Our My Top 5 feature showcases Houstonians who are shaping the culture in the city and impacting people’s lives. In turn, they share their own favorite things to do in Houston when they’re not hard at work. This week, we’re very pleased to feature Genevieve Keeney, president of The National Museum of Funeral History.
My Top 5 Things to Do in Houston
by Genevieve Keeney
- Houston Theater District – The Theater District has it all. Whether I feel like an evening at the symphony, a Broadway show, the ballet, an opera or a movie, I can always find something fun and exciting to do. I love that I can even catch a movie or get a bite to eat while I am Downtown in the Theater District. There are so many wonderful options and choices. Being Downtown also has a sentimental meaning to me, as my oldest daughter Naomi was married several years ago at the Majestic Metro theatre.
- Chevron Houston Marathon – Running in the Chevron Houston Marathon is one of the highlights of my year. I stay so busy on a regular basis – between my jobs, four kids, and two grandsons – life rarely slows down. To keep my sanity, I have to make myself get outside and run to clear my mind and reconnect with nature. The trail around Rice University is one of my favorite places to run. The big beautiful oak trees and the feel of the gravel beneath my feet create a sensory diversion and helps to keep me grounded.
- Hermann Park – During my runs at Rice, I can often hear the performances happening at Miller Outdoor Theatre, so it is not uncommon for me to take a break from running and head over to Miller and sit on the hill to enjoy the fun. Houstonians and visitors are so fortunate to have a theater where every performance is always free. It is one of my favorite places in the city and Hermann Park has become a staple attraction for me and my family. During the holidays, it is a tradition for me and my grandsons to go to the Houston Zoo for Zoo Lights. It warms my heart to be able to share in the magic of the holidays with them and see the world through their eyes.
- Texas Renaissance Festival – I’ll admit it I’m a Renfest junkie. I buy my tickets in bulk every summer, one for each member of my family, and make sure we plan well in advance for our annual Renaissance Festival outing, which includes three full days of camping at the festival’s “Fields of New Market Campground.” We particularly look forward to the “after dark” experience once the festival shuts down for the day when we all gather around the communal bonfire and enjoy the fire performers and other evening shenanigans. It is an enchanted world full of kings and 1ueens, lords and ladies, and all types of fanciful characters where my family and I have made some of our most treasured memories.
- Loveland Ranch – Houston is still horse country despite being the fourth largest city in America. You can saddle up and escape by finding a bit of country amidst a large metropolitan area. My first visit there, my boyfriend surprised me with a spur of the moment horseback riding excursion. Needless to say, it was a very welcome, much needed break, and of course, very romantic.
About Genevieve Keeney
Originally from California, Genevieve Keeney relocated to Houston in 2004 where she has been with the National Museum of Funeral History in Houston since 2007, first serving as the museum’s Director in 2007 and now as the President. Prior to joining the staff of the NMFH, Keeney served 12 years as an Emergency Medical Treatment Non-Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Army, and spent the last six years of her service as the Medical Facilities Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge for several clinics and the Death Reaction Team, which she implemented for the U.S. military’s Wuerzburg Regional Command and the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany. Keeney showcases the museum as an educational and cultural resource for all who visit its extensive array of permanent and changing exhibits. She holds undergraduate degrees in Psychology, an Associate’s in Mortuary Science, a Master of Science in Nonprofit and Association Management, and is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in the state of Texas.
