemble featuring Latin jazz pianist Jose-Miguel Yamal May 11 and June 8 - TBA April 20, May 18 and June 22 - Two Star Symphony -- Houston's most unusual string ensemble performing all original music. May 25 -and June 15 - TBA June 1 and June 29 - Defenestration Unit jazz, rock, funk, electronic and ambient music by Houston's favorite improvisational band. Screen on the Green Friday, May 2 8 p.m. Free Admission Anheuser-Busch Stage and Fondren Performance Space Discovery Green's free movie series celebrates Houston on film with Urban Cowboy, the 1980 film starring John Travolta that might just be the most predominant film image of Houston . American Festival for the Arts: AFA Conservatory Orchestra Saturday, July 19 7 p.m. Free Admission Anheuser-Busch Stage and Fondren Performance Space Final concert of the 2008 American Festival for the Arts season. Conductor Jeffrey Grogan of the New Jersey Youth Symphony leads the AFA Conservatory Orchestra and Women's Chorus in a performance of Holst's "The Planets" under the stars at Discovery Green. This concert features winners of AFA's 2008 Concerto Competition. HEALTHY LIVING IN THE PARK Green Market: Central City Co-op at Discovery Green Thursdays 4 to 7:30 p.m. Free Admission Andrea and Bill White Promenade A year-round co-op market offering organic produce and products grown locally. Dancing under the Stars Tuesdays in May 7 p.m. Free Admission Anheuser-Busch Stage Ballroom dance classes led by professional dance instructors from TUTS Humphreys School of Theatrical Arts. Limited to 100 per class. Pilates in the Park Tuesdays 6 to 7 p.m. Free Admission Flores Terrace overlooking the Gateway Fountain Classic flexibility and strength training, only better, outdoors at the park. Instructor Jennifer Young Malstead also teaches at TUTS Humphreys School for Theatrical Arts. Zumba! Wednesdays 6 to 7 p.m. Free Admission Flores Terrace overlooking the Gateway Fountain It's not really a workout - it's a party! Inspired by Latin dance and music, Zumba uses cumbia, merengue, salsa, mambo, rumba, flamenco, and calypso in its routine. You'll sweat, you'll sculpt and tone and feel great. Instructor Oscar Sajche, a certified personal trainer has studied with "Beto", the creator of Zumba. X Dancing Thursdays 6 to 7 p.m. Free Admission Flores Terrace the Gateway Fountain Move it and lose it! High energy, great music, big fun. Free exercise in the park. Instructor Alex Arzipe also teaches at TUTS Humphreys School for Theatrical Arts. Yoga in the Park Saturdays 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Free Admission Anheuser-Busch Stage Inspired movement, under the trees, in the park. Come on down for free Yoga in the Park! Instructor Jerry Randell also teaches at TUTS Humphreys School for Theatrical Arts. Jogging for Moms and Babies Saturdays 10 to 11 a.m. Free Admission McNair Foundation Jogging Track This free class encourages moms to bring the babies along for a walk and jog . Get to know other moms and enjoy being active in the park. Instructor Jennifer Young Malstead also teaches at TUTS Humphreys School for Theatrical Arts. Recycling Saturdays Saturdays 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. McKinney and Crawford Waste Management and the City of Houston partner with Discovery Green to present a recycling drop-off location for paper, glass, plastic and cans. Downtown residents and all others invited. On the first Saturday of each month, enjoy environmentally friendly product demonstrations and artist workshops, hands on recycling activities. CHILDREN'S AND FAMILY EVENTS Young Writers Workshop in the Park Saturdays 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Free Admission HPL Express in The Lake House Building The City's only open, free writing workshop for kids presented by Writers in the Schools in conjunction with HPL Express. Children's Discovery Series Saturdays 12 p.m. Free Admission Simmons Family Puppet Theater HPL Express at Discovery Green presents free, weekly, family-oriented workshops. May 3 - Let's Get Growing; May 10 - Building and Construction; May 17 - Sink and Float; May 24 - Life Cycle Butterfly; May 31 - Puppets; June 7- Houston Zoo; June 14 - Nature Discovery Center; June 21 - Houston Audubon. Opera To Go May 31, June 7 12 p.m. Free Admission Anheuser-Busch Stage and Fondren Performance Space Houston Grand Opera presents two-beloved classics-Romeo and Juliet and Sleeping Beauty. On May 31, Opera to Go! presents scenes from Gounod's luscious Shakespearean opera, adapted for today's audiences of all ages. On June 7, Sleeping Beauty has never experienced a winter before - that is, until the mysterious Winter Fairy appears and puts all of Russia in a snowy sleep. ABOUT THE DISCOVERY GREEN CONSERVANCY The Discovery Green Conservancy is a private, non-profit organization that operates the park. At the behest of the City of Houston's Mayor Bill White, the Conservancy was formed in December 2004 and was charged with designing, building and operating Houston's new urban park. LOCATION Discovery Green is located in downtown Houston, in front of the George R. Brown Convention Center and the Hilton Americas. The park is just blocks away from Main Street, Minute Maid Park and Toyota Center. HOURS Discovery Green is open every day from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. beginning in April 2008. Hours for events may vary. Areas of the park may be closed occasionally for maintenance or private events. Visitors may call 713-400-7336 or visit www.discoverygreen.com for additional information. PARKING OPTIONS Go to www.discoverygreen.com for a link to parking information.
Sponsors : KPRC Channel 2, The Houston Chronicle, Comcast, Univision and Four Seasons Hotel.
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