Enjoy your Staycation
The Procrastinator's Guide to Memorial Day Weekend
Europeans may have the month of August to leave cities deserted and head to sunnier climes, but Americans generally make do with Memorial Day weekend. But if a trip is not in the cards, don't fret: There's still plenty happening within city limits to start summer off with a bang.
- Arts groups know the show must go on. Catch up on your culture (and enjoy someone's else's air conditioning) by taking in Alley Theatre's Intelligence-Slave, Houston Ballet's Pecos, Young Frankenstein at the Hobby Center, Cirque de la Symphonie at Jones Hall, plus performances by Main Street Theater, Catastrophic Theatre, Frenetic Theater and more.
- For once, most Houston-area museums are open on a Monday. And don't forget, active duty soldiers and their families get free admission at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the Health Museum through Labor Day — and everyone is free at the Menil and the CAMH.
- If you want to upgrade to a real Staycation, the Hotel ZaZa is offering a special $159 per night weekend rate that includes breakfast for two at Monarch, two drink tickets and a complimentary appetizer and a late check out (5 p.m.) on Sunday.
- The Houston Astros host the Washington Nationals (one of the few teams the Stros were supposed to be better than) at Minute Maid at 1:05 p.m. Monday.
- Expand your spiritual side when Lakewood Church hosts Dallas preacher and bestselling author Bishop T. D. Jakes on Saturday and Sunday.
- There's a full schedule of free events on Saturday and Sunday at Discovery Green and Hermann Park's Miller Outdoor Theater. But there's bound to be a plethora of people at the major parks all weekend as well. Our solution? Peruse the CultureMap CityGuide for some green space that's more off the beaten path.
- Be among the first to check out Dinosaurs! at the Houston Zoo, opening Saturday, where visitors can interact with animatronic T-Rexes, Stegosauruses, Triceratops and more, in leafy Jurassic Park-like settings.
- I guess no one told British electro-pop star La Roux that this is a bad weekend to perform stateside. But her bad timing is your good luck, catch this up-and-comer at House of Blues on Sunday night. Or if your musical tastes skew more American traditional, Foghat and Blue Oyster Cult will play Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday.
- Speaking of Sam Houston Race Park, they are celebrating Memorial Dollar Day, with admissions, programs, hot dogs, ice cream, draft beer and soda all for just $1 each.
- Break the barbecue monotony: Eddie V's Prime Seafood at CityCentre is holding an all-night happy hour promotion on Monday featuring $5 margaritas, mojitos and martinis; $2 off all drinks; specially priced apps; and $5 wine by the glass.
- Also on Monday, lacrosse fans (and those who want to meet lacrosse fans — do you feel me, ladeez?) are gathering at Buffalo Wild Wings in Midtown from 2-4:30 p.m. to watch the NCAA Men's Lacrosse final. Hosted by the Greater Houston Chapter of U.S. Lacrosse, soda is on the house, with beer and apps available. Fun fact: the game is the second-highest rated NCAA final game, following men's basketball (there is no official final in Division 1 college football of course).
Still not satisfied? Put on a swimsuit, and find a barbecue and a pool party. Happy Memorial Day!
