Most Viewed Stories of the week
Rainbows, corpse flower power & "raging art oldsters" capture the imagination ofCultureMap readers
Our account of the Texas Vodka Throwdown drew hisses and ravesPhoto by Pauline Alderete
The object of everyone's affectionPhoto by Rachel Hanley
Dominic Walsh Friday Night Casting is one of a number of young professional artsgroupsPhoto by Elaine Mesker-Garcia
How impressive is the Houston skyline?
Vote in our Bad Pants competition
Everyone loves a double rainbow
CultureMap readers can't get enough of Lois, the corpse flower. Three of the top five most viewed stories of the past week had to do with the odyssey of the slow-blooming plant. Houston Museum of Natural Science horticulturist Zac Stayton was a virtual unknown before Lois captured the city's attention, but Rachel Hanley's profile of the corpse flower hunk was more popular than my look at Joel Osteen's multi-million dollar mansion.
But will it ever bloom? We're thinking that maybe Lois needs to be left alone for a while until she's ready.
Several other columns drew a lot of reaction.
Nancy Wozny's column on the rise of Young Professional arts groups — she labels it the "Mozart plus Mojito phenomenon" — drew a strong reaction. Nancy bemoaned the fact that arts groups are ignoring "raging oldsters" like herself, and many readers agreed.
"Good for you for representing us "gizzorettes." Great article--and I know so many of the young people pictured--they rock!" one reader wrote. Another reader plans to form a new group: "Raging Aging Hipster Oldster Smart Artz Klub." That's one group we'd like to join.
Ralph Bivins' column on the new Gerald Hines skyscraper downtown, MainPlace, postulated that Houston has the most impressive skyline in the nation. That drew raves from Carlos Obano: "Our skyline is one of a kind. Coming from someone who has been to every major city, Houston stands out for sure. Seattle and San Fran both have beautiful skylines, well lit, and picture perfect when combined with topography. Houston does not have that, thus comparing them should only be left for the buildings. Structurally and architectually, Houston highrises are world-class."
But Joe D. strongly disagreed. "Really? Houston skyline is the most impressive in the nation......What's next, Houston is America's most beautiful city? Or how about how Houston has the lowest crime rate in the U.S., that would be a good article too. Or how about how Houston's public transit system is the best in the country... no, wait, in the world!"
And Steven Thomson's hilarious account of his experience as a judge at the Texas Vodka Throwdown — the room was hot, the vodka was warm, Steven fizzled as a D-list celebrity and bought some curly fries after he left because he was hungry — drew the ire of organizer Mike Cortez.
"I find it pretty sad that you point out such petty things to complain about instead of appreciating the hard work I went through to support a local charity. If this was such a waste of your time, you can come see me personally and I will gladly pay you back the $2.49 for your curly fries, I’ll even buy you a bottle of Fiji water since Ozarka is below you, " Cortez wrote.
But Stella Blanca understood Steven's unique brand of satire completely. "OMG, how prissy can some of you get...this was hilarious and well-written! Mike, he was not insulting you or Bite Me Houston or the event. I mean, really. You'd think someone whose logo is a fork giving the finger would understand snark. Thanks to Steven for an afternoon pick-me-up. My only complaint is I'd like to have the rankings from the contest!"
At CultureMap, we always welcome your kudos and complaints. And also your votes.
So take part in our first Culture Poll, in which readers are voting for a pair of bad pants for me to wear to a fashion show to kick off the 13th Annual Bad Pants Open Golf Tournament. Two of the designs by Houston Community College fashion design students are running neck-and-neck, so help break the tie.
Most-viewed stories of the week July 11-17
1. Grown man weeps over a double rainbow & the Internet goes bonkers (with must-see video)
2. Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski is the real villain in the LeBron James betrayal
4. It's beginning to bloom: On the scene for Lois the corpse flower's big day
5. Getting to know corpse flow hunk Zac Stayton
Editor's Picks
1. Undercover arts mama: A Raging Oldster infiltrates those fussed-over Young Professional Groups
2. Life on the V list: Demystifying the thrill of being a vodka judge
3. You have the power: Pick the best pair of bad pants
4. New Hines building adds to the most impressive skyline in the nation — Yes, Houston's
5. How about a lunner date? When neither lunch nor dinner will do, Houston's the spot for you
