Kathrina Maribao on seeing art and Raveena at Rice University’s Spring Fling.

An oceanic blue and purple haze paints the walls and outdoor space at Moody Center for the Arts. The glow from the art gallery spills out illuminating the terrace just enough to create the perfect, moody lighting. Upon entering, DJ Yourztruly of Ice House Radio spins house tunes that I just can’t stop grooving to as I nibble on beef empanadas, guava pastelitos, and a buzzy Art Car IPA, complimentary of the event. 

This year’s annual Spring Fling concert at Rice University on February 28th drew an estimated 2,600 people this year, their largest yet. Open to the public and to all ages, this free community event brought together students, some families and their kids, and Houstonians alike (avoiding rodeo cook-off, maybe) to see Raveena. 

Moody Center for the Art’s gallery remained open and served as the perfect, visual appetizer with their current exhibition “Imaging after Photography” on display. The exhibition is timely as it explores our relationship with digital images and AI in our current, everchanging landscape online. Artist Lisa Oppenheim and her work, Mlle Steichen, of a now extinct variety of iris flower caught my attention that evening. Gazing upon Oppenheim’s dry-transfer photographic prints seemed to fit the aura of the night.

Raveena is a R&B artist with dreamy-pop vocals who’s known for blending her ethereal style with South Asian classical influences. Her floral aesthetics both on stage and in her album cover art might make her the epitome of spring itself. By the time she took the stage backdropped in gauzy, white drapery, the audience packed the floor, folks were stationed on the grass with blankets and lawn chairs, and the sidewalks filled in with nearby onlookers. 

Emily Fens, an artist at Box13 ArtSpace, was very excited about seeing Raveena. “I’m actually meeting up with some friends who we’ve kept in touch with from another Raveena event,” she explained. A good musician brings new people together and a great one makes them lasting friends. 

I’ve noticed what makes Houston feel special when you go out is you’re not just hanging out with the people you came with; you’re hanging out with everyone there. Any space in Houston can become a gigantic living room where it’s easy and fun to genuinely connect with others. With art, music, spring weather (and free drinks), it’s hard not to let the immaculate vibes put you and everyone around you in a good mood.

Raveena at Spring Fling last Saturday was indeed that kind of night.

LATELY IN HOUSTON

Garden Oaks Theater saved… for now. Arthouse Houston signed a contract to buy the 80-year-old building for $7.1M after community protests worked. But there's a catch: 30 days (maybe 90) to raise the full amount, or demolition happens immediately. Angel donors bought time with a partial deposit. The preservation fight just entered crunch time. Donate now.

Frida's everywhere in Houston, including the stage. Houston Ballet stages "Broken Wings" March 12-22. Choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa transforms Frida Kahlo's pain, passion, and Diego Rivera obsession into movement. Surreal costumes, saturated color, and Chavela Vargas's "La Llorona" echo Kahlo's self-portraits now hanging at MFAH. Now that’s on pointe.

Want to support Houston's art scene? Vote. With six Harris County elections in 2026, HouArts pushes voters to prioritize funding, preservation, affordable housing, and arts education. Book bans, historic demolitions, and budget cuts all threaten culture. Candidates answer questionnaires on arts priorities and accountability starts at the polls. The Greater Houston Artists Survey is open til March 31st.

The dirt doesn't lie. No trending audio, just dump trucks loading dirt into NRG Stadium. That’s the pure, unfiltered sound of Houston's biggest event taking shape one truckload at a time. Happy rodeo season, y'all!

WEEKEND EVENTS

All Weekend

• The Great Gatsby at The Hobby Center

• $30 Fill-a-bag sale at Oh Goodie A Book

• Rodeo Rendezvous at Hotel Saint Augustine

• Disco Horse and Rodeo Season at Hotel Zaza

• Tea d’Alba at Hotel Granduca

• Books & Blooms Market

Thursday, 3/5

6pm-8pm, Art | “Love Hurts” Artist Reception at Sabine Street Studios. “Through painting, sculpture, photography or mixed media, Love Hurts offers a raw but hopeful perspective on the universal experience of love’s complexities.” Free.

6pm-9pm, Art | “You Weren’t There” by Jacinto Deleon Opening Reception. “Exploring immigrant identity, generational grief, and the feeling of living between two ideas of home — the Philippines and the American South.”

7pm-12am, Nightlife | Vinyl Chess Night at Room808.

7:30pm-10pm, Nightlife | Line dancing lessons at Neon Boots. Free.

8pm, Live Music | Charly Siaba at Moth.

8pm, Nightlife | Tejano Night at Barbarella.

Friday, 3/6

6pm-9pm, Art | First Friday Happy Hour at The Gite Gallery. “A lively evening of art, music, and connection. For nearly 25 years, The Gite Gallery has been a Houston institution celebrating the richness and beauty of African art.”

7pm, Art | “Painting and Drawings” by Adrian Jimenez Opening Reception at Pablo Cardoza Gallery.

6pm-9pm, Art | BOX 13 ArtSpace Opening Reception for artists: Darla Barolini, Beatriz Bellorín, Amelia Key, and Jonathan Durham. “BOX 13 is an artist-run nonprofit committed to supporting the creation and advancement of experimental contemporary arts in Houston.”

8pm-10pm, Film Screening | Moonlight Movies: Back to the Future at MFAH. “The series “Moonlight Movies” brings you classic films under the stars from your seat on the sloping roof of the Glassell School of Art.” $20.

Saturday, 3/7

9am-11am, Culture | Coffee and Cars at POST.

10am-2pm, Books | Houston Public Library Book Sale. “Children and young adult books are $1 each; Adult paperback books are $2 each; Adult hardback books are $3 each; DVDs, Vinyl's, and audiobooks are all $1 each.”

12pm-5pm, Market | Houston Plant Market “Bloom Market” at Axelrad. Free.

3pm-7pm, Community | All The Feels 5 Year Anniversary Party. 

4pm, Workshop | Women’s Day Floral Workshop. $75. 

8pm-12am, Nightlife | Nostalgia Nights presented by Beat Circuit & VRTX. “An audio-visual event dedicated to Texas vaporwave & other eclectic sounds of the Internet.” Free but donations welcome. RSVP.

9:30pm, Live Music | Paul Wall with Lil’ Keke at Meow Wolf. $65. Sold Out.

Sunday, 3/8

9:30am-11:30am, Workshop | Cake Decorating Class at Della Coffee. “Decorate a 6 inch cake! We’ll provide all the materials you need for the class.” $65.

10am-5pm, Thrift | Spring-a-Palooza at Trader’s Village.

5pm-7pm, Live Music | James Francies Trio at Jazzy Sundays in the Park at Discovery Green.

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