Announcements

Wow, what a screen in Archer Park!  Bring your chairs and picnic baskets packed with snacks and beverages.  Wine and beer are allowed, just don’t get rowdy.

Friday is my favorite holiday of the whole year – the 4^th of July!  In Edinburg, McAllen, Harlingen, Brownsville, Port Isabel, and Padre Island something spectacular is going on – parades, performances, and reunions with friends.

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I will be back at Archer Park on Saturday night to see “October Sky”.  It is so much fun to view a movie outdoors in the good old summertime.  The sound system is terrific.  And they have fresh popcorn and other snacks for sale.  You can even buy your own “Movies in the Park” t-shirt with the complete schedule on the back!

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Thank you Xavier Cervantes, from McAllen’s Planning Department, for bringing to my attention the new brochure on historical landmarks in McAllen.  Each time I drive by these buildings I “whisper what a jewel”. Most of them were built in the 1920s, 1930, and 1940s.  Number 4 on the list is home of McAllen Heritage Center which opened last week.

http://www.mcallen.net/planning/docs/CityLandmarksBrochure.pdf

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The Brownsville Museum of Fine Art just received a $75,000 grant from the Meadows Foundation to assist the museum’s multi-year project, “Through The Generations” . The project focuses on cultural heritage on our region encouraging children’s empowerment through creativity and reflection on their family’s history and relationships.

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IMAS will be offering free admission again, thanks to a $50,000 award from Hidalgo County.

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Issue number 3 of South Texas Nation just came out.  I always enjoy its “Third Coast” articles on cultural arts. Until you can pick up your own free copy distributed throughout the Valley, take a look at the STN website: http://www.southtexasnation.com/thirdcoast.html On page 21 of the print edition is an announcement of the upcoming 10 year reunion of Taquichito Nights. If you don’t already have the Taquachito Nights CD you can still buy one from the Smithsonian’s website: http://www.smithsonianglobalsound.org/trackdetail.aspx?itemid=38279 Right now a group of conjunto musicians from the San Benito area at performing in Washington, DC at the 42 Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

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Check out El Paseo Arts Foundation’s beautiful new website. It has a nice photo gallery of past events. http://elpaseoarts.org

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The Perdomo Family will be giving spinning and weaving lessons at the Museum of South Texas Monday – Wednesday.

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Next week get ready for 2^nd Saturday in the Park at Hidalgo where you can check out a bicycle and head down a nature trail, an art opening at the Upper Valley Art League in Mission, a Tex-Mex Photography Exhibit in Brownville and the return of the Mariachi Poet!

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Meanwhile, Happy 4^th of July!

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Virginia Haynie Gause