White Linen Night in The Heights and Houston Restaurant Weeks’ Kickoff Turn Up the Summer Heat

Houston weekends are packed full of events, but how many of them are truly worthy of your time? PaperCity’s new events calendar offers a curated look at all the best things to do in the area. But everyone can still use a guru — or two.

PaperCity Weekend Gurus Matthew Ramirez and Virginia Reynolds cull our calendar for your weekend must dos in this weekly series.

Houston Restaurant Weeks

Though I have a great appreciation for all the innovative culinary creations and aesthetically pleasing food-stagrams of today, I still wouldn’t consider myself a “foodie.” Yes, I am an avid food podcast listener, cookbook reader and recipe researcher, but I resonate more with the catch phrase of one of my favorite podcasts Sporkful, which claims “it’s not for foodies, it’s for eaters.”

But, no matter if you consider yourself a foodie or simply an eater, you can fulfill all your Houston dining desires beginning this Thursday with Houston Restaurant Weeks returning.

The month-plus-long event will offer amazing deals at a long list of popular H-Town restaurants, including Tony’s, Ouisie’s Table, Xochi, El Tiempo, and more. So many more. And to make things better, proceeds from the HRW menus will directly benefit the Houston Food Bank – the country’s largest food bank.

Brunch prices are $20, lunch is also $20, and Restaurant Week dinners run $35 or $45.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

Carly Rae Jepsen

Any pop stan worth their salt at this point knows the Canadian-born Carly Rae Jepsen outgrew her 2012 phenomenon “Call Me Maybe” years ago. 2015’s Emotion is a widely heralded pop masterpiece, a classical take on pop music from a student of the genre (and dedicated to an audience of like-minded fans).

Jespen extended this streak with 2016’s Emotion Side B, and after three long years, dropped Dedicated early this year. Its pleasures are more subdued than the grand scope of both Emotions, but it’s fitting. Jepsen is now in her thirties. (“Everything He Needs” is a masterstroke.)

She’ll be at House of Blues this Friday, August 2. Doors open at 7 pm; tickets start at $36. -Matthew Ramirez

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

A Weekend with MFAH

As we remain adrift in the dog days of summer, museums, art, and of course, reveling remain on the mind, so why not combine all those things this weekend courtesy the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston?

This Friday, August 2 marks the return of the museum’s venerable Mixed Media party, and this one promises particularly to be a blowout. Following in the footsteps of its summer festival which took place on the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, this weekend’s Mixed Media is all-moon-everything themed, complete with special entrance to an after-hours viewing of the museum’s stunning Shooting the Moon photo exhibit, capturing the wonder of space.

Bun B headlines, alongside sets from DJ Sun and the rising Kay Illah.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

Rad on the Bend

Every Saturday in August, MFAH presents “Rad on the Bend,” a special partnership between the successful beer garden Axelrad and the museum’s Bayou Bend Collection. The 14-acre estate and gorgeous mansion is the backdrop to a spirited afternoon of mocktails, Popston palletas, and music. Tickets are $10, and Bayou Bend stays open late every Saturday this month, with Rad on the Bend getting underway starting at 4 pm and running through 7 pm. -Matthew Ramirez

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

White Linen Night in The Heights

The Heights always seems to be bustling these days, but on Saturday, August 3, the neighborhood will come alive with its ultimate summer party. Dress in your favorite whites (linens preferred, especially in this heat) for White Linen Night in The Heights.

This whiteout event, which launched in Houston in 2006 after New Orleans natives Chris and Kay Thayer moved to the city following Hurricane Katrina, has become a Houston staple. The night stands as a festive occasion to celebrate and support local artists, as well as the businesses that line 19th Street. There will also be feature delicious fare, refreshing drink, and music and entertainment. And crowds. Lots of crowds.

Following the festival, keep the party going, and hit the bars and restaurants in and around The Heights.

Attendance is free.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

Harry Potter Birthday Bash

Harry Potter’s birthday is an occasion worth celebrating, for it was on his special day that the young boy learned of his true identity as a wizard, and that our love for the humble wizard began.

On Saturday, August 3, the Children’s Museum will be hosting a big birthday bash for the wizard, who just celebrated his 39th birthday on July 31. Wizards and Muggles alike are welcome at the party, which will be taking place all day.

In addition to meeting Harry and his two best friends, Hermione and Ron, guests will also be able to build their own wands, attend acting classes let by TUTS, play Quidditch with the Houston Cosmos Quidditch Club, watch a magic show with magician Jamie Salinas, and of course sing Happy Birthday to the wizard himself.

Tickets are $12 for adults and children.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.