- - Performing Arts - -

• Hobby Center  
• Houston Ballet
• Houston Grand Opera
• Alley Theatre
• Theatre Under the Stars
• AD Players
• Main Street Theatre
• Houston Symphony
• Miller Outdoor Theatre  

- - Museums - -

• Houston Museum of Natural Science
• Houston Museum of Fine Arts (free admission every Thursday and first Sunday of the month)
• Health Museum
• Menil Collection with the Rothko and Byzantine chapels (free admission) 
• Houston Zoo
• Houston Museum of Contemporary Art
• Holocaust Museum (admission by donation)
• The Orange Show   
• Houston Maritime Museum
• Space Center Houston
• San Jacinto Monument and Battleship Texas (The 640 ft tall San Jacinto Monument looks over the battlefield that brought Texas its independance from Mexico)
• Bayou Bend Historic Homes  

- - Movie Theatres - -

• Close to Campus: Fountains (from campus, head South on 59 and take the W. Airport/Kirkwood or Highway 90 exit)
• Unique theatres
  •  IMAX locations:
    •  -Wortham IMAX at the Museum of Natural Science
    •  -Edwards Houston Marquis Stadium 23
  • Alamo Drafthouse: A unique theatre where you can eat while watching the movie. 
  • Houston theatres that show independent and international films:
    •  -Angelika Film Center: Located downtown in the theatre district. 
    •  -River Oaks Theatre
    •  -Brown Auditorium in the Museum of Fine Arts
  • FunAsia Theatres- Films shown in a number of languages including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malaylam.  Often include English subtititles.
    • -Bollywood 6: 2703 Highway 6 South  (just off Richmond, close to West Oaks Mall)
    • -FunAsia Bellfort: 7703 W Bellfort Ave (@ Braesburg Dr, just off of Fondren)

- - Parks  - -

Houston is dotted with lovely parks that provide a welcome respite from the busy city atmosphere.

•  Herman Park.  Across from the Museum of Natural Science and the Zoo
•  Memorial Park  
  • An expansive park featuring miles of running and biking trails.
  • Includes a free swimming pool during the summer
•  Discovery Green.  A brand-new 12 acre park in downtown Houston. Setting for numerous music and arts events. 
•  Also check out the George Ranch to learn more about Texas history in the 19^th century. This park features historical home tours and living history sites.

- - Shops and Dining - -

• Close to HBU, an array of quick dining and restaurants is available at Meyerland Plaza
• Many of Houston’s restaurants can be found along:
  • Bellaire Blvd.
  • Westheimer Rd.
  • Highway 6
• Rice Village Shopping & Dining - Unique, independent shops & restaurants close to Rice University.
• Galleria (610 @59) – 4^th largest mall in the US. Home to a year-round indoor ice-skating rink.
• Katy Mills- huge outlet mall off of I-10 in Katy
• Texas BBQ and Tex Mex Restaurants:
  • Goode Co. BBQ
  • Pappas BBQ
  • Rudy's BBQ
  • Lupe Tortilla
  • Pappasitos
  • Chuy's
  • Guadalajara
• Premium Outlets on 290
• Aquarium
• Tunnel System under Downtown
• Bayou Place Restaurants & Shopping

- - Sports - -

Relax over the weekend by catching a game played by one of Houston’s professional sports teams.

• Baseball : Houston Astros.  Play at Minute Maid Park
• Basketball : Houston Rockets.  Play at the Toyota Center
• Football: Houston Texans.  Play at Reliant Stadium
• Hockey: Houston Aeros.  Play at the Toyota Center
• Also, you won’t want to miss the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.  This "typically Texan" event takes place every year in January and February.

- - Libraries - -

You have unlimited access to the HBU Moody Library as an HBU student, but you can also join the Houston Public Library for free.

• Nearest branch to campus:  Franck Library, 6440 West Bellfort
  • From the intersection of 59 and Fondren go south on Fondren. Turn left at West Bellfort. The library is on the left at Gallo.

- - Houston Day Trips - -

• Galveston Island- Take a break on the gulf coast.  A beach town just an hour south of Houston.
• Kemah Boardwalk - A popular summertime destination on Galveston Bay.  Enjoy carnival rides, games, shopping, and lots of seafood.
• Space Center Houston - Just down the street from Kemah is the historic and cutting-edge National Aeronautics and Space Associations (NASA).
• College Station - Home to Texas A&M and the George Bush Presidential Library.
• Washington on the Brazos - Known as the "Birthplace of Texas". 

- - Fairs and Festivals - -

• Multicultural
  • Houston International Festival (iFest Houston) - This annual event spotlight a different country each year.
  • The Original Greek Festival
  • Houston Italian Festival
  • Annual Japan Festival
• Arts
  • Worldfest - Houston International Film Festival
  • Bayou City Art Festival
  • Museum District Day
• Holiday/Seasonal
  • Freedom Over Texas 
  • July 4th at Miller
  • Fall Festivals pop up in Houston and throughout Texas' smaller towns during the autumn months.  Featuring crafts, hayrides, pumpkins, scarecrows, fair foods and games.  A lovely way to enjoy the cooler weather.
  • Dickens on the Strand - A Victorian-themed Christmas festival in historic Galveston.
• Other
  • Wings Over Houston - An airshow featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels
  • Texas Renaissance Festival

- - Helpful Links - -

Houston.citysearch.com and artshound.com are online resources useful for finding out about events going on around town.

• Citysearch lists business and events of all types
• Artshound focuses on the dynamic Houston arts scene

For general information about the city : www.houston.org, www.visithoustontexas.com