Although I've never experienced a musical performance, wedding or even the light sequence at…read moreTwilight Epiphany, it's still a 5-star experience. As an art head and aesthetic enthusiast I've always wanted a Claes Oldenburg installation or architectural wonder open to the public in my city. Around 2012 my wish was granted! Located on the Rice campus, this spot has provided many a memory. Highlighting art, space and nature, this beautifully constructed, sparsely attended, and (imo) under appreciated spot is truly a standout in the community. I understand how this spot may feel ordinary to some, but between this, Rothko chapel, and Menil, all my aesthetic dreams are answered. Pro tip: This installation requires parking at the Rice Campus, and a short walk so be prepared! If you're visiting someone at Rice, St.Thomas TIRR, or the nearby hospital, it's def worth the stop in.

See the sky through a different light at sunrise and sunset…read more Twilight Epiphany Skyspace by James Turrell is part of the Skyspace series of monumental, interactive sculptures that can be found throughout the world. These works of immersive art are meant to have the viewer experience the sky and the surroundings. Twilight Epiphany Skyscape is located on a pyramid mound of earth. It is interesting to see the light sequence projected on the concrete "roof." The 40 minute light sequence starts 40 minutes before sunrise and 10 minutes before sunset. Climb the stairs to the second level seats or sit inside the pyramid. Or view the show from outside the pyramid. I think that is the better view. Look at the Moody Center for the Arts calendar to take a guided tour to learn more.

The Beer Can House in Houston is one of my favorite places to take out-of-town guests because it's…read moreso unique to the city. This folk art style house, located in the Rice Military neighborhood, is covered in beer cans, bottles, and pull tabs, making it kind of a Houston landmark. The project was started by John Milkovisch, who, along with his wife Mary, saved empty beer cans for 17 years. While it may not have started as an artistic endeavor, it definitely became one. Ripley's Believe It or Not estimated that over 50,000 beer cans were used, though a more detailed count by a restoration team puts it closer to 30,000. Honestly, I don't know how many cans there are--but the sheer scale and creativity of it make the place undeniably unique and interesting. The Beer Can House is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM, and admission is free, which makes it an easy and fun stop. Walking around, you can see how every detail is covered in some form of recycled beer material. It's whimsical, creative, and just so quirky. If you're looking for something different to do in Houston, this is a must-see. It's a great mix of folk art, local culture, and a testament to how even the most ordinary materials can be transformed into something extraordinary. Love it!

"I was here" that's basically it, I love these Roadside Oddities and Attractions just as people…read morehave done since the invention of the automobile so when I'm close to one of them and have the time I usually check them out. There's no need to rehash the history of this one it's been been done a number of times and seems accurate and if the stories are embellished who cares. I was in Houston on business and I finally took the time to check out a few of these attractions, unfortunately this one is only open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays so I did my viewing from the sidewalk. This house is located in a residential neighborhood so if you choose to visit respect the very restricted side of the road parking and the speed limit - the City of Houston has provided a few speed bumps as a reminder if you're not paying attention. I thought it was worth the short detour and my time, I was able to view the front and side of the property without very much effort and of course respected the limited access without trespassing. There's no doubt this guy loved his beer and had a aberrant talent, I can imagine that most of his creativity came after drinking a twelve pack sitting in a lawn chair in the front yard, it was definitely a labor of love (a love of drinking beer) and he was likely a pioneer in recycling...

Color Factory was just ok to me. It is a bit over rated and over priced for adults; however. the…read morekids loved it but they were looking for more. It is one of those places that can easily be a one and done. There is discounted weekday price starting at $19 for kids 3-12. Something tells me the $19 is if you buy it in advance. Meaning, not the day of. I paid $25 for the kids and $29 for myself online. The photo opps are what you make of it. Like for instance I've been to places where you press a button and the confetti drops down. For this, you have to actually throw the confetti up yourself. Good luck trying to figure this out with kids if you're looking for a good photo. They were also a bit underwhelmed with it. They loved the music room, the light bright room, and the balloon room. The goodies. It was cute. I'm trying bit to give the whole experience away if you are interested in going. It is best to pay for the ice cream online as it is a bit cheaper but not by much. Those cones were cute and delicious. I purchased the photo package. It really isn't necessary as you get to download the photos from a QR code you use when snapping the pics. There is a small parking lot near to it. If you wait for the group before you to leave then you can get a spot without an issue.

Wasn't sure what to expect from Color Factory but this was a really cute experience. It was very…read morecolorful and I loved that you could interact with the items in all the rooms. It had a really good flow and the staff were super friendly and made sure that things stayed clean. This is a nice activity for both children and adultsm

Very cool unique place to see in Houston. Great photo op and nice story behind the park and the…read moresculpture.

Ever wish you could join Alice and the Mad Hatter for a spot of tea? At Evelyn Park, located in the…read moresoutheast corner of the park that is close to the parking lot, you now can. This amazing and incredibly detailed bronzed sculpture of the story book tea party was created by a local artist, Bridgette Mongeon, and was installed in the park back in April 2019. This structure has a 10 foot table with benches that invite you to sit for a tea party and take photos with Mad Hatter, Alice, Cheshire Cat and the white rabbit. This sculpture has so much detail from the Lewis Carroll's classic tale that you will find yourself wanting to stay as long as you can to see it. For some examples of the details, there is a bottle that says "drink me" kept in Alice's pocket. You will find a mouse in one of Mad Hatter's pockets. There are two buttons on the back of the white rabbit's jacket that has both tweedle dee and tweedle dum on them. There is also 150 hidden items that this talented local artist decided to put within this sculpture (60 of the 150 items are found under the table). I found a lot of interesting hidden items under the table, which includes the white rabbit's house and Humpty Dumpty. If only I lived nearby, I would come back here. On the day that I came here, it had rained earlier and started to rain again. But I still took photos and sat on a wet bench (which left my pants wet, lol) and wished I had stayed longer to find more of the hidden items. I would definitely come back to this sculpture the next time I am visiting the Houston area.

Not to be confused with the Ride Wall (where you can get laid, on a wall), the Bride Wall (where…read moreyou can marry the person you get laid with), or the Crimson Tide Wall (where you can turn someone down when they want to get laid with you and cite "that time of the month"). This is a beautiful wall with rainbow colours to show you that you're in a neighbourhood that welcomes all, and discriminates against none. Homophobia is an enormous problem in the US and around the world, and we should be the pioneers of stopping it. This sort of public art is part of a big ongoing project to shut the hateful people up and put everyone in the "equal" zone that they should always have been in. Montrose is great. There are a lot of beautiful things here. I absolutely love this pride wall.

Nicely done #PrideWallHTX. Not to mention it's for a great cause, but also attracted many onlookers…read moreto this spot. Here is the story I found through David N's photo caption. http://about-online.com/featured/pride-wall-goes-up-in-montrose/ and Instagram posts https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/pridewallhtx/. I'm glad City of Houston has so many artist displays in public spaces. Oh, one more thing - no parking. I walked from a nearby business to see this wall.

Went for my aunts 70th birthday the good was really good and our waitress Kara was great!!…read moreDefinitely enjoyed it and the restaurant was super cute!

We were well taken care of. Kara was our hostess and she was very tentative to all our needs. Her…read moresmile was with her the entire night. I appreciate the service she provided. I also met Nico and he was tentative as well. I plan on dining here more in the future and will gladly refer you to my family and friends. The food was very tasty and appeasing to the eye. We all took pictures of our plates. Thank you!

If you're looking for something truly unique in Houston, this is it! The bat emergence at sunset is…read morehands‑down one of the coolest natural shows I've ever seen in the city. Hundreds of thousands of Mexican free‑tailed bats come streaming out from under the bridge as dusk hits -- it's mesmerizing watching them swirl up over the bayou and head out to hunt insects. Reminded me of Austin which has a similar spot.

Watching more than 300,000 Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from under the bridge is an awesome…read moresight. This is one of my favorite places to take friends and family visiting from out of town--it's such a cool experience! The best time to see them is about 30 minutes before sunset. You may have a wait a while, but be patient- it's worth it! As the bats get ready for their nightly flight, you can hear them becoming more active. They will begin dropping from the crevices under the bridge and sometimes gather in small groups. Sometimes they leave in small groups and sometimes en masse. My favorite is when they emerge as a giant swirling bat tornado! You can bring a blanket to sit on the steep hill, stand on the pathway below, or watch from the bridge above. Just watch out for cyclists--they don't always slow down for pedestrians and can be a bit hazardous. Frown. The guano smell is strong, but hey, it's all part of the experience. Parking is tricky. Do NOT park in the shopping center across the street where Subway is, even if the lot is empty. They tow cars--I found out the hard way. $350! If you can't snag one of the limited parking spots nearby, I'd suggest taking an Uber or Lyft instead. This is such a unique and fun experience, and I can't recommend it enough!

I love the Black and Gold Badge events, especially when they're at an upscale restaurant. I wasn't…read morefamiliar with Makiin Thai before this event, so I appreciate the opportunity to check it out and experience some culture in the process. The decor is beautiful! Upon entering, we were able to grab an array of drinks. The gin cocktail served in the gemstone glass was so pretty and it tasted great. With it being a seated event, I assumed we would be served, but it was a mix of passed food and buffet. I really appreciate my tablemates making sure everyone got to try all of the offerings. Because of the set up of the long table, it wasn't easy for some folks to get up to get food. We kind of took a divide and conquer approach. Some of us grabbed drinks, some went to the buffet, and others made sure that everyone received passed hor d'oeuvres. Teamwork makes the dreamwork! The dishes that were offered were very creative and unique. I tried quite a few samplings. The Roti was delicious. The Summer Salad (watermelon with the crispy onion) was different, but good. I liked the Brussels Sprouts, soup, and wontons as well. It was nice to hear from owner Lukkaew. I didn't realize she also owns Kin De Thai and Thai Tail. It was so lovely to experience the Thai culture through the traditional dance performances. I believe this was the same group that performed at the Black and Gold event at Kin Dee Thai a few years ago. Thank you for sharing your culture with us through dance (one of my favorite art forms)! It was great to see old Yelp friends and meet some new friends. Thank you Jando, Yelp HTX, and Makiin for a wonderful evening!

Where to start? 1st...a huge shout out to our amazing CM Jandoito for what may be my fave elite…read moreevent yet. Unbelievably beautiful Thai restaurant near River Oaks.The red carpet was out as you enter this thoughtfully planned out space with lovely pieces of musical art on the right.On the left was a huge wall mural that depicts the highest area in Thailand. Beautiful drinks adorned the bar as we entered and thankfully a few missed out and there were extra for those who braved the warm night out. Appetizers came in waves with delicate succulent Thai flavors.You can tell owner Lukkaew has chefs that cook with traditional spices and love.We were able to hear her story of how she came to own this and a few other Thai restaurants. We cannot wait to return for dinner or their amazing lunch Buffet Thank you Lou C for recommendation! Great catching up with new friends and ones we love seeing at events. Will return soon.

À friend and I went for lunch last week. The food (salmon with risotto) was excellent! The wait…read morestaff was very attentive plus the chef was at our table asking if everything was all right. Definitely will go back.

Can't believe it took me so long to come here! The menu is some classic Italian fare, plenty of…read morepizza options with lovely pastas and apps, as well as specials. Extensive wine list so you can't go wrong with any of the choices. The chicken parm was on the specials menu and sounded too good to pass up. It was quite tasty, the chicken was nice and crispy and the pasta sauce was a nice combo of creamy and tomato-based flavors. Decent portion size too, ended up taking half the chicken home! Chef Nicholas is such a gem- he came and greeted us, shook our hands, and gave us complimentary dessert, and this lemon cake is the best lemon cake I have ever had! So soft and fluffy but full of fragrant lemon flavor, would come back just for the cake! Will be back!!!