Social Events

70th Annual International Conference on Mass Properties Engineering
Houston, Texas
May 14-19, 2011
Hilton Houston WestChase Hotel

 

Social Events

Saturday – 14 May 2011 – Houston Astros – New York Mets Baseball Game (3 PM)

AstrosMetsOn Saturday, May 14, the New York Mets are visiting the Houston Astros. The avid fan will enjoy a mezzanine view of the game. Tickets are only available first come, first served from the ballpark, so register soon for this one!

Note: Game starts at 3 PM. May confict with Saturday training class.

 

Sunday – 15 May 2011 – Galveston Tour: Lone Star Flight Museum and Tall Ship ELISSA or Offshore Energy Center’s Ocean Star Museum

We will travel by bus to the Lone Star Flight Museum. After touring the museum, we will go to lunch. The lunch cost is not included in the event cost. After lunch, we will go to the Tall Ship Elisa and the Ocean Star Offshore Oil Museum. They are next to one another. The attendees will be allowed enoughtime to visit one or the other.

Lone Star Flight Museum

Lone Start Flight MuseumThe 74th Texas Legislature, through a concurrent resolution signed by then Gov. George W. Bush, established the Lone Star Flight Museum (LSFM) as the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame. The LFSM quickly organized a capital campaign and the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame Education Center was completed in November 1999. Housed in the new addition are the displays presenting each inductee’s experiences and contributions to aviation. Other rotating and permanent educational exhibits designed to increase knowledge, interest, and the impact of aviation on today’s world are found throughout the education center.

Tall Ship ELISSA

Elissa tall shipShare the adventure of the high seas at the Texas Seaport Museum, home of the celebrated 1877 tall ship ELISSA. Explore the decks of this floating National Historic Landmark, which has also been designated one of America’s treasures by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Walk Elissa’s deck and imagine the days when daring sailors challenged the world’s oceans. In the adjacent museum and theater, witness the story of Elissa’s dramatic rescue from the scrap yard and her meticulous restoration.

Offshore Energy Center’s Ocean Star Museum

Ocean Star MuseumThe Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum is located on Galveston Island, Texas, less than an hour from downtown Houston, the world’s petroleum capital.

Visitors board the retired jackup drilling rig and view a video about the offshore industry. The museum features three floors of models and interactive displays illustrating the story of offshore oil and gas from seismic technology to exploration and production. Scale models of production platforms, actual drill bits and remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs) as well as videos and exhibits explain drilling, geology, seismic, well servicing, and production.

Following a leisurely tour inside the museum, visitors can take the skywalk out onto the drill floor of the rig, or visit the exhibits on the pipe deck from the first floor of the museum.

 

Monday – 16 May 2011 – Daytime – Houston Tour

HoustonThis tour focuses on the historic downtown businesses and high culture.

We will visit the Mellie and Neils Esperson buildings; the latter is known as the wedding cake building. Then we will go inside the great art deco building that was home to Gulf Oil. We will go to the 60th floor observation deck in the JP Morgan Chase Tower – the tallest building in Texas. We will visit the Rice Lofts that was the former site of the capital of the Republic of Texas. At one time, each of these buildings was the tallest building in Houston.

We will then change direction and visit the following: Wortham Center, where the Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet have performed since 1987; Jones Hall, which has been home to the symphony since 1966; The Alley Theatre, which opened in 1969; and the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, which opened in 2003.

 

Monday – 16 May 2011 – Evening – Barbeque Dinner

Country Line BBQFor 20 years, the County Line BBQ Restaurant has been tucked away among the tall pines of north Houston, Always a hit with three private banquet rooms, exceptional full service catering, and on the spot deliveries. Not to mention the Totally Texan dining room complete with a full cowhide covered bar, picturesque backyard gazebo, and a cozy stone patio.

 

Tuesday – 17 May 2011 – Daytime – Houston Museum of Natural Science

Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals

Cullen Hall of GemsThe spectacular Cullen Hall houses the world’s finest display-quality collection of gems and minerals. See more than 750 beautifully crystallized mineral specimens, including some of the world’s rarest and most beautiful examples. Walk-around display cases and fiber-optic lighting offer an optimum view of these dazzling treasures.

The nearby Smith Gem Vault showcases stunning custom-made jewelry.

Cockrell Butterfly Center

Cockrell Butterfly CenterThe Cockrell Butterfly Center and Brown Hall of Entomology provide entertainment and education for the whole family! Discover the wonderful world of insects, with fun, interactive games and quizzes, spectacular preserved specimens, and living examples of some of the world’s largest and weirdest arthropods. Enter a stunning three- story glass structure built around a fifty-foot waterfall, a simulated tropical rainforest filled with exotic plants and hundreds of gorgeous, living butterflies. These beautiful, delicate creatures, imported from butterfly farms around the world, will delight you as they flutter through the vegetation, stop to sip nectar or fruit juices, and occasionally alight on lucky visitors, Continue downstairs to the “Insects and Us” section, where you’ll learn about beekeeping, butterfly gardening, mosquito control, and – gulp! – insects as food! Before exiting, those with toddlers in tow will want to stop off at the “Land of Beeyond” to do a puzzle or two, read an insect-themed story book, or play in the giant beehive.

 

Tuesday – 17 May 2011 – Evening – Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament

On Tuesday, May 18, we will be holding a “friendly” tournament of Texas Hold ‘Em. There is a $25 buy-in that will be used to buy trophies and paid out as winnings. Space is limited, so sign up soon.

Poker Details: No limit betting, no re-buys, no add-ons. Blinds increase every 20-30 minutes.

 

Wednesday – 18 May 2011 – Houston Galleria – Lunch and Shopping

GalleriaTransportation will be provided to a wine bar that also has a good lunch selection. We will go shopping at the infamous Galleria and finish out the afternoon at a tapas bar before heading back to the hotel. The food cost is not included in the price of the tour.

The Houston Galleria is widely recognized as the number one shopping and tourist destination in Houston. It’s stunning architecture,exceptional mix of quality stores, and distinctive style of entertainment are some of the reasons The Galleria attracts over 24 million annual visitors. The Galleria has more than 375 fine stores and restaurants, an ice rink, and two Westin hotels - all beneath spectacular glass atriums. Some of the shops include: Neiman Marcus, Cartier, Gucci, Macy’s, Tiffany & Co., Saks Fifth Avenue, The Sharper Image, Ralph Lauren Collection, Louis Vuitton, and Houston’s only Nordstrom. The Galleria is the fourth largest mall in the nation highlighted by nine types of stone, suspended glass balconies, three types of wood, glass skylights, and plush leather seating.

 

Thursday    –    19 May 2011 – NASA Johnson Space Center Tour

NASA Johnson Space CenterNASA Johnson Space CenterNASA Johnson Space Center

“INTELLIGENT FUN” defines the way that groups describe their day at Space Center Houston. A day when they’ve touched a moon rock, witnessed a shuttle launch, enjoyed a guided tour of NASA, seen real space-flown vehicles, and explored the inner workings of the Pepsi Martian Matrix...all this and much, much more.

 

Conference Registered Events

In addition to the many technical events at this conference, there will also be several opportunities for social interaction, networking, and meeting new and old friends. These events are: the Sunday night Welcome Reception, the Tuesday Government/Industry Luncheon, and the Wednesday night Awards Banquet. All members and their guests are invited to join us at the following events. Registration is required for each.

  1. Welcome Reception — We are pleased to invite you to our Welcome Reception on Sunday evening for a great social atmosphere and delicious Tex-Mex buffet. We will be hosting this pool-side reception on site at the Hilton Westchase Hotel. The meal will be grilled tender strips of beef or chicken, seasoned with southwest spices and served with flour tortillas, pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, jalapen?o peppers, and shredded Monterey jack cheese. The hotel also has an onsite bar for your convenience and enjoyment.
  2. Standards and Procedures Luncheon – Enjoy a Hilton plated luncheon entree consisting of chicken breast stuffed with spinach, mushrooms, and feta cheese. Included with your lunch is a salad, potato, seasonal fresh vegetable, rolls and butter, dessert, coffee, and tea. The luncheon will feature a distinguished speaker who will talk on TBD.
  3. Awards Banquet – The pinnacle of our conference each year is the Awards Dinner. This event concludes our conference activities and features introduction of our International Officers, the announcement of Society Fellows and/or Honorary Fellows, the award of the Best Paper Award, and many other recognitions of the accomplishments of the year. Dinner will consist of a mixed grill with a petite filet of beef along with a filet of salmon with lemon dill sauce. Your entre?e will include: salad and seasonal vegetables, dinner rolls and butter, dessert, coffee and tea. A cash bar will be available.

 

Date Day Price Event
5/15/11 Sunday $45 Welcome Reception
5/17/11 Tuesday $36* Standards and Procedures Luncheon
5/18/11 Wednesday $60 Awards Banquet