Mayor Takes Starring Role In

[MontroseNeighborhoodCafe]

Mayor takes starring role in hip documentary screening

From the start of his term, Houston Mayor Bill White has popped up at events all over town, from charity sponsored 5Ks to ribbon cuttings to radio talk shows, quickly earning himself a reputation for not refusing a chance to bask in the spotlight.

Last week proved no different, with White making an appearance that revealed a slightly hipper scheduling attitude from his handlers. White dropped by a downtown documentary screening on Oct. 4 to share a few words with Houston's more culturally conscious.

The scene: A downtown bar called Dean's Credit Clothing located at 316 Main, one of the few drinking holes to survive the Main Street construction debacle. Dean's has been working in conjunction with local nonprofit Aurora Picture Show to screen films at the bar from the micro-cinema's film line-up.

White was on hand to introduce a one-hour independent film, "Voting in America," a series of nine short documentaries about why people don't vote and focusing on those who are trying to change their minds.

The film, slated to show every Monday night in October at Dean's, is part of a citywide initiative called The Voting Machine, a multimedia collaboration of Houston-based arts organizations seeking to ignite debate and mobilize the city toward participation in democracy and voting.

Noble causes aside, it doesn't hurt that Dean's sells cocktails during the screenings. No word on whether or not the health-conscious mayor stayed to imbibe. - Jenna Colley

[Montrose1100]

I'm glad to see White get some publicity, its about time we heard from him. (If I don't say so myself...)