The Art Car Museum

Early 70s Karmann Ghia. Covered in seashells.

When I was in Houston over Christmas, the Art Car Museum was closed.

Exterior

So with a weekend trip to Houston and Galveston on the itinerary, I thought I would visit.  This time it was open.

Houston is famous for its "art car" scene and its annual "Art Car Parade," held in April.  All of the vehicles on display at the museum are (a) driveable and (b) once were actually driven in the actual parade.  My favorite of the cars on display was shell-encrusted Karmann Ghia:

This Monte Carlo was quite interesting, too:

I thought this Prius was a little "eh," but apparently it is someone's regular transportation ride and, thus, only on temporary loan:

Whimsical.

Finally, there was this little number, the only one of the four cars on display not to have started life on the showroom floor as a common model:

I'm guessing one would have to be jockey-sized to pilot this vehicle which, incidentally, appeared to be a British model (steering on the right).

And the fact that there were only four vehicles points to the problem with this museum.  It's too small.  But I guess the actual owners of these "art cars" want to keep them for themselves -- and in some cases drive them -- rather than put them in a museum for show,  So I guess the real solution is not a visit to the art car museum, but a visit to an art car parade.  Some day.

Christmas in Houston: The Art Car Museum: Closed for the Holidays

140 Heights Boulevard, Houston, Texas USA

Not all Houston holiday dreams come true.  The Art Car Museum was closed for the Christmas holiday.  Even though it was only December 23 and there was one more full work day before Christmas would come.

Houston is the "art car" capital of the known universe.  It's a big thing, transforming automobiles into other shapes that can still be driven.  They even have a big parade here once a year, sometime in April or May.  And, of course, they have a museum dedicated to the "art car."  But, unfortunately, the art car thing may be big in Houston, but it's not bigger than Christmas.  The museum was closed.

Let's have a look through the chain link fence,

Reminds me of Gaudi.  I am not being facetious.  The spikey things on the roof remind me of the roof on Gaudi's La Pedrera in Barcelona.  Remember?

Roof of La Pedrera in Barcelona.  September 2015.

OK.  Maybe it's just me.

So with the museum closed, I headed off to grab some lunch.

I chose the 59 diner, not far from my hotel.  A real retro diner.  As opposed to a faux retro diner.  Lots of chrome and red vinyl inside.

I ordered the fish and chips (opted for curly fries instead of the more traditional cut fries -- because I could).  Side order of fried okra (because there wasn't already enough "fried" on the plate).  Washed down with the peachiest tasting peach iced tea I've ever drank.  It was probably Nestea.