Last Call! Houston Summer Bucket List

As devastating as it is to think about, the end of summer is closer than we think. Whether you’re getting ready to go on vacation or sticking closer to the city, I’ve compiled a list of top 10 things I think are must-do’s for this summer in Houston.

Go see an amazing live music show at Cynthia Woods Mitchell

Enjoy the last of the hot lazy summer days by enjoying an outdoor show (there are fans, don’t worry!) with friends or family. Check out my July and August concert lists here for ideas. 

Check out the amazing current exhibits at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston 

Two of my all-time favorite exhibits I’ve seen at MFAH are here now - Peacock in the Desert: The Royal Arts of Jodhpur, India (on display until Aug. 19) and Big Bambú (on display until Sept. 3). Both are vastly different but equally amazing. On Thursdays, admission to MFAH is free. Check out their website for extended hours days. Buzz interns also explored Big Bambú; see their photos and recap here. 

Glassell School of Art offers studio-art courses, art-history instruction, workshops for adults, classes for students ages 3 to 18, and the Core Residency Program for postgraduate artists and critics. It's also a beautiful place to visit. 

Explore the Glassell School and surrounding plazas

A couple weeks ago I wrote an article about the cool new Glassell School and the plaza (near the Bean). It’s a really nice space that will impress any out-of-town visitor or native Houstonian.

Take advantage of our amazing public libraries

Houston has a bunch of great libraries, not to mention the Houston Public Library in downtown Houston, which frequently hosts events for kids and teens, too. The Julia Ideson Building in downtown (part of HPL) is supposedly haunted, so go check out a book and confirm! (And if you're looking for book recommendations, see our Book Buzz blog, written by librarians from Houston Public Library, Harris County Public Library and Bellaire Library.) 

Buzz summer interns Abby Cohan and Jack Avedesian stood in awe, absorbing all of the changing colored lights at the Cistern. (Photo: Trudi Smith)

Visit the Cistern

The Cistern (located in downtown) is currently featuring an art exhibition by Carlos Cruz Diez called Spatial Chromointerference. Some of the Buzz interns went there recently, too; see their recap here. Get your tickets here. Admission is free on Thursdays!

Road trip to Galveston

Schlitterbahn, Pleasure Pier and the beach are all calling your name! A couple places you might not think of but should definitely check out: Galveston Island Brewing Co. (the root beer is amazing if you don’t want a beer or are under 21), the Bolivar Ferry (dolphin sightings almost guaranteed), and the snow cone stand in Jamaica Beach at the gas station. See our listing of Island events happening this summer.

Try a different type of cuisine

With as many amazing and vastly different restaurants as Houston has, you should always been trying something new. Whether you try a new cuisine (I’ve been really into Korean food recently) or go to a smaller restaurant off the beaten path, support local restaurant owners. This August is Houston Restaurant Weeks, so check out the amazing menus that also give back to the Houston Food Bank. (And see our Chef's Corner column by Dai Huynh for restaurant recommendations from local chefs.) 

Skyspace at Rice

If you haven’t seen it, this is a permanent art installation on Rice’s campus that lights up different colors at dusk and dawn. It’s a beautiful, silent experience, and free to visit It’s in front of the Shepherd School of Music on the edge of Rice’s campus, so not too hard to find.

2018 Houston Food Fest

On Aug. 18, Houston’s annual Food Festival is happening at Hermann Square. The event will feature tons of food vendors from Houston and other big Texas cities. End your summer with a bang by enjoying the amazing food our city has to offer - all in one place!

Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel Exhibit is housed at The Corinthian through Aug. 16.

Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel Exhibit

Hurry! This event ends on Aug. 16. See huge pictures of the beautiful paintings in the Sistine Chapel, all housed in the gorgeous event space in downtown Houston that is The Corinthian (202 Fannin). I went a couple weeks ago and was floored, even though I’ve seen the real thing at the Vatican! Super cool exhibit.

See more upcoming events and ideas of what to do around Houston here.