Explore Houston in a new way this weekend and discover the endless possibilities! by Laura Jackson
Are you ready to break free from the weekend rut? Whether you’re a visitor exploring our city for the first time, or a long-time resident ready to rediscover the action, Houston offers something for every personality and taste imaginable. Take a look at H Texas’ weekend planning quiz designed to help you map out your escape.
When you have a free Saturday, would you rather:
a. Shop till you drop
b. Coach a Little League game
c. Watch classic movies
d. Engineer your next home project
When you kick back in front of the TV, which network or program would you most likely watch:
a. Home Shopping Network
b. Monday Night Football
c. Glee
d. The Discovery Channel
If you could bring someone back from the past for a coffee date, would you choose:
a. Coco Chanel
b. Joe DiMaggio
c. Judy Garland
d. Albert Einstein
When you were 10, what did you want to be when you grew up?
a. A fashion designer
b. An NFL quarterback
c. A ballerina
d. An astronaut
Which scent makes you feel the most nostalgic?
a. New leather and shoeboxes
b. Stadium hot dogs
c. Buttered popcorn
d. Formaldehyde
Which song lyrics are you most likely to be caught humming under your breath?
a. “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend…”
b. “Take me out to the ball game…”
c. “Start spreading the news, I’m
leaving today…”
d. “She blinded me with science…”
Your Halloween costume this year may or may not include:
a. High heeled boots and/or a
feather boa
b. A baseball cap
c. A tiara
d. A lab coat
Would friends describe you as:
a. A fashionista
b. Athletic
c. Artistic
d. Always curious
Answers, Don’t Peek
If you answered mostly “A”, get ready for:
The Ultimate Shopping Experience.
Get ready for the treasure hunt of a lifetime! From chic boutiques to mega-sized luxury complexes to bargain hunting havens, Houston has it all.
Boasting over 26 million visitors a year, spanning 2.4 million square feet of space, housing 400 stores and restaurants, an ice-skating rink, two high-rise hotels and three office towers, there’s a reason Houston’s Galleria ranks as the fourth largest shopping complex in the nation and Texas’ largest.
For a more boutique experience, there’s always Highland Village, Uptown Park, and River Oaks Shopping Center just for starters. For the true bargain hunter, the Harwin District provides a multitude of designer look-a-likes, bona fide bottom-price bargains, and even a few vendors ready to wheel and deal with you. You can also find outlets like Houstons Premium Outlets and Katy Mills Mall west of downtown. So put on some sensible shoes (really, it’s a lot of walking), and get ready for some power shopping Houston style.
If you tackled mainly “B”,
start cheering for: Sports Mania.
In a word, Texans love affair with sports could be described as legendary. No matter the time of year, you are sure to find a game being played in H-Town. Whether you’re looking for a touch down, batter up, tip off, goal kick or face off, the Texans, Astros, Rockets, Dynamo and Aeros all call Houston home.
With four massive stadiums less than 10 years old, Houston is also known for drawing world-class sporting events from the World Series to the Shell Houston Open to the NCAA Final Four and more. Our newest grand stadium, the 22,000 seat BBVA Compass Stadium, boasts a European-style soccer experience, and is the first soccer-specific stadium in Major League Soccer located in an American city’s downtown district.
Check out www.houstonsports.org for a comprehensive listing of games around town.
If you sang out middle “C”
consider: A Night at the Theatre.
Spanning 17 blocks and approximately 13,000 seats, Houston’s downtown Theatre District is internationally known and provides one of the best experiences on or off a Broadway stage.
Our city’s professional resident companies include the Houston Ballet, Houston Grand Opera, Houston Symphony and the Alley Theatre. Houston is one of only five U.S. cities with permanent professional resident companies in all of the major performing arts disciplines.
You’ll also find a diverse array of smaller stage companies all around the city offering a wide variety of theatre productions. And, Houston’s Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park offers world-class free performances throughout the year. You won’t want to miss their unforgettable Shakespearian Festival held in August each year.
For a detailed calendar of shows, concerts and festivals happening around the clock, visit http:/houston.culturemap.com/events/.
Answering “D” points to:
A Day at the Museum.
With over 150 museums and cultural institutions in the Greater Houston area, it’s fair to say that museums are a large part of Houston’s cultural scene. They cover science, art, history, nature, children’s interests and almost anything else you can dream of. The Houston Museum District Association’s fitting tagline states, “Something new every day!”
There are actually 19 museums located within a short 1.5 mile radius of Houston’s Herman Park, making it possible to plan an amazing walking tour of the District.
The Houston Museum of Natural Science ranks as one of the most visited museums in the U.S. featuring the Wortham IMAX Theatre, Burke Baker Planetarium, the Cockrell Butterfly Center and constantly revolving traveling exhibitions.
If you are looking for an out-of-this world experience unique to Houston, Space Center Houston offers a behind-the-scenes journey through NASA’s Johnson Space Center. You can also dine with an actual astronaut. Reservations are required (www.spacecenter.org).
Did you know that many of Houston’s museums offer certain days and times of the week free? Be sure to visit www.houstonmuseumdistrict.org for all the details, plus a calendar of amazing events happening at the various museums around town.
