“Holy cow!! That’s a GyroCraft!”
My friend, muralist Lee Jamison ( http://www.baylor.edu/mayborn/index.php?id=58204) spotted the image as he and I were walking in to the party at the wonderful Art Deco 1940 Houston Air Terminal tonight. The image is in one of the plaques over the windows. Here’s what he saw:
This is Lee:
Air Terminal administrator and curator, Megan Lickliter-Mundon, confirmed Lee’s know-it-all superpowers then gave us a quick overview of the Terminal building’s future.
It is one of the very few Art Deco buildings left in Houston, but came damned close to being torn down. The outside of the building was badly damaged in the ’80s and the row of plaques on the right side of the door were deeply scarred. They’re going to stay that way: Megan explained that the damage is part of the history of the building, part of it’s story.
Renovation and restoration are the plan for the inside, however, and I’m very excited to see what they do, especially after meeting the staff. Terminal Museum Director A.J. High seems to have built a good team: Megan obviously knows what she’s about, but more than that, all the staff members we met had a fresh exuberance about them. There was a palpable pride in their institution and real sense of playfulness that was evident in their great costumes and the easy way they engaged with their visitors. How fun are these people?? Check out Megan and AJ’s great ensemble:
Besides seeing the exhibits and noshing, we were invited to choose from a variety of tourist costume pieces, then get our picture taken by a professional photographer. What a great idea! I loved participating in such a fun extra and had a ball watching other party-goers play, including SETMA president Susan Smyer and her husband. (The bright blue hat was you, Susan:)
I dunno what the rest of you were served at the other parties tonight, but we were treated to BB’s Cajun including crab cakes, bacon wrapped shrimp and chicken, ceviche, fajitas, and OhMyHeavens the BEST brownies EVER. (Thank heavens I ran this morning…) And I’ve not mentioned their generosity with the champagne and the wine tasting. Woohoo!
And so, here I am, the last festive evening, the last few words… The Party is over. Our museums are sweeping up and stashing the leftover appetizers for the docents, interns, and education staff to rummage through later. We are starting to relax.
I hope you’ll tell us it was all worth it. Lots of folks here pulled together (especially after losing Dr. Marzio) to watch over every detail and make sure we’d thought of EVERYTHING so you’d leave Houston with the best possible experience both professionally and personally. It’s been many many months spent preparing for *your* arrival.
Personally, I couldn’t be prouder.
Good luck, Minneapolis and St. Paul!!
AAM Houston 2011 
Just to get the facts straight, and not to comment on how many bubbles provided how much lift, that’s an autogyro. It’s a sort of precursor to the helicopter that flies (yes they still make them) like an airplane.
Additionally, for us guys, it was no small matter that out on the back porch there were things like the Lone Star Flight Museum’s restored B-25, decked out as one of the Doolittle Raiders, and a later version of a Lockheed Electra, the plane Amelia Earhart attempted to fly around the world.
And, my word! What a COOL BUILDING! The 1940 Terminal is, even in a not-yet-restored state an Art Deco masterpiece!
As always it was fabulous to see you, Ce!
Lord, I’m fat…
OK, I’ve googled. Ce is also right. These things go by several names, among which is gyrocraft. So much for “know-it-all superpowers”…