Florals for spring? Actually, yes.

I’ve never been to a flower art show, much less one hosted inside a museum. I do love flowers. If it counts I’ve seen the field of flowers in Carlsbad in California and walked through the color coded rows at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in Washington. I recently started my first attempt at gardening which hasn’t conjured anything substantial other than some lovely zinnias at the end of summer. Some low maintenance native seeds I threw into the dirt last fall did bloom beautifully this spring. Spiritually, it has been super fulfilling. In a place like Houston that lacks natural beauty, there’s just something really wonderful and necessary about having the beauty of flowers around at all times. 

Florescence is a two day spectacle of floral design and botanical arts held this year on April 15-16. One of the largest competitive flower shows in America, it’s presented by River Oaks Garden Club, The Garden Club of Houston, and MFAH according to their site. In fact, The Philadelphia Flower Show is the oldest, starting in 1829 which was held in a Freemason building. What I thought was going to be a simple show ended up being a large-scale competition with five imperial sounding divisions: Grandeur (floral design), Glory (horticulture), Splendid Images (photography), Pomp (Botanical Arts), and Palatial (Education).

There were hundreds of stunning pieces for the eyes and senses to get lost in. Spread across the Kinder building and the Beck building, each division had “classes” or themes that exhibitors used as inspiration when creating their floral designs. These themes included actual fine art pieces housed in MFAH. For example, the class named “Brilliance in Stillness” included Richard LaBarre Goodwin’s Hunting Still Life and Severin Roesen’s Victoria Bouquet. They presented each floral art piece in front or nearby the fine art piece it was inspired by, giving the viewer a chance to ponder one and then the other, and then together at the same time.  

But what moved me most wasn’t the grandeur, or the pomp. It was Glory, the horticulture section. There in a vast, luminous room, hundreds of stems stood upright in glass containers each labeled with obsessive care: name, light needs, water preferences, a bit like an online dating profile but for plants. It was whimsy. Intimate. Like stumbling across someone’s well-kept journal of plants. I had the sense these plants were better cared for than most people I know. Possibly even myself. 

Tickets were $24 for adults, $20 for seniors and youth, and free for MFAH members. The overall crowd skewed older. I assumed most in attendance were exhibitors quietly scoping their out competition, but I can’t see why Florescence can’t be appreciated by all ages though. Flowers, naturally, don’t ask your age. They just open and bloom anyway. Everyone should get to feel that kind of magic.

WEEKEND EVENTS

All weekend (Last chance)

• See Waitress at Hobby Center! Last show is on April 27. Reply to this email for a 25% off discount code. (Not sponsored, just came across a code!)

• MFAH with Fundación PROA presents new films from Latin America. See flyer.

• Houston bookstore crawl ongoing for the month of April 

• Houston Botanic Garden presents “Rich Soil”

• Great Migration Elephants

• Also, watch Sinners if you haven’t yet! Highly recommend.

Thursday, 4/24

All day, Happy Hour | Sushi restaurant Azumi is hosting their first $2 martini’s on Thursdays all day. Say less! See flyer.

4pm, Art Reveal | C. Baldwin Hotel is unveiling a new stunning work by Houston artist Margaret Dye at their stunning lobby bar. “Sip craft cocktails, soak in the vibes from @djnitekap” Free. See flyer.

5pm-8pm, Coffee Event | Minor Figures presents Ultimate Brewmania: Space City Super Smackdown featuring coffee roasters from all over the city at Betelgeuse Betelgeuse at their Washington location. Free. See flyer.

6:30pm, Workshop | The Reading Room presents Show & Tell to “discuss the personal objects that have shaped our understanding of Blackness.” Bring one personal artifact. Free. RSVP.

9pm-2am, Nightlife | Art Club presents salute at their Club Room at POST. “salute is a Vienna-born, Manchester-based producer known for blending euphoric club sounds with French house, garage, and jazz influences.” $30. Buy tickets.

10pm-2am, Nightlife | Vibration Station presents “For The Yearners” at Reset Rooftop Bar. “This event is for those who refuse the ordinary— those who feel deeply.” Free! RSVP.

Friday, 4/25

8am-sold out, Coffee & Cook Out | SCA presents Brekky Cookout featuring a collaboration with Proud Mary Coffee and Tipping Point Coffee at 93’ Til. Free to attend. See flyer.

9:30pm, Nightlife | TX Emo Club presents a Daft Punk dance Party at Barbarella. See flyer.

10pm-2am, Nightlife | DJ Morgan Page is going to be spinning at Rich’s in Midtown featuring Matthew Dunn, Kaezin, and Joe Ross. $30. Buy tickets.

Saturday, 4/26

10am-6pm, Indie Bookstore Day | April 26th is Independent Bookstore Day. Head to Brazos Bookstore as they celebrate their 51st birthday with special guest authors, flash tattoos, snacks, poetry buskers, and more. Free. See flyer.

1pm-5pm, Plant Swap | Plant parents bring a plant to swap at Eureka Heights Brew Co. “Plant people from around the Houston area bring their cuttings, pots, and plants to swap. We chat, drink, swap & shop!” See flyer.

2pm-3:30pm, Artist Talk | View Energetic Landscapes: The Art of Consciousness by Stephanie Gonzalez, and Dreamscapes: The Garden of Your Mind by Melody Locke, and have an opportunity to meet the artists! Enjoy light refreshments. Free. See flyer.

6pm-9pm, Museum Afters | Catch the very last Spring Nights at Museum of Fine Arts Houston! This Saturday’s artists will feature Paul Chester Trio, Monarch Chamber Players, and DJ George West. Ticket comes with a complimentary drink. $40 for non-members. Free for members. Buy tickets.

6pm-12am, Block Party | DeepDownSouth X Faded Decade are throwing a free block party. “Get ready for a new shopping experience and the release of our exclusive limited t-shirt release.” Free. RSVP.

Sunday, 4/27

11am-3pm, Matcha Pop-up | Enso HTX will be popping up at DRIP Nail Salon. See the flyer for more info and a giveaway opportunity.

10am-2pm, DJ House + Coffee | Beats & Brews is back at Maven Coffee & Cocktails. $8. Buy tickets.

12:30pm-8pm, Jazz Festival | Head to Eden at POST for the 4th annual HPMA Jazz Fest. “The Houston Professional Musicians’ Association is proud to celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month. Experience an incredible lineup of Houston’s top jazz musicians, performing a dynamic mix of styles—from big band and swing to modern jazz, funk, and everything in between!” Free. RSVP.

1pm-11pm, Block Party | Jethro’s Cocktail Lounge is celebrating their 1 year anniversary with a Disco Themed Block Party! “$5 beers & $10 shots — all day, no catch” Free. See flyer.

Good reads in Houston

MFAH show brings celebrity-favorite design icon to America for first time (Chron)
We have a confession: we saw the Tamara de Lempicka exhibition again last weekend. She’s just such a fascinating person and this piece does a great job of giving a quick overview of her life across all the cities she’s lived in. “She was sexually omnivorous, seemingly choosing women for passion and men for convenience...” Don’t miss this exhibition while it’s still in town because you might be like us and want to revisit it!

The Renovated Hotel Granduca Has Both Locals and Tourists in Mind (Houstonia)
Staycation alert! A hotel that wants to cater to both Houstonians and hotel guests sounds like it could be a great challenge. Hotel Granduca just recently underwent a multi-million dollar reservation including its new restaurant Remi at the forefront. It’s true, though, that some of our favorite bars are the ones inside hotels.

The accidental omakase (Alison Cook’s newsletter)
Alison Cook, Houston Chronicle’s previous food critic, is back writing on her own independent publication. In her recent piece she visits T.I.N.S. which stands for “This Is Not Sushi” for an omakase experience and takes us through the entire experience. This is a must read for sushi lovers and food writing enthusiasts!

Exclusive: Solange Knowles brings her 'Eldorado Ballroom' series home to Houston for a week of shows (Houston Chronicle)
Presented by Performing Arts Houston and Project Rox Houses, "Eldorado Ballroom Houston" is a multi-disciplinary series honoring Third Ward's Eldorado Ballroom and contemporary and historic Black artists. The series will run in June 10-20 at various venues across the city. This is definitely one to keep on our radar.

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