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    Fitz Makeover

    Big changes for iconic Houston concert venue — beer garden, more parking and better bathrooms!

    Elizabeth Rhodes
    Aug 12, 2015 | 10:15 am

    Following last week's announcement that promotion company Pegstar will no longer host shows at Fitzgerald's — believed to be the city's oldest music venue — many Houstonians feared the worst: The venue was shutting down.

    While Pegstar's final show at the beloved venue will in fact take place on August 29, current Fitzgerald's sound engineer Lauren Oakes — who has worked there since 2004 — will take over and supervise major renovations of the building.

    So what exactly is changing?

    According to Fitzgerald's spokesperson Dutch Small, the building, which was constructed in 1918 and owned by Sara Fitzgerald since the early '70s, will be completely gutted and renovated as soon as the current tenant vacates.

    "Fitzgerald's is not going to become an unrecognizably different place," Small adds. "It will still be Fitzgerald's, it just will no longer be grimy and gritty."

    "We're taking out all the 100-year-old wiring and rewiring the whole building," Small says. "We're completely renovating all of the bathrooms and taking all of the rotten wood off of the exterior and replacing it. The second story balcony will be rebuilt and will wrap around the building.

    "We're going to have a beer garden. We're tearing down several of the houses that are adjacent and turning it into a parking, as well as completely resurfacing the entire parking lot. Most importantly to music fans, we're going to have a significant upgrade of the PA system so the sound and the acoustics — the sonic experience — will be vastly superior."

    Other improvements include a better air-conditioning system, an industrial elevator to assist bands with load-in — bands currently have to carry their equipment up a flight of exterior stairs — and a better backstage area to accommodate the artists.

    "Fitzgerald's is not going to become an unrecognizably different place," Small adds. "It will still be Fitzgerald's, it just will no longer be grimy and gritty."

    Concert celebration

    According to Small, a huge celebratory concert — the artists have yet to be announced — will take place when the venue reopens, currently set for October 3.

    "We've got target dates, but there are realities that no one can control surrounding them," he says. "The reality is that we're not in control of the city, we're not in control of the permitting process, we're not in control of what we find within those rotten walls, we're not in control of a whole lot of things that are going to be part and parcel of this restoration process and it could be that we miss our deadline, but I believe that because everyone loves the venue so much, they would rather see a delay in opening than see it done badly or incompletely."

    "It's Houston's live music church," Oakes says. "We're just making it what it always should have been."

    With Austin-based concert promotion group Transmission — known for Fun Fun Fun Fest and more than 700 events around Austin in 2014 alone — will take over booking shows for Fitzgerald's following the venue's reopening. As for the types of shows that the venue will host, you can expect changes, but nothing earth-shattering, according to Small.

    "We know that Fitzgerald's is a sacred place in the city of Houston," Small says. "We have all grown up there, and not just us, but our audience. It's not going to suddenly become a metal club, it's not going to suddenly become a hip-hop club, it's not going to suddenly become an EDM club. It's going to be Fitzgerald's.

    "We will, as a result of our improved facilities, be able to accommodate bigger acts. That's the most noticeable change in the programming is that the names will be somewhat bigger, but also, because we are all personally involved and have great relationships with local artists, the venue will still remain fully engaged in developing local talent."

    As someone who has frequented the venue since the age of 15, I'm personally excited for all of the changes. Who hasn't had a terrible experience in Fitzgerald's bathrooms or worried that their tire might blow out in their miniscule parking lot?

    Yes, things will be different, but Oakes — who said she's been paying attention to what needs to be fixed at the venue for more than a decade — assures that these changes are all for the best.

    "It's Houston's live music church," Oakes says. "We're just making it what it always should have been."

    The scene at Fitzgerald's

      
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    Here are the 15 best things to do in Houston this weekend

    Craig D. Lindsey
    Jun 25, 2025 | 6:30 pm
    Beyoncé Cowboy Carter
    Photo by Blair Caldwell
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    This weekend is all about celebrations.

    A Galleria-area bakery will celebrate its one-year anniversary with birthday cake conchas. A Black-owned food truck will celebrate National Food Truck Day with free stuffed wings. Two local rap legends will celebrate DJ Screw Day with a live show. A new neighborhood bar in the Heights will celebrate its grand opening with $1 food and drinks.

    And, of course, there’s NRG Stadium, where the entire city will celebrate the return of our one-and-only Queen Bey. It’s time to get in formation, folks!

    Thursday, June 26

    El Bolillo Bakery’s One-Year Anniversary
    El Bolillo Bakery’s Fountain View location has been currently celebrating its one-year anniversary with a week of BOGO deals (marranitos, tortillas, tamales, aguas frescas, etc.), as well as limited-edition birthday cake conchas. Baked in honor of the store’s first year serving the Galleria-area community, These colorful conchas will be given out free on Thursday — but only while supplies last. It’s the bakery’s way of thanking the Houston community for a warm and wonderful first year on Fountain View. 6 am.

    ROCO Resound: Savor!
    At ROCO Resound: Savor!, attendees can savor a selection of wines, plus bites by chef Soren Pedersen, as ROCO explores the commissions and composers of their 21st season, through pairings of musical and gastronomic flavors. Led by sommelier/ROCO board member Mike Muña, attendees will enjoy a curated wine tasting while learning more about a few of their new commissioned works for the upcoming season, as the composers join in-person and virtually from all over the country. 6:30 pm.

    Performing Arts Houston presents Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
    For two nights this weekend, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, the world’s foremost, all-male comic ballet company, brings its internationally beloved troupe of dancers to Houston as part of its landmark 50th anniversary season, featuring gems from across the company’s groundbreaking repertoire. Affectionately known as the Trocks, the company dances en travesti with razor-sharp wit and breathtaking pointe work, performing polished parodies of works that span the classical ballet canon. 7:30 pm.

    Friday, June 27

    National Food Truck Day Giveaway at Stuff’d Wings
    Friday is National Food Truck Day, and Black-owned food truck Stuff'd Wings will team up with BLK, the world’s largest social and dating app for the Black community, for a delicious giveaway. The first 100 BLK users who show the app will get free stuffed wings from Stuff'd. This free community event will celebrate Houston’s food truck culture while fostering connection in the Black community, making National Food Truck Day accessible and joyful. 11 am.

    Social Junkie Sports Bar + Kitchen presents Slim Thug & Lil Keke
    Social Junkie Sports Bar + Kitchen is turning up the volume on DJ Screw Day with a special, Social Junkies Fridays live performance by Houston hip-hop royalty Slim Thug and Lil Keke. Honoring the legacy of the legendary DJ Screw and the sound that shaped the city, this one-night-only event is free to the public and poised to deliver an unforgettable H-Town celebration. $5 Happy Hour specials will run through 9 pm, followed by late-night vibes from 10 pm to 2 am. 5 pm.

    Houston Symphony presents Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Concert
    This weekend, the Triwizard Tournament comes to Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Concert. Audiences can relive the magic of Harry Potter soaring across the big screen in high-definition, as well as experience the music of a live symphony orchestra performing Patrick Doyle’s score. 7:30 pm (2 pm Saturday and Sunday).

    Houston Contemporary Dance Company presents Resilience
    Houston Contemporary Dance Company celebrates the completion of the company’s sixth season with a guest performance by their second company, Houston Contemporary 2. Resilience will feature a world premiere by Houston-based educator and choreographer Travis Prokop, centered around the LGBTQ+ community. This evening will also include Citizen by performer/choreographer Yue Yin, a new work by Jacob’s Pillow Choreographic Fellow Natasha Adorlee, and another new work by Houston-based choreographer Stacey Allen. 8:30 pm.

    Saturday, June 28

    42nd Biannual Bridal Extravaganza Show
    The Bridal Extravaganza Show, the largest, two-day, bridal planning showcase in the U.S., will return to Houston with the latest fashion, cakes, gowns, and local vendors. Future brides, bridesmaids, mothers-of-the-bride, grooms, family, and wedding planners will have their pick of over 225 vendors that cater exclusively to the wedding industry. There will also be cake samples, multiple fashion shows, Instagram walls for selfies, prizes, and entertainment from Houston’s top wedding professionals. 11 am (Noon Sunday).

    47th Annual Official Houston Pride LGBT+ Celebration
    The 47th Annual Official Houston Pride LGBT+ Celebration features vibrant community resources, vendors, major local and national talent, and immersive entertainment zones that transform the city into a full-on celebration of Pride. The Festival at Houston City Hall kicks off with high-energy performances, celebrity hosts, and exciting giveaways. As the sun sets, the streets ignite with Pride Houston’s Parade at 7 pm. Floats, performers, and community groups light up downtown in a powerful display of unity, visibility, and celebration. Don’t miss the official afterparty at Rich’s in Midtown. 11 am.

    The River Oaks Theatre and Yellow Rose Ghostbusters present Ghostbusters
    Yellow Rose Ghostbusters, Houston's premier Ghostbusters-themed non-profit charity (and proudly recognized by Sony's Ghost Corps), will present a screening of the 1984 sci-fi/comedy classic they hold so near-and-dear to their hearts. Members of the non-profit will be both in attendance and dressed in costume. A portion of all ticket sales will be donated on behalf of Yellow Rose Ghostbusters to Texas Children's Hospital. 1 pm.

    The Kid Grand Opening
    New Heights neighborhood bar The Kid will have a grand opening celebration this weekend. Be among the first 100 guestsand score $1 sliders, beers, and cocktails. The party kicks up a notch with live DJs starting at 6 pm. Customers can sample Rodeo Goat fan favorites like the iconic Royale with Cheese (yes, it’s Pulp Fiction-inspired), stacked with American cheese, chopped onions, bacon, mustard, and spiked ketchup. Whether you’re a cocktail connoisseur or just going for the sliders, The Kid is your new neighborhood go-to. 4 pm.

    Beyoncé in concert
    In all likelihood, most of the city will be at NRG Stadium this weekend. That’s where Beyoncé Knowles Carter, Queen of Houston and the World, will be. She will play two hometown shows in support of her 2024 genre-bouncing masterwork Cowboy Carter, which won Album of the Year and Best Country Album at this year’s Grammy Awards. (The CMAs may act like the album doesn’t exist, but the Grammys finally did right by the woman.)

    Sunday, June 29

    The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents "Anicka Yi" opening day
    Anicka Yi’s work dissolves boundaries between biology and technology, proposing new ways of thinking about perception, sentience, and survival. From animatronic sculptures that breathe and flicker like prehistoric lifeforms to software designed to carry on her practice after death, Yi approaches technology as a creative partner. Anchoring this presentation are two complementary installations that address the concept of “Karmic Debt.” Through Sunday, September 7. 12:30 pm.

    Lone Star Symphonic Band presents "With Hearts of Gratitude"
    Over at Holy Covenant United Methodist Church in Katy, Lone Star Symphonic Band’s concert season will conclude with the band’s annual “With Hearts of Gratitude” patriotic concert. This event will honor the history, the commitment, the service, and the life of each individual that is woven into the very fabric of our country. The LSSB Community Chorus will join the band for this celebration. 4 pm.

    Wooster’s Garden presents Kitchen Takeover
    Chefs Javi Becerra and Rico Mackins – formerly co-chefs of the now closed fine dining restaurant Degust – bring their creative flair and celebrated culinary backgrounds to Wooster’s Garden this weekend. This one-night-only event promises an exclusive, hand-crafted menu (filled with tacos, nachos, confit duck, etc.) and an unforgettable experience of inventive flavors and vibrant energy in the heart of Midtown. 4 pm.



    Beyonc\u00e9 Cowboy Carter
      
    Photo by Blair Caldwell

    Beyonce brings her Cowboy Carter tour to Houston this weekend.

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