Hometown Glory

Is Houston the culinary and culture capital of Texas? One study says yes

Houston is a top regional dining destination, according to a new survey from theGreater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau. Pictured here, the dining sceneat Tony's.
Photo by Julie Soefer/Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau
Frank Stella's "Damascus Gate" at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The cityalso ranked at the top of the GHCVB list in the area of "culture/performingarts."
Photo by Priscilla Dickson

It turns out all those travel writers coming to Houston and raving about the food — as well as the slick adverts starring Jim Parsons and The Tontons — have made an impact on how people view the city.

In a survey commissioned by the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, Houston was ranked the top regional destination for "variety of dining options" and in "culture/performing arts" among cities that included Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio and New Orleans — Houston's main competitors for visitors.

Are Chris Shepherd, Justin Yu and Hugo Ortega the new John Besh, Susan Spicer and Emeril Lagasse? It seems possible at this point.

That's a big change from 2011, when a similar study placed Houston in a tie with Dallas on culinary variety and when all five cities were tied in the culture and performing arts category.

Houston pulling ahead is pretty significant considering that Dallas recently opened the massive AT&T Performing Arts Center, which includes four new arts venues for opera, theater and dance performances. In addition, Houston has long lived in the shadow of New Orleans' celebrated Creole culinary tradition. Are Chris Shepherd, Justin Yu and Hugo Ortega the new John Besh, Susan Spicer and Emeril Lagasse? It seems possible at this point.

The changing perception of H-Town seems to be having an effect on travel patterns as well. According to the Houston Chronicle, visits to Houston increased 20 percent between 2010 and 2011, although the lion's share of the increase (and of Houston's visitors in general) are coming to the city for business.

unspecified

LIVING HISTORY

Texas Revolution comes to life at new immersive attraction in Gonzales

Facebook/Texas Legacy in Lights

'Texas Legacy in Lights' puts audiences in the midst of Texas history.

A brand new way to experience the history of the Lone Star State has debuted at the Gonzales Memorial Museum, located about two hours from Houston. Texas Legacy in Lights bills itself as the "world's first permanent, narrative-driven, live-action projection mapping film."

The film was produced and directed by Gonzales native John Franklin Rinehart, who used 3D mapping projection to bring to life the story of the Texas Revolution starting in 1835, including the Battle of Gonzales. It is projected in HD on the museum’s façade after dark, and audiences are encouraged to sit on the museum lawn to take in the one-of-a-kind visual presentation that puts them in the middle of the action.

"It's a great experience for our city," says Gonzales Mayor Isaac Anzaldua. "Everybody here seems to be enjoying themselves, and with this, they begin to understand where they came from. We still embody the same spirit of 'come and take it' that they had back in 1835."

The film delves into the little-known history of the iconic "Come and Take It" flag created by Sarah DeWitt, who sewed it from her daughter's wedding dress. Peggy Schott (Fear the Walking Dead) portrays the iconic Texas pioneer.

"I had family in Texas before the Revolution who were there, and I was so excited to join this project," Schott says in a press release. "It's hard to find stories of the women from that time. I'm honored to play Sarah DeWitt and to tell her story in a way that will inspire people for years to come."

A woman's face in the Texas Legacy in Lights Show An image from the immersive new Texas history projection show. Photo courtesy of Texas Legacy in Lights

Most stories of the Texas Revolution focus on the more famous moments at the end of the war, such as the fall of the Alamo and the decisive victory at San Jacinto. Texas Legacy of Lights, instead, highlights the opening volleys in the war for independence from Mexico, many of which took place in and around Gonzales.

"One hundred years from now," Mayor Anzaldua says, "our community will look back and see how we continued to embody the Come and Take It spirit — a spirit of determination, love, and peace. To know that we share a part in shaping the future of our great city is exciting and very rewarding."

The outdoor presentation runs Tuesday-Sunday at 8:25 pm and 9:15 pm at the Gonzales Memorial Museum (414 Smith St). Screenings are free and open to the public. Watch the trailer for the film here:

gonzales texas history entertainment innovation come and take it history museums