ARTECHOUSE AFTER DARK isn’t your typical night out. It’s about reimagining and finding magic in how we experience art, technology, and community. 

Tucked away off the M-K-T Trail in The Heights, ARTECHOUSE Houston opened its doors for an immersive, after-hours experience that effortlessly mixed reality, digital art, and sensory wonder.

Walking into ARTECHOUSE felt like stepping into a futuristic, artistic playground where creativity was everywhere. This special night featured dope collaboration between artists Morgan Morgan, The Kayillah, and Ninth Sage. They brought the visuals, sounds, and vibes that completely transformed what nightlife could be.

Spread across a massive 26,000 square feet, the venue showcases several groundbreaking exhibits drawing attendees into different worlds. One of my favorites, “BEYOND THE LIGHT,” created alongside NASA. It was mind-blowing, with stunning visuals pulled directly from the James Webb Space and Hubble Telescopes. Each section of this exhibit transports us into galaxies far, far away, sparking curiosity and a little existential awe about how big the universe actually is.

Another standout was Shohei Fujimoto’s “INTANGIBLE FORMS,” where lasers and lights rhythmically dance between chaos and tranquility. It wasn’t only visually mesmerizing but also super meditative, reminding us of the deep, hidden connections we all share.

The "ETERNAL LIFE" exhibit, made with the Nobel Prize Museum, was another cool stop. It uses interactive installations to explore ideas like gene editing and cosmic patterns. Honestly, it felt like science class but way more interesting and hands-on, pushing everyone to think deeply about our existence and progress.

Oh, and the XR Bar in the lobby was a whole vibe itself! Drinks came alive with extended reality activations, turning casual hangouts into playful, interactive moments.

I attended the event with my friend Sonia Engman who's also a professional dancer. Having her there added a cool layer of appreciation as she saw connections between dance, tech, and visual art—another reminder of how seamlessly creativity crosses boundaries.

When art and tech collide, something magical happens and ARTECHOUSE AFTER DARK on April 4th was proof. As Houston's creative scene continues to evolve, spaces like these are crucial in bringing us together in innovative ways.

Follow ARTECHOUSE and talented creatives to stay tapped in. You definitely don’t want to miss out the next time magic like this goes down in Houston.

WEEKEND EVENTS

All Weekend

• AAPI Restaurant Weeks 

• Houston Ballet at Miller Outdoor Theatre (Fri and Sat)

• See musical comedy show Das Barbecü at Stages Theatre

Thursday, 5/8

7pm-11pm, Nightlife | Meow Wolf is hosting Adultiverse again. “Step into an otherworldly atmosphere where the beats never stop, drinks flow freely, and reality bends in ways you’ve never experienced before. ” $45. Buy tickets.

7:30pm til late, Line Dancing | Learn line dances “Georgia Ways” and “Bringin’ The Wow” at Neon Boots! Open line dancing all night after. Free. See more info.

8pm-11pm, Concert | Experience Concert Under the Stars featuring Sinatra. “Enjoy a night of Frank Sinatra accompanied by stunning views from the rooftop of Marriott Marquis in Houston.” Tickets start at $45. Buy tickets.

10pm-2am, Nightlife | DJs @mxrganxmxrgan & @jjoshallenn will be spinning their Modern Day Cowboys set at Boondocks. Free. No RSVP. See flyer.

Friday, 5/9

12pm, Film Experience | River Oaks Theatre presents the classic “Rocky Horror Picture Show” with a live performance by The Royal Mystic Order of CHAOS. $25. Buy tickets. 

6pm-8pm, Art | Attend Árpád Forgó’s opening reception for their newest exhibition, “Zigzag,” at Anya Tish Gallery. See more info.

6:30pm til late, Live Music | Noche de Cumbia festival is happening at Axelrad with their new main stage set up! “This is more than just a festival—it's a celebration of the cumbia movement that we've been cultivating for years, where traditional sounds meet modern energy.” Tickets start at $15. Buy tickets.

Saturday, 5/10

11am-9pm, Festival | Celebrate AAPI month at POST! Expect a lineup of “traditional dance and martial arts demos to a vibrant Asian night market, sumo wrestling, K-pop, cosplay, and more!” Free. RSVP.

12pm-5pm, Art | Buy mom (or yourself) some art and get a complimentary portrait! Visit Kroma Art Gallery for Mother’s Day weekend. “Any art piece whether it be painting or print comes with a complimentary mother, daughter, son etc. portrait.” See more info.

1pm-5pm, Mother’s Day | Celebrate Mother’s Day at Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens. Mothers receive free admission. There’ll be a live harpist playing. Complimentary cookies, lemonade, and water included. Tickets start at $12. Buy tickets.

5pm, Corgi Racing | 64 contestants will be competing for the 2025 Corgi Racing Championship at the Sam Houston Race Park! GA starts at $5. Buy tickets.

10pm, Live DJ |  DJ @ninthsage.co is starting their new residency called “ Trash Garden” at Trash Panda Drinking Club (a favorite of ours). Free. See flyer.

Sunday, 5/11

1pm-5pm, Mother’s Day | Day 2 of Celebrate Mother’s Day at Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens. Mothers receive free admission. There’ll be live a harpist playing. Complimentary cookies, lemonade, and water included. Tickets start at $12. Buy tickets.

8pm-12am, Live DJ | Neighbors presents their new Sunday series: Sunday Sundown Session. “We’re bringing the vibes every Sunday night with our new Sunday Sundown Session — a 90s & 2000s music night that’s all chill, no skip.” See flyer.

Good reads in Houston

There’s a Tiny Train in the Houston Airport. We Have Walt Disney to Thank for It. (Texas Monthly) 
Actually very obsessed with this deep dive on the history of the little subway at IAH because we use it almost every time when we go to the airport! (To get to Mariott hotel *cough cough*) Such a delight actually to find out it’s made by the Disney’s Imagineers. “My prior knowledge notwithstanding, I could see how the Subway could feel like a low-grade Disney ride.” Now that makes sense!

How Houston’s Vietnamese restaurants helped me connect to my heritage years after the fall of Saigon (Houston Chronicle)
Bao Ong recounts how living in Houston has shaped his own personal journey with navigating his family history and his identity of being Vietnamese. The food, the culture, amongst the many chefs he’s had the chance to speak to have all helped him fill in gaps in his own story. Long story short, for Bao, Houston feels like home. Also, I see nothing but in resilience in the Vietnamese community because all you have to do is look at quantity and quality of their food, new cuisine, and restaurants.

These Houstonians Create Oases Among the City’s Literacy Deserts (Houstonia)
Unlike food deserts, literacy deserts are a bit harder to define but it turns out that only 1 in 3 adults in Houston are functionally literate meaning they are “not able to read, write, compute, think critically, and communicate orally well enough to function on the job, in the family, and across society.” The strongest, most effective tool we have against our enemies is our brain—let’s use it!

ON THE HOU(S)E Concierge:

• Follow us on Instagram

• Follow us on Tiktok

• Follow us on Threads

• Reply to this email and let us know what you think!