If there's one theme for this weekend's events, it's celebration. One event celebrates babies conceived the night the Houston Astros won the World Series (behave!). Another celebrates the refined life of Scotch and whiskey. Plus, you can look forward to events celebrating art, beer, burgers, LGBT film, Shakespeare, and even gorgeous tigers.
So, celebrate your weekend at these fun events — while celebrating that the high temperature may only be 99 degrees.
Thursday, July 26
Chevrolet celebrates the Houston Astros — and the babies who were conceived the night they won the pennant
Remember when the Houston Astros won the World Series last year? Did you and your significant other get freaky that night — and, now, a baby is on the way? If that's the case, Chevrolet has an event for all the new and expecting parents. The automobile giant will throw an interactive family celebration where they'll provide car seat instillation demos, inform on how to stay safe on the road and display the newest, in-vehicle, family-safety technology. There will also be a lot of fun activities and, more importantly, Blue Bell ice cream to help you cool off. Noon-2 pm.
Bill Burr brings his raging stand-up
One of the great things about comedian Bill Burr is that the man has no filter. Whether he’s unleashing his brand of livid, topical, comic rage in front of an audience, in one of his many Netflix specials or on his weekly podcast, Bill Burr’s Monday Morning Podcast, the man always hits you in a straight, direct, and hilariously honest way. You would think being so un-P.C. would get him in trouble with sensitive folk out there. Thankfully, the man is too damn funny to hate. By the way, F is for Family, the animated Netflix show he created and stars in, is also uproarious. 7 pm.
QFest celebrates LGBTQIA cinema with a cool film and party
QFest, Houston's annual LGBTQIA film festival, will be happening this weekend at venues all over the city: Rice Cinema, Aurora Picture Show, and the Houston Museum of African American Culture. Even Studio Movie Grill in Pearland will screen a French selection — in 3-D. The fest will kick off on Thursday over at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, with the opening-night film, The Miseducation of Cameron Post, about a teenage girl (Chloe Grace Moritz) who is forced to go to a gay-conversion therapy center. There will also be an after party held at Brasil Cafe. 7:30 pm.
Friday, July 27
“Houston Shakespeare Festival Day” kicks off the Houston Shakespeare Festival
Friday will be a big day for Houstonians who love the Bard. Mayor Sylvester Turner will declare that day “Houston Shakespeare Festival Day,” which will kick off the University of Houston-produced Houston Shakespeare Festival that’s been a summertime tradition for more than 40 years. This season’s pair of plays are the iconic Hamlet (which plays on Friday and Sunday night) and The Comedy of Errors (which plays on Saturday night), one of Shakespeare’s early plays — and one of his most farcical. The festival will run through August 5, and all the performances are free and open to the public. 8:15 pm.
Striptease artists salute top-40 divas with Dames of the Airwaves!
Dem Damn Dames Burlesque is a Houston-based collective of exotic dancers from the Lone Star State, with such predictably cheeky stage names as Tifa Tittlywinks, Kitty Purry, and Pystol Whips. For this show, these ladies will be doing inviting, enticing numbers set to music from such “favorite femmes of FM” as Stevie Nicks, Celine Dion, Amy Winehouse, and Madonna. 8 pm.
Enjoy local art, booze, and flapjacks at the Pancakes & Booze Art Show
Pancakes and booze – you didn’t think that combination would sound so enticing, did ya? On a yearly basis, the Pancakes & Booze Art Show offers up local, original artwork — along with the aforementioned beverages and breakfast food — in more than 35 cities around the world. This weekend, Houston will have its own show, complete with art from over 100 on-the-rise artists, live body painting, live performances and, of course, free friggin’ pancakes. We pray that they'll also have bacon and/or sausage during this beautiful, beautiful occasion. 8 pm.
Saturday, July 28
Bud’s kingly experience awaits at the Houston Budweiser Brewery Experience
Yeah, there are local craft breweries that hold their own fun events and concerts. But the folks at Budweiser can do that too, which is why they’re holding a free performance at the Houston Budweiser Brewery Experience this weekend. Matt Stillwell's free performance in the Budweiser Tasting Room is open to all ages, but you gotta be over 21 to get your drink on. 10 am-6 pm.
Meet some toothy tigers — if you dare — at Tiger Weekend
Tigers are ferocious beasts. With their sharp claws and even sharper teeth, they are animals you truly don't want to mess with. And yet, they are intriguing, entrancing creatures. Despite the inherent mortal danger, you still want to see one live and in the flesh. The Downtown Aquarium will give you that chance with Tiger Weekend. On Saturday and Sunday, the aquarium will show guests how they take care of tigers, as well as give them info on how to protect tigers and their habitats. You can even buy painting done by tigers. Man, these cats are amazing. 10 am-4 pm.
Watch the Astros aboard a giant, floating bar
BARge 295, that floating bar located in Seabrook, will be throwing a big, family-friendly, viewing party where people can watch World Series champs the Houston Astros face off against the Texas Rangers – on 10 screens. Along with a Gulf Coast-inspired menu, there will also be drink specials, including $15 domestic beer buckets and $2.95 glasses of Dos Equis, 8th Wonder beers, Jim Beam, and Enchanted Rock Vodka. And if you show up wearing Astros gear (and that includes foam fingers and cowboy hats), the best dressed wins a $100 gift card. 5:30-9:30 pm.
Imbibe and indulge at the Houston Whiskey Social
Now in its third year, the Houston Whiskey Social is a chance for sophisticated drinkers to wander around a venue and sample all the fine spirits this event has to offer. And there will be many fancy liquors to sample and savor. Pappy Van Winkle will be showing up a full line, while Four Roses will unveil a new private barrel of bourbon and British Royal Navy Imperial Rum — which is only brought out for Royal Weddings and other important functions — will come with several flagons. You can also smoke some choice stogies over at the Cigar Lounge. This will truly be an evening of classy stuff. 7-9:30 pm (VIP admitted at 6 pm).
Sunday, July 29
Celebrate 25 years of Jax Grill with 25-cent burgers
Jax Grill will be celebrating its 25th anniversary by paying tribute to its most popular item, the mesquite-grilled Jax Burger. During the celebration (which will be held at both the S. Rice Ave. and Shepherd Dr. locations), quarter-pound hamburgers and cheeseburgers will be 25 cents. (Don’t think you’ll just binge on burgers; they’ll be limited to one per customer.) Over at S. Rice, there will be free popcorn, snow cones, and cotton candy, along with face painting, balloon animals, and tunes from DJ James. Meanwhile, at Shepherd, there will be live music from LT and the Zydeco Mob. 4-8 pm.
Enjoy a proper supper at Sunday Supper at the Grove
We don’t think people don’t use the word supper enough in everyday conversation. When individuals have a meal at night, they usually refer to it as dinner, or when they leave the house, they’ll have a bite to eat. But, unless you’re talking about Jesus’s final feast, few say supper. So, imagine our surprise when The Grove announced it’s having a monthly chowdown called Sunday Supper. Strictly limited to 40 seats, this wine and food event is expected to be an intimate, communal affair, complete with seafood, house-butchered meats, and 3-ounce wine flights. 5:30-8:30 pm.
Unleash your pure imagination with an outdoor Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory screening
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory will forever be a weird movie. This musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory seems more like a psychedelic fever dream than a lovable kids’ classic. First off, we got Gene Wilder as a possibly demented candy tycoon inviting bratty children into his colorful yet bugged-out chocolate factory, only to cruelly banish them whenever they break the rules. And don’t even get us started on those Oompa Loompas. But if you and your kids still dig the flick, Kendra Scott Designs and Alamo Drafthouse present a free outdoor screening. 7 pm.
Indulge in sophisticated sips at the Houston Whiskey Social.
