spring break 2021

Swing into spring break with these family-friendly events in Houston

Swing by Blessington Farms for some kid-friendly fun.

Spring break is around the corner, and while that finds some Houstonians jetting to Mexico, Colorado, or other destinations, with the state open, folk and families are on the hunt for things to do.

From outdoorsy camps and farms to indoor treats such as museums, we've rounded up some diversions to enjoy during the week off. — all of which promise to practice some manner of social distancing. Also, don't forget to check out our event calendar here for what to do each day.

AsiaFest at Asia Society
Celebrate Asian and Asian American heritage with a “lite” version of AsiaFest running 4-7pm daily, March 15-18. The event takes place across Asia Society's front lawn. Enjoy performances, games and activities, shopping from local AAPI owned businesses, and tasting food from some of Houston’s favorite food trucks.

Blessington Farms
Get ready for a spring-break spectacular over at this Simonton-based farm. From March 13 to 21, families can take part in such fun activities as picking your own strawberries & blueberries, going on hay rides, riding pedal cars, digging for fossils and simply going fishing.

Camp for All
From March 12 through 19, the Burton campsite (also known as Camp for Y’all) will have fun, family activities such as hiking, canoeing, swimming, campfires, and more. They will also check temperatures, maintain distancing guidelines and enforce masks.

George Ranch Historical Park
The Richmond-based ranch will get in the spring-break swing of things March 16 through March 21. Travel back in time as all sites along the History Circle will be open for tours. Families are also encouraged to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at our picnic area.

The Health Museum
From March 15 through 19, the museum will have a spring-break edition of its Make a Day of It: Passes, Pedals and a Picnic in the Park program. You will get general admission tickets, picnic baskets (vegetarian and non-vegetarian options) and BCycle vouchers.

Houston Zoo
Starting March 13, the zoo will be expanding its daytime operational hours by one hour, opening from 9 am to 6 pm, with last entry at 5 pm. And from March 13 through 21, it will also open one hour early at 8 am. for Zoo members.

Lago Mar Lagoon
This biggest lagoon in the state (in Texas City) will have spring break going from March 12 through 28. Families can enjoy all the various water activities, including kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, as well as beach amenities like private cabanas and sofa lounges.

Lone Star Flight Museum
It’s gonna be a high-flying time as the aviation museum will have spring break events from March 13 through 21. Expect plane rides, hopping into simulators, checking out cool aviation artifacts and machinery, learning aviation history, talking with mechanics, etc.

The Orange Show and The Beer Can House
Weekend tours for these visionary art sites are now open, with safety precautions in place. The Orange Show will be open from 10 am to 2 pm, while the Beer Can House will be open from 1 to 5 pm. (Smither Park is still open daily from dawn until dusk.)

The Rink: Rolling at Discovery Green
From now through April 11, glide beneath the glittering lights of downtown in the center of Discovery Green’s beautiful 12-acre park. Safety precautions will be set: Masks are required and a reduced number of tickets will be sold to maintain social distancing.

Splashway
Beginning March 12, the Sheridan campground will have a whole week packed full of activities for the entire family, including cookoffs, family game tournaments, arts and crafts, a St. Patrick’s Day-themed scavenger hunt, and a Ray’s Express water-gun fight.

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Movie Review

Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg deliver comedy with depth in A Real Pain

Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg in A Real Pain.

Comedy film duos have a long history, from Laurel and Hardy in the 1920s and ‘30s to Tina Fey and Amy Poehler in movies like Baby Mama. But the majority of duos have either been friends or work partners, relationships that can be close, but not as close as family. The new film A Real Pain aims for the comedy that a great duo can bring, but hits deeper because the two lead characters are related to each other.

Benji (Kieran Culkin) and David (Jesse Eisenberg) are first cousins who decide to take a trip to Poland to visit the childhood home of their grandmother, who has recently passed. Their personalities could not be more different, with David buttoned-down and reserved and Benji extremely social, if a little wild. This contrast is on display from the moment they leave on their trip, affecting almost every aspect of their journey.

The two meet up with a diverse tour group in Poland, including guide James (Will Sharpe), recently divorced Marcia (Jennifer Grey), married couple Mark (Daniel Oreskes) and Diane (Liza Sadovy), and Eloge (Kurt Egyiawan), an African man who has converted to Judaism. As the group visits various historical sites, David confronts contrasting feelings about Benji, who goes from charming to abrasive seemingly at the drop of a hat.

Written and directed by Eisenberg, the film is about both the family we have and the history of those who came before us. With Benji and David being Jewish and their grandmother having escaped from the Nazis in World War II, the themes hit harder than they might in other situations. Eisenberg takes care to honor his Jewish ancestors both in the way he has Benji and David talk about their grandmother and the places they visit.

But even though emotions are heightened due to the significance of the trip, the film is far from a dour affair. Benji keeps things interesting at almost all times with a series of impulsive decisions, many that are entertaining for both the tour group and the audience watching the film. He is one of those film characters that is great to watch on screen, but would likely be too much to handle if you were confronted with him in real life.

The relationship between Benji and David is a complicated one; the two obviously have love for each other, but they rarely see eye-to-eye on the best way to approach certain situations. This tension keeps the film grounded, and Eisenberg does a great job at showing the push-and-pull the two cousins have with each other. The little moments, especially when Benji and David go their separate ways, say a lot as the characters try to reconcile where each is at in their respective lives.

Eisenberg has always been an understated performer, so this role is almost perfect for him. Culkin, fresh off his Emmy-winning role in HBO’s Succession, is an ideal foil for Eisenberg, as he has a manic energy that he can control or not control at will. It’s also nice to see Grey in action again, as she brings just the right touch to her supporting role.

The drama in A Real Pain comes from the life experiences of its two main characters, which are on full display despite the story only doling out details in small doses. The film is subtle yet powerful, a testament to Eisenberg’s filmmaking ability and the actors never trying to make too much of their scenes.

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A Real Pain opens in theaters on November 15.

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