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Your weekly guide to Houston: Five (plus) don't-miss events — Discovery Green's Field of Lights included

On tap this week is a local art market, a street art festival, a crawl to cool places in the city, a fantastical installation and a piano whiz proving there's nothing he can't do. Need more to do? Check out our full list of happenings.

Fresh Arts' Ninth Annual Winter Holiday Art Market

You might be impressed to learn that WHAM has put more than $500,000 in the pockets of local artists, that a committee curates more than 60 artists for this three-day shopping binge and that the event includes an open bar — all weekend long — plus entertainment and art exhibits.

But what's really fabulous is that you never know what you'll find at this Fresh Arts event. Adorable bow ties from Michel Muylle, charming jewelry from Ann Westby, cool screen-printed T-shirts from Burning Bones Press, darling illustrations by Lisa Chow and on and on and on are your solution to your shopping woes for the difficult — and not so difficult — people on your gift-giving list. And for yourself.

The skinny: Friday through Sunday; Winter Street Studios; $10 preview party on Friday, free on Saturday and Sunday.

Ninth Annual Via Colori

Chalk murals will awash Hermann Square and environs as 200 artists paint directly on the street and sidewalks. Using the theme of "The Art of Sound," Via Colori creatives, accompanied by live music on three stages, aim to raise awareness and funds for The Center for Hearing and Speech.

I say this is a perfect opportunity to show off your Instagram prowess and your video making skills. Time lapse or slow mo?

The skinny: Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Hermann Square Park at City Hall; admission is free.

22nd Annual Artcrawl Houston

While Houstonians love to blab about how great the city's art scene is, I bet many residents aren't quite aware of just how much creative activity goes on a daily basis. More than 170 artists and arts organizations are featured in this year's Artcrawl, a day-long open house to artsy hubs such as Mother Dog Studios, Hardy and Nance Studios, TX/RX Labs, Art Square Studios, Atelier Jacquinet and more. Check out the full list here and plan ahead with this map.

The skinny: Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Artist Warehouse District Downtown; free event.

Discovery Green art installation: Field of Light by Bruce Munro

A scene of suspended fireflies? A meadow with hovering fantastical fairies? Or perhaps a mythical prairie awash with magical flowers? However you'd like to interpret Bruce Munro's installation at Discovery Green, one thing is certain: The milieu that comprises 4,550 frosted glass spheres promises to be stunning.

The installation, which took more than 200 hours to complete, will be on view through Feb. 8.

The skinny: Through Feb. 8, 2015; Discovery Green; free admission.

Timothy Hester presents "Pianorama"

Think of this piano musicale as a celebration of keyboards throughout the ages. University of Houston Moores School of Music piano professor Tim Hester makes it look easy when he hops from harpsichord to fortepiano to celeste to toy piano to concert grand during one afternoon program that features music by Scarlatti, Clementi, Beethoven, Enescu, Stravisnsky and Rob Smith, and a world premiere from a mystery composer.

The skinny: Sunday, 2:30 p.m.; Moores Opera House; $12 general public, $7 students and seniors.

You never know what you'll find at Fresh Arts' Winter Holiday Art Market.

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Thanks, Tommy

Houston-born Broadway legend donates 50,000 item personal collection to UH

Courtesy of University of Houston

Tommy Tune has received 10 Tony Awards.

Broadway legend Tommy Tune and his sister Gracey have made a major gift to the University of Houston, ensuring that the star's larger-than-life legacy will be available for scholars and students for generations to come. The Tony Award-winning actor, choreographer, and director has given a collection of costumes, scripts, design sketches, choreography notes, photos and personal letters to the university.

More than 50,000 items in all, the collection captures the creative spirit of Broadway in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s and provides a window into how iconic productions were conceived, staged, and experienced. Tune, a native Houstonian who earned his master's degree in directing from UH in 1964, has been one of Broadway's luminaries for decades, helming the original production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Nine, and more. He is the first person to win Tony Awards in four different categories, and the only person in Tony Awards history to win the same categories in consecutive years, taking home best choreography and best directing in 1990 and 1991. He is also the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Tony Award.

He starred opposite Barbra Streisand in the 1969 film Hello, Dolly!

“The University of Houston felt like the natural home for it because it’s where my story truly began,” Tune said. “This collection represents my life in musical theater, and I want it to inspire the next generation of artists in the city that first inspired me.”

The collection is housed in the UH Archives in the MD Anderson Library. Tune's sister Gracey noted that her brother's extraordinary career is part of theater history.

“You don’t win nine Tony Awards in so many facets of the craft — and a 10th for Lifetime Achievement — without shaping the era itself,” she said. “This collection covers every corner of his Broadway life, and many of his creations still live on stages around the world.”

The gift means that current and future generations of students and researchers will have access to remarkable items and letters.

“This collection is a significant contribution to the study of theater history, particularly musical theater,” said University of Houston Archivist Mary Manning. “It will be invaluable to students, performers, filmmakers and researchers who want to explore Tune’s creative process, reconstruct productions or gain cultural context for the works he directed and performed in.”

Tune's connections to Houston run deep. TUTS' annual Tommy Tune Awards are named for the star, and recognize excellence in high school musical theater.

Tune expressed gratitude for the university and acknowledged that donating these pieces of his life and work represent a full-circle moment.

“The University of Houston has an energy and creative spirit that matches everything this collection represents,” Tune said. “If my life’s journey can help even one young artist see a bigger future for themselves, it will be the perfect encore.”

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