One of Houston’s most ambitious efforts to bring nature areas to downtown will finally be unveiled during Discovery Green Family Day. The development of the 12–acre urban park, a pet project of Mayor Bill White, includes a manmade lake, children’s playground, interactive water features, an amphitheater, model boat pond, bandstand, dog runs, lots of expansive lawns, public art and two restaurants. (That should attract all those out-of-towners attending conferences across the street at the George R. Brown Convention Center, not to mention the occasional homeless person whose window on the world just got a whole lot prettier.)

Activities and events planned throughout Family Day include a Car Horn Concerto with the Art Guys and UH AURA Contemporary Ensemble, performances by Kaminari Taiko of Houston, Kuumba House, Suchu Dance and lots more. Can’t get to the park until after dark? No problem; there’s an evening performance by Ebony Opera and a screening of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari with live music by Two Star Symphony. Today’s fun starts at noon. 1500 McKinney. For a complete schedule and information, call 713–400–7336 or visit
www.discoverygreen.com. Free.

Sun., April 13, 12-9 p.m., 2008

This article appears in Apr 10-16, 2008.

Bob Ruggiero has been writing about music, books, visual arts and entertainment for the Houston Press since 1997, with an emphasis on Classic Rock. He used to have an incredible and luxurious mullet in...