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

Star TV producer James L. Brooks stumbles with meandering movie Ella McCay

Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios

Emma Mackey in Ella McCay.

The impact that writer/director/producer James L. Brooks has made on Hollywood cannot be understated. The 85-year-old created The Mary Tyler Moore Show, personally won three Oscars for Terms of Endearment, and was one of the driving forces behind The Simpsons, among many other credits. Now, 15 years after his last movie, he’s back in the directing chair with Ella McCay.

The similarly-named Emma Mackey plays Ella, a 34-year-old lieutenant governor of an unnamed state in 2008 who’s on the verge of becoming governor when Governor Bill (Albert Brooks) gets picked to be a member of the president’s Cabinet. What should be a happy time is sullied by her needy husband, Ryan (Jack Lowden), her agoraphobic brother, Casey (Spike Fearn), and her perpetually-cheating father, Eddie (Woody Harrelson).

Despite the trio of men competing to bring her down, Ella remains an unapologetic optimist, an attitude bolstered by her aunt Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis), her assistant Estelle (Julie Kavner), and her police escort, Trooper Nash (Kumail Nanjiani). The film follows her over a few days as she navigates the perils of governing, the distractions her family brings, and the expectations being thrust upon her by many different people.

Brooks, who wrote and directed the film, is all over the place with his storytelling. What at first seems to be a straightforward story about Ella and her various issues soon starts meandering into areas that, while related to Ella, don’t make the film better. Prime among them are her brother and father, who are given a relatively small amount of screentime in comparison to the importance they have in her life. This is compounded by a confounding subplot in which Casey tries to win back his girlfriend, Susan (Ayo Edebiri).

Then there’s the whole political side of the story, which never finds its focus and is stuck in the past. Though it’s never stated explicitly, Ella and Governor Bill appear to be Democrats, especially given a signature program Ella pushes to help mothers in need. But if Brooks was trying to provide an antidote to the current real world politics, he doesn’t succeed, as Ella’s full goals are never clear. He also inexplicably shows her boring her fellow lawmakers to tears, a strange trait to give the person for whom the audience is supposed to be rooting.

What saves the movie from being an all-out train wreck is the performances of Mackey and Curtis. Mackey, best known for the Netflix show Sex Education, has an assured confidence to her that keeps the character interesting and likable even when the story goes downhill. Curtis, who has tended to go over-the-top with her roles in recent years, tones it down, offering a warm place of comfort for Ella to turn to when she needs it. The two complement each other very well and are the best parts of the movie by far.

Brooks puts much more effort into his female actors, including Kavner, who, even though she serves as an unnecessary narrator, gets most of the best laugh lines in the film. Harrelson is capable of playing a great cad, but his character here isn’t fleshed out enough. Fearn is super annoying in his role, and Lowden isn’t much better, although that could be mostly due to what his character is called to do. Were it not for the always-great Brooks and Nanjiani, the movie might be devoid of good male performances.

Brooks has made many great TV shows and movies in his 60+ year career, but Ella McCay is a far cry from his best. The only positive that comes out of it is the boosting of Mackey, who proves herself capable of not only leading a film, but also elevating one that would otherwise be a slog to get through.

---

Ella McCay opens in theaters on December 12.

movies film

Your Endless Summer Place

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

Eclectic comfort food restaurant to shutter after 21 years in Houston

Airbnb pledges over $1 million to improve Houston before World Cup

Houston chef's hip new Italian restaurant now open in Heights hotel

Movie Review

Star TV producer James L. Brooks stumbles with meandering movie Ella McCay