Quinn's Big City - 2011 January

OTH: Empty Bowls Houston, 2011-03-19

posted 2011-01-29T14:00 last mod. 2011-01-28T04:12

For those not familiar with it, Empty Bowls is a grassroots project bringing artists and communities together for the cause of hunger relief. Artists decorate and donate bowls. Event attendees choose a bowl to use for their meal at the event that day, and get to keep the bowl as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world.

The project was started and is currently managed on a national level by Imagine/RENDER, which is (quoting from the website) “a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that strives to create positive and lasting social change through the arts, education, and projects that build community.” Many large cities all the way down to small towns host their own Empty Bowls event.

And this is where our local effort, Empty Bowls Houston, comes in. Benefiting the Houston Food Bank, this year’s version of the event is due to take place on 2011 March 19 (Saturday) at the Lawndale Art Center (4912 Main Street) and Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (4848 Main Street). The minimum donation is $25 and the event will take place from 11 am to 3 pm.

This is the seventh year for Empty Bowls Houston and marks 20 years of the fundraiser and awareness initiative internationally.

posted by Shawn K. Quinn

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2011-01-24/30 Weekly LOVIEE

posted 2011-01-24T06:55 last mod. 2011-01-26T21:52

There was an important announcement last week, and I want to make sure everyone’s on the same page with it. While the weekly and monthly LOVIEE features will remain a key part of the site, there is now a community behind Quinn’s Big City as well. If you have not done so already, sign up and check it out. This is the most exciting thing to happen here and I don’t want anyone to get left out!

Continuing This Week

Parody of Light, DiverseWorks, 1117 East Freeway, Wed-Sat noon-6pm. Patricia Hernandez critiques the business practices of Thomas Kinkade, “Painter of Light,” in this installation which resembles the interior of a home and shopping mall. Exhibit continues through February 26. 11-DWPARODY

I Shot Rock: The Music Photography of Mark C. Austin, Block 7 Wine Company, 720 Shepherd, see website for business hours. An exhibition of music performance photography, continuing through February 27. Presented by Spacetaker. 11-SHOTROCK

Snowman Poker League runs free Texas Hold’em tournaments at bars and pubs across the Houston area. Featured games this week: The Pour House, 10315 W. Airport (Stafford), Wed 7pm & 10pm; Fox & Hound, 12802 Gulf Freeway, Thu 7pm & 10pm. Z-SMP

Tuesday 01-25

Against Me!, Warehouse Live, 813 St. Emanuel, doors 8pm/show 9pm, $12/$14. Punk-rock band currently based in Gainesville, FL (originally from Naples). Also featuring Cheap Girls (rock; Lansing, MI), Fences (pop/shoegaze; Seattle, WA), and American Heist (punk-rock; Houston, TX). 11-W05-1

Wednesday 01-26

Jungle Rockers, Under the Volcano, 2349 Bissonnet, 8pm. Austin-based group with its own brand of ethnic/tribal-infused rock and roll. 11-W05-2

Thursday 01-27

Peter Wolf Crier, Fitzgerald’s, 2706 White Oak, doors 8pm, $11.75. Americana duo from Minneapolis, MN. Also featuring Retribution Gospel Choir. 11-W05-3

Friday 01-28

Dennis Gonzales/Yells at Eels, Barnevelder Movement/Arts Complex, 2201 Preston. 11-W05-4

Saturday 01-29

Sarah Rothenberg’s The Blue Rider: Kandinsky and Music, Wortham Theater Center (Cullen Theater), 501 Texas, 8pm, $25/$35/$45. A unique combination of visual art and classical music. In addition to being responsible for the concept and direction, Sarah Rothenberg also plays the piano in this concert; she accompanies soprano vocals by Susan Narucki on some pieces. Presented by Da Camera of Houston. 11-W05-5

The Snake Charmers, Bohemeo’s, 708 Telephone, 8pm, $6. Also featuring Los Vertigos and Third Ear Caravan. A trio of Houston native rock/blues/soul bands. I’m a long time fan of The Snake Charmers, and they alone are worth the price of admission. 11-W05-6

posted by Shawn K. Quinn

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The BuddyPress era, and other reflections

posted 2011-01-19T05:28

As one part of an ongoing revamp of the site (scheduled to be complete by the end of March), I am adding BuddyPress to Quinn’s Big City. This is a huge step forward towards my goal for the positioning of the site in 2011 and beyond.

For those who wonder what all the excitement is about, BuddyPress essentially layers a social network on top of the Quinn’s Big City blog. No longer is this site strictly about me blasting out recaps or the weekly and monthly LOVIEEs, and the occasional “miscellaneous” (or “verbiage”) post like this one.

This, combined with just a few of you actively supporting my effort, should spell a much happier future for the site. When I look back at some of the things that have happened over the last year and change, I don’t know how I’ve held this site together for this long. In the beginning it was simply “I don’t want this to be the first week/month I missed.” Even after my first hiatus, I still decided I wanted to keep it going for as many consecutive weeks and months as I could stand. I was honestly hoping to at least make it through to the first anniversary of the wide launch (2010 October 5) without another hiatus. (More on this later.)

Yes, it may surprise some of you, but I felt it was important to keep inertia going. Some of the weekly and monthly LOVIEEs were posted covering time periods when I knew I likely wouldn’t be able to go to anything, and thus mentioned events that I knew I would almost certainly be missing. The readership level hasn’t always justified that level of dedication. I never gave up then; I’m not giving up now. I’m glad to see there are people who have stuck around despite some of the mistakes I’ve made. If I could only keep one of my websites, this would be the one; you’re looking at my pride and joy right here. If you like what you see here, by all means, pass the word along to your friends.

I had hoped for more community involvement in the way of other authors writing recaps and possibly giving me feedback for other events to include in the LOVIEEs as well. I’m still open to the idea; having 3+ recaps of events every week versus the occasional event I feel up to recapping (and often, posting well after the event has taken place) would help a lot, I think. If you are interested, do let me know. I really do think the recaps will be what sets this site apart from the rest, but I can’t go to everything myself.

Anyway, back to where I was, about having to put the blog on hiatus during 2010 October, around the first anniversary… I am still hoping to have a belated first anniversary gathering, likely during February; I still believe there is plenty to celebrate. I’m calling it a “gathering” and not a “party” because it will most likely be in a restaurant (or possibly a bar & grill such as the Mezzanine Lounge) and everyone will be on their own for drinks and food. That said, I will try to find something relatively inexpensive and in close proximity to a free admission/no cover event taking place afterwards that those so inclined can go.

Most discussion about this gathering will probably take place on the site’s new forums (powered by BuddyPress), so now’s the time to sign up. I have created the base forums but have not added topics to them just yet. Hopefully I’ll have those ready by the time most of you read this.

This is an exciting time for the site. I truly believe the best is yet to come.

posted by Shawn K. Quinn

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2011-01-17/23 Weekly LOVIEE

posted 2011-01-17T17:19

It is a bit slim this week. I wanted to get this out the door since I’m not sure who all reads the Facebook page or Twitter feed, because there’s an event for tonight. In reality this probably should have been posted hours ago, but little things like real life and sleep get in the way.

I have a major announcement that will go live later tonight as soon as I finish some tweaking on the site. The more astute observers may have noticed a less formal announcement on Facebook and Twitter, as well as small changes to the site’s appearance.

Monday 01-17

The Ice At Discovery Green, $10+tax including skate rental per person, see website for hours and details. Back again for the 2010-11 winter, an outdoor ice rink in Houston! The model boat basin portion of Kinder Lake (the part directly behind the Anheuser-Busch stage) will be frozen over using renewable energy and transformed into an ice skating rink. Great if you miss outdoor ice skating in your northern US or Canadian hometown, or if you just don’t feel like battling Galleria traffic to go ice skating. Last day. 10/11-IADG

Continuing This Week

Snowman Poker League runs free Texas Hold’em tournaments at bars and pubs across the Houston area. Featured games this week: The Wild Geese Tavern, 9721 Broadway #113 (Pearland), Tue 7pm & 10pm; Barney’s #5, 217 FM 1960 West, Fri 7pm & 10pm; Rookie’s Sports Bar & Grill, 305-B Sawdust Road, Sat 1pm & 4pm. Z-SMP

Wednesday 01-19

For Once In My Life screening at Rice Cinema, Rice University entrance #8 (University Blvd. at Stockton Dr.), 7pm, free admission. Documentary film about the Spirit of Goodwill band, a group of musicians with a wide array of physical and mental challenges who all share a gift of music, joy, and friendship. 11-W03-1

Thursday 01-20

Changoman, Continental Club, 3700 Main, show 10:30pm, cover charge not listed. Pop and rock in both English and Spanish. 11-W03-2

Friday 01-21

A Fistful of Soul, The Mink, 3718 Main, 9pm. All-vinyl soul, R&B, ska, and reggae dance extravaganza. 11-W03-3

Saturday 01-22

The Small Sounds, Continental Club, 3700 Main, doors 9pm, $10, 21+. Locally-based folk/indie band. Show will be opened by QandA. 11-M01-6

posted by Shawn K. Quinn

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