Pick Five (Plus)

Your weekly guide to Houston: Cinco de Mayo goes bingo, Spanish folk dances andDragon Boats roll

Photo by Eric Mueller
"Cinco de Bingo" Cinco de Mayo fiesta is hosted by SCRUBS, the Young Supportersof The Harris County Hospital District Foundation.
Buffalo Bayou history tours with Louis Aulbach reveal the rich history ofHouston's waterways. Bayou Bend Main St. 1904
Apollo Chamber Players present a fiery concert commingling classical music andfolk tunes of Spanish origin. Ole!
Domenico Luciano in Dominic’s "Clair de Lune"
Photo by Frank Atura
At the home of Lemonade Day Founder, Michael and Lisa Holthouse, littleentrepreneurs showed the 14 principles of the lemonade biz. It's not justlemonade. It's strategy. Here, Jalya
Photo by Brian Nutsch/Lemonade Day Houston
A leisurely stroll courtesy of Buffalo Bayou "Foodie Floats," guests enjoyedSpanish wine pairings courtesy of Block 7.
The Rothko Chapel is offering a series of free Tai Chi classes suitable for thebeginning and experienced practitioner.

What a historic last week it's been! We will be talking about where we were when we heard the news, sharing stories with our grandchildren and describing the events having lived through what the future generation will deem as history.

My own week started with a beautiful and historic boat ride on the Buffalo Bayou, sipping on Spanish vino courtesy of Block 7 while exploring the memoirs of Houston's urban waterways. Buffalo Bayou Partnership's "Foodie Floats" toured the bayou canals while historian Robbie Robinson talked about things past to a lively group, which included John Fanning, in town to play Music Teacher in Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos.

The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art launched its Art Car Parade festivities with a casual get together at Continental Club's patio. My discovery? Black been burgers from Natachees. Where have I been?

Rienzi's Spring party was a stylish and elegant affair, allowing guests to stroll through the European decorative arts collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston with a glass of bubbly on hand. Carroll and Harris Masterson loved to entertain and this soiree made their legacy proud and this reporter, delighted.

Lemonade Day brought out more than 50,000 little entrepreneurs out to sell. A reception at the home of Lemonade Day's founder, Michael and Lisa Holthouse, displayed 14 lemonade stands with children explaining the principles of a successful strategy. This is not just about making lemonade out of lemons. It's about thoughtfulness, creativity and a well-thought-out action plan, providing valuable business experience.

There was also the TUTS gala, Latin Wave fiesta, iFest, a Houston Symphony concert, Houston Grand Opera's Ariadne auf Naxos, Shepherd School of Music's Mahler Symphony No. 3 and River Oaks Chamber Orchestra's clarinetist Maiko Sasaki at Tasting Room at Uptown.

On tap for this week ...

Tai Chi at the Rothko Chapel

Need to recharge and Zen out? Having attended some of Rothko Chapel's noon time meditations as part of the Twelve Moments of Spirituality and Healing series, I can attest that the folks here know how to put you back together physically, mentally and spiritually.

Wear comfy clothes and head over to the Chapel grounds, where you will practice near Newman's Broken Obelisk. New to Tai Chi? All are welcome. Thursdays in May at 5 p.m.

Musiqa's Annual Spring Benefit "MusiqaFiesta"

I love Musiqa because their concerts are engaging and fun, exposing the hardcore side of contemporary art music. Led by Houston's composition rock stars, this Cinco de Mayo bacchanal mingles awesome tunes by Latin American composers and a dash of jazz with tapas and libations courtesy of Molina's Cantina.

Try your luck at the iPad2 raffle, bid on silent auction items and partake in the live auction. You know you want to. Thursday at 6 p.m.

"Cinco de Bingo" at Last Concert Café

If you are searching for a Cinco de Mayo fiesta, morph your planned debauchery into a good cause. The folks at SCRUBS, aka Young Supporters of The Harris County Hospital District Foundation, are making Bingo hip, chic and fab in "Cinco de Bingo." You could win great prizes like more booze, tickets to cool events and lots of cool stuff.

Stuff yourself with a fajita buffet and wash it down with domestic and Mexican beers and margaritas. Thursday at 7 p.m.

Buffalo Bayou Partnership Looking Back History Tours with Louis Aulbach

Did you know that Allen's Landing used to be the Port of Houston? Many history buffs consider its strategic location the catalyst behind the growth of the city.

Travel back in time with local historian and author Louis Aulbach and explore the curiosities of yesteryear. Why is it called Buffalo Bayou? Who were the Allen Brothers? To answer these questions, meet at Allen's Landing on Saturday at 10 a.m. Update: meeting location has been changed to the Sabine Promenade.

Apollo Chamber Players "Gypsies and Toreadors: Folk Dances from Spain" Concert at the Shepherd School of Music

This string quartet is one of Houston's best kept secrets redefining what it means to be a bad ass in the genre of art music. Specializing in the convergence of folk and classical music traditions, Apollo writes its own arrangements exploiting its fiery, passionate and virtuosic abilities that emerge out of having mastery over the instruments.

This concert is all about Spain. The quartet will debut a brand spanking new arrangement of Malagueña. Wicked. Saturday at 8 p.m.

My colleagues picks:

Editor at large and society scribe Shelby Hodge's pick: Latin Women's Initiative Annual Spring Luncheon

Shelby says: "There is only one place to be for lunch this Friday — I will be there at the Latin Women's Initiative annual spring luncheon at the InterContinental Houston. It is the liveliest, most fun luncheon each year. Fab fashions in a runway presentation from Jl + Bertholdo, a Latin-inspired marketplace and loads of interesting women." Friday at 10:30 a.m.

Social media editor and sassy adventure racer Fayza Elmostehi's pick: Houston Dragon Boat Festival

Fayza says: "If you think paddling is perfect, you won't want to miss the brilliance of the Houston Dragon Boat Festival. You know those traditional Asian long boats, powered by synchronized human arms?

Those are the ones that'll take over the Buffalo Bayou this weekend, decorated with colorful and expressive regalia. You won't be sorry if you head down to the bayou's banks for a truly interesting cultural experience." Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Assistant editor and arts savant Steven Thomson's pick: The Future is Now: A SKYDIVE Fundraiser

Steven says: "This art collective's fundraiser brings together vanguard performances by artists curated by Nancy Douthey, along with the backing of Houston art world heavyweights like Ian Glennie, Fredericka Hunter, Gemma DeSantos and Judy Nyquist.

Robots will serve drinks and bites amid 20 performances, all while Metropolis screens on Skydive's exterior. Preview the auction (and start bidding) at theSkydive.org. Dress as your favorite future self." Saturday at 6 p.m.

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bowled over

Houston artist dishes on Food Bank fundraiser happening this weekend

Picture of several artists at a table with a bunch of handmade ceramic bowls.

Photo courtesy Paula Murphy

Ceramics professor Cori Cryer and her students from Lone Star College Kingwood and the bowls they donated to the 20th Empty Bowls fundraiser

On Saturday, May 16, shoppers have an opportunity to feed those in need by purchasing unique, handcrafted items. The 20th Empty Bowls event takes place at Silver Street Studios at Sawyer Yards from 10 am to 3 pm. A preview party takes place on Friday, May 15 from 6-8 pm (buy tickets here).

The fundraiser is a collaboration between Houston-area ceramists, woodturners, and artists working in all media and Silver Street Studios.

Shoppers can purchase one-of-a-kind bowls for $25 each (larger bowls are priced accordingly). A simple lunch from Salata, a sweet treat from Ben & Jerry’s, and iced coffee from Katz Coffee is served until it runs out. Every dollar of the purchases goes to the Houston Food Bank, which estimates that for every dollar donated, it’s able to provide three meals to Houstonians in need. Since its inception, Empty Bowls Houston has raised $1,208,959 for the Houston Food Bank, which equates to more than 3.6 million meals.

The event also includes live music and art demos. More than 2,000 bowls will be available for purchase, donated by area artists.

Empty Bowls began as a grassroots effort started many years ago at a high school in Michigan and is now held all over the world. Nearly everything for Empty Bowls events, from the food served to the venues hosting events and the bowls for sale are donated.

Cori Cryer, a professor of ceramics at Lone Star College Kingwood, is one of those who, along with her students, donated bowls for the fundraiser. She’s been involved with the effort for all of its 20 years in Houston, and before that in other cities.

“When I started donating, I didn't have a whole lot of money,” Cryer tells CultureMap. “I was a graduate student, and so this was a way for me to give back to the local community. And I think my students today kind of recognize that same feel. You know, they may not have money to send a check off to someone, [but this is] an easy way for them to be able to contribute to the community.”

Cryer teaches Ceramics I and Ceramics II to a variety of dual-credit high school students, college students, and continuing education students. Those in her Ceramics II classes are required to create five bowls to donate to Empty Bowls. But her students in her introductory class often end up donating as well. This year, she and her students provided approximately 150 bowls for the event.

Cryer said that the style of bowls for sale range from something as small as a condiment bowl to much larger serving bowls As each bowl is an individual work, they represent a variety of styles and themes. One of her students this year designed a glazed, ceramic leaf-shaped bowl with ceramic insects on it.

“There's a ladybug and a caterpillar and a spider,” she says, each created out of clay and positioned around the bowl.

Cryer loves seeing how the artists use their imaginations and abilities.

“Most of my students do throw their bowls on the pottery wheel, but that's not required,” she says. “They can hand-build them. It’s completely up to them what kind of construction technique they use.”

Cryer loves knowing that this event is a way for students to see that their artistic efforts can have lasting impact on the community around them. In addition to being able to support the Houston Food Bank, the bowls her class donates, she knows, take on special meaning for those who purchase them.

“I tell my students there is a pot for every person and a person for every pot,” she says.

In fact, one of her personal favorite bowls is one she purchased from an Empty Bowls sale.

“It's a very small bowl, maybe like three inches in diameter, and two inches tall, and it's a little pink pig that I think an elementary student made,” she said. “He has no tail, and he has no ears, but he has a snout, and it is definitely a pig. And I love that little bowl. I have it sitting on my desk at home.”

Cryer knows shoppers attending the Empty Bowls sale will find similar, soon-to-be-beloved items.

The Saturday event is free. Those wishing to attend the preview party on Friday, May 15 from 6-8 pm, which offers light bites, beer and wine, and the first chance to purchase bowls, can purchase a $50 ticket online. In addition, Archway Gallery is hosting an exhibition of 30 one-of-a-kind bowls that can be purchased as part of the Empty Bowls fundraiser. The exhibit runs through May 30.