We won't blame anyone who gets butterflies this weekend — the whole city will, as a beloved butterfly centers spreads its wings again. Foodie alert: Some tasty food events pop up all around town, while boss babes, plants, rodeo, and wellness all vie for your attention at weekend markets and events.

Meanwhile, revelers can raise a glass to St. Patrick downtown, as a cool destination celebrates the day a week early. Enjoy; here are you best bets for the weekend.

Thursday, March 9

Burger Bodega & Craft Pita Cheeseburger Pita Collab

Houston restaurants Burger Bodega and Craft Pita are teaming up to make a special edition cheeseburger pita. The pita consists of a smashed kafta patty, akawi cheese, Lebanese pickles, grilled onions, and Harlem aioli sauce. The pita will only be available for one day. The collaboration is part of a series that Burger Bodega will host with guest chefs in Houston. Chef Rafael Nasr of Craft Pita will be the first Houston chef to collaborate with Burger Bodega’s Abbas Dhanani. 11 am.

Paul John Whisky Dinner Pairing at Musaafer

Paul John Indian Whisky returns to Musaafer for an exclusive dinner pairing by chef Mayank Istwal. The second edition of this annual dinner boasts six courses, each carefully complemented with a variety of specialty selections from the award-winning family of whiskies made on the Arabian coast of India. The menu will take dining back to the basics with traditional Indian classics like kebabs, curries, and biryanis to savor with the whisky. The special event will begin with a cocktail hour followed by a six-course dinner. 6:30 pm.

Curiosity Lab & Theater presents Now That You've Seen Me Naked

Drs. Percy Hinks and Adelaide Hibble are trying to win the Nobel Prize for a formula that reveals the mysterious love code. With a team of interns who reluctantly must act out various relationship scenarios to collect data, Hibble and Hinks want to prove they are legitimate researchers and not what their colleagues refer to as loony “mad scientists.” This production features hilarious, original, memorable songs and scenes that cover everything from fairytales to performance art. 7 pm (8 pm Friday; 3 & 8 pm Saturday; 3 pm Sunday).

Friday, March 10

Bridgeland presents Friday Night Bites

Bridgeland, one of the top-selling, master-planned communities in Texas, celebrates the first Friday Night Bites of 2023 this weekend. The event will feature an assortment of Houston-area food trucks and family-friendly activations, including multiple art stations, inflatables, lawn games, and live entertainment from Good Time Muffin. Guests can enjoy a diverse line-up of savory dishes from Houston favorites, including Kaow, Skye Café, Heffernan, Loaded Potato, Araguaney, Sabines and Zaab Thai. 6 pm.

Cockrell Butterfly Center Reopening at Houston Museum of Natural Science

Science “springs” to life at the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS), with a museum member preview of the Cockrell Butterfly Center’s grand reopening. Explore the recently renovated rainforest conservatory and speak with Cockrell Butterfly Center manager Lauren Davidson. Or, join in the fun later on in the evening with special events including crafts, food trucks, cash bars, and endless strolls among the butterflies. Guests will even have the opportunity to release a live butterfly into its new home. 6:30 pm.

Performing Arts Houston presents Ragamala Dance Company: The Fires of Varanasi

The Fires of Varanasi is a large-scale, multidisciplinary dance work in which the choreographers (Ranee, Aparna & Ashwini Ramaswamy - mother and daughter) explore the liminal spaces in the birth-death-rebirth continuum to understand human experiences of migration - physical, cultural, emotional. French light/set designer/art director Willy Cessa has created a multi-sensory experience, while New Delhi-based visual artist Manav Gupta has designed a large-scale stage installation. 7:30 pm.

Houston Symphony presents Brahms Piano Concerto 1 & Dvořák 8

Dvořák’s enchanting Symphony No. 8 invites listeners on a sun-drenched jaunt through nature’s endless charms, and the result is joyous, uplifting, and life-affirming. Surging with youthful fire, tender passion, and thunderous power, Brahms’s Piano Concerto No. 1 looms large as one of music history’s most monumental and stunning creative achievements. Pianist Stephen Hough joins Jonathon Heyward and the orchestra, and the concerts open with Carlos’s Simon’s Beethoven-inspired Fate Now Conquers. 8 pm (2:30 pm Sunday).

Saturday, March 11

Wellfest at CITYCENTRE

CITYCENTRE will be welcoming guests this weekend to its first-ever Wellfest— a full day of approachable workouts, wellness events, and sustainable shopping in partnership with Life Time and Epic-Cycles. An event focused on bringing the community together through movement and wellness, Wellfest is free & open to anyone on any fitness journey. Guests can make their way around the plaza and experience such wellness vendors as juice and smoothie samples, massage therapists, kids programs and more. 8 am.

Houston St. Patrick’s Parade and Celebration

Even though the actual day is next Friday, POST is hosting a day full of events to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Enjoy a day full of games, food, Irish performances, drinks, and the St. Patty's Day parade, which will start and conclude at POST. There will also be bagpipe performances, an outdoor flea market, a live DJ, and more. And let’s not forget the Seltzerland festival, where attendees can spend the afternoon tasting 100+ unique hard seltzers. This event is free and open to the public of all ages. 11 am.

HTX Boss Babes Spring Fest

HTX Boss Babes and amenity-rich environment The Ion is excited to celebrate Women's History Month this March. They have curated a fun festival with 50+ women-owned businesses, including State Line Designs, Miradela, Maverick Parties, Bear Cub Leather Goods, Chauncey and Coco, A Pop of Literacy, Herr Apparel and Pristan Boutique. This festival will be a fun opportunity to shop local vendors, enjoy a lineup of female DJs and take fun photos in the installs around the Ion. 11 am.

7th Annual Hootenanny at Eureka Heights Brew Co.

It's rodeo season, which means it's time for Eureka Heights Brew Co.’s annual hootenanny. Dust off your brand-new cowboy boots and get ready for some daytime two-stepping. Country music recording artists Libby Koch and The Dealers will be coming back to perform. Their collection of originals and covers is sure to pair well with beer and BBQ. There will also be local artisan vendors, games and the glorious return of Golden Buckle, Eureka Heights’ infamous mosaic cream ale.

Sunday, March 12

Spring Forward Houston Plant Market at M-K-T

Spring forward into the season of growth and renewal with Houston Plant Market. Enjoy an open-air market featuring Houston's finest growers, gardeners, artisans, crafters, and more. Support local vendors with a variety of items including honey, candles, jewelry, and so many other goodies. And don’t forget to head to the Heart of Hou Community tent for a Springtime Scavenger Hunt adventure around M-K-T, featuring prizes from Sweetgreen, Solidcore, Union Studio Yoga, Treadwell, Cariloha, Go Easy, and Houston Botanic Garden. Noon.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents "Pipilotti Rist: Pixel Forest and Worry Will Vanish" opening day

The MFAH continues its series of grand-scale, immersive presentations with this special experience, This brings together two works from the Museum’s collections: Pixel Forest, an installation of thousands of hanging LED lights; and Worry Will Vanish, a video projection that takes viewers on a dreamlike journey through the natural landscape, the human body, and the heavens. The presentation transforms the vast, central gallery of Cullinan Hall into a cosmic destination. Through Monday, September 4. 12:30 pm.

Abstract Turntablism Workshop for Adults - The Language of Chance

Learn from artist DJ and The Orange Show artist-in-residence Maria Chavez (who will do a DJ set at Orange on Friday night) about the concepts around abstract turntablism. Get a hands-on opportunity to use turntables and vinyl records as instruments from Maria Chavez. Participants will learn about Chavez’ equipment and practice and create their own variations on the form. Participants are also invited to perform a solo abstract turntablism piece at the residency-closing recital on March 17. $10 per participant. 1 pm.