Wednesday, July 08, 2009

A Little Culture is Expensive

I have been reading about the Museum of Natural Science's exhibition of the Terra Cotta Warriors. It is named a top 5 "must see" exhibition by Time Magazine and it is right here in Houston. I am in Houston. Therefore I should go see it. I went on line to see if I could get a ticket. I know that basically I have been gone from Houston's museum scene for 8 years but I wasn't prepared for what I saw. Talk about culture shock.......
Tickets for just the exhibition of the Terra Cotta Warriors are:
Members - $15
non-members - $30
Seniors - $24

But wait there is more. There are two other special exhibitions at the Museum of Natural Science that I'd like to see; Genghis Khan and Diamonds The cost for each of them is...
For Genghis Members - $12 For Diamonds $10
Non-members - $22 $22
Seniors - $18 $18

If I wanted to see the IMAX theatre or the Butterfly house it would cost me another $11 and $7 respectively.

And if I wanted to see the regular exhibition halls the general admission is $15 or $10 for seniors.

Can you believe this in today's economy? Who can afford to take the family?

I'd also like to go to the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. It is near the Oncologist's office and while Ned is taking chemo I could go there and wander around to my heart's content. Houston's MFA is looking like a bargain. I could get in there for $3.50 since I definitely qualify as a senior.

9 comments:

Calypso said...

That is hi-brow entertainment fees - it isn't a ticket to Michael Jackson's memorial show after all.

john said...

Dang, Billie. I was planning on going to some of those exhibits. Never occurred to me to check prices.

Billie Mercer said...

John, I just returned from seeing the Terra Cotta Warriors. It cost me $43. Entry $24, Audio $9, parking $10.

Babs said...

You CAN get in the MFA on Thursdays for FREE!

1st Mate said...

Maybe they have to charge extra to pay for the insurance for all those diamonds?

If it's true what they say about the rich being the most cultured, now we know why.

Steve Cotton said...

On my list of factors of places to live, I frequently write about "culture." Maybe I should add: "And a pocketbook to match."

Billie Mercer said...

Steve, I don't think you'll find prices like this in Mexico. We went to the huge Frida show in DF. Neither of us can remember exactly what it cost but we think about $100 pesos. It was a block bluster show. Yes, we had to get to DF and we stayed a few days and also took in some other Frida sites as well but I felt like we got our money's worth. Although you might not see a show such as this, I don't think culture is as expensive in Mexico. And BTW, you simply must go to DF sometime and hit the museums. There are so many of them it may take more than one trip.

pitchertaker said...

Putting our "high" culture on level with pop culture such as a Red Sox game. They figure a family of four will pay about $400 when you consider transportation, tickets, food, etc., just to see one game. I have yet to do so, and probably will never do so at those prices. I would rather spend my money on seeing art.

Billie Mercer said...

I just don't know how families do it anymore. Everything they do is so expensive. No wonder there is so much credit card debt.