Location, Location, Location

How many times have you heard location, location, location?

One of the best things about living where I do is definitely location.

Living near Rice University there's always plenty going on...

athletics, art, music, community education.

I'm also near the museums and Hermann Park.

There's lots of shopping and good eats in Rice Village.

The latest public art installation in Rice Village is an owl by California artist Nathan Mabry.

A blue origami-like aluminum owl, along with four smaller lifelike owls, 
are a nod to Rice University.

"While researching Rice Village, I became interested in the vibrant history of the neighborhood and proximity to Rice University. I find myself particularly engaged with the mascot of Rice University, the Owl," Mabry said in an announcement.

"It's a powerful symbol in both antiquity and contemporary life. My work has long explored the depiction of birds from all facets of art history."

The Owl weighs 868 pounds and took 8.3 hours to install.
It's a fun addition to the neighborhood.

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Speaking of location.

I'm also near the Zoo.
The zoo always celebrates Spring with a Spring Fling for some of its members.
Usually it is a breakfast.
This year the zoo decided to make it Breakfast for Dinner and hold the event in the evening.
It was a beautiful night.
Breakfast was delicious -- with the best biscuits and gravy I've had in awhile!

I invited my next door neighbors and can say that a good time was had by all!
There was a hula hoop competition for the kids,
face painting, endless carousel rides and the children's zoo was open with
the petting zoo. 

And even the adults had fun watching the zebu.
He put on quite a show.
His keeper asked him to walk in a circle.
He did and he was given a treat.
Then he kept walking in a circle and back to his keeper --
"treat please"!
We were all laughing --
all except the Llama who seemed quite put out!

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A good friend took me to lunch.
We went to one of our mutual favorite spots --
the Hobbit Cafe.
The Hobbit has been around since 1972 and for some time was the 
only spot to get good, fresh vegetarian food.
They have now added the "regular" food for those who just can't live without their burger.

I had the "slim" Gandalf.
(Believe it or not, there is a larger version of this sandwich.)
Their wheat bread is amazing.
Avocado, mushrooms and melted cheese.
You can pick your side - black beans for me.

My friend had the Fatty Lumpkin -- tuna salad, tomato, melted cheese
with carrots on the side.

They are knife and fork sandwiches -- 
no way I could get my mouth all the way around to take a bite. 

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Last and not least for locations--
there is no place like home! 

Wishing you well, much joy and a "Hoppy" Easter!

Five on Friday

Willy Nilly Friday

Mosaic Monday

Monday Social

More Art In The Park

More Art In The Park 

Celebrating the Centennial of Hermann Park.

Wind Waves, made in 2009, is by Mexican artist, Yvonne Domenge (1946).

She was on hand to supervise its placement near the Museum of Natural Science.

From a distance, this Ferrari red orb looks as if it is floating in air.

Wind Waves is thirteen feet in diameter and weighs close to 6 tons.

Demenge draws on organic curvilinear forms for her sculptures.

Wishing YOU well and much joy.

A big thank you to the Our World Hosts.

Art In The Park

Hermann Park is celebrating its centennial with Public Art.
I've already shared the twig maze.

Today I'm sharing the Spider.

A giant arachnid descended on the Jones Reflection pool where it appears to float on the water's surface. It is part of Hermann Park Conservancy's year-long Art In The Park series celebrating the historic green space's centennial.

Spider was created by the late internationally acclaimed artist Louise Bourgeois.

The newest addition to Hermann Park comes from an anonymous private collector in Houston who offered the loan specifically for 

Art In The Park.

The Spider weighs about 2,000 pounds.

Measurements: About 11 feet tall and 21 feet wide.

Even at those dimensions, the Spider exhibits a strength in metal work yet with a spindly, even intricate, appearance.*

Wishing You well and much joy!

A big thank you to the hosts of Our World.

*information for this post from various media releases for Art In The Park

My World: Hermann Park Centennial

Hermann Park is undergoing a transformation.

A giant maze constructed from saplings can be seen sprouting out of the ground

near the Japanese Garden. Constructed with over 1000 volunteer hours, it is the first of nine works of art that will grace Hermann Park as part of the park's centennial celebration.The maze was designed and created by artist, Patrick Dougherty.

Fun!  

I'd like to thank the wonderful hosts of My World.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

My World: Public Art - MIrror

A nice walk around Rice University to see the new public sculptures

(before the heat and humidity set in).

This is Mirror by Jaume Plensa.

Mirror is a site specific installation by international artist Jaume Plensa. Mirror features two 10 foot tall figures positioned in conversation with each other.  Up close, their physical forms are an intermingling of white coated marine steel letters from many alphabets. Viewers are provided with an entry point to each figure, where they can physically walk inside the sculpture. One of the new public art works celebrating Rice University's centennial.

Thank you to Mary for Mosaic Monday

and the wonderful hosts of Our World.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!