Make the most of your weekend with our Houston Weekend Guide for Thursday, September 11 to Sunday, September 14, 2014.
[quote_box_right]Weekend Shortcuts
Sunday, September 14[/quote_box_right]Following the first long week in September, it’s business as usual… at least when it comes to staging and planning your weekend in H-Town. There’s a lot of free stuff happening, including the debut of the Houston Symphony’s new musical director Andrés Orozco-Estrada at Miller Outdoor Theatre, family movie screenings and impressive new art to check out at Discovery Green, art openings, live music performances, an Evening on the Esplanade on Navigation Boulevard, and even a boat parade on Buffalo Bayou.
There’s a lot more great stuff to do this weekend in Houston. Check it out our favorites in our full Weekend Guide below
Things to Do All Weekend
- Wings of the City at Discovery Green | FREE | DAILY – See the brand new exhibition of nine larger than life winged angel sculptures created by Mexican artist Jorge Marín. They’ll be on display around the park through early March, but you may want to be the first of your friends to pose in front of the broad impressive wingspan of one sculpture and post your photo with your massive new-found golden wings to social media.
- Bring It On – The Musical at the Hobby Center | Friday to Sunday – Catch the high-energy and hilarious dance and musical production about friendships tested by extreme competition in high school. Presented by TUTS’ Humphreys School of Musical Theatre. You may save on better seats on TicketNetwork’s resale market. Friday and Saturday 7:30pm; Sunday 1:30pm.
- Texas Gatorfest 2014 in Anahuac | Friday to Sunday – Head east on I-10 to check out the big annual carnival and live music festival in Anahuac Park. $10; kids 5 to 12 $5; active military and 65 and older $5; free 4 and under. Hours vary.
- Pasadena Livestock Show and Rodeo | Friday and Saturday – Find rodeo exhibition and live country music with Easton Corbin performing Friday night, followed by David Nail on Saturday. Starts at $15.
- Spring Awakening Rock Musical at the Stage Door Theatre | Friday to Sunday – See a stirring local production of the musical coming of age story that won eight Tonys when it debuted on Broadway. $20; discounted $10 tickets available. Friday and Saturday 8pm; Sunday 2pm.
- Houston Ballet presents A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Wortham Center | Friday to Sunday – See Houston Ballet’s adaptation of William Shakespeare’s classic comedy, a performance that will please all ages. Tickets start at $20. You may save on better seats on TicketNetwork’s resale market. Hours vary.
- Shark! Interactive Exhibit at HMNS | Daily– Learn the true story behind the menace of the sea that’s become a summer pop culture phenomenon at this brand new temporary interactive exhibit at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. You can even touch a white-spotted bamboo shark and an epaulette carpet shark in specially designed low aquariums. $25; discounted $12.50 tickets available.
- The Last Five Years musical at The Kaleidoscope Theatre | Friday through Sunday – Bayou City Theatrics presents a stirring two-person musical that relates the five-year relationship between a man and a woman, with a twist. $33; discounted $16.50 tickets are available for a limited time. Friday and Saturday 8pm; Sunday 5pm.
- Family Activities inside the Loop from BigKidSmallCity | Daily – Find events, recommendations and family-friendly activities from our favorite Houston mom-in-the-know Jill Jarvis of BigKidSmallCity.
- Houston Texans Tickets on Sale | Sponsored – Score tickets to Texans home games. Don’t miss a game and grab hard-to-get seats on the ticket resale market.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
- Ground Zero 360: Never Forget Opening Reception at Holocaust Museum Houston – See the debut of this captivating exhibit co-created by first responder New York police captain Paul McCormack and New York-based Irish photographer Nicola McClean, who shot extensive photos at Ground Zero on the day of the attack. $12 nonmembers; $8 active duty military; free for members. 6pm to 8pm.
- Houston Turkey Trot Kickoff Party at Luke’s Locker in River Oaks | FREE – Register for the annual Thanksgiving morning run at this party featuring free beer from Karbach and Saint Arnold. First 500 guests get a $15 gift card to Luke’s Locker. Find special food truck offerings from Buttz Gourmet Food Truck, Yummy Dog, LLC and Oh My! Pocket Pies. 7pm to 9pm.
- Dinner with New Orleans’ Commander’s Palace Chef Tory McPhail at Brennen’s of Houston – Enjoy a Texas-Creole dinner created by New Orleans’ James Beard Award-Winning chef Tory McPhail and host chef Danny Trace. Guests will enjoy a six-course dinner with wine pairings and a cocktail reception. Reservations required. $125. 6:30pm.
- Cahors Wine Dinner at Etoile Cuisine et Bar – Join winemaker Bertrand Vigouroux, known as the “King of French Malbec” and chef Philippe Verpiand for the very special Cahors Wine Dinner at Etoile in Uptown. Reservations required. $105. 7pm.
- Lyle Lovett and his Large Band in The Woodlands – One of the state’s most beloved Aggies returns to the Houston area with his unique Texas musical stylings. You might find cheaper or better tickets on the ticket resale market. 7pm.
- El Danzón with Gracie Chavez y Navó at The Flat – Enjoy drink specials and music from DJs Navo and Gracie Chavez of Bombón at the Flat on Waugh in Montrose. No cover. Ages 18 and up. 10pm to 2am.
- More Great Things to Do All Weekend Long – Some of the biggest things happening in Houston this weekend are happening all weekend long. Click here to scroll up and see our list.
Friday, September 12, 2014
- Taste of the World: Houston Food and Wine Festival at Bayou Music Center – Hosted by the Latino Learning Center, the festival celebrates Hispanic heritage with more than 100 vendors offering a wide variety of cultural food and drink. $35 at the door; $30 in advance; free for kids 11 and under. 5pm to 10pm.
- In Residence Opening Reception at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft | FREE – See the debut of In Residence: Work by 2013 Resident Artists, an exhibition of work created by the eight artists who began residencies at HCCC in 2013. 5:30pm to 7pm.
- Aziz Ansari’s “Modern Romance Tour” at Toyota Center – Parks and Recreation’s own Tom Haverford brings his wit, charm and comedy to Downtown Houston. You might find cheaper or better tickets on the ticket resale market. 8pm.
- Finding Nemo Movie Screening at Discovery Green | FREE – Join Nemo, Marlin, Dory, Crush and the rest at this beloved Pixar film about a clown fish’s search to find his son. 8pm.
- Caddyshack Movie Screening at Market Square Park | FREE – See one of grandfather’s of today’s screwball comedies. Released in 1980, the R-rated Caddyshack stars a young Chevy Chase and Bill Murray, along with Rodney Dangerfield and gopher puppets. Dogs on leashes are welcome. 8pm.
- The 39 Steps at The Grace Theater – See the clever comical stage adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller The 39 Steps, with a cast of four portraying 100 zany characters (in 100 minutes) mixing Hitchcockian panache with spy thrillers and Monty Python’s absurdity. $20; discounted $10 tickets available in advance. 8pm.
- ¡Bienvenido, Andrés! With the Houston Symphony at Miller Outdoor Theatre | FREE – Welcome the symphony’s new musical director Andrés Orozco-Estrada at his inaugrural performance, with a lively program featuring featuring the music of Colombia and America, complete with folk dancers. 8:30pm.
- The Sour Notes Houston CD Release Party at Mango’s Café – Austin psych/pop band and Free Press Summer Fest performer welcomes a lineup of other bands and artists at their debut of their self-released fifth albumb. $5 cover. 9pm; music starts at 9:30pm.
- Red Bull Panamérika Pachanga Tour at Warehouse Live – FREE for a limited time – Enjoy Latin-themed music from Bomba Estéreo, Los Rakas and Bombón DJs, along with cultural arts and food. The first 200 people who RSVP for the event at this Facebook event page before noon on Friday will be added to the guest list. One person per RSVP.
- More Great Things to Do All Weekend Long – Some of the biggest things happening in Houston this weekend are happening all weekend long. Click here to scroll up and see our list.