'80s heartthrob Bryan Adams heads to Houston with Jett-setting rock icon for 2023 tour stop

Summer of '23

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Canadian singer/songwriter Bryan Adams, who's been entertaining audiences on stage and screen for four decades, is coming to the Houston area — and he's bringing along a very special guest. Adams is teaming up with rock 'n' roll icons Joan Jett and the Blackhearts for his "So Happy It Hurts Tour," stopping at Sugar Land's Smart Financial Centre on June 28.

The U.S. tour kicks off on June 6 in Baltimore, Maryland, and ends August 3 with a show in Seattle. He'll visit just two Texas cities - Fort Worth and Sugar Land, outside Houston, for a show at Smart Financial Centre on June 28.Fort Worth on June 29, 2023.

Adams is touring in support of his 15th studio album, So Happy It Hurts, which was released March 11, 2022 via BMG. The album is nominated for Best Rock Performance at the upcoming 2023 Grammy awards, taking place Sunday, February 5.

Adams also is riding the wave as the lyricist for Pretty Woman – The Musical, the Broadway musical based on the famed Julia Roberts-Richard Gere rom-com. The touring musical draw huge crowds when it recently stopped in Houston for a limited run.

Barrier-breaking rock 'n' roll badass Joan Jett is known for Top 40 hits such as "I Love Rock 'N' Roll," "I Hate Myself For Loving You," and "Crimson and Clover." Joan Jett and the Blackhearts toured last year with Def Leppard, Motley Crue, and Poison. Bad Reputation, a 2018 documentary about Jett's life, is now streaming.

Tickets for the "So Happy It Hurts Tour" go on sale at 12 pm Friday, February 3 via ticketmaster.com.

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Houston's state-sized lazy river floats to the top 3 most picturesque pools in Texas

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There’s no better cure for the unbearable summer heat than a dip into the chilly waters of some of Houston's best pools. And you can’t forget to snap a cute photo or video for your Instagram and TikTok feeds. The place to be this summer? Floating down the Texas-shaped lazy river at Marriott Marquis Houston.

The relaxing rooftop oasis, which sits on the sixth floor of the hotel in the heart of downtown Houston, was included in a new list of the "most picturesque pools" in the United States, and the third most photogenic pool in Texas. It stretches a mind-boggling 500-plus feet and is heated at 80 degrees throughout the year.

The study by BonusFinder.com analyzed data from TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube to find the most mentioned, photographed, and viewed pools from around America. The Texas lazy river finished at No. 18 in the overall rankings, which included pools from across the country. However, the pool ranked as the third best Texas pool on the list, following behind Dallas' The Joule (No. 14) and Austin's Barton Springs (No. 4).

The Marriott Marquis Houston has poolside programming for hotel guests that often includes live music and rentable cabanas, pergolas, or day beds. They also offer day passes Monday through Thursday on certain dates throughout the year, so you can book a resort-like experience year round.

Austin's Barton Springs was named fourth most picturesque overall, and was actually the most Instagrammed pool in the U.S., the study says. Videos of Barton Springs had been viewed over 28.5 million times on TikTok and hashtagged over 15,000 times on Instagram.

In total, Las Vegas hosts six of the top 10 most photogenic pools on BonusFinder’s list. Mandalay Bay Beach and The Mirage in Las Vegas were deemed the No. 1 and No. 2 most photogenic pools, and just above Barton Springs in the third place rank was The Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California. Other pools on the list were found in Glenwood Springs, Colorado (No. 6) and Atlantic City, New Jersey (No. 10).

The top 10 most photogenic pools in the United States are:

No. 1 – Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas
No. 2 – The Mirage in Las Vegas
No. 3 – The Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California
No. 4 – Barton Springs in Austin
No. 5 – The Tank at Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas
No. 6 – Glenwood Hot Springs in Glenwood Springs, Colorado
No. 7 – The Backyard at Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas
No. 8 – Stadium Swim at Circa Resort and Casino in Las Vegas
No. 9 – Encore Beach Club at Wynn Las Vegas
No. 10 – The Water Club at Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey

Fintan Costello, the managing director at BonusFinder.com, said Americans are “turning their attention to where they can kick back and enjoy catching some rays by the poolside” with their spring break and upcoming summer holidays.

“Luckily, the study shows that the U.S. is blessed with some of the best and most picturesque pools in the world and there are plenty of idyllic escapes that can be found across America, without ever having to leave the country,” he explained in a statement.

The full study can be found on bonusfinder.com.

Mariott Marquis Houston's Texas-shaped lazy river pool

Photo courtesy of Marriott Marquis Houston

Find this photogenic pool at the Marriott Marquis downtown.

No fooling — Houston SPCA's spring open house is happening April 1

Welcome In

Animal lovers, mark your calendar for April 1. That's when the Houston SPCA is hosting its April Open House — the largest one to date — from 12-4 pm.

You can learn more about the Houston SPCA's important work in the community, and maybe even adopt a new furry feline or cuddly canine.

Spend the afternoon on Houston SPCA's William and Evelyn Griffin Campus for All Animals enjoying these fun-filled activities and events:

Egg hunts, noon and 2 pm: Little ones (0-2 and 3-5 years) should bring their baskets for a first-come, first-served hunt all around the Houston SPCA Dog Parks.
Barn Chats, 1 pm and 3:30 pm: Meet the award-winning Equine and Farm Animal Team and watch demonstrations with a rescued equine in the Houston SPCA Rescue Arena.
Wildlife Chats, 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm: Meet a wildlife expert and ambassador birds in the Harper Courtyard to learn more about the 12,000 wild animals who come into the Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center of Texas annually.
Kitten nursery: Watch orphaned kittens receive lifesaving care, including around-the-clock feedings, from inside a glass-walled room at this pop-up version of the neonatal unit. Held at the Adoption Center Cattery.
Eureka Heights Beer Garden samplings: Those 21 and up can toast to all creatures big and small in the Harper Courtyard.
Kona Ice snow cones: Head to the Adoption Center parking lot for one icy treat per guest, or while supplies last.
Prize wheel: Try your luck at this spinning game in the Harper Courtyard.

Photo courtesy of Houston SPCA

Find your new best friend on April 1.

The adoption center will be open from 11 am-6 pm that day, but don't stress if you can't make it then. Adoptions are also open daily Monday through Sunday from 11 am-6 pm.

You can view all the available pets in advance at www.houstonspca.org. Questions? Call 713-869-SPCA (7722).

John Mayer unplugs for fall tour that's coming to Houston

Concert news

Singer/guitarist John Mayer will show off both skills during the fall leg of his 2023 solo acoustic tour, which will come to Houston's Toyota Center on Monday, October 30.

Mayer's tour is currently in the middle of a spring leg, with dates continuing through April 14. The fall leg will include 17 more stops, starting on October 3 in New York City. Along with the Dallas date, Mayer will also play in Dallas on October 28 and Austin on November 1.

The tour features solo performances by Mayer, leaning heavily on his acoustic guitar work with special performances on piano and electric guitar.

Mayer is now in his third decade of performing, releasing seven solo albums since his debut in 2001, most recently 2021's Sob Rock. The seven-time Grammy winner is known for hits like "Your Body is a Wonderland," "Daughters," "Gravity," and more.

He's also a member of the Grateful Dead continuation band, Dead & Company, which will perform at Dallas' Dos Equis Pavilion on May 26 as part of its final tour.

Tickets for the fall leg of the tour go on sale starting on Friday, March 31 at 9 am at Johnmayer.com. Presales start on Wednesday, March 29 at 9 am and run through Thursday, March 30 at 10 pm. Fans can sign up to receive a unique code to access presale tickets via seated at Johnmayer.com. A limited number of VIP packages will be available including premium tickets, exclusive merchandise, and more.

Two pairs of front-row tickets will be auctioned off for each show on the tour through charityauctionstoday.com. All proceeds from the ticket auctions will go to the Back To You Fund, which has supported many charities, including John’s Heart & Armor Foundation, as well as programs supporting at-risk youth and the homeless.

JOHN MAYER FALL 2023 TOUR DATES

Oct 3, 2023 - New York, NY, Madison Square Garden
Oct 6, 2023 - Boston, MA, TD Garden
Oct 7, 2023 - Philadelphia, PA, Wells Fargo Center
Oct 11, 2023 - Nashville, TN, Bridgestone Arena
Oct 13, 2023 - Tampa, FL, Amalie Arena
Oct 17, 2023 - Indianapolis, IN, Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Oct 18, 2023 - Chicago, IL, United Center
Oct 20, 2023 - Baltimore, MD, CFG Bank Arena
Oct 21, 2023 - Belmont Park, NY, UBS Arena
Oct 23, 2023 - Charlotte, NC, Spectrum Center
Oct 25, 2023 - Atlanta, GA, State Farm Arena
Oct 28, 2023 - Dallas, TX, American Airlines Center
Oct 30, 2023 - Houston, TX, Toyota Center
Nov 1, 2023 - Austin, TX, Moody Center
Nov 5, 2023 - Salt Lake City, UT Vivint Arena
Nov 7, 2023 - San Francisco, CA, Chase Center
Nov 10, 2023 - Los Angeles, CA, Kia Forum

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