weekend event planner

Here are the top 16 things to do in Houston this weekend

This weekend, we have a bevy of anniversary parties, with a brewery celebrating its 30th anniversary and a monthly soul party celebrating its first. We also have the grand opening of a new cocktail lounge in River Oaks, another monthly block party in Midtown, Broadway shows starting up downtown, and movies about jazz coming out of the Museum District. Plus, some of the golf world’s biggest stars will be driving for show and putting for dough.

And if you feel like downing some rosé and taking a brief trip to the moon, you can also do that this weekend.

Here are this weekend's best bets.

Thursday, June 6

Mid Main Houston First Thursday Block Party
This month, Mid Main Houston's First Thursday Block Party will benefit nonprofit Camp For All. Check in and make a $10 donation for an all-access wristband for a block party that includes complimentary Saint Arnold beer and live music by Sam and the Cats and The Cactus Blossoms. This event features art shows by Lina Dib and Amber Kaiser, tarot readings by Amber Ambrose, local vendors on the Winbern Market, crafts at Double Trouble, and parties inside both Big Kat's Barber Shop and The Fashion Time Machine. 6 pm.

Wine & Food Week
Wine & Food Week celebrates the creativity and passion found in the heart of the wine and food industry, featuring hundreds of wines, scores of celebrity guests, and a list of fresh culinary faces. Special guest sommeliers and chefs include Guy Stout, Chris Shepherd, Carlos Ramos, Michael Cordua, Masaru Fukuda, Austin Simmons, and Fernando Desa. We also have fashion icon Chloe Dao, artists Kathy Womack and Shelbi Nicole, and more. Events include wine tastings and Saturday night’s Grand Tasting, where one chef will win $5,000. 6 pm (11:30 am Friday; 7 pm Saturday).

The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts presents Beyond Broadway: The Barricade Boys West End Party!
The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts welcomes musical theater phenomenon The Barricade Boys West End Party! to its new Beyond Broadway series. Stars from the West End cast of Les Misérables will wow audiences with a mix of music, dance, and backstage stories from Broadway’s greatest hits. The Barricade Boys are taking the world by storm with their show that will have the audience tapping their feet, belting out some favorite tunes, and grinning from ear to ear. 7 pm (7:30 pm Friday)

Memorial Hermann Broadway at Hobby Center presents Hairspray
It’s time to take in the Tony-winning, stage-musical version of John Waters’ breakthrough 1988 hit, which was also brought to the big screen in 2007. In 1960s Baltimore, 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad sets out to dance her way onto TV’s most popular show. Can a girl with big dreams (and even bigger hair) change the world? Hairspray features hit songs like “Welcome to the '60s,” “Good Morning Baltimore,” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat.” 7:30 pm (8 pm Friday; 2 & 8 pm Saturday; and 1:30 & 7 pm Sunday).

Friday, June 7

Golf Club of Houston presents LIV Golf Houston
The Golf Club of Houston will welcome many of golf’s biggest stars, including Texas native and Houston resident Patrick Reed, for a high-energy, fan-friendly tournament experience at LIV Golf Houston. LIV Golf’s international field also includes many of the sport’s biggest names, including 2023 Masters Champion Jon Rahm, five-time major champion and defending PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka, six-time major winner and World Golf Hall of Famer Phil Mickelson (HyFlyers GC), and more. 10 am.

Echoes 2-Year Anniversary Celebration
Popular live music bar and restaurant Echoes will celebrate its second anniversary this weekend. Echoes' birthday also happens to be Prince's birthday. The spot will pay tribute to the legendary musician and play Prince jams all night, courtesy of the one-and-only DJ Melodic. There will also be a special on the Prince Martini with Express Gin, Citadelle Gin, Skinos Mastiha Spirit Liqueur, and olive juice. Other drink and food specials will also take place throughout the night. 5 pm.

Moody Center for the Arts and Open Dance Project present Red Landscape: Georgia O’Keeffe in Texas 1912-1918
The Moody Center for the Arts at Rice University and Open Dance Project present an immersive dance theater performance devised by the ODP ensemble under the choreographic direction of Annie Arnoult. The performance surrounds audience members with a three-dimensional, multi-sensory collage of O’Keeffe’s memories and experiences in Texas. Through Saturday, June 15. 7 and 9 pm (3 and 5 pm Sunday).

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Jazz on Film
Jazz on Film features three weekends of special screenings celebrating the rich and varied intersections of jazz and cinema. Organized by guest curator Peter Lucas, this year’s program features the Houston premiere of the new documentary on bossa nova pioneers, Elis and Tom from Roberto de Oliveira and Jom Tob Azulay; Bruce Weber’s Let’s Get Lost (1988); and a special 50th anniversary screening of Sun Ra’s Space Is the Place (1974). 7 pm.

Fancy’s Grand Opening
Fancy’s, River Oaks’ new, buzzy cocktail lounge, is set to celebrate its grand opening this weekend. The Clé Group’s newest concept features craft cocktails along with fine wines, champagne, shareable bites, and a variety of live music acts. Festivities kick off with The Eliza Budiman Band, ready to give the people everything from Motown to French jazz to funky-old school favorites to forgotten pop treasures. The party will continue throughout the evening, followed by a DJ until 2 am. 8 pm.

Saturday, June 8

Montgomery County Food Bank presents Outrun Hunger
Join the fight against hunger by participating in Montgomery County Food Bank's annual Outrun Hunger event, featuring a 5K Trail Run and 1K Color Dash. The event will include music, food trucks, photo ops, a kids zone, and more. The proceeds benefit Montgomery County Food Bank's programs for children, seniors, and families facing hunger in Montgomery County. All ages and experience levels are encouraged to attend this family-friendly event. 8 am.

Rosé All Day Brunch at The Annie Café & Bar
Yes, it’s that time of year when we celebrate that beautiful elixir known as rosé. Celebrate National Rosé Day with a Rosé All Day Brunch at The Annie Café & Bar. Grab your friends, don your pink, and join in for a three-course brunch and rosé pairing at $90 per person. Don’t miss tunes by DJ Foxxy Kay, a festive photo opp wall, and a raffle to win a cool prize. The regular brunch menu will also be available. Reservations are recommended. 11 am.

Saint Arnold 30th Anniversary Party
To celebrate three decades of brewing in Houston, Saint Arnold Brewing Company will be throwing one helluva 30th anniversary party. It’ll be a day to toast the amazing culture of H-Town. With a goal of crafting the most Houston-centric music lineup, Devin the Dude, Kam Franklin, Robert Ellis, and Fat Tony will perform a set of their own before closing out the evening together with a collaboration performance as The Houston Super Group. 2 pm.

The Menil Collection presents Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood
In conjunction with the Menil Collection's foyer installation: “Moon Landing, 1969” by Japanese-born conceptual artist On Kawara (1932–2014), the museum will present Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood, a 2022 animated coming-of-age film from director Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused, Boyhood), set in Houston in 1969 during the events preceding the Apollo 11 moon landing. The screening will take place on the Menil's front lawn and is co-presented with the Friends of River Oaks Theatre. 8 pm.

Sunday, June 9

Community Artists' Collective presents Legacy Project and “BLACK STEREO” opening reception
Community Artists’ Collective, Community Music Center of Houston, and Hogan Brown Gallery will present the annual Legacy Project, a month-long celebration of Black Music Month. The Legacy Project honors local and national individuals' contributions to music. “BLACK STEREO” is a collaboration between artist Tierney Malone, Community Artists’ Collective, and Community Music Center of Houston. After the reception, music of the Third Ward will be performed by H-Town Orchestra. Through Sunday, August 11. 3 pm.

East End Soul Club First Anniversary
Let’s congratulate veteran DJ Stewart A. Anderson (A Fistful of Soul) for keeping East End Soul Club, his monthly musical gathering, going strong over at Lil’ Danny Speedo’s Go Fly a Kite Lounge for a year now. He’ll be celebrating with a first anniversary record sale. Anderson will be spinning “the slow side of soul” along with special guest DJ/former Fistful collaborator Alex LaRotta. Ethan Broussard and Henry Smith, aka pop-up culinary duo Letiche, will be cooking out on the patio. 4 pm.

Todd Rundgren in concert
Todd Rundgren will always be a legend for giving people “Hello It’s Me,” a song which was soulfully covered by The Isley Brothers. But he also gave us such gems as “I Saw The Light,” the only song that has been covered by Jason Schwartzman, Rashida Jones, and Maya Rudolph on Bill Murray’s A Very Murray Christmas special, which dropped on Netflix in 2015. Anyway, he’s coming down to play most of his classic tunes, as well as tracks from his latest, 2022’s Space Force. 7 pm.

Photo by Shane Dante

Fancy's celebrates its grand opening this weekend.

event-planner

instead of dinner

7 off-beat Valentine’s Day date ideas for couples in Houston

Photo courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge

Great Wolf Lodge in Webster is hosting an adults-only Valentine's Day event that includes a 30-minute lazy river float with champagne and dessert.

From the weight of expectations to dashed engagement dreams, Valentine’s Day can lose its luster long after the flush of receiving folded, cartoon-covered Valentines from our Kindergarten classmates. If you’re considering calling it quits instead of braving one of Houston’s fine dining establishments this Valentine’s Day, don’t give up just yet. From floating in salt-saturated pools to belting out tunes under the stars, here are seven unique ways to celebrate love in Houston.

Photo courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge

Great Wolf Lodge in Webster is hosting an adults-only Valentine's Day event that includes a 30-minute lazy river float with champagne and dessert.

Altered States Wellness: Ultimate Date Night
For a more relaxing Valentine’s Day that focuses on health rather than chocolate, consider Altered States Wellness’ Ultimate Date Night. The date begins with a private float therapy session, where couples relax side-by-side in salt-saturated water, said to help reduce stress and anxiety. After, couples can enjoy charcuterie and champagne with other romantic notes in a private themed lounge. The Ultimate Date Night starts at $370, with add-ons available, including a Galentine’s package for four people at $600. Altered States Wellness is located in Vintage Park, and is open daily from 10 am-8 pm.

Botonica: L’amour Noir Pop-Up
An ode to Paris’ famed Moulin Rouge, L’amour Noir is a more intimate experience than Botonica’s other seasonal pop-ups such as the Cursed Cauldron, limited to only the 35-seat upstairs bar. Alas, Ewan McGregor will not be serenading Nicole Kidman in this version of Moulin Rouge, but attendees will be treated to a variety performance on Valentine’s Day featuring cabaret, drag, and boylesque. Tickets are $45 each and include a welcome cocktail. Doors open at 9 pm for the V-Day performance, with the show beginning at 9:30 pm. L’Amour Noir is February 6-21 at Botonica.

Great Wolf Lodge: Romance on the River
The kids may sulk, but only the parents can soak at the Great Wolf Lodge’s Romance on the River on February 14. This is the indoor water park resort’s first foray into an adults-only luxury dining experience, with the one-night only offer of a five-course lobster dinner and wine pairing in a private cabana. Dessert and champagne is enjoyed while floating in a double-tube around the resort’s lazy river filled with rose petals and floating candles and at a balmy 84 degrees. Romance on the River is $300 per couple, $400 with wine pairings.

Houston Museum of Natural Science: Atoms and Attractions
It’s easy to find a fellow nerd to fall in love with at the Houston Museum of Natural Science’s Atoms and Attractions party. Slip on a red, yellow, or green bracelet to indicate your relationship status before exploring all there is to offer, including a dance floor with DJs, karaoke in the planetarium, and “Pride and Prejudice" on a loop in the theatre. Nothing says “I love you” like strolling amidst dinosaur bones with a themed cocktail in hand. The Atoms and Attractions event is Friday, February 13, from 7-11 pm. Tickets are $30 for members and $35 for the public.

POST: Valentine’s Market for Makers
Get crafty with your crush at POST during the Valentine’s Market for Makers. The two-day event brings together more than 100 vendors to peruse, with free photo ops and food and drink for purchase. Patrons can stretch their imagination at the DIY station by creating a handmade keepsake. This is a Valentine's activity for the whole family, with free entry for kids under 12. After all that shopping, why not make a true commitment to everlasting love and stop by the BARC adoption event also held that Saturday at POST. The Valentine’s Market for Makers is February 14-15 from 11 am-5 pm, with tickets ranging from $6-$20.

Velocity Sim Lounge
Make your beloved passenger princess’ heart flutter with a stint at Velocity - Sim Racing Lounge. Velocity’s new two-person simulator lets one lover in the driver’s seat while the other rides shotgun, with the choice to switch spots. The Sawyer Yards racing spot has two deals for lovebirds: Speed Date ($99) consists of a 30-minute simulator race, two drink tickets, and two entrees, while the Double Date ($135) extends the exhilaration to a full hour in the driver’s seat. The specials run February 13-16, and Velocity - Sim Racing Lounge is open Friday from 12 pm - 12 am, Saturday-Sunday from 11 am-12 am, and Monday from 2-11 pm.

Meow Wolf Radio Tave: GRAFFITI with GONZO
Couples that learn together, stay together — especially if that something is as cool as the art of graffiti. On Valentine’s Day weekend, Meow Wolf guests can participate in a 90-minute, hands-on graffiti session with Houston artist Mario Enrique Figueroa, Jr., aka GONZO247. Tickets are available for couples ($222) and singles ($114), and include Meow Wolf admission, the workshop, materials, two drinks per person, and light bites. GRAFFITI with GONZO is Thursday, February 13, and Friday, February 14, from 3- 6 pm.

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