Every week we highlight a Houstonian who makes things happen in our great city and ask them to share their own favorite things to do in Houston in “My Top 5.” In honor of Hunger Action Month happening through September, this week we hear from Brian Greene, president and CEO of Houston Food Bank. In addition to enjoying our great city, Brian encourages all Houstonians to help battle hunger.
My Top 5 Things to Do in Houston
by Brian Greene
- Houston Museum District – We are really fortunate to have so many world-class performing and visual arts venues here in Houston. There really is something for everyone, and I really appreciate being able to expose my kids to all the culture and knowledge these museums provide. I enjoy spending Sunday afternoons with the kids going to the Houston Museum District and choosing which to choose from for the boys to do that day. They especially love Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Children’s Museum of Houston and Houston Zoo. Always a great day, whichever we choose.
- State Parks in Greater Houston and Beyond – When most people think of Houston, outdoor activities don’t always spring to mind, but there are a lot of options for outdoor enthusiasts of every “level.” I love going camping with my sons at the state parks in Greater Houston and surrounding areas. Our favorite nearby is Huntsville State Park. Well, when I say favorite, that’s us boys. My wife Andrea likes it best when the three of us go and she has the house to herself.
- Live Concerts at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion – I’m a big fan of live music (hey, I used to live in New Orleans, what can I say!) and we often go to shows at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. And we almost always have dinner at Américas Woodlands. Valet park there, enjoy a great meal, an easy walk to and from the concert, and a fast exit afterwards!
- Houston Texans Home Games – Another thing I love to enjoy in person is sports, and that includes Houston Texans football games. There’s just something about being in a crowd of fellow fans cheering for the home team. This is something we love to do as a family, especially now that our two boys are football crazy.
- Houston’s High Rise Buildings – This might sound funny but I really love to meet with a donor at their Houston high rise office. Having worked my whole career in warehouses, I am always enthralled with the view. People don’t realize what a green city this is until they look from hundreds of feet up at the massive number of trees we have here in Houston! And Houston has a great skyline.
About Brian Greene
Brian Greene is president and CEO of the Houston Food Bank, America’s largest food bank in distribution to its network of nearly 600 hunger relief charities in 18 southeast Texas counties. Named top charity in Texas by Charity Navigator for financial performance and accountability, the Food Bank provides 59 million nutritious meals to food pantries, soup kitchens, senior centers and other agencies, feeding 800,000 people each year. Since taking the top post at Houston Food Bank in 2005, Greene has led the organization to unprecedented growth, expanding programs to feed more children and tap into additional sources for food donations. Before moving to Houston, Greene was executive director of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana for 12 years. He received a BA in Economics from Humboldt State University and an MA in Economics from the University of Tennessee.
