Holiday Pop-up Party

5 reasons every merry Houstonian needs to stop by Holiday Pop-up Shop

Hillary Barwick at CultureMap Holiday Pop-up Shop 2014

Don't miss the CultureMap Holiday Pop-up Shop on December 13. You'll be as happy as she is.

Photo by Kristie Holt

Houstonians will have the most fun ever shopping for gifts at the second annual CultureMap Holiday Pop-up Shop, which takes place on Sunday, December 13, at Silver Street Studios. Here are five totally scientific reasons to prove it.

1. You can find a gift for absolutely everyone on your list.
Technically you could go to a mall and find a greater assortment. But do you really want that traffic and parking headache? Besides, we know you like to shop local, and our event is the only chance you will have to browse these particular brands from more than 30 cool vendors in one place (see full list below). The goods include jewelry, clothing, home decor, paper goods, kid stuff, pet essentials, and edibles. More on the edibles in a minute.

2. You can drink while you shop.
Admission — which is free, by the way — includes access to the Lexus Lounge for bourbon and bubbles (11 am - 2 pm) and wine tasting (2 pm - 4 pm). Or warm up at the hot chocolate bar courtesy of Bounce Energy. Shopping is way more fun this way.

3. You will not go hungry.
If you are going to power shop, then you need to keep your energy up. Stop by foodie-friendly pop-up vendors like Good Dog Houston, Macaron by Patisserie, Slim Ritas and PUCS Pop Up Coffee Shop. Grab a sandwich, salad or salami stick at Revival Market's pop-up bistro or visit Common Bond's pop-up place for standout signature items like chocolate chip cookies and the addictive Kugelhopf, a sugar-dusted brioche cake soaked in an orange blossom syrup and spiked with brandy-infused raisins. Wash it all down with a hot chocolate or non-alcoholic wassail.

4. You will be entertained.
DJ Narcissus will be spinning tunes, so dance while you shop. And both kids and kids at heart can drop by the photo booth to pose for a zany photograph or visit the crafts station to make holiday cards and gift card holders. Another bonus: Get that holiday glow at NuMe Express, Houston's first medical-mobile cosmetic facility (pre-book your appointment now).

5. You can support a good cause.
You didn’t think we would throw a party without showing the community some love, did you? This year our beneficiary is PledgeCents, a flexible #crowdfunding platform that allows anyone to raise funds for any Pre K-12 school/classroom need. Drop off an unwrapped toy at the Lexus Lounge. The first 50 elves to do so will take home a $25 Tiff's Treats gift card.

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The CultureMap Holiday Pop-up Shop runs from 11 am - 4 pm on December 13 at Silver Street Studios. Admission is free, but we ask that you RSVP. Valet parking (for $5) or complimentary self park are available. For one day only, you can shop all of the following:

Aspire at Brookwood Leather Products
Andrea Montgomery Designs
Baanou
Bartaile
beDESIGN
Brenda Grands
Briggs True
Cakewalk Style Shop
Common Bond
DePetra Art in Jewelry
Dripped Nails
DYI
Fig Tree
French Cuff
KB Kasuals
KISSUE
Kelly Kathleen Design
Macaron by Patisse
Manor
Monkee's of Houston
NuMe Express
Olivia and Cate Jewelry
Paris Texas Apparel Co.
Pomp & Circumstance
Revival Market
Rowdy Design
Saint Cloud
San Cristobal Guyaberas
SlimRitas
Souk Chic
Texas Beer Bus
Tres Chic
VAHA
Venom
WildBloom Boutique
Women's Home Cottage Shop
Zayver Jewels

shopping event-planner holidays

a beautiful mind

Houston Health Museum's new exhibit shines a light on dyslexia

Sarah Sudhoff created "The Reading Brain" in honor of her son.

Photo by Rose Tylinski

"The Reading Brain" replicates neuron activity in a dyslexic brian while reading

No, "The Reading Brain" isn't the title of a B-horror film from the 1960s. It's a brand new installation at the Houston Health Museum that explores dyslexia.

The piece was created by Houston-based artist Sarah Sudhoff, in partnership with Dr. Guinevere Eden, Director of the Center for the Study of Learning at Georgetown University. Hanging from the ceiling of the Health Museum, it uses light-up colored circles to represent the frontal lobe activity of a dyslexic person while reading. MRI scans of dyslexic brains formed the foundation of the light activity. Sudhoff's own son has dyslexia, and she had to adapt her homeschooling of him to account for his neurodivergence. As much as 20 percent of the American population is dyslexic.

"The Reading Brain" grew out of a similar exhibit at the DoSeum in San Antonio. "Beautiful Minds: Dyslexia and the Creative Advantage" challenged visitors to see dyslexia not as a learning disability but as simply a different way some human brains work. The exhibit featured videos, stories, and art work by dyslexic individuals that show how they succeed and create, as well as a selection of brain puzzles used to teach dyslexic people.

“Even though your brain works differently, it still lights up and is beautiful to watch, a wonderful machine you have. It just means you have to navigate and pivot a little differently,” Sudhoff said.

Sudhoff's innovative bridge between science and art is a permanent part of the Health Museum's MindWorks exhibit. Like "The Reading Brain," MindWorks maps out thinking processes through light and hands-on activities. The exhibit will close on January 5, meaning visitors have a very short time to see Sudhoff's piece.

The Health Museum is a hidden gem in Museum District located a block away from the Children's Museum. It houses a variety of exhibits about the human body, such as a giant plastic colon that kids love to run through. Since opening in 1969, the museum has helped Houstonians and visitors from around the world learn about the way the body works as well well as public health protocols. As the only Smithsonian Affiliate Museum in the Houston Museum District, it has a high educational pedigree despite it's colorful and often whimsical offerings.

houston health museum museum district museums

Holiday Pop-up Party

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a beautiful mind

Houston Health Museum's new exhibit shines a light on dyslexia