Last week Invisible Fish was looking for ideas in Houston to get out of a rut. I saw and responded to the post late so wanted to re-post some ideas.
Things to do in Houston.
1. Miller Outdoor Theater in Hermann Park. Free performances of a variety of artforms-ballet, opera, music (all kinds), theater, children’s theater. Always something going on and always free. For example, coming up this month there is a hip-hop version of Jack and the Bean Stalk, a chamber music light show, a screening of Addams Family movie, the US Army Field Band and Soldiers Chorus, and a Dia de los Muertos play.
2. Inprint’s (a nonprofit) Margarett Root Brown Reading Series. Readings by renowned writers from fall through spring. Authors I have heard read their works in the past include Karen Russell, Louise Erdrich, Annie Proulx, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Elizabeth Gilbert, Kazuo Ishiguro, Coleson Whitehead, Sandra Cisneros. General admission tickets are usually just $5. Reading locations are typically at downtown/near town venues like Alley Theater and Cullen Auditorium.
3. Inprint Writing Workshops and Classes. Moderately priced classes in creative written expression (poetry; memoir; fiction; etc) (Main/West Alabama area)
4. Thrifting at charity shops. Some of the best: The Guild (on Dunlavy), Bluebird (West Alabama); Catholic Charities (off Westheimer by the curve).
5. Rothko Chapel. A non-denominational/meditation space hung with 14 Rothko paintings. Free. Adjacent to The Menil Collection. Rothko Chapel was damaged during Hurricane Beryl and is currently closed but leave it on the list to check out later when it reopens.
6. Art Museums: The Menil Collection (contemporary art; free). Blaffer Art Museum at University of Houston (free); Museum of Fine Arts (free on Thursday), Bayou Bend House and Gardens-beautiful at the holidays and also in spring when azaleas are blooming.
7. Outdoor Public Art Installations: James Turrell’s Twilight Epiphany Skyspace at Rice University (wonderful); Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Column (Houston’s “bean”); Virtuoso Sculpture at Lyric Center, Miro’s Personage and Birds sculpture (downtown), and many others.
8. Glenwood Cemetery. Off Washington. Beautiful treed, landscaped, peaceful cemetery and the resting ground for many past prominent Houston figures like William P. Hobby, James Baker (founder of Baker Botts), and Howard Hughes. Site of beautiful monumental architecture and statues, including the weeping angel.
9. Spotts Park off Memorial Drive. Best park in Houston in my opinion. Nice place to picnic or just hang out.
10. Discovery Green Park in downtown—lots of free events, concerts, festivals, gatherings, movies, concerts and more. Also has a splash pad.
11. Market Square Park in downtown—lots of free events, farmers market, concerts and movies.
12. Excellent performing arts organizations: Houston Ballet, Houston Grand Opera, Houston Symphony, Alley Theater, Ensemble Theater, Main Street Theater, Opera in the Heights and others. Most have student/senior ticket discounts, young professionals’ nights, teacher discounts, etc.
13. Art festivals and street fests, throughout the year. Bayou City Art Festival is this weekend at Memorial Park. There is also the Korean Festival at Discovery Green this weekend, and Margarita Festival next weekend at Buffalo Bayou Park (Sabine Street).
I hope this sparks some ideas for you. Would also add that whatever high school is local to you is a good source of entertainment like plays, orchestra concerts, sporting events, marching band competitions, choral concerts. Cheap or free. Last thought, one way to ease the stress of driving on Houston highways is to get an EZ Tag and stick to the toll roads. Hardy Toll Road North is a great substitute for I45N.
