“Please bring cameras, because the flowers are going to be beautiful,” The Rev. Kassapa Bhikkhu says.

Buu Mon Buddhist Temple & Lotus Gardens will host its 14^th annual Lotus and Bamboo Festival, and Buddha’s Birthday Celebration on Saturday and Sunday, June 2-3 of 2012. There is no admission charge for guests to take in colorful blooms and towering stalks from four gardens. Monks call it a celebration of life, and have been sprucing up the settings showcasing more than 30 varieties of lotus flowers, 20 varieties of hardy and tropical water lilies and 30 types of bamboo.

Pose the family at the koi pond, rose garden or bonsai display. Bhikkhu makes bonsai his hobby and will offer tiny trees he has groomed for sale to the public.

“You have to work with them at least two years before you sell them,” he said.

He’s also a fan of the spring rolls, which will be for sale along with Vietnamese foods, vegetarian stir fry dishes and the Southeast Texas favorite, Zummo pork and beef links.

Nature lovers and photographers from as far as New Orleans, Houston and Woodville have been repeat festival supporters.

“Professionals love it. It’s a haven for them, because of the bamboo,” Bhikkhu said.

The book and craft sale will include works of clay and “chotchkies.” Tours will be from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tea ceremonies, including a telling of the history of tea, area scheduled for each afternoon. Buddha’s Birthday, called Vesak Celebration, will be observed from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. The temple are gardens are at 2701 Procter Street, a block away from a drive along Port Arthur’s sea wall.

Those in for the festival can visit additional Port Arthur faith trail sites, such as Queen of Peace Shrine and Gardens and Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Port Arthur is springing into a busy summer. For more information on Port Arthur, Texas attractions, including Sea Rim State Park and Museum of the Gulf Coast, and the Great Texas Birding Trail, visit www.visitportarthurtx.com.

Rick Buxton knows zombies are all the rage, and he’s bringing Zombie Voodoo Fest 2012 to his neck of the woods.  Fans from as far as California and Georgia are expected to be part of the Zombie Survival Run and Tag Competition, “Thriller” After Dark Dance Party and Battle of the Bands.

The festival, June 9-10, will pay tribute to the 80^th anniversary of the first full-length zombie film released in the United States, “White Zombie,”  Buxton said.

Bring the kids, they’ll have their own entertainment area. If you don’t come as a zombie, makeup artists will bring out our best side on site, Buxton said.

Buxton grew up in Orange and worked with charity and celebrity productions in Los Angeles. He and his wife, Cher, said they’d like to see this project support Pleasure Island. He plans to help rebuild the amphitheater, where he attended music festivals in his youth.  The zombie project will support International Children’s Art Network, a non-profit corporation dedicated to Young Creativity and Talent. Buxton said celebrity board members are expected to attend.

The Battle of the Bands winners could take home the $10,000 grand prize, Buxton said. To join in, visit www.zombievoodoofest.com. Buxton also works with Emerging Magazine.

“He had made so many  imprints  in  the world of music,” Doris Hayes, festival organizer, said.

European musicians closely follow the festival, because so many of them played with Breaux, she said.

Local and regional acts will fill the Procter Street Pavilion. Advance tickets are $12 for Friday and $18 for Saturday; Gate prices are $15 for Friday and $20 for Saturday. Bring lawn chairs and visit vendors for food, drink and more.

The schedule is:

Friday, June 8

• 6 p.m. – Houston Jazz Caravan
• 6:45 p.m. – JAWAD
• 7:30 p.m. – George Hill & Friends
• 8:30 p.m. – Theresa Grayson
• 9:45 p.m. Lil Wayne Singleton, Zydeco artist
• 11 p.m. – Brian Best

Saturday, June 9

• 1:30 p.m. – Charles Bilal & Solar System Band
• 2:30 p.m. – Ron Rocio & The Flava Band
• 3:30 p.m. – Act to be announced
• 4:30 p.m. – Joe Carmouche
• 5:45 p.m. – Althea Rene
• 7 p.m. – Texas Brass Band
• 8 p.m. – Kyle Turner
• 9:15 p.m. – Michael Ward
• 10:30 p.m.  – Dean James
• 11:30 p.m. – Lora Sims

For information, call Doris Hays,  (409) 982-8394 or (409) 985-9977 or visit zacharybreauxjazz festival.com.

When a guest presented him with a “chip” off the wall, Bailey got  a sentimental tone, and recalled his youth and good times on the waterfront.

Bailey graciously posed for photos at classmates at the recent Thomas Jefferson’s Class of ’62 high school reunion dinner at Holiday Inn Park Central . Red Hussars, from the school’s famous drum and bugle corp., also enhanced the weekend that included a sock hop and visit to see Bailey’s exhibit at Museum of the Gulf Coast.

The actor has had roles in the “Police Academy” movie series and TV series “M*A*S*H,” “The Closer” and “Major Crimes.”  He said he’d keep his “Port Arthur rock” next to the piece of the Berlin Wall a friend had given him.

Port Arthur Convention & Visitors Bureau supported the Class of ’62 in preparing for its reunion. Family and class reunions and convention groups with bookings at Port Arthur hotels are encouraged to work with the bureau for amenities including “goody bags,” tourism brochures, name tags, welcome banners and more.

Call at (409) 985-7822 or contact us at www.visitportarthurtx.com.

In addition to Reed’s whimsical illustrations, the exhibition includes early sketches from the book, photographs of pelican rescue efforts, a hands-on station, the HBO documentary Saving Pelican 895, and an art installation by Galveston based artist Ann Wood which simulates oil covered birds.covered birds.

Bring the family to the museum from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 12, for a free celebration recognizing Children’s Book Week (May 7-13). Look for readings from Port Arthur Public Library children’s librarian Carolyn Thibodeaux and crafts and activities inspired by the exhibit.  The museum also features area history and tributes to musical legends, such as Janis Joplin, and sports greats, such as Jimmy Johnson. It is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information or to schedule a tour please call 409.982.7000 or visit www.museumofthegulfcoast.org.

Allen’s work is up in April at Texas Artists Museum. Sure he studied business in college, but he also worked as a cowboy at White Ranch in Chambers County and at the famed LX Ranch outside Amarillo. That must be how all those images of boots, kids sitting on fences and animals got stuck in his head. This award-winning artist also painted an image of Will Rogers.

After a visit to TAM, head to Museum of the Gulf Coast to experience more of Port Arthur. It’s also the season to head to Sea Rim State Park.

The beach is getting a spring cleaning and Tracy Ferguson will check in Adopt-A-Beach volunteers who want to make this natural beach sparkle. Be prepared to work from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 28.

“It’s our Texas beaches and we need to keep them clean,” Ferguson, park supervisor, said. “You never know what exotic things have washed ashore.”

He said a group was surprised to find Chinese lettering on a bottle of Pert shampoo found on the beach, but knows the original user probably wouldn’t want it to spoil the view half a world away. Sea Rim offers miles of  “just beach” and the Gambusia Trail through marshland. This shore took a hit from Hurricane Ike, but has been back open for several months. Ferguson said plans are underway to turn the portable potties back into a more permanent structure and add outdoor showers. Camping is available.

Help Turn the Tide Against Trash!” is the slogan for this year’s cleanup. The park entrance is on Texas 87 South, 10 miles west of Sabine Pass. For details call Ferguson at (409) 971-2559 or visit www.TexasAdoptABeach.org. Cleanups are organized across Texas. Wear sunscreen, shoes, sunglasses and a hat; bring plenty of drinking water and mosquito repellent, check in by 9 a.m.; and get ready to clean, rain or shine.

Save the date for the Sept. 22 fall cleanup.

For more information on Port Arthur, Texas attractions, including Museum of the Gulf Coast, and the Great Texas Birding Trail, visit www.visitportarthurtx.com.

The Port Arthur woman has played across the south and says playing and sharing her music is her whole life. Surrounded by music memorabilia, she describes her emotions between riffs. Powerful sounds of her soul  fill the room.

“It’s just like I’m in Heaven. I have no worries about anything. It’s just me, God and my guitar,” Hickman said.

Jazz Innovators from Beaumont and the band San Hedrin will also take the stage. There’s no admission charge. Painters, sculptors, quilters, jewelry makers, artisans and crafters are invited to set up at the park from; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Parents and grandparents can steer little artists to an area for creating masterpieces.  The Groves Chamber of Commerce & Tourist Center and the Groves Affair of the Arts Committee is sponsoring the event at Celebration Park, 4411 Lincoln Ave. For more  information, call Kizmet Studio at (409)962-9300 or the Chamber at (409) 962-3631.

While in town, hear more Gulf Coast Music at Museum of the Gulf Coast, with displays on The Big Bopper, Janis Joplin, the Winter brothers and more. For more information on Port Arthur, Texas attractions, including Sea Rim State Park and the Great Texas Birding Trail, visit www.visitportarthurtx.com.

Birds are like friends, Andy Sanford says. If they didn’t love you, they wouldn’t “mess” with you.

Finches,  quaker parakeets, cockateels, macaws and more will be for sale, along with all the toys and feeding products a little birdy could ask for, he said. Admission is $3; ages 12 and younger will be admitted free.

Birders love Port Arthur, Texas, part of the Sabine Loop of the Great Texas Birding Trail and your hub for a fishing vacation destination featuring Sabine Lake and Pleasure Island. Sea Rim State Park offers a natural beach, Sabine Pass Battleground sets a historic scene and the area offers plenty of Cajun, Mexican, Asian and other bites for fueling up the family. Get some history at Museum of the Gulf Coast.