Things To Do In Richmond, Sugar Land, Fort Bend and Southwest Houston!
Shakespeare-By-The-Book Festival
The amphitheater at the George Memorial Library in Richmond is the setting for
the Shakespeare-by-the-Book Festival. Presented by the Fort Bend County
Libraries, the Houston Community College-Southwest and Houston Community
College-Central Drama and Fine Arts departments, the friends of Fort Bend
County Libraries and the Friends of the Bard, the Shakespeare -by-the-Book
Festival provides a unique opportunity for the Fort Bend County community to
enjoy a cultural event in a setting the whole family can enjoy. The generous
support of businesses and individuals in the Fort Bend community help make this
event possible. Performances in the past have included Twelfth Night and Henry
V.
Aerodrome Ice Skating Complex
The
facility was named after the common VAVII name for airport and as a nostalgic
tribute to the aerodynamic bombers of WVAI. The 48,000-square-foot Aerodrome is
complete with food service, pro shops, weight room and rehabilitation
facilities. Sharing the 34,000 square feet of ice with the Houston Aeros
Professional Hockey Team, the Houston Hockey Association and the Houston junior
Hockey Association are figure skating classes and exhibitions, hockey and
figure skating camps and public skating
Brazos Bond State Park
Live oaks
and lakes are plentiful in these 4,897 acres of Brazos River bottomlands. Among
the wildlife are whitetail deer, coyotes, waterfowl and alligators. Facilities
available: screened shelters, recreation hall, restrooms, showers, picnic
areas, fishing, nature trails and campgrounds. 409-553-5101
CASA Christmas Home Tour
This
wonderful Sugar Land tradition, which benefits Child Advocates of Fort Bend
County, showcase stunning homes in the area. During December the CASA Christmas
Home Tour features interior designers and florists who have decorated these
homes for the holidays. Over $ 100,000 was raised 1997 for the Child Advocates
of Fort Bend County programs.
Christmas Magic
The Rosenberg
Revitalization Association, in conjunction with downtown merchants, celebrates
the sights and sounds of Christmas the weekend after Thanksgiving. Downtown
Rosenberg is transformed into a magical holiday wonderland when hundreds of
Christmas lights are turned on during the "Christmas Magic" tree lighting.
Enjoy stagecoach rides, school and church choirs, refreshments and the arrival
of Santa Claus.
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Challenger Center
The Fort Bend
Challenger Center, located at Brazos Bend State Park, is a living memorial to
the seven Challenger astronauts, and serves students in schools of Fort Bend
and surrounding areas. The facility is operated by the Houston Museum of
Natural Science and is linked to the George Observatory (at Brazos Bend State
Park), Burke Baker Planetarium and the Challenger Center at the Houston Museum
of Natural Science. Summer programs special events and classes are available to
scouts, school children and others at this facility.
County Courthouse
The Fort Bend
County Courthouse was designated a State Archeological Landmark under the
provisions of the Antiquities Code of Texas. Located in Richmond, the
courthouse has withstood weather and politics since 1909.
County Fair and Livestock Show
Each fall a parade featuring dozens of school and civic bands, floats and
drill teams leads Fort Bend to this nine-day extravaganza of food, rides,
auctions, youth and adult exhibits, bands and folk and country dancing. It is
the largest county fair in Texas and draws nearly 200,000 visitors.
Fort Bend County Czech Fest
The
Fort Bend Czech Fest is held the first full weekend in May at the Fort Bend
County Fairgrounds. Featuring continuous family-style entertainment, ethnic
foods and free dances, this festival offers an exciting two-and-one half days
of fun and excitement.
Fort Bend County Museum
This
award-winning museum chronicles the settling of the Fort Bend area by the "Old
300" who received Mexican land grants through Stephen F. Austin and describes
their first 100 years. It is because of this settlement, the first Anglo
community in Texas, that Fort Bend's current communities have such names as
"First Colony" and "New Territory." On museum grounds are three restored
historical homes. The Long-Smith Cottage, home of Jane Long, called the "Mother
of Texas," is a typical middle class home. The Mae Fartand House is a restored
Reconstruction-era mansion purported to be haunted. The Moore Home is a
Victorian mansion, which features traveling art exhibits in some rooms.
George Observatory
Located in
Brazos Bend State Park The observatory has a 36-inch wide telescope, the
largest in the nation available for public use. School groups and other tours
are welcome. 409-553-3400
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George Memorial Library
This is
the main library of the Fort Bend Library system, which includes four branch
libraries, two mini-branch library and the County Law Library. All offer
periodical, genealogical, audiovisual and other resource materials. The system
circulates about 400,000 books. The front lobby of the 77,000-square-foot
George Library features temporary and traveling art exhibits and collections. A
multi-media equipped media room and an outdoor amphitheater accommodate
cultural events. 281-342-4455
George Ranch
About 500 acres of
this 23,000-acre working ranch are open to the public, including a restored
Victorian mansion, blacksmith shop and other farm buildings. Living History
demonstrations are per each weekend from April through December. 281-343-0218
Harvest Festival
Each November,
the Needville Chamber of Commerce sponsors the Harvest Festival, a weekend-long
street fair featuring food, dancing and a variety of entertainment. Juneteenth
is celebrated at the George Ranch each year in June, commemorating the day that
Texas slaves were given their freedom on June 19, 1865 - over two years after
the Emancipation Proclamation was put into effect. The celebration provides a
unique perspective on the history of all African Americans with a particular
emphasis on the contributions of the Black cowboy in ranching heritage.
281-343-0218
Mt Moore Home Candlelight Tour
After undergoing extensive renovations, the John M. Moore Home in
Richmond has special holiday Candlelight tours in December. Visitors will see
the home lit by votive candles and hurricane lamps, with trimmed trees, decked
halls and festive holiday finery, created and decorated by the Fort Bend
Museum's docent organization. 281-342-6478
Museum of Southern History
Displays of weapons and swords, pictures of battles, artifacts and
tape-recorded histories are featured. The museum is located at 14070 Southwest
Freeway in Sugar Land. 281-269-7171
Oyster Creek Rotary Club Crawfish Boil
The Oyster Creek Rotary Club has been hosting this fun-filled event in
the spring featuring crawfish and all the trimmings for 17 years to support
community projects, mainly youth activities. Richmond House Early Fort Bend was
wild west, prairie pioneer and Old South cotton plantation seasoned with
Mexican outpost, Louisiana Creole and Comanche. Richmond House is a restored
turn-of-the-century mansion with carefully tended period gardens that makes the
area's eclectic historical setting available for public, private and social
events. 281-342-9417
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Spaghetti Dinner
The community is
treated to some of the "best spaghetti served outside of Italy" each February.
Sponsored by the Exchange Club of Sugar Land, this family-oriented cook-off
benefits Fort Bend Crime Stoppers and the many other Fort Bend area charities
supported by the Exchange Club. Over 10 different law enforcement agencies
entertain, cook and serve great tasting spaghetti each year.
Shrimp Fest
An event started six
years ago by the Sugar Land Rotary Club, features Gulf shrimp, fried fish, corn
on the cob and all the trimmings, plus auctions and raffles and an afternoon of
fun for the family. Proceeds from the event support charities, scholarships and
foreign exchange programs and the establishment of a Sugar Land Rotary Park in
the First Colony area. Held each year in September, the Shrimp Fest is a fun
way to support the Fort Bend community.
Sugar Land Antique Show &
Sale
The Sugar Land Lions Club sponsors the Sugar Land Antique Show
& Sale each October. Selected antique dealers from across the state feature
fine, old Texas pieces, and a wonderful array of Victorian oak, mahogany and
country furniture, as well as elegant glass and Depression glass, china,
pottery and perfume bottles.
Texas Bluebonnets
In early spring
the bluebonnet overwhelms central Texas with color. Just a short drive West or
Northwest of Fort Bend, some of the most beautiful state flowers greet
motorists out for a weekend drive. The Texas State Department of Highways and
Public Transportation is committed to keeping the roadsides of Texas beautiful
- seeding, sowing and fertilizing literally tons of wildflower seed yearly.
Texas boasts the most active wildflower program of any state.
Vaqueros Trail Riders
Members of
the Fort Bend County Vaqueros Trail Riders spend 15 days on a trail ride from
San Antonio to Houston to participate in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
each year. In 1992 and 1993 the group was rewarded for its efforts with first
place trophies. This group's purpose is to raise funds for the Houston
Livestock Show and Rodeo Scholarship Fund.
Vogelsang Building
A mural,
painted by Dayton Wodrich of Brenham and sponsored by the Rosenberg
Revitalization Association, is located on the Vogelsang building at Avenue G
and 2nd Street in Rosenberg. The mural was taken from an old photograph of
William Jennings Bryan giving a campaign speech at the front door of the
Vogelsang building.
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Texan Market Days
Held each
October at the George Ranch, features hundreds of costumed participants and
demonstrators who bring to it the sights, and sounds of more than 100 years of
history.
YMCA
The Fort Bend Family YMCA
has been designed to serve the entire family, pro- viding programs for
children, teens, adults and senior adults. The YMCA is well known for its
variety of programs that provide development of one's spirit, mind and body,
including swim instruction, camping, sports, leadership development, fitness,
and childcare. The Y is managed by a team of professional staff persons,
supported by a tremendous corps of volunteers. Open seven days a week, the
facility includes a gymnasium, outdoor pool, weight room, cardiovascular area,
treadmills, stair climbers, rowers, stationary bicycles, Cybex weight machines,
free weights, aerobics room, babysitting room, teen center, ball fields,
multi-purpose rooms and fitness testing room. Conveniently located to serve all
East Fort Bend County, the facility is a 13-acre parcel of land at 4433
Cartwright Road, halfway between Dulles Avenue and FM 1092.
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About Appraisals >A Market Analysis
Setting the right price is an important first step in the process of selling a home. Is it necessary to spend $200 to $400 for a professional appraisal of your property before placing your home on the market?
A professional appraiser's opinion of a property's market value is based on the recent sales of similar homes in the neighborhood, and on the square footage and condition of the property. Different appraisers might come up with different figures. Even if all of them agreed on a value, there is no guarantee that you would receive that amount for your property.
An alternative to a professional appraisal is to ask a professional real estate agent for a written market analysis of your property. This analysis will include information about recent home sales in your neighborhood, as well as how those homes compare to yours. Real estate agents may provide this service with no charge or obligation. If you are still unsure of the value of your home, you may wish to pay for an appraisal.
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| Q |
What areas are known as the 'silk stocking' districts of this famous city?
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| A |
In Central Park West, Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue in Manhattan, apartments go for $222,610 to $282,709 per room. |
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