I like the first one to tow the second one.
Friday, April 08, 2011
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Sunday, April 03, 2011
No-Tsu-Oh Needs to Come Back: A Late Fall Mardi Gras for Chemical City
Recently, the idea of a Houston Mardi Gras has been floated. But instead of a new tradition, may I suggest the revival of a uniquely Houston one.
No-Tsu-Oh Invitation, circa 1899 - From the George Fuermann Texas and Houston Collection, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.
Houston used to have a Mardi Gras-like festival called No-Tsu-Oh. It started in 1899 and ended the outbreak of WW1. To quote the Handbook of Texas Online,
Like Las Vegas' Helldorado celebration, a modern No-Tsu-Oh has the promise to contain all the eccentricity and strangeness that Houston has to offer. Combine the Art Car Parade with debauchery of St. Pat's and the guilt-free paganess of Halloween and that would be my dream.
With backwards spelling part of the tradition, I offer up these suggestions as a starting point for the new festival.
Sir Buh
Erised
Y Loc Nolem
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Also See:
No-Tsu-Oh Invitation, circa 1899 - From the George Fuermann Texas and Houston Collection, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.
Houston used to have a Mardi Gras-like festival called No-Tsu-Oh. It started in 1899 and ended the outbreak of WW1. To quote the Handbook of Texas Online,
"The festival, designed to stimulate commerce by bringing people to the city, customarily filled a week in November and featured parades, balls, and a football game between the University of Texas and the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (now Texas A&M University). The carnival was characterized by much backward spelling. No-Tsu-Oh, for example, is Houston spelled backward; black citizens celebrated the De-Ro-Loc (colored) Carnival; and King Nottoc (cotton) reigned over the early festivals until King Retaw (water) replaced him to celebrate completion in 1914 of the deep-water channel to Houston..."
Like Las Vegas' Helldorado celebration, a modern No-Tsu-Oh has the promise to contain all the eccentricity and strangeness that Houston has to offer. Combine the Art Car Parade with debauchery of St. Pat's and the guilt-free paganess of Halloween and that would be my dream.
With backwards spelling part of the tradition, I offer up these suggestions as a starting point for the new festival.
Sir Buh
Erised
Y Loc Nolem
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Also See:
- No-tsu-oh backers bid to resurrect bygone bash | Houston Business Journal - 1997
- Houston Mardi Gras organizers hope to create tradition | khou.com | khou.com Local News
- Houston Mardi Gras: What Does Galveston Think? - Houston Art - Art Attack
- Museum of Houston
- Handbook of Texas Online - NO-TSU-OH
- Bayou City History -- Houston: Tek Ram calls you!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
This Is Houston & This Is Not Houston
There was a dubious tradition in Ye Olden Days to depict Houston as a place with rolling hills, and not as a flat swamp with occasional buildings. The above picture is one example.
However, the rollercoaster in the prairie feels right. Maybe the long-gone Luna Park on White Oak Bayou?
Normally, I'm a total stickler for image sources, but I can't recall if I found these two at The Library of Congress and/or University of Houston Digital Library.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Research Project on Middle Bayou Runs Down a Road and To the Preserve: What Oil and NASA Didn't Get, Still Remains
Old Sig Byrd columns are my frequent source for local history. While there is more Houston every year, (let's hear it for the 4th largest city in the U.S.!) not much of what Sig saw remains. Even 60+ years ago, Sig was lamenting the loss of the city he knew and marveling at the wealth and industry that was building the skyline.
So, surprisingly, it was three columns about wilderness and bayou that piqued my interest. In 1952, Sig wrote about Jimmy Martyn's 28,000 acre farm, off of Red Bluff Rd. A decade later Humble Oil literally bought the farm. Eventually NASA got some of the Humble property. In the 70's, preservation efforts stopped further development and the remaining wilderness is now Armand Bayou Nature Center.
The center is where I hope to be on Saturday. A small girl will be in tow, so we'll see how this trip goes.
"Time Runs Upstream Along Middle Bayou" - The Stroller - Houston Press, Pg. 14 - Friday, January 18, 1952, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.
"A Karankawa Clambake on Middle Bayou" - The Stroller - Houston Press, Pg. 15 - Monday, January 21, 1952, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.
So, surprisingly, it was three columns about wilderness and bayou that piqued my interest. In 1952, Sig wrote about Jimmy Martyn's 28,000 acre farm, off of Red Bluff Rd. A decade later Humble Oil literally bought the farm. Eventually NASA got some of the Humble property. In the 70's, preservation efforts stopped further development and the remaining wilderness is now Armand Bayou Nature Center.
The center is where I hope to be on Saturday. A small girl will be in tow, so we'll see how this trip goes.
"Time Runs Upstream Along Middle Bayou" - The Stroller - Houston Press, Pg. 14 - Friday, January 18, 1952, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.
"A Karankawa Clambake on Middle Bayou" - The Stroller - Houston Press, Pg. 15 - Monday, January 21, 1952, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Elaine Bradford at Vinson Library - Houston, TX
Newly installed commission by Elaine Bradford at the Vinson Library Branch.
elephant install - a set on Flickr
Elaine Bradford - Library Project Blog
Also See:
Neon Poisoning: Dressing the Dead: Elaine Bradford at the Art League
elephant install - a set on Flickr
Elaine Bradford - Library Project Blog
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Also See:
Neon Poisoning: Dressing the Dead: Elaine Bradford at the Art League
Monday, January 17, 2011
The Waco Whorish Invasion of 1952: A Poetic Call to Protect Houston's Virtue
In 1952, the Houston Chronicle apparently published an article about 300 whores dispatched from Waco to the major metropolitan areas of Texas. Houston Press columnist Carl Victor Little wrote quite the poem in response.
"...They're fugitives from Baptist Waco
Converging on Houston, TX
Three hundred gals in Satan's shako
Who put much emphasis on sex."
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Wednesday Night Video Post: Nighttime at the Houston Shipping Channel
I always look forward to new photos from OneEighteen's Photostream. This video is an unexpected treat.
Also see: Wednesday Night Photo Post: Black And White at Galveston
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Also see: Wednesday Night Photo Post: Black And White at Galveston
Saturday, January 08, 2011
Fin Dinhning in Txas: Spel Chck edItion
Texas will probably cut more money from education in the following years due to huge budget debt. Expect to see more signs like this as a result.
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
While Waiting for Green Hornet Tix, FanBoys Talk about Houston (Using Swear Words)
While checking in to see if I won tickets for Ain't It Cool's Houston movie ticket giveaway, I saw the following comments...
Professor_Monster:
I've been to Houston a few times and I will say this -
"The women there are FUCKING HOT! And I mean HOT HOT HOT! Hotter than Austin - Hotter than LA (which by the way is packed with pretty ugly ones - go figure?). Take a stroll through the Houston Galleria and get ready to welcome your dick back from the dead... ...That was the first place I ever had Blue Bell ice cream and man, that shit has to have cocaine in it - it's as addictive as cigarettes."
Fareal:
The Houstonians are a lost people...
"...and they should be left alone."
I like the second one a lot and can only hope the the women of Houston know how lucky they are when ever Professor_Monster is in town. So. Lucky.
Professor_Monster:
I've been to Houston a few times and I will say this -
"The women there are FUCKING HOT! And I mean HOT HOT HOT! Hotter than Austin - Hotter than LA (which by the way is packed with pretty ugly ones - go figure?). Take a stroll through the Houston Galleria and get ready to welcome your dick back from the dead... ...That was the first place I ever had Blue Bell ice cream and man, that shit has to have cocaine in it - it's as addictive as cigarettes."
Fareal:
The Houstonians are a lost people...
"...and they should be left alone."
I like the second one a lot and can only hope the the women of Houston know how lucky they are when ever Professor_Monster is in town. So. Lucky.
Saturday, January 01, 2011
Oh My! Pocket Pies & Houston Railroad Museum: Read About New Food Truck, Get Bonus Museum Tip
2011, you are starting to look promising already.
My sweet wife showed me the website for Oh My! Pocket Pies and I'm already looking forward to some good eats. Owner Joe Philips had an interview in Eating Our Words, in which he mentioned the previously unknown-to-me Houston Railroad Museum. And I thought I had found all the museums the city had to offer!
Day one of the new year is a win.
My sweet wife showed me the website for Oh My! Pocket Pies and I'm already looking forward to some good eats. Owner Joe Philips had an interview in Eating Our Words, in which he mentioned the previously unknown-to-me Houston Railroad Museum. And I thought I had found all the museums the city had to offer!
Day one of the new year is a win.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Where The Blog Writer Is Supposed to Reflect Upon the Past Year and Aspires for More Good Things in the Next Year
I love when random online posts result in me finding something new to be interested and enthused about. I hope occasionally I can do the same for my internet peeps.
Without going into details, the year has been a long one. And while tonight will pass as every night does, it brings along a new year with it. And that means reflecting on the year that was and the one that might be. But I won't be reflecting in this blog post. Instead, I will simply send thanks to close friends and the casual contacts that the internet puts me in touch with. This post will appear in RSS readers and Facebook feeds and other ways people use to keep me in their online life.
Thanks.
Without going into details, the year has been a long one. And while tonight will pass as every night does, it brings along a new year with it. And that means reflecting on the year that was and the one that might be. But I won't be reflecting in this blog post. Instead, I will simply send thanks to close friends and the casual contacts that the internet puts me in touch with. This post will appear in RSS readers and Facebook feeds and other ways people use to keep me in their online life.
Thanks.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
"Here Be Treasure": General Supply and Equipment - Houston, TX
This place made the Texas Junk Company look neat and tidy. Plus, if you need 10 foot-long fiberglass longhorns (in picture above) this place is for you. I drove by General Supply and Equipment while doing some Sig Byrd research and knew I would have to stop by the place. Once there, I kept thinking there would be something great to be found. And I'm hoping that will be true on another visit, when I have a camera that doesn't run out of juice. Until then, I just have to enjoy the "No Children Allowed" sign.
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