Swoon Best of Memorial City Party
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21
6:30pm–8:30pm @ The Lawn at Memorial City
You are invited to join Swoon Memorial Magazine in celebrating the Best Of Memorial 2017!
Swoon Memorial Readers Voted Them The Best!
Now, come meet the winners as we award them with a framed certificate to display in their establishment proclaiming their win as well as bragging rights! Refreshments will be served. RSVP: swoonworthyRSVP@swoon.media
The Memorial City Chili-Cook Off has been postponed due to expected rain on Saturday.
Stay tuned for updates on a new date!
Add some spice to your weekend at the 2018 Memorial City Chili Cook-Off, presented by Briggs True on Saturday, February 10 from 11am – 2pm at The Lawn. Be a part of the excitement as restaurants and teams from around Memorial City and Houston throw down their best chili recipes, vying for the title of best cup of chili in Houston!
$15 general admission tickets will include access to chili samplings prepared by the different participating restaurants and local chili masters with a percentage of proceeds being donated to a non-profit charity.
To purchase tickets or register a chili team, visit http://houstonchilicookoff.com/ or email: info@briggstrue.com.
Every Friday at 5pm join us for Stars & Stripes at The Lawn, Memorial City’s newest event series to honor our country, those who have and continue to serve, and their families through a patriotic ceremony.
The inaugural event series kicks off Friday, January 19th, 2018 with a color guard performance by Scarborough High School’s JROTC program and live trumpet music. The weekly tribute will feature live performances by local military community groups such as Houston-area ROTC, Boy Scouts and other military programs, as well as live musical renditions of American classics, including ‘Grand Ole Flag’ and ‘God Bless America.’ The event will also offer light bites for purchase by a rotating roster of Memorial City restaurants.
‘Stars & Stripes’ is the first event series of many to debut at The Lawn. The greenspace joins the lively Memorial City development, alongside the recently opened Hotel ZaZa Memorial City and Ciro’s Italian Grill.
Looking to relocate to the Memorial District? Check out The Fountains at Memorial City and become part of a luxury high-rise apartment community. Offering world-class amenities, a superb selection of unique designs and a focus on premier resident service, The Fountains are an inspiration.
Gorgeous accents. Smart designs. Wide-open floorplans. Stunning views and rooftop pool. No detail has been forgotten. The 114 units are appointed with granite and marble finishes, walnut cabinets, stainless steel appliances, hardwood floors, walk-in closets, luxury baths and much more. From cozy one-bedrooms to spacious three-bedroom urban retreats, you will discover a range of floorplans to fit your needs.
Each residence offers exceptional views and spacious living areas tucked away in the heart of the District. The community has been outfitted with thoughtful amenities including controlled access, onsite storage units, a 24-hour coffee bar, cardio theatre, premiere concierge service, a gated dog park and hosted resident events held at the elegant clubhouse.
Please visit www.thefountainsatmemorialcity.com to apply online or to check for availability. For more information email memorialcity@lincolnapts.com or call 713-932-6200.
Breakout the fanny packs and scrunchies for this throwback movie series!
The Square at Memorial CIty is taking it back to the 80s all in June with classics like ET, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Ghostbusters, and Back to the Future and more. Complimentary popcorn will be served and blankets and lawn chairs are encouraged.
Every Thursday in June from 7-9pm!
On a Tuesday night in early March, strains of Mozart drift through the Target wing of Memorial City Mall. It’s beautiful and dramatic and polished and being performed by the 55 middle and high school students that make up Virtuosi of Houston.
Virtuosi of Houston is a youth chamber orchestra comprised of members from over 32 middle and high schools across 12 school districts throughout the Greater Houston area. Chamber orchestras are designed to be small and selective, 40-60 musicians, lending themselves to play a repertoire of classics from composers like Mozart, Haydn and Schubert.
Founded in 1996 by Andrzej Grabiec and Franz Anton Krager, the orchestra started with just 20 students and a vision of providing a place where young musicians could find challenge and opportunity to grow and develop their talents.
Maestro Krager notes, “We designed the program for the excelled high school and middle school musician. There are no stragglers in this group; they all play at an accelerated level.” Due to the small nature of a chamber orchestra, every instrument is heard and every musician must command their music well or the audience will hear the missed notes.
The two co-founders and artistic co-directors are both professors at the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston. Andrzej Grabiec is Professor of Violin and Anton Krager is Professor of Conducting, Director of Orchestras, and Chair of the Conducting Department.
Together, the two pour into and shape the music and the musicians that make up Virtuosi. During rehearsals, the students stop and start a piece at one maestro’s direction while the other works in the body of the orchestra advising, correcting, listening. When the maestro discusses a piece with the students, he doesn’t just tell them which note to play and how, he builds a foundation for thought, appreciation and discernment about music, composers and performance.
The music starts and stops with the conductor’s baton, peppered with comments like, “When you’re playing Mozart, you have to have energy!”, “I could use some more breath in the first two whole notes.",“The sound of this many people playing controlled, you can’t beat it.”
The students rehearse twice a week for five weeks leading up to the concert. Rehearsals are open to the public and an absolute delight to watch. The rehearsal schedule is posted online.
Zarine Boyce has been pro bono President and CEO of Virtuosi since 2000. Over the past 16 years, she has witnessed the talent come through each season and notes that it’s more than just solid technique, “When these young children play, they’re playing because they love it; they’re playing because they care.” Virtuosi has been in its present location in Memorial City Mall for the last 11 years. Boyce states, “We are very grateful to the management of Memorial City Mall and to MetroNational for providing us this space.”
Each year, around 200 students audition for Grabiec and Krager, including all current members auditioning to retain their positions. The only restrictions on acceptance are talent. There is tuition for the season associated with joining the orchestra, but funds have always been made available to cover any cost for students needing financial assistance.
Throughout each season, Virtuosi performs four to six full chamber orchestras. This year, as a part of the new Virtuosi Around the Globe program, 38 students went to England over spring break where they performed a concert at Chichester Cathedral, side-by-side with the University of Chichester Music School musicians.
Virtuosi has numerous programs that go beyond the scope of chamber performances. The small ensembles perform at over 80 small events each year, where students play events hosted by private and corporate partners. About 50% of the small ensemble performances are pro bono, and community organizations like Texas Children’s Hospital and the Senior Citizen homes, benefit from the performances. Boyce notes that many are opportunities within the community where classical music wouldn’t normally be heard. A small ensemble can be one performer to fourteen, whatever the host requests.
Virtuosi hosts workshops and master classes. There is also a concerto competition held early each year where each of five winners from string and wind instruments receives prize money to enhance their music career at a total of $10,250.00.
Starting in 2017, Virtuosi began its Touch of Music program where trios and quartets go into HISD schools to perform and share an instrument petting zoo. They present some history on the music played and provided complementary tickets to students for their March concert.
Also new this year is the Jazz Orchestra, an ensemble led by Noe Marmolejo, Associate Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Ensembles, Moores School of Music. And in January, 13 members went to Washington D.C., underwritten by a board member, to play at several inauguration events hosted for Texas politicians, senators and congressmen (see picture above).
All these experiences serve to strengthen, build and fine-tune both the musician and the student. Violinist, Leilani Lawson notes, “Virtuosi has taught me to be a better musician but also a better person, to be surrounded by all these amazing people.”
Other students echoed the same sentiments: that the motivation, challenges, friendships and lessons they have learned as a part of Virtuosi are something they could get nowhere else. They are kids who are passionate about music and have found a community among others who understand that passion, who are driven to master their instrument, who are respected and treated as professionals and in turn perform like professionals.
Mrs. Boyce points out that “Ninety-five percent pursue a career in music; 100% go to college.” Now in its 21st year, Virtuosi alumni are found playing with the National Orchestra in Washington D.C., as first cello of the Berlin Opera Orchestra, as principal flautist of the Luxembourg Chamber Orchestra, and that is to name just a few. Others are professors and teachers, private musicians and ensemble players.
Isabel Efird, mother of violinist Jordan, says “They’re kids, they cut up. But put an instrument in their hands and they’re professionals. Then they go back to being kids again.”
For more information on Virtuosi and rehearsal and concert schedules visit http://virtuosiofhouston.org/.
Join CycleBar and Go Red For Women for a 50 minute, high-energy indoor cycling ride in front of the Memorial City Macy’s this Saturday, February 25 from 2pm. Help encourage women and their families to take action and live a healthier life. Macy’s grab bags will be provided for all participants. Click the here to register to ride at 2pm, 3pm or 4pm.
Memorial CIty Mall is starting its Countdown to Kickoff to the Super Bowl tonight! This Friday, January 27, come watch Rudy on the big screen in The Square for Family Movie NIght starting at 7pm.
Come back to The Square on January 28 for the Memorial City Chili Cook-Off. Presented by Briggs True Texas Sauces & Seasonings, enjoy hot tastings from Houston’s finest chili masters, cold drinks, and live entertainment satrting at 5pm; chili tastings are only $10.
Memorial City is turning pink in honor of breast cancer awareness month. Join us for an evening of live music, lite bites prepared by KUU restaurant, a wine seminar by Susi Zivanovic of Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille, and hand selected wines by Haak Vineyards & Winery, Moravia Vineyard & Winery and Trinchero Napa Valley. Saint Arnold Brewing Company will also be sampling their limited edition pink beer! As the sun sets, our honoree Yvonne Cormier will illuminate Memorial City pink to show support for those affected by breast cancer.
A portion of proceeds generated from the event will be donated to Memorial Hermann’s Bobetta Lindig Breast Care Center, the state-of-the-art center that offers services for preventive care, early detection, accurate diagnosis, personalized treatment and ongoing emotional support.
This event will be held rain or shine. In the case of severe weather, this event may be cancelled and you will be notified via email.
Buy tickets for $25 here.
Oktoberfest is back at Gateway Memorial City! Break out your finest lederhosen and enjoy a night of polka music, traditional German fare and craft brews from Houston’s best microbreweries Karbach, Saint Arnolds, Town City and Under the Radar. Dress in your Bavarian finest for the chance to be crowned Best Dressed Fraulein or Mann! For more information, please visit http://memorialcity.com/.
The fun happens Thursday, September 22, 2016, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Promenade at Gateway Memorial City, 947 Gessner Road.