The holidays are around the corner, folks, and the festivities have already begun. Soak up the crisp (albeit, slightly humid) autumn air while experiencing the cornucopia of events that await in Houston this November! [Featured image: @brian.nicholas_]
1-4. Experience Magical Candlelight Concerts
Experience a magical spring here in Houston thanks to the amazing indoor and outdoor venues the city has to offer. Luckily, Fever Originals has brought its popular Candlelight concert series to beautiful venues for the season with concerts that include:
- Candlelight: A Tribute to Selena
- Candlelight: A Tribute to Silk Sonic
- Candlelight: Celebrating Billie Holiday & Amy Winehouse
- Candlelight: A Tribute to Adele
5. Experience the Magic of Harry Potter: A Yule Ball Celebration
Tickets are officially available for this holiday-themed ball, where guests can honor the yuletide season and its endless festivities in a way only the Wizarding World knows how. From November and for a few weeks only, you’ll be able to dance, interact with hosts, enjoy delicious food and drinks, and maybe even do a little shopping at the enchanting Yule Ball Market, all while snapping pics at the many photo-ops! A Premium Package is also available!
6. Get Your Tickets to this Blockbuster Van Gogh Exhibition
Artwork from the iconic post-impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh will come to life in a 360-degree digital spectacle that’ll illuminate and transform the physical space into a fully immersive exhibit. You’ll see Van Gogh’s work take over the walls and encompass your surroundings through the lenses of several dozen projectors, hyper-realistic VR headsets, or a mix of both.
7. Get Your Tickets To See Sinatra Under the Stars
Sinatra Under the Stars will transport you back to a time when Sinatra reigned the scene. Enjoy a classic cocktail under the stars and melt away “those little town blues.” Don’t miss this evening of classic jazz with a touch of some hot takes on contemporary songs performed by some of Houston’s brightest talents. Sit back and relax to the sounds of Sinatra at one of the best venues that Houston has to offer! Enjoy a delicious dinner menu and light bites available for purchase and enjoy the evening at the spectacular Skylawn rooftop.
8. Experience Eternity at this Breathtaking Infinity Room Exhibition
To describe the glimmering works of Yayoi Kusama as “iconic” almost sounds like a disservice. Nothing less than mesmerizing, her kaleidoscopic infinity rooms have enchanted the world over, leaving those who’ve entered breathless, and those who’ve seen them secondhand taken with envy.
Now, Houstonians can experience the indescribable as MFAH becomes the new home of Kusama’s Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity.
9. Celebrate Dia de Los Muertos
On Saturday, November 5, Houston will have the chance to get in on the celebration with the second annual Día de los Muertos festival from 2 pm to 10 pm in Sam Houston Park at 1000 Bagby St., and parade in all its wonderful pageantry, beginning and ending in the same location, from 7 pm to 8 pm.
10. Behold the Most Breathtaking Fall Foliage in the State
Let’s be real, the only way you can see fall colors in Houston is through filters and photoshop. Those that seek the upmost fall experience with breathtaking sights of blazen, changing leaves, will have to take their PSL to-go on a state-bound road trip. Here are the 10 best places in Texas to see fall foliage.
11. Roll into this Mini-Golf Cocktail Bar
With 23,000-square-foot to play with, Puttery will comprise four themed mini golf courses across two levels in addition to multiple bars. Despite it’s exciting design, Puttery aims to be recognized for its speciality cocktails and chef driven menu as much as it’s elegant putting courses. Whether you’re eating or playing, a delectable food and beverage program with shareable plates and craft cocktails aims to tempt people in regardless of whether they plan for some light competition or not.
12. Ice Skate at the Foot of the Skyline
Discovery Green in Downtown, Houston is bringing their outdoor ice rink back for the holiday season. From Friday, November 11 at 6 pm to Sunday, January 29, Discovery Green is hosting public skates at the foot of Houston’s skyline.
13-15. Revel in the Holiday Spirit
The holidays are upon us, Houston. This year, the city is getting into the spirit more than ever with brand new holiday festivities in Downtown, Houston. Beginning this November, downtown is transforming into a magical holiday destination for City Lights Downtown Holiday Magic.
- The holiday season in Houston is set to be big and bright this year. On November 18, Houston Botanic Garden will celebrate the return of their dazzling Lightscape experience.
- This season, Houstonians can enjoy a whole new holiday experience at the Cistern, where the underground venue will debut its brand new installation: Cistern Illuminated.
16-18. Check Out Houston’s New Art Pieces
Houston is a work of art that continues to grow. This season, Houstonians can admire Houston’s latest artistic features the city over.
- Mi Casa, Your Casa 2.0 is an interactive installation on the Sarofim Lawn featuring 16 house-like structures wherein visitors can sit, swing, and enjoy the company of each other. Esrawe + Cadena, the designers of the popular Los Trompos, took inspiration from the street markets and mercados of Latin America.
- The city has transformed into an open-air gallery with a series of large-scale art pieces in Downtown, Houston in an effort to initiate conversation leading to social change.
19. Enjoy Sumo, Cosplay, and More at this Spectacular Japanese Festival
Immerse yourself in the most spectacular facets of Japanese culture this fall at Tokyo Night Festival. The two-day festival slated for this November touts itself as “the largest Japanese festival the nation has seen” and promises sumo wrestling, live performances, endless eats, and much more!
20. Have Second Breakfast at the Hobbit Cafe
You don’t have to journey all the way out to Mordor to enliven your Tolkien-esque fantasies. Here in Houston, just southwest of Montrose is The Hobbit Café. Since 1972, the café has served all the hobbits, elves, wizards, and dwarves the best food Middle Earth, Houston has to offer.
21. Dance All Night at this Twin Peaks Nightclub
The public can now see what’s behind the red curtains at the new, Lynchian-inspired nightclub, Cherry. The darkly lavish new nightclub is a concept from Hospitable Viking the group behind The Commoner + The boulevardier, Rosemont, and the 006 Bar. It’s set in the two-story space formerly occupied by the Nightingale Room – which is rather appropriate all considering.
22-26. Cozy Up at Houston’s Best Coffee Shops
Thankfully, there are plenty of coffee houses scattered about the city for residents to take refuge, re-energize, and maybe eat a scone or two.
- Rev up your mornings at the motorcycle and coffee garage.
- Secret Garden offers various international coffees with options in the form of Vietnamese, Greek Espresso, Greek Freddo Cappuccino, Turkish Coffee, and more.
- Husband-and-wife caffeine team, Manuel and Martha Gil, have recently opened Segundo Lab inside Ironworks near downtown, bringing rich, creative java flavors to the Second Ward.
27. Visit The Hidden Castle in Texas
A short drive outside of Houston in the small town of Bellville Texas lies a medieval castle equipped with a 3,000-pound drawbridge, moat, and a knightly guest quarters.
28. Embrace Everything Pumpkin
Beyond the Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts of the world, awaits a cornucopia of local bakeries, restaurants, and coffee shops that know how to enrich your autumn experience in Houston with all the season’s best flavors. (Trick or) treat yourself to 10 of our favorite spots to get fall treats in the city!
29-33. Sweeten Up at a Speakeasy
There’s something special about speakeasies. The secretive, vicarious forbidden feel of transporting back to the prohibition make imbibing cocktails all the more tantalizing. Stow away in wonderful hidden bars that Houston has to offer!
- So Clutch, the owners of the Concrete Cowboy, Clutch Bar, and a host of establishments in other US cities, opened the doors of the Sugar Room on Washington Avenue. The cocktail lounge hidden inside a local bakery features a glamorous selection of drinks as well as tasty treats.
- Tucked away in the corner of Cantina Barba’s back patio is a scanty, nondescript, somewhat rusty container. The door on which advertises “Mijo’s Mezcal Bar” – which, to our knowledge, lays the smallest bar in Houston.
- Relive the ’20s and all of its splendor at the Daisy Buchanan Lounge, from the group behind Gatsby’s Prime Steakhouse. The flashy new 52-seat lounge, located at what was once Bar Victor on 4321 Montrose Blvd, is made in the image of the era infamously captured in Scott F. Fitzgerald’s masterpiece, The Great Gatsby.
34. Unwind Inside This Cozy Beer And Wine Bus
Parked on Montrose Blvd., Bacco Wine Garden is an intimate, fire-lit, two-story bar and patio that serves wine, beer, and an assortment of Italian comfort food. Beyond the wraparound balcony, there lies a dazzling wine and beer bus for patrons to share an even more intimate experience.
35-37. Hit the Dive Scene
Houston thankfully has plenty of places to take shelter in a flurry of rain: whether to escape the weather, shoot a round of pool, grab a cheap beer, or to play a song on a jukebox, consult this list to discover where to go.
- Those who leave up their festive decorations year round, like the people over at Grand Prize Bar, are complete freaking lunatics – and we love them for it.
- La Carafe Wine Bar is a historic haunt housed in a building that’s stood for over a century and remains to be the oldest in the city of Houston.
38-39. Or, Hit a Patio Bar
One surefire way to capitalize on the weekend, weekday, weeknight – really just any time – is to have a couple drinks amongst friends in the open air of a patio. Get out and about this season at some of our favorite watering holes in town
- Nestled on 1239 W 19th St. among a familiar crowd of patio bars – Preslee’s, McIntyre’s Heights, and Bungalow Heights– is a newcomer known as Moonshine Deck, a throwback Americana-inspired bar and kitchen with moonshine and whiskey to boot.
40. Transport Yourself To Madrid at this Clubby Restaurant
If you’re looking for a taste of Spanish cuisine, with the sight, sound, and feel of Madrilenian nightlife, MAD Houston is your ticket.
41. Saunter Through Railway Heights
Railway Heights is now open on Washington with two stories of vibrant businesses, food stalls, local vendors, and an art gallery on the second floor.
42. Check Out Houston’s Brand New Lyric Market
Markets are surging in Houston these days. Recently, the city has been blessed with not one but two mixed-media markets, that which continue to host headlining musicians, art galleries and expositions, and excellent eateries. Most recently, Lyric Market has opened in the Downtown Theater District.
43. Enjoy these Dazzling Chocolates
Heralded as one of the Top 10 Chocolatiers in North America by Dessert Professional Magazine, Kate Weiser is a nationally-recognized chocolate-maker renowned for her dazzling seasonal treats. With several stores in Dallas and Fort Worth, the confectioner goes over the top for Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day – and this year, Weiser’s creations are going to be in Houston for all three holidays.
44. Get Medieval at Ren Fest
The 48th Annual Texas Renaissance Festival, the largest renaissance festival in the nation, returns to Texas this October with a kingdom of entertainment for the whole family.
Every year since 1974 the town of Todd Mission travels back to the 16th century, becoming a bustling village filled to the brim with stages, shops, artisans, vendors, and no shortage of characters – from kings, queens, and knights, to fairies and elven-kind. It’s annual attendance clocks in around 500,000 visitors – making it the Nation’s Largest Renaissance Festival.
45. Treat Your Dog to Sophistication at this Luxury Canine Cafe
Treat your furry friends to a life of luxury at the brand new PUCCI Cafe & Boutique opening in Cinco Ranch in Katy today.
Opening today, September 19, PUCCI Cafe & Boutique is a one-of-a-kind, European-inspired concept in Houston where canines and owners alike can experience class and sophistication. Located in Katy in Cinco Ranch, PUCCI spans 2,500-square-feet and its outfitted with a multi-level lakeside patio, dog park, cafe, and bakery.
46. Elevate Your Lifestyle at these Houston Rooftop Bars
Nothing quite says “living the highlife” like clinking glasses on a city rooftop. Touch the sky this season with a brunch, evening, or nightcap on the most jaw-dropping rooftops in Houston.
47-55. Eat Your Heart Out
Houston’s culinary scene is a vast, rich landscape populated with delicious eateries, scrumptious bakeries, and Tex-Mex as far as the eye can see.
- Whether it’s a classic Neapolitan-style Margherita, a traffic cone-sized slice, or some warped creation piled high with everything and the kitchen sink – we don’t discriminate when it comes to pizza. Any way you slice it, here’s 10 of the best pizza parlors in the Houston area!
- Not all buffets are created equal. When seeking out a local in which to stock up on calories to last you the winter hibernation, we recommend heading to one of our 10 favorite all-you-can-eat buffets in Houston.
- Whataburger, Taco Bell, McDonald’s – the usual suspects when it comes to late-night munchies. Sometimes, though, you got to broaden your horizons, especially when a glorious late-night food scene of delis, pizzerias, taquerias await in the city of Houston.
- Hot, cold, rain, or shine, ice cream is a good call on any day. Here’s the scoop on where to find the best ice cream in Houston
- Like breakfast tacos, kolaches are synonymous with breakfast in Texas. Savory, comfortable, portable – perfect for an on-the-go breakfast, or bought-by-the-dozen hangover cure. Unlike similar handheld breakfast staples such as donuts, bagels, and croissants, it’s not so easy finding kolaches outside of Texas. We’d probably travel more if you could, but for now, we’ll stay here in Houston with our favorite comfort breakfast food on the go.
- Grab a cup of coffee and a slice of pie at our favorite diners in Houston