From a tequila dinner to a burlesque show, here are 10 hot happenings to hit up this Halloween weekend.
FRIDAY
Tequila dinner and costume contest at Pico's
Details: Inject your Friday evening with authentic Mexican fare, tequila spirit and Dia de los Muertos fun at Arnaldo Richards’ Upper Kirby restaurant. Enjoy a four-course dinner (pre-dinner cocktails at 6:30; seated dinner at 7:30 pm) featuring achiote spiced shrimp tamale, chicken and cactus pad spiced with guajillo peppers and more, paired with Milagro Tequila cocktails. Dress casual chic — or don your best Day of the Dead inspired getup for a costume contest (9 pm).
Entry: Tickets are $99 per person.
SATURDAY
Halloween Fright Night
Details: On Saturday, drink your way through The Heights at neighborhood joints: D&T Drive Inn, Johnny's Gold Brick, Big Star Bar, Lei Low, Southern Goods and Town in City Brewing Company. Each place will feature a special cocktail or beer. Hit up all six spots and score a free commemorative pint glass. What's more, a shuttle will bus you between locales.
Shuttles: Party-goers can catch a free ride, from 7 pm until 1 am, at any location with shuttles running every 30 minutes.
Entry: Free.
Costume contest at Baker Street Pub & Grill
Details: Break out your Party City pants and head to any of the six Houston-area locales of casual pub for an All Hallows’ Eve blowout (9 pm) featuring live music — and a cash contest for best costume.
Entry: Free.
Animal House at Local Pour - River Oaks
Details: Get your togas ready and kick it Animal House style with an '80s twist at the River Oaks outpost of the popular bar (9 pm). Dance the night away to '80’s hits by the 5-piece band, The New Waves.
Entry: Free.
Shipwrecked at Julep
Details: The Washington Ave. bar celebrates the ghosts of Southern port cities, from pirates to Civil War-era apparitions, with a selection of sparkling wine, a themed cocktail menu, spins from DJ Willie Whop, door prizes (6 pm - midnight) and a costume competition for $1,000 (10 pm - midnight).
Entry: A suggested donation of $5 at the door will benefit the Arthritis Foundation.
Mr. Peeples
Details: The Halloween party at Mr. Peeples has quickly become a Midtown tradition. Now in its third year, the event will boast more than 20 DJs spread throughout the four-story 40,000 square-foot space, dropping a beat from 8 pm until 2 am. Go big with your Halloween garb: A $10,000 cash prize is on the line for best costume.
Entry: Tickets start at $35 per person.
La Griglia Halloween
Details: Mingle with see-and-be-seen stylish ghouls and goblins at this ritzy River Oaks bash that has become a Houston Halloween tradition. The restaurant turns nightclub-like for the evening (7 pm - close) with a DJ, plus extra bars set up throughout the venue for your drinking pleasure.
Entry: Free.
Lady Bunny at Hotel ZaZa
Details: The Museum District hotel presents a can’t-miss bash (10 pm) hosted by larger-than-life drag queen, Lady Bunny spinning her favorite tunes. You can also expect drink specials and late-night passed bites.
Entry: $75 per person.
Vampire bash at Tarakaan
Details: The fundamentals of a standout All Saints' Eve party (10 pm - 2 am) are all here thanks to drink specials (think: $60 bottles of Moet and $9 bloody berry martinis), music by DJ James Reed, a costume contest and a next-day hangover brunch (Sunday; noon - 3 pm) complete with your choice of bottomless mimosas or Bloody Mary’s.
Entry: Entry to the party on Saturday night is free. Brunch on Sunday is $30 per person.
Prohibition Supperclub & Bar
Details: The swank downtown venue, which houses a restaurant and bar up front and a theater in back is spicing up Halloween with a burlesque show by the Moonlight Dolls (from 7 - 8:30 pm; and again from 9:30 - 11 pm) and a three-course dinner. Tasty highlights include lentil Soup (with beluga lentils, thyme roasted sweet potato, avocado, radish and lime) and braised short rib (with blood beets, purple potatoes, charred onions and mushrooms). Make sure to dress up: Costumes are required.
Entry: Tickets for the show start at $10 per person and dinner is an additional $45 per person.
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Did we miss your favorite Halloween party spot? If so, let us know in the comments section below.
Mingle with see-and-be-seen stylish ghouls and goblins at La Griglia.
The main dining room at Chroma. Courtesy of Chroma 