Weekend Roundup: August 6-8

As we settle comfortably into August (as comfortably as possible with heat indexes above 100 °F a few days a week) Houston is still offering up action-packed weekends.  If you are sick of hiding in the air conditioning or lying around the pool, try one of these events happening this weekend, August 6-8.

Need a laugh?

Kathy Griffin brings her fun, celebrity-obsessed brand of humor to the Verizon Wireless Center on Saturday, August 7th.  There are two evening shows, 6:30 & 9:30 PM, and ticket prices range from $39.50 to $69.50.  Doors open one hour before show time and tickets can be purchased online.  The Verizon Wireless Center is located at 520 Texas Ave. (map) and parking is available in the Theater District underground parking garage ($7 per vehicle).  Call the box office at 713.230.1600 for more information.

Entertain the little ones

Brace yourselves – The Wiggles are coming!  On Sunday August 8th, The Wiggles Wiggly Circus is performing two shows, at 12:30 PM and again at 4 PM.  The show is downtown at the Verizon Wireless Center, 520 Texas St. (map).  Tickets are available online through LiveNation.com, and prices range from $10-$70.

Theater lovers

The Houston Shakespeare Festival continues at Miller Outdoor Theater with nightly performances of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (Saturday 8.7) or “Much Ado About Nothing” (Friday 8.6 and Sunday 8.8).  Miller Outdoor Theater is located at 6000 Hermann Park. Dr. (map) and no tickets are needed for free, open lawn seating.  If you wish to sit in the covered seating area, visit the Miller Theater Box Office between 10:30 AM and 1 PM, one hour before performance time, or call 281-373-3386.

Foodies rejoice

The choices are, as always, endless here in Houston.  We’re in the first week of the three weeks that comprise Houston Restaurant Week.  Yes, Houston Restaurant Week is actually three weeks long, but when you take a look at the number of restaurants participating you’ll see why.  Oh, and while my original story on HRW states “over fifty” restaurants are participating, that number is more like 130 now that the list has been updated a few times over.  Head on over to the HRW official website for a full list of restaurants as well as their Restaurant Week menus.  You’ll be reading about my visits to several in the coming weeks.

Don’t forget my recent recommend, One’s A Meal.  Greek-American dining that tastes like homemade Greek food … plus, who doesn’t like flaming cheese?  One’s A Meal is located at 812 Westheimer (map) and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so whether you’re in the market for lunch or late-night, it’s a must-visit.

Feeling Jazzy?

The Houston International Jazz Festival is going on Saturday (4 PM-10 PM) and Sunday (4 PM-10 PM) at Discovery Green.  Tickets can be purchased online or at the festival gate: $20 lawn seating/general admission ($30 at the gate); reserved seating tickets cost $35.  The festival benefits Jazz Education Houston.  Big names include Tito Puente, Jr. and Rachelle Farrell.  Discover Green Park is located in downtown Houston at 1500 McKinney St. (map).

Little bit of everything, plus a party

Saturday night, 8.7 is White Linen Nights in the Heights: a little shopping, a little food, a little cocktailing, along with art, music, and a lot of folks looking to have some fun.  Part street-festival, part hipster-party with a little casual networking thrown in, WLN chatter has ticked up on Twitter today, and I’m intrigued enough to brave the crowd.  The party lasts from 6 PM – 9 PM and will be happening in and around the Heights area/neighborhood of Houston.  Parking will be limited, so shuttles and pedicabs are available to transport you to and fro.  There is no entrance fee, and participating merchants are offering special prices to tempt party-goers.  You can check them out on Twitter and Facebook, too.

Photo from the personal collection of Christina Uticone & Joshua Payne