Plan Your Weekend: February 9 to 12, 2023

Things to Do
All Weekend Long

• Immersive Photo Experience at TFTI Houston | Daily – Snap your Valentine’s and other seasonal shots in more than 18 immersive room installations—including the Infinity Mirror, Upside Down, Love Letters, and Pillow Fight rooms. Timed entry tickets are $28; $23 for ages 12 and under. Times vary.
• The Franchise Show at NRG Center | Friday & Saturday | FREE – If you’re in the market to consider purchasing a franchise, then this is the event for you. On back-to-back days, dozens of businesses will be present for face-to-face meetings where you can ask questions and decide if you’re down to open a franchise. 11am to 5pm.
• Love is in the Air at Market Street | Friday & Saturday | FREE – Keep the Valentine’s festivities going all weekend in the Woodlands and head to Market Street’s Love Is in the Air for a long weekend filled with fun photo ops and live music. 6pm to 8pm.
• The Murder of Madame Valentine: Dinner Theater at the Agatha Theater | Friday & Saturday – In Rosenberg, take in a dinner and a murder mystery show on Valentine’s weekend, complete with a four-course meal from Ol’ Railroad Cafe that you can enjoy while gathering clues to solve the murder of Madame Valentine. $30 and up. 7pm to 10pm.
• Open Dance Project presents Peter & Wendy at MATCH | Friday & Saturday | Final Weekend – The music of Two Star Symphony blends with Open Dance Project’s signature artistry and athleticism in a whimsical, brand new take on the classic story of the “boy who never grew up.” $35. Times vary.
• Acenar con Amor at the Original Ninfa’s in Uptown & on Navigation | Friday to Sunday – Celebrate el dia del amor at H-Town’s OG Ninfa’s at the original location on Navigation and in the Uptown dining destination, with Valentine’s-themed drinks and a special three-course Valentine’s menu curated by Chef Alex Padilla, featuring roasted oysters, petite filet, and chocolate mousse. $80 for two. Times vary.

Mardi Gras! Galveston
^{Friday to Sunday}

Celebrate the opening of Galveston’s biggest event when Mardi Gras kicks off with bead throwing, elaborate parades, headlining concerts, parties and much more. Ongoing through Fat Tuesday, February 21.

$14.50 and up | Times vary

• Mardi Gras! Galveston | Friday to Sunday | Ongoing – More than 3 million beads will be thrown at Mardi Gras! Galveston—the third largest Mardi Gras celebration in the U.S. Running through Fat Tuesday, the multi-day festival features 20+ elaborate parades, headliner performances, family events, and plenty of island style feasting opportunities. $14.50 and up; free for ages 12 and under. Times vary.
• Catastrophic Theatre presents Eddie Goes to Poetry City at MATCH | Friday to Sunday | Ongoing – Eddie imagines that Poetry City must be paradise. But when he gets there, he finds himself disoriented in a place that “melts language.” This production runs through Saturday, March 4. Tickets are pay-what-you-can; suggested price of $35. Showtimes vary.
• Sesame Street Live! Make Your Music at NRG Arena | Friday to Sunday – Join your favorite Sesame Street friends on this magical adventure where Elmo teams up with friends Abby, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Grover, Rosita, and more to put on a magic show for the whole neighborhood. $20 and up. Times vary.
• Houston Symphony presents Songs of the Earth Festival at Jones Hall | Friday to Sunday – Hear the Symphony take on beautiful works in this performance of Mahler’s The Song of the Earth, a spellbinding fusion of ancient Chinese poetry and music. $29 and up. Times vary.
• Permanent Collection at Main Street Theater | Friday to Sunday | Ongoing – Who controls art? Who decides what should be seen? Those are just two of the questions raised in this play that finds an African American businessman, newly named head of a renowned art collection, at odds with the collection’s director of education over his proposal to change the collection by adding eight pieces of art. This production runs through Sunday, March 5. $44 and up. Showtimes vary.
• Super Bowl Weekend at J-Bar-M Barbecue & Beer Garden | Saturday & Sunday – The EaDo hotspot for smoked goodies is expanding its offerings and hours, with dine in and to go offers, plus the big game on 14 big screens inside and out. Enjoy a grazing board for 4-6 people with a pound of brisket, pork ribs, turkey, half-chicken and sausage with four sides and fries for $100. Or go a la carte for smoked jumbo wings, smoked brisket queso, and a trio of smoked meat sliders and more. Specials are available to go, as well as for dine in on the day before the game. Times vary.
• Pizza Day & Super Bowl Weekend Specials at Monkey’s Tail | Daily – The Mexican American kitchen and dive bar in Northside will offer half-off all its pizzas starting on National Pizza Day on Thursday and through Sunday that weekend. Plus, you’ll also find crawfish specials on Super Bowl Sunday. Times and prices vary. 
• Mighty Acorn Productions presents Almost, Maine at MATCH | Daily | Final Weekend – It’s winter in Almost, Maine, and the townspeople are falling in and out of love. The New York Times praised the play’s “shrewd writing” in these nine interlocking vignettes. $35. Showtimes vary.

Valentine’s Dinners, Date Night Events & More Destinations

• Valentine’s Day Brunches, Lunches & Dinners in Houston – Track down all the lunches and dinners for dine-in and to-go that you need to know happening for Valentine’s Day in Houston.
• Valentine’s Date Night Events in Houston – Make your plans now with romantic and Valentine’s-themed events happening this weekend and on Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, February 14, 2023.
• Black History Month Events in Houston – Celebrate African American history, legacies and artistry at current and upcoming events happening throughout Black History Month.
• Super Bowl To-Go Party Packs & Watch Parties Around Houston – Plan your Sunday for the Big Game with our picks for to-go party packs or watch parties taking place across Greater Houston.
• Best Flower Shops in Houston – Whether you’re gearing up for Valentine’s Day or looking to freshen up your living space, we’ve gathered a dozen flower shops that are ready to serve you.
• Limited Time Museum Exhibits & Art Installations Around Greater Houston | Daily | Many FREE – Explore the many striking, stunning, and diverse exhibits exploring history, science, art, culture, and creativity around the Greater Houston metro area.

• Galentine’s Chocolate & Wine Pairing at We Olive & Wine Bar – Celebrate your female friendships and sisterhood in the Heights with a guided olive oil tasting, followed by five wines with chocolate pairings. Attendees will also secure 15% off any retail purchases of olive oils, balsamic vinegars and other products. $30 and up. 6pm to 8pm.
• DaCamera Young Artists presents Beautiful, Picturesque, and Sublime at MFAH | FREE – DaCamera Young Artists present a free concert during the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s free Thursday admission, inspired by the 18th- and 19th-century British landscape paintings on display in the gallery. Performances at 6:30pm and 7:30pm.
• Riley Green in Concert at White Oak Music Hall – The country artist brings his latest tunes and tracks from a forthcoming album to the downstairs stage at White Oak. $35 and up. 7pm.
• Alaska presents Valentine’s Day is Terrible at House of Blues – Winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, Alaska headlines this show in Downtown that takes aim at the so-called holiday of love. Houston queen Blackberri will also make an appearance. $35 and up. 7pm.
• Edith Devaney’s Talk on Robert Motherwell at Menil Collection | FREE – Head to the Menil to hear from curator Edith Devaney in a one-hour keynote talk about the American artist as part of the Drawing Institute’s exhibition, Robert Motherwell Drawing: As Fast as the Mind Itself. 7pm.

Naseer Shamma
Wortham Center
^{Thursday, February 9}

Iraqi artist Naseer Shamma performs a night of works that include pieces from his recent tour with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

$100 and up | 9pm

• Marvel Years in Concert at Last Concert Cafe – Take in a night of electronic soul when Marvel Years headlines a concert just north of Downtown, supported by Phyphr and Mothertrucker. $15 and up. 8pm.
• Chase Matthew & Kidd G in Concert at Warehouse Live – The EaDo venue welcomes country pop rappers Chase Matthew and Kidd G on their co-headlining tour across the country. $25 and up. 8pm.
• Valentine’s Candlelight Concert at Post Houston’s Z Atrium – Enjoy beautifully sultry music as the Monarch Chamber Players perform an intimate and romantic set by candlelight including Bizet’s “Carmen,” tangos by Astor Piazzolla, works by Debussy, and more. $10. 7:30pm to 8:30pm.
• Lalah Hathaway & Kenny Lattimore in Concert at Arena Theatre – Superstars from the worlds of R&B and soul perform in Southwest Houston as part of the pair’s co-headlining tour through the States. $59.50 and up. 8:30pm.
• Naseer Shamma: From Euphrates Into Mississippi at Wortham Center – Iraqi artist Naseer Shamma performs the ancient instrument, the oud, as part of a night of works that include pieces from his recent tour with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. $100 and up. 9pm.

• More Great Things to Do All Weekend Long – Some of the biggest things to do in Houston are happening all weekend long. Scroll up to explore events and shows spanning multiple days, or browse Houston Experiences to save on museum and brewery passes, tours, and more.