Is
it possible to combine art and law? Possibly. At least,
that's what's attempted with the Lyric Centre. Springing
from the heart of the Theater district, this black-and-white
striped tower is infested mostly with lawyers. It
is also where Microsoft's Sidewalk.Com local office
is. The Lyric Centre sits across the street from the
Wortham Center, home to the Houston Ballet and the
Houston Grand Opera. The Wortham Center for the Performing
Arts was originally going to be called the Lyric Theater,
but when the energy market went bust in the 1980's,
its fate looked dismal. Insurance magnate, Gus Wortham
stepped in, and his large donation allowed the Wortham
Center to be built, and his name to be on it, instead
of the word "Lyric." But art and music still
live on in this corner of the city. In addition to
being across from the Wortham Center, the Lyric Centre
is also next door to the Alley Theatre and near Bayou
Place's theaters, concert venues and restaurants.
Not to be left out of all the arts hoopla happening
around it, the office block is best known for its
attempt to fit in with its Theater District neighbors
-- the giant cellist playing outside.
