Can we interest you in the brisk salt air and the reassuring view of distant oil platforms in the Gulf with your beer? If so, you'll want to attend the next Saint Arnold pub crawl this Saturday, June 28th starting promptly at 4:00 p.m. The oft-held and oft-enjoyed pub crawl is getting a new (and an old) twist this weekend. The new twist is that -- for the first time ever! -- it's being held......

The first of the summer corn has arrived, along with a bounty of other summertime goodies! If you've never been to the Midtown Farmers Market located at t'afia, Monica Pope's award-winning signature restaurant in -- that's right -- Midtown, then this is the weekend to go! Every Saturday morning from 8:00 a.m. to noon, the parking lot and restaurant itself host a small but potent farmers market offering everything from fresh, local produce, honey and......

Kermit, you’re wrong. Jeff Kaplan, owner and founder of New Living -- an eco-friendly home supply store, is out to show us that in fact it’s quite easy being green. But, honestly Kermit can’t be blamed. Times have changed and surely back in the ‘80’s being eco-friendly wasn’t such a piece of cake. New Living, the “Healthy Home Essentials” store will open in the Rice Village sometime early this week, and offer customers the......

If you're anything like Houstonist, you haven't finished all your holiday shopping yet. In fact, if you're anything like Houstonist, you've barely even started. But don't worry: We're putting our gift lists together and pulling out some of our more inspired ideas to share with y'all. From music to DVDs to T-shirts to wet wipes, we've got you covered — but seriously, you probably won't want to give the wipes as someone's primary gift.......

Last second shopping anyone? If you are sitting at home bored today - or just feel in the mood for some locally -inspired retail therapy - head on over to the very first Houston Underground Arts Market today from 2-6pm. Houston artists, artisans, crafty bastards and threadheads will be selling their wares giving you ample opportunity to buy unique and funky gifts for your friends and/or enemies. Find locally crafted soap, clothing, stained glass, jewelry......

Looking for a little green space to stretch out those overworked holiday shopping legs? Check out Mosaic on Hermann Park's one acre, 7th floor amenity deck, as they host Hermann Park Conservatory's Urban Green for a Holiday Al Fresco event. Tonight's party will feature cocktails and canapes poolside, and all proceeds will benefit the Hermann Park Conservatory. Tickets at $30 and can be purchased at the door. We were bummed to learn this week that......

Here you go Houston, more food and wine events for you to peruse. We are going to work to get you more than one Culinary Events posting per week, as the holidays can increase the number of events, dinners, fund-raising food and beverage activities and festivals. Also, we strive to give you some advance notice - as you can't always get your reservations or tickets, which ever the case may be, on the day......

December already? Everything is reversed from the summer: back then, the Astros were dead in the water, the upcoming Texans season looked promising because of some new additions, and the Dynamo were gearing up to defend their MLS Cup title. Now, the Texans are DOA, the Astros are looking exciting next year, and the Dynamo, well, at least someone's consistent. Here's what's been going on this week in the Houston sports blogosphere: - The Dynamo......

So successful in it's White Linen Nights venture, the heights is bringing back the merriment and cheer of getting together with neighbors and retailers, to create a sorta national night out. Well, sorta. During the day. Stop by lots and lots of Heights area retailers for a shopping extravaganza. "The event showcases the Heights faithfully - profiling the people, the shop owners, the artists and the businesses that make the Heights a classy, progressive,......

So if you've been following our easy, no-fuss no-muss primer on learning about art and local artists, etc. now is your chance to show off your new knowledge! This weekend brings us Spacetaker's 2007 Holiday Sale, featuring all kinds of work from local artists. They'll have everything from jewelry to paintings to sculpture for purchase AND 75% of the proceeds benefit the artist while 25% goes to Spacetaker, which helps nurture the Houston arts community!......

Houstonist has plans to provide you, constant reader, with our annual list of gift suggestions. However, if you are interested in getting a jump on shopping and are not one of those year 'round shoppers who locates the perfect gift in the clearance section, or at a craft show - we got the goods for you. Tonight from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. (and in conjunction with Bellaire's "Holiday in the Park"), you can......

Here we go, the big mother of all holidays. Love it, or hate it – it’s nearly December and whether you’re into Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa or whatever else you may be into, December is a really bigass month. If nothing else, the streets are more congested, people drive even crazier than normal and the average Houstonian is pelted with food, drink and festivities. Yeah, we hate drinking and eating, we know how you feel......

There are so many freaking cool things happening this weekend -- here's just a list of what Houstonist has on hand. Please send us the rest. Thursday November 29th HOUSTON. IT'S WORTH IT. Book Launch Party At the Lawndale Parking Lot, 4912 Main Street 6:30PM-9PM Images from the book will be projected on North wall of Lawndale art center. DJ Pooks spins the tunes and there will be refreshments. Proceeds from sales of the......

VS As shopping season is about to kick into high gear (yes, Thanksgiving is right around the corner which means that crazed shopaholics, uhh, we mean dedicated parents, come out of the woodworks to get a little violent for good deals) and Houstonist plans to be in the midst of all the hubbub at the Galleria. Yes, the parking will be crazy. Yes, the mall will be packed. Yes, we'll spoil ourselves to a......

Let's talk Quakers (aka: The Religious Society of Friends). First images that may come to mind: oatmeal boxes with that friendly looking guy in a suit, horse and buggies, interesting hats that tie at the chin... But it turns out that WE are seriously out-of-date. Today, the Live Oaks Meeting House (1318 West 26th St.) hosts a variety of events for an even larger variety of people. They rock out everything from breakdance competitions to......

Worried that you'll show up to the company holiday party in the same boring black dress as the boring payroll chick who sits next to you? Don't fret. Old is new again at Cheeky Vintage. Show up with a one of a kind. Tonight from 6-9pm, join the (relatively) new vintage clothing boutique, located on Richmond near Greenbriar, as they highlight some of their most recent finds for you to show off for your holiday......

A recent phone conversation with Houstonist's doctor went like this: Doctor: Houstonist, your tests came back and everything looks great except for your cholesterol. Houstonist: Cholesterol? Really? Doctor: I'm not sure how much you know about cholesterol levels, but what we're shooting for is under 200. Yours is 250. As you can imagine, this has major ramifications, especially for someone like you. Heart disease is the number one killer of women. . . . .......

Spent all your cash on girlie drinks and shattered dreams again this weekend, didn't you? No worries - Thriftster gives you the lowdown on cheap stuff to do until Paycheck Friday. We're making this 'multi-cultural' Thriftster week, given all the great global goodies in town for you to experience. Monday: Catch the last night of the Polish Film Festival at the Angelika (510 Texas Ave.) with 3 shows for $10 (or $8 if you've got......

We've been seeing Christmas decorations going up around town earlier and earlier every year. This was the first time we could remember seeing green and red before Halloween. Still, retailers must remind people that it's almost time to go into debt in celebration of the birth of Jesus, so that's their right. The Galleria is celebrating the lighting of their huge Christmas tree (and the attendant shopping rush) with a performance by former Olympic skater......

Kipling St. cleaned up a bit by Peter Brown Kipling Street, just behind the Alabama Theater/Shopping Center, will be a little more flat this week. 2136 and 2140 Kipling (pictures) are set to be demolished, and the current owner of the two properties - built in 1925 and 1938 - is listed as at-large man #1, Peter Brown. While there are no apparent plans for the land, we assume that they will not be the......

Now that Halloween is over, you’ll start hearing Christmas music everywhere you turn – on the radio, while shopping, and from that annoying singing Santa doll on your cubicle neighbor’s desk. Well, we have a sanctuary for you from Michael Bolton singing “Silent Night”: the "Houstonist iMix. Our picks for November include a track from excellent new CD from now Austin-based Sam Beam, otherwise known as Iron & Wine. The latest from Seattle’s indie-pop Band......

With Halloween and office holiday party outfit shopping getting closer (although hopefully not one and the same, unless you work for one of "those" kinds of companies) you and your wallet need some quality thrift store shopping time. Apparently our wish is someone's command - Houston's second Buffalo Exchange shop (249 W. 19th St.) is finally open in the Heights! Sure they're tres pricey for a used clothing shop and a teensy bit snooty......

In our Retailist weekly feature, we share local places to satiate your shopping needs and feed your consumerist tendencies. Have a great place for us to get addicted to? Email us and let us know! So yeah, we're a little behind on the Retailist this week, but that may be because we've been busy trying convince our friends to loan us a pick-up truck for this weekend's Urban Market. The Urban Market happens two......

Spent all your cash on girlie drinks and shattered dreams again this weekend, didn't you? No worries - Thriftster gives you the lowdown on cheap stuff to do until Paycheck Friday. Monday: Hit the East end tonight for coffee and Dia de Los Muertos art-perusing at Bohemeos (708 Telephone Rd). They've got free wifi so you can catch up with all your weekend MySpace alerts over a kick-your-face-in cup of Guatemalan coffee or a cold......

Abejas, next door to Azuma off of Kirby, is a boutique with New York style and New York prices.. If mod and rustic had a baby, it would be this store. The smells draw you in with lavish feminine scents from diffusers placed all around. The clothes are organized by color so all black, brown, or white articles can be found on the same rack. If only Abejas could come to our closet and make......

::Cheeky Vintage Debut Trunk Show:: Looking for a new place to find something old? Check out Houston's newest vintage clothing shop, Cheeky Vintage. A friend tipped us off to this style haven, and we're dying to check it out. Tonight, Barbara Davis Gallery (4411 Montrose) hosts a Debut Trunk Show featuring Cheeky Vintage designs. We're headed there to check it out. Stay tuned for a full report, fashion mongers. Or, just meet us there.......

In our Retailist weekly feature, we share local places to satiate your shopping needs and feed your consumerist tendencies. Have a great place for us to get addicted to? Email us and let us know! Fashionistas, don't feel bad, this one kinda snuck up on us, too. And so glad it did. Earlier this year, after attending an event at Chloe Dao's Rice Village boutique, Lot 8, we made our way over to Mi......

Spent all your cash on girlie drinks and shattered dreams again this weekend, didn't you? No worries - Thriftster gives you the lowdown on cheap stuff to do until Paycheck Friday. Monday: Strut your inner rock star at Guitar Hero Mondays at Fitzgerald's (2706 White Oak Dr.) where you can air guitar your way to everlasting glory. Just think of the pick up lines you'll have for the bar next weekend - chicks dig faux-musicians......

In our Retail-ist weekly feature, we share local places to satiate your shopping needs and feed your consumerist tendencies. Have a great place for us to get addicted to? Email us and let us know! Houstonist loves shopping at places that keep us on our toes. At Sandy's Market (12171 Katy Freeway), blanking out in the middle of squeezing tomatoes might cost you a nasty run-in with a group eating in the middle of......

Good morning, Houston. Imagine that you're driving along one day when a traffic light falls from an overhead line and crashes through your car's windshield. You'd think the city would be responsible for the accident, right? Wrong! Just ask Lei Zheng, who was on a shopping trip with his wife and son last year when a traffic light fell on his Volkswagen. Zheng and his family weren't seriously hurt, but they did ask the......