This city doesn’t stop for me, and I’ve missed some great events in the last few months. And this weekend is no exception.  Check out these great arts + events happenings in the town of H this weekend.

Recaps to come soon about Mom 2.0 Summit, and lots of plans and big changes to come!

Missed you all.

Saturday, February 28th

ArtCamp @ Caroline Collective

Artcamp is an informal, community-based event to discuss the state of the arts in Houston and develop an informed strategy on how we can collectively support our arts community. The format is open and decided upon by those in attendance but we have several goals that we will achieve through open discussion and peer-to-peer educational sessions:
- Inform participants of available resources online and offline
- Share best practices among organizations, including audience development, fundraising, board and volunteer recruitment, and online outreach
- Share best practices among artists, such as developing their careers, promoting themselves and their work, obtaining gallery representation, and building an online presence

The schedule for the day will include educational sessions and a townhall discussion section. Through this discussion we hope to determine the difficulties that local artists and members of the art community experience, the common solutions to problems, and voice concerns, comments and suggestions for improvement. The final session of the day will be a focused townhall discussion proposing sustainable solutions to educate and deliver resources to members of the community to ensure the improved success and continued communication at all levels.
The event runs from 9:30ish til 5pm. Feel free to drop in whenever.
Here’s the link to the Artcamp site: http://barcamp.org/ArtCampHouston

Spoken Honestly: fine art photography of Three Heart Photo

Two of my most favorite Houston photographers will BOTH be holding photo shows this weekend @CoffeeGroundz.  Just my luck!  Check out both the Tracys this weekend, TracyLynn (ThreeHeartPhoto) on Saturday and Tracey (Funny Girl Photography) on Sunday.Yippee!

Andrew Karnavas and Clory Martin will be playing 2 sets at Saturday’s show.  One set at 3pm and one at 8pm.  THe show runs form 1pm-10pm.  Please stop by and show these amazing photogs some love.

Sunday,  March 1st

Roadtripping Texas: photography by Tracy Manford
4-7pm | Coffee Groundz | 2503 Bagby

Drink Houston Better @ Poison Girl
Benefiting the Orange Show for Visionary Arts
Poison Girl | 5pm

Poison Girl has invited the Orange Show to take part in Drink Houston Better on Sunday March 1 from 5pm-2am. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Orange Show.
Drink Beer. Help the Orange Show.  win win. :-)

Don’t forget, tomorrow continues the BandCamp series at Caroline Collective. (Given my recent Rock Band 2 obsession, I may be considering quitting my job to join a band. that, or just to play Rock Band all day.)

What: Bandcamp: TOURING workshop

Who: Sara Winter of AEG-TMC/Warehouse Live and Gretchen Schmaltz of Western Civilization will be our featured speakers.

When: January 4, 2009, 1-3p

Where: Caroline Collective, 4820 Caroline St., Houston 77004

Why: Learn about booking a tour for your band including tips and tricks to contact bookers, routing logistics, a packing list for your tour, and best practices for promoting in an away city.

Find out more on the Caroline Collective Bandcamp post.

June: Community. Coworking. Caroline.

The first week of June, we feverishly prepared Caroline for her debut to the world. Gutting, cleaning, painting, gardening, desk assembling. We didn’t leave a brick unturned, as we spiffed her up for the 600 people who came through the doors on June 7, 2008, to witness the beginning of an amazing movement in Houston. A marriage of technology and art, a product of the passion of a select few, and the support of a an amazing community. It is one of the proudest things I’ve ever been apart of. And I am thankful to Matt and Ned for asking me to take part in it. Today I look back at this year, and I will always remember it most for Caroline, Sweet, Caroline. | View Caroline Opening Party Pics

Image: Ed Schipul

June also brought many events to Caroline.  This first Annual Lebowski Bash organized by our very own, Jason McElweenie, was the highest attended event at Caroline to date. With over 800 Nihilists, Acheivers, Dudes, Donny’s, and Maudes streaming in to share in Caucasians, Tasty Libations from Houston’s own Saint Arnold Brewery, and a special performance by Houston’s own, The Ton Tons. And of course….we screened the movie. We even got Sexy Attacked!—which had me beside myself with excitement. | View Lebowski Bash Flickr Pool

After the hustle and bustle of June calmed down, Miggy and I head for the border! We spend an awesome weekend in Riviera Maya, sunbathing, canyon repelling, and ruin climbing. It was the perfect mid-year break. Much needed for both of us, I’m sure.

July: July continued with more great events at Caroline.  Jeremy Jay and his band stopped by for a set, and later stopped by my place where I made them vegetarian pizzas (yes, me, cooked) and helped them set up a blog.  (Which looking at it now, looks like they haven’t touched it since!)

ArtStorm, Caroline’s resident art organization and gallery, opened their 2nd, and extremely sucessful show at Caroline,  Creature Comforts, featuring the art of some of my favorite Houston artists: Lisa Marie Godfrey and Ely Sebatian Brumbaugh.

"The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco"

July was also more travel, as I headed to San Francisco for 2008 BlogHer Conference. I also had a chance to visit with my great friend, Laura Mott, and spend some time in the city with Fayza, as she prepared to move BACK to Houston!

Houston Chronicle Covers Green Networking at Beaver's Icehouse

We had some great times at Beaver’s this summer, thanks to New Living’s weekly Happy Hour, Green Drinks.  Some of our favorite charities and non-profits benefited each Wednesday as proceeds from eco-friendly drinks and munchies were donated.

April: Defensiveness

Houston Chronicle

April things really started picking up at the Caroline Collective, a coworking space in Houston that I was asked to help open with Matthew Wettergreen and Ned Dodington. The media really started pick up on what we were doing, so lots of photo shoots, interviews, and tours went on in April. Matt and I stayed up all night customizing a WordPress template, which eventually turned into the current Caroline site. I understand now how programmers can work for hours and hours at a time. Addicting! Taught myself some CSS in the process. Now I’m hooked. :-)

April was also the month that Matthew defended his 7 year long thesis at Rice University. I was glad to be there to share in this moment with him, and to celebrate this awesome accomplishment.  Afterward, he, Ned, Michelle and I headed for the Son Volt show at The Continental Club, a spectacular set by those guys, a perfect end to a great day.

Guy Kawasaki at HTC

Web 2.0 guru Guy Kawasaki also visitied Houston in April. After meeting some super talented H-town ladies at SXSW, he couldn’t keep himself from finding out what was in the water in Houston. He shared many principles of success, one that particularly stood out for me: Don’t Be Afraid to Polorize People. With success, will come negative and positive attitudes. A lesson I learned a lot about this year.

May: Mergers & Misunderstandings

Migs + John Volunteering at the Art Car Parade

As summer approached, May was filled with parties:  Art Car Parade, my first Derby Party (thanks to Bill and Angela Green!), and my very first introduction to Sarah Gabbart and her crafting lounge, Sew Crafty Houston. | full Sew Crafty Set.

I also learned in May that my company was being acquired by Halliburton. A shock to us all, but a change that has so far worked out wonderfully in my favor. I’m excited about the new role I hold there, and am looking forward to help take Halliburton into the world of Web 2.0!

May was a tough month emotionally, as the opening of Caroline grew closer, as did stress surrounding the opening party, balancing personal and professional lives, and strained friendships. I ONLY got though that month because of the awesome support of ma peeps and this awesome community in Houston. And to that I am ever thankful to you all.

Each year, the OS holds craft workshops leading up to their BIG GALA to help makes decorations and crafts.  The last workshop will be tomorrow (Tuesday) at Caroline Collective (how convenient, on craft night!).

I attended one of these last year and it was incredibly fun! Beer + Food + Crafts + O Show = hella fun.

Tuesday night from 7-10pm we’ll be working on Sugar Skulls, Papel Picado, and Paper Flowers in preparation for the Dia De Los Muertos themed Gala this Saturday, Nov 1st.

BTW, if you are looking to Volunteer for the Gala on Saturday, shoot me and email. I’m getting a group together and it promises to be the most fun you’ll have all year. totes. ridic.

Hope to see you at Caroline Tuesday and slash or at the Gala on Saturday!

“Japanther remains one the New York City’s most under rated acts…”. – Pitchfork Media

“The ever-divisive” – The Fader

ok, ok enough raves. check it.

Rock and Roll show + Craft Faire featuring Japanther with  Killer Dreamer + The Mathletes + American Sharks.
Sunday, October 26th at Caroline Collective.
Proceeds benefit Workshop Houston’s programs.

Oct. 24, 2008 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Join the Houston community in a celebration of art and perseverance as we honor the winners and hold a silent auction with all the art you have submitted to the MADE FROM IKE art contest. All proceeds from the auction will go to Americans for the Arts Emergency Relief fund and William Graham Emergency Artist Fund that helps local arts service organizations rebuild the arts in their communities.

Artists will bring their MADE FROM IKE entry to the Caroline Collective Courtyard at 4820 Caroline St, Houston, TX 77004 from 5-6PM to submit to the silent auction. If you are an artist, business or community member who would like to donate other items to the silent auctions, please contact mandy@fresharts.org.

At 6PM, we open the doors of the courtyard and invite the community to celebrate the perseverance of our beloved art scene. Meet artists and organizations who have determination in the face of adversity, bid on some amazing home-grown art made from Ike´s remnants and enjoy a Saint Arnold among friends.

This weekend is shaping up to be NUTS!  Nuts I say!

Let’s just get into it:

Friday

Hey you artsy fartsies, if you’re looking for a night out of openings, tonight, check out b.s. artblog’s recomendations for an itinerary.

Discovery Green hosts the 10 Year Anniversary of Wes Anderson’s Houston-filmed, Kevin Menchaca-starring (ok, starring is a strong word) Rushmore. 7:30pm at Discover Green Park, free.

Boot Scootin’ Boogie your way over to Leon’s Lounge for Dave Wrangler’s monthly Vinyl Ranch. I can’t believe it’s almost been one year since my last bday bash there. Geez, time flies.  10pm-2am, free.

Saturday

Here’s where things get sticky.  Stay with me.

Start your day off at the new Montrose Farmer’s Market in the La Strada parking lot. An awesome KSG write up on Houstonist here.  God, I love me some KSG.  (not to be confused with MSG).

Head over to Caroline Collective for the Save Ferris…Save Lives Leukemia Lymphoma Society fundraiser, for screenings of 2 of the 80′s best Breakfast Club @ 8,  Ferris Bueller’s Day Off @ 10.  Don’t forgot your 80′s costumes!  $20 adults, $10 kiddos.

The Orange Show, with the help of our favorite local brewery, Saint Arnold, hosts the Annual Foamraiser.  7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and will feature music by the Sideshow Tramps and The Grass Skirts. Tickets are $20 pre-sale, $25 at the door and include unlimited samplings of Saint Arnold brews. Proceeds benefit the Orange Show Concert Series. Um, did i mention BEER?
Get Kristin2Go’s preview of the event here.

If you are still standing, don’t miss James Pants’ exciting Houston debut at the MFA’s Mixed Media Series. If you’ve never been to one of the Mixed Media Series. WTF? do it do it do it do it.  Art Crowd members get into the VIP, so see ya in there!  Not an Art Crowd member? Become one!  It’s only $25 more to your yearly MFA membership.  worth it, i tell ya. See ya in VIP? :-)
Admission:
$15 General Admission
$10 Students with ID
FREE FOR MFAH MEMBERS
18 and up

Sunday

Rumored that Ms. Spears will be making an apperance on the VMAs.  I’ll be speanding the day hoping and praying this it true.  Oh gawd Britney, this is what we’ve been waiting for.  Don’t screw it up!!!!

Have a good weekend, peeps!

p.s.  so this seems trown together, it was. no pretty pictures. :-(   DEAL.  But if you MUST see pretty pictures, check out brentabousko’s post on the weekend here.  And he’s so  much cooler than me.

The Fearless Critic, Robin Goldstein (and former Houston resident) will be launching his new book, The Wine Trials, tomorrow at Caroline Collective.This is a really neat story… over the last year he’s done blind wine tastings with all kinds of people: friends, family, wine experts, etc, he compared wine under $15 with wine from $50-$500 dollars, and the cheaper wine scored better in taste trials!

He wrote a book about the results, and is launching it in 4 cities, NYC, New Haven, Austin and HOUSTON (tomorrow) — 3 of the trials were actually conducted in Houston.

Tomorrow’s party will feature wine (of course!) and food from Houston chef, Justin Yu (the lake House cafe at discovery green). Robin will give a short presentation and books will be signed and available at discount.Anyway, thought this was a super cool story you all would be interested in.

Sorry for the late notice! Please feel free to forward on. And let me know if you need more info, or would like to set up an interview with Robin.

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Stop by Caroline this weekend as ArtStorm opens it’s next exhibit, Creature Comforts.

ArtStorm’s newest board member Eli Sebastian Brumbaugh presents the Houston premiere of Toronto-based artist Deforgeo and fresh and imaginative work by a new generation of Houston artists in this summer’s Creature Comforts. The exhibition features the contemporary stylings of Deforgeo, Lisa Marie Godfrey, Rene Cruz, Shane Hillman, Jacob Calle and Brumbaugh himself in ArtStorm’s second show in its new location. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2008 from 7 – 10 PM, and the work will be on view through August 9, 2008. The reception will feature live music from Los Angeles’s art rockers Hard Place, and the local sounds of The Young Mammals, Wicked Poseur and News on the March.

Caroline Collective
4820 Caroline
www.carolinecollective.cc