Thank You, Houston: A Celebration of Gulf Coast Voices, Music and Food  

Thank You, Houston:

Houston's Katrina community postponed its September 13 commemoration of the hurricane’s third anniversary due to the impending landfall of Ike. Originally planned as an opportunity to express survivors’ gratitude to the city, Thank You, Houston, has been re-constituted as and re-scheduled a citywide salute to the generous spirit of giving that Houston has shown all of its residents – old and new – in such times of need. On Friday September 26, an evening program of music, food, stories and mixed media celebrating the rich traditions of the Gulf Coast will be combined with an assembly of organizations distributing information about Ike-related assistance, volunteerism and rehab, providing computer access and support, and recording citizens stories about Hurricane Ike. FEMA, the United Way, and Blue Roof Program are among 12 of the service providers and aid agencies at the event. FEMA plans to have a team of 7 people who can help people who need to sign up, answer questions about the kind of assistance available post-Ike.

Thank You, Houston will take place from 6:30 - 9 pm at Discovery Green, located adjacent to the George R. Brown Convention Center, where thousands of Katrina survivors were welcomed and housed in September 2005 and many first responders to Hurricane Ike worked throughout last week.

The evening program will include performances by the Voodoo Brass Band, a group made up of both native Houstonians and New Orleanians who relocated to the city as a result of Katrina. Al "Carnival Time" Johnson – who spent almost two years in Houston after the storm – will kick off the performances with his signature repertoire of Mardi Gras tunes. And last but not least, red beans and rice and jambalaya will be available to all comers – but only while they last.

In the park’s Houston Public Library Express, a video version of the photo/audio exhibition, WHO WE ARE, will be playing. In addition, patrons may checkout headsets loaded with podcasts focusing on stories of thanks and gratitude recorded from survivors by the Surviving Katrina and Rita in Houston project. KPFT 90.1 FM will be on hand to record Hurricane Ike narratives. Service organizations and computer access/support will be available. Members of the public are encouraged to bring “ready-to-eat” food items for the Houston Food Bank, to assist with their hurricane relief efforts.

WHAT:                        Thank You, Houston

Free Admission

WHEN:                        Friday, September 26 - 6:30 – 9:00 pm                    

WHERE:                     Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney in Downtown Houston, located across Avenida

                        de las Americas from the George R. Brown Convention Center.                                   

CONTACT:                 Visit www.discoverygreen.com  or call (713) 400-7336

MEDIA CONTACT:    Claudia Morlan or Martha Claussen, Elmore Public Relations, 713-524-0661

or claudia@elmorepr.com or martha@elmorepr.com.

PARKING:                  Metered parking is available on streets surrounding the park; and meter stations accept credit cards and cash. Metered parking is in effect Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and is free on evenings and Sunday. Rates vary. Street-level lots and parking garages offer easy access to Discovery Green. Go to www.discoverygreen.com for nearby garages and additional parking information.

Thank You, Houston is sponsored by the Surviving Katrina and Rita in Houston project, the Houston Institute for Culture and Discovery Green. Thank You, Houston is funded in part with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast, Discovery Green, Houston Arts Alliance and the Houston Endowment. Special thanks to KPFT 90.1 FM.

About Discovery Green

Located in downtown Houston, Discovery Green is 12 acres of urban green space including one-acre lake, children’s playground area, interactive water features, multi-use amphitheater stage and sloping lawn, small and large dog runs, and two restaurants, the Grove and Lake House operated by Schiller Del Grande Restaurant Group.

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