Under the Red Stacks - Downtown Houston

GRB's Luther Villagomez remembers 1987 opening

2012-09-28T20:00:00Z

As a witness to change since the George R. Brown Convention Center opened 25 years ago, Luther Villagomez is uniquely qualified to offer reflection on the passage of time.

An event manager on September 26, 1987, when the GRB opened with a two-day civic celebration, Villagomez has risen to where ...

GRB marks 25th anniversary

2012-09-26T21:00:00Z

The George R. Brown Convention Center opened its doors 25 years ago today and these five employees – from left, Luther Villagomez, Anita Mendieta, Charmaine Pilgrim, Frank Randolph and Joey Granado – were all on the scene in 1987 making things run　 smoothly. Nothing has changed as they were all on the ...

The GRB -- Houston's constant economic engine

2012-09-06T17:30:00Z

In the early 1980s, oil was selling for about $33 a barrel, and most forecasts said it would reach $60. A few even predicted $100. The energy industry was booming, catapulting the economy of Houston to dizzying new levels of prosperity.

It was in this climate that city leaders pushed ...

GRB figures in downtown makeover

2012-08-29T22:10:00Z

Visitors who haven't been to Houston in five years are often surprised by all the development that has taken place around the George R. Brown Convention Center.

And if you haven't been to the Bayou City in 40 years, photos such as those seen here are difficult to ...

Girl Scouts honor George R. Brown CC

2012-05-29T20:24:38Z

Houston Mayor Annise Parker recently accepted the Community Award presented by the local San Jacinto Council of the Girl Scouts of the USA. The local council recognized the GRB for its efforts in the Girl Scouts’ national convention last fall and for participating in other local events, too. Posing for ...

Phoenicia Market open for business

2011-11-07T20:30:00Z

After much anticipation, Phoenicia Specialty Market opened today on the ground floor of One Park Place in downtown Houston, just three blocks from the George R. Brown Convention Center. Here, store owner Zohrab "Bob" Tcholakian does some heavy lifting as Phoenicia's custom-made conveyor belt delivers piping-hot pitas to the ...

Greenlink good to go

2011-10-10T18:35:00Z

Greenlink, a new 2.5-mile bus route that will begin circulating in May 2012, was announced in a press conference Monday morning at the BG Group's new headquarters at 811 Main. The new amenity for downtown workers, residents and visitors will be completely FREE to all users. When operational ...

GRB lowdown from GRB newsTrak

2011-09-28T21:30:00Z

The latest edition of GRB newsTrak, the electronic newsletter for the George R. Brown Convention Center, is now out in the digital world. The new issue addresses a master plan being contemplated for the GRB and major conventions coming to Houston this fall.

Now you can learn more about the ...

Rico Patrols the GRB

2011-07-18T21:30:00Z

We don't get many dogs in the house, but we did today during the Sherrifs Association of Texas Annual Training Conference, which runs through Wednesday at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Here, Rico, a member of the canine unit for the Harris County Sherrifs Department, stands for his ...

Get all wet beneath the giant sprinkler

2011-06-23T17:20:00Z

There’s always something fun going at Discovery Green, aka "One of America’s Coolest City Parks." Beginning Friday at 11 a.m. and continuing through Sunday, the downtown park across the street from the George R. Brown Convention Center will be home to a supersized sprinkler, sponsored by Target ...

Senior Games under way

2011-06-16T21:35:00Z

The 2011 Summer National Senior Games officially begin tonight with the lighting of the flame cauldron at Discovery Green. Meanwhile, athletes spent Thursday checking in at the George R. Brown Convention Center and working on their shot at the basketball courts inside the GRB. Some of those guys can really ...

GRB earns LEED certification

2011-06-15T16:45:00Z

The George R. Brown Convention Center learned on Tuesday that it has earned LEED Silver Certification for an existing building. This is a third-party validation that GRB operations are designed to improve energy savings, water efficiency, carbon dioxide emissions reduction, indoor environmental quality and stewardship of resources. LEED certification demonstrates ...

Senior Games Cauldron Ready

2011-06-14T15:30:00Z

The 2011 Summer National Senior Games begin Thursday and run through June 30 at multiple locations in Houston. Many of the events for athletes 50 and older will take place downtown at the George R. Brown Convention Center. In fact, the flame cauldron is located directly across the street at ...

Watch construction of Dynamo Stadium

2011-06-13T19:50:00Z

Dynamo Stadium will be completed before you know it. It's not as big a construction project as Minute Maid Park, Toyota Center of Reliant Stadium, but I was impressed with how quickly workers have been clipping along right there in the shadow of the George R. Brown Convention Center ...

Pedal to work Friday

2011-05-17T21:00:00Z

A personal favorite event of mine is the annual Bike to Work Day. This year’s renewal is this Friday, May 20.

In years past, cyclists pedaled from Memorial Park to City Hall taking a circuitous route at a leisurely pace with a police escort. This year, participants will leave ...

Museum convention coming to Houston

2011-05-17T19:30:00Z

Those who work and live in downtown Houston might want to keep an eye peeled for an interesting – and interested – group of visitors coming to our fair city in the coming days.

The members of the American Association of Museums – some 4,500 strong – will begin gathering at the George ...

A Typical Weekend in Houston

2011-04-01T20:05:00Z

Amid all the activity taking place this weekend, the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau wisely picked the absolute best weekend of the year to bring in prospective business clients. The entertainment options meant to impress our guests is impressive, if not exhausting.

More than 50 meeting planners arrive Friday ...

Bracket Town: Awe Inspiring

2011-04-01T19:45:00Z

Check out this stunning photo taken by Houston free-lance photographer Bruce Bennett at Thursday's opening to Bracket Town at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Six-year-old Darrel Anderson of Houston is the picture of wonderment as he moves into the spotlight upon entering the George R. Brown Convention Center ...

Kings of Leon to appear at Discovery Green

2011-03-03T20:32:17Z

Turner Sports and CBS Sports announced today that the four-time Grammy award-winning band Kings of Leon will headline the Coca-Cola Zero Countdown on April 2, part of the Big Dance Concert Series at Discovery Green during the 2011 men's Final Four weekend in Houston. The Big Dance is a ...

George R. Brown welcomes college stores

2011-02-25T20:30:00Z

Produced by the National Association of College Stores, CAMEX 2011 will fill the halls at the George R. Brown Convention Center Sunday through Tuesday. This is the higher education retailing industry's largest trade show and educational event. More than 7,000 exhibitors and attendees will be visiting Houston, representing ...

George R. Brown receives fresh coat of paint

2011-02-23T17:35:00Z

It takes a big drop cloth when you’re painting a building as big as the George R. Brown Convention Center. Contract crews began painting exterior structural steel this week as part of a regular maintenance project that is undertaken every 5-7 years. Depending on weather and event schedules inside ...

Embassy Suites Welcomes First Guests

2011-02-21T22:06:00Z

Houston's new downtown Embassy Suites hotel opened for business Monday with the arrival of its first guests. Alfonso and Maylo Flores of Laredo, Texas, checked in at 2:45 p.m. and were surprised to learn of their status as guests Numero Uno. They were later joined for a ...

Embassy Suites to open Monday

2011-02-18T22:55:12Z

The brand-spanking new Embassy Suites is undergoing minor finishing touches in preparation for Monday's "soft" opening of the 19-story, 262-suite property. Hotel officials expect a busy first week with high occupancy forecast for the first full weekend, Feb. 25-27. In fact, they don't anticipate they will be able ...

Geo R. Brown Gears Up for Quilt Shows

2010-10-22T20:45:00Z

The always highly anticipated International Quilt Market and Festival (separate events) are almost upon us. Move-in teams begin work at the George R. Brown Convention Center on Sunday in advance of the Quilt Market’s opening next Saturday, October 30.

The Quilt Market is a trade show restricted to members ...

Taking it to the streets

2010-10-20T21:45:00Z

With the spate of delightful autumn weather we’ve enjoyed in Houston in recent weeks, it’s no wonder street activity has flourished in response. Today, a nice outdoor double-play took place within easy walking distance of each other.

The City Hall Farmers Market ringed the Reflection Pool with more ...