Finding cultural entertainment is never a problem in Houston, but cultural entertainment and something to hang over the sofa? Both can be obtained at the massive downtown Bayou City Arts Festival, featuring 300 artists working in 19 different media, among them jewels, leather, metal, pencils, paint and photography. Be sure to swing by the booth of featured artist Jeannie Maddox, whose paintings, based on photographs, are at one glance real and at the next abstract; her Swimmers series features playful, almost-glistening images of bikini-clad ladies moving among the ripples and bubbles, but the effect is beauty, not bawdy. Each hour also brings a new live performance from the likes of CORE Performance Company and Dance of Asian America, as well as artist demonstrations and creative zones for kids. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. City Hall area, 901 Bagby. For information, call 713-521-0133 or visit www.bayoucityartfestival.com. $10.
Oct. 9-10, 10 a.m., 2010