It's Outside Weather

Now is the perfect time to go on a fall 'park crawl' in downtown Houston

Festivals, food, and cooler temperatures make downtown Houston the perfect place to celebrate the changing seasons.

With great restaurants, coffee bars, and pubs, downtown offers some of the city’s best parks to enjoy and explore. Outdoor festivals, fall markets, inspiring public art, unique and scenic spots are accessible at parks located in the heart of the city.

Whether you are looking for a peaceful retreat, a place to reconnect with nature, or entertaining activities for the family, you can find it at a downtown park. You'll even find it's easy to take a scenic stroll between several downtown parks.

You may already be familiar with some of the more prominent parks — others, not so much — but all are worth taking the time to discover and experience their unique vibes, especially in such nice weather.

Trebly Park Houston yoga Can you imagine a more perfect Saturday morning than yoga in Trebly Park?Photo by Egidio Narvaez and Egidio Narvaez Photography

An ideal fall morning might begin with coffee at Tout Suite cafe in Trebly Park before perusing art installations at Market Square.

If a trip to the Theater District is on your agenda, pack a picnic lunch to share at Lynn Wyatt Square, then consider heading to Discovery Green to paddle a kayak or let the little ones explore kid-friendly playscapes.

To end the day, how about watching a beautiful Texas sunset from Sam Houston Park? No matter where you decide to start or end the day, here are a few suggestions to get you started on your fall park crawl.

Discovery Green
1500 McKinney St.

As one of the city’s most iconic parks, there is always something exciting happening at Discovery Green.

In addition to year-round features like public art installations, kid-friendly playscapes, a lake with kayaks, a nighttime flea market, and other live entertainment, a number of exciting fall-related activities are scheduled this year.

Bring a blanket or lawn chairs for family movie night under the stars, as Screen on the Green showcases The Nightmare Before Christmas the evening of Friday, October 24. Then, the following Saturday evening, October 25, take part in an annual favorite: Scream on the Green, which includes a costume contest followed by a showing of Beetlejuice.

Everyone is invited to join in the observance of Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, on Sunday, November 2. This year’s unforgettable tribute will include live musical performances, a Latin Market, and a community altar created by Houston artist Angel Quesada. And, of course, fall is not complete without a pumpkin festival in the park, featuring the world’s largest bouncy pumpkin, a corn pit, and more than a dozen Instagrammable pumpkin-related photo ops. Don’t delay — the pumpkin fun runs through November 2.

Market Square Park
301 Milam St.

If you are looking for fitness with some funk, then Fitbreak: Hip-Hop Dance Fitness may be just what you need on Tuesday evenings. If that’s not your speed, try Relax & Restore exercise classes, on Monday evenings, for a more therapeutic session. Unwind, recharge, reconnect, at these free classes throughout November — don’t forget your mat, towel and water bottle!

Market Square Park Houston Blanket Bingo Spread out for Blanket Bingo at Market Square Park.Photo by Egidio Narvaez and Egidio Narvaez Photography

For those who love Bingo, how about spicing up your Thursday evenings with Blanket Bingo? A $10 donation helps benefit the park. In honor of Dia de los Muertos, Bingo-goers are offered a free on-site photo printing as a tribute to loved ones on October 30. Be sure to make it back to Market Square on October 31 to celebrate with mariachi, ballet folklorico, face painting, interactive art, and cultural workshops at Una Noche en Market Square Park.

Movies Under the Stars gets two thumbs up with must-see classics like Lilo & Stitch and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Grab your loved ones and bring them by the park on Thursdays from 8-10 pm.

There are also board and lawn games available to play all day, any day, at the park.

Trebly Park
1515 Fannin St.

Downtown’s newest green space, Trebly Park, offers a number of ways to savor the sunshine while also getting fit throughout the fall season. On Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings in November, Flow & Breath sessions invite you to find your inner yogi and perfect your shavasana.

Watch free family-friendly movies on Thursday evenings, then, on Friday, October 31, celebrate Dia de los Muertos with a screening of the movie Coco. If you are into games, you’re in luck — every day you can find board or lawn games to play at Trebly from 11 am until 9 pm.

Trebly Park Houston dog park Bring your furry friends to Yappy Hour at Trebly Park.Photo by Egidio Narvaez and Egidio Narvaez Photography

Trebly Park is also the ideal place to hang out with your fur baby. The park’s Yappy Hour offers special activities designed especially for you and your four-legged companion on Friday evenings throughout the fall season.

Lynn Wyatt Square
601 Capital St.

This 1.5-acre park located in the center of downtown's Theater District offers theatergoers and patrons of the arts a way to enjoy the outdoors before or after a performance or show.

As Houston’s gateway to culture, this intimate green space is the site of gardens, water features, unique seating, and a performance lawn for concerts and other free programming. Take a walk, plan a lunch, and embrace the creative energy at Lynn Wyatt Square.

Sam Houston Park
1000 Bagby St.

This park offers a glimpse of Houston’s fascinating past while also providing a scenic place to appreciate nature, green space, and art.

Tour the historic homes in Sam Houston Park, or just enjoy the nature. Photo by\u00a0Lance Childers/Houston First Corporation

Ten historic homes from 1820 through the early 1900s have been restored by The Heritage Society and are available for tours. Activities include home tours, exhibits, interactive art installations, speakers, lunch-and-learns, and much more.

This fall, The Heritage Society will host a Dia de los Muertos Festival and parade November 1, from 4-11 pm. A pre-celebration of Navy Fleet Week in Houston is scheduled for Wednesday, October 22, at 6 pm featuring Erik Eriksson with Port Houston. The combination of history and nature makes Sam Houston Park a unique city treasure.

Trebly Park Houston Dia de los Muertos Several of the parks are celebrating Dia de los Muertos.Photo by Egidio Narvaez and Egidio Narvaez Photography

Photo by Egidio Narvaez and Egidio Narvaez Photography

Celebrate Dia de los Muertos at Trebly Park with a screening of the movie Coco.

Allen’s Landing on Buffalo Bayou
1019 Commerce St.

Considered the site of Houston’s birthplace, Allen’s Landing — at the confluence of Buffalo Bayou and White Oak Bayou — is the place where brothers August and John Allen stepped ashore in 1836.

This scenic spot, once the city’s original port, now offers trails for walking, hiking, biking, and beautiful views of the downtown skyline. This is the perfect place for relaxing and enjoying the views as you imagine Houston’s early years before skyscrapers and freeways.

Click here for additional downtown parks and green spaces.

Navigating downtown

Walking is the best way to navigate downtown and feel the magic of H-Town. With the cooler temperatures, it’s easy and healthy — simply park the car, put on your most comfortable shoes, and get to stepping!

Public transportation

You might also consider one of the public transit options to easily get around downtown: Buses, METRORail, or the Community Connector.

The METRORail Green and Purple Line trains run from east downtown in the Convention Center District, which includes Discovery Green, to west downtown, which includes the Theater District and is only a short walk to Sam Houston Park.

The METRORail Red Line connects you with Market Square Park in the Historic District and Trebly Park.

METRO now offers a free, on-demand microtransit service in downtown and nearby neighborhoods: the Community Connector. This new initiative provides access to fill in gaps in public transportation and uses climate-friendly, electric vehicles that are available on-demand through the downloadable Ride Circuit app.

Parking

In addition to downtown street parking, which is free after 6 pm Monday-Friday and all day on Sundays, visitors can park in the underground Theater District Parking Garage that is connected to several performing arts venues and Lynn Wyatt Square park.

Additionally, on the east side of downtown near Discovery Green, there are Avenida North, Avenida South, and Avenida Central garages available daily.

Head over to VisitHouston.com for more information on downtown parking.

Dining + entertainment

Find out more on downtown restaurants, performing arts, entertainment, nightlife, and upcoming events at VisitHouston.com.

Make it a weekend stay

After enjoying and exploring downtown’s parks, perhaps you don't want the adventure to end. Consider making it a weekend getaway and continue the adventure! Check out the exciting stays in downtown Houston at VisitHouston.com.

To always be in the know, follow and tag @Visit_Houston. Be sure to use the hashtags #ExploreHou and #VisitHouston in your photos from your downtown fall park crawl!

parks discovery green market square park trebly park lynn wyatt square sam houston park buffalo bayou downtown houston downtown houston parks downtown houston parking downtown houston restaurants promoted

Movie Review

Clichéd rom-com You, Me & Tuscany can't get by on Italian charm alone

Photo by Giulia Parmigiani/Universal Pictures

Halle Bailey and Regé-Jean Page in You, Me & Tuscany.

The romantic comedy has become an endangered species in movie theaters, as most of those that are released these days go to streamers like Netflix. While there have been a few recent successful rom-coms in theaters, they are few and far between. All of which is to say that a movie like the new You, Me & Tuscany faces an uphill battle before it’s even released.

Halle Bailey (The Little Mermaid) stars as Anna, a former culinary school student who’s struggling in the wake of her mother's death. When she has a chance meeting with an Italian man named Matteo (Lorenzo de Moor) in New York, her dream of going to the Italian region of Tuscany is reignited. Using her last $500 and a plane ticket her mom bought her, she makes her way to Italy looking for an adventure.

With nowhere to stay and knowing Matteo’s villa is unoccupied, she finds a key and makes herself at home. When she finds an engagement ring soon before she’s discovered by Matteo’s family, she decides to pretend to be his fiancée. The more time she spends with them, the bigger the lie becomes, especially when she starts falling for Matteo’s adopted brother, Michael (Regé-Jean Page).

Directed by Kat Coiro and written by husband-and-wife team Ryan and Kristin Engle, the film at times feels like it’s not even trying to be good. While the set-up of the premise is okay, the story quickly turns into an eye-rolling mess when Anna shows up in Italy. Not one bit of the character’s story is believable, and even though Michael catches her in an early lie, every member of the family accepts her at face value despite the abundant red flags.

Of course, many rom-coms are not based in reality, and the filmmakers lean into the genre’s tropes, almost as if they were saying, “We know this makes no sense - just roll with it!” Surprisingly, the gambit works for the most part, as the odd pairing of an American woman, an English-Italian man, and his fully Italian family is enjoyable despite the many groan-worthy moments they produce. The sweet way in which the family brings in a woman still going through grief almost balances out the shoddy way in which the story is told.

Naturally, there are precisely zero surprises about where the plot is heading, as Anna and Michael grow closer despite knowing they should resist the other. Strangely, though, the filmmakers don’t go all-in on the budding relationship, choosing to slow-roll things save for one notable sexy scene in a vineyard. Coiro and the Engles play up the family aspect as much as the romance aspect, and that choice allows the film to survive for longer than it should have.

Bailey, a singer-turned-actor, has not yet found her stride on the acting side of things. Her line deliveries are often stilted and her timing is off in key moments. This doesn’t help her chemistry with older Page, who seems to be getting by on vibes and looks alone. The most enjoyable actors in the film are all Italian, including Marco Calvani, Isabella Ferrari, and Paolo Sassanelli.

There are glimpses of a fully successful film in You, Me & Tuscany, enough to keep it watchable for its entire 104-minute running time. But then they have the Italian grandmother say a gobsmacking line like “If you wanna tap-a that ass, you should tap-a that ass,” and you remember exactly what type of film you’re watching.

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You, Me & Tuscany opens in theaters on April 10.

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