Michaelangelo in houston

Summer exhibit in Houston offers rare glimpse inside the Sistine Chapel

There are few tourist attractions in the world as compelling and in-demand as Michelangelo’s iconic artwork in The Vatican's Sistine Chapel. According to a recent report, more than 25,000 visitors flock to the Roman chapel daily to stare in awe at the frescoes that decorate the interior — most notably, the mind-blowing ceiling that was painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512.

If you’ve ever wanted to visit the chapel, but didn’t have the means to go to Italy, the chapel’s most striking, immortal visions will be on full view in Houston for two months.

Two years after it was on display at The Women’s Museum in Dallas, “Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition” is on exhibit now through July 31 at Houston event space The Corinthian. Needless to say, the artwork is not the genuine article. Expect full-sized, photographed replicas of the artist’s vault frescoes, along with his 40-foot-high The Last Judgment, from the altar wall.

The works have been on display around the country and all over the world. Last June, it was in New York at the Oculus mall in Westfield World Trade Center. After this exhibit wraps up on July 31, it will run in Hangzhou, China.

This exhibit is certain to hip many art neophytes to Italy’s High Renaissance period, as well as one of its most major players. But, more importantly, it gives people the chance to take their time and view these pieces up close, to catch every nook and cranny of the imagery, the style, the intensity and, of course, the artistry enclosed in these paintings. You won’t need to be quiet, stick with your crowd and risk a sore neck in order to take in these beauties.

“Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition” may not be the real thing, but it’s as close to the real thing as stateside people will get, and it's all in air-conditioned serenity.

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Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel runs through July 31 at The Corinthian Houston. Tickets are $20, $15 for seniors and military, and $10 for students under 21. A limited number of VIP Reception tickets are available at $100 for opening night June 8, which includes cocktails and appetizers. For more information, visit the official site.

Giant photographic reproductions grace the walls.

Courtesy photo

Giant photographic reproductions grace the walls.

museums

Hotel News

Hotel Indigo chain debuts new property on Las Colinas' Mandalay Canal

Courtesy

Hotel Indigo Irving - Las Colinas

A new hotel has opened in Irving: The anticipated Hotel Indigo Irving - Las Colinas, now open at 455 E John W Carpenter Fwy, along the scenic Mandalay Canal.

Hotel Indigo Irving - Las Colinas is owned and managed by Shreem Capital, a Dallas-based real estate investment firm that specializes in the acquisition, development, and management of opportunistic and trendsetting hotel properties.

Hotel Indigo Irving - Las Colinas is part of InterContinental Hotels Group and represents the third Indigo hotel in DFW, following one downtown Dallas and another that opened in Frisco in WHEN.

Hotel Indigo Irving - Las Clinas has the following elements:

151 rooms
5,300-plus square feet of event space
a fitness center equipped with state-of-the-art exercise machines
two on-site restaurants
an infinity pool

Design
Crafted by Studio 11 Design, Hotel Indigo Irving - Las Colinas stands as a tribute to the legacy of the Carpenter family, whose influence resonates throughout the hotel’s interior spaces.

The rooms feature dynamic lighting, soft curves, textures that celebrate the original landscape.

The design also pays homage to European artistry, with: tile patterns reminiscent of classic styles and a layout that draws parallels to the meandering waterways of Italy.

Accommodations
The 151 guest rooms feature plush bedding, hardwood-style flooring, spa-inspired showers, workstations, coffee makers, mini-fridges, laptop safes, and a 55-inch flat-screen smart TV with cable for streaming entertainment. Bathrooms feature glass-enclosed spa-like showers and Zenology bath products.

The Presidential Hospitality Suites and Executive Suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Mandalay Canal and wrap-around balconies. The Presidential Suites can expand into a three-bedroom accommodation with connecting rooms, and the Executive Suites can become a two-bedroom retreat.

Food & Beverage
There are four food & beverage destinations at the hotel:

Kleo is the main restaurant, helmed by Executive Chef Nicolas Linardi of modern Mediterranean menu food that includes sabream with matbucha and saffron rice; Grecian Chicken, with oregano, sumac, lemon, and tabbouleh; lamb meatballs with feta, mint, yogurt, and pine nuts; and Caesar salad with baby Romaine wedge, tahini Caesar dressing, tabbouleh, and crispy bulgur.
Kleo Patio has floor-to-ceiling glass walls that frame the Infinite Pool Garden. This design allows diners to easily transition between indoor and outdoor experiences, enhancing the feel of dining immersed in nature.
Kleo Bar has a wrap-around layout and intimate lighting, serving cocktails like the signature Tzatziki Martini, a blend of dill-infused gin, blanc vermouth, cucumber, black lemon bitters; Turkish Fire Drill with vodka, Kahlua, and Turkish coffee; Forbidden Fruit with spiced apple bourbon, pomegranate juice, lemon, and star anise.
La Serie Lobby Café is a casual coffee and dessert shop with cappuccino, croissants, and Danish.

Fitness & Wellness
A 1,100-square-foot fitness center has elliptical machines, free weights, stair stepper machines, stationary bicycles, and treadmills, with large windows that fill the space with natural light.

Meetings & Events
Hotel Indigo Irving - Las Colinas has indoor and outdoor event space that can accommodate gatherings of up to 300. There's a 3,100-square-foot upscale ballroom; and a smaller boardroom.

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