Once, on a family vacation at South Padre Island, we woke up at 4 a.m. and went down to the beach, hoping to catch a glimpse of sea turtles hatching and flopping awkwardly toward the ocean. Long story short, despite the rumors we'd heard, we never saw any hatchlings making a run for it. But, it was OK because, seriously, we almost saw baby sea turtles in real life. Since then, we like to think of ourselves as would-be Jean-Michel Cousteaus, because he actually hangs out with sea turtles, makes films about them and helps save their wrinkly little lives. And it's not just sea turtles with Cousteau, of course. As the son of the late, great Jacques Cousteau, Jean-Michel's love of the ocean and all its crazy creatures started early, and as founder and spokesperson of the Ocean Futures Society, he has greatly expanded his work to inform the public of the importance of protecting the marine environment. Sometimes, he even gives talks to lowly, non-ocean-dwelling creatures like us humans, which is exactly what he's doing 8 p.m. Wednesday at the AT&T Performing Arts Center's Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora Street. Tickets to National Geographic Live! featuring Jean-Michel Cousteau are $20 to $150. For tickets or more information, call 214-880-0202 or visit attpac.org.
Wed., Feb. 23, 8 p.m., 2011