Head.

It's hard to get back into Houston and be excited about doing so when the body's first reaction is a blinding migraine. Everything is echoing.

Sara

Thanksgiving Break

A break from school. A break from my city. A break from home and work and mindless mindless tasks. This Thanksgiving has been the best I've ever had. It's been a bit of a tough semester, and being able to slip out of contact and out of the eyes of most for five whole days was something I'm not used to.

I arrived in Columbus in the late evening on the 23rd and immediately reconnected with my girlfriend (whom I hadn't seen in close to four months) and then my father (whom I hadn't seen in exactly five months). Columbus, I could tell almost immediately, has blossomed since I've lived there, and it was great to see the changes.

The Short North, always my favourite district and a center for eclectic events and people, has grown by several blocks to include more cafes, galleries, novelty stores, and restaurants. Though the temperature dropped to 28 degrees Fahrenheit, there were many opportunities to remain warm as my friends and I walked from shop to shop, examining various interiors and exclaiming over items not seen elsewhere.

Due to a lack of wifi, I couldn't stay right on top of everyone and everything in Houston even if I wanted to. Being somewhat of an escapist, I'll admit, this was a shocking and beautiful turn of events. Evenings were filled with reading, chatting and drinking tea, and then later in the break with driving around, drinking coffee at an amazing cafe on OSU campus, and exploring a city I once called home. My phone was the only source of internet (a concept that still amazes me), and even that was iffy. Therefore, I was once again outside my box a bit as I navigated a somewhat technology-less week.

I also spent time with old family friends during thanksgiving day; a large group of hilarious, sometimes-philosophical, cynical, loud, interesting, sometimes-Communist Turkish people. Food was piled on plates over and over again, and I heard many-an interesting story from an Iranian former spy. Being with a large group of (mostly) Turks is unlike anything else.

All in all, it was an amazing break. I'm returning to school much more relaxed and ready to get everything done. Photos will be here soon.

Sara

Picture of the Day

I went to Brasil Cafe for a while a last night. At around 8 pm, a jazz band started setting up! It was a good reminder that the city doesn't die when the sun goes down.

Sara

Picture of the Day

I'm getting caught up, a little. Can you tell?

Sara

Picture of the Day

Sara

Here's an idea for the teen artists out there

Sara

Picture of The Day

I woke up early this morning to take my dog for a walk. The sky was bright blue, the sun was shining and mist surrounded everything to make the campus glow. It was beautiful.

Sara

Music of The Day

I don't have a picture today. Here's some music instead.










There's my music contribution for the day. I hope you all enjoy it.

Sara

Pictures of the Day - a day in Houston

Guys? I have a problem. I think I'm addicted to exploring new places around the city. Okay, okay, that sounds ridiculous. But keep in mind that I have no driver's license. My poor mother.

For breakfast? Dirk's coffee. Previously Diedrich's, this cozy neighborhood place offers a selection of pastries and (the best) bagels (in the whole world) from the Hot Bagel Shop. Though the huge windows look out onto a wide grey road, it's still cozy to sit at the counter peering out the window through steam from a hot coffee. 

Half Price Books! Seriously, why did I not buy this book. We're reading passages from it in English class -- we just finished the Oresteia, and it's possibly the best thing I've ever read in an English class. The writing was so amazing, and put in historical context (though our English teacher certainly didn't make an effort at that...), it's even more interesting. Moral of the story: I love used bookstores.

Lunchtime! Yeah, I really spend that long in bookstores. Quite the nerd, I will admit. Taco-a-go-go on Main is a great place to cheaply (a good idea, after spending so much as I do at bookstores) satisfy your hunger with delicious tacos. Who would've guessed, with a restaurant name like that, hm? In addition, the place has every Mexican soda you could ever ask for, coffee, alcohol... and yeah, other foods too. But even the employees agree that you should stick to basics. Even if you're going to branch out by getting a dessert taco *gasp* in the flavors of pumpkin pie or blackberries and cream.

Then I came back closer in to my own neighborhood by visiting the MFAH (Museum of Fine Arts) and the CAMH (Contemporary Arts Museum). I saw a series of sixteen or seventeen short films called Independent Exposure, produced by Micro Film. It was in turn awesome, disturbing, hilarious, cute, strange, experimental, jarring, and just plain confusing. I'd highly recommend it if you ever get the chance to see it, though I don't know if it's playing outside the Cinema Arts Festival. Which, by the way, has now ended. NOOOOOO! I suppose this means I get to hold on to some of my money, though.

 After that, home. Even if you don't live in the area, there's plenty more to do. You could go to Hermann park, ride the little train around, walk around the Japanese garden and go to the zoo. You could go to Rice University, eat at the student center, find a film at the Rice Cinema, and go to D-17, the installation at the Rice Gallery. You could... you get my point. You have no excuses for not having fun in this city. It can be so cool.

Sara

Picture of The Day

Today, I went to the MFAH to see a series of short films in conjunction with the Cinema Arts Festival. The series was entitled Independent Exposure, produced by Micro Film. It was fantastic. I promise I'll have a review of it up in the future, when I have time! For now? Busy busy busy. 

Sara

Taft Street Coffee

Tonight, I went to Taft Street Coffee. It's a wonderful space, very open to every kind of person, with a lot of different activities and events going on during the week. Tonight there was an event in the other room entitled, "Make Art Or Die." There was also a raw foods potluck in the attached building. Cool place? Why yes.

Sara

My Article? Published? Yay!

My article's coming out tomorrow in the issue of 29-95! I'm really excited. I got a copy of it today from my mentor at the chronicle.

And congrats to Charlie Hardwick for having his art on the cover of the issue!

Sara

Picture of The Day

Alright, I'll admit. I didn't take a picture today. Here's an old one from a trip to Turkey.

Sara

Picture of the day (Three for the price of one?)

Today, I was walking in Rice Village on my quest to find my friend. Along the way, I found three new faces in Rice village. If you will recall, I found three previously. These new ones are a little different. I like 'em.

Sara

Picture of The Day

Today I discovered a corner of Rice U. I didn't know existed. Also, a corner of UH I didn't know existed. Unfortunately no pictures were taken of that.

Sara

Picture of The Day

Antidote has very interesting art. 

Tonight, I worked election night at the Chronicle. Just got home twenty minutes ago. It was actually quite a marvelous experience, if anticlimactic. I had conversations about pygmy goats and the French Revolution.

Sara