While some Houstonians will gas up their car & hit the hot concrete out 1-10 for a 3-day weekend, let us propose an itinerary that won’t gas-guzzle your wallet but still provide tons of vacation memories [also, perfect for visiting family and friends].

 

Friday, May 25

Families:

Grab a picnic and wait til it cools to a balmy 79 to enjoy our favorite flying dog-creature at Whole Foods Market – Montrose with their Friday Nigh Film, The Neverending Story! It’s free, but concessions will be for sale. Film starts at twilight.

Just down the street, around the same time, you can catch Houston’s own Bat Colony at the Waugh Bridge. Over a quarter of million Mexican free-tail bats call the bridge home. But don’t worry – they only eat fruits and insects. If you’ve never been, definitely put it on your itinerary this weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adults:

One of my favorite nonprofit galleries, Art League Houston, always has amazing stuff – and you don’t have to be an art collector to enjoy it! You’ll run into all sorts of friendly people tonite at their openings: Seasons In Ash, an outdoor sculpture installation by Houston-based ceramic artist Damon J. Thomas, Tu Eres O No Tu Eres Mi Baby (Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby), a series of text-based carved paintings by San Antonio artist Ricky Armendariz, and SNAP:THIRTY ARTISTS CELEBRATE THIRTY YEARS. Stop by to meet the artists tonight from 6-9pm.

Then throw caution to the wind and visit the legendary karaoke night at PJ’s upstairs. It’s full of character and never the same – while being exactly what you would expect from this usually unassuming neighborhood haunt.

Saturday, May 26

Families:

School may be out for the summer but Writers In The Schools, Discovery Green and Houston Public Library have a way of making it fun for all! Every Saturday WITS, HPL Express and Discovery Green team up to offer Houston’s only free and open writing workshop for kids from 10:30-11:30am.

Grab a quick bite to eat at the Lakehouse and head under 59 and cheer for the hometown Dynamos as they face off to the LA Galaxy in the new BBVA Compass Stadium! Tickets are still available.

Adults:

Houstonian’s love craft beer. And now you have your pick of breweries to tour and taste. If you still haven’t been to Saint Arnold’s newery – shame on you! Also adding new flavor to the scene is newby Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company – now hosting open houses on Saturdays [and definitely seek out their latest summer brew CultureMap just touted at select local establishments this weekend.]

Not to be missed, is Empty Bowls Houston on Saturday from 11am-3pm at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. For a minimum donation of $25, you get a one-of-a-kind bowl handcrafted by a local artist and a simple lunch or soup and bread. 100% of the proceeds go to the Houston Food Bank.

Join the good, the bad and the melty at Space Montrose Saturday night for the opening of local Artists JP Nandin’s take on Cheese in a series of posters from 7:00-11:00pm. Space is an innovative concept and unique shopping experience where you can find one of kind unique items all made in the USA by independant artists and crafters. Check out more on their facebook event page. 

Sunday, May 27

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Families:

It’s a festival for the ages at the Chipotle Kids Power Fest with Australian interactive theater troupe, Polyglot Theater as they present the Texas premier of We Built This City at Discovery Green – using thousands of cardboard boxes and the energy and ingenuity of kids and families they build a magnificent imagined city in one day. Buildings go up, are pulled down, redesigned, extended, walked through and reconstructed; the participants make tunnels, archways, towers and labyrinths. Also on site is a kids swap meet where youngsters will peddle their wares and learn a little about business, too. [Event is also on Saturday]

Adults:

Get your last taste of Houston’s favorite bugs. We’re ending the season and Mezzanine Lounge is hosting their weekly AYCE crawfish & parking lot party [and bloody mary bar] beginning at 1pm.

Take a nap, sip a margarita and sit by the pool because you’ll need your energy for Sunday nights at F Bar. It’s another round of fabulous karaoke followed by the Legendary Ladies. If you have Monday off, do it right. As their site puts it, “Is it in New York? Miami? Milan? Madrid? Amsterdam? No, Honey. It’s in F’n Houston.”

Monday, May 28

Families

It’s a HOLIDAY! What better way to celebrate than with prehistoric and furry friends at Houston Zoo’s Dinosaurs exhibit? None, we think.

Adults:

What better way to celebrate a day off than potato chips and champagne? CHA doesn’t have one. Toast to your great weekend with Marilyn Mondays where they show some Norma Jean classics and serve her fave combo.

Fun for all:

Houston represent as Eat St comes to Montrose on Monday. From Eater Houston, “Eat St. with James Cunningham, a Cooking Channel show dedicated to street food, comes to Houston this week to document the city’s thriving food truck culture.” On Monday, they’ll be taping with Stick It Food Truck at Inversion Coffee and all encouraged to come by to show Houston’s support and hungry enthusiasm for the local food truck scene. See the full weekend of taping on Eater.

 

What are you Memorial Day plans? Going to Comicpalooza? A BBQ? Are we invited?

---

We salute all those who have served for our freedom. Memorial Day is a time where we reflect and give thanks to those who have fallen and those families who have sacrificed.  From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you and are forever indebted.