THINGS TO DO

This week on “Texas Eats,” Host David Elder visits “Be More Pacific” in the Heights area where they serve Filipino-style brunch drinks that are out of this world.

I like being alone. There’s great freedom in it. There’s no pressure to do anything, no pressure to talk to anyone, no obligation, no judgment, no distractions. I can process and decompress, explore new interests, try new things or let my mind wander. It’s constructive and it’s calming.

From June through August, families can enjoy discounted admission to select movie screenings as part of a handful of kid-friendly summer movie series being held at several Houston-area theaters.

Kendrick Lamar is back! The artist recently released his long-awaited album along with adding dates to his global tour, “The Big Stepper.”

It’s easy to find a good concha in Houston but where do you go to get a great one? That’s the question I posed to KPRC 2 readers.

Are you looking for a fun family-friendly event to attend this weekend?

Houston has a couple hills. Do you know where they are? We do.

Children’s Museum Houston is opening a new exhibit Thursday. Named “Newton Know-How,” the exhibit explores the physics associated with the laws of motion. Keith Ostfeld, aka “Mr. O” joined KPRC’s Lisa Hernandez and Owen Conflenti on KPRC 2 to give a preview of the exhibit.

Though alligators are plentiful in the rivers, bayous, creeks and backwater sloughs of the eastern third of Texas, the massive creatures can be somewhat elusive. For stellar alligator observation opportunities, try these Texas parks, sanctuaries and wildlife refuges.

The Texas State Bison Herd—the only remaining herd of Southern Plains bison living wild on public land—is Caprock Canyons’ biggest draw.

Take Texas by train on these sightseeing tours

For those with nautical inclinations but no ship to call their own, here are eight Houston-area boats – from a pontoon to a yacht – offering daytime and evening sightseeing tours, and dinner and dancing cruises.

There are a ton of boba tea shops in Houston and we asked our KPRC 2 Facebook fans where they get the best.

The Houston Life team heads to the Houston Zoo for a sneak peek at their upcoming birthday bash.

Bon Jovi is stopping at Toyota Center Tuesday, April 26th and we have your chance to win a 4-pack of tickets to the show! Scroll down and enter to win below.

Two days ahead of their Houston dodgeball charity challenge, former Houston Texans stars Justin Reid and Whitney Mercilus demonstrated some of their go-to dodgeball moves for our KPRC 2 Insiders.

Moody Gardens is hosting a weekend chock-full of events celebrating the Spring Migration, FeatherFest and Earth Day. The special Guest Speaker for the event is Marshall Johnson, Chief Conservation Officer of the National Audubon Society.

Many fine bookshops are scattered throughout Houston. They’re generally quirky, rambling places that offer much to stimulate the mind and quiet the soul. Among their stacks, you can pluck out-of-print books from overstuffed shelves or root out gems from curated collections.

Thrill seekers, channel your inner Tarzan and tackle an aerial ropes course at one of several family-friendly adventure parks in the Houston area.

A preview of Splashway Waterpark & Campground's family-friendly wine event.

Houston is ready to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.

Earth Day is Friday, April 22. Here’s a schedule of Houston events and volunteer opportunities that honor our planet.

Houston’s museums are among the city’s most popular attractions but with entry fees as high as $25 per person, some locals may be wondering if it’s even possible to see art in H-Town without breaking the bank.

Hunting for some Easter fun? Here is a list of eggcellent egg hunts happening in the Houston area in April.

Shredding sensitive documents like old bank statements, tax returns (seven years or older), medical bills, utility statements and pre-approved credit card offers is the single best way you can prevent identity theft, the fastest growing crime in the U.S. with more than 13 million victims annually, according to Comerica Bank.

Make a foray into the fields and pluck your own produce.

There’s one last chance to visit Battleship Texas before the 108-year-old dreadnought departs its berth at the San Jacinto Battleground in east Harris County, the ship’s location since 1948.

Get ready to have some fun Houstonians! The Houston Art Car Parade announced Thursday that rapper and entrepreneur Bun B will be this year’s grand marshal.

RBG fans, listen up: We’re giving 25 lucky winners a chance to win a four-pack of tickets to the exhibit. Scroll down to enter now.

Are you ready to retire those winter clothes for the season? We hope so! Because Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market SPRING is gearing up for its third showing.

The Bayou City Art Festival, now in its 50th year, will return to Memorial Park this weekend.

The Houston Zoo is celebrating its 100-year anniversary with a big “Birthday Bash” on April 30.

For many families in town, Spring Break is the best time to head out to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and bring the children along for the ride.

Fiesta, the largest annual event in San Antonio, is back!

Get ready to wear green, Houston! It’s party time again, St Patrick’s Day is on March 17. These Houston-area restaurants are offering their own green beers, green deals, and a variety of Irish inspired charm:

Transport back 3,200 years, across the sands of the Sahara Desert, where you reach the heartbeat of Ancient Egypt ruled by the most celebrated builder in the country’s storied history.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the largest livestock exhibition in the world. During the month-long event, tens of thousands of competitors from across the state exhibit their livestock. There are auctions, judgings, contests, sales and more. We’re capturing as many cute critters as we can. Click through the gallery at the top of the page for a look at every single sweet snap or scroll below for the highlights.

Margaritaville Lake Resort is bringing concerts to its Lake Conroe destination.

RodeoHouston judges ate their way through dozens of entries vying for glory at the annual Gold Buckle Foodie Awards.

The Houston Zoo is bringing back its “After Dark” event to celebrate Carnaval.

After a late night, what you probably want before you head home is an after-midnight snack. Yes, come witching hour, pickings are slim, but you need not settle for a floppy dollar slice of gas station pizza, a regrettable combo from a fast food drive-thru or worse yet, a frozen TV dinner. Whether you have a hankering for pho, burgers, tacos or doughnuts, you have options.

We are officially in the thick of Mardi Gras! Galveston now, and if you know anything at all about it, you’re aware that there is SO MUCH to do.

Here are 34 bars and taprooms reopening in the Houston area starting todayAlthough not all bars and breweries are open, we rounded 10 breweries in the Houston area where you can enjoy a cold pint while practicing safe distancing. Address: 2206 Edwards St, Houston, TX 77007Website: hollerbeer.comPhone: (832) 781-0555Safety Measures: The taproom is now open for outdoor seating only. No crowding around the bar and tables, inside or outside. Local Group BrewingAddress: 1504 Chapman St, Houston, TX 77009Website: localgroupbrewing.comPhone: (713) 429-1884Safety Measures: The taproom is currently limited to its capacity. 4J Brewing CompanyAddress: 1348 Cedar Post Ln, Houston, TX 77055Website: 4jbrewingcompany.comPhone: (713) 678-0776Cheers!

How you can support: Help eradicate adult illiteracy in Fort Bend by donating supplies, making an online donation, or volunteering as a tutor or office assistant when the center reopens. Box 17748Phone: (832) 819-2005The Sugar Land Heritage Foundation is dedicated to helping preserve, collect and communicate the citys rich history. How you can support: Help them equip a student by making a monetary contribution. https://bit.ly/2wQZAXp Posted by Fort Bend Education Foundation on Friday, April 3, 2020Since 1998, SLCAF has worked to promote the cultural, performing and visual arts in Sugar Land and preserve, renovate, and restore the historic Sugar Land Auditorium, according to its website. How you can support: You can help their efforts by sponsoring an auditorium chair, volunteering or making a donation.

HOUSTON Chef Aaron Bludorn will depart his New York City home to plant his restaurant roots at Houstons Fourth Ward, soon. The TV chef who starred in Netflixs culinary competition The Final Table secured a place for his brand new restaurant Bludorns, located on 807 Taft in the Montrose area, Eater Houston reported. Details on menu items have not been released yet, but Bludorn says diners should expect a polished and charismatic, but not too fussy experience, according to his restaurant website. The news of his Houston arrival came last year after Bludorn announced on his Instagram he would leave his Executive Chef position at Cafe Boulud in New York City. Follow the restaurants new Instagram page for updates.

While many waterparks in Texas are still closed and are waiting on the OK from Gov. Greg Abbott to open, you can start doing your homework now and figure out what slides you want to hit when they eventually open. Wahoo Wave NOW OPEN! Ninja CrossPark: Pirates Bay WaterparkAddress: 5300 E Rd., BaytownMaking a debut this summer is Pirates Bays newest attraction that tests your ninja skills. Our newest attraction, NinjaCross, transforms our activity pool into a one of a kind obstacle course.

First stop, Gonzales, the South Texas town on the Guadalupe River where, in October 1835, the first shots of the Texas Revolution were fired. At Rochelles Canoe Rental in Graford, 19 miles west of Mineral Wells, you can rent canoes and kayaks for a 10-mile journey down the gentle Brazos River. The tour ends at historic San Pedro Springs in San Pedro Park, the oldest public park in Texas. The fort was originally built to protect West Texas settlers in the mid- to late-1800s. Its only another 15 miles south to Albany, where I take half a day to explore The Old Jail Art Center.

But dont worry, restaurants will continue to offer curbside and delivery with Memorial Day family specials for you to enjoy at home. Getting ready for Memorial Day weekend? The restaurant will also offer $80 Family Packs for Memorial Day weekend with brisket, sausage, and bread pudding. WE ARE DELIVERING YOUR MEMORIAL DAY FAMILY PACKS THIS WEEKEND! Weve got the menu for Memorial Day weekend covered!

Published: May 22, 2020, 12:54 pm Updated: May 22, 2020, 2:32 pmHOUSTON Just when we thought wed seen it all with socially distant deliveries, another Houston restaurant tops them all. Houstons own Picos restaurant is now offering a boozy punch bowl pack available for curbside or delivery. Each pack comes with the ingredients to make 8 drinks, plus a punch bowl and a ladle. There are six different flavors available:PalomaPunta CanaJalapeo Pineapple LemonadeOxacan MuleHibiscus San MiguelMexican Sex on the BeachThe packs cost $56 each, which equals $7 per drink. Cheers to a weekend that packs a punch!

By then, I had developed a pretty good eye for spotting Texas wildlife and my newly acquired skills translated surprisingly well to the East African landscape. The Texas terrain was just as beautiful and mysterious as the Serengeti; only the animals had changed. The state offers many places to view wildlife, including state and national parks, state wildlife management areas, national wildlife refuges, and Nature Conservancy lands. The good news is theyre finally repopulating Texas waters.The green turtle is just one of five sea turtle species that regularly visit the states coastline. Prairie dog populations once spread across most of West Texas, including a 25,000-square-mile town with over 400 million prairie dogs.

HOUSTON With Houston-area businesses beginning to reopen just in time for Memorial Day, Houstonians are ready to have fun in the sun after two months in quarantine. We found five things you may consider as Memorial Day weekend inches closer for Houston. Visit Moody Gardens, opening just in time for Memorial Day. Moody Gardens in Galveston announced they will be reopening Memorial Day Weekend, starting Saturday. We are opening just in time for Memorial Day Weekend!

As many look forward to the end of canceled events, Miller Outdoor Theatre has extended its closure. Miller Outdoor Theatre announced all performances through the end of July are canceled. Guests were expecting events to resume in June, as cancellations were originally announced to last through May. The decision was made with the safety of attendees, staff, and performing arts partners in mind, the announcement states. Miller Outdoor Theatre is working to reschedule performances for companies that can postpone to later dates.

As the author of the popular Hank the Cowdog series of childrens books, Erickson and his wife, Kris, regularly visit schools across the region to read Hank stories and perform music. The first episode features The Boxer, a story from The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog, the very first of the 74 books in the series. The Hank the Cowdog stories provide innocent humor and laughter, Erickson says. There is an innocent, timeless quality in the Hank stories and we need that right now. Well provide gentle entertainment to people in any form that works, and right now that includes YouTube videos.

Shelly Wilfong, a Dallas-based wine educator and host of the forthcoming podcast This Is Texas Wine, says the states wineries are crafting well-regarded, award-winning products that deserve attention. If you havent given ros a chance, spring and summer months are the perfect time to try a chilled glass. Though most Texas grapes are grown in the High Plains near Lubbock, there are nearly 500 wineries scattered around the state producing all manner of pink wine. 2019 Dandy RosProduced by Austin-based winemaker Rae Wilson, this lovely, light-bodied, dry French Provenal-style wine is made primarily from grapes grown in the Texas High Plains. 2019 Lewis Wines Round Mountain RosThis new wine is unique because its made entirely from grapes grown in the Texas Hill Country.

Heres a collection of Texas movies to watch in the comfort of your own home. Also see: The Last Picture Show, The Tree of Life, RushmoreHorror / Action: Texas Chainsaw Massacre, 1974Few horror movies are as iconic as the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Varsity Blues isnt as bad as The Room or Troll 2, but if theres any Texas movie worthy of the Mystery Science Theater 3000treatment, its this one. Also see: Holes, Glory RoadRomance: Days of Heaven , 1978Terrance Malick is the elder statesman of the essential, canonical Texas movie directors. Days of Heaven, his second feature, is a lyrical meditation on pastoral life in the Texas Panhandle in the early 1900s.

While the Houston zoo is closed to the public, its creating and sharing educational videos and virtual entertainment. While the Houston Zoo has used webcams for years, the number of people watching them has skyrocketed since the zoo closed to the public. Each week we had hundreds of thousands of viewers, but since weve closed, weve had 1.3 million folks visit the webcams, says Lauren Wappler, the zoos public relations manager. The Facebook Live videos have also been a success, featuring different animals every weekday. The live videos have been great for the zookeepers to interact with guests, Wappler says.

While the Houston zoo is closed to the public, its creating and sharing educational videos and virtual entertainment. While the Houston Zoo has used webcams for years, the number of people watching them has skyrocketed since the zoo closed to the public. Each week we had hundreds of thousands of viewers, but since weve closed, weve had 1.3 million folks visit the webcams, says Lauren Wappler, the zoos public relations manager. The Facebook Live videos have also been a success, featuring different animals every weekday. The live videos have been great for the zookeepers to interact with guests, Wappler says.

Taste Buds Cereal Bar will have a soft grand opening on June 19 and will be the first cereal brick and mortar shop in Houston to satisfy those with a sweet tooth. During its soft grand opening, the cereal bar will feature a limited menu and its one-of-kind Taste Bud Creations. Taste Buds Cereal Bar will also be providing specials to graduates, students and teachers. The cereal bar will be operating daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and close on Sundays. For updates and more information about the cereal bar, you can visit their website here.

View this post on Instagram Week 5 of #NationalSoupMonth is Jambalaya. #Jambalaya consists mainly of meat and vegetables mixed with rice. Jambalaya is a #Louisiana #Creole dish of Spanish and French influence. Jambalaya originated in the Caribbean Islands. The Spanish culture mixed with the native foods created what is known as Jambalaya.