Blast 3.4



Andy Warhol’s Evolution as an Artist Spotlighted in New Downtown Exhibit

INSTANTANEOUS BEAUTY, CURRENTLY on view through April 6 at UH Downtown’s O’Kane Gallery, is an intriguing exhibit of pop artist Andy Warhol’s photographs and related artworks, with a focus on his prescient and very business-minded fascination with high society and celebrity culture.

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Bows in Montrose with Wild New Chef-Driven Flavor — You’ll Go Bananas!

NOW THAT THE sun is finally shining, we can start screaming about ice cream. Van Leeuwan Ice Cream is continuing its expansion by scooping up hot spots around Houston. The latest opening, and the first food establishment in the new Montrose Collective, includes a collaboration on a new flavor, Bananas for Cheese, with Masterchef winner Christine Ha. Chef Ha, who is legally blind, was recently picked as a Best Chef (Texas) semifinalist with partner Tony J. Nguyen of Xin Chao for the upcoming 2022 James Beard Awards.

Post-Harvey and Covid, HGO Reveals a Delightfully ‘Normal’ 2022-2023 Season

Chris Becker

ON FEB. 28, INSIDE the Houston Grand Opera’s new costume shop, which houses a dedicated team of designers who saw several decades-worth of wigs and other hand-sewn regalia washed away by Hurricane Harvey, HGO General Director and CEO Khori Dastoor and Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers introduced the company’s 2022-2023 season to a small group of journalists.

Leadership in Action: ‘Setting Clear Goals’ Among Secrets of Success for Attorney Jess Bailey

How did you get to where you are today? A few key principles integrated into my life: setting clear goals, maintaining a growth mindset, building strong habits, and surrounding myself with the right people. Goals provided direction, while a growth mindset helped me turn challenges into opportunities for learning. Consistent habits, like disciplined work and effective communication, kept me moving forward. Being surrounded by motivated, supportive individuals has elevated my standards and kept me accountable. They’ve provided advice, encouragement, and sometimes that extra push I needed to stay on track. With these elements, I’ve been able to create a framework that helps me succeed and ensures I continue to grow and evolve.

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People + Places

Gayla Gardner, Jacquie Baly and Julie Baker Finck

THE DOCTOR IS in! One of Houston’s most engaged civic leaders, Jacquie Baly, has a new title after earning her Doctorate in Education and Organizational Change & Leadership from USC. And some of the city’s heavy hitters turned up for a swanky reception at Tony’s to congratulate her. “Education and community leadership go hand in hand,” said Dr. Baly. “This honor fuels my continued mission to create meaningful change.”

And they weren’t alone in their admiration. Both the City of Houston and the State of Texas declared the day of the to-do “Dr. Jacquie Baly Day,” complete with official proclamations.

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Style+Culture

Houston Arboretum

WE ALL LOVE a Rodeo, but sometimes we need options for events that have a different energy, speed — and crowd size. Check out some artsy, unique happenings around Houston in March!

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