The 2022 Local Arrangements Committee is busy planning our first face-to-face conference in three years. “Small Steps, Giant Leaps” is the theme of the 2022 Annual Meeting, taking place in Houston, Texas, May 18-21, 2022. Houston is the fourth most populous city in the nation and the largest in the southern U.S., and there is a lot to do and see.
The conference will be held at the newly-renovated Hyatt Regency Houston. Connected to restaurants and services via the city’s famous seven-mile tunnel system, the Hyatt is located in the heart of downtown’s thriving business and entertainment districts. From the hotel’s iconic revolving restaurant Spindletop, you can enjoy a 360-degreeview of the city as you dine.
In Houston’s downtown, you can take in an Astros game at Minute Maid Park or a Rockets game at Toyota Center. And you can enjoy the opera, ballet, theatre, and other performing art at Jones Hall, Alley Theatre, Wortham Theatre Center, and the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, all in the downtown Theater District.
Historic Market Square and Discovery Green Parks offer free events, including theatre, music, games, movie nights, and themed evenings. Additionally, Discovery Green features outdoor art exhibits and concert series throughout the year at its stage and performance space. Charming restaurants and neighborhood watering holes surround Market Square, and you can purchase tasty Greek food and libations from Niko Nikos in the park.
A quick ride on Houston’s METRO Light Rail will take you to the Museum District, Rice University, Texas Medical Center, and Reliant Park, with stops just outside the hotel. In the Museum District, you will find the Children’s Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Natural History, and many other museums. Herman Park, a445-acre urban park, is situated at the southern end of the museum district. Inside, you will find the Houston Zoo, a golf course, the McGovern Centennial Gardens, and the Miller Outdoor Theatre, pedal boats, a miniature train, and a Japanese garden. Just outside of the Museum District, in the Neartown District (or the Montrose), the Menil Museum holds the most significant collections of surrealistic art in the world.
Greater Houston is the most ethnically diverse metropolitan area in the United States, with at least 145 languages spoken by city residents. This diversity is reflected in its food, entertainment, and art. Houston is home to over 10,000 restaurants representing over 70 countries. The city has been said to have the best Vietnamese food in America. It is home to legendary
Killen’s Barbeque.
Houston consistently ranks highly as a top food city in the nation. Chris Shepherd (awarded while the chef at Underbelly, now at Georgia James), Justin Yu (won at Oxheart, now at Theodore Rex), and Hugo Ortega (Hugo’s) have brought home the Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest. Other highly renowned Houston Restaurants include Brennans, Irma’s Restaurant, the Blind Goat, Squable, the Original Ninfa’s on Navigation, Kulture, Kata Robata, Pondicheri, Crawfish & Noodles, and Nancy’s Hustle. In addition, Anvil Bar & Refuge’s bar program is highly celebrated. Saint Arnold’s is one of the city’s several
breweries, including Eighth Wonder and Karbach.
The Bayou City, Houston, offers more than 128 miles of trails for biking and running; many run alongside Houston bayous, with Buffalo Bayou Park bordering the west side of downtown. And of course, Houston is the Space City and home to NASA’s Johnson Space Center. For shopping retail? or ice skating? visit the Galleria Mall.
To help ensure the safety and health of our membership, the SSA Board has approved putting into place COVID-19 protocols, which could include a vaccination requirement or a recent COVID test.