Come Friday night, we'll be looking up at the stars -- not the ones in the skies, mind you. The ones on screen at Houston Public Media Silent Film Concert: Films by George Méliès. Live music by Loreta Kovacic accompanies several short films by renowned French filmmaker George Méliès, the most famous of which are the 1902 A Trip to the Moon and 1904 The Impossible Voyage. Méliès was an illusionist before he became a filmmaker, which accounts for much of his magical style. He's the subject of the current hit Hugo (Ben Kingsley plays Méliès). Sneak a peek at A Trip to the Moon here.
See Houston Public Media Silent Film Concert: Films by George Méliès on at 8:30 p.m. on Friday at Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney. For information, visit www. discoverygreen.com or call 713- 400-7336.
On Saturday, we'll be painting the town a lovely shade of green at the fourth annual Waste Management Earth Day Houston, Presented by Air Alliance Houston. The daylong family festival has loads of attractions and activities, each of them focused on all things green. The H-E-B Kids Energy Zone and Stage will get a visit from Smokey Bear ("Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires!") and Woodsy Owl ("Lend a hand -- care for the land!"). Other festival attractions include the Urban Harvest Farmers Market, the Healthy Living Zone and the Green Mountain Energy Green Expo.
Go green at the annual Waste Management Earth Day Houston, Presented by Air Alliance Houston from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney. For information, visit www.earthdayhouston.org or call 713-528-3779.
Also on Saturday, we'll be at the Welcome Home Parade Honoring Returning Iraq Veterans, joining Mayor Annise Parker and hundreds of other Houstonians to show our respect and gratitude to the military men and women who have served this nation. Mayor Parker says the event is "an opportunity to support the men and women who have sacrificed their lives and time away from loved ones...We owe them a debt of gratitude and recognition that their service is appreciated." The parade, part of the Astros 2012 opening weekend festivities, winds its way through downtown to Minute Maid Park. There the troops will march into the ballpark for an on-field ceremony. During the festivities, Chase and Operation Homefront will present one lucky veteran with a mortgage-free home.
The parade starts at Texas and San Jacinto at 4 p.m. For route information, visit www.astros.com/troops or call 832-393-0868.