Heights Happenings: March 4- March 10, 2010

Friday, March 5, 6pm- 8pm: Italian wine tasting at Nundini

• Join the Heights' little Italian market for a wine tasting featuring wines of Italy.
• Nundini has a great selection of Italian foods & wines, plus a great deli counter and gelato.
• They also have free Wi-Fi.
• 500 N Shepherd, just north of I-10. For more information, call 713-861-6331

Saturday, March 6, 11am- 6pm: 1st Saturday Arts Market 6th Anniversary

• 1st Saturday Arts Market is always wonderful, but this weekend marks the 6th Anniversary for Mitch and crew.
• Find the market in the parking lot of Wind Water Gallery at 548 W. 19th St. at Lawrence St. – fifty artists will showcase their paintings, sculpture, photography, jewelry and handmade wares in as many white canopied tents. Two market favorites will return to entertain patrons and the lawn chair wielding public that has started to gather on first Saturdays in front of the music tent. They are Houston's self proclaimed soul rocker Kenneth Scott, and later in the day Robin Kirby.
• The first art market was held on an unused lot behind the now defunct Kaplan's Ben Hur department store. A couple of dozen excited artists greeted close to a thousand curious shoppers. Today many artists at that first market still attend frequently.
• Parking will be tight due to a Heights Association crawfish boil right next door, so consider walking or taking the bike trail!

Saturday, March 6, 1pm- 3pm: Buchanan's Native Plants opens a new addition, Buchanan's Bungalow gift shop

• Spring is the time for new beginnings; to sow the seeds to bring in a bountiful harvest come fall. At Buchanan's Native Plants - this spring welcomes Buchanan's Bungalow.
• Right in the middle of Houston's largest garden center devoted to Texas native plants and organic gardening, something new has blossomed. It is an oasis of charm – a retail store that seemingly breaks the laws of physics with the vast variety of hip, cool new products spread throughout its refurbished walls.
• Buchanan's Native Plants invites you to enjoy the grand opening of the shop. Refreshments will be served 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. while you enjoy perusing the new Bungalow.

Saturday, March 6, 7pm- 9pm: Lovestreet Coffee House "Sneak Preview"

• Free coffee and menu samples will be served, and art by featured artists Carolyn Bertrand, Bettie Donovan, Heather Howard, Bonnie J McConnell, Pen Morrison, Carrie Olsen, Yucha Pak, Amanda Smith, Jet Whitt, & Julie Zarate will be available for sale at this one night only show.
• The Grand Opening is expected to be late summer of this year. 242 West 19th St.
• Houston native Katy Whelan has been dreaming of opening her own coffeeshop for the past 15 years. She will be incorporating sustainable and green practices in the business, and will focus on showcasing music and art by Houston artists.
• The name was inspired by Love Street Light Circus and Feel Good Machine, a Houston club open in the late 1960's that had psychedelic music with bands like the 13th Floor Elevators and The Moving Sidewalks.

Plan Ahead:

Sunday, March 14th from Noon -3pm: Pets Across America book signing benefitting Pug Hearts

• A Peaceful Pet is proud to host a book signing to benefit Pug HeartsHouston. PugHearts of Houston is a non-profit rescue dedicated to giving unwanted and neglected Pugs a second chance.

March 26: Opening weekend of Opera In The Heights' production of La Boheme

• Oh! has saved the best for last, as they end their 2009-10 Season with Puccini’s masterpiece. Maestro William Weibel will present the opera in its truest form, and has enlisted Associate Professor at the University of Houston School of Theatre & Dance,Brian Byrnes to join the production as stage director.
• “La Boheme is an incredibly character driven opera, wherein Puccini focuses his story on everyday people, true friendships, and real passions,” explains Byrnes. “Full of a zest for life itself,” he continues, “the characters continually move forward with a positive outlook, even under trying circumstances, and in true Bohemian form, they appreciate the tiny details that make life and living so precious. I feel this kind of perspective serves as an inspiration for us all.”
• This final Oh! production will expand the run to eight performances at Lambert Hall, 1703 Heights Blvd. Opening the weekend of March 26th (Friday and Saturday performances), La Boheme will continue the next two weekends (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) though April 10th.
• All performances will be at 7:30pm and will be presented in Italian with English surtitles.