About Fayza

Fayza is the Director of Social Media at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, which means she plays around online all day and gets paid for it. Kinda. If you’re talking to HMNS on Facebook, Twitter, or any other social network, chances are, you’re talking to her. Her inner geek is pretty much her outer geek, and she loves everything about learning – and sharing that with you.

What’s ancient, allegedly apocalyptic and opening Friday? The Maya 2012 exhibit, that’s what!

Published by Fayza on October 22, 2012 at 5:25 pm in Special Exhibitions

Forget about the world ending and all those rumors about Dec. 21, 2012. The question of the moment is: What will happen on Oct. 26, 2012?

If you guessed that our Maya 2012: Prophecy Becomes History exhibit opens, you’d be correct. See for yourself why the Maya civilization was successful for over three millennia … and find out when (and whether) the world’s actually going to end on that infamous day in December.

Tickets to Maya 2012 also include admission to another new exhibit opening this Friday, Gems of the Medici. So now that we’ve made you a deal you can’t refuse, don’t. Buy your tickets and find out whether we’ll all make it to 2013.

Get snap happy: Bring your camera — any camera! — to our Pixel Party photo event

Published by Fayza on October 16, 2012 at 10:00 am in HMNS Happenings

Remember those Flickr meetups we used to have, back in the days of yore? Where photographers could set up shop in some of our newest exhibits and get a crowd-free glimpse of the goods?

Well that was then, and this is now. And we want to invite you to bring your camera — any camera — for a new-and-improved snap happy, party after-hours.

Enter the Pixel Party: the next generation of photography soirees from HMNS.

Doing our thing, by Pixeltopia

The Pixel Party won’t be all that different from what you’ve come to know as the HMNS Flickr Group Meetups — bring your camera, see some new exhibits, and post your masterpieces online. Except this time, any kind of camera — including the kind housed in your smart phone — is welcome.

Our first Pixel Party is scheduled for Sunday, October 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the new Gems of the Medici exhibit. Yup, you get to see it right after it opens — no crowds, no lines, no fees. And, as a bonus (since it’s been so long and we’re cool like that), we’re keeping our new Morian Hall of Paleontology open for you, too.

You must have one of the following to participate:

(1) An active Flickr or Instagram account
(2) A dedicated Facebook Fan Page for your photography
(3) An active photography portfolio online

During the Pixel Party, registered photographers will have access to photograph the exhibits. Which means you must register to par-tay.

To register, please send an email webeditor@hmns.org with your name and a link to one of the following:

(1) Your Flickr or Instagram account
(2) A link to your Facebook Fan Page
(3) A link to your online portfolio where photos will be displayed

We won’t be taking registrations any other way, so follow the rules, why dontcha? You’ll receive an email confirmation of your registration when we get your info.

If you have any questions, please feel free to send an email or post a comment here. Registration must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 26.

No matter whether you’re a Nikon nerd or an iPhoneographer (or anywhere in between) we want to see you at this shindig. Tripods are welcome, but remember: we’re all here for the photography, so plan to play nice!

We hope to see you on Oct. 28! Don’t forget: Email us to register at webeditor@hmns.org.

Because we love your mom, too: Save 10% when you shop the HMNS Museum Store for Mother’s Day

Published by Fayza on May 6, 2012 at 7:00 am in Museum Store

We know you love your mom. We know you’d give her the moon and the stars if you could pull them down from the sky.

We also know that Sunday, May 13 is Mother’s Day. (Yes, that’s only one week away.) We know you want to treat your mom to the very best. But trust us, she doesn’t want a blender, an apron, and probably not even a Kindle Fire (shhh, your dad already bought one for her).

She wants jewelry. Again, you’ll just have to trust us on this one.

Thankfully, we can help. You see, this Mother’s Day, we’re making it easy on you — mostly because we love your mom, too. So we’re offering 10% off all jewelry in our HMNS Museum Store with this coupon.

You read that right: You’ll get 10% off all jewelry (excluding Curator’s Choice gems and minerals) when you print or show this coupon at checkout. Choose from amazing artisans like Rebecca Lankford, Alexis Bittar, Assad Mounser, Leigh Elena — the list goes on.

But the offer doesn’t. This limited time offer is valid through May 13, 2012 (that means even you last-minute shoppers have time!).

Make this Mother’s Day extra special. Support your favorite museum, and surprise your one and only mom with something that makes her feel like the queen she is.

Oh, and here’s the fine print: This offer is not valid towards previously purchased merchandise. It may not be combined with any other coupons or promotions. Members, however, may combine this coupon with their member discount.