Weekend events planner

Here are the top 7 things to do in Houston this weekend

Your work week is almost history, and it’s time to look ahead to the weekend. Expect some fun, seasonal events around town — from a gingerbread competition, to brunch with Santa — plus some seasonal songs to get you in the holiday spirit.

We've rounded up your top seven things to do in Houston this weekend. For more options, check out the full CultureMap Events Calendar.

Sing your heart out
Friday, December 8
Break out your festive holiday attire, warm up your voices and head downtown to MKT Bar for the Family and Friends Karaoke Party, featuring rare Karbach beers and seasonal brews and bites. (9 pm to 2 am; tickets: free admission)
1001 Austin St.; 832-360-2222

Gingerbread throwdown
Saturday, December 9
The Architecture Center Houston Foundation presents the Gingerbread Build-Off competition at City Hall's Hermann Square. Expect an edible battle among dozens of teams, using entirely consumable building materials. There will also be food trucks, hot chocolate, caroling, and photos with Saint Nicholas at the family-friendly event. (10 am to 4:30 pm; tickets: free admission)
900 Smith St.

Cheers
Saturday, December 9
Saint Arnold Brewing Co.’s World Famous Pub Crawl begins in Rice Village at Under the Volcano with stops at Kelvin Arms Scottish Pub, Little Woodrow's, Rice Village, The Gorgeous Gael, The Big Easy Social and Pleasure Club, The Gingerman, and Hopdoddy Burger Bar. Your prize for making all the stops is a Saint Arnold Pub Crawl pint glass. (2 to 6pm; tickets: free admission)
2349 Bissonnet St.; 713-686-9494

Bright lights
Saturday, December 9
Pedestrian-friendly neighborhood Christmas festival, Lights in the Heights, boasts a parade, carolers, hot beverages, carriage rides, and dozens of beautifully decorated houses. (6 to 9 pm; tickets: free admission)
Houston Heights: Bayland Ave. and Woodland St. between Studewood and Beaucham; Norhill St. between Highland and Euclid.

Sneak peek
Saturday, December 9
Get a first look at BCK: Kitchen & Cocktail Adventures, the sister concept of Bosscat Kitchen and Libations, during a Lights in the Heights Pop-Up. Expect hot chocolate, bacon butter popcorn, and other festive snacks. BCK is slated to open in January 2018. (5:30 pm; tickets: free admission)
933 Studewood St.

Kiddie wonderland
Sunday, December 10
Gather the kids and head to the Briar Club for Houston Symphony's Magical Musical Morning, complete with brunch, photos with Santa, arts and crafts stations, and lost more. (11 am to 1 pm; tickets: $150 per adult; $75 per child)
2603 Timmons Ln.; 832-531-6701

Jump, jive and wail
Sunday, December 10
Iconic guitarist, songwriter, vocalist, and three-time Grammy-Award winner Brian Setzer and his 19-piece orchestra bring their Christmas Rocks! Tour to Arena Theatre. Setzer is known for adding his own blend of gunpowder and rockin’ style to two forgotten genres: rockabilly and swing. (8 pm; tickets: $39.50 to $65 per person)
7326 Southwest Fwy.

Brian Setzer and his 19-piece orchestra bring their Christmas Rocks! Tour to Arena Theatre.

Photo courtesy of AT&T Performing Arts Center

Brian Setzer and his 19-piece orchestra bring their Christmas Rocks! Tour to Arena Theatre.

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oaks for everyone

Houston nonprofit plants its 1,000,000th tree in downtown park

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Trees for Houston has been planting trees across the city since 1983.

Local nonprofit Trees for Houston (TFH) celebrated an incredible milestone on Thursday, February 5, by planting its one millionth tree — a live oak — during a ceremony at Sam Houston Park with Mayor John Whitmire and other community leaders in attendance.

"Founded in 1983 as the Live Oak Society, TFH has helped plant, source, distribute, and care for trees across Houston’s streetscapes, parks, trails, and schools — strengthening neighborhoods and long-term resilience," said Whitmire. “I congratulate Trees For Houston on this important milestone. Trees bring beauty and shade to our neighborhoods and improve the air we breathe. Each tree is a symbol of our resilience and reflects who we are as a city today — and the legacy we are building for the future.”

Other attendees included Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Mister McKinney of the Heritage Society, Abner Lyons, Ashley De Leon from Harris County Precinct 4, and Commissioner Lesley Briones. Representatives from Chevron applauded the contribution of Chevron Tree Nursery in Trees for Houston's work.

Houston is an incredibly green city, with an estimated 49,624 trees per square mile making it one of the most forested metropolises in America. The oak tree in particular is a symbol of Houston history, with several trees like the Three Sisters of Montrose being major landmarks. Keeping a robust canopy over Houston has always been a point of pride.

However, the past four decades have been very hard on Houston's trees. Climate change, drought, insects, and rocketing temperatures have severely weakened the trees in Harris County. The Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University estimates that for every two trees planted or regenerated in the city, one is lost. This makes the work of Trees for Houston even more necessary.

"Reaching one million trees is a milestone built over four decades by volunteers, supporters, and partners who believed Houston’s neighborhoods deserve a healthier, greener future," said Barry Ward, executive director of Trees For Houston."This milestone is a moment to reflect and to take the next step: planting and distributing more trees, strengthening the care that helps them thrive, and growing partnerships that can extend this impact beyond Houston over time."

The one millionth tree was planted next to the Kellum-Noble House, Houston's oldest standing structure. Built in 1847, the house became the residence for the keepers of Houston's first municipal park, making it the perfect place to celebrate such a landscaping feat.

Trees For Houston One millionth tree planting in Houston

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Trees for Houston has been planting trees across the city since 1983.

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