Weekend Shortcuts
Saturday, January 16, 2016
- Urban Harvest Fruit Tree Sale at Rice University – Pick out temperate, tropical and/or citrus fruit trees from an extensive selection during the 16th Annual Fruit Tree Sale hosted by Urban Harvest. 9am to 1pm.
- From Paint to Poetry Rothko Writing Workshop at Jung Center – Learn the art of ekphrastic writing, drawing inspiration from Mark Rothko’s paintings on display at MFAH during this workshop at the Jung Center. Tickets start at $100. 10am to 4pm.
- Black Heritage Society’s Community & Health Festival at McGregor Park | FREE– Enjoy healthy activities and games, displays, music, food and community in the park which is home to Greater Houston’s newest MLK memorial statue. 11am to 5pm.
- 10th Annual MLK Youth Parade | FREE – See 20 marching bands, 10 parade floats and lots of youthful spirit at this always entertaining parade that draws about 200,000 spectators along San Jacinto and Elgin in Midtown. Noon to 5pm.
- Sunset Sip & Stroll in La Porte by the Bay | FREE to Attend – Sip wine and enjoy music, food and art while strolling the farmer’s market during Five Points’ Saturday Sip & Stroll. 5pm to 8pm.
- 8th Anniversary Party at Reserve 101 | FREE to Attend – Enjoy live music, $5 happy hour pricing on a new selection of specialty cocktails and more at Downtown’s headquarters for whiskey and other spirits. 6pm to 2am.
- Macklemore & Ryan Lewis in Concert at Revention Music Center – Belt out the words to Downtown when you see the American hip hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis live at Revention Music Center. Tickets start at $45, but you may find cheaper or better seats on TicketNetwork’s resale site. 8pm.
- The Producers at The Grand – Take a seat to see the twelve-time Tony Award winning Broadway production The Producers at The Grand in Galveston. $40; limited discounted $20 tickets available. 8pm.
- Lyfe Jennings and Vivian Green in Concert at Arena Theatre – Jam to tunes from crooner Lyfe Jennings and R&B singer Vivian Green during this concert at Arena Theatre. $42; limited discounted $22.25 tickets available. 8pm.
- More Great Things to Do All Weekend Long – Some of the biggest things to do in Houston this weekend are happening all weekend long.
Sunday, January 17, 2016
- Chevron Houston Marathon in Downtown – Run, volunteer or simply show up to support runners during the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon that winds through Houston, beginning and ending in Downtown. Registration start at $115. 6:45am.
- A Walk in the Woods with Bayou City Outdoors at Terry Hershey Park | FREE – Join the folks at BCO for an exploration of the trails less traveled. Meets at 9am at the Cafe Express on Eldridge. RSVPs required. 9am.
- SK8 Houston Brewery Wave – Climb aboard The Wave and enjoy an adult field trip to 3 Houston Breweries. Attendees will depart from Wave HQ where they will make their way to Karbach, Spindletap, and 8th Wonder Brewery. Admission includes transportation, tours, tastings, and souvenir glasses from each brewery. Tickets start at $75 not including ticket fees. 12:45pm to 5pm.
- University of Houston Cougars vs. University of Connecticut Huskies – U of H’s men’s basketball team defends against UConn. $5, but you may find better or hard-to-get seats on TicketNetwork’s resale marketplace. 1pm.
- MATCH Family Fun Day | FREE – Enjoy kid-friendly performances, DJ music, games, an indoor bounce house and more at the new Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston. 1pm to 4pm.
- Bayou Bend Family Day: America at Work | FREE – Explore the stunning gardens and home of Bayou Bend and learn about the daily chores, jobs, and industries of America from the 1600s to 1800s. 1pm to 5pm.
- Peter and the Wolf Performance at the Houston Zoo – Enjoy a performance of Peter and the Wolf from the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra while visiting the Houston Zoo. Included with zoo admission. 2pm, 3pm and 4pm.
- Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park at the A.D. Players Theater – Catch Simon’s classic comedy about straight-laced attorney Paul and free-spirited Corie, a newlywed couple who just moved into a tiny Manhattan walk-up apartment. $40; limited discounted $20 tickets available. 2:30pm.
- 15th Annual MLK Battle of The Bands Competition at Rice Stadium – Twenty nationally acclaimed marching bands hailing from Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas will compete for first place. $10. 4pm to 8pm.
- Blacksmith at Night: Chef David Cordúa – Enjoy a special pop-up menu created by Cordúa Restaurants’ executive chef. There will be optional coffee and tea pairings or you can BYOB. Most menu options are under $10, and it benefits Fundacion Juventud Lider. It starts at 5:01pm and ends when the food runs out.
- Dance! Latin American Pops Concert at The Grand – Hear the Galveston Symphony Orchestra’s Pops Concert: Dance during a performance at The Grand. $30; limited discounted $15 tickets available. 7pm.
- Breaking Benjamin in Concert at House of Blues – Rock out to songs from Breaking Benjamin’s latest album Dark Before Dawn during their Unplugged Tour at House of Blues. First run tickets are sold out, but a limited number of seats may be available on TicketNetwork’s resale site. 7pm.
- Tanlines in Concert at Walter’s Downtown – Dance all night to indie rock and electronic music from the Tanlines duo at Walter’s Downtown. Tickets start at $15. 8pm.
- Sundown Rooftop Party at Proof Rooftop Lounge – In advance of the Monday holiday, Proof’s weekly Sunday night party will be bigger than normal. 8pm.
- More Great Things to Do All Weekend Long – Some of the biggest things to do in Houston this weekend are happening all weekend long.
MLK, Jr. Day, Monday, January 18, 2016
- Spies, Traitors, Saboteurs Exhibit at Houston Museum of Natural Science – Delve into the fascinating history of nine major events and periods in U.S. history when Americans were threatened by enemies within American borders at this special exhibit. $25; limited discounted $15 tickets available. 9am to 5pm.
- 22nd Annual MLK Grande Parade in Midtown | FREE – More than 300,000 spectators are expected for this large two-hour parade honoring Dr. King with 30 marching bands and 15 parade floats. 10am to noon.
- Black Heritage Society’s 37th Annual “Original” MLK Birthday Parade in Downtown | FREE – The Black Heritage Society’s annual MLK Day Parade will wind its way through Downtown. It will start at Texas Avenue and Crawford Street, next to Minute Maid Park, and travel Northeast on Texas to San Jacinto. 10am to 1pm.
- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at Rothko Chapel | FREE – In honor of MLK Day, the Rothko Chapel will play a selection of his speeches at select times throughout the day. Guests will hear Dr. King’s distinctive voice and message resonate amidst the acoustics of the Chapel. Suggested donation of $10. 11am, 1pm, 3pm and 5pm.
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at Children’s Museum of Houston – Bring the kids to a day of celebration of African-American culture, ingenuity, peace and leadership. $5. Noon.
- Black Heritage Society’s MLK, Jr. Post Parade Concert & Entertainment at Jones Plaza | FREE – Enjoy music, live entertainment, food and more at an afternoon celebration of Martin Luther King in Downtown. 1pm to 5pm.
- The Right Kind of People at Obsidian Theater – See Michael Weems’ romantic comedy about an unlikely duo from Cone Man Running Productions. $15; limited discounted $7.50 tickets available. 8pm.
- More Great Things to Do All Weekend Long – Some of the biggest things to do in Houston this weekend are happening all weekend long.
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Is your favorite event missing from our list? Add it in the comments below.