Last night I was in attendance at the Houstonian for the Annual SHO Legacy Dinner. Hosted by 12 of the golfers in the tournament, the evening honored Emmitt Smith for his fundraising and philanthropy efforts. While the night was overall fantastic, with appearances from dreamy Martin Kaymer, and Mike Golic & Mike Greeny of Mike & Mike ESPN Radio, my favorite moment was walking past Emmitt Smith and shouting out “Up top, 22!” He laughed and obliged by giving me an excellent high five.

The Houston Golf Association is well known for its charitable fund-raising. Since 1974 its volunteers have generated more than $53.7 million for local worthy causes. Promoting golf for the benefit of local charity has long been HGA’s mission statement.

Looking forward to getting out on the green!

Me + the MMI Gals with Emmitt Smith

New Radio show? Mike & Monica & Maggie & Mike

{Friday.06}

Ars Lyrica Houston presents Hail! Bright Cecilia

7:30pm | Hobby Center, Zilka Hall | more info

Ars Lyrica Houston is joined by the amazing Chamber Choir tonight! Don’t miss it, I’ll c.u.t.here!

“The glorious voices of the Houston Chamber Choir lift in song as we celebrate the 350th birthday of composer Henry Purcell with a collaborative musical trip to late 17th-century London. This grandiose tribute to music’s patron saint features Purcell’s extravagant but seldom heard Hail! Bright Cecilia.”

{Saturday.07}

Life Is Living Houston Kickoff Featuring MC Lyte!

11 am – 3 pm | Discovery Green Park (1500 McKinney St) | Free Admission

Explosive spoken word poet/choreographer Marc Bamuthi Joseph is back for the Houston launch of Life Is Living, a national campaign using hip hop to address changing perspectives on environmental justice. The kickoff will feature special guest MC Lyte, Houston area hip hop artists and DJs, graffiti workshops, dance performances, and more presented by a range of Houston organizations including Aerosol Warfare, CKCStart Street and Urban Arts & Graffiti Research Lab, Last Organic Outpost, Workshop Houston, Project Row Houses, youth slam poetry group Meta-Four Houston, plus the UH College of Architecture, Moores School of Music, and the School of Art. Presented in partnership with Discovery Green and Houston Arts Alliance.

Tierney Malone’s Third Ward is My Harlem

Nov. 7 – Dec. 19, 2009
Opening Reception: Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, 6 – 8pm
Commissioned by DiverseWorks

Join us for the opening reception of Third Ward is My Harlem this Saturday, November 7th. Houston artist Tierney Malone transforms the DiverseWorks Main Gallery into a massive multi-media installation with his latest work. Drawing from his own Southern roots and experiences, growing up in urban black American, Malone reframes American history and situates himself and his audience firmly in complex, non-linear narratives full of stoic nostalgia and sophistication. Malone craft’s an undeniably personal story of the Third Ward in a way that speaks to the experiences of much more than just one man.

For more information on Third Ward is My Harlem, click HERE.

Uncle Charlie Poster Show at Sig’s Lagoon

6-11pm | Sig’s Lagoon(3710 Main) | Free Admission

Uncle Charlie Hardwick is back in town this weekend for a poster show at Sig’s. Music and arts fans alike will enjoy his graphic representations of the modern band’s show poster.

{Sunday.08}

Western Conference Semi-finals: Houston Dynamo  vs. Seattle Sounders FC

2pm | Robertson Stadium (UH) | purchase tickets

This team has a soft spot in my heart ever since they came to this fair city 4 years ago.  After winning back to back championships their first 2 years in Houston, they are back in the playoffs this season with a Western Semi-finals game this weekend vs Seattle Sounders.

I’ve always said this is one of the best entertainment values in the city. For $20 come out to see the best in the MLS.

Houston, let’s rally around OUR team and let them know we are PROUD that they are representing our city. Hope to see you there!

Sure, I’ve had the occasional post on my favorite Men in Orange, but have never taken on the role of broadcaster of los deportes. So here goes nuthin’.

This weekend is the Shell Houston Open at Redstone Golf Club.  (I do know enough about the tournament to know that it used to be in the Woodlands. go. me.) I dated a golf pro for 2 years and never once stepped on a golf course. Much less attended a tournament. So you guys are in for a treat of epic (newbie) proportions. I’ll probably end up looking like a fool with the lack of golf knowledge I have, but if you are interested  laughing at me, or finding out what all the celebs are wearing, I’m your huckleberry.

I’ll be “live tweeting” (like there’s any other kind of tweeting?) on Saturday from about 1-4pm. You can check out my updates via my twitter stream at www.twitter.com/cosmopolitician.

For more info on the tournament, and I’m sure much more accurate information than I could give, check out the SHO’s adorably-named blog, SHO and Tell.  (See? I just called golf adorable. Oh geez.)

In studying up for my assignment (more like cramming for a midterm), I discovered that the SHO is quite the local philanthropist.  Since 1992 they’ve raised $46 million for local charities, among them, Acres Homes Youth Association, a neighborhood very close to where I grew up. View all core charities here.

Wonder if I’ll get to ride in a golf cart? Sa-weet.

Yep, it had finally come. The dreaded 3-0. Thing was, I wasn’t dreading it at all. Every year of my life had been getting better and better, and I didn’t see any reason for that to not continue. I had become excited about turning 30, about being taking more seriously professionally, about getting past some of the train wrecks of my 20′s, and about coming into my own. It was around then that I began the idea for the book I’ve been writing. I had an incredible 10 years in my 20′s, and I wanted a way to document those stories. So the book is in the process! Stay tuned.

Every year I make a pretty big deal about my birthday. I figure it’s the one time of the year that’s it’s OK to celebrate yourself. :-) So when it came time for deciding on a location for this year’s bash, it was pretty much a no-brainer.  In 2006 I had teamed up with Dave Wrangler for Vinyl Ranch at Leon’s Lounge in Houston, and the party was a huge success.  And i figured, if it ain’t broke…

Vinyl Ranch + 30th Birthday Bash – Leon's Lounge

So, we headed back to Leon’s for the second installment of the Cosmopolitician B-Day Bash + Vinyl Ranch. The night was proceed by the Schipul 11th anniversary party, which laid ground for the perfect amount of toasty Schipulites in attendance. I seem to always get teased for having made such random acquaintances over the years, and I LOVE my birthday each year because it is a time to get all the randoms under one roof. This year’s party was followed by an impromptu after-party at my place, where a few of us (Katie + Michelle I owe you big for the thievery!) continued the party into the wee hours of the night, where Andrew played the guitar, Paul took some pics, and Michelle, Wod Wod, Nadnuk, and Sean screamed sang in unison. It was the perfect way to ring in the new decade. With friends and music. And alcohol. Stolen alcohol.

Phil, Katie, Ed – Image: Carlos Meltzer

The next morning, after just hours of sleep, Miggy rallied me out of bed for a day long drinking session at Brian O’Neill’s, where we sipped mimosas, chomped on fish and chips, chugged Blue Moons, met some crazy characters, and may have walked home. (Michelle, do you remember?) Following that, we somehow persuaded Susan and Mandy to bring us MORE beer and held a Reba Karaoke Fest. In my dining room. What more can a girl ask for on her 30th?

View party pics from Carlos Meltzer & PureAmber.

More bad health news came in October. I contracted Salmonella poisoning, along with 4 other friends who all attended an event. And let me tell you, it. ain’t. pretty. I’ll spare you the ugly details. Stomach. cramps. aren’t. fun. For. reals. As I got over the Salmonella, I swear my digestive track still isn’t the same, I learned during a Lasik eye consultation that I had several holes in the lattice of my retina. Of. course. i. did. This year, nothing surprised me. SO after 3 eye surgeries to repair the holes, I could finally be a candidate for Lasik.  I scheduled it for later in November. The better to see you with, my dear.

Ryan Adams – Verizon Wireless – October 14, 2008

The rest of October was a whirlwind of events.  From the debates at Caroline to a 2 week stretch of incredible concerts: Ryan Adams + The Cardinals (i heart you Neal Casal), Girl Talk, Portugal. The Man (thank you, Paul!), The Ton Tons, Ray Lamontagne (2nd row, baby!) and ending the month-o-music with Kings of Leon.

Bandcamp at Caroline (the brainchild of Matt and Philip of  KTRU’s Revelry Report rounded off the end of October, an awesome sidelines visit to the Texans Game with Broadway Bankmann (see goofy video below from Michelle); And finally ending the month with Halloween at 13 Celsius with Migs and Foofers.

Whew! What. a. month!

Did you miss a recap? Check out Jan-September here.

Peeps!! Our HOUSTON DYNAMO is taking on the New York Red Bulls in the Western Conference Semi-Finals!!!  After a long hard season, the boys in ORANGE have made it back to the Playoffs!

As you know, our HOUSTON TEAM is back to back MLS Champions for the last 2 years in a row.  Come help cheer them on for #3 in a row in 2008!

We tied in game 1, let’s pull out a W for Game 2!!

If you are interested in getting tickets all in a group for this Sunday’s game, please shoot an email to Kristen Gambetta and she can get everyone close together.

Also, if you can’t make it for this Sunday’s game, but are interested in the next round of playoffs, Kristen can help you with those tickets, too.  Tickets are $17 for this game.

Dynamo vs. Red Bulls
Game #2 – Playoffs Round 1
Sunday, Nov 9th
2pm
Robertson Stadium

tickets: $17

Hope you can make it out!

p.s.  after the game, stop by  and join us a Avant Garden for Dr. Sketchy Anti-Art School!! www.houstonsketchy.com 2-6pm

But now I do. It’s a Penalty Kick. And I witnessed first hand in 2006 how 5 of them could determine the victorious end to an arduous 7 month inaugural season, in front of thousands of new fans who traveled 5 hours to witness Houston sports history, as the Houston Dynamo defeated the New England Revolution.

I owe my devotion to these men in orange, not to my sudden urge to learn the ins and outs of futbol, nor to the desire to watch athletic, sweaty, beautiful men run around a field for 2 hours. No. None of that played into my initial motivation for becoming the unofficial Dynamo hometown router.

It was my love of this city. Houston. A city of opportunity. And the opportunity we had to inherit a team undervalued by San Jose, CA. An opportunity for Houston to further become a world-class city by embracing a sport that has, admittedly, yet to contend with the likes of the NBA, MLB, and NFL. Rightfully so. Should we have waited until Austin got an MLS team to follow suit?

So you can probably assume my outrage when a friend pointed out to be a recent article by Houston Chronicle “sports writer” Jerome Soloman in reaction to the Celtics recent NBA Championship. An article, whose purpose was to whine about the state of Houston sports, and point out our lack of recent championships.

Soloman begins his rant with:

“Why Boston, not Houston?”

I’d like to remind Soloman that in both 2006 and 2007, the Houston Dynamo–you know, that professional soccer team that calls Houston “home”–defeated the same team back to back in the finals: the New England Revolution. I got yo’ Boston right here, Soloman.

He continues to make a laundry list of Houston’s failed sports teams, only adding the Dynamo as a sidebar AFTER a reader’s comment reminds him to.

(Oops, sorry. Forgot to mention that the Dynamo beat Boston’s soccer team, the uh, whatchamacallits, in the MLS Cup final each of the last two years. Feel better now? Didn’t think so. Who wouldn’t trade the Dynamo and all the orange paint in Houston for the Patriots’ three Super Bowl rings, the Red Sox’ two World Series titles and the Celtics’ NBA crown?)

So, who wouldn’t trade the Dynamo?
Me + Thousands of fans.
Me + Anyone who had enough pride in this city to support a venture intended to make Houston a contender as a major US city.
Me + an entire team and staff–who relocated from all over the country to make Houston their home, uprooted lives, wifes, and families–who have to read dismissive crap like THIS in their city paper.
Me + a city full of citizens who have witnessed the Dynamo participate in the development of this city through various Community Days, children’s workshops, soccer 101 clinics, and supported their fellow “Orange” friends–the Orange Show Center for VIsionary Arts– as a participating car in the last 2 Art Car Parades, something I’ve yet to see the Texans, Rockets, or Astros do.

Here’s wondering if Soloman has ever even attended a Dynamo game. Ever even witnessed the frenzied elation of El Battalion or the Texian Army. Ever even spoken to a Dynamo player to find out what sacrifices they have made by making the choice to move to this city, and be a part of this team.

I would guess, NO.

And I would recommend to Soloman, that if he plans to continue as a “sports writer” for a major national news source, that he do at least one of these things mentioned above, before he dismisses back to back champions in his city.

See you next Thursday at Robertson Stadium, Soloman?