As of Dec. 3, 2018, there is only one spot left for the 2nd annual Blackwood holiday dinner. The evening includes delightful farm experiences, cocktail hour on the Baleyfield porch overlooking the gardens, a 5-course meal prepared with produce from their fields, and beer and wine pairings. Vegetarian alternatives available (please note in the dietary restrictions section).

The City of Angleton will host the next Bringing Back Main Street Revitalization roundtable meeting at the Brazoria County Historical Museum. During this roundtable, participants will hear information on meeting building codes and regulations when renovating older buildings in downtowns. The presentation will be followed by a tour of two renovated buildings in downtown Angleton. H-GAC hosts quarterly roundtables to help local governments, chambers of commerce, and economic development interests promote the economic revitalization of downtown areas. Online RSVP is requested.

The Bringing Back Main Street initiative offers local communities a place to share best practices and engage in a regional dialogue about revitalizing and supporting vibrant downtown spaces. Each quarter, community leaders gather for a roundtable on topics ranging from small business support to sidewalk infrastructure. These ongoing roundtables add to the knowledge shared during a 2015 workshop series.

Save the date for H-GAC’s next Bringing Back Main Street Roundtable. The location and topic are to be determined.

Tired of weak environmental regulations and the toxic atmosphere we’re living in? Come VENT with us and FIGHT for a healthier Houston at our E-VENT, a 2019 Kick-off Party and Benefit Concert for Texas Campaign for the Environment. Highlights of the night include performance by local band Traveler, meet-and-mingle with Zero Waste Houston, artworks from UH design students, poetry reading on the environment, and much more. Check out their Facebook event page for more details.

Join Citizens’ Environmental Coalition as they visit the Hannah and Arthur Ginsbarg Nature Discovery Center in Bellaire. There will be a guided tour outside and a chance to view major renovations that were completed recently. They will visit the pocket priarie, deciduous woodlands, prairie wetland, and cypress pond in Russ Pitman Park; nature play area; and Critter Classroom. On the tour, you will learn about environmental education initiatives at a mainstay of environmental education inside the loop. The last part of the meeting is our traditional EEE Round-table Forum where members and attendees introduce themselves, their programs, make announcements and discuss challenges and successes in environmental education.

Support Memorial Park Conservancy’s annual Picnic For the Park, as friends and supporters celebrate the hard work from the previous year, and the exciting things to come. Picnic For the Park is one of the most important events for Houston’s treasured greenspace each year.

Honorary Co-Chairs: Emily and Robert Clay

Ima Hogg Volunteer of the Year: George Johnston

Join Urban Harvest for the largest one-day sale in the country. Over 4,000 trees in 100 varieties will be available for their annual Fruit Tree Sale event. All trees have been specifically chose for the Houston soil and climate. This family-friendly event also features the Green Thumbs Education Pavilion presented by Kroger, live music and food trucks for a festival-like experience. All proceeds will benefit Urban Harvest. Volunteering opportunities are also available.

Houston Arboretum & Nature Center’s always-popular Tapas on the Trails is back for Valentine’s Day 2019. Bring your special someone for a romantic evening getaway without leaving the city.

Enjoy a softly-lit walk through the Arboretum’s nature sanctuary, pausing along the way to indulge in four delicious French-inspired courses and a few other treats from Cotton Culinary, paired perfectly with carefully selected beers and wines. Guests receive a commemorative glass to take home. The evening ends at the Nature Center, where guests will enjoy sparkling wine, handcrafted desserts, a coffee bar, and the opportunity to meet a live owl.

Help raise funds for the Arboretum’s mission of conservation and nature education while enjoying our most unique event of the year.

Bring your sweetheart to Hermann Park on Valentine’s Day. Enjoy a romantic dinner while watching the sun set on the Pinewood Cafe patio, then cruise around the lake on a pedal-boat ride.

Reservations are required for seating times at either 5:30 or 7:00. Beer and wine are available for purchase. Tickets are non-refundable.

The PNA Roundtable serves as a forum for discussion of issues related to parks and natural areas, promotes the PNA Award Program, and maintains a regional inventory of parks. The PNA roundtable facilitates information exchange and planning efforts between various stakeholders and collaborators to protect and preserve parks and natural areas across the region. For more information, visit www.h-gac.com.