We hope everyone has a safe and happy day as we celebrate America's Independence. Happy 4th of July!

Spend some time outdoors at the Miller Outdoor Theatre in Houston’s Hermann Park. In operation over 90 years, the theatre hosts a wide variety of concerts, plays, and performances, all of which are free. If you prefer covered seating, you’ll need a ticket; otherwise, most theatre-goers spread a blanket on the grassy hill facing the stage. Bring a picnic dinner to enjoy! Alcohol is permitted provided it’s not in a glass container. For those who want the convenience, a concession stand offers refreshments and picnic supplies.

Check the theatre's website often for an updated performance schedule. Plan to arrive early, as parking can be challenging and you’ll have better luck finding a spot. Or, take METRORail and the theatre is just a five minute walk. There are plenty of clean bathrooms at these family-friendly events.

Miller Outdoor Theatre
6000 Hermann Park Drive
Houston, TX 77030
(281) 823-9103
http://milleroutdoortheatre.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/miller-outdoor-theatre-houston

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/sjdunphy

Dubbed "a man of great taste" by his friends and family, Alberto Candelari was responsible for a sausage recipe that became a family tradition—one that even outsiders can enjoy at Candelari's Pizzeria on West Holcombe. The story goes that Alberto had just returned from a hunting trip and was experimenting with creating his own sausage in the back of the family's Houston liquor store. He struck gold with what would become widely known as Candelari's Italian sausage. But Alberto's Italian sausage was just the jumping-off point for a variety of other sausage recipes that, today, serve as the cornerstone for many pizzas and other dishes at his namesake eatery. Chefs still select the highest quality meats to stuff in each sausage, mixed with natural spices and often even a dash of liqueur.

You can sample the sausage in a grinder at lunch, on an "Autentica" thin-crust Neopolitan pizza (on a white or five-grain crust), or over linguini marinara. But Candelari's also creates dishes without sausage, such as veggie pizza, beef tenderloin (cooked over an open flame), and cedar-plank-roasted salmon. Enjoy any of the dishes with a bottle of Italian wine.

Candelari's Pizzeria
2617 W. Holcombe Boulevard
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 662-2825
www.candelaris.com
www.yelp.com/biz/candelaris-pizzeria-houston-2

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/cyclonebill