Spring Has Sprung: 8 Events In Montrose This April
The spring event season is officially underway, kicked off by Cigna Sunday Streets in Montrose last weekend. If you’re looking for things to do this April within the neighborhood, there’s plenty of fun and education to be had. Here are just eight events arranged in order of date to please just about anyone, featuring all-you-can-eat crawfish, funky parades and some truly heavy-duty recycling. Did we miss something? Please add it in the comments.
April 11, 2 to 4 p.m.
Various Locations
The Houston Art Car Parade
This annual event is a Houston treasure. Though it’s just north of the Montrose District boundaries, it definitely embodies the spirit of the neighborhood with its wacky, beautiful, thought-provoking and quirky art cars. With a route located along Allen Parkway from Dallas to Waugh, the parade lasts approximately two hours and will host up to 300,000 viewers along the way. This is the first year this Houston tradition has moved to an earlier spring date in April, so the weather is expected to be milder and more pleasant.
April 11, 1 to 6 p.m.
Jackson’s Watering Hole / 1205 Richmond
Eat For a Cause: Annual Cajun Cook-Off and All-You-Can-Eat Crawfish Boil
Eating unlimited amounts of boiled crawfish, listening to live music and helping raise money for a charity: What’s not to love? Held at Jackson’s Watering Hole, this event will also feature tastes of gumbo, jambalaya, Cajun delicacies and desserts from cook-off teams. Admission is $50 for VIP passes which get you in the door sooner, $30 for advance general admission or $35 day-of tickets. Kids under 14 are free with paid adult entry and families are encouraged to attend. Funds raised benefit the Todd Krampitz Foundation which raises awareness about organ donation throughout the Houston area.
April 12, starting at 2 p.m.
Various Locations
D.E.A.R. Texas Reading Day
Half Price Books at 1101 Westheimer will celebrate D.E.A.R. Texas Reading Day (which stands for “Drop Everything And Read”) by hosting Texas authors like Harrison Cheung, a Christian Bale-focused biographer as well as Howard H. Webb, author of Loup Garou for conversation and book signings. Barnes & Noble in the River Oaks Shopping Center (2030 W. Gray) will also celebrate this day of literacy by hosting author Kay Kendall from 2 to 4 p.m.
April 24, noon to 5 p.m.
University of St. Thomas / 3800 Montrose
TEDx UST 2015
In case you’re not familiar with TED, it is self-described as a “platform for ideas worth spreading” that began as a conference and has since turned into events all across the country. T is for technology, E is for entertainment and D is for design. The movement has inspired many independently organized seminars with the same premise, as is the case for the upcoming TEDx conference at University of Saint Thomas. The free event is open to the public and will “bring together innovative thinkers, leaders and community members for an afternoon of presentations, performances and discussions” according to the official event page on Facebook. Refreshments will be served.
April 24, 6 to 9 p.m.
Art League Houston / 1953 Montrose
Montrose Art Party
The Art League Houston is reliving the swinging 60s for their annual fundraiser, MARTY: A Montrose Art Party, which celebrates a quarter century of their Healing Art program. From the event website: “Healing Art provides free art instruction and supplies to adults living with HIV and AIDS as well as serious illness and physical disabilities.” This tie-dyed extravaganza helps raise funds for the program and will feature cocktails inspired by the 1960s, beer from Saint Arnold Brewing Company, tunes from DJ Stephanie Saint Sanchez, a silent auction and artwork for sale from artists involved in the Healing Art program.
April 25, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
H-E-B Montrose / 1701 W. Alabama
Montrose’s Bi-Annual Recycling Event
Just in time for spring cleaning comes an event where heavy duty electronic items can begin their journey to reincarnation through recycling. While the city takes care of all the glass, plastics and paper products, this event is for safely disposing of items like laptops, monitors, keyboards, printers, projectors, cameras, televisions and more so they can meet their maker, and live on through the magic of reuse. All you need to do is show up and hand them over. The event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. On-site shredding is also being offered. Check this out for a full list of accepted items.
April 25, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Various Locations
East Montrose Foodie Home Tour and Art Walk
Six historic houses, lots of tasty snacks, art studios and yet another way to experience the walkability of Montrose is coming up on April 25. This annual tour allows attendees an intimate look at some of East Montrose’s coziest bungalows, some built as early as the 1890s, along with food samples at each stop. Additionally, artists’ studios in the area will be open to the public featuring Gloria Stamper Art Photography, mixed media installations at The Living Room Gallery, Cindy Shung Photography (inside Anderson Fair), fantasy art, origami and jewelry exhibitions. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at any of the homes open for the tour on the date of the event: 617 Fargo, 416 Willard, 419 Willard, 720 Bomar, 608 Peden or 719 Peden.
Ongoing Through April 26
Houston Center for Photography / 1441 W. Alabama
Learning Curve Exhibit
See some of the best student-produced photography at the Houston Center for Photography’s annual Learning Curve exhibit, now through April 26. Taking selected works from HCP students from the past year, the exhibit “highlights the various educational programs HCP offers through its Learning Center.” It also highlights some enthralling photography by as-yet unknown artists and gives them a platform to reach a larger audience. A true trifecta for the Center, the students and the attendees.
