Houston Makes an Impression – Art offerings and luxury lodging in the Museum District
Houston Makes an Impression
Houston is the only place in the country to have a special exhibit of French Impressionist paintings on display. The collection of 50 pieces is on loan from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., which is undergoing renovations.
The Museum of Arts Houston (MFAH) is featuring works by Mary Cassatt, Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, Vincent van Gogh, Édouard Manet, Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, Georges Seurat, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec from February 20 through May 23.
The exhibit requires a timed-entry ticket that also includes general admission to the museum.
General admission is $20 for adults. Tickets for children (6 to 18), students and seniors (65+) are $15. Admission for children ages five and under are free, but they need a ticket to enter.
For travel and ticket information, visit www.mfah.org or www.visithoustontexas.com.
The Omni Houston is one of four hotels offering special packages during the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Masterpieces from the National Gallery of Art exhibit starting at $129.
Nestled against a meandering bayou and surrounded by an undeveloped wooded area, the 378-room Omni is in the heart of a bustling metro center. The property’s biking and jogging trails intermingle with nature and high-rise office buildings.
Inside, the lobby is adorned with three-, four- and five-foot tall orchids. The Houston downtown skyline provides the unobstructed view for our 10th floor room. The deluxe accommodation has two double beds or one king and is a comfortable 305-315 square feet of space. Gold walls and chocolate accents make for a warm modern decor.
While my husband read a complimentary copy of USA Today in the sitting area, I set up our laptop on the desk. We joined Omni Select Guest Loyalty Program (register online for free) and received complimentary Internet as a perk.
In the morning, we brewed Wolfgang Puck coffee in the miniature pot that simultaneously prepares a cup of decaf and a cup of regular coffee. You can enjoy a bountiful breakfast buffet at Cafe on the Green with windows overlooking the outdoor pool and pond where black swans leisurely swim. Dining outside with the sounds of the fountains is an especially relaxing way to start the day.
Schedule a massage at the Mokara Spa with seven treatment rooms and full-service salon. The fitness center looks out on the hotel’s 12 park-like acres.
One of the best reasons to stay at the Omni is location. It’s about two miles to the posh Galleria with more than 375 stores and approximately 15 minutes to Houston’s Museum District.
The hotel offers valet parking and self-parking for a fee, as well as, complimentary self-parking in a garage behind the hotel. Transportation within a three-mile radius of the hotel is complimentary. Taxis are parked on the premises. If you are flying, contact Super Shuttle 24 hours in advance. One-way fares from IAH to the hotel are $24 per person and $19 per person from HOU.
