The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo come back to town running March 2nd and running through March 21st.  There are also events leading up to the Rodeo, beginning February 26th.

This great annual event features not only big concerts but a Downtown Rodeo Parade, PRCA rodeos, livestock exhibits, a carnival, vendor booths with arts and crafts, student art exhibits, an international wine competition, not to mention barbecue!

For a schedule of events beginning this weekend and running through March 21st, click here.  For more information about Rodeo Houston and to purchase show tickets, visit www.rodeohouston.com.

On Thursday May 14th through Sunday, May 17th, Sain Basil the Great Orthodox Church will host its annual Festival Of Greece with plenty of traditional Greek dancing, food, music, live performances, cooking lessons and even a “major league” Gyro eating contest sponsored by Niko Niko’s.  They will also have 50 cent carnival games for the kids.  The festival is free on Thursday and only $3 for adults on during the weekend.  Kids 12 and under get in free every day. 

THE ST BASIL’S FESTIVAL DANCERS

There are five groups of dancers from our hosting church St. Basil’s. The youngest group, with dancers as young as 5, is called Team OPA. The next group, Palamakia, is aged 8 through 12. In this group they begin to build their repertoire of dances for the years to come. The Kefi Dancers are Middle Schoolers striving to preserve the authenticity of Greek dance. Dancing Papoutsia (Dancing Shoes), High Schoolers from within St. Basil’s, have been dancing together for many years and their friendship and enthusiasm is evident during their lively performances. Additionally, several of the girls have been instrumental in developing their choreography. Lastly, we present our St. Basil’s Adult Dancers, a wonderful group of energetic dancers that will have you clapping & cheering. Please give all our dancers much encouragement for their hard work and dedication to their dances and to the Festival of Greece.

ASTERIA

Asteria is from St. John’s Orthodox Church in Clear Lake. They will perform such dances as the Kalamatiano, Syrtaki, Baidouska, and Tsamiko among others.

OLYMPIAN DANCERS

The Olympian Dance Group, established in 1995, has performed in a number of venues since its inception ranging from festivals to college campuses. Currently, the group meets weekly for practices and social events in the Houston area. The Olympian Dance Group was founded in order to preserve and promote the appreciation of traditional Greek Dance. Please visit http://theolympiandancers.org/ to find out even more.

2nd Annual WORLD GYRO EATING CHAMPIONSHIP

The fifth Annual Niko Nikos World Gyro Eating Championship has taken on new meaning with last year’s contest being sanctioned by Major League Eating and will be held on Saturday, May 16th beginning at 5pm. Last year Pat Bertoletti & Joey Chestnut finished one & two & Bob Shoudt finished third. This IFOCE sanctioned event will feature again the top competitive eaters in the world. Registration opens on Wednesday April 29 @ 3:00 pm Eastern. www.ifoce.com

The contenders will be competing for $4000 in prize money! Help us cheer them on andgive them a BIG Festival of Greece welcome!

1560 The Game

St. Basil’s welcomes 1560 The Game this year. On Thursday, May 15th, Sean Pendergast and John Harris will be broadcasting their show live from the festival grounds beginning at 2pm and ending at 6pm. On Friday, Ken Hoffman brings his show to the grounds of the festival from noon-2pm.

Sports Radio 610

St. Basil’s welcomes back Sports Radio 610 again this year. This year, the team of Rich Lord and Matt Jackson will broadcast their show live on Friday from 2pm-6pm. Following them, the Night shift with Adam Wexler will broadcast live from 6pm-10pm.

MASCOTS and Cheerleaders:

Continuing our tradition, Clutch & the Rocket Dancers are lending their mascot and cheerleaders to our festival again. Welcome to the Festival of Greece! Have your cameras ready!

Friday 16th from 6:00-8:00 pm – Clutch of the Rockets!

Sunday 18th from 2:00-4:00 pm – Clutch and the Rockets Cheerleaders!

COOKING LESSONS

Want to learn how the Greeks cook up this amazing food? Stop by our cooking demonstrations held Friday at 8, Saturday at 4 and 8 pm and on Sunday at 2 and 5 pm.

CHURCH TOURS

St. Basil the Great Greek Orthodox Church will be open for visitors ONLY during scheduled tours with Father Anastasios Raptis at the following times. Please meet just inside the entrance to the church (by the large icon of St. Basil) a few minutes before the tour is scheduled to begin and a guide will escort you.

Thursday: 6 pm
Friday: 11 am and 2, 5 and 7 pm
Saturday: 11 am and 2, 5 and 7 pm
Sunday: 11 am and 2 pm

BOOKSTORE & GIFT SHOP

Please be sure to stop by the bookstore (located in the church with access from the festival grounds) and the giftshop (located in the tented area). Check out the books, music, movies, beautiful jewelry, T-shirts, Greek sailor hats, religious items, novelties, and Greek Festival souvenirs all for sale at these stores.

KIDS STUFF

Carnival games where everyone is a winner! Come & enjoy the IRON MAN CHALLENGE, DOUBLE BAY SLIDE, FUN HOUSE BOUNCE, DUCK POND & many other activities. Starting at $0.50/game.

About the World Gyro Eating Contest

On May 16th, 2009, the hungriest competitive eaters on the planet will gather for the Niko Niko’s World Gyro Eating Championship. Niko Niko’s, with its esteemed menu of succulent Greek and American fare, has offered $4,000 in prize money in an effort to attract top-flight competitive eaters and lovers of Greek culture to the 14th Annual Festival of Greece.

The contest will feature the two best gurgitators in the world, who have been battling each other cheek-to-cheek, jowl-to-jowl in recent months. Top-seeded Joey “Jaws” Chestnut , the 2007 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Champion, recently edged out nd-ranked Patrick “Deep Dish” Bertoletti at a deep-fried asparagus eating contest in California. Bertoletti is a mohawked chef from Chicago whose feats include 21 pounds of grits in 10 minutes and 16 pounds of strawberry shortcake in 8 minutes. Nipping at their heels will be 5th-ranked “Humble” Bob Shoudt and 12th-ranked Erik “The Red” Denmark, of Seattle, will also battle for the $4,000 prize purse.

“Niko Niko’s and the Festival of Greece are proud to sponsor this attempt to establish a first-ever world record in gyro-eating,” said Dimitri Fetokakis, owner of Niko Niko’s. “Some competitors have expressed concern that the delicious flavor will slow them down, but we’re confident that the winning total will be jaw-dropping.”

The World Gyro Eating Championship is part of the Festival of Greece. Dimitri Fetokakis, owner of Niko Niko’s Greek American Restaurant & his family, have been long time supporters of the festival. The Festival of Greece, now celebrating its 14th anniversary, is a 4-day event featuring the finest homemade Greek food & deserts, Greek wine & beer, Greek folk dancing, Greek shops, vendor booths, children’s food & large play area. Part of the proceeds of the festival are donated to local charities.

Major League Eating (MLE), the world governing body of all stomach-centric sports, conducts more than 70 events annually, including the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, N.Y. The competitive eating community, which numbers more than 8,000 veteran and rookie athletes, travels the nation in search of top titles and the glory that they provide.

All eaters must be of at least 18 years of age

For hours, map, and a full schedule of events visit the Festival of Greece Website or the Saint Basil Orthodox Church.

by Shelly White.
Downtown Houston will be abuzz this April, as the 38th annual Houston International Festival spotlights Ireland April 18-19 and 25-26, 2009, with outstanding musical performances, art markets and craft demonstrations, interactive exhibits and plenty of food and fun for all.

The Houston International Festival will continue its tradition as one of the largest presenters of world music anywhere on the planet. The 2009 event will feature hundreds of internationally acclaimed artists on 12 performance venues, the most stages to date, throughout the festival site. 

Stretching across 16 acres of downtown parks and streets including City Hall, Bagby Street, and Tranquility and Sam Houston Parks, this year’s event will feature seven international entertainment-themed zones including Ireland, International, Target Kids, Texas/Latin, Louisiana, Jamaica presented by Jamaica Tourist Board and African/Caribbean.

IRELAND ZONE

The centerpiece of this year’s event, the Ireland Zone, will bring the rich culture and history of the country to life as City Hall and Upper Sam Houston Park become an Irish paradise with traditional Irish dancers, literary readings, a reproduction of the Blarney Castle and calligraphy and blacksmithing demonstrations.

Center Stage, a highlight of the Ireland Zone built across the Reflection Pool in front of City Hall, will showcase traditional Celtic music and dance.  Beoga, a five-piece traditional band from County Down will take the stage as well as Cherish the Ladies, and Scotland’s enchanting Gaelic thrush, Julie Fowlis. These incredible artists will be joined each night by an all-star team of Houston’s Championship Irish dancers, drawn from the local troupes McTeggart, O’Maoileidigh and Cass.  In addition, guests will enjoy a traditional Irish pub situated across from Center Stage, serving the best in Irish pub grub and brew, with performances by regional Celtic and Irish artists.

Upper Sam Houston Park transforms into the Chevron Ireland Living Museum featuring one of the most stunning wonders of the Festival as it provides a cultural journey and celebration of Ireland.  A 20-ft. tall replica of the legendary Blarney Castle, a world landmark built nearly 600 years ago by one of Ireland’s greatest chieftains.  As part of the Festival’s reproduction, visitors will be allowed to kiss the Blarney Stone, which entails hanging upside-down to kiss the stone and is said to endow the kisser with the gift of eloquence.  The Ancient Ireland exhibit will feature a reproduction of an Irish Crannog, an ancient settlement/artificial island built for fortification; as well as blacksmith demonstrations; exhibits on ancient Irish history; and wattling demonstrations, the traditional method of weaving walls and fences.  Guests will also enjoy the Gaelic Stage honoring the ongoing ancestral connections between Ireland and the Irish in America with step-dance lessons, story-telling bards, harps and marching bagpipe parades.   Additional displays in the Chevron Living Museum will showcase the Golden Age of Christianity depicting the history of religion in Ireland; the Flight of the Earls representing the end of the old Gaelic era; an Irish literature station with four literary readings daily, the history of the Gaelic language and listening stations; and Ireland today featuring contemporary Ireland with information on northern Ireland, the troubles and samples of famous murals.

The H-E-B Cultural Stage will showcase dance performances, cuisines of Ireland and Irish dance costumes dating back to the Book of Kells.  Celebrity and local chefs will present cooking demonstrations and readings during multiple daily performances.  In any area of the Ireland Zone, visitors will be given a taste of the fascinating traditions of the Irish culture.

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS AND FOOD

More than 500 artists from around the world will exhibit and sell a huge array of handmade arts and crafts in eight unique arts markets scattered throughout several blocks of the Festival site.  Tempting food from more than 50 of Houston’s restaurants and caterers will offer a kaleidoscope of international cuisine.

EVENTS

The Festival will also host several additional events including the Opening Ceremony to kick off the Festival at 11 a.m. Friday, April 17 followed by a free lunchtime concert at City Hall.  The Mayor’s Gala, a fundraiser for the Festival’s year-round arts, education and outreach programs, will be held Thursday, April 16.

FESTIVAL HOURS

The Festival will take place Saturdays Noon – 10 p.m. and Sundays Noon – 9 p.m.

FESTIVAL ADMISSION

Tickets go on sale Sunday, March 1 online at www.ifest.org.  Beginning April 1, tickets will also be available for purchase at H-E-B stores.  All proceeds benefit Festival arts and education programs.

ADMISSION PRICES

• St. Patty’s ½ Price Ticket Special: $7.50 until March 31, online only
• Early Bird Discount: $10 from April 1 until April 13, online and H-E-B stores
• Regular Admission: $15 April 14 until April 26, at the gate, online and H-E-B stores
• Target Kids Free: Kids 12 and under are FREE
• Group Tickets: $7.50 (until March 31)/$9 each with a minimum purchase of 50

For more information on the 2009 Houston International Festival call 713.654.8808 or access the Festival’s official website at www.ifest.org.

MUSIC SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, APRIL 17

SATURDAY, APRIL 18

SUNDAY, APRIL 19

SATURDAY, APRIL 25

SUNDAY, APRIL 26

Analysts and journalists seem to agree that Houston’s economy is doing very well right now, and stands to remain steady despite the rest of the country.  But the reasons behind this are debated.  Many sources are saying it’s the rising oil prices (with Houston serving as a hub for profitable oil companies) that make it such a stable place to live.  A recent article in the Houston Business Journal by Ted Nelson of Newland Communities, discusses a combination of factors contributing to the economic success of Houston… stating that quality of life and long-term housing affordability are two of the major advantages Houston has over comparable cities.

Let there be no mistake, Houston’s favorable cost of living, housing affordability and business climate are the long-term keys to our continued success. Our metropolitan area has grown by roughly 120,000 persons per year over the past 10+ years and most demographic analysts are predicting the same rate of growth over the next 20 years and beyond. – Houston Business Journal

The article points to a feature in Kiplinger’s Magazine highlighting Houston as the number one city in America to live, work and play.  Kiplinger’s points out the careful long-term planning by the city to make it’s inner-loop a more attractive place to live, combined with affordable housing and job growth in multiple industries including energy.

How could you not love Houston? You can hardly afford not to. Back with a roar after the oil bust of the 1980s, Houston has reclaimed its title as energy capital of the U.S. and added aerospace, technology and medical companies to the mix, generating more than 100,000 jobs in 2007. Not only does the Houston metro area lead the nation in job growth, but also its cost of living stands well below the national average. Housing prices run half those of other metro areas its size. – Kiplinger’s

Other articles point to energy as the main factor.  ABC News recently published an article titled Houston: The US Boomtown.  It blames energy for the reason why Houstonians are living so lavish.

Houston’s boom was set off, in part, by the skyrocketing prices for oil and gas, which are the city’s central commodities. Here, million-dollar homes are in high demand.

“They’re selling faster than they come on the market,” said Martha Turner, local real estate agent in Houston.

Government figures show that existing home sales have fallen 4.7 percent in the United States since April. It’s a trend that has completely passed over Houston. – ABC News

Houston, We Have No Problems, an article published recently in Newsweek attributes much success to energy, but also reveals that half of economy is supported by other industries, like the ports and medical business.

Houston’s good fortune is largely a function of the current oil boom. But this isn’t the type of gusher that led to busts in 1981 and 1986. Instead, Houston is experiencing a 21st-century boom fueled by a weak dollar and global growth. “Three things affect Houston’s economy,” says Patrick Jankowski, vice president of research at the Greater Houston Partnership: “the price of energy, the value of the dollar and the strength of the U.S. economy at large.” As Meat Loaf said, two out of three ain’t bad.

Houston’s economy doesn’t run on oil alone. “We’re really diversified,” says Mike Ballases, chairman of the Houston region for JPMorgan Chase, tongue partially in cheek. “We’re only 50 percent dependent on energy.” (The city’s biggest employer: the Texas Medical Center, the nonprofit megaplex that runs two medical schools and 14 hospitals.) At Houston’s port, the second busiest in America, cranes are loading ships with industrial equipment. Exports rose 25 percent in 2007, to $72 billion. – Newsweek

Whatever the reason,  Life is good economically in the Houston area… and with the energy corridor growing faster and it’s proximity to Katy area, it stands strong with this news.

What do you make of all this?

Photo Credit: Bluepoint Communications