Ken Hoffman takes a swing at Houston Astros' pitch to build a new downtown hotel

Hoffman's Houston

Photo courtesy of Visit Houston

Astros owner Jim Crane says the team is ready to break ground on a major construction project that will include a hotel and entertainment complex across the street from Minute Maid Park as soon as the 2023 baseball season wraps up – hopefully with another World Series parade in downtown Houston.

AstrosWorld!

But another hotel? Another entertainment complex? More construction downtown? My first reaction was, how much more does Houston need? I remember when the Super Bowl was held in Houston in 2004, clubs and restaurants sprung up downtown practically overnight, only to disappear virtually the morning after. When it came to downtown development, the expression “less is more” turned out true. At least that Super Bowl.

I asked my contacts in government and the Houston welcome wagon, is this a good idea, building a hotel and entertainment complex next door to Minute Maid Park? Do we need it? Can we sustain it?

The answer every time was a resounding yes! For a couple of reasons: first, downtown Houston, coming out of Covid, is booming, leadership is creative and budget-minded these days, and most important, if Jim Crane is behind the idea, you can trust it’ll work. The guy’s got a track record.

“In 2004, the idea was to turn downtown’s Main Street into Bourbon Street. Is that what we really want? It was a misguided plan, the wrong philosophy, and businesses opened and closed in short order,” a source told me.

It was a different story when the Super Bowl returned to Houston in 2017. This time Houston saw the Marriott Marquis, a 1,000-room hotel complete with an iconic Texas-shaped swimming pool, open in time for the tourist onslaught. Also, Avenida Houston greeted downtown visitors with new restaurants and entertainment venues. Both the Marriott and Avenida Houston have continued to thrive long after the Super Bowl left town.

“We want our downtown to attract visitors while providing services for the growing number of singles and families who are making their home downtown. As we continue to host major events and conventions, there will be a need for more hotel rooms,” the source said.

The Astros’ plan to build a sprawling hotel and entertainment complex originally was discussed in 2021 but was put on hold due to Covid. Now Crane and the Astros are ready to come out swinging. Similar complexes operate successfully next to the baseball stadium in St. Louis, Chicago and other cities.

An Astros-themed hotel adjacent to Minute Maid Park is particularly intriguing. The lobby could be home to an Astros museum and team Hall of Fame. Rooms and restaurants could be decorated in honor of Astros legends – the “Nolan Ryan honeymoon suite,” or “Strech Suba’s Bullpen Bar and Grille.” There could be meeting space for autograph and memorabilia shows. There could be a broadcast facility for post-game interviews and analysis. And maybe one day, fingers crossed, a betting parlor like the Cubs have at Wrigley Field.

The Astros have a contract to play at Minute Maid Park through 2050 – the only long-term contract that doesn’t make Crane cringe. Anything that enhances the fan experience and generates revenue is good for the team and the city. I might even consider going downtown on non-game nights.

Photo courtesy of Mariott Marquis Houston

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

ALL ABOUT AESTHETICS

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.

Courtesy of Bungalow

3 big Houston restaurant openings serious diners need to know right now

3 openings to know

The last couple of months have been a busy time for restaurant openings (and reopenings). Here’s a quick look at three establishments that have recently begun (or resumed) service.

Fung’s Kitchen

Houston Chinese dining institution Fung’s Kitchen has reopened in Southwest Houston. Known for its lively dim sum service and extensive seafood menu, the Cantonese restaurant closed in January 2021 after being damaged by a fire.

The new dining room has a number of new details, the Houston Chroniclereports. They include: a glass-enclosed wine wall, a large Buddha statue, and the addition of six private dining rooms.

Not only will diners will find all of chef Hoi Fung’s menu available at the new restaurant, but it’s also been listed online via the Toast platform for easier to-go ordering. Customers can choose everything from dumplings to lobster to Peking duck.

Those who choose to dine-in should plan to arrive early. Pictures on social media show long lines to enter the restaurant, particularly for dim sum on the weekends.

Spanish Flowers

Tex-Mex staple Spanish Flowers has opened its third Houston-area location near Washington Avenue. The restaurant has claimed the short-lived Rosland's Grill & Bar space at 903 Durham Dr.

Best known for its original location on North Main St., Spanish Flowers serves Tex-Mex staples like enchiladas, tamales, and nachos. Its all-day breakfast menu is particularly popular. Prior to the pandemic, its 24-7 operating hours meant that everyone from late revelers to Lady Gaga might stop by for a meal. Currently, it's only 24 hours Friday-Sunday, but that still offers plenty of opportunities to satisfy late night fajitas cravings.

Changes to the Durham location are mostly cosmetic. Of course, the bar is fully stocked with an extensive selection of tequila. Get a sneak peek of the space via this video:

Bungalow Downtown Dining

The booming vibe dining movement has arrived in downtown. Bungalow Downtown Dining opened earlier this fall at at 407 Main St.

Created by Created by ALife Hospitality Group co-founders Mojeed Martins and Jonathan Reitzell, the entrepreneurs behind concepts such as Prospect Park, Lost & Found, and Kamp, the menu focuses on upscale steak and seafood. Dishes include: red fish with crab-bacon butter, wagyu meatball pasta, and apricot chicken. Other signature items consist of truffle fries with crabmeat, blackberry lamb ribs, and creamed corn brulée.

The environment includes luxurious details such as a marble-tiled lobby and velvet booths. Private dining rooms include the 30-seat Prive Room that comes with a dedicated entrance and private bar and the Low Lounge, a 20-seat space hidden behind a bookshelf on the restaurant’s second floor.

“We really wanted to bring a luxury concept to Houston’s vibrant dining scene that offers guests a host of more personalized options to enhance their experience,“ Martins said in a statement. “We’ve worked really hard to create spaces within the restaurant that celebrate the elevated experience of premium food and beverages in stunning fashion and are very excited to share the first-class service, culinary experience, and ambiance of Bungalow with guests in downtown Houston.”

Mohawk Austin/Facebook

Austin's Free Week Music Festival returns with 12 rockin' spots for tunes, bites, brews, and more

Free the Music

As great as it is to get out there and support local music, the cost can add up — especially if you’re adding new bands to your must-see list. From January 5-7, 2023, Red River Cultural District (RRCD) is taking on the financial responsibility so more Austinites can go out and experience more new music, without burdening their wallets.

In addition to the return of Free Week (formerly more of an actual week, but who’s counting), nearby restaurants and bars will be running promotions. That means discounts and freebies from Central District Brewing, Hoboken Pie, Marinara Miracles, Pelon's Tex-Mex, Shawarma Point, Stubb’s Bar-B-Q, Vaquero Taquero, and Wanderlust Wine.

This laissez-faire festival welcomes walk-ups, and the layout of venues makes it easy to pop into each venue when it’s time for a change of scenery. The farthest walk from end to end — if high-energy visitors want to turn it into a crawl — is less than half a mile. One venue, 13th Floor, is making its Free Week debut.

Participating venues from south to north are:

Flamingo Cantina
Mala Vida
Vaquero Taquero
Swan Dive
Chess Club
Empire Control Room & Garage
Elysium
The 13th Floor
Valhalla
Stubb’s Bar-B-Q
Cheer Up Charlies
Mohawk

Although it’s a relatively short festival, this weekend will put more than 100 local artists onstage. A lineup is coming soon, but as of December 12, no announcement has been made.

This mini-festival started nearly two decades ago, in 2003, at the original Emo’s on Red River Street. The team used the shows to drum up business, and other venues started joining in. This is one of many decentralized festivals that moves through Austin every year including South by Southwest, Levitation, and Oblivion Access.

RRCD gets the funds to host Free Week from corporate partners and individual donors. Although it is free for fans, performers are still compensated for their work. More information and donation links are available at redriverculturaldistrict.org.

Photo by Shannon O'Hara

Houston's whiskey-fueled American restaurant plots new downtown location

a federal case

Houston’s next Federal American Grill will be located downtown. The steak and seafood restaurant has leased a ground floor space at at Houston Center’s LyondellBasell Tower (1221 McKinney St.).

Slated to open in summer 2023, Federal Grill will occupy approximately 7,000 square feet with an additional 1,500-square-foot patio along Houston Center’s greenspace. Downtown will be Federal Grill’s fifth Houston-area location, joining its original outpost on Shepherd Dr., Memorial Villages, Katy, and The Woodlands. The restaurant also plans to open in Scottsdale, AZ next year.

Founded by Matt Brice in 2013, Federal Grill serves an wide-ranging menu of comfort food that includes steaks, salads, shareable items, and seafood. Signature dishes include cheeseburger egg rolls, bacon-wrapped scallops, Janice’s Meatloaf, and braised short rib with bacon and mushroom risotto.

In addition to its food, Federal Grill is known for its extensive whiskey list that includes more than 500 selections, including exclusive barrel picks. Its cocktail and wine offerings are similarly lengthy.

“We’re really excited to become part of the energy and vitality of downtown Houston and expand our genuine hospitality, scratch cooking and fun relaxed, atmosphere to Houston Center,” Brice said in a statement. “With this location, we will be just a short walk away from the major sports and entertainment complexes downtown. Our staff looks forward to utilizing our unique outdoor dining along McKinney Street, offering pre-and post-game dining, as well as catering to the visitors and tenants of Houston Center on a daily basis for lunch, happy hour and dinner.”

Some may recall that Brice sparked a minor controversy in April 2020 when he reopened his Memorial location for in-person dining a week before Texas Governor Greg Abbott lifted restrictions prohibiting it. He did so with the support of officials from Hedwig Village, the tiny city where the restaurant is located.

Houston Center developed Brookfield Properties has other plans for the development. It also recently signed Immersive Gamebox, an interactive concept devoted to puzzle solving and other group games, for the food court at The Highlight, the shopping center formerly known as The Shops at Houston Center. Puttshack, an upscale minigolf course, will open there next spring.

“The decision to bring Federal American Grill to Houston Center speaks to their desire to join the renewed energy and bustle of downtown and aligns with our focus of bringing retail and amenities to our office spaces that create a welcoming work-life balance,” Brookfield executive vice president Travis Overall added. “We are excited to offer our tenants and the Houston community this excellent dining experience at the heart of Houston’s downtown entertainment centers.”

Photo by Sergio Trevino

Downtown's devilish new bar serves up Mexico City vibes, live Latin music, and lots of tequila

downtown's newest nightclub

A new retro-styled, Mexican-inspired bar and nightclub is coming to downtown. La Diabla Retro Bar will open next Thursday, December 15, in the former Boomtown Coffee space at 300 Main Street.

Created by La Calle owner Ramon Soriano and his business partner Fernando Villegas, La Diabla builds on La Calle’s reputation for bringing the flavors and atmosphere of Mexico City to Houston. Just as all three locations of La Calle serve street style tacos in a vibrant atmosphere, La Diabla will pay homage to Mexico City pop culture icons of the '80s and '90s through art, music, and, of course, food and drink.

“We are serious about fresh ingredients, Mexico City, music, and good times,” Soriano said in a statement. “We are '80s guys, and we love the way the music of that decade is connecting with a new generation. La Diabla is bringing the tastes and sounds of our youth back again in ways that can feel both nostalgic and new, all at the same time.”

Portraits of Mexican pop and rock icons such as Juan Gabriel, Thalía, Luis Miguel, and others will adorn the walls. Other design elements include TVs that will show music videos and a 30-foot long, 8-foot tall bar that will display La Diabla’s selection of agave spirits such as tequila and mezcal.

Turning to music, bands will perform every night La Diabla is open. Thursdays will feature balada, described in a release as “soft, romantic Latin pop,” with more uptempo Latin pop on Fridays. Latin rock will keep the party going on Saturday nights. In between sets, DJs will spin tunes that match the night’s theme.

An extensive selection of cocktails and other boozy beverages will also puts revelers in the proper state of mind. Expect La Calle favorites like margaritas, piña coladas, and micheladas along with mojitos and four flavors of Mexican candy shots. An extensive selection of tequilas and caguamas (32-ounce bottles of beer) will also be available.

While La Calle specializes in tacos and tortas, La Diabla will serve three flavors of flautas: chicken, carnitas, and papa con queso (potato with cheese). They’ll be wrapped in corn tortillas and fried.

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Houston's 10 best pastry chefs conjure sweet and savory treats

Meet the Tastemakers

“Sweet” may be the first word that comes to mind with desserts, but it certainly isn’t the only one. “Tart,” “comforting,” “herbaceous,” and “satisfying” all have their roles to play, too.

The nominees for the 2023 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards Pastry Chef of the Year understand that sweetness needs to be balanced. They know that a sprinkle of salt makes any chocolate dessert taste more chocolatey or that roasting strawberries brings out their sweetness. With their diverse skills, they produce savory items that leave people wanting more and sweets that are, if we’re being honest, better than anything grandma ever made.

This year’s nominees produce cookies, cakes, breads, kolaches, doughnuts, pop tarts, ice cream, and more. Their inspiration comes from both childhood favorites and culinary traditions the span the globe. Even people who claim not to like dessert will probably find something to devour from this distinguished group.

Who will win? Find out April 13 at our Tastemaker Awards ceremony. Dine on bites from this year’s nominees, sip cocktails from our sponsors, and witness as we reveal the winners. Buy your tickets now.

Alyssa Dole - LuLoo's Day & Night
After a extensive career that’s seen her work everywhere from Coltivare to Pinkerton’s Barbecue, Dole has found a home at this bakery and cafe in Garden Oaks. Working in partnership with Blood Bros. BBQ, LuLoo’s serves sandwiches on Dole’s bread and a range of sweet and savory pastries, including Australian-inspired sausage rolls and barbecue kolaches. Upstairs, Dole leads LuLoo's Bakeshop, a wholesale bakery that supplies breads to Blood Bros. and a number of other Houston restaurants.

Kelly Helgesen - Nancy's Hustle
After a successful career in Chicago that included a Zagat “30 Under 30” award for her work at Lula Cafe, Helgesen moved to Houston to reunite her professional relationship with Nancy’s executive chef/co-owner Jason Vaughan (both are alumni are legendary seafood restaurant L20). At Nancy’s, she maintains the quality of menu staples like the savory parmesan cheesecake (and those English muffin burger buns Justin Verlander is so fond of) while also adding seasonal specials such as a recently-introduced buttermilk sherbet with roasted strawberries and sesame puff sticks. We’ll keep our fingers crossed that she finds a way to share her bagel-making skills with Houstonians on a more regular basis at some point in the future.

Kripa Shenoy - EaDough Pastries & Provisions
This chef comes to Houston via New York City, where she worked at Marea, which recently held one Michelin star and earned the 2010 James Beard Award for best new restaurant in America. At EaDough, a to-go only kiosk along the Columbia Tap Rail hike and bike trail, Shenoy turns out a breakfast-focused roster of sweet and savory pastries that includes kolaches, muffins, cookies, scones, and croissants. Later this year, Houstonians will experience more of her talents when she opens Auden, a vegetable-forward, globally inspired restaurant, with her husband, chef Kirthan Shenoy.

Lucianna Emiliani - Louie's Italian American
After beginning her career in Houston, Emiliani moved to California, where she worked in L.A. for the acclaimed Tartine Bakery. She returned home to help her brother, chef Angelo Emiliani, open Cafe Louie (named for her), where she earned raves for her croissants, morning buns, and other viennoiserie. When Cafe Louie evolved into Louie’s Italian American, she developed a couple of classic desserts for the menu, including a tiramisu that’s among Houston’s best. Thankfully, her croissants are still available at Saturday morning pop-ups and coffee shops around Houston.

Marie Riddle - Bludorn/Navy Blue
Like so many of the people behind both Bludorn and Navy Blue, Riddle comes to Houston via New York, where she worked for legendary French chef Daniel Boulud and Milk Bar founder Christina Tosi. At Bludorn, Riddle and her team oversee a revolving roster of desserts that includes the restaurant’s signature Baked Alaska. For Navy Blue, the flavors lean a little lighter, with standouts that include a tart Key Lime Pie and the carrot cake she’ll serve at the Tastemaker Awards ceremony.

Rebecca Masson - Fluff Bake Bar
It’s almost hard to believe Fluff started selling pastries at Revival Market 12 years ago. Now firmly established at its location near the Heights, Masson has earned an impressive reputation, and a previous Tastemaker Awards win, for signatures like the Veruca Salt cake, Couch Potato cookie, and the Star Crossed Lover (Rice Krispie treat topped with caramel and covered in chocolate). Fans know to line up early on Saturday mornings, because weekly specials such as croissants, barbecue kolaches, and quiches sell out quickly.

Ruchit Harneja - Musaafer
After learning to cook from his mother and grandmother, this pastry chef traveled the world, racking up experiences in India and Europe before joining the opening team at the Galleria’s fine dining Indian restaurant. In press materials, the chef describes his style as incorporating unexpected ingredients such as fresh green chilies, garlic, ginger, fish, and meat. Those skills have served him well on the current season of the Food Network’s Spring Baking Championship: Easter, where a hickory-smoked honey caked won a challenge — and a temporary spot on Musaafer’s menu.

Shawn Gawle - Goodnight Hospitality
Part of Goodnight’s commitment to offering world class dining experiences included recruiting Gawle, a veteran of Michelin-starred restaurants in Chicago and the Bay Area, to come to Houston. Under his direction, the company’s pastry program includes a complex range of sweet and savory items that ranges from cookies and canale at Montrose Cheese & Wine to Rosie Cannonball staples like Focaccia di Recco and Basque cheesecake to March’s elegant plated desserts and diminutive mignardise. Balanced flavors, seasonal ingredients, and refined techniques are the ties that bind all of his efforts.

Stefani Velasquez - Papalo Mercado/Ema
At both the stand in downtown’s Finn Hall that she operates with her business partner, chef Nicolas Vera, and at a weekly booth at the Urban Harvest farmers market, diners count on Velasquez nostalgic desserts inspired by Mexican pan dulce and other traditions. A veteran of Hugo Ortega’s H-Town Restaurant Group, Velasquez’s output covers a wide range, including conchas, pop tarts, her signature horchata-filled Berlinésa, and specials that utilize Vera’s nixtamalized masa. The chef adds that she uses eggs from her father’s farm and as much seasonal produce as she can.

Vanarin Kuch - Koffeteria
The past year has been a busy time for the chef-owner of this EaDo bakery and cafe that’s devoted to serving flavors inspired by Houston’s diverse immigrant communities. By winding down Koffeteria’s wholesale operations, Kuch has been able to expand his output with more sweet and savory offerings that range from a Chinese sausage taco and breakfast sandwiches on housemade buns to matcha latte croissants and Cambodian elote cornbread. In addition, occasional Cambodian dinners and dessert omakase services allow Kuch to demonstrate a diverse set of skills that got far beyond his daily (and very delicious) grab-and-go creations.

Cafe Louie/Facebook

Lucianna Emiliani

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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