december calendar
Yuletide at Bayou Bend continues through Jan. 1
CLASSES Houston-area gardeners can expect a wide variety of gardening classes and unique events every month at The Arbor Gate in Tomball. Arbor Gate hosts its Christmas Open House on Dec. 3. Guests can enjoy delicious food and holiday cheer along with the with Zydeco music by Curtis C. Poullard. On Dec. 10, Arbor Gate offers young gardeners a fun opportunity with the half-day class Bulb Gardening for Kids taught by Master Gardener Stephanie Baker. Participants get to decorate a container and to take it home planted with bulbs. There is a fee of $50 per student. All supplies are provided; the class is open to kids ages 6-12. Information: 281.351.8851or www.arborgate.com. Nestled within Memorial Park, Houston Arboretum & Nature Center serves as both a serene retreat and education center. The Arboretum features a class on Landscaping with Native Trees, Shrubs and Vines on Dec. 4. Learn about the 36 most common trees, shrubs and vines native to the greater Houston area. Knowledge about their growth habit, light requirements and water tolerance will guide your selection of the right tree or shrub for the proper location in your landscape. Seasonal color and benefits to wildlife will be highlighted with a focus on bird habitat. In addition to a classroom presentation of online resources, the instructor will lead you on a tour of the Arboretum’s five new Wildlife Demonstration Gardens. Cost is $30 for Arboretum members; $45 for nonmembers. Registration is limited. The Arboretum stages its 2011 Winter Holiday Native Tree and 18
Shrub Sale, Dec. 10 through Sunday, Dec. 18. The sale is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Texas native trees and shrubs are beautiful gifts that keep on giving long after the holiday season is over. Last year, more than 60 different species of Texas native trees, shrubs and vines were sold. Organicbased compost and mulch will be available. Proceeds from this sale support the Arboretum's education and conservation programs. The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Information: 713.681.8433 or www.HoustonArboretum.org.
HOLIDAY HOME TOURS Celebrate the holidays at Bayou Bend with Yuletide: Holiday Time at Bayou Bend, continuing through Jan. 1. Bayou Bend, the American Decorative Arts Center for the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is renowned for its annual Yuletide tradition featuring festive lights, decorations, candlelight tours and special room settings that bring historic American celebrations to life. This year, enjoy the revival of favorite holiday-themed rooms as you take this festive stroll through 250 years of history to experience how our Americans celebrated the holidays with family and friends. Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens is located at 6003 Memorial Drive at Westcott Street. Special Candlelight Tour hours are Thursdays through Fridays, 5 to 7 p.m. (last admission) on December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16. Admission is $7.50 for adults, $5 for students over age18 and seniors with ID; free for children 17 and under. Call ahead to make parking arrangements for visitors with disabilities. Information: www.mfah.org/bayoubend or 713.639.7750.
Tour Houston’s oldest structures during the Heritage Society's Annual Candlelight Tour at Sam Houston Park, Dec. 9 and 10. Photo Courtesy of Greater Houston C.V.B.
The 2011 Houston Heights Association Holiday Home Tour features six homes festooned in festive finery on Dec. 2 and 3. Tour goers will have a rare opportunity to look inside these unique spaces that reflect the rich architectural tradition of this charming neighborhood. Friday hours are 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday hours are 3 to 9 p.m. Free shuttles are available both days. Tickets are $25, $5 per-home on tour days. Information: www.houstonheights.org/ holidayhometour.htm The Heritage Society's 49th Annual Candlelight Tour at Sam Houston Park on Dec. 9 and 10 showcases eight of Houston's oldest historic structures trimmed to perfection in traditional 19th century décor. At each of the structures, visitors are treated to a different type of family-friendly entertainment including everything from storytellers and re-enactors to local children's choirs. Additionally, The Heritage Society Museum Gallery features More than a Toy: Dolls from the Victorian Era exhibit. Children may also have their photo taken with Santa, play in the snow, enjoy a holiday story reading, and make crafts at Santa's Workshop. Hours are 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sam Houston Park is located at 1100 Bagby. Information: 713.655.1912 or www.heritagesociety.org. The Blue Triangle Garden Club Tour of Homes is set for Dec. 11, from noon until 5 p.m. in the historic and architecturally acclaimed MacGregor neighborhood, situated west of Hermann Park and Highway 288 along Brays Bayou. The tour includes three beautiful homes trimmed with amazing Christmas decorations to inspire your holiday
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spirit. Proceeds from this event support area civic beautification and horticulture education programs. Stops on the tour include a beautiful home on Roseneath, built in the mid-twentieth century on a corner lot. The bricked entry hints at its classic interiors. The owner respected the original architecture by preserving the character of the home throughout the renovation process yet made the home more livable and functional for entertaining. The Christmas collections and decor add additional dimension to this unique and aesthetically pleasing home. An elegant home on Parkwood is a must-see for those who appreciate architectural grandeur. This exquisite Mediterranean home boasts an impressive double, wrought-iron staircase, coffered ceilings, inlaid marble floors and an expansive floor plan that facilitates inclusive entertaining. The special meaning Christmas plays in the lives of this family is evident in the attention to detail found in the many rooms dressed in holiday finery. A lovely, recently built traditional home on Charleston, has all the accommodations required for creating lasting memories with family and friends. Soaring ceilings, wrought iron railings and a neutral color palette highlight its airy, open floor plan. Favorite Christmas decorations from the past and present convey a festive ambience, a sense of comfort, and love of holiday tradition. Free parking and shuttle to each of the houses are available. Tickets for the full tour are $10 and can be purchased at any tour house location on the day of the event. Information: 832.245.9532.
Auction of Fine Antiques on New Year’s Eve B Y H O L LY H U B B A R D
On the morning of New Year’s Eve, Gallery Auctions will hold its final auction of 2011. Much like the final parties of the year to be held later that evening, Gallery Auctions is doing it big, doing it extravagantly, and doing it right with a double estate auction containing notable pieces of Americana history, all of which must be sold outright with no minimums by the end of the auction, Gallery Auctions is sending 2011 out in style. Items for this auction include the estate of a true Southern antebellum home, along with pieces collected throughout the life and travels of a prominent Northeastern family responsible for bringing American Express to Europe. Living in Paris gave this family the opportunity to create an amazing collection of French furniture, china, and collectibles. This collection has been carefully cataloged with detailed lists, along with any available appraisals, to be provided prior to the auction. The items in this auction are so rare and unusual, they only surface with estate events such as this, and much like the end of the year, will be gone before we know it. Don’t miss this outstanding opportunity to make part of American history a part of your very own collection. Gallery Auctions will be kicking off the New Year with their regular Monday auctions on Jan. 2, but by the time the New Year rolls around, the amazing finds of this New Year’s Eve extravaganza will be long gone! Information: 281.931.0100 or www.galleryauctions.com
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