Calendar Closeup

Your weekly guide to Houston: Five (plus) don't-miss events - cemetery tour included

On the itinerary this week are cooking competitions, a big sale of designer goods, a tour of the dead, an anniversary art show, a downtown artsy open house and a two-day Thai foodie tasting event courtesy of three influential local chefs.

Be sure to click on the links below the suggested events. You'll find a page with helpful intel on where to eat, drink and shop nearby your final destination, as well as a feature that downloads the details easily to your electronic calendar.

Great Ramen Challenge 2013, presented by IKEA Houston

Testing the economical craftiness of toques who are otherwise accustomed to creme de la creme ingredients, contenders of the "Great Ramen Challenge" are dared to turn $3 worth of edibles into something succulent, using one pot, one skillet, one set of knives, one cutting board, a couple of wooden spoons and two hot plates.

Michael Castillo from Uchi, Lyle Bento from Underbelly, Jordan Economy from Bar Boheme, Jean-Philippe Gaston from Cove, Patrick Hart and Demetrius Smith from Eatsie Boys, Cyrus Caclini and Masahide Wakatsuki from Kata Robata and Andrew Sanchez from Moontower Inn are set to participate in battle ramen, the winner of which will earn the honorable title of master of the noodle. As part of the festivities, IKEA Houston pledges to donate $6,000 to the Houston Food Bank.

The skinny: Thursday, 7 p.m.; IKEA; admission is free with RSVP.

Houston Design Center Annual Sample Sale

Designer items come with designer prices. But for two days at the Houston Design Center, bargain shoppers can obtain big price cuts on floor samples, furniture, rugs and decorative accessories for the home and office.

Don't fret if you don't know what you are doing, aesthetically speaking. Two lectures on Friday will explain interior design concepts and the latest in home design trends. Because what's the point of snatching a deal on something that looks hideous in your soon-to-be stylish abode?

The skinny: Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m.; Houston Design Center; free event.

Preservation Houston Walking Tour: Women of Glenwood Historic Cemetery

Many of the women that shaped the city's formative years are forever resting in the 84 acres that comprise the Glenwood Cemetery, a 19th century Romantic-style burial ground that has served six generations of Houstonians since it was established in 1871.

Preservation Houston hosts this 90-minute tour in which guests will learn about newspaper publisher and stateswoman Oveta Culp Hobby and movie star Gene Tierney, among many others. Keep in mind that reservations are required, no walk-ups will be accepted.

The skinny: Saturday, 10 a.m.; Glenwood Cemetery; $10 per person, $7 for students with ID and Preservation Houston members; reservations are required.

Art opening reception: Texas Biennial Fifth Anniversary "New and Greatest Hits: Texas Biennial 2005-2011"

For those who need convincing that art is on trend in Texas, one look at the Texas Biennial's journey offers a definitive answer. Since 2005, the nonprofit has cultivated an alliance of exhibitions that survey contemporary art in the Lone Star State. This year marks the fifth anniversary of the program with displays opening concurrently at Big Medium in Austin and at Lawndale Art Center here at home.

The Houston portion of the celebration, assembled by curators Michael Duncan and Virginia Rutledge, showcases the works of Christie Blizard, Marcelyn McNeil, Tom Orr and Brad Tucker, all of whom are former Biennial artists. The event is followed by the opening of "TX★13 Group Survey Exhibition" at the Blue Star Contemporary Art Museum in San Antonio, on view from Sept. 5 through Nov. 9.

The skinny: Friday, 5-8:30 p.m.; Lawndale Art Center; free event.

20th Annual TransCanada Theater District Open House

For two decades, the Theater District has held this annual event that teases visitors with what's on tap for the upcoming season. Expect performances and interactive activities in a fun, festive ambiance. Be on the lookout for special, one-day only deals on subscription series and individual shows as the nine major orgs typically put together discount packages to be sold exclusively at the Theater District Open House.

The skinny: Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.; Theater District; free event.

Staff writer and CultureMap's resident all-knowing foodie savant Eric Sandler's pick: "Midnight Sticky Rice" Pop-up Dinner

Eric says: "Former Feast chef Richard Knight will join forces with fishmonger PJ Stoops and Down House chef Benjy Mason for a Thai-inspired pop-up. When I met with Knight and Mason to discuss their upcoming restaurant, Hunky Dory, they promised me this week's event is not to be missed. That's probably due to Stoops's involvement.

"Prior to leading the bycatch movement in Houston, Stoops lived in Thailand for a number of years, and I've heard from friends that dining at his home is a rare treat. Expect an a la carte menu of Northern Thai dishes along with beer jelly (slushy, semi-frozen beer) and Johnnie Walker Black, both of which are popular in Thailand. Of course, D&T Drive Inn's regular menu of libations will also be available."

The skinny: Thursday and Friday starting at 7 p.m.; D&T Drive Inn; a la carte pricing.

Preservation Houston hosts a 90-minute tour that educates about the many influential women interred at Glenwood Cemetery.

burial site for the family of Howard Hughes

Photo by Bobby L. Warren

Preservation Houston hosts a 90-minute tour that educates about the many influential women interred at Glenwood Cemetery.

unspecified

supreme suburbs

2 Houston neighbors shine as top-10 best places to live in the U.S.

City of Pearland - Government/Facebook

All eyes are on Pearland.

The Houston suburbs of Pearland and League City have landed among the top three best places to live in 2025, according to U.S. News & World Report.

New for the 2025-2026 "Best Places to Live in the U.S." rankings, U.S. News expanded its coverage from 150 to 250 U.S. cities, and updated its methodology to examine each city based on five livability indexes: Quality of life, value, desirability, job market, and net migration.

Pearland ranked No. 3 nationwide, earning a 7.0 score alongside No. 1-winning Johns Creek, Georgia and No. 2 winner Carmel, Indiana.

Pearland also landed on top of U.S. News separate rankings of the best places to live in Texas for 2025-2026.

Some facts about Pearland that put it at the top of the list include its median household income ($115,504), its median home values ($319,753), and its bustling population of nearly 124,000 residents.

Housing costs in Pearland are extremely attractive compared to other places in the country, as the national average home is worth over $370,000. It's no wonder this Houston neighbor has been adding more high-income households than many other places in Texas.

Pearland's population is a healthy mix of young individuals and families, with 29 percent of residents being under 20 years old and 36 percent of the population being between the ages of 20-44. Nearly a quarter of Pearland's population is between 45-64-years-old, while only 12 percent of residents are over 65, the report says.

Pearland's reputation as one of the safest cities in America is also boosting its community appeal.

Pearland Pear Trail Pearland's Pear-Scape Trail is a popular public art trail that residents, families, and visitors can enjoy. The sculptures are scattered all over the city.City of Pearland - Government/Facebook

"Finding a community to be part of can play a major role in making a place feel like home," U.S. News said. "If you’re a parent with young children, you may want to live in a neighborhood with other people in that phase of life. If you’re a professional moving to a hot job market for your field, you may want to live in an apartment close to the office or within walking distance of friends and colleagues."

Pearland also enjoys a better job market than other cities, the report added. Pearland's unemployment rate as of 2023 was only 3.6 percent, lower than the national average unemployment rate of 4.5 percent.

However, if people are looking for a public transportation-friendly city, they may need to look elsewhere. Almost all commuters in Pearland drive to their workplaces, making access to a vehicle absolutely necessary for living in the suburb. Pearland's 31.2-minute average commute time is also 9.2 minutes higher than the national average, U.S. News said.

Other Houston-area suburbs
League City only ranked three spots behind Pearland as the 6th best place to live in the U.S., and No. 2 in Texas. The city boasts a median household income of $120,670, and affordable median home values at $327,511.

Workers in League City also predominantly rely on vehicles for their daily commutes, and only 3.7 percent of the population use public transport to get to work. Commuters spend an average time of 27.5 minutes driving to work, U.S. News determined.

More than half (63.5 percent) of all League City residents are married, and 54 percent of the population are between the ages of 25 and 64-years-old.

Here's how other Houston-area cities faired among the top 100:

No. 16 – Sugar Land
No. 44 – The Woodlands
No. 45 – Katy
No. 67 – Missouri City
No. 73 – Spring

Houston drops out of the top 100
Though Houston proper made substantial improvements to land among the top 100 best places to live in U.S. News' 2024-2025 report, the city has once again plummeted toward the bottom of the list for 2025-2026.

Houston slumped into No. 381 this year, and only ranked No. 63 in the statewide comparison, showing that the city has lost its charm in favor of its appealing suburban neighbors.

The top 10 best places to live in the U.S. are:

No. 1 – Johns Creek, Georgia
No. 2 – Carmel, Indiana
No. 3 – Pearland, Texas
No. 4 – Fishers, INdiana
No. 5 – Cary, North Carolina
No. 6 – League City, Texas
No. 7 – Apex, North Carolina
No. 8 – Leander, Texas
No. 9 – Rochester Hills, Michigan
No. 10 – Troy, Michigan