Here’s what’s happening in the city in April, May, and June 2019.
Embrace Houston’s wacky side
One of the most iconic events on the city’s annual calendar might also be its oddest: the Art Car Parade. The free parade, which will be held on Sunday, April 13, sees 250-plus vehicles decked out to become rolling art through downtown Houston—we’re talking covered in mosaic tiles, feathers, graffiti or other paint, three-dimensional elements, and more. (Last year’s winning car was a rolling 2,000-pound fiberglass triceratops, if you need a mental picture.) If you don’t think your kids can stand still for the few hours of the parade, stay as long (or as little) as you want getting a free sneak peek at all the cars involved on Friday, April 11 at Discovery Green downtown.
Take a James Beard semi-finalist tour
James Beard Award winners won’t officially be announced until Monday, May 6—but that shouldn’t keep you from checking out the whopping 11 Houston restaurants and bars in the running. You don’t have to hit every one, but start by taking your pick from the ‘Best Chef in the Southwest’ nominees: Kaiser Lashkari of Himalaya, one of the late Anthony Bourdain’s favorite spots on his visit in 2016; Ronnie Killen of Killen’s Barbecue , known for its blackened brisket and pulled pork sandwiches; and Trong Nguyen of Crawfish & Noodles, who serves up Vietnamese-Cajun crawfish and was a Beard semi-finalist last year, too. Then, see whether or not Hugo’s with its upscale Mexican and Tony’s, which serves Neapolitan and Milanese dishes, deserve the award for best service. (Hint: yes, to both.)
Need a drink? Us too, so stop at Anvil Bar & Refuge, nominated for ‘Outstanding Bar Program’ for its trend-setting cocktails, or Pappas Bros. Steakhouse in the Galleria—yes, the mall—for some vino from the restaurant’s outstanding (and JBA-nominated) list.