Enjoy Fine Dining on a Budget During Houston Restaurant Weeks

Houston’s excellent dining scene takes the spotlight during Houston Restaurant Weeks, now through September 4th. During the month-long event, an array of restaurants throughout Houston will serve up deals during brunch, lunch, and dinner every day that they are open. The meal deal prices are as follows: $22 for brunch, $20 for lunch, and $35 or $45 for dinner (depending on the restaurant). Of the more than 50 participating restaurants, available food ranges from Mexican fare and Italian eats to new American meals and classic steakhouses.

Participating restaurants include Hugo’s, Izakaya, Latin Bites, Local Pour (in both Houston and the Woodlands), and more. To take a look at the full list of participating restaurants, check online. Residents of Siena at Memorial Heights are right in the thick of all of the dining fun, so be sure to check it out!

Travel Along the Hermann Park Trail This Summer

The Hermann Park Trail wraps around a beautiful Houston golf course, and warm weather doesn't keep runners and golfers away. Even in 90-degree weather, residents flock to the Hermann Park Trail and the course that it surrounds. It runs about 2.5-miles throughout its namesake park, which is filled with many different things to do.

If you don't feel like going for a run or a stroll, head to the zoo. The zoo is actually housed within the park, right next to the golf course and a large lake. After exploring the zoo, stop and smell the roses (or rather, the Bonzai trees) in the Japanese gardens. Then head to the Miller Outdoor Theatre for a fresh-air concert, or meander through the trees and greenery in the park.

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Cheer on Your Favorite Pups at the Houston World Series of Dog Shows

The Houston World Series of Dog Shows attracts pups from all over Texas and beyond to participate in one of the biggest showing events in the country. But the Houston World Series of Dog Shows is about more than the Best of Show award—though one lucky pup will earn that title. It also treats residents to a slew of dog-centric events.

Come to the Dr. Mari Jon Filla Student Art Exhibit to see the pieces that local students have created paying homage to their family pets. Or check out Meet the Breeds, an ongoing exhibit that allows guests to learn about different breeds of dogs and determine which would fit best into their family. You can also check out McScotty Market, where tons of local and national brands offer their high-quality pet goods. The World Series will run from July 19th to the 23rd at NRG Park, so don't miss it!

Feast on Mexican Cuisine at the Houston Fajita Festival

On Saturday, July 22nd, fajitas take the spotlight at HTX Sports Creek, which is less than five miles from Siena at Memorial Heights. True fajita fans from throughout the area flock to this festival to taste some of the best cuisine around and celebrate the local food scene. Food trucks, local restaurants, and home cooks will be serving up delicious fajitas throughout the day in varieties like steak, chicken, veggie, and shrimp. After sampling the delicious fajitas, guests will be able to vote for their favorite in hopes of it winning the People’s Choice Award.

In addition to fajitas, festival guests can enjoy fresh-squeezed lemonade as well as beer and cocktails from the 21-plus Fiesta Beer and Spirit Garden. Tickets are required for entry to this festival and start at an affordable $10 for general admission.

The Houston Caribbean Festival Brings Tropical Flair to Your City

The Houston Caribbean Festival brings the spice of island life to your city on Sunday, July 9th just as it has for the past 15 years. To celebrate this landmark anniversary, the Caribbean Festival intends to showcase even more musicians, dancers, chefs, and crafters dedicated to exploring the Caribbean culture.

So head to Tom Bass Park with $20 for admission if you want to experience what the vendors have to offer on July 9th. Expect to encounter a parade of masqueraders dressed in authentic Caribbean garb as well as soca and reggae musicians performing for a packed house. The festival also attracts zydeco and samba Brazilian dancers, steel pan players, and other performers. Take a break from the action to savor some Caribbean cuisine and festivities at the Houston Caribbean Festival.

Beer ‘N Chips Art Festival: The Perfect Combo of Food, Booze, and Art

Like beer and pizza or beer and wings, beer and chips are a pair that just makes sense. That's why this duo is the focal point of the Beer 'N Chips Art Festival this year in Houston. On Sunday, June 18th, 11 Below Brewing hosts the special event that brings together craft beer, crispy chips, and local art.

More than 50 of Houston's artists bring their unique masterpieces to 11 Below Brewing so that guests can ogle the colorful works while they sip on brews crafted in house. The fresh chips are supplied free of charge to complement the beers, so just bring some cash for the suds. Even those who aren't big fans of craft beer will still enjoy a trip to the free festival since original works of art will be displayed here that you can't see anywhere else in your area. Don't miss this fun festival!

Find One-of-a-Kind Items at the Pop Shop Houston Summer Festival

If you like to support local makers, then mark your calendar for the Pop Shop Houston Summer Festival on June 10th and 11th. Hosted by Silver Street Studios, Pop Shop showcases craftspeople from around the Houston area and beyond, each of them peddling their unique items.

Come to the pop-up craft festival to find a selection of vintage and handcrafted pieces that have been carefully scoured by the festival's organizers, who ensure that each and every artisan follows Pop Shop standards. From retro apparel to home decor antiques to handcrafted jewelry, bath and body products, and more, the Pop Shop Houston Summer Fest has a lot to offer. This year, it will also team up with Double Trouble Caffeine & Elixirs to bring you cocktails, which will pair perfectly with small bites from the tasting lounge. Tickets are $8 and grant you admission all weekend long.

Join in the Fun at the Caribbean Heritage Month Festival

You don't have to leave the country to experience Caribbean-inspired fun. In fact, you don't even have to leave Texas—or Houston, for that matter. The Caribbean Heritage Month Festival is coming to you on Saturday, June 3rd, starting at 2 p.m. in the Jones Plaza downtown. And it promises everything you need to be immersed in Caribbean culture.

That includes, of course, live music. Bands will play some upbeat tunes during the day and will be joined by Samba musicians and traditional dancers. Enjoy the live entertainment as you dig into classic Caribbean food and drink. There's even a Kids Zone at the Caribbean Heritage Month Festival, so there will be something for everyone here!

JonJon’s Hot Dog Dishes Out Gourmet Franks

Don't come to JonJon's Hot Dog looking for a Chicago-style frank. Or a New York-style or a Seattle-style, for that matter. The gourmet hot dogs that JonJon's serves up are unlike anything you've ever tried before because they're distinctly Houstonian in a bizarrely delicious way.

So don't be intimidated by the long list of ingredients that tops the signature Fully Loaded dog—you won't be disappointed. It begins simply, with a toasted bun, in which an all-beef frank or a veggie dog sits. That's where "simple" ends. Cream cheese, spicy mustard, curry ketchup, grilled onions, fried onions, honey mayo, and spicy Sriracha smother the dog in an explosion of flavors that, somehow, make perfect sense to your taste buds. There are a few ways you can customize the Fully Loaded dog, so take a chance on this unique creation at JonJon's Hot Dog.

Unos P’nches Tacos: Don’t Miss the Fresh, House-Made Tortillas

Sometimes the freshest, most authentic fare comes from the unlikeliest of places. That's certainly the case for Unos P'nches Tacos, an eatery serving top cuisine from a tiny location in Houston.

Despite its simple aesthetic, Unos P'nches Tacos actually boasts some of the best Mexican fare in the city. Just try the house-made flour tortillas, which come wrapped around taco fixings such as al pastor and fajita beef. Barbacoa, fresh fish, and tinga are also on the taco menu. You can come to Unos P'nches Tacos for breakfast too, when options like breakfast tacos are on the menu. Don't miss out on the authentic Mexican food that this eatery offers!

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