BETTER WITH BESTIES

Ultimate Houston Galentine's Day Guide: 10 ways to celebrate friendship

Move over, Valentine's Day — there's a different holiday in town, and it's all about the gals. Thanks to Parks and Recreation's beloved Leslie Knope, Galentine's Day has become the ultimate excuse to ditch romance and celebrate besties everywhere. Since its debut just 14 years ago, this February 13 tradition has exploded, and the Bayou City is fully embracing it.

Whether it's floral workshops, heart dissections (yes, really), or belting out Taylor Swift lyrics, the city is serving up fun and unique ways to honor friendship. There's no shortage of entertaining and downright delicious ways to make this Galentine's Day one to remember. As for that other holiday, don't miss CultureMap's picks for quirky Valentine's Day dates and more than 20 Houston restaurants serving special Valentine's Day menus.

Eat, shop, and support small businesses at the Texas Bonita Market
On February 8, from 11 am to 4 pm, the Texas Bonita Market is bringing its seasonal shopping extravaganza to the one-of-a-kind Navigation Esplanade in Houston's East End. This must-shop seasonal market features small businesses, including local brands, handmade items, unique artisanal items, and delicious food.

Bloom with your besties at the Galentine's Day floral workshop at POST
Grab your best pals and celebrate Galentine's Day on February 8 from 2 pm to 4 pm with a Barbie-inspired floral arranging workshop led by one of the talented lead designers at Freedom Floral. All supplies and flowers are included, and guests get to take home a flower recipe card to recreate the look again and again. Everyone at this BYOB workshop will take home a beautiful arrangement and lots of memories.

Get totally fetch at Theater Under the Stars' Mean Girls
Now through February 9, catch a hilarious performance of Mean Girls at Houston Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. Tina Fey's iconic teen comedy was transformed into a Broadway hit musical with high school drama and catchy tunes perfect for Galentine's Day.

Enjoy petals and pours at Monkey's Tail
Join Monkey's Tail for their third annual I Can Buy Myself Flowers event on Tuesday, February 11, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Monkey's Tail is teaming up with Mas Flora for an evening of flower arranging and cocktails made with Black Bar Spirits and Simple Vodka. Mas Flora will guide guests through creating a gorgeous bouquet. All supplies and one cocktail are included.

Galentine's Day glam at Léránt
Léránt is hosting a special Galentine's Day pop-up on Wednesday, February 12, from 4 pm to 7 pm. Treat yourself to fabulous home decor and gifts at this pop-up featuring permanent jewelry boutique Link x Lou and the ever-stylish Tutu Cute by Jacqueline Smooke.

Unleash your inner surgeon with a Galentine's Day heart dissection
Gal pals can join the fun at Galentine's Heartstrings on Thursday, February 13, from 5:30–8 pm at The Houston Health Museum. Enjoy an evening of light bites, charcuterie, unlimited beer and wine, a signature cocktail, and non-alcoholic drinks, followed by a guided interactive heart dissection led by Dr. Varsha Podduturi, Deputy Medical Examiner at the Fort Bend County Medical Examiner's Office. Guests can also access all The Health Museum exhibits and complimentary parking in the museum's surface lot.

Swifties unite for a "ValenTays" trivia night
Taylor Swift fans, this one's for the Mastermind. On February 13 at 7 pm, Little Woodrow's Bellaire will host a "ValenTays" Edition Taylor Swift Trivia Night, where knowledge of lyrics, albums, and iconic moments will be put to the test. Teams will compete for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes, making it the perfect opportunity to celebrate all things T-Swift with fellow fans. Expect an evening filled with friendly competition, themed questions, and plenty of Eras Tour-level excitement.

Bingo with besties at FM Kitchen & Bar
Join FM Kitchen & Bar for Galentine's Day Bingo on Thursday, February 13. The Galentine's Day Bingo starts at 7 pm and will have drink specials and prizes, including gift cards from Amazon, Pudgy's Fine Cookies, Tenfold Coffee, Starbucks, and goodie bags by Sudor Sauna or the grand prize, a Ninja Creamy.

Raise the roof at a sky-high karaoke and movie night
This Galentine's Day, at Rooftop Cinema Uptown, besties will be belting out tunes with the friends who've seen them through every bad date and questionable outfit choice. On February 13, start the night with Rooftop Karaoke, then head to the cinema for 13 Going on 30.

Relax and Rejuvenate at The Ozone Bar
Looking for a Galentine's Day to remember? Book a treatment at The Ozone Bar, then rest, relax, and enjoy the incredible health benefits of ozone and infrared therapies with a gal pal. Choose from Ozone Sauna, Infrared Sauna, DermaShape, and HOCATT treatments. Request the connecting Ozone Sauna room to spend time together and take turns in the infrared sauna or getting a HOCATT treatment.

Photo courtesy of The Healthy Museum

Enjoy an offbeat Galentine's Day experience at The Health Museum.

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COWGIRL CORE

Western boutique Flea Style rides back to Houston with rodeo-ready looks

Photo courtesy of Flea Style

Founder and CEO Brittany Cobb brings Flea Style back to Houston, returning to the city where she first began at The Houston Flea.

Just in time for rodeo season, Flea Style is making its long-awaited return to Houston, giving shoppers a new River Oaks destination for boots, belts, and beautifully decorated hats.

The Texas-born brand will officially open its newest storefront in River Oaks on March 7, which is a full-circle moment for founder and CEO Brittany Cobb, who got her start in the Bayou City at the Houston Flea at Silver Street Studios. Since then, Flea Style has become a nine-location retail brand worn by celebrities including Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Leon Bridges, and Post Malone.

“I’ve been looking for a Houston location for about five years,” Cobb says. “Each visit, I just never found the right spot that worked for the business at the time. Last fall, I visited, determined to find something, even if just a pop-up, to open by rodeo season. That’s when I finally found a location that checked every box and truly felt like our long-term Houston home.”

With the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo attracting stylish crowds to NRG Stadium through March 22, Cobb made sure Houston shoppers would have access to exclusives. The River Oaks location is launching with a small collection of vintage women’s cowboy boots, a special collection of kantha quilt capes and jackets, and 30 custom-decorated hats.

Flea Style’s new River Oaks storefront opens March 7, just in time for rodeo season.Photo courtesy of Flea Style

“We’re offering an incredible selection of vintage women’s cowboy boots,” Cobb says. “It’s only our second location to carry them, and we’re launching with about 40 pairs. We’re also bringing our fan-favorite Belt Bar, featuring blank belts and vintage buckles. Our Houston customer loves vintage and one-of-a-kind pieces, so I specifically shopped at the market with them in mind.”

Cobb tells CultureMap returning to Houston feels like she never really left. “The Houston shopper is so special to me, and to the company, because they’ve been a part of my story since before our first retail location,” Cobb says. “We go way back to my days as a collector, early entrepreneur, and a young mom starting my business. I’m so excited to be back in Houston to continue our story, face-to-face, and help our shoppers and fans create unique styles with pieces that aren’t offered anywhere else in the city.”

The Houston opening also coincides with a huge milestone for Cobb. She will release her debut book, How To Style A Hat, with a foreword by Miranda Lambert, on April 21.

Flea Style, 1963 W Gray St. 7019, Monday - Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Flea Style

Founder and CEO Brittany Cobb brings Flea Style back to Houston, returning to the city where she first began at The Houston Flea.

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