The sun lingers longer now. Rodeo season is in its final stretch. Something just feels right in the air. Well, it’s spring in Houston. A brief window where the city flirts with the idea of being an outdoor place. It then tracks that Museum of Fine Arts Houston continues its outdoor film series Moonlight Movies: Love & Other Adventures held on the sloping roof of the Glassell School of Art. Last week: The Princess Bride, a cult classic film I was convinced I’d seen in full, only to realize scene by scene that I’d just absorbed it through cultural osmosis. Incredible to think the lines from this movie were memes before memes were a thing.

Tickets ran $20 covering earphones for optimum sound experience and complimentary popcorn served in cellophane baggies that were deceptively modest, but ultimately just enough. A curated themed cocktail menu leaned into the theme: Life is Pain, As You Wish, and unsurprisingly, Hello My Name is Inigo Montoya You Killed My Father Prepared To Die. The latter described as, “a cocktail with bold spirit, just like the man who seeks vengeance” mixed with vodka, creme de violet, lychee, blackberry, ginger beer, Peychaud bitters. A drink for the just and the dramatic. (Aka, divas.)

As lovely and romantic an outdoor movie sounds, it certainly comes with its drawbacks. Seating is arranged on benches of Glasswell’s slopes that provide no back support whatsoever. As a test for endurance, I figured at a 90-ish minute run time I could rough it out but like many guests, we slid to the ground using the bench as a makeshift backrest. For $20–a price creeping well beyond Alamo Drafthouse territory–you start to wonder if bringing a camping chair would be awkward or simply practical.

When MFAH film curator Marian Luntz introduced the movie, she noted that their original inflatable screen had blown and toppled down due to the winds prior to the show. They pivoted at the last minute to present the movie on a white wall that cast a grid of black dots across the film. At first, slightly distracting. Eventually, unbothersome and part of the experience.

These imperfections of outdoor cinema are part of its charm. It’ll never be as polished as a theater experience but somehow the imperfections make it more magical and alive. The movie spills into the city, and the city folds itself into the film.

WEEKEND EVENTS

Thursday, 3/20

6pm, Spring Event | Members Only event at Houston Museum of Natural Science. “Celebrate the first day of spring by immersing yourself in the beauty of blooming flowers, greenery, and fluttering butterflies” $12. Buy tickets if you’re a HMNS member.

7pm, Book Event | WEB CLUB is presenting: Afterglow, Climate Fiction for Future Ancestors and is co-organized by members of @sunrisemvmthtx. This in person reading group will take place in Basket Books and Art. See flyer.

7pm-12am, Art Exhibit | Meowolf’s Adultiverse 21+ and up event. $45. Buy tickets.

8pm-2am, Nightlife | New soft opening of Casa Verde. “Be one of the first to experience Houston’s newest Latin bar & lounge.” They’ll be open all weekend! See flyer.

Friday, 3/21

3p-7pm, Rodeo Activation | Hotel Zaza is hosting their last ‘Rodeo on the Monarch Drive’ pop-up event featuring drinks, small bites, a DJ and local vendors. Rodeo bites in Monarch include: Texas Grazing Board ($25), Candied Brisket Jalapeno Poppers ($15), and Cowboy Caviar ($10). Drinks: Whiskey Lullaby ($15), Tequila Remedy ($15), and more. RSVP. 

4pm-6pm, Plant Workshop | Eden’s Mommy & Me Spring floral workshop includes “a delightful hands-on experience where you and your little one can create your own stunning floral arrangements” $75. Buy tickets.

7p-11pm, Outdoor Film | For their last film in the “Moonlight Movies” series, MFAH presents Crazy Rich Asians to watch on the sloping roof of the Glassell School of Art. Advance tickets are sold out, but there are limited available on-site prior to screen. I recommend getting there early if you still need tix! $20. See more info.

Saturday, 3/22

10am-12pm, Art Class | Drawing with Kittens at Doodleland. $40. No classes this weekend but they’re having more! Buy tickets for next week’s now.

10am-3pm, Market | Houston Plant Market is celebrating the return of the Monarch Butterly, stop by Monarch Market at Houston Botanic Garden. “Bring the whole family, explore the local market, and soak in acres of fresh greenery.” See flyer.

1:30pm-3:00pm, Yoga | Yoga Rodeo with Dari. “Join us for this special edition session where yoga meets country, hiphop + rnb” at Bad Astronaut. Passes pricing varies depending on mat rental and drinks. Buy passes.

5:30pm, Racing | Watch the 3rd Annual Astronaut Run at Sam Houston Race Park. “10 contestants will test their speed to take home the coveted Astronauth Trophy! Races will take place after races 4 and 6.” GA tickets start at $5. Buy tickets.

7pm, Social Hour | Houston Hotties is hosting their Social hour for “a night of connection, collaboration, and growth” at The Mood Room. See flyer.

7pm-10pm, Film | Watch this year’s Oscar winning Best Picture film ANORA at Rooftop Cinema Club Uptown. Tickets start at $23. Buy tickets.

7pm-9pm, Art | At the Bluffer Art Museum, attend the MFA Thesis Opening Reception by UH School of Art. See flyer.

Sunday, 3/23

10am-1pm, DJ + Coffee | Cafe Con Sazon is featuring their latin music and dance with coffee at Toros HTX Coffee. RSVP.

11am-3pm, Matcha Pop Up | Popular matcha popup Enso will be at Lululemon Heights. See flyer.

11:00am, Sports | Watch F1 racing at the Chinese Grand Prix at Gristworkz, the official watch party. See flyer.

12pm-4pm, House DJ + Coffee | Pull up to Native Coffee for Housekeeping. “Sundays done right. Good coffee, good music, good vibes.” See flyer.

4pm-7pm, Live DJ | Eden presents Sunday’s Golden Hour. “Sip on hand-selected wines by the glass and savor Spanish-inspired bites as you immerse yourself in the rhythmic beats of Sound Dojo’s special live DJ performances.” Free but RSVP.

7:30pm-11:30pm, Bike Ride | Pride Bike Ride presents “H-town Underwear Ride.” See flyer.

5pm-12am, Music | The Bleu Agency presents Wine and Sage Night: Into the Night Edition. “We will start at 5pm for an r&B day party feel, and then bleed into an evening full of smooth energy, romance, and pure intimacy and good music” at Moca HTX. $10. Buy tickets.

Good reads in Houston

Why Mo Means Even More to Houston than You Realize (Houstonia Magazine)
“Mo examines overarching social ills, yes, but also joyfully celebrates Houston’s multicultural milieu in ways few, if any, other media does.” This is your reminder to watch Season 2 Mo if you haven’t yet.

Charley Crockett aces his debut performance and covers a George Strait classic (Houston Chronicle)
Apparently Charley Crockett’s show was this season’s least attended concert but we were there and the vibes were high. If you haven’t listened to Charley before, he’s got this old western sound on his music that makes him so effortlessly cool. We love a nonchalant king!

Ranking Houston’s new ramen restaurants, from Michelin-approved to ‘volcano’ noodle soups (Houston Chronicle)
Restaurant critic, Bao Ong, reviews three high-profile ramen chains: Kazzan Ramen & Bar, Mensho, and Afuri Ramen and Dumpling. Maybe Houston is a ramen city?

On The House Concierge:

• Follow us on Instagram

• Follow us on Tiktok

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