Ten Houstonians were honored for their selfless and generous ways of life at an event held at the Royal Sonesta. Mayor Sylvester Turner offered opening remarks before recipients of the Houston Humanitarian Awards — including NFL mom and philanthropist Karen Johnson, pastor Fernando Ruata, music-industry honcho James Prince, and several Hurricane Harvey heroes — received a standing ovation. The evening was put on by a local nonprofit called Houston Random Act of Kindness Day, which was founded by Treveia Dennis in order to spread love throughout her community.
Double the Bragging Rights! Two Houston Institutions Bring Home Prestigious National Award
May. 21, 2024
TWO OF THE city's most beloved summer-heat havens have new bragging rights! The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced that Children's Museum Houston and the Harris County Public Library system are two of just 10 recipients of the 2024 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. It's the highest honor given to institutions that make gamechanging contributions to their communities.
The last time a Houston organization took home a National Medal was in 1997, when the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston was named a recipient. Furthermore, this is the first time in the 30-year history of the IMLS program that two institutions from the same city claimed the honor in the same year. The feat is a "remarkable achievement for the children and families of Houston," said Children's Museum Houston CEO Rayanne Darensbourg in a statement.
The museum has made strides in ensuring that every family in Houston has access to the best science, technology, engineering, math, literacy, cultural and arts exhibits and programming. It emphasizes experiential learning as well as equity of opportunities across socioeconomic classes and language barriers: The museum admits around 35 percent of its 700,000 annual visitors free of charge, and provides an additional 120,000-plus participants with free outreach programming every year.
For its part, the Harris County Public Library leveraged Emergency Connectivity Fund grants to provide free laptop computers and 5G hotspots to 70,000 residents. Other efforts include a robust English language learning and naturalization program, a partnership to bring library services to young men and women completing residence programs with the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department, and a fleet of outreach vehicles that provide mobile libraries at community gatherings.
"It is fitting that the Children's Museum Houston and Harris County Public Library were awarded this honor in the same year. Our missions are, in many ways, parallel,” said the library system's Executive Director Edward Melton. “In a time when equitable public education has become politicized, our two organizations step up to offer access to programs and resources that inspire curiosity and nurture a lifelong love of learning. While this award honors the achievements of HCPL and CMH for the year 2024, I believe it is all about the future and our continued commitment to educational access.”
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ALREADY KNOWN FOR fantastic views, Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House is one-upping itself. The restaurant is now offering sunset cruises on Galveston Bay through a partnership with Great Escapes Yacht Charter.
Step aboard a 43-foot power catamaran and enjoy a coastal cruise along Galveston Bay, Clear Lake and Kemah every other Wednesday evening; the $150 per person cost includes two craft cocktails and chef-curated appetizers before the hour-long excursion. There’s an early cruise (cocktails at 5:30pm; departure at 6:15pm) and a late cruise (cocktails at 7:15pm; departure at 8pm). The yacht conveniently docks at the Pier 6 marina, and guests are invited to stay for dinner and hang on the decked-out, two-story covered patio.
Optionally, boaters can extend their night further, booking a stay at the Pier 6 Bungalows, renovated and owned by restaurateur Raz Halili. And the restaurant can coordinate other private yacht charters and dock parties, too.
The power catamaran docked at Pier 6 (photo by Kimberly Park)
Pier 6's patio (photo by Kirsten Gilliam)
Pier 6's patio (photo by Kirsten Gilliam)
Oysters on the half shell (photo by Becca Wright)
Cocktails (photo by Kimberly Park)
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