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- Blue Bell is giving away free ice cream!
Blue Bell is giving away free ice cream!
Just in time for summer
Kathrina Maribao
May 14, 2026
ON THE HOUSE is your weekly dose of Houston arts and culture, things worth leaving the house for, and more. If you enjoy OTH and would like to support, you can buy readers coffee (aka sponsor an issue), sponsor your event, or simply keep reading. We appreciate you! Scroll down for your curated list of weekend events.
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LATELY IN HOUSTON
Free ice cream?! Say less. Blue Bell's Lone Star Scoop Tour is rolling into Houston with free hand-dipped ice cream at Walmart, Kroger, and other area grocery stores. Check their website for the full schedule before the heat rolls in! Chron
A 54 year old gallery closes. Two Houston art legends are stepping back. Wendy Watriss, co-founder of FotoFest, is leaving after 40 years of putting Houston on the global photography map. Fredericka Hunter introduced Houston to contemporary art's heaviest hitters with her gallery, Texas Gallery. The city's cultural DNA owes them both, big time. Texas Monthly
Houston's art future = in good hands. Project Row Houses just named its newest artist-in-residence cohort: Tay Butler, Saran Alderson, and Nathaniel Donnett all chosen from 180+ applicants. The Third Ward institution offers a three-year commitment. Not a quick residency, but real roots. Forward Times
“Got it going on." Houston's contemporary classical scene is thriving with ensembles like Kinetic Ensemble, ROCO, Loop38, Aperio of the Americas, and MUSIQA staging avant-garde works in cisterns, silos, and chapels. Despite NEA cuts gutting arts funding, audiences are packing houses for world premieres and boundary-pushing programming. Houstonia Magazine
This week’s coffee is on us! That means 3 readers will receive a $10 gift card to Siphon Coffee. All you have to do to enter is open today’s issue. (If you’re reading this you just did—nice!!)
Winners will be randomly selected and emailed tomorrow morning.
Want to collab on a future issue and treat readers to coffee on you? Hit reply.
WEEKEND EVENTS
All weekend:
Frida exhibition at MFAH (last chance!)
Free art exhibition access at Asia Society Texas for AAPI month
The Planets + Tchaikovsky Concerto at Houston Symphony
Dottie’s Penthouse now open
Thursday, 5/14
11:30am-1pm, Art | Runway to Asia at The Post Oak Hotel. Sold Out.
6:30pm-9pm, Community | 5th Annual Cocktails in Bloom at Turkey Bend. “Come out to enjoy a fun evening of specialty cocktails, tasty bites from local favorites, and live music while contributing to Buffalo Bayou Partnership...” $100.
7:30pm, Concert | Don Oliver: Octane Tour at Toyota Center. $166 and up.
Friday, 5/15
6pm-8pm, Art | “No Longer, Not Yet” by Marisol Valencia opening reception at Art League Houston.
7pm, Nightlife | Mixers & Elixirs: 90’s Night at HMNS Sugarland. $30.
7pm-8:30pm, Art | WET:LAND Learning Series: A Soggy Affair at Art Club. “A Soggy Affair, is an informal, gallery-based conversation exploring Houston area wetlands as both ecological systems and cultural teachers.” Sold Out.
Saturday, 5/16
9am-10:30am, Nature | Nature Walking Tour at The Water Works. “Learn about native plants and the insects that pollinate them along Buffalo Bayou.” $5.
11am-5pm, Market | Berry Booked Summer Dash of Pink Market.
1pm-3pm, Art | Free Collage Workshop with Tay Butler. Donation-based.
4pm, Art | The Films of Roy Fridge with Aurora Picture Show. Free.
5pm-10pm, Market | Macabre Market at The Orange Show. “Join us for a night of music, fun & 100 of Houston’s artisans of the strange 💀”
6pm-9pm, Community | Sam & Davy Grand (Re)Opening Party at River Oaks Shopping Center.
6pm-10pm, Art | Plantasia: A Botanical Art Show at Hardy and Nance Studios. “We will be displaying stunning botanical and nature themed art from over 50 talented local artists, and we’re so excited The Flora Culture @thefloraculture will be joining us again this year!”
7pm-9pm, Film | Screen on the Green: Thunderbolts at Discovery Green.
8pm, Nightlife | Noche De Saózn at Axelrad. “A Reggaeton, Bachata, & Salsa filled dance party all night long 💃.” Free.
Sunday, 5/17
10am-3pm, Culture | 2026 Taiwan Festival Houston by The Taiwanese Heritage Society of Houston.
12pm-5pm, Market | Heavy Metal Market at Eureka Heights.
1pm-5pm, Market | Magnolia Park Arts & Community Book Fair at La Casita de Colores.
7pm, Live Music | Dacamera at the Eldorado: Lucia. Sold Out.
ICYMI
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