Straight Talk

Michelle Obama talks to Houston kids on Google — and delivers some pointed advice

It wasn’t a typical weekend morning for a group of young women from Breakthrough Houston, St. John’s School and the United Nations Foundation campaign, Girl Up.

This past Saturday at 8:30 a.m., 20 teen ambassadors gathered at St. John’s to participate in a live webchat with First Lady Michelle Obama about the importance of quality education and global citizenship.

Michelle Obama, who is accompanying the president on his tri-country African tour, spoke with the students via Google+ Hangout from Johannesburg. In addition to the Houston cadre, students from South Africa, Kansas City, Los Angeles and New York partook in the dialogue.

“The best advice she gave was that once you learn something you shouldn’t keep it to yourself."

“The best advice she gave was that once you learn something you shouldn’t keep it to yourself," recalls Breakthrough Houston student Samantha Santana of the First Lady's wisdom. "Share your knowledge so that the learning continues."

Participant JaDa Johnson urges the White House to sponsor future web-based discussions with young people. “The value of this event was huge," the ninth grade student says. "Being able to have a virtual conversation with the First Lady on the other side of the world meant so much to me and I’m sure to so many others.”

Houston students were joined by actress, singer, and Nickelodeon alum Victoria Justice, while Grammy-winner and education activist John Legend participated in the exchange from LA.

“We can talk about justice, and we can talk about equality, but if we are not making sure our kids get a great education, then that promise of equality, that promise of opportunity, cannot be completely fulfilled,” Legend noted during the event.

Michelle Obama hosted her first electronic fireside chat in July 2010 on childhood obesity, with subsequent webinars focusing largely on nutrition as part of her Let’s Move! initiative. Meanwhile, the White House continues to host its own web-based town halls on a range of issues, which have spanned gun control to immigration reform in 2013.

Victoria Justice, at right, joined students in a web conversation with First Lady Michelle Obama.

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giddy up

Welcome the Year of the Horse at these 10 Houston Lunar New Year events

A performance of The Big Swim by Houston Grand Opera

Photo by Lynn Lane

Houston Grand Opera and Asia Society Texas team up to present The Big Swim

February 17 marks the Lunar New Year. Mostly observed in Asian countries and places with large diasporas like Houston, it's a time of feasts, performances, and cultural exchange. Houston always pulls out all the stops with a wide variety of attractions and gatherings. Here are 10 places in Houston hosting events during the Lunar New Year worth checking out.

Saturday, February 7

Otaku Food Festival
What would an Asian celebration be without a little anime? The Otaku Food Festival combines Asian pop culture with street food from all across the continent to ring in the year of the fire horse. Sumo bouts, cosplay contests, and photo ops with anime voice actors will all be part of the celebration at the Karbach Brewing Co. Free admission. 11 am.

Lunar New Year Storytime with author Monique Truong
Houston author Monique Truong reads from her new children's book Mai’s Áo Dài, which explores the way her Vietnamese family has celebrated the Lunar New Year over the course of her life, including once they came to the United States as refugees after the Fall of Saigon. The bestselling essayist and author will also take questions on her creative process, storytelling style, and her upcoming works. Experience this intimate look at the Lunar New Year from one of the city's finest writers. 3 pm.

Saturday, February 14

Discovery Green Performers and Market
One of Houston's best free Lunar New Year events is always the celebration at Discovery Green. The Anheuser-Busch Stage will host Lee’s Golden Dragons as they maneuver their glow-in-the-dark dragon through acrobatic leaps. Traditional drum and dance shows by Han Narea and Dance of Asian America are also scheduled. Food, toy, and craft vendors of traditional Asian goods will fill the park grounds. 7 am.

Downtown Houston Lunar New Year Festival
Market Square hosts an elaborate Lunar New Year festival from noon to dusk perfect for families. Lion dancers, food, and vendors will all on on site, as well as a live DJ, and cultural workshops by Young Audiences of Houston. Like Discovery Green, this is a free event, and an intrepid group might be able to hit both on the same day! 12 pm.

Lunar New Year at the Children's Museum Houston
When it comes to education and crafts for kids, the Children's Museum Houston always has great programing. Lion dancers, diabolo yo-yo performers, an interactive storybook produced by Houston Grand Opera, and puppet crafts are just some of the activities included with general admission for one weekend. Be sure to check out the Asian pagodas in the nearby McGovern Gardens while visiting. 9 am (Also open Sunday, February 15).

Katy Asian Town (KAT) LunarFest
Among the city's most underrated celebrations, the theme of this year's LunarFest is "Fortune Rides With You," a fitting sentiment for the year of the horse. In addition to the usual lion and dragon dancers, food stalls, and musical shows, the fair contains a five element (wu xing) game zone filled with crafts and competitions as well as an adult fashion show. Free admission. 11 am (also open Sunday, February 15).

Friday, February 20

The Big Swim at Asia Society Texas
Asia Society Texas and the Houston Grand Opera will once again present the operatic fairy tale The Big Swim, a retelling of The Jade Emperor and the Great Race. Written by composer Meilina Tsui and librettist Melisa Tien, the show uses a contemporary setting to explain the establishment of the Chinese Zodiac. Masks and an inventive settings complete the magical exploration of mythology. 7 pm (2 pm on Saturday, February 21 and Sunday, February 22).

Saturday, February 21

Lunar New Year at Space Center Houston
If you really want to put the lunar in Lunar New Year, head down to Space Center Houston where the focus is all on the moon. General admission for the weekend includes crafts and demonstrations related to lunar science, a talk with astronaut Colonel Carl Walz, lion dancers, and a wishing tree so visitors can hang up their hopes for 2026. 10 am (also open Sunday, February 22).

2026 Pearland Lunar New Year Festival
The Pearland Chinese Association is once again hosting its Lunar New Year festival. This event has one of the wider selections of attractions, including mask changing magic shows, calligraphy demonstrations, fortune-telling and Chinese astrology, Tai Chi, and more. This is in addition to the standard lion dances and other traditional musical acts. 11 am.

Live at Live Oak: Celebrating Lunar New Year
Memorial Park Conservatory is hosting a demonstration of traditional Chinese performance art, including the Unity Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe, as well as Rice University student Mika Chang demonstrating her skill with the diabolo yo-yo. While the show is upbeat and energetic, it won't have the crowds and bustle of the other festivals, which makes it a good choice for the overstimulated who want a more low-key celebration. 4 pm.

festivals performing-arts lunar new year