We won’t blame anyone who gets butterflies this weekend — the whole city will, like a beloved butterfly center spread its wings again. Foodie alert: Some tasty food events are popping up around town, while boss babes, plants, rodeos and pampering vie for your attention at weekend markets and events.
Meanwhile, revelers can raise a glass to downtown St. Patrick, as a cool destination celebrates the day a week early. Enjoy; here are the best deals for the weekend.
Thursday 9 March
Burger Bodega & Craft Pita Cheeseburger Pita Collab
Houston restaurants Burger Bodega and Craft Pita are teaming up to create a special edition cheeseburger pita. The pita consists of a crushed kafta patty, akawi cheese, Lebanese pickles, grilled onions and Harlem aioli sauce. The pita will only be available for one day. The collaboration is part of a series that Burger Bodega will host with guest chefs in Houston. Chef Rafael Nasr of Craft Pita will be the first chef in Houston to partner with Burger Bodegas Abbas Dhanani. 11 a.m.
Paul John Whiskey Dinner Pairing at Musaafer
Paul John Indian Whiskey returns to Musaafer for an exclusive dinner pairing by Chef Mayank Istwal. The second edition of this annual dinner features six courses, each carefully complemented by a range of specialties from the award-winning family of whiskeys made on the Arabian Coast of India. The menu will take food back to basics with traditional Indian classics such as kebabs, curries and biryanis to complement the whisky. The special event begins with a cocktail hour followed by a six-course dinner. 18:30.
Curiosity Lab & Theater presents Now that you’ve seen me naked
Drs. Percy Hinks and Adelaide Hibble are trying to win the Nobel Prize for a formula that reveals the mysterious love code. With a team of interns reluctantly having to carry out various relationship scenarios to collect data, Hibble and Hinks want to prove that they are legitimate researchers and not what their colleagues refer to as crazed “mad scientists”. This production features funny, original, memorable songs and scenes that cover everything from fairy tales to performance art. 19.00 (20.00 Friday; 15.00 and 20.00 Saturday; 15.00 Sunday).
Friday 10 March
Bridgeland presents Friday Night Bites
Bridgeland, one of the top-selling master-planned communities in Texas, is celebrating its first Friday Night Bites in 2023 this weekend. The event will feature a selection of Houston-area food trucks and family-friendly activations, including multiple art stations, inflatables, lawn games and live entertainment from Good Time Muffin. Guests can enjoy a diverse selection of tasty dishes from Houston favorites including Kaow, Skye Café, Heffernan, Loaded Potato, Araguaney, Sabines and Zaab Thai. 18.00.
The Cockrell Butterfly Center reopens at the Houston Museum of Natural Science
Science comes alive at the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS), with a member preview of the Cockrell Butterfly Center’s grand reopening. Explore the newly renovated rainforest conservatory and talk to Cockrell Butterfly Center manager Lauren Davidson. Or join the fun later in the evening with special events including crafts, food trucks, cash bars and endless butterfly walks. Guests will even have the opportunity to release a live butterfly into their new home. 18:30.
Performing Arts Houston presents Ragamala Dance Company: The fires of Varanasi
The fires of Varanasi is a large-scale, interdisciplinary dance work in which the choreographers (Ranee, Aparna & Ashwini Ramaswamy – mother and daughter) explore the liminal spaces of the birth-death-rebirth continuum to understand human experiences of migration – physical, cultural, emotional. French lighting/set designer/art director Willy Cessa has created a multi-sensory experience, while New Delhi-based visual artist Manav Gupta has designed a large-scale stage installation. 19:30.
Houston Symphony presents Brahms Piano Concerto 1 & Dvořák 8
Dvořák’s enchanting Symphony No. 8 invites listeners on a sunny trip through nature’s endless charm, and the result is joyful, uplifting and life-affirming. Waves of youthful fire, tender passion and thundering power, Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 emerges as one of music history’s most monumental and impressive creative achievements. Pianist Stephen Hough joins Jonathon Heyward and the orchestra, and the concerts open with Carlos Simon’s Beethoven-inspired Fate conquers now. 20.00 (2.30 Sunday).
Saturday 11 March
Have fun at CITYCENTRE
CITYCENTRE will welcome guests this weekend to its first ever Wellfest – a full day of accessible workouts, wellness events and sustainable shopping in partnership with Life Time and Epic-Cycles. An event focused on bringing the community together through movement and wellness, Wellfest is free and open to anyone on any fitness journey. Guests can wander the plaza and experience wellness vendors such as juice and smoothie samples, massage therapists, children’s programs and more. 8 in the morning.
Houston St. Patrick’s Parade and Celebration
Although the actual day is next Friday, POST is organizing a day full of events to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Enjoy a day full of games, food, Irish acts, drinks and the St. Patty’s Day Parade, which starts and ends at POST. There will also be bagpipe performances, an outdoor flea market, a live DJ and more. And let’s not forget the Seltzerland Festival, where attendees can spend the afternoon tasting 100+ unique hard seltzers. This event is free and open to the public of all ages. 11 a.m.
HTX Boss Babe’s spring party
HTX Boss Babes and a rich environment The Ion is excited to celebrate Women’s History Month in March. They’ve curated a fun festival featuring over 50 women-owned businesses, including State Line Designs, Miradela, Maverick Parties, Bear Cub Leather Goods, Chauncey and Coco, A Pop of Literacy, Herr Apparel, and Pristan Boutique. This festival will be a fun opportunity to shop local vendors, enjoy a variety of female DJs and take fun photos in the installations around Ion. 11 a.m.
7th Annual Hootenanny at Eureka Heights Brew Co.
It’s rodeo season, which means it’s time for Eureka Heights Brew Co.’s annual hootenanny. Dust off your brand new cowboy boots and get ready for some daytime two-stepping. Country music recording artists Libby Koch and The Dealers return to perform. Their collection of originals and covers is sure to pair well with beer and BBQ. There will also be local craft vendors, games and the glorious return of Golden Buckle, Eureka Heights’ infamous mosaic cream beer.
Sunday 12 March
Spring Forward Houston Plant Market at MKT
Leap forward into the season of growth and renewal with the Houston Plant Market. Enjoy an open-air market featuring Houston’s best growers, gardeners, artisans, crafters and more. Support local vendors with a variety of goods including honey, candles, jewelry and so many other goodies. And don’t forget to head to the Heart of Hou Community Tent for a Springtime Scavenger Hunt adventure around the MKT, with prizes from Sweetgreen, Solidcore, Union Studio Yoga, Treadwell, Cariloha, Go Easy and the Houston Botanic Garden. Dinner time.
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents “Pipilotti Rist: Pixel Forest and Worry Will Vanish” opening day
The MFAH continues its series of large-scale, immersive presentations with this special experience. This brings together two works from the museum’s collections: Pixel Forest, an installation of thousands of hanging LED lights; and The worry will disappear, a video projection that takes viewers on a dreamlike journey through the natural landscape, the human body and the sky. The presentation transforms the vast central gallery of Cullinan Hall into a cosmic destination. Until Monday 4 September at 12.30 p.m.
Abstract Turntablism Workshop for Adults – The Language of Chance
Learn from artist DJ and The Orange Show artist-in-residence Maria Chavez (who will be doing a DJ set at Orange on Friday night) about the concepts of abstract turntablism. Get a hands-on opportunity to use turntables and vinyl records as instruments from Maria Chavez. Participants will learn about Chavez’s equipment and practice and create their own variations of the form. Participants are also invited to perform a solo abstract turntablism piece at the residency closing concert on 17 March. $10 per participant. 1 p.m.
