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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GLOW GOALS

6 top Houston spas pampering moms with Mother’s Day specials

Photo by Lauren Holub Photography

A luxurious spa day is the ultimate Mother’s Day gift, with Houston hotspots offering everything from glow-boosting facials to full-body wellness escapes.

Whether you treat Mother's Day as a clichéd holiday or a well-earned excuse to indulge, one gift never misses: a luxurious day at the spa. This year, Houston's top spas and wellness spots are rolling out the red carpet for every type of mother. For those who are skincare-obsessed or moms in serious need of a reset, consider these curated treatments, limited-time packages, and wellness experiences to help unwind, recharge, and genuinely feel appreciated.

Altered States Wellness
Perfect for moms who would rather reset than sit through another brunch, Altered States Wellness is offering several feel-good experiences. The studio's limited-time offerings include Mom's Solo Escape with a mix of infrared sauna, float therapy, and a FarmHouse Fresh skincare gift bag. Mom's and Mimosas is a shared session featuring sauna, cold plunge, red light therapy, compression boots, and bubbly.

Biologique Recherche
For mothers who have it all and are skincare devotees, cult-favorite Biologique Recherche in River Oaks District offers treatments and serums backed by both beauty and science. Leading the lineup is Soin Seconde Peau, a 90-minute treatment inspired by medical-grade products that boosts skin renewal, enhances repair, and visibly smooths wrinkles. Just in time for Mother's Day, the Parisian brand also recently launched Sérum Spectral, which reinforces the skin's own capacity to adjust and recover from daily light exposure through three nature-derived active ingredients, including arctic lingonberry, schisandra berries, and indirubin.

Blushington
The first Houston location of Blushington recently opened in River Oaks, and now Houstonians can look forward to booking everything from signature blowouts and styling to special occasion hair, extensions and wig styling, makeup services, and brow and lash tinting. For skin-savvy moms, Blushington also offers skincare services with products from Dr. Neal Schultz's Beauty Rx, including the BeautyRx Peel Bar, along with focused treatments for the face, neck, and décolleté, hands, and under-eye areas.

Hotel ZaZa, Memorial City
Just in time for Mother's Day, ZaSpa is offering a Summer of Spa package for those who book any signature massage, facial, or body treatment. The package includes all-day access to Hotel ZaZa's pool and amenities, including complimentary valet parking, towel service and lockers, infrared sauna access, and poolside food and handcrafted cocktails available for purchase.

Skin Laundry
Skin Laundry is now open in The Woodlands. Just like its counterpart at M-K-T, the new location will offer medical-grade laser facials designed to improve skin tone, texture, and clarity in 15–30 minute sessions. The brand is known for its non-invasive treatments, which support long-term skin health through accessible, consistent care. Some of the most popular treatments include the Signature Laser Facial, Resurfacing Facial, and the Power Signature Facial. The Signature Laser Facial is available to first-time clients for $50.

Trellis Spa
This Mother's Day, Trellis Spa is featuring a lineup of indulgent experiences that feel like a destination getaway. Created as a “boarding pass” to relaxation, each package is a journey that combines therapeutic treatments in a luxurious spa setting. Options range from a quick reset to an all-day retreat.

The Grand Voyage is a 100-minute experience featuring an AgeWell Massage and AgeWell Facial, while The Serenity Sojourn stretches to 150 minutes with a CMD cocoon ritual and CBD pedicure. For those prepared to fully unplug, the Continental Luxe offers 275 minutes of pampering with a customized massage, a Trellis Facial, and a Diamond Luxe pedicure. At the top end, The Citrus Riviera offers a 300-minute escape complete with a customized massage, facial, and seasonal Blood Orange pedicure, making it the ultimate way to spend Mother’s Day without ever leaving Houston.

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