Posted on Feb 2, 2012 | Tagged in: news , Houston , economy
A study by the Brookings Institution, a non-profit, non-partisan public policy organization, titled “The Global MetroMonitor” for 2011 reveals the Houston economy to be the fastest growing major metropolitan area in North America.
Houston ranked as the 19th fastest growing city worldwide in 2011. The only other North American city to appear on the top-40 list was Dallas, which ranked at 36.
The report cited not only the obvious booming energy business as a primary reason the Houston regional economy grew at such a strong rate, but also the city’s diverse economy.
The local $311 billion economy benefited from a combination of high oil and gas prices, a strong housing market, and rapid growth in the commodities, manufacturing, trade, and tourism sectors.
Step aside, Punxsutawney Phil. Houston has its own furry weather prognosticator who will provide us the forecast on the end of our Texas “winter”.
Join the Josh C. Freeman Weather Museum as they present their Groundhog Day Gala, Thursday, February 2, beginning at 2:00 pm.
Alamo the Texas Longhorn Groundhog will emerge that morning before a crowd of onlookers to watch for his shadow. If he sees it, of course, it will mean six more weeks of winter weather. Weather Museum meteorologists will of course be in attendance to take note of the forecast.
Visitors can participate in Groundhog Day activities throughout the museum and have the opportunity to take photos with Alamo.
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | Tagged in: Houston , food , family , event , community
The Chinese Community Center of Houston hosts its annual Lunar New Year Festival to celebrate the Chinese New Year on Friday, January 28, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Usher in 2012, the Year of the Dragon, with more than 10,000 guests, including prominent local and national political leaders, businessmen, and celebrities.
There will be traditional Dragon, Lion (signaling farewell to the previous year), and Zodiac dances, martial arts presentations, a Chinese Face Changing magic show, multi-cultural performances, markets and exhibitions.
Exhibitions include Chinese face painting, origami, calligraphy, artworks, theater performances, and a children’s Dragon Playground full of games and prizes.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | Tagged in: Mischer Development , Houston , economy
A report by CyberCoders, the recruiting firm and worldwide leader in tracking employment trends in the high-tech sector, states that Houston lead the country in the growth of technology jobs over the past two years.
Houston posted a remarkable 149% growth in tech jobs over that time. Coming in second place was San Jose, California, the hub of Silicon Valley, with a 100% growth. Philadelphia, Dallas, and San Fransisco rounded out the top five.
"We were very intrigued by the findings, especially the fact that Houston beat San Jose for new technology job growth in 2011,” said Heidi Golledge, CEO and co-founder of CyberCoders of the report. “Houston has always been a city rich in energy jobs, but we are now seeing that the demand for new and clean energy has helped fuel the growth in Houston’s tech sector as well.”
Among the tech jobs that show rapid growth in Houston’s are .NET developers, Sharepoint developers, and process engineers. Furthermore, the city has seen a growth in jobs related to the tech sector including business analysts, administrative assistants and financial analysts. This means that the growth of the tech sector is having a strong impact on the city’s overall economy.
Posted on Jan 6, 2012 | Tagged in: Houston , healthcare , community
The Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston was recently selected as a Women’s Health Practice-Based Research Network Member Site by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Women’s Health Research Network focuses on women’s health research. Through this consortium the VA will develop and train health care providers focused on women’s issues as well as develop new research techniques toward women’s care.
A top priority of the Women Veterans Health Care Network will be to ensure all eligible female veterans who request care are able to receive it in a timely manner with the most modern equipment and technology at a level equal to that provided to male veterans.
The VA strives to be a national leader in the provision of health care for women, thereby raising the standard of care for all women.
Posted on Dec 30, 2011 | Tagged in: Houston , family , events , event , community
There is a buzz around the city of Houston that has not been felt in nearly 20 years as professional playoff football is set to soon return.
The Houston Texans have clinched a spot in the AFC.
The Houston Texans are the 2011 AFC South champions and hold a franchise-best 10-5 record with one final regular season game this weekend. The team is guaranteed its first-ever playoff game at Reliant Stadium, the date and time of which will be announced the evening of Sunday, January 1. It will be either Saturday or Sunday, Jan. 7 or 8.
Season ticket holders have already been given an opportunity to purchase playoff tickets. A limited number of additional seats will go on sale Friday, December 30, through the Texans website.
Posted on Dec 22, 2011 | Tagged in: sports , Houston , family , event , community
Houston plays host to a major college football bowl game as the Texas A&M Aggies face the Northwestern University Wildcats at the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas at Reliant Stadium on Saturday, December 31, beginning at 11:00 am.
This will be a game with great interest in the Houston area as a large number of Texas A&M students and alumni call the city home.
There will be no shortage of intriguing story lines to this game as well.
This is Texas A&M’s final game as a member of the Big 12 Athletic Conference before they move to the Southeastern Conference in 2012. This was a move seen as controversial by many in the sporting world as it began a chain reaction of universities across the country moving to new athletic conferences.
Posted on Dec 15, 2011 | Tagged in: Mischer Development , Houston , economy , business
There is good news for Houston’s economic growth prospects for the new year.
According to the 2012 Employment Forecast produced by the Greater Houston Partnership, new jobs in Houston are expected to surge in the year ahead.
84,600 new jobs are expected in the area over the next 12 months. These will be lead by energy sector employment in exploration, production, distribution, and equipment manufacturing, which are predicted to account for one in seven of all jobs created.
Factors for overall growth cited in the report are energy prices, growth in the domestic economy, and the strengthening of the dollar.
Posted on Dec 9, 2011 | Tagged in: Houston , event , education
Have you been to many of Houston’s art shows and think you’ve seen all there is to see? Think again because the new generation of highly-skilled artists are now on display.
Wade Wilson Art presents a special exhibit: On the Edge of New: New Paintings by New Artists, now through December 31.
On the Edge of New includes works by promising young artists Justin Garcia, Felipe Lopez, Winston Lee Mascarenhas, Deborah Porter, Cheryl Schubert, Nazar Yahya.
Wade Wilson Art normally displays artists in the mid to mature stages of their careers. This special exhibit is an opportunity to nurture artists who are new to the Houston scene or just hitting their stride as emerging major artists.
Posted on Dec 2, 2011 | Tagged in: Mischer Development , Houston , events , community
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents a collection of works from the great Dutch Old Masters at the “Dutch and Flemish Masterworks from the Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo Collection” exhibit lasting through February 12.
This collection features more than 60 17th Century masterworks by Rembrandt, Jan Steen, Hals, Gerrit Dou and others.
Artists from the Netherlands were the finest in the world during the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th Century. These works are noted by their glowing quality of light and feature scenes of historical and Biblical events, portraits, still-lifes, land and seascapes, architectural interiors, and city views.
Exhibit hours are 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10:00 am to 9:00 pm Thursdays, 10:00 am to 7:00 pm Fridays and Saturdays, and 12:15 pm to 7:00 pm Sundays.
