|
Read more about all our Greeter activities. If you have an interest that isn’t listed here, let us know. We can probably arrange it for you.
History and Culture
African American Experience
Rich in tradition, the Shrine of the Black Madonna, Buffalo Soldiers Museum, Project Row Houses, Gite Gallery and the Ensemble Theatre. In addition, the historic third ward is home to Texas Southern University and is one of the last sustaining African American ward communities in Houston. We'd be happy to tell you about all of this, or share a visit to one or two sites.
Aurora Picture Show
Located in the historic HoustonHeights neighborhood, this nonprofit movie theater is housed in a former church building built in 1924. Visit its website at www.aurorapictureshow.org to check upcoming screenings focusing on experimental, avant-garde, and underground films. And, if possible, a Houston Greeter can accompany you for a show or at least tell you the wonders of this nationally recognized treasure.
Downtown Historic District
Explore the history of early Houston by taking a walk through the oldest (and ever-revitalizing) part of the city.
Government and Law
Several Houston Greeters can talk with you about the U.S. system and how it works. Several visitors have enjoyed this discussion over a cup of coffee.
Hindu Temples
There are several fine Hindu temples in the Houston area, remarkably similar to temples in India. A Greeter will be happy to tell you about them and their locations, and join you at the one of your choice. Some examples of the area temples are: SriMeenakshiTemple, SriSwaminarayanTemple and the HareKrishna Temple.
Hispanic Houston
Houston boasts many vibrant Hispanic neighborhoods and a lively cultural community.
History of Houston
Choose between the city's oldest Historic District, which offers 19th century cottages and some original brick streets or stroll under the majestic oaks of a 1920s neighborhood with homes representing Houston's finest architecture OR visit the Boulevard of Houston's first "streetcar suburb.
Houston’s Asian Communities
Vietnamese, Chinese, and Korean communities. The Hong Kong City Mall is one the great concentrations of Chinese and Southeast Asian grocery stores, restaurants, bakeries, and more.
Houston’s Indian and Pakistani Communities
Explore Middle Eastern and Indo-Pakistani grocery stores, restaurants, clothing shops, and beauty services.
Houston Grand Opera
Truly one of the best in the world! Feel free to check the Houston paper or the Opera's web site and if there is something you'd like to see with a greeter, let us know.
Jewish Houston
Jewish history, buildings of significance and local flavor of community.
Literary Houston
Internationally recognized novelists, poets, critics are drawn to Houston’s rich mix among acclaimed U. of H. professors, the Imprint Program, WITS (writing in the schools), and Nuestra Palabra.
SikhCenter
The first Indian religious center in Houston.
Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston dedicated the new Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in 2008. Located in downtown Houston it is easily accessible using METRO rail. Join a Greeter who also serves as a Cathedral guide and learn more about the 27,800 sq. ft. house of worship. Learn about its history and view the brass dome ascending 117 feet above the sanctuary, see statues and windows designed and made in Italy and many other treasures within.
Women in Early Houston History
Explore Houston's Downtown Historic District from the perspective of women's experience in early Houston.
Museums/Art
Art Car
You may know that Houston is considered the center of the Art Car world and hosts the world's largest Art Car Parade each year. Meet a Houston Greeter and art car artist and tour Houston's art car and folk art scene. Let our Greeter show you around your choice of one of Houston's great folk art sites: the ArtcarMuseum, the Orange Show, or the Beer Can House.
Art in Houston
Visit with a member of the Houston Arts Community, who has been represented by McMurtrey Gallery in Houston for over 25 years and has exhibited worldwide, and offers an overview of the vitality of the visual arts in Houston. You will visit galleries along Gallery Row or alternative art spaces or you can meet at her studio at Winter Street Studios warehouse art complex located on the Washington Avenue Corridor. It will indeed be a very special visit with a special member of Houston's talented art community.
Children's Museum
In the heart of the Museum District, this museum is full of life and fun. There are twelve galleries of hand-on activities that will amuse and educate young and old alike. Join a Greeter if you like and spend some time in the brightly colored, astounding Houston Children's Museum.
ContemporaryArt Museum
Located in the heart of the Museum District, this small museum can display large shows with lots of punch. Start at CAM and then consider more art or the SculptureGarden - all within sight.
HolocaustMuseum
HolocaustMuseum- Main exhibit is “Bearing Witness”; two films shown daily in a 100 seat theater. Book store, two galleries of changing art exhibits.
John Biggers’ Art
Visit with a local artist who was a student and friend of Biggers. See some original pieces now privately held.
Menil Complex
Menil Complex – Art, architecture, Byzantine Chapel. Cy Twombley Museum, Rothko Chapel, the MenilArt Museum, bookstores and more.
Metro Rail Public Art
Meet the artist who created the art for one stop. Tour the other stops as well.
Museum District General
The District is home to 16 major venues - a Greeter will walk with you to several and let you select the rest.
Museum of Natural Science
This museum is a "gem" in itself, with an extraordinary collection housed in a spectacular setting. Also, not to be missed is the section devoted to geology and the art and science of finding and extracting oil. Only Houston could do this so well, and a Houston Greeter, a geologist himself, would love to share this exhibit with you.
Museum of Printing History
This gem will fascinate you! You'll learn about the history of printing and printmaking, see examples of various types of printing, and see typographers and artists at work.
Neighborhood Stroll/Menil
Some neighborhoods are just meant for strolling. And one place Houstonians consider nearly perfect is in the Montrose area around the University of St. Thomas and heading toward the MenilMuseum. One Houston Greeter lives in this area and loves to share this experience with visitors and their kids. There are lots of live oak trees for climbing, crawling under, and generally enjoying.
Downtown Attractions
Art and Architecture Downtown
Architecture, public art – downtown.
Downtown Tunnels
Tunnels – 7 ½ miles of underground walking, shopping, restaurants. Not open on weekends.
Theater District
Second only to New York City in the number of theater seats in a downtown area, this 17 block area is the heart of downtown Houston. It is one of only five cities with permanent, resident professional companies in opera, ballet, music, and theater. Home to 8 world class performing arts organizations, this entertainment complex houses restaurants, movies, plazas and parks.
Dance
Ballroom Dancing
Shall we dance! We'll tell you what's available, and hope you can join us for a whirl around the room!
Dancing
Texas Two-step, Swing or maybe even Polka, lots of people in Houston love to dance and there are a few places and watering holes that appeal to local folks. You don't have to know much about the dancing, a Houston Greeter will be happy to show you the basics and invite you to join in. It's fun and will let you sample the local flavor around here.
Dance Companies
Enjoy dance? Houston has many opportunities for world class, innovative and highly entertaining performances. We would love to tell you about the wonderful qualities of our professional dance companies, and show you the Wortham Theatre where the Houston Ballet performs, Zilkha Hall at HobbyCenter, DiverseWorks Art Space, Freneticore Theater, and Barnevelder Movement/Arts Complex. Dance troupes abound, and high quality entertainment is offered most weekends. We'll tell you what we know, and join you for a performance, if possible.
Folk Dancing
Houston International Folk Dancers (HIFD) is a recreational dance group founded in 1947 that gathers weekly to enjoy and preserve the music and ethnic dances from more than 30 countries around the world. Visitors are always welcome and you are a guest for your first Friday. The Jewish Community Center hosts Israeli dancing on Thursdays, Scottish Country Dancing And More welcomes visitors on Wednesdays, Contra dancing with the Houston Area Traditional Dance Society (HATDS) can be enjoyed 2nd and 4th Saturdays of most months, English Country Dances (direct ancestor of Contra Dance) are held 2nd Thursdays, and Scandinavian, Irish, Dutch, German, Turkish, Greek, South African, Indian, Chinese, and other ethnic groups practice and perform in Houston. A Houston Greeter will explain the possibilities and will accompany you, if possible, to introduce you to Houston’s diverse international dance communities.
Sports/Recreation
Baseball {Seasonal}
A greeter will join you on an outing to the old ballgame. Go to see the hot-hitting Houston Astros play in MinuteMaidPark.
Biking
See Houston like the locals do! Greeter will help you rent a bike for few hours and accompany you on a ride around Houston.
Canoeing
Surely, a slow ride on the water is something that many people in Houston enjoy. There are lots of opportunities in our region, and if you know how to paddle, and don't mind a splash or two, come along and join us. We'll show you yet another way to enjoy the greater Houston area.
Golfing
Home to more than 200 golf courses, a Greeter can tee up with you!
Roller Skating
We'll tell you what's available, talk about the opportunities to join in, and even skate with you, if it suits your schedule!
Running
Get some exercise with a Greeter, at a location near your hotel.
Soccer
Houston Dynamo—In 2006 Houstonians welcomed their first professional soccer club AND celebrated their first MLS Championship! Join a Greeter along with Houston’s electric soccer fans for a dynamic soccer match. Sure to be fun!
Yoga
Do you need to stretch out a bit? There is almost always a Houston Greeter headed for a class and they'd be happy to have you join, or perhaps give you some advice on drop-in opportunities around the area.
Music/Nightlife
Blues in Houston
Houstonians, and many music fans the world over, will tell you that Houston is the home to many great Blues artists. From local "house parties" to large public arenas, you can hear the Blues almost every night of the week. Connect with a local to learn what's available and perhaps you can meet at a venue of your choice.
Jazz
Almost every night there is some great jazz happening in Houston. We’d love to tell you about it and if possible, accompany you to hear it.
Latin Music
Houston has the third largest Hispanic population in the United States and boasts a lively arts and jazz scene-- hot spots for dancing or just kicking back and enjoying salsa, merengue, samba, bossa nova, you name it!
Music Scene
Sample Houston's popular music scene! Whatever your tastes—blues, zydeco, country, rock—let a Houston native show you around.
Night Life
So, you have a night free and wonder what's fun in the area! Connect with a Houston Greeter for ideas, suggestions or maybe even a connection to show you all that's happening.
Zydeco
According to Roger Wood in his book TEXAS ZYDECO (2006), "... it was in Houston... that black Creole immigrants and their descendants first prominently fused the old French Louisiana folk music known as la-la with urban blues to create the new sound that came to be known, spelled, and recorded as 'zydeco'. ... This music has one priority far more compelling than linguistics or lyrics: it makes you want to dance". A Houston Greeter who has been part of the zydeco 'family' for more than 15 years will share some history of the music and the five instruments in most zydeco bands. If the night is right, you'll experience the music and learn the basic steps at one of the many zydeco venues that welcome everyone who is friendly. Schedule a greet!
Parks
Buffalo Bayou Walk
Explore Buffalo Bayou from Sabine to Bagby Street, two miles of trails filled with public art connect the Allen Parkway trails to SesquicentennialPark downtown in our newest park on Buffalo Bayou.
HermannPark
One of Houston's largest centrally located parks. Adjacent to the medical center, this 445-acre park includes the Houston Zoo, Miller Outdoor Theater, the JapaneseGarden, the reflection pool, and the age-old trolley train enjoyed by young and old alike. A greeter will happily share some time with you here.
Miller Outdoor Theater
On the edge of HermannPark, in the middle of the city, near the MedicalCenter, this stage plays host to all sorts of performances from Shakespeare to hip hop. It's always free, boxed dinners can be ordered
before you go, and a greeter would be happy to share this experience with you.
Zoo
Full of new animals that change frequently. Recent additions are a red Panda and a fuzzy, doe-eyed Masai giraffe. There are animals in the petting zoo and the children’s area that love to be petted, a very personable porcupine named Grover, and a newly acquired, bright orange orangutan youngster. Connect with a greeter for early morning or late afternoon visit - animals are more active then!
Shopping
Book Stores, Used
Stroll through quaint, intimate and used book stores. Find works by local authors, hard to find books, signed pieces and hidden treasures on back shelves like rare 1st editions and valuable antiquarian books. Sure to be relaxing and rewarding.
Boutiques
No doubt you've heard that Texas women like to shop! So, come join this Houston Greeter and discover the nooks and crannies that it would take you months to find. She can join you in one area and then give you lots of suggestions about other places to visit. If you're a shopper, this will be fun for sure.
Galleria
Fifth largest mall in the nation, 3 office towers, 2 hotels, spectacular glass atrium, and 2.4 mil. square feet of shopping space, 375 fine stores and an ice rink.
RiceVillage
Near RiceUniversity and the Museum District, the Village is one of the city’s oldest, best-loved shopping enclaves. Shopping, food, entertainment – an eclectic mix!
Vintage Stores in Montrose
Visit vintage clothing and furniture stores in "funky, funky Montrose!” and stop in for coffee and pastry at one of the local eateries.
Food/Beverage
Ethnic Food
Choose the cuisine you like. A Greeter will make suggestions and accompany you!
Farmers' Markets
There are several in the Houston area featuring organic goods, home made chocolate, salad dressings, pesto and more. A Greeter can help you sort it out for the best kind of eating.
Food Emporiums
Houston loves to eat, in restaurants, at home - everywhere. So buying ingredients and finished meals is important here. Meet a Houston Greeter to discover a particular grocery store that interests you. Many stores are virtual destinations in themselves. Some feature organic foods from around the world, or ethnic foods of many cultures. International specialty foods are available and a downtown store with wines, spirits and finer foods (a 5000 sq. foot deli) are all worth seeing.
Soul Food All Around
This is It, Breakfast Klub, Reggae Hut, Beacoup and Red Cat Jazz Cafe are among the many delicious, and just plain fun, places for good eats. Let a Greeter tell you what's available and maybe join you as well!
Tea Time
A greeter would love to join your for a proper spot of tea. British, Indian, and Asian tea services are very different and reflect the cultures and traditions from whence they originate. It will be a chance to enjoy traditional tea, and delicacies both sweet and savory of course, but also an opportunity to meet one another, tell you more about Houston and help you feel at home in the nation’s fourth largest city.
Public Transportation
Metro Rail
Ride the rail line to learn one means of getting around.
Transportation
Want some help figuring out how to get around in Houston? Ask a Houston Greeter to help you! We know the routes, ride them often and would be happy to show you the ropes.
Education
University of Houston
MooresSchool of Music – see the large art installation by Frank Stella in the concert hall and, in the main foyer, the hand-crafted Isaac Maxwell wall sconces. Tour the Blaffer Gallery, the university’s art museum, an intimate art gallery with changing exhibits.
RiceUniversity Campus Tour
Tour the Rice University Campus and its architecture.
RiceUniversityShepherdSchool of Music
ShepherdSchool of Music – one of the most notable music schools in the country, see three major performance halls, practice and chamber music rooms, recording studios. Hear free concerts (Thursday nights) with a greeter if you choose.
Outside of Houston
GalvestonBeach Walk
Galveston- learn how this beach is different from other areas, discover its treasures.
Gardening in Galveston
See local public gardens with a master gardener learning about tropical plants and other flora native to the area.
The Woodlands
This community north of Houston is certainly one of the fastest growing around. Home to corporations and many business, The Woodlands has a new “market square” full of activity, miles of paths for walking and bike riding, water taxis, and parks everywhere. If you’d like to meet a Houston Greeter there and get oriented and see one or two areas, contact us!
Other
Fly Over Houston
One Houston Greeter’s passion is flying and she loves to share the sights with others. You will be offered a chance to fly in a two-seater, with a professional pilot to see the greater Houston area. Sights might include areas along the TexasGulfCoast and back across Galveston, the San JacintoMonument and over downtown Houston. Flying time is about 45 minutes to an hour. As with other Greeter experiences at museums, dining, and etc. visitor will assume individual costs.
Rodeo
See and learn what happens at the world’s largest rodeo and livestock show, and how the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has committed more than $100 million to educational support in Texas! Learn how 17,000 volunteers make this THE fun place to be during the annual celebration of all things Western and Texan.
TexasMedicalCenter
World’s largest medical complex, made less “complex” when seen with a Greeter.
Urban Gardens/Urban Harvest
Your Greeter can take you to the gardens and tell you about some that might be in your area. Particularly lush during the vegetable growing season.
Your Greeter’s Choice
Tell us what you’d like, or experience “Greeter’s Choice”
|
