Kathrina Maribao on watching NASA’s Artemis II mission in Houston.

As far as Monday’s go, April 6th started off unremarkable.

I started off my usual morning routine: let Bronn (my dog) out, pull a cup of hot, black coffee, and hop online to begin the day working by staring at a screen and clicking my mouse. Again, very unremarkable but NASA had big, moon-sized plans. I followed NASA’s Instagram account from the Artemis launch on the previous Friday. The launch was exciting, but I clearly wasn’t as passionate as BBC Journalist Rebecca Morelle hopping up and down with pure childlike joy.

Little did I know that moment was going to be an indication of how I’d feel in the next few days. 

NASA live-streamed Artemis’ lunar fly all day on various streaming platforms on the internet. I figured it’d be nice to have it on in the background while I work, kinda like baseball ASMR but space ASMR. NASA’s livestream had two main live views: the Integrity cabin or camera on the ship, and Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. 

Guiding us throughout the day was science communicator Leah Cheshier Mustachio. She narrated with delight what we were seeing in both views in plain terms the general non-science audience could understand. We got to hear from Christina Koch, Dr. Kelsey Young, Angela Garcia, Jenni Gibbons, and more. Then I felt something in my chest.

Hearing calm, smart, and kind voices from women during this historic moment healed something in me.

Writer and podcaster Liz Plank says that day was pure competency porn: “they [the astronauts] were so good at it, so genuinely moved by it, and so articulate about what they were seeing and feeling, that millions of people who have been running on anxiety and dread for the last eleven years just stopped for a moment and finally exhaled.”

We’re just extremely overdue for something unprecedented, but in a good way. 

At 12:57pm ET Artemis surpassed Apollo in being the humans to travel the furthest distance away from Earth. The Artemis crew Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen requested to name the brightest crater on the far side of the moon “Carroll,” Reid’s late wife who had passed away two years ago from cancer.

With tears in my eyes and a heart cracked wide open, each Artemis II moment I consumed on the internet brought me to my knees with ease.

A young child asked an extremely smart question on how they do CPR with zero gravity. This picture at NASA of women lunar geologists rejoicing. Mission Control quoting Project Hail Mary, “Amaze, amaze, amaze!” Canadian astronaut Jeremy sharing wisdom from his native mentors on Grandmother Moon. The latest group photo of all of humanity together. Rather than competency porn, I’d say the lunar flyby was actually wholesome porn.

Let’s not forget that this was also me the whole day:

Turns out a new reason to live just dropped and it’s just being genuinely excited (again) about being able to witness space exploration in the modern era. Think about it: How wild is it that we can livestream these space adventures quite literally in our hands through our devices at home! And the best part is Artemis missions have much more to come.

More positive, I repeat positive, and beautiful unprecedented moments, please.

LATELY IN HOUSTON

Opera Gallery Houston now open! Opened in River Oaks (its first Texas location) Opera Gallery is showcasing Picasso, Monet, Kusama, Chagall, and Kehinde Wiley. Part of a 16-location international network, the free gallery features historical masterworks alongside contemporary voices. Grand opening runs through April 19. Three to four rotating exhibitions yearly, Open 10am-7pm Mon-Sat, noon-6pm Sunday. Secret Houston

Montrose isn’t dead (obviously). A 1986 Montrose map by artist Randy Ruhlman captures Houston's lost haunts: Mary's, Montrose Mining Company, Heaven, Radio Music Theatre. Many bars and businesses shuttered in the 2010s or earlier. But look closer: Tower Theater, Ripcord, JR's, Rothko Chapel still thrive. Houston Chronicle

IAH Terminal A gets golden. Simone Biles debuts Taste of Gold restaurant at IAH Terminal A. The upscale cafe near Gate A8 serves burgers, salads, sandwiches, and her favorite "Simone Skewers" (chicken, steak, shrimp, veggies). Originally announced as Tex-Mex in 2024 it shifted to comfort fare. Houstonia Magazine

WEEKEND EVENTS

All weekend:

• Houston Bookstore Crawl continues!

• Art Car Ball and Parade

• Chocolate and Art Show Houston

• Six The Musical at Hobby Center

• Uncle Bob’s Photo Zine Market

Thursday, 4/9

7:30pm, Games | Adventures in Trivia at Lei Low. “Test your knowledge of general trivia with a tiki twist.”

Friday, 4/10

7pm, Live Show | The Amazing Acro-cats at MATCH. $40 and up. Sold Out. 

6pm-8pm, Games | Sunset Bingo at Levy Park. (Our favorite!!!)

Saturday, 4/11

10am-6pm, Market | THRILLERCON at George R Brown Convention Center Hall D.

11:30am-2:30pm, Festival | Houston Oyster Festival 2026 at Autry Park. $45 and up.

12pm-5pm, Community | Annual Corgi Racing at Kirby Ice House Memorial. $20 to enter, free to watch.

12pm-11pm, Food | Wolfsmiths Grand Opening. “Expect Music | Art | Great Food | Drinks | Makers | Dancing | Laughing | Exclusive Merch | Bikes & Hot Rods | A CHANCE TO WIN A MOTORCYCLE!!”

1:30pm-10:30pm, Festival | Tacos and Tequila Festival at Sam Houston Race Park. $75 and up.

6pm-9pm, Art | Art League Block Party. “There will be music by Ice House Radio (@icehouseradio), coffee + pastries next door at @littledreamercoffee, a photobooth by @lostnfoundphotobooth and a great mix of local vendors ✨”

6pm-12am, Art | 2nd Anniversary Party at Riders. “To celebrate, we’re throwing an exclusive event that embodies the Riders spirit - tattoo, music, art, and apparel.”

7pm-9pm, Film | Screen on the Green: Zootopia 2 at Discovery Green. Free.

Sunday, 4/12

7am-7:30pm, Nature | Free Second Sundays at Houston Arboretum. Free parking.

9am, Community | City Girl Walks starting at Wortham Fountain.

9am-1pm, Market | Heights Mercantile Farmers Market.

9am-4pm, Festival | Flower Power Festival at Houston Botanic Garden. “Join us for a day of flower-focused family fun and an afternoon concert from Houston-based Beatles and 60s music tribute band The Fab 5.” $20 and up.

11am-4pm, Food | 1st Annual Crawfish Boil at Clark’s Oyster Bar. $50.

5pm-7pm, Live Music | Melvin Johnson & the Electro-Akoustic Super-Mega Band with Mahoganee Renee Sundays at Discovery Green.

5pm-9pm, Food | Houston Sunday Supper at Agnes and Sherman. 

ON THE HOU(S)E Concierge

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