Your Endless Summer Place

Concerts + classes make City Place Houston’s go-to for endless summer fun

This summer, north Houston is heating up — but not just because of the weather. City Place is turning up the fun with a season full of outdoor events, family adventures, spontaneous surprises, and plenty of ways to relax and recharge.

Whether you're planning a weekend getaway, a date night, or just looking for something different to do with the kids, City Place is your "Endless Summer Place" that's packed with reasons to visit again and again.

Live music, free yoga, and all-ages entertainment

When the sun goes down, the good vibes turn up. Hot Nights, Cool Grooves — City Place’s signature summer concert series — returns to the Plaza with two must-attend evenings on July 12 and August 2. Think live music, cool cocktails, and a lively atmosphere that’s perfect for dancing under the stars.

City Place yoga Photo courtesy of City Place

Looking to keep things a bit more grounded? Roll out your mat and take a deep breath. Free yoga sessions on the City Place Plaza offer a peaceful, rejuvenating break from the hustle. These all-levels classes take full advantage of the beautiful outdoor setting and don’t require registration.

Creativity for kids and surprises around every corner

Families, take note: City Place has made sure even the youngest visitors are entertained, engaged, and inspired. Partnering with Young Audiences of Houston, City Place is offering a rotating schedule of free creative workshops, interactive performances, and hands-on classes that encourage imagination and self-expression.

And just when you think you’ve seen it all, surprise pop-ups keep things exciting. From the quirky, colorful Fun Bus and video game trailers to interactive installations like Texas Bubblers, you never know what unexpected delight you might stumble upon during your visit.

City Place Texas Bubblers Photo courtesy of City Place

Young adventurers can also catch a Mr. Leo puppet show, get their energy out on the Plaza’s open lawn during a friendly soccer game, or simply take a shady break under the trees with a frozen treat from a nearby café.

Nature meets art in a lush urban oasis

One of City Place’s most charming features is how it blends the beauty of the outdoors with curated cultural experiences. Meander through winding nature trails, explore art installations, or lounge on a shaded patch of grass as a gentle breeze rolls in from the water.

And don’t worry about leaving the pup at home: City Place is dog-friendly, with plenty of green space for wagging tails and happy paws.

Photo courtesy of City Place

Dine, shop, stay — it’s all here

Need a bite after all that exploring? City Place’s dining scene offers something for every taste, from craveable tacos to fresh sushi to upscale bistros.

Pair a stroll through the waterfront promenade with a patio brunch or gather your crew for sunset cocktails and bites.

And when the day winds down, you don’t have to go far to keep the magic going. Three premier hotels offer the perfect overnight retreat.

Houston City Place Marriott hotel Photo courtesy of City Place

Photo courtesy of City Place

Let a fun day stretch into the evening.

These include the AAA Four Diamond Marriott (recently named a 2024 U.S. News Gold Badge Winner), Residence Inn Houston City Place, and Courtyard Houston City Place. Each hotel features outdoor pools, state-of-the-art fitness centers, and direct access to City Place’s trails, events, and dining options, making it easy to turn a quick visit into a full-on summer staycation.

Endless summer awaits

From free entertainment and interactive programming to serene nature trails and high-end hotel stays, City Place is the ultimate summer destination without ever leaving Houston. Every visit offers a new way to unwind, discover, and connect—with yourself, with your loved ones, and with a community that knows how to do summer right.

So whether you're drawn in by live music, guided by your yoga flow, chasing bubbles with your kids, or simply sipping something cold in the shade, know this: at City Place, the summer fun truly never ends.

Movie Review

Michelle Pfeiffer visits Houston in new Christmas movie Oh. What. Fun.

Photo courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios

Michelle Pfeiffer in Oh. What. Fun.

Of all the formulaic movie genres, Christmas/holiday movies are among the most predictable. No matter what the problem is that arises between family members, friends, or potential romantic partners, the stories in holiday movies are designed to give viewers a feel-good ending even if the majority of the movie makes you feel pretty bad.

That’s certainly the case in Oh. What. Fun., in which Michelle Pfeiffer plays Claire, an underappreciated mom living in Houston with her inattentive husband, Nick (Denis Leary). As the film begins, her three children are arriving back home for Christmas: The high-strung Channing (Felicity Jones) is married to the milquetoast Doug (Jason Schwartzman); the aloof Taylor (Chloë Grace Moretz) brings home yet another new girlfriend; and the perpetual child Sammy (Dominic Sessa) has just broken up with his girlfriend.

Each of the family members seems to be oblivious to everything Claire does for them, especially when it comes to what she really wants: For them to nominate her to win a trip to see a talk show in L.A. hosted by Zazzy Tims (Eva Longoria). When she accidentally gets left behind on a planned outing to see a show, Claire reaches her breaking point and — in a kind of Home Alone in reverse — she decides to drive across the country to get to the show herself.

Written and directed by Michael Showalter (The Idea of You), and co-written by Chandler Baker (who wrote the short story on which the film is based), the movie never establishes any kind of enjoyable rhythm. Each of the characters, including competitive neighbor Jeanne (Joan Chen), is assigned a character trait that becomes their entire personality, with none of them allowed to evolve into something deeper.

The filmmakers lean hard into the idea that Claire is a person who always puts her family first and receives very little in return, but the evidence presented in the story is sketchy at best. Every situation shown in the film is so superficial that tension barely exists, and the (over)reactions by Claire give her family members few opportunities to make up for their failings.

The most interesting part of the movie comes when Claire actually makes it to the Zazzy Sims show. Even though what happens there is just as unbelievable as anything else presented in the story, Showalter and Baker concoct a scene that allows Claire and others to fully express the central theme of the film, and for a few minutes the movie actually lives up to its title.

Pfeiffer, given her first leading role since 2020’s French Exit, is a somewhat manic presence, and her thick Texas accent and unnecessary voiceover don’t do her any favors. It seems weird to have such a strong supporting cast with almost nothing of substance to do, but almost all of them are wasted, including Danielle Brooks in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo. The lone exception is Longoria, who is a blast in the few scenes she gets.

Oh. What. Fun. is far from the first movie to try and fail at becoming a new holiday classic, but the pedigree of Showalter and the cast make this dismal viewing experience extra disappointing. Ironically, overworked and underappreciated moms deserve a much better story than the one this movie delivers.

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Oh. What. Fun. is now streaming on Prime Video.

movies film