Thursday, March 4

5 pm - 8 pm | Bayou Bend Collection & Gardens Spring Twilight Tours
Bayou Bend, 1 Westcott Street, mfah.org/bayoubend
$10
Each Thursday in March, the historic home and grounds will be open to allow visitors a chance to see the gardens in the early evening light, enjoy a stroll through the house with an optional audio tour, and relax with light refreshments afterward. Enjoy Audio Tours of the Bayou Bend Collection & see the gardens at dusk in this rare and special oppurtunity to view Miss Ima Hogg´s historic home at night.

Friday, March 5

7:30 pm | Houston Ballet’s La Bayadère at Wortham Theater Center, houstonballet.org
Stanton Welch’s La Bayadère is receiving rave reviews from the local press. Molly Glentzer of the Houston Chronicle states, “Houston Ballet’s corps, looking its best ever, danced the scene with a compelling air of otherworldly detachment…” Read the entire Chronicle review. You may also read Houston ArtsWeek’s blog review and CultureMap’s review.

7 pm | Jennifer Grassman CD Release Concert
Dowling Music Hall, 2615 Southwest Frwy at Kirby Drive, jennifergrassman.com
$10
Jennifer Grassman will perform a piano/vocal concert to celebrate the release of her 3rd album on at Dowling Music Recital Hall. It is also her first live concert DVD shoot. Grassman composes original piano and vocal songs which embody her own haunting and idiosyncratic style. A reception follows at Black Labrador.

Sunday, March 7

3 pm | Russian Spring Celebration w/ Russian Cultural Center Our Texas
Volcano, 2349 Bissonnet, ourtx.org
$10
celebrate the end of winter in tradition of Russian folk holiday - Maslenitsa or Pancake week. An essential and delicious element of the celebration- bliny or Russian pancakes, popularly taken to symbolize the sun. Round and golden, they are made from butter, eggs, and milk, and will be on sale at the festival! Flying Balalaika Brothers will provide the entertainment. The group plays various music: from Russian folk to bluegrass, country and rock. The Flying Balalaika Brothers, originally from Russia, made their United States debut in 1995.

Tuesday, March 9
7 pm - 10 pm | Amin Safari at SoVino Bistro & Wine Bar, 507 Westheimer sovinowines.com, amin-safari.com
Free.

Amin Safari brings his Flamenco sounds fused with exotic Middle Eastern tunes plays in SoVino’s dim, candlelit interior. Enjoy tapas and their new Spanish red wines and escape to a faraway place.

7:30 pm | Opening Night of Jewish Film Festival: The First Basket
Jewish Community Center, 5601 S. Braeswood, www.jcchouston.org
Prices vary
The Annual Houston Jewish Film Festival, a collaborative venture with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and new this year the Holocaust Museum Houston, exposes the community to current documentary, feature and short films with meaningful Jewish or Israeli content as well as Israeli-made films with contemporary themes.

We appreciate your patience as we get back to our normal arts event promoting schedule! I Dream of Maharani was an amazing evening — we’ll send out a comprehensive e-mail of images, etc. beginning of next week.

Thursday, February 18
6 - 9 pm
RealCity : Literacy - Mixing People, Letters & Cocktails / Improving Literacy Benefiting The Youth Development Center
Sophisticated, soulful sounds of Kristine Mills recognized as “Best Female Vocalist” (Houston Press 2009) for her fresh take on jazz tunes, sassy bossa nova and original music. To complement the sensual scene, a perfectly-paired assortment of wine, beer, gourmet meats and cheese selections will be served. Tickets are $60.
13 Celsius, 4000 Caroline. 13celsius.com.

Friday, February 19
Mie Olise Opening at Barbara Davis Gallery
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Danish artist Mie Olise: A Fugitive Crosses His Tracks – Departure is an exhibition of new paintings, installation, and video. The exhibition is the culmination of a two-year long journey and is based upon the idea of “departure,” leaving behind all that you know to propel yourself into a free fall of unexpected possibilities in search of a world better than the one you left. Mie Olise’s heroic paintings of flying ships, houses that travel over land, and falling suitcases speak of the experience of the voyage and call to mind the distance of a journey, the feeling of traveling over land or sea, your body moving through a landscape. www.barbaradavisgallery.com for more info. Free. Barbara Davis Gallery, 4411 Montrose.

Da Camera Young Artists’ at Avant Garden
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Da Camera goes beyond the stage with this free nightclub performance featuring musicians from Da Camera’s Young Artists Program. For the program, visit here. Free. Avant Garden, 411 Westheimer. dacamera.com.

Saturday, February 20

11 am - 5:30 pm: AISD ShowRise at Commerce Towers. ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) showcases 4 beautifully designed apartments in Commerce Towers. $18 door or $15 in advance. For more details call 713-626-1470. Commerce Towers, 914 Main Street.

7-9 pm: Two Star Symphony at Elder Street Gallery. Houston’s most unusual string ensemble performing all original music will be entertaining at Elder Street Gallery, located in the haunted Old Jeff Davis Hospital. Wine and hors d’oeuvres including in ticket price of $25. Secure tix by e-mailing elderstreetgallery@gmail.com. Elder Street Galler, 1110 Elder Street, Suite 109. p.s. Two Star Symphony heads to SXSW in March! Don’t miss them before it’s too late.

Tuesday, February 23

David Eagleman Signing at Murder by the Book
7:30 pm
Houston neuroscientist/acclaimed writer will discuss and read from the new paperback edition of Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives (Vintage; $13). The event will be filmed for a special to air on PBS’ NOVA ScienceNOW this fall. Murder By The Book, 2342 Bissonnet. murderbooks.com.

Brought to you by

I Dream of Maharani
Houston Young People for the Arts’ Gala
Saturday, February 6, 2010, 7-10 pm
House of Blues Foundation Room
Purchase Tickets Here

Join us for an evening of splendour fit for a Maharajah and Maharani.