Weekend events planner

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

Still carving out your weekend plans? From a whiskey event to can't-miss concerts, we've got you covered. Here are our top seven picks to get out and enjoy what's hot in Houston. For even more options, check out the full CultureMap Events Calendar.

Whiskey River
Thursday, February 8
Whiskey makers from near and far come together at Silver Street Studios to serve straight pours and cocktails from their portfolios at the Texas Monthly Whiskey Affair. Expect spirit seminars led by Texas Monthly editor-in-chief Tim Taliaferro and wine and spirits contributor Jessica Dupuy, music by jazzer Doc Watkins, and bites and cocktails served up by food and beverage stars Mike Raymond (Reserve 101); Shion Aikawa and Kevin Kobayashi (Ramen Tatsu-Ya); and William Wright (Helen Greek Food and Wine). A portion of the proceeds goes to Feeding Texas and the Houston Food Bank. (6-10 pm; tickets: $95 per person).
2000 Edwards St.

Welcome Home
Friday, February 9-Sunday, February 11
The 32nd Annual Texas Home and Garden Show at NRG Center offers hundreds of home and garden services and products, plus interactive workshops, a kids zone, vacation ideas, and more. (various times; tickets: $10 per person)
1 NRG Park; 713-629-3700

And the Oscar goes to...
Friday, February 9-Sunday, February 11
Leading up to the Oscars on March 4, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston screens the 2018 Academy Award-nominated animated short films. Catch a flick and participate as the MFAH holds its own vote for Animated Short Film, Live-Action Short Film, and Documentary Short Subject. (various times and dates through February 25; tickets: $9 per person)
1001 Bissonnet St.; 713-639-7300

Music to our ears
Friday, February 9
Kam Franklin, lead singer of The Suffers, and Lisa E. Harris, performance and visual artist and composer, present “PAUSE,” an innovative program that fuses song and spoken word, at downtown’s Discovery Green. (6:30 pm; tickets: admission is free)
1500 McKinney St.; 713-400-7336

Get Rich
Saturday, February 10
Country music duo Big and Rich perform at charity fundraiser, Karbach Cook-Off. All proceeds benefit the Houston Fire Department and local area firefighters. (12 pm; tickets: $50-$200 per person)
801 Saint Emanuel St.

You can do magic
Saturday, February 10
Broadway and TV star Adam Trent brings his signature brand of magic and illusion to Jones Hall in a 90-minute stage spectacle produced by the creative team behind global touring magic show, The Illusionists. (4 pm and again at 8 pm; tickets: $39-$79 per person)
615 Louisiana St.; 713-227-3974

Rey of sunshine
Saturday, February 10
Lana Del Rey heads to Toyota Center in support of her 2017 album, Lust For Life, which includes singles "Summer Bummer," "Love," "White Mustang," and the title track. She's joined by opening act, Kali Uchis. (8 pm; tickets: $29.50-$125 per person)
1510 Polk St.; 713-758-7200

Adam Trent brings his signature brand of magic and illusion to Jones Hall.

Photo by Matt Christine

Adam Trent brings his signature brand of magic and illusion to Jones Hall.

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This week's hot headlines

Houston ramen shop's shutter leads our most-read stories of the week

Courtesy of Ninja Ramen

Ninja Ramen will close at the end of December.

Editor's note: The long Thanksgiving weekend is a perfect time to catch up on the week's headlines. Our most-read stories include news of a popular ramen shop's shutter, a Netflix foodie star coming to town, a roundup of holiday pop-up bars, and more. Need weekend plans? Our Weekend Event Planner can help.

1. Houston ramen shop known for Asian whisky will shutter after 11 years. A ramen shop that’s been a favorite of Houston hospitality workers will soon serve its final bowl of noodles. Ninja Ramen will close at the end of December, owners Christopher Huang tells CultureMap.

2. Beard Award-winning chef and family dish on their new Houston restaurant. On this week’s episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” James Beard Award-winning chef Hugo Ortega, his wife and business partner Tracy Vaught, and their daughter Sophia Ortega join CultureMap editor Eric Sandler to discuss H-Town Restaurant Group.

3. Netflix foodie Phil Rosenthal brings tasty Texas tour to Houston. Somebody give Phil Rosenthal a few Houston lunch suggestions. The sitcom writer-turned-food personality just announced a whirlwind tour through Texas, including a stop at Houston's 713 Music Hall on January 24, 2026.

emilia's havana holiday pop-up bar Emilia's Havana offers a retro spin on the holiday bar, with the 1950s-inspired speakeasy decked out in tinsel and trees. Photo by Hasan Yousef

4. 14 holiday pop-up bars serving over-the-top festive cheer in Houston. There’s so much more to a holiday bar pop-up than tossing a candy cane in a cocktail. We want shimmer, we want lights, we want tinsel — and Houston’s restaurants and bars are more than happy to impress. Here’s where to find the city’s most joyful holiday transformations.

5. Emotional night uplifts mental health at UTHealth Houston's $1.8M gala. At a time when mental health is finally getting its long-overdue moment in the spotlight, more than 200 supporters gathered at the Thompson Hotel for UTHealth Houston’s 2025 Mission in Action gala — an evening as elegant as it was emotionally resonant.

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