by Mike Hoenig
When I accepted the position of ACB convention tour director late last summer, I had no idea of what was in store for me. What I've gotten is tremendous cooperation from the national office and host committee, and a sneak preview of some great tours. I'm going to let you in on this sneak preview, with the hope that each of you will circle at least one tour on your convention pre- registration form.
First, some additional details to supplement the January Forum article on Galveston. We will enjoy dinner at Landry's, a well-known establishment which specializes in seafood. We will then go to an amphitheater, where we will enjoy an outdoor production of "No, No, Nannette." Astute baseball fans will recognize this as the play which caused the sale of Babe Ruth to the Yankees, and brought the curse to the Red Sox. Broadway enthusiasts will recognize it as a nostalgic return to the 1920s featuring such catchy tunes as "Tea for Two."
You will have two opportunities to learn more about your convention week home by taking a Houston City Tour. Buses, complete with experienced, enthusiastic guides will depart the Adam's Mark on Saturday and Sunday morning at 10 a.m. You will visit Herman Park, pass through downtown Houston and the fashionable River Oaks District, enjoy lunch at a cafeteria with an endless supply of delicious food, pass by Enron Park (home of the Astros), and more. Don't worry, we haven't forgotten that you need time to collect souvenirs. Our Greyline Tour representative assures me that ACB's 1997 visit to Houston is fresh in her memory, and that she and the other guides will provide the narration and assistance you need to make this a quality tour. Expect to arrive back at the Adam's Mark by 3 p.m.
On Monday, you will have the chance to choose between two tours: the Museum of Natural Sciences and NASA. Because we know that so many of you will want to take advantage of both, we have arranged a repeat of the NASA tour on Thursday. If necessary, we will do the same for the Museum of Natural Sciences.
Your tour of the Museum of Natural Sciences will start with a trip through the Butterfly Center. As you walk through this rain forest, you will have the chance to touch such things as a caterpillar, cocoon, and a variety of exotic plants. Next comes my personal favorite: a visit to the insect museum, home of Bug Daddy Don. With his '60s holdover look and genuine love of insects, Don has become somewhat of a museum icon. You'll be amazed when you hear him talk to "his" insects as if they were the family pet, and even more amazed when he drops a millipede into your hand! There's nothing quite like having a prickly insect crawling up your arm as you listen to a docent describe another museum attraction, the Madagascar hissing roach. Don't worry; I've been assured that all of these insects are harmless. Finally, you will spend some time at the paleontology museum, where you will learn some history about ancient reptiles. A shark's jaw and dinosaur tooth will be on display for you to touch. Rumor has it that the brave souls among you will be able to meet an alligator. If you prefer the less dramatic, hang out with Sidney the iguana. He goes nowhere fast, and you'll enjoy checking out his strawy spine. This tour, which departs the hotel at 1:30 and returns by 6, is great for kids and for those of us who wish we still were!
Kids and grownups alike will also enjoy the trip to NASA. This tour will be offered on Monday, and again on Thursday. Both tours will depart the hotel at 12:30, and return by 5:30. A snack bar will be set up immediately outside the convention hall, so you will have enough time to grab a sandwich before boarding the bus. For those of you who did this tour during the 1997 convention, it's worth repeating! Watch a show which talks about life in space, then go on-stage to touch some of the objects which the astronauts use. If we're lucky, they will have a spacesuit available. Move on to the Imax theater to watch "Being an Astronaut." We are working hard to make sure that this show has audio description. Next, you will have the chance to examine and climb into a replica of the space shuttle. Then, you will listen to a history of the space program, and learn about our current space mission. Those of you who like hands-on experiences will really enjoy the rest of the tour, which will first take you back to the '70s. By pushing a button on a kiosk, listen to a recording of a historical moment in our space program, then reminisce about the good ol' days with a song from the year in which it occurred. Next, it's on to the exhibit hall, where you can touch things such as a lunar rock. In the plaza, enjoy the "robot circus" exhibit, experience 1/6 gravity, and talk to Mission Control. The folks at NASA are excited about our visit, and I'm confident that they will make it a great learning experience for everyone.
Those of you who believe that there is nothing in an art museum for blind persons will have a change of heart if you take our Tuesday afternoon tour to the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. We will depart the hotel by 1, and have you back shortly after 5. The tour will begin in the old section of the museum, which opened its doors in 1924. In the Asian art gallery, docents will describe various pieces of artwork. As you touch the pottery, you will be impressed both by the craftsmanship and by how well it has been preserved over the centuries. You will be fascinated by the collection of gold which predominates the African gallery. Though you will not be able to touch these pieces, I believe that you will find learning about their history to be very satisfying. Be sure to ask about the linguist staffs, which feature a crafted gold shape at the top depicting a moral. As you walk to the new section of the museum, you will be treated to a description of a contemporary art exhibit. You will then have the rare experience of being able to touch four impressions of a painting in various stages of its development. As a totally blind person, I was thrilled to be able to form a mental picture based on something other than someone else's description. Once the formal tour has concluded, you will have time to stroll through the sculpture garden, browse the gift shop, or relax with coffee and a pastry at Caf� Express.
By Wednesday evening, we'll all need a break. Treat yourself to some well-deserved R&R at George Ranch. This is a true Texas experience! We'll head out at 5:30, and be back by 11:30. Learn about the history of a prominent Texas family by taking a tour of the house. Go to a cattle-roping demonstration, which will have full description. If you go to the chuckwagon, bring your Braille cards. A cowboy just might entice you into a game of poker. Enjoy a full Texas barbecue dinner as you're entertained by strolling musicians. The great part about this tour is that you can be as busy as you choose. Take in all four events, or spend your time at the chuckwagon listening and singing along to guitar music.
As you can see, there's something for everyone who comes to Texas for the 41st annual national convention of the ACB. Whether you're interested in the lives of the cowboys (and girls) or traveling through space as a "rocket man (or woman)," you'll find a tour that can tickle your fancy and make you glad to have spent the first week in July 2002 in the Lone Star State. Believe it or not, I still have a few more details to share, so keep watching the pages of "The Braille Forum" and be thinking about circling several of those dates on your convention registration form.