A couple of weeks ago I wrote about craving nightlife experiences that didn’t feel like nightlife. I ended up in places that, while fun, felt a bit too much pressure on my wallet, just to catch a vibe. Exclusivity has a price, but maybe exclusion costs something more.

In Houston there is no shortage of free events happening all the time; it’s a known strategy for businesses to get bodies in their spaces. (Remember coffee parties?) Last weekend we attended two free events: Houston Ballet at Miller Outdoor Theatre and Houston Methodist’s Family Fun Day.

Hermann Park is arguably one of the most beautiful parks in town situated in the heart of the city. The park exists as a kind of campus, housing a variety of different features: garden, duck pond, train, the Commons area for kids and families, Japanese garden, and the Miller Outdoor Theatre where last weekend the Houston Ballet performed two shows for a crowd of 3600 and 4200 respectively (according to Miller Outdoor Theatre). We positioned ourselves on the north side of the hill, our Costco blanket unfurled, deep dish pizza from Via 313 and Brussel sprouts beside us, our concession beers sweating outside the cans.

The performance unfolded in three acts. The first two stripped down–dancers in minimal costuming, no sets–creating intentional simplicity that made the final act of Sleeping Beauty feel like an opulent fever dream.

If your family fun day doesn’t include OneRepublic, don’t invite us. (Just kidding). Houston Methodist’s Family Fun Day had it all: a Cirque performance, a last minute comedy show by Chinedu, complimentary meals and beverages including Chic Fil A sandwiches, activities for the kids like balloon art, temporary tattoos, entertainers, autographs, and complimentary parking (although we still decided to take the metro) all at NRG stadium. I kept thinking, this isn’t normal right? 45,000 employees plus their families and friends took over the stadium in what felt like an extravagant employee appreciation event. Family Fun Festival, is more like it!

Recently my TikTok feed was saturated with Lady Gaga in Rio de Janeiro on Copacabana Beach. First, the rehearsal that became an impromptu show. Then the performance itself and Lady Gaga emotionally onlooking the sea of over 2 million people–which is not only a historic record breaking moment but certainly a career milestone for the Mother Monster herself. This TikTok explains that the city government partners with a bank to put on the show in hopes of boosting tourism by making the city look appealing. The event becomes a destination itself, like any festival people cross borders to attend.

We know that music festivals and concerts are notoriously expensive. The cost of attending one has risen drastically. A lot of discourse continues up around the cost of the tickets themselves, many using monthly payment plans, $100 a meal for glorified fair food. Highly sought out concerts like Beyonce’s upcoming Cowboy Carter tour in Houston were difficult to obtain when they were released (boo Ticketmaster) and ticket prices usually continue to rise as the event gets closer.

Despite all this, alternatives persist. Whether it’s put on by a non-profit organization, or a corporate employer, or the government, free concerts and shows hold an important place in society.

It’s easy to see the benefit for attendees: increased morale, enhanced satisfaction and perception of a place, elevated mood, and strengthened sense of community. Free performances give the public access to culture. The ballet, historically reserved for elites, becomes accessible regardless of economic status. For the producers, there are tax write-offs, employee satisfaction, and perhaps most valuable in our reputation economy: improved "street cred."

We’re living in an era where experiences have replaced possessions as status symbols, where access is the new ownership. The free concert challenges this. When two million people can claim the same memory, what is its value? When culture is delivered like a city service, like clean water or functional streetlights, does it change what we demand of our cities?

Perhaps the true price of a vibe is not what we pay to access it, but what we sacrifice when we commodify it. In Houston some events remain, thankfully, free even as the cost of everything else continues its steady climb.

POLL

WEEKEND EVENTS

All weekend

• Kiki’s Delivery Service playing in movie theaters this weekend

• Sinners is back in IMAX for a few days (if you’re up for making a trip to Dallas)

• Participate in AAPI Restaurant Weeks until June 15

• See musical comedy show Das Barbecü at Stages Theatre

Thursday, 5/15

8pm-2am, Nightlife | Prauper Studio presents IN TOO DEEP, their R&B series at Luxx. Reverse happy hour 8pm-10pm. Free with RSVP.

6pm and 8:30pm Live Performance | Authentic Flamenco presents Patricia Donn at the Bayou Theater. “Experience the passion of authentic Spanish flamenco!” Tickets start at $40. Buy tickets. Also on Friday.

Friday, 5/16

5:30pm-7:30pm Outdoor Activity | Take a nice sunset stroll around Arboretum trails. “Your sunset st(roll) will include a curated nature hike, two glasses of wine or Saint Arnold beer, and delicious cheese and charcuterie offerings from GRAZE HTX.” $45. Buy tickets.

6pm and 8:30pm Live Performance | Authentic Flamenco presents Patricia Donn at the Bayou Theater. “Experience the passion of authentic Spanish flamenco!” Tickets start at $40. Buy tickets.

6:30pm-7:30pm Live Music | Bach Society Houston presents Knights in Shining Armor at MFAH. “Bach Society Houston presents a concert of madrigals and chansons by composers who worked at roughly the same time as the 16th-century Battle of Pavia.” Concert is included with museum admission. $24 for GA. Buy tickets.

Saturday, 5/17

9am-5pm, Art Exhibitions | Explore Saturday in Silver Street Studios at Sawyer Yards. “Dive into Houston’s thriving creative scene with open art studios, powerful exhibitions, and engaging workshops.” Free. See flyer.

11am-3pm, Market | Hotel Saint Augustine is hosting their first Spring Market. “Come mix, mingle, and explore our lush grounds while shopping a curated lineup of Houston’s most talented makers, artisans, and small businesses.” Free. See flyer.

1pm-5pm, Community Day | Menil is hosting their Neighborhood Community Day! “Enjoy an afternoon of art, music, poetry, and family activities in celebration of the museum’s vibrant neighborhood and the 30th anniversary of the Cy Twombly Gallery.” Free. More info.

6pm-10pm, Flea Market | Flea by Night is an open-air market at Discovery Green featuring local artisans and small businesses. There’ll be food trucks and music! Free. More info.

6pm-9pm, Art Exhibition | Ahead of Frida Festival, celebrate Viva Frida! on its opening night at MECA TBH Campus. “This exhibition will showcase contemporary artists from across Texas who have been influenced by Frida’s work.” Free. More info.

8pm-12am, Nightlife | The Culdesac presents For Your Eyes Only an intimate R&B event at Room 808. “come thru and vibe out in an intimate space with great cocktails and 4 hours of R&B sounds by @onloveave.” Free. RSVP.

Sunday, 5/18

9am, Walk Club | City Girls Who Walk is having their next walk starting at The Wortham Fountain. See flyer.

*1pm-7pm, Family Festival | Come to Family Fun Day and Crawfish Festival by Jam’s Juice x Myers Thrift at Jones Road Food Truck Park. There’ll be “1 lb of FREE crawfish, when you purchase a lemonade with Jam's Juice!” plus bounce house & other activities for kids. Free. Get tickets. 

2pm-3:30pm, DIY Craft Event + Wine | Unmask Your Creative Spirit is a masking painting and wine tasting event at Winter Street Studio B135. “You’ll also enjoy delicious food pairings that complement the flavors of the wines. All art supplies are provided, so just bring your passion” $60. Buy tickets.

6pm-9pm, Karaoke | Sing your heart out at rooftop karaoke at the Marriott Marquis. $15+ fees. Buy tickets.

*Sponsored. We only include events that we think you’ll love.

Good reads in Houston

Review: Seafood City’s food hall is a fun master class in Filipino cuisine, from skewers to sweets (Houston Chronicle)
We personally have yet to checkout the largest Seafood City in America located in Sugarland. Bao Ong reports on food hall finds by dining on all the greatest Filipino hits: lechon, sisig, panic, halo halo and ube pastries. While it isn’t apart of AAPI Restaurant Weeks, it’s sure with the travel to see a Texas sized Filipino grocery store.

Experts say composting is the best solution to landfills. Where does Houston stand? (Houston Landing) RIP Houston Landing
Houston has a waste problem and, of course, the solution is right there: composting. We’ve lived in Seattle for 3 years and composting is part of the city services just like trash and utilizes. Here in Houston, you have to hire a service to compost for you, another flaw in Houston’s wastes systems, unless you want to attempt doing it yourself in your backyard (beneficial for gardeners). Still, we’re glad they exist and we use Happy Earth Compost.

Ballet Dancers and Top Houston Chefs Heat Up The Kitchen For a Worthy Cause (PaperCity Magazine)
At Houston Ballet’s “Raising the Barre” dinner at Caracol, each dancer got paired with a Houston chef—Aaron Bludorn, Chris Willliams, pastry chef Rebecca Masson and host chef Hugo Ortega—that created a dish inspired by the dancers’ childhood or homeland. The event ended up raising $110,000 in proceeds. Now that’s raising, indeed.

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