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Midtown arts center gets boost from Houston foundations and surroundingbusinesses

Hoping to open in 2015, the new MATCH arts center is looking to raise $25million.
The MATCH/Facebook
The stores, restaurants and bars of Mid Main (i.e., Tacos-A-Go-Go, Sparrow,Natachee's) are donating 5 percent of their proceeds to the MATCH on Thursdayevening.
Section perspective of the forecoming MATCH building, located at Main andHolman.
Rendering courtesy of Lake|Flato and Studio RED architects
Breezeway lobby perspective of the new center
Rendering courtesy of Lake|Flato and Studio RED architects

For a $25-million cultural building that hasn't even broken ground, the Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston is having an amazing season.

First, there was the name change to "the MATCH" — a snappy new acronym to replace the original (and a little generic) "Independent Arts Collaborative" moniker for the new center, which is slated to open on a full city block at Main and Holman in 2015.

As part of their regular First Thursday event, the Mid Main shops and cafes are offering 5 percent of their proceeds to the upcoming MATCH building.

Then, in mid-September, the Fondren Foundation gave a $750,000 grant, which was quickly topped weeks later by a whopping $6 million donation from the Houston Endowment.

This Thursday, the MATCH is getting even more help from the businesses on Mid Main, the two-block corridor that features music venue Continental Club and popular coffee bar/lounge Double Trouble as well as restaurants like Julia's, Natachee's and Monica Pope's Sparrow Bar and Cookshop.

As part of their monthly First Thursday block party, the Mid Main shops and cafes are welcoming the arts center to the neighborhood by offering 5 percent of the proceeds they earn between 5 and 10 p.m. The evening benefit includes free live music, an art opening at Main Street Projects, a mysterious "Create a Match" contest and an exhibit of artwork by Marisa Avelar at My Flaming Heart vintage clothing.

While MATCH is swiftly zeroing in on its financial goal this fall, the building still has $20 million in funding to go. So, if you looking for a night on the town Thursday, be sure to stop the 3600 and 3700 blocks of Main just north of Alabama.

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Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Houston news of the week, including a look at one of America's top landowners. Plus, the sad closure of a pioneering steakhouse and a popular pizzeria makes plans for Houston. Get the details on our most popular stories below, then head here to plan your weekend.

1. Houston oil-and-gas billionaire ranks among America's top 100 landowners. About one-fourth of the country’s mega-owners of private land have ties to Texas, either living here, owning land here, or both. The highest-ranked Houston-based landowner is oil-and-gas billionaire Russell Gordy.

2. Houston's pioneering South American steakhouse will soon shutter in River Oaks. Sad news for inner loopers who are fans of plantain chips, wood-grilled steaks, and Houston’s best tres leches. The River Oaks location of South American steakhouse Churrascos will close Monday, June 16.

3. Texas Monthly's BBQ Snob dishes on the magazine's new top 50 list. On this episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn joins CultureMap editor Eric Sandler to discuss the magazine’s new list of the 50 best barbecue joints in Texas.

4. 'Famous' Bronx-based pizza chain fires up 3 Houston locations. A New York-based pizza chain has big plans for Houston. Called Singas Famous Pizza, the restaurant will soon open three locations in the area.

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5. Texas slides down the list of best U.S. state economies for 2025. Texas' robust economy may be showing some cracks. Texas now ranks as the state with the eighth best economy, four spots lower than one year ago, according to a new report.