au revoir bistro provence

Memorial restaurant goes beyond Provence with new French bistro

Bistro Provence closes August 22.

Photo courtesy of Bistro Provence

A Memorial-area favorite for beef bourguignon and cassoulet is changing things up. Bistro Provence will soon become Bistro 555, owner Genevieve Guy announced.

Open since 1998, Bistro Provence will shutter after service on August 22. After an extensive interior remodel, it will reopen as Bistro 555 in early September.

“It’s time to refresh,” Guy said in a statement. “I want a place to showcase more of France and more of what today’s French food is all about."

The new restaurant's name hints as its format. Diners will find a menu with five appetizers, five entrees, and five desserts. Details, including what the restaurant will look like and how it will maintain Bistro Provence's popular wine dinners, will be revealed close to Bistro 555's opening.

"We’ll have the flexibility to regularly change the menu based on what is fresh and new on the market,” Guy added. "The food will remain French, but it’s going to more about kind of the story of my life - growing up in Alsace, moving to Lyon, then meeting a guy from the Auvergne region (husband Jean-Philippe Guy) and traveling to Provence.”

The restaurant will remain open for both dine-in and to-go through its last day of service. Fans are encouraged to make a reservation for one last Salad Nicoise before it bids adieu.

closings

blinded with science

New York's science-themed holiday bar shakes up the Museum District

Courtesy of Drunken Lab

Conduct holiday-themed science experiments at the LIT-Mas Spectacular.

A taste of Manhattan has made its way to Houston with the immersive LIT-Mas Spectacular holiday pop-up. From now until January 12, Houstonians can discover the hype behind New York City’s The Drunken Lab that's known for its unique blend of science and cocktails.

This pop-up marks the first expansion for The Drunken Lab’s parent company, Science and Sip, a concept created to make science accessible and unforgettable. Attendees can dive into holiday-themed science experiments — including explosive endothermic reactions — while enjoying festive cocktails in a winter wonderland setting enhanced with a live DJ. Appropriately, the pop-up is located in the Museum District at 4715 Main Street.

“Houston was the perfect next step for Science and Sip,” founder Cautney Nelson said in a statement. “The city’s vibrant culture, love of celebration, and ties to science through world-famous programs like NASA aligns beautifully with our mission to blend entertainment with discovery.”

Visitors enter a world filled with larger-than-life gingerbread decor and candy-inspired installations where light bulbs and laboratory flasks have been transformed into quirky beverage containers. Admission includes one cocktail or mocktail, a lab coat and goggles, and two to three science experiments. Add-ons like cocktail-filled ornament “Booze Balls” and Grinch-inspired pouches in festive red and green add an extra dose of holiday charm.

“We’re thrilled to host guests for an immersive holiday experience that merges festive fun with curiosity,” Nelson added. “With each pop-up, we aim to create a space where a great party and exploration come together, and we’re excited to see how Houston embraces The LIT-Mas Spectacular.”

A portion of the proceeds from LIT-Mas will benefit Millennial Scnce, a nonprofit founded by Nelson that provides students with accessible STEM resources and educational opportunities.

Tickets are available for Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with showtimes at 2:30 pm, 6 pm, and 9 pm. Private party and group bookings are also available.

Courtesy of Drunken Lab

Conduct holiday-themed science experiments at the LIT-Mas Spectacular.

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au revoir bistro provence

Memorial restaurant goes beyond Provence with new French bistro

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blinded with science

New York's science-themed holiday bar shakes up the Museum District